A Line Crossed
The joining of the Fist King Neunghogun’s Gongson Clan was unexpected. Even though their influence in Liaoning Province continued to shrink, no one had imagined they would turn their backs on the Murim Alliance. Though the development came as a surprise, their alliance was most welcome. The only problem was the name of the Hubei Alliance. With the Ice Palace and the Gongson Clan now part of it, the title “Hubei” felt ill-fitting. That could be changed once more forces joined, so it was not worth worrying about now.
With Gongson Ryong’s addition, the Hubei Alliance’s strength had grown enough to threaten the Murim Alliance. In any case, their alliance allowed Baekri Hyeong to return to the clan. The moment Baekri Hyeok came back, he began moving to root out the spies hidden within the clan. It was the Sword Sovereign himself who had taken action. The mere fact that he was searching for traitors was enough to restrict their movements. At the very least, the annihilation the Baekri Clan had suffered in the past would be avoided.
So far, nothing had strayed far from the board Baekri Hyeong had laid out. Every deviation had ultimately worked in the clan’s favor. Things seemed to be progressing far more smoothly than expected. Usually, when matters flowed this well, something always went wrong.
And sure enough—
“Clan Lord! Disaster has struck!”
“What is it?”
“The Black Tiger Sword Sect is gathering a massive army. It appears… they are preparing for war!”
A warrior of the Baekri Clan rushed in with an urgent expression and delivered the unbelievable report. The Black Tiger Sword Sect was readying for war. Baekri Hyeok could not believe his subordinate’s words. No matter how foolish the Black Tiger Sword Sect might be, would they truly invade orthodox territory so soon after the Hubei Alliance had formed? Unless they sought their own destruction, there was neither justification nor benefit in such a fight. Therefore, Baekri Hyeok refused to accept it.
Even if the Black Tiger Sword Sect crossed into orthodox lands, he could resolve the matter alone in short order. Yet the subordinate shook his head with a grim expression, indicating that was not the case.
“Clan Lord. The army the Black Tiger Sword Sect has assembled… consists of experts from the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect.”
“The Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect? One of the Four Heavenly Sects?”
“The Fist King has moved.”
“..!”
The Fist King, Neunghogun. Lord of the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect, one of the Four Heavenly Sects, and one of the Ten Great Masters of the world. Though known for his belligerent nature, he was one of the few unorthodox experts acknowledged by the orthodox side. He was also famous for being extremely reluctant to leave his seat. Why would such a man move to support the Black Tiger Sword Sect’s war? Something was wrong.
“Keep investigating the Black Tiger Sword Sect’s movements and report in real time. Also, send carrier pigeons to the Jegal Clan and the Wudang Sect, telling them to prepare for any possible conflict.”
“Yes.”
“And… do not inform Hyeong of this matter.”
“I receive the Clan Lord’s command.”
The subordinate swiftly carried out Baekri Hyeok’s orders. He did not understand why the young master was to be kept in the dark, but he assumed there was a reason. He would never dare oppose Baekri Hyeok when the latter issued commands not as clan lord but as the Sword Sovereign.
Baekri Hyeong would learn nothing of this incident.
Or so he believed.
“That is what Father is thinking, is it not?”
Baekri Hyeong, who had been circulating his qi in his room, allowed a faint smile to tug at his lips. The Black Tiger Sword Sect’s movements appeared suspicious. Because this was an event that had never occurred in his previous life, a thrill of excitement ran through him. What could possibly make them prepare to strike the Baekri Clan while the Sword Sovereign still stood? Moreover, little time had passed since the Hubei Alliance was formed. Attacking the Baekri Clan, the alliance’s core, would mean facing both Wudang and the Jegal Clan. Did they truly believe victory was possible with only the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect’s support?
Very well. Let us set the Sword Sovereign aside for now. The Hyeongyeong experts within the Hubei Alliance were Jinryeong, head of Wudang; Jegal Jincheon, lord of the Jegal Clan; and roughly two elders from Wudang and one from the Jegal Clan—five in total. By comparison, the combined forces of the Black Tiger Sword Sect and the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect possessed only two Hyeongyeong experts: the Fist King and the Black Tiger Sword Sect Lord. The problem was that the Fist King was no ordinary Hyeongyeong expert. Even so, if three Hyeongyeong experts held the Fist King at bay while the remaining one dealt with the Black Tiger Sword Sect Lord, one expert would still remain on their side. The advantage lay with them. And if the Sword Sovereign were added to the equation, victory was assured.
