Starting With The Martial Arts Holy Fire Order

Chapter 27: Preparing for the Martial Arts Assembly

After succeeding to the position of the Ming Sect Leader, Ling Yihan immediately convened a sect-wide meeting. The attendees included: the Bright Right and Left Envoys 【Yang Xiao and Fan Yao】, the Four Protectors 【Daiqisi, Yin Tianzheng, Xie Xun, and Wei Yixiao】, the Five Wanderers 【Monk Bu Dai, who was called Shuo Bude, Monk Peng Yingyu, Master of Cold Expression Leng Qian, Iron-Crowned Taoist Zhang Zhong, and Zhou Dian】, the Five Flag Commanders, and the Masters of the Four Divisions: Heaven, Earth, Wind, and Thunder. The former leader, Yang Dingtian, had retired and no longer participated in the affairs of the Ming Sect. Although Hu Qingyang was close to Ling Yihan, he did not hold any official position in the sect and chose to avoid attending to prevent unnecessary rumours.

“Currently, our Ming Sect’s influence has spread throughout the Central Plains. Our righteous troops resist the imperial court everywhere. However, the Six Major Clans of the Central Plains still view us as enemies, killing many of our brothers. What are your thoughts on this?” Ling Yihan spoke first after ensuring everyone was present.

The moment he finished speaking, Zhou Dian immediately raised his voice. “Hey! Leader, do we even need to discuss this? Those so-called righteous sects of the Central Plains think of themselves as orthodox and treat our Ming Sect like a demonic cult. They are always opposing us, and many of our brothers have died because of them. My opinion? Against these so-called righteous sects, we should not back down. If they dare to oppose us, we’ll kill them one by one!”

Yang Xiao sneered, deliberately mocking, “Zhou Dian, since your martial arts are unmatched, why don’t you personally eliminate all the top experts of these righteous sects?”

“What did you say?!” Zhou Dian exploded, ready to argue on the spot.

Ling Yihan, already aware of the animosity between Yang Xiao and Zhou Dian, merely sat at the head seat, smiling faintly without intervening.

Seeing this, Xie Xun hurriedly stepped in to mediate. “Alright, alright! We’re here to discuss serious matters, not quarrel. The Leader is present!”

At the mention of “Leader,” both Yang Xiao and Zhou Dian glanced at Ling Yihan, choosing to drop the argument.

The discussion continued, with various members expressing their views. Some, like Zhou Dian, advocated a relentless fight against the righteous sects, while others suggested maintaining a cautious distance, avoiding conflicts whenever possible. However, not a single voice supported cooperation with them.

After everyone had spoken, Ling Yihan finally addressed them again. “Brothers, you should all be aware of the teachings of our Ming Sect, correct?”

“Leader, that much is clear! Our doctrine is to punish evil and promote good, saving the world from suffering,” Wei Yixiao responded promptly.

Ling Yihan nodded approvingly. “Exactly. Since our Ming Sect has always been committed to punishing evil and saving the suffering, why do both the imperial court and the various sects regard us as a demonic cult?”

Yin Tianzheng interjected, “That’s because the Mongolian Emperor is incompetent, and his court is full of corrupt officials oppressing our Han people. Naturally, they see our Ming Sect, which stands for justice, as their enemy and call us a demonic cult!”

Monk Peng added, “Yes, and those so-called righteous sects are jealous of our talented members, fearing we’ll challenge their dominance in the martial world. That’s why they suppress us.”

Xie Xun supplemented, “Also, the practices of our Ming Sect differ from typical martial artists. When the sect first arrived in the Central Plains, members were strict vegetarians and buried their dead unclothed, symbolising leaving the world as one entered it—bare and pure. Though many of these practices have been reformed over generations, some customs still offend the sensibilities of those self-proclaimed righteous sects.”

Following these remarks, Daiqisi, Fan Yao, and Shuo Bude also shared their perspectives.

After listening to everyone, Ling Yihan remarked, “You’ve all made valid points. However, let us not forget that our greatest enemy is not these righteous sects but the Mongol court. When the Mongols invaded our Song Dynasty, how many Han lives did they slaughter? After taking over the land, they relegated our Han people to the lowest status, treating us as less than human.”

Daiqisi asked curiously, “So, Leader, are you suggesting we ignore the righteous sects?”

Ling Yihan shook his head. “That is not what I mean. Before we can drive out the Mongols, we must first stabilise the internal situation. The righteous sects of the Central Plains must be united. Therefore, I have decided to send envoys to deliver invitations to all major sects of the Central Plains. A month from now, we will convene a Martial Arts Assembly on Mount Tai to elect a Martial Alliance Leader.”

The announcement left everyone astonished.

“Leader, you’re planning to form an alliance with the righteous sects? Even if we are willing, do you think they’ll come to Mount Tai after all the enmity between us?” Yin Tianzheng quickly expressed his concern.

“Exactly. If none of them show up, it’ll be a major embarrassment for our Ming Sect,” Zhou Dian added, sceptical.

Ling Yihan shook his head with a smile. “They will come. I will tell them that I will bring the Dragon Sabre and the Heavenly Sword to the assembly. Whoever becomes the Martial Alliance Leader will gain possession of these treasures. Let’s see if they dare refuse to attend!”

Yang Xiao frowned. “Leader, do you plan to use the sword and sabre as bait to gather them, only to destroy them all in one swoop?”

Ling Yihan smiled slightly. “Using the sword and sabre as bait is true, but my aim is not to kill them. The feud between our sect and the six major sects runs deep, but I will not add fuel to the fire and jeopardise the Ming Sect’s greater mission. As for my true intentions, I will reveal them in due time.”

Fan Yao, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “Aren’t you worried the sword and sabre might be taken from you, Leader?”

Ling Yihan chuckled lightly. “Fan Youshi, do you truly believe that the Dragon Sabre and Heavenly Sword alone can command the martial world? If that were the case, why didn’t the swordsmith who forged them become the martial world’s supreme leader? Conquering the world depends on strength and winning the people’s hearts, not on mere weapons. Besides, do you think anyone can take them from me?”

His words silenced the entire room. Indeed, Ling Yihan’s martial prowess was beyond their comprehension, likely surpassing even Zhang Sanfeng of the Wudang Sect. Taking the weapons from him seemed as impossible as reaching the heavens.

“We humbly obey your command, Leader!”

Satisfied with their unwavering loyalty, Ling Yihan nodded approvingly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.