Chapter 10
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Rebellion of the Blood Cloud Cult
-----------------------------------------------------------------
* * *
Everyone knew that the vanguard of the resistance against the Mongol invaders—who had encroached upon the Central Plains, established the vast Yuan Empire, and dominated the world—had been the Great Cloud Bright Religion.
Commonly shortened to the Ming Cult, it was the very religious group that would later be branded as the Demonic Cult.
Heroes of the anti-Mongol struggle such as Hansandong, who fought valiantly as its leader only to perish in battle; his son Han Rima, who succeeded him as leader and was later enthroned as emperor; and others like Seodal, Sang Uchun, and Zhu Yuanzhang—all were members of the Great Cloud Bright Religion.
The banner of the Great Cloud Bright Religion was the banner of the Chinese people, embodying the aspirations of all the common folk of the Central Plains.
The trouble began after the Mongol hordes were driven out.
The ambitious and cunning Zhu Yuanzhang assassinated Han Rima, seized real power, and founded the Ming Dynasty, taking his cue from the name of the Ming Cult.
From that point on, he unleashed brutal persecution.
Not only did he eliminate all the heroes who might rival him, but he also branded the Great Cloud Bright Religion—which had become an obstacle to his rule despite having been his base—as a Demonic Cult and crushed it utterly.
Naturally, from the Ming Cult's perspective, Zhu Yuanzhang became their archenemy, a root of evil that had to be eradicated as a scourge of heresy and demons.
Thereafter, Zhu Yuanzhang and the subsequent Ming emperors employed not only the governmental and military authorities but also the forces of the so-called righteous sects—the Nine Great Sects—to suppress and eradicate the Ming Cult.
In truth, the Ming Cult had none of the traits that would warrant being called a Demonic Cult; on the contrary, it was the purest and most righteous of religions.
For instance, its highest precept was to do good, eliminate evil, and save the masses.
The Three Great Orders, which represented the Ming Cult's teachings, forbade seizing power, commanded the protection of the common people, and prohibited infighting among believers.
The subordinate Five Minor Orders likewise emphasized upholding righteousness, respecting women, revering elders, filial piety toward parents, and maintaining trust among believers.
The problem lay in the last of the Five Minor Orders.
It stated: "Kill and punish apostates, and likewise those who collude with enemies of the faith."
This explicitly designated the Great Ming Empire as the foe, marking Zhu Yuanzhang and all subsequent emperors of the Zhu clan as targets for extermination.
In short, the Great Cloud Bright Religion and the Great Ming Empire could not coexist under the same sky—they were mortal enemies.
And the so-called righteous martial world was nothing more than a lackey of that Great Ming Empire.
In the end, that festering wound burst open just over sixty years ago.
The Ming Cult split internally into the faction of the Three Great Orders, which prioritized the welfare of the people, and the faction of the Five Minor Orders, which sought to punish apostates.
Ultimately, the hardliners advocating revenge gained the upper hand, and the incident erupted.
The faction of the Five Minor Orders, which had quietly nurtured its strength in the shadows while biding its time, rose in revolt wearing red turbans symbolizing their vow of bloody vengeance.
From the outside, they were called the Blood Cloud Cult, and this uprising became known as the Rebellion of the Blood Cloud Cult.
Ilseonja of the Azure Purity Sect—a young master barely past thirty—participated in that war.
Countless soldiers and warriors vanished like morning dew on the battlefield, and even more commoners perished in the flames of war.
Under the leadership of U Gyeongcheon, the World-Mixing Demon, supreme master of the martial world at the time and leader of the Ming Cult, the Blood Cloud Cult's forces—well-prepared over many long years—were formidable and ferocious.
They shattered the hastily mobilized government troops with unstoppable momentum, ultimately swallowing not only their base in Qinghai but also Gansu and Shaanxi.
From there, they marched eastward toward Yanjing, soon reaching the Taihang Mountains that divided Shanxi and Hebei.
Once they crossed the Taihang Mountains, the road to Yanjing would be wide open.
The Ming court urgently assembled hundreds of thousands of troops from across the realm—government soldiers and righteous volunteers alike—to prepare for a decisive battle around Shijiazhuang, the strategic gateway to Hebei Province.
Ilseonja, too, joined the other warriors of the Azure Purity Sect, marching northeast from Sichuan to link up at Shijiazhuang.
But that climactic battle never came.
The main force of the Blood Cloud Cult, advancing over the Taihang Mountains, vanished somewhere within that deep and vast range.
The man now sitting across from Ilseonja in the Lotus Flower Pavilion, sharing drinks with him—Teacher Seonwoyong of the qin—that was the protagonist of that very incident.
The Nine Provinces Divine Immortal, U Cheonso.
Father of the World-Mixing Heavenly Demon, U Gyeongcheon, and the one who brought that bloody turmoil to an end.
Ilseonja himself was already one of the thirty-three absolute masters of the martial world, and he had connections or at least acquaintances with most of the others, excluding himself.
Judging from the distinctive golden tone of the qin, as well as the depth of his martial arts and the aura he exuded, the man before him could only be one of the Three Hidden Ones—himself.
"Humbly, this humble Daoist offers his apologies to Your Excellency. It was simply such a monumental event in the martial world..."
Ilseonja bowed his head once more in apology, but Seonwoyong's expression did not brighten.