“Is one of the Murim Five Sovereigns moving on their side as well?”
The unorthodox Murim Five Sovereign was the one known as the Demon Sovereign. In his previous life, they had been unable to locate him at all and had concluded he was dead. If the Demon Sovereign were lending his hand to this war… that would be a serious problem.
“Even if Father has reached the level of the Murim Five Sovereigns, he would still be at the bottom rank…”
Most of the Murim Five Sovereigns had reached an age where they could no longer fight properly, their lifespans exhausted. Yet the Demon Sovereign was said to remain capable of battle despite his years. As the saying went, a Sovereign was still a Sovereign—perhaps the Black Tiger Sword Sect had somehow recruited him.
“Then we are in trouble.”
Even if heavenly fortune allowed his father to defeat the Demon Sovereign, the casualties both sides would suffer would be catastrophic. Of course, the chance that the Demon Sovereign would intervene was extremely slim. That said, the Black Tiger Sword Sect was not foolish enough to attack the Baekri Clan while the Sword Sovereign still lived without good reason. Naturally, his thoughts turned elsewhere.
What if a third force was instigating this conflict? The answer to who that third force might be came at once.
“The Demonic Cult… They are moving faster than expected.”
Recalling his previous life, the Demonic Cult had never revealed signs of moving this quickly. Yet one thing was certain: even if they had not shown themselves before, their secret activities within the murim were an undeniable fact. The same held true now. No one suspected the Demonic Cult. In truth, they were operating deep in the shadows, unseen by all.
“We will win the war regardless. The real question is how much damage we can minimize.”
They probably would not actually start a war, but since it remained possible, he would not lower his guard. With that resolve, Baekri Hyeong retired early for the first time in a long while. When he awoke the next day, he was met with shocking news.
Kwaaaang!!
“What… did you just say?”
“A large-scale massacre has occurred in Hubei County… The culprit is presumed to be the Black Tiger Sword Sect.”
“How many victims?”
“Estimated at over five hundred!”
“…”
The subordinate trembled as he delivered the report. He had never imagined the Black Tiger Sword Sect would go mad and slaughter civilians overnight. Regardless of anything else, civilians had been massacred. Failing to protect them when they could have was a responsibility that had to be borne. Baekri Hyeok suppressed his rage and began filling his eyes with killing intent.
“It will not take long.”
“Pardon?”
“Today, I will erase the Black Tiger Sword Sect from the gangho.”
“Clan Lord!!”
Kwaaaang!
Enraged by the line that had been crossed, Baekri Hyeok kicked open the door and soared into the sky. Having reached the realm of the Five Sovereigns, he could freely employ the art of walking on air. Not long after leaving the clan, he vanished completely from sight.
As Baekri Hyeok disappeared, Baekri Hyeong appeared with a bewildered expression.
“What happened? For Father to show such a side…”
“Ah, well…”
“Tell me. I need to know as well.”
“Understood.”
Even knowing Baekri Hyeok’s instructions, the subordinate had no choice but to speak given the circumstances. The Black Tiger Sword Sect and the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect had been plotting something together, and last night a civilian massacre had been committed, prompting Baekri Hyeok to depart in fury to annihilate the Black Tiger Sword Sect.
More than anything else, upon hearing of the civilian massacre, Baekri Hyeong pressed his lips together and fell silent. It was something he always pondered. The reason the unorthodox and orthodox sides merely opposed each other without completely destroying one another was because they observed a line. The minimum line of not touching civilians. The Demonic Cult was a gathering of madmen who even touched civilians, despised by both sides alike. Yet for the unorthodox side to display such behavior?
“These crazy bastards..!”
Unforgivable. He would charge in at once and lend his father his strength to annihilate the Black Tiger Sword Sect. Thinking so, he turned—only for a woman to block his path.
“Move aside, Sister.”
“No.”
“Civilians have died! This… is crossing the line!”
Civilians had died. Yet was there any other reason why the son of a prestigious orthodox clan should not head to the battlefield? Baekri Hyeong pleaded with sincerity. Baekri Hyang merely shook her head.
“We will handle it. You are still a child. Stay here quietly.”
“Sister!!”
“If you truly wish to go—”
Shrrring.
Baekri Hyang drew her sword from its sheath and pointed it at her younger brother. He was momentarily taken aback, but quickly steadied his gaze and placed his hand upon his own sword sheath. Then Baekri Hyang spoke.
“Defeat me and go.”