Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: A Brief Journey (1)
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“What is the status of the Mount Hua Sect?”
A pair of glowing eyes emerged from the darkness.
They were akin to demonic eyes, their gravitational pull so strong that even a butterfly fluttering with all its might could not resist and tumbled down.
*Thump, sizzle.*
The fallen butterfly was scorched by embers that suddenly appeared in the air, twitching once before dying.
The shoulders of the two martial artists who witnessed this trembled slightly.
“The Golden Ring Merchant Guild was raided, and the attempt to target Liu Zhangming has failed. However, Ha Jin-ak can be dealt with swiftly!”
“Is that so.”
*My patience is not something to be relied upon,* the man with the demonic eyes muttered.
Though it was a simple mutter to himself, a ripple of internal energy emanated from it.
The demonic eyes closed for a moment, then opened again.
“I thought the Lord of Evil was a reasonably trustworthy man. Should I reconsider?”
“No, sir!”
One of the two martial artists revealed himself.
Surprisingly, it was Bai Wun-hwan, the Leader of the Black Dragon Gang, known as the Hegemon of the Unorthodox Path of Northern Kangbei, and he wore a servile expression.
“The Lord of Evil said that an unexpected power has emerged.”
“And who might that be?”
“He is but a mere member of the younger generation, but…”
As Bai Wun-hwan trailed off, the demonic eyes flashed.
“It is not for the likes of you to judge. Speak now.”
In that instant, Bai Wun-hwan’s heart stopped.
“Kh, kheuk, khhhk.”
In the darkness, Bai Wun-hwan clawed desperately at his chest.
After scratching for a long while and taking slow, ragged breaths, he could finally breathe again.
“Ouyang Jue. He said it was a man named Jue of the Ouyang clan.”
“The Lord of Evil surely has a plan, does he not?”
*If he doesn't, you die.*
The man with the demonic eyes conveyed this with his gaze alone, without uttering a single word.
Facing him, Bai Wun-hwan dripped with sweat born of terror.
‘No matter how many times I see them, I can’t get used to those eyes.’
Fortunately, thanks to what the Lord of Evil had told him before he arrived, Bai Wun-hwan finished his explanation to the man with demonic eyes without much trouble.
As they say, darkness begets darkness.
The man’s voice rose subtly, as if he was quite pleased with the clever plan devised by the Lord of Evil, who was filled with rage over losing his brother.
“You may leave.”
“Th-thank you.”
Bai Wun-hwan and the other martial artist bowed repeatedly as they exited the pavilion.
Afterward, the man, now alone, gazed at Dongting Lake.
“Ouyang Jue.”
The man’s eyes grew deep and heavy.
* * *
“Sect Leader, please grant me permission.”
“…I did not expect you to say such a thing.”
At Ha Jin-ak’s sudden request, Bai Duanxian showed his bewilderment openly.
He already knew that Ha Jin-ak had to leave again.
But.
‘If he had to take someone, why not a more skilled senior brother? Why Jue?’
Especially since Ha Jin-ak was the Senior-most Brother, the one destined to inherit the position of Sect Leader.
Bai Duanxian did not want to expose such a man to unnecessary risk.
“Even so, wouldn’t it be better to be accompanied by an expert like the Master of the Disciplinary Hall?”
“Too many people will agitate the enemy. Agitation breeds fear. Fear, in turn, breeds suspicion and makes one cautious. From what I’ve seen, that is the nature of the Black Dragon Gang.”
They were martial artists who knew how to control their fear and master themselves, rather than simply succumbing to it.
Although they belonged to the Unorthodox Faction, it wasn't as if there was nothing to learn from them when it came to martial arts.
Seeing Ha Jin-ak’s extreme caution, Bai Duanxian advised him again.
“Jin-ak, taking only Jue with you… could lead to great danger.”
“That is true. But the Black Dragon Gang’s enemies are not limited to Mount Hua.”
“...?”
“Didn’t the Geonhyeon Gate just suffer at their hands?”
