Chapter 356
Chapter 356
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 356
Chapter Title: The Spar with the Alliance Leader
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It was the early dawn, just before the sun rose.
As the fresh scent of grass mingled with the tiny dewdrops clinging to blades of grass, reflecting the divine light that softly revealed itself.
Rumble―
Four carriages pulled up in a line in front of an nameless inn without even a signboard.
They were carriages that caught the eye with flags reading 'All Under Heaven Merchant Group'.
Step, step.
Cheonhwi emerged from the main building, his pristine white robe draped loosely over his shoulders.
He looked a bit weary, his expression languid.
A moment later, standing before the carriages, Cheonhwi let out a yawn.
"Yawn."
He stretched lazily.
'I'm a little tired.'
Cheonhwi clicked his tongue softly and tilted his neck side to side.
Fatigue had built up, if only a little.
It was because he had unleashed his Extreme Sky-Stepping Steps to swiftly go to and from InSang Valley in the Iryeong Mountains last night, and due to the lack of time, he had to stay up all night.
'Once I'm in the carriage, I should at least circulate my qi to recover.'
It was at that moment, as Cheonhwi thought about circulating his qi to dispel the fatigue and wiped away the small teardrop at the corner of his eye from the yawn.
'Hm?'
His eyes met those of the Murim Alliance Leader, who was just exiting the inn.
Even in the early dawn, he was impeccably dressed as always.
Looking at him, Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
'He said he knew about my meeting with the Evil-Black Alliance Leader?'
Recalling what the Evil-Black Alliance Leader had said last night, he quietly observed the Murim Alliance Leader.
Suddenly―
The Murim Alliance Leader's lips curved into a soft smile as he approached Cheonhwi and spoke.
"You look tired."
"I didn't sleep well."
Cheonhwi replied indifferently while probing the Alliance Leader's expression.
To discern whether what the Evil-Black Alliance Leader had said was true or not.
'The Alliance Leader's actions so far have been a bit suspicious, but the Evil-Black Leader could have been lying too.'
Cheonhwi was suspicious of both.
Though their encounters were brief, he felt neither was trustworthy.
At that moment, the Alliance Leader's sleeve fluttered.
Tap.
The Alliance Leader placed a hand on Cheonhwi's shoulder and nodded up and down, as if in empathy.
"I understand how you feel."
The Alliance Leader smiled warmly as he spoke.
"Even I felt a sense of emptiness now that the fierce war with the Evil-Black Alliance has come to such an end."
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had expected a mention of his meeting with the Evil-Black Leader, but it was something entirely different.
"You got the wrong idea."
"Haha, is that so?"
The Alliance Leader burst into laughter at Cheonhwi's curt attitude.
This lasted for a moment.
"Ah! Then it must be this."
As if suddenly remembering something, the Alliance Leader abruptly stopped laughing.
Cheonhwi's eyes sharpened at the change.
Waiting briefly for what would come next, the Alliance Leader leaned in close with a serious expression and whispered.
"Since notifying the Murim Alliance about this agreement takes priority, how about we meet at midnight on the day we arrive at the Alliance?"
"Pardon?"
At the incomprehensible words, Cheonhwi let out a deflated voice, and the Alliance Leader asked with a puzzled look.
"Weren't you expecting the promise we made before?"
"Promise...?"
At the word 'promise', Cheonhwi recalled his dealings with the Alliance Leader and remembered one deal he had momentarily forgotten.
'Ah! The spar!'
Cheonhwi's eyes sparkled brilliantly.
The words of the Evil-Black Alliance Leader were instantly chased from his mind like dust in the wind, replaced by eager anticipation for the 'spar with the Murim Alliance Leader' filling his thoughts.
"Guess that's not it either."
The Alliance Leader chuckled dryly.
"No, that's the promise."
Cheonhwi replied immediately.
Since the Alliance Leader had brought it up first, he wanted to confirm it quickly.
"Midnight, right?"
The Alliance Leader maintained his smile at Cheonhwi's slightly raised voice and replied.
"Indeed."
"Great. See you then."
"Haha, understood."
The Alliance Leader laughed at Cheonhwi's quickened tone, then turned and headed toward Zhuge Gong.
