Wudang Sacred Scriptures

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi did not miss the way the darkness in one corner of the main hall thickened for an instant.

—Your Excellency, if it is difficult for you to decide now, I will withdraw. My lord also said Your Excellency would need time to think. However, my lord asked me to tell you that a decision should be made before it is too late.

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi gazed steadily at Hidden Shadow’s shadow, which was avoiding an answer to his question.

—Your Excellency also knows that the friends on my lord’s side, those joined in alliance with my lord, need time to prepare according to the changed plan, do you not?

“What happens if I delay my decision?”

—I do not believe Your Excellency would do such a thing.

“Hidden Shadow, nothing in this world is perfect. Just like this Aju Unbinding Operation.”

—Then... the alliance we have maintained until now will break, and each side will go its own way. Of course, I will no longer come to visit Your Excellency either.

“......”

—If Your Excellency is confident you can find the justice you seek even without an alliance with my lord, then what concern could there be?

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi’s expression hardened. After thinking for a moment, he spoke toward the darkness in one corner of the main hall.

“Hidden Shadow, I would rather not part ways with you today.”

It meant he wanted time to think.

—Then I will come again. However, I ask for your understanding that it will not be long before I do.

“How much time would that be?”

—My lord said four days is the limit of how long my lord can wait. Those people will arrive tomorrow, and my lord expects that, within roughly three days after that, the Martial Alliance’s direction in responding to that information will be decided.

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi had no choice but to nod.

Once that news was delivered, there would be some debate inside the Martial Alliance for a while, but it would soon be settled, and a direction would be set.

After that, the Martial Alliance would immediately move into action.

“I will make my decision before it is too late.”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi thought it was fortunate that there was at least that much time.

The changed proposal was far too difficult to accept.

All of this had happened because of them, the Cave Hermit Taoist and Hu Gae.

Because they had discovered the secret of the Demonic Eight Divisions, the original plan had been forced into revision.

If only the Aju Unbinding Operation had succeeded, I would not have had to agonize over this....

As Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi was regretting it, Hidden Shadow’s transmitted voice sounded in his ear.

—Your Excellency, my lord also told me to convey one regret regarding this Aju Unbinding Operation.

“Is it because I killed the assassins?”

—That is correct. However, my lord has no complaint about Your Excellency’s decision. My lord merely regretted whether there had been any need to go that far.

“As Right Military Strategist of the Martial Alliance, I could not send back men who slaughtered commoners inside this Alliance’s territory. Please convey my apologies to your lord.”

—Your Excellency, it is not something for which you need to apologize. My lord merely regretted the loss of useful resources.

“I am grateful for such broad understanding.”

—Also, my lord told me to say that this Aju Unbinding Operation has given my lord one concern.

“What concern is that?”

—My lord is deeply concerned about the Cave Hermit Taoist.

Baek Ri-gi nodded.

“I am also concerned about that man’s martial realm.”

—Your Excellency, my lord’s concern is not merely because of the Cave Hermit Taoist’s martial realm.

“......”

—Of course, his martial realm is unexpectedly high, but that alone would not affect the great work. My lord is concerned that the man may become a major threat because his strategic mind is considerable.

“That is surprising. To think the Cave Hermit Taoist’s strategic mind is enough for your lord to worry about.”

—Your Excellency, please do not take this lightly. This is the conclusion my lord reached after closely investigating that man’s actions up to now.

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi flinched.

More than anyone else, he knew how extraordinary the mysterious lord’s strategic mind and insight were.

Most of the achievements he had accomplished had only been possible because he had relied on that lord’s strategic mind and insight.

—Furthermore, though my lord does not know the reason, my lord said that along with his martial realm, that man’s strategic mind is also growing deeper as time passes.

At Hidden Shadow’s transmitted words, Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi was startled, but at the same time, he found it somewhat absurd.

The Cave Hermit Taoist’s martial realm rising was progressing at a truly unbelievable speed, but even setting that aside, how could a strategic mind grow deeper?

Strategic thinking belonged to the realm of innate intelligence, and that naturally had its limits.

—It may be difficult to believe, but that is how my lord judges it. Therefore, my lord said it would be best to erase that man during this opportunity, if possible.

“If an existence may become an obstacle to the great work, then erasing it in advance is only natural. But since he is inside the Martial Alliance’s fence, this is quite troublesome.”

—My lord suggested that it may be best to borrow another’s blade, so Your Excellency need not be troubled.

“Borrowed Knife to Kill. It is a good suggestion, but it does not seem easy to borrow a blade suited to that man.”

—My lord said that if you think carefully, there should be at least one very sharp blade inside the Martial Alliance.

“A very sharp blade would be... Ah!”

—It seems Your Excellency has found it quickly. In that case, you should also be able to create the opportunity without difficulty.

