Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Section 7. Lay Out the Mat and Wait (3)
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The Murim Alliance was a massive coalition formed to uphold justice in the martial world. However, it had yet to produce a leader, making it difficult to harness unified strength.
Simply possessing profound martial arts did not qualify one to become the Alliance Leader. One needed impeccable character and strong leadership above all.
There were many warriors with such leadership qualities, but most were sect leaders of their own factions.
A sect leader could not become the Murim Alliance Leader. The Alliance Leader must remain unbound by any sect, lest they prioritize their own faction's interests over the greater good.
Given these circumstances, selecting a leader was bound to be fraught with difficulties.
They needed someone unaffiliated with major sects like the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families, yet possessing supreme martial prowess and commanding leadership. Finding such a person was no easy task.
Countless candidates were nominated and rejected.
Roughly hundreds were dismissed, until finally, one remained.
The Divine Spear, Nam Cheonsan.
Nam Cheonsan was the current head of the Divine Spear Sect, a lineage passed down to a single successor.
With no disciples, he was free from factional entanglements, and his spear arts were so profound they earned him the title Divine Spear.
Nam Cheonsan was among the top ten masters in the martial world. He was more than qualified to lead the Murim Alliance.
The Alliance elders sought him out, imploring him to take the helm. At first, Nam Cheonsan refused.
He claimed to be a pure martial artist pursuing the Way, unfit to lead a transcendent organization like the Murim Alliance.
Yet despite his refusals, the elders returned three, four times, begging him to safeguard justice in the martial world. Reluctantly, he accepted the role.
Thus, Nam Cheonsan became the Murim Alliance Leader.
Through a similar process, the Vice Alliance Leader position went to Raging Wind Divine Fist Jo Uimyung, a master from the Point Spear School.
He was chosen to satisfy demands that a Nine Great Sects powerhouse hold a key post.
For the same reason, the Strategist role fell to Namgung Chang of the Namgung Family.
They now bore the heavy burden of defending the Central Plains against the Demonic Cult's invasion.
Among the Alliance's many grand halls, the Leader's Quarters stood the largest and most ornate. There, upon the grand seat, sat Nam Cheonsan.
Though over fifty, his potent inner energy made him appear only in his late thirties.
To the unknowing eye, Nam Cheonsan—with his refined features and neatly groomed beard—might pass for a scholar.
To his left sat a burly man in his late forties, a massive blade at his waist. This was Vice Alliance Leader Raging Wind Divine Fist Jo Uimyung.
Across from Jo Uimyung sat Namgung Chang.
Deep into the night, the Alliance's top three convened.
Nam Cheonsan smiled as he regarded Jo Uimyung and Namgung Chang.
"An unworthy man like myself has taken on this grave responsibility. I shall rely heavily on your support henceforth."
"Support? Nonsense. It is our duty to aid you, Leader, and drive the Demonic Cult from this land."
Jo Uimyung pounded his chest boisterously.
A faint smile tugged at Nam Cheonsan's lips.
Jo Uimyung was a natural-born warrior who preferred action over deliberation.
From Nam Cheonsan's perspective, he was easy to handle. The man seated opposite, however, was a thornier opponent.
Namgung Chang's moniker was Seated Thousand-Mile Eyes.
His intellect and cunning were unparalleled.
A sharp mind was harder to deal with than superior martial skill. Thus, Namgung Chang was a profoundly uncomfortable adversary.
Moreover, unlike Nam Cheonsan—who had no backing—Namgung Chang commanded the immense support of the Namgung Family and the Five Great Families.
Nam Cheonsan could not treat him lightly. Masking his true feelings, he pressed on.
"First, I would hear the Strategist's wisdom. How might we best harness the Alliance's strength?"
"We must first establish an organization to consolidate intelligence."
"Intelligence?"
"Indeed. To track the Demonic Cult's movements, we need superior information gathering. Only then can we respond swiftly."
"Pray, continue."
Nam Cheonsan wore an intrigued expression.
Namgung Chang's face remained impassive as he expounded his views.
"In the Central Plains, sects trade in information, each with strengths and weaknesses. The Beggars' Sect holds the most, but lacks analysts, often letting vital leads slip. Haomen's intelligence is precise but fragmented and less vast."
Namgung Chang detailed the pros and cons of these intelligence sects for Nam Cheonsan.
Nam Cheonsan listened intently and nodded in agreement.
"You speak truly, Strategist. How then shall we form such an intelligence arm? As you know, building one from scratch in short order is no simple matter."
"True enough. Creating one anew is nigh impossible."
A smile crept onto Namgung Chang's lips—one that felt inexplicably chilling.
"Thus, I propose absorbing an existing sect."
"An existing sect?"
Deep furrows formed on Nam Cheonsan's brow.
"Is that feasible?"
"In these extraordinary times, yes."
"Have you a particular sect in mind?"
