Chapter 304

Alliance Leader Martial Supreme Venerable Cheol Gun-ak furrowed his brow.

“Even if it happened outside the Outer Fortress, how could so many martial artists disappear without us knowing?”

“My apologies, Alliance Leader.”

Left Military Strategist Yong Baekcheon bowed his head before continuing.

“We had strengthened patrols throughout our territory, but we failed to pay sufficient attention to secluded, rarely traveled places such as the willow marsh.”

Cheol Gun-ak knew this was not Yong Baekcheon’s fault.

It was impossible for the Outer Court’s martial units under the Left Military Strategist to patrol every corner of the Martial Alliance’s vast territory.

Simply patrolling the villages and official roads within its jurisdiction already stretched them thin.

On top of that, the All-Under-Heaven Heroes Assembly had continued for months, compounding the patrol warriors’ exhaustion.

And yet he had kept postponing the Assembly’s schedule indefinitely.

Realizing his rebuke had been unfair, Cheol Gun-ak turned to Grand Strategist Sagong Ui.

“Grand Strategist, how is the search for the Black Ship progressing?”

Sagong Ui answered with a grave expression.

“We have dispatched every vessel the Alliance possesses, large and small, to scour both upstream and downstream along the Yangtze River. So far, however, we have found no dragon ship that might be the Black Ship.”

Cheol Gun-ak’s frown deepened.

“There cannot be many dragon ships on the river. How have we still failed to find it?”

A dragon ship was an enormous vessel capable of carrying hundreds of passengers.

Considering the number of missing orthodox martial artists and what appeared to be the Black Ship’s suspicious purpose, they had naturally concluded that it must be a colossal vessel of that class.

Thanks to Taoist Hyeonam’s quick judgment and response, the pursuit had begun almost immediately. They had expected a black dragon ship of such conspicuous size to be easy to find.

“They must have made preparations in advance to evade the Alliance’s pursuit,” Sagong Ui said, bowing respectfully before continuing. “Judging by the circumstances, they had clearly been planning this for a long time.”

Cheol Gun-ak could only nod.

“That must be it.”

They had built a temporary dock in a deserted willow marsh, then brought the ship in every night under the guise of a floating gambling house and received select guests aboard.

Once all those chosen guests had gathered in one place, the ship vanished with them.

“In any case, there can be no doubt that the martial artists were abducted aboard the Black Ship.”

Cheol Gun-ak continued with open displeasure.

“Who would dare abduct martial artists from the Martial Alliance’s own backyard?”

He was not asking because he did not know.

“The Demonic Eight Divisions, of course. But even for them, this is extraordinarily brazen.”

Both Sagong Ui and Yong Baekcheon nodded.

Yong Baekcheon added, “And what real benefit is there in abducting a handful of martial artists? They could use them as hostages for threats, but that would only inflame the anger of their respective sects.”

Sagong Ui gently waved his crane-feather fan.

“The benefit to the Demonic Eight Divisions is by no means small.”

“...?”

“...?”

When Cheol Gun-ak and Yong Baekcheon looked at him, the Grand Strategist continued.

“Those who disappeared are first-generation disciples who form the backbone of their respective sects, and several elders are among them as well. Worse, this happened within the territory of Martial Alliance headquarters. It will severely damage the campaign force’s morale. Above all, I fear the possibility of another such incident will leave everyone shaken.”

With the orthodox martial world gathered at Martial Alliance headquarters, they had inevitably become targets for the schemes of the Demonic Eight Divisions.

“Alliance Leader, there is another piece of troubling news.”

“What is it?”

“The Jadeite Pavilion has sent repeated reports that Taoists, Buddhist monks, and Confucian scholars are disappearing throughout the Central Plains.”

Cheol Gun-ak’s face tightened.

“Taoists, monks, and scholars...?”

“It appears the Demonic Eight Divisions have begun openly intensifying their great evil art.”

“That is indeed troubling news.”

