novelraw Chapter 399
Chapter 399
The reason I let that man go was not simply because I felt pity for him.
'Spread, rumors. Spread far and wide.'
Bringing down an organization is not something only physical force can do. Sometimes, a single wrongly spread rumor can do more than actual power, especially for an organization that is being driven into a corner. Of course, if one were to objectively judge the current power of the Four Evils Alliance itself, it couldn't be seen as being pushed that far into a corner. However, while they had been on a continuous upward trajectory, their rising momentum had suddenly been broken recently. Humans tend to think they've fallen into a crisis for some reason if they falter after doing well. And one more thing. In fact, although they are pushing the Sichuan Tang Family, the Qingcheng Sect, and the Emei Sect this far, the people living in this land each have a fear deeply engraved in their bones. It is precisely the fear of the 'Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families.' There must be countless martial families in this Central Plains, and there must be many sects—never fewer, if not more. Yet, only fourteen places are picked and called the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families. It means those are places recognized by the entire world as having such immense potential. Until now, the Four Evils Alliance had been high-spirited because they had somehow pushed them back, but once rumors start to circulate that they are counterattacking, it will likely deal an immense blow to the Four Evils Alliance.
'They're unorthodox fellows who can't find a shred of loyalty anyway. It must have been fun when they were hitting, but they won't want to be hit.'
Although I've spared only one person for now, if I spare a few more in this way in the future, rumors will likely spread, and those rumors will deal a fatal blow to the Four Evils Alliance fellows.
"Unhwi Dojang...!"
While I was organizing my thoughts on the dueling platform, the Qingcheng Sect Leader called me with a voice full of emotion and stepped onto the platform.
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"Really, really..."
He couldn't continue his words properly, perhaps because he was moved. He too had heard the words of the Four Evils Alliance fellows just now, saying they would give up on attacking Qingcheng. Until I came, they had been on the verge of destruction by the Four Evils Alliance fellows, specifically, by a single fellow, Jang Hoeng but thanks to me, they had overcome that crisis. Naturally, he couldn't help but be moved.
"Thank you. I really don't know how our Qingcheng should repay this debt..."
"Isn't it natural for friends to help each other?"
"Friends...?"
"You readily accepted our orthodox martial world's request for reconciliation. At that moment, didn't we become friends again?"
I spoke while trying to smile more clearly on purpose, to sound like a sound young man. At that, he also smiled back at me and answered:
"Yes! Friends. Our Sichuan martial world... no, I don't know about other sects yet, but I can certainly say our Qingcheng has become a friend of the Central Plains martial world again."
"Thank you for saying so. But Sect Leader.... everything is not over yet."
"Not over?"
"Only the first stage has barely ended. From now on... Qingcheng must also step forward actively."
"Actively?"
Nodding my head greatly, I spoke to him with a grin as before. However, in that smile, instead of clarity, a bit of cruelty was settled.
"Now is the time for revenge. You must reclaim Qingcheng's original territory."
* * *
From that point on, the Qingcheng Sect completely changed the stance it had taken until then. Until then, they had been completely shrunken around Mount Qingcheng and couldn't think of doing anything, but in fact, the Qingcheng Sect is a sect where the floor of the martial arts they possess is low. In other words, it means it's a sect that can exert more than a certain amount of strength even if they are low-level warriors. The strategist of the Four Evils Alliance must have known that well, so he likely came up with the move of a life-and-death duel to avoid an all-out war with them. So, conversely, what if we instill confidence in them and make the Qingcheng Sect pick a fight similar to an all-out war first? Qingcheng reclaimed its original territory with the momentum of a splitting bamboo, just as I expected.
"Sect Leader! We have brought down one Four Evils Alliance branch established in the Min River basin and reclaimed the surrounding territory!"
"The Four Evils Alliance fellows who were around Danba have all withdrawn their troops. We have placed our warriors there again."
"There was a fairly large fight near Jingwang. Five of our warriors died and twenty were injured.... but the Four Evils Alliance fellows killed over several hundred. The disciples mourned the dead for a moment, but now morale is high thanks to the generally large victory!"
At the successive victory reports, not only the Qingcheng Sect Leader but I also cheered. It seemed clear that if time flowed like this, the Qingcheng Sect would find its territory again. What they lacked was nothing else but confidence. Qingcheng, filled with confidence, began to rapidly regain its original strong appearance.
About another week passed like that, and now there were few people inside the Qingcheng Sect. It was because everyone had gone outside the Qingcheng Sect to fight to reclaim the lost territory. I sought out the Qingcheng Sect Leader, whose expression had become much more relaxed than a few days ago.
"Sect Leader. I've come to speak with you."
"Unhwi Dojang. It seems the time has already come."
He nodded and answered, as if he had expected me to say this.
"Yes. Now it seems there will be no big problem for the Qingcheng Sect if it continues like this."
"Yes. Are you planning to leave Qingcheng now?"
