Plague
Righteous sect.
Demonic sect.
Blood Cult.
Having once served time in the righteous sect, the Demonic Sect, and the Blood Cult, I spent the longest stretch as the Blood Cult prodigy Hyeolgwangsi—but it was my days as a low ranking warrior in the righteous sect that endowed me with the countless experiences shaping my values in life.
‘Come forth, past self!’
So now, in this moment, to solve the problem before me, my righteous-sect self must take the lead, with the Demonic Sect lackey and the Blood Cult Hyeolgwangsi supporting from behind.
‘Sagong Hui is a clever woman.’
And at my back stands Sagong Hui. The future Taiji Sword Empress is no novice attain able by mere five-star warriors. So I casually posed one possibility I had organized in my mind to her.
“It might be the work of the Demonic Sect.”
“De-… Demonic Sect…?”
Her voice and her eyes spoke disbelief—but also, “You too?”
“To spread a man-made plague. If Celestial Blossom did not break out by itself, then someone must have disseminated it.”
“T-there is no way. No matter what…!”
“Why do you think humans have two buttocks?”
I tugged Sagong Hui’s hips apart. She buried her face in my shoulder and trembled.
“Humanity is always split into two camps. Man and woman. Young and old. Righteous and demonic. The Demonic Sect is the same. It is currently divided into two. Like your buttocks.”
“Why use that metaphor… of all things…?”
“They cannot be merged, so to make one, you must cut off the other. Power struggles are inevitable. Common.”
The first and second heirs of the Demonic Sect fought over the future sect leader position. The first was the Great Young Master, the second a Young Lady—siblings born of the same mother, vying to slay one another and win the favor of the sect leader to claim the title of Celestial Demon.
“That Great Young Master is notorious for cruelty and filth. He would employ any method to attain the power of the Celestial Demon.”
“How do you know this?”
“I know because I know. Anyway, if it is his doing, then this is artificial. Only he would deliberately spread Celestial Blossom across the Central Plains.”
Later another woman would appear far more ruthless than that Great Young Master, but that is a story for another time. For now, to confirm whether it is his plot, we must pursue Sagong Hui’s mother.
“Mother….”
“She has gone far.”
The trail of demons down the mountain was grisly and tragic. The slope was torn as if struck by massive falling rocks, and in the trees and forest floor splatters of blood and pus from Celestial Blossom marked the path.
If this continued, the entire Mount Wudang would bear the aura of Celestial Blossom. Perhaps the sect would be forced to tear down its own foundation.
“Do you notice any clues? Even the smallest.”
“…The warriors whispered that after the demon fought the sect leader in single combat, these events began.”
“That is hardly small.”
“I-I only relay what they said. It may not be causal.”
“In martial arts world, such fights often foreshadow calamity for a sect.”
A fight ignited by petty revenge can lead to the annihilation of an entire school. Considering the Great Young Master’s temperament and methods, it is entirely possible.
“That demon could have contracted Celestial Blossom, or smuggled the corpse of an infected into Mount Wudang prison and submerged it in the river to contaminate the water. Or, pretending to be a pilgrim, they could have entered the sect and spread the disease to many.”
I could list more than three conceivable methods. Sagong Hui trembled but said nothing; her warm hand resting on mine fulfilled its role.
“A prison in our sect houses those who commit offenses. How did the patients escape?”
“…Mother struck with her fist.”
“Indeed. One trained in Demonic qi could do that. What drove her to rage, I do not know.”
Sagong Hui said she did not know her mother was a demon.
Her heartbeat pressed against my back was true. She was likely living the dream of many—fleeing the Demonic Sect for love.
“Why have you come here?”
“…Father was about to be promoted. He said he would be busier, so he wanted us to take a harmonious family trip to receive the sect’s blessings… hick.”
“A tragedy indeed.”
Celestial Blossom had broken out right where they arrived, and the remaining sect prison inmates among Sagong Hui’s family all contracted it. Sagong Hui, hiding her beauty beneath that artificial mask, truly fell ill.
Perhaps this was the trace of the past the future Taiji Sword Empress once endured.
“Then let us run a little more before it grows worse. Keep your mouth shut.”
I planted my feet on the downhill path. The ground hollowed beneath me as I leapt to the branches above, and using my power I sprinted ahead of the demons. I would intercept them and follow their trail.
“Sagong Hui, do you know this phrase?”
She shook her head. With her eyes squeezed shut, she could not see what lay ahead.
I extended my leg toward the demon, whose back still faced me. Yang qi flared around my leg in bright flame.
“Life-and-death knot winner must win!”
Wham—
My kick, leaping across dozens of paces, struck the demon’s back.
“Unparalleled Desecration Strike!”
Aaahhh!!
I carried Sagong Hui’s mother on my back.
“We cannot wait any longer.”
As the sect elders bickered with government soldiers, the elderly elder with grey hair and massive frame stepped before the soldiers and hushed the elders.
“I will ascend the mountain.”
“E-Elder Supreme?!”
“This is impossible! Even if you are Elder Supreme, violating law and order…!”
“Listen.”
The Elder Supreme exuded his formidable qi. The soldiers froze like rabbits before a beast.
“Why block the path? Do you aim to keep people from ascending, or to keep those atop Mount Wudang from descending?”
