Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Envoy (4)
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When I came to my senses and opened my eyes, the Lord of the Righteous Path Alliance had his hand on my head.
“Are you awake?”
“Yes, though it feels like my head’s about to split open, thanks to someone.”
“Hmph, you should have watched your mouth…”
“The great Lord of the Righteous Path Alliance, launching a surprise attack? Even the fiends of the Ten Demon Alliance would point their fingers and call you a coward.”
“You’re probably the only person in the history of the martial world to curse at the Lord of the Righteous Path Alliance.”
Though we had only exchanged a few words, as a veteran of countless online flame wars, I could tell.
He was no easy opponent.
“...How about we call it a draw?”
“That sounds for the best.”
“Excellent. Then please tell me why you summoned me in the middle of the night.”
“Such an impatient fellow. After not seeing each other for so long, you should be thinking of sharing a cup of tea and talking slowly.”
“How deep can a bond be from meeting for a few days as a child…”
“I’m not talking about my bond with you. I’m simply curious about the final days of the Wise Swordsman.”
Well, that was a fair point.
“As you wish.”
I followed the Alliance Lord into a small thatched hut, where he personally brewed and offered me tea.
*Slurp.*
“...!”
I took a sip and couldn't hide my astonishment.
*Ptooey.*
“Pfft, yuck. What is wrong with this tea? You scared me.”
“Hm? Is this not how it’s done?”
“Seriously, you’re called an immortal by the common folk, yet you can’t even brew tea properly?”
“Immortal, my foot. You brat, am I in a position to brew my own tea? I’ve gotten so used to people serving it to me that I might have forgotten.”
True, it was absurd for him, the Lord of the Righteous Path Alliance and the Grand Elder of the Huashan Sect, to be serving tea in the first place.
He, too, seemed to find it undrinkable and set down his cup.
“Tell me about the Wise Swordsman.”
“Of course.”
The conversation that followed was nothing special.
It was just about my grandfather’s later years and his death.
Still, sharing memories with someone who remembered my grandfather filled me with a sense of warmth.
After hearing the whole story, the Alliance Lord spoke in a voice tinged with regret.
“I thought of him as a lifelong friend, yet I was so bound by worldly affairs that I couldn’t even be there for his final moments.”
The Alliance Lord spoke in a voice tinged with regret.
“Still, it was a relief that he had you in his later years.”
“I was training at the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion, so I couldn’t visit him often. I was a good-for-nothing son.”
“Just seeing a child he picked up off the street display such talent would have been comfort enough for him.”
“I hope so.”
Taking advantage of the somewhat heartwarming atmosphere, I asked something I had been curious about.
“By the way, when did you become the Lord of the Righteous Path Alliance?”
A wandering Daoist in rags had become the Alliance Lord over the years.
It was like finding out a homeless man you saw on the street was actually the chairman of a conglomerate.
“I had no desire to be the lord, so I roamed the world. I made up my mind four years ago.”
Since we had met fourteen years ago, that meant he had wandered for at least a decade.
‘To choose a homeless life when you have a warm home…’
This man was definitely not in his right mind either.
As I nodded at that thought, the Alliance Lord asked in a serious tone.
“What is your purpose in seeking an alliance?”
“That’s obvious. To keep the Ten Demon Alliance in check…”
“I am asking about the true intentions of your Lord.”
Not the objective of Nine Dragons Fortress, but the Lord’s true intentions…
Indeed, people who reached their level of influence had a broader perspective.
“I do not know the Lord’s true intentions, but one thing is certain.”
“Speak.”
“The Lord wishes to avoid war.”
“And what is your reason for thinking so?”
“The current strength of Nine Dragons Fortress is unparalleled in the last century. It is strong enough to face the Ten Demon Alliance. I do not believe the Righteous Path Alliance is unaware of this.”
“That is certainly true.”
He was right.
With Bukgung Baek reaching the Transformation Realm, Nine Dragons Fortress possessed a military strength that could be considered the greatest in a hundred years.
