Wouldn’t the Nine Great Sects Catch Even More Flak Then? (2)
Wudang Sect.
Swish. Swish.
A strip of pure white hemp cloth moved gently over the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword, whose blade was engraved with the shape of a pine tree.
The edge was already so well maintained that it needed no further polishing, yet the one cleaning it did so with grave composure, as though performing some important ritual.
He stared for a long moment at the blade, now clean enough to reflect like a mirror, before slowly setting the sword down.
"Hoo."
A sigh slipped out. The sword had been cleaned, but his heart remained stained and in turmoil.
And then, from outside, he sensed someone approaching.
"Sect Leader, are you inside? It’s Heo San."
Heo Do-jin-in, the leader of Wudang, slowly lifted his head and looked toward the door.
"What is it?"
"There is something you must know, Sect Leader."
"Come in."
Heo Do-jin-in slid the sword away and set it to the side. Soon after, Heo Sanja entered, paid his respects, and sat down before him.
"Sect Leader."
Then, with a faint hesitation in his eyes, he began.
"It is said that the Mount Hua Sect, which went to Mount Heng, has completely uprooted Dae-byeol Bandit Band, along with Blood Wolf Bandit Band and Red Bear Bandit Band, which were occupying the Green Forest Main Fortress."
"...."
"From what I hear, they cleared out all three bandit lairs without suffering much damage at all."
"Hmm."
In the end, a groan escaped Heo Do-jin-in’s lips.
Mount Hua again?
Lately, almost every piece of news seemed to involve Mount Hua Sect.
Common sense said that shouldn’t have been possible. The leader of Wudang stood in a position that oversaw the world of Jianghu; it was a role that required him to hear every rumor that drifted through the land.
So, to be precise, among all those countless reports, only the ones involving Mount Hua were the ones that kept catching his attention and leaving him unsettled.
"You said they didn’t suffer much damage?"
"Yes. It appears so."
"As far as I know, Mount Hua has almost no first-generation disciples. And their second-generation disciples are still young swordsmen who haven’t even reached their thirties, if I’m not mistaken. Am I wrong?"
"As far as I know, that is correct."
Heo Do-jin-in’s expression stiffened ever so slightly.
"Then you’re telling me Mount Hua, relying chiefly on children who are still only late-generation juniors, swept away all three bandit forts without taking a single injury."
"...."
Heo Sanja did not bother answering. He knew it was not a question meant to confirm facts.
"Mount Hua... Mount Hua Sect...."
As he muttered the words under his breath, Heo Do-jin-in’s face darkened further.
I suspected they were no ordinary sect long ago.
It was now an undeniable fact that Mount Hua’s juniors were surpassing Wudang’s. Hadn’t they already proven their strength more than once?
But this incident directly proved that their power had already gone beyond what could be dismissed as mere juniors.
"I simply can’t understand it."
Heo Do-jin-in spoke in a low, heavy voice.
"Even if you gathered and trained the most gifted children in the world, such growth would be impossible. And yet Mount Hua, which until not long ago seemed on the verge of having its signboard torn down, somehow raised its children to this level? How did they do it?"
A deep trace of age settled over Heo Do-jin-in’s face, though he rarely showed emotion over anything.
He knew it wasn’t true, and yet every time he heard about Mount Hua’s inexplicable rise, it felt as though the whole world was blaming him for being incompetent.
After drawing a breath and suppressing that old frustration, Heo Do-jin-in noticed Heo Sanja’s face watching him carefully.
"Is there more?"
".... Well...."
Heo Sanja hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly continued.
"Because of this, there are people who have begun criticizing our sect."
"Criticizing?"
"Yes."
"What has our sect done to deserve sudden criticism?"
"It’s... they say that although we’re not far from Dae-byeol Bandit Band, we simply stood by and did nothing to suppress them for all this time...."
"...."
Heo Do-jin-in was momentarily speechless, his mouth opening slightly before he realized it.
It was true that Mount Dae-byeol, where Dae-byeol Bandit Band was based, and Mount Wudang were both in Hubei.
"Those who once thought it was a matter even Wudang could do nothing about seem to have changed their minds now that Mount Hua from Shaanxi came all the way to Mount Heng and annihilated Dae-byeol Bandit Band."
"How can that be!"
Heo Do-jin-in’s voice rose.
"Dae-byeol Bandit Band is part of the Green Forest! If we had moved against them, we would have had to be prepared for war with the Green Forest! The very reason Mount Hua could suppress Dae-byeol Bandit Band was because they were certain it would not escalate into war with the Green Forest!"
