Wudang Sacred Scriptures

“Why has the Right Military Strategist come in person?”

Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon, asked as he cupped his hands toward Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi, who had climbed onto the command platform.

“If you had merely sent word, I would have gladly gone to the Strategists’ Office myself, if only for the rare chance to look around the inner fortress.”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi returned the greeting and said, “Are you not just as busy yourself, Corps Commander Jegal? It is only natural for whoever has a little more time to spare to call on the other.”

“Hah. I am surprised that the Right Military Strategist, who is so busy he has no time to breathe, has found leisure.”

Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon, continued in a cold voice.

“If you came to meet the Clan Master of my family, then I am afraid you have come for nothing. My elder brother entered the Alliance Leader’s Office early this morning to attend the senior leaders’ council.”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi gave a light shake of his head.

“I did not come to see the Jegal Family’s Clan Master. As the Strategist overseeing the eight corps, I am making the rounds to inspect how each corps is preparing.”

At Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi’s words, Jegal Geon let some of the chill fade from his eyes and said, “As the Right Military Strategist can see, our preparations are well in hand.”

Following Fire Dragon’s gaze, Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi also looked toward the training field.

WHIRR!

SWISH!

After watching the warrior corps move in perfect order across the training field for a time, Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi let out a low exclamation.

“Ah! Every member moves as though they share a single body. It is like watching one dragon.”

A satisfied smile formed on Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s lips.

“This is my family’s Heavenly Dragon Eight-Gate Locking Formation.”

As befitted a prestigious family with roots in the arts of military strategy, the Jegal Family was unrivaled when it came to formations.

That strength had played a major role in the Jegal Family being given command of one of the eight corps for this All-Under-Heaven Heroes Assembly.

“Once caught inside the Heavenly Dragon Eight-Gate Locking Formation, one could possess the skill to fly through the heavens and still be unable to escape.”

A subtle force entered Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s voice.

“Corps Commander Jegal, it is truly astonishing. I understand that even a fixed Eight-Gate Locking Formation changes with endless variations, yet this formation moves as though alive, like a heavenly dragon.”

At Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi’s admiration, a faint smile touched Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s mouth.

The very reason he had chosen to meet the Right Military Strategist here on the command platform instead of in the corps commander’s office was so he could show him the Jegal Family’s formation.

“But why are the members of the Hebei Peng Family and the Shandong Yue Family nowhere to be seen?”

At that question from Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi, the smile vanished cleanly from Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s lips.

“Today, each family decided to train its own family formations at its respective manor, so we did not gather in one place.”

“Ah, so that is why I could not find them.”

At Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi’s immediate response, anger began to rise in Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s chest.

It sounded as though he were asking, Could it be that you are not gathered in one place because cracks have appeared in the alliance of the three great families?

And since it was true that the Hebei Peng Family and Shandong Yue Family had recently been taking a lukewarm attitude, Jegal Geon’s anger flared all the more.

The First Corps, of which Jegal Geon himself was commander, could be called an alliance of three great families, led by the Jegal Family and joined by the Hebei Peng Family and Shandong Yue Family.

Ever since Wudang Sect had suddenly decided to participate in the campaign against the Demonic Eight Divisions, signs of fracture had begun to appear in that alliance of three great families.

Those signs had only grown stronger once the Jegal Family was mentioned as one of the candidates that might have to yield its corps command to Wudang Sect.

And finally, today, the two other great families had notified him that they would not attend joint training.

They had said it was in order to train their family formations according to the instructions issued by the Martial Alliance Strategists’ Office, but Jegal Geon was well aware that this was nothing more than an excuse.

“Right Military Strategist, if you came here to tell me to yield my position as corps commander to Wudang Sect, then turn around and leave.”

Perhaps because anger had risen in his chest, Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s voice carried open wrath.

“Corps Commander Jegal, I came with no such intention whatsoever.”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi firmly shook his head and continued.

“If it were the Grand Strategist, the head of the Strategists’ Office, that might be another matter, but as Right Military Strategist, I do not even possess such authority.”

Watching the anger in Fire Dragon’s eyes recede, Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi spoke again.

