Chapter 248
Chapter 248
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 248
>Chapter Title: Sichuan (5)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Orthodox Faction's young experts, who had left Guangyuan County, arrived at Mount Qingcheng after several days of travel.
The harmonious atmosphere continued for quite some time, except for the occasions when Peng Ji-gwang spouted his tactless remarks.
Hwangbo Yeon, who had been climbing the mountain while quietly checking on her younger sibling without joining the group's conversations much, spoke up in a calm tone.
"However, the atmosphere here feels somewhat bleak somewhere."
At her words, the group turned their heads to survey the surroundings and nodded in agreement.
"Come to think of it, we haven't seen any other hikers besides us."
It was quite strange that there were no hikers on this famous scenic mountain.
Even when they had climbed Mount Hua, known for its steep and beautiful peaks that deterred casual climbers, they had steadily encountered hikers.
"...It seems those rumors were true after all."
As Zegal Eun-young muttered as if she knew something, the others also nodded with expressions of realization.
As disciples from prestigious families and sects, they had heard about it before setting out on their challenge tour.
The warning that tensions between the three major powers in Sichuan Province had recently escalated, so they should be cautious.
As the group began to exude a tense atmosphere, Peng Ji-gwang boldly stepped forward.
"Hahaha. Why worry so much? No matter how turbulent the mood in Sichuan has become lately, they wouldn't dare touch us here in Qingcheng, would they?"
The group gave wry smiles or swallowed sighs inwardly as they followed him, who climbed ahead as if they should trust only him.
They climbed Mount Qingcheng for a long while like that.
Until the torii gate inscribed with "[Qingcheng Sect]" appeared, they didn't encounter a single other hiker.
And at the entrance to the Qingcheng Sect itself, the same bleak atmosphere lingered.
"Where do these guests hail from?"
To the question from a Qingcheng Sect disciple who gave off a cold vibe, Peng Ji-gwang replied confidently.
"Greetings! This one is Peng Ji-gwang from the distant Peng Family of Hubei! And this is the daughter of the Hwangbo Family, the young hero Hwangbo Yeon, known as the Fist Summit. This is the Fist Summit's younger sister, Hwangbo Se-hee. And this one is..."
He introduced himself with a tone brimming with pride, then pointed to each member of the group in turn, mentioning their nicknames or sects.
But the Qingcheng Sect disciple's reaction to his proud introduction seemed somewhat indifferent.
"Such distinguished guests, what brings you to our humble sect at a time like this?"
"We set out from Shandong Province, stopping at various provinces and sects to conduct challenge spars along the way."
"A challenge tour..."
The Qingcheng Sect disciple seemed to ponder for a moment, then nodded and said,
"Please wait a moment."
Judging by their attire and names, their identities didn't seem fake.
Especially the uniforms of Wudang and Huashan Sect—fellow members of the Nine Great Sects—were unmistakable.
One of the gatekeeping Qingcheng Sect disciples headed inward, and soon returned with an old Daoist.
"You must have had a hard journey. I am Cheongun, an outer hall elder of the Qingcheng Sect."
"We pay respects to Elder Cheongun."
The Orthodox Faction's young experts greeted Elder Cheongun with cupped fists, and he responded appropriately with his own cupped fists before saying,
"You must be tired from climbing the mountain, so come inside first."
Elder Cheongun led the young experts to the reception hall.
It was a building meant for entertaining usual visitors to the Qingcheng Sect, but lately, it had been nearly empty.
Elder Cheongun served them light refreshments and tea, engaging in trivial small talk.
Knowing their purpose was a challenge tour, he intended to politely decline with due courtesy.
With the turbulent atmosphere in Sichuan recently, it would be troublesome if any injuries occurred within the Qingcheng Sect from unnecessary spars.
Unaware of Elder Cheongun's intentions, the young experts spent time discussing what they had seen and experienced on this challenge tour.
During that time, Peng Ji-gwang, ever thirsty for attention, brought up the incident in Guangyuan County as expected.
"In Guangyuan County, there was this place called the Black Island Gang tormenting the common folk, so we stepped in and gave them a proper thrashing on our way here, Elder Cheongun. Hahaha."
At his boastful words, Elder Cheongun unwittingly broke into a broad grin.
"Uhahaha. Splendid! That's exactly how the young experts of the Orthodox Faction should act. Of course!"
The key figures of the Qingcheng Sect knew it well. The backer of the Black Island Gang in Guangyuan County was the Sichuan Tang Family.
They simply hadn't been able to directly strike there because they were preoccupied elsewhere.
But for young experts from another province to have dealt with that Black Island Gang—what a joyous occasion.
Realizing that these people, whom he had merely seen as bothersome guests, were actually bringers of good fortune, Elder Cheongun's attitude flipped.
"Ah. Come to think of it, you came for a challenge tour?"
"Yes, Elder Cheongun."
"Hahaha. Look at my absent-mindedness. I'll speak to the sect leader, so please wait a moment."
Elder Cheongun left the reception hall just like that, and soon returned with Qingcheng Sect disciples.
They held alternating challenge spars in the Qingcheng Sect's training grounds, and for dinner, they were treated to quite a lavish spread.
Unlike the initial bleak atmosphere, the young experts received generous hospitality, and the next day, they departed the Qingcheng Sect in a cheerful mood.
And two days later, they arrived at a certain village on the outskirts of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.
A village where people bearing the Tang surname gathered. Tangjia Ta.
At the center of the village stood a massive compound. More like a small fortress than a mere estate, that was the Sichuan Tang Family's compound.
Passing through Tangjia Ta, which exuded an even more stringent atmosphere than when they had climbed Mount Qingcheng, they arrived at the Sichuan Tang Family.
