159. Martial Alliance (2)
Martial Alliance (2)
159. Martial Alliance (2)
As we crossed from the Eastern Region to the Western Region, the chaotic, sweltering heat instantly settled into calm. It made you feel, more than the scenery itself, that the atmosphere was an entirely different place—like the contrast between Do-hwa's house in a Beijing back alley and the house we had newly moved to in the wealthy district. The thirty or so splendid manors stretched out in rows, each seeming to try to outshine the others. So deep in their contest of prestige were they that even the gatekeepers were second-rate martial artists or better, flaunting their dignity.
"There are more manors than I expected. I thought there'd be exactly fifteen, since it's the Nine Great Sects, the Beggars' Sect, and the Five Great Clans."
Son Yeong murmured quietly as she gazed at the sprawl of manors.
"Only the current Nine Great Sects, the Beggars' Sect, and the Five Great Clans can establish manors here, but they can't confiscate the manors of sects that built them and were pushed out, can they? That Jinju Eon Clan over there, or the Hainan Sword Sect on that side—they've been pushed out of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans, but they still use this place. The sects that still linger in the Western Region even after being ousted are called the Gold Plaque Sects."
A sect that had ever once entered the core of the Martial Alliance—the Nine Great Sects, the Beggars' Sect, and the Five Great Clans—was granted the right to build a manor inside the Alliance. The fact that the Jinju Eon Clan or the Hainan Sword Sect still had manors here, though now pushed out from that core, was probably a proud past glory for them. But the arrogant princess of the Murong Clan—which in hundreds of years had never once been pushed out of the Five Great Clans—quietly sneered, as if asking how they weren't ashamed to still use this place after being pushed out. I felt the Murong Clan's underlying power anew. They were not merely the lords of Liaoning, but a truly prestigious clan of nationwide renown recognized throughout the martial world.
"Then how does the Murong Clan own three manors?"
The owners of the manors lined up were all truly formidable sects. But even they owned only a single manor. At Murong Rin's mention that the Murong Clan owned three, Master finally spoke up and asked.
"Even if you're pushed out of the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Clans, you can keep using the manor, but they can't just leave a manor from an annihilated sect alone. My ancestors donated a massive sum to the Alliance and bought two empty manors."
Even with the stark gap between the Eastern Region we'd just been in and this Western Region, we were still truly stunned. But she, one of the “sacred-bone” elite, spoke matter-of-factly about the gulf between them and the “true-bone” clans, as if it were only natural.
"To be honest, I don't really like the third manor I intend to lend to Yeongsan Sect. Even though it's a manor inside the Martial Alliance, it's filled with things like a Great Clarity Palace and a statue of Laozi—completely like a Daoist temple. My family members find it uncomfortable too, but they're afraid of divine punishment if they just tear it down, so they just keep it clean."
"A Daoist temple... you say?"
"Yes. After the Blood Sect Rebellion, right before the Maoshan Sect closed its doors, it joined the Nine Great Sects and Beggars' Sect. But only a few years after joining, the Daoists scattered in all directions and Maoshan ended up shutting its doors, so the manor was barely used. So my great-great-grandfather bought it for a great sum of money."
"A Maoshan manor? If the manor has a Maoshan shrine, isn't that even better?"
Master, the Daoism fanatic, sparkled with delight at Murong Rin's words.
—A Maoshan manor, you say?—
Hwangseong reacted intensely at the trace of the now-vanished sect.
"Daoists might be happy about it, but for people like us, an empty shrine is a little, well, scary. Ah, Yeongsan Sect is a Daoist sect, correct? That's wonderful. Please make use of that manor whenever you come to the Martial Alliance in the future."
Master was genuinely shocked by Murong Rin's extraordinary, unconventional offer.
"My lady, why are you being so good to us?"
A manor in the Martial Alliance was no ordinary rented manor. For the countless sects striving to enter the Nine Great Sects, it was the ultimate symbol of Orthodox martial power. And for us, inheritors of Maoshan's true legacy, it was a place akin to a religious holy site.
"It's only natural. Young Master Baek is my precious friend, and Yeongsan is Murong's precious friend."
Gazing at Murong Rin, who answered with a bright, lovely smile, Master was so moved that tears already welled in her eyes. But...
"I am the one who was the first to keep Young Master Baek close, and the one who built ties with Yeongsan Sect first. I can't stand the sight of ragtag, stray-dog-like packs sniffing around my precious friend now. The manor servants are Murong's people, so I'll hear about whoever Yeongsan Sect meets. I've been maintaining a relationship with Yeongsan Sect since the Martial Alliance Expedition Ceremony, and I would rather die than hear that Yeongsan Sect has now sided with Nangong."
Behind the pleasant goodwill lay a dark, ulterior motive to monitor us. Lee Eun-ha was startled by Murong Rin's words, but Master—who had no interest in exchanges with other sects or power within the Alliance to begin with—was entirely captivated by the Daoist temple Maoshan had left behind, still looking at Murong Rin with deep emotion.
