Chapter 165: Qingcheng’s Backlash (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165: Qingcheng’s Backlash (1)
“What?!”
“Insolence!”
“What is the meaning of this?!”
The moment the announcement ended, the elders erupted in fierce protest.
Their robes billowed with surging internal energy, as if they were ready to strike at any moment. The display was so intense that even the representatives from Shaolin and Wudang flinched.
“This is madness!”
“What do they intend to do to our Qingcheng?!”
It wasn't just the elders; the reaction from the first-generation disciples was even more extreme.
Even a common cur has the advantage when fighting in its own yard. No matter how powerful the Martial Alliance was, the Qingcheng Sect was one of the venerable Nine Great Sects. To have such heavy-handed measures announced right in their own home was enough to drive them mad with rage.
“Senior Brother Seok Jun! Right now…”
“Stay back.”
Seok Jun gestured for Yeon-hui, who was caught between fury and shock, to step away.
“Let’s watch for now. Even the Eldest Disciple is staying quiet.”
Seok Jun’s eyes turned toward Seok Myeong, who stood there with an eerie calm.
As a swordsman of Qingcheng, Seok Myeong had seen and experienced the complex politics of the Jianghu. Based on that experience, it made no sense for even the Martial Alliance to issue such a unilateral, aggressive proclamation.
‘There must have been some prior communication. This meeting is likely meant to finalize those opinions.’
Seok Jun’s burning gaze shifted toward the elders of the Song generation, then to the Sect Leader. Finally, his eyes stopped on Song Hak, whose face was as hard as stone.
‘Father. What do you intend to do?’
Meanwhile, Ji Jung watched the agitated members of Qingcheng with a cold sneer.
‘You should have treated me better back at the Grand Purity Hall.’
He felt a strange sense of triumph swelling in his chest. Just a few days ago, these Qingcheng elders had threatened and intimidated him, yet now they could not move a finger. As expected, bringing an overwhelming number of witnesses, including neutral members from other sects, had been the right move.
‘They won’t be able to act as recklessly as they did last time.’
Qingcheng was caught in a dilemma. If they drew their swords in a fit of humiliation, they would be turning Shaolin, Wudang, and Mount Hua into enemies as well. Deep down, Ji Jung was actually hoping for Qingcheng to resist.
It was then.
“Everyone, be quiet.”
A sudden, heavy hush fell over the area.
“…!”
The eyes of the elders from Mount Hua, Wudang, and Shaolin widened. The Sect Leader’s voice had been soft, yet even the disciples standing at the far edge of the grounds fell into immediate silence.
Shudder.
Ji Jung frowned. Despite having experienced it once before, goosebumps rose on his arms.
“This is quite a radical proposal. Let us address it point by point.”
Sect Leader Song Jeong, his expression completely transformed, looked at Ji Jung and Dan Mok-jung.
“First, you say you wish to charge our Seok Myeong with the murder of a rising star of the Diancang Sect? This is indeed a serious matter, and our sect has no intention of overlooking it. Therefore…”
He glared at Ji Jung.
“Tell me clearly about the deceased.”
“What?”
Ji Jung was taken aback by the unexpected demand. Song Jeong asked him again, his voice ice-cold.
“Murder. Are you not demanding compensation because a life was taken? Then you must first tell us who the deceased was and how important their position was within Diancang. Only then can we provide appropriate compensation.”
“No, that is…”
“If the deceased was a mere novice or a first-generation disciple, demanding compensation equivalent to an elder or a Sect Leader would be excessive. That is how Qingcheng sees it. What do Shaolin, Mount Hua, and Wudang think?”
As Ji Jung stammered, Song Jeong turned his gaze to the others. The elders of Mount Hua, Wudang, and Shaolin answered one by one.
“…Well, that is true.”
“You are correct.”
“…That would be the proper way to handle it.”
Their faces were clouded with uncertainty. They knew that the Diancang disciple who died at Seok Myeong’s hands was not a mere rising star, but in reality, an elder-level figure.
