Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 366 (Part 1)



366 (Part 1)

Two months have passed since the raid occurred.

The season which was close to early spring was already approaching summer.

Just like the season that seemed to flow particularly quickly.

During this time quite a lot had happened in Henan including at the Shinryong Temple.

If one were to ask what the biggest event was among those that occurred.

First and foremost the closure of the Shinryong Temple would be the first thing to mention.

It had already spread widely that the Shinryong Temple had been attacked by a group of martial artists from unorthodox sects in the Central Plains.

Even if the Alliance tried to block information it was impossible to stop everyone as there were too many who had experienced it.

No matter how much the Open Faction claimed to be the eyes and ears of the Murim Alliance.

They too were an intelligence agency and as long as they had vested interests they could not block everything.

As a result the Shinryong Temple was closed mentioned in various problems.

Although the reason given was for building repairs and a temporary closure due to the aftermath of the raid.

People had somewhat anticipated this.

They figured that the Shinryong Temple would likely not reopen for several years due to this incident.

Moreover it might never open again.

The chances of this year’s Dragon and Phoenix branch or martial arts competition being held were also slim.

This incident was significant enough to warrant such consequences.

The second major issue was what the Murim Alliance had begun to handle.

This was after the Murim Alliance had belatedly sent support.

They immediately brought in physicians to start treating the injured.

First they gathered the corpses and stored them in the cold basement of the Murim Alliance.

It was said that those who had attacked were taken to the torture chamber.

The survivors who endured the raid were provided accommodations by the Alliance.

Up to this point they seemed to have managed the situation reasonably well.

The problem arose afterward.

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No matter what measures were taken ultimately they could not replace the dead.

Moreover most of those who died in the raid were low-level prodigies.

They were generally affiliated with Trading Companies which meant they provided significant support to the Murim Alliance.

The death of so many from such Trading Companies meant that the financial channels flowing to and from the Murim Alliance would be disrupted.

Of course there were still plenty of Trading Companies that continued to provide support.

However there were also those that could not do so.

This would inevitably affect the influence granted to the Alliance.

Furthermore the deceased included not only the bloodlines of Trading Companies.

But also disciples from the major sects and the bloodlines of prestigious families.

From the Murim Alliance’s perspective it was a complete mess let alone a recovery.

For this reason the Murim Alliance first canceled all upcoming festivals and schedules.

Even without that there was already much talk in the Central Plains.

– What was the Murim Alliance doing while young martial artists tragically met their deaths?

– They were attacked in Henan where their headquarters is located yet their response was too slow.

– What were the Alliance Leader and the martial artists of the Murim Alliance doing for things to turn out this way?

And so on.

In the nearly two months since the narrative of the Murim Alliance’s incompetence began to spread throughout the Central Plains.

Originally the Trading Companies that supported the Alliance would not want such rumors to spread.

They would have likely collaborated with the Open Faction to suppress the rumors.

The fact that things had come to this point meant that they too had somewhat turned their backs.

Once it was said that the existence of the orthodox sects was the reason for the Murim Alliance’s existence.

And that the current peace was maintained because of the Murim Alliance.

Such shallow words began to crumble with just one raid conducted by the Black Dragon Sword.

A raid that ended in less than a day.

Of course it was a raid that ended before even a day had passed.

But the events that unfolded for those involved were by no means trivial.

Even now two months after the raid had ended.

“How could Cheonghae Ilgyeom be defeated… how could that happen…”

The story from that time was a matter of great interest to many.

Most people were drinking heavily in broad daylight and engaging in trivial chatter.

The conversations they had recently revolved around one thing.

“Didn’t they say they had to protect the other sects right away?”

“Even so to be defeated by mere unorthodox sects… tsk tsk even Kunlun has set.”

“Who are you calling a has-been who can’t even cut properly?”

“Hey! I couldn’t help it; my leg was injured!”

“Sure that’s what you’d say. Is it something to brag about that you tripped over a wild boar? You were running around just fine a few days later.”

