The Six Families' Joint Declaration
With a soft rustle of paper,
"Is this truly from Uncheon?"
Namgung Cheonwu asked as he gazed down at the letter.
"It is. Looking at the handwriting, this is clearly a letter Uncheon sent. The way it needles me makes it all the more certain."
"Hmph. Just how absurd must it be to needle you like that? Let me see it as well."
"Showing it to Family Head is… rather embarrassing."
Namgung Cheonwu took the letter and unfolded it, wondering what on earth it could contain.
The contents were simple.
Father, your son is living well and in good health at the Yaweol Sect. Rumors are circulating that I have died, but that is not so, so please do not worry. I ought to return to the family, yet because I unintentionally inflicted grave harm upon the Yaweol Sect, I have taken employment there for two years as a matter of righteousness. It is not assassination work, so set your mind at ease on that account. Of course, I shall visit whenever time allows. In the meantime, please reassure the elders of the family so they need not worry. Also, since your son has no money, I used the Hao Sect’s Wind Messenger Service on credit. I beg of you. I will work diligently to save the funds and repay it.
Ah, one more thing—the Hao Sect man will demand one tael of gold. As far as I know, the actual fee is half a tael.
Namgung Hyeonwu turned to the man from the Wind Messenger Service and asked,
"You there. How much is it?"
"Including the hazard pay for entering the Zhuge Family grounds it would be higher still, but I shall waive that for you."
"So how much is it?"
"One tael of gold."
Namgung Hyeonwu’s brow furrowed as he fixed the man with a piercing stare.
"I have heard the Wind Messenger Service is expensive. You claim it is one tael of gold?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"As far as I know, a distance of this length should be half a tael. Is that not so?"
"…"
The Wind Messenger man’s eyes flickered in shock.
"If you do not wish to take it, go collect it from that boy yourself. Or better yet, send your superior to the Namgung Family to collect it."
"Ah—no, half a tael of gold will suffice."
Judging by the look in Namgung Hyeonwu’s eyes, he would not pay a single coin more than half a tael.
Ah… damn it, how did he know? Rich bastards are always the worst about this.
The man accepted the half-tael of gold and withdrew from Geonyeong Hall.
At that moment Ak Jin-gyeong sidled closer, trying to steal a glance at the contents.
But Namgung Cheonwu quickly folded the letter shut and returned it to Namgung Hyeonwu.
Mischief filled both his voice and his expression.
"Hahaha! I knew it. That boy would never die so carelessly in some ditch."
"I still do not know whether he truly understands what he is doing."
"Haha! How long has he even been out in the Murim, and already he finds work on his own? Unexpected place though it may be, it is admirable that he can decide for himself."
Ak Jin-gyeong, who had been listening to their exchange, cut in.
"So it is a letter from Cheongryu Geomhyang. He is alive after all, is he?"
"That is correct."
"Excellent. In that spirit, how about a light spar? It has been quite some time since I last saw your Cold Heart Sword."
"Another time, if you please. I shall show it to you properly then."
"Is that so? But ‘another time’ has no fixed date, which in practice means there is no promise at all, does it not?"
Ak Jin-gyeong wore a look of disappointment as he glanced at Namgung Cheonwu, then casually reached for the Evil Heaven Divine Spear on his back.
"I am curious about the Sword Emperor’s Namgung Sword as well. Rumor has it you have grown even stronger."
Namgung Cheonwu sighed and restrained him.
"Would it not be better to exercise a little restraint when you are a guest in another’s home? We have an important conference ahead of us, do we not?"
"Sword Emperor, dodging again today? I have gained a new insight, yet there is no one around worth using it on. With you, I feel I could unleash my martial arts at full polarity."
"How is it that you never change no matter how old you grow, elder brother?"
"They say a man dies when he changes. Do you wish me dead?"
"Do you truly wish to hear what is in my heart?"
