Chapter 339: v14c14 - Lazy Donkey Rolling
Volume 14 Chapter 14 – Lazy Donkey Rolling
The Luoyang Sword Family.
The street in front of the main gate of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.
While everyone was fully drunk on the festive atmosphere there were also those sitting gathered in a corner of a street stall with serious faces.
“…What?”
To them, who all had serious faces and were not even touching the alcohol and food someone might have nagged or scolded them, but within the Luoyang Sword Family, whoever it was, turning one’s mind off from a group of warriors carrying swords was the best policy.
“Martial Nephew. Say that again.”
Let alone if the martial robes they wore belonged to the great Kongtong Sect.
“…That is, you see. Regarding the Great Master.”
The close-cropped hair warrior, called martial nephew, could not even wipe the sweat he had shed from running as he explained the situation inside once more.
“So…” the woman who heard the whole story again, the Eldest Disciple of Kongtong, asked one by one as if verifying quietly.
“That slick serpent of a Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect has already turned to the Eldest Young Master’s side,” at the voice of the Eldest Disciple, which had dropped even lower, the second-generation disciple who brought the news from inside even stammered his words.
“Yes.”
“and Zhongnan, albeit late, hopped on the tide and was promised immense rewards by the Eldest Young Master…?”
“Yes.”
“But. Our Great Master has not made any decision in the meantime…?”
“T-That is. Because at that moment, the news of the Mount Hua Sect and Wudang Sect was suddenly heard—.”
“Then all the more, shouldn’t he have grabbed the Eldest Young Master’s line?!”
A first-generation disciple suddenly flared up in anger.
“Even now, the share our Kongtong Sect holds in the New Martial Alliance is small. On top of that, Mount Hua and Wudang are pushing their way in!”
Everyone listened to the voice of the first-generation disciple, who was usually quick at calculations.
“Moreover, they say the Eldest Young Master opened up the authority for Diancang and Zhongnan to participate in the new large-scale business rights in Luoyang!”
“Yes, yes.”
As the second-generation disciple nodded his head as if he were the one getting scolded the first-generation disciple burst out in even greater frustration.
“What is the thing our Kongtong needs most right now?! For us, who abandoned Mount Kongtong in Gansu Province and left, we need a new base!”
Although the Luoyang Sword Family was an incomparably excellent roof for the purpose of avoiding wind and rain beneath that roof, forces that had firmly taken root over several generations stood strong.
“It is a massive opportunity for our Kongtong!”
The first-generation disciple beat his chest roughly as if suffocating from frustration.
“Yet, you’re telling me we missed that opportunity right before our eyes?!”
He ground his teeth hard.
“The Great Master is someone who survived for that long time even in the Elders’ Hall of the Sword Family, which is like a battlefield.”
“Watch your words.”
“…But.”
“He is still the Great Master of our Kongtong.”
At the heavy voice of the Eldest Disciple, the first-generation disciple shut his mouth.
“……”
He realized that they, the disciples of Kongtong, were not the only ones here.
“……”
Along with an oath, he gulped down the alcohol placed before him.
“……”
Seeing the surrounding people peering behind to see what was going on even while drunk, he scowled.
“…Damn it.”
[I do not think for a second that the Great Master could not even perform that much calculation.] as the attention of the surroundings was drawn, the Eldest Disciple switched to sound transmission to continue the conversation.
[The Great Master is someone who survived for that long time even in the Elders’ Hall of the Sword Family, which is like a battlefield.] she asked the second-generation disciple,
[Just what happened after that?]
[That is…] the second-generation disciple’s story began again.
* * *
‘Dammit…!’
The Great Master of the Kongtong Sect tried to open his mouth slightly, but to dare interrupt the words of Gong Ryang, who had taken the position of Governor of Luoyang on top of his original reputation, and squeeze into the conversation—the Great Master of the Kongtong Sect was not that crazy.
“Heh, heh. Although the Five Evils are backward areas that no one wants to go near right now,” those forming a circle around the Eldest Young Master did not give him any room to do so.
“originally, they are the most prime lands in Luoyang in terms of location.”
“To be given the opportunity to build a new nest in such a place. How can this not be called a great blessing for the Zhongnan Sect?”
“It is just as the Governor says.”
