The Geongon Gate

The unexpected appearance of the Muksang Sect Master and his outrageous proposal brought the situation to a temporary standstill.

The Zhongnan Sect, the Beggars' Sect, the Green Forest, and Haomen accepted the Muksang Sect Master's temporary ceasefire so they could report his proposal to their superiors. The course ahead would be decided by the leadership of each major faction.

All that remained was cleaning up after the pleasure-boat auction Seo Mun-il had so recklessly staged — and even that amounted to little more than deciding the fate of the masked passengers and the people who had been abducted.

"It seems we've more or less settled things, so this seat shall take his leave. The passengers aboard this vessel are guests of the Muksang Sect. We will see to their protection."

The Muksang Sect Master spoke, releasing a subtle wave of his aura. It was clear he would entertain no objections. The pressure of a Peerless Expert settled over everyone present and sealed their lips.

Just as the situation was about to unfold exactly as the Muksang Sect Master desired, a voice rose in protest.

"Please wait a moment."

The Muksang Sect Master turned his head slightly and looked at the speaker — a young Taoist somewhere between boy and man, only recently past the age of twenty. Even beneath the crushing pressure of a Peerless Expert, the youth stood firm, determined to see his will through. A flicker of interest stirred in the Muksang Sect Master's gaze.

"Oh? You must be the young Taoist who killed the Blood Wind Blade. Very well. Speak."

"The passengers on this ship are people who attempted human trafficking. We cannot simply let such men go free."

"Is that because you are a martial artist of the Orthodox Path?"

"As a martial artist of the Orthodox Path, of course — but also as an individual, I cannot tolerate men like them. The Muksang Sect shares responsibility for the trafficking, yet under the pretext of a temporary alliance, that fact was quietly brushed aside."

"Hahahahahaha!"

At Cheonhwa's answer, the Muksang Sect Master burst into laughter.

"I wondered what bold words would come from one so brazen as to step forward. To dare urge this seat to yield and to lecture me on responsibility… Do you truly believe that joining hands for a greater cause means I cannot kill the likes of you?"

A Peerless Expert who looked down upon the entire world fixed his gaze on Cheonhwa. At the same time, the aura he had been holding back poured toward the young Taoist in a crushing torrent.

It felt as though the world itself were pressing down on him. Cheonhwa clenched his teeth and drew his inner energy to its absolute limit, enduring the pressure. No — he did more than endure. He lifted his chin stiffly and spoke the words he had to say.

"Even if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I die in this place, there are things that must be said."

The Muksang Sect Master looked into Cheonhwa's eyes, then clicked his tongue.

"A spirit that will not bow even in death. Leave a man like you alive and he is certain to cause trouble later."

Killing intent gathered in the Muksang Sect Master's eyes. A man like this, left alive, would inevitably become an obstacle. Better to pull him up by the roots while he was still weak. Thinking so, he began to raise his hand—

"That is far enough, Muksang Sect Master."

A newly risen aura swept aside the pressure that had been crushing Cheonhwa. At the unexpected interference, the Muksang Sect Master clicked his tongue again.

"Do you mean to obstruct this seat, Green Forest King?"

"You state the obvious. You struck first from behind — did you not expect at least this much in return?"

"Even so, I cannot understand why you would shield a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect."

"This one is a man I have acknowledged. As you can see, he has the mettle not to flinch even before a Peerless Expert. It makes me glad I chose to join hands with Zhongnan."

The Green Forest King stepped to Cheonhwa's side and smiled with the air of a great beast.

"…Thank you."

At Cheonhwa's gratitude, the Green Forest King gave a light nod, as if it were only natural.

"I fully support this young Taoist's words. You, Sect Master, also bear responsibility for putting us through such hardship. Why not yield a step?"

"…"

Faced with the Green Forest King's unforeseen intervention, the Muksang Sect Master closed his eyes deeply for a moment. Then, as if deciding something, he waved a hand dismissively.

"Haa. In this matter, as Sect Master, I failed to properly manage my subordinates. I will let it pass. Deal with the passengers as you see fit."

Having said so, the Muksang Sect Master fixed Cheonhwa with a cold stare. In those eyes, a fury held under extreme restraint seemed to flicker.

"When this affair is over, we shall meet again. I look forward to seeing that neck of yours still held so stiffly then."

"I will be waiting."

"Kwahahahaha!"

With the Green Forest King's hearty laugh, the matter came to a close — leaving behind a lingering unease, like the smoke of half-burned firewood.

"Cheonhwa, Junior Brother. That was quite a bold thing to say."

"Senior Uncle Muwol…"

Muwol's tone toward Cheonhwa was stern, yet a subtle warmth lingered in his gaze.

