Chapter 111: Qingcheng’s Sword Technique (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111: Qingcheng’s Sword Technique (1)
“Line up properly! Don’t think you can just slide in like that.”
“What are you talking about? When did I ever do that?”
“Is this guy playing games? You think I didn’t notice you subtly sliding your foot forward to squeeze in?”
It was early morning.
The mountain gate of the Qingcheng Sect was swarming with rough-looking men. One could tell at a glance that they were no ordinary commoners. Most were armed, possessed fierce gazes, and carried themselves with the rugged air of the Jianghu.
“What is going on?”
A man dressed in an Azure Sutra Robe spoke to the First Generation Disciple guarding the gate.
Seok Jin, who had started his journey by sweeping the temple floors and had eventually shown enough skill to be tasked with guarding the gate, bowed deeply to the Qingcheng Swordmaster.
“They’ve been like this since dawn, Song Yu-jin Senior Brother.”
“Why? Do they have business with Qingcheng?”
“They say they need to meet someone.”
“Who?”
“I’m not entirely sure. They keep saying strange things—something about a ‘Benevolent Master of Renown.’”
Seok Jin spoke in a fed-up tone.
It had started yesterday. Two or three men had suddenly appeared at the gate, repeatedly requesting a lesson from the Benevolent Master of Renown. It had been a long time since people had gathered before Qingcheng like this, so Seok Jin had been willing to arrange a meeting if they could provide a name. However, they didn't know the name and only kept repeating a title, making communication impossible.
Today, it wasn't just one or two people; over thirty had swarmed the gate. Consequently, he had closed the doors without listening further and went to report the situation.
“Benevolent Master of Renown? You mean a renowned master who acts for the sake of others?”
“It seems so.”
“Open the gate.”
The Qingcheng Swordmaster, Song Yu-jin, ordered Seok Jin and stepped out as the doors creaked open. Immediately, the eyes of the thirty or so men focused on him.
“Why is there such a commotion!”
He infused his voice with internal energy, causing the men who looked ready to rush forward to flinch. They were instinctively cowed by his momentum.
“We have come to see a certain person.”
“And who is that? State their name, not a title.”
At those words, the men began to murmur. In the Jianghu, it was common to call someone by their title rather than their name. Even if one didn't know the names of the Ten Great Masters of the world, mentioning their titles would often elicit a nod of recognition.
They had provided the title "Benevolent Master of Renown," yet it seemed the Qingcheng Sect—the very place the man hailed from—didn't even know who he was.
Just then, someone among them shouted.
“It is a man named Seok Myeong!”
“Seok Myeong?”
“I am speaking of the one who has taken a seat among the Six Dragons!”
*
“The Six Dragons. Hahaha! I still can’t believe it, even after hearing it with my own ears.”
Song Mun spoke, unable to suppress his laughter, as he looked at Song Hak sitting across from him.
“A rumor is just a rumor. How could a fellow like that be called a dragon?” Song Hak replied indifferently, his face twisted in discomfort.
“If it were a simple rumor, the Seven Well Heroes would have been enough. But aren't all those people out there calling him one of the Six Dragons?”
Because the Qingcheng Sect was somewhat isolated from the current affairs of the Jianghu, they weren't very well-informed about the latest rumors. The gist of it was that Seok Myeong was constantly giving guidance to others, which had earned him the title "Benevolent Master of Renown." Furthermore, he had displayed martial prowess so outstanding that it was in no way inferior to the original Five Dragons.
“He probably just got lucky fighting Cheol Gun, and that’s why such rumors are spreading.”
Song Hak refused to acknowledge Seok Myeong until the very end. It was as if admitting it would cause his own pride to crumble.
Song Mun spoke to him in a persuasive tone. “Song Hak. I think it’s time we acknowledge it.”
“Acknowledge what?”
“That Seok Myeong is qualified to be a Qingcheng Swordmaster.”
At those words, Song Hak’s face turned beet red.
