Chapter 374: The Festival (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 374: The Festival (4)
A peerless master known to the world as the Buddhist Exalt, Abbess Baekyak was, in both name and reality, a figure of profound admiration who led one of the Nine Sects.
Her accumulated qi had surely reached the absolute limits of human capacity.
Because of this, she had no reason to needlessly burn away her sustenance with her inner power. Given her advanced age, it was only right that she took care of her physical body.
‘Is she listening?’
Jeong Yeon-shin paused mid-sentence, cutting off what was—for him—a rare, impassioned speech.
The Emei Sect Leader was smiling. The faint upward curve of her lips was reminiscent of the Buddha's own smile. Because her normally stern expression had softened even slightly, her innate gentleness stood out all the more.
Was this a rare sight?
The atmosphere among the nuns seated on either side of her shifted. Some parted their lips in surprise, while others raised their eyebrows. It was as if their vows of silence had been momentarily shattered.
It was a stark contrast to how they had previously sat in outward silence, even while busily exchanging telepathic messages.
Amidst this, Abbess Baekyak spoke slowly.
"You are a master of dynamic cultivation arts, Benefactor."
Her voice carried a faint trace of a smile. It was incredibly benevolent. Jeong Yeon-shin almost smiled back unconsciously, but he merely parted his lips in a calm reply.
"I am not without some skill."
"It also means your way of seeing the world is different. Though there are many dynamic cultivation arts in this land, most do not deviate from the same worn path."
"Pardon?"
"Your perspective when looking upon the flesh of sentient beings is special. Like a parent watching over their child, or a grandchild worrying for their grandparents... your insights reveal your mnemonics, and those mnemonics contain your intent. It has warmed this old nun's heart."
With a single sentence, she had pierced through the profound truths of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art.
It was truly astounding.
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes widened slightly. In contrast, the corners of Abbess Baekyak's eyes crinkled downward into gentle wrinkles.
"Only now do I understand the sacrifice you have made, Benefactor."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I speak of the public notice you wrote to announce the martial arts tournament to the world. The wicked and heterodox sects are, by nature, as scattered as the fur of a macaque, making them difficult to gather in one place. Yet, you delivered a powerful rebuke through your tournament invitations, leaving them with no choice but to step forward."
Slightly squaring her narrow shoulders, Abbess Baekyak continued in a low voice.
"When I first read those words, this old nun was reminded of the Hegemon Hero in his hot-blooded youth. The way he sought to bring peace to the common people's lives, guided solely by his heart."
"My grandfather...?"
"It was a shallow thought on my part. You merely donned uncomfortable clothes to draw their attention. This old nun failed to grasp the Buddha's parable: 'If I do not enter hell, who will?'"
"Ah."
"To post a public notice to the entire world is to shoulder an immense burden. You had no choice but to worry about how the world would perceive every single character you wrote... The weight you had to endure must have been incredibly heavy."
"I am ashamed," Jeong Yeon-shin replied, slightly lowering his chin. Perhaps because he was in the presence of a Buddhist monk, he stopped short of a full nod, feeling a slight prick of conscience.
Abbess Baekyak smiled faintly.
"I shall instruct the disciples of our sect. Once this tournament is over, Emei will treat the Commander of the Demonlight Wing as an honored guest. Please visit our temple when it is rebuilt in the future. And if, by chance, Buddhist relics are found in this old nun's body after I pass, you may make an offering at my pagoda."
"I will come to see you while you are still alive, Sect Leader."
"Judging by your demeanor, Benefactor, you have no intention of yielding the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect to this old nun."
"She is the enemy of my fortress's warriors."
"I understand. I suppose I must hope that this old nun's body protection scripture is swifter than your arts. Whichever of us steps onto the martial stage first will face the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect."
"My Ten-Mile Light Grace is different from the Emei Sect's body protection scripture. Its principle of stillness-in-motion is weak, but its speed and the subtlety of its directional changes are strong. I hope you will give up, Sect Leader, and look after your lower back."
Low laughter rippled out from Abbess Baekyak and the Emei nuns.
For once, Jeong Yeon-shin's words were received not as a provocation, but with genuine warmth. It was a place where one's mind could find ease. The Nine Sects were indeed the Nine Sects.
