Chapter 160: Seok Myeong's Growth (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 160: Seok Myeong's Growth (2)
Early morning.
The Grand Purity Hall of the Qingcheng Sect was in an uproar, more chaotic than it had ever been. The meeting had convened much earlier than scheduled, and for good reason.
The Martial Alliance had sent a direct envoy.
It was none other than Ji Jung of the Diancang Sect, the right-hand man of the Martial Alliance Leader himself.
"…Therefore, the Martial Alliance suspects Seok Myeong’s involvement in this matter. Furthermore, the Alliance worries that the roots of such insidious heretical arts may be festering within Qingcheng itself. As fellow members of the Orthodox path, we demand your sincere cooperation."
Ji Jung read the letter with cold precision. As his voice echoed through the heart of the Qingcheng Sect, a faint, mocking smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Furthermore, Qingcheng will be held responsible for the murder of a promising rising star of the Diancang Sect!"
"What?"
"What did you just say!"
The elders exploded in outrage. As soon as Ji Jung finished speaking, their voices rose in a cacophony of fury.
It was not uncommon for First Generation Disciples or hot-blooded young students to draw blood. It was regrettable, but blades had no eyes; in matters where a sect's pride was at stake, deaths occasionally occurred.
However, in the long history of the Jianghu, holding an entire sect responsible for the alleged crimes of a single disciple was unprecedented. Stripping away the flowery rhetoric, it was nothing short of an arrogant declaration of war.
"Sect Leader! We must immediately express our strongest grievances to the Martial Alliance!"
"We cannot accept this! We are Qingcheng! Why must we listen to such absurdities?"
"That man, Ji Jung, is from the Diancang Sect! He is undoubtedly injecting his personal grudges into this!"
"Sect Leader!"
"Sect Leader!"
Shouts and complaints burst from every corner. The Grand Purity Hall, which should have been a place of solemn silence, now resembled a rowdy marketplace.
"Hmph! This is…"
Ssh.
Just as First Elder Song Ji, unable to contain himself, was about to roar for silence, Sect Leader Song Jeong raised a hand. It was a signal to wait and see.
"Ha! What is the meaning of this, Qingcheng?"
Ji Jung’s expression hardened. He hadn't expected them to listen quietly, but Qingcheng’s backlash was far more extreme than anticipated. Worse, the Sect Leader, who should have been suppressing the outburst, was merely watching like an idle spectator.
Moreover...
"If these bastards won't show respect, there's no reason for us to remain civil!"
"We must make an example of them! We should show our resolve by taking the head of that Diancang envoy right here!"
"These two incidents are separate matters! Whether Seok Myeong undergoes an internal energy investigation is one thing, but our sect must settle scores with the Diancang Sect!"
The elders were escalating the situation to the point of no return, threatening to tear the Martial Alliance apart.
"Listen here, Sect Leader of Qingcheng…!"
As the elders' eyes flashed with murderous intent, Ji Jung reflexively turned to Song Jeong.
At that moment.
"That is enough."
Snap.
Silence fell instantly.
The moment the Sect Leader opened his mouth, the elders—who had been agitated like wild beasts—fell perfectly still. The sight sent a cold shiver down Ji Jung’s spine.
Qingcheng…
This wasn't just Song Jeong’s charisma. The elders of Qingcheng were reminiscent of an elite army—the ultimate vanguard, possessing both explosive vitality and cold, calculated restraint. Ji Jung wondered if such a sight could ever be seen within his own Diancang Sect and inwardly shook his head.
"Now then, Taoist Ji Jung."
"Yes. Ye—Yes!"
Ji Jung answered reflexively and then scowled. He felt unsettled. The pleasure he had felt moments ago while pressuring Qingcheng had been replaced by a stinging sense of self-loathing for being suppressed so easily.
"When did you say the representatives from the Martial Alliance would arrive?"
Fortunately, Song Jeong’s tone remained restrained. Ji Jung caught his breath and quickly composed himself.
"In… in three days. No, they are scheduled to arrive by the afternoon of the day after tomorrow."
"May I ask who is included in the delegation?"
