Chapter 158: Sect Leader Song Jeong’s Rage (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 158: Sect Leader Song Jeong’s Rage (3)
Song Mun remained silent, his face flushed a deep crimson.
When he had first heard the news, he too had roared in fury. Now, standing before the Sect Leader, he was desperately suppressing his emotions.
"Sigh..."
However, Song Jeong did not remain consumed by anger for long. He forced that boiling rage to cool, channeling it entirely into his intellect.
He needed to be rational. He had to strip away every shred of emotion and focus solely on the facts to uncover the truth.
There must be a reason.
Why had they applied such a harsh yardstick to Qingcheng? Without someone taking the lead, they couldn't have acted in such a calculated manner.
Then, who was the mastermind? Who was the one who ensured everyone suspected only Qingcheng while the rest remained mere bystanders?
Petty rivalry must have played a part as well.
The fear that Qingcheng might have acquired some incredible martial art was a powerful motivator. If not for that, they wouldn't have lured Seok Myeong out under the pretext of the Martial Demonstration Gathering to test him in secret instead of facing him directly.
"Jung In-geol has certainly gone to great lengths."
"Yes," Song Mun nodded.
It was Jung In-geol who had delivered this information. Song Yeo-guk, a secular disciple of Qingcheng, was on such good terms with him that they called each other brothers; it seemed the Successor of the Beggar Sect had personally lent a hand.
"This is vital information. It would have been disastrous if we had been late in grasping it. We must repay him."
Song Jeong nodded coldly.
"What do you intend to do?"
"Give them the Heavenly Scripture Energy Absorption Art."
"...Sect Leader?"
For a moment, Song Mun’s face went pale with shock. But Song Jeong’s resolve did not waver.
"Jung In-geol must have risked much to cooperate in this matter. I heard he showed interest in our sect's Heavenly Scripture Energy Absorption Art. In a trade, it is best to give the other party what they desire."
"But... Sect Leader. That is the property of our sect, achieved through years of research by the Taoists of the Azure Cloud Pavilion. It is far too great a reward..."
"It is indeed great. That is why we can put the Beggar Sect in our debt, can we not?"
As he spoke, Song Jeong let out a cold sneer.
"Our sect will need even more information in the future. If we provide an excessive reward, Jung In-geol will show even greater sincerity. And above all, the Heavenly Scripture Energy Absorption Art is merely a prototype—a stepping stone. Now that we have the final result created by Seok Myeong, is there any reason to cling to an old relic?"
"...Ah."
Song Mun’s mouth hung open as he nodded. Now that he thought about it, it was true.
The Heavenly Scripture Energy Absorption Art of the Azure Cloud Pavilion was certainly impressive, but it wasn't significantly different from the Demonic Energy Absorption Art. On the other hand, Qingcheng now possessed a perfected version that had been completely tamed and refined.
Seok Myeong’s Qingcheng Heart Method.
It was incomparable to the Heavenly Scripture Energy Absorption Art; it was, quite literally, a divine art.
"It is tragic... No matter if they are First Generation Disciples, they are still but children who have yet to experience the hardships of the world... To think they would commit such foul deeds, worse than those of the Unorthodox Faction, based on mere suspicion."
As the matter reached a tentative conclusion, Song Jeong’s brow furrowed again in regret. He found it difficult to accept the situation. The image of his disciples—who were like his own children—falling into a trap and being unfairly injured without even knowing why...
And the image of those sly old serpents watching the fire from a safe distance was vivid in his mind.
"So? What does the Martial Alliance intend to do?"
"It seems... they intend to send an inspection team. It appears they will reach out to our sect in two days under the guise of uncovering the truth."
"Ha!"
Seeing Song Mun’s apologetic face, Song Jeong was once again struck by the absurdity of it all.
"What is the reaction of the elders?"
"I have not informed them yet. I shall do so immediately..."
"No."
After several deep breaths, Song Jeong returned to his usual expression.
