Chapter 246 – New Justice Association (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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We won the match. No one else came out from the Heaven’s Will Gate. Since the Blood King Sword had been ruthlessly defeated, they could not possibly send anyone else.

Martial Alliance Leader Su Je-heon announced the Wudang Sect’s victory. No matter how much he wanted to favor the other side, he needed some pretext to do so, but since the Heaven’s Will Gate had turned tail, he had no choice.

“The Sect Leader has grown even stronger.”

Su Je-heon let out a bitter smile. Surprisingly, Su Je-heon did not look all that disappointed.

Then again, they were both among the Five Great Sword Masters Under Heaven. He would have known Cheong-ui’s martial prowess better than anyone. Seeing how Su Je-heon had not grown excited like the other Heaven’s Will Gate members even when the Blood King Sword was pressing hard, it seemed he had already expected this outcome.

Had he simply arranged the match because the Heaven’s Will Gate was confident? If they beat Wudang, great; if not, so be it. In truth, the Heaven’s Will Gate had nothing to lose in terms of honor or people by fighting Wudang. They had no honor to begin with, and the people had been hired from elsewhere.

In any case, the match ultimately showed Wudang’s true strength and why they were a renowned sect.

Since the results of such matches spread quickly throughout the martial world, people would now know that Wudang was spreading its wings once more.

“But the Sect Leader is truly clever. By founding the New Justice Association when the match is drawing so much attention, he naturally raised the profile of the New Justice Association as well. Master, did you know about this too?”

“I knew. He informed all of us of the Cheong generation rank.”

“Well, it would have been strange for a disciple of the Myeong generation to be present when discussing such matters. That must be why the Cheong generation members attended. But it seems some sects and families were not convinced.”

Currently, I was lying on a bed in the Medical Hall, simply wagging my tongue.

“Even excluding the Shaolin Temple and the Mount Hua Sect, which have already aligned with the Martial Alliance, there are still the Kongtong Sect, the Hengshan Sect, and the Kunlun Sect among the Nine Great Sects, aren’t there?”

“It must have been too burdensome for them to join. After all, no one knows how the Imperial Court will react.”

Cheong-hwa said.

“Among the Five Great Families, excluding the Zhuge Clan, the Sichuan Tang Clan which succeeded in its subversion, and the destroyed Huangbo Clan, only the Namgung Clan and the Hebei Peng Clan remain. Among them, I heard the Hebei Peng Clan had no choice but to refuse because they are closest to and heavily entangled with the Imperial Family.”

“That is a pity.”

“Think about your own body instead of worrying about such things.”

Cheong-hwa stuffed an apple slice into my mouth as if to shut me up. Since I couldn’t move my limbs, I had no choice but to accept and eat it.

Indeed, even though I had halted the progression of my wounds, the injuries I had sustained were fundamentally severe, so I was forced to lie down and rest for the time being.

“Master. There is still quite a bit of skin left on this.”

“It is good for your body.”

“You are truly terrible at peeling fruits. You’ve gouged out half the flesh too.”

“Just pick it up and eat it yourself then.”

“I cannot move a single muscle right now.”

“That is why you should have gone to the Medical Hall sooner. You never listen to your master, really.”

Cheong-hwa grumbled, venting his complaints. Yet, seeing him continue to peel the apple was rather amusing.

In truth, I wasn’t just ordering Cheong-hwa around; as I said, I truly couldn’t move an inch. Not a single organ or muscle of mine was left undamaged.

Since the doctor had ordered me to recuperate without moving as much as possible, my senior brothers and master were currently feeding me my meals. I only moved with minimal support when I had to go to the latrine.

“More than that, it is strange, isn’t it?”

“Nothing in this world is stranger than the state you are in right now.”

“No. I mean that my worries seem to have become reality.”

“What worries?”

Cheong-hwa seemed to realize what I meant and nodded.

“That they can use that mysterious forbidden method to strengthen even peak masters?”

“Yes. That is the core issue now. Master, you seemed to know the Blood King Sword’s original martial prowess.”

