Chapter 158 Zhi Sha Hong (1)

Chapter 158 Zhi Sha Hong (1)

Just as the outcome of the duel between the Sword Saint and Gu Yangjie was about to shock the martial world.

Zhi Sha Hong stared at Nan Gong Tian with a face full of dissatisfaction.

“Is this the future of the Martial Alliance you spoke of?”

“……”

“Is this why you urged me to return to the Black Wind Sect?!”

The recent actions of the Martial Alliance were not what Zhi Sha Hong desired.

No, truthfully, he had disliked them even before that.

They had cast aside the smaller, medium-sized sects close to them, and even when confronting the Black Dragon said to have appeared at Mount Mo, they had merely sent a suitable person.

They claimed to uphold the martial world’s principles, yet even in such perilous circumstances, the Martial Alliance had never once shown its true colors.

But what about now?

Zhi Sha Hong’s eyes widened as he recalled Nangong Tian’s attitude, now as different as heaven and earth.

“Is this the way of the martial world you desired? Where has the righteous principle you once championed gone?”

“How peculiar.”

Nangong Tian murmured in a quiet voice.

“Since when did the martial world move for the weak? I never expected to hear such trite words from you, let alone a Taoist.”

“That’s not why I founded the Black Wind Brigade!”

Thud!

As Zhi Sha Hong slammed his fist onto the table, Namgoong Cheon looked up at him with piercing eyes.

“What kind of disrespect is this?”

“Disrespect?”

Zhi Sha Hong instinctively reached for his silent spear, his deadly weapon, then flinched.

No matter how furious he was, he couldn’t risk a life-or-death showdown here.

One wrong move would make it look like the Martial Alliance and its subordinate Black Wind Brigade were fighting each other.

Zhi Sha Hong gritted his teeth.

“After the war with the Nine Demon Sect, wasn’t the Martial Alliance created to uphold the way of the martial world in place of the late Great Hero Pang Wuzhong?”

“…Is that how you see it?”

Nangong Tian closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, a strange smile playing on his face.

“Do you believe what Master Pang Wuzhong held was the righteous principles of the martial world?”

“If not the righteous principles of the martial world, then what else could it be! Wasn’t that why we eradicated the Old Demon Sect and brought order to the martial world?”

“I’m not sure what kind of ‘order’ you envision.”

Leaning back comfortably in his chair, Nangong Tian asked in a low voice.

“Eradicating the old Demon Sect, suppressing the heretical factions emerging everywhere, guarding against the dark forces seeking to revive the Black Dragon Sect. Just that alone consumes many martial artists. No, it has already consumed them.”

“……”

“But when did I ever order the Black Wind Brigade to assemble? It seems you are the one misunderstanding.”

Namgung Cheon glared at Jik Sahong.

“Is it my mistake that you, who vowed not to be tainted by sect politics, are gradually changing?”

At those words, Jik Sahong couldn’t help but flinch.

‘Am I becoming increasingly anxious?’

After sending the Black Wind Brigade members back, was he afraid that as the Martial Alliance grew daily, his own standing would shrink?

Zhi Sha Hong quietly looked down at his silent spear.

The martial arts he had cultivated thus far, the karma he had accumulated, the body he had constantly tempered.

He had strived without neglecting any of these. He prided himself on never having succumbed to laziness.

Therefore, Zhi Sha Hong stood tall, shoulders squared, as he looked at Namgung Cheon.

“My body may be gradually weakening, and my mind growing feeble. But what must be said, must be said.”

Namgung Cheon gave a light nod.

“Speak.”

“After the war with the Nine Demon Sect, the Martial Alliance gathered the righteous factions and swelled its ranks. Since then, has there ever been a time when the true (正理)?“

Zhi Sha Hong recalled the events of the past year.

”The task of eliminating the Black Dragon Sect, which should have been eradicated, was entrusted to the declining Huashan Sect. Far from offering aid, the Martial Alliance itself kept them at arm’s length. Of course, I too harbored resentment due to my connection with Ha Jin’e.”

