Chapter 176: Mount Baeksu (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 176: Mount Baeksu (1)
Right now, all eyes in Shanxi Province were fixed on the Three Halls of the Azure Heaven Association.
The various information networks of the Jianghu, the merchant groups and escort agencies near Shanxi, and even unaffiliated martial artists were all watching their every move.
Just as everyone was buzzing over news that would shake the Jianghu—the death of the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor and the fall of Taewol Fortress—the Three Halls, having temporarily withdrawn from Mount Munbong, made their next move.
The Three Halls scattered. Yet strangely, they all headed toward northern Shanxi Province.
Their swift movements, aided by lightness skills, didn't look like men returning from a completed mission.
Naturally, the many observers tracking the Three Halls began to grow suspicious.
"They aren't withdrawing from Shanxi Province? Wait, could it be...?"
"It looks like they intend to uproot the Great-Axe Green Forest from Shanxi Province entirely."
"Well, no reason to leave any loose ends."
Some picked a direction and gave chase to the Azure Heaven Association, while others turned away, apparently ending their surveillance.
A middle-aged beggar, lying in a field and observing the situation, quietly scratched his back.
Perhaps this is indeed a golden opportunity.
The Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor and Taewol Fortress, the pillars of the Great-Axe Green Forest, had fallen.
Although the Three Halls had destroyed three major mountain strongholds in southern Shanxi just to reach Taewol Fortress, the remaining strongholds were still at full strength.
Even the northern Shanxi strongholds, which were in a territorial dispute with the North Hengshan Sect, remained untouched.
For the time being, they would lie low, as quiet as mice. But once they recovered their strength and a new peerless expert emerged, they would surely run rampant again under the name of the Great-Axe Green Forest.
Though they held the lowest rank, the Great-Axe Green Forest still occupied a seat among the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers.
It was clear that the disappearance of one of the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers would be a great boon to the Righteous Faction.
"Pal Jeong-gae."
His name suddenly echoed from behind.
Startled in the middle of scratching his back, the beggar, Pal Jeong-gae, spun around.
The hand that had been scratching his back now gripped his Dog Beating Staff, while in his empty left palm, the yellow Palm Force of the Eight Dragon-Subduing Palms flickered to life.
"Ah. Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord."
Pal Jeong-gae clicked his tongue upon spotting Jang Mu-yeon, whose face was hidden behind a bamboo hat and a ridiculous mask.
"How many times have I asked you to at least give a hint of your presence?"
"Pfft. My apologies. I just never get tired of seeing you startled."
Chuckling softly, Jang Mu-yeon swept his ornate sleeves together and clasped his hands.
"Thanks to the Beggars' Sect, our mission in Shanxi Province concluded quickly and smoothly. I thank you."
It was none other than the Beggars' Sect that had delivered the information to Jang Mu-yeon.
The Bright Affinity Pavilion and the Lower Filthy Heaven had also delivered information, albeit belatedly, but the Beggars' Sect had been faster by a day and a half.
Since information-gathering capabilities varied by region, there was no reason to blame the Bright Affinity Pavilion or the Lower Filthy Heaven.
It was just that in a situation where every second counted, the Beggars' Sect's help had been decisive.
"Well, if we can help, of course we should. We both follow the path of righteousness and chivalry, after all."
"In that case, since you're already helping, I was hoping you could lend a little more."
"With what?"
Jang Mu-yeon pointed toward northern Shanxi, where the Three Halls had headed.
"The strongholds in northern Shanxi will be wiped out by the North Hengshan Sect and the Three Halls. I plan to clean up all the strongholds in the south myself."
"The Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord, alone?"
"It's a tedious task, but I must clear the south quickly and return to my duties."
Feeling that the extermination of the Great-Axe Green Forest was close at hand, Pal Jeong-gae swallowed hard.
"What do you need me to do?"
"I will destroy a stronghold and immediately move on to the next, repeating the process. I would like the Beggars' Sect to handle the aftermath. It would be even better if you could deal with a few of the strongholds yourselves."
It was not a simple matter of wiping out the bandits and calling it a day. Handling the aftermath—from the bandits' corpses to the treasures and hostages in the strongholds—would require a significant amount of time and manpower.
"Considering the number of strongholds in the south, that is no easy task."
"Don't play coy. Is this how the Beggars' Sect—which boasts the most disciples among the Three Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects—is going to act? Shanxi Branch Master?"
When Jang Mu-yeon even mentioned his rank within the Beggars' Sect, Pal Jeong-gae had no choice but to nod.
"Fine, I'll do it. Just buy our boys a hearty meal. The weather is starting to get cold, so they need to put on a little more fat."
"I like your decisiveness. I shall head out first. Follow at your own pace."