"As your senior uncle, I have no choice but to reprimand you. You nearly died — and beyond that, the negotiations nearly fell apart."

Cheonhwa quietly bowed his head. Muwol's criticism was not wrong.

"However."

Lightly patting the bowed Cheonhwa's shoulder, Muwol allowed a faint smile to touch his lips.

"At the same time, I — no, we — are proud of you. The words you spoke to the Muksang Sect Master were the words every member of the Orthodox Path carries in his heart."

"…"

"Thank you. For saying what we could not, and for doing what the Orthodox Path must do."

A warmth rising from deep in his chest left Cheonhwa speechless. Understanding, Muwol arranged a place for him to settle his internal injuries.

Around the time Cheonhwa finished recovering, the masked branch leader of Haomen's Hanzhong branch — Ruju — came to find him.

"Taoist Cheonhwa, I have heard the story. That you went to great lengths to save our disciples."

"It was nothing. I merely did what I had to do."

"Even so, that does not erase the effort you made, Taoist Cheonhwa. Please accept this."

What Ruju held out was a token plaque. Against a black-lacquered surface, the characters for Haomen were inscribed in elegant gold — clearly a precious object at a glance.

"This is…"

"It is a Token of Gratitude, given to those who have rendered aid to Haomen. Present it at any Haomen branch and you will receive various forms of assistance."

"I have heard that Haomen's Tokens of Gratitude are rare. Is it truly all right to give something so precious to me?"

At Cheonhwa's question, Ruju turned to look behind him, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and Cheonhwa's gaze naturally followed. There, gathered together, were some dozen people including Jangsam — the Haomen disciples who had been held captive on the pleasure boat.

As one, the Haomen disciples bowed their heads to Cheonhwa in gratitude. Locked in the ship's hold, they had watched with their own eyes as Cheonhwa fought the Blood Wind Blade to protect the captives. They had stepped forward now, however modestly, to repay that hardship.

Seeing Cheonhwa's dazed expression, Ruju spoke in a gentle voice.

"Every Haomen disciple you saved has agreed to this. Please do not refuse it."

"…I understand."

Cheonhwa reluctantly accepted the Token of Gratitude from Ruju. Perhaps because it was something received for saving a dozen lives, the plaque that should have been light seemed to carry a heavy weight — and a warmth.

Cheonhwa set out on the road home to the Zhongnan Sect together with the second-generation disciples. The affair had been full of twists and turns in many ways, but the most startling discovery was that behind Seo Mun-il — the man they had believed to be the mastermind — another force had been operating in secret.

Even the Six Tyrant Coalition alone consisted of great sects that held sway over the Central Plains. Yet circumstances had come to light suggesting that two such great sects had been manipulated by an unknown presence.

It is clearly something to be shocked by — and yet the second-generation senior uncles did not seem particularly surprised.

More precisely, they had been surprised, but for a different reason. Where Cheonhwa had been stunned by the mere existence of a force operating in the shadows among the Six Tyrant Coalition, the second-generation disciples seemed more astonished by that force's methods.

"Senior Uncle Muwol, do you know something about this?"

Muwol seemed to deliberate for a moment, then explained the reason.

"Do you remember the day of the Dark Night Assassination Pavilion's attack during the third trial — the day an intruder also entered the main mountain's Jangseogak?"

"Yes. I remember."

Cheonhwa nodded deeply. It was the day he had lost Jinhyun and his fellow disciples. Even now, when he closed his eyes, the memories of that day rose with vivid clarity. How could he ever forget?

"At the time, we glossed over the intruder's identity — but there was speculation that this intruder was the shadow force that had instigated the Dark Night Assassination Pavilion's commission."

"Then… are you saying this incident is also connected to that shadow force?"

"It is only a working theory, but this affair shares many similarities with the time the Six Tyrant Coalition moved simultaneously."

Cheonhwa could not deny Muwol's words. Just as the Zhongnan Sect had been attacked by the Dark Night Assassination Pavilion while the Huashan Sect was attacked by the Paegeommun — so too, on the surface, had the Green Forest and the Muksang Sect joined hands and moved together in this incident.

"Is it all right to tell someone like me something of such importance?"

"As the senior disciple of the Wol-ja generation, I have at least the authority to share information. You are the senior disciple of the Hwa-ja generation, so there should be no issue in telling you. However — do not pass this information on to your fellow disciples."

"Because no solid identity has yet been confirmed?"

"Exactly so. For now it is only a possibility. Until the enemy's true nature is certain, do not speak of it to anyone else. Keep it tucked away in a corner of your mind."

At Muwol's caution, Cheonhwa nodded. Information about a shadow force that crossed the boundaries of Orthodox and Unorthodox and exerted influence over the entire martial world would be hard to believe even if told. Even Cheonhwa himself would have doubted its truth had he not been present.

