Chapter 161
Chapter 161
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Dark Clouds (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After receiving the drink from Ouyang Jue, Jeok Sa-goeng stared at him intently for a short while.
If he had any lingering regrets before severing all his ties in the martial world and retiring to a life of seclusion, it was, without a doubt, the Martial Alliance.
The decades he had spent campaigning with the Black Wind Unit were there.
Putting aside his thoughts on the Martial Alliance for a moment, Jeok Sa-goeng began to speak in a weary voice.
“Everything that has happened in these past two years… it all stems from the past.”
“The past… you say?”
As Ouyang Jue tilted his head in confusion, Jeok Sa-goeng let out a deep sigh.
“Do you know when the Martial Alliance was formed?”
At those words, Ouyang Jue gave a slight nod.
“I heard it was established by the orthodox sects after the war with the old Demonic Cult.”
“You know well.”
Jeok Sa-goeng’s gaze rested on his dark green spear.
“After the war with the old Demonic Cult, the Martial Alliance represented the orthodox factions, bringing order to the chaotic martial world and aiding the sects that had nearly fallen.”
“…”
Hearing this, Ouyang Jue thought of the Mount Tai Sword Gate. Jeok Sa-goeng’s words didn't align with the situation of the Mount Tai Sword Gate.
But now was the time to listen to Jeok Sa-goeng.
While Ouyang Jue momentarily set aside his thoughts, Jeok Sa-goeng’s story was delving into deeper matters.
“The Black Wind Unit was the vanguard of that Martial Alliance.”
“The vanguard, you say…”
“We annihilated the dark factions that pressured the sects weakened after the war, and in exchange for helping the government exterminate the northern barbarians, we received funding.”
“I imagine it wasn’t all good deeds.”
At that, Jeok Sa-goeng revealed a bitter smile and gave a small nod.
“It wasn’t.”
A single word.
Though it was just three syllables, Ouyang Jue sensed a profound depth of emotion within it.
Remorse, regret, or perhaps greed…
The youth Jeok Sa-goeng spoke of was the period right after the war with the old Demonic Cult, before the martial world had stabilized as it was now.
A time of chaos, where any evil deed could occur without attracting much notice.
Even now, the orthodox factions were often criticized for their pettiness; could they truly have been righteous back then?
Seeing Jeok Sa-goeng’s expression sour, Ouyang Jue fidgeted with his fingers.
“Still, it is because of men like you, Senior Jeok, that the martial world, and all its people, found stability.”
“I wonder… I doubt everyone thought so.”
*Scrape.*
Jeok Sa-goeng’s thumbnail scratched against his spear, making a sharp sound.
“As they say, the arm always bends inward. Back then, the Hebei Peng Clan, the Nangong Clan, and the Jegal Clan, who formed the core of the Martial Alliance, prospered the most. In fact, they still dominate Huguang and Anhui to this day.”
“Are you saying they showed favoritism?”
“Partially.”
With this, Jeok Sa-goeng began to confess the transgressions of the Martial Alliance one by one.
How the Martial Alliance, which claimed to represent the orthodox factions, was in fact consolidated around three major clans, and how it had secretly absorbed the power of the Black Dragon Gang.
Even the newly emerged dark factions were merely successors to the Black Dragon Gang in name only. They were, in reality, half-subjugated to the Martial Alliance.
At this point, Jeok Sa-goeng recalled his disappointment in Nangong Cheon.
“Power is necessary to uphold justice in the martial world, but at least I never wanted to do it by deceiving so many people, as we do now.”
“…”
“But it was too late. By the time I realized this and looked around, the Black Wind Unit had long been disbanded.”
*Gulp, gulp.*
As Jeok Sa-goeng drank down the liquor, Ouyang Jue carefully spoke up.
It was to resolve the question he had just been pondering.
“Do you know about the Mount Tai Sword Gate?”
As he asked this question, Ouyang Jue focused his Purple Mist True Energy in his lower dantian.
Too many things seemed strange.
It had been two years and nearly thirty days since Jeok Sang's death, yet not only was there no news about the Mount Tai Sword Gate, but the story of his death had not spread either.
‘It can only mean that the Martial Alliance is intentionally covering it up.’
