Chapter 312
Chapter 312
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 312
Chapter Title: Fated Ties and Grudges (5)
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The grand conference hall of the Orthodox Assembly.
Discussions were in full swing here over Murim Alliance Leader Gongson Mugeol's proposal.
The agenda called for forming a coalition army to attack the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, sparking a heated debate.
"The best defense is a good offense!"
Led by Peng Muhyuk, those who took the Demonic Cult's threat seriously raised their voices in support.
"Family Head Peng has a point. As the saying goes, strike when the enemy is vulnerable. With Huseong crushed and the great demon heads slain in Sichuan, isn't now the perfect time?"
Those opposed were no less vocal.
"Well said. Huseong and Sichuan—such devastating blows would shake even a millennium-old sect. Let alone the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, a mere century-old rabble of greenhorns. Even if left alone, they'll crumble on their own."
Vice Assembly Leader Jang Son-rip's words drew agreement.
"The Ten Thousand Great Mountains are barren lands. Leave them be, and they'll destroy themselves. Why chase a cornered rat?"
"Beyond that, it's the orthodox world starting a war with the demonic factions first!"
"There's such a thing as a preemptive strike."
"War is war, regardless. Rivers of blood and mountains of corpses—that's the reality. You're talking about marching across the Kunlun Mountains into their territory like it's some festival?!"
"This isn't a light matter. Do you think the Demonic Cult has given up its ambitions on the Central Plains? They've bared their fangs multiple times already! The Righteous Martial Academy nearly fell twice. Aren't you the ones downplaying the threat? Academy cadets who've faced demons came here and presented their findings. Aren't you ashamed in front of the kids?!"
"W-what?!"
The issue was so sensitive that opinions clashed sharply.
Even clans like the Zhuge family advocated caution beyond simple for or against.
Speakers kept going without pause for quite some time.
Then the conference hall doors burst open.
Bang—
Confidential Secretary Guk Do-jin and Strike Team Captain Myeong Tae-seong rushed in.
"Alliance Leader."
Guk Do-jin, who had long served at Gongson Mugeol's side, wouldn't interrupt lightly. Something big must have happened.
Silence fell over the heated debate.
Gongson Mugeol addressed the two.
"What is it?"
"A fight broke out among the later-generation disciples at the dining hall."
Gongson Mugeol's jaw dropped at the reply.
"What?!"
For some reason, Eon Yong-un's face flashed in his mind. As he closed his mouth,
the hall erupted again.
"A fight? The kids got into an argument? Verbal spat?"
"My apologies, Vice Leader. They actually came to blows."
"Fists flying in the sacred Murim Alliance? Which sect? Who?!"
Myeong Tae-seong hesitated before answering the follow-up.
"The Dragon of Wonders and..."
Before he finished, delegates who recognized Eon Yong-un's moniker spoke up.
"Eon Yong-un?!"
"Hah. With all those rumors swirling, looks like that wild temper talk wasn't entirely off!"
Gongson Mugeol's brow furrowed.
'Fights are a one-man show?'
The Eon Yong-un he knew wasn't thoughtless.
Quite the opposite—ice-cold and calculating.
If he'd acted, there had to be a reason.
Gongson Mugeol voiced his thoughts.
"From what I've seen, Cadet Eon Yong-un is a deeply thoughtful young man. There must be context and cause behind it."
Led by Vice Assembly Leader Jang Son-rip, the anti-coalition faction grew louder.
"His feats for the world are undeniable, but Leader, you do tend to favor him."
Not content with charging against the Demonic Cult as a later-generation disciple, he'd presented at the Assembly, choking off the opposition's momentum. Hearing he'd caused trouble felt like vindication.
"Exactly! That's what happens when you coddle him! Arrogant enough to treat the Murim Alliance like his backyard and start throwing punches?"
"Yes! Time to give him a stern lesson!"
"Strike Team First Captain Myeong Tae-seong, humbly addressing the seniors."
Now Myeong Tae-seong, who had stood silently by Guk Do-jin, spoke.
"Those claims are untrue. To briefly explain the facts... The later-generation disciples slandered the Dragon of Wonders first."
"Slandered first?"
"Yes."
"They called the Demonic Cult no big deal and accused the Leader of exaggerating threats, sparking the quarrel."
"Is, is that true?"
"Yes. Not all present joined the fight. Witnesses consistently confirm it. May I continue?"
