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2.
Supported by Damak, Cha Seok-du entered the inner room and let out a hearty laugh.
“Lord Ryeon, are you alright?”
Actually, there wasn’t really any support involved.
The hulking Cha Seok-du and the small-framed Dam-ak who has not practiced martial arts.
It was as if a young child was struggling to support his father, and the father was pretending not to notice while accepting his son’s support.
Ah, it’s okay. It’s okay!
Damak’s feelings as he looked at Cha Seok-du sitting in his seat were incredibly complex.
Cha Seok-du wore a relaxed expression, like someone who had barely overcome a major crisis.
Dam-ak was troubled by the fact that it was Jin So-un, not himself, who had given him that comfort.
“What a relief……. What a relief…….”
Damak was extremely pleased to see him acting drunk with a small smile on his lips, yet at the same time, felt a sense of regret.
“I am sorry, Yeonju. It was originally my turn to do this.”
“huh?”
Cha Seok-du opened his half-closed eyes wide.
“How could that be Soldier Dam’s business? It was something everyone should have handled.”
“If only I were a little smarter…….”
“Hahaha. Even Military Officer Dam is talking nonsense.”
Cha Seok-du, letting out a hearty laugh as if he had sobered up a bit, looked at Damak with clear eyes.
“Military Officer Dam. What is it that I ask of you? Was it that you preserve my position?”
“……
That is not it.
“Yes. What I desire is for the Black Alliance to take root in this land and flourish greatly.”
Cha Seok-du’s gaze was softer than ever.
And Soldier Dam has done his job well so far.
“…….”
“Everyone has their own role to play. It’s just that the Black Flame Dragon was a bit more suitable to resolve this matter.”
Not only was it perfect, but it was also a method that no one but him could have thought of or executed.
Upon hearing the full story from Jin So-un, even Cha Seok-du, the greatest of all time, clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“There is no need to blame yourself, nor to compare yourself to that guy. Don’t you have something else you need to do?”
I will keep that in mind.
Cha Seok-du nodded, put on a serious look, and leaned forward.
“Rather than that… would an alliance still be difficult?”
The topic that had previously come up at the banquet resurfaced.
Are you considering an alliance?
“That bastard Jin So-un was screaming at the top of his lungs telepathically. ‘How could this happen!’ Honestly, I thought my eardrums were going to burst.”
Did such a thing happen?
Damak swallowed a groan inwardly.
Even though he helped the Black Alliance, to think he spoke so rudely to their representative.
However, Cha Seok-du continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.
“Hmm… To be honest, I also think it would be right to form an alliance for a certain period. The Black Alliance is still all flash and no substance, isn’t it?”
Although it was absurd to compare a five-hundred-year-old organization with a newly established one in the first place, Damak was fully able to grasp Cha Seok-du’s intentions.
“By expelling the Dark Ones, we have somewhat contained the Alliance leaders’ backlash against the Murim, but anything more than this will be impossible. After all, there are those who joined the Alliance in the first place under the pretext of war with the Murim Alliance.”
Cha Seok-du, who had been pondering, asked discreetly.
“What do you think? Can we be a match for the current Murim Alliance?”
I won’t lose easily.
So you’re saying you’ll lose in the end.
The true strength of the Murim Alliance is not limited to its very existence.
“I know that, too. That is why I am so troubled. I simply do not want to leave the Black Alliance as a group that appears briefly and then vanishes. I want to make it a place where those with free spirits can gather to compete, and sometimes move forward together.”
Cha Seok-du’s voice sank heavily.
“It was the power of the White Path, not the Black Path, that ultimately resolved the situation at the Maryeong Plateau. And such things will happen again at any time.”
His eyes burned as he looked back on the past.
“There is only one reason why we must unite. It is to protect ourselves.”
A gaze without the slightest hesitation.
I mean, it is not to kill others and take something away.
Damak, knowing what big picture Cha Seok-du had been painting throughout the long years, slowly nodded his head.
I will keep that in mind.
Tsk, I got carried away. Sorry. I get so talkative when I’m drunk.
On the other hand, I could understand Cha Seok-du’s feelings as well.
There are not many people in the dark martial arts world who share such a goal.
Most of them are ruthless and lawless.
Because in the midst of that, harboring a big dream all alone is by no means an easy task.
I will definitely accomplish that task.