"Hahahaha!! The Namgung Family always seems so solemn, yet their tongues are sharp as ever. Very well. I shall ask again next time."
Ak Jin-gyeong burst into booming laughter and drained his teacup in one go.
"So once again the Namgung Family claims clean hands and steps back. As I said a moment ago, you always act first while pretending to be burdened. You never look the type, yet you are always crafty. That crafty nature suits the Moyong Family far better, does it not?"
"Knowing when to advance and when to withdraw is not craftiness—it is intelligence," Namgung Hyeonwu answered as he refilled the man’s cup.
"Hmm. That implies the rest of the families are fools."
"The Namgung do not particularly concern themselves with other places."
"Heh. Remarkable as always. Still, the Namgung Family is rather special. Truthfully, there is no force in the Central Plains that could properly win a full-scale war against the Namgung Family one-on-one."
Ak Jin-gyeong’s words were fact.
It was said that, aside from the Namgung Family, only the Five Outer Heavens could wage war against the entire Central Plains as a single sect.
Some even called them the Six Outer Heavens, including the Namgung Family among them.
He looked at Namgung Cheonwu and asked about the true purpose of his visit to Geonyeong Hall.
"Sword Emperor, just between us—where do you think those who took the Cheonhwangdo Map from the Baekcheon Sect went?"
"You mean it was not the Shandong Family?"
"Surely you are not suspecting us? We are not without greed, but we at least uphold the righteousness of the Murim."
"I know. Of course it was not the Shandong Ak Family."
"Hmph. I am not certain whether I should thank the Sword Emperor for believing me."
A smile touched Ak Jin-gyeong’s lips.
Then he asked again.
"You must have some family in mind?"
"I have not particularly settled on any one place."
"Speak frankly. That is unlike the Sword Emperor."
"It is the truth. And even if someone holds the Cheonhwangdo Map, I have little interest."
"No interest in Cheonhwangdo? Truly?"
"That is so."
"Then why gather the Six Great Families? Was it not to seek the Cheonhwangdo Map?"
Ak Jin-gyeong could not understand.
The Cheonhwangdo Map that had caused the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident was an object that could shake the entire Murim.
"Because the time has come to reveal the truth of the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident. In any case, the Shandong Ak Family would have to address the matter sooner or later, would they not?"
"That is true enough. That is why I came all this way."
"After tomorrow’s gathering, there will be no further need to concern ourselves with the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident."
This was a fine opportunity to settle the unsavory affair that had occurred in the previous generation.
"We shall put in order the business left unfinished twenty-five years ago."
The Wolong Hall of the Zhuge Family was bustling from early morning.
This was the very place where the conference would open at the hour of the Dragon.
For security, warriors of the Zhuge Family stood layered thick around the hall.
Wolong Hall possessed the largest area within the Zhuge Family grounds and served as the grand hall for official conferences and banquets.
At the center of the hall only six chairs had been arranged in a circle, and there Zhuge Yong, Family Head of the Zhuge Family, waited for the heads of the other five families to enter.
First to arrive were Namgung Cheonwu and, a step behind him, Namgung Hyeonwu.
Zhuge Yong clasped his fists in greeting and welcomed Namgung Cheonwu.
"Family Head of the Namgung, please come in. Take your seat."
"My thanks."
Namgung Cheonwu offered a light bow and sat. Namgung Hyeonwu took his place standing behind him.
Immediately afterward came Ak Jin-gyeong, Family Head of the Shandong Family, followed by Tang Cho-seong, Master of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Peng Ga-u, Lord of the Hebei Peng Family, and finally Moyong Nam, Family Head of the Moyong Family.
All six family heads of the great clans were now gathered in the grand hall of Wolong Hall.
A conference assembling the leaders of the six families was an event so rare it had not occurred even once in the last ten years.
After light nods and clasped-fist greetings were exchanged, Zhuge Yong, Family Head of the Zhuge Family, opened the discussion.