“Indeed. He was certainly not at that level. When I saw him three years ago, dreaming of reaching such a realm would have been utterly out of the question for him.”

“What changed?”

“Excluding his sword forms, his overall level as a martial artist has risen. Strength, speed, accuracy, reaction speed—everything. I have no idea what kind of forbidden method could possibly make that possible.”

To have one’s overall level raised in a short span of time… How could such a peerless method exist? If it could be applied to all martial artists, the chaos in the martial world would undoubtedly accelerate.

It was a natural law that a martial artist grew strong by putting in honest time. Currently, they were violating that natural law. Master asserted that such a level was absolutely impossible to achieve merely by practicing martial arts for three years.

As I pondered this, a sudden realization struck me. Because I knew one more being who had violated the natural law in such a manner.

Amazingly, it was ‘me.’

* * *

The launch of the New Justice Association.

Although countless organizations, sects, and forces are born and fade away in the jianghu every day, no force had ever garnered this much attention from its very inception.

First of all, the founding roster of the New Justice Association was spectacular.

The Wudang Sect.

The Zhongnan Sect.

The Emei Sect.

The Diancang Sect.

The Qingcheng Sect.

The Namgung Clan.

Five forces of the Nine Great Sects had united, and one of the Five Great Families had joined. Perhaps in the entire history of the martial world, there had never been a force this massive from its very start.

“Well, isn’t the reason it garnered so much attention something else entirely?”

Namgung Jin-hyeon said.

It was a gathering of the leaders of the New Justice Association.

The venue was the Wudang Sect’s Sect Leader’s chamber.

Azure Sky Sword Exalt Namgung Jin-hyeon, the Clan Head of the Namgung Clan.

Autumn Wind Traveler Cho Seo-gi, the Sect Leader of the Zhongnan Sect.

Red Bamboo Divine Nun Hyein, the Sect Leader of the Emei Sect.

Soaring Flow Sun-Shooting Sword Dan Eumpyeong, the Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect.

Blue Moon Sword Exalt Taeseong, the Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect.

And finally, Taiji Sword Emperor Cheong-ui, the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect.

It was a special moment where the leaders of the great sects and families, all peak masters, gathered.

In truth, Cheong-ui had been pushing forward with the plan for the New Justice Association ever since Muk Hui-yeong returned.

Before losing the miraculously returned Muk Hui-yeong once more, he felt that those who remained had to unite.

Furthermore, once it became virtually certain that a forbidden method capable of amplifying a martial artist’s strength existed, he felt they could delay no longer, and the plan was put into action.

Those who participated here all agreed with Cheong-ui’s thoughts, which was why they founded the New Justice Association together.

“Indeed. The important thing is that a force opposing the Imperial Court’s policy has emerged from within the martial world.”

“It will be difficult for the Imperial Court to designate us as a rebel force. Do we not have the reputations we have built in our respective regions?”

In many cases, the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families were closer to the local populace than the Imperial Court’s officials.

Naturally, the areas governed by the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families enjoyed good security, and like Wudang had done, other places also stabilized the livelihood of the commoners by purchasing salt and selling it cheaply.

Therefore, if they labeled the New Justice Association, in which five of the Nine Great Sects participated, as a rebel force, it would inevitably split the Central Plains itself.

“Then will they attempt to negotiate?”

“I expect they will, at least initially.”

Cheong-ui could not hide his anxiety even as he spoke.

Because the Imperial Court was so ruthless that they had broken the historically upheld principle of official-martial noninterference, nothing could be guaranteed.

However, while the future was important, there were things that needed to be decided right now.

“More than that, I believe we must first decide on the Association Leader.”

Red Bamboo Divine Nun Hyein said with her eyes closed.

Everyone’s eyes flashed briefly. By the very nature of their sect, Emei did not covet such positions.

But the others were different. To hold the position of Association Leader in the New Justice Association, which boasted so many prestigious names, would greatly elevate their own standing.

“It may be presumptuous of me to say, but I believe I am the most suitable candidate for the position of Association Leader.”

