Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
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About an hour later, as the conversation with Dongbang Mugeuk drew to a close, Lee Gwang wore a troubled expression, deep in thought about what to do with him.
If he sealed his internal energy and released him just like that, Dongbang Mugeuk—who had made countless enemies throughout the martial world—would likely be assassinated. On the other hand, if he released the seal on his internal energy, there was a risk that Dongbang Mugeuk might betray them later and summon experts from the White Lotus Cult.
Seeming to sense Lee Gwang's dilemma, Dongbang Mugeuk spoke up.
"No matter that you've captured me by force, what do you think is the reason I so readily revealed such top-secret information? Just to avoid torture?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"I've not been digging up information all these years for the sake of the White Lotus Cult's status. I'd say I've been pursuing something far more amusing..."
Dongbang Mugeuk continued.
"I'd love to see your Thunder God Clan rise as a new pillar in the martial world of the Central Plains. The world would get a lot more interesting that way."
Lee Gwang's eyes sharpened.
"You live purely for your own thrills."
"Ha ha, I'll take that as a compliment."
Indeed.
While Dongbang Mugeuk had likely received some promise of reward from the White Lotus Cult Leader for investigating the Dragon Flower Water and the strange illness, at his core, he was an adventurer who lived for amusement. No matter how grand the reward promised by the Cult Leader, it alone couldn't drive him all the way to southern barbarians or Tianzhu. It seemed Dongbang Mugeuk had taken note of the clash between the White Lotus Cult and the Thunder God Clan as his latest entertainment, and he was willing to board the same ship as us.
Dongbang Mugeuk said,
"Let me be clear: the Cult Leader doesn't hate the Thunder God Clan. If anything, he feels regret toward you all."
"Nonsense."
"It's true. I've attended meetings twice where the Cult Leader and his Dharma Protectors gathered to discuss matters, and both times, he lamented with something like, 'If only we still had the Thunder God Clan...'"
"......!!"
"Whether you believe it or not, it doesn't seem like he drove you out out of hatred."
This was bad.
Given Lee Gwang's temperament, he'd explode in rage at words like these.
It seemed I wasn't the only one thinking that, as Jin So-cheong and Geukho both glanced at Lee Gwang simultaneously, worried he might beat Dongbang Mugeuk to death in fury. But upon hearing those words, Lee Gwang instead fell into deep contemplation.
After a long moment of thought, Lee Gwang spoke.
"Continue."
"That doesn't mean the Thunder God Clan needs to resubmit to the White Lotus Cult. What I'm saying is, even if you establish your own sect anew in the Central Plains, the Cult Leader won't bother sending a subjugation force or anything of the sort."
"Hmm..."
"Why not take this chance to completely sever ties with your past as the White Lotus Cult and step forward as a new powerhouse in the martial world?"
The Thunder God Clan's founding in the Central Plains!
It was something no Thunder God Clan expert had ever considered before. They'd always viewed the Thunder God Clan as existing solely within the White Lotus Cult. And the Thunder God Clan had been focused solely on building strength for the sake of avenging their ancestors, never dreaming of establishing a base in the Central Plains.
One reason for that was the worry Dongbang Mugeuk had just mentioned: the [White Lotus Cult's subjugation force]. There was fear that if the White Lotus Cult decided to eradicate the Thunder God Clan once and for all, the survivors would be massacred. But if Dongbang Mugeuk's words were true, it opened the possibility for the Thunder God Clan to survive independently in the Central Plains going forward.
Of course, if the Thunder God Clan established itself anew, its power would be tremendous. Their inherent martial arts were already on a level unmatched by other Central Plains sects, and if the scattered inheritors gathered from all corners, they'd instantly possess formidable strength. As a single sect, they might even rival the grand alliance of the righteous factions' major sects.
Yet Lee Gwang just smirked.
"Pipe dream..."
He said nothing more on the matter. Instead, he turned to Jin So-cheong.
"So-cheong."
