Chapter 62: Mount Song Gathering (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 62: Mount Song Gathering (1)
Mount Song.
Located in the center of Henan Province, it was a famous mountain hailed as the Central Peak among the Five Great Mountains. Its three massive peaks soared majestically, as if piercing the very heavens.
Beholding the magnificent and grand landscape, a certain verse naturally came to Namgung Jun’s mind.
Lofty is Mount Song, reaching up to the heavens.
"It is exactly as the verse says," he murmured.
Seeing Mount Song with his own eyes made it clear that the line was no exaggeration.
Baekri Cheong, who was taking in the scenery with his hands clasped behind his back, chimed in.
"Only a mountain range this vast could be home to two great sects."
Two great sects resided on Mount Song: the Shaolin Temple and the Mount Song Sect.
The Shaolin Temple was situated on the western peak, Xiaoshi Peak, while the Mount Song Sect was located on the eastern peak, Taishi Peak.
Each sect represented one of the two most powerful alliances in the land—the Three Sects and One Gang, and the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects, respectively. Thus, it was only natural that this gathering was held at Mount Song.
Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong were currently climbing Junji Peak, located in the center of the mountain range. The gathering was to be held here, on neutral ground, rather than at the home of either sect. With a silent war of egos brewing between the Three Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects, the choice of venue had been made with great care.
As he took in the sheer scale of Mount Song, Baekri Cheong asked, "Brother Namgung, aren't you nervous about facing the disciples of the Three Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects?"
"On the contrary, I'm looking forward to it. Are you nervous, Brother Baekri?"
"I am. Quite nervous, in fact."
It was an unexpected answer. Namgung Jun shifted his gaze from the mountain to look at Baekri Cheong. The man, who had always exuded composure and confidence, merely offered a gentle smile.
"Even when the Baekri Clan was at its peak, we could never stand on equal footing with the Three Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects."
Although the Baekri Clan had once held absolute power in Shanxi Province, they could not compare to the nine great sects that symbolized the Righteous Faction. The Three Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects were the massive pillars supporting that faction. Consequently, the prestige of their disciples was incredibly high—high enough to overshadow even his status as the Eldest Young Master of the Baekri Clan.
"That is why I swore to myself time and again: if I ever rebuild my clan, I will lay a foundation that can surpass them all."
For Baekri Cheong, this journey to Mount Song was more than just a mission; it was a chance to step out from under the oppressive shadow of the nine great sects. Only by crossing swords with their prominent disciples and proving himself could he take the first step toward rebuilding his clan.
"Then you just have to surpass them this time," Namgung Jun said simply.
"You're right." Baekri Cheong nodded. "Come to think of it, I'm curious. Brother Namgung, what do you plan to do after we destroy the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult?"
"I wish to establish a clan."
He wanted to establish a clan to carry the surname Namgung—a name that honored Namcheon Palace—and ensure the will of its disciples would endure for generations. He hoped that countless chivalrous heroes bearing the name Namgung would one day roam the Jianghu.
"I didn't know you were also dreaming of a new clan, Brother Namgung."
"The Jianghu is vast, but the Azure Heaven Association is short on hands. I wish to lend it my strength."
"To think you already hold such a grand ambition. You always surprise me, Brother Namgung." A smile spread across Baekri Cheong's face as he fell into thought. "It would be wonderful if our two families could prosper side by side as great clans."
"The Namgung Clan and the Baekri Clan. I like the sound of that."
"And if our two clans were bound together and called the Two Great Clans, we could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with the Three Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects."
Namgung Jun smiled as well. "The Two Great Clans. It has a nice ring to it."
"Sigh. I really need to prepare for this martial tournament. It would be embarrassing to lose after all this talk."
Namgung Jun chuckled softly at Baekri Cheong's playful banter. "Indeed."
The steps of the young swordsmen climbing Junji Peak were filled with vigor.
*
Upon reaching the gathering venue on Junji Peak, the two swordsmen headed straight to their assigned pavilion. Inside sat Hahu Seon, the Azure Heaven Association Leader, who had arrived ahead of them.
"Welcome," he said with a benevolent smile. "Did you encounter any trouble on your way?"