Namgung Jin-hyeon was the first to make a move.

“As you know, rather than the relationship between the Nine Great Sects and the Imperial Palace, the relationship between the families and the Imperial Palace is much closer. The Namgung Clan was also like that. If there are many matters to negotiate with the Imperial Palace, it would be best to entrust it to the Namgung Clan.”

“Zhongnan opposes this. The close relationship between the families and the Imperial Palace is a story from before the destruction of the Huangbo Clan. How can negotiations go properly when you were forced to close your gates because of the Imperial Palace?”

Zhongnan Sect Leader Cho Seo-gi blocked him. A slightly awkward atmosphere settled over the room.

Cheong-ui sighed inwardly. This was exactly why he had wanted to push this agenda to the very end.

In truth, Wudang, like the Emei Sect, had no interest in who became the Association Leader. Similar to Buddhism, Daoism possessed a culture of distancing oneself from greed.

“If one becomes the Leader of the New Justice Association, one might be branded as the ringleader of a rebellion. I hope you are all aware of this.”

Cheong-ui spoke quietly. Everyone flinched.

The Imperial Palace’s stance on the New Justice Association had not been decided yet. If it were designated as a gathering of rebels, the birthplace of the Association Leader could be burned and trampled.

“That is precisely why I must assume the role of Association Leader. Is it not a well-known fact that a family’s clan head possesses far greater negotiating power than the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects?”

However, Namgung Jin-hyeon did not back down. It seemed he intended to use the title of New Justice Association Leader to help the Namgung Clan leap forward once more.

Indeed, his logic was not lacking. It was only natural that the clan head of one of the Five Great Families would be more sensitive to the political situation and negotiate better than the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects.

It was the difference between sects that simply taught martial arts and a family that also taught the art of speech to those aspiring to be clan heads.

“Our Namgung Clan staked everything the moment we joined the New Justice Association. We do not fear such things.”

In truth, as Namgung Jin-hyeon said, the New Justice Association was a gamble anyway. No one entered a gambling table planning to lose.

The Namgung Clan intended to win big if they were going to gamble anyway. It was truly the demeanor of a ruler. Leaving aside who would become the Association Leader, Namgung Jin-hyeon’s decisiveness and resolve were admirable.

“Hmm.”

Cheong-ui pondered. Still, with five of the Nine Great Sects and only one of the Five Great Families, it wouldn’t look good for a family’s clan head to take the lead. Even if Wudang wasn’t interested, he preferred someone from the Nine Great Sects to assume the role.

However, Namgung Clan’s logic was indeed the most persuasive. Furthermore, Cheong-ui couldn’t openly oppose it. Cheong-ui’s goal was unification and solidarity. He did not want any conflict.

“Wait.”

Just then, someone crossed Cheong-ui’s mind.

Someone from the Nine Great Sects who was well-versed in politics enough to negotiate with the Imperial Palace, possessed great eloquence, and had the qualities of a leader.

“I know of someone who is perfectly suited to be the Leader of the New Justice Association.”

“Are you saying they are not present here?”

Taeseong asked. Namgung Jin-hyeon’s expression stiffened slightly.

“Indeed. It is a choice that even the Namgung Clan Head will find acceptable.”

Cheong-ui spoke confidently.

In terms of prestige, they were the most persuasive person. After all, they were the very reason this New Justice Association had been created.

“Let us go see them.”

“Can we see them right now?”

“We can.”

“Then why not simply call them here…”

Dan Eumpyeong muttered. Who in the entire Central Plains could possibly warrant the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects and the Namgung Clan Head moving in person to pay their respects?

“Regrettably, they are in a state where they cannot move. Please understand.”

Cheong-ui smiled triumphantly.

To think there was someone who could satisfy this entire group. The others wore half-believing, half-doubting expressions.

……And.

“No, you are truly, incredibly terrible at peeling apples!”

“Peel it yourself then!”

The person who was to become the Leader of the New Justice Association was currently bickering with his master.