Chapter 154: The Conspiracy of Martial Alliance Leader Go Ju-gang (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154: The Conspiracy of Martial Alliance Leader Go Ju-gang (2)
‘Diancang must be absolutely livid.’
Alliance Leader Go Ju-gang chuckled inwardly.
A master from their sect, specifically groomed for the Martial Demonstration Gathering, had been utterly humiliated, and a high-ranking elder had even lost his life. There was no doubt they were sharpening their blades in the shadows.
‘Which makes them the perfect pawns.’
Clap, clap.
Go Ju-gang struck his palms together to command the room’s attention before speaking.
“I apologize for the discourtesy of summoning you all from such great distances on such short notice. On a day like this, we should be enjoying the arts and pleasant company, but unfortunately, yesterday’s incident has complicated matters.”
As Go Ju-gang offered a formal bow, the elders of the various sects returned the gesture with practiced grace.
Go Ju-gang let out a long, weary sigh and continued.
“I am sure everyone here remembers the Gangnam Blood Incident—that horrific tragedy where martial artists transformed into Giant Demons and slaughtered everyone in their path, whether they were from the great sects or humble civilian villages.”
“I was under the impression that the matter had already been resolved…” True Person Baegun of the Kunlun Sect said, stroking his long white beard.
“Regrettably, that was not the case. The chaos that erupted yesterday was the work of those very same creatures.”
“Good heavens.” Won Hu of the Kongtong Sect let out a sharp gasp.
“I have heard similar rumors. However, I find myself wondering why you kept those who transformed into Giant Demons hidden within the Alliance in the first place,” Abbot Hye Jeong asked, his voice carrying a razor-sharp edge.
The Shaolin Sect had suffered a devastating blow; Beopgye, the young prodigy known as the Little Divine Monk, had lost a hand. For a practitioner of the fist, losing a hand was akin to a bird having its wings clipped. Furthermore, his internal energy and origin qi had been severely damaged, requiring at least three years of secluded recovery.
It was only natural that the responsibility would fall on the Leader of the Martial Alliance, who had organized the gathering.
Alliance Leader Go Ju-gang let out another heavy sigh.
“Huu… That is… While the Alliance was concerned with containment, we also needed to gain an accurate understanding of this phenomenon.”
“An understanding, you say?”
“Great Monk, surely you are aware that the number of Giant Demons that appeared during the Gangnam Blood Incident reached into the hundreds?”
“I am aware.”
“Hundreds of Giant Demons appearing simultaneously. This was an unprecedented event in the history of the Jianghu—no, it was entirely unheard of. With one exception: the legends of the Great Blood Calamity caused by the Demonic Cult.”
Twitch! Flinch!
At the mention of the Demonic Cult’s Great Blood Calamity, every master in the room stiffened.
“Alliance Leader… are you suggesting that the Gangnam Blood Incident is related to the Demonic Cult?” Taoist Unyang of the Wudang Sect asked, his eyes narrowing.
“I cannot say for certain. I was in the middle of investigating that very possibility when yesterday’s incident occurred.”
Go Ju-gang nodded, his face etched with deep, feigned concern.
“The Gangnam Blood Incident was an unprecedented catastrophe with no clear cause. That is why I announced that the captured Giant Demons had been executed while actually keeping them in the Alliance’s underground prison for observation. I couldn’t rule out the possibility of such a thing happening again.”
“Hmm.”
The others nodded in reluctant agreement.
If what the Alliance Leader said was true, his reasons for keeping the Giant Demons alive were somewhat understandable. No one wanted a repeat of the Gangnam Blood Incident, which had spilled the blood of thousands.
“During the observation, the Giant Demons began devouring one another, evolving into even more powerful entities. They eventually broke through the bars of the Thunder Prison by sheer brute force and escaped. This was entirely my oversight. I do not know how to properly express my apologies to the Shaolin Sect.”
“It is not for the Alliance Leader to apologize. Man proposes, but Heaven disposes…” Abbot Hye Jeong shook his head with a bitter expression.
“Then, for now, is it confirmed that the Demonic Energy Absorption Art was involved?” Taoist Unyang of Wudang asked, his gaze piercing.
A wicked demonic art that drained not only a martial artist’s internal strength but their very innate true qi—in the history of the Jianghu, there was only one such technique.
The Demonic Cult’s Demonic Energy Absorption Art.
“That is the only lead we have. Originally, I was hoping for another lead as well…”
“Another lead?”
