Chapter 34
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Why Come Here?
White Path Society.
Some call it the conservative faction of the righteous martial world, others label it entrenched corruption, and still more dismiss it as stagnant or even rotten water.
That group is none other than the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans.
Once, the Nine Great Sects competed among themselves, and the Five Great Clans did the same.
Members of the Nine Great Sects shifted with the rise and fall of fortunes, as did those of the Five Great Clans.
About sixty years ago, they solidified into their current forms and united as one alliance.
It was all to counter the threats from the Demonic Cult, the Blood Cult, and the rising power of the New Eight Schools within the righteous factions.
Thus, the White Path Society was born.
A collective where the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans propped each other up to protect their vested interests.
Even within this White Path Society, two sects stood out above the rest.
The Wudang Sect, hailed as the World's Greatest Sect.
And the Hubei Yeon Clan, known as the World's Greatest Clan.
The great war against the Demonic Cult and Blood Cult had shifted the title of World's Greatest Sect from Shaolin to Wudang, and the World's Greatest Clan from the Namgung Clan to the Yeon Clan.
In a secluded chamber of the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
There, a White Path Society meeting was underway.
"Heh, looks like something interesting went down at the Dragon Training Pavilion's Summer Combat Festival."
Monk Hyeon-gak of Shaolin stroked his beard as he spoke. At his words, faces from the Namgung Clan side twisted immediately.
"Just a minor disturbance."
Hocheon Corps Leader Namgung Hwa-woo's expression was far from pleasant as he said it.
To put it bluntly, it was embarrassing.
Not beaten by some outsider, but by the dregs of the dregs—the Fierce Dragon Corps rabble they raised as expendables.
"Well, I did hear an intriguing tale from the Dragon Training Pavilion."
All eyes turned to the man from Huashan Sect who had just spoken.
Seemingly pleased by the attention, Seon Cheong-woo—elder of Huashan Sect and the Righteous Heaven Alliance—smiled faintly.
"Neung Sa-jil told me a rather amusing name came up."
At the mention of an "amusing name," heads tilted in confusion, though a few sharp ones flashed with suspicion.
"Ha Mu-baek."
That short name sent ripples through the room.
Out of fifteen people, ten gaped in shock. The other five, unfamiliar with it, just cocked their heads.
"Heard he's in charge of Squad Seven in the Fierce Dragon Corps."
Seon Cheong-woo said casually, lifting his tea to his lips.
"Hmmm..."
"Urgh..."
Awkward groans echoed here and there.
"Pavilion Lord Pang went too far with his joking around."
Namgung Hwa-woo spoke with clear displeasure.
The Hocheon Corps Leader seat he now occupied had once belonged to Ha Mu-baek, after all.
"That's too harsh."
Pang Do-rin, representing the Pang Clan, replied with an uncomfortable look.
"Neung Sa-jil didn't know him, so he just passed along the letter saying the instructor in charge must be exceptionally capable. But those who know, know. What kind of man he is."
"A monster not worth associating with..."
A low murmur floated from somewhere.
Ha Mu-baek's presence in the Alliance had been an eyesore, so they'd kicked him out.
Of course, that had cost the Discipline Hall Lord dearly. To turn the pretext of assaulting a superior into reality, the madman had nearly beaten the lord to death before leaving.
Who would've thought that bastard was pulling stunts at the Dragon Training Pavilion.
"Did he pass on his signature techniques? How else could the Fierce Dragon Corps rabble pull off something like that?"
It was Abbot Jeong Yu-sa of the Ami Sect.
No one answered her question.
"Anyway, we need to keep a close eye on whatever schemes he's up to there. It could interfere with our grand undertaking."
At Seon Cheong-woo's words from Huashan, everyone nodded thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, the five who knew nothing of Ha Mu-baek still wore puzzled expressions.
The Golden Summit atop Heavenly Pillar Peak of Wudang Mountain.
"Master, please grant this disciple's request."
A young man bowed low, pleading earnestly there.