*
"Urgh! You bastards!"
"Spare me! I haven't killed that many people! I'll atone!"
"Run!"
The Azure Firmament Hall showed no mercy as they swept through the stronghold.
Of course, Namgung Jun did not participate in the battle. Since there were no supreme experts who required his personal intervention, the Azure Firmament Hall was more than enough.
Furthermore, because his injuries from the life-and-death duel with the Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor had not fully healed, he had to focus on regulating his internal energy.
"Now, the remaining places are..."
Before scattering, the Three Halls had divided the strongholds they needed to handle.
The Azure Firmament Hall had cleared almost all the strongholds they were responsible for and was now nearing the final stretch.
Namgung Jun's eyes narrowed as he examined the locations of the remaining strongholds.
Come to think of it, this place is...
The place where Namgung Jun's gaze landed was labeled Mount Baeksu.
Mount Baeksu had been the ancestral home of the Baekri Clan since ancient times.
It seemed that after the Baekri Clan was exterminated, the masterless mountain was occupied by bandits of the Great-Axe Green Forest.
Namgung Jun spotted Baekri Cheong, who was freeing the commoners held captive in the stronghold, and called him over quietly.
"Brother Baekri. It seems there is a stronghold on Mount Baeksu as well."
Startled, Baekri Cheong stared intently at the map before letting out a bitter smile.
"Mount Baeksu has rugged terrain, but there is a wide basin inside, making it easy to build pavilions and defend. A water source also runs through the mountain, so it's easy to get water. It's only natural they would cling to it."
Though he spoke calmly, his mind was anything but.
How could he feel good about bandits settling down in his family's ancestral home, of all places?
"They're pests we'd have to clear out eventually when we rebuild the clan. Consider this an early cleanup. I'll help."
Looking at his younger brother, who was trying his best to comfort him, Baekri Cheong nodded.
"Knowing that the Hall Master is stepping forward makes me feel truly reassured."
After quickly wrapping up the stronghold, the Azure Firmament Hall headed straight for Mount Baeksu.
However, what awaited them upon ascending Mount Baeksu was not bandits.
The stronghold on Mount Baeksu was already burning, and standing before it were disciples of the North Hengshan Sect.
It appeared that the North Hengshan Sect disciples, having arrived first, had already cleared the stronghold.
"Why are the swordsmen of the North Hengshan Sect here?"
"Isn't Mount Baeksu quite far from the North Hengshan Sect's territory?"
"How strange. I thought the three major strongholds right under their noses were still intact."
The Cloud Ranks of the Azure Firmament Hall exchanged opinions in low voices, sensing something amiss.
Similarly, the North Hengshan Sect disciples, having detected their approach, were watching the incoming Azure Firmament Hall closely.
"Baekri Cheong?"
One of the North Hengshan Sect disciples recognized Baekri Cheong.
He was someone Namgung Jun also remembered.
Was he Jin Gyeong of the North Hengshan Sect?
A Rising Star who had represented the North Hengshan Sect at the Mount Song Gathering.
Namgung Jun remembered him because the look he gave Baekri Cheong whenever they crossed paths was far from pleasant.
It's the same even now.
The glare Jin Gyeong shot at Baekri Cheong was so intense that even Namgung Jun, watching from the side, felt a prickle of displeasure.
However, what truly concerned him was that not only Jin Gyeong, but the other North Hengshan Sect disciples as well, seemed to view the Azure Firmament Hall with hostility.
Since an awkward standoff was bound to continue, Namgung Jun stepped forward first.
"I am Namgung Jun, the Azure Firmament Hall Master."
"I am On Seong, a first-generation disciple of the North Hengshan Sect."
Having exchanged introductions, Namgung Jun asked directly.
"I heard the North Hengshan Sect was assisting in this matter. However, I did not expect you to venture this far. Isn't Mount Baeksu quite a distance from the North Hengshan Sect's territory?"
"Well, things just turned out this way. The Azure Heaven Association may return. Our sect will handle the cleanup."
Instead of replying, Namgung Jun slowly widened his gaze.
He observed On Seong's face and the surrounding North Hengshan Sect disciples.
For the most part, they seemed to be controlling their expressions, but their desire for the Azure Firmament Hall to leave quickly was palpable. Some were even tightly gripping the hilts of the swords at their waists.
Even putting the current situation aside, the unsettling feeling from his intuition grew stronger.
After a moment of thought, Namgung Jun offered a cool smile.
"The Azure Firmament Hall will not leave Mount Baeksu."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Our hall's purpose in visiting Mount Baeksu is not to clear out bandits, but because we plan to establish the Shanxi Branch of the Azure Heaven Association here."
At Namgung Jun's casual remark, the faces of the North Hengshan Sect disciples openly twisted in dismay.
