Chapter 82 Martial Alliance (4)

Chapter 82 Martial Alliance (4)

“When did you finish your drink?”

Namgoong Cheon calmed his agitated heart and asked with pure curiosity.

He had thought everything within his range, from the faintly settling intangible energy to Gu Yangjeok’s slightest movements.

But what was this now-empty cup?

It was something he hadn’t anticipated, just like a moment ago.

This time, however, surprise and admiration outweighed his anger.

As Namgoong Cheon watched with a curious gaze, Gu Yangjeok was lost in other thoughts.

‘…Still, he won’t accept it. A man like that.’

Though they had only met briefly, Gu Yangjeok could already discern something of Namgoong Cheon’s character.

Not someone fixated on minor details like pure martial arts or scholarship, but one who surveyed the grand chessboard.

In that sense, Huashan was a sect burdensome to admit into the alliance.

Admitting them now would be like stamping mud on the carefully constructed structure of the newly formed Martial Alliance – hardly something to welcome.

They could be treated with respect, but given no real say.

That must have been the admission proposal Namgoong Cheon had presented.

Thus, Gu Yangji made his choice.

To shatter the board.

To shave one face of the dice, transforming a six-sided die into a seven-sided one.

If that failed, he intended to put on a show of strength, exaggerating non-existent merits.

In that process, Gu Yangji gained Zhuge Xian’s favor and, coincidentally, fought against the provoking enemy Shi Shaoheng.

Gu Yangji, who was only worth six points, had gained seven and made it this far.

From the Martial Alliance’s perspective, facing the late-stage disciple of the Huashan Sect—who offered them no benefit whatsoever—was like facing someone who could become a deputy leader.

This opportunity didn’t come easily. Perhaps even if he achieved great feats in the future, the chances of meeting him again were slim.

‘If Huashan grows too large, just joining the Martial Alliance would push out at least ten other sects.’

No matter how righteous the Martial Alliance claims to be, it ultimately boils down to a power struggle. An alliance that grows too large inevitably pushes out existing members in proportion to its expansion.

Moreover, sects that never held Huashan in high regard would likely be ostracized.

Nangung Cheon must be concerned about this.

At this point, when it’s difficult to call them the premier martial arts sect north of the river, they had no choice but to enter this ambiguous situation.

Gu Yangjeok made that judgment and clenched his fist tightly.

Recalling everything he had done to reach this position, he met Nangung Cheon’s gaze.

“You said time erases memories.”

Gu Yangji continued calmly.

“Then, for what has been erased, I will fill it. The future Huashan Sect possesses the strength to do so.”

“……….”

At those words, Namgung Cheon silently emptied his cup. It was a statement demanding much thought.

It was also the most arrogant thing Gu Yangji had said thus far. Simultaneously, it was an insult to the man known as Bu Meixiang, Zheng Zhongshan.

Perhaps a future calamity awaited them, one incomparably greater than the old Demon Sect.

Otherwise, surpassing even the achievements of the Immortal Fragrance, which began with Jin Muwol, would be impossible.

Thus, it was a statement ripe for ridicule. Perfect for hurling insults.

Yet, Namgoong Cheon’s mind grew cold.

The books he had seen before Gu Yangji entered, and the keen eye for grand chess games that had impressed Zhuge Xian, kept nagging at his nerves.

Wasn’t it true that he had actually befriended the Kaifang sect and resorted to petty tricks to avoid drawing the attention of martial artists?

Swish.

Nangong Tian poured wine into a cup and asked.

“Is that your true intention?”

Perhaps because evening had fallen, the moon outside the window was reflected in the cup.

Whoosh-

The wind blew.

Even in winter, the days that had been cold without fail were gradually thawing.

The dust from the stone mountain, over a hundred li away, now lay scattered limply on the ground.

Even things that seemed unchanging transformed with the passage of time. Namgung Cheon felt Gu Yangji was like that change.

The martial arts he had achieved in the past.

The status, power, and honor he had attained with help from an even more distant past.

If a new wind blew that couldn’t be understood or communicated with by those things, if it was blowing now… wasn’t that Gu Yangji?

