Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Gatecrashers Are Inevitable at Banquets (3)
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The annihilation of the Hebei Peng Family's forces became known to the world through the mouth of Peng Gwanyoung, their sole survivor.
Having barely escaped with his life, Peng Gwanyoung rode through the night and arrived in Oryang. He informed Nangong Chang of the existence of the Golden Horse Lion and the total destruction of his family's forces before collapsing on the spot.
It wasn't just the Hebei Peng Family.
Warriors from the Wudang Sect en route to Dongjeong Lake had also been ambushed by mysterious assailants. Fortunately, Wudang's forces were formidable enough to repel the attackers. Still, their losses were significant, delaying their arrival.
The Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families tried to keep the matter under wraps, but they couldn't fool the eyes and ears of the masses.
Rumors snowballed and spread, eventually reaching every corner of Hunan Province.
People finally realized that the gathering of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families at one place wasn't for some ordinary meeting.
Something was happening behind the scenes. That's why these colossal powers had convened.
The public began paying close attention to the movements of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families entering Dongjeong Lake.
As the situation deteriorated so rapidly, no one was more troubled than Nangong Chang.
Losing the Golden Sword Squad to Damho had been a massive blow. With all his key subordinates gone, his room to maneuver had shrunk dramatically.
He requested reinforcements from the Nangong Family. But the distance from Oryang to their stronghold in Anhui Province spanned thousands of li.
Even if backup departed immediately, it would take at least ten days to arrive. Nangong Chang's options in the meantime were severely limited.
"Urk!"
Nangong Chang bit his lip until it bled.
He was usually one to keep his inner thoughts hidden, but now his anxiety was plain on his face.
Seated before him was Oh Gunui.
Oh Gunui's expression was equally grave.
"For the Hebei Peng Family's forces to be wiped out... Then it must be..."
"The Demonic Cult."
"Hmm!"
Oh Gunui let out a groan and closed his eyes at Nangong Chang's curt reply.
The last time the Demonic Cult had surfaced was twelve years ago. Back then, elites from Wudang, Mount Hua, and Zhongnan had ventured into the Western Regions, where they clashed fiercely with the Demonic Cult remnants and drove them back.
That was the official story, and most people believed it. But a few discerning individuals saw beyond the surface.
Nangong Chang was one such person, as was Wudang's Daoist Cheongheo.
Daoist Cheongheo had personally led warriors into battle against the Demonic Cult remnants at the Golden Demon Jade Mine. No one knew the situation better than he did.
He grew suspicious of how readily the remnants had chosen self-destruction and launched an investigation. He discovered that the number of Demonic Cultists killed there wasn't as high as reported.
Daoist Cheongheo concluded that the Cult had smuggled out most of the forces it had nurtured there. But he couldn't voice such suspicions lightly.
In the end, he quietly sought allies, one of whom was Nangong Chang of the Nangong Family.
Though many were skeptical, Nangong Chang deemed Daoist Cheongheo's assessment sound. The two joined forces to track the Demonic Cult's traces.
After over a decade of effort, they became convinced that the remnants had infiltrated the Central Plains.
If the Demonic Cult was truly lurking within the Central Plains, the existing sects would struggle to counter them effectively. Thus, they sought to establish the Murim Alliance.
For years, they met with leaders of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, persuading them relentlessly. Their persistence finally bore fruit with this major gathering at Dongjeong Lake.
That was why the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families had assembled here.
Daoist Cheongheo had spearheaded the Alliance's creation out of pure intent to stop the Demonic Cult, but Nangong Chang's motives were different.
He aimed to lead the Alliance's founding to bring greater gains to the Nangong Family—and to have their representative become Alliance Leader.
It would be the first Murim Alliance in decades. If the Nangong Family supplied the leader, their prestige would soar. Nangong Chang, as the driving force behind it, would reap immense honor.
"I knew the Demonic Cult was lurking in the Central Plains, but I never imagined they'd strike the Peng Family and Wudang. This is definitely beyond expectations."
Nangong Chang's eyes twitched.
One thing was now proven.
The Demonic Cult existed. And they found the Murim Alliance's creation highly unwelcome.
Oh Gunui stared straight at Nangong Chang.
"With things as they are, we must hasten the Alliance's formation."
"Indeed."
"We need to summon the sects that have arrived at Dongjeong Lake without delay. We can't afford to leisurely meet at the World's Best Pavilion anymore."
"I know."
Nangong Chang's voice lacked strength as he replied.
If only the Golden Sword Squad were intact, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage in meetings with the other sects. But now, the Nangong Family had only Nangong Chang and Nangong Su left. They couldn't match the others' displays of power.
For Nangong Chang, who sought to solidify his position by leading the Alliance, it was a fatal blow.
'If only it weren't for that Kwonma...'
Nangong Chang ground his teeth. But recalling Damho made his heart race wildly and sweat pour like rain.
'Urgh!'
In the end, he forced the name from his mind.
Convincing himself that now wasn't the time.
"Summon all sects that have entered Dongjeong Lake. We'll hold an emergency meeting."
"Good call. I'll order my disciples to gather everyone."
"Hmm."
Nangong Chang nodded weakly, his eyes devoid of vigor.
