Chapter 105: The Dragon, the Phoenix, and the Tiger (3)
Chapter 105: The Dragon, the Phoenix, and the Tiger (3)
Following the Righteous-Demonic War, every sect belonging to the Orthodox Faction had to realize the true power of the Black Path Demonic Alliance and analyze the lessons learned from the conflict. Although the war had ended in a victory for the Orthodox Faction, the damage they sustained was no less than what occurred during the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
Until then, the Black Path and Unorthodox Factions were merely considered those who failed to belong to the Orthodox Faction. While some individual sects among them boasted formidable power, they were never enough to threaten the stronghold of the Orthodox world.
It was only natural. Few Black Path sects maintained a long lineage, and those rare few that claimed centuries of history failed to form a united front.
In fact, the very term "Righteous-Demonic War" did not exist before the founding of the Ming Dynasty. The Black Path and Unorthodox Factions were seen as nothing more than pathetic parasites sucking the marrow from the common folk, and the world known as the Murim belonged solely to the Orthodox Faction.
Then, the Hebei Peng Family unified the Black Path Demonic Alliance.
Peng Gun-ak, the Heaven-Destroying Blade Hegemon and the greatest figure of the Black Path at the time, organized the Unorthodox sects across the Central Plains for the first time, gathering the Ten Great Sects of the Black Dao under the banner of the Sima Alliance.
Wary of this, several heroic martial artists struck North China and attacked the Peng Family estate. In the ensuing chaos years ago, the matriarch of the Peng Family was killed.
This was the spark that ignited the Righteous-Demonic War.
"So, technically, my family is the victim here."
"Strictly speaking, that's incorrect. I heard the heroes who attacked North China back then were all people who had lost loved ones to the Peng Family. Shouldn't we say it was a tangled web of grievances?"
Murong Cheong’s words were true. But so what? If they were going to invade, they should have just taken their revenge and left quietly. Why on earth did they have to kill my great-grandmother in the process?
Regardless, my great-grandfather lost his mind, started the Righteous-Demonic War, was defeated and killed by the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan, and now, sixty years have passed to bring us to the present.
The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was established because the Orthodox Faction, wary of the unified strength of the Black Path Demonic Alliance, wanted to foster camaraderie among their rising stars and turn the then-nominal alliance into a more cohesive union.
"Anyway, if you think about it, this whole Dragon-Phoenix Gathering event exists thanks to my family."
"Yes, yes, what a grand achievement. Here, eat some candy."
"That’s a very pretty way of telling me to shut up..."
I munched on the sugar-coated pill Murong Cheong handed me and looked down at the martial arts stage.
On the vast stage, two martial artists were taking their starting stances, surrounded by a boisterous crowd in the spectator seats.
In the current Murim, no other event garnered more attention. Perhaps it was a characteristic of medieval China, where entertainment was scarce.
Martial artists who lived like immortals, quietly training in great sects across the Central Plains—the pillars who would carry the future of the Murim—gathered here for friendly duels.
Since time immemorial, people have always been enthusiastic about the question of "who is the strongest."
"Oh, that kid’s pretty good. What’s his name?"
"Seok Jeon-wook. He’s the second son of the Taecheong Alliance Leader."
"He’ll go far. His posture is solid."
It had been two days since the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering began. Since I had spent the first day bedridden from the aftereffects of pulling a 'Peng Hyeon-hwi'—taking on two Peak Realm masters at once—this was essentially my first day seeing it in person.
The area around the Martial Alliance’s Great Training Ground, where the tournament was being held, was currently under terrifyingly tight security. It seemed the Martial Alliance had mobilized every combat unit they could currently spare.
It had only been two days since that disaster in Wuchang. If they showed any more embarrassing weakness here, the Alliance’s reputation would surely hit rock bottom, so they had no choice.
"Those guys gathered over there, they’re from the Shaanxi Murim, right?"
"It’s not just Shaanxi; Shaolin and Wudang are there as well. You can assume that the rising stars of the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance have all gathered. Over there, the one who stands out particularly is the Little Arhat of Shaolin."
"Uh... I think 'stands out' is a bit too modest of a description."
Among the rising stars, those belonging to the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans were clustered together, watching the matches or talking amongst themselves. In the direction Murong Cheong pointed, a man who looked like he belonged in a completely different art style suddenly turned his head toward us.
My eyes met his. A giant of a man with a glistening bald head, dressed in monastic robes, stared blankly at me before raising a hand in a one-handed Buddhist salute.
