Episode 10
Squeak.
From early in the morning, the main gate of Baek-ga was thrown open. Recently, there had been no visitors worth mentioning. But today was different.
An endless line of people kept arriving. Most of them were orthodox martial artists.
The star of Jiangxi’s martial world. The death of Baek Hwang. The cause: natural causes, brought on by age and chronic illness.
My little brother, Baek Cheonhwang, my father, Baek Mu, the current head of the clan, and I began receiving the mourners.
Many came and went. We greeted them without pause, bowing and exchanging the proper words until some time had passed, when another large group arrived.
“We offer our deepest condolences.”
“Thank you.”
They were the heads of the orthodox families of Jiangxi. At their front stood Jin Myeong-o, the lord of the Jin Sword Sect, and Jin Paecheon.
“How did this happen? How could the old master pass away?”
“It happened as you heard…….”
At Jin Myeong-o’s question, my father answered. Jin Myeong-o wore a pitying expression. To me, it looked nothing so much as grotesque hypocrisy.
I lifted my head and spoke.
“Clan Head. You’ve come a long way. Wouldn’t it be better to take everyone inside?”
“……Yes. Come inside.”
Baek Cheonhwang stayed behind to receive the visitors still coming in, while I led the rest to the clan head’s hall.
Once my father sat in the seat of honor, everyone else took their places. I stood beside him and looked over the gathering. Most of the clan heads wore uneasy expressions.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
“Of course we had to come when we heard that Elder Baek Hwang had passed.”
As expected, it was Jin Myeong-o who answered my father’s greeting. He replied as if he were the one in charge.
The obligatory pleasantries dragged on until Jin Myeong-o finally asked, “How did the old master pass?”
“He passed from natural causes due to old age.”
“Is that so?”
My father said it was natural causes, but suspicion was written all over Jin Myeong-o’s face. And he had reason enough to doubt it. The caregiver for my grandfather, A-yeong, had been his pawn, and she had vanished without filing a single report.
“If there is anything we can do to help, speak without hesitation.”
“That’s right. Did we not all in Jiangxi’s orthodox world receive Elder Baek Hwang’s grace?”
“If there’s anything to help with……”
Starting with Jin Myeong-o, the other clan heads hurried to pile on, each saying they would help if they could.
Every last one of them was revolting. When Baek-ga was drowning in debt to the Jin Sword Sect and scrambling for every coin it could borrow or earn, not a single clan head in this room had lifted a hand to help us.
And now? Now they said to just ask if we needed anything. They even claimed it was repayment for the kindness my grandfather had shown them.
That was the orthodox world for you. They always acted as if they stood for righteousness, but in the end they were nothing but cowards spouting polished words and watching the room to see where the wind blew.
My father thought for a moment, then tapped the table lightly with one finger before speaking.
“Then help us with one thing.”
“Just say it!”
“There is someone Baek-ga is pursuing. Help us catch that person.”
“……?”
At my father’s words, everyone in the room looked confused. But before long, Jin Myeong-o spoke.
“At a time like this, when the old master has passed away, there is someone you are pursuing?”
“Yes.”
“Who is it?”
“After the previous grand clan head passed, a caregiver named A-yeong disappeared.”
“A caregiver?”
At the mention of A-yeong’s name, Jin Myeong-o’s expression twisted for an instant. Then, as if nothing had happened, he smoothed it away.
“Why are you pursuing that caregiver?”
“That woman stole the grand clan head’s sword and disappeared. On top of that, she damaged the old master’s body before fleeing. Baek-ga is already searching for her.”
“How monstrous!”
“She must be caught!”
At the words that she had harmed my grandfather’s body, the clan heads erupted in anger one after another, cursing her loudly. Only Jin Myeong-o remained silent, as though lost in thought.
“Will you help us?”
My father looked directly at Jin Myeong-o and asked. Jin Myeong-o sprang to his feet with a look of outrage.
“We will absolutely catch the wench who defiled the old master’s remains. This is not only an offense against Baek-ga! Elder Baek Hwang is the star of Jiangxi’s martial world. For that reason alone, I, Jin Myeong-o, and the Jin Sword Sect will spare no effort in bringing that woman down!”
