3
7
5.
With the moderate power of personnel authority, I’m not that busy except for specific periods.
Even if personnel issues occasionally arose, most of them were resolved internally by the footnotes, so it was sufficient to just stamp the seal after the problem was resolved.
That is why the current leader of the Jaein Party wanted to remain in the party, even if it meant extending his term if possible.
Until I face the standard bearers of the Murim Academy this time.
“Again? You didn’t submit your application?”
“They are asking us to wait. Because they don’t know where their leader might go…….”
Sobriety?
The head of the Jaein Party was seething with anger at the sight of the party member spouting such nonsense.
“What kind of nonsense is that! And who is Danju?”
“Jin So-un is the leader of the Life and Death Clan.”
“…….”
My seething insides finally exploded.
“I mean, what kind of bullshit is that!!!”
To think there is a ‘Life and Death ‘Group’ that even the head of the Jaein Hall, who is in charge of personnel for all organizations within the Murim Alliance, does not know about.
“Uh, I don’t know either. Anyway, they said they wouldn’t provide support until Danju supports them…….”
“Are these guys seriously out of their minds! You’re all determined to get demoted to the branch, aren’t you? Ha!”
“This isn’t going to work… Fine, send all these bastards down to the branch! Because we’ve been coddling them, they’re really climbing all the way to the top, aren’t they?”
Jaein-dangju let out a booming threat, but the party member looked at Jaein-dangju with a strangely sullen expression.
Feeling the gaze, the head of the Jaeindang clan snapped his head up.
“Why! What!”
“If you do that, the other Mugak won’t sit idly by.”
“What are you talking about!”
“Aren’t the number of people in this batch fewer than before?”
“But they usually select generously anyway!”
Murim Alliance is four
We have always recruited more personnel than necessary to supplement new executives with the annual graduates of the academy.
As a result, popular positions always attracted more applicants than available spots, eventually sparking a new competition to remain in the Murim Alliance.
Those whose skills are insufficient or who fall behind in the competition are mercilessly expelled to the branch.
Because this also showed the true nature of the martial arts world, where the logic of survival of the fittest reigns.
But now, what on earth is this situation… … .
“Didn’t the matter of Mukrim happen this time?”
“ah…….”
Only then did the leader of the Jaein Party open his eyes wide.
To think I completely forgot about that after staying up for days and nights discussing how to handle the sudden fallen soldiers.
For now, among the martial arts halls, Baekranggak is the only one that has reached its full capacity.
To think that Baekranggak, which should always be short on personnel because people run out saying they would rather go to the branch than Baekranggak, is the only one that is full.
Faced with this unprecedented and preposterous situation, the head of the Jaein Party could not even begin to figure out what to do.
As the head of the Jaein clan was left speechless and stared blankly into the air, a clan member seized his soul again.
“First, you need to persuade Jin So-un.”
“……
I?”
“Party members went to visit, but weren’t they all rejected?”
“ha…….”
As the head of the Jaein Party, who had only ever accepted hospitality in exchange for personnel favors, he could hardly fathom what on earth he should do.
Moreover, the situation was that all other members of the party had already been rejected.
He was even more confused because he didn’t think he would be much different.
And the biggest reason of all is.
“Are you telling me… to ask a disciple of the Taeeul Sect for a favor?”
The truth is, he couldn’t move easily because of his pride.
The party member could not hide the decaying expression on his face… no, he did not hide it.
Caught in a dilemma, the members of the Jaein Party were wasting away day by day, their resentment toward the leader growing, yet the leader alone remained unaware of this fact. When I thought about what I was doing around this time in my past life, I found myself absurdly in the Murim Alliance.
Gye Cheol-yeong, who was about to graduate, stepped forward and sent his disciples to the Murim Alliance ahead of him.
With the intention of leading a slightly more comfortable life.
At that time, Taeeulmun was in a situation where it could not escape a continuous decline due to the humiliation suffered at the hands of Cheolgeommun, and with even the support from Gyeryong Merchant Guild gradually decreasing, it was in a position where it had to earn even the monthly salary from the Murim Alliance.
My siblings began their mandatory service with the Murim Alliance as if they were being sold off. ‘We hadn’t even received proper training.’ The Murim Alliance was thrown into turmoil when Jeon Gal-somyeong was suddenly assassinated while undergoing training as a low-ranking warrior.
At the time, the true nature of the Demonic Cult had not yet been revealed to the world, so his death ultimately remained unresolved, which caused extreme division within the Murim Alliance.
