Hyeok-woong Chae
After Ryu Seol-hwa departed, Abbot Hyun Cheon convened a eting of all the sages of Shaolin, including Hyun-gwang.
“Has sothing serious happened, Abbot Senior Brother?”
Instead of explaining to the curious disciples gathered in the abbot’s office, Hyun Cheon handed them the letter he had received from Ryu Seol-hwa.
As the sages read the letter, their reactions mirrored that of Hyun Cheon. The contents of the letter were quite extensive: it detailed the existence of shadowy forces behind the Divine Thief incident and the planned massacre in Sichuan, indicating that these forces were operating throughout the Central Plains and that Shaolin needed to assist the Tang Clan to prevent the massacre in Sichuan.
Once all the sages had read the letter, Hyun Cheon spoke in a tone that suggested he had already made up his mind. “We need to send our disciples to Sichuan imdiately.”
“Yes. Now that we know there’s a force trying to incite discord among the orthodox sects, we should help the Tang Clan,” one disciple said.
“Amitabha. There are those who seek to disturb the world. We must uncover their identities quickly,” another agreed, nodding.
However, Hyun Cheon shook his head. “The most urgent task is not to uncover the identity of this group called Shinchun or even to help the Tang Clan.”
“What do you an, Abbot Senior Brother?”
“The most urgent matter is to bring the Muja Group children to Shaolin as quickly as possible.”
“The children? According to this letter, Mu-jin seems to have been tracking these forces from the beginning. Wouldn’t it be better to leave it to him?” one disciple asked.
Mu-jin had left in the middle of the night, leaving a letter that said he had sothing he needed to do. Initially, everyone thought it was just an excuse for his escape, but thanks to the recent letter, many had changed their minds.
Although the question of how Mu-jin knew about such forces still remained, it was clear to Hyun Cheon that Mu-jin had been pursuing these forces.
Nevertheless, the reason Hyun Cheon wanted to bring Mu-jin back was simple. “There is soone in the Shinchun group who even the Dark King of the Tang Clan struggled against. We cannot entrust the pursuit of such dangerous individuals to Mu-jin and the other Muja Group children. Amitabha.”
Chengdu, the most developed region in Sichuan, usually exuded a lively atmosphere, but recently, a strange tension was palpable. This was due to the escalating conflict between the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Ei Sect, and the Qingcheng Sect.
Although the three major sects hadn’t yet clashed directly, several establishnts in Chengdu, directly or indirectly connected to these sects, were engaged in a proxy war, creating conflicts.
“How much longer must we endure this, Luju-nim?” one disciple asked impatiently.
“Just hold on a little longer. We received word from the Tang Clan that the situation will soon change,” replied the Luju, taking a deep breath.
In truth, the Qingcheng Sect and the Ei Sect were pressuring businesses associated with the Tang Clan. They were subtly disrupting the operations of these businesses, waiting for the Tang Clan to make the first move. If the Tang Clan acted to protect their associated businesses, the Qingcheng and Ei Sects planned to portray themselves as righteous heroes punishing the Tang Clan.
As a result, the inns and establishnts linked to the Tang Clan had been suffering recently.
“This isn’t like the Tang Clan. Why are they tolerating this?”
“They must be preparing sothing,” another suggested.
The Luju, who employed Tang Clan warriors as guards, sighed deeply. The Tang Clan was actually avoiding conflict due to Tang-gak’s injuries, but this fact was kept hidden, leaving others frustrated.
“If this continues, we might go bankrupt, Luju-nim.”
“Let’s wait three more days. If nothing changes by then, we might have to consider switching sides,” the Luju said, sighing. In fact, so had already switched allegiance to the Qingcheng and Ei Sects.
anwhile, in another inn nearby, the atmosphere was lively with laughter.
“Hahaha. Seeing the Tang Clan continuously retreating, it seems that the information was correct.”
“Serves those greedy fools right.”
“Boasting about putting their bloodline first, they’re now self-destructing. It’s fitting for those treacherous scoundrels,” said an old man in martial arts robes, talking with so middle-aged n. They were mbers of the Qingcheng Sect.
