Chapter 210 |
A heavy silence fell deeply across the room.
Just then, the Shaolin Abbott made an observation.
“Amitabha. This monk has heard of the Blood Immortal Sect before.”
Amid this turmoil, Shaolin remained relatively peaceful.
Their most recent topic of discussion had been whether to change their name when merging with the Bamboo Forest Temple, but they ultimately decided to keep “Shaolin” following public perception.
No one expected them to speak first, thinking they would just observe from afar with folded arms as usual.
“About two hundred years ago, there are records of our temple’s Vajra Arhat Monk engaging in a blood battle with a member of the Blood Immortal Sect. While it’s recorded as a mythical battle… many later generations, including myself, thought it contained some exaggeration.”
Mountains change in ten years, so two hundred years was an incredibly long time ago.
It was remarkable enough that someone had bothered to read an old text gathering dust in a corner.
“Hmm…”
“For a group that has existed for two hundred years, how could we not have known…”
The Alliance Leader spoke firmly.
“Based on collected testimonies from Wudang and various external witnesses, we conclude nearly a thousand martial artists were mobilized.”
“Hmm.”
“To gather such numbers while evading the Beggar’s Sect’s information network is no ordinary feat.”
The Beggar’s Sect Leader, Seol Gyeon, nodded.
Though still young, other sect leaders didn’t dismiss her at all.
The position of Beggar’s Sect Leader carried that much weight.
“Keke… No matter how deep we dig, they show no tail – it’s absolutely maddening. It feels like trying to catch a formless ghost.”
Seol Gyeon habitually stroked her scar.
Her master Il Geol had once faced death from a demonic cult attack but survived thanks to Jin Cheonhee’s help.
He had told his disciple:
-You mad dog. Even if I went back in time, I would still pick you up.
Jin Cheonhee didn’t know what Il Geol had seen on that snow-covered mountain.
He simply saved his life and then retired from the front lines, passing the Sect Leader position to his successor, Seol Gyeon.
Suddenly inheriting the position, Seol Gyeon.
Though she struggled greatly with her master’s abrupt handover, she now led the Beggar’s Sect as a proper leader.
However, her age was one to two generations below others present here.
The age gap ranged from at least ten to over thirty years.
Thus, she couldn’t be completely composed.
But they say the position makes the person.
For those who knew Seol Gyeon after she overcame her heart demons, and what path she had taken… they couldn’t carelessly dismiss her just because she was young for her position.
“Still, we managed to find some evidence to pass to the Alliance, so I suppose we saved face at least.”
“That’s too modest. All the information you provided was tremendously helpful.”
At Commander-in-Chief Dokgo Seon’s words, she shook her head.
“That’s not it. Though I worked with my master on this, even he was astounded. This isn’t modesty… just a wounded dog barking a little. Kekeke…”
Seol Gyeon’s expression crumpled.
For the Beggar’s Sect to evaluate it this way, the opponent must be…
Through the confusion, the Alliance Leader continued.
“Therefore, we’ve invited the Unorthodox Alliance to this Dragon Phoenix Gathering as well. They will send a representative.”
The Unorthodox Alliance.
If the Martial Righteous Alliance was a union of righteous sects, the Unorthodox Alliance was a union of evil sects.
The Eight Factions of the Unorthodox formed its core.
The Hao Sect, Sea Sand Manor[1], Assassin Sword Tower[2], Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds, Yellow River Yangtze Pirates, Blood Arts Sect[3], Five Poisons Sect[4], and Ghost Spirit Sect[5].
Among them, the Hao Sect dealt in assassination, smuggling, entertainment, and intelligence, making it several times larger than the other Seven Factions as the Unorthodox’s greatest force.
However, being such a powerful force meant undeniable checks from the other seven sects.
Moreover, unlike righteous sects that at least outwardly prioritized righteousness, internal conflicts and antagonism within evil sects far exceeded those in the Martial Righteous Alliance.
To invite such an Unorthodox Alliance.
For such an Unorthodox Alliance to select and send a representative.
Both carried significant implications.
“Alliance Leader! Such unilateral action is not right!”
The Founding King shook his head at those words.
“The situation is urgent. Since our eyes and ears rely entirely on the Beggar’s Sect, if even they find it overwhelming, it’s beyond our power alone.”
“However…”
Despite fierce opposition, the Alliance Leader remained resolute.
“The fire has already started spreading. If we don’t extinguish it now, it will only grow larger. We’ve already seen what happened to Wudang.”
Wudang.
Since the establishment of its temple on Mount Wudang, it had never not been at the core of righteous sects.
Yet such a Wudang was consumed by flames.
Though they survived, the shocking extent of Wudang’s damages was no small matter.
The Alliance Leader continued.
“Moreover, I believe this level of authority lies with me.”
“…”
The Founding King. Everyone knew his nature.
He was one who had laid everything down for the martial world.
They knew such a person could use extreme methods if necessary.
They also knew he would never bend if those methods could save lives, no matter what was said.
That nature is a double-edged sword.
Seol Gyeon laughed bitterly inside.
But I agree with the next move… Alliance Leader… keke…
Their benefactor had nearly died in this Wudang incident.
