Chapter 338
Chapter 338
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 338
Chapter Title: Return to the Alliance
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“Good work, Jeokyang.”
Ju Wolhyang murmured softly, unable to tear her eyes from the dust rising in the distance.
Ten carriages and a hundred horses.
Thanks to Wi Jeokyang and the Hao Mun members scurrying in every direction, they had managed to gather them all before sunset.
And the Extermination Unit and Heavenly Justice Squad loaded the wounded onto the carriages, while those in good condition mounted horses and departed just like that.
Without wasting a single moment.
“We can't know which side will win this war, but regardless, it will end with the title of Plum Blossom Divine Hero resounding throughout the world.”
Ju Wolhyang spoke with conviction.
She had lived a long life.
As a courtesan, she had met many people, including no small number of experts.
And among all those people, the Plum Blossom Divine Hero... he was special.
“Soon, the world will turn its eyes to him. Even more than it already has...”
Ju Wolhyang lifted her chin.
Through the gap in the shattered, unrepaired roof, a vast and blue sky stretched out.
“Tell the Sect Leader that the Plum Blossom Divine Hero should be treated as a Heaven-grade figure.”
“...!”
Wi Jeokyang's eyes widened round in shock.
It was an astonishing statement.
Heaven-grade!
It was a rank the Hao Mun assigned only to special individuals—those deemed capable of shaking the entire world with their every move.
“...In your view, Branch Leader, is the Plum Blossom Divine Hero on the same level as the lords of the Nine Provinces Three Evils?”
“Not yet. But...”
Ju Wolhyang trailed off.
But that alone was enough.
Wi Jeokyang immediately turned on his heel.
“I'll send word to the Sect Leader.”
Meanwhile, on the floor directly below them.
Cheonghwa and Honghwa, clinging to the wide-open window, gazed with longing eyes at the carriages and horses vanishing beyond the horizon.
For a moment, they spoke.
“They're gone.”
“They've left.”
Their voices overlapped.
Voices filled with longing and sorrow.
It had been a meeting like a springtime dream.
Short, but intense...
A meeting impossible to forget.
Staring blankly outside, they suddenly turned their heads to meet each other's eyes.
Their gazes locked perfectly in sync.
“It was a beautiful dream.”
“But now we must wake.”
“We should. In the end...”
“Because it was a dream.”
Exchanging words while gazing at each other, they smiled and stepped away from the window.
Then each took out her instrument—a flute and a stringed one.
Soon, Honghwa's red lips met the flute, and a clear tone began to ride the wind.
Immediately after, Cheonghwa moved her slender fingers.
Her white, long fingers plucked the strings.
The low and high notes harmonized beautifully.
Ding-ding-ding—
The melody began to drift on the wind.
A beautiful chord flowed out the window, creating gentle vibrations.
After playing for a long while, they naturally closed their eyes.
Now, they had to awaken from this long dream and return to reality. And no one knew that better than they did.
For they were the ones who sold dreams.
Soon, just like Cheonhwi's performance, their hands and lips infused with qi, sending out waves of sound technique.
But it differed slightly from Cheonhwi's playing.
Instead of intricate qi control, they poured emotion into the music.
Emotions whose aftertaste still lingered...
And it was a performance like a farewell greeting to the departed Cheonhwi.
"Where is this music coming from?" "Ahh." Passersby near Hwacheon Pavilion stopped in their tracks as if enchanted, perking up their ears.
Some marveled at the exquisite performance, while others were swept up in the emotions woven into it, their eyes glistening with tears.
In an instant, Wuhe became silent.
The streets echoed only with the sound of the instruments.
Thus, the performance enveloping Wuhe's streets spread its notes farther and farther on a faint breeze, as if proclaiming to the world.
“Hm?”
Cheonhwi, riding in the carriage, turned his head at a tickling sensation in his ear.
But all that reached his ears was the jolting of the wheels and the rough clop of hooves.
“Must have misheard.”
