Zhenghai's body laid on the platform, blood pooled from under his body. Wudang soldiers drew their swords, jumped on the platform. The representatives from Emei, Mt. Hua and even the demon cult, took a step back. Unwilling to stand in front of Yeol and Cheng.
Wu Jin lifted his sword. "We protect Blue and the elders." He shouted. "Spare no one who points a sword at Silent Edge."
Silent Edge surged forward, all one hundred men formed a wall between the elders, Blue, and the Wudang soldiers.
"ENOUGH!" A voice boomed across the soon to be battlefield. The Alliance Leader appeared. Landing between both sects. Iron Order warriors, blending in the lines with Wudang's guards. Hyeon knelt down to Zhenghai's corpse. "Rest easy, old friend. You did well. I'll handle the rest."
Hyeon stood and approached Yeol and Cheng. Wu Jin gestured for his men to lower their swords. "Look at what you have done, Yeol. One child unconscious. A Patriarch... dead. All foolishly over a name."
Jaegal Li stood behind, gesturing for Iron Order soldiers to carry Zhenghai's body away.
"It is you, Hyeon who made the mistake." Yeol raised his sword at Hyeon. "You and your snake, Li, take us for fools? That man Blue fought wasn't Wudang. We all know he was one of your dogs."
"Oh, and what proof of that do you have? That same man is now seeking medical attention. He nearly died from your poisonous qi." Jaegal Li said as he stepped forward. Hyeon placed his arm on front of Li.
"What about the Wudang Patriarch? Was that necessary. You've now weakened Murim’s capabilities to fight against the monsters." Hyeon stepped closer to Yeol drawing his sword. "Your temper, and that silly Tang pride. Have once again cost someone their life."
Yeol sneered. "Tch. You would've done the same if he did that to the Namgung family. Dont feed me your bullshit." Yeol said calmly.
"I have done more for my family, than you'll ever know Yeol. But this, is crossing the line." Hyeon looked at Cheng and Wu Jin. "Kneel. Join the Alliance. Swear your allegiance. All will be forgiven. Refuse, and you will be treated as outcasts, murderers, traitors who care not for Murim’s safety..." Hyeon gestured to Zhenghai's body. "...Clearly. When the world comes for you, I will not save you."
As Cheng and Yeol stared at each other another figure dropped in from the shadows.
Namgung Gyeom appeared with his elites right behind him. He smiled at Cheng. He locked eyes with Yeol. "Stupid Bastard." Yeol shrugged his shoulders.
Gyeom turned back to his brother. "All this talk about kneeling." Gyeom yawned. "Same tricks, brother. Since when do we break children for politics?" Gyeom pointed his sword at Blue.
"Gyeom, its bes-" Jaegal Li began to speak.
The tip of Gyeom's sword to his throat stopped him. "Was i speaking to you?" He cleared his throat. "Now, where were we? Oh yes, you were about to tell me how you didn’t set this up to cripple a boy, all for your lust for control. Or some made up narrative of revenge."
Hyeon looked back at Li and shook his head. He placed two fingers on the Sword Saint's blade and forced him to lower it.
Then he spoke looking at Gyeom. "I told you brother, do not involve yourself in that which doesn't concern you."
The representatives tried to find their exits. They wanted no part of this now that the Sword Saint had arrived. This was bigger than any of them could handle.
"Doesn't concern me? I'm as interested in Blue as you are. I also see past the mistakes of the past, and the future of Murim that lies in the blood of every young warrior. Including the Tang. I saw what happened... though i imagine it played out exactly as he planned." Gyeom stared at Jaegal Li. "Except, by your own admission of suprise, you didn't account for me. We both know that was no honorable spar. You tried to break a child to satisfy your own grudges."
Hyeon's calm demeanor had disappeared. His real expressions started to show through the cracks. "And you still shield that Tang scum, even now. Even after he murdered a Patriarch, a warrior." He pointed a sword at Kwan, Blue's other brother. "You disgrace our blood even now, letting a Tang wear our colors. The Tang should have died with their worthless Patriarch."
Yeol's qi flared again. Cheng and Gyeom both turned and placed their hands on his chest. Once Yeol relaxed, Gyeom turned back around. "The only poison is you, you poison Murim with your schemes and petty hatred. Leave. Take your Iron Order and go. I do not wish to fight you. But if that is your wish, then we can settle our own score. Right here, right now."
The Sword Saint gripped his hilt tighter.
"Tch. One day brother." Hyeon hissed. "One day, even you will kneel." Hyeon turned. "Iron Order, we are leaving. NOW!"
He turned back one last time to Yeol. "This isn't over. You will pay for what you've done here today. Eventually."
Yeol smiled. "Time and place, you son of a bitch."
The Alliance Leader scoffed, turned away, cloak snapping behind him, and vanished into the mist.
Gyeom watched him go, shaking his head. "Death comes for us all brother." He said softly. "But never on our knees."
Wu Jin ordered the men to gather Blue. Jinhu and Ilho came rushing from the back with Ryu and Hanjo in tow. "I thought I told you four to stay at the compound?" Wu Jin asked.
"Like hell." Jinhu replied. Ilho shrugged his shoulders. "Must've misheard, Sect Leader."
"Amitabha." Hanjo muttered.
Gyeom approached Ryu. "Glad to see you're making friends."
"Thanks father. Glad to see you are too." Ryu and Gyeom laughed. Ryu nodded and helped the others carry Blue off.
Jinhu looked at Ryul. "You're one of us now."
"You'll have to tryout for Rogue Edge though." Ilho grunted as he helped carry Blue. "Why is your brother so damn heavy?" The boys all laughed.
Silent Edge turned and walked out of Wudang's compound, leaving Yeol, Gyeom and Cheng on the platform.
Yeol stared at the pool of blood. "He really was a nasty bastard." He turned to Cheng. "You've been awfully quiet throughout this whole ordeal."
"He was still my brother, nasty bastard aside." Cheng knelt down and sighed. "And you just shook the bee's nest."
Yeol patted Gyeom on the shoulder. "At least your contingency came through."
Gyeom looked at Yeol. "You really do need to do something about that anger."
Yeol hung his head. "I know, but i-"
"We know." Cheng interrupted him. "We need to head back too. Things are going to get more complicated now."
Gyeom nodded. "Agreed. Li nor my brother will let this go. But they won't be openly hostile anytime soon. You should still prepare Wu Jin for any fallout that may occur. Emei and Mt. Hua will surely take my brothers side."
"Good thing Yong Ma didn’t show up." Yeol chuckled.
"Could you have imagined? Giving him a reason to kill Hyeon." Cheng laughed.
The three men walked into the mist joking about the potential fight if the Heavenly Demon showed up.
They left the Wudang compound without a Patriarch. And none of them turned to look back.