To the Namgung Family?
"To the Namgung Family?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
At Hwi-yeom's declaration that he would visit the Namgung Family in person to clear up the misunderstanding, Dang Un-sang fixed his son with a rare, icy glare and growled.
"You of all people know what the times are like. How can you say something so reckless?"
"I'm grateful for your concern, Father. But it's precisely because of the times that I'm saying this."
"…Explain yourself."
Hwi-yeom had never once disappointed Dang Un-sang or the rest of the Dang Family, so even now the others were inclined to hear him out before judging.
Hwi-yeom spoke.
"The situation is strange. Even if the main house has been preparing for a potential clash with the Namgung Family, the presence of someone working in the shadows changes everything."
Someone wanted the Sichuan Dang Family and the Namgung Family to fight. That fact alone was reason enough to stop the fighting before it began.
Even if the scheme were nothing more than a bid for third-party profit, it would still be galling—but what if the true aim was to wait until the Dang Family's strength was spent, then drive a knife into their backs? Starting a war without knowing that would be nothing short of idiocy.
"It was the same with Secretary Yi's assault last time. Something doesn't sit right. Last time it felt as though the Demonic Cult had been framed as the ones after Secretary Yi. This time, it feels as though our house has been framed as the ones after the Namgung Family. Either way, there's a clear, impure intent—to force us into a clash with some third power, or to drain our strength and resolve through such a confrontation. Colliding with the Namgung Family now would mean dancing exactly to their tune."
"And if your idea of a response is to go to the Namgung Family and plead that we're the wronged party, that would be equally foolish. They'll treat this as their chance and try to wring every concession they can out of us. There may even be an assassination attempt aimed at you."
"Still better than dancing on a stage some unknown party has set. I'd rather turn this situation into a weapon and wring some other benefit out of it."
"Would you? Specifically?"
"As for the method…"
Hwi-yeom laid out his plan with calm precision. The direct elders of the Family Head's Hall and the members of the Elder Council, who had begun skeptical, gradually let their mouths hang open—and by the end were clicking their tongues in open awe.
"A bold, utterly fearless approach…"
"Mmm… His Majesty Emperor Sungui is favorable toward our house, so it should be possible, but…"
"Heavens. How many eyes do you even have in that head of yours?"
In the end Dang Un-sang, still clicking his tongue, conceded that the plan held water.
"These are emergency times. The main force stays here in case the Dang Family itself is ambushed—but I'll give you the entire Dokwadae. Take them."
"I won't refuse. We'll only need to go as far as Shaolin Temple, so it shouldn't be a serious problem."
"Good."
Hwi-yeom fully intended to stop at Shaolin Temple in Henan on the way, then bring a high-ranking monk in charge of Shaolin's Outer Hall and a contingent of Arhat Monks along for the visit to the Namgung Family. Shaolin was a direct party to the Second State-run Ironworks construction project, so having them at his side would let him settle any interest disputes on the spot. They would also serve as a shield, sparing Hwi-yeom from having to absorb the Namgung Family's pressure head-on—making the whole trip far more convenient. And with Shaolin along, the risk of ambush would drop even further. The Family Head's Hall approved of his judgment with satisfaction.
"Then depart in absolute secrecy."
"No. Better to publicize it on a grand scale."
"You think the more eyes on you, the more it will restrain any rash moves?"
"Yes. And with two hundred members of the Dokwadae traveling with us, moving quietly would be difficult anyway. Since it's come to this, we might as well advertise it loudly. Something like this would do:"
In light of the various unfortunate incidents that have recently occurred in Anhui Province, the Sichuan Dang Family shall send its Young Master in person to visit the Namgung Family, in order to uncover the truth and demonstrate our innocence before all under Heaven.
"Excellent. Proceed as you say."
The moment Dang Un-sang gave leave, Hwi-yeom had Ye-eun print and distribute a press release through the Sichuan Daily. He also issued a formal statement to the Namgung Family, announcing that he would come in person to resolve the misunderstanding and requesting that both sides refrain from unnecessary clashes in the meantime.