Song Jeong spoke again.
“As the Leader of the Martial Alliance said, as a member of the orthodox sects, one must take responsibility for harming a fellow traveler of the Way. Our sect also believes that Seok Myeong’s use of lethal force was excessive, and we are considering the possibility that he may have only presented facts favorable to himself. Therefore…”
“…”
“I ask that you put every effort into preserving the body of that unfortunate disciple of Diancang. We must confirm what traces of swordsmanship were left on the body—whether Seok Myeong killed him directly, or if the report of his death was exaggerated after internal injuries worsened following a duel.”
Grip!
Ji Jung’s hand tightened.
‘This old fox…’
Contrary to his expectations, things were taking a strange turn. He had come to protest a death, but instead, he was being forced to reveal exactly who the dead man was.
And that was something he could not reveal even if he wanted to.
The deceased Goma of Diancang was one of the Four Demons of the Martial World. He was a hidden elder-level figure of the Diancang Sect. The difference between him and a first-generation disciple was as vast as the gap between a grown man and a toddler.
That was why they were so furious, but if his true rank were revealed, Diancang would be unable to escape the criticism that they had been the ones to pick a fight with Qingcheng first.
“Ahem. Hmph.”
This was a thought shared by everyone involved. Deputy Commander Dan Mok-jung cleared his throat with an awkward expression, while the elders of Shaolin, Wudang, and Mount Hua all looked off into the distance.
“Th-Then what will you do about the martial arts suspected of being heretical?!” Ji Jung quickly raised his voice to change the subject. The issue of Goma was a disadvantage, so he pivoted back to Qingcheng’s weakness.
“Ah, yes. That is the biggest problem, isn’t it?”
Song Jeong nodded and looked at the Qingcheng elders standing behind him.
“Last time, the Martial Alliance claimed our sect had practiced heretical arts and demanded Seok Myeong’s appearance. Thus, all the elders of our sect have gathered their opinions. The result is…”
That day, after Ji Jung had left, the elders had debated fiercely. After weighing the pros and cons, the caution and the outrage, a formal stance had been reached.
Song Jeong delivered it.
“It is impossible. Our first-generation disciple, Seok Myeong, is the Master of the Azure Cloud Pavilion. He is the last of the lineage of the Azure Cloud Taoist and our most brilliant researcher of martial arts. To ask us to hand him over… Haha. For Shaolin, it would be no different than asking you to hand over your Scripture Pavilion Master.”
Song Jeong smiled briefly and turned toward Abbot Hye Seon.
Shaolin’s Scripture Pavilion Master was a living encyclopedia of martial arts who recorded and managed every technique of the Shaolin Temple. He was especially dedicated to the maintenance and reinterpretation of the 72 Unique Skills. Simply put, he was the most important person in Shaolin after the Sect Leader. In the long history of Shaolin, he was, in some ways, even more vital than the Sect Leader himself.
“If—and this is just a hypothetical, Abbot Hye Seon—the Alliance Leader summoned the Scripture Pavilion Master for questioning, would Shaolin willingly hand him over?”
“…Amitabha.”
Hye Seon merely chanted a Buddhist prayer. Though he didn't say it outright, his expression made it clear that it would be absolutely impossible.
Song Jeong’s sharp gaze now turned back to Ji Jung.
“I don’t believe Diancang is ignorant of this simple logic… I am truly curious. What exactly do you intend to uncover by dragging away the man who has synthesized our sect’s secret arts and all our martial knowledge?”
“W-Who said—!”
Tap.
Just as Ji Jung, his face flushed red, was about to snap back, someone stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Sect Leader of Qingcheng. I am Deputy Commander Dan Mok-jung.”
“…Speak, Deputy Commander.”
Song Jeong looked slightly disappointed. Ji Jung was fierce but easy to handle. However, the Deputy Commander was a cool-headed, slippery man—a cunning serpent who had survived in the Martial Alliance for a long time.