“What are you saying! That boy practiced a heterodox art. Are you saying we should grant the title of a noble Qingcheng Swordmaster to someone who merely increased his power by learning a wicked martial art?”
“Don’t get excited, and just listen to me.” Song Mun paused for a moment before continuing. “If you go outside, you’ll see that the rumors have spread much further than you think. There have been few disciples in the history of Qingcheng whose names have been on people’s lips to this extent. Setting aside the title of Six Dragons, isn't he a fellow whom warriors come to visit countless times a day? Even if he is currently in the Heaven Pillar Prison, I believe he has earned that qualification.”
“I cannot accept it! Not until I uncover the true nature of that wicked martial art!”
“Sigh…”
Song Mun clicked his tongue inwardly. The atmosphere was one where everyone else was beginning to accept the reality, but Song Hak remained as stubborn as ever. Yet, on the other hand, he understood him.
Seok Myeong had walked a path entirely different from the one others had taken. Given Song Hak’s temperament, it was understandable that he didn't want to recognize him as a proper disciple of Qingcheng.
Then, as if something had suddenly occurred to him, Song Mun spoke up. “Now that I think about it, it is quite strange.”
“What is?”
“The energy Seok Myeong used to neutralize the synergistic sword qi Seok Jun unleashed. You must have seen it clearly.”
“…Ah, you mean that wicked energy?”
“Yes, that. Since you saw it too, why didn't you raise an issue right then and there?”
“If I didn't let it slide, then what? Was I supposed to jump onto the martial arts training ground and disrupt the duel?”
“Isn't that right? It was a fight where your son’s pride was on the line. Knowing your personality, it’s not something you’d just overlook.”
“……”
When Song Hak didn't answer, Song Mun looked at him with even more curiosity. After a moment of silence, Song Hak frowned as if annoyed.
“Just what do you take me for?”
“…Hmm?”
“This is Qingcheng. Are you suggesting I should create a situation where the sect’s reputation is tarnished just for the sake of a personal grudge?”
“Well, that’s…”
“No matter how much I dislike the boy, it was a place where most of the Qingcheng Sect was present. Personally, I certainly never want to see Azure Cloud Taoist’s face again, but even so, he is undoubtedly part of our Qingcheng Sect. If there is a problem, I can deal with it later by insulting him or excommunicating him. Was there any need to step forward in that moment and bring shame to the honor and pride of the Qingcheng Sect?”
“No. Of course not.”
Song Mun agreed, as if that was only natural. Then, he turned his gaze toward the window to hide a satisfied smile.
Song Hak is a member of Qingcheng after all.
He had briefly forgotten. No matter how much Song Hak spoke with malice, he was a member of the Qingcheng Sect. Among those of the Song generation, he was one of the few whose pride in the sect was second to none.
Creak.
Just as their conversation lulled, the door opened. A young disciple entered to give a report.
“Someone has come to visit.”
“Who is it?”
“A man named Cheon Wi-jin. He says he has come to repay a debt of gratitude he owes to Qingcheng.”
“…Gratitude?”
*
Song Mun and Song Hak received the neatly dressed young man. Aside from his slightly tanned complexion, he was a "Beautiful Prince" who looked as if he had stepped straight out of a painting.
Following the regulations of Qingcheng, he placed his sword in a wooden case and bowed to them.
“I am Cheon Wi-jin.”
“Sit here.”
Song Mun stood up and moved his seat next to Song Hak. Since they had been sitting across from each other, he needed to move; receiving guests was Song Hak’s responsibility.
“So, what brings the Cheon family to Qingcheng?”
“I have come for two reasons.”
“Let’s hear them.”
Cheon Wi-jin raised his gaze and continued. “Have you perhaps heard the news?”
“What news?”
“The fact that the Samu Alliance has proposed moving all the Unorthodox forces in the North down to the South.”
“The Samu Alliance?” Song Hak asked, his eyes flashing. Song Mun also leaned forward slightly, as if the news was unfamiliar to him.
