“One month from now.”
A ssage was sent to all the righteous path martial artists.
Within one month from now.
The war with the heretic martial world, the Heretic Path's Alliance, and the Blood Demon, which might be the last of their lives, would begin.
Of course, the exact date of departure was shared only with the leaders of the alliance to prevent the leakage of information.
“The feigned explosion is ready.”
Zhuge Suk prepared a feigned explosion using thunder bombs.
This was to prevent the Heretic Path's Alliance from using explosives in advance, but it was also a signal to announce the start of the war.
“Now what’s left is the plan.”
Cheon Yusin sat around a long table with the leaders of the alliance and the heads of each sect and unfolded a large map.
The newly made map, which was large enough for everyone to see, was a map of the alliance’s estate, which resembled the castle where the Martial Alliance used to be.
Zhuge Suk personally stood up from his seat, pointed to the estate map with a long stick, and began his explanation.
“According to the intelligence of the Beggars' Sect, the Heretic Path's Alliance has built a solid wall, and while building a tower, they have removed the main gate and have instead opened a path.”
“Opened a path?”
The family head of the Hebei Peng Clan, Peng Sogeon, who had barely survived the aftermath of the explosion, asked with his whole body wrapped in bandages.
At that, Zhuge Suk nodded his head and continued.
“Look at this.”
Zhuge Suk took the brush that was on the table and drew a line.
The one line drawn in a straight line was connected in one path from the main gate to the heart.
“This is…”
A very short silence fell in the eting room.
And the person who broke the silence was Cheon Yusin.
“Is this an invitation to co in?”
“That’s right. The Heretic Path's Alliance Leader is saying. If you have the courage, try to co in.”
“…”
Although they didn’t say it out loud, all the leaders had a hunch.
That the Blood Demon was waiting for them in the heart.
That’s why the role and purpose of the Martial Alliance and the righteous martial world beca clear.
“All of our plans are to safely move Jin Sohyun to that heart. After that…”
A voice that was uncharacteristically difficult for Zhuge Suk flowed out of his face.
“We can only hope that Young Master Jin will win against the Blood Demon, and we will have to fight our own fight.”
“How do you plan to arrange them?”
At Cheon Yusin’s question, Zhuge Suk placed the tiles symbolizing the sects and families on the estate map.
“We will break through the main gate with the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families at the forefront. Of course, what we have to be careful of in this process is the Poison Sect.”
Even if the explosives were prevented by a feigned explosion made with thunder bombs, the poison could not be blocked.
Zhuge Suk said this and looked at Tang Hocheol, who was sitting with his arms crossed.
“So, I would like to ask for advice from you, Great Master Tang, who is the greatest elder of the current Tang family.”
“I thought you would ask that, Family Head.”
At Tang Hocheol’s gesture, Tang Hakgi, who was waiting outside, ca in hesitantly.
Although everyone was holding their tongues, the current Sichuan Tang Clan had suffered damage close to annihilation.
Since it was an embarrassing situation to even ask for help, the leaders sent a sympathetic gaze at the appearance of the only direct descendant, Tang Hakgi.
“Young Family Head.”
Tang Hocheol now called Tang Hakgi the young family head.
Because with the death of the family head, Tang Muhak, there was no family head left in the Tang family, so Tang Hakgi had naturally taken on the role of the young family head.
“Now, please speak.”
Tang Hakgi, whose tension had eased to so extent at Tang Hocheol’s gentle tone, took a breath and then said.
“We have to return to Sichuan. And we need people.”
“What do you an by returning?”
At Cheon Yusin’s question, Tang Hakgi moistened his dry lips with his tongue and said.
“There is a secret in the Tang family that is passed down only to the direct descendants. When the family is in a life-or-death crisis, the Tang family burns all the knowledge, ledgers, and goods that the family possesses. But… the manuscripts of all the martial arts books, poison recipes, and ledgers… are hidden in the basent of the Tang family.”
“…!”
