Chapter 365: Falsely Accused (2)

At that moment, a single hypothesis struck Yong Hwarin.

‘That garlic smell, it’s the same smell that comes when phosphorus ignites.’

In my previous life, I had traded phosphorus with the imperial palace, so I was familiar with it.

Phosphorus was a highly flammable substance that could spontaneously combust when in contact with air, giving off a greenish flame.

I realized then that the Explosive Phosphorus Pellet had appeared earlier than it should have.

‘How could this be? The Explosive Phosphorus Pellet was developed in the imperial palace. That was why I had once supplied phosphorus to the palace. But this should only be possible five years from now…’

But for now, clearing my false charge was the priority, so I began to speak slowly in a heavy tone.

“Reverend Cheongmyeong did not fall victim to the Black Death God Poison Art.”

Reverend Gongwoo asked,

“Do you have any proof?”

“The garlic smell is the proof. Reverend Cheongmyeong’s body exploded because of the Explosive Phosphorus Pellet. The pellet is created by refining phosphorus into a bomb-like form. Once ingested, when one circulates qi, the body will explode as the pellet detonates inside. Reverend Cheongmyeong was caught by this while training here in the Meditation Hall.”

Despite his old age, Elder Suryang Dojang, acting Sect Leader of Qingcheng Sect and known for his imposing black beard, asked in a booming voice,

“Perhaps my knowledge is shallow, but this is the first I have heard of something called the Explosive Phosphorus Pellet. Does anyone here know of it?”

At his question, the others only exchanged glances without saying a word.

“Then I shall ask Young Master Tang. Have you heard of this Explosive Phosphorus Pellet?”

If even the Sichuan Tang Clan had never heard of it, one might think I had fabricated the story on the spot.

But Tang Cheolgi too had never heard of such a pellet, nor the idea of making a bomb out of phosphorus.

“I am ignorant of my clan’s bomb-making techniques, so I do not know if a phosphorus bomb exists. But this is my first time hearing of it.”

Tang Cheolgi could not claim to know of something he truly did not.

At this rate, Jong Seok would be cornered as the criminal.

Yet even in that tense situation, I kept my composure and waited for Elder Suryang to finish.

But one doubt still lingered in my mind.

‘How could the palace’s Explosive Phosphorus Pellet appear here? Even now, the palace should still only be researching it.’

Elder Suryang continued.

“Even if Young Master Jong is not the culprit, I believe we cannot allow such a vile martial art as the Black Death God Poison Art to roam free in the murim. As one who walks the path of the orthodox, I cannot condone it.”

It was a statement that revealed his intent to seal away such martial arts, even if Jong Seok was innocent.

I looked directly at Elder Suryang and asked,

“What exactly makes a martial art evil?”

“Young Master Yong, do you really not know? What else could you call a martial art that explodes human bodies into pieces, if not evil?”

“Whether one dies cleanly or in a grotesque manner, in the end, it is still killing. If the result is the same—death—then on what grounds do you claim one is righteous and the other evil?”

“That is the rhetoric of demonic practitioners justifying their arts. How could a chivalrous man like you utter such words!”

Elder Suryang roared in anger.

But I paid no mind to his scolding and pressed on.

“The sky under the sun is the sky, and the sky under the moon is still the sky. Though sun and moon differ, the essence of the sky is the same. Likewise, if martial arts kill the same, why cling to their origin?”

“Ha! So you consorted with demonic practitioners only to adopt their way of thinking as well. Hahaha, what shall we do with you!”

Elder Suryang seized the moment, outright branding me a demonic practitioner.

From this scene, I could no longer deny that not only Qingcheng Sect, but also Zhongnan Sect, Kunlun Sect, and most of the Nine Great Sects, had come to see me as an enemy.

It was only because I had many personal connections that they did not outright declare me a demonic practitioner.

Up until now, the Taoists I had met had viewed me favorably, so having Jong Seok as my sworn younger brother had never been an issue.

But there were those present here who could not overlook it.

Not every Taoist who cultivated in the mountains became an enlightened immortal.

There were many who could not escape narrow-minded thinking.

It was only because I had until now met Taoists of high caliber that I had not encountered such prejudice.

This time, however, one of the Four Great Vajras, Reverend Daeheo, spoke in a deep, resonant voice.

“Layman Yong has fought alongside our Shaolin Arhats against the demonic path. To brand him as a demonic practitioner is to brand Shaolin itself as such.”

Yu Cheong Dojang of the Five Swords of Mount Hua also declared with qi-infused voice,

“Our disciples fought alongside Young Master Yong against Ihwa Palace. To call him a demonic practitioner when he fought the demonic path is a gross exaggeration.”

“The Jeong Family Manor too believes that calling Young Master Yong a demonic practitioner is nothing short of an insult.”

As Jo Gyeongmae coldly glared at Elder Suryang while speaking, those who had been silent so far began to rise in defense.

“Our sect was taken hostage by the Blood Demon Castle, but Young Master Yong rescued us. Without him, who knows what would have become of us.”

The Jaegal Clan, Pang Clan, and Namgung Clan all lent their voices in support as well.

Faced with this, Elder Suryang and Elder Domeng, who had accused me, could not help but look awkward.

They realized then that Yong Hwarin and the Heavenly Central Sect were more widely respected than they had thought, and they had no choice but to step back.

In truth, the authority of the Nine Great Sects usually silenced the other sects, leaving them unable to speak.

But since the opposition was unusually strong this time, Elders Suryang and Domeng held their tongues.

Jong Seok stole a glance at me.

‘I had always thought my sworn brother mingled too freely with the prodigies of other sects and with outsiders. But could it be that elder brother foresaw all this from the start?’