The reason the Qingcheng Sect and Ei Sect were acting so boldly was due to so recent information. They had heard that there was a rebellion within the Tang Clan, resulting in many deaths, and that even the Dark King was injured. This information was cleverly manipulated and delivered by spies from Shinchun.
Although Unhyangwon had been partially destroyed, traces of the battle between the Head of Unhyangwon and the Dark King remained there.
From these traces, it was not difficult for Shinchun to deduce that the Dark King had also sustained injuries.
However, since they couldn’t reveal the identity of the Head of Unhyangwon, known as one of the Five Squad Leaders in Shinchun, they altered the information, claiming that there was a rebellion within the Tang family.
After all, since they had already dealt with the underlings and spies they had planted in the Tang family, the result was practically the sa.
Of course, Qingcheng and Ei found it hard to believe this information, but realizing that the whereabouts of several individuals, including Tang Min, the Elder of the Inner Hall, were unknown, they imdiately took action.
“The Dark King’s injuries do not seem light. Judging by their cautious behavior, it appears so.”
“Why not take this opportunity to completely eliminate them?”
To this bold suggestion from the Qingcheng Sect warriors, the Elder in charge of external affairs for the Qingcheng Sect, Master Cheongpung, shook his head.
“No matter how absent the Dark King is, it would be foolish to fight in the Tang family’s territory. We don’t know how many traps and poisons they might have prepared there.”
“Indeed, those cunning bastards must have made so preparations.”
“There’s no need to rush. If we wait a bit longer, there will be hardly any places left for them to turn to. By then, even if the Dark King recovers, they will be powerless.”
“Hahaha. It seems Sichuan is finally getting back to its proper state.”
Sichuan originally belonged to Qingcheng and Ei.
However, while they were enjoying their seclusion in the mountains, subtly exerting their influence, secular martial arts families began to blatantly spread their influence in Sichuan. Around the ti Tang-gak beca the head of the Tang family, their influence beca the strongest in Sichuan.
It was only then that Qingcheng and Ei cast aside concerns about worldly perceptions and started to move openly.
And as they all smiled in satisfaction, thinking that Sichuan was returning to its original state,
“Master Elder!”
A young Taoist from the Qingcheng Sect hurriedly climbed the steps of the tavern.
“Why is a disciple of Qingcheng in such a rush?”
When the first-class disciple accompanying Master Cheongpung scolded the young disciple, the latter bowed his head in apology.
“Sorry, Senior Brother. There is urgent news I must deliver.”
“Urgent news?”
“Yes, Master Elder. There are reports that people from Cheonryu Sangdan and Shaolin have appeared in Chengdu.”
At the young disciple’s explanation, Master Cheongpung frowned.
“Why does a disciple of Qingcheng get so flustered just because Shaolin has appeared? Do you think Qingcheng is inferior to Shaolin?”
“That’s not it. It’s because Shaolin and Cheonryu Sangdan are heading towards the Tang family, which is why I ca in such a hurry.”
“What!”
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the Taoists of Qingcheng quickly stood up.
They rushed to ascertain the situation and, on the way to the Tang family, joined forces with mbers of the Ei Sect, who had also heard the news.
Thus, moving swiftly and abandoning decorum, they arrived at the entrance of the Tang family, where they saw a harmonious scene of the Tang family and Shaolin mbers conversing.
Master Cheongpung boldly interrupted their conversation.
“I am Master Cheongpung, an elder of the Qingcheng Sect.”
“Hahaha. It is an honor to et the Sword of Qingcheng. Amitabha.”
Master Hyun-hyeon, the representative of the Shaolin group this ti, greeted his rudeness with a kind smile.
“But, why have you suddenly co to see us?”
“Ahem. We were curious why people from Shaolin, who reside far away in Henan, suddenly ca to Sichuan Chengdu, so we ca to find out.”
“We have co to save the people, that’s all.”
“The people here will be saved by Qingcheng and Ei. Why don’t you return peacefully?”
Despite Master Cheongpung’s blatant dismissal, Master Hyun-hyeon rely continued to smile serenely.
“It is not just Shaolin’s intention, so that might be difficult.”
“What do you an?”