Lightly digging in his ear, Cheonhwi turned back to the front.
“Gah! Ugh! Kek! Argh!”
Suddenly, the carriage jolted, and groans came from right ahead.
From the man opposite him.
The man was wrapped head to toe in bandages, his visible face a mass of bruises.
Examining the dark bruises staining the man's eyes and cheeks, Cheonhwi worked his mouth.
“You're too noisy.”
“Ugh, Young Leader. I want to stay quiet too, but this carriage is jolting like crazy.”
The man, Ho Gwanggae, clutched his shoulder and complained in a pleading tone.
“Every bump feels like it's gonna kill me.”
“Hm, that bad? You look fine to me.”
“Hah? You think this looks fine to the Young Leader?”
Ho Gwanggae made an incredulous face.
“Didn't you see? There's a hole through my shoulder, and even the parts that look okay are covered in bruises. How is this fine?”
He put on his most pitiful expression.
But.
“That seems pretty fine to me.”
Cheonhwi said nonchalantly.
“No arms or legs lopped off like some others. Just a hole in the shoulder, and you're whining.”
“W-Whining...?”
Ho Gwanggae trembled with rage.
He wanted to shout back, but the agonized groans leaking from other carriages made him hold his tongue.
“Can't be helped. If you can't hold it in, I'll have to force it.”
“Force it how...?”
In lieu of an answer, Cheonhwi raised his index finger.
Ho Gwanggae paled at the gesture.
The words were ominous enough, but the finger signaled something more.
“I-I'll shut up...”
As Ho Gwanggae urgently tried to speak.
Pfuk!
Finger wind struck his mute acupoint.
“...!”
Ho Gwanggae flapped his mouth in shock, but no sound came out.
“Much better.”
Smiling in satisfaction, Cheonhwi lowered his finger.
“Hm?”
Cheonhwi narrowed his eyes.
Muted, Ho Gwanggae began flailing with hands and feet.
“Mm, need to hit the meridian point too?”
As Cheonhwi muttered and raised his finger again.
Swish—swish—
Ho Gwanggae shook his head side to side.
Then he quickly clasped his hands demurely, placed them on his knee, and straightened his posture.
Of course, his face was still contorted.
Seeing Ho Gwanggae settle, Cheonhwi chuckled and pulled out a messenger pigeon slip.
It was from the Murim Alliance.
• Jongnam Sword Saint enters Murim Alliance. • Evil-Black Alliance's Bulmangdan retreats. • All five Jongnam Swords deceased. Culprit suspected to be Dark Sword of the Ten Night Sect Leader. • Guwon Divine Bow Lord departs stronghold. Purpose unknown. The slip contained concise major updates.
'The Sword Saint's here.'
Cheonhwi's eyes lingered on the top line after a quick scan.
'Been in seclusion all this time.'
Cheonhwi stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The Jongnam Sword Saint had vanished mysteriously after the joint Mount Hua-Jongnam operation.
'Must have had some business.'
Brushing it off lightly, Cheonhwi reviewed the slip again, committing the info to memory.
In the peaceful silence.
The carriages and warhorses, now entering the pass, raced forward at top speed.
Toward their destination: the Murim Alliance.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The carriage jolted to a halt.
The belated vibration spread inside, drawing Cheonhwi's gaze to the window.
Towering white walls soared high.
They had finally returned to the Murim Alliance.
Chaeng!
The gate guards crossed their spears.
They said nothing.
The moment they saw the banners of the Heavenly Justice Squad and Extermination Unit, they flung the gates wide.
Kugugung—
The massive gates opened, revealing the interior.
The bustling crowd inside.
Suddenly, all eyes in the stronghold fixed on the opened gates.
Silence fell.
They simply stood still, clasping hands in prayer-like salute toward the returning carriages and horses of the Murim Alliance.
A quiet welcome.
It was the greatest greeting they could offer amid war.
Clop, clop.
The hoofbeats rang unusually loud as carriages and horses passed through the people.
