Chapter 179: Mount Baeksu (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 179: Mount Baeksu (4)
It was a duel between supreme experts representing the Azure Heaven Association and the North Hengshan Sect.
On Seong of the North Hengshan Sect was a top contender even among the supreme experts of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects. Although Namgung Jun's reputation and recent exploits were overwhelming, he was still nursing injuries from a previous ambush. Many had expected a fierce, hard-fought battle.
However, contrary to expectations, the duel ended rather anticlimactically.
Though they exchanged a fair number of blows, Namgung Jun dismantled the martial arts of the North Hengshan Sect with immense ease.
As expected of the Azure Star Sword. The rumors that he’s already eyeing the Five Qis Converging at the Origin must be true.
It was a truly astonishing achievement, especially considering the realm martial artists Namgung Jun's age typically occupied.
I doubt even the peerless experts known as the Five Great Masters under Heaven achieved what the Azure Star Sword has at his age.
Mun Du-gae couldn't take his eyes off Namgung Jun, who maintained the same upright posture he had held before the duel began. Only when Namgung Jun turned his head and met his gaze did Mun Du-gae snap out of his daze and shout.
"Since the Azure Heaven Association has won both duels, the rights to Mount Baeksu belong to them! If this agreement is not honored, the Beggars' Sect, as the witness, will personally intervene!"
On Seong frowned at Mun Du-gae's needlessly booming voice.
"Hall Master Namgung."
"Speak."
"Is it true that the Azure Heaven Association is establishing a Shanxi branch?"
"Why do you ask?"
Glancing warily at Mun Du-gae, On Seong lowered his voice. "I thought you were just being quick-witted in the heat of the moment, seeing as the North Hengshan Sect was about to claim Mount Baeksu."
"The Azure Heaven Association is simply stepping in to fill the void left by the Baekri Clan."
Seeing On Seong’s deeply skeptical expression, Namgung Jun politely clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"Of course, we will fall far short compared to when the Baekri Clan was here. However, we intend to cooperate with the North Hengshan Sect to preserve the peace of Shanxi Province together. Please do not view our association with such hostility."
Namgung Jun's polite demeanor was once again flawless.
In the end, On Seong could not press him any further. To drag this out would only tarnish the reputation of the North Hengshan Sect.
I tried to find some leverage, but he’s incredibly shrewd for his age.
Letting out a sigh, On Seong quickly departed with the disciples of the North Hengshan Sect.
"Phew. What a relief."
With everything concluded without a major clash, Mun Du-gae and the other members of the Beggars' Sect finally relaxed. If the North Hengshan Sect had refused to accept the duel's outcome and clashed with the Azure Heaven Association, it would have become a massive problem.
Once the North Hengshan Sect was out of sight, Namgung Jun showed his respects to the Beggars' Sect as well.
"I thank the chivalrous heroes of the Beggars' Sect for taking the time to witness this."
"Not at all. Begging has been quite dry lately, so we just got to enjoy a great show."
"I'd like to treat you all to food and wine, but it's difficult to arrange for it here in the mountains."
Namgung Jun pulled a purse from his robes. Mun Du-gae was startled as he caught it. Though he didn't look inside, he could estimate its contents just by the weight and shape in his hand.
"Ahem. This is far too much."
"In that case, please use it to help the struggling commoners of Shanxi Province. I understand their livelihoods have grown even more difficult recently because of the Great-Axe Green Forest."
"It seems we beggars will be the ones giving alms now. Very well. I will ensure not a single coin is wasted."
With the Beggars' Sect departed, only the members of the Azure Firmament Hall remained on the grounds of Mount Baeksu.
Once he confirmed they were alone, Jegal San snapped his iron fan open, lightening the atmosphere.
"I didn't know you could lie, Hall Master. And a massive one at that."
Establishing a branch of the Azure Heaven Association was not as simple as it sounded. It wasn't something a Hall Master could decide unilaterally; it required a meeting and approval from the Ink Fragrance Department.
"If I explain the circumstances, the Ink Lord will surely help us."
"True, the Ink Lord has always been quite soft on you, Hall Master. Besides, judging by the North Hengshan Sect's movements, they’re hardly trustworthy."
Namgung Jun nodded and gave his orders.
"First, we'll sweep the entirety of Mount Baeksu. Bandits were here, and the North Hengshan Sect was snooping around. We must check if anything was missed."
As the Azure Firmament Hall split into squads and scattered, Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong moved together, just the two of them.
Since no one else was around, Baekri Cheong spoke to Namgung Jun comfortably.
"Brother Namgung. You overexerted yourself on my account."
"It was only natural for me to help. Besides that, there were suspicious aspects to the North Hengshan Sect's movements."
"Thank you, truly."
Baekri Cheong looked up, his expression noticeably lighter.
"If not for you, I would have had to watch helplessly as our ancestors' land was stolen away."
Slowly turning his head, Baekri Cheong gazed at the mountain ridges of Mount Baeksu. Though it had been a very long time since he last stood here, the landscape felt both familiar and welcoming. Mount Baeksu must have changed over the years, yet it felt as though he had visited just yesterday. It was a strange sensation.
"There's a place I want to go with you."
"Lead the way."
The place Baekri Cheong led him to was a sunny basin nestled in a corner of Mount Baeksu. It was nothing but a wide, empty field, and Namgung Jun looked puzzled.
"What is this place?"
"It's where my family was buried after our clan was destroyed."
"Pardon?"
Namgung Jun scanned the surroundings again, but he saw no tombstones, not even a grave mound.
"When our clan was destroyed, I gathered the bodies of my family with the help of the local commoners and buried them here. We made individual graves and even erected a large tombstone... I don't know how it ended up like this."
Baekri Cheong searched the area over and over before letting out a hot, heavy breath.