“Yes. In response, the leaders of the sects and great families have requested a senior leaders’ council. We have continued postponing it, but after this latest incident, I do not believe we can delay it any longer.”

Cheol Gun-ak considered this for a moment.

“Still no word from Chief Secretary Kwak?”

“...None.”

“Then we have no way of knowing where he is now?”

“That is correct. Chief Secretary Kwak’s party is moving under the strictest secrecy. There is no way for us to track their location.”

After a brief silence, the Alliance Leader spoke.

“Announce that a senior leaders’ council will be held during the Hour of the Snake tomorrow.”

*****

Righteous Heaven Hall in the Alliance Leader’s Office was packed with Buddhist monks, Taoists, and lay martial leaders.

Every leader of the assembled sects and great families wore the same resolute expression.

“Alliance Leader, it has already been six months since the people of the orthodox martial world gathered here. Had we followed the original plan, we would have marched out long ago, destroyed the remnants of the Demonic Eight Divisions, and returned to our respective sects by now.”

Sect Leader Taeul Zhenren of Mount Hua spoke on behalf of the assembled leaders.

As he had throughout the council, Cheol Gun-ak listened without the slightest change in expression.

Unable to contain his frustration any longer, the Supreme Clan Master of the Namgung Family, Azure Sky Sword Namgung Cheon, spoke up.

“Alliance Leader, I cannot understand this. Every preparation has been completed, yet you continue to waste time.”

“...”

Cheol Gun-ak remained as immovable as a stone statue. Namgung Cheon shook his head and fell silent.

What is this, reciting sutras to a stone Buddha?

When even the most senior elders in the martial world—men of the Alliance Leader’s own generation—failed to move him, Sect Leader Hyeonryeongja of Qingcheng, a younger and more hot-blooded man, spoke up.

“Alliance Leader, you must have heard of yesterday’s disturbing incident. If we continue wasting time without end, the same thing will happen again.”

Cheol Gun-ak wanted nothing more than to give them a sharp rebuke.

What sort of guidance had these supposed elders provided for their disciples if some of them had fallen so deeply into gambling?

But ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the moment he said it, the assembled leaders would leap to their feet and blame him for delaying the campaign. In the end, he held his tongue.

“The demons of the Demonic Eight Divisions surely have schemes of their own. Naturally, such things were bound to happen.”

At the grumbling complaint of the Sichuan Tang Family’s clan master, Cheol Gun-ak finally closed his eyes.

He would have liked to close his ears as well, but ears did not shut unless one physically plugged them, so he had no choice but to leave them open.

“We expected the Demonic Eight Divisions to make moves against an orthodox martial world forced to remain idle. In truth, the Martial Alliance cannot claim to bear no responsibility for yesterday’s incident after delaying the campaign for so long.”

“Amitabha. I must agree, at least in part, with the Clan Master of the Murong Family. It is only natural for vigorous martial artists to grow restless when they are kept penned up without any date in sight.”

As the leaders twisted the matter to suit themselves and even began making excuses for the gamblers, Cheol Gun-ak’s stomach gradually soured.

Still, he endured.

The orthodox martial world had always closed ranks around its own.

Besides, once this affair was over, they were not people he intended to see again.

Uncheon Zhenren, who had remained silent throughout the council, finally spoke.

“Please restrain yourselves for a moment. Surely the Alliance Leader has his reasons.”

The assembled leaders knew both the weight carried by the Sword of Wudang and Uncheon Zhenren’s famously taciturn nature, so they fell silent.

“Alliance Leader, please tell us why you have delayed the campaign.”

“...”

When Cheol Gun-ak remained silent with his eyes closed, Uncheon Zhenren continued.

“Alliance Leader, you know that the Demonic Eight Divisions are devoting themselves to their great evil art. The longer we wait, the more difficult the campaign will become. Above all, it is unbearable to stand by while innocent Taoists, monks, and Confucian scholars are sacrificed.”