The Extermination Unit and Heavenly Justice Squad returned the salutes with eyes, puffing out chests proudly.
Pressing on, they soon arrived at one place.
The entrance to the Murim Alliance's Inner Cabinet.
“We're here.”
As Cheonhwi confirmed the stop and rose.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
Mute-pointed Ho Gwanggae flailed.
“Ah, forgot about you.”
Cheonhwi caught on and released his mute point.
“Kuh!”
Ho Gwanggae groaned immediately.
Pain had surged while flailing desperately.
After a moment.
“B-Be careful... on your way back, Young Leader.”
Cheonhwi chuckled at Ho Gwanggae greeting through pain, then stepped out.
“Young Sword Expert.”
Ok Girin awaited ahead.
His face was tense.
Cheonhwi glanced at him, then looked up at the Alliance Lord's quarters.
Then.
“Congratulations on your return, Young Hero.”
A bright voice rang out.
A young man approached from afar.
It was Seolgeom.
As usual, a ornate fan covered his mouth, but his radiant smile seemed visible beyond it.
“Ah! Congratulations on your return too, Ok Girin Young Hero.”
Spotting Ok Girin belatedly, he bowed formally with clasped hands.
A bit more exaggerated than usual.
“Amitabha. Good to see you, Vice Strategist.”
Ok Girin, oblivious, returned the bow politely.
Seolgeom smiled and spoke.
“Shall we go, then?”
With that, he turned.
His voice slightly elated.
“The Alliance Lord awaits.”
Cheonhwi and Ok Girin walked side by side with Seolgeom into the Inner Cabinet.
Swish—
The entrance guards, seeing the trio approach, gave brief nods and opened the doors without procedure.
As if expecting them.
'Hm?'
As Cheonhwi passed, he turned at the piercing gazes.
The guards stared intently, eyes sparkling.
A very familiar look.
Curiosity, admiration, awe.
The gaze received often since the Plum Blossom Divine Hero title spread.
“Young Hero Cheonhwi still draws so much attention.”
As Cheonhwi turned back nonchalantly, Seolgeom hummed beside him.
He was in a good mood.
The most renowned figure in the current Murim Alliance was none other than Cheonhwi.
And he maintained close ties with Cheonhwi and the Extermination Unit.
'My eye for talent was spot on.'
His lips curved thinly.
Things were going according to plan.
Starting with the war between Murim Alliance and Evil-Black Alliance, the martial world would seek change.
Old remnants would fade, new powers taking their place.
'And at the center...'
Seolgeom glanced sideways.
Seeing Cheonhwi's bored face mid-yawn, he grinned.
Step, step.
Guided by Seolgeom, the three ascended the Inner Cabinet stairs.
How long did they climb?
Eventually, they reached the top floor, where the endless-seeming stairs ended.
Directly ahead stood a firmly shut door.
An old wooden door.
'Hm?'
Cheonhwi half-closed his eyes at the door.
Multiple presences emanated from beyond.
'Some familiar ones too.'
Then Seolgeom approached the door.
“I've brought the Plum Blossom Divine Hero and Ok Girin.”
Whispering softly.
“Enter.”
A calm reply came.
Seolgeom turned, briefly meeting eyes with Cheonhwi and Ok Girin.
Then he opened the door.
Whoosh—
A breeze blew through the opening.
A cool spring wind tousled Cheonhwi and Ok Girin's hair.
And there they were.
A room open on all sides.
Twenty figures seated at the central table.
They were the core of the current Murim Alliance.
Experts sent by the Nine Great Sects, along with the leaders of the Three Vanguard Squads.
“That kid's the Plum Blossom Divine Hero...”
“Wudang's... Ok Girin?”
“...”
As their varied reactions fixed gazes on the trio.
“You've arrived?”
A gentle voice spoke.
From the head seat.
The seated Alliance Lord gazed at the two without a flicker amid the winds from all sides, smiling.
“I've been awaiting your return.”