Chapter 405
.jpeg){kind=tracking}
**Chapter 405. Who Says I’m a Criminal?**
Hubei Province.
Sipyeon.
Wudang Mountain Gate.
Early in the morning.
Three hundred mounted soldiers appeared at the entrance of Wudang Mountain.
Behind the cavalry, orderly rows of spearmen, swordsmen, and archers could be seen.
It was the army of Officer Huang Busung.
The heavily armed army slowly advanced through the village towards Wudang Mountain.
The terrified villagers ran to their homes and closed their doors.
Only after the thousand soldiers had passed did the people begin to come out into the streets.
They looked towards Wudang with worried eyes, praying that it was nothing serious.
The cavalry stopped upon reaching the mountain gate.
The monks guarding the entrance approached with tense faces.
“This humble monk is Hyuncheong. What brings you here?”
A mounted military officer responded in a stern tone.
“We come to capture the criminal Yeon Namcheon. Hand him over or retreat quietly.”
“Sir, Yeon Namcheon is a disciple of the Five Dragons Palace. Allow us to inform the palace.”
The officer nodded.
They had not come to crush the Wudang sect by force, but to demonstrate power.
Of course, if the Wudang sect fiercely resisted, it was unknown where the spark could fly.
Monk Hyuncheong hurried to the Five Dragons Palace.
While they waited, the rear soldiers lined up behind the cavalry.
Soon after, Officer Huang Busung and Magistrate Yang Hoju arrived together at the mountain gate.
Deputy Commander Shen Yanshou dismounted and approached Huang Busung.
“We have been waiting for a moment, as they said they would bring a representative from the Five Dragons Palace.”
Huang Busung nodded, as if he understood.
The Wudang sect was a prestigious institution in Sipyeon and had good relations with high officials. Even with the army’s power, they could not simply attack the Wudang sect without cause.
Magistrate Yang Hoju spoke cautiously.
“Commander Shen, did they say it was the Five Dragons Palace, not the leader of the Wudang sect?”
“That’s right. It seems the Wudang sect will not get involved directly, so they will likely hand over the criminal.”
“I hope that is the case. But will the leader of the Five Dragons Palace hand over his disciple so easily…?”
Yang Hoju left the statement unfinished.
It was strange that they had gone to the Five Dragons Palace instead of the leader of the Wudang sect.
“And if they do not hand him over? Do you think they can say that after seeing our army?”
Shen Yanshou looked at Yang Hoju with displeasure.
With the troops of the command, even the Wudang sect could be defeated.
And they were hesitating over a single criminal?
“It was not my intention to suggest that the command’s troops were insufficient. Martial artists always protect their own. They call it ‘justice’ and are willing to give their lives for it.”
Huang Busung nodded.
“You are correct. When we fought the barbarians at the border, we received help from the martial artists. They value honor and justice greatly. It is not something to be taken lightly.”
As Huang Busung supported Yang Hoju, Shen Yanshou did not insist further.
Soon after, a group of monks descended from the mountain.
All were monks from the Five Dragons Palace.
At the same time, the leader of the Wudang sect and the elders also appeared.
The Wudang sect leader, Yeong Gyeolsang, and the leader of the Five Dragons Palace, Cheonmyeong, stepped forward in front of the military officers.
“This humble monk is Yeong Gyeolsang, leader of the Wudang sect.”
“I am Cheonmyeong, leader of the Five Dragons Palace. I heard you came for a disciple of our palace.”
Although Yeong Gyeolsang and Cheonmyeong introduced themselves, the military officers did not speak.
They had not come with good intentions, so they felt no need to introduce themselves.
Instead of the officers, Magistrate Yang Hoju intervened.
“I am Yang Hoju, magistrate of Juksan County. I will not extend this. The lay disciple of the Five Dragons Palace, Yeon Namcheon, injured my son without reason. A warrant for his arrest has been issued, so I would appreciate your cooperation.”
Cheonmyeong spoke cautiously.
“Sir, it is true that Yeon Namcheon struck your son, but your son also…”
“Monk! Watch your words! That is what the government is for, to judge right and wrong. Even if my son made some mistake, he should have reported it to the government. Taking justice into one’s own hands is prohibited by law. Setting aside my son’s mistakes, Yeon Namcheon is a criminal who violated the law and harmed someone. If you do not hand him over today, the Wudang sect will not escape punishment either.”
“Sir, I regret what happened to your son, but…”
Yang Hoju interrupted Cheonmyeong.
“Then, will you hand him over or not? The arrogance of martial sects has gone too far, to the point where the command troops have had to intervene. Remember that the fate of the Wudang sect depends on your words.”
Seeing that the situation was becoming tense, leader Yeong Gyeolsang intervened cautiously.
“Sir Yang, if a disciple of the Wudang sect commits a crime, he must be punished. But is Yeon Namcheon’s crime so severe as to mobilize the troops of Juksan County and the command?”
“The Wudang sect has been protecting him, which is why the army had to intervene.”
“Ah! Then what punishment will Yeon Namcheon receive?”
“He struck the son of a high official for personal reasons, causing injuries. He must receive an appropriate punishment…”
Before Yang Hoju could finish, a sound of disdain was heard among the monks of the Wudang sect.
Yang Hoju frowned and turned his head.
“Who is it? If you have something to say, do not hide and come out!”
A young man dressed as a civilian stepped out from among the monks.
Upon seeing the young man’s bruised face, Yang Hoju exclaimed.
“You must be Yeon Namcheon!”
“From what I see, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Yes, I am Yeon Namcheon.”
Yeon Jeokha stepped out confidently, and Yang Hoju quickly turned to Huang Busung.
“General! That young man is Yeon Namcheon!”
Yang Hoju spoke quickly and hid behind the officers.