If Jeok Sa-goeng was involved in this… it would mean he was close to the Eight Evils.
A battle would be inevitable.
As Ouyang Jue cloaked himself in Purple Mist True Energy, Jeok Sa-goeng also revealed a tense smile.
“An odd question.”
“…?”
“The Mount Tai Sword Gate fought alongside us as comrades in the war against the old Demonic Cult, did they not? I heard they’ve sealed their gates and are living in seclusion now. Has something happened?”
His expression suggested he found it strange that the Mount Tai Sword Gate would even come from Ouyang Jue's lips.
Wondering if it was an act, Ouyang Jue carefully studied Jeok Sa-goeng's face, but it didn't seem so.
‘So it’s Nangong Cheon after all.’
Whether he was the mastermind or someone lurking around him.
It was almost certain that the Eight Evils were lurking within the Martial Alliance.
Just then, Jeok Sa-goeng voiced his own question.
“So, why did you ask about the Mount Tai Sword Gate?”
At his words, Ouyang Jue shook his head.
“My Sect Leader asked me to inquire about it.”
“Inquire? Then why are you circulating your energy…?”
“It is part of my training.”
Even as Jeok Sa-goeng gave him a peculiar look, Ouyang Jue had no intention of revealing any more of his thoughts.
He had only met Jeok Sa-goeng a few times, and there was always a chance the man could have a loose tongue.
In short, he was grateful for the information but couldn't share his own.
If he trusted him and spoke, only for Jeok Sa-goeng to scurry off and tell Nangong Cheon, it would be a major disaster.
‘I do feel a little sorry, doing this after hearing everything.’
As Ouyang Jue feigned ignorance, Jeok Sa-goeng looked momentarily dumbfounded before his expression settled.
Jeok Sa-goeng had realized something in his own way.
That the Mount Tai Sword Gate was not simply in seclusion as he knew it, but was in some kind of dire situation.
‘He’s wary enough of me to believe it’s related to the Martial Alliance…’
Jeok Sa-goeng looked at the expressionless Ouyang Jue, lost in thought.
‘Trusting only my friend’s words, I’ve become a fool.’
He had lived with his eyes and ears closed for too long, and this was the result.
A lamenting breath escaped his lungs. The sigh, mixed with the cool late-spring air, rose as a white mist.
Jeok Sa-goeng toyed with his spear and then spoke.
“The night is deep. I should be heading down now.”
“The path is so dark. Why not leave after the sun rises?”
At that, Jeok Sa-goeng slowly shook his head.
“No. If I stay at the Mount Hua Sect for too long, it will give rise to unpleasant rumors.”
He was certainly not wrong.
The longer Jeok Sa-goeng stayed at the Mount Hua Sect, the more unfavorably the Martial Alliance would view them.
When Ouyang Jue silently affirmed, Jeok Sa-goeng rose from his seat.
“Was I of any help?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, Great Warrior Jeok, many of my questions have been answered.”
“Is that so? Hehe, thank you.”
Just as Jeok Sa-goeng turned to leave.
Ouyang Jue secretly took out Ten Thousand Li Fragrance pollen from his sleeve and flicked it with his fingers.
*Flick.*
The pollen, flicked with the Finger Flicking Technique, immediately settled into the collar of Jeok Sa-goeng’s clothes.
The usual Jeok Sa-goeng would have noticed it instantly, but with his emotions in turmoil, his senses seemed to have dulled.
‘I must inform the Iron Wind Hounds before the scent fades.’
Ouyang Jue’s expression hardened as he watched the direction in which Jeok Sa-goeng had disappeared.
By tracking Jeok Sa-goeng’s path, he would surely find out who among the Martial Alliance was one of the Eight Evils.
* * *
Four hours later.
Ouyang Jue checked to see if the sky had been completely engulfed by darkness.
After sending a messenger bird to the Iron Wind Hounds, something had suddenly occurred to him.
‘The Eight Evils will try to dispose of Jeok Sa-goeng at any moment.’
Not only had he participated in the war against the old Demonic Cult, a conflict suspected to be a scheme of the Eight Evils, but he was also a high-ranking official who had dedicated decades to the Martial Alliance.
Moreover, his martial arts and reputation were outstanding; he was someone who would be a great headache if he became an enemy.
