Chapter 126: Chapter 126

Sichuan Tang Clan, Hebei Peng Clan, Jinzhou Eon Clan, Hwangbo Clan, Guangdong Jin Clan.

Five of the families named the Eight Great Clans.

Currently, the five heads leading those places sat snugly in one place, drinking tea. Although their expressions looked bitter, their eyes burned hotter than ever.

“It ended up like this. The fall of the Murong Clan… tsk tsk.”

“The Sword Saint went too far.”

“Even so, it was not right for the Nine Sects and One Gang to drive out the Alliance Leader!”

Words went back and forth here and there.

The orthodox Martial World was shaking greatly. The Martial Alliance Leader, the Sword Saint, went missing, and it was none other than the people of the Nine Sects and One Gang who dragged him down.

Originally, the relationship between the Nine Sects and the Eight Great Clans could not be called very good.

It was because they each held their own pride, so they often engaged in subtle power struggles.

However, outstanding figures had not emerged from the Nine Sects in recent decades, and as the actual power eventually shifted to the Namgung Clan, it was also true that the power of the Eight Great Clans became stronger than that of the Nine Sects.

Those in this place also knew that all too well.

“Not only the Sword Emperor but even the Sword Saint is missing… I wonder if those bastards plotted something together.”

Eon Ha-pyeong of the Jinzhou Eon Clan.

Frowning, he let out a long sigh. Because these events occurred so suddenly, he even had doubts about whether someone was pulling the strings from behind.

However, they were secretly satisfied with this situation.

For it was not only the Murong Clan that had been overshadowed by the name of the Namgung Clan. Those in this place also had to bow their heads before the name of the Sword Emperor and follow him.

With the Sword Emperor and the Sword Saint gone in such a situation, they felt as if everything would go exactly as they wished. Although they did not show it on their faces, they believed everyone else thought the same.

That was why they were in one place like this.

“What happened to the Zhuge Clan Head?”

“He seems to still be wandering around looking for the Sword Emperor. He did not come even when we spoke to him. He does not seem to have any intention of joining us.”

The head of the Guangdong Jin Clan, Jin Gu-ak, drank from his teacup with a sneer. It was a good thing that the Zhuge Clan did not join. An extraordinary mind was bound to clash with someone.

It was better not to have such a person from the start.

“Anyway, with this, we will now have to be called the Five Great Clans instead of the Eight Great Clans.”

Eon Ha-pyeong chuckled.

The Five Great Clans.

Although they were currently called the Eight Great Clans, the five families with the longest history and legitimacy among them were called the Five Great Clans.

Sichuan Tang Clan, Namgung Clan, Murong Clan, Zhuge Clan, Hwangbo Clan.

Although the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Hwangbo Clan were here, the other three places originally did not belong to the Five Great Clans. Therefore, how much had they envied that name?

Eon Ha-pyeong’s gaze turned toward Tang Jung-ak, the head of the Tang Clan, and Hwangbo Won, the head of the Hwangbo Clan.

The two were filled with displeased expressions.

However, they did not speak out because they knew that unless those in this place stuck tightly together, the position of the Eight Great Clans or the Five Great Clans would be greatly shaken.

“The figures of the Nine Sects and One Gang looked down on our Eight Great Clans and even dragged down the Sword Saint. I believe everyone already agrees that we can no longer be with them.”

Tang Jung-ak seriously looked around at the four people and broke the ice.

They could no longer be with the Nine Sects and One Gang. Since ill feelings remained between them and there was virtually no way to resolve them, it was right to part ways for each other’s benefit now.

Seeing the four people nod, Tang Jung-ak also hardened his resolve.

“Then, believing that everyone… agrees, I will formally announce the start of the Cheondo Association in this place today.”

It was the moment the orthodox Martial Alliance was split in two.

* * *

“Just what are you all planning to do with this matter!”

A monk of Shaolin.

The one called the Fist Saint.

Seon-jin, the absolute authority revered by Shaolin, looked around the Martial Alliance and shouted. Before his eyes, the eminent elders of the Nine Sects and One Gang were seated, and without exception, they looked uneasy and dared not face Seon-jin.

Seon-jin’s anger had reached its peak.

Ultimately, the one who stepped forward first was Cheong-ho, a senior elder of Wudang.

He clasped his fists and stepped in front of Seon-jin.

“We could no longer overlook his tyranny. You must understand that point, Great Master…”

“What foolish talk! Was it not you all who chose the Sword Saint and put him in that position? If so, is it not also the responsibility of you all who failed to assist him properly by his side!”

“That is why we dragged him down.”

“Haha. Amitabha… Amitabha…”

Seon-jin shook his head side to side.

What they said could be considered reasonable in a way. Dragging down the king they established with their own hands. It was something that had been repeated numerous times in history since ancient times.

But if one thought about it even a little, did it not seem strange?

From the sudden absence of the Sword Emperor to the events that unfolded after the Sword Saint took that position. Also, to Man Hu-ryang, whose trace could not even be found now.

It was a situation where he could not shake off the suspicion that all of this was manipulated from the very beginning by someone. It was a time to investigate step-by-step what went wrong and whether it could be corrected, but they had caused trouble because they could not control their hot blood.

‘I know all of this is for the sake of the Nine Sects and One Gang, but…’

In the past, the power of the Nine Sects did not exceed that of the Eight Great Clans. Though that referred to the Namgung Clan, Murong Clan, and Sichuan Tang Clan, it was true that many people raised their thumbs to the Eight Great Clans rather than the Nine Sects and One Gang.

