Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: United Under One Wing
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The very day three forces with different goals shared the same dream and united under a single name.
The heads leading the Tang Clan and Jin Clan each held long conversations with their successors.
"You said One-Wing Alliance?"
"Yes, Clan Head."
Having heard every detail of the discussions from Tang Gun, Tang Seong fell deep into thought.
"Indeed. Our benefactor is clever beyond measure."
One-Wing Alliance. What a beautiful name.
Feathers gathering to form wings that soar through the heavens.
Wasn't the ambition it embodied enough to stir any man's heart?
And that wasn't all.
"The Baek Clan's symbol was the white hawk, wasn't it?"
"That's right."
A name symbolizes much. If the martial world learned of the One-Wing Alliance's existence, what would they think?
They would assume the Baek Clan was at its helm.
"Baek Clan, Tang Clan, and Jin Merchant Group. Among the three pillars, the Baek Clan is by far the weakest."
Tang Gun had brought up the reason he hadn't objected to the name, thinking it might draw rebuke.
"Younger brother Hui presented the blueprint for the alliance we aim to build. Not only that, but he handed us the tools to paint a picture that seems impossible. Moreover, our Tang Clan owes him a great debt, so settling on a name is a small price to pay."
"Gun, I'm not scolding you."
The weakest force becoming the representative? It didn't matter.
There was no reason to make an issue of it.
Why? Names only start to matter once you've built the reputation to back them up.
For now, the name itself was irrelevant.
"It would be good if we one day grow dissatisfied with the name."
Dissatisfaction would mean we'd achieved so much we'd have the luxury for such concerns.
It would also mean the currently insignificant name had accrued immense value.
"For now, the name doesn't matter. What counts is substance. Gun, the tides of the era are shifting. Do you feel it?"
"Yes, Clan Head."
"The Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans are on the move. The balance and landscape are changing."
Tang Gun immediately grasped what Tang Seong had in mind.
"You mean the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly."
The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. A grand festival and gathering of the righteous martial world held once every decade.
True to its name, it centered on the young later-generation prodigies—dragons and phoenixes.
"This year's Dragon-Phoenix Assembly will be held in Huguk. Wudang has stepped up aggressively to oversee the entire event."
"Wudang?"
Until now, no single force had presided over the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
The major sects would send out invitations and settle on a location—that was the extent of it.
Though it bore a grandiose name, it lacked any binding authority.
But this time, things were different.
"Wudang doesn't want to miss this chance. If they handle this Assembly well, they can solidify their position as leader of the Nine Great Sects."
Wudang, founded just over a century ago.
In terms of history, it was on par with the Tang Clan.
Yet Wudang was rising with such momentum that the saying "Shaolin in the north, Wudang in the south" was circulating.
Considering Shaolin's immense scale yet its reclusive, enigmatic style that bordered on mysticism.
Wudang was practically the closest to being the world's foremost sect.
"With Wudang aggressively pursuing its ambitions, the Zhuge Clan in the same Huguk region is in a bind. Wudang is one of the Nine Great Sects, Zhuge one of the Five Great Clans—the two pillars of the righteous martial world have no choice but to shift their heavy haunches."
On a small scale, it was one sect's affair. On a grand one, it was upheaval in the martial world.
"Even the Undefeated Sword Lord and Great Ocean Dragon King. Transcendent figures though they may be, when their underlings clamor, they'll have to respond."
There was no need for lengthy explanations about the Undefeated Sword Lord and Great Ocean Dragon King.
Heavenly Martial Ten Supremes. Those four words said it all.
Absolute masters who could single-handedly annihilate one of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans.
"And that's not all. The Namgung Clan will rage ever more fiercely to reclaim their title as the World's Greatest Clan."
The current Namgung Clan had lost its former glory as the world's greatest—unlike in the past.
The reason was simple.
To claim supremacy in the martial world, one must prove their martial prowess. But they were no longer the strongest.
"It's not the dead last who desperately wants to escape their position—it's the runner-up. Because they feel like they could seize the top spot with just a little more. Do you understand?"
"Crossing the line defines the eternal second place. Nothing makes a person as desperate and extreme as something in sight but out of reach."
