Wudang Sacred Scriptures

The elders were already unsettled by the fact that an emergency Council of Elders had been convened in secret.
And since the request had come from Elder Jo—who had seldom involved himself in internal affairs since his retreat—it was presumed to be a matter of great importance.

But for him to say that the very fate of the Hao Clan was at stake...
Under the focused gaze of the elders, Jo Cheon-yang continued.
“First, I will reveal the truth behind the death of the previous Clan Leader.”

Elder No Il-gyeom of the Fourth Seat looked astonished as he asked,
“Elder Jo, did the previous Clan Leader not die of natural causes?”
Jo Cheon-yang summoned Gwaa to step forward beside him.

“You all know who this child is.”
“Gwaa? Isn’t she the son of the former Clan Leader?”
“She disappeared on the day of the funeral, and we wondered what had happened—so it was Elder Jo who had taken her in?”

“That is correct.”
Jo Cheon-yang nodded and said,
“There was a good reason why this child did not attend her father’s funeral and instead sought me out.”

“What reason?”
“Gwaa witnessed the death of her father, the former Clan Leader, that day. She claims to have seen him being killed through the collusion of then-Sub-Branch Leader Im Saeng and the Seventh Elder Yang Won-gak. She remained in hiding to one day present the truth before this council—and that day is today.”
A stir ran through the gathering.

If that was true, it would overturn the Hao Clan entirely.
“Let us have quiet, please.”
Jo Cheon-yang calmed the commotion in the room and said,

“First, let us hear the child’s testimony. Gwaa, speak in full about what you saw that day.”
Gwaa calmly recounted the events she had witnessed. Then she bowed her head deeply toward the assembled elders of the Hao Clan.
“Please, I beg you to lift the unjust grievance surrounding my father’s death.”
Sighs and expressions of shock crossed the elders’ faces. Amid them, one elder raised his hand and spoke.

“It is indeed a tragic and strange affair, but we cannot indict the Clan Leader and the Sub-Branch Leader on the word of a single child.”
As if anticipating this objection, Jo Cheon-yang responded.
“That day, the previous Clan Leader had summoned the Seventh Elder Yang Won-gak to rebuke him regarding his intelligence trade. The Chief Elder is aware of this, too.”

Jo Cheon-yang turned to Senior Elder Chae An-won, whose expression had darkened.
“Senior Elder, is that not correct?”
“It is.”

Chae An-won gave a calm nod.
“At that time, there had been reports of problems with the Seventh Elder’s operations, and we were deliberating disciplinary action.”
Jo Cheon-yang was faintly surprised by the response. He had been prepared to expose the truth with the evidence he’d compiled, had the Senior Elder denied it.

Thanks to that admission, much of the elders’ doubt was assuaged—though not entirely dispelled.
Elder No Il-gyeom spoke on behalf of the others, giving voice to the lingering question.
“There is a witness, the circumstances align, and the motive is sufficient—but do we know how Sub-Branch Leader Yang killed the former Clan Leader?”

Jo Cheon-yang answered,
“He must have learned some kind of dark technique. But in truth, the exact method is no longer the central issue.”
Jo Cheon-yang drew a ledger from his robes.

“This is the same type of ledger that was removed from the Clan Leader’s chambers after his death. The previous Clan Leader kept duplicate records of all intelligence reports on the elders. I heard this from Gwaa herself. This one, she retrieved from the former Clan Leader’s secret archive that day.”
“What’s in it?”
As the elders looked on with intense curiosity, Jo Cheon-yang opened the ledger and spoke.

“It details how the Seventh Elder, Yang Won-gak, was running an epithet trafficking operation.”
One elder responded with a mildly disappointed expression.
“Elder Jo, that line of business was once taboo under the former Clan Leader, yes—but it’s now an open secret. It brings the Hao Clan a fair amount of profit, I must say.”

Jo Cheon-yang knew well that Yang Won-gak, after becoming Sub-Branch Leader, had enriched several elders through this trade.
To Jo Cheon-yang, it was deplorable—but since the Hao Clan’s business had always included some shadowy corners, he merely nodded.
“Up to that point, it was merely a breach of clan regulations. But the story changes under the new Clan Leader.”

“What do you mean, the story changes?”
“They’ve started branding innocent members of the orthodox faction as heretics to peddle epithets.”
An immediate stir rippled through the room.

If true, this went far beyond a mere violation of protocol.
“And there is something even more unthinkable.”
Jo Cheon-yang drove the nail in with firm conviction.

“The Sub-Branch Leader has been collecting the martial arts secrets of various sects as payment for these epithets.”
For a moment, the elders were struck dumb with shock.
This was not just taboo—it would make the Hao Clan the enemy of the entire martial world.

The safeguarding of exclusive martial techniques was tied directly to a sect’s survival.
Thus, any leak of a sect’s secret techniques would be met with zero tolerance or mercy.
An elder, pale-faced, asked,

“Elder Jo, do you have ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) proof that this is true? This is truly… no, this could imperil the very existence of the Hao Clan…”
Jo Cheon-yang turned to Kwak Yeon.
“Sir Kwak, if you would.”

Kwak Yeon opened the wooden crate he had placed before him and dragged out a man from within.
The elders recoiled slightly at the sight of Suhmyeon Horui’s ashen face.
“Suhmyeon Horui!”

“Isn’t he the Sub-Branch Leader’s closest confidant?”
Kwak Yeon turned to Suhmyeon Horui and said,
“I trust you’ll keep the promise you made.”