The Sect Leader of Zhongnan had a smile that did not leave his lips.
“Because we tried to do the right thing and make the right choice, heaven seems to be blessing our Zhongnan.”
“Of course. Of course.”
“Ahem, hem. Excuse me—” thinking this was the moment, he even cleared his throat for no reason and tried to slide into the conversation, but the Third Young Master’s loyalists, who almost surrounded him, the Great Master of Kongtong, practically blocked him with their bodies.
“It is Mount Hua and Wudang, Great Master.”
“Now, on the path ahead for the Third Young Master, there will undoubtedly be only glory…!”
“No, I—” while they were tussling, the former Sect Leader of Diancang quickly and nimbly squeezed into the spot.
“Ahem!”
“Do not do that, it would be better to leave this place soon.”
“Wait, let go of my hand first…!”
“Now, how are you all having such a pleasant conversation, leaving this Diancang out?”
“Of course, Diancang is also welcome.”
As the Eldest Young Master smiled benevolently, the former Sect Leader of Diancang rubbed his hands together.
“Aigoo, welcome? The Eldest Young Master is saying the most humbling words!”
“Your merit is not small.”
“This old man merely did what ought to be done!”
The former Sect Leader of Diancang’s lips fluttered, gradually starting to rev up.
“The Eldest Young Master only needs to remember the fact that our Diancang offered our sword to the Eldest Young Master more surely and clearly than Zhongnan did! Yes! Absolutely!”
Perhaps out of a sense of crisis that the Eldest Young Master might have noticed the cold sweat and dark intentions he harbored when the news of Mount Hua and Wudang joining was heard, his tongue and lips fluttered more dazzlingly than Diancang’s Illusion Sword.
“our Diancang doesn’t even wish for much! Just by letting us participate in the project, this old man would be so grateful that even offering a deep bow right here wouldn’t be enough! However…” the former Sect Leader of Diancang said that, while subtly pushing the Sect Leader of Zhongnan aside and shouting.
“But! Just a little! Our Diancang, merely leaning on the great mercy and compassion of the Eldest Young Master, united as one in the aspiration to achieve even a small part of Diancang’s long-cherished wish, please—!”
“Please, if you would only grant even a part of the development plan zone to our Diancang…!”
He clenched his fists as if he were ready to kneel down right away and shout ten thousand years.
“Our Diancang, henceforth filled with infinite loyalty and devotion—!”
“Sect Leader.”
The one who cut off that passionate appeal was the Sect Leader of Zhongnan, who was being subtly pushed aside.
“However, there is an error in what the Sect Leader said…” the Sect Leader of Zhongnan pointed to the sword held in the former Sect Leader of Diancang’s hand.
“What is it?”
“You have only spoken, but have not yet properly offered your sword to the Eldest Young Master.”
“……?!”
An expression of, ‘Why is this sword still in my hand?’
“Ah, no. This is—!”
The former Sect Leader of Diancang alternated his gaze between the Eldest Young Master, who was holding Zhongnan’s sword, and his own hand unable to hide his embarrassment.
“Now that I think about it.”
The Eldest Young Master wore a mischievous smile.
“Even though you made such a big fuss about offering your sword,” Gong Ryang also chimed in to support the Eldest Young Master, letting out a heh-heh toothless laugh.
“wasn’t the one who actually went through the ceremony first the Zhongnan side?”
“So, to correct the Sect Leader’s words…” a smile appeared on the face of the Zhongnan Sect Leader, who looked simply good-natured.
“since the sword that was offered first was our Zhongnan’s sword, Diancang comes behind us.”
“Ah, no, that is?!”
The former Sect Leader of Diancang knelt before the Eldest Young Master with an expression as if everything in the world was unfair.
“Eldest Young Master!”
He shouted, holding his sword up with both hands.
“You must well know the fact that in the depths of my heart, I have always followed and thought of only the Eldest Young Master!”
“Of course, Sect Leader.”
Yeon So-hyeon laughed heartily as he accepted the sword.
“I have already accepted your sword in my heart long ago.”
“Eldest Young Master—!”
Watching the sight, the distinguished guests clapped and burst into roars of laughter.
“Haha, the Sect Leader is giving us a big laugh today!”
“Bring more alcohol here!”
