A Brief Respite
"Captain, I heard something while chatting with the other martial artists. They say the mastermind behind the disturbance in Beijing has been identified."
Since leaving Nanjing, Namgung Woo's group had no other way to gather information. The same held true for the Clear Water Sect members. The intelligence network of a mid-tier sect might be decent within its own territory, but outside it was little different from that of wandering martial artists. However, the people of the Danmok family, from whom Yang Kvae had obtained information, possessed exceptional intelligence capabilities thanks to their deep ties with the imperial court.
"Who is it?"
"They call themselves Gudomujung. Usually referred to as Mujung. Apparently Lee Ja-ryong belonged to that group."
"Are they martial world criminals?"
This time Yang Jeong answered. "It's ambiguous. Originally they weren't this extreme, so they were only under watch. But after this incident, they've been designated as martial world criminals. It seems both the Martial Alliance and the Black Lotus are still cautious of the imperial court's reaction."
The name meant "those seeking the path within the mist." Perhaps a group of spellcasters. The abbreviated characters differed from the original group name. Judging by how they were straightforwardly called a "witch crowd," it seemed more like a derogatory nickname than a simple abbreviation.
"The Wulim Governor's office has mobilized. Rumor has it that Governor Han Won-chun is personally leading the effort. The imperial court is furious. I hear they've even issued an imperial edict to the Mt. Mao Sect to mobilize their forces."
This incident was a watershed. It would determine whether the imperial court could demonstrate it was still intact and suppress the martial world, or whether the martial world would completely separate from the court and the government to create its own realm. The martial world factions, silent amid the calm before the storm, would be watching this matter closely.
"It's a foregone conclusion that the imperial court will win, but how overwhelmingly they do so matters. If they crush the rebels so thoroughly that no one dares make a sound, individual sects will have no choice but to watch the court's mood. But..."
"Conversely, if the suppression drags on and ends in a narrow victory, they won't remain bound by the court's leash any longer."
The martial world was already beginning to pulse. The weight of the world's greatest expert allied with the court and the powerful imperial court itself as a suppressing force had suddenly lessened, so the accumulated pressure within the cauldron could no longer be contained. The martial world stood on the verge of explosion. The signs had already appeared, and Namgung Woo had witnessed them. Someone had openly targeted the Jegal family, a major righteous sect. That was the omen.
"We must also consider the worst-case scenario."
"Ah, Daoist Jeong Gwang."
"The worst case would be...?"
"Failure of the suppression."
What if, even after the imperial court committed its full strength, it failed to suppress the rebel group that had dared to covet Beijing and the Forbidden City?
"In that case, even a great war between the righteous and demonic factions couldn't be prevented."
Only two peerless masters remained in the imperial court. Even if one or two more were hidden, their numbers were still insufficient. The imperial guards, sealing the Ghost Gates, restraining the martial world, defending against foreign invasions—places requiring peerless masters were countless. If there were no hidden peerless masters, the situation would be even more dire. Yang So-hu of the Divine Spear Yang family. Han Won-chun, the Wulim Governor. They would be overwhelmed just handling the imperial guards and sealing the Ghost Gates. Originally, Gwak Dan had been responsible for the imperial guards, Yang So-hu for sealing the Ghost Gates, and Han Won-chun for restraining the martial world, but that balance had collapsed.
"We can only hope the imperial court succeeds."
"Since the Mt. Mao Sect has also joined, it should go well. Their personalities are quite eccentric, but when it comes to spellcraft, they're among the best of the Nine Sects."
It was a suppression campaign led by peerless masters and the foremost spellcasting sect under heaven. No matter how elusive the targets, if the imperial court searched in earnest, they would inevitably be found. After all, it was nearly impossible to completely evade the Beggar Clan's eyes and ears.
"More than that, the problem is the Jegal family..."
Jeong Gwang's carefully spoken words carried a subtle tone of seeking help. Jeong Gwang was now a middle-aged man on the verge of joining the ranks of veteran experts. In the martial world, advanced age was proof of either exceptional skill or outstanding situational judgment and crisis management. Jeong Gwang possessed both. Though not a Transcendent Realm expert, he ranked among the highest of Peak Realm masters and was so trusted that whenever the Huangshan Sect conducted external activities, he was the first to be considered. Therefore, regardless of the outcome of the imperial court's campaign against Gudomujung, Jeong Gwang's mind painted an inevitable future.
'War will break out. Whether it escalates depends on the imperial court, but the Jegal family and Banunbang have already crossed a river of no return with this incident.'
Jegal Seon-a was not, strictly speaking, a direct blood relative. However, it was well known that the Jegal family head cherished her like his own daughter. Knowing this, Banunbang had deployed two Transcendent Realm experts to attack. For now, Banunbang would deny involvement, but...
'No, even that is uncertain. They might brazenly claim they did it.'
