Chapter 369: There's More, And More
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Hong Lake at the southernmost tip of Hubei Province.
A vast lake and scenic spot just beyond the northern boundary of Hunan Province.
It couldn’t compare to Dongting Lake, but Hong Lake’s scenery was also indescribably beautiful.
Befitting the elegant scenery, the village around the lake also had a peaceful atmosphere.
However, this place wasn’t originally like this.
Because from quite long ago, forces classified as the dark path within the Unorthodox Jianghu had colluded with corrupt officials to oppress the common people.
The central perpetrators were the Black Forest Hall.
As a rule, forces of poor quality tend to use the word “black” in their names.
The Black Forest Hall group was no exception.
And behind them, the notoriously infamous Sword Seal Sect was backing them up.
The lives of Hong Lake’s common people had starkly contrasting light and darkness.
The so-called prime lands by the waterfront, the villages situated there were very prosperous.
Each naturally formed wealthy neighborhoods by straddling key commercial districts.
The lowest class was middle-income.
On the other hand, those suffering from poverty lived in the mountains beyond the forest.
Living alongside the beautiful scenery was not permitted.
Leisure itself was luxury.
A life barely scraping by, day after day.
The hidden reality of haves and have-nots behind the scenic spot Hong Lake.
Those who gained more, those without have more taken away…
The dark path group made people without power or money their targets and committed all manner of evil deeds.
It was truly a vicious cycle repeated.
However.
Coming to the present, a great change had been ushered in.
Cooperation between merchants and government to narrow the gap between Hong Lake’s poor and rich villages had begun.
There was a person who had prepared the opportunity.
The unparalleled rising Absolute Master and new sect master of White Peak Sword Sect, Cheol Ryu-heun.
The starting point of change and reform was the connection with Gal Jung-heon, the Nine Demons Alliance Leader who had been using the alias Neung-po.
No, to be precise, it might be said to have been triggered by murderous intent toward the Black Forest Hall.
Enraged at the tragic deaths of the mother and daughter Zhang-min and Hong-Cheong, Gal Jung-heon carried out punishment.
And as it happened, Cheol Ryu-heun took him in.
Their meeting thus swept away Hong Lake’s dark shadow.
With the successive demise of the Black Forest Hall and Sword Seal Sect by Gal Jung-heon and Cheol Ryu-heun, the entire Hong Lake area was completely incorporated into Orthodox faction territory.
The poor villages thus regained peace.
When the group that had made already difficult lives even harder was gone, a breathing hole barely opened up.
That wasn’t the end.
Cheol Ryu-heun, accepting Gal Jung-heon’s request, led the reorganization of the Hong Lake area.
At the forefront was the Red Cat Merchant Guild, which had rapidly grown into a large-scale merchant group.
Through that, large-scale investment was made in Hong Lake for the common people of poor villages.
Red Cat Merchant Gang leader Hui Bu-yong first executed unsecured loans at dramatically lowered interest rates.
And she also gave small opportunities to improve their lives by selecting run-down villages and creating new commercial streets to generate jobs.
On top of that, the minor Orthodox factions that had been suppressed by the fierce momentum of the dark path also lent their strength.
Thus, Red Cat Merchant Guild’s enthusiastic efforts and positive influence led Hong Lake’s change and reform.
The rest was the responsibility of the people who had been given opportunity.
The outcome now depended entirely on their effort.
However.
Here and there were changing, yet one shabby shop remained unchanged.
A ruined house situated alone in the forest, removed from the waterfront.
It was the dumpling shop that Gal Jung-heon had acquired and operated in the past.
Currently, the Red Cat Merchant Guild is managing it by proxy.
There was a separate reason for deliberately leaving it without renovation.
It was precisely to provide a meeting place.
In other words, it was being maintained with minimal upkeep as if abandoned, to use as a kind of secret conference room.
Sure enough.
Six people could be seen having secretly gathered, avoiding others’ eyes.
Among them, an old man looking around inside muttered with a slight smile.
“Hoot, I can’t easily imagine it. To think Alliance Leader Gal spent his time selling dumplings in a place like this…”
An old Taoist in blue attire.
He had eyebrows long like ribbons and narrow, slender eyes.
On his blue Taoist robe was embroidered an animal symbolizing his sect and his station.
It was a monkey gripping a sword.
The old Taoist’s identity was Taoist Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet Man-hae, sect master of the Mount Huang Sect among the Nine Great Sects, one of the Three High Experts of Anhui representing the Anhui region.
An old man opposite him smiled slightly and softly added words.
