Chapter 180
Chapter 180
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: I Have No Choice But to Acknowledge It
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A funeral for the dead.
The first day.
Mu-heun bowed his head with the others, offering his deepest condolences. From the second day, he discussed future plans with the Soul-Stealing Immortal and Du Baek.
“Here is a document summarizing my research through the Butterfly Dream.”
The Soul-Stealing Immortal bowed his head deeply to Mu-heun.
“I will put it to good use.”
“I have also written about the relationship between formations and ghost arts, so please refer to it. Ah, and from now on, let's keep in touch through carrier hawks.”
“Of course.”
“And, Alliance Leader.”
“Speak.”
“This is a document I compiled on the human body's acupoints and the circulation of ki. Please share it with the physicians of the Medical Hall and apply it to the warriors. It should enable them to advance their realms in a short time.”
“Hah… Thank you very much.”
“Also, please hurry to find and recruit the hidden masters. And those who have reached the Profound Realm, please visit Chipyeongsa in Okhwa Prefecture. Here is a map I've drawn.”
“I understand.”
“Things will get busy from now on. However, you must not neglect a single thing.”
“Ha, really. I wonder what we would have done without you.”
“Haha. Having someone like you, Alliance Leader, also puts my mind at ease. Let's communicate often.”
“Thank you. So, are you leaving today?”
“Yes. I have subordinates and family members waiting for me.”
“It's a shame, but I suppose I must let you go.”
Mu-heun cupped his fist and spoke.
“Then, until we meet again, please take care.”
“You too. Let us meet next time as Alliance Leader and Cult Leader.”
After finishing his meeting with the Alliance Leader, Mu-heun came out…
The Soul-Stealing Immortal followed him out.
“Sir Mu-heun!”
“Yes, Sir Jang Ryang.”
“I will send word to Wudang. The Three Supreme Blades might attack you on your way.”
It made sense. However, Mu-heun refused, as he had no more time to delay. Jin Hong, the Plum Blossom Sword Venerable who had already reached the Profound Realm, had also offered to escort him to Xinjiang.
He didn't think the Three Supreme Blades would be much of a problem anyway.
“Hmm… It's alright.”
“Hahahahahaha, I understand. Then, travel safely.”
“Ah, yes…”
*‘Soul-Stealing Immortal Jang Ryang… he heard me, right…?’*
* * *
Seven days and nights later, after the sorrow had passed, what remained in the Orthodox martial world was shock. And it was by no means a shock over the scale of the damage.
The leaders of the Orthodox martial world soon gathered again at the Martial Alliance headquarters, Cheonryong Fortress. Representing them, Elder Heoseon of Wudang asked Du Baek.
“What are we to do from now on?”
The Orthodox martial world had successfully overcome several major crises in the past. The upright Alliance Leader Du Baek. While having such a person as a central pillar was part of it… that wasn't the only reason.
They were people united under the name of the Orthodox Sects; that was what it meant to be an Orthodox martial artist. That's right. Even if they were Orthodox, not everything they did was right. Sometimes, they acted selfishly, using all sorts of schemes and tricks even within their own sects.
Or the prestigious families would fight over jurisdictions for their own gain. These were the kind of people they were.
Although the major sects and prestigious families never engaged in all-out war, they were people who continued all sorts of disputes in the shadows.
However, even such people would unite for one reason: war against a force that crossed the line.
The war against the Unorthodox Sects' alliance.
The war against the Demonic Cult.
When a great war broke out, the Orthodox martial world became one. They all cast aside their own interests and did not hesitate to unite.
“We must become one.”
Just then, Moyong Su-yeon asked Du Baek.
“When you say become one…?”
“Did you not witness the Jinju Eon Family incident? From now on, I am declaring a state of emergency. Cease all conflicts over interests, even if it means taking a loss. And from now on, I expect you to follow the Martial Alliance's directives completely.”
At the Alliance Leader's words, Mong-yu of the Zhongnan Sect opened his mouth.
