Chapter 310
Chapter 310
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 310
Chapter Title: The Murim Alliance Leader's Test
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Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
Beneath eyes curved like the crescent moon hanging in the sky, his gaze was transparent.
It was like the lake surrounding the pavilion.
Calm and serene.
And those serene eyes reflected the Murim Alliance Leader across from him, like a lake mirroring the night sky.
Silence descended.
That gaze evoked silence.
In an instant, the air grew heavy.
The smiles on the faces of the two men, who simply gazed at each other without a word, carried a heavy pressure.
'So this guy is the current Murim Alliance Leader?'
Cheonhwi's lips twisted further.
It was beyond what he had imagined.
The Alliance Leader, emanating overwhelming presence, thoroughly dominated this space beneath him.
Not through aura or momentum, but the innate pressure of the man himself.
In other words, the manifestation of his intent.
'Paegun comes to mind.'
Cheonhwi's eyes deepened.
Gazing at the Murim Alliance Leader naturally brought Zhuge Gocheon, the Paegun, to mind before fading away.
He hadn't voiced it, but merely recalling him was the highest praise.
In this life, no one had stirred his competitive spirit like Paegun.
Only him.
Even the Great Bandit King of the Green Forest, a top-tier expert worthy of counting on one hand while clashing, and Nangong Zhe fell just short.
Even the Immortal Heaven Cult Leader, who had shown intriguing martial arts, was the same.
He was the first in this life to inflict a near-fatal wound on Cheonhwi, yet facing him never once brought Paegun to mind.
Paegun was simply on another level.
"Strong" wasn't enough to describe it.
A peerless master who had stepped into the realm beyond the heavens.
Counted among the top experts not just in this life, but across his past and present.
He wasn't called the Martial God of the era for nothing.
And now.
Paegun flickered briefly in Cheonhwi's mind upon seeing the Alliance Leader.
'Lately, there's been no time for boredom.'
Cheonhwi's chest stirred with excitement.
This pressure and intensity.
It thrilled him.
That was when it happened.
The Murim Alliance Leader's eyes flashed with a fierce light, soon devouring the night sky.
At the same time.
Boom!
Suddenly, overwhelming pressure crashed down from above.
It was a momentum that made his entire body creak.
The operation of profound internal energy at an exquisite realm.
But Cheonhwi's expression, receiving it head-on, had turned utterly cold.
Even the smile vanished.
Instead, his eyes blazed fiercely upward.
He had grasped the Alliance Leader's intent in suddenly pulling this stunt.
'Look at this guy?'
The pressure bearing down on him held no hostility, not even a hint of threat.
And the surroundings remained serene.
In other words, he was delicately channeling his internal energy to press only Cheonhwi.
What else could that mean?
He was testing.
None other than Cheonhwi himself.
'Who dares test whom?'
Cheonhwi's eyes half-closed.
A faint red glow flickered in his pupils, reflecting the lantern's yellow light.
And then.
Swish―
The hem of his robes fluttered.
It was an eerie phenomenon.
There wasn't a breath of wind around.
Yet a gentle breeze began stirring from Cheonhwi's robe hem, gradually intensifying.
Soon, the many lanterns hanging from the pavilion rattled noisily.
The yellow lantern light scattered like dust, sprinkling new starlight onto the lake.
The lake, twinkling brighter than the night sky, rippled under the breeze.
Then―
Swoosh―
Even the pavilion submerged into the starlight of the lake.
Before long, a mystical scene unfolded.
The surrounding buildings blurred and vanished, leaving only the pavilion floating atop the night sky, as if isolated.
It resembled the immortal realm spoken of in legends.
And the one who created this mystical scene, Cheonhwi, parted his lips.
"You're up to some interesting tricks."
His eyes, sunk deep like an abyss, held the Murim Alliance Leader firmly.
This lasted for a moment.
"Quite impressive."
The Murim Alliance Leader said, surveying the surroundings.
His expression showed approval.
As he undid his hands behind his back.