“Both… I suppose.”
“The latter purpose is stronger, Elder Supreme.”
As people on the road stepped aside, a frail-looking official in government robes bowed and advanced. The Elder Supreme returned the bow.
“You could have sent a deputy.”
“The Prefect of Hubei fears contagion and fears to come. If he does not come, the people will grow anxious. But Elder Supreme, do you truly intend to ascend?”
“Of course.”
No physical barrier could stop a martial artist and Elder Supreme from ascending Mount Wudang.
Well-trained government soldiers are only slightly stronger than third-rate warriors; the invisible force that had barred the elders from entering was law and order.
Neither government nor martial world infringes the other’s domain—but neither can ignore a plague. Hence the sect had cooperated with government, but circumstances changed.
“I sense demonic qi on the mountain. The aura of righteousness is broken. Demonic forces stir on all sides.”
“You mean demons are behind this?”
“Whether they seek the sect’s secrets or its destruction, we do not know. But clearly demons with potent qi are descending from the mountain one by one.”
At the Elder Supreme’s muted words, the Prefect writhed.
Martial artists, whether from righteous sect or Demonic Sect, are nuisances to public order—but Demonic Sect fiends who shed blood without hesitation are worse; one would wish to vaporize them on the spot.
Regrettably, the imperial guard who could subdue demons would be long delayed. If demons truly descend Mount Wudang, only the sect’s warriors can counter them.
“…Very well. But after you ascend, you may not descend until the Celestial Blossom abates.”
“I understand. We will quell the demon crisis and seal the gate until His Majesty arrives.”
Each side yielded. The government soldiers opened the path for the sect’s martial artists, and, as if never to return to Hubei, the Daoist masters ignited their qi.
“Let us go!”
“Yes!”
The sect’s remaining warriors below Hubei all began running up the mountain.
“Huh, this could be troublesome.”
In the inn, the Demonic Sect Great Young Master drinking with his companion scratched his head as he watched the Daoists ascend the mountain. Opposite him, the woman smiled behind her cup as if she had foreseen this.
“What’s so amusing?”
“Ha ha, did I not warn you? Do not try to understand righteous sect warriors with common reasoning.”
The Great Young Master stabbed a dumpling with his chopsticks.
Each tear in the dumpling released juices that splattered like blood, resembling the wound of a dagger and chilling onlookers.
Fortunately, no one paid them any heed.
“Not even a plague can halt their righteous fervor. If they believe their actions are just, they become mad and lose sense.”
“Indeed righteous and loyal types.”
Though the plan had gone somewhat awry, the Great Young Master did not care. He had spent only a few sheets of paper and some ink for this operation.
“With a few brush strokes, I sealed Mount Wudang. I wonder how the sect leader will praise me.”
“I am certain you will receive high commendation. Few have sealed a sect, let alone Mount Wudang.”
“Indeed. And it is more than merely sealing. If one contracts Celestial Blossom, even a martial artist is no longer whole. Ha ha.”
“Oh my, then I must depart. I might catch Celestial Blossom staying here too long.”
“Do not worry. Our sect has the Fiend Tamer. One night in his care and there is no problem.”
“Fiend Tamer? Ugh…”
The woman grimaced and hid behind her fan.
“I hate that. As a woman, it is most unpleasant. What connection is there between a Fiend Tamer and Celestial Blossom?”
“Flowers burn in fire. Celestial Blossom is no different.”
“Oh! Then you mean…?”
“If one is warmed by extreme yang qi like the sun’s core, one could burn even Celestial Blossom. But will that ever happen?”
The Great Young Master raised his cup.
“Let us speak within our shared understanding. One who overcomes Celestial Blossom… such a thing cannot exist.”
“Ha ha ha! The demons are repelled!”
“Kyaaah!!”
Sagong Hui shrieked and struck me with her forehead. When she opened her eyes and saw her mother alight in flame, she screamed and broke the seal I had placed, scattering my qi.
“You monster! This trash! You scoundrel!”
“Wait, you begged me to save her!!”
I seized Sagong Hui by the neck and hurled her upward. As she hovered, I slammed her to the ground, reapplying the seal.
“Ugh!”
Though I forced a fall‐break, she must have felt the impact. I lifted her swirling head to show her mother’s fiend blazing with the Celestial Blossom suppression technique.
“You will owe me gratitude.”
“After setting my mother ablaze… uh…?”
Fwoosh, hiss.
Where the flames had burned, only smooth skin remained. The traces of Celestial Blossom subsided to mere redness.
“Containing demonic qi is nothing to me.”
If overwhelmed by demonic qi or Celestial Blossom, one need only crush and burn it. Though my qi was consumed, I saved Sagong Hui’s mother as requested.
“…Hui‐ah?”
“Mo-Mother?!”
Tears streaming, Sagong Hui embraced her mother. The woman who moments ago tore warriors limb from limb now looked serene.
“I…how…?”
“I incinerated all the raging demonic qi in her blood and, while I was at it, burned away the root of the Celestial Blossom.”
“Oh…”
“But I apologize for going too far.”
“What?”
I turned my gaze to the distant mountains.
“…I could not save her hair or eyebrows. Forgive me.”
No… that was…
Even hair and eyebrows had been stained by Celestial Blossom pus.