Imperial Shadows on Wudang's Secrets
As soon as the squad leader spoke and they caught sight of the imperial decree scroll in his hand, the sect leader's posture dropped sharply, prostrating himself on the ground as if recognizing that these men's presence was no ordinary affair. Even for the Wudang Sect, a great sect whose disciples soared like eagles and crawled like dragons in the martial world, they were ultimately mere subjects of the nation. Realizing this, the Wudang disciples hurriedly followed their sect leader's example, lowering themselves one after another.
Though the Geumuiwi numbered only about thirty at present, their true essence as representatives of the state itself rendered any count meaningless. Even if they spat insults and invoked the extermination of the family, striking them down with raw force here and now would mean they could no longer live as martial artists or citizens in this land—this world. The sect leader, Hyeonheo Jin-in, chewed back a sigh rising from the frustration of recent indignities unfit for his realm and status, swallowing it down as he awaited the squad leader's words.
Under the sect leader's lead, all the Wudang disciples assembled before the Geumuiwi, bowing their heads in silence. The squad leader, who had been waiting for this moment, nodded with a satisfied smile, murmuring that even a Fire Realm master couldn't defy the imperial house after all. He then addressed the sect leader directly.
"As I told the young ones here, the reason my Geumuiwi and I have come is none other than His Majesty's strict command. Though you who practice martial arts are called martial artists, you are ultimately Taoist priests honing your cultivation. There was this utterly absurd report— so ridiculous it left even me tongue-tied. What was it again?"
No matter that they moved by imperial decree, the man before him was a Fire Realm expert far surpassing his own cultivation. Seeing no need to irk him unnecessarily, the squad leader continued with some banter.
"Well... I've heard rumors that the Wudang Sect possesses military treatises and governmental martial arts manuals strictly regulated by imperial edict. Is there any truth to that, perchance?"
At the squad leader's words, the Wudang disciples all wore expressions of utter disbelief, as if wondering what nonsense this was. Though they were now Wudang disciples, most had once been ordinary citizens of the nation, so they just tilted their heads in confusion at his incomprehensible claim.
What... the hell...?
But among them, only Hyeonheo Jin-in, the sect leader, broke into a cold sweat as memories of the Wudang Sect's secret library surfaced. His late junior brother Hyeonchung, who had managed all the martial arts tomes including the Jangseogak, had passed down that knowledge only to successive sect leaders and the elders in charge of the Jangseogak. Thus, Hyeonheo Jin-in stiffened at the impossible source of the squad leader's information, his face hardening as he faced the innocent, expectant gazes of his clueless sect members urging him to say something.
The secret archive of Wudang, handed down since ancient times. For it to have remained hidden meant they had deftly evaded all external threats and pressures, pocketing the benefits in the process. Though it was a painful memory, he had witnessed Hyeonchung's dying moments firsthand, leaving him utterly unable to guess the leak's origin. Frowning deeply, Hyeonheo Jin-in schooled his expression for denial and spoke.
"That's news even I, the sect leader, have never heard. Might I ask where and how you came by that information?"
With his immortal-like bearing from years of cultivation and inner arts, and an impeccable mask of wronged innocence, the sect leader nearly made the squad leader blurt out a key phrase from his initial briefing. Biting down hard, he regained his composure, wary of the sly old fox lurking beneath that harmless facade, and replied.
"You'll learn the source naturally when we ascertain the truth of your guilt later, so don't worry about it. In any case, even you, the sect leader, claim ignorance of whether you possess these books defying His Majesty's edict... Is that what you're saying?"
"Yes. If such a secret existed within the sect, it surely would have reached me as sect leader, but nothing of the sort comes to mind."
From the squad leader's perspective, armed with precise instructions on the mechanism, location, and contents via intelligence, this was pure stonewalling. He snorted derisively, his blood heating at how the imperial prestige had waned—enough for this priest to spout lies right in front of the Geumuiwi he'd preemptively anticipated. Calming his excitement with a breath, he nodded.
"Very well. Even acting on imperial command, I can't persecute priests properly engaged in mental cultivation. So, might you allow a search of just one location?"
"...Very well. Which place do you wish to inspect?"
"Well... since it's about military treatises and martial manuals... a quick check of the Jangseogak should suffice, no?"
"..."
His words seemed like a plea for leniency, the Geumuiwi bending humbly, but they implied a thorough prior investigation pinpointing one spot. Grasping this instantly, Hyeonheo Jin-in doubted they knew the exact path to the secret cave within the Jangseogak, yet wondered at their certainty. Reluctantly, he nodded.
"Hm... As you say, storing such strictly managed books in the Jangseogak, accessible to all disciples, wouldn't make sense..."
"Come on, you know I'm not that naive. Surely you see this as us accommodating you, right? Heh."
Grinning broadly, the squad leader bantered as if roughly handling the potentially sensitive Jangseogak entry for Wudang's convenience alone. The disciples, initially glaring at the Geumuiwi for treading on their sect's pride under imperial compulsion, now relaxed their shoulders, thinking Wudang's prestige even made the imperial guards go through the motions perfunctorily.
Hugging his burning frustration, Hyeonheo Jin-in had no choice but to nod at the squad leader's words amid his disciples' reactions.
"No... choice, then. To prove our innocence, letting you inspect at your leisure will be more effective than a hundred denials."
"Mm! It won't take long, so don't fret. We won't even glance at your Wudang martial arts manuals for legitimate cultivation... We're after books defying the edict, not your rightful training texts."
As the squad leader glanced at his men, the Geumuiwi gripped their spear shafts powerfully, nodding vigorously. Before the imperial house's vast martial arts, Wudang's were mere weeds—no greed flickered in their eyes. Thus, the disciples didn't even consider their sect's honor tarnished, nodding trustingly at the reliable sight.
"Then show us the Jangseogak at once!"
"...This way, please..."
Knock. Knock.
"Hm? Enter."
Idly experimenting by stuffing a rat pup into a small experimental vial and pulling it in and out of my Inventory, I paused at the maid's presence delivering a letter outside my door, followed by the knock. I looked up, stopping my hands.
"Greetings, Vice Military Officer..."
The maid bowed lightly, her trembling hands offering the letter. With the maids released and quaking as never before, I thought my wife had done a thorough job breaking them in. My head nodded involuntarily, a smile tugging at my lips. People were animals after all—the stick worked wonders.
"You're dismissed."
"Yes..."
I watched her bow politely and retreat, then chuckled after a moment's thought, turning to the received letter.