Tang Seong smiled in satisfaction and continued.
"Gun. Sending you to the Baek Clan and then to the branch division was to build experience for the future."
Originally, Tang Seong had planned to enter secluded cultivation in a few years.
For long years—his entire life—he was destined to devote himself to refining the Tang Clan's martial arts.
Ssssss—!
Thick poison qi sketched patterns in the air.
Soon, three hidden weapons floating from Tang Seong's hand merged with the poison qi.
The pinnacle of Air Grasping—a wondrous technique.
"It's been over a decade since I mastered Living Intent Qi and Air Grasping. One more step, and it's Super Peak."
The last of the three enlightenments was Unity.
For sword users, it was known as Man-Sword Unity.
"Young Master Baek spoke of completing the Three Origins Return to Origin Art?"
"Yes. He suddenly asked for ice crystals."
"The Three Origins Return to Origin Art is the key to achieving what was innately impossible: Unity."
The Three Yangs Return to Origin Art had a limit—no matter how much one trained, Super Peak was unattainable.
From that foundation evolved the Three Origins Return to Origin Art, seeking to revert the three energies to their source.
Currently just a framework, but if truly completed.
The Tang Clan's secret heart method would be hailed a divine art.
"One-Wing Alliance. One-Wing Alliance, indeed. Gun."
"Yes, Clan Head."
"If Young Master Baek truly turns the Three Origins Return to Origin Art from a martial theory into a true martial art... a century."
The abrupt statement drew an immediate response from Tang Gun.
"Yes. Tenfold—no, a hundredfold grace. The Tang Clan will never betray that debt. Not after Uncle Baek, not after I become Clan Head, nor after I pass it on."
Suddenly, the two men laughed.
"I'm curious, though."
"As am I."
How far did he want to fly?
Would the One-Wing Alliance truly become wings to soar on the winds of this turbulent, changing era, as its ambition proclaimed?
No one could know. The future was ever-changing.
A similar conversation took place between the two in the Jin Clan Manor.
Though the nuance differed slightly.
"Father. I truly can't wrap my head around it."
"What can't you?"
"Is it really right to just let Jeomchang off the hook?"
"And if we don't?"
"You could have died, Father. I can't contain my rage."
They had joined hands to uncover the culprit behind the Man-geum Poison, yet Baek Clan's young master arbitrarily decided no further pursuit of Jeomchang was needed.
It was overstepping, and for Jin Dal-bong, who had nearly lost his father, it was impossible not to feel resentment.
"Son."
"Yes."
"And if we don't let it go?"
"Pardon?"
"If the Jeomchang lead hadn't been the only clue to the poisoner, do you think your father would have stayed idle?"
But Jeomchang was one of the Nine Great Sects.
"We magnanimously forgave Young Master Baek's unilateral decision. But am I known for my forgiving nature?"
"That's..."
He couldn't nod because he was his son.
In Jin Dal-bong's eyes, his father was one of the most ruthless men in the world.
"We tolerated his unilateral action. We bestowed grace on Young Master Baek. Even though, in truth, we could do nothing."
"..."
"Son. Tell me about the Nine Great Sects."
"The Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Gangs... alongside the Five Great Clans, they are the ten pillars of the righteous martial world."
"A one-tael answer. Let your father give you a ten-tael one. The Nine Great Sects are the faction qualified to contend for supremacy over the world."
It wasn't about overlooking Jeomchang's heinous deeds knowingly.
They had no choice but to overlook them.
Because there was nothing they could do.
If Jeomchang, one of the Nine Great Sects, had colluded with demonic forces spreading diseases like Man-geum Poison through evil sorcery.
The demonic forces behind them undoubtedly wielded terrifying power.
"So for now, we endure and set it aside. It's time to focus solely on climbing higher."
"I heard you gave them a million nyang as mere signing gold. Do you see potential in the Tang and Baek Clans, Father?"
"I saw it. And I bet on it. Far bigger and riskier than you imagine."
One such bet was the command he would now issue.
"Vice Leader Jin Dal-bong."
"Yes, Father."
"From this day, I appoint you as Junior Leader of the Jin Merchant Group."
"Father!"
Jin Dal-bong was swept in emotion.