"It is an honor to receive the five pillars of the Central Plains Murim. You have all traveled far and endured much hardship."
"Not at all. We were bound to gather sooner or later. The Namgung Family Head contacted us at a fitting time. Is that not so, Brother Moyong?"
Peng Ga-u of the Hebei Family took up the conversation at once.
He was one of the men who had gone in person to the Baekcheon Sect together with Moyong Nam of the Moyong Family.
Moyong Nam slowly opened his mouth.
His white beard trembled faintly with the thinness of his voice.
"Indeed. After today I hope the useless talk surrounding the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident will cease."
He too had heard many of the rumors circulating through the Central Plains.
The most common claim was that someone was secretly hiding the Cheonhwangdo Map.
"Hahaha! Brother Moyong must feel the most relieved of all."
Peng Ga-u laughed, yet his gaze toward Moyong Nam was meaningful.
Zhuge Yong folded his hands and looked between Peng Ga-u and Moyong Nam as he asked,
"Both of you Family Heads were present at the Baekcheon Sect the day before the Blood Sect Incident."
"That is so. Brother Moyong and I paid a visit to the Baekcheon Sect."
"We already know this, yet we would ask you to recount the full course of events from that day once more, truthfully."
"Family Head of the Zhuge, is there any need to hear it again? We already know it as it stands, do we not?"
"Yes, that is correct. I heard of that day from the previous Family Head and know it well. What I wish to hear is how the other families understand it."
Tang Cho-seong, Master of the Sichuan Tang Clan, continued at once.
"I am of the same mind. There is a limit to how long one can endure constant misunderstanding. Now that the matter has erupted, it would be best to settle it cleanly. Therefore I have something I wish to ask."
Peng Ga-u looked at him.
"Speak."
"Yes, Northern Heaven Saber King. As I understand it, the Namgung Family was the first to leave the Baekcheon Sect. After that, did the remaining families not search for the Baekcheon Sect Master’s secret chamber?"
A subtle twitch.
In that instant the hand of Moyong Nam, which had been clenched into a fist, moved ever so slightly.
It was only a fraction of a second.
No one else seemed to notice, yet Peng Ga-u had been watching Moyong Nam from the start without the other man realizing it.
As I thought… he reacted.
Doubt hardened into certainty.
Yet without evidence he could neither speak nor act.
Peng Ga-u turned his head toward Moyong Nam as he answered.
"That is so. They entered the hidden secret chamber, yet I am told the Cheonhwangdo Map was nowhere to be seen inside."
Tang Cho-seong likewise looked at Moyong Nam as he asked,
"I have heard that the Moyong Family was the first to discover and enter that place…"
Moyong Nam’s eyes tightened as he glared at Tang Cho-seong.
He raised his voice almost to a shout.
"Family Head Tang, does the intent of your words mean that I secretly carried that object away? Had I obtained it, do you think I would have remained idle until now?"
"I merely stated that the previous Moyong Family Head entered first. And in truth, finding even a single piece of the map to Cheonhwangdo would not be meaningless, would it?"
"…"
Moyong Nam scowled and fell silent.
The atmosphere turned icy.
Namgung Cheonwu stepped forward to shift the mood.
"Everyone, restrain yourselves. This gathering was not arranged so that we might quarrel over the Cheonhwangdo Map. The Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident is no longer a secret. Even if the six families present here did not themselves annihilate the Baekcheon Sect, we cannot evade the fact that the origin of the calamity lies with us."
At Namgung Cheonwu’s words everyone fell quiet.
Zhuge Yong, Family Head of the Zhuge Family, continued after him.
"As the Namgung Family Head says, we must take clear responsibility."
"And how do you propose to do that?"
"By issuing a joint statement to the Central Plains Murim."
A joint statement of the six families.
The proposal had first come from the Namgung Family.
The Zhuge Family Head distributed a pre-drafted statement to the five other family heads.
