In the long history of the martial world, there have been several incidents where the Central Plains martial world was truly pushed to the brink of destruction. The one that most people would recall would probably be the Second Righteous-Demonic War.
How much blood did the Central Plains martial world shed in that incident where the invincible superman who descended upon the human world, called the Heavenly Demon, and the terrifying great demons invaded?
But this fight was, after all, a war between groups with different ideologies and cultures.
Then what about the Hegemon's Fortress's march across the world?
If the Righteous-Demonic War was, after all, a war between martial world groups, the Hegemon's Fortress was truly a cruel slaughterer and invader who was rciless even to the common people. If one were to count how much blood was shed in their march across the world, there would be no other demons who had descended upon the human world.
But the author believes that this incident, which I will talk about now, was the incident where the world was in the greatest crisis.
The rebellion of the Blood Heaven Cult.
A terrible incident where a pseudo-cult leader who called himself the Blood Heavenly Son deceived the world and expanded his influence, and in the end, tried to swallow the world!
They were truly demons ard with bizarre sorcery and unorthodox thods. Even now, more than 200 years after the end of the Blood Heaven Cult's rebellion, the identity of the bizarre sorcery and unorthodox thods they had used has not been properly identified, so that's all there is to say.
The great demon, the Blood Heavenly Son, who had thrown the Central Plains into a pit of chaos and had shed countless blood in this way. The one who had defeated this Blood Heavenly Son was the man who was called the Martial God or the Heavenly Dragon at that ti.
The Heavenly Dragon, who had learned a transcendent martial art whose origin was unknown, gathered those who believed in and followed him to create the Heavenly Dragon Sect. And he united the Orthodox Faction martial world, which was being pressed by the montum of the Blood Heaven Cult at that ti, and fought against the Blood Heaven Cult. Although he was the Heavenly Dragon who had succeeded in destroying the Blood Heaven Cult in the end, he had lost all of his family and the Heavenly Dragon Sect who had followed him as a price.
The heartbroken Heavenly Dragon went into seclusion as he was. And in the aning of honoring the great achievent of such a Heavenly Dragon, in Shaanxi, where the Heavenly Dragon Sect had been in the past, the World's Dragon and Phoenix eting was still held regularly to praise his great achievent.
What we should be interested in here is the origin of this Blood Heavenly Son.
The most famous hypothesis was that he was from the Demonic Cult. And the author would like to present a certain fact that adds credibility to this hypothesis.
That is, the composition of the Twelve Demon Palaces, the core military institution of the Demonic Cult, had changed since the rebellion of the Blood Heavenly Son.
It was not that the number had increased or decreased, but that the na of one demon palace had changed.
Based on this, the theory that the author puts forward is that a person who was sitting in a key position in the Twelve Demon Palaces, or even the palace master or a position comparable to it, had betrayed the Demonic Cult due to so incident and had co out to the Central Plains and had beco the Blood Heavenly Son. And in the aning of taking responsibility for that, or of shaking off the stigma, the na of the palace had been changed. But this is, after all, the author's personal hypothesis, and it seems that more research and supplentation will be needed in the future.
-Excerpt from 'Unofficial History of the Martial World' by the Martial World's Ten Thousand Scholars
What was waiting for Jang Baekseo, who had rushed at the call of his master, was Geum Hyeonah, who was now 18 years old.
"Senior Brother!"
Geum Hyeonah, who was welcoming Jang Baekseo with a fresh smile, was in full bloom with her beauty, as if a flower had blood.
Although the color of her hair was still silver due to the side effects of her illness, that silver hair rather added a mysterious charm to her.
"Am I too late, Junior Sister?"
"No, not at all."
Looking at the gentle smile that she showed only to Jang Baekseo and no one else, Jang Baekseo felt once again that she was a very beautiful woman.
"You're here, Baekseo."
Jang Baekseo, who had exchanged greetings with Geum Hyeonah, then greeted his master.
"Did you call for , Master?"
"Yes, let's go to the main hall for now."
