153. Great Sun Association (3)
Great Sun Association (3)
153. Great Sun Association (3)
The battle ended in a perfect victory. Our side suffered not only zero deaths, but not even a single injury. The hundred or so martial artists from Great Sun Association who had been triumphantly withdrawing after a victory on the eastern front were annihilated, and Great Sun Association's headquarters were utterly smashed. Our Yeongsan Sect had participated in this battle as a direct party, yet it was a truly absurd military achievement. Thinking back, a bit of luck had helped us, but from the beginning, we had Reverend Hyeon-gang, the strongest fighting strength of the Orthodox Faction; Venerable Hyesang, the direct disciple of the Shaolin Abbot who ranked solidly in the upper tier of the world's top hundred martial artists; and me, an overpowered irregular.
Even though our numbers were few, the quality of the committed masters was vastly superior, and the operation of ambush and infiltration succeeded perfectly. A great victory was perhaps only natural. Now that the situation had settled somewhat, thanks to the martial artists of the pillars of the Martial World—Shaolin, Wudang, and the Beggars' Sect—who lavishly praised us, we felt a little embarrassed rather than proud.
"Great Sun Association had built up far greater forces than expected. We would probably have been defeated without Yeongsan Sect."
"The same goes for us. We had intended to confront Great Sun Association with just Yeongsan Sect and our subordinate forces, but that was completely insane."
At Hyesang's words, we honestly expressed our thanks as well.
"So, you smashed them up good, but you didn't find any suspicious evidence, right? I expected as much. As I thought, your true talent lies in just causing a ruckus rather than gathering intelligence."
The Drunken Beggar said this regretfully as he poured cheap liquor into his mouth.
"Then why don't you go have a look yourself, Elder, since you're the intelligence specialist? For reference, even at a glance, there were at least fifteen first-rate masters there, you know?"
"That's exactly the problem with this brat. That sort of thing is the job of monsters like you or peerless experts like Reverend Hyeon-gang. Anyway, Yeongsan Sect really is a fascinating place. Wudang and Mount Tai, the Flame Emperor, the legendary Moon-and-Medicine Twin Immortals. And even the martial arts of the Northern Sea Ice Palace on top of that. If their martial uniforms were just different, you could never imagine they were all from the same sect."
At the Drunken Beggar's words, my master looked at Hyeon-gang with a briefly troubled expression.
"Is it truly not a good thing for Yeongsan Sect, a Daoist sect, to learn martial arts from outside Daoism?"
At my master's concern, the senior Daoist Hyeon-gang smiled gently and spoke calmly.
"It matters not at all. In any case, all paths ultimately lead to one Dao. Even if you use the martial arts of the Buddhist Faction, if a martial artist's heart holds the Dao, then in the end, they walk the path of the Dao."
At Hyeon-gang's words, Hyesang also spoke with a smile.
"Reverend Hyeon-gang's words are correct. Since Yeongsan Sect is a Daoist sect, all of its martial arts become Daoist martial arts."
At Hyesang's clear answer, my master chuckled and said,
"Surely not. Vajra Art is a martial art of the Buddhist Faction, so how could it become a Daoist martial art just because we learn it?"
"Arhat Art, Hundred Pace Divine Fist, Tathagata Palm. They are all famous Buddhist martial arts. But have you ever thought about why they are Buddhist martial arts? The answer is simple. Because Shaolin belongs to the Buddhist tradition, Shaolin's martial arts also belong to the Buddhist tradition. Shakyamuni did not teach martial arts meant to harm people. They are merely a process toward liberation created by us Buddhist practitioners in the course of our cultivation.
"Even if Bodhisattva Cho-ryeong uses the Vajra Art, if her heart is set upon Immortal Ascension, that is a Daoist process of cultivation. Even if I use the Wuji Sword, if my heart is set upon liberation, that is a Buddhist process of cultivation."
