Chapter 161: Chapter 161

Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

About half a meal later, as the discussion with Dongbang Mu-gyeol was wrapping up, Lee Kwang appeared deep in thought about how to handle him. If he released him from the incapacitating seal, the possibility of Dongbang Mu-gyeol, who had made many enemies in the Jianghu, being killed was high. Yet, if he kept the seal, there was always the risk that Dongbang Mu-gyeol would betray them later and summon powerful figures from the White Lotus Sect.

Noticing Lee Kwang‘s troubled expression, Dongbang Mu-gyeol remarked,

“No matter how much you’ve captured me by force, do you think I would simply share this highly confidential information just to avoid torture?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I haven’t been gathering information all these years just for the status of the White Lotus Sect. I’d say I’ve been pursuing something a bit more… entertaining…”

Dongbang Mu-gyeol continued,

“If your Thunder God Lineage can rise as a new pillar in the world of martial arts, I’d love to witness that. The world would become much more interesting.”

Lee Kwang narrowed his eyes.

“So you live solely for amusement, huh?”

“Ha ha, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Indeed, while Dongbang Mu-gyeol may have received some promise of reward from the Master of the White Lotus Sect for searching for the Dragon Flower Tree and remedies for the Young Master, at his core he was an adventurer seeking amusement. Despite the enticing conditions presented by the Master, it wouldn’t be enough to travel alone to places like Southern Kingdom or Tianzhu. It seemed Dongbang Mu-gyeol was clearly focused on the conflict between the White Lotus Sect and the Thunder God Lineage, appearing to be willing to join us.

Dongbang Mu-gyeol added,

“Just so you know, the Master doesn’t harbor any hatred toward the Thunder God Lineage. Rather, he actually feels a bit sorry for you.”

“Nonsense.”

“I’m serious. I’ve attended meetings with the Master and the Protectors twice, and both times he lamented, ‘If only the Thunder God Lineage were here…’”

“……!!”

“Believe it or not, it seems the Master didn’t cast you out out of disdain for you.”

This was problematic. Given Lee Kwang’s temperament, hearing such words would likely make him explode with anger. It appeared that both Jin So-cheong and Geuk Ho shared the same concern, their gazes fixed anxiously on Lee Kwang, fearing he might unleash his wrath upon Dongbang Mu-gyeol.

To everyone’s surprise, however, instead of erupting, Lee Kwang was deep in thought. After contemplating for a while, he spoke up,

“Continue.”

“However, there’s no need for the Thunder God Lineage to be subservient to the White Lotus Sect again. What I mean is, the Master wouldn’t necessarily dispatch a punitive force even if you were to establish a new faction in the Central Plains.”

“Hmm…”

“Why not take this opportunity to completely break away from the past of the White Lotus Sect and emerge as a new dominant force in the realm?”

A new faction for the Thunder God Lineage!

This was something the masters of the Thunder God Lineage had never considered before. They had always thought of their roots being with the White Lotus Sect, and their desire for vengeance was focused solely on accumulating power to retaliate without the thought of establishing a foothold in the Central Plains.

The fear of a punitive force from the White Lotus Sect also contributed to this mindset. If the White Lotus Sect were to send a punitive force to eliminate the Thunder God Lineage, the survivors could be wiped out. But if what Dongbang Mu-gyeol said was true, then the Thunder God Lineage could have a future to thrive independently in the Central Plains.

Of course, if the Thunder God Lineage were to establish a new faction, their power would be immense. Their martial arts were already on a different level compared to other sects in the Central Plains, and with the peak masters gathering, they could quickly build a formidable force, perhaps even rivaling the major orthodox sects.

Yet, Lee Kwang merely chuckled,

“How dreamlike.”

He didn’t say anything more, instead glancing toward Jin So-cheong as he instructed,

“So-cheong.”

“Yes?”

“There should be a guest room available in the reception area. Give it to our guest; it seems he’ll be staying with us for a while.”

“Understood.”

Dongbang Mu-gyeol, hearing this, chuckled softly.

“Cautious, are we? It never hurts to be careful…”

“We’ll end today’s discussion here. Let’s meet again tomorrow.”

