Chapter 209
Chapter 209
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: A Bold Counterproposal
Speaking frankly, even if it had been about Chudal's righteous banditry getting exposed, it wouldn't have been a big deal.
Because I had already prepared countermeasures.
An extra stratagem from The Art of War: Fox Borrowing the Tiger's Authority!
'If it really got exposed, I'd shove it all onto Master Yin-hu.'
I'd said something like that while chatting with Zhuge Seol-ha before.
If messing with Wudang led to fallout, I'd leave the cleanup to my master.
Challenging the Tai Chi Sect to a spar?
Honestly, that's nothing. I could handle smoothing it over myself, no problem.
To make the name of one of the Heavenly Martial Ten Worthies truly count for something, it'd have to be on the level of getting caught raiding their offices!
'...Of course, I'd get an earful from Master later for dumping it on him.'
But once the deed is done, the world's logic makes forgiveness relatively easy.
And so far, Yin-hu had forgiven everything I'd done.
For now, at least.
'Still, best not to get caught if possible. This Tai Chi Sect Leader has no idea what Chudal's been up to. I'm sure of it.'
Baek Yang-hwi's slightly guilty expression shifted dramatically.
If he wasn't here because of Chudal, then there was no reason to shrink back.
"I didn't know you'd stepped out, but even if you'd been here, I would've done the same."
"Ho. Even with this sect leader watching, you'd pit a mere second young master—not even the young clan heir or eldest young master—against our young sect leader? A junior at that?"
"Yes."
A faint dust began to swirl in the air.
Affected by the terrifying aura emanating from the Tai Chi Sect Leader.
But Baek Yang-hwi casually waved it off.
"You minted golden plaques last night, yet the upkeep here is sorely lacking. Can't have this much dust around."
It wasn't just Baek Yang-hwi. No one in the guest quarters was cowed by the Tai Chi Sect Leader's pressure.
If he'd poured real intent into it, things might've been different, but a light probe like this? Please.
"Ho. Interesting."
The Tai Chi Sect Leader's aura began to focus on one person.
Baek Heon-so, who had claimed a flawless victory after an hour-long spar against Young Sect Leader Seong Ju-hun.
"......"
A bead of sweat formed on his forehead, but Baek Heon-so endured the pressure in silence.
And as if refusing to yield, he unfurled the supreme-grade plaque he'd earned from the Tai Chi Sect and held it out.
'That kid So's really grown a spine. Worth all the grinding I put him through.'
As Baek Yang-hwi felt a swell of pride, the Tai Chi Sect Leader's lips curved into a slight smile.
"The young master's spirit is impressive. Were you telling me to stew in today's humiliation instead of wasting time on empty posturing?"
"Not at all. But since I earned a supreme-grade plaque, I figured I'd take whatever pressure comes without complaint."
"Haha! Same difference."
The Tai Chi Sect Leader withdrew his aura.
"You pass."
"Pass?"
"Young Master Baek Heon-so. You truly won through your own skill against our young sect leader."
Seong Ju-hun was the Tai Chi Sect's young sect leader, the top among Wudang's secular disciples.
His mastery alone put him among the elite of the later-generation experts.
There had been a sliver of doubt about unfair methods, but the Tai Chi Sect Leader now saw that wasn't the case.
"This sect has been openly accepting unlimited challenges to prove our worth. There's no fault in your actions."
These words came from the Tai Chi Sect Leader himself, humiliated as he was.
No chance of backlash later.
But.
'Whoa, this is a problem.'
I'd come here specifically to set the stage.
Slipping away quietly wouldn't have been bad.
The issue was that my planned stage had fallen apart.
'I wanted him to snap and hold a grudge. Wudang lives up to its name. Not easy.'
Strictly speaking, the Tai Chi Sect Leader wasn't part of Wudang proper, but he was still a Wudang disciple.
The Tai Chi Sword Elder had personally taught a promising disciple a few moves and helped establish the secular branch.
Tai Chi Sect Leader Yeon Mu (戀武). He didn't use the generational name from Wudang's lineage, but calling himself by his dao title said it all.
'Even his name is Yeon Mu.'
Lover of martial arts. Or perhaps, lover of Wudang.
His feelings were laid bare.
"So, Tai Chi Sect Leader. Might I ask why a noble figure like yourself has graced us with your presence?"
"Baek Clan's eldest young master is quite impatient. Straight to the point, eh?"
The Tai Chi Sect Leader gave a hint, but Baek Yang-hwi was sharp enough to read between the lines twice over.
"Yes."
A brazen reply. Tang Jun clutched his forehead, Zhuge Seol-ha stifled a giggle, and the Tai Chi Sect Leader was momentarily speechless.
"Very well... A real man cuts straight to it. Fine spirit you've got."
He must've been offended, yet he framed it positively?
Meant he wanted something from us.
Maybe I could push harder?
'Should I poke him more to stoke a grudge?'
"No, I do hold back depending on the opponent."
Implying you're not worth holding back for.
The Tai Chi Sect Leader's brow twitched wildly.
Come on, get mad? What'll you do?
"...Hoo. I see. My name as Yeon Mu isn't enough, then. Truly a spirited later-generation expert."
And he endures this?
"I'll be direct as well. This is to the Tang Clan young heir and the Baek Clan head's proxy."
