Chapter 217
Chapter 217. Two Kinds of Weapons
Someone had died at the Four Seasons Hall. As the rumor spread, the atmosphere at the headquarters grew ominous.
In the midst of that, sects responding to the summons began arriving one by one, and the people at the headquarters endured grueling days both mentally and physically.
"What happened with the pavilion Mount Hua will be staying in?"
"That place was all sorted out yesterday, wasn't it?"
"Ah, that's a relief. They said the Mount Hua Sect would arrive today."
"Whew, let's rest for now. We finished all the cleaning yesterday, so there's no need to check again."
Two maidservants chatted lightly as they came out of the Wudang pavilion. Seeing the dark shadows under their eyes, they looked exhausted.
More than ten days had passed since the headquarters issued the summons, and now almost all of the sects had arrived.
The two maidservants heading back to their quarters let out hollow laughs. A colleague assigned to the Tang Clan pavilion was leisurely doing embroidery.
"Hey, you didn't have anything to do today either, did you?"
Without even looking back, the maidservant moved her needle.
"Yeah. I think I used up all my luck for the year here."
"I'm jealous. I wish I'd been assigned to the Tang Clan too."
The maidservant in charge of the Tang Clan pavilion ended the conversation with a smile, without rubbing it in.
After all, when everyone else was busy to the point of madness, she couldn't very well boast about being the only one with nothing to do.
The Tang Clan still forbade maidservants from entering, handling all chores themselves, including laundry and meals.
It wasn't that there was nothing happening at the Tang Clan pavilion.
Medicinal ingredients and goods were brought in daily, and occasionally even the Lords of the Four Seasons Hall and the Four Directions Hall paid visits. Even so, the Tang Clan refused assistance.
Since it wasn't a bad thing for her and she had no desire to get involved in martial artists' affairs, the maidservant cut off all interest.
Out of courtesy, she went every dawn to greet the Young Lord guarding the pavilion gate, and once he told her to go back and rest, she returned to the quarters to nap or do side work like now.
The two maidservants, who had dozed off for a bit, made a show of sniffling.
"Ah, I've got to go prepare dinner again."
"I want to get some proper rest too."
They muttered about their exhausting situation as if talking to themselves.
Feeling self-conscious, the maidservant assigned to the Tang Clan pavilion stepped outside and walked toward the stream. After confirming no one was around, she climbed onto a tall rock and quietly resumed her embroidery.
Then, from afar, the sound of voices murmuring reached her.
She lifted her head and saw about twenty martial artists entering through the entrance.
It seemed the Mount Hua Sect had arrived. They were the only sect scheduled to arrive today.
Just as she was about to lower her head again, the maidservant paused and slowly looked up.
She had spotted a familiar back.
When the man stopped walking, his short hair that nearly brushed his shoulders fluttered softly in the wind.
The Four Seasons Hall Lord clasped his hands together and greeted the Mount Hua Sect Leader.
Seeing someone of such high standing come out to welcome Mount Hua was surprising, and the maidservant couldn't take her eyes off them.
Whenever something out of the ordinary happened, it often turned into a disaster for those below, so the maidservant grew tense.
With all sects summoned, usually low-ranking martial artists under the Chief Steward were assigned to guide each sect.
'...... What is it? Did something happen with Mount Hua?'
The Mount Hua Sect Leader said something to the Four Seasons Hall Lord, then turned back. She couldn't hear the conversation.
As the Sect Leader followed the Four Seasons Hall Lord, a martial artist from under the Chief Steward guided the remaining members.
Holding her breath, the maidservant quietly climbed down from the rock.
She intended to warn the colleagues assigned to Mount Hua.
* * *
The summons exhausted more than just the maidservants.
The Chief Steward and the very core of the headquarters endured even harsher days. As if they had forgotten the meaning of a summons, the Tang Clan arrived with nearly a hundred martial artists, unlike the other sects, who came with a modest entourage of around twenty. To an onlooker, it might have seemed as though they were waging war on the headquarters.
The Black Sky Demon stubbornly insisted that all of them would stay at the headquarters, but thanks to the combined efforts of the Four Seasons Hall Lord and the Four Directions Hall Lord, only twenty remained, while the rest were sent to stay at the Hubei Branch and nearby inns.
If there was any consolation, it was that Kunlun arrived far earlier than expected, allowing the meeting to be convened quickly. Which also meant they could hurry up and drive these people away(?)—and the Chief Steward wept tears of joy inwardly as they hastily prepared for the meeting.
There were many attendees, and for some reason, the Four Seasons Hall Lord requested that the meeting be held outdoors rather than indoors, so the headquarters' martial artists hurriedly cleared the training grounds.
Soon, a platform was erected in the training grounds, and countless chairs were set out.
It was a place where a Martial Arts Tournament had recently been held, and where two temporary meetings had already taken place. As such, the assembled members of the Murim Alliance felt no resistance to holding a meeting there.
They quietly went to their respective sects' seats and sat down.
Hundreds of people filled the training grounds.
Yet, perhaps because of the solemn atmosphere, it was utterly silent.
Among those seated, a few cleared their throats and glanced toward the entrance. They had been summoned here in the midst of their busy schedules, yet not a single member of the headquarters had shown themselves.
As a result, some of the attendees grew displeased.
After a while, the sound of a door opening was heard.
Creeeak.
The sect leaders did not turn their heads, but their expressions subtly changed. Through their senses, they had already guessed the identity of those who had entered.
At the very least, it was not the Alliance Leader.
Indeed, the ones who stepped onto the platform were the Four Seasons Hall Lord and the Four Directions Hall Lord.
"We know you are all exceedingly busy, and we thank you for attending nonetheless."
