Tense As A Touch

“People of the martial world really do love to gather in crowds. Aren’t they busy? What do you think, Third Sahyung?”

Jeok-woo grinned slyly and nudged Yu I-jeong beside him. His martial brother, arms folded, didn’t move a muscle.

“Do you even know where you stand, daring to step foot here?”

Go Yu-saeng of the Yellow Stone Sect thundered as he rose. Despite his courtesy name “Moon Mountain,” his rigid and unbending nature could not endure heretics trespassing into Orthodox territory.

“How dare the Taiyi Divine Sect set foot here!”

“Murderers, how could they…”

At his roar, disciples of the Five Great Mountain Swords erupted with protest at the sect’s appearance. Some, inflamed, even drew weapons to rush forward.

“Calm yourselves.”

A calm yet steady voice instantly dominated the room. Jo Yang gently placed a hand on Go Yu-saeng’s trembling shoulder and spoke evenly.

“Elder Go, let us first hear the reason for their coming.”

He had already expected the Taiyi Divine Sect to appear one way or another, so he was not surprised. What mattered was how many came, and what they demanded. To flare up at provocation was to risk falling into their trap.

“I have long heard of you two young heroes’ fame; seeing you now, it seems it is no empty reputation.”

Jo Yang bowed toward Jeok-woo and Yu I-jeong as he spoke. His courtesy was so flawless it almost embarrassed his opponents.

“Indeed, the Venerable Elder is precise in judgment and possesses uncommon insight—quite unlike that old man there.”

At Jeok-woo’s insolent words, Yellow Stone Sect disciples flushed red, gripping their swords. But Bu Neungpa, realizing he was merely baiting them, raised a hand to calm them.

“However, knowing you are uninvited guests, if you withdraw and later seek a proper audience, then we may receive you.”

Polite yet firm, Jo Yang’s words made the Orthodox members snicker—only a fool would miss the meaning: this gathering was not for the likes of them.

“Heh, the Venerable Elder’s tongue conceals an axe.”

Just then, a gentle, flowing voice was heard, resonating like an echo from the deep slopes of Dhuta Mountain. Soon after, a neatly dressed scholar strolled into the hall, leisurely waving a fan.

“Cheonchu of the Taiyi Divine Sect, Yi Seomun, greets the many seniors of the martial world.”

He bowed deeply with impeccable decorum. Nothing about his bearing was frivolous—had he not revealed himself, one might have believed him a disciple of the Five Great Mountain Swords.

“Hero Yi, it has been truly long since we met.”

Jo Yang recalled meeting Yi Seomun years ago. Then as now, he looked unchanged—though near middle age, his face was bright and youthful as ever.

“It is true we are uninvited guests, but since we are both cause and purpose of this conference, what spectators could be more important than we?”

At Yi Seomun’s smiling reply, the noisy hall fell silent—he was not wrong.

“Hmph! Then since the matter has been raised, it would do no harm to weigh right and wrong here and now.”

As Jo Yang hesitated to answer, hot-tempered Bu Neungpa cut in. Sooner or later that slippery fellow would wriggle away with sophistry anyway—better to extract a confession here while all the Five Great Mountain Swords were gathered.

“I have always enjoyed weighing right and wrong—it pleases me to no end.”

Yi Seomun showed not the slightest embarrassment, smiling at Bu Neungpa as if meeting an old friend.

“That reckless fool Jeok So-and-so annihilated the entire Yeonban Escort Agency family. How will you answer for the wrongful deaths of our old friends of the Five Great Mountain Swords?”

“Ooh…”

Yi Seomun stroked his chin with a grave expression. At his brazen attitude, Bu Neungpa bellowed, venom in his voice. He longed to rip that smirking mouth wide open, but forced himself to endure for the sake of face before his disciples.

“Jeok-woo, is this true?”

Yi Seomun turned to Jeok-woo, feigning ignorance.

“Yes, Eldest Sahyung. I swept those shameless, brazen wretches away with my saber.”

Jeok-woo shouted in a voice full of excitement, without the slightest hesitation.

Yun-seon, who had clung to a sliver of hope it might be a misunderstanding, let out a faint groan. He had gravely misjudged him. Ju-un glanced at Yun-seon’s stricken face but said nothing—the ways of the martial world could not be explained in a few words.

“So it is, then? What a truly lamentable affair.”

Yi Seomun feigned a sorrowful expression, but not a trace of sincerity could be felt. Bu Neungpa could endure no longer and drew the Soaring Sword.

“Then you too must lay down your head!”

Bu Neungpa’s face contorted like that of a savage beast, teeth grinding audibly. None in the Yellow Stone Sect had ever seen him lose his composure so. They trembled at his ferocity, yet also felt proud of their sect.

“That would be troublesome, Senior Bu.”

“What?”

Yi Seomun lightly tapped Bu Neungpa’s Soaring Sword with his fan as he spoke.

“You wished to weigh right and wrong, so allow me one word.”

He suddenly slipped to Bu Neungpa’s right and leaned to his ear. His movement was so swift that by the time onlookers noticed, Yi Seomun had already returned to his place.

“Now do you understand why Jeok-woo cannot be handed over?”

Hearing Yi Seomun’s whisper, Bu Neungpa froze, unable to move. His face flushed red, then turned pale, his complexion shifting as if inner congestion boiled within.