Thinking that far, Namgung Cheon shook his head slightly.

‘Not yet.’

No matter how much Gu Yangji possessed an unmatched martial prowess beyond his years, or how much foresight he claimed to have, Namgung Cheon thought it insufficient to utter such words.

Perhaps it was precisely because he had gained so much at such a young age that he carried such arrogance.

Namgung Cheon changed his expression, feigning great anger.

“Insolent! To declare you will surpass your sect’s senior master—not to a fellow disciple, but to an outsider, without hesitation! Do you think that is proper conduct for a disciple?!”

Though it was a question any late-stage cultivator would hesitate to answer, Gu Yangji responded without a moment’s pause.

“Yes.”

After tossing out this brief koan, Gu Yangjie clenched his fist tightly.

“A disciple surpassing the master is precisely what our sect strives for. No master would ever envy or resent a disciple’s growth.”

“……”

As Namgung Cheon listened silently, Gu Yangjie thought of many people.

“…You’re unnecessarily fond of people.”

His sworn brother who died during his vagabond days.

“Aren’t you my close friend? You’d better take this.”

Mantongzi, who claimed to be his lifelong friend until the moment they parted.

“This is the sword of Huashan that your senior brother left behind.”

“Isn’t the fragrance of plum blossoms most intense between master and disciple?”

Even Zhao Hun and Yu Zhangming, now grown adults.

Countless faces flashed before his eyes, without distinction between past and present lives.

That was the driving force that had propelled him this far, and the reason he resolved to live as a Taoist of Huashan.

Even if he were to meet those from his past life someday, he hoped it would be as a fellow Taoist, not as the blood-sworn brother Gu Yangji.

It was the path he had run hoping for that, and it was his fortune. Given this new opportunity, Gu Yangji had resolved.

He would never let it slip away easily; he was determined to grasp even the grains of sand slipping through his fingers.

Gu Yangji lifted his head straight up.

“It won’t take Huashan Sect even five years to easily fill twenty years.”

At those words, Namgung Cheon spat out the answer he’d arrived at after deep contemplation.

“…Absurd. Who would believe such talk of the future? That’s not something one who studied at Huashan’s Taoist academy should say, unless they’re a charlatan.”

So that was his answer after all.

Gu Yangji tried once more to persuade Namgung Cheon But he closed his mouth without thinking.

A faint smile lingered at the corner of Namgung Cheon’s mouth.

“But if you say so, doesn’t that mean the Huashan Sect also has intentions and plans?”

“……!”

“Fine. But don’t think things will flow favorably forever. We’re only acting together for a short while.”

With that, Namgung Cheon ushered Gu Yangjeok outside. Then he downed the wine in one gulp.

In a way, it was a hopeless bargain.

Having been absent from the martial world for twenty years, the Huashan Sect would surely face fierce opposition from the Martial Alliance.

No matter how strong the Huashan Sect’s orthodoxy or how profound their martial arts forged by long history, the Doushan Sword Forest would relentlessly thrust blades at them.

Namgoong Cheon raised his wine bottle again.

‘Even now, somewhere, they might be preparing to attack the Huashan Sect.’

A deal with no guarantees whatsoever.

He might even be forcibly stripped of his Deputy Leader position.

But.

Nangong Tian saw something in Gu Yangjie. It was vague, perhaps still just a dark, indistinct something. But he saw potential.

“The Huashan Sect…”

Nangong Tian’s hand reached for the books about the Huashan Sect.

* * *

After that, the Martial Arts Alliance’s attitude toward Gu Yangjie changed drastically.

Not only did he receive considerable respect from the Alliance’s martial artists, but lavish meals were offered, and some even volunteered to be his sparring partners.

The stark contrast to yesterday made Gu Yangjie chuckle bitterly.

“It wasn’t like this yesterday. Feels like I’ve become a celebrity overnight.”

At his words, Ling Hezi smiled faintly.

“Well, what of it? You always had the qualifications for it, didn’t you?”

“……?”