"I wonder if bandits did this, looking for valuables buried in the graves, or if..."
Trailing off, Baekri Cheong carefully examined several spots in the field before straightening up.
"Fortunately, it doesn't seem they went so far as to desecrate the bodies buried underground."
"Would you like to rebuild the graves?"
"No, it's not urgent. It won't be too late to tend to the graves once the clan is rebuilt."
Baekri Cheong looked relieved, but Namgung Jun's heart was heavy.
Walking around, Namgung Jun selected a boulder of decent color and texture, then drew his sword.
Slash!
With a few swift swings, a respectable tombstone was carved in an instant.
Baekri Cheong smiled as he read the characters carved into the stone.
"Sehan Songbaek Baekri Jeolhon... I like it."
Sehan Songbaek Baekri Jeolhon (歲寒松柏 百里節魂).
Like the pines and cypresses in the depth of winter, the integrity and spirit of the Baekri Clan shall endure forever.
Letting out a soft laugh, Baekri Cheong placed a hand on Namgung Jun's shoulder.
"Brother Namgung, you have given my family a truly great gift."
"I'm glad you like it."
Sheathing his sword with a clean, fluid motion, Namgung Jun paid his respects before the tombstone.
Watching him, Baekri Cheong also bowed deeply.
"Father, Mother, Hyeon. And to the rest of our family... your foolish Eldest Young Master has returned."
Baekri Cheong spoke as he bowed, keeping his head lowered. His expression couldn't be seen, but it was surely contorted with sorrow and longing.
Having achieved the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown and shattered his own limits, Baekri Cheong was now far more expressive. Yet, he couldn't find the words to continue, his shoulders merely trembling with silent, fitful sobs.
Though faint weeping could be heard, Namgung Jun waited in silence. He understood Baekri Cheong's heart better than anyone.
After some time had passed, Baekri Cheong murmured in a low, slightly subdued voice.
"I will return to Mount Baeksu one day. Please watch over me."
Slowly rising to his feet, Baekri Cheong gazed once more at the field beyond the tombstone. After staring in silence for a long while, he nodded to himself.
"I'm leaving now."
With those final words, Baekri Cheong turned around.
Namgung Jun walked right beside him.
The members of the Azure Firmament Hall were waiting for the two men as they walked down the mountain path shoulder to shoulder. Seeing them, a smile found its way onto Baekri Cheong's face.
Though he was leaving his family behind, he didn't feel lonely in the slightest.
Before his very eyes stood another family—the Azure Firmament Hall.
* * *
The three halls that had scattered across northern Shanxi Province gathered once more. Everyone had cleared out the mountain strongholds of the Great-Axe Green Forest and wrapped up their missions.
"We've razed all of the Great-Axe Green Forest's strongholds. Of course, they still have a few outside of Shanxi Province, but they aren't very large. The nearby branches or other halls with available members can handle them."
Hyeokri Yu nodded at Kang Gok's words.
Of course, clearing out the strongholds didn't mean they had wiped out every single bandit. That was an impossible task. For now, it was enough that they had severed the lineage of the Great-Axe Green Forest. For the time being, the bandits of the Jianghu would not be able to flaunt their power as they once did.
Above all, reducing the number of major factions belonging to the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers by one was a massive achievement.
"It's about time we parted ways."
Namgung Jun handed letters to Kang Gok and Hyeokri Yu. Sent by the Azure Heaven Association, they contained the details of their next missions. With three halls having been concentrated in Shanxi Province, it was time to quickly fill the vacancies elsewhere. Although they were exhausted after wiping out the Great-Axe Green Forest, the healing medicines and spirit elixirs that arrived with the letters would be enough to restore them.
"Where is the Azure Firmament Hall Master headed?" Kang Gok asked, skimming through his letter.
"I will be conducting a solo mission in Shaanxi Province. I'll be moving separately from the Azure Firmament Hall as well."
"Ah. Is this your first solo mission since becoming Hall Master?"
It was quite common for Hall Masters to take on solo missions depending on the circumstances.
"Then I shall see you next time. My next destination is quite far. Zhejiang Province, of all places."
"Take care."
After exchanging brief farewells, the Crushing Hall and the Nether-Fathoming Hall quickly dispersed.
Only the Azure Firmament Hall remained.
Namgung Jun looked at his members. Not only him, but the members of the Azure Firmament Hall were also splitting into squads for their own missions. It was a stark reminder of how many vacancies had been created elsewhere while the three halls were concentrated in Shanxi.
Baekri Cheong was the only one from the Azure Firmament Hall returning directly to the main headquarters.
"Brother Baekri. The next time we meet, you'll be a Fourth Cloud."
"Even so, my affiliation with the Azure Firmament Hall will not change."
Namgung Jun nodded. Since the Azure Firmament Hall prided itself on being the absolute elite of the Azure Heaven Association, having another supreme expert besides the Hall Master was by no means excessive.
No, in fact, we probably need about three more.
To seize the upper hand against the Guardian Pavilion, let alone the Heaven's Mandate Demonic Sword Unit, this was an absolute prerequisite.
Namgung Jun scanned the members of the Azure Firmament Hall. A few were on the verge of achieving the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit: Heo Il, Gong Jun-am, and Jang Mun-hyeok.
Of course, even martial artists whose talents were renowned in the Jianghu often despaired before the wall of the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Therefore, there was no guarantee they would achieve the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown just because they had time on their side.
However, in Namgung Jun's estimation, these three were the closest.
"Then, I shall see you all at the main headquarters."
At Namgung Jun's command, the members of the Azure Firmament Hall saluted and dispersed at once.
Watching the retreating backs of his Clouds as they departed for their respective missions, Namgung Jun also set off alone.
To the west, toward Shaanxi Province.