Chapter 42. The Martial Arts Alliance and the Medicine King Sect

The Seventy-Two Segmented Sword Technique is the foundation of sword techniques and serves as the basis for various transformations.

Segmentation (紛節) means to break the flow.

The Disrupting Sword Technique confuses the opponent's path and scatters the way of the sword.

The Disrupting Palm Technique breaks the flow of palm techniques.

It consists of the Disrupting Fist Technique, the Disrupting Wave Technique, and the Disrupting Rock Technique.

Thus, ten days passed.

Hu Gong placed his sword in front of him and sat cross-legged.

It was time to check the results of the sword practice.

Without using any qi, he called the sword with his mind alone.

"Command! Come to me."

A stern voice flowed out.

The sword... did not move at all.

Hu Gong smiled wryly.

If it succeeded right away, what would be the fun in that?

"Come!"

...

The sword remained silent.

Hu Gong laughed heartily.

"Hey, are you shy? It's okay. Just come over!"

Again, no response.

"Come on, come over. Choo, choo, choo, choo, choo!"

He called it affectionately like a puppy, but it was still useless.

For half a day, one person called, and the other stood like a statue, unmoving. No matter how he shouted, coaxed, or showed affection, they just stared at each other. Hu Gong was greatly disappointed.

He knew time was needed, but he had hoped for some movement. With no response, he was almost disheartened.

"Just come over, will you?"

...

"Ah, forget it, you brat."

He muttered and grabbed a book.

The winter scenery instantly scattered, and the scene changed to the study.

***

When he came out, an unexpected guest was waiting for Hu Gong.

Song Hua reported with urgency, and Hu Gong tilted his head.

"From the Martial Arts Alliance?"

"Yes, they arrived four days ago and have been waiting for you since then."

"Hmm..."

The Martial Arts Alliance.

To be precise, it was a visit from the Anhui Branch Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Who was the Anhui Branch Chief? Hu Gong tried to recall. It didn't come to him immediately.

'Was he someone with no presence?'

Hu Gong put the thought aside and asked.

"What's the Anhui Branch Chief's name?"

"Meng Yanmeng, I heard."

"Hmm, him?"

"Master, you mean 'him'?"

"No."

Song Hua didn't press further and just smiled.

After the Blood Worm Poison incident, the master had developed a habit of pretending to know things.

"What did he say?"

"He just laughed and said he wanted to speak to you directly."

"Hmph, quite grandiose."

During the Ximen Family incident, the Anhui Branch was nowhere to be seen, and now they had been waiting for four days.

As he was about to sneer, Song Hua spoke up.

"Master, there's another piece of news."

"Hmm?"

"About half a month ago, a letter arrived from the Medicine King Sect. I don't know what it contained, but the head of the family was very pleased after reading it."

"Oh! The Medicine King Sect. That's a welcome piece of news."

Hu Gong couldn't hide his joy, as he had a rough idea of the content without even seeing the letter.

Song Hua also smiled broadly.

Even though he didn't know what was happening, seeing his master happy made him feel good.

"Master, where should I take you first? You should see the head of the family before the Martial Arts Alliance, right?"

"You seem to have lost your eyesight."

"Huh?"

Song Hua, who had been distracted by the report, finally noticed his master's disheveled appearance, including his clothes and beard.

The top priority now was a bath.

"Ah! Look at me. Master, I'll prepare it right away."

***

Hu Gong first met with the head of the family and had a conversation.

Only after confirming the letter from the Medicine King Sect did he receive the Anhui Branch Chief.

"Hehe, Great Master, it's good to see you. You're as impressive as I've heard."

Early fifties.

Meng Yanmeng, with laughter lines around his eyes, greeted him.

What was unique was his eyebrows, which were in the shape of an eight (八), giving him a pitiful look.

'So, it's you.'

Upon meeting face-to-face, Hu Gong's memory became clear.

Meng Yanmeng of the Laughing Sword.

He had seen him a few times at the annual general assembly of the Martial Arts Alliance. He always had a kind smile and a laid-back personality, earning him the nickname Laughing Sword (好好劍).

He believed that everything was good, or that everything was fine. No matter what story he heard, he would laugh and say it was good. When trouble arose, he would worry and say they shouldn't fight.

"You've come all this way, and I made you wait. Please sit."

As he offered a seat, Meng Yanmeng laughed heartily.

"Hehe, it's amazing to meet such a famous person."

"Am I a famous person now?"

"Don't even say it."

Meng Yanmeng waved his hand and continued.

"Wherever I go in Anhui, all I hear is about you. People should be shocked by the Ximen Family incident, but everyone is amazed by the Great Master of the Heavenly Flower Pavilion. Now that I see you in person, I understand why. Hehe, when a genius wakes up, the world turns upside down."

Hu Gong responded indifferently.

"The world has turned upside down, and the Martial Arts Alliance only shows up now."

Caught off guard by the sudden challenge, Meng Yanmeng was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter.

"Hahaha, this is embarrassing. I was negligent. I apologize for that."

"Of course, there must have been a reason."

There had to be a reason.

Hu Gong's challenge was more out of curiosity than reprimand.

"Of course. There was a reason. Ah, just thinking about it gives me a headache. There was quite a commotion in southern Anhui, and I was completely preoccupied. Suddenly, strange people appeared and caused chaos, and I had to deal with it."

