Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Meeting at Yueyang Tower
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Dozens of years ago, when the greatest evil faction of the unorthodox world, the Blood Slaughter Union, unleashed the Sword King's Total Bloodbath and devoured Honam entirely.
The countless poets, scholars, enthusiasts, and romantic young masters of the jianghu all sighed in unison.
The reason was simple.
Because Honam had Lake Dongting.
"What a beautiful view."
The Four Famous Towers of Jiangnan—Yueyang Tower of Lake Dongting.
From atop the towering pavilion, a man murmured as he gazed down below.
Beneath him stretched the vast expanse of Lake Dongting, along with the scenic docks of the port towns bordering the Yangtze to the north.
"Isn't it, Yin Blood?"
The door to the guest chamber slid open silently, revealing another man.
"You noticed me, huh, Tyrant Spear."
The master of the chamber, Black Whale Gang Leader Giant Spear Tyrant Gu Yang-bu, curled his lips in a fierce grin.
True to his moniker, he carried a massive spear with an imposing spearhead.
"If you're here, announce yourself instead of skulking around like that. Living up to your nickname, I see."
Despite the taunting tone, Hengshan Yin Blood Gok Baek-mun casually spread his arms.
"As you can see, there are many from the Great Dong Alliance here. Meeting the renowned Black Whale Gang Leader has me on edge—what if I just took a moment to scout things out?"
Behind Hengshan Yin Blood stood ten warriors.
All were leaders of black path gangs from eastern Honam, bordering Gangseo Province—or held equivalent positions.
"You lot don't seem like the type to shrink back at the mere sight of this Gu Yang-bu."
"Looks can be deceiving; we're all rather cautious at heart."
"What excuses. Just like the top dog of blood-soaked Hengshan—sly as they come."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Alcohol and food arrived, and courtesans began playing instruments and performing dances.
Amid it all, the gang leaders took their seats.
"You've heard the news, I assume. The Namgung Clan sent reinforcements to those Baek Clan bastards."
"Already diving into the main topic before the mood loosens up?"
"What good are drawn-out words between us?"
Hengshan Yin Blood laughed openly before replying.
"Even the Black Whale Gang Leader of the world feels the pressure in this situation, it seems?"
"Hilarious. You're the one who summoned me."
The Black Whale Gang Leader scowled as he continued.
"They say never waste words on Hengshan Sect scum. Enough with the theatrics."
Hengshan Yin Blood was the sect leader of the Hengshan Sect, based on Mount Heng, one of the Five Mountains—Nanshan.
"Infinite blessings. No need to be so fierce; it just makes me feel wronged."
"I said cut the bullshit."
Most thought of the famed orthodox Taoist sect, once one of the Nine Great Sects, when hearing "Hengshan Sect."
But the current Hengshan Sect was no gathering of righteous Taoists.
They had been nearly wiped out during the Sword King's Total Bloodbath.
The vacancy left by that former great sect had been filled by the Wudang Sect.
"Using the name of a sect you annihilated—what were you thinking?"
"Perhaps carrying on the orthodox spirit passed down through generations."
"Ha! More like mocking and desecrating it."
"A bit of both? Anyway, as the Black Whale Gang Leader desires, let's get to the point."
Hengshan Yin Blood chuckled before pressing on.
"Just a few years ago, these Baek nobodies no one had heard of proclaimed the Heaven-Covering Alliance. Must have your guts twisting, eh? If you need help, just say the word."
The Black Whale Gang Leader snorted derisively.
"You said we'd get to the point, yet here you are with more nonsense."
The black path gangs of western Gangseo Province split into two major powers.
The Black Whale Gang, based in Gu River up north, extending its influence downward to even encroach on Wenzhou.
And the five black path gangs based in Gilju, backed by Honam's black path martial world.
"You know why Baek Yi Gate, despite dominating Nanchang, was called Nanchang's Greatest Sect instead of Gangseo's."
Baek Yi Gate had claimed a province's capital and been hailed as its overlord, yet never earned the title of Gangseo's top sect.
Because of the Black Whale Gang.
Gangseo spanned over ten regions, and only the Black Whale Gang dominated two of them.
In other words, the Black Whale Gang, holding Gu River and Wenzhou, was truly Gangseo's Greatest Power.
"Spare me the posturing, Yin Blood. I already know you called this meeting because your five underling gangs are whining."
Hengshan Yin Blood, who had worn a sly smile throughout, let his lips droop.
Because the Black Whale Gang Leader was right.
"The Heaven-Covering Baek Clan will target either our Wenzhou or your Gilju due to their positioning. You're on pins and needles worrying Gilju might get hit first."
"...Indeed. Insight worthy of Gangseo's Greatest Power leader. This sect head is genuinely impressed. But."
"But?"
"Speak plainly. Our sect, backed by the Blood Slaughter Union, has no reason to fear mere Baek Clan rabble."
It wasn't wrong. After the old Blood Slaughter, Honam had become the Blood Slaughter Union's backyard, centered in Guizhou.
Moreover, the Hengshan Sect was one of its pillars.
"That's why I'm saying drop the pointless posturing and get to the point. We'll end up joining hands before this meeting concludes anyway. The Baek Clan backed by Namgung is a real threat, and we can't just watch them profit as fishermen. You know it, I know it—so let's stop."
"Understood. As you say, Black Whale Gang Leader."
Having finally gotten a straight answer, the Black Whale Gang Leader let out an irritated sigh.
This was why you never dragged out talks with Hengshan Sect scum.
Just conversing with them grated on your nerves.
