Chapter 73. Outer Regions Branches
"Doesn’t the 'mu' in bimu mean martial arts?"
"What does that matter?"
At Zhuge Ji-hwi’s firm response, Namgung Hyun let out a hollow laugh.
"This is my first time at the Alliance of Noble Clans, and I’m encountering a lot of unfamiliar customs."
"No, calligraphy bimu isn’t a tradition of the Alliance. It’s a game I just made up."
Zhuge Ji-hwi smiled and raised his hand. A maidservant standing nearby quickly approached.
"Could you fetch some jipilmuk (paper, brush, and ink)?”
The maidservant asked with a dazed expression.
"Pardon? Is that a type of wine?"
Zhuge Ji-hwi burst out laughing.
"No, I meant paper, brush, and ink."
"Oh! Jipilmuk! Yes, of course. I’ll bring it right away."
"Prepare enough for three people. It’s for the three of us."
At those words, Tang So-hwa subtly furrowed her brow.
"Three people?"
"Yes, myself, Young Master Namgung, and Lady Tang. We’ll compete together."
Tang So-hwa wore a troubled expression.
"I apologize, but I’m not well-versed in poetry and literature. I will withdraw from your bimu."
"Oh no, that won’t do. I came here precisely to confirm with my own eyes the rumor that Young Master Namgung and Lady Tang had a secret meeting in a private study."
Just then, Zhuge Ji-hwi spotted Tang Hak approaching nearby and curled his lips into a crooked smile.
"I’m truly curious whether the two of you, with such deep knowledge of calligraphy, were having a literary discussion—or whether, as these people murmur, you were sharing an intimate bond in secret."
"Brother!"
Tang Hak shouted, face flushed red with anger.
It was rare for Tang Hak to show anger, so So-hwa, forgetting what she was about to say to Zhuge Ji-hwi, turned to look at him.
With a cold expression, Tang Hak muttered.
"Do not speak so carelessly."
"What did this brother eat today? Why’s he acting like this? Hah! Lady Tang abd Young Master Namgung, please understand. It seems our Young Lord here drank a bit too much and spoke without thinking."
Zhuge Ji-hwi curved his lips quietly. Setting his cup down, he spoke in a low voice.
"Hushing it up like that isn’t proper etiquette. That’s actually more disrespectful."
Though his gaze was fixed on Tang So-hwa and Namgung Hyun seated across from him, his words were aimed at Peng Iran and Tang Hak.
"You both know what people have been saying about the two of them, don’t you?"
Zhuge Ji-hwi swept his eyes across those who had gathered nearby.
"What difference does it make to be cautious with your words only in front of them? Lady Tang and Young Master Namgung may not have heard a word, but those spreading disrespectful rumors behind their backs won’t change their minds unless we confront it head-on."
Those who had approached, hoping for entertainment upon seeing the Young Lords gather, held their breath.
Zhuge Ji-hwi looked back at Tang So-hwa and Namgung Hyun, his lips curving into a faint smile.
"So let’s do it—calligraphy bimu. Show everyone that you two are interested enough in calligraphy to converse for hours in a private study."
Tang So-hwa stared at Zhuge Ji-hwi, who spoke in a light tone.
His tone was light, but the content was not.
For some reason, he was now trying to help her and Namgung Hyun.
Tang So-hwa usually paid no mind to meaningless rumors and ignored what others said. But to the Young Lord before her, it seemed the chatter wasn’t something to overlook.
Her gaze slid further off to the side. She saw Tang Hak with tightly pressed lips, visibly frustrated. No matter how indifferent she could be, she now understood there were those around her who couldn’t be so unaffected by rumors about her.
Suddenly, birdsongs could be heard.
The entire area had fallen silent, all waiting for the two of them to respond.
The sounds of nature, covering human voices, gradually calmed her heart. On top of that peaceful stillness, So-hwa placed her voice.
"My skills are not worth boasting of, but since you put it that way, I have no choice but to comply."
"Come to think of it, I've heard rumors about Young Master Namgung, but never any about Lady Tang."
Zhuge Ji-hwi said something cryptic as he looked at Tang So-hwa.
"Which is why I find Lady Tang far more frightening."
Tang So-hwa replied with nothing but a smile.
Just then, the maidservant who had gone to fetch the jipilmuk returned. Other attendants who had been eavesdropping quickly approached and cleared the table.
