Chapter 45
Chapter 45
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Zhongnan Sect (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
For another week, Ouyang Jue waited, giving it a little more time for the Beggars' Sect's letter to arrive.
He considered the possibility that the influence of the Iron Wind Hound hadn't yet reached the right people.
But that thought didn't last even two days.
Snap.
To his dismay, no contact came.
Even the beggars who usually came and went from the Mount Hua Sect had stopped showing up.
As a result, though a considerable amount of time had passed since he declared the annihilation of the Black Dragon Gang, Shaanxi remained quiet.
This was not what Ouyang Jue wanted.
'I was trying to provoke the Zhongnan Sect and the other Taoist sects.'
Even the rumors spread by the secular disciples seemed to be slowly suppressed.
He could wait no longer.
But going to the Beggars' Sect right now would be a poor move.
It was more important to find another way through.
Ouyang Jue was looking at a bigger picture.
'It's not advantageous for the Mount Hua Sect to solve this alone.'
So, he had to make them join hands with the other sects that had been harmed by the Black Dragon Gang.
The alliance formed in such a way would establish a just cause and become an effective means to pressure the Beggars' Sect.
A momentary glint appeared in Ouyang Jue's eyes.
But a question still remained.
'I thought the Iron Wind Hound, at least, was a man of sound judgment.'
Ouyang Jue recalled his first meeting with the Iron Wind Hound.
At that time, the Iron Wind Hound had been monitoring the junior disciples who came down from Mount Hua.
Although he still didn't know the man's intentions, he could guess that he had a meticulous personality.
And the second time they met, he had taken the credit for dealing with the Mad Cutter. He showed not a shred of morality then.
The last time they met, he had granted a simple request.
But that, too, was certainly not out of righteousness or duty.
He had said it was a transaction—a debt owed, a debt paid.
'In that case, isn't it time for you to owe me a debt, Iron Wind Hound?'
Ouyang Jue opened his closed eyes.
'Something's not right.'
He had considered that the Beggars' Sect might not be cooperative, but he hadn't expected this.
Especially considering that the Iron Wind Hound was a greedy beggar who operated on the principle of transactions.
It was more logical to assume that some circumstance was preventing the Iron Wind Hound from coming.
'Since it's come to this, it might not be a bad idea to establish a clear hierarchy instead of a simple transaction.'
Given how quickly he had found the woman's whereabouts before, the Iron Wind Hound was a rather useful beggar.
If he could work him to the bone, a little trouble was worth it.
'First, I'll solidify our power, then I'll check on the state of the Beggars' Sect.'
Having made his decision, Ouyang Jue watched the Taoists swinging their swords in the training ground.
He was pleased.
Unlike in his poor past life, there was the plump Jo Hun,
and the other Taoists also didn't seem to lack food, clothing, or shelter.
A small smile escaped him whenever he saw the healthy sheen on their faces.
'They all have great passion for martial arts, so they should become strong quickly. Teaching Ik Hyeon has been a great nourishment for them.'
Feeling satisfied, Ouyang Jue looked elsewhere.
'…But still, as expected of my Senior Brother.'
Whoosh!
Having reached the peak, it would be normal for him to stagnate a little.
But Liu Zhangming's swordsmanship had already transformed from leaves into a flower bud.
With just a small trigger, he was poised to advance even further.
"...Good, very good."
Ouyang Jue watched the leisurely drifting clouds for a moment before moving on.
He thought that someday, when everything was resolved, he too would like to become like those clouds.
Thud-
Ouyang Jue stepped on a flat stone and vanished like a gust of wind.
* * *
"What is it?"
Thud.
Closing the book, Bai Duanxian looked up at Ouyang Jue, who stood with his head held high.
His posture seemed more dignified than arrogant, so much so that Bai Duanxian wondered if this was really the same Ouyang Jue who had harbored a subtle inferiority complex toward Liu Zhangming.
Then, he spoke.
"I wish to make a brief trip to the Zhongnan Sect, Sect Leader."
At those words, a deep frown formed between Bai Duanxian's eyebrows.
"If you were planning on a formal friendly exchange, you wouldn't have come to me like this..."
Bai Duanxian mulled it over for a moment before speaking bluntly.
His expression soured.
"It seems you wish to act alone again."
"Yes."
"Are you trying to make a fool of me and your martial uncles? Are you planning to jump into a pit of fire by yourself?"
His voice trembled slightly.
With solemn eyes, Ouyang Jue looked at Bai Duanxian, whose wrinkles had deepened considerably since the incident with Ha Jin-ak.
"Sect Leader, no... Master."
At Ouyang Jue's words, Bai Duanxian's lips parted slightly in surprise.
But his surprise quickly faded.
Replaced by a stubbornness that stuck like glue.
"Even if this is a private setting, your purpose is public. Address me correctly."
Despite this, Ouyang Jue persisted in calling him Master.
"I do not think of you or my martial uncles as fools. And I certainly have no intention of making you seem so."
It's just that.
Ouyang Jue continued his sentence with a smooth transition.
"No matter how dangerous the task."
Ouyang Jue's gaze briefly shifted toward the storehouse.
Then, he turned his eyes to the training ground, listening to the shouts that came from there.
Bai Duanxian did the exact same, following Ouyang Jue's lead.
He could feel it.
The Mount Hua Sect, which began with the Perfected Man He, one of the Seven Masters.
The passion radiating from each of the Taoists belonging to it stung Bai Duanxian's skin.
The shouts from the well-fed Taoists were sometimes grating to the ears.