"Hmm, I wonder what martial art he'll show. His title is Heart-Reading Sword Hero, so of course it'll be the sword..."
As Cheonhwi imagined the Alliance Leader's martial arts and moved to board the carriage.
Step, step.
The smile lingering on the Alliance Leader's lips as he walked toward Zhuge Gong suddenly shifted the atmosphere, soon taking on a chilling edge.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "We're almost there."
Cheonhwi's gaze shifted at the Zhongnan Sword Saint's low mutter as he looked out the window.
At the end of the vast expanse of the Guanzhong Plains, massive walls welcomed them.
It was the Murim Alliance.
"Quite a crowd has gathered."
Cheonhwi said, looking toward the gates.
The Murim Alliance gates, which should normally be firmly shut, were wide open, and numerous martial artists lined both sides, forming a path.
There were hundreds of them, as if every warrior of the Alliance had turned out.
"They're all curious about the outcome of the agreement."
The Zhongnan Sword Saint said with a smile.
It was just as he said.
The warriors who had surrounded the Iryeong Mountains had returned to the Alliance using their movement techniques right after the agreement, but no one yet knew the results.
Since they had traveled in the All Under Heaven Merchant Group's carriages with strict secrecy, it was only natural the contents hadn't leaked.
"They can probably guess roughly."
Cheonhwi muttered indifferently.
Since they had returned safely, the outcome was as good as decided.
After gazing indifferently at the crowd for a moment, Cheonhwi leaned back.
How much time passed like that?
Finally, the carriages carrying the Alliance Leader and his group reached the Alliance gates.
At that exact moment.
"The Alliance Leader has returned!"
With someone's resounding voice, a warrior at the gates clasped his fists in salute.
That was the start.
As the carriages approached the gates, the lined warriors saluted one after another in a chain reaction matching their pace.
A wave of clasped fists like ocean waves.
The four carriages passed between them.
Amid the silence, only the rumble of wheels, the clop of hooves, and the swish of sleeves as they saluted echoed.
The same spectacle continued even after passing through the gates into the inner grounds.
It was an astonishing sight.
The carriages advancing through the streets within the walls eventually came to a stop.
Before the Alliance Lord's Palace.
"We... we've arrived."
The coachman, tense from the grand scene before him, announced their arrival in a trembling voice.
Creeak―
The carriage door opened, and the Murim Alliance Leader slowly revealed himself from within.
"......"
A profound silence fell.
After the Alliance Leader disembarked and scanned the assembled warriors for a moment.
Step.
He soon moved toward the Alliance Lord's Palace.
Zhuge Gong followed immediately, while Cheonmu-gong, Cheonryong-gak, and Yongju-gae from the rear carriages dismounted and stood still, looking up.
"Let's get out too."
With those words, the Zhongnan Sword Saint opened the carriage door and stepped out, and Cheonhwi followed.
Then slowly raised his head.
The top of the Alliance Lord's Palace.
The Alliance Leader had already ascended to the open rooftop and stood precariously at the edge, looking down.
Cheonhwi's eyes captured him.
With hands behind his back, the Alliance Leader surveyed the entire Murim Alliance.
Then his mouth slowly opened.
"I shall announce the contents of the agreement with the Evil-Black Alliance."
The Alliance Leader's low voice echoed like an afterimage throughout the Alliance grounds, striking the ears of the warriors looking up.
All held their breath, awaiting his next words.
As all eyes focused.
Finally, the Alliance Leader's lips, which had been closed for a moment, parted, conveying the news to everyone.
"As of today, the war is over."
The result of the agreement finalized with the Evil-Black Alliance Leader.
As the Alliance Leader declared the ceasefire, the eyes of those watching widened for an instant.
"Waaaaah!"
"It's over!"
Cheers erupted like thunder.
The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.
The bursting cheers filled the Alliance in an instant and rapidly spread beyond the walls.
Some, unable to contain their joy at the war's end, teared up, while others collapsed to the ground, strength drained.
Of course, not everyone was pleased.
"A ceasefire like this...!"
"I have no face to show my seniors."
Warriors who had lost comrades to the Evil-Black Alliance bit their lips in anger at the word 'ceasefire', suppressing their fury or venting it.
But they were a tiny minority.
