Chapter 325. The Enemy of the Murim (3)

Longyuan, imbued with immense force, stabbed toward Jing Bai's chest.

"Ha..."

It stopped just short of piercing the elder's smooth skin. It wasn't because the sword had run out of power—it had been deliberately held back.

Jing Bai looked down at his chest in disbelief, then slowly closed his wrinkle-free eyelids and reopened them.

"What is it that makes you so desperate that you'd go this far?" Jing Bai asked. His eyes remained as clear as ever.

"It's a simple reason," Zhou Xuchuan replied, his sword still pressed to the Juvenile Fist Emperor's chest.

"I don't want to witness the massacre that will happen in the future. I want to ensure that those who survive from this moment on never have to go through it."

Zhou Xuchuan had a dream.

In it, blood flowed like oceans and corpses piled into mountains. There was no light—only endless darkness.

He didn't want that future.

"Even if you call it hypocrisy, it doesn't matter. If I can save even one more person, or many more people... that's fine. I just want to be with the people I care about."

There was no need for him to say something cliché like

'I'll protect them.'

He just wanted to be with them.

He didn't want to die alone and lonely like he had when he was one of the Five High Elders of Mount Hua. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with the people he loved.

"Is that all?"

"That's more than enough."

"Is it..."

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

A faint smile spread across Jing Bai's lips.

"This is your victory, Sword God."

***

Hefei, Martial Alliance.

"Answer us, Martial Alliance! Answer us!"

"Answer us! Answer us!"

"Announce the truth, Martial Alliance! Announce the truth!"

"Announce the truth! Announce the truth!"

Outside the gates, inciters from the Dark Heavens Association shouted, stirring the crowd of angry martial artists who echoed their protests. The guards stationed at the firmly shut gates stood like statues, expressions unmoved.

With news spreading that the Juvenile Fist Emperor had granted a one-month grace period, the outcry only intensified. Day by day, the criticism grew louder.

Even the core members of the Martial Alliance, the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Ancient Families, remained silent, offering no explanation.

"They say silence is affirmation..."

"Ha, seriously! Just who are we supposed to trust now?!"

"Isn't the Martial Alliance an organization for our vested interests? They claimed they sought peace and well-being for the

murim

, but that was nonsense."

"I'm ashamed to call myself a member of the Martial Alliance. Is there really a need to be a part of them?"

Now, there was no need for the Dark Heavens Association's Vast Gate or Blessed Existence to come forward and manipulate information and spread bad rumors.

As time passed, the faith and trust of the Righteous Faction martial artists were eroding all on their own.

What are you going to do, Martial Alliance?

Ge Sang, an informant from the Vast Gate Star, quietly watched the situation while hiding in the crowd so as not to be noticed.

Are you just going to accept the Juvenile Fist Emperor's punishment, or are you going to fight back?

He barely managed to suppress the smile that was about to form on his lips.

Well, either way, it's inevitable that you'll be divided.

His superior, Blessed Existence, had told him not to let his guard down until the end, but it didn't seem necessary.

The Juvenile Fist Emperor would soon visit and split the Martial Alliance apart.

The downfall of the Righteous Faction's hypocrisy was a foregone conclusion.

"It's the Boundless Dragon!"

It was at that moment.

The crowd on the side split, and a handsome young man emerged from between them.

Nangong Shanxu?

It was Nangong Shanxu, the grandson of the leader of Martial Alliance and the center of the current controversy, Nangong Weiwu, and the leader of the younger generation of the Righteous Faction.

"It's Poison Phoenix!"

"Aren't those women the Tactician Phoenix and the Wave Sword Phoenix, too?"

"It's not just Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes. Bai Gongzi of Qingcheng, the Milky Way Sage of Zhongnan, Zhi Yiguang of Kongtong... even the Seventh Young Master of Diancang!"

"Just how many experts have gathered?"

It wasn't just Nangong Shanxu. Including the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, key figures of the Righteous Faction appeared one after another.

Oho.

Ge Shang narrowed his eyes, scanning the scene. As expected of someone from the Vast Gate Star, he quickly assessed the situation unfolding around him.

The group stopped in front of the main gate of the Martial Alliance.

"W-what is this? Are they thinking of going to war or something?"

"The Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Ancient Families... Are they not all on the same side?!"

Normally, their presence would have caused an overwhelming situation. However, now it was different. On the contrary, their presence only incited more rebellion.

