Chapter 238: Chapter 238
The Jianghu was fluctuating greatly.
It was because of a single rumor that was spreading faster than ever before.
‘The Green Forest and the Dae-eun Merchant Guild have entered the Four Black Alliances.’
Those who had their feet dipped in the Jianghu dismissed the absurd content as a false rumor.
Besides, hadn’t the Unorthodox Faction long ignored the Green Forest, calling them mountain bandits?
However, a few days later, the rumor was proven true as the Green Forest Great Emperor visited the Four Black Alliances along with the Dae-eun Merchant Guild Leader.
“Heo, to think that the Green Forest would really enter the Four Black Alliances.”
“Isn’t it to fill the empty spot left by White Ghost Castle? Seeing that the Dae-eun Merchant Guild also entered together, the Four Black Alliances must have felt a sense of crisis too.”
Recently, the Four Black Alliances was being evaluated as the weakest among the Nine Provinces Three Supreme Powers.
Due to the annihilation of White Ghost Castle, one of the Six Imperial Sects, their combat power was in a weakened state.
But if the Green Forest entered, the story changed.
The Green Forest was so massive that there were few comparable single sects.
The numerous number of disciples rivaled the Beggars’ Sect.
Added to that was the existence of the Green Forest Great Emperor and the Four Kings of the Green Forest (綠) who assisted him.
They would not lack even if compared to the Five Imperial Sects.
Perhaps it was a matter of course.
In this era of the Nine Provinces Three Supreme Powers, if they didn’t have at least this much strength, could they have survived as a sect in the middle of the orthodox and Unorthodox Factions?
“The Four Black Alliances will become stronger.”
Everyone who heard the rumor thought the same.
Since the Green Forest entered the Four Black Alliances, it was clear that they would become much stronger than they were now, or even when White Ghost Castle was around.
Around the time everyone was shaking their heads at the Four Black Alliances growing stronger, a surprising rumor began to spread rapidly in Shanxi.
‘The Green Forest Great Emperor visited the Martial Alliance’s Shanxi branch alone and rescued his subordinates.’
Those who heard the rumor swallowed their breaths.
Naturally, how could it be an ordinary matter?
The General Stronghold Leader of the Green Forest, which newly joined the Four Black Alliances, confidently entered the Martial Alliance branch and pulled out his subordinates?
No matter how few casualties there were, it wasn’t something that could be easily overlooked.
Wasn’t it an act of crushing the Martial Alliance’s pride?
Because of this, a clash between the Martial Alliance and the Four Black Alliances could occur.
Because of that, most who heard the rumor thought the Green Forest Great Emperor had been rash.
“He committed an overly excessive act. He must be excited about joining the Four Black Alliances.”
“That is true, but wasn’t it an action taken to save his subordinates?”
“Would the Martial Alliance care about such a thing? The most important thing is that the Green Forest Great Emperor personally made a trip and attacked the Martial Alliance branch. Moreover, I heard the Green Forest made the first move to strike the World Merchant Guild, which the Martial Alliance was protecting. Under such circumstances, if the Martial Alliance backs down, their face would be crumpled.”
The Jianghu martial artists held their breaths.
The more they chewed on it, the more they felt it was a much more serious situation than what was revealed on the surface.
Perhaps the two massive factions, the Martial Alliance and the Four Black Alliances, might clash head-on.
“……Then who was it that took down Hengshan Stronghold like that?”
Someone who belatedly remembered another curiosity asked.
It was said that the Green Forest Great Emperor had personally visited the Martial Alliance branch to save his subordinates.
If that was the case, he certainly wouldn’t leave those who killed his subordinates alone…….
“They say it was the Mount Hua Sect.”
“Heoheo, Mount Hua Sect again? That’s amazing. I thought it was luck when they annihilated White Ghost Castle, but now there isn’t a day where I don’t hear Mount Hua’s name.”
The gossips’ eyes sparkled at the rumor that the place that destroyed Hengshan Stronghold was the Mount Hua Sect.
There would be no story more interesting than this.
If you grabbed any Jianghu martial artist and asked which sect was drawing the most attention in the current Jianghu, every single one of them would answer the Mount Hua Sect.
