Chapter 133: To Chongqing (4)
Chapter 133: To Chongqing (4)
Winter in Liaoning is harsh. Beyond the Shanhai Pass, the winds sweeping across the vast, hill-less plains were sharp enough to tear the skin off a living person.
In such a season, even smugglers tended to lie low. Maritime smuggling was out of the question.
No matter how narrow the Bohai Sea might be, the winter sea was not something to be taken lightly.
Consequently, winter for the Murong Family, which was responsible for the maritime ban in the inner seas, was usually quiet.
Unless they were heading out for an occasional hunt or moving to mediate disputes between neighboring clans.
"Why can't I go?!"
"Do you even know where that is?!"
Except, of course, for this father and daughter.
Murong Cheong huffed, glaring up at her father.
Seated on his throne, the Family Head massaged his temples and spoke with a groan.
"This is a clash between the Dragon Slaying Alliance and the Ten Thousand Ghosts Alliance. If the incident is happening in Chongqing, you would have to cross half of the Central Plains just to get there. Intervening in that matter could lead to unnecessary friction. Besides, if the Blade Earl needed help, do you really think he wouldn't have asked?"
"He... he is...! He’s just too considerate! He simply couldn't bring himself to ask for help first!"
"Cheong-er... please."
How on earth had he raised his daughter? No, it wasn't that he had raised her wrong.
Murong Seo-jeong missed his wife particularly much today.
It wasn't as if she had gone anywhere far; she was likely embroidering in the inner chambers at this very moment.
"Cheong-er, we must not directly support the Dragon Slaying Alliance."
"Why? Because we belong to the Sima Alliance? But didn't you, Father, coordinate with the Dragon Slaying Alliance for the war of extermination against the Jinzhou Eon Family?"
"That was a tacit agreement. Was there any actual contact between us during that time? We only relayed the Blade Earl's words. That is precisely why we parted ways with him in Jiangnan. Supporting the Earl as an individual is one thing, but we must not directly aid the Peng Family... the Dragon Slaying Alliance."
It had been barely sixty years since the end of the Great Righteous-Demonic War.
There were still many who harbored a deep-seated, bone-deep grudge against the Peng Family from those days.
Both within their alliance and outside of it.
Directly assisting the Dragon Slaying Alliance's operations could send the wrong message to them—implying that the Murong Family had truly abandoned the Sima Alliance.
From that point on, there would be no solution. Liaoning had no way to survive without interacting with the interior of the Central Plains.
Well, should they take this opportunity to switch their affiliation to the Sima Alliance?
Then what about their relationship with the Jiangnan Merchant Guilds? Or the Heavenly Thunder Alliance? There were countless deep-seated grievances between the Murong Family and the Heavenly Thunder Alliance.
If they joined the Dragon Slaying Alliance, friction with the Heavenly Thunder Alliance would be unavoidable.
For a Great Martial Gate of their caliber, it was difficult to gauge the ripple effects of even a single decision.
It was a series of choices that could twist the very direction of the family. Furthermore, what would happen to the maritime fleet? Their authority was clearly more than what a single family should possess.
The situation of monopolizing a nation's maritime fleet was only possible due to the unique nature of Liaoning and the protection of the Commander-in-Chief.
How many factions were entangled beneath these massive interests?
And how many clans was the Murong Family responsible for?
Their downfall would immediately trigger famine in Liaoning, and if Liaoning starved, warlords across all of Manchuria would rise in chaos.
It had only been about ten years since Yi Man-ju of Jianzhou fell at the hands of Haedong and the Ming Imperial Court.
The Jurchens of the Jianzhou Guard had not yet forgotten the grudges of that time.
If the Murong Family were to lose their influence in Manchuria now, Liaoning would burn instantly.
Given these internal circumstances, how could they possibly support the Peng Family?
"In the future... perhaps after the Blade Earl succeeds as the Family Head, it might be different, but it cannot happen now. I will not say it twice, so leave."
"So you also think Hyeon-hwi belongs to the Orthodox Martial Sects, Father!"
