Chapter 81 Martial Alliance (3)

Chapter 81 Martial Alliance (3)

* * *

Tap. Tap.

On a dreary black table, fingers like carved granite tapped the wood nervously.

Then, suddenly recalling the scene after Zhi Sha Hong’s rampage, the man let out a heavy sigh.

“Gu Yang Jie… I hadn’t paid him much mind. Is he really that formidable? “

An uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared before the Martial Alliance. To the man, Huashan Sect was precisely that kind of existence.

The Martial Alliance was already complete.

At its core stood a massive sect with a long history, surrounded by smaller sects that followed it, and on its periphery hung the signboard labeled ”Orthodox Sects.”

The sprouts that followed were too numerous to count even on an abacus.

The man’s task there was simple.

To bestow the colors of the Martial Alliance upon a dragon leaping from the muddy pond, granting it the honor others could follow.

Going through that process made the Martial Alliance’s power a little more solid, its value a little higher.

In that regard, the Huashan Sect, and Gu Yangjie, were not particularly good.

“No matter how much they declined after the battle with the Old Demon Sect, they are by no means weak.”

They were not the sort to bow to the Martial Alliance first. The history Huashan carried was also no small matter.

Treating Huashan lightly would inevitably strain relations not only with their affiliated Zongnan Sect, but also with the Daoist factions like Gongyang and A-mi, founded by Ye Dongbin. It was no small predicament.

‘Well, becoming Shaanxi’s foremost sect by surpassing Zongnan was somewhat unexpected.’

Knock knock.

Just then, a familiar voice sounded from outside.

“Deputy Leader! I’ve brought the materials you requested!”

“Bring them in!”

The man scanned the books his subordinate had organized.

Though dense characters filled both sides, he sensed a void.

Between the emergence of the problem and its resolution, something had been deliberately concealed.

“……….”

Rustle, rustle.

His fingers swept across the paper, producing a crisp sound. His gaze halted at one particular passage. It detailed events just before the Black Dragon Sect’s Shaanxi branch was organized.

The man thrust his head forward.

‘Two mountain villages were burned down, each a week apart.’

Of course, both villages had committed the evil deed of paying tribute to the Black Dragon Sect. Given their debts and grievances, they were always vulnerable to attack.

The problem was that both incidents were carried out by outsiders wearing Taoist robes.

The man found this point intriguing.

“…Huh.”

He licked his parched lips. The fingers that had been nervously drumming on the table stopped there.

After the matter was settled, the sect leader had declared both incidents were the work of Baek Cheong-il, but the man sensed something devious about it.

If the sect leader was close to Hwasan…

Could he trust this?

‘If they were close, was there an occasion that could have brought them together?’

The man’s gaze drifted up to the ceiling of the deputy leader’s chamber. There hung a map known as the Jianghu Map.

Beside it, densely written notes were replaced by subordinates every morning. It was a ledger recording who met whom.

Minimum one year, maximum five years.

As far as the man could recall, the Huashan Sect had never extended an olive branch to the Open Sect. The Open Sect, with its own stubborn pride, would never stoop to begging either.

‘Then… then?’

The man’s fingers immediately tore at the front page. It looked as if he might rip the book clean in half.

Then he stopped at the very first entry.

The youngest of the Three Evils of Shaanxi, Duzhekuang.

They had first killed a disciple of Zhongnan. So naturally, they would have targeted a disciple of Huashan too.

‘But strangely, it was the Gaebang’s Xiangzhu who handled it while watching.’

So then, there was no connection to Gu Yangjie? Even though Zhongnan and Huashan were so close, the Three Evils of Shaanxi missed it?

That made no sense. The man surmised there must be more to this.

Just as this simple insight began to crystallize…

Squeeeee…

The door handle emitted a sound as if it were tearing apart.

It was a door deliberately left ungreased, yet the uninvited guest seemed to have known this beforehand.

“Pleased to meet you, Elder. I am Gu Yangji of the Huashan Sect.”

The man’s gaze turned to Gu Yangjeok.

At first glance, he appeared to be observing proper etiquette, yet his head wasn’t bowed deeply, and his back was held straight without any sign of humility.

And what of the distance between his legs?

It was a width that wouldn’t falter even if he drew his sword at any moment.

The man sensed immediately that Gu Yangjeok had attained a level of skill far higher than he had anticipated.

And though only a guess, he sensed one more thing.

The man twitched one side of his lip.

‘A fellow with a nasty temper, not at all like a martial artist.’

The man concealed a sneer.

“Well met at the Martial Alliance, young hero. I am Nangong Tian, the Deputy Leader of the Martial Alliance.”

“It is an honor to meet the Heavenly Sword of the Jianghu.”

Thud.

When Gu Yangji struck again, Nangong Tian offered a gentle smile.

“You’ve oiled it sufficiently. That should do. Now, come, sit down.”

After seating Gu Yangji in a suitable spot, Nangong Tian ordered a servant waiting nearby to bring tea.

Then, Namgung Cheon lifted the broken inkstone.

“More importantly, I heard from the Black Wind Lord that your earwax has settled. Is it true you excel in both martial and literary arts?”

At those words, Gu Yangji shook his head lightly. It was a display of modesty befitting a late-stage cultivator.

But then, his eyes fell upon the open book.

‘Shaanxi’s Three Evils, the Fragrance of the Open… It’s not like Namgung Cheon to deliberately leave it unorganized.’

Unlike the little-known Jisahong, Gu Yangjeok knew Namgung Cheon well.

The Heavenly Sword was one of the few remaining masters of the righteous faction.