Dae-byeol Bandit Band?
Wudang could have wiped out something like that anytime it chose to step in.
But Dae-byeol Bandit Band was only one of the seventy-two bandit forts of the Green Forest. No matter how powerful Wudang was, taking on all seventy-two forts would never have been easy.
If the other Nine Great Sects had helped, then what was so difficult about dealing with the Green Forest? But those other sects would almost certainly have just stood by and watched Wudang’s forces be worn down, so long as the trouble didn’t spill onto them.
So how in the world was Wudang supposed to suppress Dae-byeol Bandit Band?
"Of course. But...."
Heo Sanja let out a long sigh.
"The problem is that those doing the criticizing do not bother to consider such details. On the surface, it does look as though Mount Hua came to Hubei, Wudang’s territory, and suppressed Dae-byeol Bandit Band on our behalf."
"...."
Heo Do-jin-in closed his eyes tightly, forcing down the anger that surged up in him.
As Heo Sanja had said, it was unreasonable to expect ordinary people to understand such complicated rivalries. They would only see what was in front of them.
"The praise for Mount Hua is reaching the heavens. When people go out, all they hear is Mount Hua this, Mount Hua that. I’m beginning to suspect someone is deliberately spreading the rumors."
"Hah!"
Heo Do-jin-in clenched his fist tight, releasing a rough breath.
This is not something I can leave alone.
If Mount Hua’s fame continued to rise, Wudang would be the one to suffer the damage.
"For now, we must calm public opinion. Prepare the disciples."
"The disciples? For what purpose....?"
"Dae-byeol Bandit Band was destroyed on Mount Heng, was it not? There are likely still remnants left on Mount Dae-byeol. It’s already too late, but we must at least make a show of moving."
"That is...."
"I know. It’s shutting the stable door after the horse has already bolted. But even so, repairing the stable after losing the horse is better than doing nothing at all and standing by with folded arms."
"Th-that is not what I meant...."
"Hm?"
As Heo Sanja fidgeted anxiously, he finally let the words slip.
"Um... I’m told Mount Hua is heading to Mount Dae-byeol."
"What did you say? Those bastards are going to Mount Dae-byeol?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"A-as you said, to clear out the remaining bandit forces...."
Crack!
The corner of the tea table beneath Heo Do-jin-in’s hand shattered with a thunderous snap.
"You...."
His face reddened, and Heo Sanja quickly shut his mouth.
He had spent his whole life seeing Heo Do-jin-in, but this was the first time he had ever seen him this furious.
"Not only Wudang, but the entire Nine Great Sects are being made to lose face! Mount Hua! Damn that Mount Hua!"
The reason Heo Do-jin-in was so angry was not because Mount Hua had beaten them to the job.
In the end, a bandit gang that has lost its head will collapse and be cleared away on its own.
Heo Do knew that, and yet he had still intended to step in and soothe public opinion. Mount Hua could not have been ignorant of that fact either.
In other words, Mount Hua’s latest move carried malice: they were using the opportunity to slam Wudang’s reputation into the ground.
"How has this matter turned into such a disaster!"
It was unbelievable that something as trivial as a bandit suppression could become so entangled.
No.
It had been the same with the Sword Tomb, and the same with the Heavenly Martial Arts Tournament. Had there ever been a single thing Mount Hua got involved in that proceeded as expected?
"They trampled the Nine Great Sects and won fame for themselves, and now they mean to exploit that fame. Then soon that Heavenly Alliance or whatever it is will hold its founding ceremony!"
"...."
"This is bad. Very bad."
Originally, it would have been an event that drew little attention. But because Mount Hua had stirred up this affair, all of Central Plains had turned its eyes toward Mount Hua. Naturally, the founding ceremony of the Heavenly Alliance would now draw the attention of the whole world as well.
The Heavenly Alliance, which would otherwise have had to spend years simply making its name known without ever gaining much notice, would now have its name thundered across all of Central Plains in a single stroke.
Achievement births fame, fame draws attention, and attention inevitably leads to influence.
With this one seemingly insignificant move, the influence Mount Hua and the Heavenly Alliance would gain had already far surpassed anything Heo Do-jin-in had anticipated.
"I can’t ignore this any longer!"
Lost in thought, Heo Do-jin-in sprang to his feet.
"Prepare yourself. We’re going to Shaolin."
"S-Shaolin, you say?"
"Yes."
There was a sharp gleam in his eyes.
"I need to meet the abbot."
* * *
"What did you just say?"
