I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 208

“Once we’ve taken care of the Nine Sects and swept through the Four Great Clans after dealing with the Five Great Clans, the Demonic Sect and the Black Faction guys won’t even dare to peek out of their rooms. It’ll be like a leisurely stroll.”

“Hey, shut your trap! Is your *dantian* [energy center] in your mouth? You never stop talking. Please, just shut up and let’s go quietly!”

The man, who looked to be in his thirties, chattered incessantly, while the other twelve men frowned and shook their heads.

“The fact that all of us are going is a complete waste. Why do we all need to go to deal with those pathetic Central Plains guys? Seriously. Should we just sightsee in the Central Plains? I can quickly finish it in one sweep. Wouldn’t that be easier?”

The man didn’t seem to hear the others’ complaints. He still didn’t shut his mouth.

“Quiet. Something’s been bothering me since earlier… We seem to have a tail.”

When someone spoke in a low voice, the talkative man said nonchalantly.

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that. They’re just beggar bastards from the Beggars’ Sect. The number keeps changing, but since we’re getting closer to Wudang, there are quite a few of them. Seventeen now. Ah, they just sent a carrier pigeon. They’re probably just reporting how far we’ve come.”

Everyone bit their lips.

He was the youngest and most frivolous, but his martial arts prowess was perhaps the highest among the thirteen.

He didn’t miss a single change in the numbers.

“The head is more of a problem than the tail, don’t you think?”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s something huge at the entrance of Wudang Mountain. Not a master, but a huge number of people are waiting for us. It’s not going to be easy.”

At his words, everyone pulled back on their reins.

Focusing their senses, they could feel the energy.

“What is it? Are they trying to start a war? Why are so many gathered?”

As someone frowned and muttered, the talkative young man’s expression also hardened.

“It’s a war, alright. Thousands of well-trained soldiers, government troops.”

He was frivolous, but his martial arts were superior to anyone else’s. He wasn’t one to spout nonsense in this kind of situation.

“Government troops… I thought the relationship between the *Jianghu* [martial arts world] and the government in the Central Plains was like water and fire, but I guess that was nonsense. Thousands of government troops have come to protect Wudang? This is… haha.”

Dumbfounded, everyone looked at each other and could only manage a hollow laugh.

“What are we going to do? Do we push through as is? If we clash, we’ll have to take on hundreds per person… Well, I’m confident, though.”

The young man’s provocation made the veins on everyone’s foreheads bulge.

“Let’s go. Even if fifty thousand are waiting, we can’t back down. But provoking them is forbidden. A clash with government troops will only bring dark clouds to the future of our members.”

The thirteen men slowly urged their horses forward again.

As they got closer to Wudang Mountain, the piercing energy grew stronger and stronger, and when they saw the reality of that energy, everyone swallowed hard.

The sunlight reflected off the tips of spears and armor was so bright that it was hard to open their eyes, and the five thousand cavalrymen were emitting their force without the slightest movement.

Judging by how even the horses weren’t moving, their horsemanship was considerable.

The young man who had boasted that they could take on hundreds per person had to gauge how long he could withstand their combined attack.

The cavalry blocking the entrance to Wudang Mountain and the thirteen Demonic Cult martial artists stared at each other for a while, as if trying not to be overwhelmed by the other’s energy.

Finally,

A white-haired general rode his horse in front of them.

“Are you the martial artists from the group called the Demonic Cult?”

At the word “Demonic Cult,” everyone glared, and one man stepped forward and said.

“The *Murim* [martial arts community] people of the Central Plains call us that, but we are members of the Heavenly Order Sect.”

The man pointed to the cavalry and asked.

“Since when has the military been protecting Wudang, a mere *Murim* sect?”

“We have no interest in those who hole themselves up in the mountains and cultivate. We are only protecting this place because the highest dignity of this country is here in Wudang Mountain.”

“Dignity? Could it be…?”

