Wudang Sacred Scriptures

Tension hung thick in the Grand Hall of the Murim Alliance.

“I shall summarize the decision made by the Murim Alliance Council.”

It was the Grand Strategist of the Murim Alliance, Sagong Ui, who spoke, holding a crane-feather fan in one hand.

“The conflict between the Wudang Sect and the Cult of the Evil Way shall be brought to an immediate end. Neither side shall be held accountable for the damage they inflicted upon the other. From this moment forward, any violation of this arbitration by the Murim Alliance Council will be met with a total prohibition on aid from any affiliated sect.”

Elder Un-oh, the Wudang Sect’s representative, trembled with rage.

“Are the representatives truly going to let the Cult of the Evil Way’s atrocities be swept under the rug like this?”

The faces of the representatives from the Eight Clans and Five Great Families of Murim hardened.

“If it were Shaolin or the Namgung Family that had suffered, would you still support such a decision? Venerable Monk Jingun, Hero Chang-ae—I dare you to answer!”

Venerable Monk Jingun of Shaolin stroked his white beard in silence, while Hero Chang-ae of the Namgung Family nervously clattered his teacup.

Then, Jegal Choryang, representative of the Jegal Family, raised a hand.

“Master Un-oh, would you ask the same question of the Jegal Family?”

Master Un-oh flushed red.

“Then allow me. If the Jegal Family had suffered such a blow, would you support this decision?”

Jegal Choryang responded without hesitation.

“Of course we would.”

“Do not answer with petty emotion.”

“Petty emotion? We harbor no such thing. The Jegal Family remains ever cool-headed.”

“Oh? Then by all means, explain to us what allows such cold detachment.”

“Master Un-oh, what was the origin of this incident? Was it not the Wudang Sect that struck first? And who suffered greater losses? According to the Cult of the Evil Way’s proposal for peace, they lost ten times as many lives. And they are the ones who proposed to end the conflict. Would you not call that a victory for Wudang?”

“That is merely the deception of the cunning! They ambushed Seong Iljang yesterday and slaughtered our injured disciples as they lay bedridden. And then they have the gall to send a peace proposal? If they truly wished to end this, they would not have acted so cowardly!”

Jegal Choryang replied calmly.

“And why does that matter? Perhaps the Cult of the Evil Way simply wanted to vent their anger before letting go.”

Master Un-oh seethed.

“You speak so callously because they weren’t members of your own family, isn’t that it?”

“Master Un-oh, who are you directing your anger at? The damage stemmed from your sect’s poor judgment.”

Master Un-oh’s face turned livid, alternating between red and blue.

At that moment, the Grand Strategist Sagong Ui intervened.

“May I say a few words?”

Venerable Monk Jingun replied.

“Of course. As a member of this council, you have the right.”

“Then allow me to speak candidly.”

Sagong Ui waved his crane-feather fan lightly, cooling the tension in the hall.

“The Wudang Sect’s losses yesterday were truly tragic. However, the Murim Alliance does not exist to serve individual sects. The demons of the Eight Wastes are stirring, the Heavenly Demon Cult is moving in the Tianshan Mountains, and signs of activity from the Blood Demon Cult are appearing. We even have suspicious reports regarding the Five Palaces Beyond the Frontier.”

A heavy silence settled over the room.

“It is my cautious judgment that a Great Calamity is approaching.”

“But the Martial Saint’s Mansion still stands. What is there to fear?”

“The Martial Saint’s Mansion does not interfere in the affairs of Murim unless a single force seeks to dominate all under heaven. That is the ancient covenant. Have you forgotten?”

“...”

“The Cult of the Evil Way and our Murim Alliance currently divide Murim into two. When the calamity comes, we must face it together, not waste our strength fighting each other.”

Sagong Ui turned toward Master Un-oh.

“We ask the Wudang Sect to respect the unanimous decision of this council for the sake of the greater good.”

Master {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Un-oh scanned the faces of the Eight Clans and Five Great Families and trembled.

“Very well. I will relay the decision to our main sect.”

It was a tacit acceptance.

As powerful as the Wudang Sect might be, they could not afford to make enemies of the Eight Clans and Five Great Families.

A sharp pain throbbed in the back of Master Un-oh’s neck.

‘I never should have volunteered to represent the sect at the Alliance.’

For a while, he’d basked in the prestige of Wudang’s dominance, holding his head high.

But recently, he’d been little more than a scapegoat and a punching bag.

And all because of one damn recluse from Samnyeong Palace.

‘What on earth is going on at the main sect?’

He added a line to the missive he was sending to the Wudang headquarters:

”There is a growing movement, led by the Jegal Family, to marginalize our sect within the Alliance. Take this into consideration.”

****

Master Hyunam was alone with the head of Seong Iljang.