Naturally, wasn’t nearly half of the rumors striking the current Jianghu related to Mount Hua?
And since they were entangled in the big incident that occurred this time, there would be nothing more fun to chatter about.
Around the time the gossips and Jianghu martial artists were all paying attention to the Mount Hua Sect and the Green Forest.
“Green Forest, huh…….”
Hyeon-sang gently closed his eyes while reading the missive that had come from the Martial Alliance a little while ago.
The missive contained a greeting of gratitude for helping the World Merchant Guild and a statement that they would publicly announce the Green Forest as an enemy of the Martial Alliance.
‘The Jianghu will be swept up in chaos.’
A bitter smile formed on his lips.
Publicly announcing the Green Forest as an enemy was, in other words, a warning to the Four Black Alliances.
A warning meaning to kick the Green Forest out.
However.
‘Will they really do that?’
Negative thoughts arose.
If the Four Black Alliances kicked out the Green Forest now, wouldn’t they have nowhere else to retreat?
‘They say nothing is eternal…….’
He felt that the era of peace created by the Nine Provinces Three Supreme Powers was announcing its end.
‘No, isn’t it actually more amazing that peace was maintained up until now.’
His reopened eyes looked at the deep blue sky.
The face of his youngest junior martial brother surfaced and disappeared in the cloudless sky.
From that time, there was no peace in Mount Hua.
There was solely vengeance towards White Ghost Castle, and in the end, they achieved it.
But in that moment, the peace crumbled.
“Sect Leader Senior Martial Brother.”
Hyeon-ryeo, who had been quietly observing Hyeon-sang from the opposite side, let out a low voice.
“Should I prepare?”
Hyeon-sang nodded his head.
“Do so. Seeing that they sent a missive like this, they will request support from our sect when striking down the Green Forest.”
“Understood. Then I will prepare everything such as horses and food so we can leave at any time.”
“I would appreciate it if you did.”
Hyeon-sang replied and nodded while looking at Hyeon-ryeo, who was about to set out to prepare.
“By the way, is there enough money?”
“It is enough. Our Cheon-hwi brought back plenty of money.”
Hyeon-ryeo smiled broadly.
She remembered Cheon-hwi, who had returned from this mission, personally coming to her and handing her bank notes.
At first, she was so surprised by the enormous sum that she hesitated and couldn’t even accept it.
However, soon at Cheon-hwi’s words that he had grabbed it from Hengshan Stronghold, she took it without delay.
Seeing the smiling Hyeon-ryeo, Hyeon-sang opened his mouth.
“That is a relief. By the way, the Green Forest. The opponent is…….”
“Uaaak! Sa, Martial Uncle!”
“Kkeuaaaak!”
“……Quite strong.”
“Still, this time it isn’t just us, but the Martial Alliance is moving together.”
Loud wailing sounds were heard from outside, but the two continued their conversation.
“And the children have grown too.”
Hyeon-ryeo said with shining eyes.
In just a few years, the disciples’ skills had improved by leaps and bounds.
It was to the extent that every single day was different.
“But still, I can’t help but worry…….”
“Keo, keoheok! S-stop!”
“Stop it now!”
“……It can’t be helped.”
“On top of that…….”
“Aaaak! P-please stop!”
“……Cheon-hwi is also there…….”
At the shouts that kept cutting off her words, Hyeon-ryeo stealthily turned her gaze out the window.
Countless disciples were sticking closely to the steep cliff leading to the high peak and crawling up on all fours.
And a young man was sitting on top of the peak, spitting out yawns as he spoke.
“Haam, why don’t you come up faster?”
It was none other than Cheon-hwi.
Cheon-hwi, sitting on the peak, swung one leg and continued speaking towards the bottom.
“I said I’d let the first ten to come up rest.”
The faces of the Mount Hua disciples distorted.
It was easy to say, but with their current state, it was an extremely difficult task.
Iron rings filled their wrists and ankles.
On top of that, wasn’t a solid iron sword weighing almost fifty geun hanging on their backs?
Honestly, just climbing up like this was a commendable feat.