A middle-aged man stood guard beside him. He had prominent cheekbones and a thick, rugged jawline that gave him a fierce impression. His entire body, including his face, was covered in scars. The ones on his forearms, revealed as he stood with his arms crossed, were particularly severe. He glared at Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong with fierce, bulging eyes, exuding an immense pressure that seemed to crush the air around him.
Noticing the man's intense gaze, Hahu Seon spoke. "Mu-jung, greet them."
"Yes, Association Leader." Bowing his head, the middle-aged man addressed the two swordsmen. "I am Ha Mu-jung, the Martial Conquest Hall Master. We meet for the first time."
Martial Conquest Hall Master Ha Mu-jung. As a Hall Master and one of the association's Three Powerhouses, he was considered a prime candidate to become the next Sword Lord.
His gaze locked onto Namgung Jun first. "Namgung Jun. I have heard much about you. I am very curious to see the extent of your talent with the sword."
"I intend to prove it at this gathering."
Nodding curtly, Ha Mu-jung turned his gaze to Baekri Cheong. "Baekri Cheong. I finally get to see you. I heard you recently joined our hall? A long-term mission has kept me away, so this is the first I'm seeing of you. I will arrange a separate meeting for us later."
"Second Cloud, Baekri Cheong. Greetings, Hall Master."
After staring intently at Baekri Cheong for a moment, Ha Mu-jung averted his eyes. Once the greetings were over, Hahu Seon spoke.
"The Mount Song Gathering is meant to unite the forces of the Righteous Faction, but I doubt it will go smoothly."
"Why is that?" Namgung Jun asked.
Hahu Seon clicked his tongue softly. "It is due to the conflict between the Three Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects. Our association is only participating in this gathering at the request of the Shaolin Abbot."
The Azure Heaven Association's role was to act as a mediator and help the two factions join hands. Uniting the forces of the Righteous Faction would also greatly benefit the association, so they had agreed to participate. However, having arrived at Mount Song and observed the atmosphere, Hahu Seon found the situation far more tangled than expected.
Ha Mu-jung provided a detailed explanation. "Lately, the Three Sects and One Gang have been recognized as the center of the Righteous Faction."
Baekri Cheong nodded. North-Revered Shaolin, South-Honored Wudang, West-Venerated Kunlun, and the Beggars' Sect, which treated the heavens as its home—these four powers were the main pillars standing against the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers.
On the other hand, with the exception of the Mount Hua Sect, the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects were busy defending their own territories and avoided clashes with the Demonic and Heretical Paths unless absolutely necessary. Naturally, the reverence of the Righteous Jianghu was directed toward the Three Sects and One Gang.
"The Five Great Mountains Sword Sects' agreement to attend this gathering is likely driven more by a desire to reclaim their lost reputation and leadership than to actually unite their forces," Ha Mu-jung continued. "With our association stepping in at the Shaolin Temple's request, they will undoubtedly see us as an eyesore."
Hearing the inside story, Namgung Jun's expression darkened. It was only natural. At a time when they should be pooling their strength, they were prioritizing their own self-interest. Those who should be leading by example are failing to fulfill their duties.
Baekri Cheong, who had been listening quietly, asked, "What should we do?"
"If you prove the martial prowess of the Azure Heaven Association in the tournament, we will naturally gain a voice," Hahu Seon replied. "This will exert significant influence on both factions, not to mention the upcoming negotiations."
Namgung Jun asked with a puzzled look, "Even with the Azure Heaven Association acting as a mediator, our influence in the Jianghu is undeniable. Is our voice still considered lacking?"
"From the beginning, the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects have looked down on our association. They see us as a band of defeated soldiers driven out by the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult. Furthermore, the peerless experts who represent our association are not in perfect condition."
Namgung Jun nodded with a complicated expression. Hahu Seon, the Association Leader, was unable to display his full martial prowess due to a long-standing internal injury. And he had heard that the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord had not appeared in the Jianghu for over a year. The Five Great Mountains Sword Sects would naturally not consider the Azure Heaven Association to be at full strength.