The serpent cleared his throat lightly and began to speak.
“First, I understand the position of the Qingcheng Sect. You have long been a pillar of the Nine Sects, and with your glorious history, you must have synthesized many martial arts. However, that does not mean you can break the covenant of the Alliance.”
He scanned the Qingcheng elders and the disciples. Taking a step forward, he continued.
“If Qingcheng insists only on its own position, then Diancang will do the same. It is the job of the Martial Alliance to mediate and reconcile such disputes.”
“Mediation and reconciliation?”
Song Jeong wore a peculiar, cynical smile, questioning whether what they were doing could truly be called mediation.
“At least on the surface, yes. But what would happen if Qingcheng refuses to accept any of the Alliance’s recommendations?”
Dan Mok-jung spoke boldly, even though he read the Sect Leader’s thoughts.
“Well, you might feel satisfied for the moment. However, this would undermine the authority of the entire Martial Alliance. Furthermore, the Diancang Sect, whose prestige has been tarnished, will push the situation even more aggressively. Have you considered that?”
“…”
Song Jeong’s expression clouded slightly. Indeed, setting aside personal feelings and thinking coldly, there was some truth to those words.
“If the Alliance Leader feels his authority has been undermined, he will no longer recommend harmony between the two sects. No… to be more honest, he will come to view Qingcheng with great displeasure.”
“Mmm…”
The elders silently acknowledged this. It was true. Although the Alliance Leader’s recommendations were excessively arbitrary, ignoring them entirely could make the situation even worse.
In the worst-case scenario, the Alliance could dispatch its direct forces to surround Qingcheng. They likely wouldn't use direct force against the sect, but the blockade alone would cause immense damage.
As stated in the previous recommendation: the severance of ties with nearby merchant guilds and the smaller sects under their protection. This alone would dry up the sect’s funding in an instant.
The Qingcheng Sect was located deep in the mountains. Interaction with the outside world was essential. If such a blockade lasted, even a member of the Nine Great Sects would have to worry about food and clothing.
“So, before things escalate to the worst possible situation, why not both sides take a step back? If you do, I will actively represent Qingcheng’s position once I return to the Alliance.”
After calmly delivering his threats, the Deputy Commander looked toward one person.
“What do you think? Master of the Azure Cloud Pavilion.”
It was Seok Myeong, the center of this entire incident.
“Very well.”
Before Song Jeong, Song Ji, or anyone else could say a word, Seok Myeong stepped forward.
“Eldest Disciple?”
“Senior Brother…”
Leaving behind the confused calls of the disciples, Seok Myeong stood before the gathered martial artists without a hint of hesitation.
“I am at the center of this matter. Therefore, it is only right that I go. The conflict between our sects must not deepen because of me.”
“…Hah.”
“However, I ask the Deputy Commander. What exactly does the Martial Alliance want? Is it our sect’s martial arts, or is it my person?”
“Myeong!”
The First Elder, Song Ji, tried to stop him in shock, but Deputy Commander Dan Mok-jung spoke quickly.
“Naturally, we only seek an apology from the Master of the Azure Cloud Pavilion and a verification of the martial arts used at the time. We have no intention of prying into Qingcheng’s secret techniques. I swear this on my title. I promise the most impartial investigation possible.”
“Then it is fine.”
Whether he had been swayed by the man’s polished words or not, Seok Myeong nodded and bowed to the Sect Leader.
“Sect Leader. This disciple is confident. The Qingcheng Heart Method is a martial art synthesized by countless masters of the Azure Cloud Pavilion who dedicated their lives to it. It is a method that has been proven over generations.”
“Myeong…”
“As it happens, I have gained some insights just a few days ago, so I will go. I will go to the Martial Alliance and thoroughly prove that no one can ever again cast a foul shadow like 'heresy' upon Qingcheng’s martial arts.”
