Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Entering the Martial Alliance
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Jang Ryang took Seol Ha-ryeong back into the room and, in less than fifteen minutes, recounted everything that had happened and all that was to come.
He also revealed Baek Mu-heun’s true identity, explained why he was such a crucial figure, and why they must follow him.
Seol Ha-ryeong was deeply shocked by Jang Ryang’s words, but she could feel how everything—the words of her godfather, whom she had trusted her entire life, and the experiences she’d had with Baek Mu-heun—all clicked into place.
“I am giving you your freedom now. From this moment on, live as you wish. That is his desire as well.”
“Godfather… I…”
“I will follow him. It is what I have waited for my entire life, and it is what I must do to save the world. But you are different. You have already done more than enough.”
Seol Ha-ryeong lowered her head for a moment at Jang Ryang’s words.
Her life until now had not been a happy one.
However, because her godfather’s grand ambition was to save the world, and because she knew a clue might lie within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, she had volunteered to be a spy.
Normally, thanks to the Soul-Stealing Art, she lived as a member of the Demonic Cult without any sense of dissonance.
But occasionally, about once a month when she reported to Jang Ryang via carrier falcon, her true mind would return… and in those moments, she constantly questioned whether she was truly doing the right thing.
“Godfather.”
“Yes.”
“I do not regret what I have done until now. And you were right. All the possibilities were indeed within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“I have changed a lot since meeting Sir Mu-heun. I was a member of the Demonic Cult, yet I did not feel like one, and I felt myself growing faster than ever before.”
“…”
“Therefore, I intend to follow Sir Mu-heun from now on. I will assist him by his side.”
“Is that… your choice?”
“Yes. However, you no longer need to control me with the Soul-Stealing Art. From now on, I will follow Sir Mu-heun of my own free will.”
Jang Ryang looked at Seol Ha-ryeong in silence. There was much he wanted to say, but he swallowed his words and spoke.
“…I understand. I will release all the Soul-Stealing Arts I have placed on you, so you may serve him of your own free will.”
“Thank you. Godfather, does this mean we are collaborators now? Since we will be working together to achieve this grand purpose.”
“What? Hahahaha! I suppose you’re right.”
After their conversation, Seol Ha-ryeong and Jang Ryang left the room, just as the Soul-Stealing Art on Dang So-so was released.
Dang So-so remembered nothing, as if seeing Jang Ryang for the first time, and without expressing any doubt, she naturally joined the two and descended to the fifth floor.
* * *
Mu-heun called Pae-seon aside and explained the recent events.
He told him everything, from the arrangement of the Arhats he discovered at Chipyeong Temple near Okhwa Village and the new divine weapon he had acquired, to his new collaboration with the Soul-Stealing Immortal.
“Was there truly such a place in the underground cavern? When I looked, it was nothing but ruins.”
“It seems the place was hidden so that only I could see it. Otherwise, those who reached it before me wouldn’t have left empty-handed.”
“No wonder the statues were shattered. I thought they might have been venting their frustration. It must have been because they couldn’t find the secret place.”
“In any case, that’s how it is. From now on, we’ll be cooperating with that Soul-Stealing Immortal… Jang Ryang. You should also trust him and follow his lead as much as possible.”
“I understand. If our goals are the same, there is no reason to be suspicious.”
Just then, Dang So-so, Seol Ha-ryeong, and Jang Ryang descended from the sixth floor.
Mu-heun exchanged a look with Jang Ryang and sensed that his request had been fulfilled. Judging by Dang So-so’s bright and completely unsuspecting expression, it seemed to have been handled properly.
At that moment, Jang Ryang sent a telepathic message to Mu-heun.
[I have handled it as you requested. She will not cause any problems in the future. Even in the unlikely event that she breaks free from the Soul-Stealing Art, I will take care of it, so please do not worry.]
[You have done well.]
Jang Ryang came down with a bright expression and spoke to Pae-seon and Mu-heun.
“First, let us head to the Martial Alliance. I will arrange for your accommodations. If you rest there comfortably, I will prepare a meeting with the Alliance Leader.”
Mu-heun smiled warmly and replied.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Pae-seon felt a bit awkward with the sudden change in the situation, but he soon decided to accept it.
“Hmph… Understood.”
And so, the five of them, including Jang Ryang, headed toward the Martial Alliance located in the heart of Wuhan.
* * *
After leaving the Yellow Crane Tower, Mu-heun’s party walked toward the Martial Alliance. The streets were bustling with people who had gathered to watch the upcoming Dragon and Phoenix Assembly; a countless crowd of men and women, young and old, had flocked to the city.
Among them, the largest group was, of course, men who loved tales of combat—blacksmiths who hammered iron and waiters who served food in taverns.
However, as they were all people who had once dreamed of becoming martial artists, this assembly was like a dream come true for them.
Besides them, martial artists from various Orthodox Sects were visible everywhere.
The Mount Hua Sect, with plum blossom patterns embroidered on their chests, and the other great sect of Shaanxi, the Zhongnan Sect, walked along, growling at each other. In contrast, the Wudang Sect from Hubei and the nearby Zhuge Clan seemed to be on good terms.
The Kunlun, Emei, and Qingcheng Sects, who had come from Qinghai, walked together, seemingly catching up on recent news, while the Kongtong Sect from Gansu followed behind them.
In addition, martial artists from other prestigious sects and clans walked in lines, but strangely, none of them paid even the slightest attention to Mu-heun’s group.
Even though Gu Pae-seon, the Cloud Dragon of Kunlun, was part of their group, not even the members of his own sect spoke to him.
Mu-heun already knew the reason for this, but for the sake of his curious companions, he deliberately opened his mouth and asked Jang Ryang.