Thus, Cheongmu and his disciples, Jang Baekseo, Jang Yuhan, and Geum Hyeonah, headed to the main hall.
On the way to the main hall, the sight of the other third-generation junior brothers who were in the middle of training ca into Jang Baekseo's eyes.
"Hap!"
"Haaat!!"
Although there was still clumsiness in the appearance of the junior brothers, there was a spirit that was not inferior to the disciples of many prestigious Orthodox Faction sects.
'The effort was worth it.'
For the past three years, Jang Baekseo had put in a lot of effort to raise the overall martial arts level of the sect along with his own training. The first of them was to stimulate the first-generation and second-generation to develop their martial arts, and the second was to raise the level of the young disciples of the third-generation.
Thanks to the Three Forms, Six Shapes Soft Body thod, which had raised the average level, and Jang Baekseo's individual pointing out and supplenting of each junior brother's shortcomings, the level of the current third-generation disciples of the Mysterious Profound Sect was truly on par with the young disciples of many prestigious Orthodox Faction sects.
Jang Baekseo's party, which had arrived at the main hall in that way, greeted the Sect Leader.
"Yes, welco. Sit there."
The Sect Leader suddenly said this to Jang Baekseo's party, who had sat down after receiving the Sect Leader's permission.
"The World's Dragon and Phoenix eting will be held in Shaanxi soon."
"The World's Dragon and Phoenix eting…!"
At the words 'World's Dragon and Phoenix eting', Jang Yuhan's eyes began to sparkle.
The World's Dragon and Phoenix eting!
…Well, putting aside the detailed background and all that, if you just say the main point, it's a festival of the rising generation that is held once every five years. You can see it like that.
The qualification to participate is anyone who is a martial artist under the age of 25!
The purpose of this place was to compete for a set period of ti and to distinguish the outstanding ones among them, that is, the dragons and phoenixes.
"Um… Sect Leader, it's not a bad idea, but isn't Yuhan too young to go to the World's Dragon and Phoenix eting?"
"S-senior brother!"
Although there was an age limit for the Dragon and Phoenix eting, there was no age limit for the bottom. But even so, 16 was too young.
"And Junior Sister too… no, well, I admit that her achievents are excellent, but to have the precious jade of the Geumjo rchant Guild participate in such a thing is a bit… isn't it?"
"Huhu, as long as I can be by your side, Senior Brother, anywhere is fine."
Jang Baekseo, who had let out a cough at the sight of Geum Hyeonah, who was saying embarrassing things calmly, looked at the Sect Leader with a 'Don't you think so?' face.
And not only the Sect Leader but also his master, Cheongmu, looked at such a Jang Baekseo with a dumbfounded face.
"Why can't you even think of going yourself from the beginning?"
"…?"
"Yes, you."
"…"
"…"
"Are you serious, Sect Leader?"
"Of course I'm serious, do you think I'm lying!! Why are you saying that with such an unbelievable face!? Yes, you! You! You! You, the great disciple, have to go too. If not, who will go!?"
"No, but…"
Jang Baekseo continued, rubbing his temples as if his head was aching.
"It's a bit… not right for to go, isn't it?"
Although it was an abstract statent, the Sect Leader and Cheongmu imdiately understood the hidden aning of his words.
That's why Jang Baekseo, who was trying to drive a wedge into the two people who could not speak, added a word… but that was his downfall.
"What would I do at a place where kids are playing?"
At those words, the Sect Leader said, 'That's right,' and retorted.
"What nonsense are you talking about, you're not even twenty yet! You're only 18, so why are you acting like an old man!?"
As Jang Baekseo could not even make a peep at those words, the Sect Leader's telepathic ssage flew to him, avoiding the eyes of his junior brothers.
-I know what you're thinking, but go this ti.
-Is there a special reason?
-The biggest reason is, of course, the Sichuan Alliance. At this Dragon and Phoenix eting, you will be going with the representatives of each sect, Qingcheng, Ei, and the Tang family, for the purpose of promoting friendship for the Sichuan Alliance. Promote their harmony as much as possible there.
