Wudang Sacred Scriptures

A large white banner fluttered over the great gate of the Wudang Sect’s Grand Envoy manor.

< Wudang Upholds Justice. Its Might Shakes the World. >

Kwak Yeon looked at the Wudang Sect’s motto, written across the white banner in strokes that seemed to send dragons and serpents into flight, and smiled bitterly.

It was because the motto did not quite match the reality of the Wudang Sect he had seen after descending Samryeong Peak.

He did not know when or where things had first gone astray, but it was certain they had taken one step away from the vision Patriarch Jang Sam-bong had dreamed of while rebuking the world.

Since coming to the Martial Alliance, Kwak Yeon had felt it even more keenly. The martial artists of the world did not revere the Wudang Sect as the supreme standard of the orthodox martial world. They kept their distance because Wudang was a powerhouse of the age.

One of the busy Taoists approached Kwak Yeon and asked, “Who are you, young hero?”

The Taoist, who looked to be in his early thirties, had thrown out the question without so much as a word asking pardon for the intrusion. His eyes were full of annoyance and irritation.

It seemed Kwak Yeon, standing in front of the gate while they were busy preparing to receive the elders from the main mountain, had gotten on his nerves.

The only reason the Taoist seemed to show even that much courtesy was because Kwak Yeon wore martial robes and carried a sword.

Kwak Yeon erased his bitter smile and gave him a fist-and-palm salute.

“Kwak Yeon, resident Taoist of Samryeong Palace, greets you.”

The Taoist in his thirties widened his eyes.

“Resident Taoist of Samryeong Palace? Then you are Kwak... Martial Uncle?”

The Taoist gave him a fist-and-palm salute with a reluctant expression.

“This martial nephew is Cheonggeun of Jaso Palace, dispatched to the Martial Alliance with Grand-Master Uncle Uno.”

When greeting a martial uncle for the first time, one normally gave one’s generation and name. In other words, the Taoist should properly have said that he was Cheonggeun, a second-generation disciple of Jaso Palace.

Kwak Yeon understood that Taoist Cheonggeun had been discourteous because he resented the fact that someone younger than himself was his martial uncle, but he did not mind.

“From what you say, Martial Nephew Cheonggeun, Martial Uncle Uno must be our Wudang’s Grand Envoy to the Martial Alliance. I know it is troublesome, but would you guide me to Martial Uncle Uno?”

When Kwak Yeon did not lean on his status as martial uncle and spoke with such courtesy, Taoist Cheonggeun’s displeased expression softened somewhat.

“Of course.”

Kwak Yeon followed Taoist Cheonggeun into the manor and came out into a wide courtyard.

“All of you, hurry. The guests will arrive soon, so how can the preparations still be this careless?”

Taoist Cheonggeun led Kwak Yeon before an old Taoist with a white beard, who was irritably urging along the bustling Taoists and recluses.

“Grand-Master Uncle, Martial Uncle Kwak of Samryeong Palace has come.”

The old Taoist, Uno Zhenren, furrowed his brow.

“Who has come?”

Kwak Yeon brought his hands together and greeted him respectfully.

“Kwak Yeon, resident Taoist of Samryeong Palace, greets Martial Uncle Uno.”

Uno Zhenren accepted Kwak Yeon’s greeting with a sour expression.

“So it was you.”

“...?”

When Kwak Yeon looked at him, unable to understand, Uno Zhenren deepened the crease between his brows and continued.

“Do you know how difficult my position has been in the Martial Alliance because you have been running around like some reckless child all this time?”

Because of everything the Cave Hermit Taoist of Samryeong Palace had done after descending the mountain, Uno Zhenren had been in a difficult position at every meeting of the Grand Envoy’s Office.

“My apologies.”

Kwak Yeon had also heard that the Martial Alliance had been thrown into an uproar over what he had done, so he bowed his head again.

“Martial Nephew Kwak, after coming to the Martial Alliance, you never even showed your face before your elder. What brings you here today?”

“As soon as I arrived, I had to deliver urgent news to the Strategists’ Office, so I could not come to pay my respects. After that, I could not find any free time. I apologize again.”

Since it was his own fault, Kwak Yeon readily admitted it and apologized.