“Alright… I look forward to working with you.”
After shouting loudly, Cha Seok-du’s voice softened.
With his eyelids half-closed, he looked sleepy, and Damak tried to step aside.
Oh right, take this.
At that moment, Cha Seok-du took a large wooden box from one side with one hand and placed it on the table.
“What is this?”
“Ah, that Jin So-un guy told me to assign a bodyguard or pack some self-defense items because you might be in danger.”
“You mean that Jin So-un…?”
When I opened the box, there was a robe made of thin iron plates attached closely together like scales.
“This is the Iron Scale Treasure, one of the Four Emperors’ Staffs. Wear it under your clothes at all times.”
Damak couldn’t believe his ears.
“If it is Cheollinbo… isn’t it the Master’s sacred artifact?”
That meant that Cha Seok-du had just handed the sacred object he was wearing to Dam-ak.
Damak hurriedly closed the box.
“I am fine. Please wear it again, Master.”
“Right now, the most important figure in the Black Alliance is you, not me.”
Cha Seok-du reached out his hand and reopened the closed box.
“If I die, someone else can simply come and sit in the leader’s seat, but if you die, wouldn’t the history of the Black Alliance end right there? So do not refuse; wear this for my sake and for the Black Alliance.”
What Cha Seok-du was saying might have been nothing more than an excuse.
Consideration for myself, the only one within the Black Alliance who has not mastered martial arts.
Damak could not refuse his heart until the very end.
He expressed his gratitude in his own words.
“I will definitely make the Black Alliance… into an organization comparable to, no, even greater than, the Murim Alliance.”
“Yes, that is exactly what I truly want! Hahaha.”
For some reason, Damak felt this moment as warm as when he had stayed at Cheongwa Seowon.#“Ugh……. Ugh…….”
A gaunt figure, with soot smeared on their eyelids, crawled out of the room and struggled to reach the table.
“No, water…….”
This strange creature spoke human language and desperately reached out its hand toward the table, and Ilmyeong, who was watching the scene, let out a long sigh and handed it a bowl of water.
“Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp. Argh……!”
The strange creature that emptied the bowl in an instant, as if pouring water onto dry land, was none other than Jin So-un.
“Phew… I’m going to die.”
Watching Jin So-un roughly wipe the water from the corners of his mouth, Il-myeong said as if he were pathetic.
“Master Jin… If it’s that difficult, couldn’t you just blow away the energy with your internal power?”
At this, Jin So-un shakes his head like one who has realized the principles of all things.
“So-called senior… if you’re just going to waste your time, why bother drinking?”
“…….”[It seems that Jin So-un is the ‘Enlightened One’.]… …
That’s bullshit.
Namo Amitabha Buddha… … .
Thinking that it was no use talking to him anymore, Il-myeong calmly started packing his bags again.
And Jin So-un, who was watching the scene, tilted his head.
What are you doing right now?
Of course I’m packing my bags.
“why?”
I must return to the Murim Alliance.
Jin So-woon asking something so obvious.
Il-myeong, on the contrary, felt bewildered.
Could it be that he actually intends to accept the offer Cha Seok-du made the day before?
“Then you’re staying here to become the leader of the Bu-ryeon?”
Dang Seo-hee, asking the question on behalf of Il-myeong with a look full of anticipation.
Jin So-un, having already emptied another bowl of water, furrowed his brows deeply.
“What nonsense is that? How could a disciple of the Taeeulmun, the pillar of the White Path, possibly live among those heinous scoundrels of the Black Path?”
“Ah… that feels refreshing!”
Isn’t Jin So-un the one the Black Alliance fears the most right now?
Utterly wicked… … For some reason, it seems like they’d be doing better than anyone else, acting more utterly wicked(?)… …
Il-myeong asked, struggling to regain his composure.
Then why are you telling me not to pack my bags?
Jin So-un stopped drinking water and spoke.
“Ugh… there is still important work left to do.”
“Work to do…?”
Ak Byeong-bi and the delegation were cleared of the false accusations they had been accused of, and the two men were also identified and an agreement was finalized.
What more could there be to do?
Thinking there might be a secret story that only he had not heard, he looked at Akbyeongbi, who also shook his head.
I didn’t hear anything.
Then Akbyeongbi said.
“But if that guy has something to do, it must be something important.”
what?
