The Blade and Sword

CHAPTER 22-A HUGE BLOW

However, they were also confused about where Koten got them and how he knew those masked figures. For Koken still does not make sense at all. So many riddles for him to discover and many things that happened in Unkensō after he left. He really can't believe some familiar face that he knew, now already gone. However, as it was said before, they must quickly choose a new leader as an acting-sect leader when the real Seimei-Sōshu is still not available yet. Everyone knew that he and Koten were the only candidates for the next Seimei-Sōshu but since Koten disappeared and they don't know his whereabouts, Koken was the only candidate now. However, before Seimei-Sōshu fell into a coma, he already told the elders about Koshin's secret, which is that he learned the sword-skill, Mukeifūken-ryū. Surely, the elders were so surprised when they heard it as it was prohibited to any members of Unkensō unless the Seimei-Sōshu. But they also knew that the one that taught him was none other than Kōgo. And Kōgo was no wrong either, as it was normal for a master to pass his skill to his disciple. Not only that, they also knew that Koshin was the one who mastered the Mukeifūken-ryū to its highest level beside Kōgo. Even the Seimei-Sōshu couldn't reach that level. So Seimei-Sōshu asked the elders not to punish Koshin at all cost as Koshin might be their only chance to bring Unkensō back to his glory days. However, they also had a dilemma to choose who to be the acting Seimei-Sōshu for now, since some of them thought Koshin was the perfect choice indeed as he already mastered the Mugen-Keisho and Mukeifūken-ryū. So, they thought it should be Koshin to take the lead of Unkensō. Meanwhile, the others thought Koken was the direct disciple of Seimei-Sōshu, he also has the right to be the acting Seimei-Sōshu even though he might not be as talented as Koshin in martial-arts but what has been decided can't be ignored either. so, the elders decided to call both of them into the inner-hall to discuss it. At the beginning, Koken was doubted that he could take the role as he was still inexperienced to manage a sect if he was chosen. Not only that, currently Koshin was the strongest in Unkensō, he was the one that can bring Unkensō to be on top again. On the other hand, Koshin also said he had no ambition to be the acting Seimei-Sōshu. As long as he can contribute to help Unkensō to be the top sect again, then he has no other wish. He wanted Koken, the eldest brother, to take that position as he thought Koken was the perfect candidate to be the leader rather than himself, as he was still too young to lead such a big organization. Not to mention, with his current condition, the miracle physician already said he might not pass 20. The elders thought that what Koshin said was true, and he had a point. They never thought both of them had such a big heart to support each other. So after the meeting, they decided that Koken will be the acting Seimei-Sōshu and Koba-Chōrō will be the advisor and also the vice-sect leader if Koken is not available. Then Koshin will be the acting-captain for the gold faction since Koten is gone. They still won’t give up on Koten yet, and will keep searching for him. After Koten returns, he will be in charge as the official captain of the gold faction and Koshin will be the vice-captain. At least for now, they have settled their internal problem. Now the rest will be the external problem, which will come from the other pugilist sects. But still, it was quite a big shock for Unkensō, as they just grew stronger in recent years, then a mysterious group came to break them apart as they didn't want Unkensō to grow stronger. Some well known sects including the big-four, send some of their members to come to Unkensō for checking if Unkensō needs some help, even though Unkensō already knew they were just making small talk, not really going to help especially those big-four. Actually, those hypocrites' sects come to Unkensō, not only for checking their condition, but they still have other things to do which they have suspicions if Unkensō somehow has any connection to the evil sect, Dōgonkyō according to what happened to their disciple, Koten. That's why they wanted to take this chance to accuse Unkensō and bring them down. However, since the incident about the masked figures also raided Unkensō, their suspicions on Unkensō was on hold as they wondered if it might not be possible if Unkensō had cahoot with the masked figures since their Seimei-Sōshu and other members were hurt badly by those masked men. They thought they needed further investigation about that. So for now, they won't bring this matter here. But still, they remind Unkensō about two things, which the first one, Unkensō must not forget to investigate about those masked men, if they are really the Dōgonkyō‘s remnants or not.