Chapter 191
Translator: penny
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Mount Hua's Hidden Peril
"Even if it means putting your sect, the Mount Hua Sect, in danger?"
In response to my thinly veiled threat of a question, Baek Iryeong's expression hardened.
She spoke up in a voice that had grown rigidly tense.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. I'm asking if you'd still support the war even if it puts Mount Hua Sect at risk."
"So... you're threatening me right now?"
It was indeed a threat.
But I shamelessly denied it.
"No. It's not a threat. It's because Mount Hua Sect is genuinely in danger."
Baek Iryeong stared at me with a cold expression, as if urging me to explain further.
To her, I pulled out the story I'd prepared in advance.
"Before I get into that, have you ever heard of the Mount Tai Sect?"
"...The sect that was wiped out during the last Righteous-Demonic Great War. You're not saying Mount Hua Sect is going to end up the same way, are you?"
"Ah, come on. Just hear me out. That's not what I mean."
At my firm denial, she closed her mouth again.
She finally seemed ready to listen.
"You probably think the Mount Tai Sect was destroyed by the Four Black Alliance, but that's not true. They took heavy losses in the Great War, but the Mount Tai Sect survived back then."
Instead of replying, she nodded, urging me to continue.
I swallowed once and let out a big, exasperated sigh.
"The ultimate reason the Mount Tai Sect was destroyed was because of Mount Hua Sect."
The moment "Mount Hua Sect" left my lips, Baek Iryeong's brow furrowed deeply.
Before she could say anything, I quickly pressed on.
"It doesn't matter if you deny it. I heard it directly from the descendants of Mount Tai Sect. Back then, Mount Tai Sect was the foremost Daoist sect in the Central Plains, and Mount Hua Sect attacked them while they were weakened."
"I can't believe it."
"Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter. That's how history actually went, and that's what the Mount Tai Sect descendants think. They blame Mount Hua Sect entirely for their downfall."
To be precise, they blamed the entire Murim Alliance, but their grudge against Mount Hua Sect ran the deepest.
"...So?"
"Let me ask you this: do you know where the Mount Tai Sect descendants are now?"
She seemed to ponder for a moment, then shook her head.
Confirming her reaction, I tossed out another question.
"Then, do you know where I've come from?"
"I heard from Dorong that you stopped by the Death Command Sect... Wait, don't tell me...?"
"Yes. The Death Command Sect—they're the descendants of Mount Tai Sect."
Everything up to here was true.
Now it was time to weave in the lies I'd prepared.
"I don't know how much Senior Peng told you, but I once provided great aid to the Death Command Sect in the past. It was when I was with Hui-ah... Anyway, that's not important. The point is, I'm quite close to them. And thanks to that, I obtained some tremendous information this time."
"...And that tremendous information is that Mount Hua Sect is in danger?"
I put on the most solemn expression I could muster.
"The Death Command Sect has finished preparations to attack Mount Hua Sect. Normally, it would be impossible for them to strike with the Nine Great Sects, Eight Great Schools, and Murim Alliance in the way. But right now, as you know, all eyes are on Shandong Province. If things continue like this, the war won't break out here in Shandong—it's far more likely to erupt in Shaanxi, where Mount Hua Sect is."
I'd already coordinated this part with the Death Command Sect Leader.
They wouldn't actually attack Mount Hua Sect, but they'd create an atmosphere as if war was imminent.
"I don't buy what you're saying, but let's say it's true. You think Mount Hua Sect would lose to the Death Command Sect?"
I raised my voice in frustration.
"Win? Even if Mount Hua Sect wins, as you say, then what? No matter how strong they are, do you think they'd emerge unscathed against the Death Command Sect? In the end, Mount Hua Sect disciples will shed blood. And... I hate to say this and upset you, but I think there's a high chance Mount Hua Sect could lose. The Death Command Sect Leader's martial prowess, from what I saw, is on par with the current Murim Alliance Leader."
"How would you even know th—"
She cut herself off mid-sentence.
She must have just remembered that my own level far surpassed hers.
'Times like this, my reputation comes in handy.'
Baek Iryeong's expression grew complicated.
It was hard for her to fully believe me, yet equally hard to dismiss my words.
I'd taught the Death Command Sect Leader that protecting what's precious takes precedence over revenge.
And as far as I knew, Baek Iryeong cared deeply for Mount Hua Sect.