“In truth, I came because, as the Strategist overseeing the eight corps, there is something I needed to tell Corps Commander Jegal as quickly as possible.”

Since that meant he had come to deliver a message to him as commander of one of the corps, Jegal Geon’s anger eased further.

“Then tell me what urgent matter this is.”

“Corps Commander Jegal, you heard from your Clan Master about the Demonic Eight Divisions’ great evil art, did you not?”

“Naturally, I did.”

Jegal Geon recalled the grave expression on his elder brother’s face when he had returned from the senior leaders’ council and continued.

“I do not know why everyone is making such a fuss over dealing with a few men who use some petty evil art. They were lacking at their roots to begin with.”

The common view was that the demonic men of the Demonic Eight Divisions were inferior to what they had been before the Eight Desolations Upheaval.

“That may be true, but there is no harm in preparing, is there? Therefore, by decision of the council of the three Military Strategists, we have decided to assign Martial Alliance warrior corps to the eight corps as well.”

“That is hardly something I would refuse.”

It was not merely something he would not refuse. It was something he would welcome with both arms.

If they received support from the Martial Alliance’s formidable forces, the campaign against the Demonic Eight Divisions would become that much easier. Moreover, there was no need to divide the merits of the Martial World Pact with the Martial Alliance warrior corps, so all the military achievement would go entirely to the family holding the corps commander position.

Jegal Geon resolved all the more firmly that he would never yield his position as commander of the First Corps.

“So how many Martial Alliance warrior corps will be assigned to us?”

“That scale has not yet been decided. The Strategists’ Office merely offers the proposal. The decision to deploy Martial Alliance warrior corps belongs solely to the Alliance Leader.”

Jegal Geon nodded readily.

“That much I know.”

As the foundation of the orthodox martial world, the Martial Alliance had to defend the martial world of the rivers and lakes from the Demonic Cult, the Alliance of the Demonic Path, and the martial forces beyond the frontier. For that reason, it was strict about dispatching large warrior corps.

“And the Strategists’ Office has also decided that each of the eight corps should be equipped with a certain number of spearmen and shield bearers.”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi took a book from inside his robe and handed it to Jegal Geon as he continued.

“This booklet classifies martial artists from various martial gates who are suited to those duties. It also contains personnel placement diagrams and operational deployment charts, so I hope you will make thorough preparations.”

“As this is an instruction from the Right Military Strategist, who oversees the corps, I will ensure nothing is neglected.”

Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon, opened the book and scanned through it in one sweep before letting out a sound of admiration.

“The Right Military Strategist’s meticulous preparations are truly impressive.”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi shook his head sharply.

“That praise is not mine to receive at all. Most of it was suggested by a certain young master. I merely wrote it down.”

At the words young master, Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s eyes twitched wide.

“It seems a remarkable new star has appeared in the Strategists’ Office.”

“He is certainly a remarkable new star.”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi nodded readily and continued.

“When the Alliance Leader first met that young master, he appointed him Chief Secretary of the Alliance Leader’s Office on the spot.”

Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon, was truly surprised.

A young master who had caught the eye of the Martial Alliance Leader, the Martial Supreme Venerable, at once.

The Martial Alliance Leader, the Martial Supreme Venerable, had not even glanced at the many rising young masters who had distinguished themselves in this All-Under-Heaven Heroes Assembly.

Because of that, the leaders of the orthodox martial world’s many sects and families, who had quietly hoped to gain a future foothold in Martial Alliance authority by sending their disciples to the Heroes Assembly, could not help but feel disappointed.

As a result, talk had even begun circulating among the martial world’s eminent elders that the Martial Alliance Leader’s heart was directed toward the corps commanders within the Martial Alliance.

After all, there were several corps commanders who had learned martial arts transmitted by the Martial Alliance Leader, even if they were not direct disciples.

For someone to have caught the eye of such a Martial Alliance Leader, the Martial Supreme Venerable, was no small matter. Jegal Geon could not help but be curious about that young master.

“If he is that remarkable a young master, then surely he is not nameless. Who is he?”

At Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s question, Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi’s expression turned awkward.

“Corps Commander Jegal, it seems I spoke out of turn.”

“......?”