The establishnt of the Sichuan Alliance, which was now only waiting for the official announcent as a result of the achievents of the past three years!
The Sect Leader's words were, in other words, to go and work hard to promote the friendship of the rising generation, who would beco the core of each sect in the future, before the announcent of the Sichuan Alliance.
Hearing that, Jang Baekseo could no longer refuse.
In the first place, it was the Path of Chivalry, in which Jang Baekseo had participated, that had beco the cause of the establishnt of the Sichuan Alliance. In order to prevent the infiltration of the Hundred River Association into the Western martial world in the future, the Sichuan Alliance and the integration of the Western martial world were essential tasks that had to be achieved.
"I will follow the Sect Leader's order."
"Of course! You should! Go to Chengdu for now. You can join the people of Qingcheng, the Tang family, and Ei in Chengdu and go up to Shaanxi."
In his life before his regression, Jang Baekseo had not participated in the World's Dragon and Phoenix eting. At that ti, Jang Baekseo's martial prowess was at best at the second-rate level, so he had been looking forward to the Dragon and Phoenix eting five years later.
'But in the end, I couldn't participate in the World's Dragon and Phoenix eting until the end…'
Not long after that, Sohyun had fallen ill, and soon after, the Righteous-Demonic War had broken out. Of course, there was no ti to leisurely participate in the World's Dragon and Phoenix eting, and in the first place, the World's Dragon and Phoenix eting was no longer held.
'I should take this opportunity to bring the Divine Physician.'
There was now only about a year left until Sohyun's illness broke out.
Wouldn't it be better to be able to prevent it in advance, rather than starting the treatnt after the child gets sick?
As he was thinking that, a small figure ran up to Jang Baekseo, who was coming out of the main hall.
"Senior Brother!"
"Our Sohyun!"
Sohyun, who was now 12 years old, had grown a lot taller than three years ago and was beginning to look like a girl. But for Jang Baekseo, Sohyun was still his cute and adorable junior sister.
"Are you going sowhere again, Senior Brother?"
"Yes, the bad Sect Leader grandpa told to go to Shaanxi."
"Ugh, don't go, Senior Brother! The Sect Leader grandpa is bad!"
Although Jang Baekseo wanted to take Sohyun with him if he could, this trip to Shaanxi was not one where only the people of the Mysterious Profound Sect were going.
Since it was a path where the influential sects of Sichuan, including Qingcheng, Ei, and the Tang family, were accompanying them, it was not a place where he could take the still young Sohyun.
'She'll see a lot of things she shouldn't see…'
"Will it take a very long ti like last ti?"
The 'last ti' that Sohyun was talking about was the Path of Chivalry, which had taken nearly half a year.
"No, it won't take that long. At most, a month and a half? Forty-five nights… um, it's a bit long, but I'll be back soon, so Sohyun has to learn martial arts diligently and eat well without being a picky eater!"
"Yes…! I'll learn martial arts diligently and eat well, so you work hard too, Senior Brother!"
"Yes, I'll work hard too."
'I will definitely save you this ti.'
Jang Baekseo was making a promise with Sohyun, crossing his fingers, with a firm resolve that he had not told anyone.
***
Chengdu, the central city of Sichuan!
This city, located in the center of the western plains of Sichuan, had been called the land of heaven since the past because of its abundant resources and fertile rivers and land.
As such, the city of Chengdu was teeming with people.
Jang Baekseo, Jang Yuhan, and Geum Hyeonah pushed through the crowd and entered the inn where they were supposed to et with the Sichuan sects.
"Hoo, that's why I hate Chengdu…"
"…Have you been to Chengdu before, Senior Brother?"
"…No, it's not that. It's just a figure of speech…"
"Huhu, I don't like it when it's so crowded either. Our minds are in sync, Senior Brother."
Jang Baekseo's party, which had co to the inn on the promised day, first took a seat on the first floor and ordered.
