Chapter 63: Mount Song Gathering (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63: Mount Song Gathering (2)
“What does a brat like you know!”
Unable to draw his sword, Dong Gakho threw a punch at Namgung Jun’s face.
However, his clenched fist never landed. A hand shot out, catching his wrist in a firm grip. The man who had suddenly intervened wore black martial robes, their sleeves heavily embroidered with red plum blossoms.
It was Yeong-il, the head disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.
The Mount Hua Sect. Among the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects, they were the only ones who cooperated with the Three Sects and One Gang to oppose the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and uphold justice. Namgung Jun recalled Hahu Seon telling him they were the only trustworthy group among the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects.
“Look here, Dong Gakho. How much more of a disgrace do you intend to become?”
“But this bastard…!”
Dong Gakho couldn’t finish his sentence. Yeong-il silenced him with a stern shake of his head.
Following Yeong-il’s gaze, Dong Gakho scanned the banquet hall. The disciples of the Three Sects and One Gang were frowning with open disapproval, while his peers from the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects looked restless and uneasy.
Maintaining a subtle distance at a banquet was one thing; starting an outright brawl was another matter entirely.
Especially when the opponent is from the Azure Heaven Association.
If they antagonized the Azure Heaven Association—who weren't even part of the Three Sects and One Gang—their sect elders would surely punish them severely. They had, after all, been ordered to build friendly relations with the association if possible, hoping to sway them to the side of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects.
“Fine. Let go,” Dong Gakho grumbled.
As Yeong-il released his grip with a wry smile, Dong Gakho turned away, huffing in anger.
Yeong-il then glanced at Namgung Jun and clasped his hands in a polite greeting. “I am Yeong-il of the Mount Hua Sect. This humble Daoist apologizes on his behalf.”
“It is fine.”
“Primordial Heavenly Venerable.”
After Namgung Jun’s formal response, Yeong-il clasped his hands toward the disciples of the Three Sects and One Gang as well.
“Everyone, we have gathered here to unite our strength. As Young Hero Namgung suggested, why don’t we sit together?”
At the suggestion from the Mount Hua Sect, who were known to be on relatively good terms with them, the disciples of the Three Sects and One Gang finally stood up. They had deliberately ignored the silent standoff with the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects to avoid conflict, but they now realized that wasn’t the right approach.
“It seems we have been far too slow to act. Amitabha.”
“Our elders would not be pleased to see us keeping our distance. My sect values Taiji and harmony above all, so I am deeply ashamed.”
“Young Hero Namgung and Daoist Priest Yeong-il have graciously brought us together. We are truly grateful.”
As the disciples of the Three Sects and One Gang introduced themselves, Yeong-il introduced himself once more in response. With the atmosphere finally shifting, the other disciples of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects reluctantly followed suit.
Yeong-il looked at Namgung Jun. “I had not heard that the Azure Heaven Association possessed a Rising Star of your caliber, Young Hero Namgung.”
“That is only natural,” Baekri Cheong interjected with a proud smile. “Brother Namgung has only recently entered the path of martial arts.”
Everyone’s interest was piqued. Then, Namgung Jun calmly began to speak, and a wave of shock rippled through the hall.
“What? He’s been practicing for less than a year?”
“And he has already reached the Peak Realm?!”
“To possess the talent to catch up to the Rising Stars of the Azure Heaven Association in such a short time… I have never seen such a genius.”
Regardless of whether they belonged to the Three Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects, every disciple’s eyes were wide with shock. Dong Gakho, who had just clashed with Namgung Jun, even began to steal cautious glances at him.
Only Baekri Cheong wore a bright, proud smile. It was the look of an older brother gazing fondly at his outstanding younger brother.
Namgung Jun skillfully redirected the attention focused on him back to Yeong-il. “Daoist Priest Yeong-il, your own achievements seem far from ordinary.”
“Not at all. Compared to the profound martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect, this humble Daoist’s talent is sorely lacking. I am barely at the level of making the plum blossoms bloom.”
As Yeong-il showed humility, the disciples of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects shook their heads.
“Blooming plum blossoms at your age is no easy feat.”
