Chapter 241

Jin Ja-gang, Tang Ha-ran, Bian Bu, and Soso came down from the peak.

Since the Qingcheng sect had all left, there was no reason to stay confined in that house.

Bian Bu waved his hand when he saw the Evil Sect members.

“Hey there, you came! I heard the story but now I’m finally getting to greet you properly.”

“Look who it is. Isn’t that Bian Bu? And Soso next to him?”

Bian Bu seemed to have close relations with the Evil Sect members, exchanging greetings with each one.

“Who’s that guy?”

The Evil Sect members’ gazes turned toward Jin Ja-gang and Tang Ha-ran.

“A celebrity. Poison Dragon. And Miss Ha-ran from the Tang family.”

Silent glances were exchanged.

Poison Dragon, who wasn’t Evil Sect but was being treated as such, and the Tang family daughter who had been expelled for following Poison Dragon.

It couldn’t help but be a strange situation.

Gu Ryun said.

“Should I say it’s nice to meet you? Or should I say it’s regrettable to meet in such circumstances?”

Before Jin Ja-gang could answer, Remnant Wind Guest approached with heavy steps and looked Jin Ja-gang up and down.

“Are you strong?”

“Is that important?”

“It’s important. We need to establish the pecking order.”

“Is that so?”

Jin Ja-gang answered without being intimidated at all by Remnant Wind Guest’s imposing build.

“Then you can just not pick a fight with me and leave me alone. The day you find out whether I’m strong or not would be the day you die, so would it have meaning?”

“Oh ho, this guy comes on really strong? But it’s chilling. It’s not a lie, is it? You really have the eyes of someone who’s caught quite a few strong fellows.”

Remnant Wind Guest showed his goosebump-covered forearms and giggled.

Human Demon Gam Chung stroked his beard and asked.

“But seeing you’re with Bian Bu, there must be some connection?”

“I received kindness from Fairy Maiden.”

Human Demon Gam Chung placed both hands on his belly and laughed.

“Well, that’s enough. Whether we’re on the same side or not doesn’t matter. We’re all people gathered for Fairy Maiden’s sake.”

With that, even Remnant Wind Guest lost interest in Jin Ja-gang.

Flower Snake Divine Woman asked Bian Bu with a worried tone.

“Bat old man! What on earth is going on? What’s happening to the Qingcheng sect?”

“Thunder Brand Sword from the Martial Alliance is coming to Qingcheng Mountain.”

“What? The Qingcheng sect is avoiding them because of that?”

“The Qingcheng sect thinks a great tribulation is approaching. They probably plan to step aside completely from this tribulation.”

“Then what about us?”

“As soon as Fairy Maiden comes out, we need to grab her and run immediately.”

“Is it true that Fairy Maiden is poisoned and practicing internal energy?”

Flower Snake Divine Woman glanced at Tang Ha-ran as she mentioned poison. When Flower Snake Divine Woman’s eyes met Tang Ha-ran’s, she smiled sweetly, but there was reddish killing intent in the corners of her eyes.

“That’s right. But the one who made Fairy Maiden like that wasn’t the Tang family but Mang Ryo. And… though this might sound strange, he’s also the one who tried to assassinate the Martial Alliance Leader.”

The Evil Sect members murmured among themselves.

“What’s that about?”

“The guy who tried to assassinate the Martial Alliance Leader harmed Fairy Maiden, so why is the Martial Alliance going after the Qingcheng sect? It doesn’t add up.”

Bian Bu shrugged his shoulders.

“They’re just looking for an excuse. Once they find an excuse, randomly pinning crimes on people is their specialty.”

“That’s true.”

One person with a scar on his face asked Bian Bu.

“No, then if Fairy Maiden isn’t even in a dangerous situation, why did we get called here?”

Bian Bu looked puzzled.

“Called by who? We’ve been up there the whole time.”

At that moment, the atmosphere turned cold.

Human Demon Gam Chung laughed heartily.

“Well now. Some bastards are daring to use our Shandong friends? Which bastards have such swollen guts? I need to find them and definitely rip out their livers while they’re still alive to satisfy my anger.”

Remnant Wind Guest spat out curses.

“Damn it. No wonder it was strangely easy to enter Sichuan. The Sichuan Three Rivers bastards were all in on it together. Now I understand why the Qingcheng sect Taoists fled too.”

Gu Ryun suddenly sat down and took out his shield, beginning to oil it.