The Tai Chi Sect Leader drew a supreme-grade plaque from his robes.
"The Tang Clan and Zhuge Clan have already received theirs. Young Master Baek Heon-so earned one too. Young Master Baek Yang-hwi, if you take this, everyone gets supreme-grade treatment."
The plaque fluttered from his hand toward Baek Yang-hwi.
"A bribe?"
"A gift. Seeing promising later-generation sprouts makes a senior want to be generous."
Fine, he'd offered—might as well take it.
"Didn't you say you'd be direct?"
"...I'll say it now. To the Open Heaven Baek Clan, the Four Rivers Tang Clan, and the Zhuge Clan. A formal invitation to your prestigious later-generation experts: Will you not come to Wudang?"
Baek Yang-hwi's group's faces stiffened slightly.
"Not just a visit, I take it."
"A visit is part of it, yes. But also, would you consider becoming Wudang secular disciples?"
Now it clicked why the Tai Chi Sect Leader had come in person.
—Well, well, Wudang really wants to form an alliance.
—The Martial Alliance. Unprecedented in martial history.
—How rude. Dead serious.
Wudang had just sued for peace through the Tai Chi Sect Leader's mouth.
Or more precisely, bow your heads and join us.
Internal fractures fester easier than external threats.
This was Wudang's resolve to achieve their goal, risks be damned.
And.
It was also why Zhuge Seol-ha's voice sharpened.
"Is this sincere? You know who my master is, don't you?"
Fine packaging or not, it was an offer of reconciliation. But for the Zhuge Clan, an unacceptable one.
Wudang had nested in their territory, and now acted like cuckoos trying to oust the owners.
From the Zhuge Clan's view, this wasn't just prideful—it was murderous grounds for outrage.
Yet they make this offer?
It was an insult to the Zhuge Clan.
'Well, from Wudang's angle, the Zhuge Clan is the prime target for recruitment.'
They'd suffered before, so they'd fiercely oppose the Martial Alliance.
One of the Five Great Clans dead-set against it would make formation impossible.
"Ah, my apologies. This doesn't apply to the Shattered Moon Jade Phoenix. Do you know of Wudang's Hyeon Geom?"
Wudang's Hyeon Geom. The opponent Yin-hu desperately wanted to beat.
The Tai Chi Sword Elder's direct disciple and current Wudang's top prodigy.
Mentioning Hyeon Geom's dao title, the Tai Chi Sect Leader's face shone with respect.
A near-geocheonming elder at the peak of transcendent mastery, showing that expression for a nameless martial rookie?
The implications were huge.
'Hyeon Geom. Must be quite the talent.'
As Baek Yang-hwi pondered this.
"On behalf of the great elder Tai Chi Sword Elder of Wudang, I propose: Shattered Moon Jade Phoenix Zhuge Seol-ha, will you not form an arranged engagement with our Wudang's Hyeon Geom?"
Whoa. It came to this?
Baek Yang-hwi was genuinely impressed.
"Wudang and the Zhuge Clan share Hubei Province as home. Walking together, we can achieve greater things. These are the Tai Chi Sword Elder's words."
"......"
Tai Chi Sword Elder, you old fox... Though his reputation and achievements were otherworldly.
Still, what a sly move.
Zhuge-Wudang conflicts aside, the real thorn in his plans was Sky-Shattering Yin-hu.
Same Heavenly Martial Ten Worthies, but polar opposite goals.
So, seduce the disciple. No master outshines their pupil, after all.
As a direct Zhuge Clan line, Seol-ha bore duties she couldn't just refuse.
...Though she clearly planned to anyway.
'How alluring a bride has Seol-ha become, anyway?'
The era's top catch, desperately sought by the Namgung Clan and now Wudang scrambling.
Seeing the wounded fledgling from our first meeting at seven grown so fine felt oddly surreal.
Then again, disciple of a Heavenly Martial Ten Worthy, direct scion of a Five Great Clan, and the world's supreme beauty? Of course.
'Thinking about it, she's incredible.'
"Such a sudden proposal must have you flustered. There's still a month until the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. How about spending that time exchanging with Wudang? Meet Hyeon Geom in person."
His tone oozed confidence that meeting Hyeon Geom would make her want the engagement.
'How great can he be? No way he's better than me.'
Having that thought, Baek Yang-hwi noticed Zhuge Seol-ha's expression.
Somehow familiar.
...The look someone gets right before causing trouble.
Zhuge Seol-ha grinned mischievously and spoke boldly.
"Sorry, can't do it! I already have a fiancé."
"F-fiancé? A direct lady of a renowned clan, how... And announcing it so openly?"
Whether the Tai Chi Sect Leader gaped or not, Zhuge Seol-ha sidled up to Baek Yang-hwi and hooked her arm in his.
A soft, faint fragrance. A bit flustered, he sent a transmission.
—Seol-ha. This is an old faction's marriage proposal. Sure it's fine to blow it off like that?
—If it wasn't, I wouldn't have asked you to play the fiancé to avoid Namgung Clan hassles, would I?
—Fair point.
Then... this could be the spark to blow it all up?
Beside the grinning Zhuge Seol-ha, Baek Yang-hwi grinned too.
"Tai Chi Sect Leader. Allow me to make a counterproposal."
'Alright, time to show why they say "a beauty that topples kingdoms."'