“Ahem. That is…”
They were the ones feuding with the Huashan Sect in Shaanxi. They didn't want to end the dispute because they couldn't give up the immense profits at stake.
However, Du Baek's reaction was utterly cold and icy.
“That is?”
“Ah, it's nothing.”
This was not the time to be prideful.
The scale of this incident was on a different level.
Du Baek calmly opened his mouth again.
“The crisis we face now is different from the wars against the Unorthodox and Demonic Cults.
In this crisis, we didn't know the scale of the threat, who the enemy was, or how strong they were. Even the Jinju Eon Family, part of our own Orthodox martial world, fell to them entirely and became monsters. What were all of you doing then?”
“…”
The atmosphere in the hall grew chillingly quiet.
A great crisis that could have destroyed the Martial Alliance. Yet, the one who recognized it was not anyone from the Orthodox Sects, but a young prodigy from the Demonic Cult.
The battle that just occurred was something they couldn't have resolved even with all their knowledge and power combined.
The solution Baek Mu-heun had prepared was exceptionally brilliant.
“Baek Mu-heun, he and the Soul-Stealing Immortal are the only ones with the wisdom to break through the current situation. Is there anyone here who denies this?”
“…”
No one denied it. That was why the key figures of the Nine Sects One Union and the Five Great Families had come to the Alliance Leader to discuss cooperating with Baek Mu-heun.
“Then, I will take it that everyone will cooperate. I will deliver the details separately.”
“We will follow the Alliance Leader's opinion.”
“““We will follow the Alliance Leader's opinion.”””
* * *
Du Baek finished discussing a few important matters and dismissed the elders. Then, he separately called only the representatives of each sect and family to the Alliance Leader's office.
The sect leaders and family heads were gathered in one place.
The content was clearly similar to the secret meeting held before, but the atmosphere was quite different.
“The secret meeting held during the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly. That was a meeting arranged to inform you, the leaders of the Orthodox martial world, about the strange phenomena occurring everywhere, and to seek your cooperation.
But, perhaps because you have all now directly faced these phenomena… the atmosphere is a little different.”
Back then, Du Baek had to persuade them. The haughty leaders of the Orthodox martial world had merely listened in silence.
When the Soul-Stealing Immortal introduced Baek Mu-heun, a man from the Demonic Cult, and said he would become the focal point of the great war to come, the leaders of the Orthodox martial world had been furious.
Because they couldn't believe it.
But now, the tables had turned.
Just then, someone who had supported Mu-heun from the beginning.
Unryong Ok Cheon-woo of Kunlun spoke.
“Alliance Leader, we wish to maintain a good relationship with Baek Mu-heun. Where is he now?”
The funeral lasted for three days. Baek Mu-heun was not seen after the first day. At that time, the entire Orthodox martial world was mourning their deceased comrades, so they had no time to pay attention to Baek Mu-heun.
But after the funeral ended, they couldn't find him anywhere.
The Alliance Leader, still smiling warmly, said.
“He has already set off to return to his headquarters in Xinjiang. However, he made a promise before he left.”
“A promise?”
“Yes. That we should face the coming crisis in the Central Plains together. He also said that the Demonic Cult will actively move to prevent the destruction of the Central Plains.”
Hearing the Alliance Leader's words, the leaders of the Orthodox martial world felt a sense of shame.
A prodigy from the Demonic Cult had promised to actively work for the peace of the Central Plains and then left.
Remembering how they had expressed distrust, citing his origins, the sect leaders and family heads cleared their throats and spoke.
“Hmph… well… that's good news. Although he is from the Demonic Cult, he is a man of great character.”
Du Baek smiled at those clearing their throats and said.
“I think so too. However, he proposed one condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes. He said he knows better than anyone why you brought up his origins, and why you arranged a duel with another young prodigy.”
“…Haha…”
“Furthermore, he said he is well aware of why the Demonic Cult, to which he belongs, is called the Demonic Cult in the Central Plains. However.”
“…”
The sect leaders and family heads held their breath and listened to Du Baek's words.