And it was his duty to guide and protect them on the right path.
He was Bai Duanxian, the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect, was he not?
'...It's a heavy burden.'
Bai Duanxian's shoulders slumped unconsciously.
He even lamented, wondering if he lacked the qualifications to be a Sect Leader.
He had failed to notice the corruption of the Golden Ring Merchant Guild and had realized too late that Ha Jin-ak was in danger.
If not for Ouyang Jue, the situation would have spiraled even further out of control.
Or perhaps he would have remained oblivious.
At that thought, a shiver ran down his spine.
Just then, Ouyang Jue spoke.
"If there is something that only I can do, and if by doing it I can protect the Mount Hua Sect, then I will go."
As Bai Duanxian watched him with a complicated expression, Ouyang Jue gave a small smile.
"Because I have already experienced more than enough regret."
'Regret.'
At those words, Bai Duanxian thought of Ha Jin-ak, lying ill in his bed.
But for Ouyang Jue, regret was something he had in countless measures, even beyond that incident.
Regret from his past life, born from failures to achieve, to try, to protect—followed by despair, and a self-mocking sneer.
At the end of that process, he had come this far.
That was why Ouyang Jue wanted to make the most of this opportunity.
This chance to be different from his past life.
'Although I only managed to protect my Senior-most Brother halfway.'
He had no intention of leaving him as he was.
He just couldn't do it right away, but there was a way.
"Please let me go."
As Ouyang Jue pleaded again, Bai Duanxian nodded heavily.
In that moment, his perception of Ouyang Jue had changed significantly.
A spear and a shield.
Recalling the thought he'd had when sending Ouyang Jue to the Golden Ring Merchant Guild, Bai Duanxian scoffed inwardly.
'Was I the foolish one?'
An old saying goes that a true Taoist will even listen to a six-year-old child to learn what he does not know.
Clearly, Bai Duanxian had committed a folly in the past.
The folly of the Golden Ring Merchant Guild and the Black Dragon Gang.
But Ouyang Jue had just said it.
That if there is something only he can do, he must do it.
Only then can one avoid repeating past regrets.
'I can't be so foolish any longer.'
Creeak, thud.
Watching Ouyang Jue's back as he headed outside, Bai Duanxian made a vow.
'What I can do because I am the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, what I have learned from my regrets.'
As his thoughts gradually organized, Bai Duanxian's eyes began to clear.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Jue packed some shabby clothes, bowed to Bai Duanxian, and prepared to descend the mountain.
He intended to jolt the sluggish Zhongnan Sect into action.
'And once I get them on their feet...'
Ouyang Jue's lips curved into a smile.
* * *
In less than a day.
Ouyang Jue had reached the foot of Mount Zhongnan.
He hadn't even stopped by the Golden Ring Merchant Guild.
'There's no time for that.'
A venomous glint appeared in Ouyang Jue's eyes.
He had to arrive before rumors of his disappearance from Mount Hua could spread.
Moreover, the Beggars' Sect, the information network of the martial world, must not find out.
"...Hmph."
Cinch...!
Ouyang Jue, having tightened his belt, took out a simple snack from his pocket and ate it.
From now on, he would have to refrain from eating even dry rations that had no scent.
This was because Ouyang Jue was heading for a secluded part of the Zhongnan Sect.
Just as the Mount Hua Sect had the Plum Blossom Cave.
The Zhongnan Sect had a cave where Lü Dongbin was said to have resided while studying on Mount Zhongnan in the past.
'What's hidden there is the real prize.'
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was everything to the Zhongnan Sect.
Just as he had taken the Shaolin Temple's treasure, the Diamond Fist-Seal Armor, this time he planned to learn one of the Zhongnan Sect's sword arts.
Formally announcing his visit to the Zhongnan Sect would come later.
Some might call this cowardly if they heard of it, but what could he do?
After all, their own descendants had failed to grasp its true meaning.
Besides, Ouyang Jue wasn't soft-hearted enough to care about others' circumstances.
"Shall we?"
Muttering to himself, Ouyang Jue let out a small grunt and slowly began to climb the mountain.
The mountain path was full of things to avoid.
Dry branches, leaves, and even animals with loud cries.
He had to be mindful of all these things, so Ouyang Jue's pace was exceedingly slow.
Drip.
A bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face.
As he drew closer to the cave, the number of intentionally concealed paths increased.
It meant he was approaching a secluded area, heavily guarded against outsiders.
"..."
Rustle.
Ouyang Jue took a thin cloth from his pack and tied it around his mouth and nose.
From now on, even the sound of his breathing was a luxury.
A disciple of the Zhongnan Sect might even be stationed here.
Therefore.
Click.
Ouyang Jue attached a plaque with the Black Dragon Gang's name embossed on it to his waist.
If a Taoist from the Zhongnan Sect were to attack him, he planned to show the plaque and flee.
This was a kind of setup.
'At the very least, I have to make the Zhongnan Sect wary of the Black Dragon Gang.'
Since a spy from the Black Dragon Gang had once infiltrated the Mount Hua Sect, there was no reason to think they wouldn't do the same to Zhongnan.
And the anger of having their sacred ground invaded would cloud their judgment.
Thus, having laid the groundwork, Ouyang Jue entered the path leading to the cave.
Late at night.
Ouyang Jue raised his head and looked at the characters carved above the cave.
Heavenly Escape.
It was the name of the sword art that Lü Dongbin was said to have learned from the Perfected Man Huolong while cultivating the Dao.