"Yes."
"There should be rooms in the guest hall. Give one to our guest. It looks like he'll be staying with us for a while."
"Understood."
Dongbang Mugeuk chuckled dryly at that.
"Prudent. Can't go wrong with prudence..."
"That concludes today's discussion. We'll speak again tomorrow."
A short while later, Jin So-cheong escorted Dongbang Mugeuk to the guest hall. Officially, it was to house a guest, but Lee Gwang neither fully trusted Dongbang Mugeuk nor could simply send him back to the White Lotus Cult, so it seemed he intended to keep him under house arrest.
Geukho said to Lee Gwang,
"We can't keep him locked up forever. What will you do?"
"I'm thinking it over. But that man already knows far too much about the Thunder God Clan. We can't just let him go."
Lee Gwang's words carried the implication of silencing him permanently. I tensed and looked at him, and he continued.
"That said, there's still something to consider. You all keep an eye on Dongbang Mugeuk while focusing on your martial arts training. I'll handle him myself."
"Yes, sir!"
As we dispersed and I headed to my quarters, Lee Gwang stopped me.
"Baek Woong. Come see me for a moment."
"Yes."
Lee Gwang led me to a deeper chamber in the Crouching Dragon Hall. He stared at me steadily, then said,
"Baek Woong... From now on, answer my questions honestly."
"Yes."
"Are you affiliated with any organization outside the Thunder God Clan? Or perhaps a subordinate of such an organization?"
In that moment, I realized Lee Gwang was beginning to 'interrogate' me. I knew that in such cases, his perceptive abilities were on an entirely different level from his usual questions. Thinking the moment had finally arrived, I answered truthfully.
"Yes, I am."
"What organization?"
"It's called the Anti-Heaven Alliance."
"Anti-Heaven Alliance... Do you know what kind of group it is?"
"Before that, I have a question of my own."
"Speak."
"Why do you think I'm affiliated with another organization?"
Lee Gwang replied expressionlessly.
"Your actions may seem chaotic at a glance, but they follow a clear pattern. And such patterns couldn't arise without an organization backing them, aligned with some greater purpose. My intuition tells me you definitely have one."
"I see..."
I let out a groan. Then, slowly, I answered.
"The Anti-Heaven Alliance was formed to oppose the darkness of the imperial palace."
"The darkness of the imperial palace...?"
"Righteous warriors have banded together to confront the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot. You can guess the reason from the existence of the Great Prison alone."
Lee Gwang flinched visibly.
Even the iron-blooded Lee Gwang couldn't hide his shock at my mention of the Great Prison. With a grave expression, he said,
"That's plausible."
"I've not mentioned it before, but General Hwang Yeon was imprisoned in the Great Prison and rescued by the Anti-Heaven Alliance."
"What? Is that true?"
"Yes. We also rescued the Hwang clan members they had confined near the capital."
I said that much and stared straight at Lee Gwang.
"You know well the methods of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"......"
Lee Gwang's face twisted in complexity as he leaned back deeply in his chair. Fixing me with sharper eyes, he said,
"What are you after by approaching me?"
"To be honest, the Thunder God Clan had no future as it was."
"What?"
I decided to go all in. At this point, Lee Gwang's distrust might lead him to kill me, expel me, or torture me. Better to pry into the cracks in his unease and convictions. It was a hunch born from decades of observing the man.
"Before I came to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall, did you, Master, have any real plan? You harbored resentment toward the White Lotus Cult, but without a way to achieve vengeance, you simply honed your personal strength, didn't you? It was only after I arrived that you gained proper strategy and direction."
"Hmm..."
Lee Gwang groaned as if struck to the core. Before he could respond, I pressed on aggressively.
"This won't do. You're not planning to wait until the White Lotus Cult Leader dies of old age, are you? Above all else, I'm a disciple of the Thunder God Clan. Right now, we need to gather as much information and power as possible to prepare to contend with the martial world's greatest force. That's why I've allied with the Anti-Heaven Alliance Leader."
