Chapter 45
“Ehem, sorry for cutting in, but shouldn’t we give them an ultimatum first before attacking the Great Sima Family?”
As the three Absolute Realm masters only showed interest in Baek Mu-Gun, Huangfu Ren carefully intervened in the conversation. In murim, the fights between forces were usually preceded by a declaration of war that contained three main points in the following order: explain the justification for the attack, present the desired terms to the other party, and notify them of the period when the attack would be launched.
Of course, there were many cases of surprise attacks taking place without any declaration of war. However, among the so-called righteous sects, such acts were considered cowardly. Considering the Seven Great Clans were the righteous sects’ pillars, they had to send a declaration of war before attacking the Great Sima Family. That way, no one would talk behind their backs about the incident later on.
“We should.”
“How long do you think we should wait after the declaration of war has been sent before launching an attack?”
“What do you think, Platoon Leader Huangfu?”
“I think a day would be appropriate. If we give them too much time, we won’t know what kind of tricks they would play.”
“Wouldn’t a day be too stingy?”
“This is related to none other than the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. The process is indeed important. However, the outcome is much more crucial.”
“I think it would be better to do as Platoon Leader Huangfu said. They’ve probably already noticed our movements beforehand. It would be wise to attack as early as possible to prevent them from doing anything.”
“Alright. As Platoon Leader Huangfu suggested, we’ll send out a declaration of war mentioning that we will attack tomorrow. Platoon Leader Huangfu, you should carry it out.”
“Understood. I will proceed immediately.”
“I think we’re done talking here, so I’ll go out with him.”
“As you wish.”
Mu-Gun followed Huangfu Ren out of the command barracks.
“I thought you would be the descendant of a great individual, but I didn’t expect you to be the Heavenly Seafarer’s successor.” As soon as they left the barracks, Huangfu Ren said with surprise.
“I’m sorry for not telling you this before.”
“It’s fine. There was no reason for Young Master Gu to reveal it.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“I’ll give you a tent for now, so you can rest there. I have to go prepare the declaration of war we’re going to send to the Great Sima Family.”
“Understood.”
Huangfu Ren called for a warrior from the Great Huangfu Family and ordered him to prepare a tent for Mu-Gun to rest in. He then prepared a written notice to send to the Great Sima Family.
The content’s summary was as followed:
[The Great Sima Family has been discovered to be a disguised force of the Asura Cult, one of the factions of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
For murim’s safety, the Great Huangfu Family and the Great Namgung Family have decided to root out the Asura Cult hidden within the Great Sima Family.
The Great Sima Family shall immediately hand over the Asura Cult’s demonic cultivators such that they can be judged by murim. If no action is taken by tomorrow’s oshi[1], we will consider the Great Sima Family to have aligned with the Asura Cult’s will and as such must be punished.]
Two statements were usually prepared for the purpose of the declaration of war. One was sent to the opposite party, and the other one was posted as a poster so that everyone could see it. It was to let the world know that they exercised their abilities for appropriate reasons and that they had justifications to do so.
It was no different this time. One was sent to the Great Sima Family, and the other was announced throughout Yangzhou.
***
Meanwhile, Sima Chongqing, the Great Sima Family’s patriarch, scoffed when he was informed of the declaration of war’s content.
“As always, those righteous sect bastards really—... They announced their intentions fair and square, but they involved the Great Namgung Family because they didn’t think they could handle us alone.”
“With the Great Namgung Family providing them support, it will be difficult to fend them off with our power alone,” Sima Chongxia said with a grave expression.
“There is nothing to worry about. The Lee Household and the Taiyun Household’s combat forces will arrive by oshi tomorrow, which is according to what those fuckers announced.”
“You were serious about that?” Sima Chongxia delightedly asked.
“Didn’t I guarantee it?”
“Nevertheless, it will be hard to guarantee victory even if the Lee Household and the Taiyun Household come.”
Even though the Lee Household and Taiyun Household were considered parts of the Three Great Families of Jiangsu, they weren’t comparable to the Seven Great Clans. Still, they weren’t a force that could be overwhelmed by numbers.
“The Lee Household and Taiyun Household are also children of Asura.”
“Really?”
“Yes. We’ve learned from our past mistakes. Hence, this time, we created covert forces in several places instead of just one. However, this is a highly confidential matter, so I kept it a secret until now.”
“Are the other Asura’s Five Monarchs in charge of the Lee Household and Taiyun Household?”
“The Asura Sword Monarch leads the Lee Household, and the Asura Saber Monarch is in charge of the Taiyun Household. Two Demonic Monarchs will also be joining us.”
