Chapter 67- Wu and Yue in the same boat (11)
The Evil Sect.
It is no exaggeration to say that it is a group that controls the martial arts world from behind the scenes and a group that accepts the logic of survival of the fittest as truth. Of course, recently their momentum has weakened considerably.
What is survival of the fittest to begin with? Is it not the teaching of the Evil Sect that challenged the hypocritical teachings of Taoism and Buddhism? This is a principle realized by observing the beasts of nature.
There is absolutely no reason for human intervention in this. Nevertheless, there is a reason why the Evil Sect is currently divided into two sects that check each other.
The Evil Sect nearly collapsed completely during the Sword Demon War. Until now, they have overlooked ridiculous schemes and conspiracies because they saved the Evil Sect.
In fact, from the Evil Sect’s perspective, this is actually beneficial. Jeokhong’s schemes used unorthodox sects to wear down the righteous sects. In other words, it was like wiping one’s nose without using hands.
Thanks to this, it meant that the Evil Sect essentially had nothing to lose whether they failed or succeeded. Dang Baek-seo? Far superior jiangshi can be produced anytime.
The Black Death Sect? It was merely a kite with its string cut, they simply used them one last time before they were expelled from the unorthodox sects. From this perspective, Jeokhong’s scheme can be considered close to success.
“Failed again this time.”
“This is why a woman who only talks doesn’t work.”
“That’s ridiculous!!!”
Therefore, Jeokhong finds this situation extremely unfair. Despite clearly producing decent results, the Evil Sect is instead blaming Jeokhong for their mistakes.
From Jeokhong’s perspective, it was extremely unfair. Results are results after all. Consequently, the power of the martial arts world would certainly have been diminished. Not only the Black Death Sect but also the Sichuan Tanga Family.
Of course, the fact that jiangshi was used would become known, but that could be sufficiently suppressed with the influence of the Namgung Family. Yet they are backing her into a corner like this.
‘I see, are they trying to bring me down with this opportunity?’
Jeokhong let out a deep sigh. What she has been doing does not align with the fundamental ideology of the Evil Sect. Survival of the fittest, survival of the adapted. Only the strong can take everything.
But Jeokhong also has much to say. If you want to talk about survival of the fittest and survival of the adapted, that is, the logic of power, why didn’t the sect just perish during the Sword Demon War?
Jeokhong wanted to sneer that this inconsistency was truly befitting of the vicious Evil Sect, but sadly, people are naturally like this. They jump into situations recklessly when desperate.
When they gain some composure, they suddenly change their attitude as if nothing happened. Now that they have gradually gained some stability and comfort, they find the prominent Jeokhong irritating.
‘In the end, the logic of power is just an excuse. Who do they think they’re fooling with their scheme to eliminate me as my influence grows stronger in the Evil Sect!!’
Jeokhong’s influence has strengthened immeasurably before and after the Sword Demon War. Currently, there are seven leaders in the Evil Sect, but in fact, the other five leaders are merely honorary positions.
It is no exaggeration to say that the Sura Sect and Jeokhong are essentially opposing each other. The Sura Sect can be described as those who follow the traditional teachings of the Evil Sect.
However, calling it tradition is just a nice way of putting it, in the end, they are ultimately just maniacs who believe the strong should take everything. Nevertheless, because their power is real, even Jeokhong cannot ignore them.
‘Just wait and see. Who is right will soon be proven.’
Although she has no choice but to step back for now, she has no desire whatsoever to be pushed aside and become a forgotten elder. She is merely waiting for the right time to come.
◇
An untimely funeral was held at the Sichuan Tanga Family. Although they succeeded in completely eliminating the Black Death Sect as a future threat, an unexpected blood relative returned to the Sichuan Tanga Family.
Moreover, they couldn’t even preserve the body. Whether due to mastery of Revenant Soul Demon Corpse or the vicious schemes of the Evil Sect, in any case, the fact that the family head had returned was true.
Mu-myung and his disciples also attended the funeral. Since he was essentially the one who directly killed the family head, Mu-myung expressed reluctance, but Dang Baek-ha personally strongly persuaded him.
[If you, who put the family head to rest, do not attend, then who should attend?]
Since Dang Baek-ha seemed to have his own agenda, Mu-myung decided to go along with it appropriately. And as expected, when he attended the funeral, there was continuous gossip.
“Isn’t that the Sword Demon?”
“Why is the enemy who killed the family head twice in this place?”
“That’s ridiculous, he saved the family head once.”