"...Depending on the situation. However, it is not something that can be judged hastily now. Nor is it something we can publicly declare."
Murong Seo-jeong let out a deep sigh after sending his protesting daughter away.
Of course, he wanted to help. In fact, helping was the right thing to do according to the principles of gratitude and grudges.
The Jinzhou Eon Family had created a deep enmity with the Murong Family, and Peng Hyeon-hwi had essentially resolved that grudge on their behalf.
Considering that as a debt, and also the fact that he had saved his daughter's life several times, it was a favor that absolutely had to be repaid. How could he not want to do so?
And so, after spending the night agonizing over whether there was another way, the next morning arrived.
"Brother. I will go with Cheong-er."
"Sigh..."
When his most trusted cousin appeared with his daughter, he couldn't help but laugh, realizing that things had turned out this way after all.
"The ties are already deep. Just promise me one thing."
Murong Seo-jeong flicked his fingers.
From a corner of the Family Head's hall, an unstrung bow stave flew through the air and landed gently before Murong Cheong.
It was an object that could substitute for the Murong Family's Command Token.
The Great Yan King's Bow (大燕王弓), a symbol of the Family Head's status. It was a legacy passed down from the era of the Murong Clan, the Kings of Yan, in ancient times.
As he handed it to his daughter, he said:
"Achieve what you set out to do, but you must return safely."
"Yes, Father."
Murong Cheong bowed deeply and respectfully accepted the Great Yan King's Bow.
After the uncle and niece departed, Murong Seo-jeong called for a servant and commanded:
"I shall send a formal letter to the Peng Family Head. Prepare it."
"Yes, My Lord."
To fully settle the matter, there was no solution other than a marriage alliance.
As he picked up his brush with that thought, the tip hesitated for a moment. A marriage alliance with the Peng Family.
If the Blade Earl, Peng Hyeon-hwi, were to become the Family Head...
And if the Peng Family could be reborn as a truly Orthodox Martial Sect... this might even be the best choice he could make at this point.
"It would allow for communication from Yanjing to Jiangnan, not just by sea but by land as well. That is certainly..."
He convinced himself that it wasn't a bad idea.
And inwardly, he knew. It was an opportunity to secure a man who would undoubtedly become the Number One in Hebei if he grew up safely, and at the same time...
The character he had personally witnessed was by no means evil.
*
A man requested an audience at the Ascension Hall of Mount Tian.
An outsider should never have been allowed to step into the Ascension Hall, but considering the visitor's origin, the matter was relayed inside.
Before long, permission to enter the Ascension Hall was granted.
The man who sought the most private depths of the Sixth Heaven Esoteric Buddhism of Mount Tian walked forward without fear, offering a polite bow.
"I greet the Supreme Master of the regions beyond the Western Regions."
The figure behind the beaded curtain looked at the man without answering.
Soon, a low voice echoed across the floor of the Ascension Hall.
"The Ming Cult has traveled a long way."
"I presume you have heard of the recent disturbances in the Central Plains. Accordingly, our Cult Leader has proposed a joint operation with your esteemed cult."
"For what purpose?"
"Considering the prestige and authority of Mount Tian, the Great Desert cannot be considered vast enough. Our Cult Leader said—"
The man raised his head and looked toward the beaded curtain.
Because the luxurious goods of the Western Regions glittered under the oil lamps of the Ascension Hall, the figure of the person inside was not visible, but...
"The Ming Imperial Court will remain silent, so please make your way to Chongqing."
"Why should I do that?"
"We will clear the obstacles for your cult's advancement into Shaanxi."
"That is why I am asking."
The emotionless voice continued to flow from behind the curtain.
"Why should I do that?"
The Sixth Heaven Esoteric Buddhism of Mount Tian held the Silk Road of the Western Regions in its grasp.
The goods flowing through it were more than enough to feed all the followers near Mount Tian.
Therefore, they had no intention of advancing into the Central Plains. Ambition is born from lack.
Just as the Dragon Slaying Alliance did not covet the lands beyond Hebei, they were busy enough protecting their interests in the Great Desert.