"Ahem. Proceed."
"Shaolin's Won-cheol tried to mediate. Cadet Eon Yong-un agreed to apologize and stand down, but the others refused and struck first, escalating things."
Peng Muhyuk, who had sat silently, slapped his knee.
"Of course. Yong-un's no fool—he plans everything. They had it coming!"
Buoyed by Peng Muhyuk, Myeong Tae-seong continued.
"Thus, Cadet Eon Yong-un and Monk Won-cheol faced off against the others. Two on this side, versus Shaolin's Gapil, Shandong Peng's Evil Dragon Yun, Kunlun's Heart Spear, Zhongnan's..."
"Ahem."
"Khm. Khm."
Coughs erupted from those who'd just spoken loudly as names poured out.
Gongson Mugeol spoke again.
"Shall we take a recess?"
"......"
No objections.
The recess began immediately.
As delegates rose with complicated expressions and headed for the doors en masse toward the dining hall,
Myeong Tae-seong said,
"Seniors. The dining hall is that way."
"Didn't the fight happen there?"
"It's over. One side's all unconscious. If you're worried about your disciples, head to the Apothecary Hall."
"......"
The delegates turned the opposite way.
Gongson Mugeol stood.
"I'll check the Apothecary Hall too. Have the Grand Strategist guard the hall."
Zhuge Hui grabbed his sleeve.
"Go with a slight delay. They'll forget all about what Captain Myeong said once they see their kids knocked out and start blustering."
"True enough."
"Exactly. Why bother hearing it? Let them rage until reason returns and their anger shifts to their own brats. Then go."
"I've seen it plenty, inured to it... Just worried if Yong-un's alright."
"Yong-un's fine. Captain Myeong told the departing delegates 'one side's all out cold.' That means Yong-un's unscathed."
Gongson Mugeol sat back and asked Myeong Tae-seong,
"Fair point. He could've handled a crowd solo. With Won-cheol too, right?"
"Yes. Yong-un's fine. He and Monk Won-cheol walked to the detention cells themselves. To me, it's ambiguous, so I housed them in the underground training hall under house arrest for now."
"Good work."
At the mention of Eon Yong-un heading to detention voluntarily,
Zhuge Hui burst out laughing.
"Hahaha. Eon Yong-un. What a sly fox. Walking into detention himself—what can those old Assembly foxes say? Especially since the other side struck first."
"He probably poked just enough. The guy's turned great demon heads inside out. No recent talk of him thrashing orthodox cadets... now I know why."
"That's skill. Cleanup'll be easy. Kids grow through fights, and they reflected too? Even Shaolin's delegate is Merit Enlightened Monk, whose prized disciple Won-cheol's now in the training hall with him?"
"True."
"Ha. How far ahead does he plan? Between us, though—doesn't it feel good? We figured it'd fail anyway, but hearing those old foxes drone on made me want to punch them. Feels like Yong-un did it for us."
"That too."
They sipped tea briefly.
Gongson Mugeol stood again.
"Reason should've returned by now. I'll go."
"Worried about Yong-un? Training hall first, then Apothecary?"
"He's fine, but optics—gotta check theirs first. Captain Myeong, ensure the two in the training hall are comfortable, and tell Yong-un no worries on the aftermath."
"Yes!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It had been some time since Eon Yong-un left for the detention cells with a "Stay out of trouble and behave."
The Assembly session was postponed a full day, and as dusk fell,
the Righteous Martial Academy later-generation dorms hosted the Eon juniors.
Dang Ok-gi suddenly bellowed,
"He causes the mess and tells us to behave! That damn Eon Yong-uuuun!"
All nodded briefly at Dang Ok-gi's shout.
Wu So-ryeong swallowed dryly.
"So... Brother Eon's okay, right?"
Ye Haesu cautiously replied,
"Hard to say. Yong-un sunbae took down more than a couple, from prestigious sects. No clue how it'll play out..."
"Kyaah!!! If Ha-yeon or Seolji were here, they'd predict the Assembly and tell us. Eon Yong-un's the problem! Why didn't he bring them?!"
Namgung Yun spoke up.
"How about this?"
"Weird ideas even now? I'll poison you, Yun or not."
"...Ahem. When we struck Huseong, didn't you, I, and Zhuge Seolji move our fathers? Excluding Senior Ye and So-ryeong, all our families and sects sent delegates."
"Like then?"
