Martial Man
Among the craggy mountains of Sichuan, only Mount Emei was gentle and still.
Thin mist flowed down from every peak.
Quiet temples nestled along every slope of the mountainside.
And all around the mountain, the deep tolling of temple bells rang and echoed.
True to the Buddhist sect that carried its lineage through women, the Emei Sect lay wrapped in a peace where yesterday, today, and tomorrow seemed all the same.
But peace was fragile. It was difficult to protect, and easily shaken by even the smallest storm.
When the tempest that had erupted at the Murim Alliance Headquarters swept across the Central Plains, they too realized they could no longer cling to their stillness.
And so, just as they broke their long silence and prepared to stir to life, a group of figures arrived before the mountain gate, carrying with them a quiet breeze.
"You’re not as late as I expected."
A middle-aged man with broad shoulders so wide that the large spear slung across his back seemed to sway heavily looked up at the peaks of Mount Emei and slowly worked the stiffness from his neck.
"If we hadn’t been searching for the one who ran off on her own, we would have arrived in less than five days, never mind seven."
Another man came up grumbling in open dissatisfaction, his face still bearing a hint of youth.
"And that runaway was none other than your twin sister. I’ve told you this more than once—stop being so harsh with Seo-ah."
"But—"
"No need to argue. This time, you went too far."
When the middle-aged man cut him off in a stern voice, the other man finally lowered his head.
"...I’m sorry, Uncle."
"That’s enough. Do you think I don’t understand how you feel? Still, Seo-ah is softer-hearted than you think. Not everyone in the world can be as tough as you are. Keep that in mind."
"Yes, sir."
While the two men were speaking about Ak Seo-ah, other martial artists with spears on their backs began to appear one by one.
"Chief, all members of the Lightning Squad have arrived."
Though they wore composed expressions, sweat beaded visibly on their foreheads.
"You only used light-footwork for half a day, and you look like this? So this is the so-called martial force of the Shandong Ak Family? Judging by your miserable faces, the others must be just as bad. When we return home, I’ll increase your training. Be prepared."
As he glared and snarled, his face twisting into something fierce, the martial artists went pale in an instant.
Training already began at dawn and ended only after the sun had set.
If the amount were increased even further here, when on earth was it supposed to end?
But the chief was the sort of man who always kept his word once he spoke, so they had no choice but to lower their eyes.
"...Yes, Chief."
Seeing the uncle who had just moments ago told him not to be cruel to Seo-ah now barking at the martial artists as though he were hunting rats from the walls, Ak Jiho gave a slight shake of his head.
Well, if he didn’t have such a fiery temperament, he never would’ve become sworn brothers with Father.
As he thought that, he failed to notice that he himself was no different, and a dry laugh was just beginning to rise when a refined voice brushed past his ear.
"Might you be the people from the Shandong Ak Family who sent word previously?"
Turning his head, he saw a woman approaching in a neatly arranged gray robe, her hair coiled up in an immaculate knot.
A sword sheath hung neatly at her waist, and from her measured stride and deep, steady gaze, she was unmistakably a nun of the Emei Sect.
"Yes. I am Ak Jiho, the young master of the Shandong Ak Family. We were unable to arrive by the agreed date because of an unavoidable matter, and I’m ashamed to have kept you waiting."
As Ak Jiho introduced himself with a courteous clasped-fist salute, the woman lowered her head slightly in reply.
"I’m Shenhua, a third-generation disciple of the Emei Sect. Our sect master and elders were concerned that something might have happened to you along the way, but I’m relieved to see you safe and sound."
"...We’ve caused you unnecessary worry. I should offer my apologies in person to your sect master."
"Please do. For now, I’ll escort you to the guest hall. If you rest there for a while and recover from the journey, the sect master will shortly ask for the young master."
"Understood. Should I hand my spear over to someone else, perhaps?"
By bringing up the awkward matter first, he seemed to put Shenhua at ease.
She had worried that the Shandong Ak Family’s young master might be arrogant, but fortunately, every word out of his mouth held a measure of consideration.
"I appreciate the offer, but there’s no need. Mutual respect doesn’t begin with surrendering one’s weapon."
Shenhua’s subtle but pointed remark, bold for a third-generation disciple, brought a faint smile to the middle-aged man’s lips.
"Indeed. The teachings of Buddhism are quite different from those of the Dao."
---
Not long after heading to the guest hall, Ak Jiho found himself following Shenhua—who had first escorted them there—back to the Hall of Discussion.
"Sect Master. I’ve brought the young master of the Shandong Ak Family."
"Show him in."
As Shenhua carefully opened the door, Ak Jiho offered a brief expression of thanks and stepped inside.