"Two elders from our Diancang Sect, an elder each from Mount Hua and Wudang, and Abbot Hye Seon of Shaolin."
As he spoke, Ji Jung’s confidence began to return. He had been intimidated because he was in enemy territory alone, but reinforcements were coming. At that thought, his courage swelled again.
"Mount Hua, Wudang, and Shaolin. I see."
Whether he noticed Ji Jung’s shift in demeanor or not, Song Jeong nodded quietly.
It was natural for the Diancang Sect to demand answers, as one of their secret experts had been killed. It also made sense for Abbot Hye Seon of Shaolin to attend, given that the Little Divine Monk Beopgye’s arm had been severed.
However, he wondered why Mount Hua and Wudang were getting involved.
Are they acting as neutral mediators?
It made sense if they were preparing for a potential conflict. It was a move that maintained appearances while simultaneously increasing the pressure on Qingcheng. Song Jeong quietly pondered the situation, reading the moves of Alliance Leader Go Ju-gang.
"As you can see, our sect’s choices are divided into three. First: refusing to accept this, even if it means war with the Martial Alliance. Second: cooperating for now while both sides make concessions. Third: fully complying with the Alliance’s demands and taking responsibility for Seok Myeong’s actions."
Song Jeong counted the options on his fingers before turning his gaze toward one person.
"Elder Song Heo."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Song Heo stepped forward. He was the fifth-ranked elder, a man of reserved and cautious nature who rarely appeared in official settings. He cherished Qingcheng deeply—which meant he was currently seething.
"I believe that understanding the situation must come before resolving it. Who were the ones who caused this turmoil in the first place?"
Song Heo’s gaze shifted to Ji Jung.
"Pardon my bluntness, but the envoy from the Alliance, Taoist Ji Jung, hails from the Diancang Sect. It is a place that has been at odds with our sect for a long time. Through the lens of prejudice, everything in the world appears crooked and sinister. We cannot assume that the Diancang Sect’s influence is absent from these unprecedented measures by the Martial Alliance."
"What are you implying?"
"The Qingcheng Sect will conduct its own investigation into this matter and submit the results. I trust that Taoist Ji Jung, who cherishes his own sect so dearly, would show the same attitude if such a thing befell the Diancang Sect."
"Ahem!"
Ji Jung’s face contorted. Though the words were spoken softly, Song Heo was pointing out that the Diancang Sect was sowing discord. By invoking the idea of 'putting oneself in another's shoes,' he was highlighting that this was an unprecedentedly aggressive measure.
It was logically difficult to refute. If they were within the Martial Alliance, Ji Jung might have used sophistry or stubbornness to throw his opponent off, but this was Qingcheng—a sect of the blade. He couldn't rule out the possibility of a sword flying at his throat if he misspoke.
"Next, Elder Song Sun."
Song Jeong then called upon Song Sun, the lowest-ranking elder present, who always maintained a cautious perspective.
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Song Sun continued as if he had been waiting for the signal.
"This matter is currently nothing but a cloud of rumors. The truth has not been established. While the Martial Alliance raises suspicions about the method used to kill the Giant Demon, we in Qingcheng already know that the martial arts of our disciple, Seok Myeong, are not demonic. Furthermore!"
He put strength into his voice.
"You must remember, Taoist Ji Jung, that you came here as an envoy from Diancang. According to the combined testimonies of our First Generation Disciples, it was not Qingcheng, but rather Diancang, that initiated the provocation."
"What nonsense—!"
"I am not finished yet, Taoist Ji Jung!"
When Ji Jung tried to flare up, Song Sun silenced him with a chilling gaze.
"The First Generation Disciple Seok Jin suffered severe internal injuries. Seok Jun, who had reached the level of the Seven Well Heroes, received critical blows to his neck and vital points. Even Yeon-hui, the daughter of our Sect Leader, suffered the absurdity of being struck in the face. Had a disciple of Diancang not died, our sect would have already formally declared war on your people."
"……."
"Indeed."
"I think so as well," many elders voiced their agreement.