Jeongdohoe and Baekdohoe pointed their swords at each other, accusing one another of being the culprit, and the 12 Bongseong were caught in the middle.
It was only later that it was revealed that the Twin Demons of Yin and Yang were the culprits, but the Murim Alliance had already collapsed to the point where it was difficult to even call it the Murim Alliance anymore. ‘If you think about it that way, the situation has changed a lot now.’ The Twin Demons of Yin and Yang were already dead in Mukrim, and the Demonic Cult was slowly revealing its true nature.
Even if the same thing happened now, a huge internal war probably wouldn’t break out like in the past.
Of course, just like in the previous life, seeing the power struggles unfolding throughout the Central Plains where people attack one another, it is clear that…
I do get the feeling that Jegal So-myeong’s death was nothing more than a pretext.
“Oh! Over here.”
At the sound of a voice breaking my thoughts, I approached Buk Won-pyeong, who was waving at me from one side of the tavern.
“Wasn’t the Samcheong Musang Sword a one-man tradition? You must be quite wealthy.”
Infinite Three
Geumyangru, one of the major taverns, charges five times the price of alcohol compared to other places.
And the place where we made the appointment was none other than Bukwonpyeong.
“I hear the Senior Brother of Taeeulmun is famous for being wealthy, isn’t he? That is why I chose this place. Senior Brother.”
Damn it, either use informal language or use formal language. You should just pick one.
The old priest is incredibly cunning.
You are too kind, Senior Brother.
While Buk Won-pyeong was chatting away, a man approached us.
Here is a warm towel.
Unlike other taverns that employ young attendants, here a middle-aged man who appears to have undergone thorough training is serving.
Is it because I’ve never really had an experience like this before? For some reason, I feel a tingling sensation in my body.
Anyway, a few suitable snacks and a liquor with an exquisite rich aroma were served, and as the glasses were passed around a few times, I gradually adapted to the surrounding atmosphere before I knew it.
As I get used to it, my surroundings start to catch my eye one by one.
From people wearing glittering ornaments and soft clothes to those carrying swords and daggers dangling with gold and silver treasures.
And, even those who have nothing to show off outwardly but exude a tremendous aura, and those who, despite their old age, struggle to appear vigorous.
It was full of people, one after another, the kind you rarely see in everyday life.
Is it uncomfortable?
A chuckle escaped from Buk Won-pyeong’s words.
That can’t be true.
“That’s a relief. They will be the people you have to deal with from now on.”
“You mean I have to ‘deal with’ them?”
Buk Won-pyeong makes a puzzled expression at my counter-question.
I gulped down my drink in one go and looked around.
Second life.
I know who the forces pulling the strings of the martial arts world are. I also know very well how they ruined this world.
and.
I am making this desperate effort to avoid repeating that.
But the opponent?
I had no intention of dealing with them in the first place.
Because they are all targets that must be crushed.
Someone might say I’m crazy if they heard this.
So, it was just that I wasn’t telling anyone.
“Why are you making that face? Do you really think it’s possible to just ride along with the crowd in a position like yours?”
I turned my gaze back to look at the people.
I didn’t realize it earlier, but he was secretly glancing at me from time to time.
Is it because our existence is alien? Or is there another reason?
As my expression calmed down, Buk Won-pyeong quietly stroked his wine glass and asked in a low voice.
Could it be that he has other thoughts?
I did not answer.
If I give the answer he wants, I would be making a fool of myself, and if I reveal what I want, he will think I’m crazy.
“I heard from the head of the Jaein Hall. You are still two
aspiration, three
You didn’t apply?
There is an answer that needs to be heard from someone.
This is a signal to the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance.
I don’t know if it was out of consideration or if there was something they wanted, but I had to hear what I needed to do to get to Baekranggak.
If I just went anywhere without a plan, I didn’t know when I would be able to return to Baekranggak.
This was an action for his sake.
At my unwavering gaze, Buk Won-pyeong’s face becomes even more serious.
So it wasn’t simply that you didn’t know where to go.
I don’t live that thoughtlessly.
“Hmm… I might be making a mistake with you today.”
What do you mean?
Buk Won-pyeong let out a long sigh.
“Please forgive me anyway. I owe them too much. Please consider it a mistake by a cute priest.”
The old priest is quite charming.
Buk Won-pyeong, who had smirked at my words, stood up first and took the lead.