“Ah!”
At those words, Bai Duanxian let out a small gasp of realization.
Indeed, right after the Nine Dragons War, the Three Evils of Shaanxi and the Black Dragon Gang had killed members of the Taoist sects.
Even if many sects looked down on the Geonhyeon Gate, they were ultimately part of the Orthodox Faction.
They couldn't let them be pushed around by an Unorthodox group like the Black Dragon Gang.
Watching the pensive Bai Duanxian, Ha Jin-ak recalled Ouyang Jue's words.
‘…He said it was different from before, didn’t he?’
He also said that things were going well because he had defeated the Three Evils of Shaanxi, speaking as if he had ‘experienced it all before.’
Each comment was trivial on its own, but when put together, they felt profoundly significant.
Despite this, Ha Jin-ak did not question Ouyang Jue directly.
Just as Liu Zhangming had said, he was the Senior-most Brother of the Mount Hua Sect.
If the Senior-most Brother couldn’t trust Ouyang Jue, a junior of the Mount Hua Sect, then who could?
And everything Ouyang Jue had done so far had only brought fortune to Mount Hua.
‘So I have no choice but to trust him.’
The Senior-most Brother must not be swayed by trivial words and actions.
Ha Jin-ak had not forgotten the advice he received in the Plum Blossom Cave.
Following that advice, he had observed Ouyang Jue for himself, and now that he knew what kind of person he was, he simply chose to trust him.
Ha Jin-ak looked at Bai Duanxian, urging him to make a decision quickly.
“Sect Leader.”
“Yes?”
“Something feels amiss. I have been sending reports by carrier pigeon, but even before Jue dealt with the Three Evils of Shaanxi, weren’t disciples of the Zhongnan Sect being killed?”
“So, what are your thoughts, as someone who has been observing the Black Dragon Gang?”
Ha Jin-ak closed his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts, then voiced his hypothesis.
“…I suspect their preparations may already be complete.”
This was not a hypothesis Ha Jin-ak had come up with alone.
‘My junior brother’s help was the greatest.’
The one who had met the Three Evils of Shaanxi in person and exchanged a few words with them had supported this theory.
Ha Jin-ak recalled the conversation they had just a short while ago.
An hour ago.
Ouyang Jue had seemed somewhat agitated during their conversation.
The look in his eyes as he watched Ha Jin-ak was particularly unusual.
“No matter how thoughtless the Unorthodox Faction may be, they are not steeped in madness. They must be after something to act this way.”
“Then what do you think that might be?”
“…Suppression.”
“Suppression?”
At that, Ha Jin-ak and Liu Zhangming tilted their heads in confusion. Ouyang Jue broke off a twig and began to draw two diagrams.
It seemed they could understand even without an explanation.
The Orthodox Faction, whose sects are tied to mountains and cannot move easily.
The Unorthodox Faction, scattered in small groups in places like cities, possessing great mobility.
Ouyang Jue pointed to each of the two diagrams.
“The Orthodox Faction might be able to tear the Unorthodox Faction apart piece by piece, but they can never wipe them out completely.”
*What could a youth not yet of age know of the martial world?* A faint smile touched Ha Jin-ak’s face for a moment.
“Aren’t you overestimating the Unorthodox Faction?”
“No. I am not just making a baseless claim; the history of the martial world proves it. Once an Unorthodox group decides to hide, not even the Beggars’ Sect can find them.”
Furthermore.
Ouyang Jue clenched his fist, adding weight to his words. He showed a gravity unbefitting his eighteen years of age.
“Why do you think the Three Evils of Shaanxi targeted the younger generation this time?”
“…Wasn’t it a provocation?”
At Liu Zhangming’s words, Ouyang Jue’s head snapped around.
That was too simple a thought.
If all martial artists had such childish minds, the martial world would have long been beaten to death by the government.
“Provocation and warning are not entirely wrong. But there is something more important.”
Just then, Ha Jin-ak interjected.