Zhuge Yong read the contents aloud.
The Namgung Family, the Zhuge Family, the Shandong Ak Family, the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Hebei Peng Family, and the Moyong Family hereby offer their deepest condolences regarding the annihilation of the Baekcheon Sect. Though we withdrew after failing to find the Cheonhwangdo Map within the Baekcheon Sect, the Baekcheon Sect was annihilated a day later. In reflection upon our moral failing, we six families shall, under our joint name, refrain from involvement in the affairs of the Central Plains Murim for a period of ten years. Should the truth of the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident and any falsehood spoken by one among the six families come to light within that time, we shall accept the will of the Central Plains Murim without resentment even should we become public enemies of the Murim.
When Zhuge Yong finished speaking, the family heads came forward in turn and signed the statement.
Last to sign, Zhuge Yong spoke once more.
"Our statement shall be made known to the Central Plains Murim from this hour onward. Henceforth we need only bear responsibility for the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident ourselves."
"Understood."
The six family heads regarded the statement and said nothing further.
Life at the Yaweol Sect was simple.
The Blood Flower Pavilion remained almost entirely quiet; only occasionally did Sect Leader Gong Hwaseon visit to ask whether anything caused him discomfort.
Uncheon spent every hour circulating his energy, seeking to gauge just how thoroughly the power of the Cheon-eum-su had melted into his body.
Today, as on every other day, he sat in full lotus posture, roused the Azure Firmament Great Softening Body Art, and began circulating his energy. His true qi lightly completed a Small Heavenly Circulation through the Ren and Du meridians.
Is it because of the Cheon-eum-su’s energy?
At some point the Small Heavenly Circulation had become something he could pass through with ease, and the true qi spreading through his entire body began racing of its own accord, seeking to force open the Great Heavenly Circulation regardless of Uncheon’s will.
Through the Small Heavenly Circulation his strength could now extend true qi perfectly across the twelve meridians.
He had therefore expected the Great Heavenly Circulation to form just as easily, yet the moment his energy began to move into the Great Heavenly Circulation, the true qi vanished as though it had stopped cold.
I must surpass the Small Heavenly Circulation… and continue without the slightest obstruction.
Yet the sensation felt strange.
Hm?
His body was different from usual.
This time the power of the circulation differed from every previous attempt.
The true qi did not vanish into his dantian; instead it spread into the Belt Meridian, the Penetrating Meridian, and the Heel Meridians, beginning to move along the blood vessels of the Great Heavenly Circulation.
True qi surges along the Belt Meridian, Penetrating Meridian, and Heel Meridians, seeking the path of the Great Heavenly Circulation…
A heavy thud.
Fierce resistance erupted from the Xuanchu acupoint of the Belt Meridian that ran lengthwise through his waist.
Ugh… this…
It would not yield easily.
He had thought his strengthened true qi would simply pass through the Belt Meridian, yet it failed to pierce the blockage.
A conversation he had once shared with his father while circulating energy rose in his mind.
"To master advanced internal energy, the force of strong true qi is necessary. Yet even that has its limits."
"You mean something other than internal energy is required?"
"What is needed to perform our family’s Azure Firmament Unfettered Sword Art? Obtaining powerful internal energy is already difficult. Yet more important still is enlightenment. The same holds true for the mind method."
Uncheon decided not to force the matter and withdrew his energy.
It was a great relief.
Had he continued circulating energy by force in order to achieve the Great Heavenly Circulation, he would have strained his body.
The cause of qi deviation was always greed.
A temperament that refused to overreach or grow greedy was itself one of Uncheon’s fortunes.
A soft rustle of footsteps.
Someone is coming.
At that moment he heard footsteps approaching the Flame Flower Pavilion.
Light footsteps.
Even without reading the aura of internal energy, his hearing alone was enough to know.
She visits far too often.
Uncheon rose from his seat and stepped outside to greet Sect Leader Gong Hwaseon.