As the Demonic Cult members showed bewildered expressions, the general raised his voice towards them.

“Listen carefully. We have no interest in you showing off your strength to the Wudang Taoists. We wouldn’t care even if you killed them all. But!”

The general slowly drew his sword.

“If even a single hair on the head of the dignified one is harmed… We will massacre not only you but all ten thousand members of your sect. We have already blocked all paths leading to Xinjiang [a region in China]. If you don’t want to become rebels and be annihilated, behave yourselves!”

As soon as the general finished speaking, the five thousand soldiers cleared the way.

The reason they cleared the way so that only one horse could pass was to make them fully feel the threat emanating from the long line of five thousand soldiers, but it didn’t seem to have much effect on the thirteen martial artists.

They slowly urged their horses forward, ignoring the thousands of gleaming spear blades.

When they could no longer see the soldiers lined up from the entrance of Wudang Mountain to the starting point of the mountain path, they let out the breath they had been holding.

“Hah… Those guys… They’re ready for war.”

“More importantly, who is in Wudang that they’re acting like this for… What are they up to?”

As they worried about the person of dignity, the talkative young man suddenly stepped forward.

“Wudang is my territory. You know? I…”

“Won’t you be quiet? I told you not to step forward.”

The leader of the group glared, but it was no use. The young man showed a strong will.

“Great Elder. I can’t be left out in Wudang, the home of swordsmen. I’m not just saying it.”

The Great Elder felt not the vain desire to make a name for himself in his eyes, but only the pure desire to taste the joy of mixing swords with a master.

As his words demanding an opportunity went on endlessly, they discovered the Wudang disciples who had come to meet them.

They had already arrived at *Haegeomji* [a specific location, likely a landmark].

One of them politely clasped his hands and asked for understanding.

“Esteemed guests from the East. This place is…”

At this moment, the Demonic Cult’s Great Elder interrupted.

“Everyone, put down your swords. Although the paths we pursue are different, this is a place established by someone who deserves respect beyond time and sects.”

Following the Great Elder’s command, everyone dismounted and untied the swords and sabers tied to their horses.

The Wudang disciples were so taken aback by their unexpected actions that even the animosity they had harbored deep in their hearts was about to disappear.

Demonic people who they thought could not live under the same sky.

Yet they themselves paid respects to their founder. At this moment, they didn’t know exactly why they were coming to fight, but one thing was clear.

They were also *Jianghu* people. And now was just the time to confirm each other’s martial arts.

The eyes of the Wudang people changed. They bowed with more politeness than the Demonic Cult’s Great Elder had shown.

“You must have weapons for the sparring.”

The Great Elder gestured to the young man and said.

“You, take a sword. One will be enough.”

At these words, the expressions of the Wudang disciples hardened.

They didn’t know what kind of sparring it would be, but to say that one was enough meant that they weren’t even considering defeat?

The animosity that had been fading burned even more intensely.

In front of such Wudang disciples, the young Demonic Cult member couldn’t close his torn mouth.

***

The central training ground was filled with determined-looking Taoists.

Expressions that showed they wanted to prove that the martial arts of the Central Plains were still strong. People who had lived with pride alone.

“There are people from Wudang and Mount Hua. They seem to be feeling not just tension but also fear. Are they thinking about defeat?”

Jang Cheong-un said quietly.

“Everyone trembles when there’s a lot of money on the gambling table. This game is the beginning of a gamble on who will take over the *Jianghu*.”

Jo Gwang-yun had a very relaxed expression.

The bigger the game, the more fun it is for the spectators, right?

“Brother, take a good look at their martial arts. If you can’t feel the difference in skill, I’ll dismiss you from your position as the captain of the Imperial Guard.”

It sounded like a joke, but Jang Cheong-un couldn’t laugh.

It meant that the martial arts were so high that he wouldn’t even know the difference in skill.

Yeom Sin, who was with them, also chimed in.