The majority cheered in joy that the war, which had only brought wounds, was finally over.
"...It's finally over."
The Zhongnan Sword Saint also closed his eyes briefly with a faint smile of relief at the ceasefire, then opened them.
"You've all worked har..."
As he turned to speak to Cheonhwi, the Sword Saint shook his head.
Cheonhwi was no longer there.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Squad Leader! You're back!"
"Good work, Junior Brother!"
"Martial Uncle! You've worked hard!"
As Cheonhwi returned to the Extermination Squadron's quarters and unpacked, the belatedly returning Extermination Squadron members and Mount Hua Sect disciples came rushing over to greet him.
The Mount Hua Sect disciples in particular could barely contain their joy at Cheonhwi's safe return.
And rightly so, for this agreement would soon spread far and wide across the land.
It was the agreement that decided the ceasefire between two of the Nine Provinces' Three Evils and Powers.
Thus, those selected as escorts for this agreement would also gain widespread fame.
With only five escorts per faction, those chosen were tantamount to representatives of the Murim Alliance and Evil-Black Alliance.
Moreover, among them, Cheonhwi was the youngest.
This held significant meaning.
'Thanks to Junior Brother, no one will dare ignore our sect now.'
'Haha! Our sect will rise even higher!'
'As expected of Martial Uncle!'
Seeing them beaming, Cheonhwi suddenly smiled.
"The Squad Leader seems pleased about the ceasefire too."
"Haha! You really worked hard!"
The Extermination Squadron members, seeing his sunny smile, thought he shared their joy at the truce and were delighted.
"......"
But the Mount Hua Sect disciples, excluding Cheonhwi, broke into cold sweats upon seeing that smile.
Having known him for a long time, they read something in it.
"Perfect timing."
Cheonhwi said with an even brighter smile.
He then approached Muhong, who was grinning happily, and firmly placed a hand on his shoulder.
Whispering lowly.
"Everyone, out to the training grounds."
"Training grounds?"
"I told you before."
Cheonhwi quirked his lips upward, still smiling.
"I'd check right after returning if you skipped training."
At those words, the Extermination Squadron members finally looked stunned like the Mount Hua disciples.
"You didn't skip training, right?"
Cheonhwi leaned in close and asked.
"N-No, sir!"
"We trained diligently!"
The Extermination Squadron members shouted loudly.
Cheonhwi nodded at their words, then walked past them.
"Then follow me. Time to check."
With that, Cheonhwi smiled brightly.
It was as sunny as before, but to the Squadron members, it looked like the grin of the Grim Reaper.
Two hours later.
Cheonhwi dusted off his hands lightly, looking at the Extermination Squadron members sprawled on the ground like frogs, unconscious and trembling.
"At least you did train."
Muttering words no one could hear, Cheonhwi suddenly looked up at the sky.
The midday sun had already been replaced by the moon, casting blue moonlight everywhere.
"It's already time."
Cheonhwi nodded.
"Well, I've warmed up now. Time to go."
In an instant, Cheonhwi's figure vanished.
The hour when all should be asleep.
A time that would normally be silent, but perhaps due to the news of the truce.
The inns within the Murim Alliance were lit up like daytime with lanterns everywhere, and raucous noises emanated from inside.
"Everyone, drink up!"
Cheonhwi raced across the rooftops at high speed toward the inner areas, hearing the revelry of the drunks.
As he moved farther from the inner districts and the noise began to fade.
Tap.
Cheonhwi stopped.
Before the pavilion he was visiting for the second time...
In the middle of a serene lake, a yellow lantern swayed.
Swoosh―
Cheonhwi stared ahead.
In the pavilion, a familiar figure stood with hands behind his back, silently watching him.
"I've been waiting."
A low voice tickled his ears.
The figure took a step forward.
Step.
Under the flickering lantern light, the Alliance Leader's face fully revealed itself.
His eyes curved just as before.
Seeing that sharp, keen eye-smile like a honed curved blade, Cheonhwi bared his pearly whites and grinned.
"No need for preamble. Let's start."
With those words, Cheonhwi drew Hwamwol.
He slightly raised Hwamwol, reflecting the shining blue moonlight, and stared straight into the clear, serene eyes of the Alliance Leader watching him quietly.
"The spar."