Chapter 256
Chapter 256
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 256
Chapter Title: Tension in the Alliance
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A single carriage accompanied by dozens of horses entered the vast plains of the Boundless Fields.
Inside that carriage, Cheonhwi gazed out the window.
A lone castle stood prominently on the plains, and the Murim Alliance immediately came into view.
"Still the same, huh."
"Took about half a month. Faster than I expected."
As Cheonhwi muttered to himself, Hyeondo whispered softly from beside him.
Thanks to alternating between camping and pushing forward, their group had arrived at the Boundless Fields even sooner than anticipated.
"Whoa!"
Unlike the calm duo, Jonghyeon pressed his face right up against the window, his eyes sparkling.
For Jonghyeon, who had only ever traveled around the Zhongnan region and Shaanxi, the sight of the massive Murim Alliance—like a giant fortress—filled him with indescribable excitement and anticipation.
"It's huge..."
The Escort Guard members riding alongside the carriage couldn't help but chuckle softly at his pure awe.
Neigh—
The carriage jolted to a stop upon reaching the main gate.
"Escort Captain...?"
The gate guards were quite surprised to see the Escort Captain—who led one of the Murim Alliance's martial units—sitting in the driver's seat, but they quickly nodded and opened the gate.
"Please, enter."
Chugeukwang swiftly opened the gate, then smirked as he glanced at the sternly aligned guards on either side.
'They must have already been informed.'
With a nod, Chugeukwang took up the reins again and urged the carriage forward.
Clack-clack— Clack-clack—
The carriage advanced through the gate into the grounds.
"Whoa!"
Jonghyeon's eyes widened round.
There were castles within the castle.
The Murim Alliance's interior was packed with countless halls and buildings, connected by small streets everywhere.
And there were so many people.
"There's so many!"
As the excited Jonghyeon buzzed with energy...
"Hm?"
Cheonhwi, taking in the familiar scenery from his previous visit, furrowed his brow.
"The atmosphere feels totally different."
A subtle tension flowed among the people moving through the streets.
"It's on edge."
Hyeondo had also picked up on the mood inside the Murim Alliance, his expression subtly hardening.
"...It's probably because of the Murim Conference."
Ha Woojin, who had been silent until now, spoke up as he eyed the sharp atmosphere on the streets.
"As the Great Hero said, with the fate of the Murim Alliance at stake, everyone's nerves are frayed."
Chugeukwang added the explanation, perhaps having focused on the carriage interior until then.
Even he, experiencing this atmosphere in the Murim Alliance for the first time, wore a somewhat complicated expression.
As they proceeded through the bustling streets, a commotion erupted around them.
"The Escort Captain is driving a carriage?"
"No way, that's ridiculous..."
The people had recognized the driver as the Escort Captain, Chugeukwang.
The crowd burst into bewilderment.
The Escort Captain was a renowned great hero in the current Murim Alliance, famed for his unparalleled martial prowess and reputation.
For such a man to be driving a carriage...
It had to be carrying someone extraordinary.
"Who the heck could it be...?"
"Someone key to the Murim Conference?"
The crowd's gazes focused on the carriage.
But with the windows now tightly shut, their curiosity went unsatisfied.
"I wanted to see more..."
"You'll get to look around soon enough. Just hold on a bit."
Ha Woojin patted the sulking Jonghyeon's head, then turned to Chugeukwang.
"Can you drop us off after that street?"
"There?"
"Yes."
"But getting off there will draw everyone's attention."
"Doesn't matter. And if we draw the eyes, won't the rest of the way be easier for you?"
That was true.
But wasn't that essentially using Ha Woojin and Jonghyeon as bait?
As Chugeukwang hesitated on what to do, Hyeondo spoke up.
"No need for that on our account."
"No."
Ha Woojin shook his head.
"I have business there."
"Business? Something urgent?"
"Yes."
Ha Woojin replied with a stern expression.
"Can't be helped, then."
Hyeondo turned to Chugeukwang.
"Drop us off."
"...Understood."
Soon, as per Ha Woojin's request, the carriage halted in the middle of the street.
"Huh? What's going on?"
As a few onlookers flinched and stared at the sudden stop...
"I'll head out first, Senior Brother."
