Chapter 196

Chapter 196
## Chapter 196: Feigned and Real (1)

“Hmm.”

A muffled groan slipped past Sima Sang’s teeth.

Up until this moment, the momentum had been entirely in their favor.

The North Sea Ice Palace was currently ravaging the regions of Hebei and Shaanxi while keeping Shaolin under intense pressure, and simultaneously, the Blood Cult was destabilizing the martial landscape of Shandong. The Orthodox Heaven Alliance had seized that opening to assert its influence. Every piece of the puzzle was falling into place precisely as they had envisioned.

While the Iron Blood Palace’s total annihilation of the Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan sects had been an unforeseen turn of events, it had ultimately served to bolster their overarching goals.

Their strategy had been to conclude this phase by halting the progress of the Sword Rear Guard and wiping out the elite martial artists of the Sword Pavilion as they journeyed toward Shandong.

However, a fracture had surfaced. Though it appeared to be nothing more than a minor split for the time being, there was no way to predict how wide that gap might eventually tear.

“Of all the possible moments, it had to be this one.”

Sima Sang’s expression grew shadowed as he tapped his fingers rhythmically against the wooden table.

“Where on earth did the information leak?”

The situation had struck with the suddenness of a lightning strike, leaving him completely in the dark regarding the shifting tides of the conflict.

“The full picture will become clearer in time, but it appears the Beggars’ Sect launched their counter-offensive immediately following the raid on their Nanjing branch. They must have been operating with meticulous preparation.”

Yaul Soseong looked every bit as troubled as Sima Sang.

“Losing a functional spy network is a significant blow, but the true crisis lies in the fact that our cult’s association with the Hao Gate has been brought into the light. Consider the Yeongho Clan in Nanjing. It seems highly suspicious that they weren’t alerted—given they control the territory surrounding the Hao Gate’s primary branch—before the strike occurred.”

“I received a report from the Handler regarding that situation. He maintains that it won’t escalate into a major problem.”

Yaul Soseong conjured an image of the Dongryeong Lord, the figure who pulled the strings of the Yeongho Clan from the darkness, and pushed for more detail.

“Does ‘no major problem’ imply their link to the Hao Gate remains hidden? Or does it mean that even if the truth is out, the consequences are negligible?”

“He asserts that they utilized deep covers and false identities when interacting with the Yeongho Clan. The leadership of the Yeongho side is confident in this, so there is no need for excessive concern.”

“I understand.”

“They even went so far as to send a formal apology to the Yeongho Clan to maintain appearances.”

“If that is the case, we can rest easy. That is a weight off my mind.”

“Indeed. Their proficiency in managing these complications is truly impressive.”

Sima Sang felt vindicated in his choice to transition the Yeongho Clan from mere puppets to genuine partners. Naturally, the bulk of their subordinates remained in the dark, but that was of no consequence. With the total loyalty and command of the clan leader secured, the Blood Cult would extract whatever resources they required from the Yeongho Clan regardless.

“Nevertheless, it remains a point of concern. If the intelligence infrastructure of the Hao Gate collapses, our maneuvers within Shandong could be compromised.”

“I have already deployed a fresh wave of scouts and informants to Shandong to fill the void left by the Hao Gate—sending a substantial contingent. Furthermore, we will lean heavily on the information networks of the Do Gwang Merchant Association and the Yang Hui Escort Agency.”

Yaul Soseong let out a breath of relief, encouraged by the decisiveness of Sima Sang’s actions.

“So, the mission continues as planned? I have heard that the Sword Rear Guard and the warriors of the Sword Pavilion have already linked up with the Orthodox Heaven Alliance. Their arrival in Shandong is imminent.”

Sima Sang gave a firm nod in response to Yaul Cheonkyeong’s inquiry.

“Certainly. We cannot afford to let a window of opportunity like this pass us by.”

“To be honest, I have some reservations. I have faith in Blood Spirit, but the Sword Pavilion…”

Sima Sang let out a soft, knowing laugh as Yaul Cheonkyeong’s voice trailed off.

“Even I find it concerning when looking at the facts objectively. The military strength of Blood Spirit simply does not equal that of the Sword Pavilion. Particularly their senior members—their combat skills are truly fearsome. It is common knowledge that their power exceeds even that of the elders belonging to the Nine Great Sects.”

“Which is precisely why I was wondering if we should bolster our ranks. Is it too late to increase our numbers?”

Yaul Soseong offered the thought with a note of caution.

“And yet, I harbor no doubts regarding the eventual fall of the Sword Rear Guard and the Sword Pavilion.”

He broke into a robust laugh at the confused expressions worn by Yaul Soseong and Yaul Cheonkyeong.