Seeing the faint smile at the corners of Yong Hwarin’s lips, it seemed his thoughts were not mistaken.

Reverend Gongwoo of the Precepts Court stepped forward to restore order to the hall.

“Now, now, quiet down. Layman Yong, I believe it is unreasonable to accept this Explosive Phosphorus Pellet as truth when no one has ever heard of it. And if, as you say, it is still under research in the imperial palace, then how it appeared here remains unexplained.”

Reverend Gongwoo spoke with cold rationality.

It was not that he bore hostility toward Yong Hwarin, but rather that his position demanded clarity, which made his tone all the sterner.

“Your words are just. I have no way of proving it. I only know because I heard of it when I met the Martial Flower Lord not long ago.”

I had no choice but to lie.

It was the only way to break through this situation.

“The Martial Flower Lord, who leads the Muhwa Group, and I once clashed with the demonic faction at an inn. The Martial Flower Lord confronted Dark Echo Valley in order to recover the Explosive Phosphorus Pellet. At that time, I aided him and fought against the Little Valley Lord Soyonghwa of Dark Echo Valley. That was when I learned of it.”

The incident at Jinyang Inn had already spread here and there by word of mouth.

When martial experts caused such an uproar at an inn, it would have been stranger if rumors had not spread.

No matter how much Soyonghwa had tried to suppress it, the rumor had already reached every corner of the murim.

“I have heard such rumors—that someone fought the demonic practitioners and saved lives. I did not know it was you, Young Master Yong.”

Now that I had invoked the Martial Flower Lord’s name while explaining the Explosive Phosphorus Pellet, the assembly found it difficult to dismiss my words as a mere fabrication.

If it turned out to be true, they risked antagonizing the imperial palace.

Because of that, several among the Nine Great Sects who had been ready to condemn me now wore expressions as though they had swallowed dung.

“Demons arise when malice seeps into them. If one senses demonic qi or evil qi, that is because wickedness exists. Thus, the demonic is born because beings with hearts commit evil. Lifeless things cannot be demonic. How could a sword become a demonic weapon? In the hands of a chef, it is a tool for cooking; in the hands of a Taoist, it is a tool for pursuing the Way. Both demonic practitioners and orthodox martial artists wield swords, yet we do not call a sword a demonic weapon simply because it is held by one of the demonic path. For the path of light and path of darkness are determined by the user. Therefore, I believe martial arts alone should not define whether one belongs to the orthodox or the demonic.”

“Amitabha!”

At my words, the Shaolin abbot Reverend Mang Wu stepped forward with a resonant chant.

He had not intended to intervene, since the matter was under the jurisdiction of the Precepts Court. But fearing the Nine Great Sects might force their authority, he had come to observe.

Now, moved by my words, he stepped out.

“No one here witnessed Young Master Jong kill Reverend Cheongmyeong. To condemn him as the culprit based only on suspicion is unworthy of an orthodox martial artist. If suspicion alone were enough, then none in the world would be innocent. Even the Buddha warned us not to fall to suspicion, so how can you accuse someone without seeing it with your own eyes?”

Reverend Mang Wu continued in a grave tone.

“Furthermore, if the Explosive Phosphorus Pellet truly exists, then surely Reverend Cheongmyeong would not be its only victim.”

At those words, the hall stirred uneasily.

Those who had not thought of it before now felt a creeping fear.

“Whoever carried out this deed, if their goal was to disrupt this assembly, then Reverend Cheongmyeong will not be the last. Therefore, if Shaolin watches over Young Master Jong until then, it will become perfectly clear whether he is guilty or not. And in that time, Layman Yong, you must prove the existence of this Explosive Phosphorus Pellet.”

At Reverend Mang Wu’s words, silence fell over the hall.

It was, for now, the wisest judgment.

“Let us leave this matter for further deliberation. The leadership will reconvene to discuss it. For now, let us all disperse.”

Because these words came from Reverend Mang Wu, the most respected man in the murim today, none dared contest it, and the gathering dissolved without further protest.

Watching their retreating backs, Reverend Mang Wu could not help but feel sorrow at the conduct of the Nine Great Sects.

Their strength had become so great that, unable to find a proper outlet, they now seemed desperate to exert it anywhere.

Originally, neither Elder Domeng nor Elder Suryang were so unreasonable.

But with the belief that their sects now stood as the strongest among the Nine Great Sects, arrogance had begun to creep into them.

When arrogance takes hold, one falls into the illusion that their thoughts and decisions are flawless, and from that, conflict inevitably arises.

Seeing this trait so plainly, Reverend Mang Wu’s expression darkened.

Just moments earlier, when he looked upon Yong Hwarin, he had thought the future of the murim was bright. Now, it seemed bleak.

‘Will it take a storm of blood before they remember humility?’

Reverend Mang Wu lamented that the Sect Leaders of the Nine Great Sects had not come in person, instead sending proxies.

Those who were not Sect Leaders themselves often let their emotions get the better of them in matters this important.

By contrast, in the Twelve Great Clans, the Clan Heads attended in person, which gave them greater influence than the Nine Great Sects.

At present, the only Sect Leader who had come personally was Dong Seonja of the Wudang Sect.

From this, Reverend Mang Wu understood that the Nine Great Sects had already agreed to appoint Dong Seonja as Alliance Leader, and so had only sent proxies.

In truth, the original purpose of this gathering had been for the Sect Leaders themselves to come and select a new Alliance Leader.

But somewhere along the way, Dong Seonja had already been predetermined, and the Sect Leaders sent only delegates.

In his heart, Reverend Mang Wu had hoped Lady of Mount Yeo would become Alliance Leader.

That way, he believed, less blood would be shed.

But from the way things stood, it seemed unlikely she would be chosen.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep