Poison Dragon: The Legend of an Asura — Chapter 458

Chapter 458

Just as Sichuan found stability, throughout the entire martial world there were movements seeking stability centered on giant sects and martial families.

To begin with, giant sects and martial families were the local mainstays. The moment they got a grip on the chaos that arose internally, seeking regional stability was a natural progression.

In Shaanxi, centered on Mount Hua Sect and Zhongnan Sect; in Huguang, centered on Wudang Sect and the Zhuge Family; in Jiangbei, centered on the Namgung Family and Peng Family; the turmoil began to be resolved.

At this rate, it seemed like the martial world’s chaos would soon be subdued.

However, peace was not so easy.

Shaolin Temple, which had been stopped, began to move.

The day they neutralized the Breaking Sect.

Great Buddha Beom-bon immediately left Shaolin Temple leading the warrior monks.

Leaving only minimal personnel, all manpower was converted to Righteous Dharma Walk.

Shaolin Temple rapidly suppressed Henan and divided personnel into four branches, advancing warrior monks to the east, west, south, and north.

They suppressed all visible sects and martial families by force to make them submit.

Shaolin Temple’s march was extremely aggressive and terrifying.

Those who surrendered had to pay the price by having their sect leader or successor renounce the secular world. They were sent to Shaolin Temple after renouncing. If they didn’t, Shaolin Temple showed no mercy. They turned any sect into a wasteland.

***

Baek Li-jung returned to his main family.

Internal strife had erupted in the main family as well, creating chaos. The one claiming to become the new family head was even Baek Li-jung’s cousin, Baek Li-jik.

When Baek Li-jung arrived, armed people poured out in droves and stood on guard.

Baek Li-jung calmly walked between them.

Baek Li-jik and the leaders who had joined the rebellion came out and met Baek Li-jung.

“…!”

Tension appeared in the expressions of those who saw Baek Li-jung.

Baek Li-jung was looking at them with a consistently calm face, his attitude extremely relaxed. Clear spiritual light appeared in his eyes, and a gentle smile even rested on his lips. He seemed unconcerned about the current situation.

Baek Li-jik spoke to Baek Li-jung.

“I heard you killed our distant cousin Pyeong-tak in Chongqing.”

Baek Li-jung answered with a calm face.

“That’s right.”

The leaders beside him shouted.

“How could you cruelly slaughter family!”

“And you shamelessly return to the main family. You must not value your life!”

These weren’t words for those who had rebelled and seized control of the family.

“Don’t tell me you returned aiming for the family head position?”

At the leaders’ glances, the warriors raised their weapons higher and prepared to attack.

However, Baek Li-jung didn’t care.

“Family head? I have no interest in that. There’s only one reason I came.”

Baek Li-jung swept his gaze over those present, then fixed his eyes on Baek Li-jik and asked.

“Will you become my dog, or will you die?”

“What?”

The leaders flared up. However, they didn’t rashly rush in. Not because Baek Li-jung was the head of the Azure Dragon Sword Pavilion, the Martial Arts Alliance’s second attack force. The current Baek Li-jung was giving off an indescribable atmosphere.

It was like…

A Grand Master!

One who had surpassed the wall of humanity.

The appearance of one difficult to approach.

Baek Li-jung spoke with a voice full of heroism.

“The martial world is chaotic and corrupt people run rampant. There’s no time for this. I won’t ask about the past. Will you follow me forward and enjoy absolute wealth and glory? Or will you die coveting the handful of wealth in your hands?”

The leaders glanced at each other. Sensing their wavering, Baek Li-jik shouted angrily.

“Where are you playing tricks! Either way, don’t you also want to become family head!”

Baek Li-jung waved his sleeve. The Heavenly Lord Seal appeared in Baek Li-jung’s hand.

Baek Li-jung walked toward Baek Li-jik.

“If a dog bares its teeth at its master.”