“There is no complex reason. I simply place my trust in the Lord and Elder Wu Gong. Furthermore, Elder First has personally gone to the front to observe the efficacy of our new units in a live environment. You both realize that is merely a pretext, don’t you?”

“He didn’t state it explicitly, but it was quite clear he wanted to measure the capabilities of the Sword Rear Guard himself.”

“I hadn’t expected him to set out with such urgency.”

Yaul Soseong and Yaul Cheonkyeong shared a knowing look.

“Also, for some reason, the Shandong Wicked Families have been behaving oddly lately—likely due to the influence of the Orthodox Heaven Alliance. They are becoming much more confrontational than before, almost to the point of recklessness.”

“There is a visible pattern there. As you noted, it is as if they are trying to stall the growing influence of the Orthodox Heaven Alliance.”

“I am worried that the meddling of the Shandong Wicked Families might create complications.”

Sima Sang slowly shook his head, his countenance radiating certainty despite Yaul Soseong’s worries.

“That will not happen. The Shandong Wicked Families will be far too occupied with their own survival to interfere.”

—

“The situation is becoming quite entertaining.”

Eum Jeokso chuckled as he reviewed the intelligence brought by Jong Yo.

“We have picked up similar whispers on our side, but is this data reliable, Strategist?”

Jong Yo gave a casual shrug to Bi Gal, the commander of the Manan Hall—the primary intelligence wing of the Iron Blood Palace.

“Prior to joining the Palace Lord, I established a modest information web of my own. It isn’t vast or teeming with personnel, but it is quite effective. This report arrived with great haste, but my sources claim it is fully vetted, so it should be considered trustworthy.”

Bi Gal remained quiet, considering Jong Yo’s self-assured tone.

“It seems, then, that the Blood Cult’s successes in Shandong were largely dependent on the support of the Hao Gate after all.”

Jong Yo inclined his head respectfully at Eum Jeokso’s observation.

“That is correct.”

“Now that they have been blinded, I wonder how they intend to manage.”

“They will likely retreat into the shadows. The martial clans of Shandong are pushing back fiercely, the Orthodox Heaven Alliance is mobilizing, and now the Sword Rear Guard and Sword Pavilion are adding their might to the fray. There is a high probability they will go into hiding.”

Eum Jeokso shifted his gaze toward Jong Yo after considering Bi Gal’s perspective.

Jong Yo shook his head in disagreement.

“In all honesty, I cannot say for sure. There are too many shifting elements to make a firm prediction.”

“Shifting elements? Such as?”

“I cannot predict how the North Sea Ice Palace will act—they have massed their warriors near Shaolin and have since gone silent.”

“Following that logic, our own progression after crushing the Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan sects could be considered a variable as well.”

“Precisely.”

“The friction between the Shandong martial world and the Orthodox Heaven Alliance is another factor. Currently, it appears the Alliance is assisting Shandong, but our reports indicate the local clans are far from happy about the Alliance’s expansion.”

“If I were in the position of the Shandong Wicked Families, I would also be wary of the Orthodox Heaven Alliance gaining so much ground.”

Eum Jeokso nodded, finding the sentiment logical.

“The movements of the Sword Rear Guard and the Sword Pavilion are also wild cards.”

“Can they really be seen that way? In this climate, they would be the most formidable adversaries the Blood Cult faces—the ones they would naturally want to avoid.”

“On the contrary, they are the very targets the Blood Cult most desires to destroy.”

Eum Jeokso went still for a brief moment at Jong Yo’s remark, then a grin spread across his face.

“A fair point.”

“With all these overlapping factors, it is impossible to determine the Blood Cult’s next move. They might unite with the North Sea Ice Palace for an assault on Shaolin, continue their harassment of Shandong, or vanish into the darkness as the Hall Leader of Manan suggests.”

“Or perhaps they will launch a surprise strike against the Sword Rear Guard?”

“It is possible.”

“Hmm. I am curious to see what path the Blood Cult vermin choose. However, it doesn’t impact us at the moment. Hall Leader Manan.”

“Yes, Palace Lord.”

“How much distance remains between us and Shaolin?”

“At our current rate of travel, we should reach them in roughly ten days.”

“Ten days. The North Sea Ice Palace won’t make a move before then, will they?”

“It is doubtful. If they were unaware of our palace’s involvement, they might, but they are cognizant of our alliance with the Blood Cult. They have no incentive to strike alone.”

“Even so, let’s pick up the pace a bit, Strategist. We might as well have a proper confrontation. There is no satisfaction in crushing a weakened enemy—it would reflect poorly on us.”

“As you command.”

Jong Yo bowed low, acknowledging the order.

—

Within the abbot’s private quarters at Shaolin Temple, currently under the looming shadow of the North Sea Ice Palace.