The old Daoist gazing at him shook his head sternly.
"That's not a place for you."
Despite his master's solemn words, the youth showed no sign of giving up. He remained bowed, refusing to rise.
"Hoo."
The old Daoist let out a deep sigh.
He was a former pinnacle master of Wudang, the grand uncle of the current sect leader.
Immortal Wu Yeon.
The previous Wudang's Greatest Sword.
"Woo-myeong, what is this all about?"
Immortal Wu Yeon asked, frustration evident.
"The Soaring Bow Heavenly Dance Sword has been defeated."
Immortal Wu Yeon's secular disciple, Joo Woo-myeong, straightened up with eyes blazing fiercely as he replied.
At that, Immortal Wu Yeon recalled the regular letter from the Alliance headquarters received by the Soaring Bow Palace leader the day before—likely how Joo Woo-myeong had heard from his senior brother, the sect leader.
"What does that have to do with you going to the Dragon Training Pavilion? There's nothing for you to learn there. So what if some Namgung kid's Soaring Bow Heavenly Dance Sword got beaten? It's no big deal."
"Even here, this disciple has constantly heard it: among our generation, Namgung Ji-hu is the greatest prodigy. To hear that his sword was defeated— I must go see for myself what lies in that Dragon Training Pavilion."
"Tch."
Immortal Wu Yeon clicked his tongue.
He could clearly see the competitive spirit dominating his disciple's heart.
"Woo-myeong. When cultivating Wudang's sword, a desire to compete is utterly useless. Yet right now, you're filled only with the urge to show off."
"......"
Joo Woo-myeong bit his lip at Immortal Wu Yeon's words.
"Heart Demon."
Immortal Wu Yeon closed his eyes briefly and murmured.
Soon after, as if having sorted his thoughts, he opened them and looked at his disciple.
"Very well. Better to face a heart demon early, perhaps, for your future growth. I'll speak to my grand-nephew the sect leader. Go."
Joo Woo-myeong's face lit up instantly at his master's permission.
"Thank you, Master!"
He bowed deeply, shouting his gratitude.
"Namgung's sword got broken, huh? Heh. Namgung's nothing special after all."
Pang Gun-ho, the eldest son of the Pang family head, spoke with evident amusement. No, his face beamed with utter satisfaction.
Namgung's sword, Pang's saber.
A common saying among the jianghu.
The problem was that Pang's saber always ranked below Namgung's sword.
And Namgung Ji-hu, hailed as the top prodigy among the younger generation.
Pang Gun-ho's own name was nowhere to be found among them.
"Turns out the so-called top prodigy might just be hype. Couldn't even withstand a joint attack from Fierce Dragon Corps trash. Heh heh."
"Brother, what are you thinking?"
At his sixth cousin's question—who had brought the news—Pang Gun-ho rose and headed out of the room.
"I need to see Father. Time to show him what a real prodigy looks like. Hahaha."
Bellowing with laughter, Pang Gun-ho reached the young master's quarters and twisted his face before his father.
"You mean no?"
"Yes."
Pang Do-won, the Pang young master, shook his head firmly.
"Why?"
"Think I don't know what you're after? Namgung Ji-hu lost to some Fierce Dragon Corps kids, so you think it's a laugh. Don't go embarrass yourself with your mediocre skills—stay put in the clan."
Pang Do-won was one to judge his eldest son harshly.
It pained him, but his son lacked both vessel and talent. That's why he kept him in the family.
"Mediocre skills? How can you look down on me like this, Father?!"
His explosive temper flared openly.
Shouting angrily before his father.
Yet Pang Do-won couldn't bring himself to scold his son harshly.
"What's going on?"
Just then, Pang Do-won's father—the Pang family head, Pang Mu-ryang—arrived.
"Grandfather!"
Pang Gun-ho's face brightened at Pang Mu-ryang's appearance.
He figured his grandfather would grant his wish.
Pang Gun-ho hurriedly explained why he'd raised his voice at his father.