"Yes. Asking to deem harsh punishment unfair—not too much, right?"
Namgung Young lit up.
"Not like you, brother—great idea!"
"......?"
"Yong-un sunbae did say to step up if it looked dangerous, right, cohorts?"
"Yeah! I heard it too! Young's right!"
"He did say that..."
"From our view, isn't now exactly when sunbae's in danger?"
The Eon juniors nodded at Namgung Young's words. Yin Ha-seong eagerly said,
"Silver Radiance for me, Sister Ok-gi to the Dang family, Namgung siblings to Namgung, Sun-i to Haenam... Wait, can Sun-i even speak up? Ink barely dry on the entry roster?"
"I can! They listen politely, with honorifics!"
"...Figured. Sun-i to Haenam. Jeong-hyeon to the Beggars' Sect."
"Why me to Beggars'?"
"Professors No Sam and Iron Dog Chief know us well—not outsiders."
"Then Wu gongja goes. I'll take Wudang."
"...Y-you sure? Still tense with your sect? Honestly, would Brother Yong-un start this lightly? We're just trying something, no need to force it."
The others nodded at Yin Ha-seong's concern.
But Jeong-hyeon shook his head.
"I want to try too."
Thus, the Eon juniors scattered to their sects and families.
Jeong-hyeon went straight to the Wudang delegate's guest quarters, as promised.
He steadied his trembling hand and knocked.
Knock knock—
"Who is it."
The voice belonged to Myeong-il, third of the Wudang Five Heroes, known as Soul-Stealing Sword.
As training captain, he'd first taught Jeong-hyeon the Wudang sword.
Among Wudang elders, he intimidated Jeong-hyeon most.
He'd confirmed during the presentation and steeled himself en route.
But hearing that voice, his mouth froze shut.
Still, Jeong-hyeon mustered courage.
"...Jeong-hyeon."
"Who? Jeong-hyeon?"
"Yes."
"Come in."
Entering, the piercing gaze of Soul-Stealer Myeong-il fixed on him.
"Thought I misheard. What brings you? The one told to stay out who never set foot in Wudang?"
"...That."
"Not asking why. You climbed near Sword Pavilion daily for 'training' but never entered the hall. Coming to me isn't a courtesy call. You have business."
If Eon Yong-un saw this, he'd clutch his chest.
Myeong-il died protecting Jeong-hyeon in the original story.
Jeong-hyeon didn't hate Wudang.
Despite his clear conscience, guilt made him shrink before them.
Both were stubborn, upright souls.
Thus, their talk skipped nostalgia and cut to the chase.
"Cadet Eon Yong-un faces unjust heavy punishment. Please help prevent it. This isn't the Way."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Won-cheol and I circulated qi in the underground training hall Myeong Tae-seong brought us to.
Senior Strike Team members then brought food, worried we'd skipped meals amid the chaos.
After eating, my ears itched suddenly.
"Someone talking about me? Why are my ears itching like this?"
- As if only one's badmouthing you? You never listen to your master. Brat.
'You always say follow my path, I did, and now I'm the brat? Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect disciples have it rough. Lucky it's me.'
- ...I pray I get a disciple or son just like you.
Ignoring master's last words,
I surveyed the house arrest training hall.
Built for emergencies, it had bedding and all.
As the Strike Team's usual spot, training gear abounded.
"Meant to tour the Alliance prison like Gongyun, but this is a hotel."
"Hotel? What does that mean, patron?"
"Great for training."
"Ah. Hodu-aero. A lovely place for fighting! It does feel like one!"
"...Not how you use that word."
"...Oh? S-sorry."
I chuckled at Won-cheol scratching his head.
"Anyway, beating your martial brothers like that—what now?"
"...Beat? Patron, I'm a monk. Watch your words."
"Exactly. Monk hands shouldn't be so vicious. Whew."
"Th-that's! If I hadn't stepped in, the Dragon of Wonders..."
"Anyway. Off to Mount Song, you'll be a total loner. Eating alone now."
"Master doesn't join meals; I always eat alone during alms time."
"...Ah."
"......"
Silence settled briefly.
- Someone's coming.
'Alliance Leader?'
Hearing footsteps descending, Won-cheol and I turned to the entrance.
Clank—
The door opened. Not the Leader, as I'd thought.
"M-Master?!"
'Merit Monk?'
None other than Won-cheol's master,
Gong Deok, said to be closest to the world's greatest.