Black Brush Party Annihilation: One Month's Hiatus
A month had passed since the serialization hiatus for the Black Brush Party extermination arc. Expectations for Jin-un's story, which had halted mid-stride in volume 3, only grew, but with volume 4 nowhere in sight, people were burning with impatience. Amid this frustration, word reached the ears of Wudang sect members and other murim folk alike.
It was news of a group circulating illegal manuscript copies.
"What did you say?! Illegal copies?!"
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Hyeonseongja's face flushed red and purple at Mujin's response. His visage, heated like a volcano on the verge of eruption, was a sight the Wudang elders had never witnessed before. Yet most of the elders shared his fury.
Wudang Sword Hero's volume 4 wasn't coming out! And all because of those bastards peddling illegal copies!!
"Muchon!!"
"Yes, Sect Leader!!"
"Take the Seven Swords with you! Descend the mountain and drag back every insolent wretch circulating those illegal copies!"
The Seven Swords referred to the seven elite swordmasters renowned even within Wudang. This was the first time since becoming sect leader that Hyeonseongja had ordered them mobilized. It spoke volumes of his rage.
How could the elders gathered here not understand why the usually composed Hyeonseongja had lost his temper? They too were avid readers of Wudang Sword Hero.
But emotional responses often let the real culprits slip away.
"Sect Leader, please calm yourself. We mustn't act on impulse."
"Hmph!"
"Senior Brother Mujin, what is our best course?"
The speaker was Muchonja, the Medical Absolute and one of the Wudang Three Absolutes alongside Mujin. Mujin answered his junior brother's question.
"Even with our sect's flourishing power, we cannot scour the entire Central Plains, Sect Leader."
They couldn't charge ahead without knowing if the copyists were an organized group, scattered individuals, or lone operators. Mujin's advice was sound.
No matter how vast Wudang's influence or how many secular sects were allied with them, investigating the whole Central Plains was beyond one sect's capacity. It was simply too much.
"Then what do you propose, Mujin?"
"We should borrow the Murim Alliance's strength."
"The Alliance's power?"
Mujin closed his eyes in affirmation at Hyeonseongja's query. Muchonja spoke up.
"Then let's have Mugongja request it from the Alliance Leader."
Mugongja, the Heroic Absolute and youngest of the Wudang Three Absolutes, represented Wudang at the Murim Alliance. Through him, a direct appeal was feasible—though procedures would need following. But given the matter involved Wudang Sword Hero, Mugongja would surely understand.
After all, Baek Su-gyeong, the author, was Wudang's great benefactor in this era. Though rarely voiced aloud, most Wudang disciples believed it, and it wasn't far from the truth.
"Issuing a Murim Notice would be the swiftest path, Sect Leader."
"Murim Notice! Of course, that's it!"
Hyeonseongja slapped his knee as if the idea had just struck him. The other elders brightened at Mujin's words.
A Murim Notice would enlist the aid of righteous warriors across the jianghu, easing the hunt for the culprits.
"Mujin! Contact Mugongja at once! Inform the Alliance we'll issue a Murim Notice in our sect's name and request their assistance!"
"Yes, Sect Leader!"
Mujin rose with resolute determination. As the elders dispersed from the meeting, fury gleamed on their faces like starlight scattered across the night sky.
Thus began the unintended momentum from the seed Baek Su-gyeong had sown. What would later be dubbed by him the "True Reader Extermination Incident"—the first operation to apprehend illegal manuscript distributors—was finally underway.
The distribution of Wudang Sword Hero followed several established steps. This wasn't unique to it—most goods passed through similar processes.
Baek Su-gyeong wrote the manuscript and prepared a separate copy, which So Ssaang-a collected. She passed copies to contracted bookstores for duplication. They delivered on schedule, and those bookstores—exclusive partners with Gyeongun Merchant Group—handled final distribution.
But human greed often intervened midway, leading some to siphon off copies. These were funneled to illicit copiers for faster, illegal circulation.
The desire to read Wudang Sword Hero even a day sooner. Those driven by such greed naturally banded together.
And so, the Black Brush Party was born.
"Branch Leader, we've been hit again. The Black Brush Party bastards...!"
"Again?!"
So Ssaang-a, buried in paperwork, slumped into her chair with a heavy sigh.
Since the Black Brush Party's illegal copies flooded the market, direct bookstore sales of Wudang Sword Hero had plummeted.
She couldn't face Baek Su-gyeong like this. After all her bold promises, she had nothing to show for it.
"Ughhh...."
So Ssaang-a groaned. Her aide bowed and reported.
"It seems the murim folk are outraged too, since Teacher Su-gyeong is withholding the next volume because of them."
"The murim folk?"
Gyeongun Merchant Group hadn't fully restored its former glory, but Wudang Sword Hero's explosive sales over mere months had expanded their workforce substantially beyond small trader status.
Without those sales, revival would have been impossible. So Ssaang-a felt boundless gratitude.
"Yes. They say Wudang's Hyeonseongja erupted in fury...."
"Ah."