“You mean to restrain the younger generation from acting recklessly. And that the few masters each sect possesses will not be able to find them.”
“Exactly.”
Ouyang Jue affirmed Ha Jin-ak’s answer.
He must have experienced it firsthand when he burned down the Black Dragon Gang’s branch.
The way the Unorthodox Faction deals with the Orthodox Faction.
And how outstanding their pettiness and survival instincts are.
Therefore, they must be made to come out on their own.
Ouyang Jue looked at Ha Jin-ak again with serious eyes.
“The Senior-most Brother who burned down the Black Dragon Gang’s branch, and I, who dealt with the Three Evils of Shaanxi. If it’s the two of us, they will surely come looking.”
“…”
As Ha Jin-ak seemed lost in thought, Liu Zhangming, who had been listening silently, spoke up.
“Isn’t that too dangerous for you?”
“When I think of the other Taoists who are still captured, and the justice of the Orthodox Faction…”
“Jue.”
Liu Zhangming gripped Ouyang Jue’s shoulder and met his gaze directly.
“That’s not like you. What is your real reason?”
At those words, Ouyang Jue could not answer straight.
No, he couldn’t, because Ha Jin-ak was there.
Even though they weren’t close enough to open their hearts to each other.
Ha Jin-ak was the Senior-most Brother of the Mount Hua Sect.
His death changed everything.
The public’s perception of Mount Hua as a prestigious sect plummeted after that moment.
That was why his was a life that had to be saved.
But…
‘This isn’t a minor change like me killing the Three Evils of Shaanxi.’
It was practically the same as bringing a dead man back to life.
Originally, at this point in time, Ha Jin-ak was supposed to die, and Liu Zhangming would become the Senior-most Brother.
The future of the martial world that Ouyang Jue knew began from there.
What if Ha Jin-ak survived?
Wouldn’t the entire framework of the future change?
Ouyang Jue was caught in a contradictory thought.
“…That’s all there is to it.”
Hearing that, Liu Zhangming could only guess inwardly that Ouyang Jue was tormented.
After about an hour had passed.
Ha Jin-ak rose from his seat.
“Ouyang Jue, prepare to leave at once.”
Leaving behind only those words.
And now.
Bai Duanxian could only understand after hearing the full story from Ha Jin-ak.
“Hmm, indeed.”
Feeling that there was merit in Ha Jin-ak’s words, Bai Duanxian made his decision immediately.
“Very well. The two of you may go.”
*Swoosh.*
As soon as those words were spoken, Ha Jin-ak stood up and headed for the Reception Hall where Ouyang Jue would be.
“I will take my leave, Sect Leader.”
“Go on.”
At that time, they did not know.
What fate awaited Ha Jin-ak and Ouyang Jue…
Had the present Bai Duanxian known, he would have stopped them by any means necessary.
But fate flows equally for all, turning even the wisest of men into fools.
It was a shackle from which not even Bai Duanxian could escape.
All a person entangled in fate could do was face it head-on.
Amidst it all, only Ouyang Jue was special.
The one who had returned to defy fate.
He was the cornerstone meant to change the predetermined future.
* * *
Ouyang Jue was waiting for Ha Jin-ak, lounging on a chair in the Reception Hall.
Just then, Gwak Un-pae, who had been gazing at the sky, spoke.
“The heavens show an ill omen. Be very careful.”
“That’s unexpected.”
“What is?”
A faint smile appeared on Ouyang Jue’s face.
It was just that seeing the pot-bellied Gwak Un-pae talking about ill omens in the heavens seemed rather out of character.
“Your appearance and your words are a bit…”
“Hey! You rascal! You’ve been teasing me this whole time!”
When Gwak Un-pae continued to grumble nonstop, Ouyang Jue spread his arms wide.
“Elder, I was wrong.”
“That’s right! Hmph! When an elder shows concern, you should say, ‘Thank you.’”
I thought he was just a cheerful person, but it seems he has this side to him too.