"......"
"Think of me as a spy for the Anti-Heaven Alliance if you must, but know that if I intended harm to the Thunder God Clan, I would've acted long ago."
As I poured out my words fervently, Lee Gwang fell silent, lost in thought. The old Lee Gwang would've dismissed it as nonsense and subdued me by force, but every word I'd said pierced the contradictions and worries he harbored. He wasn't some mindless brute who punched first and thought later.
Lee Gwang broke the silence after about fifteen minutes.
"Fine. So you intended to propose an alliance with the Anti-Heaven Alliance to me someday."
"Yes."
"Did you think it possible? I've always held loyalty to the nation foremost in my heart. Opposing the Embroidered Uniform Guard means defying the Emperor himself, who granted them full authority. No matter how rotten they are, I can't fully side with that."
It seemed at first glance like Lee Gwang was rejecting my proposal. But sensing he wanted to hear more, I shot back firmly.
"Then what of General Hwang Yeon, the loyal patriot, being thrown into the Great Prison?"
"That's just your word; it's unverified."
"If you could confirm it, would you view an alliance with the Anti-Heaven Alliance positively?"
"... Even if so, it's hard to believe the Embroidered Uniform Guard would commit such atrocities on their own without the Emperor's will."
In that moment, I recalled the exchange between General Hwang Yeon and Lee Gwang. Back then, Lee Gwang had been greatly shaken, so I seized the opportunity, glaring at him as I said,
"Let me ask: wasn't it to the Previous Emperor that Embroidered Uniform Guard Azure Dragon Lee Gwang pledged his undying loyalty? Or did you pledge it to the Embroidered Uniform Guard instead?"
"......!!"
"Of course, Master, you also pledge loyalty to the current Emperor, son of the Previous one. But then, where is Great Ming?"
"That's..."
I clenched my fist tightly.
"If the Emperor symbolizes the Great Ming Empire, then isn't purging the darkness clinging to that light true loyalty? Isn't that truly upholding righteousness to the Previous Emperor?"
In an instant, Lee Gwang's eyes wavered violently. It felt like he'd finally crumbled after repeated blows to his core—not shattering his beliefs, but redirecting his line of thinking. These weren't my words, but General Hwang Yeon's, borrowed perfectly for Lee Gwang.
Because these words didn't contradict Lee Gwang's beliefs. The Emperor was supreme, but swatting the flies buzzing around him was something Lee Gwang agreed with. My words had just given him the justification to ally with the Anti-Heaven Alliance.
Lee Gwang nodded.
"... You're right. I never imagined the Embroidered Uniform Guard had fallen that far..."
Muttering to himself, he looked at me and said,
"So the Anti-Heaven Alliance is currently protecting General Hwang Yeon and his family?"
"Yes. Would you like to meet him in person?"
"No... that's fine. If you were lying, you wouldn't have even told me about the Roc Vessel or such."
Since he could fly to the Anti-Heaven Alliance with the Roc Vessel at any moment, he figured I wouldn't risk a sloppy lie. Leaning back deeply in his chair, he said,
"Baek Woong. Are you the leader of the Anti-Heaven Alliance?"
"No. The Anti-Heaven Alliance Leader is my comrade and a peerless strategist."
"Did the Alliance Leader send you to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall?"
"No. I came of my own will. I believed Triple Excellence Lee Gwang was the commander who could stand against the White Lotus Cult and Wind God Clan for the Thunder God Clan."
"Hmm... You and the Alliance Leader are comrades, then."
"Yes."
Lee Gwang interlaced his fingers. Then he said,
"Good. Thank you for your honesty and for sharing words as precious as gold and jade. If you'd lied even slightly, I'd never have forgiven you."
Lee Gwang spoke calmly, but a chill ran down my spine. Having observed him over many years, I knew just how sincere those words were. And I was certain I'd successfully navigated this conversation, turning him into an ally.