"It won't be bad for Yeongsan Sect either. After the incident with the Great Sun Association, that old beggar's report reached the Alliance Leader. Yeongsan Sect's achievements had been truly unbelievable until now, but with Reverend Hyeon-gang's guarantee on that report, everyone will now have no choice but to believe them."
Wow. Even Murong Rin, who mercilessly called the Drunken Beggar just "that old beggar," properly referred to Reverend Hyeon-gang with such courtesy.
"For now, the Great Sun Association incident has been kept secret for a time, as it could cause chaos in the Martial Alliance right before a major event. But the Nine Great Sects, the Beggars' Sect, and the Five Great Clans who hold elder positions in the Alliance were able to hear the information. Still, the story will eventually spread, and countless sects will seek out Yeongsan Sect without pause. I'll block the insignificant visitors in Murong's name for you."
"Thank you truly, Lady Murong. I will pray for your martial fortune at the Great Clarity Palace once used by Maoshan."
Master and Murong Rin. The two women with completely opposite personalities got along surprisingly well, to the point they might have surprised themselves.
"I just said that in return for lending you the manor, I'd control the visitors approaching Yeongsan as I please, and you don't seem angry, Sect Leader?"
"I'm not angry. Yeongsan Sect is a small sect in Liaoning, and dealing with countless martial artists is truly exhausting. Once this trip to Henan is over, we'll likely have no business seeing anyone again except maybe the Murong Clan and the Hebei Peng Clan. I really wouldn't want that."
Master, who had been deeply worried the entire trip over having to deal with famous figures of the martial world, spoke in a tired tone.
"Yeongsan truly is a neighbor that suits the Murong well. Actually, there's another reason hidden behind lending you the manor. Didn't you think it was strange? Nangong clearly wants to draw Yeongsan Sect into the Martial Alliance, so why did they have you stay on the East Street? The Nangong Clan surely has plenty of spare manors."
Master tilted her head at Murong Rin's question.
"Nangong has a more accurate grasp of Yeongsan Sect than you'd think. The Liaoning Branch Head, Jeongmyeonggeom, is a confidant of the Nangong Clan Head, the Alliance Leader's son. Yeongsan Sect, which dislikes the complicated secular world, definitely would have been uncomfortable in the Eastern Region. So they intended to have you stay in the noisy, bustling Eastern Region first, and then offer you the use of Nangong's manor as if granting a great favor. After experiencing the East Street as crowded as a marketplace, showing you Nangong's splendid manor would let them completely capture Yeongsan Sect's heart."
If Murong Rin hadn't stepped in, that was exactly what would have happened to us. The most basic ruse for capturing someone's heart with a gift was to first make them understand its value. I'd thought it a simple ploy, but without Murong Rin's explanation, we would have fallen for it completely. The political maneuvering had already begun: the Nangong Clan was using discrimination and favor to draw us in. My head already throbbed at the sight.
"Then, from Murong's standpoint and your own, my lady, are you hoping we won't join the Alliance?"
"That's right, Young Master Baek. Murong doesn't want a competitor, but a safe neighbor. I'm fine with Yeongsan's prestige spreading, but I absolutely want to avoid Yeongsan fighting us for power within the Martial Alliance. We're such close neighbors, aren't we?"
This was exactly what Murong Hyeok-jung had come and bluntly confirmed with Master in the past. I hadn't realized at the time that the agreement was on this scale.
"We won't join the Alliance. But I don't want to offend the Martial Alliance through repeated refusals, so please help us handle it well, Murong."
We had already made up our minds, and that choice aligned perfectly with the Murong Clan's interests. At Master's firm declaration, Murong Rin, with a truly delighted expression, finally guided us to the manor where we would stay. Since the Murong Clan themselves were practically people living in a centuries-old historic site, the manor that Maoshan had used was also exceptionally well maintained. Master probably wanted to dash straight to the Great Clarity Palace the moment her bags were down, but first, to wrap up the conversation with Murong Rin, we decided to unpack and gather in the tea room.
"You really are cute, aren't you? You're going to make a lot of men cry someday."
Murong Rin approached Cho-ryeong, who had been sneaking glances at her, and spoke.
"Heroine Murong is very pretty too."
"I could never be as pretty as your senior sister. But hey, you're not busy, are you? Do you want to help your unni out?"
"Me? How?"
"I'm staying at the manor next door, and I have to look after my cousin. You're a little one too, so you're good with kids, right? Play with my little sister a bit. She's a five-year-old girl."
Cho-ryeong, the youngest of Yeongsan Sect, genuinely loved children younger than herself. At Murong Rin's request—which was more a command than a favor—she got Master's permission and dashed off excitedly to the neighboring manor.
This woman. She really knew how to put people to work.
"Your little sister, you say?"
"She's my cousin, my aunt’s daughter. My aunt married into the Shandong Yue Clan. The Yue Clan is also here for the Martial Alliance, but they don't have a manor, so my aunt left her daughter with us. Ugh, seriously. That brat. Why does she keep bothering busy me instead of clinging to my second older brother, who likes women, or my eldest older brother, who's raising a child?"
