Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: A Meeting (1)
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About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later.
Ouyang Jue had to face the enraged Bai Duanxian.
“Explain these rumors.”
What more was there to explain beyond what the rumors already said?
A toe twitched inside Ouyang Jue’s shoe.
“As I reported, I handled the matter well.”
At those words, a look of exasperation washed over Bai Duanxian’s face.
He had, indeed, handled the matter well.
Impeccably so, in fact.
He hadn’t resolved it with mere violence; he’d even found the perfect justification of clearing the name of a small merchant named Bai Chuan.
But the finishing touch was far from good.
‘To think that a disciple of Mount Hua would become the subject of commoners’ gossip during my time as Sect Leader.’
Bai Duanxian heaved another deep sigh.
Judging by the rumors alone, Ouyang Jue was no Taoist.
‘They say he demolished a merchant guild’s building in the middle of the night and beat down the guild master inside. And what’s this? He kicked a man while he was down?’
Bai Duanxian stared at Ouyang Jue in disbelief.
“Most importantly, I hear your name has been spread far and wide, in excruciating detail.”
“…Well, I suppose that can happen.”
At the evasive reply, Bai Duanxian’s eyes glinted sharply.
“Surely you didn’t spread the rumors yourself?”
For a moment, Ouyang Jue inwardly held his breath.
‘Unnecessarily sharp.’
He was right. Ouyang Jue had orchestrated the rumors.
There were several reasons, but they could be broadly categorized into two.
First, to draw any infamy to himself, shielding Liu Zhangming, who was destined to become the Mount Hua Sect’s representative martial power.
Second, to buy himself more time to stay within the Mount Hua Sect.
The sect’s rules weren’t so lenient as to send a disciple who had once tarnished its reputation out into the world again.
It wouldn’t be so bad to just stay here for a couple of years, training with Jo Hun by his side.
‘Besides, Senior Brother grows perfectly fine on his own.’
Even after all the main fighting forces had left and the sect’s finances were in ruins, Liu Zhangming had still earned the title of Plum Blossom Sword God.
If he wasn’t a genius, who was?
Not even Grandmaster Wucheng of Shaolin could compare to Liu Zhangming.
So, the plan was to stay in Mount Hua, train, and raise Jo Hun.
This was Ouyang Jue’s primary course of action.
‘It might change depending on the circumstances, but in the martial world, the strong reign supreme.’
He wouldn’t have even intervened this time if they hadn’t been so poor they couldn’t afford proper nourishment.
Ouyang Jue despised drawing attention and being dragged around here and there.
He would rather be reprimanded like this.
‘My path to becoming stronger is limitless.’
Ouyang Jue wished Bai Duanxian would get even angrier and confine him to some mountain valley.
“I was truly, truly wrong!”
With that sentiment in his heart, Ouyang Jue began to beg for forgiveness in a voice utterly devoid of sincerity.
“…Hm?”
“To ensure this never happens again, I will remain in Mount Hua and train until I come of age!”
While Bai Duanxian looked on, dumbfounded, Ouyang Jue rattled off his words without a shred of emotion.
“If I am allowed to leave, I fear I will tarnish the Mount Hua Sect’s honor with some other incident, so I will take this time to cultivate myself.”
‘…You *fear* you will?’
Was this some kind of test of his patience?
Bai Duanxian glanced at the dented wall and reined in his anger.
“Are you saying you really used violence against a civilian?”
Thinking about it rationally, the statement wasn’t wrong.
In his past, Ouyang Jue himself had felt no hesitation in using violence against commoners.
Of course, he now knew he should avoid such actions whenever possible.
But more importantly, there was something Bai Duanxian needed to understand right now.
“Yes, I struck him with my fists.”
“You scoundrel…!”
Despite the fury in Bai Duanxian’s voice, Ouyang Jue’s demeanor remained defiant.
“But just because someone is weak or a commoner who knows no martial arts doesn’t make them good. The Golden Ring Merchant Guild did indeed embezzle the Mount Hua Sect’s funds and create victims like Bai Chuan.”
At those words, Bai Duanxian fell silent for a moment before his expression turned bitter.
“How could I not know that? I know. I know all too well that the outside world is full of people who commit evil under various pretexts.”
“…”
“Nevertheless, a Taoist must abide by the Way. Because you possess power, you must know how to use it. That is the advice I can give you as the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.”
Ouyang Jue’s expression grew serious.
‘The Sect Leader also feels the contradiction.’
Just as Liu Zhangming had been greatly disappointed by the Martial Alliance.
It seemed Bai Duanxian’s judgment as a man of office and his judgment as a private individual were different.