‘It’s right for me to stick with him until the Iron Wind Hounds can begin their pursuit.’
*Fwoosh!*
Ouyang Jue unleashed the Moon-Stepping Shadowless Dance, leaping over valleys and swiftly traversing the flatlands.
He had long since descended Mount Hua; it seemed Jeok Sa-goeng was heading toward Mount Tai.
After running for an hour, just as he reached a reed field.
The thick scent of blood pierced his nose.
“…!”
Ouyang Jue immediately drew Severing Manifestation and surveyed his surroundings.
The white robes glimpsed between the reeds felt sinister.
The Chinese characters he saw for a split second were ‘Black Crow.’
They were undoubtedly the same ones he had faced in front of the Sword Saint's Grotto.
‘Could the Buddha-Slaying Divine Demon be here too?’
At that moment, a strike that shattered his thought flew from between the reeds.
*Swish!*
The hidden weapon was the size of two finger joints, but it was painted yellow, making it difficult to distinguish from the reeds.
‘So they were already waiting here!’
They couldn't have expected him to follow, so this vicious attack must have been aimed at Jeok Sa-goeng.
Ouyang Jue spun Severing Manifestation, deflecting all the hidden weapons.
Then, he stomped the ground with all his might.
*THUD!*
The Quaking Step, imbued with powerful internal energy, created a gust of wind that swept through the area.
As the reeds were all pushed back and the ground trembled, the white-robed figures could only endure by using a technique like the Thousand-Pound Drop.
“Ugh…!”
“There you are!”
Ouyang Jue swung Severing Manifestation lightly.
*Slash!*
With a single strike, all the reeds between Ouyang Jue and the white-robed figures were cut down.
The distance was roughly ten to twenty paces.
For a master of movement techniques, it was a distance that could be closed in an instant. For a master like Ouyang Jue, it was practically point-blank range.
The white-robed figure shouted in alarm.
“What are you doing! Stop him!”
“…Yes!”
The reply came after a slight delay, as if from a distance.
Simultaneously, black-robed figures leaped out from between the trees.
For a moment, the fluttering robes stained his vision black. Ouyang Jue estimated their number to be around fifty.
The skill of the white-robed figures would not be trivial either, so it would not be an easy fight.
However, that would have been the case two years ago.
Ouyang Jue assumed a formal stance and exhaled a long breath.
The Purple Mist True Energy pulsating in his lower dantian instantly circulated throughout his body and imbued Severing Manifestation.
Anyone who had refined their internal energy would know what this meant.
The white-robed figure cried out in shock.
“To have mastered the state of Grand Heavenly Circulation at such a young age!”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t have?”
Ouyang Jue smirked at the white-robed figure’s astonished face.
He then took a step forward and swung Severing Manifestation.
*Slice!*
A black-robed figure, standing dumbfounded, was cut down diagonally and fell to the side.
A gush of blood stained the reed field red, inciting the other robed figures around them.
Ouyang Jue walked through the reed field, continuously swinging Severing Manifestation.
Simple sword strikes, without any particular finesse or form.
Despite that, the black-robed figures were swept away without being able to offer any resistance.
“I was never told anything like this…!”
“Do you know me?”
At those words, the white-robed figure clamped his mouth shut. He bit his lip hard, as if he had said something he shouldn't have.
Seeing this, Ouyang Jue felt a small sense of relief.
‘There’s no way Jeok Sa-goeng would be killed by scum like this.’
The Severing Manifestation in Ouyang Jue’s grasp glinted under the moonlight.
Even when the black-robed figures tried to use their numerical advantage to counterattack, the result was the same.
*Swish!*
With each swing of the sword, a black-robed figure fell, and the reeds were cut down.
They tried to strike back, but the level of mastery Ouyang Jue possessed did not permit it.
“Aaargh!”
“Keuk!”
As the black-robed figures fell, the reed field grew increasingly crimson, and the white-robed figure’s face turned pale with terror.
When Ouyang Jue finally approached him, he pointed elsewhere with his finger.
“He’s… he’s over there.”
“Are you sure?”
“Y-Yes, of course!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ouyang Jue swung Severing Manifestation and cut down the white-robed figure.
Once he deemed someone an enemy, Ouyang Jue knew not how to spare them.