It was strong enough to face the Ten Demon Alliance—a faction teeming with demonic masters—all on its own.
But the Lord did not order an attack.
Not even after losing his eldest grandson to fiends presumed to be from the Ten Demon Alliance over a decade ago.
In other words, he desired peace.
As I continued this explanation, he nodded, seemingly convinced to some extent.
“However, that alone is not enough.”
“Why is that?”
“Because of balance.”
His abrupt statement made me blink.
“With the Imperial Court having lost its power, the world is now effectively divided and ruled by five powers. And this balanced standoff has brought peace for the past hundred years.”
He was right.
For the past century, there had been no major wars, only localized conflicts.
“But what do you think will happen if the Righteous Path Alliance and Nine Dragons Fortress form an alliance?”
“...The two powers will get along better.”
As if we’d just become mutual followers.
At my answer, the Alliance Lord looked at me with an expression that said, ‘What is this idiot talking about?’
“Ahem, it was a joke. You believe the alliance will shatter the balance, don’t you, my Lord?”
“Correct. If that happens, how will the Ten Demon Alliance perceive it?”
“They will feel threatened.”
“And that will become the fuse for war.”
“...Unless they are fools, they would not dare attack Nine Dragons Fortress after it has allied with the Righteous Path Alliance.”
Even the most radical demonic factions wouldn't start a fight they were bound to lose.
However.
“Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been a gateway to the lands beyond the Central Plains. The Ten Demon Alliance has ruled Xinjiang for well over a century. Surely you don't believe there are no external powers willing to join hands with them?”
I could only marvel at his perspective, which extended beyond the martial world of the Central Plains to the lands beyond.
“But…”
Just as I managed to formulate a counterargument and open my mouth, the Alliance Lord unleashed another point.
“Fine, let’s concede for a moment and say we win the war against the Ten Demon Alliance. Do you believe peace will follow? What’s to stop the Lord of Nine Dragons from changing his mind and dreaming of conquering the world? And who would dare take responsibility for the blood spilled during the war?”
His question, which considered all the people of the world, filled me with a sense of reverence.
‘This is it.’
I instinctively knew it was time to bring out the answer sheet Yu So-pyeong had written for me.
“...Nine Dragons Fortress is a righteous sect.”
“You were the one who said the spirit of the Righteous Path Alliance has faltered. Am I to trust the Lord of Nine Dragons on the basis of a single phrase, that you are a righteous sect?”
“I am asking you to trust not the current Lord, but Nine Dragons Fortress itself.”
“Trust Nine Dragons Fortress?”
“Yes. You mentioned that you wandered the world for over a decade, my Lord.”
“I did.”
“What were the expressions of the common people living in Nine Dragons Fortress territory like?”
“...They seemed well. No one appeared to be hungry.”
Sichuan, ruled by Nine Dragons Fortress, had the lowest tax rates in the world.
This was because the funds needed to run the fortress were not covered by taxes from the people, but by profits from its own businesses.
Furthermore, with Nine Dragons Fortress standing firm, there was no need to worry about foreign invasions, making it naturally one of the best places to live in the world, alongside the territories of the Righteous Path Alliance.
“Have you perhaps been to the Lion Alliance’s territory?”
“I have.”
“How does it compare to that? Or how about compared to the common folk living under the rule of the Ten Demon Alliance?”
“...It is true that there is no comparison.”
“If Nine Dragons Fortress had set its sights on conquering the world, the lives of the people of Sichuan would have grown more wretched by the day. Isn’t that so?”
“Hmm.”
“Furthermore, if Nine Dragons Fortress were to fall, what would become of the people of Sichuan?”
“...”
“And most importantly, just because we remain passive, does not mean the Ten Demon Alliance will do the same, does it?”
“What?”
Seizing the opportunity, I explained the internal conflict the Ten Demon Alliance was currently facing.
That the Ghost Sect was attacking the Demon Sect to usurp the position of Alliance Lord.