At his words, the clan heads chimed in with praises of agreement. Buoyed by that response, Jin Myeong-o pushed on more forcefully.
“That A-yeong woman was probably an infiltrator from the demonic sect! That must be why she dared to harm the old master’s remains. Those demonic scum have been creeping into orthodox territory lately. My sect will not sit idly by while they overstep their bounds.”
Bang!
Jin Myeong-o slammed the table hard.
“So I propose this: let us form an alliance of Jiangxi’s orthodox factions! Let us gather our strength, drive the demonic sects out of Jiangxi, and as our first act, place a death order on that A-yeong woman and display the spirit of the orthodox path!”
Everyone in the room was now looking at Jin Myeong-o. He wore a face full of righteous concern, quietly building his momentum.
Jin Myeong-o. This bastard was more interesting than I’d expected. He couldn’t find his own spy, A-yeong.
He must have been thrown into a panic the moment she vanished. But instead of reeling, he was trying to turn it into an opportunity by rallying Jiangxi’s orthodox forces and placing the Jin Sword Sect at the center of them.
“That’s right! Since when did our orthodox world deserve to be treated like this?”
“I agree with Sect Lord Jin’s words.”
Sure enough, the ones who agreed with him were already standing up. Watching them, I smiled.
Enough that everyone in the room could hear it.
“Heh.”
Seeing that, Jin Myeong-o turned to me and asked, “Why are you laughing at a time like this?”
“Ah. It’s just funny.”
Bang!
Jin Myeong-o slammed the table again. His face had flushed red with anger.
“What nonsense is this? Is this the time to laugh? Elder Baek Hwang has passed away. And on top of that, those demonic scum damaged the old master’s remains! And you’re laughing?”
“I said it was funny.”
“What exactly is so funny?”
Jin Myeong-o’s momentum began to rise even higher. It was as though he was ready to strike at any moment. But why would I let something like this shake me? I smiled brightly again and spoke.
“How can you be so certain that A-yeong was part of the demonic sect? It sounds to me like you’ve already decided she was.”
“In a situation like this, if it isn’t the demonic sect, then who else would do something like that?”
“Well, I suppose that’s true. Still, I can’t help feeling you’re taking this whole matter about our clan a little too personally. Not long ago, you were telling us to sell the clan if that was what it took to repay our debts. Compared with that, this seems rather different.”
“That was……! I only meant it figuratively! And what does that have to do with anything right now?”
“I think it matters quite a bit. Unless the thing you’re really worried about is that your debtor might die and you’ll never get your money back.”
“You bastard!”
Jin Myeong-o could no longer hold himself back. He lunged with a fist. But that fist never reached me. My father had already stood and blocked it.
“What do you think you’re doing, Clan Head Baek!”
“Calm yourself, Sect Lord Jin. We are in mourning.”
“And you expect me to calm down? Your son just turned me into some shameless bandit!”
“You should apologize as well. What was that outrageous nonsense?”
I could hear the anger in my father’s voice. If I hadn’t known this was all arranged, I might have been fooled too.
That’s right. I hadn’t come up with this situation alone. We had engineered it.
“Yes. I will apologize.”
I bowed my head and clasped my hands in greeting. But I lifted my chin just enough to meet Jin Myeong-o’s eyes, and then smiled again.
That made his face turn even redder.
“First, I’ll apologize in advance. I still have more to say. Forming an alliance of the orthodox sects to keep the demonic sects in check and eradicate them is a fine idea. But who should take the lead in such a gathering?”
At my question, all the clan heads turned to look at Jin Myeong-o.
“Would it be the Jin Sword Sect? How curious. Our grandfather, a peak master, collapsed, then not long after you brought a debt contract bearing his seal, and then our grandfather passed away. And now you want to form an alliance to gather the strength of the orthodox world, with the Jin Sword Sect itself as the leader. Strange, isn’t it? Doesn’t it all fit together a little too neatly?”
“What exactly are you trying to say? That all of this was arranged by the Jin Sword Sect? Is that it?”
“That’s what I believe, yes.”
Unlike before, Jin Myeong-o no longer flew into a rage. No, he became calm. So calm that a cold killing intent seemed to ripple off him.
“You’ll have to take responsibility for those words.”
“I intend to.”
