Chapter 142: Going to the Martial Alliance (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 142: Going to the Martial Alliance (3)
Jin-cheon immediately continued.
“I’ve heard much about you. I heard you took down the Black Snake Union and even dealt with those problematic monsters?”
“Ah, yes.”
“To think you even rescued the commoners in the midst of all that—it truly is remarkable. Just imagining you standing your ground against so many enemies with such a small force makes my blood boil with excitement.”
“It was nothing, really. Anyone in my position would have done the same.”
Then, Yu Yeok-gil stepped forward and added his voice to the praise.
“No, it is a significant achievement. Everyone speaks of the Orthodox path, but few find it easy to actually practice it. It is something that could not be accomplished unless the spirit of an Orthodox martial artist was carved into one’s very bones.”
As the praise continued to pour in, Seok Myeong wore an awkward expression.
Even back at the Qingcheng Sect, he had never received such high praise. Furthermore, this was the first time he had heard such blatant admiration from people he had never even met before.
“Hmph!”
In contrast, Seok Jun’s expression was frozen stiff.
He had traveled the Jianghu many times, while Seok Myeong had only been out once. It made his blood boil to see himself—a man who held the title of one of the Seven Well Heroes—being ignored while all the goodwill was directed toward Seok Myeong.
The door opened, and a middle-aged man entered the room, cutting through the atmosphere.
“Everyone, attention.”
As two men in their forties wearing the uniform of the Martial Alliance shouted, the eyes of the Rising Stars in the room turned toward them.
“As you all know, you have been gathered here to determine who the most outstanding Rising Stars are. A total of seven sects are participating. One sect will receive a bye to the next round. Everyone, come forward and draw a lot.”
Following them, another man entered carrying a square wooden box. It seemed they were to determine the order by drawing slips from inside. One by one, the disciples stepped forward to draw their lots.
Eventually, it was the Qingcheng Sect’s turn.
Seok Jun stood up abruptly without a word, intending to draw the lot.
“Are you planning to go, Seok Jun Sahyeong?”
“Then who else did you think would go?” Seok Jun snapped.
“Naturally, the Eldest Disciple should…”
Yeon-hui trailed off. Seok Jun’s glare was fierce.
“Since I am here as the representative of Qingcheng, it is only right that I go. If you have a complaint, speak up.”
Leaving those words behind, he walked forward. Yeon-hui and Seok Jin looked at Seok Myeong with worried eyes. They had assumed he would be the one participating in this Rising Stars tournament.
However, Seok Myeong himself didn’t seem to care much.
By the time all the lots were drawn, the matchups were decided: Shaolin vs. Kongtong, Wudang vs. Diancang, and Mount Hua vs. Kunlun.
Qingcheng was lucky enough to receive the bye.
“The sparring times will be announced later. For today, recover from the fatigue of your journey and prepare for tomorrow.”
Dan Mok-jung, an official of the Martial Alliance, finished his explanation of the matches. He wrote the matchup table on a board in front of everyone and walked out.
One of the men who had entered with him spoke to Dan Mok-jung once they were outside.
“Are we starting with sparring right away?”
“Well, yes.”
“It’s because of Qingcheng, isn’t it? I wonder who will pick a fight with them…”
“Shh.”
As the man smirked, Dan Mok-jung waved his hand to silence him, a corner of his mouth curling upward.
“Let’s just watch. Whatever happens, we just need to wait patiently. Patiently.”
*
“Whew… are the preparations complete?”
Sitting in his office in the Inner Court, Go Ju-gang spoke while panting slightly. Having spent the entire day meeting people and issuing various orders, he was as exhausted as if he had been physically exerting himself.
“Yes. I have already spoken to them. The Diancang Sect will handle it on their own, so you can rest easy. And…” Ji Jung, who had been waiting, bowed his head. “The Kunlun and Kongtong Sects have also agreed to cooperate.”
“Kunlun? I didn't think they were the type to enjoy getting involved in such matters.”
“It’s likely not because they are helping us specifically, but because it benefits them. If a demonic art has appeared in the Qingcheng Sect, the ones who would be most wary are not Shaolin, Wudang, or Mount Hua, but them.”
“Hmm. I suppose that is true.”
“It will be a great help. Taoist Wongang is among them, after all.”
“Ho, Taoist Wongang, known as the Heavenly Eye Star of the Kongtong Sect? Then his words will carry more weight than anyone else’s.”
Go Ju-gang rolled the thought around in his head for a moment and nodded. The Kongtong Sect was a Taoist sect that had encountered more bizarre martial arts than almost anywhere else. Furthermore, Taoist Wongang was a figure more akin to a physician than a warrior. He had a history of traveling the Jianghu and treating many people. His insight into martial arts was excellent and his connections were vast, so everyone would be inclined to believe whatever he said.
“Good.” Go Ju-gang nodded with satisfaction and asked again. “Does everyone know about the boy named Seok Myeong?”
“I have informed the elders of every sect except for Qingcheng.”
