sinovels 81. Alliance
81. Alliance
Lin Mo returned to Yunyin Manor seven days later.
The moment Lin Mo stepped through the manor gates carrying the Taixu Ancient Sword, Vice Manor Lord Zhao Kun, who had already received the news, led a group of core members to greet him. Everyone's faces were filled with joy and anticipation, clearly already aware of the Manor Lord's gains from his trip to the Sword Tomb. However, when they saw Lin Mo's face clearly, their joy subsided somewhat.
Lin Mo's expression remained composed, but a deeper, more indescribable gravity lingered between his brows. His eyes seemed to hold something profoundly heavy—the lingering effect of having uncovered some astonishing truth, the trace left after a brief encounter with the weighty secrets of the world. His entire aura was more restrained, like a deep pool, calm on the surface, yet containing immeasurable power and turbulent undercurrents.
"Master, was the trip successful?" Zhao Kun stepped forward and asked respectfully, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the ancient-looking, profound-looking longsword behind Lin Mo.
Lin Mo nodded slightly, not elaborating on his experiences deep within the Sword Tomb, simply stating, "I have fulfilled my mission." He patted the scabbard behind him, and the Ancient Sword of the Void emitted a barely audible hum in response. "How has the manor been lately?"
Zhao Kun immediately composed himself and reported, "All is well. The canal transport is completely under control, operating smoothly according to the new regulations, and generating substantial profits. However…" He hesitated slightly, "Although the four great families were defeated in the life-or-death arena and are temporarily lying low, their covert activities have not completely ceased, and minor skirmishes still occur from time to time. In addition, many small and medium-sized sects and lone martial artists, having heard that the Manor Lord broke the monopoly of the great families in the life-or-death arena and secured more opportunities for us, have sent people to curry favor, hoping to establish closer ties with the Manor."
Lin Mo listened as he entered the council hall and sat down in the main seat. His fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest, his mind replaying the terrifying scenes of world cycles and restarts from the fragments of the sword spirit's memories. Compared to that grand backdrop, the current conflicts in the martial world seemed somewhat… insignificant.
But the thought was fleeting. He knew that one must eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time. Breaking the cycle might be a distant dream, but consolidating the forces at hand and changing this unjust world order was a tangible step. Those smaller forces struggling between powerful families might be potential allies in the future against even greater crises. Moreover, gathering more power and exploring more ancient secrets might help him find a way to break his lover's seal more quickly and gain a deeper understanding of the truth behind the world's cycles.
"A gesture of goodwill..." Lin Mo pondered for a moment, a sharp light returning to his eyes—the will of a reborn avenger, the will of one determined to break free from his cage—suppressing the momentary confusion that arose from knowing the truth. "This is an opportunity. The powerful families have been entrenched for too long, their resentment runs deep. It's time to establish new rules for them."
He looked at Zhao Kun and the other core members in the hall, his tone resolute: "Send out invitations to all sects, gangs, and renowned lone swordsmen in the martial world who are not direct descendants of the four great families, in the name of Yunyin Manor, to convene the 'Martial Arts Alliance' at Junji Peak of Songshan Mountain in ten days!"
"An alliance?" Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. This was a grand undertaking! Throughout history, those who could initiate a martial arts alliance were all powerful figures who could shake the martial arts world with a stomp of their feet. Although Yunyin Manor was currently gaining momentum, its foundation was still shallow. The manor lord's move undoubtedly put him in the eye of the storm.
Lin Mo understood their concerns and calmly said, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. The four great families control resources, set prices, and create rules that benefit them, squeezing out the living space of others. This is a chronic problem in the martial arts world. We won the life-or-death arena, shattering their myth of invincibility. Now is the time for change. If we raise our voices and follow the trend, the chances of success are very high."
He paused, then continued, "The purpose of the alliance is not to establish a hegemonic power that is all-powerful, but to discuss and formulate a new, relatively fair 'Jianghu Convention,' to break the monopoly of powerful families on the pricing of key resources, and to establish a more equitable mechanism for the distribution of benefits and the resolution of disputes among all forces, large and small. What we want is a more vibrant and reasonable Jianghu."
As everyone listened to Lin Mo's clearly articulated vision, their eyes gradually lit up. This was not merely a contest for supremacy, but rather contained an ideal of transformation. If successful, it would undoubtedly change the entire landscape of the martial arts world, and the participants would be remembered in history.
"Your Excellency's insight is brilliant!" Zhao Kun exclaimed excitedly, "I will immediately arrange for people to draft an invitation to heroes, and ensure that the news spreads throughout the country in the shortest possible time!"
For the next ten days, Yunyin Manor operated like a tightly wound machine, running at full efficiency. One after another, sincere yet powerful invitations to heroes were sent to every corner of the Song Dynasty through various channels.
Just as Lin Mo had predicted, the invitation to challenge heroes caused a huge uproar in the martial arts world. The four great families and their affiliated forces naturally scoffed at it, secretly cursing Lin Mo for overestimating himself and attempting to shake the millennia-old order. But many smaller sects and gangs that had long been suppressed by the great families, as well as many lone martial artists struggling to find a way to advance, saw a glimmer of hope.
Mount Song, Junji Peak.