In any case, if the Jegal family and Banunbang entered open war, the vortex they created would engulf not only the entire Huguang region but its surroundings as well. The Wudang Sect, guardian of the Huguang martial world alongside the Jegal family, would naturally intervene. The Hyeongsan Sect, whose relations with Banunbang were no better than the Jegal family's, would also join. The Huangshan Sect would send support to the Jegal family as well. Though smaller in scale than the previous two sects, their participation was inevitable. What about Banunbang? As seen with the Black Sword Ghost and the Annihilation Demon, they had likely already gathered nearly all the unorthodox experts from the Huguang region. They would also receive support from the same Black Lotus's Black Dao Seven Sects, such as the Sichuan Sun-Moon Star and the Four Great Families like the Jiangxi Hwan family. Perhaps they would even obtain aid from the Dokgo family to disrupt the Jegal family's rear.
It would be a difficult fight. A massive fight. And a fight that absolutely had to be won.
'Our Huangshan Sect is surrounded on three sides—north, east, and south—by the Black Lotus's major factions. If the Jegal family falls as well, the western route will be cut off and we'll be completely isolated. In that case, the Huangshan Sect might never regain the glory of its Nine Sects era.'
Though the Jegal family and Banunbang would be the main protagonists of this battle, what was at stake was hegemony over the entire central-southern martial world. And perhaps the key to determining the direction of victory lay with that man.
"Nam hero..."
"First," Namgung Woo interrupted Jeong Gwang, knowing it was rude. "Let's finish returning to Huangshan before thinking about anything else. Though they've withdrawn, we can't be certain they've truly given up."
"...Your words are correct, hero."
At Namgung Woo's words, Jeong Gwang took a step back.
"More importantly, hero, why don't you enjoy the hot spring bath?"
§
Huangshan. Though not included among the Five Great Mountains, no one claimed it was inferior to them. After visiting the Five Great Mountains, other mountains of the central plains no longer caught the eye. But after seeing Huangshan, even the Five Great Mountains became invisible. Such was Huangshan, the most renowned among famous mountains.
Huangshan, said to contain all the world's finest scenery in one place, had been renowned since ancient times and beloved by countless artists and scholars. Those who toured Huangshan said it possessed four peerless sceneries unrivaled under heaven: first, the mystical sea of clouds filling the mountain ranges; second, the strange rocks forming Huangshan's wondrous peaks; third, the extraordinary pines that maximized Huangshan's charm; and finally...
"Hot springs!"
Huangshan's hot springs were among the most famous in the central plains. The spring water itself was of the highest quality, but the scenery of Huangshan viewed from the open-air bath on the mountainside elevated the pleasure of hot spring bathing to its maximum. Namgung Woo submerged himself in the hot spring up to his neck. Though the body of a Transformation Realm peerless master had already transcended immunity to cold and heat and approached immunity to water and fire, the comfort provided by the hot spring was another matter entirely. The Huangshan hot spring water, maintaining around forty degrees year-round, warmly melted Namgung Woo's body and mind.
"Huu... This is life."
Even while staying at the Hebei Paeng family, he had enjoyed every luxury, but most of those experiences had been firsts in this world. And though they were luxuries, compared to the modern era with its advanced technology, there were many lacking aspects. But soaking in a hot open-air bath was something he had experienced in his original world, stirring nostalgia while also offering the fresh pleasure of viewing scenery even more picturesque than before.
"Haa..."
Namgung Woo scooped up hot spring water with his hands and washed his face. The hot water striking his face seemed to make his mind as languid as his body.
'So I had accumulated fatigue after all.'
Though he had almost no physical fatigue, mental fatigue was apparently a different matter. Moreover, this was Namgung Woo's first time taking a life. Though the man had deserved death and it had been a necessary rite of passage, he couldn't remain unaffected. Namgung Woo himself hadn't realized it, but perhaps this was a time when rest was needed.
Amid the feeling that his fatigue was being washed away, Namgung Woo rested his arms on the hot spring's stone wall and leaned back. Looking up at the sky, he saw a complex-colored sky where dusk was beginning to settle. The dark blue sky darkening as sunlight faded and the crimson sky scattering its final embers tangled together, creating stains. The sight resembled two forces locked in a contest of strength, and Namgung Woo unconsciously muttered to himself.
"War, huh..."
Namgung Woo's mind, which had cleared in the hot spring, grew turbid once more. He knew. With his perceptiveness, how could he not? Those scheduled to participate in the war were hoping for his help.
"Do I really have to go?"
If he fought, he would kill many people. Blood that need not have stained Namgung Woo's hands would dye his palms red. He had resolved not to avoid killing when necessary, but he wanted to decline seeking out such a place.
"Oh, Captain, you came in first?"
"It's my first time at a hot spring. Captain, do we just go in like this?"
Namgung Woo chuckled at the sight of the two identical-looking people with completely different speech patterns. Sometimes he forgot that he didn't need to worry alone.
"Wash up before coming in. Wash first."