“And the Rising Stars?”
“Those children know nothing.”
“Well done. It’s not a matter the youngsters need to know. Hmm… while we’re at it, we need to find out if all the Qingcheng disciples are learning martial arts similar to Seok Myeong’s. Have the Diancang disciples push them hard.”
“Do not worry about that. The Diancang Sect has a debt to settle with Qingcheng.”
Ji Jung gave a somewhat sinister smile. Go Ju-gang looked slightly uneasy for a moment, but soon nodded.
“Then begin at once.”
*
“Isn’t something strange?”
Yeon-hui, who had entered a room of about twenty pyeong, said as she tilted her head. She couldn't understand their behavior—suddenly herding all the Rising Stars into this room.
“You feel it too.”
Seok Myeong felt the same way. It had been like that since they arrived. They had invited people from each sect, yet the officials were separated into the Inner Court while the Rising Stars were relegated to the Outer Court. While it might reduce the chaos of having so many people, separating the Rising Stars and the elders was logically difficult to understand.
The drawing of sparring opponents was the same. He had heard that the Martial Alliance had arranged this as a special gathering for the harmony of the Nine Great Sects. Yet, rather than harmony, it was becoming a stage to determine superiority through individual matches.
No, even that was strange when he thought about it. They hadn't specified the rules of combat, nor had they announced the dates; they simply had them draw lots and moved everyone to their respective rooms.
“I wonder where Elder Song Gwan went?”
At Seok Jin’s question, Seok Myeong shook his head. He had seen Song Gwan briefly in the morning, but he hadn't been seen since. Unless there were specific instructions, it made no sense that they wouldn't see his face all day.
“Hmm?”
“Sahyeong, where are you going?” Yeon-hui asked as Seok Myeong suddenly stood up.
“…I need to look around the area.”
“At this time of night?”
“I just have a bad feeling.”
“Are you going to go ask them?”
“No. It’s not that…”
Seok Myeong didn't explain in detail as he opened the door and stepped outside. It was because he found it difficult to put the sensation into words.
The uneasy feeling Seok Myeong had wasn't just from when they changed rooms. In truth, ever since he arrived at the Martial Alliance, he had felt a strange sensation, as if something were clinging to his spine. He couldn't express it accurately, but something was pulling at him, and it felt downright ominous.
‘Let’s check it out first.’
Since it was just a feeling, he couldn't tell anyone. Seok Myeong began to walk.
A waning moon hung in the darkened night sky. There were paths lined with yellow candles, but the grounds were so vast that it was generally dark. It was difficult to find his way. Walking through the Martial Alliance headquarters at night—a place he hadn't even explored during the day—felt like wandering through a maze with no exit.
The paths were rarely straight; the layout was designed so that one had to pass through certain buildings to move forward. Perhaps because they had built walls for security, the height of the walls was also much higher than average.
By the time he passed a large building, Seok Myeong arrived at a place where torches were planted everywhere. Another massive pavilion had appeared before his eyes.
“Uh, who goes there?”
As Seok Myeong walked toward the unknown location, a warrior clad in armor raised a hand to stop him.
“Ah. I am Seok Myeong, a Rising Star of the Qingcheng Sect. This place is…”
“An invited guest, I see. You are not permitted to enter here.”
The man in armor waved him away. If he had been holding a spear instead of a sword, he would have looked exactly like a government soldier at a mountain pass. Seok Myeong had heard that half of the Martial Alliance’s personnel consisted of such soldiers.
‘Was the Martial Alliance always this close with the government troops?’
“Is this a forbidden area? There are many buildings here that embody the spirit of the Martial Alliance, so I thought I would take a look around…”
“Tsk!”
Despite Seok Myeong’s polite tone, the soldier-like martial artist replied fiercely.
“No one is allowed in here without authorization. Now, get lost!”
“I see. Understood.”
Seok Myeong bowed to him and turned around. Then, his expression hardened.
‘It was this way.’
That ominous feeling was definitely emanating from inside this building. And to have a gatekeeper blocking the way, it was as if they anticipated someone being drawn here just like him.
Once he felt he was sufficiently out of their sight, Seok Myeong’s figure vanished in an instant. He leaped lightly, utilizing the Qingcheng Sect’s Flying Stream Step. As he kicked off the walls in succession and reached the top of the outer wall, he realized its height was roughly seven jang.
Standing atop it, the height was more dizzying than he had expected, causing Seok Myeong to hesitate for a moment.
“Ah, now I see why they call it the Great Hall.”
Lowering his body, he surveyed the surroundings. The open space and the structural layout of the Martial Alliance came into view all at once. It was a structure where six large pavilions and several rooms were combined. The layout consisted of four diamond-shaped pavilions. Inside those four were two more pavilions, a design that allowed the inner two to be more heavily guarded than any other.
And from one of those two inner pavilions, that ominous feeling was surging forth intensely.
‘I have to find out exactly what they’re hiding.’
Keeping his posture low, Seok Myeong moved quickly into the shadows.