"The night grows late. I must rest soon, so please, Daoist, you should retire as well..."
It was a clear dismissal. Ilseonja rose without protest, bowed in return, and exited the annex.
Then, one more of Seonwoyong's words flew into his ear and lodged there.
"To repeat myself, that man named U is long dead—over sixty years ago. Do not speak his name again."
Ilseonja turned back and silently bowed to Seonwoyong once more.
It was a vow that he would never disregard his request.
As Ilseonja departed the annex, Seonwoyong pulled the qin he had set aside back toward him.
He placed both hands upon it and began to play the strings.
It was a piece called Mad Rain Filling the Heavens.
Composed by Qu Jing of the Southern Song, it depicted a frenzied downpour and gale engulfing the world.
But tonight, the rain and wind from Seonwoyong's performance sounded like the bloody gales and wails of countless people shedding tears and blood.
The trees and grasses in the rear garden of the Lotus Flower Pavilion thrashed wildly that night.
* * *
As dawn broke, Ilseonja always rose from bed, doused his head with cold water, and shook the divination tube with its eight yarrow stalks inserted to draw the hexagram for the day, beginning his routine thus.
For the past few years, the hexagrams he drew had been unremarkable.
But this morning's twisted his face.
It was the first time the Heaven's Escape hexagram had appeared.
An ominous omen conveying nothing but unknowability...
After finishing breakfast, Ilseonja packed his belongings and left the Lotus Flower Pavilion.
No signs of life came from the annex in the rear garden.
Yet before exiting through the main gate, Ilseonja bowed toward it and murmured a silent prayer under his breath.
"Martial uncle, where do you plan to go?"
Sacheonggi, who had come to see him off, asked as he followed along.
"Who knows. For the moment, I've lost my way. Likely, I'll retreat to some mountain brimming with vital energy and offer prayers there for a time."
"How shall I report this to the elders of the sect?"
Ilseonja realized the question concerned Seonwoyong.
"Speak no needless words. Simply say the matter was resolved easily with the aid of some esteemed elder. I'll explain the details myself when I return."
"Understood. I'll relay it as such."
"Indeed. On another note, it seems your enlightenment from last night has progressed. No need to overdo it, but from now on, treat him with utmost sincerity. It appears to be a profound connection for you."
"I shall obey your command."
Ilseonja passed through the city gates of the provincial capital and stepped onto the official road leading into the distant woods.
"Martial uncle, stay strong and resolute!"
Sacheonggi bowed deeply toward his retreating figure and turned away.
His steps had grown much lighter overnight.
It was a marvel even to him.
* * *
The day the aura of Heaven's Escape enveloped the Lotus Flower Pavilion drew near.
The Lotus Flower Pavilion had one day each year when it closed for business.
That day was the summer solstice, when the energies of heaven and sun peaked in strength.
Early that morning, a simple ritual would be offered at the altar of the Primeval Lord of Heaven enshrined in one corner of the pavilion to celebrate the solstice, after which everyone working there received a full day and night of holiday.
From the gatekeepers to the maids doing odd jobs, this one precious day off was granted to nearly all, and they all eagerly awaited it.
Those with nearby homes returned to spend it with family, of course.
Those without homes or with distant ones would form their own groups in advance, preparing outings to nearby spots with clear waters and fine scenery—a cherished tradition.
This applied equally to the courtesans and their attendants.
Visiting long-unseen hometowns laden with gifts was one of the great joys they anticipated all year.
Courtesans with no homes to visit would make their own plans to console each other's loneliness on excursions.
The problem was Seonwoyong.
One day, Pavilion Master Jeong Yeongyeong visited him, explained this tradition of the Lotus Flower Pavilion, and inquired if he had anywhere to go.
Naturally, Seonwoyong had no particular place to visit.
"Then, humbly, I must ask a favor of you, Teacher. From dusk that evening until dawn the next day when the sun rises, would you please refrain from leaving this annex and stay indoors?"
"Is such precaution truly necessary? In that case, I'll simply tour some nearby spot."
When Seonwoyong indicated his intent to leave regardless, Jeong Yeongyeong startled and tried to dissuade him.
"No, there's no need to go out alone and sleep in some strange place on purpose. Though everyone departs, two or three cooks, several maids, I myself, Chief Steward Jang, and others will remain. Have an early dinner and simply spend the night comfortably."
"Is someone coming to visit, by chance? Insisting I not leave this annex suggests there are figures who prefer to avoid drawing attention who will call upon the Lotus Flower Pavilion."
"Precisely. But it's nothing grand or secretive—just that this is the day when the true owners of this pleasure house visit. They're not proud of their investments here, so they come only this one day to settle the year's profits and exchange news of one another's well-being."
"Ah, I see."
"They're by no means suspicious people. It's thanks to them that I've been able to run this Lotus Flower Pavilion in a way befitting human habitation."
Seonwoyong nodded at Jeong Yeongyeong's explanation.
"Understood. Then I'll spend that day as if I don't exist. I won't play the qin that night, either."
"I'm truly sorry. From next year, I'll arrange for you to go on a scenic tour with a few of the attendant girls who serve you well. This time, things were so hectic I failed to consider you in advance."
"No need for such words. Am I not living here so comfortably and enjoyably? What's one night?"
After concluding the discussion with Jeong Yeongyeong, that day arrived a few days later.