“Prime Minister. It seems like they’re going to start sparring as soon as the Demonic people arrive, which means they’re that desperate, right?”

“That’s right. On the surface, it’s a pretext to prevent the Demonic people from staying in this sacred place for too long, but inside, they’re scheming to set the stage as favorably as possible. No matter how high their cultivation is, they’ll abandon morality when they’re desperate. They’re human, after all.”

Jo Gwang-yun and his party were relaxed like spectators, but the arena was filled with a solemn atmosphere.

Finally, the figures of the people they had been waiting for came into view.

Thirteen Demonic people.

They slowly moved their steps and entered the central training ground.

The visitors showed no tension at all and looked generous and relaxed.

The Wudang Sect Leader stepped forward and politely clasped his hands towards the guests.

“I apologize for the inconvenience on your way here.”

“Your hearts must have been more uncomfortable waiting, so don’t worry about it.”

The Great Elder slowly bowed his head.

“I am Kang Sang-yeong, the Great Elder of the Heavenly Order Sect. And the brothers who came with me are also elders of this sect.”

There were many people with much whiter hair than the Great Elder.

Was he made the Great Elder because of his high martial arts? Or did he reach the realm of rejuvenation and look young?

Leaving everyone’s curiosity behind, Kang Sang-yeong said.

“We’re a bit busy. So I hope we can finish quickly. After all, we’re not going to be having tea and laughing together, are we?”

His provocative words made the arena even colder.

But a frivolous sound broke this cold air in an instant.

“Alright, who’s going to step up? I’m ready!”

The youngest guy wiggled his shoulders and fiddled with his sword.

The cold arena began to be filled with complex emotions such as embarrassment, anger, surprise, and curiosity.

Everyone thought the Great Elder would step up. Because this was Wudang.

But the youngest of the group was acting up and took his place in the middle of the training ground.

No matter how strong the Demonic Cult’s martial arts were, to send out the youngest against Wudang!

Some thought it was fortunate. Some even had expectations. This guy is young. And he seems light. They might be able to avoid the shame of defeat.

At the Wudang Sect Leader’s signal, Yoo Gyu-seong slowly walked out.

“I am Yoo Gyu-seong.”

As he bowed slightly, the young Demonic Cult member also hurriedly bowed his head.

“I am Jeon Hyo-myeong. Shall we begin?”

Yoo Gyu-seong looked at the sword in Jeon Hyo-myeong’s hand and said.

“I’m glad we’re both swordsmen.”

Jeon Hyo-myeong glanced at his sword and smiled.

“I’m good at swordsmanship, but I’m also good at punching. I only took a sword because Wudang took a sword. Wudang is only about swords, right?”

Yoo Gyu-seong’s expression, which had always been calm and composed, changed.

“You can also punch rude brats.”

The most surprised by Yoo Gyu-seong’s words were the Wudang people. It was an unimaginable thing to say with the character he had shown usually.

But the most surprised was the Demonic Cult’s Jeon Hyo-myeong.

Because Yoo Gyu-seong had sent a telepathic message.

‘How old are you?’

‘Younger than you. You’re over forty, right? I’m thirty now.’

‘I’m jealous. Damn it.’

The countless spectators watching the two people’s indifferent expressions, and the people of Wudang and the Heavenly Order Sect.

They thought the two were examining each other’s energy.

In particular, if the Wudang people had heard Yoo Gyu-seong’s telepathic message, they might have fainted.

‘What are you jealous of? Being young?’

‘No. When I was your age, I wasn’t as good as you.’

‘This uncle knows how to see people. And you know what? You still don’t look as good as me.’

‘Okay, use what you’ve learned to your heart’s content.’

‘Learned… A genius like me is self-taught.’

The people who saw the smile on Jeon Hyo-myeong’s face guessed that they had finished grasping each other’s energy. As they thought that swords would clash soon, the training ground was silent.

End