A Man Who Doesn't Know How to Give Up (3)
"Vice Leader..."
"Huh? Is it weird? Since there are two of us now, I figured we might as well call ourselves a sect from here on out."
Tang Jin smirked at Han Cheong-un's words.
"Did you plan on founding a sect from the very beginning?"
"To have a voice in the Wulin, you must at least hold a position that represents something."
"Hmm... Isn't there also the option of securing a key position within the Wulin Alliance to gain influence?"
"I've already tried that. And..."
Han Cheong-un let out a sigh.
"I failed spectacularly."
The Annihilation Squad, which was considered the strongest martial force within the Wulin Alliance.
Han Cheong-un had been the leader of that very squad.
At that level, his position within the Wulin Alliance was higher than one might think. However...
"The Wulin Alliance is too massive, and its organizational framework is already completely set in stone."
"That is true."
"It's not easy for a single person to raise their voice and change anything within it. That's why I left the Wulin Alliance this time."
"Tsk, I suppose..."
If Han Cheong-un's words were true, it was the Wulin Alliance, not the Unorthodox Faction, that had betrayed him at the very end.
How could he possibly remain in the Wulin Alliance after that?
Stabbing the hero who led the war to victory in the back and locking him in a dungeon for over a decade?
That was not the act of a decent human being.
But on the other hand...
They are exactly the kind of people who would do that.
As long as they had a convenient excuse like "for the greater good," they could commit deeds far filthier than any unorthodox sect.
That was the nature of the Wulin.
Born as the direct heir of the Sichuan Tang Family, Tang Jin knew this reality better than anyone. In that case...
"What kind of sect do you want to build?"
"A sect to defeat the conspiracies of the Sado-palmun, prevent the tragedy of the Great War between Orthodox and Demonic factions, and save the suffering weak of the current Wulin."
The sentiment was noble.
"I call it... the Sect of Walking the Righteous Path and Practicing Heroic Deeds."
"..."
Let him rephrase.
Only the sentiment was noble.
The name was terrible.
"Are you really going to use that name?"
"Yes."
Han Cheong-un answered with absolute confidence.
Tang Jin imagined it.
"Greetings. I am Tang Jin, the Vice Leader of the Sect of Walking the Righteous Path and Practicing Heroic Deeds."
Rather than suffer through that embarrassment, he would rather bury himself in a deep mountain valley, turn his back on the world, and never step outside again. However...
"What do you think? Isn't it a great name?"
It seemed Han Cheong-un was entirely serious.
Without a shred of doubt, he genuinely believed that awful name was "great."
At that moment, Tang Jin realized his very first duty as the Vice Leader.
I must change this terrible name, no matter what.
"Ahem. Isn't it a bit too long?"
"Pardon? I actually shortened it a lot."
"..."
"Originally, it was the Righteous Heaven, Pure Wind, Subduing Evil..."
"No, please forget about that..."
How on earth did the Tang Jin of the original history manage to serve as this man's right hand?
Tang Jin let out a deep sigh and said,
"It's not wise to reveal the nature of the sect so blatantly."
"Huh? Isn't it better to make the sect's purpose obvious? So anyone can tell what kind of sect it is at a single glance."
"Absolutely not. More importantly..."
Tang Jin looked at Han Cheong-un.
"What is your true intent, Sect Leader?"
"My intent?"
"Yes. That is the most important thing. Why do you wish to establish a sect?"
Han Cheong-un paused to organize his thoughts before speaking.
"There is no justice in the Unorthodox Path, so it was never even up for consideration."
"..."
"The Orthodox Path is righteous, but those who walk it lack moral principles, so I have no desire to join them."
"..."
"Therefore, I will pursue the Extreme Path, which transcends both. And this time, I will surely prevent all those tragedies."
Conviction burned in Han Cheong-un's eyes as he spoke. Tang Jin replied with absolute certainty.
"The Extreme Dao Sect."
"Huh?"
"The Extreme Dao Sect is perfect. It will be a sect that always remembers your conviction and oath."
"Mmm... Isn't it a bit too short?"
"It is more than enough."
"It feels too brief..."
"If you do not accept this name, I will return to my family."
He absolutely refused to roam the Jianghu under a name as atrocious as the Sect of Walking the Righteous Path and Practicing Heroic Deeds.
"Tsk. I guess I have no choice."
In the end, Han Cheong-un accepted Tang Jin's advice.
It had been the same back during their days in the Annihilation Squad; whenever Tang Jin spoke with such absolute certainty, it was best to listen.
If he didn't, the rest of their comrades would inevitably take Tang Jin's side and gang up to persuade him.
What a shame. The Sect of Walking the Righteous Path and Practicing Heroic Deeds... It was a name so brilliant it would make Li Bai weep.