The man bowed his head.

“Master Hyunam, I am truly ashamed.”

“You have nothing to be ashamed of. It is we who brought danger upon your once-peaceful estate.”

“Please, do not say such things. The branch families are part of Wudang.”

Master Hyunam eased slightly at the man’s determined expression.

“Master, could I ask whether anyone disappeared from the estate before or after the ambush? Not to suggest any blame toward your household, of course.”

“Please don’t worry. I have lived in the martial world a long time. When I saw how precisely they targeted the annex, I gathered everyone and checked. No one was missing.”

Master Hyunam realized then that the man hadn’t succeeded in building a household in distant Honam by luck alone.

“No one disappeared at all?”

“Not a single person.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Hyunam’s face.

He had suspected that someone had leaked information to the Cult of the Evil Way. If so, they would have disappeared afterward.

It was possible the culprit remained, hiding their intent—but few had such iron nerves.

“Anyone quit recently?”

“No.”

The rest of the conversation was brief and perfunctory.

Just before leaving, the head of Seong Iljang asked cautiously,

“Master Hyunam, I hesitated to ask—what do you intend to do? I feared it might seem I was meddling.”

“Have you ever known Wudang to forget its disciples?”

Emotion flickered in the man’s eyes.

“Never.”

It was clear: Hyunam intended revenge.

The man had merely been pretending to make polite inquiries. Now that his suspicions were confirmed, his heart stirred with pride.

The branch family disciples had long felt gratitude for Wudang’s intervention in the matter of Jeong Mugwan.

Despite knowing the enemy was the Cult of the Evil Way, Wudang had struck back.

That alone was a declaration:

Harming a branch family meant facing the full wrath of Wudang.

What greater reassurance could there be?

As the head of Seong Iljang left, his heart swelling, he passed Hyunbong hurrying into the residence.

Hyunbong had barely exchanged glances with him—he seemed in a rush, and he held a sealed message.

It appeared to be an urgent letter from the main sect.

After reading it, Master Hyunam’s face twisted.

He was normally expressionless. That made the depth of his fury all the more clear.

“Return to the main sect immediately? Can I not even send a reply?”

Hyunbong looked startled.

It was unprecedented. The strict enforcer of Wudang law, Master Hyunam, questioning an order?

With a grim face, Hyunbong nodded.

“This is an order of obedience. Questions are not permitted. You must only report back.”

“But this is—”

“Master Hyunam, it was the decision of the Palace Lords’ Council. Disobey, and you face punishment as a traitor.”

“That is what angers me most. If it were the Sect Leader, or even the Acting Leader, I would understand. They must think of the bigger picture. But the Palace Lords? They made this decision while our disciples’ corpses still lay unburied. Do you believe it, Hyunbong?”

“I was shocked too. But the unanimous decision of the Alliance Council to end the conflict forced their hand.”

Master Hyunam crumpled the letter in his fist.

Hyunbong spoke in a low voice.

“I will instruct the disciples to prepare for departure.”

He knew that as the enforcer of the sect’s laws, Master Hyunam would obey the order. And he also knew that this man was not devoid of feeling.

‘He’s just hidden it all this time.’

No. These were the disciples he had personally brought. He would see them home.

His rage might be cold and quiet, but it ran deep.

Hyunbong gave a respectful bow to the silent, seething Master Hyunam and left.

Hyunam was not merely angry. He was tormented.

A conflict between past and present orders.

Naturally, the current order should take precedence.

But the past order still held him.

The corpses of his disciples were the weight he could not cast off.

Before the pyres were lit, Hyunam had looked upon each face, memorizing them one by one. That memory was for revenge.

But now the sect demanded peace with the Cult. Any deviation would be punished as betrayal.

Still, he wanted to defy the order. To pursue the enemy. To avenge his disciples.

And then, let them punish him.

But...

More disciples would die. Even if they survived, they would bear the stain of insubordination.

He could not ruin their futures.

As he sank into despair, a voice came from outside.

“It’s Kwak Yeon.”

“Enter.”

Kwak Yeon stepped into the chamber and bowed.

“Thank you for your guidance, Master Hyunam.”

“I’ve scolded you, not guided you.”

Hyunam spoke coldly.

“What brings you?”

“I came to bid farewell.”

“Such arrogance. Such impudence.”

Hyunam’s gaze turned piercing.

“Do you take the Sect Leader’s command so lightly? Because you were scolded? Because you were mocked for being from Samnyeong Palace? You resent Wudang that much?”

“...”

“Do you claim Wudang gave you nothing? Because you have a bit of talent, you dare mock your own sect? You miserable little wretch.”

Kwak Yeon answered firmly.

“Not once have I resented Wudang.”

“...”

“This is my home. These are my people. I love Wudang more than anyone. And one day—I will return.”