“Have you all forgotten? Wasn’t the original purpose of this Martial Demonstration Gathering to investigate Seok Myeong, the first-generation disciple of the Qingcheng Sect?”
Go Ju-gang subtly shifted the direction of the conversation.
Thud!
Someone bolted upright from their seat at those words.
“Could it be… could it be that Qingcheng is the mastermind behind those mad sword-demons?”
It was Won Hyo-ja, the Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect.
Go Ju-gang maintained a somber expression as he spoke. “It is not certain.”
Inwardly, however, Go Ju-gang was gloating. He needed a scapegoat to deflect blame for the accident, and if the target was Qingcheng, the Diancang Sect would gladly fire the arrows, whether the accusations were true or false.
“We cannot make a hasty judgment while the party in question is not present. Accusing a member of the Nine Great Sects of practicing demonic arts is not something to be done lightly.”
Go Ju-gang placed particular emphasis on the words ‘demonic arts’ as he glanced at the one empty seat. The seat of the one who had not attended.
The seat of the Qingcheng Sect.
“No! It must be them! It’s Qingcheng! They are the masterminds!” Won Hyo-ja, following Go Ju-gang’s gaze, roared in fury.
Taoist Unyang of Wudang frowned and tried to restrain him. “Sect Leader of Diancang, compose yourself!”
“Do you not know what kind of people those Qingcheng bastards are? Their Sect Leader is the type who would draw his sword in the middle of the Martial Alliance! Above all, why do you think they aren’t here?”
“Haha… well now.”
Even the gentle Abbot Hye Jeong of Shaolin and the dignified Taoist Unyang of Wudang clicked their tongues, but they did not step forward to defend Qingcheng. Given the gravity of the situation, Qingcheng’s absence was indeed difficult to justify.
“Actually, that part is a bit suspicious, but… perhaps Qingcheng has their own reasons…” Go Ju-gang continued to play the part of the cautious mediator.
“Reasons? Of course they have reasons! Why does a man run? Because he is the culprit!” The more Go Ju-gang acted the part of the diplomat, the more certain Won Hyo-ja became, stomping his foot in conviction.
Boom!
“Hmm.”
“Ugh.”
The representatives of the Nine Sects—Kunlun, Shaolin, Wudang, and the rest—all scowled.
“Of course, I am not ruling out that possibility. According to what I heard from Yu Yeok-gil, a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, the techniques used by this man named Seok Myeong were quite unusual,” Go Ju-gang slipped in another comment.
“Unusual, how?”
“Setting aside the fact that cutting off the Little Divine Monk’s arm could be considered an accident during combat… it is said that he killed a Giant Demon by draining its internal energy.”
Go Ju-gang spoke slowly, letting the words sink in.
Flinch!
At those words, everyone immediately thought of the same thing: The Demonic Cult’s Demonic Energy Absorption Art.
“See! I knew it! There’s no doubt! Those madmen from Qingcheng! They’ve finally caused a catastrophe! I knew this would happen!”
“Sect Leader of Diancang!”
“Draining a Giant Demon’s internal energy to kill it? What else could it be but the Demonic Energy Absorption Art! An art that devours the internal energy of others! It is the cursed art of the Demonic Cult!”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Finally, the accusation that Qingcheng was the culprit was out in the open. And it had come from the mouth of the Diancang Sect Leader, not the Alliance Leader himself. For Go Ju-gang, this was the ideal outcome.
“True Person Baegun.” Go Ju-gang decided to drive the final nail into the coffin.
“Speak, Alliance Leader.”
“Did you not say previously that the black energy used by Seok Myeong did not seem like the internal energy of the Orthodox Faction?”
“It was indeed a sinister energy, far from what one would expect from an orthodox sect. However…”
“Then our current suspicions are not unfounded.” As soon as he got the answer he wanted, Go Ju-gang cut him off and pivoted the conversation. “I intend to act based on the worst-case scenario. Especially now, after the captured Giant Demons devoured each other and escaped the Thunder Prison.”
He reminded them once again of yesterday’s incident. Wudang, Shaolin, Mount Hua, Kunlun—everyone nodded, letting out low groans of agreement. Caution was important, but being overly optimistic could lead to a missed opportunity that might result in an irreversible disaster.
“What measures do you intend to take?”
“We must summon Seok Myeong of the Qingcheng Sect to the Martial Alliance for interrogation. Even if the opponent was a Giant Demon, the act of draining and drying up someone’s internal energy is not the way of the Orthodox Faction.”
Go Ju-gang suppressed a smile, maintaining a somber facade. He had waited a long time to say these next words.