I’m pretty sure that when they first came to Shanxi, you wouldn’t even share a table with Jin Xiaoyun because you were so convinced he was a spy for the Dark Sect.
Moreover, Jin So-un accepts Ak Byeong-bi’s attitude, which changed as easily as flipping a hand, as a matter of course.
Since things turned out this way, we will stay a little longer.
“Master Jin… wouldn’t it be better if you at least let me know what’s going on?”
You will find out soon enough.
Il-myeong felt quite uneasy about staying at the Black Alliance for even one more day, but…
“Then from now on, you will be staying as the Vice-Leader?”
“Bu Ryeon-ju? Well, you could say they’re pretty much the same. Hahaha.”
“Then can I be the Bu-ryeon-ju too?”
“Senior, you still have a long way to go. Your training is insufficient.”
“I want to do that too, Bu Ryeon-ju.”
“…….”… …
My head started to ache as if I were the only one harboring such feelings.
Ilmyeong, who was anxious that the playful banter might cross the wall and reach the ears of the Saheukryeon members, eventually used his internal energy to block out the sound. ‘Amitabha, Amitabha.’ It was the moment he felt deep doubt about having learned martial arts for the first time in his life. #The leaders of the Five Gates, Two Heads, and One Peaks, who could be called the pillars of the Saheukryeon, were all gathered in the Great Hall.
Originally, Cha Seok-du was supposed to participate as the representative of Sa Hwang Bong, but since he was currently the leader, Hwang Bu-sik attended in his place.
Il-myeong swallowed hard as he checked the faces of those present.
In terms of the Murim Alliance, it is equivalent to gathering the representatives of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans in one place.
Considering that we had gathered at the call of a Black Path… no, a White Path martial arts novice, this was a place that shouldn’t have existed in the first place. ‘What on earth is he thinking?’ The others gathered there seemed to share his sentiment, their expressions grim.
In particular, those belonging to the hardline faction were contorting their faces as if there were feces rolling around in their mouths.
however.
Above all, the one who made Il-myeong anxious was none other than Jin So-un.
“How long do I have to wait?”
That’s right.
Jin So-un had gathered these big shots in one place, yet he himself had not appeared, making them wait endlessly. ‘Amitabha, Amitabha.’ Just as they cried out the Buddha’s name about ten times with burning insides, the Jin So-un they had been waiting for finally appeared.
Ah, I’m a little late.
With an extremely composed face. ‘Ah…
“Amitabha Buddha… …” Jin So-un entered holding a wad of papers in one hand and sat down in the seat of honor as if nothing were wrong, which only made those present even more furious.
“Black Flame Dragon… I’ve had enough, but you’ve really gone too far. Why did you summon us?”
“Huh? If you didn’t want to come, couldn’t you have just not come?”
bang-!
At the reaction asking if he was talking nonsense, the Demon Sect Leader slammed his fist on the table.
“Didn’t you use the Ring-Dragon!”
At the mention of Yeonjuryeong, Ilmyeong’s face turned even paler.
However, my heart calmed down a little at Jin So-woon’s continuing story.
“Don’t you realize that I asked you, Lord Yeonju, precisely because it is an important matter?”
Jin So-un’s voice, cold and subdued.
In the end, the Demon Lord could only grind his teeth and could not respond any further.
I also became curious about the name.
Just how important is this matter that they postponed their return to the Murim Alliance and even used the Alliance Commander’s Order to summon such big shots?
Jin So-un began handing out the bundle of papers in his hand one by one.
Il-myeong was also curious about the contents, so he secretly took the remaining sheet of paper… … .
“Fuck, what the hell is this bullshit!”
“What? Compensation? What are you trying to do?!”
Swearing bursting out before Il-myeong could even examine the paper.
Il-myeong quickly read through the paper.
And he, too, almost blurted out a curse.
“…….”[Statement of Payment for Reward for Detection of Male and Female Animals]
– I, the undersigned, offer a reward to Jin So-un for finding the culprit in the murder case that occurred on the Sinmyo day of the Imja month… … .
“Ah… so this was the important task I had to do at the Black Alliance?” “Amita…” Ilmyeong, who had been trying to regain his composure while muttering ‘Buddha,’ soon emptied his mind of everything, looked at Jin So-un, and smiled gently. “Damn it, I don’t know anymore.”
It was a warm smile that suited the nickname.