“I assumed the Jegal Family’s Clan Master had already told you about that young master.”

“Right Military Strategist, I do not understand what you mean.”

“That young master is the one who discovered and brought back information about the Demonic Eight Divisions’ great evil art. Naturally, I assumed you would already have heard of him.”

Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s face began to harden. Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi’s words were reasonable.

He could not understand why his elder brother had failed to tell him something so important.

No, it was not that he had not told him.

He had merely cut out that young master’s name.

Why......?

Jegal Geon realized that the person who could answer that question was standing right in front of him, and he asked at once.

“Right Military Strategist, who is that young master?”

“Well, that is.......”

As Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi hesitated, Jegal Geon’s face flushed red.

“Right Military Strategist, I will not ask twice after this. Who is that young master?”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi knew very well that Jegal Geon’s epithet, Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, had not been given because his temper was quick as fire, but because once his anger blazed up, he always made certain to vent it.

That was why Baek Ri-gi had been steadily scraping at his nerves all this time.

Now it was time to make Fire Dragon’s rage explode beyond his control.

After drawing out a brief pause, Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi spoke with an expression that said he had no choice.

“That young master is Taoist Kwak of Samryeong Palace on Mount Wudang.”

Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s face soon turned red as a furnace.

“That...... Cave Hermit Taoist!”

Jegal Geon had already half expected it, but the instant he heard it directly, a ball of fire surged up inside his chest.

“Corps Commander Jegal, please calm yourself for the sake of the great work. Moreover, Taoist Kwak is now Chief Secretary of the Alliance Leader’s Office and has even earned the Alliance Leader’s favor. For the future of the Jegal Family as well, I believe endurance would be best.”

Far from calming him, the Right Military Strategist’s earnest attempt to restrain him only made his anger boil up even higher.

“I will calm myself as I see fit, so the Right Military Strategist may leave now.”

Barely suppressing the fury about to burst from him, Jegal Geon issued a dismissal of guests and hurried the Right Military Strategist away. He did not want him to see the sight of his blazing rage.

“Ah! Corps Commander Jegal.”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi, who had been descending from the command platform, suddenly turned around as though something had occurred to him.

“As far as I know, today’s senior leaders’ council was canceled. The leaders of the various sects had to go to the outer fortress gate to welcome the Sword of Wudang, you see.”

“......!”

“And yet I wonder what business brought only the Jegal Family’s Clan Master to Righteous Heaven Hall.”

Right Military Strategist Baek Ri-gi turned away after watching sparks fly in Fire Dragon’s eyes.

WHOOSH!

Feeling the wave of heat flare behind his back, Baek Ri-gi was certain he had succeeded in borrowing a properly sharpened blade.

Even so, the shadow over his face did not lift.

*****

Jegal Geon’s eyes were following the Right Military Strategist as he left the training field, but his mind was on his elder brother.

Naturally, he understood why his elder brother, the Clan Master of the Jegal Family, had gone to Righteous Heaven Hall under the pretext of the senior leaders’ council.

He was clearly being coaxed and pressured to yield the corps commander position to Wudang Sect.

When Jegal Geon thought of the hardship his elder brother, the Clan Master of the Jegal Family, could not even speak of, flames rose in his eyes once more.

How dare these people treat the Jegal Family like this!

The pride of a martial family was raised by the sword.

All he had to do was make it impossible for anyone to look down on the Jegal Family by martial power.

Just as they had secured one of the corps positions by forcing Changunja of the Kongtong Sect to submit through strength, the time had come for another sacrificial victim.

And just then, a perfectly suitable sacrificial victim had appeared.

Mount Wudang, a name that disgusted him merely to hear it, and the Cave Hermit Taoist of Samryeong Palace, the lowest place on that mountain.

Moreover, that man was the enemy of his family who had brutally killed his cousin, Jegal Waryong.

GRIND!

The Sword of Wudang and the Taoists of Wudang Sect would arrive soon. That man was certain to leave the inner fortress to greet them as well, so this could only be a heaven-sent opportunity.

“Everyone, stop moving!”

At Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family’s roar, the heavenly dragon that had been rampaging without pause across the training field finally came to a halt.

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