Soon after, Lee Gwang said,
"To be frank, I'm at a loss on how to deal with Dongbang Mugeuk or the Thunder God Clan's future direction. That's why I'd like to hear the opinion and wisdom of the Anti-Heaven Alliance Leader, who commands talents like you."
"You mean..."
"We'll ally with the Anti-Heaven Alliance. Guide me and So-cheong to him."
Hearing Lee Gwang's firm affirmation, I felt I'd cleared a major hurdle. Shortly after, Jin So-cheong returned from settling Dongbang Mugeuk, and we headed to Hidden Wolf Valley using the Golden Roc Vessel.
Flash!
It was evening. In the mountain depths of Hidden Wolf Valley as the sunset faded, Mangnyang's thatched hut came into view nearby. Lee Gwang and Jin So-cheong looked somewhat drained of mental energy but wore bearable expressions. And I spotted Mangnyang sitting by the well, humming some tune.
"Mangnyang! We're here."
When I called out, he looked our way. Seeing Lee Gwang and Jin So-cheong behind me, he showed mild surprise, then smiled softly as if grasping the situation and approached.
"You've arrived. It's an honor to meet Embroidered Uniform Guard Azure Dragon."
"Hmm."
"Please, come inside."
Soon, the four of us sat facing each other in the cramped hut and began talking. I first briefly explained to Mangnyang how we'd come here and relayed the information Dongbang Mugeuk had shared. Mangnyang closed his eyes, pondered slowly, then spoke.
"Before discussing solutions, let's have you meet General Hwang Yeon first."
"Very well."
Under Mangnyang's guidance, we went to General Hwang Yeon's residence. Hidden Wolf Valley was a vast gorge, and Mangnyang had set up formations allowing the general and his clan to live secretly. It resembled an ordinary village settlement, but when Lee Gwang spotted General Hwang Yeon's face there, he was stunned.
"Ge... General!"
General Hwang Yeon also looked quite shocked. But he soon broke into a warm smile.
"You've come?"
They conversed for about an hour after reuniting. Meanwhile, Mangnyang and I talked at a distance. Mangnyang grumbled to me.
"Faster than expected. I hoped for at least two more years of preparation."
"Sorry. But with Lee Gwang's personality, deceiving him wasn't an option."
"Hmm... unavoidable. Actually, since it's you, I'm sure you navigated the crisis."
Scratching his head, Mangnyang said,
"But things are about to get tricky. The martial world will shake greatly."
What did he mean?
Yet I had no doubt Mangnyang was peering far into the future at that moment. He'd already devised a plan for Lee Gwang.
Soon after their meeting ended, we returned to Mangnyang's hut. Lee Gwang now regarded him with eyes full of trust—likely from confirming General Hwang Yeon with his own eyes.
"Anti-Heaven Alliance Leader Mangnyang. Forgive my impertinence, but I seek your wisdom. What course of action do you think best for us?"
"......"
The fact that he actively sought wisdom suggested General Hwang Yeon had highly praised Mangnyang's intellect. Pressing a five-phoenix seven-gold needle to his temple in deep thought, Mangnyang suddenly said to Lee Gwang,
"Found a sect."
"Hmm...!!"
"Officially launch the Thunder God Clan in the martial world."
"You mean we can trust that Dongbang Mugeuk's words?"
"Heavens, no. This is a separate matter."
Mangnyang shook his head.
"We shouldn't trust a word Dongbang Mugeuk says about the Thunder God Clan. How do you think he amassed such profound internal energy in the first place? No doubt, when he visited the White Lotus Cult in his youth, he received their Holy Lotuses as payment for a commission and consumed them in large quantities."
"......!!"
We exchanged glances. We'd never considered that.
'Come to think of it, that immense internal energy might only be possible with Holy Lotuses...'
Mangnyang continued.