He was afraid of being attacked by the monks of the Wudang sect or by Yeon Namcheon if he stayed in front.
Deputy Commander Shen Yanshou stepped forward firmly.
“I am Shen Yanshou, deputy commander of the Sipyeon command. Criminal Yeon Namcheon, surrender peacefully!”
Yeon Jeokha looked at Shen Yanshou with disgust.
“Uncle, who says I am a criminal? Do you think that just because I am standing still I am a punching bag? Listen, if you judge people only by their appearance, you will get into trouble.”
The monks of the Wudang sect closed their eyes upon hearing Yeon Namcheon’s words.
They knew Yeon Namcheon was eccentric, but calling a military officer “uncle” was too much.
Even Yeong Gyeolsang, who knew Yeon Jeokha was the Great Protector of Nokrim, shook his head side to side.
The anger of Shen Yanshou, the affected party, was indescribable.
“Bastard! You are one of those who only cry when they see authority!”
Shen Yanshou shouted to Commander Huang Busung.
“General! As you can see, this guy does not understand words. Give the order!”
Yeon Jeokha did not remain silent.
“How do you know I do not understand words? I have only said one thing.”
The gazes of Shen Yanshou and the monks of the Wudang sect turned toward Huang Busung’s mouth.
But Huang Busung said nothing, only staring at Yeon Jeokha.
It was strange to see someone so shameless in front of a great army.
“There is something else.”
Seeing someone so calm in front of a great army, he could not help but feel uncomfortable.
But no matter how much he thought about it, he did not remember anyone with such demeanor among the children of high officials or the royal family.
“General! Give the order!”
Upon hearing Shen Yanshou’s furious voice, Huang Busung regained his composure.
He had lost too much time.
In a situation like this, regardless of who was behind him, he could not avoid acting.
“Capture the criminal! Kill him if he resists!”
When Huang Busung gave the order, Shen Yanshou signaled the cavalry.
The three hundred horsemen in the front moved aside.
On flat ground, the cavalry would be useful, but in the mountains, it was not very effective.
Shen Yanshou waved his hand, and two hundred swordsmen advanced.
Behind them, five hundred spearmen lined up in a tight formation.
The entrance to Wudang Mountain was covered by the spears.
The hundred archers, positioned behind the spearmen, were barely visible.
The killing aura of the swordsmen and spearmen began to spread across Wudang Mountain.
The monks, who had seen the tactics of the elite army up close, did not know what to do.
They knew the army was terrifying, but seeing it in person exceeded their imagination.
Even martial masters would have difficulty crossing a forest of swords and spears.
When Huang Busung’s army finished preparing for the charge, leader Yeong Gyeolsang pulled back the monks.
If they got involved in the fight between Yeon Namcheon and the command, things could worsen.
Finally, only Yeon Jeokha remained in front of the mountain gate.
It was a situation that would make anyone tremble, but Yeon Jeokha seemed completely relaxed.
“Life is short. If things go wrong, I can flee to the mountains.”
If necessary, he could return to the Five Peaks. There was no need to live in fear.
But he also wanted to show the world how terrifying the mystical arts of the Five Dragons Palace were.
Just as he took a talisman from his pocket, leader Cheonmyeong shouted.
“Yeon Namcheon! The mystical arts of the Five Dragons Palace must follow the way of heaven. Do not harm the innocent!”
“Ah, yes.”
Yeon Jeokha responded thoughtlessly.
Of course, he had no intention of killing the soldiers.
But things do not always go as planned.
When you are pushed back and forth, it is possible that someone may get hurt or killed unintentionally.
If you worry about that, you will never be able to use mystical arts.
“Attack him!”
At Shen Yanshou’s shout, the swordsmen waiting to charge rushed forward.
“Ahhh!”
As the swordsmen ran with demonic faces, Yeon Namcheon quickly took out a talisman of “Black Cloud Covering Ten Thousand Miles.”
He threw the talisman into the air while reciting a spell.
“The black wind from the sky covers ten thousand miles with black clouds!”
*Whoosh-*
Suddenly, a strong wind blew towards Wudang.
Dust rose and broken branches flew in the wind.
Then, black clouds covered the entrance of the mountain.
Even so, the swordsmen charged like a pack of wolves.
They closed their eyes against the dust and swung their weapons whenever they felt a movement.
*Clang. Clang. Clang-*
Amidst the clouds and dust, the sounds of weapons clashing could be heard.
Huang Busung, watching the charge from the back, asked Shen Yanshou.
“What is that?”
“I heard that the Five Dragons Palace is famous for its mystical arts. It is probably one of them.”
“Damn it! Why didn’t they tell us this before? Magistrate Yang!”
Yang Hoju, who had been silently observing, quickly approached Huang Busung and bowed.
“Yeon Namcheon is known as the best in the mystical arts of the Five Dragons Palace. This is undoubtedly his doing.”
“Why didn’t you tell us before?! You should have informed us so we could prepare!”
“I’m sorry, general.”
“Tsk, tsk! Commander Shen.”
“Yes!”
“The mystical arts are just tricks, right?”
“That is what I have heard.”
“When the black cloud dissipates, withdraw the swordsmen and attack him with arrows from a distance. Arrows have no eyes, so they will not be deceived. Turn him into a porcupine, understood?”
“Understood!”
Shen Yanshou stared fixedly at the mountain gate covered by the black cloud.
After a quarter of an hour, the clouds and dust dissipated like morning fog.
Shen Yanshou gritted his teeth.
Of the two hundred swordsmen who charged, only about fifty remained.
The rest had entered Wudang Mountain, lost, without leaving a trace.
And the remaining fifty were not unscathed.
In the confusion of the black cloud, they had fought among themselves, and few could remain standing.