“……”

“But as the alliance of the righteous martial world, the Martial Alliance should have aided the Huashan Sect. Were there not several hermits who advised this?”

“There were.”

Nangong Tian answered, still reclining comfortably.

“Though they met untimely deaths at Mount Mo.”

Moshan was where the demonic Black Dragon, who had been killed by Gu Yangjie, had been.

Zhi Sha Hong narrowed his eyes and gripped his silent spear.

“What do you mean? Are you saying you let them be killed by Black Dragon?”

“Of course not. They went willingly.”

A look of regret flashed across Namgung Cheon’s face.

“If Lord Pang had provided additional support, at least they wouldn’t have all perished… It’s truly regrettable.”

“……”

At those words, Zhi Sha Hong pressed his lips tightly together.

‘Pang Tianwu, what the hell is that bastard doing!’

Despite holding the weighty position of Martial Alliance Leader, he was often absent from the leader’s quarters, routinely leaving most duties to Namgung Cheon.

Jie Sha Hong, who had wondered if he might be venting his dissatisfaction with Pang Cheon-woo onto Namgung Cheon, pounded his chest in frustration.

“Haven’t rumors been spreading lately that the Martial Alliance is expanding its power under the pretext of eliminating the Eight Palms?”

“It’s true.”

Namgung Cheon’s expressionless reply made Jisahong’s eyebrows twitch strangely.

“Do you even realize you’re being branded a hypocrite, like a bat, because of that?”

“I don’t have time to pay attention to rumors floating around the marketplace.”

“……Do you know why I truly listened to those words?”

Zhi Sha Hong’s hand trembled violently, as if he might swing his sword at any moment, but Namgoong Cheon maintained his composure.

“Tell me.”

“Who showed us, the Martial Alliance, what the martial world should look like?”

Zhi Sha Hong stared briefly at the wall where the White Robe Sect members often appeared, then spoke.

“Just six months ago, Gu Yang Ji was considered a disciple of a half-ruined sect. Yet now, the Taoists of the Huashan Sect are setting an example across the martial world.”

“…….”

“Even the Black Dragon Sect, that thorn in Houguang Province’s side, and the demonic Black Dragon who appeared at Moshan! Haven’t they all been passed off to others?”

Hearing this, Nangong Tian inwardly realized Zhi Sha Hong was overestimating the Huashan Sect and Gu Yangji.

But pointing that out was difficult, given the fact that the recent actions of the Martial Alliance were indeed unsatisfactory.

Namgoong Cheon stared at Jiksahong’s flushed face and replied in a cold voice.

“If anyone heard us, it would sound like we were arguing. I understand why, but how about cooling down a bit?”

“Always like this……!”

“The Martial Alliance.”

Namgoong Cheon sat up and grabbed the brush resting on the desk.

Snap!

The brush, saturated with ink, snapped in two, splattering ink that stained a corner of Namgung Cheon’s cheek black.

If his cheek was in that state, the paper couldn’t possibly be unscathed.

It was equally blackened, a complete mess, making it impossible to discern what had originally been written.

Namgung Cheon wiped his cheek with his finger, then pointed that same finger at the blackened paper.

“To prevent the martial world from being tainted, it’s a place that must always remain vigilant against the Demon Sect and the heretical factions lurking somewhere.”

Namgung Cheon’s gaze was unusually cold.

As Jie Sha Hong seemed to listen quietly, Namgoong Cheon continued.

“I understand what you’re saying, where your disappointment stems from. But when you watch the grand scheme, the great pillar that is the martial world, from above, you feel something.”

“What is it?”

At those words, Namgung Cheon’s face hardened.

“The Martial Alliance must not lose. Even if it does, that must not be allowed to spread outward. If even the slightest wound is exposed, well… it’s because stray dogs will gather when ink splatters from a broken brush, just as it is now.”

Namgung Cheon’s gaze fell upon the ink-stained paper.

“Even if you wipe the ink from your face and tidy the broken brush, the inkstone overturning is only a matter of time. ‘Rectifying the truth’—it’s certainly a fine phrase, but only if the Martial Alliance remains invincible can righteous factions like Huashan maintain their righteous intent.”

