Chapter 166
Translator: penny
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Mount Tai's Hidden Legacy
Mount Tai was one of the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains, the Five Peaks.
It was the place where Qin Shi Huang had first performed the Fengshan rites after unifying the world, and thereafter it had been revered as a sacred site of Taoism.
However, in these times, there were no outstanding sects or clans there. This was due to the First Righteous-Demonic War.
The renowned Taishan Sect had faced annihilation to block the Four Black Alliance during that war, and as a result, the history and power structure of the Central Plains had changed dramatically.
The Four Black Alliance, which had sought to extend its influence to Shandong and even the Hebei region, was forced to settle for Anhui and Jiangsu provinces because of the Taishan Sect. That sacrifice had altered the history and power dynamics of the Central Plains martial world.
Without the Taishan Sect—a single sect that had halted the advance of the Four Black Alliance—the Murim Alliance might not have even been formed before the Central Plains fell to the unorthodox factions.
Yet the martial arts of the once-mighty Taishan Sect had vanished into the dustbin of history along with its destruction. Now, few even remembered their techniques' names.
...Or so the story went, but that wasn't the reality.
The Taishan Sect had indeed fallen.
However, their martial art, the Sword of Sealing the Peak, had been secretly passed down.
To whom?
To my second sister, Mok Jieun.
The Sword Queen was a descendant of the Taishan Sect.
I didn't know why it had shifted from multi-lineage transmission to single-lineage.
I'd never looked into it that far.
But from personal experience, the Sword of Sealing the Peak was truly an exceptional martial art.
Of course, my second sister was exceptional too...
Even accounting for that, it far surpassed the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship of the Mount Hua Sect or the Spearless Imperial Sword of the Nangong Family.
I'd lost to it myself, after all, and that's how I ended up caught by her.
It's been a while since I last came here.
That's right.
Mount Tai was where, back in my Lecherous Demon days, my second sister had captured me... and then released me.
"From now on, don't get caught again. You should see the end of the path you've chosen, shouldn't you?"
Those were her words when she let me go.
I still didn't understand why, even now, but the memory remained vivid.
I wonder how second sister is doing.
I'd sent the elixir from the Shadow Gate Sect leader via the transport agency not long ago. I hoped she'd taken it properly.
p>She'd already reached the peak realm faster than in her previous life, so maybe this time she could aim for the transcendent realm.
Well, that's still a distant future prospect.
She might have even ascended after my death in the previous life.
Her talent was that extraordinary.
As I climbed Mount Tai lost in memories of the past, three people appeared, blocking the path.
Their clothes were torn in places and filthy with grime, as if they hadn't washed properly.
But they were familiar faces.
"Huh? You guys...?"
"The newbie... no, Divine Dragon and Earth Dragon?"
They were members of the White Tiger Unit's Third Squad.
We weren't particularly close, but since we'd trained together for nearly ten days, I recognized them immediately.
Looks like they're having a rough time here.
One who arrived late spotted me and flinched in surprise.
I wondered why, then a forgotten memory flashed by.
Ah, he's one of the guys who tried to block me when I beat up Nangong Chan.
Back when Nangong Chan insulted Moyong Hui, I'd gone half-berserk and forgotten.
I'd taken down over fifty White Tiger Unit members besides Nangong Chan.
The guy who'd stepped up to block me and got knocked out by my scabbard took the lead.
"What are you doing here?"
He was quite guarded.
But I bowed politely instead.
"Hello, seniors. Long time no see."
There was no need for me to leave a bad impression on the White Tiger Unit members.
Especially the Third Squad.
The Third Squad survives even after this Righteous-Demonic War, right?
Unlike the First and Second Squads, most of its members were people I'd met in my previous life.
Of course, since the future had changed because of me, I couldn't be certain, but it was better to stay on good terms here.
Jeokbong is in the Third Squad too.
If these guys badmouthed me to Jeokbong, it'd only hurt me.
Perhaps because of my attitude, their demeanor softened.
"Ahem, long time no see. I heard you were under confinement..."
"Ah, that ended a while ago."
"They say you're being called Divine Dragon lately?"
"Yes, though I'm not worthy of it..."
But the one who'd been wary from the start stuck to his guns.
"So what brings you here? State your purpose."
My purpose was to take Baek Ilryeong, but since the Harmony Unit was a secret organization, I had to hide it.
So I presented the excuse I'd prepared in advance.
"Ah, I heard the Division Commander is here. The Chief Strategist sent a letter..."