Within the spacious room sat only the Emei Sect master, Jeonghwa. Even while sitting still, she exuded a faint, lucid energy that seemed to embrace the entire room.
"Welcome. I am Jeonghwa, the sect master of the Emei Sect."
As the head of the sect offered the courtesy first, Ak Jiho quickly returned the salute.
"I am Ak Jiho, young master of the Shandong Ak Family. I greet the sect master of Emei."
"I’m sorry to have called you in without even giving you time to recover from your journey. As I grow older, I seem to grow only more impatient—how shameful."
"Not at all. It is I who am sorry to have met you later than scheduled."
At his answer, Jeonghwa nodded, then asked,
"That aside, the girl outside told me there was some complication on the road here. Is that true?"
The face of the sister who had secretly fled in the dead of night flashed through his mind, and Ak Jiho bit his lip lightly.
"...Yes. It was a minor issue concerning the family."
"Has it been resolved?"
"Not yet... but it’s something that should work itself out naturally, so I haven’t given it much thought. It seems, however, that not everyone shares my view, which is why our schedule was delayed."
Did he not realize that his face was full of worry as he spoke?
Still, since no outsider could meddle in family affairs, Jeonghwa did not press him further.
"I see. Then let us come to the reason you have visited our mountain."
Sensing the heavier atmosphere that had settled over the room, Ak Jiho carefully opened his mouth.
"Yes. First, I’d be grateful if you would read this. It is a letter from the family head to the sect master."
"Very well."
Untying the cord sealing the letter, Jeonghwa immediately unfolded it and read on.
"...So Mount Zhongnan, Mount Hua, and even the Heibei Pang Family have sided with the Alliance Leader. That is not especially pleasant news, no."
Jeonghwa let out a short sigh, one side of her eye visibly twitching.
She had expected the Heibei Pang Family, given their closeness to the Murim Alliance, but she had not imagined that all of Shaanxi would stand on the Alliance Leader’s side as a whole.
"...Sometimes I find myself wondering. What if I had paid more attention to the situation in the Central Plains? Would we have been able to stop things before they came to this pass? I wonder about that."
Knowing she had not spoken in expectation of an answer, Ak Jiho simply listened quietly to her lament.
"Even knowing it’s too late to undo what has already happened... I can’t help feeling regret. Yet do you know what troubles me even more?"
"Please, teach me, Sect Master."
Jeonghwa tapped the tabletop a few times with her fingers, took a breath, and slowly continued.
"...No matter how I turn it over, I can’t say the Alliance Leader’s words were entirely wrong."
"..."
"He said the standard for justice would be reset by the Alliance. All sects belonging to the orthodox faction would be strictly governed within that framework, and those who had used the name of righteousness to oppress the weak would pay the proper price. And then..."
The sound that had been echoing evenly in the room suddenly stopped.
"When the time came, they would drive out the demonic factions that had seized the land south of the Yangtze and raise the banner of justice across the world."
Jeonghwa’s cool gaze turned to Ak Jiho, as if trying to pierce straight through him.
"Young master, what do you make of the Alliance Leader’s words?"
It was plainly a test, so Ak Jiho did not rush. He quietly sorted through his thoughts in his mind.
And after a moment, words that might well harden into the Shandong Ak Family’s official stance slipped from his mouth.
"If the Alliance alone sets the standard for justice, and then seeks to control everyone."
This time, Ak Jiho’s unwavering gaze met Jeonghwa’s.
"Then who, exactly, is meant to control that Alliance?"
It was an answer that struck straight at the heart, and only then did a faint smile spread across Jeonghwa’s lips.
"...The family head has raised you very well."
"Thank you."
"Still, as I said earlier, there is clearly something right in the Alliance Leader’s words. That is why we have not yet decided which side to take. To be frank, do common people truly see such a vast difference between orthodox and unorthodox martial artists?"
"That is..."
"No matter what reason we dress it up with, to their eyes we are nothing more than armed ruffians with swords at our hips. We only get away with it because we fly the banner of righteousness, at least on the surface, and the powerless are willing to turn a blind eye."
"..."
"The problem, as the Alliance Leader said, is that righteousness means something different to everyone. And that difference, somewhere out in the martial world, will be paid for in the suffering of the common folk. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Yes. But..."
After a brief pause, a complaint befitting his age slipped from Ak Jiho’s mouth.
"Then wouldn’t it be better for all martial artists to place themselves under the authority of the government? What value is there in a sense of righteousness forced upon someone?"
At the words, so characteristic of the Shandong Ak Family and its deep ties to the government, Jeonghwa let out a laugh before she knew it.
"Righteousness matters, and justice too. But in the end, what is most precious is freedom. You’re right. Before righteousness or evil, I have overlooked the fundamental banner that a martial artist ought to defend."