No one knew what words that Demonic man had uttered to silence the once-ferocious wielder of the Soaring Sword. Only Go Yu-saeng, sensing danger for his brother-in-arms, quickly pressed a hand to his back and quietly infused sect energy. Slowly Bu Neungpa’s breathing steadied and color returned to his face.

“Then what of the Ilshimbang affair?”

At the sharp voice, Yi Seomun looked to see a stern middle-aged woman glaring at him from among the Zen Cloud Sword Sect.

“Is this not Sect Leader Hae Mi, So Geum-jeong of the Zen Cloud Sword Sect? It has been a long time indeed.”

Though his greeting was directed at So Geum-jeong, his gaze shifted to So So-jeong beside her. Her beauty had faded somewhat, yet her features remained fine. Yi Seomun sighed faintly with an inexplicable sense of guilt.

“Hmph! Do you think to evade with a few words?”

Catching his glance toward So So-jeong, So Geum-jeong grew even more incensed, her hatred spilling over—no one among the Five Great Mountain Swords hated them more.

“Come to think, there is a familiar face here.”

As Yi Seomun chuckled, the gatekeeper who had testified to the Ilshimbang massacre on the stage earlier turned deathly pale.

“I told you clearly to deliver the message to Dhuta Mountain, but I never thought you would dramatize it so.”

Yi Seomun shook his head slowly, as if in regret.

“Why did you do that?”

As Yi Seomun moved toward him, the old man jumped up. He opened his mouth as if to explain, but sweat poured down his face and no sound came out.

“My, shall I help you?”

Yi Seomun lowered his brows and moved toward him.

“Ugh… urk!”

The old man suddenly clutched his throat with both hands, crying out in agony, then collapsed backward.

“My, my…”

Yi Seomun appeared faintly surprised, then regained composure and slowly waved his fan again.

“Murder!”

“That murdering fiend!”

“Damnable wretch!”

The hall roared with curses. The shock of seeing the innocent old man’s ghastly death before their eyes was beyond words. Yi Seomun, killing calmly with his courteous face, seemed like a devil incarnate.

“This has become most troublesome.”

Yu I-jeong, watching indifferently from the rear, could discern all with hearing alone. He found his senior brother’s needless wordplay with these people distasteful—conversation was futile.

“Eldest Sahyung, time is short.”

Though calm and quiet, his voice carried immense internal force, silencing the hall. Disciples of the Five Great Mountain Swords suddenly felt their chests weighed down. Yun-seon, untrained in martial arts, felt nauseous, as if he would vomit.

“Alright, alright.”

Yi Seomun snapped to attention at his junior’s rebuke. If Yu I-jeong grew angry, nothing could stop him—his arrows alone could ruin all his plans. Yi Seomun steadied his voice, bowed lightly toward Jo Yang, and spoke.

“Enough talk. May I now speak the main point?”

Jo Yang felt his heart grow heavy at their power. He had thought numbers and martial strength gave them the advantage, but facing them now he wavered. Yet his benevolent expression did not waver.

“Until now we have not interfered with the Taiyi Divine Sect’s growth. Even when you sometimes broke the laws of the martial world, we forgave, thinking you might improve in time. But acts like the slaughter of the Yeonban Escort Agency and Ilshimbang for selfish gain—we can no longer stand by. Therefore—”

“Therefore?”

Yi Seomun snickered, repeating his words, his face full of scorn and ridicule.

“We, the Five Great Mountain Swords, demand the dissolution of the Taiyi Divine Sect and your expulsion from Gyeongguk.”

When Jo Yang finished, all the Five Great Mountain Swords disciples thundered with cheers and applause. They were moved, but also relieved—busy circulating qi against Taiyi Divine Sect’s sudden attack, Jo Yang’s every word seemed to ease their chests. His voice indeed carried a force that countered Yu I-jeong’s pressure.

“What sheer brazen thievery—a thief holding a staff and beating other thieves with it!”¹

This time, a clear voice like falling jewels filled the hall. From beyond the main gate appeared Hyunjin, Okhyeong of Taiyi Divine Sect.

“The Little White Blossom!”

“Wow… like a celestial maiden.”

At her beauty, the young men of the Five Great Mountain Swords lost their wits. They had heard rumors she was like Chang’e of the Moon Palace, but never seen it until now.

“Hyunjin, you came sooner than expected. Did you carry out the task?”

Yi Seomun had been frowning deeply, but at sight of his junior sister’s face, he broke into a smile.

“As you instructed, I have stationed the children within the four gates.”

She answered stiffly, then swept the hall with an expressionless gaze. Her eyes paused briefly on Yun-seon’s face, but quickly moved away.

“We have no intention of leaving. If you think you can drive us out, by all means try.”

Yi Seomun had been angry with Jo Yang, but Hyunjin’s news lifted his spirits—the plan was unfolding smoothly.

“This place is now surrounded by three hundred disciples of the Taiyi Divine Sect.”

At the shocking news, all the Five Great Mountain Swords fell speechless. From Yi Seomun’s demeanor, it was no idle boast.

“Even the Emptiness Dhuta Sect disciples your sect leader hid away have been subdued. You have no options: either never see the outside world again, or accept our terms. Which will it be?”

Jo Yang, shocked at the unforeseen turn, bit his lip hard. Despite all their careful preparations, he could not fathom how they had been subdued so easily.

일촉즉발 (一觸卽發), Tense as A Touch:
A state so tense that a single touch could set off an explosion; “on the brink of eruption.”