She grumbled irritably, full of complaints. What had always been truly fascinating to me was that the princess-like Murong Rin, despite her prickly personality, was incredibly popular with young girls like Cho-ryeong. Even though she herself detested young girls and preferred men.
Seeing her after so long, she was truly herself. The arrogant princess who quickly grasped people's essences, placed them in the right spots, and put them to work. She finally began to speak to Jeong-hyang and Lee Eun-ha as well, whom she hadn't exchanged words with until now.
"You're the Medicine Immortal, correct? My grandfather greatly desires your service. Do you really have no intention of joining our main clan? I can promise you status equivalent to a direct-line member and a husband from one of our closest vassal families."
"I'm sorry to say, but I have no intention of leaving Yeongsan. I'm being overrated thanks to my teacher's pharmacology; I'm truly not a great person. Besides, there is already a man who has promised me a future, so please withdraw your offer, my lady."
Lee Eun-ha's polite refusal. As expected, she had become the top recruitment target for the Murong Clan as well.
"A man? Don't tell me?"
Murong Rin glanced at my face. Lee Eun-ha quietly nodded.
"Wow! You're really something, Young Master Baek? That's different from what you said before. Still, I suppose a woman with that level of beauty and ability isn't someone you can just leave for another man to snatch away. Seeing that you've also made a move on Medicine Immortal, you must have made a move on Lady Son too. As your friend, I'm proud. The one and only friend of Beautiful Madness should indeed have such beauties at his side. But isn't this one a bit too much? You're Daoist Jeong, right? The person Young Master Baek said that day was the most beautiful under heaven. The first woman who ever made me feel jealousy is Daoist Jeong. Honestly, if it weren't for Yeongsan Sect, I don't know what I might have done."
Murong Rin was a woman brimming with ego. No matter how pretty Seo Ok was, how outstanding Myo Hong-seon's martial arts were, or how great Jo Bok's talent was, she had never once felt true jealousy. She was not simply a martial artist or a woman, but a person fated to become the Young Clan Head of Murong. That was why she had never felt jealousy of another's talent. But ultimately, upon seeing Jeong-hyang's face, Murong Rin honestly spilled her true feelings.
"You're very pretty yourself, my lady. I should be the one who's jealous."
"Don't talk nonsense. Assessing a person's value is my greatest talent. I have a fairly decent face too, but even so, I'm only at the level of Lady Son or Medicine Immortal here. For the three of us, it would just be a matter of differing preferences depending on the man's tastes. But Daoist Jeong, by anyone's standard, is an absolute beauty. This works out well. Come sightseeing with me later in the Alliance. We could really flatten that nun Seo Ok's nose."
That was Murong's characteristically pragmatic way of thinking. Jealousy over innate appearance was meaningless anyway. Using it as an ally was far more constructive. Now Murong Rin intended to put Jeong-hyang's beauty forward to keep Seo Ok's popularity in check. She must have already heard the news about me, but she hadn't changed one bit. I didn't quite know the details, but Jeong-hyang grinned from ear to ear at the mention of sightseeing in the Alliance. If she was with Murong Rin, she wouldn't have to worry about dung flies, so maybe this was a good thing for her too?
Suddenly, she looked at me and smiled as if amused.
"Young Master Baek hasn't changed one bit."
"Haven't I changed quite a bit? I may look the same, but I've gotten quite strong. Didn't you hear the news?"
"I was briefed. I hear you truly obtained a fortuitous encounter at Dong-o Peak on your way back from Murong. My well-meant words ended up coming true. But is that really possible? You were a third-rate martial artist, yet in only a few days after obtaining some secret manuals, you captured Heuk Cheon-gyeon and even defeated the Black Heaven Association Leader? The Four Heroes of Dong-o were the finest masters of the Yuan era, but Murong’s martial artists of that time weren't far behind. Even I, after training in Murong’s secret manuals for over ten years, would never dare dream of facing Heuk Cheon-gyeon."
"It wasn't just the secret manuals. There were also Medicine Immortal's spirit pills."
"Don't make me laugh. Do you think Murong doesn't have spirit pills? Even if it were Shaolin's Great Rejuvenation Pill, it couldn't make a third-rate martial artist that strong in such a short time."
"She created a spirit pill superior to the Great Rejuvenation Pill, so of course she was called the Medicine Immortal. In any case, fortuitous encounter or not, without your help, my lady, I would have been far too late. Belatedly, I offer you my thanks."
Finally, the words of gratitude, delayed by nine months, had been delivered. I could have sent a letter, actually. But I wanted to deliver this one thing in person, looking at her face. In my past life, my family was more precious to me than the world. It was the same in this life. Being able to save them, the ones more precious to me than this world, was all thanks to Murong Rin.
Even now, possessing a colossal power that defied all common sense, that feeling hadn't changed in the slightest. I was truly fortunate that she was my true friend.