I followed him silently, grumbling to myself, ‘Why are there so many people selling me out these days?’ The back of the Juru building was decorated with a garden similar to that of Songhwagak.
The only difference was that small streams spread throughout the garden like a cornucopia, and the pavilion had only awnings instead of walls.
Even though the weather has improved a lot, I didn’t think it was a suitable place to drink outside.
Thanks to the individual braziers carved into the wood in the center of the pavilion, it not only kept out the cold but also looked charming.
“Although I did bring up the debt, I am making this proposal because, as a lay disciple of the Taeeul Sect, I believe it is something that will be of help to the sect. I sent the sect’s secret letters several times, but the only reply I received was, ‘We are busy, so always ask you.’ Honestly, I really don’t know what on earth they are so busy about. Tsk.”
A deep moon shadow fell across Buk Won-pyeong’s grumbling face.
“The things happening all over the martial arts world… I do not think they are caused by a ‘real’ enemy.”
Buk Won-pyeong spoke slowly as he walked along the rather long garden path.
“We are fighting against ‘fakes.’ But that fight is ‘real.’ Every day, at least one sect is going to be wiped out.”
His deep sorrow could be felt in his long sigh.
“A powerful external enemy known as the Black Alliance has emerged. Despite this, why do you think this internal struggle—which yields no winner and is merely wasteful—continues?”
“They must think the Black Alliance is no match for the Murim Alliance.”
It is not that there were no enemies like the Black Alliance in the five hundred years of history. However, every enemy eventually knelt before the Murim Alliance and vanished.
That is the enemy known as the Black Alliance, the enemy known as the Demonic Cult hidden in the darkness.
It made me dismiss it as nothing more than a passing drizzle.
The Murim Alliance and the White Path were like patients suffering from the incurable disease called ‘arrogance’.
“Indeed. Failing to recognize an enemy even when they are right in front of you is no different from facing chaos defenseless. And the wave of chaos that has arrived… looks like it is going to overflow quite massively.”
Are you saying that the people going to meet now could serve as that safeguard?
Buk Won-pyeong quietly nodded his head.
“If this were the Taeeulmun of the past, we probably wouldn’t have had an opportunity like this. Perhaps Kang Chae-seok was right to have asked you. After all, it is thanks to your abilities that we have obtained this chance.”
“An opportunity…….”
I muttered the word ‘opportunity’ several times.
opportunity.
This is a word that instinctively makes a person’s heart beat faster.
That is why despair always appears before people wearing the mask of opportunity, easily deceiving them.
Therefore, we must carefully assess and re-evaluate the true nature of the ‘opportunity’ presented before us.
Go inside.
“Aren’t you going in together?”
I haven’t been given a chance yet.
“Are you talking about the successor of the Samcheong Musang Sword?”
Do they not have superior substitutes in the form of the Yijinjing and Taijihuiyangjing?
So there was a reason you called it an opportunity.
Leaving Bukwonpyeong, who had a somewhat lonely expression, behind, I stood in front of the pavilion.
As I opened the bamboo curtain and tried to enter, it unfolded to the sides by itself.
There was neither a device nor a person pulling the bamboo curtain, yet ‘This is how you manipulate empty air?’ It is quite impressive for seizing the initiative.
As I entered the hall, the shadow of the fire from the central brazier flickered, just like in the other halls.
I raised my head and slowly looked around the interior.
Eight people were sitting in a semicircle around the brazier, staring at me.
I, too, looked them straight in the face.
An uncomfortable silence fell.
The impressions of the eight people reflected in the shadows began to harden slowly.
You’re ill-mannered.
As the person standing on the far right opened their lips.
Pung
– Spread the momentum.
It seems this is the person who just unfolded the bamboo curtain.
Because that strange energy was reaching up to my knees and shoulders right now.
He gave me an order in an overbearing voice.
Greetings and self-introductions.
The sight of him trying to force me to kneel while simultaneously demanding an introduction of me, which he clearly already knows.
“Didn’t you learn that’s how you treat elders?”
well.
“I just don’t know who on earth you are.”
I realized their true identities, but I deliberately pretended not to know.
Because their obvious attitude is so ridiculous.
The man gains even more momentum at my answer.
“So the rumors about you being smart were false.”
Trembling
I felt like my knees were about to give out at any moment, but I endured it as if nothing were wrong and spoke.
“Seeing you take such an arrogant stance, are you perhaps members of the Jeongdohoe… no, I mean, members?”
The pressure exerted on my shoulders and the backs of my knees was increasing, proving that I was right.