I reflexively nodded back in greeting, and the giant’s eyebrows contorted like fuzzy caterpillars.
"Why does he hate me?"
"Does Shaolin have any reason to like the Peng Family?"
"Fair point. But wasn't the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering only for rising stars under the age of thirty?"
"I heard the Little Arhat turned twenty-eight this year. He barely made the cut-off."
"He looks like he’s well past forty, though..."
The disciple of the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan and that man. I heard those two were the only ones in the Peak Realm among the participants of this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. In all likelihood, one of them would make it to the final stage.
If so, I would have to fight at least one of them. I personally hoped the Sword Immortal’s disciple would move up. At least I had some rapport with the old Sword Immortal.
"Oh, Seok Jeon-wook won!"
"Well, that was obvious. Who’s next?"
"Zhuge Yeong and a second-generation disciple of the Qingcheng Sect. I don't know the other one's name."
"It's Hong Ban-wi."
"Ah, yes, I see..."
Murong Seo-jeong, who had been looking down from behind me with smoldering eyes, spoke up. That man radiated killing intent every time I accepted food from Murong Cheong, yet he never actually stopped her.
Honestly, I wasn't sure what his deal was.
"Your turn will come soon. Are you fully prepared?"
"Unless a miracle happens and that Hong Ban-wi fellow wins, yes."
"What kind of methods do you expect them to use?"
I fell into thought for a moment while watching Zhuge Yeong swing his iron fan. My match order had been arranged by the Murong Family Head. If Zhuge Yeong won this duel and I won against my next opponent, then Zhuge Yeong and I would face each other.
Since the Zhuge Family was plotting with the Jinju Eon Family, this was the most certain way to draw them out.
Zhuge Yeong would surely come prepared with a way to kill me. Otherwise, there was no way for me to die during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, and if nothing happened by the time it ended, the Jinju Eon Family would surely be ruined.
The Murong Family Head had personally stepped forward to denounce them. To overturn this, Eon Do-cheon would have to act. Since even the Zhuge Family Head wasn't currently at the Alliance, the highest-ranking masters present were the Murong Family Head and the Martial Alliance Leader.
Both of them wanted to suppress the Jinju Eon Family and the Zhuge Family. If two peerless masters led the situation, even the Zhuge Family would have no other choice.
Unless they killed me to throw the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering into chaos and force a Righteous-Demonic War.
"I'm not sure."
However, I didn't see how that would be possible.
Zhuge Yeong was a martial artist at the tail end of the First-Rate level. I heard he was around twenty-five. For that age, being a mature First-Rate martial artist was by no means a low level of attainment.
But at that level, there was no way he could defeat me in a direct confrontation. Both Zhuge Yeong and the Zhuge Family had to know this.
‘And it’s not like they can receive outside help right now.’
Two peerless masters, Murong Seo-jeong and the Martial Alliance Leader, were protecting me. Furthermore, the area around the stage was currently under the strictest guard by almost all the Alliance's combat forces.
There was no way to receive outside assistance. Even if the Zhuge Family tried to use the power of their strategist division, it was impossible. After diverting the Alliance's martial artists from the guest house during the raid two days ago, they should be fearing what comes after the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
They would definitely be caught.
Let’s ignore the process and look only at the goal. They had to kill me before the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering ended. By their own strength, without other help. Since they couldn't recruit anyone else, it would have to be done through Zhuge Yeong’s power.
A secret plan for Zhuge Yeong to kill me...
‘Maybe something like the Heavenly Silkworm Purple Blood Tear?’
Doping before a match was a long-standing tradition in the sports world, and medieval China had no anti-doping regulations. There was no way to stop Zhuge Yeong from swallowing whatever he wanted before coming up.
However, even the secret medicine of the Five Poisons Sect only managed to forcibly pull someone up to the Peak Realm. According to the Tang Family Head, it was impossible to raise one's realm any higher in such a short time, even with a Great Rejuvenation Pill.
If so, he wouldn't be able to rival me at that level.
Clang!
Finally, Zhuge Yeong folded his iron fan as he broke Hong Ban-wi’s sword. With a sharp clack, the metal fan moved elegantly, and the two martial artists exchanged bows before descending from the stage.
"Then, I'll be heading down as well."
"You must—!!"
Murong Cheong suddenly grabbed my forearm and shouted.
"You must win! You must! You have to win!"
"Anyone would think I'm going down there to lose. Unless those guys are stronger than Lord Yang Jeok-yo, the Divine Spear, there's no way I can lose."