Abbot Gong Su sat with his palm pressed against his brow, lost in heavy thought, his exhaustion evident to all. He was not the only one; the gathered high-ranking monks all shared the same weary aura.

The door creaked open, and Mu Yo, the Head of the Reception Hall, stepped inside.

“I apologize for my late arrival.”

“Think nothing of it; you have been toiling well into the night.”

Gong Su looked at him with a gaze full of sympathy. With the threat from the North Sea Ice Palace becoming a reality and a flood of warriors descending upon Song Mountain to support Shaolin, Mu Yo was stretched thinner than a man could be expected to handle.

“It is no trouble at all.”

“I was informed of a disturbance earlier. Was it resolved?”

Gong Jin, the Head of the Discipline Hall, inquired.

“Yes. It was merely a few small misunderstandings. They have been settled without further incident.”

“Large gatherings always breed conflict. You have done well.”

Gong Hu, the Head of the Heaven Kings Hall, let out a heavy sigh following Gong Jin’s remark.

“I cannot fault those who have traveled here to defend our home, but conflicts are erupting at every turn.”

Gong Yeong, the Head of the Heaven Buddha Hall, joined the conversation.

“Since the temple provides primarily vegetarian meals, many of the visitors are sourcing their own food. The issue is the hunting, the open fires, and the consumption of meat everywhere one looks…”

“It is an unavoidable situation. We cannot expect them to survive on vegetables alone, and since we lack the means to provide meat, we cannot justly reprimand those who provide for themselves.”

The others nodded with a sense of unease at the words of Won Il, the Head of the Ksitigarbha Hall.

Gong Su turned his attention back to Mu Yo.

“As long as they maintain some level of decorum within the temple boundaries, do not make an issue of it. We cannot expect laypeople to adhere strictly to our monastic codes.”

“Understood. Furthermore, the food shortage should be alleviated shortly.”

“In what way?”

“Lay disciples who manage organizations like the Yong Seung Escort and various trade guilds have taken it upon themselves to secure provisions for the assembled warriors. They recognized that this was our most pressing concern.”

“Ha ha! That is truly a blessing.”

For the first time in a long while, genuine smiles appeared on the faces of Gong Su and the other leaders at the news of the lay disciples’ efforts.

“Oh, and what of the others?”

Mu Yo’s slight smile faded instantly at Won Il’s question.

“They remain quiet with no significant activity, but the fury they harbor is beyond anything this disciple can describe.”

“They live in a state of constant, unimaginable pain. Ensure they are treated with extra compassion.”

“I will do so.”

The survivors from the Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan sects, which had been decimated by the Iron Blood Palace, had not returned to their ruined homes. Instead, they had come to Shaolin to assist. They lacked the strength to face the Iron Blood Palace on their own, and more importantly, it was confirmed that the Palace was marching toward Shaolin. While restoring their fallen sects was important, the thirst for retribution came first.

“When is the Iron Blood Palace expected to arrive?”

Gong Su answered Won Il’s question with a grim expression.

“The Beggars’ Sect estimates approximately ten days at their current pace.”

“Ten days.”

A heavy, oppressive silence filled the room after Won Il’s quiet repetition.

With the terrifying power of the North Sea Ice Palace moving south through Hebei and Shaanxi, the news of the Iron Blood Palace’s eastward march—following their destruction of Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan—hit Shaolin with the force of a thunderclap. Even though many warriors had arrived to help, it was unclear if they could withstand a coordinated strike from both forces. To make matters worse, the Blood Cult’s activities had forced the martial forces of Shandong, led by the Wicked Families, to pull back to defend their own borders.

“There is no need to be overwhelmed by worry, Martial Uncle. The Beggars’ Sect believes that the dismantling of the Hao Gate—which served as the Blood Cult’s eyes—will lead to the stabilization of Shandong very soon.”

“Is that the consensus?”

“Yes. Regardless of Shandong’s current state of panic, the Orthodox Heaven Alliance is performing quite well. Even with significant casualties, they are stubbornly pushing the Blood Cult back. With the Sword Rear Guard and the Sword Pavilion’s warriors moving north, the Beggars’ Sect believes Shandong will be secured shortly. Once that is done, they will hurry to our side.”

“The events of the world rarely unfold as cleanly as we might hope. We must remain vigilant and observe everything twice over.”

Gong Su bowed his head respectfully to Won Il’s warning.

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Particularly regarding the North Sea Ice Palace. They are aware of everything we are. Their current inactivity makes me very uneasy.”

“The Beggars’ Sect is dedicating all its resources to monitoring them. There have been no major shifts yet, so please, do not trouble yourself too much.”

“That is a relief to hear.”

Despite his reply, the shadows of worry did not leave Won Il’s eyes.