"My Wenzhou. Your Gilju. No matter which the Baek Clan hits first, we join forces to counter."
"Agreed. But counter only? The best defense has always been a good offense, no?"
"..."
Instead of answering immediately, the Black Whale Gang Leader met Hengshan Yin Blood's eyes.
'Proposing an attack, eh.'
Attack was always three times harder than defense.
With the goal being to respond to the Baek Clan's invasion, there was no need to choose offense.
Yet he proposed it anyway—there must be another reason.
"Even a mangy dog bites half to death in its own yard. No need to step out for an attack?"
"Not words befitting the Black Whale Gang Leader of the world, haha. Ah, does it bother you that my sect and Honam's forces would enter Gangseo?"
"No. We'll do it."
"Hm?"
"You look surprised. I'm agreeing to your words—why the attitude?"
For a moment, Hengshan Yin Blood and the Black Whale Gang Leader fell silent, staring at each other.
And they shared the same thought.
'He has ulterior motives.'
'He's hiding an ace.'
"As you say. We'll go on the offensive."
"Our first agreement—truly pleasing."
The two shook hands, flashing vicious smiles.
Decades of walking the treacherous black path rife with schemes and plots.
Even allies were never trusted.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "We must never move first under any circumstances. Our clan should wait for the enemy to strike."
In the Baek Clan's elder council chamber.
Baek Mu-ryang responded to Baek Yang-hui's declaration.
"Yang-hui. Dropping the proposal out of nowhere will only confuse the others."
The elder council—where the Baek Clan's heavyweights gathered opinions to plan ahead.
But today's meeting included two unexpected figures.
The Heavenly Covering Martial Hall Lord and the Jeongwol Pavilion Lord—formerly the Namsan Martial Hall Lord and Jeongwol Gate Lord.
"Come to think of it, let me once again express my gratitude to you both."
"No need, Clan Leader."
"Please speak more casually with us, Clan Leader."
The reason even the Jeongwol Gate Lord had joined as Jeongwol Pavilion Lord, alongside the publicly invited Heavenly Covering Martial Hall Lord, was straightforward.
"There was no other way to repay the great young master for his grace to our gate."
After the recent banquet, Yang-hui had successfully folded even Jeongwol Gate into the Baek Clan.
It was the fruit of dangling the Moon Ripple Fist Method—Jeongwol Gate's signature art—along with the countermeasures and improvements he had devised in his past life, savoring every detail.
"Jeongwol Gate has always pursued only the advancement of martial arts. We prioritized the way of the fist over the sect's survival, and thus simply followed that tradition by joining the Baek Clan—pay it no mind."
Baek Mu-ryang didn't belabor the point.
Instead, he bowed once to the Heavenly Covering Martial Hall Lord and Jeongwol Pavilion Lord before resuming the meeting.
"Yang-hui. Care to explain your earlier statement?"
"Yes, Clan Leader."
He stepped forward to the wooden map hanging in the center.
It depicted western Gangseo and eastern Honam.
"Everyone knows the current situation, so I'll skip that. The reasons we must not act first boil down to three."
First. Choosing the battlefield was as crucial as waging war.
To minimize harm to the common folk, striking into their territory first was better.
Second. True to black path form, they'd strike without warning or ultimatum.
Thus, considering the variables of seizing initiative and strategic advantages, striking first made sense.
Finally, the third.
"The longer we drag this out, the worse it gets for our clan."
Puzzlement spread across faces. Representing them, Baek Mu-ryang questioned.
"Yang-hui, you said we must wait for their attack. Yet all three reasons point to the opposite."
"Young master, to choose the field and seize the initiative, shouldn't we move first?"
"The third reason also suggests the contrary. Our clan's structure is unstable after absorbing outer forces. To resolve that, we need to fight external enemies as soon as possible."
He nodded silently as various opinions flew.
"You're right—we should move first. But that's exactly why we mustn't."
"What's the reason?"
"Explain the basis, young master."
Before fully advocating, he recalled his conversation with Nanchang's young scholar.
'That kid, young as he is, came up with a fine stratagem.'
The young scholar was indeed a born tactician, a literary genius who could discuss the world.
Young and inexperienced, yet given information and pieces, he produced the optimal plan.
"We feign an advance but halt right at the border! Taking the advantages of both first and second strike."
'I too thought pure offense was the most efficient with least mishaps.'
He had drawn plans with that in mind until now.
But upon hearing the young scholar's idea, he redrew them immediately.
"Before the details, I request the presence of the Tang Clan heir and Namgung Clan young leader."
"Mm. We'll need to coordinate with them ahead. I'll send for them."
Soon after, Dang Gun and Namgung Cheon-hu entered the chamber.
Yang-hui briefly recapped the discussion, then fixed his gaze on Namgung Cheon-hu.
"Regarding those three reasons, we're debating first or second strike for purging Gangseo's black path martial world. I'd like the young Namgung leader's esteemed opinion."
'Come on, time to spit out part of your scheme, Namgung Cheon-hu.'
He watched with faint anticipation. But no opinion came.
"For this black path purge, our Namgung Clan plays a supporting role, not lead. We merely stepped up to aid the Heaven-Covering Alliance proclaimed by the Baek Clan—so do as you wish."
He had asked for input, but got mere compliance.
An answer devoid of intent, impossible to read.
But.
'Ho. At least one assumption's off the table.'
Offering opinions in council and succeeding with proposed plans earned merit.
Showing no interest in merit meant not scheming over post-purge credit distribution.
In other words.
'This bastard doesn't want the purge to succeed?'
If so, his response was set.
Soon, Yang-hui spoke up.