“We ca here together with Cheonryu Sangdan according to our agreent, to treat those with musculoskeletal injuries. I heard there are many patients with such injuries in the Tang family. Hahaha.”
“Are you truly saying that Shaolin intends to interfere in Sichuan’s affairs?”
Unable to contain his frustration, Master Cheongpung asked directly, to which Master Hyun-hyeon also responded sowhat bluntly.
“We have no intention of interfering in Sichuan’s affairs. However, we will not allow needless bloodshed.”
They did not intend to assist the Tang family in attacking first. However, if a war broke out, they would not remain idle.
Master Cheongpung interpreted Master Hyun-hyeon’s words in this way.
* * *
After Qingcheng and Ei had departed, Master Hyun-hyeon, who was being guided by the Tang family mbers, had a private eting with Tang Pae-jin, the head of the Tang family. Master Hyun-hyeon’s usual serene deanor changed completely.
Among his purposes for coming here, one was to prevent the bloodshed that was about to occur.
“Where is Mu-jin?”
But his primary purpose was to bring Mu-jin back to Shaolin.
However, the response was Tang Pae-jin’s peculiar expression.
“If you are talking about Monk Mu-jin, he left a few days ago. Did you not receive any ssage?”
His expression seed to question why he was looking for a disciple who had already left.
anwhile, Ryu Seol-hwa, who had co with Master Hyun-hyeon as a representative of Cheonryu Sangdan, maintained a calm expression despite the shocking news.
This was because she already knew that Mu-jin had left.
Mu-jin, wary of being captured by Shaolin, had sent a letter to Ryu Seol-hwa once his protein supplent was sufficiently complete.
Moreover, before leaving this place, he had left her an additional letter.
“Before we discuss the musculoskeletal treatnt clinic, I have sothing to ask you, Tang Pae-jin.”
“Feel free to ask, Miss Ryu Seol-hwa of the Golden Lily.”
When he called her by the nickna she had recently gained fa for in the upper circles, Ryu Seol-hwa responded with a bright smile befitting her nickna.
“I heard on the way here that the Tang family recently developed a sauce while making a certain dicine. And that you developed a recipe to mix this sauce with Sichuan cuisine?”
“Hoho. I have heard that Cheonryu Sangdan’s intelligence is outstanding, but I didn’t know you were aware of such details. But why do you ask?”
“May I taste that dish? If it is indeed excellent, how about we open a guest house together?”
It was about the dish that Mu-jin had recomnded. He had suggested trying Sichuan cuisine with cheese as a delicacy.
Of course, for Mu-jin, it was just a recomndation to try it as a delicacy, but for her, now a businesswoman, it was seen as ‘information that could make money.’
* * *
anwhile, at that mont.
Mu-jin and his group, who had already left Sichuan Tang Clan, were now crossing a mountain path on their way to Guangxi, having passed through Guizhou.
The reason was, of course, to disrupt the plans of the shadowy forces, Shinchun.
Furthermore, there was soone in Guangxi who would be good to recruit as an ally.
The only issue was.
“Everyone, be cautious from now on. Beyond hiding our identities, this is truly the territory of the demonic sects.”
Guangxi was a highly dangerous area for the righteous sects’ late-stage disciples.
The southern region starting from Dongting Lake was the territory of the Demonic Alliance.
While Guizhou, Chongqing, Hunan, and Jiangxi were less so, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian were completely dominated by the demonic sects.
Even being identified as a disciple of the righteous sects, let alone a disciple of Shaolin or Wudang, could endanger one’s life here.
Thus,
“Hehehehe. You there! Stop right now!”
This ant that it was not surprising to be surrounded by rough-looking n while climbing a mountain.
Middle-aged n suddenly blocked the path.
They all wore outfits that scread ‘I’m a bandit!’
“If you want to pass through the path that our heroic mountain n have worked hard to pave, you need to pay a toll!”
“Hehehe.”
Sighing montarily at the sight of these cliché and shabby bandits.
‘Huh?’
Mu-jin suddenly ca up with a peculiar idea and began to scrutinize the bandits’ attire.
Reviews
All reviews (0)