The martial prowess and military strategy he displayed against hundreds of enemies were enough to make even the Ten Thousand Swordsmen gasp in awe.

He must never be underestimated.

‘He must have noticed my gaze fixed on him already.’

Gu Yangjie’s expression hardened.

“You could have simply called me over to ask, as you did just now.”

“Well, calling someone over to ask is awkward for both parties, isn’t it? I hope you understand this is the more convenient way to handle things.”

Namgung Cheon spoke thus, maintaining a gentle smile across his face. Only his eyes darted about alertly.

He was no easy man to deal with. His character differed from those who had been satisfied with mere words and a few sparring matches thus far.

Namgung Cheon wore a faint smile.

“Quite handsome too…”

At those words, Gu Yangjeok tensed his grip on his weapon for an instant.

‘Could he be into men? I’ve never heard that about him.’

As Gu Yangji’s guard rose slightly, Namgung Cheon chuckled heartily.

“It’s nothing to be so alarmed about. When a young master is both skilled and handsome, people call him the Three Peaks or the Five Dragons, don’t they? Especially when the Martial Alliance has put its own spin on it.”

“……”

Gu Yangji fell silent for a moment.

He already knew the Martial Alliance led the atmosphere of the righteous factions.

But this wasn’t something Nangong Tian should say, especially not to Gu Yangji.

It wasn’t a secret significant enough to be treated as a major affair, but it wasn’t something to openly discuss with a late-stage cultivator either.

Nangong Tian wiped the smile from his face.

“You don’t seem particularly surprised.”

“I’m just a bit dazed.” ”

“Is that so.”

Nangong Tian gazed at the surface of his teacup with a distant look.

Dong, dong.

Deep, large ripples spread out in concentric circles.

“……Hmmm.”

Nangong Tian let out a low hum.

Even though he’d been given a pass, he’d fought on equal footing with the Black Wind Lord, and his achievements as a righteous faction member were considerable.

Even the boldness he displayed now was captivating.

Namgung Cheon was astonished that he had achieved this immovable heart before reaching adulthood, and regretted twice over that he belonged to the Huashan Sect.

Realizing some time had passed, Namgung Cheon asked Gu Yangji without delay.

“What do you want? You didn’t come here just to quietly slip away.”

“……….”

Gu Yangji offered no immediate reply to that question.

Truthfully, he didn’t know. He hadn’t yet heard the reason Jin Muwol had sent him here.

But he understood much of what needed to be said here.

“I wish to join the Martial Alliance.”

“Well, that’s hardly a difficult matter, is it?”

As if he’d already anticipated this, Namgung Cheon answered casually. It was a matter that could proceed smoothly if only a few unscrupulous sects were quietly silenced.

As he was organizing his thoughts, Gu Yangji spoke again with emphasis.

“Recall the contributions the Flaming Sword Sect made in the past. Allow the Volcano Sect to stand at the core of the Martial Alliance.”

This time, Nangong Tian remained silent. Was it a look of resignation that appeared at the corner of his mouth, or utter disbelief?

If pressed, it was the latter. The problem was that it was accompanied by anger.

“That’s taking the joke too far!”

Namgoong Cheon’s voice was somewhat agitated as he spoke.

From his perspective, it was an unexpected demand.

No, at the very least, he didn’t think it was something he should hear from Gu Yangji’s mouth here.

Even after Huashan had joined the Martial Alliance, it was a matter that required deep deliberation over time, one he would discuss with the Grandmaster, Baek Dan-hyeon.

Yet to hear such a thing from the mouth of a mere late-stage cultivator was infuriating.

Namgoong Cheon thought to himself.

‘His skill is extraordinary, but he’s still too cocky.’

The goodwill he had felt vanished in an instant.

The fact that he had been waiting all this time to utter those words only fueled Namgung Cheon’s anger.

“This doesn’t seem like a matter you should be discussing.”

“I dare to speak, but…”

“If you have the presence of mind to say ‘dare,’ then shut your mouth right there. What do you think of the current situation?”

Namgoong Cheon exuded a chilling coldness.

“I have no desire to hear more of that. Even if I were to permit it, it’s not a matter that can be accepted.”

At those words, Gu Yangjeok bit his lower lip. He had expected opposition, but not this level of resistance.

But once the sword was drawn, something must be cut, mustn’t it?

Gu Yangji straightened his posture. His resolute gaze fixed on Namgung Cheon.

“Isn’t the very legitimacy that led to the formation of the Martial Alliance held by the Huashan Sect? Reiterating that would undermine the standing of the sects present at its founding…”

“Have you ever considered how long twenty years truly is in the martial world of Dosan Sword Forest?”

Namgoong Cheon twisted his lips. A sneer filled his face.

“People naturally hold onto hatred more than gratitude. What then of martial artists, who constantly stand on the brink of life and death?”

Namgoong Cheon briefly recalled his past as the third young master of the Namgoong family, then shook his head.

Those were the days he realized that being a righteous sect did not equate to being good.

“Time erases memories. In that sense, twenty years is far too long. How many warriors have died in that time? And how many have changed their hearts?”

“……”

“Claiming such rights now will only earn you a beating. If you wish to erase even the shred of honor you have left, I won’t stop you.”

Namgung Cheon’s gaze pierced Gu Yangjeok’s forehead.

“If this was ordered by the Sect Leader or others, I’m disappointed. Now, go.”

Despite the unhesitating order to leave, Gu Yangjeok remained seated.

Namgung Cheon couldn’t wait long and quickly asked.

“I told you to leave. What are you doing?”

“I gave you.”

“……?”

“Enough time to ponder.”

Namgung Cheon saw Gu Yangjeok’s cup was now empty and let out a sneer.