The Head Disciple
When Namgung Yo fled in a panic, Namgung Myeong apologized to Cheonhwa.
"I'm sorry, Daoist Cheonhwa. My younger brother has caused you trouble."
"Not at all. If anything, I received your help, Great Hero."
"I only did what was necessary. When I saw signs that my brother was about to do something foolish, I could hardly stand by and watch as his elder brother."
"But what exactly was Young Hero Namgung Yo trying to accomplish?"
"I honestly couldn't say. We may share the same blood, but that doesn't mean I can know every corner of his heart."
Namgung Myeong spoke with a bitter look. Though his words claimed ignorance, his manner suggested he already knew the truth. Whatever the reason, one thing was clear: he had no wish to speak it aloud.
Just then, a new visitor arrived at the reception hall—Byeok Seonggun, the chief administrator who had said he would wait in Cheonhwa's guest quarters.
"I came because I was worried, but fortunately Great Hero Namgung Myeong has already resolved the matter."
"Did you hear everything?"
At Cheonhwa's question, Byeok Seonggun shook his head.
"Not exactly. But piecing together the circumstances, I have a fair grasp of what happened."
From Namgung Yo's sudden demand to see Cheonhwa, to the pale face with which he left only moments after Namgung Myeong entered, to the Namgung Family's current predicament—put together, the answer was obvious. The post of chief administrator was not one a man came by lightly.
When Byeok Seonggun quietly laid out his deductions, Namgung Myeong gave a silent nod.
"Hahaha. It seems Young Hero Namgung Yo still cannot rein in his hot blood."
Byeok Seonggun smiled as he spoke, yet only his mouth was smiling. His eyes were not.
"I'm afraid we will have to reassess our evaluation of the Namgung Family. Setting skill aside, if a man cannot even control his own temper, how can he be called the captain of a great family's martial forces?"
Though Byeok Seonggun held the office of chief administrator, he did not possess the kind of absolute authority that could command other sects. His weapons, however, were not martial prowess and a blade, but the written word and the brush. Over the years he had kept the Martial Alliance's network of communications alive through sheer ability, and the solid trust built upon that skill had become his standing within the righteous path.
"Young Hero Namgung Yo may find it regrettable, but I cannot bring myself to evaluate the Namgung Family favorably."
In other words, he held enough influence to affect the coming distribution of merit—and thus enough to damage the Namgung Family's reputation. It was a warning to take care.
"Of course. I trust Chief Administrator Byeok will judge fairly."
Rather than protest, Namgung Myeong offered a courteous reply—a silent assent that Byeok Seonggun might do as he saw fit. From that reaction, Byeok Seonggun formed a private conclusion.
I expected as much from the moment he refused to take the front line himself. Great Hero Namgung Myeong actually wants the Namgung Family's prestige shaken.
Why would a young master—the family's heir apparent—wish for his house to be unsettled? Considering the Namgung Family's habitual arrogance and Namgung Myeong's usual conduct, only one answer presented itself.
He is aiming for reform of the Namgung Family.
Where had the family's arrogance come from? From a long record of unbroken success. Put another way, they had never known a failure serious enough to force them to reflect. If that was the case, Byeok Seonggun would need to prepare his reports so that Namgung Myeong himself, rather than the Namgung Family, received the light. Should the young master's standing rise, any future reform of the house would gain that much more momentum.
Byeok Seonggun smiled faintly.
"Of course. As Great Hero Namgung Myeong has said, I shall judge with complete fairness."
"My thanks, Chief Administrator."
They spoke with smiles, yet each word carried hidden intent. Their exchange was a living demonstration of why the brush could be more terrifying than the sword.
Watching from the side, Paeng Mu-jin and Cheonhwa looked at each other.
"Daoist Cheonhwa, do you understand what that was about?"
"Only the general flow of it."
"Same here. I was a young master myself once, but political talk like that never sits well with me no matter how often I hear it."
"To be honest, I feel the same. Reading the meaning buried under someone's words has never come easily to me."
"I heard you were the head disciple of the Hwa generation. Looks like you're having a hard time of it too."
Utterly unsuited to politics, the two of them could only share a wry smile.
The formal distribution of merit for the jiangshi incident began in earnest once half of the force that had marched to subjugate the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace returned.
The party that drew the sharpest censure was, of course, the Namgung Family. Had they not refused aid when the crisis first broke, the disaster would never have grown so large. They had eventually sent a martial detachment to help contain it—but so had the Wudang Sect and the Jegal Family. On top of that, a written account of what Namgung Yo had attempted against Cheonhwa had been circulated to every sect. No one offered open condemnation, yet none of the sect representatives could look kindly on the Namgung Family.