As Seok Myeong volunteered himself, the atmosphere turned strange. The disciples were silent, and the elders were quiet, glancing at one another.
Seeing this, Dan Mok-jung looked satisfied.
“My, my. Since the Master of the Azure Cloud Pavilion himself has stepped forward, it seems we can avoid the worst-case scenario. How about we finalize this on the condition that both sides have made concessions? Sect Leader of Qingcheng… no, will the elders also give their consent?”
“…”
The elders of the Song generation looked uncomfortable. However, none of them spoke up.
“Mmm…”
The Sect Leader had his eyes closed, his thoughts unreadable, and the elders’ momentum had weakened.
‘Just Seok Myeong.’
If they weren't careful, they might face expulsion from the Nine Great Sects or engage in a long, agonizing battle of pride with the Alliance Leader. If they could settle the matter with just one disciple, there was no need for the entire sect to undergo such a struggle.
Seeing those thoughts spread across the elders’ faces one by one…
‘This isn’t right.’
Seok Jun’s hands trembled. He knew. If things went on like this, his incredibly naive Senior Brother would face a terrible fate.
There was no doubt. Why had the Martial Alliance stood by while the Diancang Sect pushed them to the limit? If the Eldest Disciple walked in of his own accord, the Alliance would subject him to a vicious interrogation and cruel torture as if they had been waiting for him. If there were no charges, they would manufacture them.
That was the Jianghu Seok Jun knew. In the end, it was a place where the logic of power reigned supreme. There was no way things would flow this smoothly.
“I will trust the Deputy Commander’s words.”
“Senior Brother!”
Finally, just as Seok Jun was about to raise his voice in protest…
“Haaa…!”
A loud, lamenting sigh erupted from the side.
Dan Mok-jung, who had been about to speak to Seok Myeong with a satisfied face, turned his gaze.
A man walked slowly from among the elders of the Song generation. It was Song Hak, the man recognized by all as the second strongest master of the sect after Sect Leader Song Jeong.
He stopped in his tracks, then slowly turned around and spoke.
“How truly shameful.”
“…”
In an instant, the shoulders of the elders his gaze swept over flinched.
“How did Qingcheng end up in such a state…”
“Third Elder.”
“Taoist Song Hak…”
“Or have you forgotten even how to feel shame because you are so desperate to avoid responsibility?”
Despite the elders calling his name, Song Hak’s gaze was not fixed on them. His somber and dejected eyes were looking somewhere far away.
The distant mountains.
After casting his gaze toward the mist-shrouded peaks for a long time, he murmured softly.
“What are you all doing right now?”
“Song Hak…”
“Since when did Qingcheng become a sect of merchants rattling abacuses instead of warriors wielding swords! Are you not ashamed before your disciple?!”
Ring!
As soon as he finished, a thunderous shout echoed through the air. His killing intent-laden internal energy was enough to make not only the nearby elders but also the surrounding disciples shrink back.
Yet, Song Hak’s rage did not subside. It was exploding.
“A first-generation disciple is going to the Alliance alone to be investigated! And while being falsely accused of practicing demonic arts! Do you not understand what that means?!”
“…”
Shoulders flinched. Song Hak’s words, his fierce gaze, and above all, the truth he spoke pierced through the elders who had been weighing reality against their pride.
“Do none of you have experience in the Jianghu? Do you not know the way of the world—that if you shake anyone long enough, dust will come out?! At your age…”
Song Hak’s voice grew even louder as he gritted his teeth.
“Even at your age! You would leave all the responsibility to a single disciple just to secure your own peace?!”
“Elder Song Hak…”
“What—just what has happened to Qingcheng for it to show such a pathetic display—?!”
Whoosh! Clang!
Everyone gasped at what happened next.
Song Hak, the second strongest master of the Qingcheng Sect, a man who lived by the creed of No Sword No Person, had made his choice.
“I asked what you are all doing!”
He had thrown his sword onto the ground.