Someone visited the West Wind Inn. It was Choyun.
Choyun's face hardened.
"This is a headache."
"What's that?"
Bang Jinbo looked puzzled. Choyun scowled.
"You don't need to know."
"I don't want to know anyway."
"Then why ask?"
"Felt like you wanted me to show interest."
"Urk!"
Choyun's face twisted.
The two had grown quite close by now. They knew each other well enough to banter without reservation.
"I'm off to see So-cheong."
"Why So-cheong?"
Bang Jinbo's eyes widened. Choyun chuckled.
"Heard he's attending today's meeting too."
Bang Jinbo's face soured instantly. Choyun felt an inexplicable thrill.
"Why's So-cheong joining the meeting?"
"Not telling."
"Tch!"
"Don't scowl. Whip up something to eat. I'm hungry."
"Tch! What am I, your personal chef? Always asking me to cook."
"You're discriminating, aren't you? If Ho or Yeonun are hungry, you jump to serve them. Why not me?"
"You think you're on their level?"
"Am I not?"
"You're not."
Bang Jinbo answered without hesitation.
Choyun glared at him briefly, then hung his head.
"That hurts."
"Won't work."
"Why do you keep treating me differently? Just do it, would you?"
Now Choyun put on a pitiful look. Bang Jinbo sighed.
"Sigh! Fine."
"Heh heh!"
Choyun's face lit up as if the pout had never happened.
Bang Jinbo shook his head and headed to the stove.
"Whew!"
His sigh echoed in Choyun's ears.
"Good kid."
Choyun muttered, turning away.
His face was now shrouded in deep shadow, as if the smile had never been.
Damho entered Choyun's view.
Leaning against a tree with eyes closed, Damho's thoughts were unreadable.
Choyun plopped down beside him.
"Friend."
"......"
Damho opened his eyes and looked at Choyun.
His pitch-black eyes, deep as an endless abyss. An ordinary person would quiver at the mere sight, but Choyun spoke casually.
"I need to step out for a bit."
Damho stared blankly at Choyun's abrupt words.
He was a friend of few words.
"The Hebei Peng Family was nearly wiped out in a Demonic Cult ambush. Wudang took heavy losses too."
"Demonic Cult?"
Damho finally spoke.
The weight of those words was immense.
"Yeah. Their sole survivor testified to it."
Damho's brow twitched.
The Hebei Peng Family was one of the Five Great Families. Their forces weren't weak. For them to be annihilated meant the enemy was extraordinarily powerful.
"That's put all the sects here on high alert. Great Hero Nangong has called an emergency summit of the key figures from those who've arrived at Dongjeong Lake."
"......"
"So, I should go too."
"Why?"
"Why? You keep forgetting who I am. I'm Choyun, sect leader of the Hundred Battles Sect. With Master absent, it falls to me."
"Does the Hundred Battles Sect qualify to join their meeting?"
"Tch! You're the only one who undervalues us like that. The martial artists of the Jianghu didn't gift the Hundred Victories Banner to us for nothing."
The Hundred Victories Banner was proof of victory over the Demonic Cult. A sect possessing it was destined to lead the vanguard against them.
"So naturally, I have to attend."
Damho nodded at Choyun's explanation.
He didn't know the banner's full value, but he could sense Choyun's pride in it.
"Still, it's fortunate that sects like Mount Hua arrived safely."
"Mou...unt Hua Sect has entered Oryang?"
"Why? Interested in Mount Hua?"
"......"
"Heard they arrived the day before yesterday."
Damho's eyes narrowed.
He felt no nostalgia for Mount Hua, but he wasn't entirely indifferent.
"They're staying at Sanwol Manor."
"Sanwol Manor?"
"It's a manor owned by the Oryang Sword Sect. On the outskirts of Oryang—not hard to find."
Choyun shared even what wasn't asked.
Having roamed the Central Plains since childhood and mingled with countless people, his perceptiveness was keen.
He instinctively sensed Damho's connection to Mount Hua.
Most prominent Jianghu warriors had clear lineages or affiliations.
True dragons from the slums were rare tales of bygone eras.
Since the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families established dominance, they had always held the reins of power.
Hundreds of years of systematized manuals, masterful bloodline instructors, ideal training environments, and support.
While lesser sects trudged grassy back paths, prestigious disciples raced down paved highways.
Starting lines differed, so endpoints did too. Even prime manuals were hard to master alone.
Thus, top figures usually hailed from known origins.
Choyun himself wouldn't have reached this level without his master, Jang Ilsan.
Yet Damho's martial origin was elusive.
His transcendent power and honed physique couldn't spring up overnight.
There had to be a source behind his achievements. Damho's reaction suggested deep ties to Mount Hua.
'But really Mount Hua? His style doesn't match their techniques at all.'
Choyun shook his head.
He still knew far less about Damho than he didn't. Still, glimpsing one secret didn't feel bad.
'Time to head to the meeting.'
As Choyun moved to stand,
"Food's ready."
Bang Jinbo's hearty voice rang out.
"Can't leave without eating."
Choyun sat back down.
'Damn kid!'
Far off, Bang Jinbo approached with trays.
Saliva gathered in Choyun's mouth unbidden.