“First, we will investigate whether his body harbors demonic arts. Second, we will determine if similar dangerous forbidden arts have spread within the Qingcheng Sect. Finally, we will thoroughly uncover the truth regarding any connection between the Gangnam Blood Incident and the Qingcheng Sect.”
“Goodness…”
Someone let out a groan. Invading a sect to interrogate a promising first-generation disciple, digging into every detail of their involvement, and investigating the sect’s potential wrongdoings was a massive undertaking.
“Will Qingcheng accept this?”
“We must make them accept it. In the name of the Martial Alliance, and in the name of justice.”
It was, for all intents and purposes, a declaration of war against the Qingcheng Sect.
*
After the meeting, Go Ju-gang took a ferry and docked beneath a house at the mouth of a waterway called the Jogang River.
“Wait here for a moment.”
Ji Jung, who was on the boat, bowed silently. As he moored the boat, his eyes widened.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Go Ju-gang veered off the path so suddenly that it almost felt as if he had vanished. Exerting the highest level of Mount Hua’s lightness skill, the Alliance Leader looked back several times.
Today’s meeting was a grave matter that could never be revealed to anyone. It was a plan to devour one sect to ensure the prosperity of his own original sect.
“Huu…”
After running alone for a long time, he let out a long breath. A humble shack stood in the middle of the forest. After confirming the meeting place, he moved through the tall grass and leaped onto a large, ancient tree to scout the surroundings.
After about fifteen minutes had passed.
“It is Go Ju-gang.”
Once he was certain he wasn’t being followed, he spoke in front of the dilapidated shack.
“Come in.”
The voice came from inside the house, which looked so fragile it seemed ready to collapse at any moment.
Creeeak.
An old man sat inside the room. He wore a robe embroidered with faded plum blossoms and possessed a grand physique. Despite being over seventy, his eyes were as clear and sharp as a young man’s.
He was Gu Jung-cheon, the former Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect.
“Have you been well, Master?” Go Ju-gang approached him and prostrated himself.
“Yes. I hear you have been working hard lately.”
“Not at all. I should have pushed things more decisively; I fear I may have bungled the matter…”
“When pursuing great ambitions, minor problems are bound to arise. Do not dwell on it too much.”
Go Ju-gang’s stiff expression softened slightly. He took a seat and met Gu Jung-cheon’s gaze. Gu Jung-cheon looked out the door for a moment before picking up a teapot.
“Do you have time for a cup of tea?”
“I only have about two gaks.”
“Is your time so limited?”
“I spotted a scout on my way here. He didn’t look like a member of the Beggar Sect, but just in case a report reaches them, I need to be back on the move within that time.”
“Well… two gaks is plenty of time.” Gu Jung-cheon spoke dismissively and looked up. It wasn’t a matter that required much time anyway. Gu Jung-cheon asked, “So, did you bring it?”
“Yes.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Go Ju-gang reached into his robes. What he pulled out was a thick volume of scripture.
“Hmm.”
Gu Jung-cheon took the book and began silently scanning its contents.
Thud!
After a long while, Gu Jung-cheon closed the book and asked, “How did you say you obtained this?”
“I found it in the clothing of one of the Giant Demons after defeating it. It was written on the fabric in the form of incantations, and when I transcribed them one by one into a book, this was the result.”
“Ho.”
Gu Jung-cheon closed his eyes. After about fifteen minutes, he nodded.
“How is it?” Go Ju-gang bowed his head, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“There are indeed many similarities.”
“Is—is that true!” Go Ju-gang’s eyes widened.
“However, it is an extremely dangerous thing.” He cut through Go Ju-gang’s hopeful gaze with cold finality. “This martial art is not much different from the energy pursued by the Violet Mist Divine Art. Since it was originally a modification of the pure energy of nature, there are parts worth referencing, but…”
He shook his head. Gu Jung-cheon stopped mid-sentence and sighed.
“The flaws are too glaring for it to be used. This martial art is rooted in demonic energy from the start. Because you must transform it before taking it into your body, you might see temporary results, but in the end, you will surely be devoured by the demonic art.”
“But Master, does the Violet Mist Divine Art not possess the Violet Mist Heart Method to anchor the mind and control the energy? If we use that as a foundation and modify it slightly…”
“Ju-gang.”
Rip. Rrrrrip.
Before he could finish, Gu Jung-cheon tore the book apart. Go Ju-gang stared with wide eyes, unable to believe his master was shredding the pile of yellow paper.