“As the world says, the Huashan Sect is the foremost martial sect in Shaanxi. And you are their foremost late-stage cultivator.”

Gu Yangjie stared at Youngheoja as if he’d eaten something wrong. He didn’t think a cultivator from the Zhongnan Sect, also in Shaanxi, should be saying such things.

Ying Hezi scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Well, what people say is just what people say. No matter how much I deny it, can people’s words change overnight?”

“Zongnan is also a distinguished school.”

“I know that without you saying it. Didn’t the founder of our school, Master Shunyang, study right here on Mount Zongnan?”

Yinghezi chuckled heartily. He pointed to the plaque bestowed by the Martial Alliance for his achievements.

“Seeing it’s a gold plaque means the Martial Alliance holds you in high regard, doesn’t it? So you should take your current honor as a given. After all, you’re a disciple of the great Huashan Sect.”

“That’s true.”

Gu Yangji answered thus, letting out an ambiguous chuckle.

To anyone living this life, the Huashan Sect might seem to be on an unstoppable rise, but not to Gu Yangji.

He carried within him the indelible traces of a past life.

More precisely, it was a memory from the past, deeply etched into his mind.

[……During our northern advance, we hope the Hwasan disciples will actively cooperate and assist.]

What had he felt when the Martial Alliance sent this letter?

At that age, Gu Yangjeok couldn’t tolerate it. So he challenged the warrior sent by the Martial Alliance to a fight.

After being utterly defeated, he heard one phrase.

“They say there’s a mudskipper in Huashan… so that’s you.”

“Huashan would never…!”

Before Gu Yangji could finish, the warrior spoke.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, weakling. Isn’t that what Huashan teaches?”

With those taunting words, the warrior departed.

Gu Yangji watched him go, letting out a small sob, and was soon struck by a great shock.

His fellow disciples couldn’t utter a single word.

Even the seniors were gradually wasting away. Bai Danxian shook his head and avoided the warrior.

In his youth, that was a huge shock. So, under the pretext of becoming stronger and returning, he secretly descended the mountain.

It was a petty mindset. He had done it half-knowing it wouldn’t change anything.

Thus, regret followed, and he felt the coldness of the martial world alone.

When he returned to Huashan, they were utterly weak and enemies. So, he had no choice but to kill.

“……….”

But now, things were different.

The Huashan Sect was gradually growing stronger, becoming one. It was a transformation on a completely different level from his past life.

He had even obtained the golden badge signifying strength within the Martial Alliance. Whether by his sect or his backing, he had now established his standing in the martial world.

Gu Yangjie wept inwardly.

‘It wasn’t all for nothing.’

Realizing things had indeed changed, Gu Yangjie forced a strained smile.

Then he remembered he still hadn’t given a definite answer to Young Heo.

” “I am also a Taoist of the Great Huashan Sect.”

Ye Qing and Yang Zhixian, who had joined late, watched this and smiled warmly.

* * *

A few days later.

Gu Yangji finished preparing to return to the Huashan Sect and slipped out into the market. He had long since achieved his goal before departure.

Entry into the Martial Alliance.

Recognition from the strong.

It was also a firm assurance that the Martial Alliance would aid Huashan Sect should it face danger or criticism in the future.

‘In the martial world, the Martial Alliance and Sidaolian are a surefire backing.’

Gu Yangjie realized his sphere of influence had expanded and smiled faintly. If he brought this news back to Huashan Sect, perhaps Master Xiao would grant permission.

Just then, a familiar voice greeted Gu Yangjie.

“Hey, kid.”

“Iron Wind Dog?”

At that, Iron Wind Dog grinned.

“How dare you casually use the honorific for an elder?”

“Why are you, the Prefect of Shaanxi, here?”

“Ah, naturally, I came because I have something to tell you.”

Cheolpunggae briefly turned his head, then warned Gu Yangjeok in a hushed voice about the dangers of the Huashan Sect.

“Do you know the Jinju Family?”

“The Jinju Family.”

Gu Yangjeok replied calmly.

“Would it be easier to say I know, or easier to say I don’t?”