Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Martial Alliance (1)
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“The government's movements lately…”
“Just yesterday, they took down the Tiger King Stronghold of the Green Forest…”
A bustling clamor.
The banquet held in the rear garden of the Martial Alliance was a sea of people, teeming with countless martial artists.
Yet, the aura of every single one was formidable. They were a far cry from the typical younger generation.
Observing this, Ouyang Jue scanned the martial artists with a look that said, *Well, well, well*.
‘Oh? Are they trying to single me out and intimidate me?’
A sneer formed on his lips. Indeed, younger martial artists like Yeong Heo-ja, Yang Ji-hyeon, and Yeop Cheong were nowhere to be seen.
Someone had surely pulled them aside for a chat.
Ouyang Jue shrugged.
The best response was to ignore it.
“Guess I'll enjoy some drinks for a change.”
That single remark silenced the bustling banquet hall in an instant.
It was an artificial silence.
The manufactured quiet seemed to intentionally press down on Ouyang Jue. They must have agreed to do this.
It was absurdly childish and futile. But for the younger generation, there was nothing quite like it.
The dream of rising to prominence.
To achieve greatness with nothing but the body one was born with—that was the dream of every martial artist!
Therefore, they wouldn't want to be on bad terms with the Martial Alliance. The same went for getting friendly with the masters present here.
‘If things go south, I can just stop seeing these people.’
No matter how powerful the Martial Alliance was, it wasn't the absolute best. If this was how they were going to act, he just needed to find another way.
Ouyang Jue leisurely downed the spirit.
“Kuh!”
As expected of a top-quality brew, it felt like his throat was on fire.
There were also grilled dishes and vegetables that clung delightfully to the palate. Among them were grains prepared to suit the tastes of those from north of the river.
“Nice.”
Ouyang Jue let out a pleasant sound and smiled faintly.
The martial artists watching him exchanged messages through telepathy.
-This isn't working, is it?
-I've never heard of him being so thick-skinned. Isn't this something a member of the Beggars' Sect would do?
Their bewilderment was plain to see, and Ouyang Jue glanced their way.
They seemed flabbergasted by such a confident and insolent junior. And one from a prestigious sect like Mount Hua, no less.
But they were about to learn.
That even Mount Hua produces an oddball every now and then.
Ouyang Jue raised his voice and said, “Thank you for inviting me here today, Seniors.”
“Seniors? Hah hah.”
“Well, there’s no need to thank us.”
Their words said one thing, but their expressions showed they were clicking their tongues for failing to get the upper hand. Ouyang Jue pressed them with unstoppable momentum.
“But I heard this was a banquet for the younger generation. Why do I only see seniors?”
Just then, a martial artist sitting at the head table responded with a jest.
“Isn't that all the better? We get the pleasure of seeing a promising young martial artist like you, and you get to learn the ways of the world from your seniors.”
“The ways of the world, you say?”
Ouyang Jue held a faint smile.
“I’ve learned plenty of that from the elders at Mount Hua. I don't know who you are, but I cannot receive teachings from an outsider to my sect.”
“Ultimately, the ways of the world are not confined to one place. They are all interconnected.”
“…”
At those words, Ouyang Jue stopped drinking and stared intently at the man.
A glance was enough to tell he was dressed in white robes, likely a scholar of some sort.
A rash reply here would get him labeled as a junior who speaks rudely to his seniors, and unpleasant rumors would surely spread.
‘If that happens, the Mount Hua Sect, which sent me here, will also face harsh scrutiny.’
Ouyang Jue blinked slowly for a moment, then steeled his resolve.
“In that case, what is the intention of the seniors who summoned me here?”
“…Hmm?”
A direct confrontation, just like that.
The white-robed martial artist thought Ouyang Jue had made a truly childish choice. A smirk formed beneath the fan he had briefly unfurled.
Then, he used telepathy to whisper to his comrades around him.
-I will handle this one myself.
The crowd tacitly agreed to his message.
Simultaneously, the quiet banquet hall regained its energy.
The man in white, Jegal Hyeon, was a person with that much influence.
He decided to provoke Ouyang Jue a little to see if the matter could be handled amicably.
But Ouyang Jue struck first.
“I have heard of your great name. The White-Robed Wise Dragon.”
“You know of me?”
‘But I heard this was his first time in the martial world.’
Jegal Hyeon studied Ouyang Jue carefully.
His features didn't suggest a particularly sharp mind. More than anything, he looked like someone who enjoys worldly values.
‘Was I mistaken…?’
Jegal Hyeon stroked his dark, stubbled beard.
He couldn't have known. That Ouyang Jue had caught a glimpse of the life he had lived in his past.
Ouyang Jue offered a friendly smile.
“Although this is our first meeting, Senior, I have long admired you. I heard you made a great contribution to the subjugation of the Green Forest.”
“Well, yes. Though many of the Waterway Strongholds still remain.”
As they exchanged a few more words, Jegal Hyeon began to feel that Ouyang Jue was a surprisingly knowledgeable and wise young man.
He remained oblivious to the fact that it was all part of Ouyang Jue’s plan.
His goodwill gradually deepened. Even Ouyang Jue’s initial actions were now seen as the courage of a young martial artist.
Jegal Hyeon was especially tempted by Ouyang Jue when he recited his predictions for the future trends of the martial world.
“You say that the weakened unorthodox factions will unite now that the Green Forest, the Waterway Strongholds, and the Black Dragon Gang have been swept away? Do you think the world's affairs are so simple?”
“It’s possible.”
Ouyang Jue was predicting future events by skillfully mixing a few incidents from his past life with the ones he had caused himself.
If he just mentioned the parts where he could use the Martial Alliance, everything would flow smoothly.