He was preparing for battle.

“Bian Bu. Fairy Maiden isn’t being harmed and is definitely practicing internal energy, right?”

“Definitely.”

“Then everyone prepare. We’ll have to fight Thunder Brand Sword soon.”

Flower Snake Divine Woman looked at Tang Ha-ran and asked.

“But which side are you planning to take, miss? I’d like you to clearly state your position.”

All eyes focused on Tang Ha-ran. Tang Ha-ran had known such a moment would come someday.

“I plan to follow whatever this person decides to do.”

Her speech was awkward, as if she was still uncomfortable mixing words with Evil Sect members.

Flower Snake Divine Woman looked at Jin Ja-gang with an expression asking ‘Then what about you?’

“I’ll help until Fairy Maiden finishes her internal energy practice.”

Remnant Wind Guest asked again.

“I’m asking you really seriously, are you strong enough for that? I saw you were even limping earlier.”

Jin Ja-gang just smiled quietly. Remnant Wind Guest grumbled.

“Tch, a guy who puts on airs like crazy. You and I will probably never! become friends.”

* * *

Thunder Brand Sword Ye Jin-gyeong led forty White Tiger Earth Emperor Pavilion warriors and entered Sichuan with great momentum. Behind them, two hundred Sword Hero Squad members from the Guizhou branch were following.

However, the moment they set foot in Sichuan, two groups were waiting for Thunder Brand Sword Ye Jin-gyeong from left and right.

One group was the Tang family in green robes.

The other group was Mount Emei in monk’s robes.

Ye Jin-gyeong made his warriors stop and stepped forward. Ye Jin-gyeong was a martial artist in his fifties with a tall stature and broad shoulders. He carried a great sword as tall as himself on his back.

“I am Ye Jin-gyeong. I’m truly grateful that two of Sichuan’s Three Rivers came out to welcome me.”

What came from the Tang family was Soul Seizing Chamber Master Tang Sang-yul. Tang Sang-yul cupped his fists and greeted.

“Not at all. Isn’t it natural courtesy for a host to greet guests?”

By calling themselves the host, their intention in coming to greet was already apparent. Though they belonged to the same Martial Alliance, they were revealing that they were the kings in Sichuan.

From Mount Emei came Jung Yo.

“Amitabha. I came to lend what little strength I have, so please don’t scold me for being too inadequate.”

Mount Emei was the same as the Tang family. They said they were lending strength, but they were no different from watchdogs. They were subtly saying that if you want to act in Sichuan, you must be under our control.

Though Ye Jin-gyeong belonged to the Hengshan sect, he was a martial artist who had grown up in the Martial Alliance. Having risen to become pavilion master of the White Tiger Earth Emperor Pavilion, one of the twin combat units in the Demon Subduing Palace of the Martial Alliance, he wasn’t without sense.

Ye Jin-gyeong snorted slightly.

“If I had needed strength, I would have contacted you beforehand. I gratefully accept only your intentions.”

Tang Sang-yul waved his hand.

“That’s not right. How could we show off with just intentions? I heard that even Shandong Evil Sect members have gathered at the Qingcheng sect. You’ll need even small hands.”

“Trash like the Shandong Evil Sect can’t block my path. This is an urgent matter, so I’d be grateful if you’d clear the way.”

“Haha, if anyone heard, they’d think the Tang Family Great Compound was blocking your path, great hero. You refuse the hand we extend, so we’re embarrassed beyond measure. However, since this is a Martial Alliance affair, we’ll withdraw now for the greater cause.”

It was skillful speech. While backing out saying they wouldn’t take any responsibility for what happened next, they added conditions saying they were withdrawing for the Martial Alliance’s sake, even creating a debt.

Jung Yo also asked in a gentle tone for confirmation.

“Are you really sure it’s alright? Sichuan is unexpectedly dangerous.”

It almost sounded like a threat.

Ye Jin-gyeong had no desire to engage in psychological warfare and waste time here. He needed to go to the Qingcheng sect and either negotiate with or escort their sect leader. He immediately cut off Jung Yo’s words.

“I heard Sichuan’s martial world is notoriously territorial, so I’m grateful you’re backing down this much.”

Soon the Tang family and Mount Emei stepped aside to both sides.

“Well then.”

Ye Jin-gyeong cupped his fists one last time and passed them by.

After the forty White Tiger Earth Emperor Pavilion members and two hundred Sword Hero Squad members all passed, Jung Yo sighed and said.