On the day of the alliance meeting, the weather was perfect, with clear skies and gentle breezes. The mountaintop platform, usually deserted, was now bustling with people, banners waving in the wind. Martial arts heroes from all corners of the land had gathered here; a rough count revealed nearly a hundred representatives from various factions, plus their entourages and guards, bringing the total number to over a thousand. While the scene lacked the extravagance of some aristocratic ceremonies, it possessed its own unique air of rugged heroism and vibrant life.
Lin Mo, dressed in a black outfit and carrying the Taixu Ancient Sword on his back, stood on a makeshift platform. He did not deliberately release his aura, but the composure he exuded after experiencing two lifetimes and seeing through part of the truth of the world, as well as the ancient sword behind him that subtly resonated with the surrounding space, naturally made him the focus of everyone's attention.
Below the stage, representatives from various factions whispered among themselves, their gazes a complex mix of emotions as they scrutinized this young man who had stirred up trouble in the martial arts world over the past six months. There was curiosity, scrutiny, and anticipation, but naturally, there was also suspicion and envy.
"Fellow martial artists!" Lin Mo began, his voice not loud, yet clear enough to reach everyone's ears, like a mountain stream washing away the noise. "Today, I, Lin, have taken the liberty of inviting you all to gather atop Mount Song, for one purpose only—to find a broader path for us martial artists, and to establish a fairer set of rules!"
He cut to the chase, without much pleasantries: "As we all know, for thousands of years, the resources of the martial world, market prices, and even many promotion channels have been controlled by the four great families and their affiliated forces. Among you all, how many sects have faced difficulties in cultivation due to the exorbitant prices of elixirs? How many gangs have had their development limited by the monopoly of water transport and mineral resources? And how many heroes, lacking the background of a powerful family, possess extraordinary skills yet have no way to serve the country?"
A series of questions struck at the sore spots of most people present, and a buzz of discussion immediately arose from below the stage, with many people showing expressions of deep empathy.
"I, Lin, am not very talented, but I managed to win a few matches in the life-or-death arena, giving you all a brief respite," Lin Mo said, then changed the subject. "However, a single victory cannot change the long-standing problems. If we do not want to repeat the same mistakes, we must establish new rules so that this martial world is no longer a world for a select few!"
"Well said!" A burly man in the audience shouted in agreement; he was none other than the leader of the Jiangbei Iron Fist Sect. "Damn it, I've had enough of those arrogant young masters' arrogance! Master Lin, what do you say we do? The Iron Fist Sect will listen to you!"
"Yes! Master Lin, draw up the line!"
"It's time for a change!"
With someone taking the lead, many leaders of small and medium-sized forces who had been suppressed for a long time began to speak out in agreement, and the crowd gradually became more excited.
Of course, there were also those who remained calm and prudent. An elderly man from a water village in Jiangnan stroked his beard and asked, "Master Lin's ambition is commendable, but I wonder how these new rules will be specifically defined? And how can you guarantee that we won't repeat past mistakes and create new injustices?"
Lin Mo looked at the old man and nodded in acknowledgment: "Senior's concerns are very valid. Today's gathering is not a one-man show by Yunyin Manor. The purpose of inviting everyone here is to pool our wisdom and discuss the draft of this 'Jianghu Covenant' together."
He gestured, and Zhao Kun, who was beside him, immediately ordered his men to distribute the already prepared draft summary to the representatives of various forces.
"The core of the convention has three main aspects," Lin Mo said loudly. "First, the establishment of the 'Jianghu Resources Guild,' in which representatives from each participating faction are elected according to their strength and contributions to form a council to jointly discuss and decide on the benchmark prices and allocation rules for key resources such as elixirs, minerals, and canal transport, thereby breaking the pricing power of aristocratic families."
"Secondly, establish a 'Jianghu Arbitration Court' and appoint respected, highly skilled, and relatively neutral seniors as arbitrators to mediate large-scale disputes between sects, avoid large-scale private battles, and reduce unnecessary casualties."
"Thirdly, some secret realms and training grounds that were originally monopolized by aristocratic families, as well as certain official selection channels, will be opened up. Based on the contribution of the covenant or by holding regular martial arts competitions, all qualified martial arts practitioners will be allowed to participate and the best will be selected."
These three draft articles all address the core problems of the current underworld, taking into account fairness as well as efficiency and the principle of strength, and are not utopian egalitarianism.
The audience members held the draft summary and read it carefully, their discussions growing louder. This time, the focus of the discussion was on the specific clauses of the draft; clearly, Lin Mo's ideas had piqued their genuine interest and prompted them to think.
Watching the heated discussion below the stage, Lin Mo felt a little more at ease. He knew that the most difficult first step—gathering people and getting them to seriously consider the possibility of change—had been taken. What followed would be more tedious and inevitably accompanied by fierce debates over the details.
He looked up into the distance, the sea of clouds churning beneath his feet. This alliance of martial arts masters was a crucial step for him to consolidate his forces and confront the powerful clans; perhaps, it would also be the first cornerstone he could rely on when facing a deeper crisis in the future. The ancient sword of the Void on his shoulder trembled slightly, as if silently responding to his thoughts.