Ha Woojin bowed to Hyeondo, then turned his gaze to Cheonhwi with a smile.
"See you later."
"Take care."
Ha Woojin disembarked, and Jonghyeon hesitantly looked up at Cheonhwi.
"See you later, Brother."
Cheonhwi waved dismissively.
"Yeah. Take care."
Jonghyeon then deeply bowed to Hyeondo, who was gazing at him warmly.
"I'll see you later."
"Haha, until next time."
It had only been a short journey of less than half a month, but it was enough to grow close.
Especially since he already felt fondness upon hearing Cheonhwi call him his sworn brother.
"Be careful on your way."
With those words, Hyeondo patted Jonghyeon's head with his massive, pot-lid-like hand.
"Hehe."
Jonghyeon grinned, enjoying the touch, then quickly composed himself and stood.
"Well, I'll be off!"
With that, Jonghyeon hopped out of the carriage and awkwardly cupped his fists.
"Thank you for the ride."
After Ha Woojin and Jonghyeon bid farewell to Chugeukwang and the Escort Guards and departed, Chugeukwang resumed driving.
Now the crowd's attention shifted from the carriage to the two departing figures.
"The Carefree Sword General, Great Hero...?"
The crowd tilted their heads.
The Carefree Sword General was indeed a formidable expert, but hardly someone worthy of the Escort Captain volunteering as a coachman.
Meanwhile, with the attention diverted, the carriage sped up.
A short while later.
"We've arrived."
Chugeukwang brought the carriage to a stop.
Cheonhwi and Hyeondo stepped out immediately and looked up at the hall before them.
"It's been a while."
As they whispered upon seeing the hall obtained from the battle with the Zhongnan Sect...
"I'll take my leave now."
Having completed his mission, Chugeukwang offered his farewells.
"Leaving right away? Why not stay for some tea?"
At Hyeondo's suggestion, Chugeukwang gave an awkward smile and shook his head.
"Sorry. I have a report to make..."
"I see."
Having grown close during the journey through various conversations, Hyeondo sounded regretful.
"Well, see you later."
"I'll visit properly next time."
Starting with Chugeukwang's farewell, the Escort Guards one by one cupped their fists.
"It was a pleasant journey."
"Can I visit later?"
"Sure. Yeah. When I have time."
Cheonhwi brushed off the greetings from the Escort Guards eyeing him eagerly.
After a long exchange of farewells...
"Rest well, then."
Chugeukwang drove off with the carriage.
The Escort Guards followed in a group, and soon silence enveloped Hyeondo and Cheonhwi.
"...It's quiet."
Hyeondo whispered.
The sudden quiet after constant bustle left a pang of loneliness in his heart.
On the other hand...
"Finally, I can breathe."
Cheonhwi wore a relieved expression, speaking in a refreshed tone.
"What was so fascinating that they kept staring? Tsk. Felt like they were gonna bore holes into me."
Recalling the Escort Guards' gazes during the journey, Cheonhwi clicked his tongue.
Of course, he knew there was no malice.
Their eyes were filled only with goodwill.
But...
'Not for a day or two, but the whole time.'
Cheonhwi furrowed his brow in recollection.
It had been half a month.
For whatever reason, the Escort Guards hadn't taken their eyes off him for a single moment throughout.
Even while eating, even while sleeping.
He'd tried ignoring it, but with that many people staring so intensely, how could he?
"Now I can stretch out properly."
Relieved by the absence of stares, Cheonhwi headed toward the hall.
The moment he grasped the door handle...
"Huh?"
Cheonhwi's brow furrowed.
"What the hell is that old man doing here?"
Sensing the presence inside, Cheonhwi clicked his tongue and flung the door open.
Inside the wide-open hall.
At the far end, by a round table, sat an old man.
He was utterly filthy.
No, filthy didn't even begin to cover it.
His greasy hair clumped like dirt and glistened, and the clothes he wore were so black with sweat stains they could hardly be called clothes.
"What's with this itch, damn it."
The old man, who had been scratching his head vigorously, spotted Cheonhwi and Hyeondo entering and grinned.
His yellowed teeth flashed.
"Oh? You're here?"
A raspy voice rang out.
"What brings you all the way here?"
"What else? Obviously, I came because there's something to discuss. Oh, right!"