"Emei is also a martial sect of the Jianghu, so it is difficult for us to show great favor to the Desolate Fortress... yet, now that my misunderstandings regarding your conduct have been cleared, I cannot help but feel my heart leaning toward you."
Abbess Baekyak gazed at the Commander of the Demonlight Wing with clear eyes.
The young man before her likely did not know. He did not know how many lay sects and high-ranking officials climbed Mount Emei just to gain worldly benefits from a few words spoken by her sect.
Nuns who shattered boulders. Taoists who stepped on empty air.
The nine great sects, collectively known as the Nine Sects, held immense prestige as Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries.
Their power to sway the hearts of the people reached even as far as the Forbidden City in Beijing.
But none of that was of any concern to the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
"I have thought of a few ways to deal with the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect," Jeong Yeon-shin said.
As he spoke, Abbess Baekyak replied while rolling her Buddhist prayer beads, and occasionally, a few Emei nuns joined the conversation.
The characteristically carefree atmosphere of the Nine Sects began to fade into seriousness.
—The Commander of the Demonlight Wing's character is quite different from what we heard. The years we spent chanting the Lotus Sutra in the temple have been in vain.
—We viewed that benefactor's grandfather too highly for no reason. If one wishes to enter the Buddha's Samadhi of Infinite Meanings through martial arts, one must not be swayed by prejudice...
—Did he not use his peerless master's eye technique out of the kindness of his heart? It is only right to call him a Bodhisattva.
Amidst the faint, lingering scent of temple incense, a quiet conversation flowed.
"Benefactor."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"If we are both still alive after the tournament, come back to this old nun and ask about the Mount Hua Agreement. It is a matter related to the Hegemon Hero," Abbess Baekyak said.
A look of wonder appeared in Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes. The Mount Hua Agreement. On the day his grandfather's blue flames burned the Blood Flame Cult Leader, those words had slipped casually from that demon's mouth.
It was said to be a promise made between the masters of the Nine Sects and the Hegemon Hero in their youth.
Jeong Yeon-shin gave a small nod.
"I will do so."
"At that time, it would be best if you left the young lady residing in there behind."
Abbess Baekyak glanced over Jeong Yeon-shin's shoulder. Her gaze was deep and profound. The old nun's pitch-black eyes held a night sky devoid of a single star.
In that instant, Jeong Yeon-shin's shadow rippled eerily.
* * *
Over the next two days, he heard many things.
—You must beware of the Dragon Slaying Scale-Treading Movement Technique. I speak of the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect's body protection scripture. The way she gains speed in an instant is on par with almost any peerless variation. Even this old nun almost suffered a great defeat.
—If you, our benefactor, should face the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect, it would be best to avoid using the Myriad Blossoms Rain. Though her Heaven-Overturning Dragon-Slaying Formula has a wide trajectory, there are no openings to penetrate. It is a martial art that fills its forms with fierce, powerful shockwaves...
—You must not be deceived by the appearance of the Lord of the Tenth Sect, who seems to have a good nature, let alone the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect, who is famous as the greatest beauty of Sichuan. The number of commoners they have sent to their graves in the Sichuan Jianghu is...
It was not just Abbess Baekyak and the Emei nuns.
The Tang Clan Leader and the Small Sword Empress of Diancang came to find Jeong Yeon-shin separately to share various pieces of advice. The Small Sword Empress, however, was not of much help.
In the meantime, Jeong Yeon-shin had to send away Hahu Wi-jin and Cheon So-so, whom he had briefly reunited with at the Tang Clan.
Their task was to gather the warriors of the Forest-Treading Unit, the Immortal Wood Spirit, and the Heaven-Aligned Wing who were scattered all over.
The world had fallen into chaotic times.
A warrior with the character 'Hwang' engraved on their shoulder was an easy target for all kinds of Jianghu martial artists, and it was said to be even worse now during this year of famine.
"Ha! Those beggars know all too well how good our fortress's supplies are. Even the Desolate Fortress Sword is a precious blade hard to find in this world, so those rootless vagrants rush in like moths to a flame, not knowing their place. No matter how strong a White-Ranked Warrior of our fortress is, if they keep exhausting their energy, they're bound to die in some foreign land."
"We'll be back by the day of the tournament."
Even as they grew so distant they became tiny specks, Hahu Wi-jin and Cheon So-so glanced back every now and then.