Seeing their reaction, Namgung Jun saw right through the North Hengshan Sect's true objective.
These bastards are trying to...
Just as a sharp glint entered Namgung Jun's eyes,
"Listen here, Azure Firmament Hall Master."
On Seong paused for a moment, then spoke as if he had made up his mind.
"We intend to establish a lay sect of the North Hengshan Sect on Mount Baeksu."
"I was under the impression that this area is not within the North Hengshan Sect's territory. Furthermore, has Mount Baeksu not been the ancestral home of the Baekri Clan since ancient times?"
"It was their ancestral home."
Sensing Baekri Cheong's burning gaze, On Seong glanced at him before speaking to Namgung Jun once more.
"It has been well over a decade since the Baekri Clan was exterminated. In all that time, they haven't acted as its masters, nor could they stop the Great-Axe Green Forest from building a stronghold here. Given the circumstances, what does it matter that Mount Baeksu was once the ancestral home of the Baekri Clan?"
Baekri Cheong looked utterly devastated, but he desperately maintained his composure as he listened to On Seong's argument.
Regardless of how he felt, On Seong continued.
"When the Baekri Clan was destroyed, the documents proving ownership of Mount Baeksu were lost. There are no stone monuments or tombstones engraved with inscriptions about land ownership or boundaries. Furthermore, since the commoners in the area were wiped out during the extermination, I believe there is no one left who could provide valid testimony."
Of course, there was a fatal flaw in On Seong's argument.
The issue could be solved if the North Hengshan Sect, which had maintained relations with the Baekri Clan until its extermination, simply testified on their behalf.
The North Hengshan Sect was a major sect representing Shanxi Province and possessed a deep history. Naturally, there was no stronger evidence than a testimony provided by them.
Yet the North Hengshan Sect showed absolutely no intention of testifying on Baekri Cheong's behalf.
When Namgung Jun showed no reaction, On Seong turned his head to stare at Baekri Cheong.
"Young Master Baekri. I believe you have not set foot in Shanxi Province since the extermination. Isn't it rather ridiculous for you to claim ownership of Mount Baeksu only now?"
"How could the North Hengshan Sect..."
Baekri Cheong's face was a mask of utter shock, as if he had never expected the North Hengshan Sect to go this far.
He could only stare at the North Hengshan Sect disciples with trembling eyes.
However, the North Hengshan Sect disciples thoroughly ignored Baekri Cheong's gaze, and Jin Gyeong let out a faint sneer as he looked at him.
Step!
Placing his hand on the hilt of the Eternal Righteous Sword, Namgung Jun stepped forward.
"The Azure Heaven Association has absolutely no intention of backing down."
"It seems our positions cannot be reconciled."
"In that case, is there any other way but to resolve this in the manner of the Jianghu?"
On Seong's gaze naturally drifted to Namgung Jun's waist.
"A martial duel to settle the ownership of Mount Baeksu?"
"We cannot wage a war between our sects. Furthermore, since we formed an alliance at the Mount Song Gathering, it would be best for both of us to handle this as smoothly as possible."
On Seong subtly assessed Namgung Jun's condition.
If a martial duel were to take place, he was the only one here capable of facing Namgung Jun.
Just as I thought. He's in terrible shape. Even the faint aura leaking from him is a complete mess.
Although the North Hengshan Sect was located at the northernmost edge of Shanxi Province, they were not slow to receive news from the Jianghu.
He had heard of the martial prowess Namgung Jun had displayed as the Azure Firmament Hall Master until his ears bled.
If he were the Azure Star Sword at his peak, the best move would be to reject the duel and stall for time.
But seeing Namgung Jun's current state, this felt more like an opportunity.
It seemed the price he paid for slaying a peerless expert, even with assistance, was quite severe.
If not now, the chance to defeat the Azure Star Sword might never come again.
On the contrary, Namgung Jun's proposal felt incredibly attractive to On Seong.
Both for the North Hengshan Sect, and for himself.
"Very well. Shall we have three people represent each side in the duel?"
"No. From our association, only two of us will participate: myself and Baekri Cheong. The North Hengshan Sect should also send out your two strongest disciples."
"Only two representatives? If it ends in a tie of one win and one loss, how do you plan to decide the victor?"
Namgung Jun shook his head calmly.
"Don't worry. Both swordsmen from the Azure Heaven Association will claim victory."
On Seong faltered for a moment.
Coming from Namgung Jun, who had been polite and respectful until now, the sudden provocation was especially grating.
His jaw twitching, On Seong soon snorted and let out a cold laugh.
"Fine. I like that we don't have to drag this out."
The members of the Azure Firmament Hall and the North Hengshan Sect immediately spread out, clearing a space for the duel.