“Yes. It seems the Samu Alliance made the proposal directly to the Martial Alliance.”
“I see.” Song Hak listened quietly and then asked, “What did they say the reason was?”
“To unify the Unorthodox Faction.”
“Unify the Unorthodox Faction?”
“Yes.”
Song Hak looked at Song Mun with a grim expression. Then, Song Mun asked Cheon Wi-jin, “These aren't just minor sects; would such great sects really merge so easily?”
“It is said that two major organizations have already merged.”
“What? Which ones?”
“The Nine Dragons Alliance and the Samu Alliance.”
“What…!”
Song Hak and Song Mun expressed their shock simultaneously. It was said that two tigers could not share the same mountain. How could two organizations, known for being exceptionally bellicose even among the Unorthodox Faction, merge so easily?
“Hmm. If it’s the Samu Alliance, it might not be impossible. That place was originally formed by the merger of the Three Factions Under Heaven.”
As Song Mun spoke as if he understood, Song Hak countered. “Even so, the Nine Dragons Alliance is a sect full of vigor. Moreover, they were one of the three major organizations representing the Unorthodox Faction. In such a situation, would they really want to serve under someone else?”
“It would be possible if there was a justification to unite as one.”
“A justification to unite? What would that be?”
“How would I know? I just heard about this myself.”
Song Mun clicked his tongue bitterly. It wasn't because he didn't know the reason, but because he was frustrated that he hadn't known about such a rumor until now.
Of course, despite being one of the Nine Great Sects, the Qingcheng Sect lacked connections within the Martial Alliance and was generally less informed about Jianghu news than others. Although he managed the Azure Peak Pavilion, their intelligence unit, they were only well-versed in the Sichuan region; once they crossed into Shaanxi, rumors rarely reached their ears.
Wasn't that why the only information he could get about Seok Myeong was that he had fought Cheol Gun? This might not have been Song Mun’s fault alone, but rather a result of the "The sword is paramount" spirit that Qingcheng had pursued for a long time. Even so, the fact that they were unaware of news that the nearby Cheon family knew forced Song Mun into a state of self-reproach.
“What is the other reason?” Song Mun asked, changing the subject.
“The other is that I wish to see Great Hero Seok Myeong.”
“Seok Myeong? Is the Seok Myeong you speak of the same First Generation Disciple Seok Myeong I know?”
“Yes.”
“A ‘Great Hero’… why Seok Myeong?”
“I previously received a great favor from Great Hero Seok. Thus, my father told me to deliver this to him along with the current state of affairs in the Jianghu.”
Cheon Wi-seol felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Seok Myeong. In the midst of that, he had heard important intelligence, and realizing it was a serious matter, he had sent his son to the Qingcheng Sect. He knew that the Qingcheng Sect was indifferent to the affairs of the Jianghu. Furthermore, he had sent an item along with the news.
Cheon Wi-jin carefully placed the wooden cases he was carrying onto the table. There were two of them.
Creeeeeak.
One of the wooden cases opened. Inside lay a sword with a handle adorned with white tassels and a subtle silver scabbard.
“The Dragon Spear Spirit Sword!” Song Mun shouted upon seeing it. Song Hak also looked on with startled eyes.
They recognized the Dragon Spear Spirit Sword at a glance. It possessed all the characteristics of the sword known as one of the Ten Great Swords of the Jianghu. The Dragon Spear Spirit Sword was described as a blade forged from the entrails of a dragon—a metaphor for its subtle yet incredibly strong internal resilience.
“It is one of the two divine swords passed down as our family heirlooms. Rumor has it that it can even withstand Astral Energy.”
While it likely couldn't literally block Astral Energy, it was a testament to its legendary durability.
Song Hak asked him in a rebuking tone, “Why are you handing over something so precious?”
“Because he gave us something far more precious than this.”
“And what might that be?”
At those words, Cheon Wi-jin smiled. His eyes were shining more brightly than at any point since he had entered the room.
“Our swords.”