The Heavenly Vermilion Sword was raised to the sky.

“It dies.”

“The one who’ll die is you!”

Baek Li-jik brought both hands to opposite armpits, then extended them forward like lightning and unleashed twin palms.

Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm!

Rumble! With the sound of thunder, tremendous internal energy burst from Baek Li-jik’s hands.

Baek Li-jung brought down the Heavenly Vermilion Sword. Sword energy spun ferociously like a whirlwind along the blade of the Heavenly Vermilion Sword.

Hurricane Evil-Destroying Sword.

Baek Li-jung’s Hurricane Evil-Destroying Sword shattered the palm force of Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm and ground down to Baek Li-jik’s crown. Fragments of blood splattered in all directions. Baek Li-jik’s head disappeared instantly.

Baek Li-jik died with both arms extended forward, having lost his head.

The leaders lost their words at what happened in an instant.

Even if others didn’t know, those of the Baek Li Family knew.

If Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm ranked first among the Baek Li Family’s three great martial arts, the Hurricane Evil-Destroying Sword that Baek Li-jung used ranked last. Roaring Song Splitting Wail Palm was first because the other two martial arts couldn’t withstand its destructive power…

But he had overcome that counter-relationship and killed Baek Li-jik.

In just one exchange.

He had become strong. Baek Li-jung.

Not the Baek Li-jung who had been in the family before, not even the Baek Li-jung when he joined the Martial Arts Alliance. They could feel he had become incomprehensibly strong.

“Now there’s no family head.”

Baek Li-jung kicked the dead Baek Li-jik’s body away. Then he looked around at the surrounding people.

Baek Li-jung raised the Heavenly Vermilion Sword and pointed at one person.

It was Baek Li-son, over sixty years old and Baek Li-jung’s elder. By generational ranking, he would be suitable to become family head.

“If elder brother becomes family head, that would be good.”

At Baek Li-jung’s words, Baek Li-son walked forward. Baek Li-son stiffened his face and said.

“Looking at you now, it seems like you don’t care who becomes family head. If it’s for the family and not personal greed, I won’t refuse to become family head. However…”

Baek Li-son looked at Baek Li-jik who had died losing his head.

“Whatever the reason, since he was family head for a time, we must hold a suitable funeral. I’ll take the family head position after that.”

In an instant, Baek Li-son’s head separated from his body and flew.

“Aaaah!”

The others, never thinking Baek Li-jung would act that way, were startled and screamed.

Baek Li-jung put away the Heavenly Vermilion Sword and said.

“Who holds a funeral for a dog? I wanted someone to take the family head position right now.”

Baek Li-jung’s eyes swept over the remaining people. The remaining people instinctively shrank back.

“You.”

Baek Li-jung designated one of the forty-something Baek Li Family members.

Baek Li-yu. Baek Li-jung’s cousin.

“Y-yes!”

“You become family head.”

The designated cousin Baek Li-yu couldn’t say anything, then hastily nodded and answered.

“Yes!”

“Good. I’ll tell you the first thing to do. Go to the Martial Arts Alliance headquarters.”

He couldn’t even ask why.

“Wh-what should I do when I get there?”

Most who had remained at the Martial Arts Alliance had left. With even Taoist Haewol dead, those dispatched had no reason to remain when their sects and families were in chaos.

So the Martial Arts Alliance headquarters was practically empty.

“Pour all our family’s resources into rebuilding the Martial Arts Alliance. Fill it with warriors. Build new pavilions and maintain the roads. It must be much larger and more magnificent than before. If it’s insufficient, receive help from Tai Lake Trading Company. They’ll provide the lacking funds.”

Baek Li-yu didn’t raise objections. There was no need.

“Understood, elder brother.”

Only then did Baek Li-jung approach Baek Li-yu, seemingly satisfied, and tapped his shoulder.

“Go and wait. I’ll come soon.”

Baek Li-yu swallowed dry saliva and asked.