Whoosh!
The pressure he exuded flared and vanished like a dream.
A swift harmonization of intent.
Watching him suddenly withdraw the pressure, leaving him deflated, Cheonhwi spoke.
"Weren't you gearing up for a fight?"
"Haha. As if."
"Then why?"
"I wanted to gauge your skills."
The Murim Alliance Leader grinned and replied.
A hearty smile befitting a man of Honam.
"They say a hundred words don't match one sight, and a hundred sights don't match one encounter. I've heard enough about your prowess to make my ears ring, but I wanted to see and feel it with my own eyes."
"You say that so boldly, like it's nothing."
"Would I lie about something like this?"
"......Hmph."
Cheonhwi shut his mouth.
With such frank admission, he had nothing to say.
"Tch."
Cheonhwi clicked his tongue, as if regretting something, and withdrew his own intent.
The breeze that had upended the pavilion vanished in an instant, restoring the scenery.
"Then cut the nonsense and let's talk properly."
Cheonhwi tossed out casually.
"About the original purpose."
Strength laced his measured tone.
The purpose of coming here was clear.
To enter the Bicheon Repository.
And now, the one to grant that purpose wasn't the Zhuge Gong who summoned him, but the Alliance Leader before him.
"Very well."
In response to Cheonhwi, the Murim Alliance Leader calmly scanned the now-quiet surroundings, his gaze settling on Zhuge Gong.
"Military Strategist."
Zhuge Gong feigned surprise at the situation but erased all traces upon meeting the Alliance Leader's eyes.
"You called?"
"Bring the prepared tea."
At the Alliance Leader's words, Zhuge Gong bowed once and moved.
Toward the edge of the pavilion.
Meanwhile, the Murim Alliance Leader sat at the central table, gesturing for Cheonhwi to join.
"Come sit."
"Is that necessary?"
"Wouldn't it be better to converse calmly?"
The Murim Alliance Leader said gently.
Cheonhwi scratched his head and sat in the chair opposite.
Watching all this, the Alliance Leader smiled softly once Cheonhwi was settled.
"I've heard of your exploits."
The Murim Alliance Leader began calmly.
"Your feats in subjugating the unorthodox sects north of the Yangtze and the battle at Ami Fortress are astonishing enough, but you slew the century-old monster, the Immortal Heaven Cult Leader, and razed their headquarters."
Cheonhwi let the familiar tales flow in one ear and out the other before responding.
"Yeah."
The Alliance Leader maintained his smile despite Cheonhwi's attitude.
"Truly astonishing. No one your age has shown such prowess."
"Oh, really?"
As Cheonhwi's expression showed disinterest in the endless praise.
"I've brought the tea."
Zhuge Gong carefully placed the teapot and cups on the table.
"Good."
The Murim Alliance Leader grasped the teapot.
And at that moment.
Bubble bubble―
The teapot bubbled as if boiling.
Samadhi True Fire.
He brewed the tea in an instant and poured it steaming into the cup before him.
A soft aroma spread everywhere.
Watching the white steam rise from the tea, the Alliance Leader lifted his cup.
And said to Cheonhwi.
"Drink first."
Simultaneously, the teacup floated into the air.
An astonishing sight.
The cup hovering midair swayed gently like a spring breeze before settling carefully before Cheonhwi.
A technique only those at the pinnacle could perform.
Object Control at a Distance.
Having casually demonstrated such profound skill as if breathing, the Murim Alliance Leader lifted the teapot again, pouring into his own cup as he spoke.
"It's my cherished Dragon Well tea. Its subtle fragrance will calm the mind."
"Hmm, the aroma is indeed fine, as you say."
Having heard the explanation, Cheonhwi lifted the cup before him and drank calmly.
A manner that might seem rude.
But the Alliance Leader paid it no mind, simply sipping his own tea quietly.
As the two enjoyed the tea for a moment.
Clink.
Cheonhwi set down his cup after finishing the hot tea.