"I said it cannot be stopped."
At the calm voice from across the way, Heo Do-jin-in’s eyes twisted with irritation.
Yet Beop Jeong, facing him, remained only gentle in expression.
"Abbot."
"Please speak, Sect Leader."
"Do you say that because you don’t understand what kind of consequences all this will bring?"
"...."
Heo Do-jin-in fixed Beop Jeong with a cold stare.
"This place called the Heavenly Alliance is not something to take lightly. Even if it is a gathering of mediocre sects, the western region of Central Plains becoming entirely theirs is something we must clearly keep in check!"
"...The west also has Kunlun, Mount Zhongnan, and Emei, does it not? Even if the Heavenly Alliance is formed, the west will not become entirely theirs."
"That’s exactly the problem!"
Unable to hold back any longer, Heo Do-jin-in barked at him.
"If an alliance is created there, conflict with the existing sects will be inevitable! It will only split Jianghu apart for no reason! At a time when remnants of the Demonic Sect have already been found in the North Sea, are we supposed to be fighting among ourselves?"
Despite the furious shouting, Beop Jeong’s expression remained as still as a lake without even a ripple.
"What does the Sect Leader want this humble monk to do?"
"You must stop them."
"...."
Heo Do-jin-in said with a resolute face,
"We must prevent them from gaining more fame than necessary, from swelling their power beyond reason and throwing the world into disorder. Wouldn’t that be the true service to Jianghu?"
Beop Jeong quietly slid the teacup in front of him toward Heo Do-jin-in, as though asking him to calm down first.
Heo Do-jin-in stared at the steaming cup with a hardened face.
For a short while, silence settled between them.
The one who broke that long silence first was Beop Jeong.
"I do not fail to understand the feelings of the Sect Leader, who rushed all the way here in one breath."
"...."
"But that is not something I can do. If sects that are not even among the Nine Great Sects gather among themselves and form an alliance, by what pretext am I supposed to stop them?"
At Beop Jeong’s words, Heo Do-jin-in asked in a chilly tone,
"You cannot stop them?"
"...."
"Or will you not stop them?"
Beop Jeong gave no answer.
"This is not merely my own thought. There are many who believe this Heavenly Alliance or whatever it is will become a scourge upon Jianghu. It’s only because the abbot has remained silent that no one has spoken first."
"Hmm."
"If the abbot insists on saying this until the end, then I have no choice."
Heo Do-jin-in stood abruptly.
"I thank you for the tea."
"Sect Leader."
"Take care, Abbot. We’ll meet again."
And without waiting for a reply, he stormed out.
Beop Jeong, left alone, turned his gaze to the teacup set before the seat Heo Do-jin-in had occupied. It was still full, untouched by even a single sip.
"Abbot."
Beop Gye appeared in the open doorway and cautiously studied his expression.
"What of the Sect Leader?"
"He left without looking back."
"Hmm. Such a hot-blooded man."
Beop Jeong shook his head, and Beop Gye spoke in a low voice.
"I did not mean to listen, but their voices grew so loud that I could not help overhearing."
"How can one stop sound from being heard?"
Beop Jeong spoke indifferently, as though it meant nothing. Beop Gye lowered his head and carefully continued.
"Abbot. I do not think the Wudang Sect Leader is entirely wrong."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. If you were to block the founding of the Heavenly Alliance...."
Beop Jeong slowly lifted his head and looked at him.
"Because the Heavenly Alliance would disturb Jianghu?"
"Isn’t that the case....?"
"Or is it because you fear it will snatch away the scraps of fame and authority you hold in your hands?"
"...."
"How vile."
Beop Jeong gave a low laugh.
Honestly, the Mount Hua Divine Dragon who openly demands payment is the more innocent one.
On his lips he spoke of Jianghu’s well-being and peace, but beneath that was nothing but greed that would never let go of what he already possessed.
And I am no different.
After a deep sigh, Beop Jeong turned his gaze to the window and looked out at the distant sky.
There was one doubt, however, that he could not resolve no matter what.
This is far too coincidental.
Things in the world did not unfold this way by chance. Everything was moving as though perfectly prepared for Mount Hua and the Heavenly Alliance.
That was impossible through Mount Hua’s ability alone.
Was it not as if someone was pushing Mount Hua from behind, urging them to seize fame?
"Amitabha."
Reciting the Buddha’s name, Beop Jeong slowly closed his eyes.
Perhaps everything has already begun.
When he opened them again, dark clouds were rolling in from beyond that distant sky.