After a short while, Jin So-cheong took Dongbang Mu-gyeol to the reception area. Ostensibly, it was to accommodate a guest, but Lee Kwang seemed to be making it clear that he didn’t fully trust Dongbang Mu-gyeol, nor could he just let him return to the White Lotus Sect, hence, a form of house arrest.

Geuk Ho then spoke to Lee Kwang,

“We can’t keep him here forever. What do you intend to do?”

“I’m still considering. But that man knows quite a bit about the Thunder God Lineage already. I can’t let him go as is.”

The implication behind Lee Kwang’s words was that he might resort to kill to silence if necessary. As I looked at him, feeling tense, he continued,

“However, there’s still some thinking I need to do. You all keep a close watch on Dongbang Mu-gyeol and focus on your martial arts training. I’ll handle matters concerning him.”

“Got it!”

As we were about to disperse and head back to my quarters, Lee Kwang stopped me.

“Baek Woong. Could you come here for a moment?”

“Yes.”

Lee Kwang led me deeper into the Dragon’s Den. He studied me quietly before speaking,

“Baek Woong… from now on, answer honestly to my questions.”

“Yes.”

“Are you affiliated with any other organization apart from the Thunder God Lineage? Or are you a subordinate of another organization?”

In that moment, I realized Lee Kwang had begun to interrogate me. I knew that with this kind of questioning, his sensitivity was at an entirely different level than usual. As I understood the situation had escalated, I decided to be truthful.

“Yes, I am.”

“What organization?”

“It’s called the Bancheon Alliance.”

“Bancheon Alliance… do you know what kind of organization that is?”

“Before you ask that, may I ask why you think I’m connected with another organization?”

Lee Kwang replied impassively,

“Your actions may seem chaotic at first glance, but they exhibit a clear pattern. Such behavior must stem from an organization with its own objectives behind it. My instincts tell me that you must certainly belong to some organization.”

“I see…”

I chuckled inwardly and replied slowly.

“The Bancheon Alliance was established to counter the darkness of the Imperial Palace.”

“The darkness of the Imperial Palace…?”

“Those with a sense of justice are gathering to oppose the Golden Eagle Guards and Dongchang. The very existence of the Great Prison should give you an idea.”

Gulp

When I mentioned the Great Prison, Lee Kwang couldn’t hide his agitation. Even someone as steadfast as Lee Kwang appeared quite startled. With a serious expression, he replied,

“That sounds plausible.”

“I may not have mentioned it earlier, but General Hwang Yeon was also imprisoned in the Great Prison and rescued by the Bancheon Alliance.”

“What!? Is that true?”

“Yes. Additionally, we also rescued the Hwang family from the Golden Eagle Guards and Dongchang near the capital.”

As I spoke, I fixed my gaze on Lee Kwang.

“You’re quite familiar with the tactics of the Golden Eagle Guards, aren’t you?”

“…….”

Lee Kwang sat back, a complicated expression on his face. He leaned deeply into his chair, narrowing his eyes as he asked,

“What exactly are you aiming for by approaching me?”

“To be frank, the present situation spells doom for the Thunder God Lineage.”

“What do you mean?”

I decided to take a gamble here. Either Lee Kwang would distrust me, seek to kill me, or likely consider torturing me if he thought I was a threat. Rather than that, I felt it would be better to exploit the discomfort and belief gap he was experiencing. This gut feeling stemmed from observing Lee Kwang over the decades.

“Prior to my arrival at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, what plans did you have? You harbored hatred against the White Lotus Sect, but you had no means of achieving it other than honing your martial prowess, correct? The proper strategy and direction only came after I arrived.”

“Hmm…”

Lee Kwang seemed taken aback by my words. Before he could respond, I pressed on,

“We can’t let things stay the way they are. Are you truly willing to wait until the Master of the White Lotus Sect dies? I bear the identity of a disciple of the Thunder God Lineage as much as I am a member of the Bancheon Alliance. Right now, we need to gather as much information and strength as we can to prepare to challenge the strongest powers in the Jianghu. That’s why I chose to ally with the Bancheon Alliance.”

