Chapter 114: Intrusion (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114: Intrusion (2)
“I have an ill omen about this.”
Song Hu, who had been listening intently, raised his hand to speak.
As the supervisor in charge of the Qingcheng sword tests, he was the type to demand immediate answers whenever a doubt crossed his mind, regardless of the setting.
“If there is business to discuss, those Unorthodox scoundrels should be the ones coming to us. Why are they demanding we go to them? Furthermore, the conditions they’ve proposed are insulting.”
“The conditions themselves aren't bad, are they?”
“That’s exactly what’s suspicious. It’s no different from them shackling themselves. Why would the Unorthodox Faction do that? Giving up their own interests to hand us the benefits? No matter how I look at it, I can’t help but think those bastards have an ulterior motive.”
Most of the elders gathered in the Grand Purity Hall nodded in agreement.
Even a prestigious Orthodox sect wouldn't agree to terms that resulted in a significant loss for themselves. It was unthinkable that the Unorthodox Faction—who gathered only for profit and were known to draw their blades at the slightest provocation—would willingly take a hit.
“That is exactly why we must meet them.”
This time, Elder Song Gak voiced his opinion. True to his cautious nature, he suggested they accept the proposal to meet first.
“From now on, the Unorthodox Faction of the Jianghu will be under the sole leadership of the Samu Alliance. We must identify the faces of those we will be clashing with. If we are to sign a treaty, we must ensure there are no clauses disadvantageous to us.”
If the Samu Alliance and the Golden Martial Association joined forces as the letter stated, they would truly be reborn as a power that could not be ignored.
Of course, considering they claimed they would reduce their own influence, and given that the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families were still going strong, it was unlikely they would be reckless enough to attack. Still, it didn't hurt to be prepared for any eventuality.
Song Hak, who had been listening, added his support.
“I believe we could simply ignore the Unorthodox rabble, but since they claim four of the Five Tyrants representing the Samu Alliance will be present at this negotiation, it is only proper that we send a similar number of representatives to match the formality.”
“I would also like to say a few words.”
At that moment, Song Ha-myeong spoke up.
The Qingcheng Sect was governed by several key institutions: One Palace, Two Halls, and One Pavilion. He was the elder who managed the White Cloud Pavilion.
Despite his stout physique, his primary martial art was the Fast Sword Style, contrary to what his appearance might suggest. Furthermore, unlike his gentle impression, he was known to be meticulous and precise in everything he did—a man who did not tolerate mistakes.
“There are two ways to look at the proposal they’ve sent us.”
Everyone turned their gaze toward him.
“One is that, for some unknown reason, they have offered us conditions that are more favorable than those given to other sects. The other is that they might have offered these terms to strike us in the back once we let our guard down.”
The elders' expressions darkened.
“If they truly offered us favorable conditions, it is worth going once. As we’ve realized recently, our intelligence-gathering capabilities are lagging far behind other sects and families. We were ignorant of things that the Cheon Family Head already knew. This isn't just a problem with the Azure Peak Pavilion, which manages our intelligence agents.”
His voice grew stronger.
“It is because of the rigid regulations of Qingcheng that have been fixed for far too long. The rule that one must return to Mount Qingcheng every three days to practice martial arts has made it impossible to focus on specialized activities. Ultimately, it means we are failing to adapt to the changing situation of the Jianghu. Therefore, I intend to agree to this proposal to use it as an opportunity to break through that stagnation.”
The elders began to murmur among themselves at his exclamation.
His words were persuasive. Had they not been embarrassingly late in learning about the merger between the Nine Dragons Alliance and the Samu Alliance?
Song Jeong contemplated the situation after gathering everyone's opinions. There were certainly points he had to concede. In their pursuit of maintaining nothing but their pride, they had become dull to the world's affairs.
Focusing only on increasing the number of Qingcheng sword practitioners, sticking to old martial arts, and gradually downsizing the Azure Cloud Pavilion—in a way, it all stemmed from the same context.
Song Jeong looked around at the assembly and finally made his decision.
“We shall go.”
*
From early morning, the area in front of the mountain gate was bustling with disciples. Eight elders, excluding the Sect Leader, were gathered near the entrance.
Since this was the first major movement since the Central Plains had been unsettled by the presence of Demonic Persons, most of the First Generation Disciples had come out to see them off.
“I don't trust this at all,” Song Mun said as he watched the Sect Leader and the elders depart.
Song Hak stood beside him. “Why is that?”
“It was the Sect Leader’s decision, so I didn't argue then, but I have many regrets. I feel a bit guilty, I suppose.”
As the head of the Azure Peak Pavilion, Song Mun had much he wanted to say during the meeting. But he had remained silent. He felt the weight of the responsibility on his own shoulders.
Song Hak patted his shoulder. “How could it be your fault? It’s the way things have been passed down since our predecessors. If we could have focused more on our missions, would this have happened?”