They must be thinking of opposing the Juvenile Fist Emperor!

Ge Shang's eyes lit up. This was the best and most ideal outcome.

Yes, fight. Fight and stab each other in the back.

One or two of them wouldn't be nearly enough to stop that ancient monster—the Juvenile Fist Emperor—who had claimed the title of Empyrean Overlord more than fifty years ago.

In the fierce battle that would take place in the name of persuading him, the Righteous Faction martial artists would hurt and disappoint each other.

While it wouldn't be a bad result for them to be disappointed in the Martial Alliance and give up, it would also be a good result if they were to refuse to accept reality and struggle in an ugly manner.

In the case of the former, the division would quickly spread and morale would drop, and in the case of the latter, the wounds within the Righteous Faction would only deepen.

"Comrades of the

gangho

! Martial artists of the Righteous Faction!"

Before the angry crowd of the Righteous Faction could pour out their criticism, the Boundless Dragon spoke.

They're finally going to announce it!

They're probably going to make excuses anyway.

So the Boundless Dragon is disappointed, too.

Where has the sense of duty within the gangho gone?

Everyone listened carefully to hear the position of the Martial Alliance.

"We have something to tell you all!"

Nangong Seonyu looked at the crowd, took a deep breath, exhaled, and continued.

"I know the recent state of the Righteous Faction murim has been chaotic. I believe all of you—whether members of the Righteous Faction or not—understand why and what the cause is."

The Boundless Dragon clenched his fists and raised his voice.

"The upper leadership of the Martial Alliance committed outrageous atrocities under the pretense of necessity. They justified despicable acts that have no place on the Righteous Path—and they deceived others. This cannot be ignored."

Are they thinking of giving up rather than confronting?

Ge Shang tilted his head.

Judging from their stance, the Righteous Faction didn't seem to have any intention of denying the facts.

"The crime of kidnapping, imprisoning, and torturing an innocent! The crime of disguising evil as good! The crime of deceiving the entire

murim

!"

Thump!

Nangong Seonyu stomped his foot, drawing the crowd's full attention.

"No matter how unavoidable the situation, wrong is wrong! Even if it was done in the name of the Righteous Faction, or for the peace and prosperity of the

murim

, no one should ever be forced to sacrifice!"

What... are they thinking?

Ge Shang's eyes shook anxiously.

Something felt off.

"Before I tell you everything, I have something to apologize for!"

This wasn't resignation—their stance was too firm, too intense.

"To be honest, it's not that I didn't know about the Black Shadow Division! The elders of the Martial Alliance, the Nangong Family, and even some among the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Ancient Families—we all knew! But despite that, we couldn't do anything!"

Nangong Shanxu's eyebrows trembled in anger.

"It's because we were oppressed by the Martial Alliance's leadership, no, because we were oppressed by someone!"

"Just what the fu—"

Ge Shang started to mutter, but a sudden shout cut him off.

"It's the Juvenile Fist Emperor!"

All eyes turned to a single point as the crowd parted, making way in stunned silence.

A dignified air, a boyish appearance.

An Absolute Master with his hair braided into a single braid and pulled back.

"Wait... there's no way..."

Ge Shang's expression froze.

"It's Zhou Xuchuan!"

"The Sword God!"

Shock and wonder flowed from the crowd.

"Wait, why is the Sword God next to the Juvenile Fist Emperor..."

"Wait, being together means..."

"Doesn't that mean that he's going to follow the Juvenile Fist Emperor's will?"

The Sword God walked right next to the Juvenile Fist Emperor.

The expressions of the two Seven Empyrean Overlords were indifferent.

"No, no, it can't..." Ge Shang muttered anxiously. Beads of sweat formed and quickly turned into a downpour across his face.

Despite his cultivation, his body trembled uncontrollably.

His fingertips quivered. A chill ran down his spine, and his legs felt hollow.

While those of the Vast Gate Star may not have been as smart as those of the Blessed Existence Star, they were still quick-witted. Moreover, Ge Shang was especially smart among them. Even if he hadn't had any talent for cultivation, he was still smart enough to have easily joined the Blessed Existence Star.

Ge Shang began to understand the current situation with his uniquely extraordinary mind. However, he still denied it completely.

No. No, it can't be. That's not possible. It has to be a mistake. A coincidence.

