Shaking Hebei City (1)
The leader of Jinju Yeon Clan, the great hero Yeon Jungcho of Seven Thunder Prolific Fist, has assembled at the Murim Alliance branch with his clan's precious peak experts upon request.
The branch, Jinju Yeon Clan, and Hebei Pang Clan shall unite their strength to crush the Demon Sword Sect and its lord Hyeon Yucheon, who have risen as the false leaders of Murim. We seek your generous cooperation.
“W-what did you say?”
Yeon Jungcho, the leader of Jinju Yeon Clan and a renowned master of Hebei Province, nearly fainted upon reading the letter.
Have these bastards lost their minds?
Such irreverent thoughts crossed his mind.
And rightly so. The Murim Alliance Hebei Branch had always conscripted promising young talents or exceptional masters from Hebei's prestigious orthodox clans to maintain their tight-knit alliances.
Thus, the branch's key figures were mostly experts from the Beggars' Sect, Hebei Pang Clan, and Jinju Yeon Clan. Yet now they demanded even more reinforcements.
“This is too much, even for them.”
Yeon Jungcho nearly let a harsh curse slip unwittingly.
In truth, though he never showed it, Yeon Jungcho harbored quiet resentment toward the Alliance's policy of sacrificing individuals and clans alike to uphold its order.
We lend them our talents and successors freely, yet they offer no benefits to our house—nor even a word of thanks...
Unlike the Beggars' Sect and Hebei Pang Clan, who reaped substantial gains from the Hebei Branch, Jinju Yeon Clan received no proper treatment.
No matter how much they sacrificed and participated, the credit would inevitably go to Branch Chief Songak High Sword Jeon Jeonghwan.
The man was obsessed with advancement.
“Clan leader, there's no other way.”
As Yeon Jungcho trembled with rage, his right-hand man and cousin, Yeon Clan Heavy Fist Yeon Daeryeong, shook his head.
Other branches might be similar, but the Hebei Branch ruled through sheer force and pressure, making refusal impossible.
It had always been this way, and it would continue.
“What about Hebei Pang Clan?”
Yeon Jungcho inquired.
If Jinju Yeon Clan stepped forward, Hebei Pang Clan would inevitably follow—he was gauging their stance.
“They're reluctantly mustering their peak experts too, they say.”
In the end, this pointless gathering that only harmed their own was enough to crumple Yeon Jungcho's brow.
Hebei Pang Clan was larger and better connected within the branch, so they could endure, but Jinju Yeon Clan struggled just to meet the quota of peak experts.
“...We'll just make up the numbers for now!”
The answer was clear, so Yeon Jungcho hurriedly left the clan.
At that moment, in Hebei Pang Clan.
“The branch chief is requesting more peak experts?”
Hebei Pang Clan's leader, Heaven King Axe Pang Cheonhu, clicked his tongue in dismay.
The predicament was much the same as in Jinju Yeon Clan.
“Former Branch Chief Jeon has overthought this.”
People often assumed those with massive builds and imposing statures were dim-witted.
But Pang Cheonhu, the super peak master who perfectly embodied Hebei Pang Clan's saber arts with his innate sturdy frame and immense strength, was no such fool.
On the contrary, his instincts were sharp.
Rather than request aid from Alliance HQ and risk tarnishing his reputation, he's choosing to carve flesh from our own bodies, isn't he?
Moreover, Pang Cheonhu had once clashed mildly with Songak High Sword Jeon Jeonghwan over the Hebei Branch chief position.
In the Murim Alliance's era of Great Peace and Holy Reign, such past conflicts seemed buried. But now, with the unorthodox Murim's rapid growth and counterattacks turning the atmosphere tense, old grudges resurfaced.
“He wants to blow his nose without using his hands... He's gotten too greedy.”
Indeed.
Murim Alliance Hebei Branch Chief Jeon Jeonghwan had overlooked one crucial thing.
He might have thought his scheme clever, but Jinju Yeon Clan and Hebei Pang Clan were no pushovers.
“Jinju Yeon Clan is reacting with clear reluctance too.”
Human affairs are similar everywhere.
Hebei Pang Clan had checked on Jinju Yeon Clan first.
“We'll play along superficially. But... in place of the Murim Alliance, our Pang Clan will not shed blood.”
Pang Cheonhu vowed.
In the past, Hebei Pang Clan had bled and overextended itself in loyalty to the Alliance, aiming for higher positions.
Yet seeing how the structure ultimately benefited only a select few—the Alliance Leader, the Strategist, and the Heaven's Five Venerables—they felt hollow inside.
“Then muster our house's experts and set out!”
In stark contrast to the frantic Jinju Yeon Clan, Hebei Pang Clan, and Murim Alliance Hebei Branch, the Demon Sword Sect was utterly serene.
It even felt as if they were awaiting an important guest.
This was, of course, due to orders from Demon Sword Sect Lord, Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon.
“We've sealed the gates of the Beggars' Sect, one pillar of the Nine Great Sects and Murim Alliance. Naturally, the Alliance will now make their move.”
Hyeon Yucheon had already foreseen it.
And sure enough?
“Sect Lord! They're coming! They're approaching!”
The urgent voice of Little Light Demon Gyeon Jong-o rang out.
And sure enough?
Rumble!
From afar, horsemen poured toward the Demon Sword Sect.
Needless to say, they were the Murim Alliance Hebei Branch forces, alongside experts from Jinju Yeon Clan and Hebei Pang Clan.