“Hohoht. Indeed so. To think someone with such terrifying Demonic arts… Isn’t it truly fortunate? Thinking that Alliance Leader Gal is an ally.”
The owner of pure and refreshing features like an immortal of the peach garden, precisely Ten Ultimate Martial Saint Taoist Mu-hyeon, the sect master of the Wudang Sect.
Not to be outdone, two others spoke in a row.
“However, a demonic person who should be guarded against has also appeared in this land. One who will absolutely never side with us…”
“Yes, we never know when he might stab us in the back. Of course, the Beggar’s Sect will keep a close watch.”
They were Mount Hua Sword Perfection Jo Won, sect master of Mount Hua Sect, and Jeong Su-ja, sect master of Mount Kongtong Sect, who had joined the great battle against the Sun Moon Demon Cult.
The remaining two were also of high name value.
An old Taoist in white in his seventies, and an old monk of similar age in gray Buddhist robes…
They were Taoist Do-chung, sect master of Mount Tai Sect, and Great Master Myeong-gyeong, abbot of Mount Emei Sect.
That was so.
The personnel assembled at the dumpling shop were the Nine Great Sects’ sect masters.
The sect masters of Shaolin Temple and Potalsa Temple were absent according to plan as per Cheol Ryu-heun’s intention.
Everyone’s expressions hardened slightly.
Because of the demonic person that Jo Won and Jeong Su-ja had mentioned.
Since everyone knew well whom it meant.
The youngest Grand Prelate in Heavenly Demon Cult history, Extreme Heavenly Demon Emperor Gun Mu-ak.
That was precisely him.
Great Master Myeong-gyeong of Mount Emei Sect spoke while stroking his long beard.
“Sect Master Cheol restrained him when they met, they say, but… I don’t know how he’ll act going forward.”
At that, Taoist Do-chung of Mount Tai Sect beside him slightly nodded.
“According to news the Green Forest Alliance conveyed a few days ago, he’s said to be heading south.”
Immediately after, Jeong Su-ja of Mount Kongtong expressed worry.
“Could he possibly be… after the Divine Martial Sword…?”
It was worry about whether Gun Mu-ak had perhaps headed for the Shiwan Mountains to seize the Divine Martial Sword.
It was only natural.
Since he had already set foot in this land, it was absolutely impossible that he hadn’t heard of those clamorous rumors.
Considering his identity as the Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate and the long-opposed factional relationship between the two factions, it was reasonable suspicion.
Moreover, Mount Kongtong Sect previously had an incident where one first-generation disciple secretly made contact with the Sun Moon Demon Cult and then committed suicide when his activities were discovered, so their wariness toward the demonic path beyond the borders couldn’t help but be high.
Still, there was some peace of mind since Cheol Ryu-heun was holding the line.
Then, Jo Won of Mount Hua Sect muttered as if to himself.
“Also, I hear that two giants of the Unorthodox faction have already gone there as well…”
Those two referred to none other than Iron Blood Martial Alliance Leader Sword Wheel Crown Prince Gwi Je-shin and Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord Solar Sword Saint Castle Lord Beop-yeol.
“Ah, I heard that story yesterday. If things continue like this, a great fight might not break out… Hmm… They should refrain from friction with Sect Master Cheol or the Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate, but with those two’s pride being so strong…”
Suddenly, Taoist Mu-hyeon of the Wudang Sect and Taoist Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet Man-hae of the Mount Huang Sect wore peculiar smiles.
Taoist Do-chung, seeing that, tilted his head.
“Why are you two smiling?”
At that, Taoist Mu-hyeon answered in a calm voice.
“Hohoht, everyone, please don’t worry too much. Actually, on the way here, I heard word about that. Through an express message from the Mount Heng Sect Master.”
But at that moment, several faint presences were felt approaching from far outside.
Everyone, befitting their fame as renowned warriors, read that series of small movements with sharp energy sense.
Before long, the presences appeared beyond the door.
There were three in total.
Even before the faded door opened, Taoist Mu-hyeon spoke with a smiling face.
“It seems the Mount Heng Sect Master has arrived.”
Just as he said, the first person to enter when the door opened was the Mount Heng Sect Master White Cloud Sword Duke Taoist Cheon Mu.
Also.
The two high masters who followed and entered were of the same Hunan’s Five Martial Supremes rank as Taoist Cheon Mu.
Thunder Lightning Sect Master Thunder Cloud Sword Duke, and Azure Heaven Sword Sect Master Azure Prodigy Sword Master Seol Hu-yong.