A shadow force.

The root cause that had driven Jinhyun and his fellow disciples to their deaths, and that had reached its hand into numerous incidents to sow chaos through the martial world. Little of its true nature had yet been revealed — but to Cheonhwa, it was as good as a blood enemy.

So that was why Senior Grand-Uncle Gakhyeon said I must become a Peerless Expert.

Cheonhwa recalled Gakhyeon's counsel — that if he wished for vengeance, he must become a Peerless Expert. At the time he had taken it simply as advice to set his sights high if he wanted revenge. Looking back now, it meant that to stand against an unknown shadow force, one needed at least that much strength.

One more reason to grow stronger.

As the thought of avenging Jinhyun and his fellow disciples rose, a faint killing intent flashed in Cheonhwa's eyes — then vanished.

Upon returning to the Zhongnan Sect, Cheonhwa threw himself into training. His current goals were the complete mastery of the Hyeoncheon-jingi, and beyond that, the mastery of all four of the Zhongnan Sect's advanced mind arts. To that end, he steadily circulated the Hyeoncheon-jingi through winter-breathing and the Grand Circulation.

Nor did he neglect the practice of other martial arts. He drilled the mid-section forms of the Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven, and reviewed everything he had learned so far — the Five Elements Fist, the Nine Palaces Footwork, the Six Harmony Sensory Path.

Of course, life on the main mountain was not training alone. As senior disciple, Cheonhwa had a duty to look after his fellow disciples of the Hwa-ja generation. So he checked on them regularly — and noticed something.

Lately, a lot of my fellow disciples have been heading out into the jianghu.

Even so, few left for anything as grand as Cheonhwa's own missions. Most went out to handle minor errands that needed attending to beyond the sect's walls. On the occasions they visited affiliated branch sects, a second-generation disciple always accompanied them, so safety was rarely a serious concern.

And when those disciples returned from real combat, they all said the same thing:

"I'm so glad I trained following Senior Brother!"

What this meant was simple. Many of the Hwa-ja generation had thrown themselves into training in Cheonhwa's footsteps. As a result, every one of them had reached the level of a first-class martial artist — and the skill they had forged proved itself without reservation in real combat, keeping them alive. With experiences like that behind them, the Hwa-ja disciples threw themselves into training even harder, creating a virtuous cycle.

There were also those who trained hard for their own reasons.

Myeonghwa and Yeobhwa belonged to that category. When Cheonhwa returned to the main mountain, Myeonghwa had already entered closed-door training in a cultivation cave. Given Myeonghwa's usual love of company, it was unusual — so Cheonhwa asked Yeobhwa what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had happened.

"Falling behind alone during the Green Forest King's instructional sparring seems to have shaken him rather badly."

Indeed, Myeonghwa had been the only one who failed to properly break through the Green Forest King's aura. The Green Forest King had said that even managing to push through at all was excellent for a first-class martial artist — but compared to Yeobhwa, who had torn through the aura while unleashing fist techniques, or Cheonhwa, who had cracked the protective qi itself, the result looked pitiful. Unable to accept lagging behind alone, Myeonghwa had resolved on closed-door training.

"Senior Brother Myeonghwa said he caught it from Junior Brother Cheonhwa. And I believe the same is true of this humble one."

"Does that mean Senior Brother Yeobhwa also intends to enter closed-door training?"

"I received counsel from a Peerless Expert. After discussion with the second-generation senior uncles, I have decided. To that end, I have already memorized a new martial arts formula."

With a vow to return stronger than before, Yeobhwa too entered closed-door training.

In this way, the third-generation disciples of the Hwa-ja generation each fell into a state of deep training, driven by their own experiences and reasons. Some might have been expected to slack off — yet every single third-generation disciple, without exception, trained with earnest diligence. The second-generation disciples and the sect's senior figures could only click their tongues in amazement.

"The reason the third-generation disciples are training so hard must be Cheonhwa, wouldn't you say?"

"Since he formally stepped into the jianghu under the Zhongnan Sect's name, he has been through one incident after another."

Tracking the missing head of the Cheongun Merchant Group and half-destroying the Yeonggang Mountain Stronghold. Through that connection, encountering the Green Forest King and earning his recognition. Joining the joint operation of four great factions to capture Seo Mun-il of the Muksang Sect. One after another, Cheonhwa's densely packed trail of exploits must have been a tremendous shock to the third-generation disciples.

"Cheonhwa is exceptional, but the other third-generation disciples have some sense of it as well."

"Having experienced the Dark Night Assassination Pavilion's attack, they feel it all the more keenly on their own skin."

"That the martial world is gradually entering an age of chaos."