“But in the end, it was the Sword Demon who first killed the family head.”
Look at this, how is it that not a single prediction goes wrong? Mu-myung let out a deep sigh. But it was unavoidable if he wanted to secure the cooperation of the Sichuan Tanga Family going forward.
“I will go and say something to them.”
“Sajeo? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Tch, to think that you would be scolded by Senior Sister Sua.”
“…If you have complaints, shall we have a match later?”
“Sure, I’ve been interested in the Swift Sword of the Murong Family.”
It seems they had decided to stick together now. Ma Kang was openly bickering with Sua right next to Mu-myung. Looking at their size, it might appear as if Ma Kang was bullying children.
But at least the parties involved did not seem to mind at all. From the beginning, whether it was Sua or Ma Kang, they were all equally accomplished masters who had reached the first-class realm. Not only Sua, but Ma Kang’s talent was not bad either.
Especially recently, he has been boasting that he received teachings from Mu-myung (according to his claims) and obtained a milestone to advance to the next level. It would be fine to privately anticipate his growth.
‘I’m only thirty years old, after all.’
He desperately wanted to mention his age, but somehow the situation had become slightly. No, a very awkward situation. Currently, both the Sichuan Tanga Family and parts of the unorthodox sects were like that.
The reason they cooperate unconditionally is solely because the other party is ‘Sword Demon Mu-myung.’ Even if he were truly just a ‘Mu-myung’ who is a nobody, it is uncertain whether they would cooperate so readily.
‘To begin with, even the Sword Demon himself is trying to seize my body through his memories. But borrowing his reputation and name is far more decent than seizing a body.’
Strictly speaking, the Sword Demon’s memories are not exactly alive. It is just that the Sword Demon’s existence was so strong that his memories are strong. In the end, strictly speaking, they are merely insignificant memories.
The problem is that when these strong memories encounter familiar stimuli, they cannot control their power and invade at will. For example, the memories that surfaced when he previously encountered Dang Baek-seo.
Naturally, those are not experiences of the current Mu-myung. They are memories experienced by the real Sword Demon Mu-myung who directly killed the warriors of the Sichuan Tanga Family, defeated Dang Baek-seo, and then spared his life.
‘The Dang Baek-seo of the past was at least several times stronger than he is now. At that level, he could be considered a warrior who had reached the Enlightenment Realm… No, the Transcendent Realm.’
Indeed, Mu-myung was firmly caught in an illusion and unable to escape. Anyway, just as Mu-myung was lost in the illusion, the new family head of the Sichuan Tanga Family finally revealed himself.
In the past, Dang Baek-ha did not consider himself the new family head. He believed that someday his father would return and lead the Sichuan Tanga Family again. Perhaps it was a burden for him.
Taking over the position of family head of the Sichuan Tanga Family at a young age is an enormous burden. The power of the Sichuan Tanga Family is by no means small. This is what he realized while managing various things under the title of young master.
‘Can I truly lead this power in the right direction?’
It is fair to say that the rise and fall of a family ultimately depends on the family head. No matter how sturdy a ship is, if the boatman’s skill is lacking, it will eventually sail toward the mountains instead of the coast.
Therefore, Dang Baek-ha had somehow avoided becoming the family head until now. There were times when he wished someone else would do it instead. However, he has now cut off that burden.
At that moment when he confronted his father Dang Baek-seo, Dang Baek-ha clearly realized what he needed to do. That is why the first action he took upon becoming the family head was to rebuke everyone.
“How pathetic. How long do you plan to keep looking only at the past?”
“…Ha, but, Family Head…”
“Isn’t that man the Sword Demon? If he betrays us in the middle…”
“Haven’t you all already seen it? Who is the real enemy of the Sichuan Tanga Family?”
The warriors of the Sichuan Tanga Family could not refute Dang Baek-ha’s words. Aside from the Black Death Sect, their family head, who should have certainly been dead, returned and attacked the Sichuan Tanga Family.
That eeriness and terror made the members of the Sichuan Tanga Family tolerate even the Sword Demon, who was the enemy of their family head and brought about the downfall of the Sichuan Tanga Family. It is reassuring to have an absolute master present.
That is precisely the point Dang Baek-ha was emphasizing. Setting aside past grudges, there exists an evil that cannot be overcome without joining forces. Therefore, he declared before everyone,
“Our Sichuan Tanga Family will support the Sword Demon with all our might.”
To truly avenge the real enemy and completely crush the evil.