“……”

“You may think of me as a spy for the Bancheon Alliance, but if I wanted to harm the Thunder God Lineage, I could have done so long ago.”

As I poured out my arguments with fervor, Lee Kwang remained silent, lost in thought. If it had been the old Lee Kwang, he would have dismissed my words as nonsense and tried to physically overpower me. However, everything I said pierced through the contradictions and dilemmas he was grappling with. Lee Kwang wasn’t a fool, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to act rashly without considering the consequences.

About half a moment passed before Lee Kwang broke the silence,

“Alright, so you were considering proposing a partnership with the Bancheon Alliance someday.”

“Yes.”

“Did you think that was feasible? I’ve always considered loyalty to my country and serving my nation, and forming a partnership with the Bancheon Alliance would mean opposing the emperor who has granted full authority to the Golden Eagle Guards. No matter how corrupt the Golden Eagle Guards are, I can’t take an unequivocal stance against them.”

At first glance, it might seem like Lee Kwang was rejecting my proposal. However, I picked up on a flicker of his desire to know more. So I immediately countered,

“Then what do you think about General Hwang Yeon’s imprisonment in the Great Prison?”

“That’s just your claim; there’s no undeniable proof of that.”

“If you could verify that, would you consider partnering with the Bancheon Alliance positively?”

“…Even if that were the case, it’s hard to believe that the Golden Eagle Guards acted independently without the emperor’s intent for such a drastic action.”

At that moment, I recalled the conversation with General Hwang Yeon and Lee Kwang. At that time, Lee Kwang was clearly shaken, and I decided to seize the opportunity, looking him dead in the eye,

“May I ask? The loyalty you painstakingly devoted to the previous emperor, was it not him you swore your soul to?”

“……!!”

“Of course, you’re also loyal to the current emperor, the son of the previous one. But if that’s the case, where does that leave the Great Ming?”

“That’s…”

I clenched my fist tightly.

“If the emperor symbolizes the Great Ming Empire, then true loyalty lies in purging the darkness that festers within it! Isn’t that the true loyalty to the previous emperor?”

In that instant, I could see Lee Kwang‘s gaze flicker dramatically. It felt as though my words had struck a nerve, causing his long-held beliefs to falter just slightly, shifting his direction of thought without completely shattering his beliefs. Although my words echoed the sentiments of General Hwang Yeon, they resonated deeply with Lee Kwang.

Lee Kwang nodded,

“…You are right. I never imagined the Golden Eagle Guards could sink that low…”

As he murmured in contemplation, he looked at me and spoke,

“Then, are you currently protecting General Hwang Yeon and his family within the Bancheon Alliance?”

“Yes. Would you like to meet them?”

“No… that’s fine. If what you say is a lie, you wouldn’t have made me aware of such critical information in the first place.”

Considering I could fly to the Bancheon Alliance with my Golden Eagle right now, he assumed I wouldn’t lie too clumsily. Lee Kwang lounged back in his seat and leaned forward slightly,

“Baek Woong. Are you the leader of the Bancheon Alliance?”

“No, I’m not. The Master of the Bancheon Alliance is my comrade and one of a kind.”

“Did the Master send you to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School?”

“No. I came here of my own volition. I believe you, Lee Kwang, are the leader of the Thunder God Lineage who can confront the White Lotus Sect and the Wind God Lineage head-on.”

“Hmm… So you and the Master of the Bancheon Alliance are comrades after all.”

“Yes.”

Lee Kwang linked his fingers together, then said,

“Very well. I appreciate your honesty and thank you for imparting what seems to be golden advice. Had you even told a little lie, I wouldn’t have spared you.”

Though he spoke nonchalantly, I felt a chill creep down my spine. Over the years, I had gathered a deep understanding of just how genuine Lee Kwang could be with those words. I could also confirm that I had successfully guided this conversation into a partnership, securing him as an ally.

Eventually, Lee Kwang continued,

“To be straight with you, I remain uncertain about the handling of Dongbang Mu-gyeol or the future direction of the Thunder God Lineage. Therefore, I wish to hear the opinions and wisdom of someone capable of leading a character like you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I intend to form a partnership with the Bancheon Alliance. Guide me and So-cheong to him.”