So Ssaang-a knew of Wudang's Hyeonseongja. The current sect leader, the Flexible Immortal among the Wudang Five Immortals—the sole elder who hadn't retired, steadfastly guarding the sect. He wasn't one to anger easily, true to his moniker.
"Of course, Wudang. With Wudang Sword Hero, I should have expected their rage."
"We're concerned it might harm Teacher Su-gyeong."
"It can't!"
To So Ssaang-a, he was her lifesaver. Three years ago, without settling in Hubei and forging ties with Baek Su-gyeong, Gyeongun Merchant Group wouldn't exist.
She had roamed as a peddler, hungry and hawking wares. He pitied her plight yet never compromised on deals. His unyielding principles had kept her honest amid hardship.
"Owner Baek is my benefactor. We must block any harm to him!"
"Of course."
The aide knew her feelings transcended mere gratitude but kept silent. A girl becomes a woman only upon realizing unspoken emotions. So Ssaang-a was rather oblivious in that regard.
And Teacher Su-gyeong is that sort of man, the aide thought with a wry inner smile.
"First, investigate the Black Brush Party...."
"Right! Exactly!"
So Ssaang-a sprang up, eyes sparkling like a comet. A good idea had struck.
"Start with the bookstores contracted to our group. One of their copyists must be in the Black Brush Party."
She'd chosen smaller shops unable to use efficient woodblock printing. Who'd imagine their copyists pilfering Wudang Sword Hero?
Perhaps underestimating human greed was the price.
"It won't be easy to catch them, Branch Leader."
"We can't give up! If we don't uproot them—cut the grass and roots alike—the damage will only grow."
The aide nodded in agreement. So Ssaang-a bit her lip.
"I foresaw illegal copies with woodblock printing and planned accordingly, but this is my oversight."
"Woodblocks make illicit distribution easier too. We should include larger bookstores in the scope."
"...Yes. But narrow the initial focus. The leak is surely from our contractors. If not...."
"We'll expand then. Understood, Branch Leader."
The aide bowed. But where works existed, counterfeits followed. If the Black Brush Party forged Wudang Sword Hero-like tales with twisted contents....
The mere thought was horrifying. Wudang Sword Hero and Baek Su-gyeong had reshaped murim. No one could predict the fallout if he set down his brush.
The aide declared firmly.
"...We'll root out the Black Brush Party, no matter what."
"Huff... huff...."
The man scrambled up the mountain, breath ragged. He'd fled Luoyang, Henan Province's ancient capital, for hours now—who knew how many?
He'd just run like a madman.
"Damn it, I have to deliver this to the Chief Clerk."
Blood trickled from his shoulder as he hurried. Who'd expect Wudang to raid them? Copying and selling some nameless scholar's novel—what crime was that?
He gnashed his teeth.
"Fucking bald-ass monks!"
Dozens of crimson torch flames flickered behind like pursuers. Glancing back, he quickened his pace.
Shouts echoed as he unleashed lightness skill.
"There he is!"
"Seize him!"
"That's the Black Brush Party dog who copied Teacher Su-gyeong's work and sold it! Grab him!!"
He twisted away from a flying sword energy beam. A Wudang swordsman leaped high against the moonlight, eyes blazing with madness, sword unleashing streams of energy.
The man faltered.
"These lunatics! No talk, straight to killer moves?!"
Even Shaolin renegades didn't strike so blindly. Dodging, he bellowed.
"You crazy bald-ass Taoists! Killing over a copied book?!"
"No words!!"
"You think you can escape the Heavenly Net?!"
"You fucking maniacs!!"
Wudang, Murim Alliance—all mad. So he thought.
"Copying one book and selling it—what huge crime is that?! From some no-name scholar!!"
"We said no words!!"
"Argh!"
A blinding sword beam pierced his left shoulder. Agonizing pain and impact spun him like a top into the dirt.
He tumbled, coughing dust. Both shoulders pierced, arms useless, yet he struggled up—only for a Wudang sword to halt at his throat.
"Cease your futile resistance. You'll be escorted to the Alliance to pay for your crimes."
"Teacher Su-gyeong will soon grace us, and he'll judge your sins himself! Receive the summons!"
"Damn you! Let go!! I said let go!!"
A Wudang swordsman struck the thrashing man's neck, knocking him out cold. With icy demeanor:
"Bind him."
"Yes, sir!"
Alliance warriors secured him tightly. The Wudang swordsman nodded.
"Escort him to the Alliance as is."
"Yes, sir!"
"What of the other teams?"
"No word yet. No signals, so they're likely struggling, Elder Mugongja."
The Wudang swordsman—Mugongja, stern as a tiger with flowing white immortal beard—frowned slightly.
"Split the men. We don't know how deep this Black Brush Party's roots run—rumors link them to Haomen, so stay vigilant."
"Yes."
"Fifteen swordsmen, follow me. The rest, escort this thief to the Alliance!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Move!"
Mugongja led with lightness skill, fifteen Alliance warriors trailing. The rest shouldered the unconscious Black Brush Party member.
Moonlight bathed the dispersing warriors as they vanished into the night.