Ji Jung’s mouth snapped shut. Song Sun appeared gentle on the outside, but like any member of the 'Sword Demon' sect of Qingcheng, he was sufficiently venomous.
"Look at the example of Shaolin. Even though they are a fellow victim sect with the Little Divine Monk’s arm severed, they are withholding their words. Why not follow their example? I believe it is not too late to consider this agenda after a thorough process of explanation has been completed."
"……."
"A fine idea."
Ji Jung fell silent with a groan. Song Jeong looked leisurely, his face practically asking, 'Who do you think you are to speak here?'
The Sect Leader of Qingcheng looked around before speaking again.
"That leaves the third option. The side that suggests following the Martial Alliance’s opinion… the opinion that our sect must take responsibility somehow. Shall I, the Sect Leader, speak on that?"
"…?"
"…!"
For a moment, the elders' faces were filled with bewilderment. They hadn't expected him to bring up such a point after drawing out so many opinions in defense of Qingcheng.
That fox…
Ji Jung, in particular, had a bizarrely twisted expression. He had heard from the Alliance Leader and the Diancang Sect Leader that Song Jeong of Qingcheng was not an easy man to handle. He knew that whatever Song Jeong was about to say, it certainly wouldn't be a simple agreement to submissively follow orders.
"As for that… that demonic art…"
"Demonic art? Surely Taoist Ji Jung of Diancang isn't suggesting that the Qingcheng Sect is a group of heretics who openly practice forbidden demonic arts?"
"……."
Ji Jung felt his heart skip a beat. While the words were phrased as a polite question, it was effectively a blade held to his throat. If he said yes, not only would his own head fall, but a Great Blood Calamity unprecedented in the history of the Jianghu would unfold.
"…That is not what I meant. However…"
"Then, the point is that Seok Myeong is the only problem. Is that it? To be honest, both Diancang and the Martial Alliance are saying that if we just hand over Seok Myeong, your pride will be satisfied."
While Ji Jung hesitated, Song Jeong defined the issue entirely. He narrowed the net that could have covered all of Qingcheng onto Seok Myeong alone, and then he pointed to one of the elderly men among the elders.
"Song Hak. You speak now."
He gave the floor to the leader of the opposing faction—the man who would usually be the most outraged, the one who had challenged Seok Myeong at every turn, claiming his internal energy was suspicious.
"I……."
But Song Hak was different from the previous two. He had a very complicated expression. No, come to think of it, he had been like that from the start.
As the envoy from the Alliance arrived, as Ji Jung ranted, and as all the Qingcheng elders grew agitated—throughout the entire meeting, his face had remained grim and his lips had not opened once.
"Come now…"
"Song Hak. Speak up."
The surrounding elders chimed in. While there were many who wanted to fight the Alliance immediately and some who wanted to remain neutral, there were also many who wanted to play it safe.
No matter how great Qingcheng’s spirit was, fighting the entire Martial Alliance was like striking a rock with an egg. Therefore, handing over Seok Myeong would actually be the easier choice. Whether considering practical interests or the fact that Seok Myeong had always been a thorn in their side, it would be like getting someone else to do their dirty work.
"Song Hak?"
"…My apologies, Sect Leader. I am feeling unwell, so I shall take my leave."
Yet, at this moment, which could be called a perfect opportunity, he turned away after saying something incomprehensible.
"Huh? Look here, Song Hak!"
"Hey, Junior Brother Song. Are you alright?"
Clatter.
As Song Hak abruptly left his seat, several elders who usually followed him trailed after him. Suddenly, the Grand Purity Hall fell into disarray, and Ji Jung was left looking dazed.
"Hmm. It seems Elder Song Hak is quite unwell."
Song Jeong stroked his chin and flashed a relaxed smile.
"Let us end the meeting here for now. Since the First Generation Disciples might become unnecessarily agitated once the sun is fully up, Taoist Ji Jung, please descend the mountain immediately. I shall not see you out."
"…Ha."
Ji Jung was left with a hollow expression, having been effectively kicked out. He had come to stir up the enemy camp, but he had achieved none of his objectives.
The meeting ended just like that.