As Taoists, Bai Duanxian and Liu Zhangming were right. Ouyang Jue, who had struck a third-rate martial artist no better than a commoner, was in the wrong.
But this was the martial world.
And his enemies were martial artists who would use any dirty trick to win, regardless of whether their opponent was a Taoist or one of the Three Pure Ones themselves.
The martial world and Mount Hua, a martial artist and a Taoist.
Failure to bridge that gap would lead to ruin.
‘Just like when the Mount Hua Sect was slowly declining.’
Ouyang Jue shook his head gravely.
“No matter what you say, I do not believe my judgment was wrong.”
“Jue, you…!”
He wouldn’t even pretend he was trying to uphold the rules?
Seeing this disciple, who had always been more cunning than any other, act this way, Bai Duanxian was so dumbfounded he fell silent.
He had no choice but to mete out a severe punishment.
“If that is truly your will… very well. I will see to it that you cannot set foot outside Mount Hua for at least the next two or three years.”
Just as Bai Duanxian took a breath, as if that wasn’t the end of it, a child’s voice suddenly rang out from outside the building.
“You can’t!”
At the words, Bai Duanxian let out a sigh.
Though it was just a voice, he knew who had spoken.
“Show yourself.”
*Tap, tap, tap, creak.*
The child, who had scurried to the entrance, carefully pushed the door open.
Hoping against hope, Ouyang Jue asked without turning around.
“Is that you, Hun?”
“…Yes, Senior Brother.”
“I am speaking with the Sect Leader. Why have you interrupted?”
Jo Hun hesitated for a moment before quietly stating his purpose.
“Senior Brother, you did it for me, for my sake.”
Ouyang Jue let out a soft chuckle.
Honestly, seeing Jo Hun’s condition had made him realize the gravity of the situation and hurry things along.
“Well, you’re not wrong. Are you saying you want to share the blame?”
“I-Is that not allowed?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I just did as I pleased.”
With that reply, Ouyang Jue turned his head back to Bai Duanxian.
It was time to hear his sin directly from the Sect Leader and receive his punishment.
‘At most, five years? That should be enough time to become renowned as one of the Four Great Masters of the realm.’
Since it was a peak he had reached once before, growing stronger would be easy.
He could retrieve Severing Manifestation after that. It wouldn’t be too late.
“Well, I am ready, Sect Leader.”
“…*Sniffle*.”
‘What was that?’
Did he hear wrong?
Ouyang Jue strained his ears toward Bai Duanxian.
He really was welling up with tears.
“E-Excuse me, Sect Leader?”
Why did he look so moved in a situation like this?
Ouyang Jue saw a vision of his carefully laid plans crumbling to dust.
But he forced himself to shake his head.
Perhaps he was so angry that he was moved to tears.
To the bewildered Ouyang Jue, Bai Duanxian poured out the emotions he felt without reservation.
“To think such a thing happened between martial brothers. No wonder! You mentioned Jo Hun before you left!”
“W-Well, that was one of the reasons, but I did strike someone outside the martial path. According to the rules, that is a grave sin.”
Bai Duanxian shook his head firmly.
“How can I punish you when you acted out of concern for your junior brother’s plight! I will dismiss it with my authority as Sect Leader. The other elders will surely understand, so do not worry.”
“…Pardon?”
There’s no need for that, Ouyang Jue barely managed to hold back from saying.
‘Why are you prioritizing the bond between martial brothers over the sect’s rules?!’
As Ouyang Jue stood there in a daze, Bai Duanxian continued.
“However, you will need to receive the guidance of the Master of the Disciplinary Hall. As you said, a similar incident could occur again.”
“The Master of the Disciplinary Hall?”
“Yes, your martial uncle, Song Muk.”
Only after hearing the name directly from Bai Duanxian did Ouyang Jue accept reality.
‘Good heavens.’
It made sense, as Song Muk and the other four elders were all above the peak of their prowess.
The fact that he was the Sect Leader's martial brother was also something to be mindful of.
A host of questions appeared on Ouyang Jue’s face.
“But, why would Martial Uncle Song…?”
Bai Duanxian evaded a direct answer and instead posed another condition.
“Ahem, you are dismissed.”
At those words, Ouyang Jue couldn’t help but realize why it had to be Song Muk. He must have personally made the request to the Sect Leader.
Ouyang Jue sighed.
His plan to train comfortably in Mount Hua now that the financial issue was somewhat resolved had been completely shattered.
And by the man once known as the Clear Sky Sword, no less!
Just then, Jo Hun came to his side and hugged his leg.
“This is great, Senior Brother!”
“Uh, yeah…”
Oh, whatever.