The reason the Sichuan Tang Clan had burned its own family was to prevent the martial arts books, poison, and hidden weapon recipes, which contained their long history and knowledge, from falling into the hands of others.
But there was another hidden aning here.
It was to quietly bury the secrets of the Tang family in the ashes.
“This is a provision for the surviving direct descendant of the Tang family to rebuild the fallen Tang family.”
“Then…”
“If we use the recipes contained in it, we will be able to produce poison that will be useful in this war.”
At Tang Hakgi’s words, a bright light appeared on the faces of the leaders.
But Namgung Muhyeok, who was listening to this quietly, faced Tang Hakgi with a not-so-pleasant face.
“Are you sure?”
At Namgung Muhyeok’s question, Tang Hakgi blinked his eyes.
“Yes?”
“The Tang family has protected their secrets for a very long ti. The recipes for poison and hidden weapons can be said to be everything to the Tang family. But to share this…”
It ant that even if the Tang family was rebuilt, it would not be able to enjoy its past glory.
Namgung Muhyeok, who knew this, was worried about Tang Hakgi, who was trying to reveal the family’s secrets.
At this, Tang Hakgi lowered his head deeply.
He also knew.
Why the provision of the Tang family was passed down only to the direct descendants, and what the provision of the ancestors ant.
—It is better to be buried in the ground forever than to fall into the hands of others. If our knowledge is leaked, the Tang family will no longer be able to reign as the hegemon of Sichuan.
To dig up the secrets of the Tang family was no different from giving up the future of the Sichuan Tang Clan, but Tang Hakgi bit his lip and raised his head.
“Yes. This is my decision as a direct descendant of the Tang family and… the young family head.”
Cheon Yusin personally stood up from his seat and patted Tang Hakgi’s shoulder heavily.
“The martial world will never forget the sacrifice of the Tang family. Of course, after the war is over, we will also give our full support to the reconstruction of the Tang family, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
“Then we have to select the people to be dispatched to Sichuan. You, Great Master Tang, will select them yourself.”
Tang Hocheol nodded his head, counting the people he had in mind.
“Now what’s left is…”
Namgung Muhyeok, who had sensed that his turn had co, stood up from his seat.
“I and Sohyun will go to Shaolin.”
“With Young Master Jin?”
“If our hunch is right… the only person who can persuade Shaolin is Sohyun.”
“There is not much ti left. Young Master Jin is the strongest power that the righteous martial world has… so don’t overdo it.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Then since the matters of Shaolin and the Tang family have been settled to so extent, let’s discuss the rest.”
As Cheon Yusin was about to continue leading the eting, the surprised voice of a martial artist was heard from outside the eting room.
“Alliance Leader!”
At the martial artist’s voice, Cheon Yusin naturally raised his head.
Soon, the door opened and Gwak Doyeop appeared with the support of Wigeumseong.
At his appearance, each leader jumped up from their seats.
“Alliance Leader!”
“Alliance Leader!?”
At the appearance of the forr Martial Alliance Leader, Gwak Doyeop, the leaders showed surprised expressions and at the sa ti glanced at Cheon Yusin.
Although Gwak Doyeop had given up his position as the alliance leader with his own hands, there was a reason and a situation for it.
The eting of the forr and temporary alliance leaders.
Cheon Yusin, whose expression had hardened, soon relaxed his expression and welcod Gwak Doyeop.
“I was worried. I am very happy to et you like this.”
Gwak Doyeop bowed his head deeply with a fist salute.
“I greet the Alliance Leader.”
He acknowledged Cheon Yusin as the alliance leader.
“It’s only temporary.”
As Cheon Yusin replied to this, Gwak Doyeop shook his head.
“In such a difficult situation, you are leading the alliance and the righteous martial world, so how can you be called temporary?”
“Anyway, I am happy that you have returned like this.”
“Alliance Leader.”
Gwak Doyeop said this and bowed his waist deeply and said.
“Will you give this Gwakmo a chance to fight for the Martial Alliance?”
