Chapter 461: Embracing the Darkness (1)

It was a question that struck him to the core.

Was he prepared to sacrifice everything to destroy the Perverse Lust Cult?

Of course.

The Yeon Hojeong of the past would have answered without a moment's hesitation.

Yes. The Perverse Lust Cult was his sworn enemy, though in a different sense from the usual meaning of the term.

Things were different now? He shouldn't be angry over something that hadn't even happened?

That was absurd. The Three Creeds, led by the Perverse Lust Cult, already had their sights set on the Central Plains. Countless people would die in the process.

And among those in danger was his own family.

In truth, Yeon Hojeong was not alone in having to stake his life on this unseen war. Everyone who had joined the struggle would have to be prepared to do the same. There was no other way to wipe out their enemies.

And that went doubly for Yeon Hojeong, who carried so much regret and anger from his past. He was prepared to lay down his life to destroy the Perverse Lust Cult and drive out the Three Creeds.

Yes. His resolve and sense of purpose had not changed.

But...

"Your question is so broad, Manor Lord, that I can't give you a simple answer."

Yangcheon's eyes gleamed.

"That's unexpected. I thought you hated them even more than I did."

"I do. And it's not just you. I doubt there's anyone in the Central Plains whose hatred and revulsion toward them run deeper than mine."

"And the power of those you hate so much is greater than anything we can imagine."

"That's right."

"Then surely you should be prepared to sacrifice everything. Yet judging by that lukewarm answer of yours, it seems you aren't."

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

"I'm prepared to sacrifice my own life, but I have no intention of crossing a line I don't need to cross."

"A line you don't want to cross..."

Yangcheon tilted his head.

"You said that before, too. You said you wouldn't cross that line, but you also admitted that you weren't entirely sure what the line was."

"That hasn't changed. I still can't define exactly where that line lies. But I've begun to get a sense of it."

"A sense of it..."

Yeon Hojeong smiled bitterly.

"My father doesn't want his foolish son to become a monster like the ones he's trying to destroy."

Yangcheon frowned.

"You've already become a master in your own right, whether in martial arts, strength of character, or anything else."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"A parent's or a master's teachings don't cease to matter simply because their child or disciple has reached a certain level. Still, I didn't realize you took your father's teachings so seriously."

"If it's merely a difference of opinion, I'll take his views into consideration. I won't necessarily change my own convictions."

"Then what is it?"

"...I suppose I've been uncomfortable with what I was becoming. I could feel myself growing more and more like them."

Strictly speaking, he was not becoming like them.

Yeon Hojeong's hatred was so extreme that the more he fought against the Three Creeds, the more monstrous he became. He was turning into something worse than they were, not merely becoming their equal.

And that was precisely the problem. If all he had to worry about was becoming like them, if the worst possible outcome was that he would destroy himself and eventually meet his own ruin, he would not have agonized over it to this extent.

Yeon Hojeong was certain of one thing. If he abandoned that exceedingly abstract and ill-defined concept of a "line," he would eventually become a natural catastrophe that no one could stop.

The problem was not his personal abilities.

The problem was the influence Yeon Hojeong wielded in the martial world of his time, the weight his words carried, and what he could accomplish if he truly set his mind to something.

Yeon Hojeong's abilities were extraordinary. To put it plainly, if he used the trust he had accumulated to call for an attack on the imperial palace, and if he could make sufficiently thorough preparations, he might be able to bring at least the Martial Alliance into a war against the imperial court.

Was that an exaggeration?

No.

Buseon had brought Putuo Hermitage to its present state in a mere three years. Yeon Hojeong surpassed Buseon in every respect. It was not entirely beyond the realm of possibility that he could shake the whole world.

And that was why he hesitated.

Because he understood, at least to some extent, the power he possessed and the position and influence he now held.

He knew that his choices could have consequences far beyond anything he intended. He could dimly imagine a future in which his own corruption would not be the end of it.

Watching Yeon Hojeong's troubled expression, Yangcheon spoke.

"May I say something?"

"Go ahead."

"Your confidence in yourself has grown so excessive that it's turned into arrogance."

"..."

"I don't think you've become afraid. Nor do I believe your feelings toward those people have weakened. But one thing is clear: you've become far too arrogant."

"Is that how you see it?"

"No one would deny that you're an extraordinary talent. But did you really think the martial world of the Central Plains was so easily manipulated that it would bend to your will simply because you became a monster?"

"...!"

He had never considered that.

Yangcheon's expression grew somewhat displeased.

"I've had plenty of opportunities to kill you, yet I've allowed you to live. Partly because of the interests involved, and partly because I find you an appealing fellow. But make no mistake. If I decide to kill you, you will never survive."

"..."

"And I'm hardly the only one. The other masters of the Supreme Heavens could do the same, as could countless reclusive masters who have yet to show themselves to the world."

The corners of Yangcheon's mouth lifted.

"Considering your age and standing, a little arrogance is hardly a flaw. But don't you think you're placing far too little faith in everyone besides yourself?"

"It's not a lack of faith."

"If it isn't, then you're even more arrogant than I thought."

Yeon Hojeong sighed.

"It's not often that someone forces you into such a shocking moment of self-reflection so gently."

"Do you admit it, then?"

"I'm not sure yet. But there's certainly some truth to what you're saying. Come to think of it, I probably wouldn't be entertaining such thoughts in the first place if I weren't arrogant."