"By the decision of this council, the Namgung Family will give full cooperation to the Martial Alliance as it is reformed. Does the Namgung Family accept this?"
"Yes. We accept."
At Byeok Seonggun's words as chair of the meeting, Namgung Myeong, present as the family's representative, inclined his head. The arrangement was as good as fastening a Martial Alliance bell around the neck of a great house—yet it also offered the Namgung Family an opening. Full cooperation would make it easier for them to exert influence in return. The Alliance's reach spanned the entire Central Plains martial world; active participation could restore their fallen prestige and establish them as a major power within the Alliance. It would demand time, effort, and expense, but at least the family had been left an air hole through which to breathe.
If even that chance had been denied them, the Namgung Family would never have accepted the terms.
Push too hard and the family might bolt from the Alliance entirely. The burden of that vacuum would fall on the remaining sects, and the Alliance would find it impossible to operate in Anhui Province, the Namgung Family's home ground. That would only serve the unorthodox factions, the black path, and the mysterious powers. So the Martial Alliance and the Namgung Family had been forced to settle on a middle ground. To reach it, the family had had to negotiate with several major sects—and the result of those negotiations was the conclusion of this very meeting.
"Only one matter remains. The distribution of merit for Daoist Cheonhwa, who can fairly be called the foremost contributor to resolving this incident."
At Byeok Seonggun's words, the sect representatives fell into thought. Given Cheonhwa's exploits, a proper reward was essential if the Alliance's discipline was to stand. The question was what reward the Martial Alliance could suitably offer.
"What if we granted him a post within the Martial Alliance?"
The Jegal Family's representative put forward the suggestion.
"What sort of post, specifically?"
"Considering Daoist Cheonhwa's record, he clearly possesses outstanding qualities as a field commander in a crisis such as the one we just faced. Once the Martial Alliance is reorganized, however, he will not be able to move as freely as he has. So we assign him a wartime post that can be activated if the need arises."
The others nodded in agreement. At the same time, a few of the quicker minds saw through the Jegal Family's intent.
The Jegals are playing a shrewd game. A post that only takes effect in emergency is an empty honor in peacetime.
On the other hand, in a true crisis it would put Daoist Cheonhwa's brilliant judgment to use. The perfect man for the perfect place—a convenient excuse.
Not everyone consented at once.
"Even if he has surpassed the Peak realm, he is still a third-generation disciple. Is granting him a post not excessive?"
The Jegal side answered as if they had expected the objection.
"Consider the reverse. Let the Martial Alliance declare that even a third-generation disciple will be treated according to his achievements. Talented men of the righteous path and the white path who dream of making a name for themselves will flock to us in droves."
By the measure of rank and generation, an honorary post with emergency authority was an extraordinary reward. He had earned it, and as the Jegals argued, it would leave a favorable impression across the entire righteous martial world. Reaching that conclusion, every representative present—including Byeok Seonggun—gave their assent. Thus Cheonhwa was granted the title of Captain of the Wisa-dae, with the authority to mobilize Martial Alliance forces in times of emergency.
With that, the jiangshi incident that had swept through Jiangsu, Anhui, and Hubei was brought to a close. Work remained, of course—the interrogation of the sorcerers who had controlled the jiangshi, the investigation of Jiangsu Province as the source of the plague—but those tasks would fall to the Martial Alliance as it transformed into a true martial force. Which meant that those who had been held at the Alliance until the affair was settled were free at last.
Cheonhwa was among them.
At last I can return to the main mountain.
He had been given the post of Captain of the Wisa-dae, yet he felt no great burden. With no peacetime responsibilities, he could devote himself more fully to training; and if the Martial Alliance ever fell into crisis, he would take the field with his sect in any case. Having an official post at such a time would only be an advantage. Still, after being pulled this way and that by people during his stay in Wuhan, he wanted nothing more than to return to Mount Zhongnan as soon as possible.
His proper station had always been head disciple of the Hwa generation of the Zhongnan Sect. Unlike Gakhyeon and Muwol, who were still stationed at the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, he lacked both the seniority to negotiate with other sects and any real decision-making authority.
This matter has left my hands.
What remained was for the sect's leadership to handle. As he prepared for the journey home, Cheonhwa informed those around him of his departure in advance. Just as he was about to leave, a visitor came to find him—Heogong, senior martial brother of the Wudang Sect's Heo generation.