According to Qingcheng’s regulations, even intelligence agents could not travel across the Central Plains as they pleased. Even wandering around the Sichuan region wasn't easy. One might suggest asking the Beggar Sect for help, but for the prideful Qingcheng, bowing and pleading to beggars was simply unbearable.
“Let’s head back inside for now.”
As Song Hak turned around, Song Mun hesitated, reluctant to leave. Perhaps because of an ominous premonition, the back of his neck felt strangely stiff.
“I have a bad feeling about this. Truly.”
*
That evening.
Around the time the Sect Leader and the eight elders reached the Uicheon region designated by the Samu Alliance.
Five black monsters were scaling a steep cliff, gripping the jagged rock with their bare hands. A woman in black, standing atop the monster leading the pack, looked up at the sky.
Mount Mogok.
Named for its strange appearance resembling human hair, it was a rugged mountain connected to Mount Qingcheng.
They moved toward it. Instead of entering through the mountain gate, they crawled up the perilous cliff. They moved with bated breath, like stray cats climbing over a wall.
After an hour of climbing, they reached the Sangcheong Gate. Sensing several Qingcheng warriors patrolling the area, the monsters began to emit a murderous aura.
“Sssssss.”
At the monsters' reaction, the woman in black let out a faint breath. Immediately, they became as quiet as if they had never existed.
The woman leaped onto the roof of the Sangcheong Gate with swift, fluid movements. Despite the immense height, her Lightness Skill was so refined that she landed on the roof in just a few bounds. The five monsters soon followed, flanking her.
“We must go there.”
After surveying the terrain, she dashed forward. The five monsters blurred into motion behind her.
*
“Gloomy weather.”
Song Gwan was returning home after finishing his shift. Was it because so many elders were away? He habitually looked up at the sky.
“The weather isn't good at all. It was warm just this morning, so why is such a sinister wind blowing?”
He walked a few steps before shaking his head as if something had occurred to him.
“That boy Seok Myeong... he’s suffering unnecessarily because he learned some strange martial art. I’ll give him a proper scolding the next time he comes.”
He muttered to himself as he walked. After about fifteen minutes, he arrived home.
“Huh?”
He habitually turned his head as he entered his thatched cottage, and something flickered across the roof. It was so fast that he couldn't discern its form, but he was a warrior trained in martial arts. He knew that presence was no mere animal.
He turned his gaze toward the direction where the figures had moved across the roofs.
“Someone has come.”
They were moving toward the Azure Moon Storehouse, where Seok Myeong used to stay. There were six of them in total.
Song Gwan quickly slipped away and ran toward the area where the Taoist temples were clustered. He couldn't do anything with his strength alone. Informing the sect of the intruders was the priority.
*
“This is the place.”
Upon reaching her destination, the woman nodded, bringing a gemstone close to a piece of paper. In her right hand was a map, and in her left was a Night-Luminous Pearl. She had brought it to see the map clearly in the dark of night.
When the woman raised her hand, the monsters growled and scattered in all directions to stand guard.
Creeeeeak.
The woman entered the Azure Moon Storehouse. Massive bookshelves surrounding her on all sides came into view.
“The map marked this as the Azure Moon Storehouse. It said there was a separate place where Qingcheng’s important secret manuals are kept...”
Stepping inside, she looked around once more. In each of the six rooms, enormous bookshelves stood in rows, packed tightly with secret manuals.
“They say this place produced many great masters in the past; as expected of the Azure Cloud Pavilion's legacy.” She continued, “Seok Myeong, was it? Then that child must have been here as well.”
She searched every corner of the room. However, there was no one inside.
“I don't have much time, so I must check quickly.”
Standing in the center of the room, she closed her eyes and raised her hand. At that moment, something incredible happened.
Rattle. Clatter.
The bookshelves began to shake as if an invisible force were pushing them, and the books tucked inside began to tumble out in heaps. The fallen books immediately soared back up, moving one by one according to the movement of her hand.
Object Manipulation.
A supreme martial art that could only be wielded by those who had reached the Absolute Realm. It was known that fewer than ten people in the entire Central Plains could use this technique. Yet she was using it with effortless ease.
The books approached her one by one and flipped open before her eyes. Then, the next book would open, repeating the process in a blur of motion.
‘If it exists... it’s in here.’
She could tell with just a glance whether a book contained the mnemonic for the Demonic Energy Absorption Art. This was because she herself had mastered the technique.
The speed at which the books opened and turned gradually increased. Her eyes moved just as fast. As one book fluttered open, the next volume would immediately appear and do the same.
After about thirty minutes had passed, the sound of an animal’s cry echoed from outside.
“Grrrrrrr!”
‘I must hurry.’
The woman’s expression contorted at the sound. She began to focus even more intensely on finding the book.