Just as Ouyang Jue bowed his head once more.
*Step, step.*
The sound of Ha Jin-ak’s distinct, disciplined footsteps reached his ears.
“We will be going now, Elder Gwak.”
“Alright.”
Ouyang Jue grinned at Gwak Un-pae, who was looking at him with concern.
“I’ll see you again in a few days near the Black Dragon Gang’s territory.”
“I’d rather that not happen.”
Though he said this, Gwak Un-pae had a feeling.
The Black Dragon Gang and the Three Evils of Shaanxi would surely make contact with those two, and when they did, the elders would have to step in and resolve the situation without any harm done.
It was like a game of tug-of-war.
At either end were the Mount Hua Sect and the Black Dragon Gang, and surrounding them were other Taoist sects, jeering and throwing stones at the Black Dragon Gang.
At a glance, it was a fight where the Mount Hua Sect had an extreme advantage.
All they had to do was pull, trusting in the pressure from the other Taoist sects.
However, to draw out their true form, they had to set the stage for the Black Dragon Gang to pull the rope with arrogance.
Only then would their true nature be revealed, allowing them to be captured and brought to their knees in an instant.
The problem was whether the Black Dragon Gang would fall for it.
And would the Unorthodox Faction… really be led along just as they predicted?
Gwak Un-pae could not hide his troubled heart.
“Have you been waiting long?”
The future of Mount Hua, the Senior-most Brother, Ha Jin-ak.
“No, I was just a little bored.”
Beside him was the disciple Ouyang Jue, who had the potential to become a giant star in the future.
Indeed, the stars in the sky were shining brilliantly.
No one knew if this was to be an ordeal or a gift.
‘Please, do not give them a trial they cannot endure.’
Gwak Un-pae bowed respectfully to the Three Pure Ones.
* * *
“This time, we are not dealing with civilians like those from the merchant guild, nor with fellow Taoists, but with a full-fledged Unorthodox group. We must be careful.”
‘How many times is he going to say that?’
“…I understand.”
Ten days had already passed since Ouyang Jue descended Mount Hua with Ha Jin-ak.
During that time, Ouyang Jue had come to roughly understand what kind of martial artist he was.
Cold, but that was only his outward personality.
He was extremely cautious and deeply considerate.
This meant he thought about how his actions might harm others before he acted.
‘He actually scolded his senior brother.’
Ha Jin-ak had reprimanded Liu Zhangming, asking why he had let civilians be harmed at the Golden Ring Merchant Guild, and why he had allowed Ouyang Jue’s first foray into the martial world to be tainted with disgrace.
Even so, Ouyang Jue couldn’t bring himself to see Ha Jin-ak in a favorable light.
Ha Jin-ak was fundamentally a person of extreme temperature differences.
He was endlessly considerate to his own people, but incredibly cold to those who didn’t try hard or had poor conduct.
Perhaps because Ha Jin-ak himself had lived a diligent life, he demanded the same diligence from others.
That was how Ouyang Jue understood him.
‘Not my type.’
As he thought this, a sigh escaped Ouyang Jue’s lips.
Unlike the understanding Liu Zhangming, being with Ha Jin-ak meant Ouyang Jue had to learn all sorts of etiquette and rules he had never known before.
Was that all?
Even as the weather grew warmer, Ha Jin-ak stopped him from even rolling up his sleeves.
Saying that it was the pride of the Mount Hua Sect.
He and Ouyang Jue really did not get along.
‘Agh, seriously.’
Days spent accumulating irritation, waiting for the enemy to appear.
After another three days were added to those ten, Ouyang Jue had reached the point of praying for the Black Dragon Gang to show up.
Then one day.
Ouyang Jue’s wish was granted.
*Fwoosh.*
As the candle flame was extinguished, a masked man dropped from the ceiling.
“You must be Mount Hua’s Ou…”
“That’s me!”
*Shing!*
Ouyang Jue immediately lunged at the masked man.
In his hand was the teacup he had just been drinking from.