"Hmmm. So the Namgung kid's nothing special. Yes, our Gun-ho is more than enough. Of course."
Pang Mu-ryang nodded with a face full of doting affection for his grandson.
Pang Do-won watched uneasily.
"The Dragon Training Pavilion— isn't Do-yul the Pavilion Lord there anyway?"
"Yes."
Pang Do-won answered his father's question curtly.
"Your brother is Pavilion Lord. Doesn't seem like an issue."
Pang Do-won looked troubled at the question.
Pang Mu-ryang's eyes sharpened sternly.
[Do-yul sent word: he's an instructor there.]
No reason to voice it to his son, so he transmitted it mentally, briefly.
[Him?]
Pang Mu-ryang's expression shifted slightly.
[Yes, him.]
Only then did Pang Mu-ryang realize who his son meant.
[That guy's there? I heard they booted him from headquarters, but why's he at the Pavilion?]
[Alliance Elder Council's decision.]
Pang Mu-ryang had chosen to stay at the main house, calling headquarters stifling, and sent his younger brother Pang Mu-rin as elder in the Elder Council.
Pang Gun-ho anxiously watched his father and grandfather.
They seemed to converse via transmission, and the mood grew heavier.
[Worried Gun-ho's temper might get him in trouble with that guy.]
[......]
Pang Mu-ryang fell silent at Pang Do-won's words.
Did he not know his grandson's temperament? He knew and allowed it.
In the Pang family, it didn't matter. As the family head's grandson and future heir, it was fine.
No, he even thought such traits necessary to lead subordinates as future head.
His own eldest son was too soft-tempered.
Unlike a true Pang clansman wielding the Pang saber.
That dissatisfaction led him to indulge Pang Gun-ho more.
Pang Mu-ryang stared silently at Pang Gun-ho for a moment.
[If that wretch dares touch my grandson, he won't get away with it. Tell Do-yul to warn him firmly.]
In the end, Pang Mu-ryang decided thus.
Pang Do-won closed his eyes briefly.
"Go. I'll speak to your uncle."
"Th-thank you, Grandfather!"
Pang Gun-ho bowed deeply, expressing joyful thanks.
'Maybe getting a harsh lesson there would be better for him.'
Pang Do-won suddenly thought, wondering if that man would even care about the Pang clan's influence.
"Something interesting happened at the Dragon Training Pavilion."
Yeon Baek-ryang, young master of the Yeon Clan, kept a stoic face at his subordinate's report.
"Any reason to care about the Dragon Training Pavilion?"
He'd already skimmed the report.
With family head and father Yeon Ja-kyeong at the Alliance Elder Council, Yeon Baek-ryang handled clan affairs.
He had mountains of work; he had brushed off the Dragon Training Pavilion as trivial.
"More importantly, any leads on that child?"
Yeon Baek-ryang's eyes gleamed with greed as he asked.
The subordinate knew what that greed meant but showed nothing.
"Not yet."
"Vanished in February. Four months already. Is this the extent of our Yeon clan's ability?"
At Yeon Baek-ryang's rebuke, the subordinate bowed hastily.
"N-no, sir."
Yeon Baek-ryang pondered, gazing at his subordinate.
"Someone might be hiding her. Since her status is unclear, start searching nearby again."
"Yes, understood."
After the subordinate left, Yeon Baek-ryang glanced back at the report set aside.
"That guy's at the Dragon Training Pavilion, huh..."
A rare vacation.
No less than over two months long.
Ha Mu-baek, returned to the Dragon Training Pavilion regardless of the Summer Combat Festival's outcome, grinned while pondering how to spend it.
He was even grateful the Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven cadets flunked out quickly.
Whistling a tune as he unpacked, Ha Mu-baek suddenly froze.
He flicked his ear with a finger.
"Someone talking about me? Why's my ear itching?"
Then, a familiar presence approached.
Ha Mu-baek's expression turned peculiar.
"Those guys during the break period... Why come here?"