LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 91
Chapter 91: The Weight of Truth
At the Hangshan Sect’s main base. Wol Eun Pavilion.
The sliding door of the Sect Leader’s office opened.
“Master!”
The person who entered through the door was So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin.
The only disciple of the Sect Leader and heir to the position of Hangshan Sect Leader and the title of Geumhu, she was the esteemed disciple of Hangshan Sect.
Cheon Sobin’s black hair, mixed with silver strands, fluttered dramatically.
“What could be so urgent? Sobin, haven’t I told you many times that there’s no need to be so hasty?”
Eun Seol-ran, the silver-haired beauty and Geumhu, spoke to the flustered disciple in a calm voice.
Cheon Sobin took a deep breath and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, Master. But it’s an urgent report…”
“What news is it?”
Thud.
As the Geumhu quietly closed the diary she had been writing in at an angle out of the disciple’s sight, she spoke again.
“Lee Cheol-soo and the Gongdong Sect have just arrived at the foot of the mountain…”
But the content of the news made the Geumhu anxious.
‘The Sect Leader has already arrived…!’
It was the day before the tournament.
Of course, after entering Shanxi Province, she thought the Gongdong Sect would arrive the next day.
The promised date was on the day of the tournament, not the day before.
But the Sect Leader had arrived a day early.
‘Sect Leader… Were you really that eager to see me? Squeak! Hehe. I’m so happy! I can see the Sect Leader a day earlier…!’
Thump.
The Geumhu’s heart began to race again. Finally, she could see that dignified figure.
The one she yearned for.
Realizing this fact, the Geumhu’s heart raced with urgency.
‘This isn’t the time to delay. If I don’t see the Sect Leader quickly, if I can’t be with him…’
Since the Sect Leader had come, she needed to meet him as soon as possible.
Since she wasn’t yet his official partner, they couldn’t meet privately.
Thus, she needed to make the most of the public opportunities available to spend more time with him.
‘…That’s how the Sect Leader will come to love me.’
There were others around the Sect Leader besides her.
From the most beautiful girl in Sichuan, Neungwolhyang, to her junior sister Seoharin, and Geombong Seomun Cheong-ha, who had devolved into a devoted follower.
Although they weren’t as alluring as her, they were still charming women.
To keep an eye on them, she had to seize the moment to be with the Sect Leader whenever she could. She needed to show him that she was the one true virtuous wife.
With her heart racing, the Geumhu reached a conclusion and stood up.
“…Is it true? A guest has arrived. As the Sect Leader, I can’t neglect welcoming guests. I must go out to greet them. Sobin, finish the tournament preparations at the main base in my stead.”
“Got it!”
After giving her orders to the disciple, the Geumhu quickly used lightness techniques and exited Wol Eun Pavilion.
Now wasn’t the time for anything else.
For her, the Sect Leader was the top priority, and meeting him was an urgent matter.
Flap.
The diary she hadn’t had time to pack fluttered in the wind.
*
Hangshan.
Revered as the northern peak among the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains.
For reference, this Five Great Mountains also includes the famous Mount Hua, home to the Mount Hua Sect.
Hangshan was renowned for its sheer cliffs and rugged terrain. In modern China, one of Hangshan’s famous tourist attractions is the Xuan Kong Si (Suspended Temple) built on the cliffs.
Gongdong Mountain, being a strategic point defending the Central Plains from the Western Regions, was rather rugged too, but nothing compared to the cliffs of Hangshan.
Regardless, what greeted us upon arriving at Hangshan was a disciple dressed in white robes, marked with a wheel design and the Dharma wheel of the Hangshan Sect.
“You are from the Gongdong Sect. I’ve sent word to the main base, so please wait a moment.”
The predecessor of the Hangshan Sect was the Sword Pavilion.
Sword Pavilion was originally a self-defense force established to protect the Puji Temple, a temple built during the Tang Dynasty on Mount Putuo from pirates, particularly Wokou. Since Puji Temple was a nunnery, Sword Pavilion was also a women’s organization.
As many temples were built around Puji Temple, the self-defense force expanded and eventually transformed into the Sword Pavilion.
Thus, the Sword Pavilion was originally a Buddhist sect and was notable for its association with the ancient women’s martial arts, the Moon Maiden Sword, comparing it to Shaolin’s Technique of Subduing Demons.
Of course, after the Blood Sect’s destruction of the Sword Pavilion and the burning down of all temples on Mount Putuo, the new Hangshan Sect distanced itself from its Buddhist roots.
Yet, at its core, it remained a Buddhist sect and still used the Dharma wheel as a symbol for the resurgence of its connection to Buddhism.
Since Hangshan Sect was not a monastic sect like the Amitabha sect, it didn’t prohibit its disciples from marrying. In fact, more of the past Geumhus were married than single.
However, it was a problem that the current Geumhu was single, especially since the present Hangshan Sect was essentially a fan club for the current Geumhu, Eun Seol-ran.
The disciples of Hangshan Sect idolized their Geumhu so much that they mirrored her decision to remain single. Thus, most disciples vowed to remain unmarried until their Geumhu did, and clung to a kind of unwritten rule against it.
They even tended to shy away from male visitors, even in regions not traditionally off-limits.
At this rate, Hangshan Sect would become a sanctuary for single female martial artists.
“…”
The gaze of the Hangshan Sect disciples guarding the entrance to the mountains was indeed sharp.
While the Gongdong Sect and Hangshan Sect had a mutual past, they hadn’t always been at odds.
Both had originally fought against the Blood Sect together, and the first Hangshan Sect Leader, who was also the last leader of Sword Pavilion, had been a comrade and a peer of Honwon Geomje.