The large table was swiftly emptied, and fresh white paper was laid across it.
People began to crowd around like clouds.
"What’s going on?"
"I heard Young Lord Zhuge challenged them to a bimu. No, can you even call this a bimu? Can writing poetry and literature be called a bimu?"
"This year's Young Lord started a fight first? Whoa, is that allowed in the Zhuge Clan?"
"Maybe he doesn’t want to be next year’s Young Lord. Anyway, this should be fun—Tang, Namgung, and Zhuge are clashing. Wait, while they grind the ink, let’s go call the calligraphy judge."
Word quickly spread that an unprecedented calligraphy bimu was unfolding in the history of the Five Noble Clans, and even those who hadn’t been by the lake began to be summoned.
***
Tang Ji-ha rubbed his temple.
A sudden headache had struck.
“Tang Clan Head, is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
When Namgung An asked, Tang Ji-ha answered in a cold tone.
‘Why did that bastard have to bring the illegitimate child this year of all times!’
Overcome with frustration, Tang Ji-ha gestured to one of the White Tiger Unit guards standing behind him. As the guard approached, Tang Ji-ha gave an order.
“Go and take a look.”
“Yes.”
Even without a subject, the White Tiger Unit martial artist quietly exited the hall, already accustomed to this kind of sudden, ambiguous order over the past few days.
Tang Ji-ha emptied his cup again.
He felt incredibly uneasy.
It was as if something was unfolding, but the uncertainty of what it could be made it even more terrifying.
He habitually rubbed his temple again before gripping his wine cup.
“You’re drinking rather quickly today. I can’t keep up with your pace, Tang Clan Head.”
“Don’t mind me—drink at your own pace.”
At the gentle voice of the Zhuge Clan Head, Tang Ji-ha replied with a smile. But inwardly, he was far from amused.
‘That snake is getting ready to stir trouble again.’
Thanks to the strange rumor spreading about So-hwa and Namgung Hyun, that snake-tongued Zhuge Clan Head took every chance to bring it up and grate his nerves. That’s why Tang Ji-ha hadn’t wanted to attend this gathering.
But Elder Peng Sihyeon of the Peng Clan had pleaded earnestly, and so, with no way to refuse, the Tang Clan Head gathered the other clan heads and elders for a luncheon.
As the conversation began to veer in an unwelcome direction, Peng Sihyeon finally pressed forward with the main topic.
“All of you here must have heard about the Blood Sect’s attack on the Shaanxi branch.”
Since the incident had happened recently, everyone was on edge about it. If not for the Alliance of the Five Noble Clans, each clan would have been convening privately to deal with the matter.
The elders of the five clans, itching to speak, each added their thoughts to the topic Elder Peng had raised.
“I never believed the Blood Sect had truly disappeared. Still, I didn’t expect they had grown bold enough to launch a frontal assault.”
“Perhaps they didn’t grow stronger—they were cornered and simply bared their claws.”
“Hmph, the headquarters said as much. Then again, the headquarters is mostly made up of Zhuge clan members, so I suppose their stance is just the Zhuge Clan’s opinion.”
At that sneer, the Zhuge Clan Head’s face shifted subtly. Perhaps fearing the conversation might escalate, Namgung Munseon stepped in.
“Elder Peng, was this gathering meant to discuss that incident?”
“No. I didn’t call such busy people here just to speak of what everyone already knows. As you've probably heard, traces of the lost Great Desert Solar Palace martial arts were found on the body of a disciple from the Mount Hua Sect. Elder Muso himself said he had to draw out heat from the acupoint—so it must be certain.”
Clink.
The sound of Elder Peng Sihyeon setting her cup down echoed loudly. Realizing everyone was waiting for her to continue, she spoke again.
“I’m sure all of you have heard about the method of extracting that heat. You’ve likely been trying to obtain elixirs infused with yin energy, like the Extreme Ice Grass.”
Someone coughed awkwardly.
The price of the elixirs from the North Sea, which had been traded secretly, had recently surged. Likely, those in this room had contributed to that surge.
Peng Sihyeon smiled gently as she continued.
"I didn’t bring this up to reproach anyone, nor do I have the right to—I, too, have been trying to find suppliers. That’s why I am bringing it up now."”
Elder Peng calmly posed a question.
“What do you all think of opening relations with the North Sea branch?”
At her words, Namgung Munseon’s expression turned unpleasant.