In truth, it had been because he meant to leave the Martial Alliance as soon as he met Elder Begs-for-All.

“I heard that Martial Nephew Kwak became Chief Secretary of the Alliance Leader’s Office and has been busy. Even so, you should have forced yourself to make time.”

“It was my negligence. I apologize once more.”

“What in the world did Senior Brother Unseon teach his disciple... Tsk, tsk.”

Kwak Yeon had been prepared to apologize a hundred times over until Uno Zhenren’s anger cooled.

But he could not endure the mention of his late master, Unseon Taoist.

“Martial Uncle Uno, I am the one who did wrong. I do not think my late master should be brought into this.”

“What did you say?”

Uno Zhenren glared.

“You wretch. Do you think learning a little martial art gives you the right to insult your martial uncle?”

Uno Zhenren tried to intimidate him, but Kwak Yeon did not yield.

“Whatever the case, please withdraw those words about my late master. I will accept any other reprimand or punishment.”

Kwak Yeon did not care if Wudang’s elders or disciples insulted him or treated him rudely.

But when it came to his late master and Samryeong Palace, he did not want to yield under any circumstances.

“Silence. Leave at once!”

At Uno Zhenren’s roar, Kwak Yeon bit down hard on his lip and said, “If Martial Uncle does not withdraw those words, this martial nephew will not move a single step.”

Uno Zhenren’s face turned red.

He was furious at Kwak Yeon’s defiance, but he was also aware that the disciples and recluses were watching while pretending to stay busy.

“If that is how you want it, stand there. As soon as Senior Brother Uncheon arrives, I will make certain you are punished for such disrespect.”

The two of them were standing in the middle of the courtyard, neither giving way, when it happened.

CRASH!

The manor gate flew open as though it had been smashed apart, and a man stepped inside.

“Who is it?”

Uno Zhenren, already filled with rage, shouted at the uninvited guest who had dared to throw open the gate of Wudang’s manor.

But the moment he recognized who the intruder was, he was struck dumb.

“You are...?”

Then he exclaimed in disbelief.

“Are you not Corps Commander Jegal?”

“I greet Uno Zhenren.”

Jegal Geon cupped his hands toward Uno Zhenren, but his eyes were as sharp as blades.

Startled by Jegal Geon’s ominous momentum, Uno Zhenren asked, “Corps Commander Jegal, there is still quite some time before Senior Brother Uncheon arrives. Why have you come so early?”

Judging by that dangerous aura, he had not come to welcome Uncheon Zhenren, but there was no other way to ask.

“Uno Zhenren, I had urgent business and entered before I could ask your permission. I have been discourteous.”

“Well, as neighbors go, it is not so great a breach of courtesy, but what urgent business could it be...?”

As he spoke, Uno Zhenren’s eyes flashed open, and he looked at Kwak Yeon.

“Surely...?”

He had remembered the incident in which Kwak Yeon killed the Command Lord of Hidden Dragon Command, a branch house of the Jegal Family.

“That is correct.”

Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon, nodded readily and turned his gaze toward Kwak Yeon as he continued.

“In the martial world, there is no matter more urgent than collecting the price of a life.”

A cold smile was rising at the corner of Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, Jegal Geon’s mouth.

*****

Jegal Choryang, the Jegal Family’s Grand Envoy to the Martial Alliance, asked the moment Jegal Jin sat in the seat of honor.

“Clan Master, what happened with your visit to the Alliance Leader’s Office?”

Jegal Jin, Clan Master of the Jegal Family, shook his head with a dark expression.

“We could not reach a conclusion today either. The Diancang Sect and the Murong Family are both refusing to yield the First Corps under any circumstances.”

“That is quite troublesome. Once Uncheon Zhenren, the Sword of Wudang, arrives today, the pressure will only grow worse.”

More creases formed on Jegal Choryang’s face.

“I am truly ashamed to be sitting idle while you endure such hardship, Clan Master.”

“It is not something for which the Grand Envoy should feel ashamed.”

Jegal Jin, Clan Master of the Jegal Family, shook his head and continued.

“If anything, I should be thanking you. Because you laid such a strong foundation for our family in the Martial Alliance, our Jegal Family was able to take one of the eight corps.”