"Do not speak of this yet. Let us both act as if we have heard nothing."
"...Pardon?"
"Act as usual. Show your worry, concern, and shock. It must not be known that we are in separate contact with the Beggar Sect."
"But... if we do that, it will cause great confusion within the sect later on."
"That is the intention."
"...May I ask the reason?"
Song Mun’s face hardened. He realized that the Sect Leader had formed a grand plan.
Song Jeong turned his gaze back toward the clouds.
"Only after enduring the bone-chilling cold can a flower truly bloom. Now is the time to wait for it to ripen."
He muttered softly, his voice barely audible. Song Mun could no longer object. He could feel it—the Sect Leader wasn't overly concerned about the current events. He was looking much further ahead than Song Mun could see.
"I shall follow the Sect Leader’s command."
After a short, bitter smile, Song Mun offered his respects and stepped outside.
"Sigh..."
Song Jeong sighed once more and looked up at the ceiling.
Throb. Throb.
Song Mun’s words from earlier stung his heart, but he tried to steady his mind. Anger only makes it harder to uncover the truth. At times like this, one must remain calm. He could not forget his duty.
"And yet, I once believed without a doubt that they were people who walked the path of the Orthodox..."
Until now, he hadn't been certain of his judgment. It had been difficult to decide which path was better. But now, it was different.
"Let us wait just a little longer."
Pushing forward exactly as he had been doing was the direction Qingcheng needed to take.
"Now, we must wait for the moment when Qingcheng truly becomes one."
He realized once again what his current task was.
*
Chirp, chirp, chirp!
The morning birds sang rhythmically.
Morning at Mount Qingcheng was more beautiful than any surrounding scenery. A thick blanket of mist lay grandly across the land; on days when the sunrise pierced the fog, one could witness the magnificent sight of sunlight spreading like a canopy between the peaks.
Wolseong Lake, nestled below, was part of this spectacle. Its surface, catching the morning light, was considered one of the most exquisite views in the world, often described as brilliant with five colors.
The clear stream flowing into Wolseong Lake gave off a pleasant aura, its sound distinct even from a distance. The friendly chirping of birds and the fish darting over red and blue stones in the water made Qingcheng’s scenery second to none.
Step. Step.
The Qingcheng group walked beside that very stream.
Stagger. Stagger.
The four of them struggled up a slope they would normally have scaled with ease. Their strides were uneven, and their breathing was ragged. Among them, two wore bloodstained and torn Azure Sutra Robes.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, Senior Brother."
It was Seok Myeong’s group.
The journey back had been grueling beyond words. The injured Yeon-hui, Seok Jin, and Seok Jun—along with Song Gwan, who couldn't use internal energy due to his Qi Deviation—were essentially dead weight. After a long march through the mountains, they finally saw the mountain gate of Qingcheng. The tension left them so abruptly they nearly collapsed.
"Huh?"
"Elder Song Gwan!"
As they ascended through the gate, First Generation Disciples and novice disciples holding brooms greeted them.
"Good heavens, what happened!"
"Elder! What is the meaning of the rumors spreading through the martial world?"
"Rumors?"
Song Gwan tilted his head. Since they had traveled only through mountain paths to avoid prying eyes, they had no way of knowing the rumors circulating in the world.
"What rumors? What are you talking about?"
"You've arrived. Everyone, follow me."
Just then, a powerful voice rang out from among the buzzing disciples. It was the Third Elder, Song Ji.
Whoosh.
Without even looking at the battered group, he immediately turned and began to walk away. Seok Myeong’s group took a deep breath and followed him.
"Uh, what's going to happen now?"
"I don't know..."
"Haven't you heard anything?"
The remaining First Generation Disciples watched the departing group with bewildered expressions.
*
Song Ji led them to the Green Martial Hall, which he oversaw. It was a Taoist hall two or three times larger than the Sect Leader’s office. Originally a place to receive guests, it was a welcome mercy for Seok Myeong’s group, who were exhausted from their long journey.