Everyone of them added excitement to the rhythm of the former Sect Leader of Diancang and the Eldest Young Master, who were trying to raise the festive atmosphere to the fullest.
“Didn’t I tell you to let go of this?!”
Of course, in the meantime, the tussle between the Great Master of the Kongtong Sect and the Third Young Master’s side was growing.
“Ahem, Great Master! Didn’t we say we should go back quickly…?!”
“Coming here in the first place was a mistake…!”
“I said, let go!”
As a roar burst from the mouth of the Kongtong Sect’s Great Master and he roughly shook off his sleeve using even his internal energy, the grabbed sleeve tore and became like a rag.
“Whoops!”
Taking advantage of the moment when the Third Young Master’s loyalists fell in a heap he quickly approached the Eldest Young Master and shouted,
“Eldest Young Master!”
* * *
Back to the street in front of the main gate of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.
[Wait!] the first-generation disciple, who had been quietly listening, shouted via sound transmission.
[Hearing up to here, didn’t he have plenty of time to offer his sword to the Eldest Young Master?!] with his face flushed from the alcohol, he repeatedly tapped the outdoor table.
[What on earth happened?!] for she was of the same mind as him.
“……”
The Eldest Disciple also did not stop him this time.
“Haa…” the second-generation disciple, letting out a long sigh, continued the story.
[That is…]
* * *
“Eldest Young Master—!”
Just as the Great Master of Kongtong, with his white beard fluttering, was about to leave the crowd, when his head maid, Jeong-ah, called the Eldest Young Master first, at her voice, as if remembering, the Eldest Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, looked at the crowd, spread his hands to the left and right, and said, no sooner had he finished speaking, the maids opened the back gate of the grand banquet hall, and the gaze of the crowd concentrated on that direction, and without even showing any sign of looking around the splendid surrounding banquet hall.
“Eldest Young Master.”
“Ah, right.”
“I have people to introduce to the distinguished guests.”
“……”
Without a single word.
“……”
A group of unusual warriors carrying swords entered quietly.
The warriors who just walked in silently in a single file were, without exception somewhat solemn, and even their footsteps appeared resolute.
“…Wait?!”
“…Those people are?”
Among those who were quietly observing their faces a few who usually had a lot of interest in martial artists recognized them, gasped in shock, and shouted, startled by those words, the crowd began to murmur loudly.
“…The Hengshan Sect!”
“Are those the survivors of the Northern Hengshan Sect?!”
“If it is the Northern Hengshan Sect…?!”
“Aren’t they the ones who were close to annihilated during the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering arena construction site riot?!”
“I heard that the survivors were isolated, embroiled in responsibility issues along with mental problems?!”
Sufficiently.
Having waited for the shock to spread to them, Yeon So-hyeon clapped his hands to draw attention.
“I know that many speculations have run rampant about them, and there are even many wild guesses.”
The Eldest Young Master walked to their side, naturally shifting the attention focused on himself to them as he continued.
“Today, I wish to clarify a few facts here.”
As Yeon So-hyeon approached closely
“……”
The one with the deepest internal energy among the Northern Hengshan Sect warriors stepped forward and spoke.
“……”
The warriors of the Northern Hengshan Sect silently bowed their heads to him, showing their respect and deference.
“Although it is true that they were involved in an unsavory matter in the past, everyone here deeply repents their past sins and wrongdoings.”
“In the past, we took the lead in harming innocent people and oppressing them.”
“We are penitents.”
At the heavy confession of repentance, a weighty silence enveloped the crowd.
“……”
Around his raised wrist, the prayer beads of the Fairy Cult were wound tightly.
“……”
The Hengshan warrior politely pointed to the Eldest Young Master.
“And, the Eldest Young Master here is our guide who showed us how we should walk the path of atonement for the people in the future.”
And, not only him all the other Northern Hengshan Sect warriors also cherished symbols representing the belief in the Medicine Fairy.
“We have offered the swords of us Northern Hengshan Sect penitents to the Eldest Young Master.”
The Eldest Young Master looked toward the crowd, and spoke as if declaring.
“The swords of Hengshan that served in plain clothes will henceforth be with me.”
It was at a moment no one anticipated, the moment when a branch of Hengshan, one of the Nine Sects, joined the Eldest Young Master once again.