Jegal Choryang hurriedly bowed his head.

“Clan Master, your praise is excessive. The Main House came to command the First Corps of the eight corps solely because of your labors and Corps Commander Jegal’s divine skill. I added nothing.”

“That is not true. If you had not uncovered the true strengths and weaknesses of the Hebei Peng Family and the Shandong Yue Family, how could we have drawn out the alliance of the three great families?”

“Clan Master, in any case, that was a small matter. The result came because you negotiated so well with the clan masters of those two families.”

“At this rate, there will be no end to this, so let us leave that matter there. Because it was a result won with such difficulty, I have no intention of letting it go, but the pressure from the Alliance Leader and the Grand Strategist is no small thing. That worries me.”

Jegal Jin, Clan Master of the Jegal Family, smiled bitterly and continued.

“In any case, this is a grave moment on which our family’s next hundred years of prosperity depends, so I ask that you keep strict control here and make certain the Martial Alliance sees no weakness in the Main House.”

“Need that even be said? I will also work harder to ensure that the Grand Envoy’s Office meetings support the Main House.”

“I am grateful.”

Jegal Jin, Clan Master of the Jegal Family, nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, “When I entered the manor earlier, I did not hear the sound of training from the training field. Did the Corps Commander give the corps members a rare rest?”

“It is true that the Corps Commander ordered the corps members to stop training today.”

Jegal Jin, Clan Master of the Jegal Family, did not miss the way Jegal Choryang’s face stiffened as he answered.

“Tell me what happened while I was away.”

At the clan master’s stern command, Grand Envoy Jegal Choryang quickly straightened his posture and said, “Right Military Strategist Baek came to our manor while making the rounds of the eight corps and met the Corps Commander. It seems he mentioned the Cave Hermit Taoist there.”

“Mm...”

Jegal Jin’s face hardened.

He had warned everyone so insistently to watch their tongues, yet news of the Cave Hermit Taoist had finally reached his younger brother’s ears.

“Clan Master, I am sorry. I did not know the Right Military Strategist would bring up the Cave Hermit Taoist.”

“It cannot be helped. Enough. In truth, I did not think we could keep it blocked forever.”

The Martial Alliance was already in an uproar, inside and out, over the news that the Alliance Leader had appointed the Cave Hermit Taoist as Chief Secretary.

“And yet the Corps Commander went so far as to halt the corps members’ training?”

At the clan master’s question, Jegal Choryang’s expression darkened.

“Clan Master, the truth is that the Corps Commander gave me an order.”

Jegal Jin knew his younger brother’s temperament better than anyone, so he could guess what sort of threat had been added to that order without needing to hear it.

“The Corps Commander must have said something improper to an elder of the family.”

“The Corps Commander did not speak so harshly.”

“Let us say that was the case.”

Jegal Jin nodded and said, “In any event, do not concern yourself with what the Corps Commander said. Tell me exactly what happened.”

“Immediately after the Right Military Strategist left, the Corps Commander stopped the corps members’ training and sent them out into the streets of the outer fortress. Then he called me and said...”

As Jegal Jin listened to Jegal Choryang, his heart began to pound, as if the thing he had feared was becoming reality little by little.

“He said he would go and protect the Corps Commander position himself, and asked me to remain silent only until you returned.”

THUD.

Jegal Jin of the Jegal Family felt as though his heart had dropped.

He knew all too well what his younger brother meant by “protect the Corps Commander position himself.”

“Elder Brother, do not worry so much. I will take the Corps Commander position myself.”

Not long after that, Jegal Geon had fought Changunja of the Kongtong Sect in a duel and won.

Jegal Jin already knew that his younger brother had chosen the Cave Hermit Taoist as his next sacrificial victim.

To his younger brother, who did not know the full circumstances of the Hidden Dragon Command incident, the Cave Hermit Taoist was naturally a mortal enemy of the family who had to be killed.

“Grand Envoy, set everything else aside and tell me only where the Corps Commander went.”

At the clan master’s severe command, Jegal Choryang immediately bowed his head.

“The Corps Commander went to the Wudang Sect’s Grand Envoy manor.”

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