“Where are you going, elder brother…?”

He knew from what just happened. If you oppose or resist, you die. But asking isn’t prohibited.

Baek Li-jung’s smile deepened.

The Baek Li Family members were shocked at what Baek Li-jung said next.

“I’m going to meet the Great Buddha.”

***

Beom-bon was waiting outside the estate with his mountain-like body loaded on a cart. The sight was as if a giant boulder sat atop the cart.

While the donkeys tired from pulling the cart rested briefly.

Inside the estate, screams rang out consecutively.

Zhao Yang in Huguang Province.

A large sect in a place close to Henan.

Beom-bon lifted a tiny teacup with a hand like a pot lid and drank tea.

“This sect’s leader, Righteous Hero Sword, is a lay disciple of Wudang Sect. As his nickname suggests, he has outstanding righteousness and can’t just watch others’ difficulties, so his reputation is high in the area.”

The old monk of Eighteen Monk Assembly standing beside the seated Beom-bon chanted Buddha’s name and nodded.

“That’s what I heard.”

Yet screams were ringing out from that renowned Righteous Hero Sword’s estate.

“Finding Righteous Hero Sword first in Huguang was truly the right thing. With this, we won’t need to spill more blood in Huguang.”

“When did we fear blood?”

“No.”

Beom-bon gave a long smile.

“However, it will reduce more troublesome matters. Even the renowned hero Righteous Hero Sword will learn that all are equal before Buddha, and that only our temple’s righteous law is the sole path to salvation.”

“Namu Amitabha… The grand intention of the abbot’s disciple-nephew will soon save the world from the abyss.”

“I too wish for that. I ceaselessly hope that more sentient beings will know the suffering and joy of this life and attain Buddhahood to be reborn in paradise.”

Aaaah!

Kyaaah!

Even at the consecutive screams, Beom-bon only chanted Buddha’s name with a pleased smile.

Before long, two Arhat monks dragged out one strong man through the broken gate of the estate.

The bloodied strong man dragged almost along the ground was Righteous Hero Sword Song Chuk.

Song Chuk was thrown before Beom-bon with his torn and broken body.

Though Song Chuk’s wretched appearance had one eye socket swollen and lips burst, the spirit in his eyes looking at Beom-bon didn’t disappear.

“Great Buddha! Do you know where this is to commit such violence!”

Beom-bon raised a large hand and clasped palms together.

“Namu Amitabha Guanshiyin Bodhisattva. How does the word violence suit us monks?”

“This is Wudang Sect’s territory! Where is there a case of recklessly entering and harming people like this!”

Beom-bon admonished with a gentle tone.

“Didn’t we tell you the method? One person takes responsibility and turns away from the secular world to take refuge.”

“What responsibility! What did I do wrong!”

“Everyone makes mistakes. If you escape from worldly desires, repent, and realize your own wrongs, you and everyone can be saved.”

Grind!

Song Chuk ground his teeth.

There was no way to match Shaolin Temple’s tyranny with force.

“Just what did I do wrong!”

“That is solely for Buddha to judge through righteous law.”

Then the Arhat monks began dragging out Song Chuk’s relatives and disciples.

“Great Buddha!”

Song Chuk wailed.

However, Beom-bon’s expression didn’t change at all.

Finally, Song Chuk dropped his head.

“…I’ll do it.”

“Please speak clearly.”

“I… will go to Shaolin Temple.”

If he renounced to Shaolin Temple like this, he’d have to sever ties with his family for life. He would never be able to leave.

The family members wailed wildly.

“You can’t!”

“No, Father!”

However, Beom-bon nodded as if he couldn’t hear the rest of the family’s words.

“It’s the right decision. The day will come when your family members understand Righteous Hero Sword’s deep meaning and accept it in their hearts.”

An Arhat monk brought out a precept knife.

And they knelt the bloodied Song Chuk and began shaving his head right there.

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