Chapter 165 Dark Clouds (5)

Chapter 165 Dark Clouds (5)

Zhi Sha Hong was ambushed!

As this rumor spread, centered around the Huashan Sect, countless people headed towards Huashan to verify its truth.

This was because the rumor became entangled with Zhao Hun and Gu Yangjie, who had fought him, giving rise to all sorts of speculation.

“Originally, they were supposed to let Plum Blossom Divine Dragon win, but Red Sand Valley didn’t keep their word, so the elders launched a surprise attack?”

“Eh, no way… Well, still…”

“Hey! You there! No matter how formidable Plum Blossom Divine Dragon is, how could he possibly be on par with Silent Sword? The distance was too far last time, but this time I must go and see for myself!” “

This was precisely what the Open Sect and Zhi Sha Hong intended. Unlike the martial contest, they aimed to draw in martial artists and enthusiasts from distant lands.

Naturally, the cultivators of the Huashan Sect couldn’t hide their displeasure as the false rumors began to spread.

Their dissatisfaction with Zhi Sha Hong was particularly strong.

“After receiving help from Senior Brother Gu Yang, how dare he spread such bizarre rumors? Tsk, tsk.”

“After leaving the Martial Alliance in his twilight years, has he suddenly awakened to some twisted ambition?”

The murmurs grew louder, seeping through the narrow cracks of the Plum Blossom Clinic’s door.

But Zhi Sha Hong offered no response.

And rightly so, for it was a matter kept strictly confidential from all disciples below the second rank.

“I have done as you wished.”

At Baek Dan-hyeon’s words, Jik Sa-heung clasped his hands together and bowed his head respectfully.

“Thank you, Grandmaster. It must have been a difficult decision. Thank you for granting it.”

“I only wish for the way of the martial world to be realized. For that, even if the honor of the Huashan Sect is slightly tarnished, it matters not.”

As Baek Dan-hyeon replied in a calm voice, a momentary flash of respect flickered in Jik Sa-heung’s eyes.

Given all he’d heard so far, how could Baek Dan-hyeon, who had endured such perilous trials these past three or four years, maintain such clear-headedness?

Jik Sa-heung envied Baek Dan-hyeon’s mental fortitude.

“Having you as the Grandmaster of the Huashan Sect is truly a great blessing.”

“Blessing? It’s merely fortunate that I finally came to my senses, albeit late.”

After taking a sip of tea, Baek Dan-hyeon excused himself briefly from Jik Sa-heung and immersed himself in the documents Song Muk had brought.

Meanwhile, Jik Sa-heung sat cross-legged, quietly observing his own state and circulating his internal energy to bolster his vitality.

Externally, he had forced his arm into place, intending to use it as a secret weapon someday.

Then, a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

No sooner had Baek Dan-hyeon spoken than Gu Yang-ji appeared.

The thin layer of wax under his eyes made them appear pale, as if his internal energy hadn’t fully recovered.

With Cheolpunggae’s assistance added to this, how could one doubt it?

Gu Yangji looked so frail that Ji Shaohong bit his lower lip hard.

“Thank you… truly… thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I merely did what I had to do.”

Cough, cough.

After repeated, hollow coughs, Gu Yangjeok leaned one shoulder against the doorframe.

“My health is poor, Master. I’m afraid I cannot properly receive guests.”

“…Is that so?”

Baek Dan-hyeon flashed a momentary look of disappointment, but it couldn’t be helped.

Baek Dan-hyeon paused his work and turned to look at Gu Yang-jeok.

“I’ll make special arrangements for the attendees. No one will come looking for you. So rest easy.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader.”

Gu Yangjie clasped his trembling hands together and rose, then left the room.

……Thud.

After the door closed belatedly, Baek Dan-hyeon shot a disapproving sideways glance at Jik Sa-heung.

“Good heavens, an old senior being interrogated by a junior… Even if the Yangtze is being overtaken by its backwater, isn’t this going too far?”

“Hmph, ahem. My apologies.”

Jie Sha Hong could say nothing in response.