"I've heard the rumors. You lot demolished the Black Island Gang in Guangyuan County?"
They faced Elder Tang Cheol-jin of the Tang Family's outer hall, who openly displayed his displeasure.
"Hahaha. That's right, Elder! As young experts of the Orthodox Faction, how could we leave Black Dao scum tormenting the common folk alone?"
As the tactless Peng Ji-gwang replied boastfully, Elder Tang Cheol-jin clicked his tongue outright.
"Tch. Didn't your family elders teach you that in the martial world, you shouldn't meddle in others' affairs?"
"!?"
Even in the martial world where seniority mattered greatly, it was quite rude to say such to children of another family.
Naturally, Peng Ji-gwang's face flushed red, but Elder Tang Cheol-jin acted as if he couldn't care less.
"Guangyuan County was under our Sichuan Tang Family's management, and now things have gotten complicated because you stuck your noses in."
As Elder Tang Cheol-jin stated it without any attempt to hide, the young experts' expressions naturally grew complicated.
"...Even though it was under the Tang Family's management, how could you leave a Black Dao group like the Black Island Gang unchecked?"
Unable to comprehend the situation, Unbaek Daoist stepped forward to ask, and Elder Tang Cheol-jin replied.
"Black Dao scum are like vermin—even if you kill them, they never get eradicated. So, you set up one obedient Black Dao group to keep the others in check and monitor them. That's all. But you lot wiped out the Black Island Gang, so now even uglier vermin will swarm that place."
The young experts stared at him with speechless faces at Elder Tang Cheol-jin's sophistry.
But regardless of the young experts' expressions, Elder Tang Cheol-jin showed no concern.
"So, you came for a challenge tour? How about staying the night here today?"
At Elder Tang Cheol-jin's question, the young experts exchanged glances, and Hwangbo Yeon stepped forward, greeting with cupped fists.
"The Tang Family must have its own busy affairs, and it seems we came thinking only of ourselves. We'll take our leave now, so please forgive our rudeness."
"Fine. Be on your way."
It was treatment no different from being chased from the gate.
Peng Ji-gwang looked like he could barely contain his anger, but the group hurriedly pulled him away and left Tangjia Ta.
Elder Tang Cheol-jin, glaring at the young experts departing in the distance, clicked his tongue and turned back to the family compound.
'Whew. Of all times, for these brats to cause a ruckus right now.'
Not long ago, they had obtained information that money was flowing into some backwater county called Pingliang in Gansu Province.
Thus, the Sichuan Tang Family had instructed the Black Island Gang leader to send men there.
The Black Island Gang could take over the place themselves, or if they failed, send other Black Dao scum along, or fabricate a pretext for the Tang Family to intervene and seize it.
However, something far more urgent than Pingliang had occurred recently in Sichuan, and while they focused on that, the Black Island Gang had crumbled to those fools.
Reclaiming Guangyuan County wasn't feasible right now, either.
Because of a certain rumor spreading across all of Sichuan.
* * *
Having left Tangjia Ta, the young experts entered an inn on one side of Chengdu's marketplace.
Just in case, they headed to the top floor where rooms were divided, and there they ordered food and drink.
When the server brought the ordered Zhuye Qing liquor, Peng Ji-gwang gulped it down and slammed his cup on the table hard enough to break it.
Bang!
"No matter that this is the Tang Family's home turf, isn't that too rude?"
"...Calm down, Young Master Peng. As you said, this is the Tang Family's home turf—there are many ears listening."
As Zegal Eun-young cautiously spoke while scanning the surroundings, Peng Ji-gwang refilled his cup and gulped it down again.
Watching him for a moment, Unbaek Daoist let out a light sigh.
"In this matter, Young Master Peng has a point to some extent. Backing a Black Dao group, of all things. That doesn't make any sense."
"Given the atmosphere in Sichuan, it's best to just let it slide and pretend we didn't see."
Zegal Eun-young tried to soothe Unbaek Daoist and shifted the conversation topic slightly to lighten the mood.
"Still, thanks to the Fist Summit stepping in, we were able to leave without major incident."
"True. If we'd stayed the night in a place showing such open displeasure, who knows if the food would go in our mouths or our noses."
"It might not have ended with just food poisoning. This is the famous Tang Family, after all."
At the words of Myeonghwan Daoist, a Huashan Sect young expert, the group swallowed dryly and nodded.
Since the Tang Family was infamous for poison and hidden weapons, they might have died unbeknownst to rat or bird.
"What is the Tang Family most famous for? Repaying favors twofold and grudges tenfold, right?"
"If we weren't fellow Martial Alliance juniors, they might not have let it go at that—had it been others, by now..."
Everyone shook their heads as if the mere thought was horrifying, and silence fell over the table for a moment.
'How could those who call themselves Orthodox Faction back Black Dao scum?'
'They say the rivers and lakes' debts of gratitude and grudges are complicated, but I never imagined it like this.'
'To dare humiliate this Peng Ji-gwang!'
Each lost in their own thoughts, they reflected on the day's events.
And what broke that odd silence was a very faint noise. The sound of conversation from a distant room.
"Have you heard that rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"The one about the Heavenly Demon Secret Cave."
"Heavenly Demon Secret Cave? Why is an old tale from ages ago spreading now?"
"It's not an old tale anymore, that's why it's spreading. Recently, the Tang Family, Qingcheng Sect, and Emei Sect are all on pins and needles because of it."
Heavenly Demon. The head of the Demonic Cult, holed up far away in Xinjiang.
At the mention of such a Heavenly Demon's secret cave, the young experts, who had been silent, looked at each other.