“Since it’s happening in Sichuan, they naturally should have requested our cooperation. The Martial Alliance’s handling of this matter is very displeasing. The sect leader said that if we don’t step forward in the Qingcheng sect’s matter, we’ll face the fate of lips and teeth.”

Tang Sang-yul sneered.

“The phrase ‘lips and teeth’ fits perfectly. They plan to systematically dismantle our Sichuan Three Rivers starting with the Qingcheng sect. They’re targeting Sichuan’s martial world. Fools, do they think we’ll just take it lying down?”

* * *

Thunder Brand Sword Ye Jin-gyeong moved quickly to Qingcheng Mountain.

‘Reorganize the Nine Provinces and Six Heavens.’

He was reading that this was the Alliance Leader’s intention.

Nine Provinces and Six Heavens!

A term referring to six places that had established certain spheres of influence in the current martial world.

The Martial Alliance with its headquarters in Jiangxi Province.

Sichuan’s martial world centered on the Tang family, Mount Emei, and Qingcheng sect.

The Evil Sect alliance Northern Heaven that had been pushed north from the Central Plains by the Martial Alliance.

The Western Tibet Demon Cult located west of Yunnan.

The Shandong Evil Sect led by Wishful Fairy Maiden.

The Yangtze River Sword Gate formed by gathering sects along the Yangtze River basin.

However, because the Martial Alliance occupied more than seventy percent of the martial world, the rest were actually holding their breath and keeping low profiles, or were treated as mere branch sects that had joined the Martial Alliance.

Most of the sects in Sichuan’s martial world and the Yangtze River Sword Gate had joined the Martial Alliance.

So there was inevitably no more prey to devour.

Therefore, though Ye Jin-gyeong didn’t know exactly how Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol planned to reorganize the martial world, he agreed with his thinking.

Survival was a martial artist’s instinct and natural competition. If he provided the place and situation, he was ready to run wild as much as needed.

For instance, he too had thoughts of suppressing the Azure Dragon Great Sword Pavilion and surpassing Diamond Heavenly Sword Baek Li-jung to make him subordinate. The fact that Baek Li-jung, who wasn’t even from a prestigious family, received praise as a great hero and was treated the same as himself, a disciple of Hengshan sect, was definitely not pleasant.

This incident was the best opportunity for the White Tiger Earth Emperor Pavilion to surpass the Azure Dragon Great Sword Pavilion.

Ye Jin-gyeong arrived at Qingcheng Mountain’s gate in just a few days.

Unexpectedly, there was one Taoist with a clear appearance waiting at the gate.

The Taoist bowed deeply with an extremely respectful attitude.

“Primordial Heavenly Worthy. The sect leader is waiting.”

“This is a completely different attitude from what I heard.”

The Evil Sect members were nowhere to be seen either. They might have retreated upon hearing news that the White Tiger Earth Emperor Pavilion was coming, or the Qingcheng sect might have driven them away.

“I’m just running errands.”

When Ye Jin-gyeong was about to ascend the mountain gate with the warriors he had brought, the Taoist showed a troubled expression.

“Don’t all several hundred warriors need to go up, do they? Our Qingcheng sect also has face to maintain…”

Armed warriors ascending the main mountain was an attitude only an occupying army would take.

There’s a reason some places have rules about leaving weapons at the entrance when climbing other sects’ mountain gates.

Especially when the opponent came out so obediently, since this was the Qingcheng sect called a holy site of Taoism, there was need to show appropriate respect.

However, Ye Jin-gyeong felt suspicion about a different part.

‘Our Qingcheng sect?’

The part where the Taoist just said ‘our Qingcheng sect also has face’ caught his ear.

Among orthodox sects, almost all of the long-established major sects don’t attach ‘gate’ or ‘sect’ when introducing their own sect.

Even in Shaolin Temple’s case, they only attach the character for ‘temple’ when specifically conducting events as a temple. Since everyone in the martial world knows Shaolin Temple, they don’t specifically say ‘our Shaolin Temple is…’

The same goes for Wudang sect, Huashan sect, and Qingcheng sect. They don’t bother attaching the character for ‘sect’ meaning Taoist lineage.

Of course, since they’re human, there might be slips of the tongue.

However, in sensitive times like now, even such slips of the tongue sound significant.

“Hmm.”

Ye Jin-gyeong made a snorting sound through his nose and slightly raised the corner of his mouth in a smile.