But while Ge Shang stood frozen in denial, Zhou Xuchuan and Jing Bai approached the gate with steady, confident steps.

"The strength of the Martial Alliance has been corrupted.

That man

used his power to gain unfair benefits, deceived the Righteous Path's noble will, and was afraid of losing his past glory and power. In doing so, he silenced and suppressed those who spoke the truth!"

Zhou Xuchuan and Jing Bai stood in front of the main gate.

"As promised!" Jing Bai glared at the other side of the main gate and shouted.

"I came to punish the hypocrite who was intoxicated with power!"

"Open the gate!"

Nangong Shanxu also turned his back and shouted at the main gate.

The guards, who had remained unmoving no matter the provocation, now responded as though they'd been waiting.

Creak.

The heavy doors, which had refused to budge for so long, slowly swung open.

For some reason, they felt even larger than usual.

There's no one there?

Not only was there no one in the place that was always crowded, but there were no guards or attendants to be seen.

Zhou Xuchuan, Jing Bai, and Nangong Shanxu took the lead.

Thud, thud, thud.

The major figures of the

murim

followed after them. However, the mood wasn't peaceful. It was as if they were preparing for battle.

As their footsteps fell on the snow-laden ground, the air turned heavy with heat. Footprints marked their solemn march forward.

Zhou Xuchuan's heart grew heavier with each step.

He recalled a conversation from one month earlier—Just before his reunion with Luo Xiaoyue.

"What was the saying? With great power comes great responsibility..."

"Alliance Leader?"

"I have an Idea."

Nangong Weiwu smiled with a detached wistful look."

"Strategist. The reason the Martial Alliance would split apart is because it wasn't just some, but the entire leadership that had assisted the Black Shadow Division, right?"

"Unfortunately, yes, that's right."

The reason the Martial Alliance hadn't split fifty years ago had been because the heinous acts had only been the fault of

some

of the leadership.

However, the situation was different now. Almost all, not just some, had condoned the Black Shadow Division, and that was why they were facing a crisis.

"Then, what if only one person ends up being responsible for this crime?"

"What do you mean..."

Zhuge Xiang fell silent. His face stiffened as realization dawned. He understood exactly what the Alliance Leader meant.

"Just answer the question, Strategist. Is it possible?" Nangong Weiwu asked, this time as the Martial Alliance Leader.

Zhuge Xiang grew silent at that question before finally answering.

"...It is possible."

"Alliance Leader."

Zhou Xuchuan looked at him too, clearly deep in thought.

.

"Both of you, are you good at lying or acting?" Nangong Weiwu asked with a kind smile.

Sacrifice could never be forced.

No matter the reason, even if it was to save more people than one sacrificed, one couldn't force an innocent bystander to be sacrificed.

It wasn't for nothing that the jurisdiction of the Black Shadow Division was concentrated on the Tang Family.

It was because the others, as people who walked the Righteous Path, didn't want to get involved themselves.

Because they knew it was wrong.

"The sinner, no! The devil, Nangong Weiwu, has used his past glory and power as a shield to satisfy his selfish desires!"

Evil deeds couldn't be justified under the pretext of justice.

"Let me ask you again. Are you really okay with this?"

"What's wrong is wrong. One must receive the appropriate punishment accordingly."

"But do you understand what that means? Alliance Leader, you will become the worst and most evil person in the history of the Righteous Faction in the future. You will be criticized for generations, and you will be called the Nangong Family's shame. No, the words "blame" and "shame" aren't enough to describe your sin."

"That's why I want my grandson to be the one to take charge of this matter. I don't care about my own reputation, but my grandson and the rest of my family did nothing wrong. Even so, I know the Nangong name will still carry the burden. I just want to lessen the blow."

"Alliance Leader..."

"It doesn't matter what the crime is. Just transfer all the sins of the Black Shadow Division to me. Please, Strategist. While the Sword God goes to persuade Senior Juvenile Fist Emperor, you are the only one who can take charge of this matter."

"Martial Alliance Leader—no, enemy of the

murim

—Nangong Weiwu!"

Nangong Seonyu looked straight ahead, his eyes burning with resolve.

The Boundless Dragon raised his sword, pointing it at his own grandfather.

"Accept your punishment!"

In the snowy winter, the leader of the Martial Alliance, Nangong Weiwu, became the public enemy of the

murim

.