There was no reason to covet the Central Plains. This policy was a principle maintained by successive Heavenly Demons.
"...Your cult's Seotaesa has expressed interest in this matter. Were you aware of this?"
"..."
"Yes, your precious daughter is currently heading toward Chongqing. Our cult has already identified that she is disguised as a member of a Jiangnan merchant guild. If things go wrong, the Seotaesa could be gravely harmed, could she not?"
"Amusing."
The voice was not pleasant at all. The gloomy tone pierced the messenger's ears.
"In the thousand-year history of our cult, I have never heard of anyone daring to speak such words in the Ascension Hall. Has the Ming Cult Leader's prestige grown so high?"
"Esoteric Cult Leader... Gah!!"
"Threats..."
The messenger's voice was cut short.
Before he knew it, pitch-black chains that had burst through the stone floor of the hall were tightening around his neck.
Because he was also a high-level martial artist, he did not die instantly. No, it would be more accurate to say he was not allowed to die. The man before him was currently permitting his life to continue.
"...are something the strong do to the weak."
"Hee... ack...! Gurgle!!"
"So, I find myself intrigued. If the prestige of the current Ming Cult is truly that high."
With a sickening crack, the man's body collapsed.
Before his corpse could even touch the floor, it spontaneously combusted and turned to ash.
A wind blew, scattering even the dust. Only the tinkling of the beaded curtain echoed in the Ascension Hall.
"One Soul (一靈)."
"Command me."
"Track the Seotaesa's whereabouts. There is a spy in the Heavenly Merchant Guild, so find them. You must bring her to me alive."
"Yes."
The man stood up.
"Two Spirits (二魄)."
"Yes, Supreme Master."
"I am going out. Prepare for the journey."
One of the Fifteen Armies of the World, one of the Three Evils Beyond the Great Wall. The Heavenly Demon. The Number One Demon of All Time. Venerable Taprimok. Or, the Limitless Divine Demon. Im Won-un took a step forward.
"We are going to Chongqing."
*
The road from Henan to Chongqing was miserable.
A winter mountain trek was never going to be easy, but it was at the point where I could see my crew getting exhausted.
Originally, a full-gear mountain march in the winter was equally difficult even for martial artists.
"Should we rest a bit if it's too hard?"
"Hard...? Who's...! Who's tired...!"
"You're about to lose your breath, kid."
Zhuge Yeong glared at me fiercely while panting, then continued walking.
On the other hand, the martial artist who was a second-generation disciple of the Wudang Sect walking ahead was moving quite lightly, stepping over rocks as he led the way.
"I can't even imagine how much we would have wandered if you weren't here, Taoist. This Peng owes you a great debt."
"I am merely following the Sect Leader's orders, so do not mind it."
"Ah, is that so?"
"...?"
The Wudang martial artist looked confused for a moment, as if he didn't know what to say.
Suddenly, I missed my nanny, who was so good at this kind of back-and-forth.
"Don't try to act so close. The Wudang Taoist... huff! He'll think I'm a weirdo too."
"You are a weirdo."
"You bastard...!"
"My ears don't pick up the voices of those below the First-Rate realm. Could you speak up?"
While I bickered with Zhuge Yeong, the nameless Taoist from Wudang just kept walking without a word.
As I followed him, I looked back and saw the Dragon Slaying Alliance hiking crew following diligently despite their heavy breathing.
They were guys I had grown quite fond of on the way here.
Most of them were young martial artists in their prime. They had followed this long path to bring honor to their respective sects.
If I had to pick one, the final goal of this whole thing would be, well...
Returning those guys, who willingly got caught up in the mess I started, back to their homes as safely as possible.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
"I was thinking about giving Yeong-er a nickname."
"Haha, forget it. Look ahead."
At the Little Arhat's words, I turned my head. While the lush winter forest still stretched out—
This monk hopped forward, placed his hand on the tree at the very front, and lightly pushed a branch aside.
"We have arrived."
Below us, Chongqing was spread out.
Finally.