Chapter 97: Wuchang Martial Alliance (7)
Chapter 97: Wuchang Martial Alliance (7)
I paused for a moment beneath the gatehouse of the Martial Alliance and looked up.
The Orthodox Heaven Martial Alliance.
What an incredibly arrogant plaque.
The Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance’s name at least implied that their influence was limited to the Hebei region and based around the Grand Canal—essentially meaning something like the ‘Hebei Transport Company.’ The wording was a bit rough, but that was the gist of it.
On the other hand, our Orthodox friends here were flat-out claiming to represent the entire Martial World. As if anyone who wasn't their 'kkanbu' didn't even count as part of the Murim. To put it accurately, it felt like the ‘World Government of the Blue Team.’
Hey, there are people on the Red Team (Black Path) and the Black Team (Three Evils Beyond the Great Wall) too, you know.
“Identify yourself.”
“I am Murong Cheong of the Murong Family.”
“Pure and Clear Maiden Murong. Confirmed. The Twin Arts of Laughter and Cunning have already entered and finished their meeting, so you may head to the guest pavilion now. And the young master with you?”
“Ah, this gentleman is a guest of our house—”
“Peng Hyeon-hwi of the Peng Family.”
I cut off Murong Cheong as she spoke to the hulking guard.
It was getting ridiculous to keep introducing myself as a guest of the Murong Family. By now, the name of Peng Hyeon-hwi of the Hebei Peng Family must have spread through Wuchang like wildfire.
In fact, claiming to be a guest of the Murong Family would be disrespectful to her. It would be like smearing dirt on the Murong name.
And it was the same for me. If word got back that a direct descendant of the Hebei Peng Family was introduced as a mere guest of the Murong Family, my grandfather would scream, "You brat!" And in his case, that "You brat!" would be delivered through the Five Tiger Single-Door Blade.
“The Peng Family...? The Peng Family I’m thinking of...?”
“There might be other Pengs in the world, but I think it’s safe to assume we’re the most famous family using that surname.”
“How dare... a Peng set foot on the gatehouse of the Martial Alliance?!”
The guard let out a roar. To these people, a gatehouse is the face of a sect. Unlike modern sensibilities where a guard is just a security contractor, this was more like being a Gate Warden. It was a position of high honor that required significant skill.
Accordingly, this stalwart guard was a man who had at least reached the Peak Realm. The moment his hand touched his sword hilt, I gripped Murong Cheong’s shoulder as she tried to step forward and spoke.
“How dare you. Are you trying to intimidate me, an envoy sent by the general consensus of the Black Path Demonic Alliance?”
“What?”
“Stick to what you can handle. Consider the fact that I’ve arrived here in one piece. If I had entered Wuchang with some sinister plot, do you think I would have walked up to the front gate alone?”
The guard flinched at my words. He hesitated, a look on his face like a system error had just occurred.
Hebei Peng Family - Bad - Must cut down.
Envoy of the Black Path Demonic Alliance - Killing him starts the second Righteous-Demonic War - Cutting him down is a disaster.
I imagine that was the algorithm running through his head.
He huffed for a moment before stepping aside.
“The Alliance will always be watching you!”
“I’m not exactly fond of receiving attention from men.”
It’s creepy, you know?
I gave a short laugh and passed through the gatehouse with Murong Cheong. Because of the commotion at the gate, the crowds moving between the various pavilions of the Martial Alliance were already staring at us.
I really regret dropping the family flag into the bottom of the canal. I should have been able to walk in here proudly, announcing our presence to the world.
“Quietly...! There was a way to pass through quietly!”
“Rumors will spread anyway. The faster they spread, the better.”
“But why?!”
“Because there’s someone who will get very anxious knowing I’m here with you.”
Eon Do-cheon. That man certainly wouldn't be here right now. He’s probably busy packing his bags. Since it’s almost certain he’ll be branded a Public Enemy of the Martial World, the Jinzhou Eon Family will have to begin a long journey into the arms of the Chongqing Ten Thousand Ghosts Alliance.
But even so, there’s no way Eon Do-cheon hasn't planted eyes and ears inside the Martial Alliance. The future of his family is at stake. For a great sect like the Jinzhou Eon Family, no matter how atrocious their deeds, there’s bound to be someone in the Alliance willing to act as their hands and feet.
In this era, ‘Chivalry’ isn't just about justice. It’s a concept closer to ‘Duty.’ From the perspective of Chivalry, a favor received must be returned with a favor. Even if the other person is a villain.
That is the nature of 'Eon-won'—grace and resentment—in the Martial World. Repaying both kindness and grudges, and never betraying a benefactor. That is what defines a chivalrous person by the standards of this era.