Nevertheless, Bai Dan Xian continued to wear a displeased expression, making Jie Sha Hong’s seat feel like a bed of thorns.

* * *

A short while later.

As the Huatian Sect’s rear courtyard filled with people from various places, the elders, including Bai Dan Xian, and Jie Sha Hong made their appearance.

Whether intentional or not.

When Zhi Sha Hong’s unusually long right sleeve covered his fingers, many martial artists sighed.

“Oh dear…”

“It seems the end has come for the Misty Sword’s Nameless Blade!”

Most assumed Zhi Sha Hong was covering his right arm to preserve his last shred of pride.

But a few who were particularly close to him rushed over, their expressions almost tearful.

“Commander! Are you truly alright?!”

Ximen Re, the deputy commander of the Black Wind Brigade.

He was a notorious rogue who had left the military ranks to join the martial world, becoming famous due to his deep admiration for the six-year-old Zhi Sha Hong.

The problem was that his spear skills were exceptionally outstanding, enough to earn him the position of deputy commander, and that the Ximen family kept coming after him.

Thus, he was both a burden and a blessing to the Black Wind Brigade in many ways.

Zhi Sha Hong looked at Ximen Re with a complex expression before chuckling.

“You bastard, Re! I thought you’d be the first to arrive… You’re quite late!”

“Hahaha, I was busy gathering the others!”

Seo Mun-yeol gestured with his left hand toward the others.

Starting with Ya Wol, who had always led the Black Wind Brigade’s vanguard, and including Bi O-eong, nicknamed ‘Wild Boar’.

Since Bi O-eong maintained a similar build then and now, Jik Sa-heong gave his belly a sharp poke.

“Didn’t you say you’d lose weight?”

“Captain, this is all muscle!”

At that, Yawol drew his dagger and swung it around, while Seo Mun-yeol laughed loudly.

Then, Seo Mun-yeol’s left hand reached out toward Jik Sa-heong.

“By the way, Captain, how come your arm is fine?”

“How come your actions are faster than your words?”

When Jie Shiheng issued a warning in a measured tone, Seo Mun-yeol pouted and withdrew his hand.

“It was an act born of concern, I tell you.”

“How is life at the Seo Mun clan?”

“It’s hell! What I do as naturally as breathing, those stubborn blockheads can’t manage. How frustrating is that?”

At those words, the expressions of the martial artists who had been warmly watching them momentarily stiffened.

It was because they had suddenly recalled what Seo Mun-yeol’s nickname was.

Laughing Monkey.

His skill in riding horses with ease was impressive, but his talent for mocking his opponents was even more outstanding, hence the nickname.

Had his skills been lacking, his head would have rolled long ago, but that wasn’t the case either.

Had he not belonged to the Martial Alliance, he might well have been called a rogue sect practitioner, so vicious were his words and deeds.

At that moment, Ji Sha Hong twitched his lips.

-You lot, have you had any separate contact with the Martial Alliance?

He had considered revealing himself as the Sword Demon Jiao Gangtian from the start, but even he needed to see it with his own eyes to believe it.

Therefore, it was right to first ascertain if the Martial Alliance was behind it.

Though the telepathic question came abruptly for that reason, the three men answered without flinching.

-None whatsoever.

-No.

-We were too busy eating.

Their responses varied slightly, but the meaning was clear: no. Only Seo Mun-yeol seemed to have more to say, clearing his throat.

-But our clan’s situation isn’t looking too good.

-What do you mean by that?

-Looks like the Martial Alliance is hunting down some bandit leader or something. Those White Robe scum raided the base our clan was stationed at, so we’re already in a mess.

Seo Mun-yeol’s eyes narrowed slightly.

-You’re telling me the Martial Alliance turned the Grand Master into a cripple?

-Calling him an idiot right in front of him, you bastard!

Thinking his telepathic message had taken too long, Jie Sha Hong immediately burst into loud laughter.

“Hahaha! You need talent to wield a spear on horseback, not on flat ground!”

Seo Mun Yeol retorted naturally.