The old man paused mid-sentence and addressed Cheonhwi's back.
"How was Mount Hua? Hyeondo-ja."
Hyeondo, who had followed in late, saw the old man and spoke in surprise.
"Beggar Clan Leader...?"
"Why so shocked?"
Hyeondo calmed his surprise.
"We arrived faster than expected, so I didn't think the Clan Leader would be waiting."
"Hahaha, I'm the Beggar Clan Leader, you know."
Yong Jugae chuckled.
"How could I not know when you arrive at the Murim Alliance?"
Hyeondo nodded at Yong Jugae's confident words and spoke.
"Then... what did you come all the way here to discuss?"
"Obviously, to have an in-depth talk about this Murim Conference."
Yong Jugae wiped his scratching fingers on his ragged sackcloth and continued.
"Why are you standing there like idiots? Come sit down."
As Hyeondo's eyes narrowed at Yong Jugae's behavior—like he owned the place...
"If it's about the Murim Conference, I don't need to hear it. You two chat."
Cheonhwi turned to leave immediately.
'They'll handle it themselves.'
Not wanting to get involved in anything bothersome, Cheonhwi headed for his room when...
"Huh? Where you going?"
Yong Jugae frowned.
"Where? To my room. I'm not even attending the conference anyway."
Cheonhwi shrugged.
'What would there be to discuss with me there?'
The Murim Conference only allowed one key figure per sect, so Cheonhwi had no reason to attend.
"Don't go. Come sit."
"Why?"
Cheonhwi asked, openly showing his annoyance.
"Why? Because you're the most important one here."
Yong Jugae said with an incredulous look.
"Don't you know the whole Murim Alliance is buzzing about you more than anyone?"
"No clue."
Cheonhwi replied matter-of-factly.
"Just got here. No time to hear gossip."
Yong Jugae was at a loss for words at Cheonhwi's logical retort.
"Ahem. Not just the Alliance—the whole martial world is abuzz."
"We camped every night and avoided people the whole way, so no idea."
"...Tch, can't argue with that."
Caught off guard by the unexpected responses, Yong Jugae scratched his head awkwardly.
"Anyway, things are how they are, so I want your take too."
"Too bothersome."
Having camped constantly as he'd just said, Cheonhwi wanted nothing more than to crash on a bed right now.
He had no interest in complicated talk either.
But then Hyeondo spoke.
"Let's hear it together. It's not something we can just brush off, right?"
"Sigh, fine. I'll listen for a bit."
Yong Jugae felt a twinge of envy seeing Cheonhwi defy him but obey Hyeondo without question, but he shook it off.
'As expected of a Daoist. He listens to his martial uncle. Might need to win over Hyeondo first to get to this kid later.'
As Yong Jugae smirked inwardly, Hyeondo and Cheonhwi sat at the table.
"Ahem, seated?"
Seeing them across from him, Yong Jugae got down to business.
"You know what the Murim Conference is for, right?"
Hyeondo nodded, while Cheonhwi let out a light yawn and spoke.
"Yawn, war with the Evil-Black Alliance, right?"
"Exactly."
Yong Jugae nodded.
"But doesn't it feel a bit off?"
"What do you mean?"
"What's off?"
"The Alliance Leader and Military Strategist have maintained the Alliance's safety and balance all this time. For quite a long period. Then suddenly war with the Evil-Black Alliance? Doesn't match their past actions at all."
Hyeondo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I heard it's for our sect."
"That's true. But even accounting for that, isn't the response way over the top?"
Yong Jugae's gaze darkened.
"There's definitely some goal. Something."
"So what's that?"
Cheonhwi asked lazily.
"How should I know?"
"You're the Beggar Clan Leader."
"Being Clan Leader doesn't let me read minds."
"You sounded so confident earlier."
Cheonhwi eyed Yong Jugae incredulously and asked.
"So what's your point?"
"Probably, guests will visit Mount Hua Sect because of that goal."
"Guests?"
The moment Cheonhwi repeated the question...
"Are you inside?"
A indifferent voice came from outside.
Yong Jugae frowned toward the door at the voice.
"Didn't expect him to come personally."
Hyeondo also turned to the door in surprise.
"...Zhuge Gong, the Military Strategist?"