In that sense, the third-generation disciples' struggle was good news for the Zhongnan Sect. In the storms sweeping the jianghu, the surest way to survive was individual martial strength.

About a month after Cheonhwa's return to the main mountain, Yeonhwa came looking for him.

"Senior Uncle Muwol is calling for you."

"Senior Uncle Muwol?"

Wondering what the matter could be, Cheonhwa followed Yeonhwa to Sanggyun Hall. When they arrived, Jeokhwa was waiting as well, along with Muwol.

Once the three of them were gathered, Muwol explained why he had summoned them.

"An affiliated branch sect in Baoji has requested aid. The three of you will go and look into it."

Baoji was a region in western Shaanxi Province. Situated on the corridor leading into neighboring Gansu Province, it was also called the western gateway of Shaanxi.

"Isn't Baoji a major transportation hub where the Wei River — a tributary of the Yellow River — flows? An affiliated sect based in a place like that should be large enough to handle most problems on its own. And yet they're requesting help from the main mountain…"

At Jeokhwa's question, Muwol nodded, acknowledging the fair point, and explained.

"Indeed, the Geongon Gate in Baoji boasts a considerable scale. It once held as many as five first-class martial artists."

"You mean… it no longer has five?"

"Correct. Recently, most of them were injured in a clash with a Black Path group based in Baoji."

The Black Path was a branch of the Unorthodox Path — a term for factions that would not shy from dirty work, including crime, in pursuit of profit.

"At present, only one first-class martial artist at the Geongon Gate is still able to move freely."

Having the majority of its first-class fighters incapacitated was a bitter blow for the Geongon Gate. They had wiped out the Black Path group that had been based in Baoji, so all that remained was to wait for their first-class martial artists to recover while expanding their influence over the region. But then—

"The vacuum left by the old Black Path's disappearance was filled by a new Black Path group that came in from outside. That became the problem."

The Black Path was like a poisonous mushroom — impossible to eradicate completely — but the speed at which a new Black Path group had taken root was abnormally fast. To make matters worse, the newly established Black Path faction included a first-class martial artist among its ranks and was aggressively expanding its influence. Having already fought one war against the Black Path, the Geongon Gate had barely enough strength left to hold the line. As a last resort, they had requested aid from the main mountain.

"Just as Hanzhong is the heart of southwestern Shaanxi, Baoji is the heart of western Shaanxi. If it falls under Black Path influence, chaos will inevitably follow. Your goal is to aid the Geongon Gate and stabilize Baoji."

Ordinarily, a problem of this scale would have been handled by second-generation disciples rather than third-generation ones. But at present, the second generation had no personnel left to spare for external deployment.

The casualties among the second-generation disciples who took part in the Seo Mun-il capture operation were greater than expected.

No one had died, but a number had suffered serious injuries — a consequence of fighting in the confined space of a ship while carefully avoiding damage to the vessel itself.

That's why they're sending third-generation disciples out into the jianghu earlier than planned.

Fortunately, thanks to Cheonhwa's influence, the third-generation disciples had a solid foundation of basic skill. With combat experience to build on, they would be more than capable of holding their own.

These three are the most skilled among the third-generation disciples.

Cheonhwa was, as senior disciple of the Hwa-ja generation, a fighter beyond question. Yeonhwa might fall short of Cheonhwa, but she remained the foremost prodigy of the Hwa-ja generation. Jeokhwa lagged behind the other two, yet she consistently held a place in the upper ranks.

Cheonhwa in particular has a recent record of heading into the jianghu and resolving multiple incidents — and the experience that comes with it.

If it was Cheonhwa, who had walked out of a slaughterhouse alive, he could take on this problem and solve it. At least, that was what Muwol believed.

"This mission involves a struggle for influence over an entire region, so it is considerably dangerous. Your lives may even be at risk. Will you still go?"

With that warning, Muwol confirmed the three disciples' intentions. Even if someone chose to decline the mission, he had no intention of blaming them. The danger of this assignment was of an entirely different order.

"I will go."

The first to answer among the three was Cheonhwa. Perhaps because he had weathered so many incidents in so short a time, he accepted the mission with calm composure despite the warning of danger.

"I'll go."

Yeonhwa answered next. Her face was as expressionless as ever, making it hard to know what she was thinking — but the will gleaming in her eyes made it clear she had no intention of backing down.

"I'll go as well."

Last, Jeokhwa answered. Her composed bearing showed she was not cowed by the mission's danger — though the way she kept glancing toward Yeonhwa suggested that half her reason for going was concern for her junior sister.

Having accepted the mission, the three set out for Baoji as a support force to aid the Geongon Gate.

At the time, none of them knew. That ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a simple mission to assist an affiliated branch sect would become something so much larger.