“Ooohhh! We have a real shot at victory, then. Even if they have a lot of combat forces, they shouldn’t have any Absolute Realm masters present capable of dealing with the three Demonic Monarchs.”
“You never know. Considering they already know we're Asura’s children, there’s a chance they deployed numerous Absolute Realm masters. However, even if so, they wouldn’t be able to match the Demonic Monarchs’ power.”
Sima Chongqing appeared confident.
“That’s a given.”
“Make sure you prepare thoroughly so that we can wipe them out as soon as the reinforcements from the Lee Household and the Taiyun Household arrive.”
“Understood.”
“Keke, let’s see whose hidden cards are stronger.”
After Sima Chongxia left, Sima Chongqing—no, Asura Blood Monarch Wee Jong-Ak, who was disguised as Sima Chongxia, laughed sarcastically.
***
After sending a declaration of war to the Great Sima Family, the Huangfu-Namgung coalition maintained their encirclement around the Great Sima Family while monitoring the situation around Yangzhou. It was because they thought that the Asura Cult’s main forces could move to provide support to the Great Sima Family.
Meanwhile, the Heaven's Vengeance Platoon discovered that two forces—The Lee and Taiyun Households’ martial artists—were approaching the Great Sima Family with great speed. The Heaven’s Vengeance Platoon reported it immediately after learning that they were coming to help the Great Sima Family.
Upon receiving such news, Huangfu Ren informed the three Absolute Realm masters about it as well.
“They’re going to side with the Great Sima Family since they’re all part of the Three Great Families of Jiangsu, huh?” Huangfu Gang, the Mountain-Splitting Blast Fist, said.
“They’ll change their mind if we reveal the Great Sima Family’s true nature to them,” Namgung Ho, the Divine Wind Sword Saint, replied.
“They won’t believe us if we don’t show solid evidence. They’ll likely think we’re scheming to expand our power to Jiangsu Province,” The Sky-Shocking Tyrant Fist, Huangfu Jian, responded, indicating that their proposition wasn’t a simple task to achieve.
“Still, we have to let them know. It’s related to none other than the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, so they surely won’t take it lightly.”
“Hmmm, doing that is certainly better.”
Huangfu Gang and Huangfu Jian nodded at Namgung Ho’s words. Huangfu Ren was of the same mind.
Huangfu Ren sent messengers to the Lee and Taiyun Households that were approaching Yangzhou to inform them of the Great Sima Family’s true nature. The messengers then proceeded to persuade them to punish the Great Sima Family along with the Huangfu-Namgung coalition, but the Lee and Taiyun Households delayed their response and continued moving toward Yangzhou.
“The fact that they’re approaching Yangzhou without responding to our notice shows they have no intention of listening to us,” Huangfu Gang said with a frown, having been briefed on the two forces’ movements.
“It’s safe to say that they're siding with the Great Sima Family,” Namgung Ho said.
“Are you implying they’re also related to the Asura Cult?” Huangfu Jian asked.
“There’s no other way to explain their current behavior. They could certainly be trying to help the Great Sima Family since they’re a part of the Three Great Families of Jiangsu, but it’s the Asura Cult we’re talking about here. They’re acting like the Great Sima Family being a disguised force of the Asura Cult doesn’t even matter. What do you think that means?”
“It just means that those men are blind to their own cause. From their point of view, the Great Sima Family’s words are more reliable than ours. They likely think we’re setting up a ridiculous trap.”
“It’s important to note here that if they help the Great Sima Family without changing their mind, we will be attacked from the front and back. If they continue to head toward Yangzhou, we will have to do things the hard way and exercise our power.”
“As long as we don’t have any clear evidence that they’re related to the Asura Cult, we can’t attack them recklessly.”
“They’re trying to help the Great Sima Family even after hearing that they’re a disguised force of the Asura Cult. That by itself is enough justification for us to exercise our power.”
“Hmm, let’s send a declaration of war to the Lee and Taiyun Households for now. If they ignore our warnings and continue to advance, they will also be regarded as forces affiliated with the Asura Cult. We will then use force to stop them.”
“That’s better. Let’s do that.”
At the three men’s decision, Huangfu Ren immediately sent a declaration of war to the Lee and Taiyun Households. Two hours after, a reply came from the Lee Household.
