The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

Seong Yeok-ju fell silent for a moment after hearing Yi-gang’s demands.

His expression did not change at all. Concealing his emotions had long been his habit.

If Yi-gang’s demands had been ordinary, there would have been no need for such consideration.

However, Yi-gang’s demands were numerous, and none of them were easy to fulfill.

Seong Yeok-ju was a perceptive individual.

Naturally, the moment the topic of ‘compensation’ arose, he began to deduce various possibilities.

What could Yi-gang be asking for from his maternal grandfather, who was the Senior Grand Secretary?

The first possibility was something for himself.

Seong Yeok-ju was aware of the meridian blockage disease. Patients with such a condition required many things. He might be asking for elixirs or something similar.

Given his apparent attachment to the Baek Noble Clan, he might make a request related to them.

However, the first demand Yi-gang made was something Seong Yeok-ju had not anticipated.

“Please reinforce the military power of the garrison located at the border of the Xinjiang region. You need to increase the number of soldiers and provide them with better armaments. Strengthen the defense of the northwest border through the military department.”

“…What did you say?”

Yi-gang explained. He meant that the Ming army should be on guard at the western border in case of a resurgence of the Demon Cult.

Seong Yeok-ju’s thoughts became complicated.

The remnants of the White Lotus Sect were already a subject of concern.

Though intelligence had come in, the ministers were merely quarreling over opinions, unable to take clear action.

“…That is the Ministry of War’s responsibility. Without an imperial edict, it’s impossible to mobilize the troops.”

“Isn’t it possible if the grand plan succeeds anyway?”

“…”

If the distracted Emperor could be pulled out of the grip of the Seven Great Immortals, then it would be possible.

“Very well. I will bring it up as an important agenda and consider it positively.”

“Thank you.”

Fortunately, Yi-gang did not push further. He seemed to understand that this was not something Seong Yeok-ju could decide on his own.

The second and third demands were within Seong Yeok-ju’s expected realm.

The problem was, the extent of those demands exceeded his expectations.

“Please exempt the Baek Noble Clan in Xi’an from taxes for three years.”

The Baek Noble Clan was the hegemon of Xi’an.

The area of farmland owned by the clan was immense, and a significant portion of its produce was paid as taxes. This was a demand to exempt those taxes.

The second demand was even greater.

“Please bestow upon us a sword and an elixir.”

The main reason for the increased difficulty was that the sword and elixir he requested belonged to the Imperial Palace Treasury.

Moreover, the elixir he desired was of the special-grade.

“…Do you realize what it is that you’re asking for?”

The swords in the Imperial Palace Treasury were unparalleled in the world.

Special-grade elixirs were so powerful that they could even save someone on the brink of death.

“No matter how precious treasures may be, are they more important than the fate of the nation?”

“…”

However, as Yi-gang mentioned, if they could rescue the Emperor from the clutches of the Seven Great Immortals, it would be worth the price.

“…Very well.”

In the end, Seong Yeok-ju also raised both hands in surrender.

None of the three demands were easy, but they were all just within the limits of what could be granted.

If Yi-gang had fully understood those limits when he made his demands, then his shrewdness was beyond Seong Yeok-ju’s imagination.

Seong Yeok-ju stared at his grandson with deep-set eyes.

But Yi-gang’s expression remained calm.

It was as if he was staring at a mirror image of himself, causing a chill to run down his spine.

And Yi-gang thought to himself…

‘I never imagined all three would be granted.’

「It was easier than expected.」

He was trying hard to hide the satisfaction that was welling up inside him.

「The Imperial Palace’s Medicine Vault was truly impressive… If it’s a special-grade elixir, it might be able to restore your major meridians!」

He didn’t actually believe that a single elixir could restore the major meridians.

However, having seen the inside of the Imperial Palace Medicine Vault, he thought it might be possible with a special-grade elixir.

‘But do we really need another new sword?’

The idea to request one of the treasured swords from the Imperial Palace Armory wasn’t Yi-gang’s but Zhang Sanfeng’s.

