Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 429 – Political Situation (2)

The grand conference hall of the Righteous Alliance.

Gathered there were the leaders of the Nine Great Sects and Seven Great Families, who formed the core of the Righteous Alliance.

The martial arts world referred to them as the Seventeen Mighty Rulers[1].

Normally, this meeting would have twenty attendees, including the Alliance Leader, Vice Leader, and Chief Commander. However, only fourteen Mighty Rulers were present at this conference.

The Alliance Leader, Vice Leader, and three Commanders were absent, greeting an envoy from the Imperial Palace. The abbot of Shaolin Temple, who typically abstained from worldly affairs, was also missing. The head of the Sichuan Tang Family, one of the Seven Great Families, was not present either. As for the Namgoong Family, they had yet to elect a new family head after Namgoong Jin’s death at Spiritual Sword Sanctuary.

In truth, this meeting of the Mighty Rulers had been called due to several recent incidents.

After the great battle between the righteous and evil factions in the past, the martial arts world had been relatively quiet for a while.

However, starting with the Domineering Steps incident at Shaolin Temple, the martial arts world had become tumultuous because of one individual. They could no longer simply observe the situation.

“Huh. Elder Jeong, is that true?”

“Amitabha. It is true. Elder Jeong Myeong, who was dispatched as an investigator to Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, confirmed it personally.”

At Hengshan Sect Leader’s, Elder Jeong Han’s words, the faces of the Mighty Rulers grew serious.

It was understandable, as they had gathered to discuss the actions of the so-called seventh heaven, the Heavenly Demon, whose behavior was far from righteous.

The fact that Ou Cheon-mu, the sect leader of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary—a major pillar of the neutral faction and one of the current Seven Heavens—had sworn allegiance to this individual at such a significant location was shocking.

“How could this have happened……”

This was not a matter that could be taken lightly.

The Seven Heavens were considered the pinnacle of the current martial arts world.

For one of the Seven Heavens to submit and swear allegiance to another of the Seven Heavens meant that the balance maintained by the three major factions was beginning to crumble.

Moreover,

“I can’t understand what’s happening. First, there’s that mysterious bladesman who killed the head of the Namgoong Family, and then there’s that strange force that annihilated the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect.”

The head of the Namgoong Family, Namgoong Jin—one of the Eight Stars—and the entire force of the Namgoong Family had lost their lives to a mysterious bladesman.

Although they had heard that this individual was defeated by the Heavenly Demon, the newly emerged member of the Seven Heavens, the appearance of such an unknown master was not good news in the current situation.

“Take a look at this.”

Jin Sokja, the sect leader of the Qingcheng Sect, placed a rubbing on the round table.

It showed a symbol of two parallel lines with a single vertical line intersecting them in the middle.

“Is this the mark?”

In response to Gu Cheolja of the Huashan Sect’s question, Jin Sokja nodded.

“Yes. This was the scar found on my sect’s disciples. I don’t know what force left this mark, but they are no ordinary individuals.”

“What do you mean by no ordinary individuals?”

“If my judgment is correct, all of their corpses were killed with a single sword strike, but this wasn’t just any ordinary strike.”

“If not an ordinary strike, then what do you mean?”

“It appears to be the Sword Technique of Controlling the Sword with Qi[2].”

“What? The Sword Technique of Controlling the Sword with Qi?”

The Sword Technique of Controlling the Sword with Qi was a skill that only supreme masters who had surpassed the wall and reached the pinnacle of the Transformation Realm could perform.

If that was the case, it could only mean that the person who annihilated them was at least on par with the Eight Stars.

Just how many incidents had occurred in this short period?

At that moment, an old beggar holding a faintly green-colored staff spoke up.

“It seems peace has lasted too long.”

He was Hong Wonseok, the current leader of the Beggars’ Sect.

Clicking his tongue and speaking nonchalantly, his words prompted Gu Cheolja, the sect leader of the Huashan Sect, to reproach him.

“Leader Hong. How can you say such a thing? Are you suggesting that someone is deliberately causing these incidents to disrupt the peace?”

“Since we’ve maintained good relations with the government, there have been small conflicts, but never such major incidents in succession. Do you view this as a simple matter?”

“……”

Gu Cheolja of the Huashan Sect fell silent at Hong Wonseok’s words.

He, too, had to agree inwardly.

One incident might be overlooked, but when multiple events occurred in succession, one could only suspect that some plot or scheme was afoot.

At that moment, someone spoke up.

“But hasn’t one organization been particularly quiet lately?”

The speaker was Peng Il-hyeon, the head of the Northern Peng Clan.