Oh, he would weep, all right.
Just not for the reasons Han Cheong-un thought.
Having successfully averted the crisis, Tang Jin let out a sigh of relief.
"First, let's correct how we address each other."
"Our titles?"
"There is no sect where the Sect Leader speaks formally to every ordinary disciple."
"Ah, I suppose that's true."
"From now on, speak casually."
"I will do so."
Since they were calling themselves a sect, this was a rather important matter.
Besides, Han Cheong-un had always spoken comfortably to Tang Jin when he was his vice-captain, so this transition wasn't awkward.
Now that they had established the bare minimum structure of a sect, the next step was...
"Where are we heading now?"
"Mmm..."
Han Cheong-un pondered Tang Jin's question. Seeing his hesitation, Tang Jin asked again.
"Did you perhaps have no plan at all?"
"Of course I did."
Han Cheong-un sighed.
"Originally, I planned to go to Hebei."
"Hebei? To the Paeng Family?"
"Yes. I can't let the Paeng Family be annihilated again..."
"The Paeng Family, annihilated?"
"I wanted to take some preemptive measures."
"Are you saying the Paeng Family will be destroyed? The Hebei Paeng Family?"
As Tang Jin stared in disbelief, Han Cheong-un gave a bitter smile.
"By the time the First Great War between Orthodox and Demonic factions ended, two of the Five Great Noble Families had vanished."
"..."
"One was the Sichuan Tang Family, and the other was the Hebei Paeng Family."
"Even if we assume our downfall was due to the bloodbath, why was the Paeng Family destroyed?"
At those words, Han Cheong-un looked up at the distant sky.
And he said...
"For their pride."
"Excuse me?"
"There is no other way to explain it."
Han Cheong-un closed his eyes tightly in sorrow.
The memory of that day left a bitter taste in his mouth no matter how many times he recalled it.
"Rise! What a martial artist must protect is not a wretched life, but pride and honor!"
The young head of the Hebei Paeng Family, 'Blue Cloud Gentle Tiger' Paeng Seol-myeong.
True to his moniker, he was a man of a different breed compared to the past heads of the Hebei Paeng Family.
He disliked fighting, loved books, and was well-versed in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and music.
He was a gentle soul who loathed even speaking harshly to others.
Yet, at that moment, he roared more fiercely than anyone. And...
"We obey the Family Head's command!"
"We obey."
"We obey."
The martial artists of the Paeng Family rose, their bodies battered and broken.
Not a single one fled or refused.
Even though the outcome of the battle was obvious, everyone present burned their lives away until the very end.
And Han Cheong-un had watched it all with his own two eyes. No, he had been forced to only watch.
"Damn it..."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just... remembered a shitty memory."
Han Cheong-un scowled deeply.
At the time, Han Cheong-un was merely an ordinary martial artist in the Wulin Alliance's Seven Swords Squad. He had no authority to disobey the Alliance's orders.
Thus, even as he watched them scatter like ashes in a glorious but tragic death, he could do nothing.
No, that's just an excuse.
What difference did it make to watch while clenching his fists until they bled and swallowing his resentment?
In the end, the fact that he was a mere bystander remained unchanged.
I can't let myself feel that goddamn emotion again.
That was why, under normal circumstances, he would have headed straight to Hebei after resolving the bloodbath of the Sichuan Tang Family. However...
"The destruction of the Hebei Paeng Family happens toward the end of the Great War."
At the very least, it wasn't an urgent matter right now. Rather...
"We need to head to the Mount Hua Sect first."
"What business do we have at Mount Hua?"
"It's because of Gwiryeongdosa."
The moment he heard Han Cheong-un's words, Tang Jin's eyes turned fierce.
"That bastard who cast the Soul-Controlling Art on my sister?"
The Sichuan Tang Family never forgot a grudge.
Never.
Understanding Tang Jin's feelings, Han Cheong-un nodded and said,
"To be honest, I didn't know Gwiryeongdosa was active at this point in time. But since he is, there is someone we absolutely must recruit."
"Who is it?"
"The Divine Maiden of Mount Hua, Baek Su-ah."
Tang Jin pondered for a moment before asking,
"Is there such a person in Mount Hua?"
"She probably hasn't made much of a name for herself yet. But she was also a member of the Annihilation Squad, just like us."
"Hmm..."
"And she is also Gwiryeongdosa's natural enemy."
That was the most crucial part.
The Mount Hua Sect.
It was one of the top five sword sects in the world, and had once claimed the title of the greatest under heaven.
Well, to be fair, almost every member of the Nine Great Sects and One Association, as well as the Five Great Noble Families, had held that title at least once.
Regardless, Mount Hua was a prestigious sect.