At Hidden Shadow’s words, Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi readily nodded.

That much was something he, as Right Military Strategist, could accomplish very easily.

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi once again could not help admiring the strategic mind of the person Hidden Shadow called lord.

“Your lord is truly astonishing. How does your lord know everything so thoroughly?”

—You ask that again. In any case, since Your Excellency has asked, I can only give the same answer this time as well. It is because my lord has many friends across all under heaven.

“Hidden Shadow, I am sorry for always making you give the same answer. So this time, I will ask a different question.”

—Your Excellency, considering the position of this errand-runner, would it not be better to refrain from questions if possible?

“No. Today, I cannot let this pass without asking.”

—...Then I will listen, but Your Excellency, please choose your question carefully.

The tone was mild, but there was a barbed warning inside it.

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi knew that Hidden Shadow’s warning was not born only of loyalty in trying to conceal the lord’s identity.

It was advice as a colleague who had been with him for many years.

Do not harbor doubts about my lord. I will have no choice but to report those doubts of yours to my lord, and as a result, something bad will surely happen to you.

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi knew the terrifying ability of the person Hidden Shadow called lord.

That person had sent Hidden Shadow after learning everything about him from head to toe, and had made him an offer he could not refuse.

That person had presented the offer with the label of alliance attached to it, but Baek Ri-gi knew it was, in truth, an enormous snare.

A snare that would tighten around his throat the instant he broke the alliance.

Even knowing that, Baek Ri-gi could not help asking.

If not today, he would never be able to ask again.

Because the proposal that person had sent today was the last one, no matter what decision he made.

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi steadied himself and asked.

“Hidden Shadow, what justice is your lord seeking?”

Even as he watched the darkness in one corner of the main hall ripple blackly, Baek Ri-gi did not stop the question.

“Of course, I know the goal is to bring down that Mount Tai, just as I do. You told me that the first day you came to me. That is why I was willing to ally myself with your lord. But...”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi poured the words out like a squall, left a brief pause, and continued.

“To this day, I still do not know what grudge your lord bears against that Mount Tai.”

—My lord knows that Your Excellency has worked hard to find that out.

“Your lord naturally knew I was investigating.”

Baek Ri-gi nodded readily and continued.

“In any case, I have worked hard until now. I combed through many people connected to that Mount Tai. And yet, in the end, I could not find anyone I could suspect of being your lord.”

—Your Excellency, so that doubt is why you hesitated over this proposal?

At Hidden Shadow’s question, Baek Ri-gi nodded.

“I may be blinded by resentment, but I still have the heart of an orthodox martial artist. I could not help worrying whether your lord might have some other hidden intention.”

—Your Excellency, if it is merely that needless worry, then do not doubt my lord.

“......?”

—If my lord’s goal were to possess all under heaven, my lord would have no need to make allied friends like Your Excellency.

A chill ran down Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi’s spine at Hidden Shadow’s words.

It meant that the person did not even have all under heaven in view.

If anyone other than Hidden Shadow had said it, if Baek Ri-gi had not known that lord’s abilities, he would have laughed it off.

—Your Excellency, I will treat that question just now as if I never received it. Naturally, Your Excellency also did not hear my answer.

“......!”

—I will take my leave now.

Even after Hidden Shadow’s shadow rose into the air and vanished as though dissolving, Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi stood there blankly for a long while.

At last, Baek Ri-gi’s gaze turned to the red dispatch in his hand.

Perhaps his hand had tightened without his noticing, because the red dispatch fluttered and whispered.

“Do not doubt! Do not doubt! Do not doubt! Do not doubt! Do not doub—”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi crushed the red dispatch in one fierce grip.

*****

“Haaaaah!”

Hu Gae opened his eyes with a long, languid stretch.

“Huh? Where’s Jin?”

He asked because only Kwak Yeon was inside the carriage, and Jin Cheongha was nowhere to be seen.

Kwak Yeon, who had been looking out the carriage window, turned his head and said,

“Miss Jin said the air inside the carriage was stifling, so she went out to the driver’s bench.”

Hu Gae could guess what the atmosphere inside the carriage must have been like while he slept, so he tossed the words out bluntly.

“I doubt the air inside the carriage was the only stifling thing.”

He barely managed to stop himself from adding, One particular human man must have been even more stifling than that.

But then...

“That’s right.”

“Hm?”

“Brother, your snoring played a large part.”

“What?”

“I almost couldn’t stand it and thought about going outside too, but the driver’s bench was too cramped, so I had no choice but to stay here.”

“Hah!”

Hu Gae, who had given an inch and gotten a mile in return, let out an empty laugh and counterattacked.

“The reason I ended up snoring that badly is all your fault, Brother Kwak.”

“......?”

“The boys were rampaging as a group in the courtyard until dawn, so I barely got any sleep.”

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!