The reason was something even Yi-gang hadn’t considered.

「I wish to teach you the Telekinetic Sword Technique. But it’s more dangerous than you might think…」

‘Dangerous?’

「First of all, you need to practice in an open space. It’s better to train in the mountains rather than in a training hall.」

The reason being, you need to learn how to move the sword in all directions—up, down, left, and right.

Still, when asked if they really needed an additional sword, Zhang Sanfeng replied like this:

「If you mishandle the flow of Qi, the sword might just fly off. I once lost my favorite sword like that.」

‘…That’s dangerous.’

Imagining the meteorite sword flying off into the sky during practice of the Telekinetic Sword Technique was terrifying.

While Yi-gang was lost in thought for a moment, it was Seong Yeok-ju who spoke first, “I will take my leave now.”

“Safe travels.”

Although there had been a mental battle, the relationship between Yi-gang and his maternal grandfather was not ruined.

On the contrary, Seong Yeok-ju had conceded more than expected to Yi-gang.

Yi-gang courteously saw him off as he departed.

“I will request assistance from the sect.”

“…Do so.”

Seong Yeok-ju left without looking back.

Unlike when he arrived, his departing figure seemed unusually small.

That night, Yi-gang wrote two letters.

One was to his father in Kaifeng, explaining the situation.

The other was a letter to the Forest Lord of the Azure Forest.

The orthodox Murim was engulfed in a storm of chaos.

So, what about the Azure Forest, nestled in the foothills of Mount Heng in Hunan?

To put it briefly, it slightly sidestepped the storm.

The center of the most intense conflict was further north, beyond where the Azure Forest was located.

In Henan, where Shaolin resided, in Sichuan where the Tang Clan, Emei Sect, Qingcheng Sect, and Diancang Sect gathered.

And recently, even the Wudang Sect from Hubei, which had recently descended from their sealed mountain.

In contrast, Nanyue’s Mount Heng, where the Azure Forest was situated, was geographically isolated.

Despite this, the Azure Forest’s power was not inferior to Wudang or Shaolin. It was naturally daunting for the Unorthodox Union to provoke them.

Thus, the Azure Forest’s territory remained unscathed for now.

But did that mean the disciples of the Azure Forest were leisurely reciting scriptures or swinging wooden swords in practice?

Certainly not.

Piiiiiiiiiiik—

A harsh whistle echoed from all directions.

It was in a forest near Xiangyin County.

The disciples of Green Slope Manor, which belonged to the Murim Alliance, looked around in shock.

Their faces were smeared with blood and dirt.

“Are we… the only ones left?”

They had long been in opposition with the Abstinent Moon Hall of the Unorthodox Union.

The enmity began when disciples from both sides first clashed.

As was often the case with enmity, under the pretext of revenge, it grew larger as the two sides became more entangled.

Finally, after the Young Manor Master of Green Slope Manor had his head smashed and killed by the Hall Leader of Abstinent Moon Hall, they became sworn enemies.

The balance of power shifted after the rise of the Unorthodox Union.

Masters from the Unorthodox Union joined forces to support Abstinent Moon Hall. Among them were dozens of elder-level masters, and more than five were at the Hall Leader’s level.

Naturally, the outcome of the conflict was obvious.

It was more of a hunt than a battle. The disciples of Green Slope Manor abandoned their sect and fled into the depths of the forest.

And it seemed that even their escape had finally come to an end.

“Heh heh, so here you were.”

The first squad leader of Abstinent Moon Hall appeared, holding a long black blade.

Blood was dripping from the black blade, undoubtedly the blood of Green Slope Manor disciples.

Green Slope Manor’s great disciple, Jang Mu-jeong, shouted in anger, “You scoundrels! Do you even realize what you’ve done?!”

“What do you mean? It’s a war. Didn’t you know?”

“To involve the Unorthodox Union in a matter between sects…! Cowards!”

“I can’t listen to this anymore.”