But Cheon-hwi only found the disciples who still couldn’t climb up the peak to be pathetic.
“Ehew, with barely that much weight.”
In an instant, the climbing disciples flared up.
‘Barely?!’
‘It’s like lifting almost two people!’
However, no one spat out their unfairness out loud.
It was because they had already seen what would happen if they spat out those words.
“Jjeop, an incense stick of time has already passed.”
Cheon-hwi raised his body.
“Then everyone go back down.”
“S-Martial Uncle?!”
“What do you mean by that!”
Cheon-hwi brushed his rear and said.
“I said I’d give you an incense stick of time.”
“T-that’s true, but…….”
Cheon-hwi lifted the iron sword.
At the sight of Cheon-hwi lightly lifting the sword weighing fifty geun as if it were a tree branch, the disciples’ complexions grew increasingly pale.
It was then.
“Cheon-hwi-ya.”
A low voice was heard.
Hyeon-sang, who had been watching from the window of the Purple Mist Pavilion, was looking at Cheon-hwi.
The disciples who belatedly saw the Sect Leader opened their eyes wide and smiled brightly.
“We greet the Sect Leader!”
At the sight of them greeting as if shouting to save them, Hyeon-sang smiled awkwardly.
“The disciples seem to be struggling. How about taking a short rest before continuing?”
“Eh? They’re struggling with barely this?”
Cheon-hwi tilted his head.
“Is everyone struggling?”
“A-no.”
“Ha, haha…….”
The disciples smiled awkwardly.
They wanted to say they were struggling, but they didn’t know what would happen if they did.
Looking at them, Cheon-hwi grinned, then smacked his lips while looking at Hyeon-sang.
“Everyone says they are fine…….”
Hyeon-sang glanced at the disciples.
The corners of their mouths, which had formed awkward smiles, were trembling violently.
‘……Sect Leader.’
‘Please help us.’
At their desperate gazes filled with sorrow, Hyeon-sang showed a pitiful expression and smacked his lips.
“Still, Cheon-hwi-ya. No matter how important training is, isn’t rest needed in between?”
The disciples opened their eyes wide.
They had seen hope in Hyeon-sang’s words.
However.
“This is rest right now.”
Cheon-hwi said as if it was strange.
“Proper training should be done by going down from now on.”
At Cheon-hwi’s words, the jaws of the Sect Leader and the disciples dropped open.
No one had thought that this penance could possibly be a rest.
However, Cheon-hwi continued as if it were obvious.
“But this is really. To think they’re struggling with such a simple rest, causing the Sect Leader to worry…….”
Cheon-hwi shook his head.
“Should I increase the intensity of the training so there’s never another incident of worrying about resting again?”
Hyeon-sang made a troubled expression.
Stepping forward out of concern for the disciples had instead become a situation that created harder training.
A flustered Hyeon-sang opened his mouth.
“Still, if you’re going to rest, wouldn’t it be better to rest comfortably.”
“Eyy, resting comfortably. Then when are they going to get stronger? Right now every second is urgent.”
Cheon-hwi said while waving his hands.
“Their skills are still far lacking. Perhaps if I wasn’t there during this mission, everyone would have returned as corpses.”
“…….”
“It’s not like I can clean up after them forever. They should pack enough skill to preserve their own lives now.”
“Keuheum. Your words are correct.”
Hyeon-sang let out a dry cough and nodded his head.
It was exactly as Cheon-hwi said.
No matter how hard and exhausting the training was, in the end, it would be a great help in the future.
“Then keep up the hard work.”
The disciples glared with their two eyes.
‘Sect Leader!’
‘Why are you acknowledging it?!’
Hyeon-sang turned away from the gazes of the disciples looking at him and closed the window.
‘I am sorry. But this training will help you in the future.’
Cheon-hwi stared at the disciples who were blankly looking at the closed window, and grinned.
“Then let’s train properly now.”
When their complexions turned pure white.
“Now, everyone go down!”
The iron sword in Cheon-hwi’s hand instantly divided into dozens and began to strike them.
Bbakak! Bbakak! Bbakak!