'In my past life, she came after me right away for assaulting a Mount Hua disciple, vowing revenge.'
For the record, my sister Mok Jiyeon had come with her then too.
I'd won in the end, of course.
After a long stretch of contemplation, Baek Iryeong asked in a voice that had grown even chillier.
"So what exactly are you trying to say?"
The preparations to hook Baek Iryeong were finally complete.
Now it was time to yank the rod hard.
In a calm voice laced with earnest appeal, I intoned,
"Let's stop it. At the very least, let's prevent the Death Command Sect from attacking Mount Hua Sect."
"..."
"The Death Command Sect Leader just wants a sincere apology from the Mount Hua Sect Leader. If Mount Hua Sect acknowledges and apologizes for what they did to Mount Tai Sect in the past, the Death Command Sect said they won't antagonize Mount Hua anymore."
For reference, this was the deal I'd struck with the Death Command Sect Leader.
If Mount Hua Sect officially apologized, they'd give me another Death Command Unit.
'Killing two birds with one stone.'
I'd gain another Death Command Unit and have an excuse to travel with Baek Iryeong.
A perfect plan.
But Baek Iryeong didn't bite so easily.
"...I can't believe it."
She kept repeating the same refrain.
I was starting to get irritated.
And without hiding my annoyance in the slightest, I shouted,
"Senior! I'm not trying to threaten you or mess with you here. I just want to prevent the worst-case scenario. I told you before—my little sister is at Mount Hua Sect right now!"
Whether it was invoking my youngest sister Yeon-i that did the trick, Baek Iryeong's expression grew even more serious.
I didn't rush her and quietly waited for her response.
A moment later, she finally nodded.
"Alright. I'll believe you. So what do I need to do?"
"I'm planning to head to Mount Hua Sect right now to persuade the Sect Leader. When I try to convince him, will you help me out?"
"Persuade him how...? To admit past wrongs and apologize to the Death Command Sect?"
"Yes."
She seemed lost in thought at my words, then shook her head.
"...They won't admit it."
The subject was omitted, but the meaning was clear.
The Mount Hua Sect Leader wouldn't acknowledge past mistakes.
And anyone with even a basic knowledge of the martial world could predict as much.
'Mount Hua Sect would have to be insane to apologize for something from a hundred years ago?'
It was ancient history, buried and forgotten by now.
Why on earth would they suddenly admit fault and apologize?
Admitting wrongdoing in the martial world was no simple matter.
It alone could put them at a political disadvantage.
'Especially since it wasn't even them who did it.'
A full century had passed.
Acknowledging it would mean dredging up the sins of their ancestors.
Considering how prestigious orthodox sects like Mount Hua valued their lineage, how could they ever admit their forebears' faults?
They'd sooner go to war than bow their heads meekly.
That's why the Death Command Sect Leader had agreed to give me a Death Command Unit only if the Mount Hua Leader apologized—it wasn't going to happen easily.
But I had my own countermeasures for that.
'The orthodox martial world is all about politics.'
Righteous sects would even wage war over principles, but conversely, they could be made to bow if the justification was right.
I planned to exploit that.
"Don't worry. I can convince them."
"How?"
"First, I'll inform the Murim Alliance Leader and Chief Strategist of the truth and request their assistance."
What was the mission the Harmony Unit had received from the Murim Alliance?
To uncover the culprits and prevent war.
In other words, the Murim Alliance wanted to avert war.
'If the Death Command Sect attacks Mount Hua, it'd be an undeniable Righteous-Demonic War.'
So even if they couldn't force an apology, they could apply sufficient political pressure.
That would be enough.
'Plus, there's Sword Queen, an elder of the Murim Alliance.'
I'd need to look into it more, but if Sword Queen was truly a descendant of Mount Tai Sect, she'd hardly oppose Mount Hua apologizing to them.
I could also leverage the Moyong family or other avenues for pressure.
'If even all that fails...'
My final resort would be blackmail.
Just like during the Judiciary Hall trial, I'd subtly demonstrate my capabilities.
"That's it?"
"I have a few other ideas, but nothing certain. So please help me boost the odds even a little."
"You want me to go to Mount Hua Sect with you?"
"Yes. I won't ask you to join the Harmony Unit anymore. Just help me prevent a catastrophe at Mount Hua Sect."
After my earnest persuasion, I finally reeled in the big fish named Baek Iryeong.