The network the Jinzhou Eon Family built over the years while holding a spot among the Five Great Clans—in other words, medieval Chinese ‘Guanxi’—was still very much in effect.
Murong Cheong, appearing to denounce the Jinzhou Eon Family.
And the fact that she arrived safely at the Martial Alliance despite the ambush on the Grand Canal and the use of the Ghost Gate Meridian’s inescapable net.
On top of that, the sudden, contextless appearance of the youngest young master of the Hebei Peng Family.
If I were Eon Do-cheon, my head would be spinning trying to figure out what was happening. He had no idea I was involved in the bloody incident at Qinghe County.
Not to mention the fact that my grandfather is the Leader of the Black Path Demonic Alliance, and if I’ve appeared alongside Murong Cheong to denounce the Jinzhou Eon Family, the Eon Family’s future looks very bleak.
The Chongqing Sima Alliance? The Jongri Family? The Ghost Gate Meridian?
What are they going to do? The Leader of the Sima Alliance is going to refuse their entry.
So, where should the Eon Family go now that they’ve been kicked out by both the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions? I don’t know. Maybe they’ll have to fall to the Blood Cult or something.
After hearing my explanation, Murong Cheong stared at me blankly for a moment, then nodded as if she understood and continued walking.
*
“The motion to designate the Jinzhou Eon Family as Public Enemies of the Martial World has failed.”
“Eh?”
That wasn't in my plan.
Murong Jeon, who delivered the shocking news, looked absolutely indignant. He took a long breath before continuing.
“The Huangfu Family, the Shangguan Family, and the Zhuge Family opposed it.”
“Is the designation of a Public Enemy a unanimous vote? I would think there are more people in the Martial Alliance who wouldn't just stand by once the Eon Family’s atrocities were revealed.”
If we lost by a simple majority, I’d have nothing to say.
But the Martial Alliance is a place where the influence of the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance is much stronger. How could we lose a majority vote...?
“If it were an ordinary matter, perhaps, but designating a great sect like the Jinzhou Eon Family as Public Enemies is... a matter of much debate. When the representatives of the Great Clans oppose it, even the Nine Great Sects cannot easily ignore their opinions.”
Murong Jeon’s explanation continued.
Since the Righteous-Demonic War, an incredible amount of resources had been provided to the Jinzhou Eon Family for free. They were seen as the front line to keep our Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance in check.
Eon Do-cheon, the head of the Eon Family who had greedily devoured those resources, had even placed his name among the Fifteen Lords of the World and become a representative of the Orthodox martial artists. That’s what being one of the Four Great Orthodox Clans meant. It meant being one of the four peerless masters representing the Orthodox faction.
Of course, the atrocities committed by the Jinzhou Eon Family were issues that needed immediate punishment, and given what the Murong Family suffered, it was only natural they be branded Public Enemies, but...
“The Zhuge Family argued that we must examine the situation more closely to grasp the full context. The Shangguan Family is linked to the Eon Family by marriage. And the Huangfu Family opposed it to keep the Shandong Yue Family in check.”
“Wow. The Orthodox Murim is a total mess.”
“Yes. I have no choice but to agree with that.”
Murong Jeon let out a heavy sigh.
If the Jinzhou Eon Family were cut off, the Shandong Yue Family was being considered as the next candidate to receive the Martial Alliance’s regional support funds for Hebei—essentially taking over the role of the front line against the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance. I heard the Murong Family had been lobbying hard for this.
However, the Yue Family isn't the only power in Shandong. There’s also the Huangfu Family and the Mount Tai Sect. The Mount Tai Sect was merely part of the Five Sacred Mountain Sword Sects and didn't even belong to the Nine Great Sects, but the Huangfu Family was different.
They were in the second-tier lineup of the Five Great Clans, fiercely competing with the Shandong Yue Family, the Shangguan Family, and the Sima Family. They must have judged that if the Shandong Yue Family grew by receiving Alliance funds, their own position in Shandong Province would be severely shaken.
“What did the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance say? I believe the Beggar Immortal and the Sword Immortal were aware of this matter.”
“Shaolin, Jongnam, Emei, Qingcheng, Wudang, and the Beggars' Sect all voted in favor. The Huashan Sect opposed it.”
“Why Huashan all of a sudden...?”
“Because the Jongnam Sect voted in favor.”
“Wow, the Orthodox faction is really driving me crazy.”
Coming from a liberal democratic society, I shouldn't really be thinking this, but I’m starting to have second thoughts about whether majority rule and democracy are truly the right political systems.
There’s a reason monarchies lasted for thousands of years throughout human history. When everyone has the same single vote, you can't reach a consensus at all.
Does it make sense for other sects to have the same vote as the Shaolin Temple and the Jongnam Sect, where the Three Venerables of the World reside? If this were the Black Path Demonic Alliance, my grandfather would have had about ten votes.