A peculiar look entered Yangcheon's eyes.

This bastard really is...

Yeon Hojeong had already risen remarkably high, yet he could still listen to criticism from someone who was not unequivocally on his side and use it to examine himself.

Well, I'll be damned.

At first, seeing Yeon Hojeong reveal a moment of weakness and then speak with such apparent arrogance, Yangcheon had wondered whether the young man's exceptional qualities were finally beginning to fade.

But now, seeing this side of him, he felt as though he were discovering another facet of Yeon Hojeong's character.

Of course. He wasn't born this way, either.

His insight was nothing short of a divine skill. His martial prowess belonged to an extraordinary master far beyond his years, and his instincts were terrifyingly sharp.

No one was born possessing all those abilities. Yeon Hojeong must have endured tremendous pain and effort to become the man he was today.

Still, it's hard to find fault with someone who can keep an open mind like that.

This was a world where a trivial slight to someone's pride could lead to bloodshed.

At least in that respect, Yeon Hojeong possessed a genuinely admirable character.

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

"Whatever the case, I know exactly where my fight is meant to end. But I intend to avoid selling out my family or abandoning even the most basic moral principles for the sake of that fight, as far as I possibly can."

"I understand what you're saying."

"Then why did you ask me that question?"

"I simply wanted to hear your answer. Now it's your turn to ask a question."

Yeon Hojeong studied Yangcheon's expression for a moment before speaking.

"Surely what you want isn't a three-way proxy war over Putuo?"

Yangcheon was genuinely impressed.

"You've seen that far into my plans?"

"One side is Ink Dragon Manor. Another is the Martial Alliance. That leaves a third. Don't tell me that last one is..."

"Perverse Lust."

"..."

"Even though I already know how perceptive you are, you still manage to surprise me."

Yangcheon interlaced his fingers.

It was a sign that he was ready to get down to business.

"That's right. I want to draw the Perverse Lust Cult into the war over Putuo."

Yeon Hojeong's eyes turned cold.

"Leaving aside how difficult and dangerous that would be, surely you understand that it's hardly a desirable course of action."

"Why? Does it sound like the sort of scheme that crosses this line of yours?"

"..."

"I'm sorry, but I don't see it that way. Even if it does cross the line, I have no intention of regretting it. Putuo Hermitage and Ink Dragon Manor cannot coexist indefinitely anyway. We strike first, eliminate a potential threat, and use the conflict over Putuo as a proxy war to deal a blow to Perverse Lust. I don't see anything wrong with that."

"You're right."

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

"At least from your perspective, there's probably nothing wrong with that plan. The problem is..."

"The problem?"

"That you've only considered one side of the matter."

Yangcheon's eyes gleamed.

"I'm all ears."

"Putuo Hermitage belongs to the Buddhist order. And in the Central Plains, most Buddhist institutions are connected, even when they belong to different branches. Putuo and Shaolin, for instance, have a fairly good relationship."

"Hmm."

"If what you've done becomes known, the Buddhist order will rise up and turn on Ink Dragon Manor. There's no guarantee Shaolin won't join them."

"That's true."

"And if that happens, your rash actions will have temporarily weakened the martial world's forces when we need them to drive out the Three Creeds."

Yeon Hojeong's eyes grew colder.

"Do you understand? I know how much you hate the Perverse Lust Cult, Manor Lord. But because of your hatred and thirst for revenge, you've weakened the very forces that will have to fight the Three Creeds as a whole."

"..."

"If you wanted to settle matters with Putuo once and for all, why didn't you wait until the war was over? What if we lose that war and are driven back? Wouldn't all this fighting have been meaningless? So why did you recklessly reduce Putuo to this state?"

Viewed in terms of the larger struggle, there was a serious problem with Yangcheon's actions.

Yangcheon opened his mouth.

"Even so, my attack on Putuo was..."

"If you're about to tell me that you merely sowed discord behind the scenes and that the monks of Putuo lacked the discipline to resist being manipulated, spare me. You're putting the blame in the wrong place."

"..."

"You should never have interfered with Putuo."

Yangcheon frowned.

"Then what would you have me do? Things have already reached this point."

"We'll have to put things right. But I won't conceal the fact that Ink Dragon Manor played a part in bringing Putuo down."

"That's rather disappointing."

"Neither my official position nor my personal convictions will allow me to hide it. Nor should it be hidden."

"Don't worry. I was prepared to accept responsibility for my actions from the moment I set this in motion."

"Then I'm glad to hear it."

"The problem is, I have no desire to put Putuo's affairs in order."

"..."

Even as Yeon Hojeong stared at him, Yangcheon's smile never faded.

"To be precise, the matter is already out of my hands."

"...?!"

"..."

"Don't tell me..."

"You're thinking along the right lines."

An ominous shadow fell across Yangcheon's face.

"The last of Putuo's three branches, Heavenly Ear Gate, has sent someone to the Perverse Lust Cult. Just as Thousand-Eyes Gate came to you, and Lotus Gate came to us."

"You goddamned..."

"What can I do? If events have already been set in motion and there's no way to put things right, the only option is to see the original plan through."

Yangcheon raised his cup, a mischievous expression on his face.

"Aren't you curious, too? About how the Perverse Lust Cult will respond, I mean. If things go well, this could be our chance to get a clear look at the cult's fighting strength and internal affairs."