When news came that the Little White Dragon had fallen there, both her master and Seol Gyeon were shocked, and how they clutched their chests in relief when they heard he had awakened.
Her master still marveled at the fact his limbs could move.
How many beggars lost limbs to frostbite?
Their benefactor who had healed that had nearly died, so they couldn’t possibly have good feelings toward the Blood Immortal Sect.
Moreover, as Beggar’s Sect Leader, she judged the situation needed to be stopped as quickly as possible.
The Founding King’s opinion aligned with Seol Gyeon’s.
“Who will be the Unorthodox Alliance’s representative?”
“The Unorthodox Alliance’s Leader, Sorcery Emperor[6] said he would come personally.”
“The Sorcery Emperor!”
Gasps erupted.
“That sinister character is coming personally?”
The Sorcery Emperor.
Leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect known for using various evil arts and sorcery.
He was known to have quite friendly relations with the Hao Sect.
As one of the world’s Two Emperors and leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, he could be called the head of all evil sects under heaven.
Rumors in the martial world said he was slightly stronger than Alliance Leader Founding King Ak Jin, but in terms of forces, the Martial Righteous Alliance was larger and more powerful than the Unorthodox Alliance.
The Unorthodox Alliance’s core was the Eight Factions. In contrast, the Martial Righteous Alliance had the Nine Sects One Faction and Eight Great Families as its core, showing a large numerical difference.
If either the Namgoong family or Putuo Temple produces a Sword Emperor, or Sword Empress this time, there will be Three Emperors. Kekeke…
She knew the martial arts competition had been postponed when the Dragon Phoenix Gathering dates were set.
Seol Gyeon watched this carefully as well.
“Also, the other of the Two Emperors, the Fist Emperor, should arrive soon. There’s no need to worry. Once we finish talking with the Unorthodox Alliance this time, we should be able to find the Blood Immortal Sect group.”
“That is…”
“If you have opinions, speak freely. My ears are always open to other methods of stopping the Blood Immortal Sect.”
Those words temporarily silenced them.
They had only just learned the Blood Immortal Sect’s identity – how could there be other methods to stop them?
When they hadn’t even fully grasped their true nature yet…
But wasn’t the Alliance Leader’s method too extreme?
Everyone began arguing against it, speaking of their various grudges with evil sects.
Only three.
Only the Beggar’s Sect, Wudang, and Putuo Temple agreed with the Alliance Leader.
Just then, a Martial Righteous Alliance warrior came running in breathlessly.
“Alliance Leader. Urgent news!”
“Enter.”
The warrior entered and prostrated himself so quickly it made a thud.
“Envoys from the Demonic Cult have arrived!”
At that moment, the conference room instantly began buzzing like it was filled with bees.
The Alliance Leader clicked his tongue softly.
“The Demonic Cult… What curious timing.”
Righteous sects, evil sects, a third force, and now the Demonic Cult.
Have all the chess pieces in the Central Plains begun to move?
The four players moving the Central Plains had each made their first move.
The Founding King wondered if his stone placement had been slow.
But it couldn’t be helped. What lay ahead was far more important than lamenting past moves.
And so, the second move.
Surprisingly, the Demonic Cult moved first.
How many moves ahead has their Leader read?
The current Demonic Cult’s leader and Heavenly Demon was known for having many secrets and being resolute in nature. But the Founding King knew.
That she was also cruel and greedy.
He had witnessed the massacres she carried out with a smile. She was someone who would do anything for the Sun Moon Divine Cult.
Such a demon wearing human skin wouldn’t make her second move carelessly.
That woman must have a purpose.
Just what is happening at this Dragon Phoenix Gathering?
Thus began the chaos.
***
Naturally, a hospital – especially an operating room – always required strict management.
This was especially true for situations requiring reattachment of severed body parts, like finger reattachment surgery.
However, discussing viruses and bacteria was incredibly difficult in this martial world of mountain swords and forests.
Sometimes Jin Cheonhee despaired at having to start with those explanations when there was still so far to go.
Still, he couldn’t give up.
Because human lives were at stake.
Jin Cheonhee started by repeatedly explaining, answering questions, and re-explaining until those who didn’t understand were convinced.
This was the traditional learning method that had continued since humanity conceived writing from turtle shells and pressed reeds into clay tablets.
He knew it wouldn’t change in modern times and would continue far into the future.
A few superhuman pioneers riding white horses would find this process interesting and race ahead.
Others would have to advance while fighting boredom or pain.
But now there was no time.
The patient had two fingers completely severed (total amputation), and one finger partially severed (subtotal amputation).
The injury occurred from failing to deflect an opponent’s sword strike at an angle.
Fortunately, the sword energy made clean cuts through the damaged areas.
Also, they made it to the White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s temporary emergency ward in time, so there was plenty of golden time.
The problem was this:
We’re incredibly busy, yet they just had to come observe.
Martial Righteous Alliance physicians had barged in wanting to observe the surgery.
They even obtained the patient’s consent somewhere along the way, apparently being acquainted.
In the end, Jin Cheonhee and the Surgery Hall physicians had to perform the finger reattachment surgery in front of the Martial Righteous Alliance physicians.