Until now, he'd only learned by his father's side, never holding an official position.
Lacking a proper title, he'd been called "Junior Leader" for over a decade.
"Junior Leader. Head to Gangseo. You need to learn more about the Baek Clan. We must win even greater favor."
They had joined the One-Wing Alliance discussing a future ten years hence.
Yet Jin Yeong-gil was fifty-four this year.
In ten years, he'd be past sixty.
'The waves behind drive the waves ahead in the long river.'
Thus, his son must become the fiercest of those rear waves, alongside the others.
And that beginning would be his journey to Gangseo.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Yang-hui gazed at the pile of ice crystals before him.
"Ready, Sister Dang?"
"Yeah."
Dang Yeon nodded, brimming with tension.
Her temperament was rather wild, so she rarely got nervous, but this time was unavoidable.
"Today, the Three Yangs Return to Origin Art will be reborn as the Three Origins Return to Origin Art."
Of course, there was one prerequisite.
"If it succeeds."
"...Hui, little brother. Saying it like that just makes me more anxious, so can you just start quietly?"
Tang Gun, watching from the side, couldn't hold back and stepped forward.
"Younger brother Hui. Maybe I should do it after all."
"Get the Clan Head's permission first. You volunteered last time and got chewed out."
The martial theory of Three Origins Return they'd established before hinged on reverting the three supreme energies to their origin.
Gui—reversion—through circulation toward unity. That was the goal of this martial art.
"Two of the three are set: Yang Qi and Poison Qi. The issue is the remaining one."
Balance-wise, Yin Qi was the easiest.
The problem? Yin and Yang Qi were polar opposites, making them extremely hard to handle together.
'No wonder Wudang's Yin-Yang Divine Art is hailed as a peerless divine technique.'
With that thought, he continued.
"Tang clansmen can't store yin cold qi in their dantian unless they expel their inner energy entirely."
"Even a small seed would be crushed and scattered right away."
"But if we plant a full tree from the start, we might manage to nurture it into balance."
That was why Yang-hui had requested and received ice crystals from Jin Yeong-gil.
As the essence of yin cold qi, an ice crystal could claim one of the three origins.
...In theory.
"Yeon. Are you sure? It's too dangerous. We could take time to find another way..."
Dang Yeon cut off Tang Gun.
"There's a way, so why go the long route? Big brother, just watch."
"Quite right."
"...Hui, little brother. If anything happens to me, you're dead."
"Don't worry."
It could lead to Qi Deviation if it went wrong.
But with his prior energy, it should turn out fine if handled well.
Anyway, this first try was just to test if the preliminary theory took hold.
"Then let's begin."
"Okay."
"Start a Grand Heavenly Circuit with the Three Yangs Return to Origin Art, then establish the three origins via the principles of Three Origins Return."
As Dang Yeon circulated her inner energy per his instructions.
Yang-hui tossed and caught the ice crystal in his hand once.
"Brother Dang, if you would."
Tang Gun took the ice crystal and placed it on Dang Yeon's lower abdomen—over her dantian.
It melted and seeped in smoothly.
An ice crystal was yin cold qi condensed to material form, so the phenomenon wasn't strange.
'Now my turn.'
The sudden influx of external energy sent Dang Yeon's qi into a frenzy.
Expelling it would avoid major issues, but that would just waste the precious ice crystal.
"Hold on, Sister Dang. We're creating a flow."
Placing his hand at the center of Dang Yeon's back, Yang-hui drew forth Harmonious Heaven Energy to guide her.
The Harmonious Heaven Qi that harmonized all energies under heaven.
The pure energy that rightly led all things in the world.
Six whole hours passed.
When Yang-hui withdrew his hand, Dang Yeon slowly opened her eyes.
A bright light momentarily illuminated the room.
"Yeon! How did it go?!"
"Big brother..."
Tears streamed down Dang Yeon's cheeks.
She too was a daughter of the Tang Clan, one who could devote everything to the family's long-cherished wish.
Overwhelmed emotions poured out as tears.
"It succeeded!"
"Is that true?!"
"Yes! It settled perfectly in my dantian!"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Tang Gun let out a roar he couldn't contain.
This was the moment the Tang Clan's century-long wish came true.