"You've been through a lot. Put your swords in the wooden cases and sit."
Once the group had changed their clothes and regained some semblance of human appearance, Song Ji spoke as he personally served tea.
Clack. Clack.
Song Gwan, Seok Myeong, Seok Jun, and Yeon-hui each took a wooden case, placed their swords inside, and sat down.
"Tsk, tsk... You all look like a mess."
"I have no excuse."
Song Gwan apologized first on behalf of the group. He had heard that rumors had spread. Thinking about it, it was only natural that a storm had erupted in the martial world. They had clashed with Diancang, and Seok Myeong had killed one of their rising stars. This was an incident that could seriously jeopardize Qingcheng’s position within the Martial Alliance.
However...
"What is there to be sorry for? You did what had to be done."
Song Ji, whom they expected to be furious, did not scold them; instead, he praised them for a job well done. Even Seok Jun felt the awkwardness of the situation and lowered his gaze.
"Um... about the rumors spreading in the world..."
"Rumors? Ah, you mean the part about killing that Diancang disciple?"
When Song Gwan spoke cautiously, Song Ji waved his hand dismissively.
"To dare provoke Qingcheng... the brat deserved to die. Well done. I only regret that I wasn't there myself."
"Haha..."
At those words, Song Gwan and the First Generation Disciples breathed a sigh of relief. This had been their greatest concern, but seeing Song Ji’s reaction, there seemed to be no sign of blame.
"You've come a long way, so you must recover first. Seok Jin, Seok Jun, you two take the Azure Recovery Pills and rest. And Yeon-hui, I've ordered a bath to be prepared for you."
"Thank you, Martial Uncle!"
Yeon-hui had the brightest expression. Though she hadn't shown it, she had suffered the most during the long mountain trek. Men might not care about smelling of sweat and being covered in grime, but women naturally loathe the filth.
As Song Gwan stood up with a bow and Seok Jin, Yeon-hui, and Seok Jun offered their greetings in turn—
"The Sect Leader is looking for Song Gwan, so go to him. I have something to ask Seok Myeong, so would you mind staying for a moment?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes..."
Song Gwan hesitated for a moment before bowing, and Seok Myeong sat back down.
He has something to say.
A sense of foreboding flashed through Seok Myeong's mind. As Song Gwan and the rest of the group left the Green Martial Hall with uncomfortable faces, Song Ji spoke as if he had been waiting.
"It seems many things happened."
"Yes."
Hearing those words, Seok Myeong instinctively knew. Even if others didn't, Elder Song Ji knew the full situation. Since he had already committed the acts and they couldn't be undone, Seok Myeong accepted his words calmly.
"It just turned out that way."
"How much of the rumors are true?"
Song Ji's face was slightly flushed. Seeing that, Seok Myeong felt puzzled and asked back.
"What are the rumors?"
Song Ji paused and looked at Seok Myeong. He was checking to see if there was any selfishness or intent to hide his mistakes.
"That the Qingcheng Sect killed a rising star of the Diancang Sect. That, crazed by a demonic art, you severed the right hand of Beopgye, one of the Five Dragons of the Nine Great Sects."
As he spoke, Song Ji once again searched Seok Myeong’s eyes. This time, too, Seok Myeong’s pupils did not waver in the slightest.
"I was not crazed by a demonic art. It is true that I killed the Diancang disciple, and it is also true that I severed the arm of the Little Divine Monk Beopgye."
"Hoo!"
Song Ji looked surprised. Usually, those who have caused such a massive incident instinctively make excuses or ramble on about the situation even without being asked. But Seok Myeong’s words were short and resolute.
"Do you realize the gravity of this situation?"
"I do."
"And yet you can speak of it so easily?"
"Because I did nothing to be ashamed of."
Song Ji’s eyebrows twitched.