Wow. Though the logic was rough, the genuine question-and-answer between a monk and a Daoist carried formidable persuasive power. Buddhism and Daoism, where the cultivation process itself was the religion, easily harmonized. For Buddhism, whether one attended a Daoist temple or lived in the secular world, as long as one could gain Enlightenment, everything was acceptable. Likewise, for Daoism, as long as one could attain the Dao, any path whatsoever was fine. The two major religions of the Central Plains had already become thoroughly intermixed over countless ages spent together.
If only everyone could harmonize like this, but unlike religions that gained awakening on their own, religions that served an Absolute Being were difficult to harmonize easily. A prime example of that was the Demonic Cult. Demonic Cult was a derogatory term used in the Central Plains. In truth, their religion was Fire Worship Religion. It was a religion that guarded the sacred flame. Of course, its origin was Zoroastrianism, passed down from Persia via India, but as it flowed into the Central Plains and suffered countless persecutions, it transformed into something strangely distorted.
They served both a good god and an evil god. Zoroastrianism, which affirmed both the good and evil sides, was a very unfamiliar concept in the Central Plains. Even Hinduism from India, which was closer than Persia, had failed to establish itself in the Central Plains. Hinduism had the Trimurti, the supreme three deities: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Even if they could accept Brahma, who presided over creation, or Vishnu, who presided over preservation, the Central Plains could not accept Hinduism because even Shiva, who presided over destruction, was an object of faith.
Similarly, Fire Worship Religion also suffered long persecution in the Central Plains due to the misunderstanding that it worshipped an evil god, and was distorted into the present Demonic Cult. In the end, even their good god and absolute deity Ahura Mazda came to be regarded as an asura in the Central Plains, and now, perhaps weary of it, the Demonic Cult itself had reached the point of proudly attaching 'Asura' and similar words to the names of its martial arts.
On top of that, the Blood Cult was even more troublesome. Unlike the Demonic Cult, which affirmed both the absolute good Ahura Mazda and the absolute evil Angra Mainyu, the Blood Cult was a heretical faction that served only Angra Mainyu. I was truly glad that Yeongsan Sect was Daoist.
"So, what shall we do now? Do we raid Great Sun Association again? Or shall we find wherever their prisoners are gathered and tear the place apart? Or, failing that, shall we try cooperating with the Unorthodox Faction coalition?"
"Cooperate with those Unorthodox bastards? With you saying that, even a passing dog would laugh."
Naturally, the third proposal was a joke. The Drunken Beggar cleanly ignored the joke and calmly spoke of what would follow.
"Though it's a feat beyond expectations, the element of surprise was the biggest factor. They probably never imagined that a great senior of the Orthodox Faction like Reverend Hyeon-gang would personally step forward. What's more, they could never have imagined that Yeongsan Sect, with only six disciples, would launch a frontal ambush instead of fleeing.
"But now our appearance has been revealed. Now they, too, will pull back the martial artists who went outside and hole up like moles for the time being. Even if they're winning against the Gunjo Sect and Sangjo Sect, if their home base gets wrecked, it would be putting the cart before the horse.
"Our role ends here. Great Sun Association's feet are now tied. The rest is up to those staying in the vicinity to keep watch on Great Sun Association's situation. In any case, Great Sun Association is finished sooner or later. Either after the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering ends in two months, or once a proper Medical Immortal Rescue Force joins the fray. The new Medical Immortal Rescue Force that is reassembling now is made up of martial artists on a completely different level from that previous motley crew."
The Drunken Beggar spoke cheerfully, buoyed by the great victory beyond expectations.
"However, if we wait for the martial artists who wish to rescue the Medical Immortal Sect to assemble, I worry for the safety of the Medical Immortal Sect members taken prisoner."
At the Drunken Beggar's words, Wudang's Myeong-jin brought up his concern with worry. Thanks to some undefined sense of inferiority I'd held, I had previously felt that the prestigious great families and major sects were, how should I put it, a bit stuck-up and arrogant, but these people were truly fine human beings, both as martial artists and as religious figures of Daoism and Buddhism.