There must have been many complaints.

This event that happened today was definitely because of that.

Seon-jin closed his eyes tightly and recited a Buddhist prayer.

He felt as if all of this was his own fault for lacking virtue.

“To become a proper Martial Alliance from now on, you must ascend to the position of Alliance Leader, Great Master.”

Go Dam-jin stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said firmly. Other people would not do. If it was not Seon-jin, who commanded deep public trust, the Martial Alliance would fluctuate much more than before.

A sigh escaped from Seon-jin’s mouth.

‘What should I do about this matter…’

He looked up at the invisible sky and shook his head.

Then suddenly, he remembered one thing he had not asked. Seon-jin’s gaze naturally turned toward Go Dam-jin, and his mouth twitched.

“Now that I think about it… did you find those who took Murong Hyeok-mun away?”

“We are currently searching for them. Since we heard they left Henan early in the morning, we have sent beggars to every path and are mobilizing our information network to the maximum.”

Go Dam-jin swallowed hard, recalling that time.

Though they were only three people, the power each of them possessed seemed even greater than this Martial Alliance. The overwhelming martial power he had seen before his eyes would likely never be forgotten from his mind.

Therefore, they had to find them.

They had to build a connection with them, even if only a little.

“Is that so…”

Seon-jin’s weak voice was heard.

None of them knew what he was thinking. However, the firm resolve that soon appeared in his eyes again made everyone in the room tense.

“Since you say this old monk is needed, I will accept… but it would be best not to think that this will ever help your private interests.”

The gaze Seon-jin cast back was sharp.

Because by now, most people had come to know that there was a deal with Man Hu-ryang in the process of raising the Sword Saint to the Martial Alliance Leader.

Several people turned their heads and avoided his gaze.

It was just then that a sound was heard from outside.

Soon, the door opened with a creak, and a musty smell drifted in. However, there were many more shocked gazes looking at the face of the person who entered than at the smell.

A person with disheveled hair falling to his shoulders, wearing ragged clothes that would not be an exaggeration to call tatters, and carrying a staff made of jade tucked into his waist.

Everyone in this place knew that person.

Even Seon-jin was astonished.

The Beggar Emperor.

An outstanding figure who emerged from the Beggar Clan. Although he was often evaluated as inferior to the Sword Emperor, he was one of the Five Emperors who came from the Nine Sects and One Gang.

Why was he here, when he had not shown himself as if he had already gone into retirement?

“Hic!”

The Beggar Emperor, Bang Man-jung, hiccuped and leaned against the door as he raised his gourd. Without saying a word, he gulped down the liquor, and then, as if in a good mood, he let out a small groan and looked at the people in the room.

“You bastards also did a truly embarrassing thing, but those bastards are also so thoughtless…”

It was completely impossible to tell what he was talking about.

But soon, Bang Man-jung took a letter out of his bosom and threw it.

It flew through the air and gently landed on the table. What was visible on the outer surface was definitely the mark of the Beggar Clan, which meant this was reliable information gathered directly by the Beggar Clan.

“Look. At what you bastards have done.”

Most people, including Go Dam-jin, hesitated and could not reach out. It was a letter thrown by none other than the Beggar Emperor Bang Man-jung.

Since he did not point to anyone specifically to look at it, they looked awkward as to who should look at it first.

Ultimately, Seon-jin stepped forward.

He reached out and grabbed the letter. Slowly unfolding it, he put the characters written inside into his head one by one.

After reading for a long time, he gently put the letter down.

“Sigh.”

A short sigh escaped.

His face was filled with dismay.

“Is this truly the truth?”

“Do you not trust my information, old man? Since you became an old monk, your judgment has also become cloudy.”

“Hahaha, Amitabha…”

Just what was the content for him to act like that?

Many people could not suppress their curiosity.

Because the two people who should have told them kept their mouths firmly shut.

Ultimately, one of those who had been watching the mood for a while, Sect Leader Heo-gong of Wudang, picked up the letter and read it.

Without taking his eyes off the paper for a long time, he engraved the same content into his head over and over again.

His face clearly showed that he could not believe it no matter how much he looked at it.

Bang!

Did he eventually fail to control his anger?

He roughly slammed the letter on the table and raised his voice.

“Is this real?”

“Shall I repeat what I said twice?”

At the Beggar Emperor’s gaze, Heo-gong’s body flinched.

There was no one who did not know the Beggar Emperor’s personality. Renowned for starting with punches if he did not like something, those in this place also had memories of being beaten a lot by the Beggar Emperor since their youth.

Everyone lost their spirit at his chilly gaze and turned their heads.

“B-But, this… does this not mean they intend to divide the orthodox path in two? The Cheondo Association!”

“What does that mean!”

Voices were raised here and there.

What on earth was the Cheondo Association, and what did it mean to divide the orthodox path in two?

Since they only heard words of unknown meaning, the confusion grew to the extreme.

Buzz.

The room became noisy. It became so loud that they could not even hear the voice of the person right next to them properly.

Watching this quietly, the Beggar Emperor held his gourd and lightly tapped the wall.

Thud!

That sound was light and cheerful, but its impact was enormous.

In an instant, as if everyone had come to their senses, they shut their mouths. Their gazes naturally gathered toward the Beggar Emperor and Seon-jin.

This was precisely the internal energy of the one called the Beggar Emperor.

Seon-jin was lost for words and laughed absurdly.

“Please calm down. Regarding this matter, it seems someone needs to go and meet the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

Seon-jin’s voice spread quietly.

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