And looked at the Alliance Leader.
"I've drunk the tea as you wished, so let's wrap this up."
At Cheonhwi's words urging to end it quickly, the Alliance Leader set down his cup.
"Impatient one."
"I'm not here for tea."
Cheonhwi said irritably.
He could end the talk right away.
Yet the Alliance Leader dragged it out with needless tea.
'When will he get to the point?'
Reading Cheonhwi's eyes, the Alliance Leader set down his cup and spoke lowly.
"Fine. To the main topic."
The Murim Alliance Leader chuckled helplessly and continued.
"Your recent merits are indeed great. No one in the current Murim Alliance can match them."
The Alliance Leader's voice lowered.
His tone, even deeper than the surrounding darkness, tickled Cheonhwi's ears slowly.
"I commend those merits."
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
The words he had been waiting for.
The Alliance Leader added.
"I heard from the Military Strategist that you wish to enter the Bicheon Repository."
His eyes gleamed as he asked.
"Is that correct?"
"Pretty much."
"Then as reward..."
Then Cheonhwi spoke up.
"What if I want a different reward instead?"
"A different reward...?"
The Murim Alliance Leader furrowed his brows.
An unexpected response.
But he soon smoothed his brow and asked Cheonhwi.
"What reward do you desire?"
Cheonhwi's lips curved up.
Normally, he would have agreed to enter the Bicheon Repository as the Alliance Leader suggested.
But now was different.
Right before his eyes was something more tempting than the Bicheon Repository!
Cheonhwi spoke immediately.
Staring straight at the Murim Alliance Leader.
"I want to spar with you."
"......"
The Alliance Leader's brow twitched.
Utterly unforeseen.
"A spar with me?"
"Yes."
Cheonhwi twisted his lips.
A sticky smile of intrigue.
"Passing up a chance to spar with such an outstanding master would be too regrettable."
Killing intent swirled from Cheonhwi's body.
From the moment he spoke, his momentum surged as if ready to strike at any second.
The tea rippled slightly.
Then the pavilion shook.
The pavilion couldn't withstand the aura from his Plum Blossom Divine Art's inner power.
As tension crackled taut.
"Impossible."
The Murim Alliance Leader refused lowly.
"Surely you know the current situation?"
He let out a cold voice.
Chill and icy as the winter wind blowing now.
"We're in the midst of war with the Evil-Black Alliance."
"......Tch."
Cheonhwi immediately withdrew his energy.
'Doesn't work, huh?'
It was somewhat expected.
Sparring with the Alliance Leader mid-war against the Evil-Black Alliance could be self-sabotage.
Still, he had probed.
Maybe he'd accept.
But the result was as anticipated.
Yet then, the Alliance Leader added something unexpected.
"So not now, but after the war with the Evil-Black Alliance ends, I'll do it."
Cheonhwi's eyes widened.
He hadn't expected true acceptance.
Though conditional on the war's end, it was more than enough.
"Great."
As Cheonhwi rose at the Alliance Leader's permission.
"Where are you going?"
The Alliance Leader called him.
"Talk's over, so heading back."
Cheonhwi replied with an expression of stating the obvious, prompting the Alliance Leader to ask.
"Not entering the Bicheon Repository?"
"Huh?"
At the unexpected words, Cheonhwi tilted his head and looked at the Alliance Leader.
"Isn't the spar the end of it?"
"As I said, your merits are great. How could a mere spar fully commend them?"
The Murim Alliance Leader said leisurely while sipping tea.
"If you refuse, no issue..."
Before he could finish, Cheonhwi quickly interjected.
"If you're offering, I'm all for it."
The Alliance Leader let out a chuckle.
"Understood."
He then immediately called.
"Military Strategist."
Zhuge Gong responded as if waiting.
"I'll prepare it."
Nodding at the strategist's reply, the Alliance Leader asked Cheonhwi.
"Then, when will you enter?"
Cheonhwi grinned at the question.
The answer was already set.
"Now."