Suhmyeon Horui bowed repeatedly, trembling.
“But of course. I beg you—have mercy…”
His entire body trembling violently, Suhmyeon Horui even wet himself—he looked like a man facing the King of the Underworld.

He confessed everything he had done without omission. And in the end, he added one final line.
“All of it was under orders from the Sub-Branch Leader.”
His expression had brightened noticeably—as if, at last, he had been freed from his terror.

Kwak Yeon turned to Jo Cheon-yang.
“Elder Jo, may I dispose of him now?”
Jo Cheon-yang replied,

“If Sir Kwak would be willing to yield, I would prefer to carry out justice under the laws of our own clan.”
Kwak Yeon had no reason to refuse and nodded without hesitation.
Jo Cheon-yang once again drew a book from his robes.

“This ledger contains a complete record of the epithets he sold and the martial secrets he collected in exchange. It’s extensive. If we do not clean house ourselves, the Hao Clan will be branded a public enemy of the martial world and annihilated.”
Setting down the book, Jo Cheon-yang drew his sword—and, without hesitation, severed Suhmyeon Horui’s head.
Schlaaaak!

A fountain of blood gushed from Suhmyeon Horui’s headless body, filling the room with the scent of iron.
Amid the stench, Jo Cheon-yang addressed the Senior Elder.
“Senior Elder, the witness and evidence have been presented. Please proceed with the vote. This is not a matter that can be delayed—not even for a moment, as you well understand.”

Senior Elder Chae An-won, his face pale, said,
“Are there any objections to proceeding with a vote on the impeachment of the Clan Leader and the Sub-Branch Leader?”
In the face of a direct confession and indisputable evidence, no one could object.

“Then we shall proceed to the vote immediately.”
At that moment, the doors of Baekyang Hermitage’s main hall burst open with a bang—and a loud voice rang out.
“Hold it. Shouldn’t we at least hear from the accused?”

Sub-Branch Leader Yang Won-gak emerged from the hall with a squad of martial artists. Behind him stood Clan Leader Im Saeng.
From the two flanking shrines, additional warriors poured forth and surrounded the courtyard.
The elders erupted in surprise and dismay.

“How did the Clan Leader and Sub-Branch Leader get here…?”
“This violates both the council’s procedures and our clan’s regulations!”
Sub-Branch Leader Yang Won-gak scoffed.

“Procedures? Regulations? That’s exactly why the Hao Clan is always in this pathetic state. How long are we going to keep bowing to the orthodox sects, letting them call us a bastard clan?”
He laughed, low and bitter.
“In any case, we came here at the invitation of the Senior Elder, so let’s not nitpick about the damn procedures this time.”

Jo Cheon-yang glared at the Senior Elder.
“Senior Elder! No—Brother Chae. Was it really you…?”
Chae An-won lowered his head as Jo Cheon-yang used the old honorific from their days together as Middle Strangeness and High Weirdness.

“Elder Jo… I had no choice.”
“……?”
“That day, these two came to me after killing the previous Clan Leader. I… I was too afraid to die.”

“Enough!”
Yang Won-gak roared and stepped forward.
“It’s all out in the open now, so let’s not overcomplicate things. Fine! I killed the previous Clan Leader. Yes, I bribed this man and the current Clan Leader. Yes, I ran the filthy epithet trade.”

“Sub-Branch Leader! How dare you speak such madness!”
Fourth Elder No Il-gyeom leapt to his feet.
“You falsely branded orthodox warriors as heretics and stole martial techniques from other sects. You should already have taken your own life in shame—”

“Shut your damn mouth.”
“……”
“And weren’t you all grinning with delight the whole time? You said business was booming better than under any Clan Leader in memory.”

“Sub-Branch Leader, we were unaware you were stealing martial arts techniques. That puts us in direct conflict with the great sects. It’s a matter of survival—not just profit.”
“That was a personal matter. I only entrusted it to my inner circle. You elders had nothing to do with it and suffered no harm—so stay quiet.”
“……”

“In any case, let’s go ahead with the vote. I’m curious about the outcome myself. I’d like to see what the sweet taste of honey has done to your judgment.”
Yang Won-gak strode up to the front table and turned to the Senior Elder.
“Well? What are you waiting for?”

Senior Elder Chae An-won looked around at the elders with a wretched expression.
“……Those in favor of impeachment, please stand. Those opposed, remain seated.”
Without hesitation, Elder Jo Cheon-yang rose to his feet.

Seeing this, Yang Won-gak spoke in a mock-gentle tone.
“Oh, right! I almost forgot—I brought a few coffins along on the way here. I couldn’t very well have our elders wrapped in straw mats and dumped in a river.”
“You would murder the elders and not fear the disciples’ revolt?”

“Oh, they’ll make some noise for a bit. So what? Internal division is a daily affair in the Hao Clan. Really, when you think about it, the previous Clan Leader was remarkable—managing to mold this misfit rabble into a sect with structure.”
“…….”
“Ah, you all worry too much. Let’s do this instead: I’ve prepared a boat in celebration of this council meeting. I’ll say that a few elders, accompanied by their escorts, went on a lake excursion and tragically drowned. Who’s going to question it?”

Smiling faintly, Yang Won-gak added with leisurely amusement,
“So… who will be the first to board that boat? Ah, Elder Jo is already in first place. Then… who will be second?”