"That's right."
"Where do you plan to go after leaving Qingcheng?"
"Now I intend to help other sects and, further, seek out the Four Evils Alliance Leader."
"The Four Evils Alliance Leader...?"
"In fact, although victory reports are reportedly ringing out from all over Sichuan now, I cannot guarantee that it will be an eternal victory. Although they are faltering now due to the wits I've devised and the capture in a direction they couldn't expect.... if there is no further intervention from me and the orthodox martial world, they might stretch out their demonic hands again someday."
In fact, what I just said could sound very arrogant depending on how it's heard. It means that without me, the Qingcheng Sect might not last long and might be victimized by the Four Evils Alliance fellows again. Nevertheless, the Qingcheng Sect Leader agreed with my words with a serious face. It was because, in fact, until I came, the Qingcheng Sect had been in a situation where it was pushed into a corner. Fortunately, the Qingcheng Sect Leader was a person who thought more of the sect than of useless pride, and he was a person who could endure his own shame for the sake of the sect. To put it simply, it means he is an excellent Sect Leader.
"You're right. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been able to sit across from each other and have a conversation so leisurely."
"So I intend to eliminate the root. I intend to try to eliminate the Four Evils Alliance Leader and, further, bring down the Four Evils Alliance itself."
"If you could only do that.... I don't know how our Qingcheng should repay that grace...."
"Didn't I tell you a few days ago? There's no need for that between friends. However, when our martial world needs the strength of the Sichuan martial world someday.... at that time, I hope you will help us as I have done."
The Qingcheng Sect Leader looked at me with burning eyes, then slowly nodded his head.
"I will surely build up the strength of our Qingcheng until that day comes. I will never be conceited, never be careless, and I will keep the blade sharp."
"Yes. I will look forward to that day."
After finishing the conversation, I left the Sect Leader's office without regret and stepped out of the Qingcheng Sect. I felt strongly that the Qingcheng Sect would do well even without me now.
"Unhwi Dojang!"
Immediately after leaving the Qingcheng Sect, I turned back at the voice calling me loudly. There, the Qingcheng disciple, Yu Baek-min, was following from afar using a movement technique. Whether urgency came before shame, he was shouting so loudly that everyone in the Qingcheng Sect could hear.
"Please wait a moment!"
When I stopped my steps, he reached right in front of me in an instant. After catching his breath for a very brief moment, he spoke to me urgently.
"How can you just leave like this?"
"Pardon...?"
"I haven't even been able to give a proper thank-you yet.... and you're already leaving before we've even had a proper conversation."
I gave a grin and said:
"It's okay even if you don't give a separate thank-you. It wasn't something I did to receive a thank-you. And won't there be a chance to have a conversation again later? For now, I have to go quickly to other sects that need help. Oh, or would you like to speak to the Sect Leader and go with me?"
He twitched his head as if to answer almost reflexively that he would do so, but soon his reason seemed to have controlled his actions, and he shook his head with a gloomy expression.
"I would like to, but I cannot. Now the Qingcheng Sect is in a situation where even one more hand is needed. I cannot leave my post at a time like this."
While saying so, he let out a deep sigh as if he were still regretful and said:
"Unhwi Dojang."
"Yes?"
"Then... will you promise to meet me again next autumn?"
"Next autumn?"
The timing of meeting again is strangely specific. I recalled what was happening then, but it didn't come to mind easily. As I was hesitating without being able to answer, Yu Baek-min spoke first.
"There is the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering then."
"Ah! The Dragon and Phoenix Gathering."
"I expect Wudang will naturally participate. And if it's Unhwi Dojang, I think you would be perfectly suitable to be chosen as the representative of Wudang."
"There are many outstanding disciples in Wudang besides me."
"Still... please promise me. That you will surely meet me again there at that time."
Because his gaze was so earnest, I eventually had no choice but to nod my head.
"Yes. Let's do that. Even if I don't participate in the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, I will go to Kaifeng following my senior brothers who participate at that time. Let's promise to surely meet again then."
Only then did his face brighten.
"I will surely build up my strength until then. When we meet again, I will strive to be a warrior who is never ashamed of the name of the Qingcheng Sect."
"Yes. I will be looking forward to it."
He said so and once again politely brought his hands and legs together and performed a fist-and-palm salute to me. And I also responded to him with a salute, then turned back and began to move away from the Qingcheng Sect.
'Yu Baek-min. He has the quality to become a truly good warrior in the future.'
That quality is not only a quality for martial arts but also a quality for mindset. Because it's one of my theories that such an earnest warrior has a high possibility of success.
"Then shall I go to the Emei Sect this time?"
I began to run toward the east, unleashing my movement technique. Now my goal is the Emei Sect. Thanks to the time Senior Brother Un Jeong and Senior Brother Un Mi bought, I was able to save Qingcheng, and now it's time to save the Emei Sect.
(End of Chapter)