Offering a bitter smile, Hahu Seon looked at the two rising stars. "I heard that the rising stars will also have a separate gathering. It will be important for you to exert your influence there as well."
After pondering for a moment, Namgung Jun asked, "Association Leader, you emphasized achieving harmony between the two factions. Does this require us to make unconditional concessions?"
Hahu Seon smiled warmly. "We are chivalrous heroes. We must do what we believe is right. Act as your heart guides you."
"We obey your command."
*
The day before the official gathering, a banquet was held for the rising stars. It was meant to relieve the fatigue of their journey and allow them to get to know one another, but the atmosphere was completely dead.
The young martial artists were divided into two distinct groups, refusing to mingle. On one side were the Three Sects and One Gang, and on the other, the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects. They were separated as clearly as night and day.
It was primarily the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects that exuded a cold atmosphere. Because of this, the disciples of the Three Sects and One Gang didn't dare approach, keeping to themselves. Only the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect stood in the middle, glancing anxiously between the two sides. The banquet was a mess.
"Hmm?"
Yeong-il, the head disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, let out a deep sigh and raised his head, having sensed new presences approaching. Upon seeing Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong walk into the hall, his face brightened.
"You must be the chivalrous heroes of the Azure Heaven Association!"
At Yeong-il's words, the gazes of every rising star in the hall shifted to the two swordsmen. They calmly met the stares.
"Baekri Cheong. It's been a while."
"Who is that boy next to him?"
"He looks quite young. I wonder how skilled he is."
"He only has two clouds on his uniform, but we mustn't let our guard down."
Standing side by side, Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong politely clasped their hands in greeting.
"I am Namgung Jun of the Azure Heaven Association."
"I am Baekri Cheong of the Azure Heaven Association."
The rising stars of both factions returned the courtesy, for now.
"Please, come over here, members of the Azure Heaven Association."
"We are curious to hear your stories."
The disciples of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects blatantly tried to draw the two swordsmen to their side. In contrast, the disciples of the Three Sects and One Gang looked on with indifference, as if they had no desire to engage in a petty power struggle.
Just as the Mount Hua disciples were about to shake their heads at the sight, and just as Yeong-il made up his mind to speak to the crowd…
This won't do.
Namgung Jun sat down alone in an empty seat right in the center, choosing neither faction's side.
"Instead of scattering, let us gather in one place and talk."
At Namgung Jun's words, Baekri Cheong also refrained from heading toward the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects and sat directly opposite him.
Curiosity began to flicker in the eyes of the Three Sects and One Gang disciples, while displeasure clouded the faces of those from the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects.
"Little brother of the Azure Heaven Association. Did you not hear us?"
"I heard you clearly. And it seems you have heard me as well, brother."
"What?"
A man in the uniform of the Mount Song Sect stood up abruptly, his face contorted in anger. "The Azure Heaven Association is hardly in a position to take center stage at this gathering."
"Is there a hierarchy of power here? I was under the impression we were all equals."
At Namgung Jun's retort, the Mount Song Sect disciple, Dong Gakho, glared fiercely. "How dare you! You're nothing but a rootless wanderer!"
Dong Gakho reached for the sword at his waist.
But he could not draw it.
Namgung Jun's hand had already shot out, pressing down firmly on the hilt. Dong Gakho tried to draw the sword by sheer force, but it wouldn't budge.
"You...!"
He channeled his internal energy and resisted through gritted teeth, but it was utterly futile.
Crackle!
Enveloped in blue lightning, Namgung Jun's grip did not move an inch.
Unable to even draw his sword in front of everyone, Dong Gakho's face turned beet red.
"Are you embarrassed? This is no time to be embarrassed by something like this."
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
Looking at Dong Gakho, who still couldn't control his temper, Namgung Jun spoke in a low voice.
"The peaks of the Five Great Mountains soar so high, yet the righteous spirit of their disciples wallows in the mud?"
At Namgung Jun's murmur, not only Dong Gakho's face but also the faces of the other disciples from the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects stiffened. The disciples of the Three Sects and One Gang were equally startled, having immediately grasped the sarcasm in his words.
Only Baekri Cheong slapped his knee, barely holding back his laughter.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the banquet hall froze solid.