The Opening Clash
Namgung Woo's life at the Jegal Family bore a certain resemblance to his days with the Hebei Paeng Family. Life as a guest was generally like that. Unless something extraordinary occurred, a guest's duties rarely extended beyond eating and sleeping. For martial artists, training was usually added to the routine. And if that was how ordinary guests were treated, there was no need to elaborate on the hospitality shown to honored guests who had also bestowed favors.
True to its reputation as a family famed for rationality and prestige, the Jegal Family extended appropriate treatment to Namgung Woo for his help to Jegal Seon-a and the Biyun Unit. The highest-grade accommodations still available were assigned to Namgung Woo and the Changcheon Squad. His status was also set equal to that of martial experts dispatched by major sects, rather than a common ronin. Given that Paeng Ha-ryeong was from the Hebei Paeng Family, such treatment was only natural, yet whenever the Jegal Family had something to convey, they made certain to send someone directly to Namgung Woo, clearly indicating that the message was for him rather than Paeng Ha-ryeong.
"What are you looking at?" Geumsin asked as he approached Namgung Woo, who was gazing down at the scene outside through the window.
"I'm watching the people."
The lodging assigned to him was an inn located slightly away from the central district of Wuhan. The guest rooms in the Jegal Family's VIP hall already had their intended occupants, and the family had judged that placing him in the common guest quarters with the other visitors would be far too undignified.
Geumsin followed Namgung Woo's gaze out the window. The area had always seen considerable foot traffic due to its proximity to the center, but today an unusual number of people were milling about.
"It seems the declaration of war has spread, and everyone is rushing to prepare."
The Rebel Cloud Gang's declaration of war against the Jegal Family. The shocking news had spread faster than a thousand-li horse. With attention already drawn eastward by the imperial family's campaign against the Nine Great Schools, a world-shaking event had now erupted in the central-southern region of the Central Plains. People's eyes could not help but converge here.
Those already heading to aid the Jegal Family hurried even faster toward Wuhan, while those somewhat removed from the murim world quickened their steps lest they miss the spectacle. As a result, Wuhan had suddenly swelled with a massive influx of people.
"There are quite a few ronin."
"From their perspective, this war represents a major opportunity. A closed-gate battle is fine, but a grand confrontation like this in the gangho is the perfect chance to raise their value."
As expected, Geumsin seemed far more secular than a monk. Namgung Woo swallowed the words Are you really a monk? and returned his attention to observing the crowd.
Quite a few skilled practitioners are mixed in.
Namgung Woo's gaze did not stop at the street directly below. His senses encompassed even the central district further away. This was precisely why he had declined the Jegal Family's offer of an entire detached residence and chosen this inn instead.
Excluding ordinary civilians, most of the martial artists ranged from second-class to first-class, though a few Peak Realm experts were scattered among them. While Peak Realm experts might be common in great factions such as the Nine Great Schools or the Seven Black Sects, their proportion across the entire murim world was extremely low.
That was why Peak Realm ronin carried themselves with such pride. They received that level of respect because they had earned it. In smaller sects, a single Peak expert was treated as a cornerstone of the faction, and unaffiliated Peak Realm martial artists were welcomed with open arms wherever they went, provided they had no particular disqualifying history.
And now such Peak Realm experts were swarming into Wuhan. Their numbers served as a clear indicator of just how enormous a vortex this incident was generating.
Namgung Woo carefully studied the martial artists whose auras seemed particularly promising, including the Peak experts. He had spoken of expanding the Changcheon Squad. Although he had newly recruited the fully matured Peak expert Geumsin, the man was ultimately a contractor, a mercenary who had temporarily joined through a deal with Hwaseong Temple.
In the long term, the Changcheon Squad needed fresh talent.
That man looks decent, but he's affiliated with a sect… That one seems to have learned demonic arts? His aura feels too strange.
He had no intention of recruiting solely based on martial prowess, but there were minimum standards. As he closely examined those who met them for any disqualifying factors, Namgung Woo's eyes suddenly widened.
"Geumsin, do you see those people?"
The individuals Namgung Woo indicated were just entering the street. Geumsin activated the eye technique from Hwaseong Temple and began examining them.
"Yes, Captain."
"Their skill is extraordinary. Do you recognize any of them?"
"I don't know their faces, but I recognize those uniforms."
"Who are they?"