Even now, if one had to name the top four sects within the Nine Great Sects and One Association, it would be Shaolin, Wudang, Mount Hua, and the Beggars' Sect.
These four sects essentially held the leadership of the orthodox coalition.
Despite Mount Hua's strength, it had one fatal flaw. And that was...
"This mountain is ridiculously high."
"I agree."
Tang Jin agreed.
"What kind of sanity did they have to build a sect on a mountain like this? No, how did they even carry the materials up here to build it?"
"My thoughts exactly."
A peddler passing by, panting heavily, agreed as well.
Indeed.
The fatal flaw of the Mount Hua Sect.
It was that the sect was located deep within an incredibly rugged and treacherous mountain range.
How did they haul construction materials up terrain where even walking was difficult?
Even now, rumor had it that the merchants delivering supplies to Mount Hua refused to make deliveries unless their labor fees were tripled.
"Whew. Well, we still have to go."
"We do. Damn it..."
Han Cheong-un and Tang Jin climbed higher and higher up the rugged paths of Mount Hua. As they navigated terrain where it was hard to tell if it was a path or a cliff, Tang Jin spoke.
"You said that Lady Baek Su-ah was our comrade."
"Yes. Baek Su-ah, the Divine Maiden of Mount Hua, was one of the most prominent female swordsmen in the Jianghu."
The memory of her was still vivid.
He could still picture her unleashing exceptionally brilliant sword qi to suppress enemies in the midst of chaotic battles on the front lines.
"She had mastered all Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Movements and reached the eighth stage of the Violet Sunset Divine Art. In terms of pure martial prowess, she was easily in the top three of the Annihilation Squad."
"Ho... Impressive."
"She was."
"Then where did I rank?"
"...Her greatness wasn't just limited to her martial arts."
"No, Sect Leader. I asked where my martial prowess ran—"
"She possessed a unique ability. A spiritual treasure known as the Dragon Eyes."
"..."
"The Dragon Eyes allow one to see through a person's soul. Seeing the soul means reading their true intentions. Thanks to that, she performed far beyond her actual realm in real combat and achieved brilliant feats."
Tang Jin wore a sullen expression.
But Han Cheong-un deliberately ignored it.
He could hardly bring himself to tell Tang Jin that he hadn't even cracked the top ten.
Your strength as the vice-captain—no, the Vice Leader—was never in pure martial prowess...
"Anyway, thanks to her ability to see through the soul, she could identify those under Gwiryeongdosa's Soul-Controlling Art with uncanny accuracy."
"Ah, is that true?"
"It was a massive stroke of luck."
Those affected by Gwiryeongdosa's soul arts showed absolutely no signs under normal circumstances.
Their personalities didn't change, nor were there any warning signs.
On the contrary, they seemed perfectly normal.
Neither those around them nor the victims themselves realized it. But Baek Su-ah, with her Dragon Eyes, could see the core of a person.
Her Dragon Eyes could instantly spot those whose souls had been subjugated by Gwiryeongdosa.
Thanks to her, they were able to uncover dozens of individuals within the Wulin Alliance who had fallen victim to Gwiryeongdosa's Soul-Controlling Art.
"That's why she was called Gwiryeongdosa's natural enemy and was treated as an invaluable asset within the Wulin Alliance."
"I see. That makes sense."
"If not for her, winning the Second Great War would have been impossible."
It was the truth.
Winning a war when dozens of high-ranking Wulin Alliance officials were acting as the enemy's puppets?
Impossible.
In truth, without Baek Su-ah, the Orthodox Wulin would have been destroyed from the inside out before they could even mount a proper defense.
"I understand that she is a necessary talent."
"Right?"
"But here is the problem."
Tang Jin stared intently at Han Cheong-un and said,
"How do you plan to convince her to join us?"
"..."
Han Cheong-un could not answer.
In the past, her joining the Annihilation Squad had not been of her own free will, but rather a personnel reassignment by the Wulin Alliance.
As the Annihilation Squad achieved brilliant feats on the front lines, the Alliance had sent her to further concentrate their forces.
Though I doubt that was the only reason.
A possessor of the Dragon Eyes, which read the soul.
Such a person was bound to be feared by those around her.
One's inner thoughts are far more embarrassing to expose than a naked body.
Yet Baek Su-ah could see right through them.
Would the high-ranking officials of the Wulin Alliance have felt comfortable around her?
They probably wanted her as far away as possible.
That was why Baek Su-ah had been deployed to the Annihilation Squad on the front lines.
But what about now?
She was a first-generation disciple of Mount Hua, a direct disciple of a sect elder with high seniority.
Would someone like her willingly join the Extreme Dao Sect?
"She wouldn't, right?"
"The probability is highly against it."
"Ugh. This is troublesome. How do we convince her?"
A plan?
There was no such thing.