The Northern Peng Clan had suffered a significant blow to their power and influence due to the incident involving Imperial Concubine Seo at the Imperial Palace, and they were now close to being ostracized, under strict surveillance.

“Amitabha. Clan Leader Peng. Are you referring to them?”

At Elder Jeong Han’s words, everyone naturally thought of one particular group.

A force that had been unusually quiet lately.

Unlike the Evil Alliance, which had been constantly clashing with others, it was the Heaven and Earth Society, whose leader was rumored to be ill.

“That’s right. Those who have been laying low until now, but orchestrated the incident with Imperial Concubine Seo at the Imperial Palace.”

“Hmm.”

Some nodded at his words, as if finding them reasonable.

The Heaven and Earth Society had been keeping a low profile since the war between the righteous and evil factions, as if conserving their strength.

They couldn’t rule out the possibility that they were involved in these recent incidents.

Seeing an opportunity, Peng Il-hyeon, the head of the Peng Clan, tried to press the issue.

“If all these incidents are related to the Heaven and Earth Society, and we turn a blind eye to them, it would be even more……”

However,

“It’s hard to say for certain, isn’t it?”

“Clan Leader Hwangbo?”

The one who interrupted was Hwangbo Seong, the head of the Hwangbo Clan, another of the Seven Great Families.

The Hwangbo Clan was particularly at odds with the Northern Peng Clan.

As he stepped in, Peng Il-hyeon couldn’t help but show his discomfort.

“What’s so hard to see?”

“Of course, we can’t rule out the Heaven and Earth Society’s involvement, but if we blow things out of proportion due to personal grudges, that would also be problematic.”

“What!”

-Bang!

Peng Il-hyeon slammed the round table forcefully.

However, despite his anger, most of the Mighty Rulers showed little reaction.

Some even had hints of mockery on their faces.

‘Kuk.’

Peng Il-hyeon’s expression twisted.

He had lost half of his family’s power due to the incident where the Outer Court Clan Leader Peng Seok-im had attempted to violate Imperial Concubine Seo, and was now under strict surveillance, almost to the point of ostracism.

As a result, his influence was no longer as great as it once was.

Feeling that he had exposed his weakness, Clan Leader Peng Il-hyeon suppressed his anger and spoke to Hwangbo Seong, the head of the Hwangbo Clan.

“…… This is not about personal grudges. Clan Leader Hwangbo, aren’t you the one letting emotions cloud your judgment and denying my words?”

“Not necessarily. Isn’t the Silent Strides, which is responsible for sending spies to the Heaven and Earth Society, under your management, Clan Leader Hwangbo?”

“Leader Hong?”

Silent Strides.

It was an organization known only to a select few within the Righteous Alliance.

These were secretly trained spies, not officially acknowledged by the righteous factions that advocated justice and chivalry, and thus rarely mentioned.

However, this was a high-level conference attended only by the Mighty Rulers who were privy to such information, which is why the leader of the Beggars’ Sect openly brought it up.

“If Clan Leader Hwangbo says so, doesn’t that mean he has some information regarding the Heaven and Earth Society?”

“We received one piece of information, though it’s uncertain whether it’s genuine or disinformation.”

“Uncertain information? What do you mean?”

At Leader Hong’s question, Hwangbo Seong’s eyes narrowed.

Recently, he had received information from an unknown source.

As far as he knew, most of the Silent Strides agents infiltrated into the inner circle of the Heaven and Earth Society had lost their lives.

However, a piece of information came through the secret communication network of the outer circle, using a password.

The problem was that the person who sent this password had made contact using the identification tag of a Silent Strides agent who had been deployed to Corpse Blood Valley but was believed to be dead.

‘They claimed to be a hostage brought from the Yeon Mok Sword Manor.’

Half a year ago, the renowned martial arts family, the Yeon Mok Sword Manor, had suddenly announced their withdrawal from the martial arts world.

The reason for this was unknown, but the person who sent the information through the secret communication network identified themselves as a hostage from the Yeon Mok Sword Manor.

Although he was still in the process of verifying this and hadn’t officially announced the information, he said,

“The information suggested that a major internal conflict is about to erupt within the Heaven and Earth Society.”

“A major internal conflict?”

“Could it be that the condition of the Heaven and Earth Society’s leader has worsened?”

“If the uncertain information turns out to be true, that might be the case. Then it would be difficult to assume that those facing an internal conflict are related to……”

-Thud!

At that moment,

Everyone’s attention turned to someone sitting on the right side of the round table.

There, they saw someone clutching the area around their left eye, sweating profusely and frowning in pain.

It was Danmok Inho, the head of the Danmok Family, one of the Seven Great Families.

“Clan Leader Danmok? Are you alright?”

“You don’t look well, Clan Leader Danmok.”