And while preparations for the departure were still underway, unexpected developments began to unfold.
The foremost sects of Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, and Gansu all dispatched people of their own.
"Venerable Hyejeong? What brings you here…?"
From the Emei Sect came Hyejeong Satae—the First Sword of Emei—leading a party of Emei disciples. The old nun looked at Hwi-yeom and smiled warmly, the lines at the corners of her eyes creasing.
"How heavy your heart must be. The circumstances seem truly unfortunate. You're heading into what is practically enemy territory, so I thought our sect might be of some small help. Are we in the way?"
"Not in the least. If the Emei Sect will stand with us, nothing could please me more. And this gentleman is…?"
"This is the first time we meet, Young Master. This humble one is Hak Seong-ja of Qingcheng."
An elderly Taoist in Qingcheng robes clasped his fists in a formal salute.
"Hak Seong-ja… Aren't you the one who oversees the Yuanming Palace of the Qingcheng Sect?"
"A mere pastime of mine."
Hak Seong-ja was a disciple of the current sect leader, Baekhyeon Jin-in, and belonged to the generation now steadily becoming Qingcheng's real power.
"Is the Sect Leader in good health?"
"He is. He jokes that he has no intention of holding the post as long as Songhak Dojang did, but the fact that he can joke about it at all speaks to his vigor."
"Hahaha."
"It is true that our sect and the Sichuan Dang Family had a few small clashes in the past. But for long years we have stood together to guard Sichuan and uphold justice, have we not? And you, Young Master, are a treasure of our Sichuan. Please allow our sect to accompany you as well."
Listening to Hak Seong-ja, Hwi-yeom understood Qingcheng's position at once.
A signal of surrender.
Baekhyeon Dojang had driven out Songhak Dojang and seized the sect leadership. More than ten years had passed since then, and in that time the gap between the Sichuan Dang Family and Qingcheng had only widened. The scions of Sichuan's great clans and wealthy houses who had once scrambled for entry as Qingcheng's lay disciples now drew numbers and waited in line just to enter the Dang Family's business school. Sichuan's commercial sphere was already, for all practical purposes, the Dang Family's domestic market. Expansion into other provinces? The nearest ones—Yunnan and Guizhou—were already the Dang Family's backyard. Economically cornered on every side, Qingcheng had been forced back into the life of a poor Taoist sect living off the crops of its own fields. As if they could take up the sword against the Dang Family now. Such opinions had existed within their ranks—everything from mobilizing every last Red-Cloud Sword Ghost they had carefully husbanded to assassinate Hwi-yeom and wait for time to restore the old order, to manufacturing a pretext for all-out war before the Dang Family grew any stronger. But once they had witnessed the Dang Family's true depth in the full-scale war against the Chagatai Khanate, every hawkish argument evaporated. They had finally been able to take an objective measure of the Dang Family's martial strength. Unable to fight and unable simply to wither away, Qingcheng had been watching anxiously for a chance to send a signal of surrender. Volunteering to escort Hwi-yeom this time was that signal itself.
Hwi-yeom wore a victor's smile and carefully preserved Hak Seong-ja's face.
"I have long heard of Hak Seong-ja's renown. With Venerable Hyejeong and yourself both present, this journey to the Namgung Family holds nothing to fear. You have my thanks!"
"…Heh heh."
Hak Seong-ja had never expected the Dang Family to welcome him so warmly without a single dig, and he stroked his beard with an awkward, inwardly relieved smile.
Next, Hwi-yeom's gaze shifted to—
"It has been some time, Young Hero Dang. A little late, but my sincere congratulations on your marriage."
It was Ilhyeon Dojang, the Falling Star Sword-Master—who, during the earlier negotiations with the Jeomchang Sect, had taken a bullet from Dang Su-jeong and wound up with a wind-hole through his thigh.
"Thank you. But what brings Jeomchang all the way here…?"