Their gestures were filled with worry. Perhaps they were troubled by the situation, feeling as though they were leaving their junior in the clutches of the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect. It was different from when they had faced the Ghost-Howling Hegemon in the Flood Dragon's formation.
After that, even the banquet on the eve of the tournament was held in silence.
The masters of the orthodox factions rarely spoke. There was not even the sound of clattering utensils.
The one who had slaughtered the Northern Demonfolk, the master of the former Pure Demon Alliance Leader, and the one who had devoured the inner core of an imugi.
It was said to be the first time three of Sichuan's Thirteen Heavens Lords would gather in one place.
The Tang Clan, having lost all of its successors, showed signs of worry that they might lose their benefactor as well.
Qingcheng and Emei, who had secluded themselves for the night, seemed to be spending their remaining time with their sect leaders.
Such was the state of the highest echelons of the Sichuan Jianghu. It was proof of the massive impact this tournament would bring.
Step.
After downing a few cups of Shaoxing wine, Jeong Yeon-shin walked out of the banquet hall alone.
Cutting through the night air where low voices echoed intermittently, he walked slowly over the dark earth until he spotted some boys and girls playing in a corner.
They were children of the Tang Clan's collateral branches.
At a glance, they were in the same position as Jeong Yeon-shin—they could not bear the heavy atmosphere of the adults.
"Next, I'm next!"
"I want to ride more. Push me just ten more times."
"I already pushed you twenty-five times...!"
"This is the last time, seriously."
They were squabbling over a swing set up for the Dano Festival. The way they whispered, got angry, and bickered back and forth was quite endearing.
"We have to wait again? I want to fly around in Brother Yeo-hwa's arms."
"Sister Ryeo-ryeo used to push me much higher, though."
The names of the Dragon-Phoenix Twin Poisons siblings were mentioned. The Poison Dragon, Tang Yeo-hwa, and the Poison Phoenix, Tang Ryeo-ryeo. Even though they were children, they were of the Tang Clan's bloodline.
Their expressions instantly darkened, as if they knew of the two's deaths. The words "Flood Dragon's formation" were also uttered.
From a distance, Jeong Yeon-shin stood alone, watching silently until the children left.
Suddenly, his waist felt heavy.
"..."
After taking in the night air for a moment, he placed a plate of food he had brought from the banquet hall onto his shadow. It was a dish of dumplings.
Swoosh—
Nothing happened. Only time flowed quietly.
Eventually, in the distance, dawn began to break.
The faint light spread until it reached his feet. The silently brightening light of dawn gathered on the ropes of the festival swing.
Then, it gradually crept up to Jeong Yeon-shin's waist sash, and soon to his sword hilt, flashing white in an instant.
Suddenly, he named his Divine Sword.
Lingering Thunder.
The lightning left upon the earth.
* * *
A day that gossips would talk about for ages to come.
Such was the opinion of the people who had turned Mount Mi of Sichuan Province into a bustling hive of activity. In some quarters, it was already treated as a foregone conclusion.
No qualifications were needed to watch the duel of peerless masters.
It was only natural that crowds gathered, for something was about to happen that would rapidly alter not only the Sichuan Jianghu but also the political landscape of the surrounding regions.
The dozens of peaks that made up Mount Mi were packed with crowds of people who had gathered since morning. Countless individuals had even laid out mats at dawn to claim their spots.
"Hey, move aside! Can't you tell this spot is taken?"
"Are you talking to me?"
"I'm a martial artist too! Do you think wearing an eyepatch makes you look cool... Hm? What's with that tiger pattern... Don't tell me?"
"Out of my way. I am refraining from drawing my sword only out of respect for the Lord of the Tenth Sect."
"Please lie down! Lie down right here!"
The crowd grew larger and larger, swelling like storm clouds.
The mountain paths were packed to the brim. Not only sword-carrying martial artists, but merchant groups and escort agencies had arrived in massive numbers, and the number of commoners was beyond count.
Here and there, even high-ranking officials clad in precious official robes sat under canopies draped over the cliffs.
They had all gathered like an army arriving on a battlefield, clamoring like thunder. It was a spectacular sight, as if every group from all walks of life, extending far beyond the Jianghu, had assembled in this single place.
And then, it was noon.