“Hm?”
From a high vantage point, Hyeon Yucheon observed their movements and sensed something odd.
The group, which should have united as one, was distinctly divided into three factions. Each flew their own banners, refusing to yield pride to the others.
Joint expeditions typically use a single representative banner.
Yet inexplicably, the Hebei Branch, Hebei Pang Clan, and Jinju Yeon Clan all waved flags symbolizing their own branch and clans.
A grin spread across Hyeon Yucheon's face.
This might work out even better than expected.
The Murim Alliance, which claimed to be the true and sole Murim, arrogantly proclaiming dominion over the Central Plains.
Other branches aside, at least in the Hebei Branch, invisible cracks were visible.
“Lair of evildoers! Where is Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon?”
After some time, they occupied the Demon Sword Sect entrance and bellowed arrogantly.
But upon closer inspection, only Branch Chief Songak High Sword Jeon Jeonghwan stood at the forefront, raising his voice alone.
The experts from Hebei Pang Clan and Jinju Yeon Clan seemed surprisingly indifferent.
In other words, only Jeon Jeonghwan and the Murim Alliance were fired up by ambition for glory.
“Did you call for me?”
Even facing three united factions, Hyeon Yucheon showed no intimidation.
They're not three. One—no, less than one.
Disunited allies are more fearsome than enemies.
Only when three become ten, twenty, a hundred do they pose a threat. Yet these were worth less than one, standing before him.
And they dared claim hegemony over Hebei.
“You bastard, Hyeon Yucheon! You've spread unverified rumors, dragging the honor of our Alliance and the great Heaven's Five Venerables into the dirt. Moreover!”
Jeon Jeonghwan glanced briefly at Hyeon Yucheon before him.
He's no pushover, but too young!
The claim of single-handedly defeating one of the Heaven's Five Venerables, Dragon Leader Elder Hong In-gyeol, felt dubious, and Jeon Jeonghwan refused to believe it.
“You've spewed nonsense that you slew the Beggars' Sect's Dragon Head Leader, the lovable rogue we Central Plains Murim folk adore, Dragon Leader Elder Hong In-gyeol, in a fair duel. And that's not all? You twisted the Beggars' Sect elders' hearts with his head, forcing their gate-sealing declaration. Thus, the Beggars' Sect's sealing is invalid, and as the unorthodox Murim's ringleader, Hyeon Yucheon shall pay the due price.”
His words flowed like clear mountain streams.
Unaware he was the only one excited, Jeon Jeonghwan fervently criticized Hyeon Yucheon.
“Did I? You know sins I myself am unaware of—surely you must be the Jade Emperor or Sakyamuni himself.”
Hyeon Yucheon lightly crushed him with a curt reply.
“Y-you madman!”
Seeing Hyeon Yucheon mock him into a laughingstock in an instant, Jeon Jeonghwan couldn't contain his fury.
Though from a mid-tier clan, he had never failed in his path to success—until now, humiliated before his many subordinates.
“Pang Great Hero, Yeon Great Hero, did you hear that?”
Jeon Jeonghwan escalated his personal matter to all of Hebei Province, turning to each clan's leader.
“...”
In that brief moment, Pang Cheonhu and Yeon Jungcho exchanged glances, realizing their shared stance.
“Well, yeah...”
“We heard.”
They played along superficially, each dreaming different dreams on the same bed—minimizing harm to their own clans.
“Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon! Hear this? Hebei Province's dragon- and tiger-like great heroes and righteous champions will not let you be. And so...”
Though Jeon Jeonghwan had brought many peak warriors behind him, few guarded or echoed him.
He tried once more to address Hyeon Yucheon zealously, but Hyeon Yucheon spoke first.
“Enough empty talk—why not have the Murim Alliance Hebei Branch Chief step forward himself?”
Hyeon Yucheon was quick to notice.
Reading the awkward air among Jeon Jeonghwan, Yeon Jungcho, and Pang Cheonhu, he casually tossed bait.
“What?”
Jeon Jeonghwan recoiled in shock.
“The Murim Alliance Hebei Branch harbors grudges against me and Demon Sword Sect. If we must classify, Songak High Sword must be the most outraged—so I'll gladly face you.”
He struck the core.
Aware that Jinju Yeon Clan and Hebei Pang Clan inwardly held back.
After all, Hebei's absolute powerhouse Beggars' Sect had opposed Hyeon Yucheon and vanished in a blink.
Nothing guaranteed Jinju Yeon or Hebei Pang wouldn't suffer the same.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the two leaders' minds, Jeon Jeonghwan's selfish ambition for merit alienated everyone.
“You're trying to divide us with your glib three-inch tongue! Shut your nonsense, you wicked young demon head. The Murim Alliance is the orthodox Murim, and orthodox Murim folk are Alliance members—no petty division can split us.”
Jeon Jeonghwan boasted as if piercing Hyeon Yucheon's intent.
“Hmm... Seems the two clan leaders think differently?”
Hyeon Yucheon crossed his arms, mocking him.
“A Hebei Branch Chief who can't read Hebei's clan leaders' minds—what good are you?”
He sneered and began loosening up.
“And what? That I spread rumors of slaying Dragon Leader Elder Hong In-gyeol?”
Hyeon Yucheon had always done this.
If they wouldn't believe, he'd show it right before their eyes.
“If you can't believe it, Songak High Sword—how about you face me yourself?”