In a daze, Ouyang Jue gave Bai Duanxian a bow and exited the Plum Blossom Hall.
* * *
“Elder Song, are you in there!”
Even after Ouyang Jue had called out more than three times, no answer came from within.
Considering the usual state of the Disciplinary Hall, this was unbelievable.
‘There’s usually at least one person on duty.’
Wondering if he was being toyed with, Ouyang Jue cautiously opened the door.
*Whoosh!*
A sharp sound echoed from deep within the Disciplinary Hall.
Ouyang Jue immediately threw himself toward a corner of the wall.
It was an animalistic instinct, or rather, an insight gained through countless battles.
‘I can’t parry that with my current internal energy!’
An immense amount of internal energy had been infused into the object he saw the moment he opened the door.
At least twenty years’ worth.
Even for Ouyang Jue, that was too much.
More importantly…
‘This is too rough! Was he trying to kill me?’
It was an attack thrown callously, as if with no regard for Ouyang Jue’s circumstances.
It was far too great to be a joke from a martial uncle of the same sect.
*Crash—!* *Clatter.*
The object grazed Ouyang Jue’s sleeve and embedded itself in the ground. Seeing what it was, Ouyang Jue’s lips curled into a smirk.
“That must be a rather sturdy teacup. For it to only crack after being infused with so much internal energy.”
“Rather sturdy, you say! That was a plum blossom teacup I commissioned from a master craftsman!”
*Thump, thump.*
Hearing footsteps from inside the Disciplinary Hall, Ouyang Jue turned his head.
“That was a harsh prank.”
At his words, the middle-aged man wearing a black Taoist cap chuckled.
“Hehe, at my age, mischief is all that grows.”
“Mischief? My head could have flown off.”
“But you’re alive, aren’t you?”
“…Heh.”
As Ouyang Jue let out a dry laugh, the middle-aged man, the Clear Sky Sword Song Muk, picked up the handle of the teacup that was buried deep in the dirt.
However, due to the twenty years of internal energy and the subsequent impact, the cup was already broken.
*Clink, clatter.*
Song Muk clicked his tongue as the fragments of the teacup fell to the floor.
“What a waste.”
“Then why did you throw it?”
“That, of course, was to understand the cause and effect.”
Those words sent an unusual current through Ouyang Jue.
“Cause and effect?”
“Where there is a beginning, there is a process, and the actions taken within that process determine the outcome. I trust Disciple Ouyang understands this.”
“I fail to see how that relates to what just happened.”
As Ouyang Jue tilted his head in confusion, Song Muk recalled the events of a few days prior.
It had been rather unexpected.
No, to be precise, it had been astonishing.
To uncover a merchant guild’s corruption on his first trip outside, and to skillfully capture an assassin who was targeting him and bring him back.
This was something even a genius couldn’t do.
A genius would have felt no need to capture the assassin and would have simply killed him on the spot.
This required seasoned experience and an understanding of the martial world.
It was a decision that required a blend of both.
That was why Song Muk harbored a small suspicion.
‘Was Ouyang Jue always this kind of person?’
From Song Muk’s cold assessment, the Ouyang Jue of the past had shown none of these qualities.
A disciple with no particular martial talent but a ruffian-like personality that invited much gossip.
That was Ouyang Jue’s previous standing.
But what about now?
Favorable rumors about Ouyang Jue were spreading within the Mount Hua Sect.
—To think his ruffian-like nature was hiding such strategic wit.
—Seeing what he did this time, it seems he’ll become one of Mount Hua’s future prodigies alongside Zhangming, haha.
Many, regardless of rank, expressed their admiration for his part in exposing the Golden Ring Merchant Guild’s corruption.
Of course, different people focused on different aspects.
But it all boiled down to one point.
—His skills have become terrifying, haven’t they?
—He seemed quite at ease, too. I mean, his expression was so calm while dragging a living person back.
Naturally, there was no such thing as a fluke in the martial world.
The martial world was too deep to navigate with luck alone. Even if fortune played a part, it was only possible because of a foundation that had been built beforehand.
Thus, Song Muk was curious.
‘Just what kind of person is Ouyang Jue?’
If he was someone who couldn’t be trusted, he intended to break him here and now.
But.
If Ouyang Jue was a trustworthy person, if the suspicion he now held was dispelled.
Song Muk intended to show his young martial nephew his respect.
And he would make the other elders acknowledge that he had the proper skill to be involved in the major and minor affairs of the Mount Hua Sect.
‘As the one who exposed the problems of a gradually declining Mount Hua.’
He would recommend Ouyang Jue for the upcoming Great Dragon Conclave.