"I recommend Haomen."
"Haomen? Not the Beggars' Sect?"
"The Beggars' Sect is too vast for us to absorb. Its Chief's influence rivals the Nine Great Sects. We can request cooperation, but absorption is a pipe dream. Haomen is different."
"Different how?"
"They lack the Beggars' Sect's exceptional fighting force. It arose organically among the lower classes for self-protection."
"Hmm."
"We need not absorb all of Haomen. Sway a few key leaders."
"And the benefits?"
"We gain intelligence without sacrificing our own. They're disposable lowlifes, after all."
"Such..."
Nam Cheonsan recoiled at Namgung Chang's blunt words.
Even for the greater good, treating lives so cavalierly repulsed him.
Jo Uimyung interjected then.
"I support the Strategist. War with the Demonic Cult looms. Even uniting all martial forces offers no guarantee of victory. Clinging to personal sentiments and botching the grand design would be folly. We must use whatever we can."
"Hmm."
Nam Cheonsan groaned.
These men voiced opinions utterly alien to his values with casual ease.
"For the greater good, one must sacrifice the lesser. Leader, you hold not just your fate, but the martial world's. Your choices will shape its future."
"Hmm."
"Walk the hero's path. Sacrifice ten, a hundred to save a thousand—that makes a hero. You are chosen to rescue the martial world from the brink. Choose wisely."
With that, Namgung Chang fell silent. Jo Uimyung followed suit.
Their silence pressed like a crushing weight.
Only then did Nam Cheonsan realize.
'They wanted a scapegoat to shoulder the blood.'
Nam Cheonsan closed his eyes.
For the first time, he regretted becoming Alliance Leader.
***
Damho gazed down at his hands. His callused fists resembled iron nails—rough hands far from refinement or nobility.
Yet those fists were deadlier than any weapon. Countless lives had vanished beneath them like morning dew.
In mere months roaming the martial world, he had slain hundreds. And how many more lay ahead? He dared not imagine.
His life was one of ceaseless struggle.
Fight to survive, fight to master martial arts, fight to live...
He might battle till his dying breath.
Even so, Damho harbored no regrets.
This was his path.
'I'll fight until my last breath.'
As resolve deepened in Damho's eyes, a familiar voice rang out.
"Hyung!"
It was Bang Jinbo.
Beyond the iron bars, Bang Jinbo appeared, bundle in hand. Hwang Hye-ryeong followed.
Bang Jinbo, like a blood brother. Hwang Hye-ryeong, true kin.
Their presence cracked Damho's stoic facade.
"What brings you?"
"Hehe!"
Bang Jinbo grinned instead of answering, proffering the bundle.
"What's this?"
"Your meal, hyung."
"..."
"No proper food comes from prison. Eat up."
"Thanks."
"What're you saying? It's what little brothers do."
"Right."
Damho nodded, accepting the bundle.
Unwrapping it revealed dishes Bang Jinbo had prepared with care.
"Eat up, hyung."
"Right."
Damho nodded again, picking up his chopsticks.
Hwang Hye-ryeong watched them blankly.
Seeing Damho and Bang Jinbo stirred an odd tightness in her chest.
Tears welled and trickled down her cheek.
'Why am I like this?'
She hastily wiped them with her sleeve.
Her eyes reddened instantly. Fortunately, she stood in Bang Jinbo's shadow, hidden from view.
'Why?'
Her mind felt fogged, like mist-shrouded thoughts—familiar yet indistinct.
Then Jo Yunsan's words resurfaced.
—Ah, since you weren't born in the Green Forest, maybe it doesn't affect you?
Chaos tangled her thoughts like knotted thread.
Hwang Hye-ryeong shook her head.
A hazy vision flickered: a little girl, a boy tending her, an unfamiliar middle-aged couple...
"Ah!"
Too vague to discern faces, yet her chest ached.
'What?'
Her legs buckled; she could barely stand.
Silently, she turned and walked out.
Damho, mid-bite, noticed. He didn't know why she left abruptly, but it troubled him.
He set down his chopsticks.
"Is something wrong? Food not to your taste?"
"No, it's plenty good."
"Then why?"
Bang Jinbo's face fell, fearing his cooking had failed.
"I have words for you."
"Yes!"
Sensing the gravity in Damho's tone, Bang Jinbo replied swiftly.
"Trouble's coming."
"Trouble?"
"A big fight."
Bang Jinbo's eyes widened. He asked no foolish questions—Damho never spoke idly.
"When it erupts, take Hye-ryeong and flee to safety."
"Yes!"
"Trust no one but her and Ilgwang."
"Got it."
"Tell Ilgwang the same."
"Yes!"
Bang Jinbo nodded vigorously.
Damho closed his eyes.
The stronghold's air thrummed with heat. Damho knew full well what it portended.
'Blood Chaos begins.'