“You could stand to have a bit more confidence, Daoist Priest Yeong-il.”
The disciples of the Three Sects and One Gang naturally offered their praise as well.
“I am curious to smell the fragrance of the plum blossoms you bloom, Daoist Priest.”
“I look forward to our upcoming duel.”
At everyone’s praise, Yeong-il gave a slight nod to Namgung Jun, a silent expression of gratitude.
“Speaking of which, I have also been curious about the sword techniques of the South Hengshan Sect.”
“Our sect’s sword technique is indeed renowned, but the martial arts of the Wudang Sect also possess incredible depth, do they not? After all, they were touched by none other than Patriarch Sanfeng.”
With Yeong-il as the catalyst, the conversation shifted to each other’s martial arts, and the discussion flowed endlessly. The stiff atmosphere of the banquet gradually began to thaw. As proof, the Rising Stars, who had previously shown no interest in the food and alcohol, were now gradually reaching for their cups and plates.
“Haha!”
“That sounds wonderful.”
Seeing the banquet hall fill with laughter, Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong exchanged a knowing nod. The one Rising Star held in high regard by all three factions at this gathering was Daoist Priest Yeong-il of the Mount Hua Sect. Namgung Jun had masterfully defused the tension by redirecting the spotlight onto him.
Impressive. He couldn't have been formally trained for this, Baekri Cheong marveled inwardly.
Usually, when the spotlight fell on someone in a setting like this, they would either get carried away with excitement or shrink back in discomfort. Very few people could properly handle and redirect such attention. Yet Namgung Jun had gone a step further, passing the spotlight to Yeong-il to foster harmony in the room.
Baekri Cheong was certain that Namgung Jun addressing Yeong-il first was no coincidence but a deliberate, calculated move. That kind of political acumen and subtle tact wasn't something a young man like Namgung Jun could easily possess. Unless he had received systematic training from childhood, it could only be described as innate genius. Even Baekri Cheong himself had only barely managed to see through Namgung Jun's intentions, thanks to the education he had received in the Baekri Clan.
He is a younger brother who excels in so many ways.
Since he was a brother from whom there was truly much to learn, Baekri Cheong watched Namgung Jun’s actions with a pleased heart. As the Rising Stars mingled, a disciple of the Wudang Sect asked, “Have any of you heard how the duels will be conducted?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“Wouldn’t it most likely be a standard tournament format?”
“That is indeed the most common way.”
“Well, we will find out once the bracket is released.”
Thanks to Namgung Jun and Yeong-il, the banquet for the Rising Stars concluded smoothly.
*
“I heard about what happened at the banquet.”
Guk Yeong, the Mount Song Sect Master, slowly swirled the tea in his cup. Watching him, Dong Gakho bowed his head even lower. It was a sign that the Sect Master was in a foul mood.
“Did I not explicitly tell you to draw the Azure Heaven Association to our side? Yet you went and made an enemy of them instead?”
“I am deeply sorry.”
Sip.
Guk Yeong brought the teacup to his lips. The sound echoed loudly in the tense silence, and Dong Gakho could only bite his lip.
“No matter. That is a minor issue. The real problem lies elsewhere. You couldn’t even draw your sword?”
“I apologize, Sect Master.”
“This is a disgrace not just to you, but to the Mount Song Sect. Our fellow martial artists of the Jianghu will mock us, saying we chose a man who cannot even draw his own sword as our head disciple.”
Guk Yeong’s voice dropped lower with each word, and Dong Gakho didn’t dare utter a sound.
Namgung Jun. Because of you, I have to suffer this humiliation!
Just as Dong Gakho was inwardly cursing Namgung Jun, something landed with a soft thud right in front of his bowed head.
It was a small wooden box.
Forgetting to even pick it up, Dong Gakho raised his head to look at Guk Yeong.
“It is the Eternal Reverence Pill. I originally intended to give it to you in a year or two, but I am moving up the schedule.”
The Eternal Reverence Pill. The signature elixir of the Mount Song Sect. It was a treasure that could only be crafted by pouring immense amounts of time and wealth into its creation. Even within the sect, only the Sect Master or the head disciple destined to succeed him could ever hope to consume it.