"What was the reason?"
From what he knew, Seok Myeong was of a gentle and serious character. If such a lad could answer so calmly after committing such a huge act, Song Ji judged there must be a significant reason.
"I killed the Diancang disciple because they provoked our sect relentlessly. Not to mention Seok Jin and Seok Jun, they even struck Yeon-hui, a woman, in the face multiple times."
"Hah!"
"Furthermore, he was an elder-level figure disguised as a First Generation Disciple."
"If what you say is true, they were utterly shameless. Then, what about Beopgye?"
"It was an unavoidable measure. A monster who had mastered the Demonic Energy Absorption Art was holding the Little Divine Monk’s pulse point, draining his internal energy and life force."
"The Demonic Energy Absorption Art... are you certain?"
"It appeared so to my eyes."
"Hmm."
Song Ji’s expression hardened. With his experience in the martial world, he could tell just how troublesome this matter was.
The rumors he had heard were as follows:
- A large-scale attack by monsters suddenly occurred within the Martial Alliance, and Qingcheng used a demonic art while engaging them.
- A disciple of Qingcheng went on a rampage and severed the arm of Shaolin’s Little Divine Monk.
- A man named Seok Myeong of the Qingcheng Sect is the root of all these incidents. He has mastered a heinous demonic art.
There were testimonies from those who witnessed the fight, but they were subtly distorted. At the time, even though three of the Five Dragons—Beopgye of Shaolin, Jin-cheon, and Yu Yeok-gil—were present, they were all defeated, and Seok Myeong alone stopped the monster.
However, Seok Myeong was a First Generation Disciple, not a Sect Leader or an elder. Though he was a rising star, the general consensus was that it was hard to believe his martial arts were vastly superior to the Five Dragons. Because of this, the speculation that he had suppressed the monster through the power of a demonic art was considered more persuasive.
Listening to Seok Myeong, many of the rumors were false. Some parts were maliciously distorted and exaggerated. However, the public generally pays more attention to provocative accusations than the actual truth.
This is going to be a headache.
"Is there a problem?"
When Song Ji remained silent with a frowning expression, Seok Myeong asked cautiously. He had come prepared to be held accountable by the sect, but he couldn't tell exactly what the atmosphere was like from Song Ji’s reaction.
"There is a problem. The saying 'a needle in a pouch will eventually poke through' exists for a reason."
"..."
"Well, we are making our own preparations. But the Qingcheng Heart Method you've mastered is still in its early stages. There is no concrete way to prove it isn't a demonic art, and killing a rising star of the Diancang Sect is no small matter."
Furrowing his brow for a moment, he continued.
"Diancang has officially declared to our sect that if we do not provide a satisfactory answer, they will not hesitate to use force. Shaolin has also expressed deep regret. It is a difficult situation. After all, it is a fact that you severed Beopgye’s hand..."
Seok Myeong’s calm expression hardened slightly. Until now, he had felt no shame in his actions and thought that, if necessary, he could simply offer up his own life. But if Diancang, the Martial Alliance, and even Shaolin were to join in hostility, this was not a problem that could be settled with his head alone.
"Well, the Shaolin Sect is composed of cautious and gentle people, so they might back down if we can somehow make them understand the circumstances, but Diancang is the problem. As our long-time rivals, they will surely try to escalate this issue. In such a disadvantageous situation, there is only one escape route for us."
Song Ji straightened his back and asked with a serious face.
"Can you prove it isn't a demonic art?"
"...Pardon?"
"Your Qingcheng Heart Method. The method of having Seok Jin learn it to prove there are no side effects, like last time, won't work. It takes too long and is too abstract. We need proof that is clear to anyone, something so undeniable that there is no room for fault-finding."
"..."
"Seok Myeong. Can you do it?"
At Song Ji’s question, Seok Myeong closed his eyes. After a moment, he answered.
"I will do it."
As always. With the upright gaze of Qingcheng.