The Legend of the Northern Blade - Chapter 179: Blinded By Envy (1)

Chapter 179: Blinded By Envy (1)

Two of the Nine Great Sects, the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect, were located in Shaanxi Province. Both had long histories and great influence over the local people.

However, the two sects were quite different. The Mount Hua Sect was, without question, a Taoist sect with ascetics as its core.

On the other hand, the Zhongnan Sect, while also a Taoist sect, more closely resembled a militia. One reason for this was the sect’s proximity to the Shaanxi border, but the main reason was because the Zhongnan Sect had forged strong ties with the Imperial Army, with military garrisons sending their officers there for training.

The martial arts of orthodox Taoist sects, such as Mount Hua and Wudang, were profound and powerful but required a great deal of time to master. In contrast, despite its Taoist leanings, the Zhongnan Sect had many easily accessible martial arts.

Of course, these arts were incomplete, leaving their practitioners unable to reach higher realms. Nevertheless, the military favored them because they could be learned rapidly and put to practical use on the battlefield.

As such, the military provided the sect with significant financial support in exchange for martial arts training. However, this also caused the sect to come under military influence and become more secular than religious.

These differences are why the people of Shaanxi felt reverence for the Mount Hua Sect Taoists but familiarity with the Zhongnan Sect martial artists.

The current Sect Leader of the Zhongnan Sect was the Blue Crane Sage. He had risen to the position at a relatively young age and was regarded as someone who had led the sect without issue for several decades.

Currently, the Blue Crane Sage was stroking his long beard, which reached down to his chest, as he observed an injured middle-aged Taoist lying in the room. The elders who currently led the Zhongnan Sect stood in a circle around him.

The middle-aged Taoist was not a member of their sect. Several days ago, some of their martial artists had rescued him, and they had found a token symbolizing the Kunlun Sect on him. Although the Zhongnan Sect had no dealings with the Kunlun Sect, the injured man received the utmost care simply because he was a from there.

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And now, he was finally regaining consciousness.

“Ugggh!” With a low groan, the Kunlun Taoist’s eyes fluttered open.

For a while, he stared at the ceiling with unfocused eyes. When his senses finally returned, he looked around and took in the many faces staring down at him.

“Where… am I?” he asked, confused.

The Blue Crane Sage replied, “You are at the Zhongnan Sect, friend from Kunlun.”

“Why am I here?”

“Do you not remember? We heard news of a fight in the Zhongnan mountains, but when we got there, we found you collapsed.”

The Kunlun Taoist’s eyes widened. The reminder brought back his fractured memories. “Where is that witch?” he demanded.

“A witch? What do you mean?”

“An evil witch has appeared,” he rasped. “She killed everyone.”

“Calm yourself and speak slowly. What witch?” the Blue Crane Sage asked gravely.

The Kunlun Taoist recounted his encounter with Eun Han-Seol.

As he talked, the faces of the Zhongnan Sect priests hardened.

“Hmm… Is that true?”

“It is. My Master and Senior Brothers died at her hands.”

The Zhongnan Sect Taoists were speechless. Very little was known about Kunlun because they were a secretive faction. However, they did know how formidable Kunlun’s martial arts were and how prideful they tended to be.

The Kunlun Sect never allowed its students to venture into the world until they had reached a certain level of mastery. Moreover, the leader of the Kunlun group, Baek Nam-Hoe, even held a very special position within the sect.

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Ultimately, it seemed that the warriors sent by Kunlun to punish evil had been killed instead. Not only did their opponent not fear Kunlun, she was also ruthless.

“For a witch to appear at a time like this!”

“We cannot simply stand by and watch this happen, Sect Leader.”

“That is right. Although we haven’t had much interaction with the Kunlun Sect, we are both sects that walk the path of righteousness. If we ignore the appearance of this witch, many of our jianghu comrades will condemn us. We must organize a pursuit team at once and exterminate her. If necessary, we must also request help from our comrades.”

The hardline opinion quickly became the consensus.

The Blue Crane Sage closed his eyes and sank into deep thought. The appearance of a witch… and in Shaanxi Province, which is our domain. I cannot possibly ignore this.

He opened his eyes. “Organize a pursuit team immediately and track down the witch. Also, send requests for cooperation to the other sects in the regions where she might be headed.”

“At once, Sect Leader!” the elders of the Zhongnan Sect answered in unison.

Tears streamed from the Kunlun Taoist’s eyes. “Our Kunlun Sect will never forget this debt of gratitude.”

“Don’t worry, as the saying goes, everyone who lives on this continent is a comrade. Moreover, this is a matter of exterminating a witch who will become a scourge upon the jianghu. There should be no distinction between sects when it comes to eradicating evil.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader. I will take the lead in tracking her down.”

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“I’ll be counting on you.”

The two men clasped hands.

The Silver Horse Merchant Association crossed Mount Longzhong. Located in the northwestern part of Hubei Province, the mountain was also known as Crouching Dragon Mountain, and was famous as the place where Zhuge Liang had studied in seclusion before Liu Bei’s three visits to recruit him.

Although Mount Longzhong held no great significance for the merchant association, the mere fact that they had entered their hometown of Hubei Province brought color back to their faces.

It had been almost a year since they left. Even though they still had a long way to go to reach the main headquarter s, the simple knowledge that they were in the same province was enough to make them happy.

Yu Jang-Hwan shouted, “We’ll camp here for the night! After this, we’ll ride without rest, so everyone be prepared!”

“Haha! We’re back in our home province after so long. What’s a little riding to us?” one of the escorts replied good-naturedly.