That they were planning a war to create a pretext.
And that, as a result, they had attacked the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion, leading to the deaths of the talented disciples of Nine Dragons Fortress.
“This is certainly not a matter to be taken lightly…”
After hearing the full story, the Alliance Lord’s gaze deepened. He was surely pondering it deeply.
Seeing this, I secretly clasped my hands and prayed.
‘Let it work, let it work, let it work, let it work…’
And at the Alliance Lord’s subsequent response, I cheered inwardly.
“Very well. Tomorrow, I will immediately send missives to the Sect Leader of Wudang and the Abbot of Shaolin.”
I’d have to give Yu So-pyeong a kiss when I got back.
* * *
After my private meeting with the Alliance Lord, the alliance negotiations gained rapid momentum.
Several rounds of back-and-forth negotiations followed.
“Hmph, establishing a branch in western Shaanxi is possible, but Nine Dragons Fortress must cover a portion of the construction and maintenance costs.”
“How much…”
“About this much…”
“Instead of that, how about this much…”
After ironing out such detailed conditions, the draft was finally completed.
“The Nine-Righteous Alliance? The name is a bit…”
The Wudang Adept who had picked a fight with me on the first day, calling me stiff-necked, spoke with a frown.
“Shortening names like this is the trend these days.”
I retorted casually.
For the record, after my meeting with the Alliance Lord, I approached the adept and made peace by offering him some fine liquor.
“Well, yes, but. As our Righteous Path Alliance has a longer history, it is only proper to call it the Righteous-Nine Alliance.”
“Doesn’t it sound bad? The sound of it. The name is important.”
“I agree with Young Master Jin’s opinion, but this is a matter of our Righteous Path Alliance’s pride. We absolutely cannot concede on this.”
Honestly, whether it was Righteous-Nine or Nine-Righteous, they both sounded lame. If we were being precise, something like the Righteous Dragon or Dragon-Righteous Alliance would be more fitting.
The reason I insisted on Nine-Righteous was…
“If that is what the Adept thinks, then I have no choice. Very well. Let us go with the Righteous-Nine Alliance.”
“Ooh! Young Master Jin’s great magnanimity. I will not forget it.”
“In return, I would appreciate it if you could concede a little on the stationing costs here…”
“Hmph, I can handle that much with my authority.”
“A wise decision.”
…to gain the momentum to squeeze out a little more by pretending to make a concession.
As all the stages were nearing completion, the sect leaders and disciples of Shaolin, Wudang, and Huashan arrived at the headquarters of the Righteous Path Alliance.
“Wow…”
Though they were few in number, they exuded an aura like that of tigers and dragons.
As I watched them, not a single one out of step, and marveled, I heard Bukgung Baek’s low voice from behind me.
“That is the strength of renowned sects that have endured for a thousand years.”
It was a statement that made me nod in agreement.
They passed through the gates of the Alliance headquarters and approached us.
*Step.*
Given the hierarchy, Bukgung Baek stepped forward first, clasping his hands in a fist-and-palm salute as he bowed his head.
*Gleam.*
The Abbot of Shaolin, said to have been appointed just a year ago, approached, his head reflecting light in a way that reminded me of Yong Ma-san.
He was a disciple the previous abbot had taken in his old age, so his seniority was high, but considering he was just over fifty, it was an incredibly unconventional appointment.
After exchanging a few words with him, Bukgung Baek returned and said.
“So that’s why he became the abbot at his age.”
“Pardon?”
“He is in the Transformation Realm.”
“...!”
“To reveal himself as such means he has reached a state of mastery.”
“...That’s incredible.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine what other incredible masters are hidden within their mountain gates.”
As expected of the three great orthodox sects, said to have masters from previous generations as numerous as the sands of the sea.
After the greetings, the negotiation process concluded with the exchange of the signed agreements.
With hearts full of pride, we attended the banquet, which could be considered the final procedure.