"One bowl of son, one bowl of dandan noodles, and one bowl of fried rice here. And one serving of boiled fish with chili oil and one serving of husband and wife lung slices, and one bottle of Yanghe wine…"
"Senior Brother, the alcohol is a bit…"
"But just one bottle…"
"Senior Brother, although so may praise a man for being bold for drinking alcohol before an important event, a truly virtuous person knows that drinking alcohol before an important guest at an important place is the sa as not showing sincerity to them."
As not only Yuhan but also Geum Hyeonah opposed it, Jang Baekseo eventually gave up on the alcohol.
'…Hoo, to think that I have to be in the middle of them with a clear mind…'
Thinking about the ntal hardship he would soon have to endure, being in the middle of the people of Qingcheng, Ei, and the Tang family, Jang Baekseo's future was bleak.
As he was eating for a long ti…
"Oh my, these martial artists…"
"It's so bloody, I can't eat…"
It seed that the martial artists on the upper floor had caused a commotion. The custors who were cursing the martial artists were rushing down.
The inn that Jang Baekseo's party had entered was a type of inn where the seating price beca more expensive as you went up to the upper floors, which was common.
The reason why Jang Baekseo had decided to eat on the first floor in such an inn was by no ans to save money.
'It's already started… oh my head…'
Even before entering the inn, Jang Baekseo had already sensed the presence of a group of people who were gathered on the upper floor and were making a commotion.
So he had been planning to at least eat his al in peace and then go up…
'But since there's such a commotion, I can't just stay here…'
Jang Baekseo, who had eventually gotten up from his seat, went up to the upper floor with his junior brothers.
"How dare you! To insult Qingcheng, you must be out of your mind!?"
"Ha! Did I say sothing I shouldn't have? It's not wrong, is it? That Qingcheng is expanding its influence like a neighborhood black gang, not knowing that the na of a Daoist sect is a sha. It's a fact, isn't it!?"
"What did you say, you arrogant middle-aged woman!!"
"Ha!? Woman!? Woman!!? You bastard, you're not even that old, so where did you learn to speak so informally!?"
"Both of you, calm down. It's not a good sight."
"Shut up! You lowly woman who only uses poison, where do you dare to… to a disciple of Qingcheng."
"…Do you want to die?"
Jang Baekseo, who had confird the situation on the upper floor, felt his head throb.
"Let's go down…"
"Senior Brother… is it okay to just leave it like that?"
"Just, just go down without saying anything…"
Although Jang Baekseo was trying to go down, ignoring the ss on the upper floor…
"Ah! Young Master Jang!"
A small girl who was in the middle of the ss pointed at Jang Baekseo and shouted loudly.
"They're calling for you, Senior Brother…"
"No, no. I'm not the only person with the surna Jang in the world…"
"The Chivalrous Sword, Young Master Jang Baekseo, who has succeeded in the Path of Chivalry!"
"It seems they are calling for you, Senior Brother."
'Damn it!'
The girl who was running towards him with a very happy expression. But Jang Baekseo was seeing this girl for the first ti.
"…Excuse , young lady, but have we t before…?"
"Huh? You don't rember? Then… how about this?"
The girl ssed up her own hair and covered her eyes with her bangs. Only after seeing that could Jang Baekseo know the identity of the other person.
"Myeonghwa!?"
"Hehe, you rembered."
The identity of the girl was Myeonghwa, the disciple of Grandmaster Gwangha and the one who had beco a first-generation disciple of Qingcheng at a young age due to Grandmaster Gwangha's insistence.
"…You were a girl? Young Lady Myeonghwa?"
"What's with that!? Of course I'm a girl!"
Jang Baekseo, who was happily talking with the unexpected person, suddenly realized the sharp gazes pouring down on him.
From the front, the disciples of Qingcheng, Ei, and the Tang family, who had been fighting like crazy until a mont ago, and the disciples of the branch who were following them. And from the back…
"Wh-why are you glaring at like that, Hyeonah…?"
"…Well, don't you know better yourself, Senior Brother?"
Jang Baekseo really felt like he was going to go crazy.
(End of Chapter)
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