Upon hearing Lee Kwang’s firm response, it felt like a huge hurdle had been crossed. Shortly after, Jin So-cheong, who had taken Dongbang Mu-gyeol to his lodgings, returned, and we set off for Jinrang Valley using my Golden Eagle.

Whoosh!

It was evening. As the sunset faded in the mountains of Jinrang Valley, the humble abode of Mangnyang came into view. Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong looked somewhat worn out, but they wore bearable expressions. I spotted Mangnyang sitting by a well, humming a tune.

“Mangnyang! We’re here!”

As I called out to him, he looked up. His expression turned slightly surprised upon noticing Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong standing behind me. Then, quickly regrouping, he broke into a gentle smile and approached us.

“It’s good to see you. What an honor to meet Lee Kwang, the Thunder God.”

“Hmm.”

“Please, come inside.”

Moments later, the four of us were seated opposite each other in the small hut, engaging in conversation. I first explained to Mangnyang why we had come, sharing the information Dongbang Mu-gyeol had mentioned as well. Mangnyang closed his eyes, contemplating slowly before he responded,

“Before we discuss solutions, let’s meet with General Hwang Yeon first.”

“Understood.”

Following Mangnyang’s lead, we went to meet General Hwang Yeon. The Jinrang Valley was vast enough for Mangnyang to create a secretive living space for General Hwang Yeon and his clan using Qimen Dunjia. It resembled a humble village, but Lee Kwang was taken aback when he finally saw General Hwang Yeon’s face.

“G-general!”

General Hwang Yeon was equally taken aback, but quickly broke into a warm smile,

“So you’ve come!”

The two exchanged conversations for about half a meal’s worth of time, while Mangnyang and I stood off at a distance observing. During that time, Mangnyang muttered to me,

“This is happening faster than I expected. I had hoped to prepare for at least two more years.”

“Sorry. But with Lee Kwang’s temperament, I couldn’t deceive him.”

“Hmm… It can’t be helped. I can only hope it’s because of you that we’ve weathered this crisis.”

Mangnyang scratched his head and continued,

“However, things are about to get trickier. The Jianghu is going to shake quite a bit.”

What did he mean by that?

However, there was no doubt that Mangnyang had foresighted his moves far into the future. He had already prepared a plan to present to Lee Kwang.

After the meeting between Lee Kwang and General Hwang Yeon concluded, we returned to Mangnyang’s humble abode. Lee Kwang watched Mangnyang with eyes filled with trust, having confirmed General Hwang Yeon with his own eyes.

“Mangnyang, the head of the Bancheon Alliance. Pardon my intrusion, but I would like to seek your wisdom. What do you believe is the best course of action for us?”

“…….”

While asking for advice so actively, it seemed Lee Kwang held Mangnyang’s wisdom in high regard. Mangnyang stared contemplatively at Lee Kwang, placing his hand against his temple for a long time, then suddenly declared,

“Establish a new faction.”

“Hmm…!!”

“Formally launch the Thunder God Lineage into the Jianghu.”

“Are you suggesting I trust the words of Dongbang Mu-gyeol?”

“Don’t be absurd. That’s a separate issue altogether.”

Mangnyang shook his head vigorously and explained,

“Dongbang Mu-gyeol talking about the Thunder God Lineage is irrelevant. The only reason he has amassed such exceptional martial arts is due to the extensive information he consumed while visiting the White Lotus Sect in his youth in exchange for favor. That’s a given.”

“……!!”

We exchanged glances, stunned by the revelation. This was a possibility we hadn’t considered before.

‘Well, that remarkable martial prowess must have come from the Dragon Flower Tree and the Holy Lotus…’

Mangnyang continued,

“He claimed he acted without greed, but in this world, what goes around comes around. He must have been promised some sort of compensation for the search for Dragon Flower Tree or the Holy Lotus. Thus, you could consider Dongbang Mu-gyeol as an underling of the Master of the White Lotus Sect. It would be foolish to trust the words of someone who was clearly coerced.”

“I agree.”

“Nevertheless, separate from that, I am in favor of the Thunder God Lineage stepping out into the Jianghu.”