“Already missing the warmth of your wife?”

“Missing her is an understatement. I’m dying to smell her again.”

“Haha! I get it. I promise you, after tonight, there will be no more breaks,” Yu Jang-Hwan proclaimed.

The escorts burst into laughter.

“Okay, okay. Hurry up and make camp. We need to rest up for the ride tomorrow.”

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“Yes, sir!”

The escorts and merchants dispersed to set up camp. Having made a great profit and lost no lives, they moved about with light and cheerful steps.

Eun Han-Seol sat on the roof of a carriage and watched them. Their laughter and chatter were now a familiar sight to her, yet she could not easily look away.

Yu Jang-Hwan approached her. “Miss, we’ll be camping out tonight. Will that be fine with you?

“It doesn’t bother me.”

“Haha! You’ve truly become one of us. In any case, please bear with it just for tonight. We’ll arrive in Wuhan soon enough.”

“I understand.”

“By any chance, do you have a place to stay once we reach Wuhan?”

“Pardon?”

“If you don’t have a place to stay, would you like to stay with us at the Silver Horse Merchant Association?”

“……” Eun Han-Seol stared at Yu Jang-Hwan silently.

Yu Jang-Hwan scratched his head, looking awkward. Truthfully, he was quite nervous at that moment. For some time, he had felt himself being drawn to the young girl in front of him. He had tried to keep his distance, thinking she was too young. However, the more he tried, the more interested he became.

Soon, however, Eun Han-Seol shook her head. “Thank you for the offer, but I must go to Heaven’s Summit.”

“Miss Eun.”

“I am still grateful for the sentiment.”

“Ah, I see.” Yu Jang-Hwan forced a dry laugh, trying to hide his disappointment. “Still, if you ever change your mind, please come find us at the Silver Horse Merchant Association. We’re just a stone’s throw from Heaven’s Summit.”

Eun Han-Seol pretended not to notice the tremor in his voice and replied calmly, “I will do that.”

“Haha! I hope I haven’t taken up too much of your time. There’s still time until dinner, so please rest.”

“I will.”

Eun Han-Seol nodded and left to rest for the night.

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Yu Jang-Hwan stared at her as she left.

The Head Escort, Yi Deung-Myeong, came up beside him. “She is far too young for you. Don’t you think you’re being greedy?”

“Who said anything? Hmph! I was just offering her a place to stay if she didn’t have one.”

Yi Deung-Myeong teased, “To target a young lady who is, what, fifteen? Sixteen ? Think of your own age, Young Master.”

“Hmph!” Yu Jang-Hwan blushed and looked away at the distant sky.

Eun Han-Seol walked along the riverbank a short distance from the campsite. The secluded river was incredibly beautiful. Lush green bushes grew thickly, and waterfowl played leisurely on the water’s surface.

The scene was stunning, a stark contrast to the harsh north. Still, she felt no particular emotion as she walked aimlessly.

Suddenly, a strange light appeared in her eyes.

“Sa-Ryung?” she whispered.

“Young Mistress.”

A figure wearing a loose black cloak instantly appeared before her. It was her trusted servant, Sa-Ryung.

“You came,” Eun Han-Seol remarked numbly.

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Sa-Ryung knelt on one knee. “I have finally found you, Young Mistress.”

“You’re very late. Did Master not let you go?”

“There was much to do.”

For the first time, Eun Han-Seol showed emotion. “Work? Don’t tell me…”

“Yes, they made a decision at the great conference.”

“Then?”

“The Silent Night will reveal itself to the world.”

“Ah!”

“Several have already begun to move.”

“Already?”

“It was the Lord of the Night’s decision.”

“The Lord of the Night himself?” Eun Han-Seol’s eyes trembled.

In the Silent Night, the Lord of the Night’s decisions were absolute. Although there was a brief period of instability due to a rebellion seven years ago, it was quickly suppressed, and that incident had even served as an opportunity for the Lord of the Night to consolidate his authority further.

“Will the Lord of the Night move personally?”

“It seems likely.”

“A storm will sweep through the jianghu.”

“Young Mistress…”

“Did Master have any other words for me?”

“She said to enjoy your freedom to the fullest while you can.”

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“I see.” Eun Han-Seol nodded.

This was the minimum freedom her master had promised her. Despite the Silent Night planned invasion of the Central Plains, she had the right to enjoy herself beforehand. Nevertheless, she couldn’t be sure if she could enjoy that freedom with peace of mind.

“Have you heard any news about Heaven’s Summit?” she asked.

Sa-Ryung shook their head. “I came straight from the Silent Night, so I have not heard anything in particular.”

“I see.”

“Is this, by any chance, because of that man, Jin Mu-Won?”

“……”

“It is,” Sa-Ryung’s voice turned cold. “Did you come to Hubei Province to meet him?”

“Yes.”

“Young Mistress.”

“I want to confirm if I am human, and if I can continue living as one in the future.”

Sa-Ryung fell silent, overwhelmed by Eun Han-Seol’s aura. As one of the few who knew best how those who learned the Heart of the Silver Soul changed, she could understand Eun Han-Seol well.

“I understand. Please do as you wish, Young Mistress.”

“Thank you. Will you come with me?”

“I am your shadow. Call me whenever you need me.”

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Sa-Ryung’s figure vanished.

Eun Han-Seol stared blankly for a long time at the spot where she had disappeared. “So, the Lord of the Night has made his move.”

This would not be an easy war. The Lord of the Night was a cautious man. He wouldn’t move unless he was at least seventy percent certain of victory.

A storm was coming, one that would not easily be stopped.