"Fortunately you have not yet set out."
"What brings you, Daoist Heogong?"
"I have something I must deliver to you, Daoist Cheonhwa. Forgive the intrusion of my visit."
So saying, Heogong held out a wooden box.
"This is…?"
"The spiritual elixir our Wudang Sect promised you—the Yin-Yang Spirit Pill."
The Yin-Yang Spirit Pill. An upper-grade elixir of the Wudang Sect, the highest grade they could bestow upon an outsider.
"The Zhongnan Sect cultivates many different internal arts, so we judged the Yin-Yang Spirit Pill more suitable than other elixirs."
The pill aided the growth of inner energy, yet its finest property lay elsewhere: it harmonized the yin and yang energies within the body. Imbalance was inevitable for any martial artist who wielded multiple natures of qi. The Yin-Yang Spirit Pill resolved that imbalance and, at the same time, offered a chance to leap to a higher realm. Cheonhwa had mastered the Hocheon-gigong and the Profound True Qi, both of yin nature, and had also cultivated the Changcheon-gigong, which carried yang-within-yin. Overall, his energy leaned toward yin. Taking the pill would send his relatively lagging achievement in Changcheon-gigong soaring toward minor completion.
"To receive so precious an elixir—I am grateful."
"Please. We should have given it to you long ago and delayed only because of our own circumstances. If anything, I am ashamed we can offer only this."
Heogong apologized with genuine regret.
"And if you ever have the leisure, please visit the Wudang Sect. Our sect leader has said he wishes to meet Daoist Cheonhwa."
"The Wudang Sect Leader is a Peerless Expert counted among the Ten Great Masters of the world, is he not?"
The Wudang Sect stood as the towering pillar of the righteous martial world, and its current leader stood at that summit. In the jianghu he was known as the Sword Immortal. That such a Peerless Expert would take an interest in Cheonhwa was startling indeed. By generation he was a great senior of the martial world; Cheonhwa would have been lying if he claimed not to feel the weight of it.
Heogong answered with a gentle smile.
"There is no need to rush to Wudang simply because the sect leader has called."
"Is that truly all right?"
"Of course. These are the sect leader's own words. He said only to keep it in a corner of your mind and come when the time is right."
Come when the time is right—a thoroughly vague expression. Whether it was a Taoist's teaching that following the Dao would bring things about naturally, or the insight of a Peerless Expert who could even glimpse the future, Cheonhwa could not tell. At the least, the Sword Immortal had judged that Cheonhwa's visit to Wudang was still premature.
"I understand. When the opportunity comes, I shall pay my respects."
"Yes. If fate allows, we shall meet again, Daoist Cheonhwa."
With that conversation ended, Cheonhwa set out on the road back to the Zhongnan Sect.
The journey home to the Zhongnan Sect met with no particular obstacles. His body might have been at ease, but his spirit was thoroughly exhausted—because everywhere he went, people recognized him. Conversation was the least of it; more than a few tried to invite him into their homes. Cheonhwa felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
It was like this on the road back after the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering…
In some ways it was worse. He had no senior brothers to help him, and the full story of the jiangshi incident had spread far and wide, raising his fame yet again.
People recognize me mostly because of how eye-catching I look.
A jade-colored wooden sword and a luxurious white robe embroidered with cloud patterns—either alone was distinctive enough. Left with little choice, Cheonhwa wrapped cloth around the wooden sword to hide it, packed the robe into his bundle, and bought a bamboo hat to shade his face. Summer was nearly over and the sun still beat down fiercely, so wearing a hat raised no eyebrows. Even so, something like a detailed description of his features seemed to be circulating, and he was still recognized more often than not. Harried by people the entire way, Cheonhwa finally managed to reach the mountain gate of the Zhongnan Sect.
At last I can rest.
Outside, he had never truly been able to rest. Guests had come calling without end, making everything inconvenient—even sleep had felt unsettled.
The moment I finish my report, I'm going straight to my room and collapsing.
With that plan in mind, he announced his return to the main mountain. At once his fellow disciples came pouring out, words tumbling over one another.
"Junior Brother Cheonhwa, we heard! You took command for the Martial Alliance!"
"They said you fought jiangshi—what was it like?"
"How could you go off alone and hog all the glory? Share a little of the leftovers with us!"
"Watch how you speak to the head disciple. Junior Brother Cheonhwa got dragged into this against his will."
Only then did Cheonhwa realize, a beat too late.
Home isn't so different from the outside after all.
He let out a hollow laugh despite himself.