“……”

Even as Zhi Sha Hong remained silent, Namgoong Cheon continued expressing his long-held thoughts.

“From your perspective, invincibility is just a flaw, perhaps even hypocrisy. Truthfully, you might be right.”

Snap.

As Namgung Cheon snapped his two fingers together, the white-robed disciple who had been waiting in readiness appeared.

In his hands were the Four Treasures of the Study.

Had the space not been so cramped, he might well have brought the entire desk cabinet; the quantity was that substantial.

Namgung Cheon’s lips parted slightly.

“But that hypocrisy, too, is necessary for the righteous factions of the martial world to maintain their power in the realm.”

“Hmph.”

“Is that your answer?”

Namgoong Cheon stared at him silently, and Jik Saheung relaxed his grip on the sword.

“My apologies. I was too absorbed in my own ramblings.”

“Most in the martial world would think the same, so how could I blame a friend? It’s all my own lack of virtue and insufficient ability that caused this. If possible, I’d like to go to Pangga and grab the Alliance Leader by the collar.”

Namgung Cheon let out a light sigh.

“But the timing isn’t right for that. If you actually did it, too many forces would push for internal division within the Martial Alliance. Just in case, I’m telling you not to do it.”

At those words, Zhi Sha Hong’s shoulders twitched.

His own resentment toward Pang Tianwu had been steadily growing anyway.

As Jie Sha Hong scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed, Namgoong Cheon gave a faint smile.

“I was actually thinking it was time to clear up the misunderstanding. If you can understand this, I’d be grateful.”

“I’m afraid I’ve caused you unnecessary trouble during your busy schedule. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Don’t overdo the drinking.”

With that, Jik Sahong left the office with a chuckle.

Left alone in the office, Namgung Cheon mercilessly smashed the wooden cabinet with his bare fists.

“…Feels a bit better now.”

“The cabinet has been brought, Deputy Leader.”

Swish.

As the white-clad disciple placed the black-lacquered document case in the center of the office, Namgoong Cheon waved his hand dismissively.

“You must keep your eyes glued to that bastard and the other sects. Return immediately.”

“Understood.”

Swish.

As the white-robed member vanished, scaling the wall, a momentary flicker of a certain aura rippled in his gaze.

* * *

“Damn it. I wanted to be a warrior who didn’t give a damn about politics, no matter what…”

A sigh escaped Jie Sha Hong as he returned to his lodgings, his breath rising in a white cloud.

‘Since when did I start living my life just watching others?’

Just ten years ago—no, five years ago—his heart had raced nonstop. Now it seemed to have settled, waiting only for the time to break.

They say if you stop fighting, laziness clings to your thighs and belly. Now it clung so thickly he was practically indistinguishable from the villains in folk tales.

“They say that bastard Ha Jin-ak never abandoned the way of the warrior, even after nearly dying… But I’ve become nothing more than a walking corpse.”

A night spent pacing, unable to return straight to the lodgings, lost in thought.

Gazing blankly at the moon reflected in the well, Jiksa-heong cast his eyes toward Mokyeon-chang.

“What about you?”

Naturally, no question came back.

But seeing the moonlight glinting on the tip of his spear, Jie Sha Hong realized it himself.

Whoosh!

Squeezing every muscle in his body, he swung the Mu Yan Spear in a single moment. That alone made him feel alive.

Since when had proving one’s existence become so difficult?

It should be enough to simply live this one life, enjoying the world to the fullest.

Thud, thud-

His heart raced.

The warrior Jiksaheong felt relief and joy that he had not grown weak.

“…Ah!”

Freed from his torment, Jiksaheong returned to his lodgings and left a single document.

-I, Jiksaheong, Lord of the Black Wind, cast off this shell and return to the Silent Spear. I beg you not to resent me greatly.

I do not even desire gold or jewels.

To you, it would be a mere nuisance, a trivial matter. Therefore, whatever becomes of the natural man Jie Sha Hong, I ask you not to intervene.

However, there is a martial artist to whom I owe an apology, and I intend to seek him out first.

Should any matters arise, please come to the Huashan Sect.