Even as he asked, Namgung Woo's gaze remained fixed on the group. Their numbers were not large. Centered around what appeared to be the leader or representative, seven martial artists had gathered, for a total of only eight. Yet their auras completely overwhelmed dozens of martial artists in the vicinity. It was overwhelming.
They were not intentionally amplifying and spreading their energy, yet what flowed naturally from them was enough to dominate the entire area. Namgung Woo's surprise turned to understanding the moment he heard Geumsin's reply.
"Black martial robes beneath white outer garments. The pine sword engraved upon the symbol of the Taegeuk. There is only one group that matches that description. They are from the Wudang Sect."
"Wudang…."
One of the Nine Great Schools that could be called the foundation of the righteous murim. Among them, two sects stood out in particular: Shaolin and Wudang. They, known as the Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the murim world, were without doubt the most famous factions in the gangho.
Though repeated wars had reduced their power from its former glory, their martial arts had been passed down unbroken. The current decline was merely temporary. Just as the world claimed.
The spirit Namgung Woo sensed from the Wudang Sect was truly worthy of their reputation. Their flawless, profound aura displayed the dignity of a prestigious great sect.
And the fact that they had come here signified that the Jegal Family's war preparations were now complete.
"Wudang and Jegal. One could say that ninety percent of Hubei's righteous murim forces have now gathered," Geumsin observed.
The Hwaseong Temple to which Geumsin belonged was also a righteous faction. Watching with satisfaction as the strength of the righteous murim, his comrades in arms, gathered one after another, he began to anticipate the imminent outbreak of full-scale war.
"Shall I call the other members?"
Paeng Ha-ryeong was with Jegal Seon-a. The Yang twins had gone to the training grounds on Namgung Woo's orders to focus on cultivation rather than idle around before the war. Since he knew their locations, they could be summoned at once.
Yet Namgung Woo's answer was the exact opposite of what the question implied.
"No. We'll go down ourselves."
"Ah, of course. With the Wudang Sect here, the Jegal Family will likely call a meeting."
"That's not it. It's already begun."
"Pardon?"
Namgung Woo offered no lengthy explanation. He simply moved. They would see it with their own eyes soon enough.
Geumsin hurried after Namgung Woo as he rose from the window and headed downstairs.
A declaration of war in the murim differed from the formalized declarations of later eras. There was no obligation to debate the war's legitimacy based on just cause, nor any courtesy of delivering it politely through diplomatic channels. The single similarity was the immediate commencement of hostilities.
The war had already begun.
Namgung Woo descended the stairs without once letting his awareness stray from the unidentified auras that had suddenly appeared within his senses.
They were already waiting in Wuhan. For the Wudang Sect's arrival.
The fact that they had begun moving the instant the Wudang Sect revealed themselves was proof. Although Namgung Woo had not examined them closely, he had kept his Blue Serene All-Seeing Eyes active. Even if they had slipped through a gap in his perception, the fact that they had deceived his eyes meant they had come thoroughly prepared. It was difficult to accept without some underlying intent.
Are they trying to seize the momentum decisively by crushing the Wudang Sect—the Jegal Family's greatest hope—right before everyone's eyes?
With that question in mind, he reached the first floor. Stepping out into the street, he saw two groups facing each other across a clearing that had formed at some point.
One side consisted of Wudang Sect daoists standing in orderly ranks, clad in black martial robes and white outer garments. Opposite them were unidentified martial artists wearing a chaotic assortment of colors and styles. In the latter group, nothing matched—not gender, age, aura, or even clothing. It was a stark contrast to the Wudang Sect, whose members shared similar auras and bearing, with comparable ages aside from their leader.
Namgung Woo's eyes swept over them quickly.
Typical of a gang rather than a formal sect. These people are united by purpose, not by martial arts.
And in the current climate, there was only one faction that would dare block the Wudang Sect as it moved openly through Wuhan Prefecture. Everyone realized it at once, and cries of shock rippled outward.
"It's the Rebel Cloud Gang!"
"The Rebel Cloud Gang has come!"
"How are they already here!"
"Wait, are they seriously going to fight a preliminary battle against the Wudang Sect right now?"
Pushing through the spectators' murmurs, a voice from the Rebel Cloud Gang rang out, steady and unwavering.
The Rebel Cloud Gang martial artist raised his crescent blade high, pointing its edge forward. Someone among the spectators recognized the weapon, and a voice muttering "Dragon-Severing Demonic Blade" added heavy weight to the warning.