Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Frog in the Well (5)
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In the grand assembly hall of the Orthodox Council, the largest gathering in nearly sixty years was in full swing.
Zhang Sun-rip, the former disciplinary elder of the Zhongnan Sect who had seized the vice-chair position of the Orthodox Council after Nangong Uk's recent resignation, pulled out the wooden tally sticks from the jar he held and checked the count of ayes and nays. With a clearing of his throat,
"Ahem."
The leaders of the Nine Great Sects, the Eight Great Schools, the prestigious families, as well as the low- and mid-tier sect representatives and secretaries acting on their behalf, all perked up their ears.
And how could they not?
"The proposal regarding the Joint Orthodox Army, put forward by Lord Gong Son Mu-gyeol, the Martial Alliance Leader and Orthodox Council Chairman..."
The tally sticks in Zhang Sun-rip's jar pertained to the most weighty issue that had heated up the assembly hall over the past few days.
"The tally results... it has been rejected."
At that announcement, some among the gathered nodded quietly in approval,
while others let out sighs.
Gong Son Mu-gyeol, the prime representative of the latter group, gave a wry smile and spoke up.
"This will turn a problem that could have been nipped with a hoe into one that requires a mattock."
In response, Abbot Gong Hyo of Shaolin, the representative of the former group, turned the prayer beads in his hand and replied.
"Amitabha. Alliance Leader, you worry too much."
"Abbot, how can you say I worry too much when it comes to the Demonic Cult?"
"This poor monk knows well the harm the Demonic Cultists wrought in the past. However, raising a Joint Army is an enormous undertaking. That pain and anxiety will be passed directly onto the common folk, and with so many young lives at stake, we must exercise the utmost caution."
"While we exercise such caution, the Demonic Cultists grow stronger, and their forces expand."
"Even if the shadows grow, would they dare encroach if the light stands firm? The Beggars' Gang has pledged reforms, and the heroes gathered here from the Shanxi incident have all renewed their vigilance."
"Your words ring true, but can matters between people truly be as absolute as light and shadow?"
"Your point is valid, Alliance Leader, but this is a proposal rejected after deep deliberation by the pillars of the Orthodox Martial World. Why not let go of this fixation and focus instead on the minor measures already discussed—supporting Kunlun, which serves as the vanguard of the Orthodox Martial World, and Mosan Sect, which counters the Demonic Cult's sorcery?"
"...Very well. But let us take a short break before resuming."
And so the Orthodox Council adjourned briefly.
Though the formal meeting was on recess, such renowned elders rarely gathered in one place,
and everyone acknowledged that the Demonic Cult was no entity to be ignored.
Thus, the undercurrents of conversation among the attendees buzzed with energy.
"Elder, have you given any thought to it?"
"Oh, it's the head of the Danmok Family. You mean the offer to help establish a branch of Mosan Sect and lay family in Lake Province in exchange for dispatching a few Upper Purity Sword Elite disciples to your family?"
"Yes. Our sect leader said he'd consider it positively, so I was wondering how it turned out."
"Indeed. Our sect leader was pleased, saying it would be an opportunity for both Mosan Sect and the Danmok Family to advance. Though our provinces differ, our main temple and your family are practically neighbors, so I'll pay you a visit."
"No, it would be proper for me to call on you. We'll come to you."
"Hahaha, is that so?"
Among them, the most popular conversation partner was Mosan Sect's ceremonial elder, Song Yang-ja.
"Elder, have you considered our proposal?"
"Ah, the leader of the Yeomseong School? You asked for five third-generation disciples, even, with a three-year contract renewable. Hmm, but our third-generation disciples are in the midst of cultivation at the main temple or preparing to enter the Righteous Martial Academy..."
"Then how about a five-year term with upfront payment? We'll add thirty percent more to the dispatch fee."
"Haha. It wasn't money I was worried about..."
"We know. We know."
It was then.
As Song Yang-ja's surroundings formed quite the crowd, a beggar suddenly dashed into the hall and handed a note to Man Bok, the Beggars' Gang Leader.
"Heavens, there's never a dull moment around that guy. Head of the Pang Family, Head of the Eon Family. News on Yong-un—care to hear?"
At Man Bok's words, the attention in the hall naturally shifted to him.
And how could it not?
Ever since the news spread that he had been expelled from the Pearl Eon Family, Eon Yong-un had become the most famous junior in the world.
Rumors of him being the world's greatest wastrel had swirled, only for tales of him becoming the top student at the Righteous Martial Academy to emerge. Now, whispers circulated of him reviving the Pearl Eon Family's corpse soldiers, slaying a demonic figure, and more.
Several people seated in the hall spoke up toward Man Bok.
"Gang Leader, mind if we listen in too?"
"Sure, why not? It's no great secret—anyone who wants to know can find out."
Man Bok readily opened his mouth.
"Eon Family Head's eldest son here loaded up the corpse soldiers he captured this time to donate to the Righteous Martial Academy, but the Mosan Sect cadets there are complaining that they should have gone through them first and demanding an investigation into negligence."
At Man Bok's report,
a few in the hall murmured, "Well, corpse soldiers should indeed go through Mosan Sect."
Song Yang-ja's lips twitched into a smirk.
But that smile didn't last long on Song Yang-ja's face.
Pang Mu-hyeok posed a question to Man Bok.
"Yong-un isn't the type to sit idle after hearing that unless he disguised himself as a sack of rice. So? What happened next?"
"Surprisingly, he complied meekly? He yielded to the Mosan Sect disciples' objection."
"He yielded?"
"But when Yong-un actually demonstrated his corpse manipulation technique, the Mosan Sect disciples collapsed, begging to find their mothers?!"
In truth, only one, Mu Gil, had collapsed,
but since Mosan Sect had voted against striking the Demonic Cult while trying to snag the benefits, Man Bok lumped them all together out of spite.