“Talent? I’ve been shooting arrows from horseback since I was a kid.”

“That’s why they call you a monkey!”

“No, Lord…!”

While Seo Mun-yeol sulked, a man cut through the crowd and appeared.

Seeing him, Jeok Sa-heung’s face stiffened.

The one he hoped would come, yet secretly wished wouldn’t.

Namgung Cheon was that very person.

“Have you been well?”

“…Can’t you tell by looking at me?”

At those words, Namgung Cheon exhaled a sigh of relief.

“Good to see you still have the wits to talk. I thought someone like you would have taken his own life after losing an arm.”

“Your words are harsh for someone I haven’t seen in so long.”

As Jie Sha Hong forced a strained smile, Namgoong Cheon asked in a cold voice.

“So, who exactly attacked you?”

“…….”

“Rumor has it the Huashan Sect did it, but that can’t be true. Wasn’t it a ploy to draw the world’s attention? They surely wanted to lure me here too.”

Indeed, spot on.

Zhi Sha Hong realized Namgoong Cheon had figured it out immediately, and felt a slight chill run down his spine.

But having come this far, he couldn’t just panic and stop now.

Zhi Sha Hong’s lips parted slightly.

“The one who did this to my arm was a supreme master who identified himself as Palma.”

“…………!”

The moment those words ended, the faces of those present were each painted with shock and terror.

The Palm Master, who had been considered merely a rumor since the Shaolin Temple incident, was attempting to kill a representative master of the Martial Arts Alliance!

The sensation of an unprecedented monster licking at their skin made the connoisseurs shudder. Even the martial artists who had respected Zhi Sha Hong frowned and looked utterly dismayed.

Though Palma was known to be powerful, they hadn’t imagined it could be so formidable that even Zhi Sha Hong couldn’t defeat it.

The courtyard was thrown into chaos by whispers questioning whether such a centuries-old monster, as revealed at Shaolin Temple, truly existed.

Then, Zhi Sha Hong spoke again.

“You know nothing about this?”

“Well, if I knew anything, I wouldn’t be so frustrated.”

Watching Namgoong Cheon answer with a serious expression, Jik Sahong clenched his left fist tightly.

He had suspected Namgoong Cheon was involved, but seeing his face now, he simply couldn’t bring himself to doubt him.

He was a close friend who had been by his side since their youth.

But Jik Sahong knew.

The dark clouds hanging over the martial world were so thick that everyone must be suspected, and the closer they were, the more dangerous they became.

Jie Sha Hong’s lips trembled slightly for a moment before hardening with resolve.

“You see.”

“……?”

“I believe you. No, I believe the Martial Alliance is involved with the Eight Palms.”

At those words, Namgoong Cheon’s eyes widened like lanterns.

At the same time, on the hilltop, Gu Yangji watched over Namgung Cheon and the entire Black Wind Brigade.

* * *

Despite the explosive nature of Jie Sha Hong’s statement, the meeting ended relatively quietly.

Namgung Cheon flushed crimson, as if deeply insulted, warning that even a close friend would not be forgiven for such words.

In contrast, the Black Wind Brigade maintained a composed expression, having heard Jie Sha Hong’s words firsthand.

Gu Yang Jie scrutinized them all, not missing a single word.

He believed that no matter how skilled Palma was at acting or transformation, they would show cracks in a gathering of this magnitude.

“…Tsk.”

But neither Namgung Cheon nor the Black Wind Brigade showed any significant agitation.

Had the distance been even slightly closer, he would have used the Golden Fist Iron Armor, but that too was impossible.

To do so would mean missing an even greater opportunity.

‘I was bedridden healing Jie Sha Hong. Therefore…….’

A bait substantial enough to justify risking infiltration into the Huashan Sect.

If he could eliminate both Jie Sha Hong, who knew all the Martial Alliance’s dirty secrets, and Gu Yang Jie, who had slain the Black Dragon, in one fell swoop, it would be killing two birds with one stone.

Gu Yang Jie gradually sensed night approaching and began his qi cultivation.