Simultaneously, the sect masters inside inwardly marveled.
Because the intangible Aura/Aura/bearing wrapping around Taoist Cheon Mu, Wei Ji-am, and Seol Hu-yong’s bodies was truly tremendous.
That meant one thing.
A rapid rise in martial prowess level.
They thought it was most likely the influence of the miraculous opportunity Cheol Ryu-heun had arranged.
After simple greetings were exchanged, Taoist Do-chung, who was curious about what he’d heard earlier, soon looked at Taoist Cheon Mu and asked as if pleading.
“Mount Heng Sect Master, I just heard you sent an express message to the Wudang Sect Master. Was it content related to the Heavenly Demon Cult side?”
“Yes, that’s right. I too had actually received it through the Thunder Lightning Sect Master and Azure Heaven Sword Sect Master. News that an unprecedented temporary alliance has been formed…”
With Taoist Cheon Mu’s words, the crowd’s gazes simultaneously concentrated on Wei Ji-am and Seol Hu-yong.
Except for Taoist Muhyeon and Taoist Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet Man-hae who had received the content in advance.
Wei Ji-am and Seol Hu-yong taught them in detail about the encounter at the inn from before.
The crowd who heard the stories of those two each wore expressions of disbelief and were seized by shivers.
“Goodness!”
“Th-that kind of thing…”
“It’s truly remarkable. Sect Master Cheol’s ability…”
“To think such a thing is possible, it’s truly astounding!”
It was shocking news.
To think Cheol Ryu-heun and Gun Mu-ak had joined hands…
On top of that, even Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol were accompanying them, weren’t they?
Who could have predicted that transcendent high masters representing Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions would move together as allies like that?
As they said, an unprecedented temporary alliance had been formed.
A companionship without precedent in martial history.
While each person’s exclamations mixed and flowed, this time Taoist Cheon Mu presented yet another shocking fact.
“The members included in the plan to counter the mysterious group’s diversionary tactics are not just our Nine Sects and Beggar’s Sect. As you know, representatives of the Unorthodox faction friendly to White Peak Sword Sect are also secretly meeting in the Green Forest Alliance’s territory. And… Although Shaolin Temple and Potalsa Temple abstained according to Sect Master Cheol’s plan, a heavyweight figure of a force beyond the borders has been recruited to substitute their spot. I briefly stopped by White Peak Sword Sect on the way here and confirmed it directly. Of course, that matter too was orchestrated by Sect Master Cheol. Hohoho…”
Everyone’s eyes went wide at the unexpected news.
Great Master Myeong-gyeong, abbot of Mount Emei Sect, immediately posed a question.
“Wa-wait… Then are you saying that in addition to Southern Embrace Poison Palace which went as reinforcements to the Shiwan Mountains, another force has agreed to help us?”
“That’s correct. They will be joining before long.”
“Where on earth are they?”
“There exist Buddhist orders in the Jianghu beyond the borders as well, just as in Shaolin Temple, Potalsa Temple, and Great Master Myeong-gyeong’s sect.”
No sooner had Taoist Cheon Mu’s words ended than someone exclaimed briefly.
“Potala Palace!”
At that, Taoist Cheon Mu quietly smiled while nodding his head.
It meant they had pinpointed it exactly.
The crowd who saw that reaction were astounded again.
Potala Palace.
The sacred ground and headquarters of Buddhist martial studies within the Tibetan region beyond the borders.
The status of the Dalai Lama who led that place was high enough to be comparable to the Shaolin Temple Abbot.
Everyone had dumbfounded expressions.
To think that place, said to be even more closed-off than Shaolin Temple and Potalsa Temple, was cooperating according to Cheol Ryu-heun’s will…
They couldn’t help but click their tongues anew at that recruitment ability.
But the surprises didn’t end there.
Taoist Cheon Mu taught them yet another unknown fact.
“And a figure who oversees another place in the Jianghu beyond the borders is already staying within White Peak Sword Sect. I exchanged first greetings there.”
At those words, even Taoist Mu-hyeon and Taoist Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet Man-hae seemed surprised.
The two of them hadn’t known even that much either.
“How truly unexpected! To think there was one more place… And who on earth is he?”
When Taoist Mu-hyeon quickly asked, Taoist Cheon Mu’s eyes flashed meaningfully.
Also.
The words seeping from his lips were also meaningful.
“A warrior of terrifying martial prowess such that even the Heavenly Demon Cult Prelate Gun Mu-ak cannot take him lightly.”