At Uncheon Zhenren’s earnest appeal, Cheol Gun-ak opened his eyes.

“I have my reasons, but they are difficult to disclose. I ask for the Sword of Wudang’s understanding.”

Uncheon Zhenren nodded without hesitation.

“Understood.”

Martial Supreme Venerable Cheol Gun-ak looked over the leaders of the assembled sects one by one.

“I have heard everything you wished to say. I will give the matter careful thought.”

It was plainly a declaration that the senior leaders’ council had ended. As the leaders began rising from their seats, Taeul Zhenren offered Cheol Gun-ak a clasped-hands bow.

“Alliance Leader, I sincerely hope you will reach a favorable decision without further delay. Every leader here brought the main strength of their sect or family. We cannot leave our homes unguarded forever.”

The words were framed with the utmost courtesy, but they were no less powerful for being a threat.

Once the leaders of the martial sects had filed out, only Cheol Gun-ak and Grand Strategist Sagong Ui remained in Righteous Heaven Hall.

“What do you think, Grand Strategist?”

“We cannot ask the leaders to wait indefinitely. Outlaw sects are growing restless throughout the realm. The Demonic Cult’s movements are especially troubling, which has left the leaders from Sichuan Province particularly anxious. If even one sect announces its withdrawal now, the situation will spiral beyond our control.”

Cheol Gun-ak knew that the Mount Hua Sect Leader’s final words had reflected the consensus of all the leaders, so he readily conceded the point.

“As always, the unity of the orthodox martial world is as fragile as a castle of sand.”

“...”

“This is no easy matter.”

When Cheol Gun-ak’s expression hardened, Sagong Ui spoke.

“Alliance Leader, what if we reveal Chief Secretary Kwak’s plan now and ask the assembled leaders for their understanding?”

Cheol Gun-ak shook his head firmly.

“We cannot. You say that only because you do not understand how deeply the orthodox sects fear the Eight Demonic Venerables. The moment we reveal the truth, more than half the leaders will withdraw.”

“...!”

“It might be different if we could show them proof that the Eight Demonic Venerables had signed the Righteous Heaven Banner.”

Sagong Ui looked troubled.

“Even if Chief Secretary Kwak succeeds in rescuing the Eight Demonic Venerables from the Great Demon Prison, can we truly expect him to persuade them to sign the Righteous Heaven Banner?”

“All I can tell you is that Chief Secretary Kwak will succeed.”

The question struck directly at the heart of the matter, but Cheol Gun-ak had no other answer to give.

His clash with Kwak Yeon had shown him just how extraordinary the man was, but there was no way to explain it in words.

The very notion of defining another human being in words was absurd to begin with.

Grand Strategist Sagong Ui looked up with a start.

“Grand Strategist, we will proceed with the campaign against the Demonic Eight Divisions.”

“Alliance Leader, there are still about five days remaining in the one-month period you agreed upon with Chief Secretary Kwak.”

“The army will need time to reach its destination. If Chief Secretary Kwak succeeds before then, we can halt the campaign at that point.”

“...”

“You will lead the Outer Court’s Fifth Corps. Observe the progress of the campaign force’s eight corps and support them from the rear.”

“I will carry out my duty, but I am concerned about leaving headquarters.”

“The Hocheon Unit and I are more than enough to defend Martial Alliance headquarters. The Left Military Strategist also commands the Inner Court’s martial units. What is there to worry about?”

“My concern got the better of me. Forgive my impertinence.”

“Your sense of responsibility for headquarters is simply too great. Go without worry.”

“Understood. I will inform the leaders of the sects and order them to prepare for deployment.”

“Warn the commanders of the eight corps not to rush ahead in pursuit of military achievements and suffer needless losses.”

“I will make certain they understand.”

Grand Strategist Sagong Ui offered a clasped-hands bow and swept his crane-feather fan briskly through the air.

SWISH!