“Kkeuaaaak!”
“Keoheok!”
“S-Martial Uncle!”
Following that, the disciples fell in droves, and the sounds of wailing rang loudly across Mount Hua.
* * *
A great hall where Night Illuminating Pearls brightened all directions.
That place was painted entirely in white, from the pillars to the walls, making it incredibly desolate.
And on the silk in the center of it.
There, Green Forest Great Emperor Im Yang Baek was sitting cross-legged with his two eyes gently closed.
His appearance was truly unusual.
With nothing draped over his upper body, his torso full of scars was completely exposed, and it was entirely covered in sweat.
At that moment, thick steam rose.
The sweat flowing on his body had evaporated. The fog generated from it completely enveloped him.
And a moment later, the fog cleared.
Seueuk…
His closed eyelids lifted.
The hidden pitch-black pupils were revealed, containing the White-Clothed Ghost Face Jang Ho-woon, one of the Four Kings of the Green Forest.
At that moment, Im Yang Baek’s mouth parted.
“How is the situation?”
“The name of the Green Forest is resounding loudly throughout the world. In particular, the matter of the General Stronghold Leader going to the Shanxi branch is frequently going up and down the mouths of the gossips.”
“Good.”
Im Yang Baek’s lips slowly twisted.
The first start was good.
Seeing the satisfied Im Yang Baek, Jang Ho-woon caught his breath and added words.
“And I obtained information that the Martial Alliance will publicly announce the Green Forest as an enemy.”
“As expected.”
Im Yang Baek snorted.
“It doesn’t deviate from expectations.”
At that time, Jang Ho-woon cautiously asked.
“……Will it be alright?”
Jang Ho-woon swallowed his breath and said.
“The sects belonging to the Four Black Alliances are those who survive on their own. If the Green Forest becomes a public enemy of the Martial Alliance, and they wash their hands of us…….”
“That won’t happen.”
Im Yang Baek affirmed.
“The moment the Four Black Alliances reached out their hand to us first, the whole world has now come to know that the Four Black Alliances without the Green Forest is weak. Yet they would exclude us? That is an act of bringing self-destruction upon themselves.”
Jang Ho-woon nodded his head and cautiously asked.
“By the way, General Stronghold Leader. Why did you deliberately go to the Martial Alliance’s branch in person?”
“Huhuhu, did it look like I acted rashly as the world says?”
“N-no!”
Startled, Jang Ho-woon quickly fell to his knees and banged his head on the floor with a kung.
“I am foolish and failed to grasp the General Stronghold Leader’s deep thoughts, which is why I asked.”
Seeing Jang Ho-woon bleeding from his broken forehead, Im Yang Baek spoke softly.
“Why do you think I entered the Four Black Alliances?”
“……Isn’t it for the reputation of the Green Forest, which had long been looked down upon as mere mountain bandits?”
“Of course there is that too. But what I desire is above that.”
“If it is above……?”
Im Yang Baek’s eyes sank coldly.
“The Lord of the Four Black Alliances. I will seize that position.”
“……!”
“However, to do so, I must first place the Green Forest’s prestige higher than the Five Imperial Sects.”
Im Yang Baek asked Jang Ho-woon, who had widened his eyes in surprise, with a still relaxed attitude.
“Did you gather information on the Mount Hua Sect?”
Urgently raising his body, Jang Ho-woon took out a thick booklet from his bosom.
“Here it is.”
“Hmm, it’s quite a lot.”
As Im Yang Baek received the booklet and read it, a suffocating silence settled down in the great hall.
A moment later, a chilling smile hovered on the lips of the Green Forest Great Emperor who had finished reading the booklet.
“Call the remaining Four Kings of the Green Forest.”
“Are you going in person?”
“It is better to be certain rather than doing things half-heartedly for no reason.”
Im Yang Baek let out a laugh.
“Huhuhu. If it’s the Mount Hua Sect that destroyed White Ghost Castle…….”
A chilling light hovered in the two pupils of Im Yang Baek, who had temporarily cut off his words.
“Wouldn’t they be perfectly suited to announce to the world that a new Green Forest has been born.”