Emei is friendly with us, and Qingcheng is at least a Sichuan sect—so why have you come all the way from Yunnan? The look on Hwi-yeom's face made Ilhyeon Dojang flush with embarrassment.
"Is not the Jeomchang Sect the eternal ally of the Sichuan Dang Family? Hearing that you were heading into the Namgung Family's arms—practically enemy territory—we came to show our loyalty."
Three second-generation disciples including Ilhyeon Dojang himself, plus twenty third-generation disciples. Enough force to trample an ordinary mid-tier sect underfoot—or so the Jeomchang leadership had judged when they sent them. Had those leaders been present now, they would have been tearing their hair out. Of course they weren't present, so that privilege fell solely to Ilhyeon Dojang.
Damn it! What are they doing sending elder-class powerhouses and lining up first-generation disciples like this?! We're not going to war with the Demonic Cult…!
Hak Seong-ja and Hyejeong Satae were already late-stage Transcendental Peak masters looking toward the Realm of Transformation—and there were quiet rumors that Hyejeong Satae had already reached it. The disciples they had brought were first-generation disciples of the same generation as Ilhyeon's own master. At this point it looked less like a negotiation and more like they were marching off to throw down with the Namgung Family in earnest. For a Jeomchang Sect that had only meant to stick a spoon in and take a little credit, the situation was enough to make them scream. Everyone present knew it, and the air grew distinctly awkward—but Hwi-yeom politely pretended not to notice and praised Ilhyeon instead.
"Of course. The Jeomchang Sect is an important business partner of our house and a collaborator bound by the loyalty of the righteous sects. Thank you for coming."
"Y-yes…"
The next person Hwi-yeom looked at was a ruddy-faced old man in the distinctive sky-blue robes embroidered with white clouds.
"What brings a senior of the Kunlun Sect here?"
"This humble one is Yong-sang of Kunlun. In the last great battle against those Chagatai dogs, the Sichuan Dang Family was the only one that fought for our sake, was it not? I have come to honor that loyalty. If that Sword King of the Namgung Family tries to intimidate you, this old man may prove of some use."
For a Taoist, his manner was quite warlike and his voice rang clear—but the confidence in that voice had solid grounds. Known throughout the world by the epithet Dragon King, he was an absolute master who had reached the Realm of Transformation, standing on the same level as Sword King Namgung Jin. Kunlun had not sent as many disciples as the other sects, but dispatching the Dragon King and a few of his personal disciples was equivalent to committing a substantial portion of their strength.
Hwi-yeom smiled brightly.
"We only did what was natural, yet you remember and come to us like this… Now I understand why Kunlun's righteousness is famed under Heaven. You have my thanks!"
And then, at last, every gaze in the room turned in a single direction. Emei, Qingcheng, Kunlun—and even the people from Jeomchang—all looked with one heart and one mind, the meaning plain:
And why are you here?
"Ahem…!"
Catching the intent in those stares, the Taoist of the Kongtong Sect flushed an even deeper jujube-red with embarrassment.
"I am Gwang Seong-ja of Kongtong. When a neighbor is in trouble, is it not a virtue to help one another? Hearing that your relations with the Namgung Family have grown strained of late, I came to lend a hand."
The thirty Kongtong disciples under Gwang Seong-ja looked as though they had never in their wildest dreams expected a reception like this. Everyone watching them thought the same thing.
Here to stick a spoon in…
Trying to get on good terms with the Dang Family starting now…
An obvious choice, really…
If anything, why only now?
"Ahem! Please don't look at us like that—it's embarrassing."
Hwi-yeom smiled with perfect courtesy.
"That all of you are so concerned for our house fills me with pride and a sense of purpose. Well then—shall we set out for Anhui?"
And so the Sichuan Dang Family departed for Anhui Province with a more splendid and numerous retinue than at any time in its history.
Only… this gave rise to an unexpected misunderstanding.
"The Sichuan Dang Family has joined hands with the Nine Great Sects of Bashu and is coming to attack the Namgung Family?!"
Well. Um. That.
It was, admittedly, a situation rather easy to misread.