“He explained that the Demonic Cult's original name was the Luminous Cult. And that from now on, he will change the Demonic Cult himself.”
“Change the Demonic Cult?”
“What does that mean…”
Seeing their confusion, Du Baek smiled warmly again and answered.
“He asked me to convey this to all of you in the Orthodox martial world.”
Alliance Leader Du Baek cleared his throat. Then he began to read the letter from Mu-heun that was on his desk.
As if he were the young, yet seasoned, Baek Mu-heun.
[ Greetings. I found our recent meeting to be very impressive.
The Orthodox martial world, which is responsible for the peace of the current Central Plains. And what kind of people you, who are responsible for leading it, are.
I saw all of you actively participating in the plan of someone like me, who comes from the Demonic Cult.
Without your cooperation, we would not have been able to eliminate the evil spirits plotting in Gwiwon Temple. And even if we had, we would have suffered immense damage.
I believe this outcome was not because of one person's efforts, but because the entire Orthodox martial world joined forces with one heart and one mind.
Therefore, through this incident, I have seen a possibility. That the Orthodox, the Demonic Cult, and even the Unorthodox… can join forces and fight without being bound by past ties or origins.
For that, I once again extend my gratitude to you all.
Also, although I am returning to the Demonic Cult, I promise to continue overcoming crises with you in the future.
However, I would like to propose one condition.
I hope that the Orthodox Martial Alliance will develop through cooperation, not competition, from now on. The crisis facing this era is not over just because we have overcome it once.
Therefore, there are things we must do to build our strength and prepare. I have discussed all of this with the Soul-Stealing Immortal and the Alliance Leader, so please proceed after consulting with them.
Also, with the Martial Alliance as the center, please find the hidden masters who have withdrawn from the various sects and families. Now is a time when every single warrior counts.
We also need the help of the masters who live in seclusion like immortals, without revealing themselves. I trust that each sect and family is well aware of the locations of these reclusive masters.
This is my proposal and my condition.
I will return to the Demonic Cult and participate in the competition to become the next Cult Leader. And I will triumphantly become the Cult Leader.
As the master of the Demonic Cult, the Cult Leader, I plan to make a name for myself not as the Demonic Cult you know, but as the Luminous Cult.
Thus, when we next meet, I will not come as the prodigy Baek Mu-heun, or the Dragon Demon Pavilion Lord Baek Mu-heun, but as the Cult Leader of the Sun and Moon Luminous Cult, Cult Leader Baek Mu-heun.
When that time comes, I believe we will fight the enemy with the strongest force in the history of the martial world. Then, I will look forward to the day we meet again. ]
The leaders of the Orthodox martial world, gathered in the Alliance Leader's office, were speechless after hearing the contents of the letter Mu-heun left behind.
They had planned to admit their mistakes and ask for his cooperation. It didn't matter that he was from the Demonic Cult. They had already experienced his character and abilities.
So, they had come to one conclusion.
Let's get Baek Mu-heun out of the Demonic Cult.
If his origin was the problem, they just needed to change his origin. No matter how outstanding his character was, he was still young, a mere prodigy. He had not even reached the age of thirty.
The reality was that as long as he belonged to the Demonic Cult, it wouldn't be strange if his heart changed at any moment.
However, his thinking was far ahead of theirs.
That the Demonic Cult, known as the strongest single power in the Central Plains, was also a crucial part of their forces. And that he would seize control of that power himself.
He also possessed tremendous confidence. He was telling the Orthodox Sects to reinforce their strength by finding reclusive masters, while he would become the Cult Leader, transform the Demonic Cult into the Luminous Cult, and join them.
It was too broad and vast a way of thinking to be dismissed as the mere childish outburst of a young prodigy.
A seasoned wisdom emanated from him, as if he saw the entire world as a single painting.
Mong-yu, the Sect Leader of the Zhongnan Sect, couldn't hold back his admiration and spoke.
“Haha, I have no choice but to acknowledge it. From where did such a golden star emerge?”