“Why do you say that? The punitive forces could come to hunt us down.”

“They won’t come for you.”

Lee Kwang’s brow twitched.

“Do you seriously believe the Master of the White Lotus Sect would afford the Thunder God Lineage such grace?”

“That’s not the message at all.”

Mangnyang smiled coyly,

“This is about negotiation.”

“Negotiation?”

“Yes. The Young Master’s illness will be treated in exchange for formal recognition of the Thunder God Lineage’s establishment.”

“Are you saying we should no longer return Dongbang Mu-gyeol to the White Lotus Sect?”

“Precisely. As the greatest physician, we’d benefit from his wisdom very much.”

Mangnyang’s intentions were clear. He wanted to intercept Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s information and utilize it as bargaining leverage for establishing the Thunder God Lineage!

After a brief moment of thought, Lee Kwang noted,

“If what I know about the White Lotus Sect is true, they could very well ignore such offers and send punitive forces immediately.”

“What would you do if that were the case?”

“That’s improbable. Because, per Dongbang Mu-gyeol, the Master knows very well what kind of sect the Thunder God Lineage is. Given a generation has passed since it was cast out, the mighty masters are growing stronger; he’d have no certainty the forces sent would assist him. Especially since we hold significant intel regarding the Young Master’s illness.”

“Hmm.”

“If there’s still any anxiety, we hold the Golden Eagle in our arsenal.”

All eyes turned towards me. Mangnyang grinned.

“Even if we were to lose a battle, we could escape with the Golden Eagle at any moment. With such crucial information, how could we possess a better card?”

“…That makes sense.”

Lee Kwang seemed to grasp Mangnyang’s point instantly.

While it was plausible for the White Lotus Sect to annihilate us in seconds, that option required killing or capturing us all. If we possessed the means to escape at any time, the risk on their end would appear downright foolish.

Mangnyang reiterated,

“Establish a new faction. If we consolidate the strength of the Thunder God Lineage, we’ll eventually be strong enough to confront the White Lotus Sect without fear.”

“But what if we share this discovery with the White Lotus Sect, later curing the young master? They’ll then rampage throughout the Jianghu.”

“Ho ho! It’s a place where Sovereign Heng left behind evidence of Yushui… If a few sentences could unravel the location of the elixir, then all treasure hunters and scholars in the world would be wealthy! There’s no doubt it will remain lost for decades, so rest easy.”

Even as Mangnyang cheerfully laughed, it was evident he spoke the truth. Since he commanded virtually all the knowledge I amassed over my previous life, he was certain that even if Dongbang Mu-gyeol returned to the White Lotus Sect, they couldn’t instantly uncover the Dragon Flower Tree. With future intel in hand, there was no fear.

Finally, Lee Kwang seemed to gain resolve,

“Alright then. Let’s prepare for a partnership with the Bancheon Alliance and get ready to negotiate with the White Lotus Sect.”

“I look forward to your cooperation.”

“I will extend the same courtesy.”

And thus, an alliance was forged between the Thunder God Lineage and the Bancheon Alliance.

Before returning to the Thunder God Lineage with my Golden Eagle, I turned to ask Mangnyang,

“Mangnyang. Establishing the Thunder God Lineage in the Jianghu hasn’t happened yet. Why propose such a risky idea?”

Making choices I’d never made in my past lives meant predictions of the future were also subject to alteration. I couldn’t grasp the reason why Mangnyang was willing to forsake such potential by advocating for the establishment of the Thunder God Lineage.

Mangnyang chuckled gently in response,

“It’s all for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Thunder God Lineage martial arts you currently possess are incomplete. They’re fragmented. That’s because the Thunder God Lineage was dismantled and expelled—countless masters must have been scattered. Since it’s impossible for one individual to master all the secret techniques, each of those masters leaned their unique skills and secrets.”

“Not… you don’t mean…”

“Indeed.”

Mangnyang’s eyes gleamed.

“Now’s the chance to establish the Thunder God Lineage, allowing you to gather all the fragmented martial arts. That will become your destiny in this life.”

Due to controversy, I changed “secret technique” to “vision.”