"Moreover, while we've put out the urgent fire, it still remains suspicious. Great Sun Association's forces were beyond expectation. There were countless martial artists even at their headquarters, and there will be the martial artists we annihilated, plus the hundreds of martial artists confronting the Unorthodox coalition in the south. Moreover, they're still invading the surrounding minor sects even at this very moment, so I don't know the limits of their military strength. At this scale, haven't they already built up a force far greater than our Wudang?"
Hyeon-gang spoke gravely, and Hyesang nodded in agreement.
"That's right. No matter how much this is the land of the Unorthodox Faction, it is truly strange that while they grew their power here right under the Martial Alliance's nose, that fact was never conveyed to the Martial Alliance at all. So for the time being, we must remain here and conduct a serious investigation into Great Sun Association."
Even if this was an era where information was weak, it was truly absurd that they could increase their forces this much while evading the eyes and ears of the Martial Alliance. Information about secretly cultivating masters could be hidden if they set their minds to it, but hundreds of people had gathered. If hundreds of people had gathered, the resulting demand for food and clothing would inevitably be enormous, and such information was absolutely not the sort that could be blocked no matter how many spies you planted.
The Demonic Cult bastards didn't go to the trouble of forming village communities to become self-sufficient for nothing. It was because, without at least that level of effort, such information could absolutely never be blocked. Though it was a perfect victory, it was a situation that left an unsettling aftertaste. With a serious expression, Hyeon-gang discussed future plans with the Drunken Beggar, and seeing this, my master briefly hesitated and looked at Hyeon-gang.
"I shall never forget the help of my fellow Daoists for as long as I live. Thanks to the help of Yeongsan Sect, the infiltration unit and the support force each eradicated about a hundred Unorthodox martial artists, so Great Sun Association will also be unable to act rashly for the time being. Henan is a place where a festival for young martial artists is currently being prepared. More than anyone, I hope that the young Yeongsan Sect will fully enjoy the spirit of the Orthodox Faction in Henan."
With a polite and gentle manner, Hyeon-gang told Yeongsan Sect that it was time to be on their way. Yeongsan Sect had indeed achieved considerable military feats in this advance force, but that was possible only because this advance force was a small group of fewer than forty people. Soon, hundreds of martial artists would be assembling from all over the world, a proper Medical Immortal Rescue Force would be formed, and once the Martial Alliance's formal punitive force arrived, Yeongsan Sect would frankly not be of much help.
In truth, Yeongsan Sect had already preserved enough honor by this point. As the price for laying hands on the Yeongsan Sect Leader's master, Great Sun Association had lost a full two hundred martial artists and suffered the humiliation of having its headquarters raided. From now on, no one would dare antagonize Yeongsan recklessly. Of course, this was not achieved through our strength alone, but by combining forces with the advance party. Still, the accomplishment of saving the martial world from a crisis alongside Shaolin, Wudang, and the Beggars' Sect would greatly improve Yeongsan Sect's reputation in the future.
"It has been truly a thankful time for Shaolin as well, to have been able to form good ties. What is needed now is not strength, but merely time to watch the situation. So please continue your journey, Yeongsan Sect, for you have a prior appointment with the Alliance Leader. Great Sun Association will also no longer dare to pursue Yeongsan Sect now."
Having led a large-scale battle to victory alongside the pillars of the Martial World, my master had briefly become the chivalrous Orthodox hero she had once admired and was drunk on that feeling. She spoke with a hint of regret.
"I had only lived in the foothills of Liaoning, and on my first journey into the Martial World, I was able to see the true prestigious Orthodox sects. Shaolin, Wudang, and the Beggars' Sect were truly great, chivalrous sects worthy of the names of major sects. If we were also a large sect with many disciples, we could have lent our strength to Reverend Hyeon-gang and Venerable Hyesang's chivalrous deeds, but for Yeongsan Sect with only six members, it would truly be too much for us."