“Such a precious thing…”
Guk Yeong looked at the speechless Dong Gakho and gave him a stern warning. “You must know what it means for me to give you the Eternal Reverence Pill now. Can you do it?”
Dong Gakho nodded, his expression resolute. “I will defeat Namgung Jun and elevate the honor of the Mount Song Sect.”
“As the head disciple of our sect, that is only natural.” Guk Yeong gestured to Dong Gakho. “Come here and sit cross-legged. I will assist you in absorbing the Eternal Reverence Pill.”
“Thank you, Sect Master!”
Dong Gakho sat cross-legged with his back to his master. Guk Yeong stared at him, but the look in his eyes was far too cold for a master gazing upon his disciple.
You must win. How could the head disciple of the Mount Song Sect lose to a mere nobody from the Azure Heaven Association?
With a grim face, Guk Yeong reached his hand toward Dong Gakho’s Mingmen Acupoint.
*
The second day of the Mount Song Gathering.
The day to test the martial prowess of the Rising Stars had dawned. The Three Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects, and the Azure Heaven Association—a total of twenty Rising Stars gathered in one place. Every single one of them possessed an outstanding aura; none were ordinary.
Jeong Hong, the Wudang Sect Master, let out a soft exclamation of admiration as he watched them line up. “The future of the Righteous Jianghu stands right here.”
No one denied his words. If these Rising Stars continued to grow so splendidly, they would one day become the martial artists who represented their respective sects. The leaders of each faction looked upon the disciples they had produced with trusting eyes, confident that their own would emerge victorious.
“You have all gathered.”
Standing on the platform was Guk Yeong, the Mount Song Sect Master.
“The place where the Rising Stars will contest their martial prowess this time is the Tiger-Forming Forest of Junji Peak.”
The Tiger-Forming Forest. It was a forest located halfway up Junji Peak.
Guk Yeong drew an indigo iron token from his robes. “Each of you will be given one iron token. Your goal is to secure as many as possible within the time limit. Your ranking will be determined by the number of tokens you hold at the end.”
Namgung Jun nodded at the explanation. This is no ordinary martial tournament.
Guk Yeong’s supplementary explanation followed. “The rules are simple.”
First, killing is strictly forbidden. Proctors may intervene in combat at their discretion.
Second, you must remain within the formation deployed in the Tiger-Forming Forest. Stepping outside the formation will be treated as a forfeiture.
Third, you cannot willingly transfer your iron token to another. If your token is taken, you will be escorted out of the formation by a proctor.
Fourth, if you are defeated while holding multiple tokens, the victor claims your personal token. All other tokens you carry must be surrendered to a proctor.
So it’s a battle to seize iron tokens, Namgung Jun thought, organizing the rules in his mind. If I'm lucky, I’ll be able to face a variety of opponents.
He preferred this method over a standard tournament. Since the space was limited, if he moved diligently, he would be able to encounter multiple Rising Stars and experience their various martial arts.
Excellent.
While the corners of Namgung Jun’s lips curled up slightly, Guk Yeong continued his explanation. “The reason we have adopted this method instead of a conventional tournament is to assess the real-combat capabilities of our young disciples in preparation for clashes with the Demonic and Heretical Paths.”
At the mention of the Demonic and Heretical Paths, which currently held sway over the Jianghu, tension crept onto the faces of the once-curious Rising Stars.
“Therefore, we have created an environment that mimics real combat as closely as possible. Show off your capabilities to your heart’s content.”
The eyes of the Rising Stars grew sharp. They immediately understood the implications. Although proctors were stationed throughout the Tiger-Forming Forest, they would not normally intervene. Unlike a standard duel, there were no rules other than the ban on killing, meaning any number of variables could arise. Sheer martial superiority alone might not be enough to seize the iron tokens.
“A great opportunity will be granted to the one who secures the most iron tokens.”
The Rising Stars looked eager to hear what it was, but Guk Yeong did not elaborate.
Thud!
Lightly executing an Earth-Trembling Stomp, Guk Yeong looked at the Rising Stars and declared, “Then, we shall begin immediately.”
The Rising Stars eyed one another, their gazes fiercely sharpened.
The battle for the iron tokens had begun.