The first squad leader of Abstinent Moon Hall raised his black blade high.

His subordinates also drew their weapons one by one.

“You must have requested aid from the Azure Forest as well.”

“…!”

“But it’s already too late.”

Jang Mu-jeong felt a dizzying sensation before his eyes.

If they were acting this way despite knowing that the Azure Forest was coming, it meant they were confident they could completely destroy Green Slope Manor before the Azure Forest arrived.

Jang Mu-jeong was the third-ranking master in Green Slope Manor, but now his left hand had been slashed and was dripping with blood.

Behind him were young disciples who had been in the sect for less than three years.

He wanted to at least save them, but the warriors of Abstinent Moon Hall relentlessly pursued them.

“I’ll buy some time, so run!”

“E-eldest Senior Brother…!”

There was no time to console the young disciples.

Jang Mu-jeong took the starting stance of the Green Slope Fist Technique with his injured left hand.

“Come on!”

Of course, the first squad leader of Abstinent Moon Hall and his men all charged at once.

“Haha, alright then!”

Jang Mu-jeong, prepared to die, braced for the clash.

At that moment, a miracle occurred.

The distance between the martial artists of Abstinent Moon Hall and Jang Mu-jeong wasn’t far at all, yet that gap wasn’t closing.

“Wha-what…!”

“What is this!”

Those who were running seemed as if they were running in place.

The faces of those who had been so confident just moments before turned pale as if they were possessed by ghosts.

“Ugh.”

“It’s dark magic! Dark magic!”

It was only natural for them to think so.

Suddenly, a woman dropped in front of the startled Jang Mu-jeong.

He didn’t know where she came from or who she was.

The only noticeable thing was that her garment was embroidered with three red flowers.

“Calling it dark magic, how foolish.”

Though there was no wind, the woman’s hair fluttered gently.

She called out a name briefly.

“Jun Myung!”

And then—

Thump- thump- thump, thump, thump!

A loud, rough sound, as if a bear was charging, echoed through the forest.

A strong man burst out from between the trees.

And immediately struck one of the Abstinent Moon Hall members on the outskirts.

Smack!

One might wonder if a person could be knocked away so easily even if struck by a bear.

The Abstinent Moon Hall member, whose neck snapped upon impact, flew off and even knocked another comrade unconscious as he fell.

“Senior Sister Su-rin. Did you call for me? Hehe.”

“Focus.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Jun Myung scratched his head with a goofy smile.

On his chest were three vividly embroidered blue flowers.

The first squad leader of Abstinent Moon Hall recognized their identity.

“The Azure Forest!”

The spell that had bound them, cast by Yu Su-rin, had been broken due to Jun Myung’s strike.

“Just two young brats…!”

Noticing that Yu Su-rin and Jun Myung were still young, they resumed their attack.

But it soon became clear that this was a foolish decision.

“They all react the same way.”

Yu Su-rin scoffed, drawing a whip sword from her waist.

Swish—the sword flashed, and blood spurted from the chests of several Abstinent Moon Hall members who had rushed in.

Jun Myung, too, drew an iron mace, appropriate for his size, and swung it.

Despite his seemingly bulky frame, his movements were swift.

Each time the iron mace swung, the heads of Abstinent Moon Hall members were smashed, or their limbs were broken.

As a Taoist, he wasn’t needlessly brutal.

However, there was no hesitation in his actions.

“Wha- what…?”

The first squad leader of Abstinent Moon Hall trembled as if he were a wild dog before a dog butcher.

One advantage of being an unorthodox sect member was their quick judgment and flexible thinking.

The moment he thought of fleeing, his legs started to move.

Yu Su-rin noticed but did not pursue. There was still someone who hadn’t stepped in yet.

“Eldest Senior Brother.”

“Yes.”

Someone seemed to drop from a tree and brushed past.

The first squad leader felt a sharp pain in his knee.

His body tilted forward, and he rolled heavily onto the ground.

“Ahhhh!”

The back of his knee had been slashed deeply.