“The North Sea branch? Did you just say the North Sea branch?”
“Yes. It seems the Alliance Leader is considering trade with them. Ah, perhaps the Zhuge Clan has already heard of it. I hear the headquarters is currently surveying Alliance members’ opinions.”
“This is news to us as well.”
The Zhuge Clan Head smiled ambiguously and distanced himself. Though Peng Sihyeon smiled in return, she didn’t seem convinced.
Still, as it wasn’t a critical issue, she let it go and continued in a composed tone.
“The North Sea branch calls itself the ‘Outer Region Branch,’ but the Murim Alliance has never had any formal dealings with them. In truth, don’t most of you here regard them as traitors?”
In the past, when the Blood Sect was rapidly expanding its influence, it absorbed sects from outside the Central Plains one by one.
In response,the Five Palace Lords from the Outer Regions formed an alliance to strike back against the Blood Sect. The Central Plains grouped them together under the name “Five Palaces of the Outer Regions.” Both the Great Desert Solar Palace and the North Sea Ice Palace were among them.
However, the Five Palaces of the Outer Regions lost the war against the Blood Sect, and their lords and direct descendants were relentlessly hunted by the Blood Demons.
The situation had been so dire that they reached out to the Central Plains for aid, despite the distance.
The Murim Alliance, intrigued by the martial arts of the Outer Regions and desirous of their elixirs, had previously maintained limited contact. Clinging to that faint connection, the Five Palaces of the Outer Regions begged for help.
But the Murim Alliance rejected their plea.
It had been the natural course of things. The Outer Regions were, as the name implied, beyond the Central Plains. The Murim Alliance was merely a martial collective—not a nation—so it had neither the duty nor the justification to interfere in matters beyond its borders.
Yet when the Five Palaces of the Outer Regions fell, fear gripped the hearts of many.
If the Blood Demon had conquered the lands surrounding the Central Plains, what would his next target be?
But the Central Plains weren’t the only ones who feared this.
Even the Demonic Sect, which had watched the Blood Sect’s war unfold from afar, grew uneasy. Perhaps from fear, they struck first, launching a preemptive attack on the Blood Sect. It was a war fought with total annihilation in mind, and as a result, the Demonic Sect was nearly wiped out. The Blood Sect was also pushed to the brink of extinction.
In response, voices within the Murim Alliance began to rise, insisting that they should strike before the Blood Sect could regroup.
However, the sheer distance and unease over meddling in matters beyond their borders led the Alliance Leader to decide against sending forces to the Outer Regions.
Those who had advocated for a preemptive strike, frustrated by their rejected counsel, banded together and left the Central Plains. Claiming they sought to eradicate the weakened Blood Sect and protect the innocents of the Outer Regions, they divided the territories among themselves and settled there.
These exiles continued to use the name of the Murim Alliance to lend authority to their cooperation, but the Alliance Leader, having been defied, refused to recognize them as legitimate branches. The rest of the Alliance members agreed.
Leaving with the martial arts of the Central Plains was tantamount to abandoning their sects. It was, in effect, an act of betrayal.
Thus, the Murim Alliance severed all ties with the Outer Regions Branches. From then on, those branches were completely ostracized.
Given that history, Peng Sihyeon understood the heavy silence in the room.
The Outer Regions Branches had become a taboo subject within the Murim Alliance.
Only Peng Sihyeon could speak on the matter without restraint.
“Still, in light of recent events, the Alliance Leader is now considering requesting aid from the North Sea Branch to acquire the Extreme Ice Grass. Furthermore, he intends to investigate whether any secret manuals from the Great Desert Solar Palace still remain in the Desert Branch.”
Having worked in the headquarters for years, Peng Sihyeon had far-reaching connections. She had once been romantically involved with the Namgung Clan Head and held the deep trust of the Alliance Leader. Thus, she was better informed than anyone here about the Blood Sect’s recent assault.
Now, she began trying to persuade the members of the Five Noble Clans, who still sat in heavy silence.
“The Blood Sect lay low for years, only to suddenly devour the Outer Regions. The lords of the Five Palaces of the Outer Regions, and even the leader of the Demonic Sect, were slain by the Blood Demon. The current state of the Central Plains mirrors that same quiet before the storm.”
Her voice lowered.
“We cannot afford to repeat the same mistake. I believe this time, the Murim Alliance must reestablish relations with the Outer Regions Branches.”