“You sound awfully confident. So you must have proof?”
“Of course I do.”
“And what proof is that?”
“This is the proof.”
The moment I finished speaking, I drew the sword hanging on the wall of the clan hall. Then I pointed it at Jin Paecheon.
Jin Paecheon looked startled for an instant, then hurriedly drew his own sword and began blocking my strikes. But I did not stop.
The more he blocked, the harder I swung, scattering a thick killing intent into the air as though I meant to kill him with that sword no matter what.
“What is this!”
The instant my blade fell toward the bastard’s neck, Jin Paecheon unleashed the phantom sword. It was dazzling and savage enough to seize the eyes.
“That sword is……!”
Not only the clan heads but even my father shot to their feet. There was no need to mention how wide their eyes had gone.
But I did not stop my sword. This was not enough yet.
As he unleashed the phantom sword, I answered in kind. I used the plum blossom sword art of Mount Hwa, the peak of orthodox phantom swordsmanship.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
Fresh cuts opened across Jin Paecheon’s body as he struggled to defend against my blade, and his martial robe was stained red. At that very moment, Jin Myeong-o’s fist flew toward me.
I blocked the sword and leaped backward. Then I lifted the corners of my mouth in open mockery.
“So the orthodox path uses the demonic sect’s phantom sword, does it? I met someone using that sword art recently, too. What was his name again?”
“Shut that mouth of yours!”
Jin Myeong-o advanced, pouring out a murderous intent as if he meant to kill me on the spot. But I ignored it and smiled brightly.
“Ah! Woo Dae-un of the Paeggeom Sect!”
At my words, the atmosphere in the clan hall sank like a stone. And once again, everyone looked at Jin Myeong-o.
This time, of course, the look in their eyes was very different from before.
“Why are you all looking at me like that! There’s been a misunderstanding!”
Jin Myeong-o turned to the surrounding clan heads. But it was too late. Their expressions had already changed.
“The young master of the orthodox world using the phantom sword of the demonic sect? He’ll have to explain himself, Sect Lord Jin.”
As if to nail down the mood, my father’s voice rang out. Jin Myeong-o whipped around to face him and raised his voice.
“What nonsense is this about a demonic sword? Our Jin Sword Sect’s techniques have always been flashy! Even the Mount Hwa plum blossom sword art you’re talking about is often said to resemble a demonic sword!”
Jin Myeong-o denied that the Jin Sword Sect’s swordsmanship was a demonic sword. At the same time, veins stood out on his neck as he jabbed a finger at my father.
“Ah! So Baek-ga cannot repay its debts, and now you’re trying to frame us like this and stain our name!”
“Can’t repay your debts?”
At Jin Myeong-o’s words, I moved behind the clan head’s seat and pulled out a bundle of promissory notes, then tossed them in front of him.
“The money you speak of has already been prepared. But no matter how I think about it, I can’t seem to recall us ever borrowing that money from the Jin Sword Sect.”
“Even with clear evidence, you still deny it. That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it? Look here! It’s obvious. Baek-ga doesn’t want to repay its debts, so it has framed the Jin Sword Sect like this!”
Jin Myeong-o pulled a promissory note from his robes and displayed it to everyone. Hearing that, the clan heads shook their heads once again.
“And what if we have evidence for that too?”
“Evidence? What a joke. You think you have evidence that can deny a promissory note bearing a seal?”
Jin Myeong-o grew triumphant again and stepped toward me.
“Fine. If you have it, show me! Show me the evidence you’re talking about!”
“…….”
When I said nothing, Jin Myeong-o only raised his voice higher.
“Look at this. You have no evidence at all, and yet you’re trying to smear me as some demonic pipsqueak? Clan Head Baek, answer me. How are you going to make this right?”
Squeak!
Just as Jin Myeong-o was practically rolling his eyes at my father and demanding an explanation, the clan hall door burst open.
When everyone saw the person standing there, their eyes widened so much it looked as though they might burst from their sockets, all except for my father and me.
They had every reason to be shocked.
Standing there were Baek Cheonhwang and, leaning against him, the supreme master of the world, Baek Hwang.
“There it is. The evidence.”
With my smile, Baek Hwang’s icy presence began to fill the entire clan head’s hall.
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