Ouyang Jue’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
“The Eighteen Strongholds of the Green Forest and the Yangtze River Waterway Strongholds are said to have come from the same root. They even joined forces when the old Demonic Cult was first exposed.”
“…”
“And it’s no boast, but our Mount Hua Sect, by joining forces with Zhongnan, has completely dismantled the Black Dragon Gang. The news that Wudang’s help was involved must have spread to some extent as well.”
*Gulp.*
Ouyang Jue coolly drained his drink.
“The Taoist sects of Shaanxi are only divided into Mount Hua and Zhongnan on the surface. In reality, they are like one body. The unorthodox factions, unable to blend with one another, cannot even form an alliance like the unorthodox sects do.”
In that respect, Bai Wun-hwan, the Leader of the Black Dragon Gang, was a remarkable, albeit wicked, figure.
Despite being a master of an unorthodox sect, he had willingly walked the path of the evil factions and established a massive gang.
“With the precedent of the Black Dragon Gang, the unorthodox sects will be even less likely to get involved with the evil factions. So they have no choice but to stick together.”
Since such circumstances were indeed appearing here and there, Jegal Hyeon folded the fan he had opened.
“Ha, indeed! You are right!”
Of course, he himself had already known.
But for a young martial artist with no such background knowledge to have such a grasp of the martial world’s dynamics!
His initial goal of putting Ouyang Jue in his place had already vanished.
Perhaps it would be better to frankly reveal the Martial Alliance’s true intentions.
‘This junior seems like he would understand.’
Birds of a feather flock together.
In fact, the Martial Alliance followed that very principle, dividing sects into different grades. And if the grades were different, they were thoroughly separated and used for different purposes.
The major sects were entrusted with the elite forces, as they possessed orthodox martial arts.
The small and medium-sized sects were stirred up by the great cause that the majority expressed, and were made to stand at the forefront to boost morale.
But there was a part that Ouyang Jue didn't mention.
Jegal Hyeon posed a meaningful question to Ouyang Jue.
“Then how do you think the unorthodox sects are moving now?”
“…I wonder.”
Having cut off the conversation at the right moment, Ouyang Jue wore a subtle expression.
‘That sly old fox. The way he’s probing me like this, it seems there’s something going on with the unorthodox sects too.’
It wasn't as if Ouyang Jue had eyes that could see a thousand miles in every direction.
He might know things that were certain to happen in the future, but Jegal Hyeon would know far more about what was happening across the martial world right now.
When Ouyang Jue trailed off as if he didn't know, Jegal Hyeon chuckled.
“It’s not wrong to not know. They too are acting with extreme caution.”
“So summoning the younger generation this time must be related to that.”
“Correct. Your intuition is sharp.”
Jegal Hyeon dismissed the servants who were waiting nearby.
“In fact, aside from the Mount Hua Sect, there have been cases of them targeting other prestigious orthodox sects and the influential figures of Zhejiang.”
“…The Black Dragon Gang.”
“Yes, they are an evil faction, of course. But wasn't Bai Wun-hwan’s origin from an unorthodox sect?”
This was a rather different development.
Through Jegal Hyeon, Ouyang Jue was able to learn new information that he hadn't known in his past life, information that had been concealed by someone.
He learned that various groups, starting with martial arts schools founded by martial artists from unorthodox sects, had attacked orthodox and neutral factions.
He also heard that a master of unknown origin had been involved in the middle of it all.
Ouyang Jue knew one of them.
“Someone like the Demonic Doctor, Heavenly Dragon… you mean.”
“We too have been searching for him. We also heard that you were pursuing him through the Beggars' Sect.”
Hearing all this, it seemed their intention wasn't simply to intimidate him, but to gather various pieces of information.
Ouyang Jue told Jegal Hyeon only as much information as he deemed appropriate.
Jegal Hyeon was greatly pleased and satisfied.
“If only the orthodox factions had more young martial artists like you!”
“You praise me too highly.”
“So, to return to the topic, this time we wanted the younger generation to strengthen their friendships and at the same time…”
Ouyang Jue quickly picked up his words.
“You intended to bind them together under the name of the Martial Alliance to foster a sense of solidarity.”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
Although that plan had gone slightly awry due to Ouyang Jue’s actions.
Jegal Hyeon chose not to mention it and was about to move on.
But at that moment.
A red-faced, square-jawed man bellowed.
“But some clueless brat had to butt in and ruin it all!”
“…My friend.”
“Jegal, you bastard! Stay out of this for a moment!”
Ouyang Jue quickly sized up the man who was approaching him.
He wore casual clothes, not a Taoist robe.
A longsword hung from his waist, dangling loosely. The fact that it was deliberately worn loose suggested he had learned a peculiar sword art.
The man, who had come right up to Ouyang Jue, wore a menacing expression.
“You treat these small and medium-sized sects as if you have some kind of superiority complex. How are we supposed to establish a hierarchy with them in the future!”
“That, of course, should be done with proper righteousness and justice…”
“Tsk! This is why you youngsters are so hopeless!”
The man, his eyes flashing, finally said what he shouldn't have.
“Twenty years pass, and Mount Hua still hasn't changed! That's why a capable man like Ha Jin-ak was sacrificed!”
“…….”
“Spouting such carefree nonsense, you've all become incompetent blockheads! I feel sorry for that Ha Jin-ak fellow, tsk tsk.”
At those words, Ouyang Jue took a deep breath, then composed himself.
The light in his eyes sank, becoming deep and still.
Then he tilted his head defiantly.
“Let’s go.”
“…What?”
“You have to take responsibility for your words. Especially a man with balls.”
For the first time since becoming a Taoist, Ouyang Jue revealed not a fabricated anger, but a genuine one.
“Enough talk. Let's go.”
The killing intent that exploded from Ouyang Jue was more than enough to fill the entire banquet hall.