"Don't be careless! Don't let your guard down! You must crush them thoroughly!!"
"Hey, you're supposed to be from the Orthodox Faction."
"Ah, but being too polite is also a problem! Understood? Act like an Orthodox martial artist! Orthodox! The White Path!"
"No, really."
This girl kept making me confused about which side she was on.
Unable to listen to Murong Cheong’s fuss any longer, Murong Seo-jeong shouted.
"Cheong-er! That's enough! You're bringing shame to the family all by yourself...! You, boy, get down there already!"
I gave a short laugh and picked up my blade and the flag I had leaned against the chair. I hadn't had enough time to paint three, but I had to bring at least one.
The Peng Family Banner (彭家幡).
My family's flag reflected our characteristic frugal, simple, humble, and steadfast spirit, so it wasn't difficult to make in a single night. It was enough to just write the character 'Peng' (彭) in white on black silk.
Holding it, I circulated my True Qi. Along with a tingling sensation in my forearm, the flagpole became imbued with elasticity. I pulled my shoulder back and hurled it toward the martial arts stage.
Swooooosh!
It was a wave of force infused with Astral Energy. Anyone capable of recognizing this move would have no trouble deducing my realm. The flagpole shrieked through the air before slamming into the center of the training ground.
Boom! With a thunderous roar, the solid stone slabs of the training ground shattered. Atop the wreckage, the various masters of the Orthodox Faction all stared at the flag fluttering in the wind.
I could feel their momentum gradually shifting against my skin.
Shock, amazement, anger, and finally, hatred filled with killing intent.
That tingling sensation. Receiving that anger and hatred that remained etched into the very bones of my family.
I leaped toward the stage. As I passed over the heads of the crowd, I felt their gazes pouring over me.
Thump!
I stood tall right beside my family's flag. The gazes of the spectators were like a tidal wave. Their killing intent surged toward me like a raging storm.
In front of them, I unsheathed my blade and rested it on my shoulder. I shook out my left hand and gripped my gauntlet. Dressed in my new martial robes, my attitude and posture made it clear to anyone that I was a member of the Hebei Peng Family.
"Orthodox martial artists, White Path sects, martial artists of the world, listen."
I looked toward the Martial Alliance Leader, who sat in the highest seat. He was quietly nodding. Yes, he told me to bring the storm. To muddy the pond to find the fish.
I shall do just that.
I turned my gaze. I looked at Zhuge Yeong, who was sitting in the middle of the Jiangnan White Forest Association. He was glaring at me with eyes full of hatred and jealousy.
You must have seen your former fiancée hovering around me several times. Fine, if you're angry, don't hold back any means.
I turned my gaze again. After scanning the surrounding faces, I looked at the man gritting his teeth in front of me.
My opponent. One could say he had terrible luck with the draw. I heard he was the direct disciple of the Lake Tai Sect Leader in Zhejiang. I didn't remember his name, and his realm was around the mid-First-Rate level.
An opponent for a single move.
I extended my gauntleted hand toward him. I saw him flinch and recoil.
I crooked my finger in a beckoning motion.
"The Hebei Peng Family has arrived."
"What insolent and arrogant behavior! Do you have no sense of respect? The blood shed under your family's name hasn't even dried yet, and you dare... you dare commit such an outrage in the courtyard of the Martial Alliance!"
"The 'respect' of the Orthodox Faction is truly a curious thing."
"...What?"
I spoke to the young man from the Lake Tai Sect, whose face was flushed bright red.
"The only ones we respect are those who have proven themselves. Come here and—"
I lightly tapped the flagpole. That alone caused the flag to billow and snap loudly.
"Break it with your own strength."
"...Even if I fail to achieve my goal, the chivalrous heroes of the Orthodox Faction will never forgive you!"
"Making excuses out of fear of defeat before the fight has even begun."
"...My name is Jang—"
"I'm not interested."
Saying so, I took a step forward. Jang-whatever-his-name-was flinched and tried to quickly back away, then froze as if feeling ashamed of his own actions.
After taking a couple of breaths, he charged forward with determined eyes.
Murong Cheong watched the scene blankly before suddenly covering her face with her hands.
"Does he have no sense of shame! He brags so much about being educated, yet it's like he hasn't listened to a single word of the ancient sages!"
In medieval China, the concepts of puberty and hormones didn't exist yet, so such behavior was vaguely described as 'the passion of youth.'
But if such concepts had existed, her expression looked exactly like she wanted to scream, 'Do you think you're some kind of edgy eighth-grader?'