For the record, the other Ten Great Sects of the Black Dao get about 0.5 to 0.2 votes each. That is the democracy of the Black Path Demonic Alliance.
“The discussion on this matter won't end in a day or two. Our family intends to initiate a Sect War even if the Jinzhou Eon Family isn't designated as Public Enemies, and there are many who will join us.”
“Then should we just keep waiting here in the guest pavilion?”
“For the time being, yes. Regardless of how the Alliance meetings go, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering will proceed as planned, so you should prepare for that. The motion regarding your participation passed without issue.”
“Oh. Did anyone have anything to say?”
“Shaolin seemed very pleased.”
“...Why...?”
I’m scared.
“Who knows? Perhaps they think that by defeating a direct descendant of the Peng Family in a duel before a crowd, they can settle a bit of the grudge from two hundred years ago. The young experts attending this year's Dragon-Phoenix Gathering are quite formidable.”
“Is it okay for monks to be like that...? What about mercy? Compassion...?”
“If you weren't under our family’s protection, the Little Arhat would have personally slung you over his shoulder and led you to the Repentance Cave on Mount Song.”
The Repentance Cave is basically a private prison. Why are they sentencing me to life without a trial? Even the Catholic witch hunts had religious trials...
“Anyway, try not to leave the guest pavilion for a while. If possible. Ever since your name was mentioned, there are many—truly many—who wish to see you.”
Murong Jeon said that and stood up. I heard he planned to meet with the elders of the sects that cast opposing votes one by one to persuade them.
As soon as Murong Jeon left the Murong Family’s quarters in the guest pavilion, Murong Cheong came and sat beside me.
“It seems the Little Arhat of the Shaolin Temple is participating. Do you know of him?”
“Just hearing the name is scary enough.”
“Fufu. Yes, he is a very terrifying person. If he weren't wearing a monk's robe, I would have mistaken him for a mountain bandit from the Heavenly Thunder Alliance.”
I looked at her to see if she was teasing me, and it seemed she really was.
My family is currently 'teebagging' the Shaolin Temple in real-time, so it was realistically even scarier.
To reiterate, the name of the secret martial art passed down to our Family Head is the Five Tiger Single-Door Blade. For the record, the Five Tiger Single-Door Blade was a technique our founding ancestor swiped while the Shaolin Temple’s Library of Scriptures was burning down.
And we’re still using it without even making the minimal effort to change the name. If you translate this into medieval Chinese grammar, it reads as follows:
I’m amazed the Shaolin Temple is still putting up with it. If my grandfather were in their shoes, he would have definitely started another Righteous-Demonic War.
Anyway.
“Can you draw?”
“Suddenly?”
“If you can't, forget it. I'll do it. I’d like you to get me some brushes, ink, paper, and some cloth. And some poles if possible. Maybe three?”
“Who! Who said I can't draw? Please wait a moment!”
I had no intention of wandering around the Martial Alliance HQ, where Shaolin monks were coming and going, before the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. And I didn't plan on leaving the guest pavilion until Brother Baek of the Hao Clan found something out.
But I didn't intend to spend that time just idling around either. A possessor’s timeline must always be packed.
First, I needed to remake our lost family flag.
Fortunately, poetry, calligraphy, and painting are the virtues of a gentleman. I’m actually quite decent at drawing.
I didn't have time to seek peace of mind with a brush and ink. For the record, I kicked Murong Cheong out after she scribbled some crooked doodles on the practice paper I gave her.
Anyway, that night, while I was painting the flag of the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance on the cloth Murong Cheong had brought...
“Is the Beheading Blood Wolf here?”
I leaned my brush against the inkstone and looked toward the door. In the dark night where even the moonlight was faint, someone entered the small pavilion.
It was a man I had never seen before. Carrying a sword at his side, the man looked at me with a crooked expression and let out a loud snort.
“The Alliance Leader seeks you.”
“Uh... who?”
“The Martial Alliance Leader is looking for you. Get ready.”
“Me?”
“...Yes. Who else is here?”
“Why...?”
No, seriously, why?
“Hurry and get ready! The Alliance Leader’s time is worth a thousand gold!”
“Why would such a person want me...? In the middle of the night...?”
This is making me uneasy.
I’ll go since I’m being called, but this was so unexpected that my brain was buffering.
I lightly gripped my sword hilt and looked at the man.
“Is it alright if I go armed?”
“Hah, you can bring a cannon for all I care. Do you really think you could harm the Alliance Leader?”
“I suppose not.”
I picked up my blade, fastened it to my waist, and stood up.
“This is a matter of my family’s pride.”
I couldn't go to a private meeting with the Martial Alliance Leader without a single blade as a member of the Peng Family.
I followed the man out.