“… cough cough.”

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While a middle-aged man clicked his tongue he swallowed his words at what another person said.

“Goodness. Anyway…! The Murim Alliance was the Murim Alliance of old! It’s not anymore!”

“This guy is starting again; bring some cold water!”

– Yes!

The waiter responded cheerfully and went to fetch water.

“If the Murim Alliance was so capable wouldn’t they have blocked the raid and everything else?”

“They’re the ones responsible for our lives so stop complaining.”

“Responsible for our lives? They couldn’t even take care of their own and ended up in a funeral… cough cough!”

As the middle-aged man was about to cross the line a young man hurriedly reached out to cover his mouth.

“Is this uncle really crazy…! What if a martial artist from the Alliance hears this!”

“Pfft! What will happen if they hear it? My words aren’t lies!”

“Ugh…”

The young man held his forehead.

The middle-aged man’s words were not wrong.

In fact the Alliance had held a funeral for the deceased.

“Moreover they must have realized it was a problem so they announced they would hold a meeting.”

The middle-aged man said with a huff.

The Murim Alliance had announced that there would be a meeting of orthodox sects in seven days.

Perhaps because of that those who had been particularly absent in Henan began to appear.

Two months ago.

After receiving the announcement sent by the Alliance those who began to arrive for attendance.

There were even those from Trading Companies whose names alone made eyes widen.

Including people from prestigious families known as the major sects.

Sects that seemed to belong to the Gu Pae Il Bang also began to appear.

Though they lived in different regions and practiced different martial arts.

They all shared one commonality.

“Their expressions are all rotten indeed.”

“How could it be otherwise? They’re rotten and more.”

That was to say their expressions were heavy and dark.

And it was only natural.

Their children or Senior Brothers sent to the Shinryong Temple had suddenly died in the raid how could they not feel that way?

The fact that they did not easily express their anger showed considerable patience.

While the middle-aged man was pouring drinks and using the conversation as an excuse he asked the young man.

“Who are the ones coming this time?”

“I don’t know. I’m busy eating and killing intent how can I know all that?”

The young man chuckled as he spoke.

“Oh but I heard Wudang is coming.”

Only a few sects from the Gu Pae Il Bang had expressed their intention to attend the meeting.

There were not many sects close to the Murim Alliance to begin with.

The sects that had sent disciples to the Shinryong Temple were only Wudang and Mount Hua.

The Wudang Sect had always been close to the Murim Alliance so they sent representatives every time.

The Mount Hua Sect was somewhat unusual.

Rumor had it that the Principal was the Cheonghae Ilgyeom of Kunlun which is why they were allowed to attend.

“Then is the Mount Hua Sect not coming?”

“I don’t know. Not sure about that.”

The Wudang Sect had their own disciples among the casualties so it was only natural for them to attend the meeting since they were close to the Murim Alliance.

But the Mount Hua Sect was uncertain.

“Anyway… this is really a big deal. I hope there won’t be any wailing or bloodshed for a while.”

“Well it’s nice for us to see something we haven’t seen before.”

“That’s true…”

Soon the Clan Heads of the so-called Four Great Families would also appear.

To ordinary people the Clan Heads of the Four Great Families and even their bloodlines seemed like beings living in the sky.

They were not figures one could commonly see anywhere.

“Of all times an incident occurred while the precious bloodlines of the Four Great Families were all present…”

This was a situation that was said to be unprecedented. It was a time when exceptionally talented individuals referred to as the generation of meteors had all gathered at the Shinryong Temple.

“Ah tsk tsk…”

“Still it’s not like nothing was gained is it?”

The middle-aged man immediately understood what the young man meant by that.

“Are you going to bring that up again?”

“Uncle Chu you say the same thing every day.”

“You only talk about that so that’s why it seems that way. I mix in other topics.”

“Even if you do you never get tired of it.”

It’s not that nothing was gained.

The meaning of this statement was clear.

Amidst the coldly deceased prodigies and the martial artists who had struggled to protect them.