"There is no need for you to be abashed. In the first place, no sect under heaven possesses everything. The Beggars' Sect lacks wealth, and Wudang lacks female disciples. Yeongsan merely has a small number of disciples, but it is a truly fine sect with outstanding skill and fervent chivalry."
Venerable Hyesang of Shaolin, ever benevolent as expected, soothed my master. On one hand, they respected my master, who led a sect, as a sect leader, and on the other hand, as seniors of the Martial World, they were warmly guiding her, who had rapidly risen to become the head of a troublesome sect at a young age.
"Then, what does Shaolin lack?"
Cho-ryeong tilted her head and asked in a small voice at Hyesang's words.
"Shaolin also lacks many things. First of all, Shaolin lacks hair."
Cho-ryeong giggled at Hyesang's bald man joke.
"Well, to be honest, we'd like to ask Yeongsan Sect to stay with us as well. The more masters, the better, after all. But Yeongsan Sect must go to Henan. I don't know how much spare strength remains to Great Sun Association now, but Great Sun Association lost over a hundred martial artists as the price for touching Yeongsan Sect. If Yeongsan Sect withdraws from the front line here, Great Sun Association would welcome it. There will be no pursuit, so quietly go visit the Martial Alliance."
The Drunken Beggar spoke, tapping my shoulder.
"First, let us return to Sakju together. If we are to travel here and there in Shanxi for the next couple of months, we will need to firmly stock up on food supplies and cold-weather goods in Sakju."
At the words of Daoist Myeong-jin of Wudang, the advance force finally began to withdraw back to Sakju.
Unlike the forced march on the way here, where we had barely taken any meals or sleep, on the way back, since we had to wait for time to pass anyway, we moved slowly without relaxing our guard. Because it was winter and the sun set early, we began to prepare for bivouac at a suitable spot.
Shaolin and Wudang had no female disciples, and female beggars were rare even in the Beggars' Sect. Because of that, they must have been extremely worried that Yeongsan Sect, a sect of young ladies as beautiful as flowers, was camping in the wilds in the dead of winter like this. But, though I didn't know about the Beggars' Sect, we were a sect far more accustomed to bivouacking than Shaolin or Wudang. The martial artists' eyes went wide the moment we boiled water with Flame Qi in the blink of an eye and soaked dried wild greens to cook rice.
Lee Eun-ha always carried around a conspicuously huge pot and rice paddle on her back, but thanks to the pill manufacturing on the way here and her name Medicine Immortal, it seemed they'd never imagined this pot was genuinely used for cooking rice. Moreover, while Lee Eun-ha was thrifty with money, her generosity with food was wider than the Yangtze River. Before anyone knew it, she had cooked forty servings of rice and was beginning to serve them. Thanks to the period of terrible starvation and the fasting torture of the Heavenly Wolf Sect, my master, too, always carried about one mal of rice in her bundle.
Seeing the women like this, the martial artists of the advance force were once again in admiration of Yeongsan Sect. The wild greens dishes were delicious, but unlike the Central Plains cuisine drenched in oil, they had a characteristic of looking a bit lacking. However, Shaolin had always been vegetarian, Wudang adhered to strict asceticism, and the Beggars' Sect were, needless to say, beggars. No one complained at all; on the contrary, they all finished their meal cleanly, praising the name of Medicine Immortal.
Now, when it was time to sleep, as those ladies of exquisitely delicate appearance casually lay down directly on the bare ground, the eyes of Shaolin and Wudang widened in shock, while the Beggars' Sect, for some unknowable reason, looked at us with friendly faces. Teaching them how to make simple blankets by bundling fallen leaves and straw, and generally acting like respectable senior martial artists was what Wudang and Shaolin did. Beggars' Sect, however, oddly acted like veteran beggars, which wasn't exactly a pleasant feeling.