In response to their concerns, Danmok Inho waved his hand dismissively, then spoke with one eye closed, as if it was uncomfortable.

“Ah. I injured my eye during recent training. Please excuse me.”

“Oh. If it’s difficult, perhaps you should rest……”

“It’s nothing. More importantly, I also have some interesting information to share. Shall we discuss that?”

“Interesting information? What do you mean?”

As everyone focused on him, Danmok Inho slightly raised the corners of his mouth and spoke in a meaningful tone.

“I have information that the seventh heaven, who is the core of this agenda, has started an internal war within the Heaven and Earth Society.”

‘!?’

***

At the same time.

In the guest house prepared to receive the envoy from the Imperial Palace.

An unexpected situation was unfolding there.

The high-ranking official who had come as an envoy was lying on the floor with his head severed, and two masters were fiercely clashing swords.

A middle-aged man who had been unsheathing his sword with bare hands created some distance and pointed at his opponent with his left hand forming a sword seal.

Suddenly, a uniquely shaped sword lying on the floor rose on its own and extended, unleashing a sword energy.

-Swoosh!

The opponent caught the hilt of the flying sword energy with the marvelous technique of “Ritual of Binding.”

Despite the blue sparks flying from the strong energy, the sword didn’t fall.

-Crackle crackle!

Seeing this, the middle-aged man’s eyes flashed with surprise.

‘He’s catching the sword energy controlled by qi with the marvelous Ritual of Binding?’

This was an extraordinary feat that even he, who had surpassed the wall of walls, couldn’t easily accomplish.

The identity of the middle-aged man was none other than Jeong Hyeon-mun, the leader of the Righteous Alliance.

The man who had caught the sword energy with the Attaching sword technique smirked and said to Jeong Hyeon-mun.

“Is this the famous ‘Il-hwi’?”

It was the precious sword created by Ou Cheon-mu, the sect leader of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary.

Looking at the smirking man, Jeong Hyeon-mun, the leader of the Righteous Alliance, spoke with a voice full of suspicion.

“…… You’re not Wi Takhyeon.”

“What are you talking about? If I’m not Wi Takhyeon, then who is Wi Takhyeon?”

The identity of the man mocking Jeong Hyeon-mun was Wi Takhyeon, the Sword of Fulfilled Ambition and Defiance[3], the vice leader of the Righteous Alliance.

Looking at him, Leader Jeong Hyeon-mun inwardly denied it.

It couldn’t be.

The Wi Takhyeon—no, his sworn brother Wi—who had been with him for so long would never arbitrarily kill an envoy from the Imperial Palace.

And even though he was one of the Eight Stars, his martial prowess had increased too rapidly.

Leader Jeong Hyeon-mun glanced at Commander Zhuge, who had fallen with his right leg severed, and raised his qi even further.

If he didn’t subdue him quickly, the Chief Commander’s life might be in danger.

***

As the war had ended, members of the society were clearing the corpses and prisoners overflowing in the square, and the wounded were being urgently moved to the medical ward.

In the main hall on the first floor of the headquarters, where the signboard of the Heaven and Earth Society had been destroyed, all the executives except for the injured had gathered.

Mok Gyeong-un, the leader, was seated on the stone throne in the hall. On the left side of the upper platform in front of him were Ou Cheon-mu, the sect leader of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, leading the loyal followers brought from outside, including the masked Ma Ra-hyeon, the Subduing-Demon Ja Geum-jeong, and others like Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak.

On the right side were Axe-Destroying King Ho Tae-gang, Poison King Baek Sa-ha, Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon, Corpse Blood Valley Master Lee Ji-yeom, and others.

Standing in the center of these executives, right in front of Mok Gyeong-un’s gaze, was a beautiful woman with graying hair who exuded an alluring aura.

She was Chunchu, the highest-ranking executive of the Secret Society.

Despite being a prisoner who had surrendered, Chunchu was looking at Mok Gyeong-un with a relaxed, smiling face.

She was the first to speak.

“I thought you’d be in a hurry, but I guess not?”

She had a good idea of the real objective Mok Gan was aiming for in this war against the Heaven and Earth Society.

That’s why she thought the man in front of her would be quite anxious.

She had intended to use this to lead the negotiation, but what was with that inexplicably relaxed demeanor?

Of course, the reason was simple.

It was due to the voice echoing loudly in Mok Gyeong-un’s head.

-Master…… It’s me, Go Chan. Master? Master? Can you really not hear me? I’m possessing Wi So-yeon’s body, but I don’t dare try to escape. Master? No, fuck, I could understand when there was a talisman on the coffin, but now the lid is open and you still can’t hear me? Is this bastard’s ear rotten or what?