Rumors had a way of turning singular events into plural ones, after all.
Anyway.
As Man Bok finished speaking,
several people near Song Yang-ja subtly backed away and turned to Eon Jeong-ung with questions.
"So, the rumors are true—that the Pearl Eon... no, the Northern Fist Champion's eldest son has revived the lineage of the Pearl Eon Family's corpse soldiers?"
"...Heavens? Doesn't that mean he has grandmaster-level talent in corpse arts?!"
At those questions,
Eon Jeong-ung's lips quivered as if spasming.
"Ahem. Ahem."
But his inherently humble nature led him to speak less than candidly.
"While Yong-un was still with the family, he did say he'd try reviving the corpse soldier lineage, but calling it grandmaster-level talent is too much. He merely achieved a small accomplishment, and on that basis, he made a minor contribution in Shanxi this time."
Even that was enough to shift the mood among those surrounding Song Yang-ja.
"Elder?"
"...Yes, speak, Yeomseong School Leader."
"You just said it wasn't about money, and upon reflection, you're right. I approached you too mundanely. I'll ponder a more fitting proposal and visit again."
In response, Mosan Sect's sect leader Song Cheong-ja cleared his throat with a "Ahem!" and gave Song Yang-ja a stern look.
"Junior Brother, how do you manage the kids?"
Then, toward Eon Jeong-ung, he offered an appropriate apology.
"It's the young ones' doing, but it seems Mosan Sect was somewhat rude."
At Song Cheong-ja's words, Eon Jeong-ung put on a solemnly serious expression and cupped his hands in respect.
"The Righteous Martial Academy is a place where hot-blooded youths gather, so such things happen often enough."
Yet his lips were still smirking faintly.
That ignited a fire in Song Yang-ja's chest.
'What an utter humiliation!'
He had originally planned to use the freshman-senior meet as an excuse to visit the academy quietly and humble them.
But now, the cost-benefit was way off.
'I need to return this humiliation to those Pearl Eon Family brats in front of even more people.'
Song Yang-ja's face flushed red as a persimmon while he rapidly turned his mind, then transmitted a thought to Song Cheong-ja via internal energy.
Did that idea strike him as plausible?
When Gong Son Mu-gyeol returned to the hall,
"Let us resume the meeting. If anyone has an alternative to counter the Demonic Cult's stirrings, feel free to propose it. Yes, Mosan Sect Leader. Speak."
Song Cheong-ja, granted the floor, opened his mouth.
"Various alternatives have merit, but it suddenly occurred to this poor Daoist that demonstrating the Orthodox Martial World's strength could intimidate the Demonic Cultists and narrow their footing."
"Hm? Are you suggesting we hold a martial tournament?"
"That would be ideal, but suddenly hosting one would incur costs, and rushing it might cause chaos or security gaps."
"True. So what exactly is your idea, Sect Leader?"
"I hear the Righteous Martial Academy is holding its freshman-senior meet around now."
"Hm. I know the meet as an event where higher-year cadets welcome the new students."
"Let's expand it. Those among the esteemed elders here with time could attend to lend prestige. Ah! With this year's freshmen said to be so exceptional, how about changing the 'seniors' welcoming them from 'current students' to 'alumni'?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having left the student council room for quite a while, catching up on backlog lessons wasn't the only task piling up.
'What the hell, why are there so many endless chores? Wait, is Silver Assistant protesting?'
- Protesting?
'Something like an intelligent protest? Before heading to Shanxi, if my workload was ten, now it feels like twelve or thirteen. It's grown so subtly that it's awkward to even ask.'
- Just handle it! That friend of yours wouldn't complain even if it killed him!
It was then.
As I exchanged a few words with my master,
Yin Xia Lian tossed a scroll onto my desk.
"That's the most urgent—handle it first."
Look at this.
Now she's just chucking them?
But when I unrolled it, it was my karma.
'...Yeah, this one's toss-worthy.'
- What's that?
'Repair bill for the White Lotus Sword I smashed during sparring on my return, when I insisted on checking the time I'd been gone.'
Yet the repair cost listed at the very end was cheaper than before the Shanxi trip.
"Silver Assistant, isn't the White Lotus Sword's repair rate a bit lower now?"
- Is cheap labor the problem?
'As long as quality's fine, it's good, but we check anyway.'
- ...Do you think Hayeon wouldn't have checked?! You're the type who seeks out work!
"The smithy in the forge alley had its master smith retire due to old age. His son and daughter-in-law took over, but everyone else sticks with the established smithies where the old masters hold out, so the couple lowered their prices. I checked the quality myself."
"Then it's fine."
How long had I been steadily clearing the stack of documents?
Jingryong hyung, who had been summoned to the main hall, came rushing back and spoke up.
"Vice President! Big trouble! News on the freshman-senior meet! The Orthodox Council elders are coming down!"
"They're probably stopping by to watch on their way back to their sects or families after the meeting. What's the big deal? Wasn't it the beggar kids yapping about it a few days ago?"
"The beggars' rumors are different! Look here—this is a copy of the document from the Orthodox Council! In the 'senior' section, where it should say 'upper-year students,' it's changed to 'alumni'!"
As Jingryong hyung said, the notation in the document's "senior" section had changed.
And at the top of the assignment list below, an arrow struck through "Mosan Sect" pointed straight to my name.
『Mosan Sect → Qingzhu Hall's Eon Yong-un』
When the rumor first spread that elders would attend the freshman-senior meet, I recalled the Alliance Leader's message that he'd visit personally after things settled.
But seeing this official notice, it reeked of foul play.
'Looks like the old fogey who ate my bait pulled some stunt.'
Whoever it was, they'd hooked the wrong fish.
Time to royally screw them over.