The one who suddenly appeared and slashed his leg was Son Hee-il, a third-generation disciple of the Azure Forest.

Son Hee-il had long been a swordsman of the Peak realm.

He glanced briefly at the first squad leader before turning to the disciples.

There stood Jang Mu-jeong of Green Slope Manor, wearing a dazed expression.

“We have come from the Azure Forest. We hurried, but it seems we were a bit late.”

“N-no, not at all. What do you mean…! Thanks to you, the disciples were saved.”

Jang Mu-jeong truly believed this.

If they had been even slightly delayed, both he and the young disciples would have been killed.

Thus, he treated these young masters, much younger than himself, with the utmost respect.

“Ah, there are still many surviving disciples.”

And then he quickly lifted his head.

It was time to set aside pride and ask for more help.

“By any chance… did only the three of you come?”

Son Hee-il, Yu Su-rin, Jun Myung.

All three were undoubtedly Peak masters.

However, among the martial artists who had come to support Abstinent Moon Hall from the Unorthodox Union, there were more than five Peak masters.

An unavoidable anxiety appeared on Jang Mu-jeong’s face.

Son Hee-il stroked his chin and replied.

“Ah. It’s not just us…”

“S-squad Leader!”

The one who interrupted Son Hee-il was the first squad leader of Abstinent Moon Hall, who had fallen after his knee was slashed.

The person he called “Squad Leader” was certainly not himself.

Before him, a row of warriors dressed in black stood in line.

“Please help. The Azure Forest people are…!”

“Be quiet.”

“Ugh!”

The Unorthodox Union warrior, whom the first squad leader had called “Squad Leader,” kicked him in the jaw.

The first squad leader trembled but could no longer move. The Unorthodox Union martial artist didn’t even glance at him and instead glared at Son Hee-il.

“I am Cheon Sal-ho, the Ghost Order Squad Leader of the Unorthodox Union.”

It was clear from his presence that he was no ordinary man.

The black-clad martial artists standing behind him were the same.

Their sharp gazes were incomparable to the ragtag members of Abstinent Moon Hall.

“The Azure Forest has made a foolish choice.”

Cheon Sal-ho wielded a chained sickle, a rare and deadly weapon.

He began to spin the chain, making the sickle whirl in circles.

“To think they would send only young ones like you.”

No matter how skilled the third-generation disciples were, experience in actual combat was crucial.

To the Ghost Order Squad, known as the hound of the Unorthodox Union, the third-generation disciples seemed like mere novices.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—

The sound of the spinning chained sickle filled the air with an unpleasant whistling.

A red aura surrounded the sickle, making it seem as though he were swinging a ball of fire.

“You’ve interfered with our operation, so you should be ready to die.”

Indeed, their strength was enough to make them confident against the third-generation disciples.

“I’ll send your severed heads back to the Azure Forest!”

The moment the Ghost Order Squad Leader uttered those words, a hot liquid suddenly splashed against the back of his head.

When he turned his head involuntarily, he saw the body of one of his subordinates, now headless.

“Wha…?”

And there, a woman in blue clothing appeared.

On her garment were four embroidered blue flowers.

Jin Ri-yeon moved her whip sword with far more elegance than Yu Su-rin.

Parrrrr—Kaang!

The Ghost Order Squad Leader barely managed to parry the blow.

While the whip sword wasn’t as lethal as the chained sickle, it was still difficult to counter.

Jin Ri-yeon’s face was filled with cold anger.

“You bastard! How dare you touch our kids!”

But that rough shout wasn’t from Jin Ri-yeon.

Another swordsman appeared beside her.

It was Jin Mu, now in his mid-30s, and the eldest senior brother among the second-generation disciples.

A clear Sword Aura was emanating from Jin Mu’s blade.

“Let’s join in.”

Son Hee-il chuckled and joined the fray.

With the addition of the second-generation disciples, even the feared Ghost Order Squad of the Unorthodox Union was nothing to fear.

The scene was cleared in an instant.