“Is the reason no one sees or recognizes us because you are concealing us, Soul-Stealing Immortal?”
Jang Ryang, catching on to Mu-heun’s intention, kindly replied.
“Yes, that is correct. I have currently cast a spell around myself and my vicinity to lower people’s perception of us.”
“Even so, it shouldn’t be very effective against martial artists with high internal energy, should it?”
“Hahaha. That is also true. However, this is a bustling marketplace overflowing with martial artists and common folk, is it not? As they say, the best place to hide a tree is in a forest.”
“I see. Among so many martial artists, there is no need for them to pay us any particular mind.”
“Precisely. If there is anyone you wish to greet, you may go, but we will soon arrive at the Martial Alliance. It would be more comfortable to speak inside the Martial Alliance rather than in this marketplace.”
“Haha, thank you for your consideration.”
The companions nodded in understanding after hearing the conversation between Mu-heun and Jang Ryang.
“Also, we will not be using the main gate. There is a path I use… it is much quieter than the main gate and allows for faster entry. Let us go that way.”
“I trust an Immortal such as yourself has already made the necessary arrangements. We will simply follow you.”
“Haha, I will ensure your utmost comfort.”
Pae-seon was still in the process of adapting to Jang Ryang’s drastically changed attitude, while Dang So-so and Seol Ha-ryeong followed Mu-heun and Jang Ryang without any suspicion.
However…
Mu-heun’s eyes met those of a young child in the marketplace. The child seemed to be beckoning him over.
“That child… is it looking at me?”
Hearing Mu-heun’s words, Jang Ryang looked in the direction he was indicating.
“…Pardon? What are you talking about? I don’t see anything.”
“What? You don’t see anything? There’s clearly a child over there, beckoning to me… Huh? Huh?”
Mu-heun looked again at where the child had been, but the child was nowhere to be seen, and the spot was just empty.
‘Empty? In the middle of this huge crowd?’
Mu-heun felt that something was strange, but since he couldn’t stop, he continued walking.
However.
He did not do nothing. Before heading to the Martial Alliance, he scattered the tracking art of the Thousand Li Miasmic Fragrance in the spot he had just seen, and gave an order to Cheon-hyang in the sky.
[Cheon-hyang, there is a presence near the Martial Alliance in Wuhan that feels strangely out of place. I want you to look for anyone suspicious and report back to me this evening.]
[Strangely out of place? I’m not very good at sensing things like that. Can you be more specific!]
[For instance, those who bewitch people in the form of a child, or monsters like the ones we saw in Okhwa Village.]
[Aha! Understood! You can count on me!]
[Yes, I trust you, but you must not approach them under any circumstances. Just mark the suspicious ones with a scent that only you and I can detect.]
[Hey! Don’t worry, just trust me! Don’t you know who I am!? I am Cheon-hyang, the spiritual beast at the pinnacle of the art of concealment!]
[Haha, alright, I understand. I’m counting on you.]
[Yes, sir!]
After assigning the mission to Cheon-hyang, Mu-heun followed Jang Ryang’s guidance with the rest of the group. However, instead of the main gate of the Martial Alliance, they entered a forest path.
“This is the place.”
The Soul-Stealing Immortal, Jang Ryang, pointed to the empty air in the middle of the forest, as if this were the entrance to the Martial Alliance.
Hearing Jang Ryang’s words, Dang So-so asked what kind of door could be in the empty air, and Pae-seon chimed in.
“Huh? This is it? I don’t see anything.”
“My eyes don’t see anything like an entrance either. I believe an explanation is in order…”
However, to Mu-heun’s eyes, which were wearing the Butterfly Dream, a completely different sight appeared. It was a wooden door, one that led underground.
‘Is this connected to the Martial Alliance’s underground…’
“You should show the others now.”
“Haha, yes, I wasn’t trying to hide it. However, this is not the kind of spell I can easily dispel and set up, so I will give each of you a talisman.”
“A talisman?”
“Yes, if you hold this talisman, you will be able to pass through this door. Also, once you pass through, the illusion will disappear, and you will naturally understand everything.”
Mu-heun wondered if it was alright to reveal something so important so openly to everyone. Jang Ryang, sensing Mu-heun’s thoughts, explained via a telepathic message.
[Ha-ryeong and you, Sir Mu-heun, will need to know this passage. That is why I am telling you. And Sir Pae-seon will be working with us often in the future, will he not? As for Dang So-so, I can sufficiently silence her and manipulate her memories, so do not worry.]
‘Ah…’
He kept forgetting what kind of man this was. This was the Soul-Stealing Immortal. He was a man who could walk around openly without fear of being discovered, yet extremely few people in the world knew of him.
The Soul-Stealing Art. Thinking about it again, it was truly a fearsome ability.
People had seen the Soul-Stealing Immortal, but they hadn’t truly seen him, because Jang Ryang constantly distorted his own face. Imagine if someone were to try to find and investigate Jang Ryang.
Even if they used tracking arts to trace his path and asked the countless people in the marketplace who had seen his face, it would be a useless endeavor.
They would all give different testimonies.
Some would say the person they saw was a woman, others that he was a giant standing ten feet tall, and yet others would claim all those testimonies were wrong, saying what they saw was a small child.
Mu-heun once again thought it was fortunate that he was not an enemy of the Soul-Stealing Immortal. Of course, if they were to become enemies, he would have killed him back at the Yellow Crane Tower.
Thus, Mu-heun’s party received the talismans from Jang Ryang.
Following his guidance, they entered the Martial Alliance through the secret underground passage. The passage branched off in various directions, and after taking one of the paths that led outside, they found themselves before a massive pavilion.