The contents were as followed:
[The Great Huangfu Family and Great Namgung Family suspects the Great Sima Family without any clear proof. We, the Lee Household, guarantee the Great Sima Family’s innocence as one of the Three Great Families of Jiangsu. The Lee Household demands solid evidence that proves the Great Sima Family is a disguised force of the Asura Cult. We also ask for an objective judgment of the murim forces unrelated to this incident. The Great Huangfu Family and Great Namgung Family ignoring our demands and exercising their power will serve as a testament to their own injustice.]
The Taiyun Household sent a similar reply.
“Those people are certainly cunning. They’re making it so that we can’t attack them.”
Huangfu Gang looked perplexed at the Lee and Taiyun Households’ replies.
“This has made it clear. The Lee and Taiyun Households will take the Great Sima Family’s side no matter what we say. If they join forces with the Great Sima Family, we’ll sustain much greater damage. We have to make a decision. We can either prevent them from joining up with the Great Sima Family at the risk of condemnation or step down and seek judgment from other murim forces as they have requested,” Namgung Ho said.
“We can’t back out now. The Asura Cult is a wicked force. We have no idea what tricks they’ll play to deceive murim if we give them time. Bluntly speaking, the Asura Cult’s forces can conceal themselves. If that happens, it will bring more harm later on. Even if it means having to put up with the condemnation of others, we should put an end to this now. Taking down the Great Sima Family will allow us to clearly reveal who they truly are anyway. That would greatly reduce the criticism we’ll receive.”
“On top of that, if we prove we harbor no personal greed regarding this matter, no one in murim will be able to criticize our families. No, rather, they will shower us with endless praises.”
“What exactly do you mean by personal greed?”
Mu-Gun, who had been silently listening to them talk, suddenly joined in, “It means that the two families won’t exercise any sort of control over Jiangsu Province.”
At Mu-Gun’s words, Huangfu Ren and the Absolute Realm masters looked perplexed. Getting rid of the Asura Cult was important, but the same went for taking control of Jiangsu Province.
“Hmm, that’s an issue we have to give more thought to.” Huangfu Jian avoided giving a direct answer.
“I think it’s more important to discuss how to stop the two forces.” Namgung Ho quickly changed the subject.
When they tried to change the topic, Mu-Gun didn’t continue any further and offered his opinion instead.
“Why don’t we just attack the Great Sima Family?”
“Are you telling us to go against the declaration of war we have already sent?” Huangfu Gang asked, sounding disatisfied.
“I know how cowardly it is to break the declaration of war in murim. However, you should adhere to it according to who the opposing party is. Our opponent this time isn’t just an ordinary faction. They’re part of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, which is one of the Three Greatest Demonic Sects. The process of justification isn’t important against them. It would be best to pre-emptively destroy them and protect murim’s safety. I also think that’s actually the best justification.”
Huangfu Jian nodded, then added, “Young Master Gu is certainly right. Although the Lee and Taiyun Households are suspicious, it is still difficult to conclude that they’re part of the Asura Cult. As such, the right course of action here is to attack the Great Sima Family now.”
“Let’s mobilize without further delay, then.”
Since the other three weren’t particularly opposed to the plan, they reached a decision to immediately attack the Great Sima Family, which was as Mu-Gun suggested.
Orders were issued to the Huangfu-Namgung coalition’s seven martial units, and an attack on the Great Sima Family was launched around jashi[2].
***
The Great Sima Family’s combat forces were only half that of the Huangfu-Namgung coalition, and they were weaker as well. Hence, the outcome was obvious. The Huangfu-Namgung coalition easily defeated the Great Sima Family’s martial artists.
“You righteous sect bastards truly are a bunch of hypocrites.”
Sima Chongqing—no, Wee Jong-Ak was outraged when he heard that the Great Huangfu Family and Great Namgung Family had launched an attack, violating the timeframe stated in the declaration of war.
If he could do as he pleased, he would’ve immediately charged out and beaten everyone to death. However, the Great Sima Family’s martial artists lacked the capability to stop the two families. The story would’ve been different if they didn’t have Absolute Realm masters with them, but they would likely have two to three at the very least.
This wasn’t the right time to fight. He had to escape and plan for the future for now. For situations like these, Wee Jong-Ak had prepared a secret passage inside the Great Sima Family that would lead to Yangzhou’s waterway channel. Now was the perfect opportunity to use it.
Wee Jong-Ak began to escape from the Great Sima Family through the secret passage with the two remaining members of the Asura's Twenty-Four Demonic Generals that he had brought with him. It was a waste to throw away the combat forces of the Great Sima Family, which he had gone through great difficulties to build. However, there was no other way.
1. 午時. This is from 11 am to 1 pm. ?
2. Jashi is the time between 11 pm to 1 am. ?
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om