The Four Seasons Hall Lord offered a proper greeting.
"You may be wondering why it is we, rather than the Alliance Leader, who welcomes you today. However, there is a reason for that."
Zhuge In-hwi lifted his head and spoke shocking words.
"The Alliance Leader does not know that I have summoned you."
A ripple ran through the once-quiet training grounds. Murmurs rose from all sides.
An Elder of the Qingcheng Sect sprang to his feet.
"What does that mean? That the Alliance Leader does not know? Then are you saying you stole the Alliance Leader's seal and issued the summons yourself?"
"Yes. At present, the Alliance Leader is confined to his room, having been brainwashed by me. In truth, it is about time for him to awaken. If he still fails to come to his senses, that would indeed be a problem."
"W-What are you saying?!"
The startled Qingcheng Elder demanded an explanation, but instead of answering, the Four Seasons Hall Lord continued the meeting.
"The reason I have gathered you all here is to share the Blood Sect's weapons that the headquarters has uncovered, as well as their methods of counteraction."
Though he did not raise his voice, Zhuge In-hwi's words strangely pierced through the noise and lodged clearly in the ears of every Alliance Member.
In an even, uninflected tone, he revealed the Blood Sect's weapons.
"Only after confirming these two weapons did we understand how the Blood Sect was able to expand so easily and infiltrate the Central Plains. The Blood Sect has been quietly bringing down the Murim Alliance with weapons that shatter not the body, but the will."
"The will?"
"Elder, let us hear him out first."
A woman spoke calmly to the Qingcheng Elder.
It was the Abbess of the Emei Sect. With a gentle expression, she added,
"It would not be too late to ask questions after hearing what the Four Seasons Hall Lord has to say. Not only I, but the others also seem curious about his explanation."
"Ahem."
The Qingcheng Sect Elder looked as though he had much to say, but seeing that the other Alliance Members seemed to agree with the Emei Abbess, he had no choice but to sit back down.
Once more, the training grounds fell silent.
The Alliance Members were not being courteous to the Hall Lord. As the Emei Abbess had said, they were simply extremely curious about the Blood Sect's weapons.
The Four Seasons Hall Lord immediately revealed the two weapons.
"A mineral called Five Minerals Powder, and the Blood Sect's Gu poison. Five Minerals Powder is a kind of poisonous miasma that manipulates a person's memories, while the Blood Sect's Gu poison is an insect that kills its host if they do not obey their master's will."
In a composed tone, the Hall Lord explained the situation.
"All Five Minerals Powder recovered at the Hubei Branch has been destroyed. However, since someone may attempt to produce it again, the headquarters is tracking the shops that trade in its raw materials. At the same time, we are devoting all efforts to improving the efficacy of the antidote."
"There is already an antidote?"
At someone's question, Zhuge In-hwi nodded.
"Yes. We have a sufficient supply, and we intend to share the method of production with all sects."
At those words, the stiff expressions of the attendees eased somewhat. However, they could not fully relax. The Gu poison still remained.
As if reading their minds, Zhuge In-hwi immediately addressed the Gu poison.
"The Blood Sect's Gu poison enters the host's body and watches to ensure obedience to its master's will. If the host disobeys an order, it rushes to the heart, blocks all blood vessels, and cuts off their breath."
When the surroundings grew utterly still, Zhuge In-hwi added,
"We will also distribute the antidote for this Gu poison."
He closed his mouth, as though finished with his explanation.
Then the Tai Chi Sword Saint, who had been listening quietly, frowned and asked,
"I would like to trust your words completely, Hall Lord, but I have seen neither Five Minerals Powder nor the Gu poison with my own eyes. It is hard to believe they truly manipulate memory and restrain the body. Does it not sound too fantastical?"
"You are well acquainted with Five Minerals Powder as well, Sword Saint."
At Zhuge In-hwi's reply, the Wudang Sect's Tai Chi Sword Saint looked puzzled.
"I am? I was indeed at the Hubei Branch when the ore was recovered, but it seems you are mistaken about something."
The Four Seasons Hall Lord curved his lips slightly.
At that enigmatic smile, the Sword Saint felt uneasy.
However, instead of explaining further, Zhuge In-hwi changed the subject.
"Among those gathered here, there are already Alliance Members who have been brainwashed by Five Minerals Powder."
A great uproar erupted.
Just as the murmuring threatened to swell into shock and anger, the Four Seasons Hall Lord added,
"Some have even been brainwashed by Five Minerals Powder more than once, and are also carrying the Blood Sect's Gu poison."
His hazy gaze shifted toward the Mount Hua Sect.
"Since the current antidote for Five Minerals Powder serves a preventative function, we cannot immediately restore your memories. However, the Blood Sect's Gu poison can be removed here and now."
People naturally turned their heads to follow the Hall Lord's gaze.
Those of the Mount Hua Sect who received it wore displeased expressions. Anyone could see the suspicion in their eyes.
A grave voice pressed into the eardrums of the Mount Hua martial artists.
"Myungdan."
Myungdan flinched but immediately answered his Sect Leader.
"Yes."
Turning his body, the Sect Leader stared at Myungdan with an expressionless face before speaking.
"Step onto the platform."
At those words, the previously quiet faces of the Mount Hua martial artists twisted.
"Sect Leader, what do you mean by this?"
"Why Myungdan? Why are you sending that child onto the platform?"
Though resentment surged at the incomprehensible action, the Mount Hua martial artists could only question him. They could not bring themselves to stop their Sect Leader.
The Sect Leader gazed steadily at Myungdan with an inscrutable expression. Then, as if to soothe him, he smiled gently at the young rising talent of Mount Hua.
"It is all right. It will not be dangerous. Trust me, and go."