“Raise your head. I and the alliance have always been waiting for you, Great Master Gwak.”
“Thank you.”
With the return of Gwak Doyeop, the Martial Alliance began its full-scale preparations for the start of the war.
***
“So… are we going to Mount Song?”
“Yes.”
In the carriage pulled by a four-horse carriage were Jin Sohyun, Namgung Muhyeok, Gwak Myeong, and Gu Yong.
“Your body is not in good condition… are you okay?”
“Don’t worry about . There won’t be a fight at Shaolin.”
Jin Sohyun, who had nodded his head, this ti looked at Gwak Myeong.
Gwak Myeong, who had t Jin Sohyun’s eyes, opened his mouth without anyone having to go first.
“Don’t worry about the disciples. Master Yeom has agreed to help in my place.”
“Aha.”
Jin Sohyun stared at a distant mountain and muttered.
“Shaolin…”
Even Jin Sohyun, who was almost blind when it ca to the martial world, had heard the nas of the Wudang Sect and the Shaolin Sect quite often.
It was natural that both sects were often ntioned because they were the origin of the martial world, but among them, the weight of the history and na that Shaolin had was different.
“But why are we going to Shaolin?”
“You’re asking that now?”
“You just dragged here.”
“Are you a fellow who can be dragged just because I drag you? You followed because you were tempted by the words that you could go to Mount Song comfortably in a carriage, didn’t you?”
“Tsk.”
Jin Sohyun pouted his lips and glared at Gwak Myeong.
‘These uncles know too much about .’
Just as a dog at a village school recites a poem after three years, Namgung Muhyeok and Gwak Myeong now knew enough about the man nad Jin Sohyun to write a book about him.
“Anyway, the reason we are going to Shaolin is because of Monk Songwu.”
“Monk Songwu?”
“Yes.”
“Co to think of it, I haven’t seen Monk Songwu… is sothing wrong?”
“We are going to find that out now.”
“Ah…”
The spring breeze ca in through the half-open window.
The wind lightly shook Jin Sohyun’s head and left, and at that pleasant freshness, Jin Sohyun threw his gaze out the window.
Although he didn’t show it, a strange tension was lingering in the carriage.
‘The monk has disappeared…’
Songwu, who had left to ask for help from Shaolin, had disappeared without a sound.
To say that he had t bandits on the way and had t with misfortune, Songwu was a great master.
He must have gone to Shaolin.
And he had disappeared there.
And the silence of Shaolin.
Even though a great disaster had befallen the Martial Alliance and the righteous martial world and a crisis had co to the martial world, Shaolin was still silent.
Cheon Yusin had sent a letter, but there was no answer, and he had sent a person, but the gate was not opened.
Now they were heading to Mount Song to get an answer from Shaolin.
***
“Hoo—!”
Seungryun put down his teacup and opened his eyes in the dark abbot’s room.
For so reason, the wind hitting the window was unusual today.
“It seems a guest is coming.”
Seungryun put on his dharma robes and ca out of the abbot’s room.
The monks of Shaolin passed by him, putting their hands together in a prayer gesture.
At this, Seungryun exchanged a look with them and walked lightly.
Following the path made of stones, Seungryun was able to reach the Iljumun.
The long history of Shaolin was felt from the huge Iljumun of Shaolin, which could only be reached by climbing and climbing the winding mountain path.
“Abbot. What brings you here?”
At the question of a young novice monk who was sweeping the fallen leaves on the ground, Seungryun smiled benevolently and said.
“A guest is coming.”
“Really!?”
At the news that the Iljumun, which had been firmly sealed by the order of the abbot, Seungryun, would be opened, the novice monk was unnecessarily busy.
“Then I must hurry and prepare to welco the guest.”
The novice monk swept busily, and Seungryun looked at the novice monk with an affectionate gaze and then swept the pillar of the Iljumun with his old hand.
“A big hand is coming.”
(End of Chapter)
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