"He claims he acted without greed, but nothing comes without a price. He surely received some reward for seeking the Dragon Flower Water or Black-and-White Lotuses. Thus, Dongbang Mugeuk can be seen as fully under the White Lotus Cult Leader's direct command. Trusting words extracted under duress from such a man is for fools."
"I agree."
"But regardless, I support the Thunder God Clan emerging into the martial world."
"Why? A subjugation force might come."
"No subjugation force will come."
Lee Gwang's eyebrow twitched.
"You're not seriously taking that nonsense about the Cult Leader pitying the Thunder God Clan as truth?"
"That's not it."
Mangnyang smiled faintly.
"We negotiate."
"Negotiate?"
"Yes. Offer to teach them the cure for the Young Cult Leader's strange illness in exchange for formally recognizing the Thunder God Clan's founding."
"You're saying not to return Dongbang Mugeuk to the White Lotus Cult?"
"Exactly. We'll manage him here in the Anti-Heaven Alliance. As the world's top physician, he'll be useful many times over."
Mangnyang's intent was clear.
Seize Dongbang Mugeuk's information and use it as leverage for the Thunder God Clan's founding!
After a moment's thought, Lee Gwang said,
"Given the White Lotus Cult's power as I know it, they might ignore such a proposal and send a subjugation force immediately. What then if they opt for force?"
"No chance. As Dongbang Mugeuk said, the Cult Leader knows exactly what the Thunder God Clan is. After a generation since their exile, with experts having grown strong, he lacks confidence to commit his sect's full forces to subjugation. Especially not when we hold the info on the Young Cult Leader's illness."
"Hmm."
"And if you're still worried, we have the Roc Vessel here."
All eyes turned to me. Mangnyang grinned.
"Even if battle turns against us, the Roc Vessel lets us escape anywhere anytime. What better card than holding lethal intel on the enemy?"
"... I see. Indeed."
Lee Gwang grasped Mangnyang's meaning instantly.
The White Lotus Cult could opt to annihilate us swiftly and extract the info, but that required killing or capturing everyone. With an escape means at hand, such an attempt would be folly.
Mangnyang said,
"Found the sect. Unite the Thunder God Clan's strength and grow it mighty—eventually, even the White Lotus Cult won't dare attack lightly."
"But what if we give them that clue and they actually cure the illness? Then they'll rampage unhindered across the world."
"Heh heh. The place where Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors Emperor Yu left proof of flood control... If a few lines could locate that elixir, every treasure hunter and scholar in the world would be filthy rich. Rest assured—they won't find it in decades."
Mangnyang laughed slyly, but it was only natural. Holding nearly all the info from my past lives, he was certain the White Lotus Cult couldn't locate the Black-and-White Lotuses even if Dongbang Mugeuk returned. With future knowledge in hand, what was there to fear?
Lee Gwang, now convinced, said,
"Very well. We'll ally with the Anti-Heaven Alliance and prepare to negotiate with the White Lotus Cult soon."
"We look forward to much collaboration ahead."
"The feeling is mutual."
Thus, the alliance between the Thunder God Clan and the Anti-Heaven Alliance was forged.
Before returning to the Thunder God Clan with the Roc Vessel, I asked Mangnyang,
"Mangnyang. In all my past lives, the Thunder God Clan never rose prominently in the world. Why propose this risky path?"
Choosing something I'd never tried before in my past lives meant deviating from predictable futures. I couldn't fathom why Mangnyang would forgo selectively using future knowledge to push for the Thunder God Clan's founding.
Mangnyang chuckled and replied,
"For you."
"What do you mean?"
"The Thunder God Clan martial arts you possess now are incomplete. Fragmented. That's because when the White Lotus Cult's Thunder God Clan collapsed and was exiled, countless masters scattered. No single human can master all their secret arts, so each held their own specialties."
"Hmm, don't tell me..."
"Exactly."
Mangnyang's eyes gleamed.
"Use this chance to found the Thunder God Clan, and gather all those fragmented arts. That's your goal this lifetime."