However, a subtle grudge had developed since Hangshan Sect took the place of the Gudaimun Sect fifty years ago, and the current glare didn’t seem to stem from mere past grievances.
“This doesn’t feel very welcoming.”
I muttered while glancing at the disciples glaring at us.
“Hmph! Did you really think you could say such things and expect to be welcomed here?!”
The one who instantaneously responded to my words was Seomun Cheong-ha.
“I already know that much.”
I retorted back.
Yeah, I’m not completely clueless. I wouldn’t be so dimwitted as to not know where the tension in the gaze of the Hangshan disciples came from.
Since that public confession, it was probably the Hangshan Sect that was most shaken up. Their Geumhu’s obsessive fan club, after all. They must have been eagerly anticipating this day, the tournament day when I personally showed up.
While moving from Gongdong Mountain to Hangshan, I had overheard some rumors at the inn about the tournament.
Rumors like: “During the Hangshan Great War, the disciples of Hangshan Sect are directly testing the Gongdong Color Association’s qualifications,” and “The true colors of the Gongdong Color Association will be revealed to the world during the Hangshan Great War.”
‘This must be the work of So Geom-hu.’
Such low-level information manipulation and cowardly political games don’t even deserve a response.
Without having to drag out the political history of the soul-departed Lee Cheol-soo, who was notorious for his antics, it was painfully obvious who was responsible for it.
It had to be the actions of So Geom-hu, the number one fan of the Geumhu.
If it were me, I wouldn’t have acted like this.
I’m left wondering if she even intended to hide her machinations.
“Hmph! Knowing that much, you must be shameless! Who do you think is making us receive these piercing glares…”
Ignoring the grumbling Seomun Cheong-ha, I waited for what felt like an eternity.
Swish.
I sensed an overwhelming aura slicing through the air from a distance.
It was obvious without even looking.
It was the Geumhu.
The oppressive presence quickly approached, and soon, accompanied by a soft breeze, a silver-haired beauty clad in white robes appeared.
“Welcome, guests of the Gongdong Sect. Thank you for making the journey. I am Eun Seol-ran, currently serving as the Sect Leader of Hangshan Sect.”
It was the Geumhu.
Displaying the mastery of Hwakyung, she leaped over the treacherous cliffs without losing her breath, maintaining an unruffled appearance as she gazed at our party with her expressionless face before performing a bow.
“It’s an honor to meet the Geumhu again. I am Jeonyeong, the Sect Leader of Gongdong Sect. During your stay, I ask for your guidance.”
“It is most welcomed. I shall lead you to our main base.”
After the customary exchange of greetings ended, the noteworthy thing was that the Geumhu took it upon herself to guide us to the main base. Typically, the custom is for the leader just to exchange pleasantries and let the disciples handle the guidance.
Well, it showed just how seriously Hangshan Sect regarded the upcoming tournament.
I thought so as I began to ascend the steep Hangshan with the Geumhu and the disciples of Hangshan Sect.
*
At the moment the Geumhu went down the mountain to greet Lee Cheol-soo.
So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin sensed the Geumhu’s aura fading away and smiled.
“Hahaha! Just like Master!”
Master.
Geumhu Eun Seol-ran.
The idol of every woman in the martial world, the person she respects and admires the most in the world.
As expected from a master who embodies the orthodox faction, who always serves as a role model, isn’t she personal welcoming guests from the Gongdong Sect without needing to?
‘I can’t stand the Gongdong Sect and Lee Cheol-soo, but for the sake of the sect’s reputation, Master is making this sacrifice! How noble of her!’
Even if they share a strained relationship, the Gongdong Sect was ultimately the honored guest of Hangshan Sect.
Naturally, for the sake of the sect’s reputation, it was necessary for the leader to greet them personally.
Of course, that’s easier said than done, since the leader is human too and can’t be devoid of emotions.
But the Master set aside her feelings towards them for the sake of the sect, and that noble sacrifice appeared incredibly admirable in Cheon Sobin’s eyes.
“Oh, this isn’t the time. I need to finish the tournament preparations as instructed by Master…”
Cheon Sobin snapped back to reality.
The orders given by her Master were her top priority.
Cheon Sobin approached the table where the Master had been working.
“Master, may I take the liberty of sitting in your spot for a moment?”
Expressing utmost respect towards the absent Geumhu, So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin took her seat.
Her cheeks tinged slightly red.
‘Sitting in the seat of my Master!’
Her heart raced.
The woman she had long admired.
Cheon Sobin, born into the esteemed family of Shanxi’s First Sect, had grown up without any shortcomings.
But as a lady, she couldn’t escape the fate of marriage.
Especially as the daughter of the sect leader.
She didn’t want to accept the fate of an arranged marriage she had been anticipating.
From a young age, she had longed for the Geumhu’s story of choosing her own husband.
So she entered Hangshan Sect and, through grueling effort, became the disciple of the Geumhu she admired.
Since she received the name So Geom-hu, her family had stopped pressuring her into an arranged marriage.
Cheon Sobin successfully broke free from the bonds of fate that had confined her since birth.
‘The disciple has been saved by the Master.’
This was all thanks to the grace of the Master.
How could she not admire the Geumhu?
Even a lifetime wouldn’t suffice to repay her.
With a heart fluttering, Cheon Sobin opened a book placed on the table without a second thought.
Flap flap.
And the moment she saw the content of the book.
Cheon Sobin’s face hardened like stone.
Her hands shivered like aspen leaves.
“Sect Leader…? My… my beloved…?”
That’s right.
The identity of the book Cheon Sobin had opened was…
The secret diary of the Geumhu, hastily left unorganized after hearing the news of Lee Cheol-soo’s arrival at Hangshan.