"It wasn't just one or two, I see."

"Don't even mention it. One of them seemed to have had a fortuitous encounter. He was so excited that he challenged every sect, causing a huge stir. On top of that, the usually quiet Tianjian suddenly appeared and started causing trouble. No matter how we tried to stop him, it was a mess."

"Tianjian? That's impossible."

"Hmm? Do you know Tianjian?"

"Hmm..."

"..."

"I've only heard of him."

Hu Gong had a connection with Tianjian.

But admitting it would complicate things, so he answered vaguely.

"People are so boring. I thought you knew him well."

"Then what was the trouble about?"

"What's the point of telling you? It's not your concern, so don't worry about it."

Hu Gong was curious but didn't want to pry, so he kept quiet.

He could investigate Tianjian separately.

"Then why did you come?"

"Right, I should tell you that."

Laughing heartily, Meng Yanmeng continued.

"The Martial Arts Alliance has invited you. It's a talent recruitment. Surprised?"

"..."

Hu Gong was taken aback.

To be recruited as talent after being the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance just a while ago.

Meng Yanmeng, mistaking his surprise for shock, raised his voice.

"The Martial Arts Alliance is not a place anyone can join just because they want to. But we don't ignore outstanding talent. A genius recognized by the Martial Arts Alliance! How glorious a position. Use your genius for the world. This was recommended by the military advisor of the Martial Arts Alliance."

"Zhuge Hui?"

The name slipped out reflexively, and Meng Yanmeng's eyes sparkled.

"Oh, you know Zhuge Advisor?"

"Ahem... I've heard that Zhuge Advisor is exceptionally talented."

Meng Yanmeng narrowed his eyes.

"You have a strange habit."

"..."

"You start by pretending to know someone. That won't do. I thought you were very close because you called his name."

"Ahem."

Meng Yanmeng scolded him, but Zhuge Hui was far from being a close friend to Hu Gong.

Hu Gong had held Zhuge Hui in his arms since he took his first steps and found him adorable. He would pretend to kiss his cheek and then bite it, but he loved him like his own child.

"Well, that's that. Since we're talking about Zhuge Advisor, let me tell you, you won't see him in the alliance anymore. He left."

"Is that so."

"When you suddenly disappeared, he was so shocked that he stopped eating and drinking. It's understandable. The leader was like a father to him and as close as family."

"..."

Hu Gong only nodded.

Not only was it a death, but it was a suicide. How shocked Zhuge Hui must have been.

Zhuge Hui was likely the first to confirm the body, and if so, he must have found it hard to understand or believe.

"The military advisor's position is now held by Murong Guo. He's also an outstanding person."

"What does the alliance require of me?"

"The alliance hopes you will join the Dark Department. The Dark Department is... well..."

Meng Yanmeng started to elaborate on how great the Dark Department was.

Of course, this explanation was unnecessary for Hu Gong.

Dark Department (暗府).

Originally named the Cryptography Department.

Due to the various secret codes used by different forces in the martial world, the Dark Department was responsible for decoding their secret documents. Additionally, the Dark Department created and modified the encryption system used within the Martial Arts Alliance and encrypted documents.

The Dark Department had five members, each with exceptional intellect. Adding a genius from the Heavenly Flower Pavilion to this department seemed reasonable.

As he thought this, Meng Yanmeng finished his explanation.

"...As a genius from the Heavenly Flower Pavilion, you would be the best in the Dark Department. What do you think? Bloom your genius in a larger world."

"I decline."

"Huh?"

Caught off guard, Meng Yanmeng was stunned, his mouth agape.

His eyes blinked like a fish's, and he let out a sigh.

"Whyyyyy?"

"Zhuge Hui is not in the alliance. What's the point then?"

"But, is that the only reason? Zhuge Advisor is beautiful, but there are other beautiful women in the alliance."

"Is that so?"

"Um... Actually, you're right. But that's not the point. Are you really going to decline? Don't joke. You have a promising future. If you prove your abilities in the Dark Department for a few years, you could even become a military advisor."

"Advisor... The peak of the Martial Arts Alliance is not the leader but the advisor, which makes it even less appealing."

"Ugh, become the leader?"

Meng Yanmeng's expression was priceless, and Hu Gong couldn't help but laugh.

Meng Yanmeng couldn't laugh or cry, just scratching his head.

Then, as if remembering something important, he slapped his knee.

"Oh! I forgot to mention something important. If you join the alliance, you'll receive a special gift. It's a spirit pill called the Nine Flowers Pill, which greatly enhances your internal strength. I only received one after ten years, so it's a rare spirit medicine. I've heard you're very interested in martial arts and already have exceptional skills. This is really special treatment."

"Hmm, the Nine Flowers Pill..."

"Are you interested?"

"Branch Chief, you seem to have forgotten that this is the Heavenly Flower Pavilion."

"..."

Meng Yanmeng, puzzled, soon understood and became dejected.

This was the Heavenly Flower Pavilion.

It would be impossible for the Heavenly Flower Pavilion to not have a spirit medicine like the Nine Flowers Pill. The gift from the Martial Arts Alliance was meaningless if he had no intention of joining. Meng Yanmeng felt his energy drain away.

His already drooping eyebrows sagged even more due to his dejection.