I showed them the letter sealed with the Chief Strategist's stamp.
This was a real letter Cheon Woojin had received through Zhuge Wei.
I already know the contents.
It said the Four Black Alliance had begun moving in earnest.
It was only natural since the White Tiger Unit had acted first.
Honestly, it was baffling they'd held back this long.
The Four Black Alliance really wants to avoid full war, huh.
But they ended up joining anyway.
The Second Righteous-Demonic War wasn't far off now.
For now, it's just small-scale skirmishes.
The Murim Alliance had only mobilized the White Tiger Unit so far.
Of course, the White Tiger Unit was an elite force, but compared to the full might of the Murim Alliance, it was less than one part in ten.
"Hmm, why send you of all people..."
The wary guy saw the Chief Strategist's seal on the letter and deflated a bit.
He still looked suspicious, but that was fine.
"I don't know either."
"You're not rejoining the White Tiger Unit, are you...?"
He seemed to be misunderstanding something, but I didn't correct him.
As I stayed silent, he nodded.
"I'll guide you. Follow me."
I exchanged light greetings with the other two, then Paeng Deokjo and I followed him.
After climbing and descending for a while, a shabby encampment came into view in the distance.
"Is that where you're staying?"
"..."
He pretended not to hear my question and kept walking.
What a petty guy...
Holding a grudge that long over one beating.
I stopped asking and followed quietly.
As we neared the camp, more familiar faces appeared.
Among them was my true target, Baek Ilryeong.
Damn, she's still so pretty.
She looked grubby from lack of proper washing and exhausted, but her radiant beauty wasn't dimmed at all.
I gave a light smile to Baek Ilryeong, who stared at me in surprise.
"Wait here. I'll fetch the Division Commander."
"Y-yes."
I answered half-heartedly while looking at Baek Ilryeong.
Moments later, the White Tiger Unit's Division Commander, Hyeok Jongdae, appeared.
"Long time no see, kid... or rather, you're not really a kid anymore. Anyway, you brought the Chief Strategist's letter?"
"Yes. Here it is."
Hyeok Jongdae examined the seal, confirmed it was genuine, and opened the letter.
"Hmm..."
He let out a small groan after reading it.
But he didn't look overly worried.
Well, he's a hawkish guy who's been pushing for war from the start.
So that's suspicious.
We're already suspecting a third force's involvement in starting this war.
But he doesn't look pleased either...
If he were a Blood Cult or third-force spy, he'd be thrilled to have achieved his goal, but no.
More like resigned acceptance that it had finally come.
Even though the letter wasn't long, Hyeok Jongdae studied it for a while before turning to me.
"By the way, why'd they send you two? They could've just sent a messenger."
"We're faster than any messenger, aren't we? Plus, we had a mission in Jenam Castle anyway, so they probably sent us on the way."
"Jenam Castle?"
Jenam Castle, home to the Baek family and the Shadow Gate Sect leader, was conveniently close to Mount Tai.
With full lightfoot skill, it would take about two shichen.
"The mission details are secret. Oh, Division Commander. Could I have a quick private word with Senior Jeokbong?"
"Ilryeong? Why?"
"Paeng here has something urgent to tell her."
I'd coordinated with Paeng Deokjo beforehand.
Hyeok Jongdae, the White Tiger Unit commander, was one of the suspects.
So this was to hide that I was taking Baek Ilryeong.
Hyeok Jongdae glanced between me and Paeng Deokjo, then nodded.
"Fine. Need a place?"
"Please."
With his help, we met Baek Ilryeong in a makeshift building.
"Earth Dragon, what's up?"
Even though Paeng Deokjo was three years older, Baek Ilryeong spoke casually.
And Paeng Deokjo took it in stride, as if it were natural.
"Hold on, let me set up a sound barrier first."
Because of their seniority?
Baek Ilryeong shared the same generation as the Mount Hua Sect leader.
In Hebei Paeng family terms, she was on par with the family head.
Of course, different affiliations meant they didn't strictly follow generation rules, but they'd apparently agreed to speak casually.
Once he confirmed the sound barrier blocked external sounds, Paeng Deokjo got to the point.
I listened quietly for now.
He covered the martial world situation, the Chief Strategist's judgment, suspicions of a third force.
Only after laying all that out did he reveal the Harmony Unit, the secret organization.
Paeng Deokjo explained thoroughly, omitting nothing extra.
And as planned, he invited Baek Ilryeong to join the Harmony Unit.
"No thanks."
We got a completely unexpected response.