Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Black Alliance (1)
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Two days after the Dragon Squadron members had settled into the Tang Clan residence, Dang Yu-wol made a calm request of them.
"I hope you're not planning to just lounge around and eat on someone else's dime."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'd like you to guide the escorts of the Sacheon Escort Agency."
Namgung Seon-jae nodded calmly.
"Understood."
Evaluating the martial arts of others was quite a hassle.
Especially since they were from another sect.
Yet he agreed so readily.
As everyone else looked surprised, more stepped forward.
"I'm curious about Sacheon's martial arts too!!"
"Hm. Tang Doju. Would it be alright if I tested that formation they used?"
"Hahaha!! Adding a single stone from the Zhongjing Jo Family's fist arts to the Sacheon Tang Clan... But can the Tang Clan withstand that massive boulder?!"
At that moment, Moyong Hwa-ryeon shouted with her usual cheerfulness, while So Gyeok spoke with an intrigued expression.
Jo Yang-chu also cried out confidently.
"What about the rest of you?"
"We'll do it too."
The truth was, they were all curious about the skills of the Sacheon Escort Agency's leaders.
Dang Yu-wol led them to the Sacheon Escort Agency.
"Listen up. From today, for the time being, the Dragon Squadron members from the Murim Alliance will oversee your training."
The escorts, who had been training as usual, cheered at Dang Yu-wol's words.
"Ooooh!!"
"Thank you for the guidance!!"
Those thirsting for instruction approached eagerly.
Even the reluctant ones shrugged their shoulders.
If they were going to do it, they might as well do it right.
"I'm Jin Yu-seong of the Gwangju Jin Clan. I'm planning to unleash the Jin Clan saber arts, so try your best to block it."
As the saber-wielding man stepped forward, the escorts who also used sabers followed him.
"I'm Ye Jin of the Mount Hua Sect. The Mount Hua sword is emotionless yet flashy. Those using the Phantom Sword, come to me."
"I'm Cheol Ryu of the Kongtong Sect. The Kongtong sword is a killing sword. It might suit you ronin types well."
After that, people moved according to their weapons.
-Witnessing high-level martial arts is helpful in itself.
'Yeah. Experience is something even I can't provide... so this is the best way to raise them.'
What the Tang Clan currently lacked was the power of their forces.
Strengthening his own power was important, but so was bolstering the Sacheon Escort Agency and the Tang Clan.
-A wise judgment.
To aim not just for the pinnacle of martial arts, but for the greatest under heaven, strengthening one's subordinates was essential.
Ye-ui smiled proudly as he spoke.
"Iyaaaaap!!"
"Haaaap!!"
The Sacheon Escort Agency's training grounds grew even noisier than usual.
It was unimaginable compared to the old days.
Then, a beggar appeared at the Sacheon Escort Agency.
"What's this? A party? If it's a party, I wanna..."
An old beggar entered with a sly grin.
It was Gu Hwan-gae, the Thousand-Li Flying Swallow of the Beggars' Sect.
"...Gasp. What the hell."
He spotted familiar faces.
'Aren't those the Dragon Squadron guys? Why are they here?'
He had heard that the Murim Alliance assigned the Dragon Squadron to investigate Sacheon.
But they were supposed to cooperate with the Ami Sect, not the Tang Clan.
'I thought there'd be no reason to meet them...'
Gu Hwan-gae was one of the renowned elders of the murim world.
In other words, an adult.
And being an adult meant needless posturing and weighty airs.
'Like hell I'm dealing with that hassle...!!'
That's why staying at the Tang Clan or Sacheon Escort Agency was comfortable.
He could whine, throw tantrums, and act like a beggar without issue.
But with Murim Alliance youngsters around, things changed.
"Gasp!! Thousand-Li Flying Swallow, sir!!"
"Gu Hwan-gae, sir!!"
At that moment, Jo Yang-chu and So Gyeok spotted him.
He, who had tried to slip away quickly, froze in place before slowly straightening up.
"Ahem. Been well?"
-That old man's pitching his voice low, uncharacteristically.
'Someone of Thousand-Li Flying Swallow's stature holds a high position even in the Murim Alliance.'
He was trying to maintain some dignity.
Dang Yu-wol had no intention of interfering.
-He didn't do that with you.
'I'm not affiliated with the Murim Alliance, so I don't care about that stuff.'
-You're exhausting.
'Adults always have it rough.'
Unlike the nonchalant Dang Yu-wol, the entire Dragon Squadron stopped what they were doing and rushed over for polite greetings.
"Yes, yes. It's been a while."
Gu Hwan-gae earnestly greeted each one before shooting Dang Yu-wol a pleading glance.
-You gonna leave him like that?
'Not a bad thing, but if he's come all this way, he must have something to say.'
If it was nonsense, he could toss him to the others.
With that thought, Dang Yu-wol approached Gu Hwan-gae.
"What brings you here?"
"Ahem. I have something important to discuss."
"Let's go inside."
As Dang Yu-wol nodded, Gu Hwan-gae quickly followed behind him.
The Dragon Squadron members watching them couldn't hide their surprise.
"Tang Gongja seems more impressive than I thought."
"They treated him with great importance at the Ami Sect too."
"He's around our age... Did the Tang Clan raise him deliberately?"
"Hey, Sword Dragon. Didn't you clash swords with Tang Gongja? How skilled is he?"
Even as the curious ones pressed Namgung Seon-jae, he said nothing.
Because he couldn't grasp it precisely himself.
"Whew. Much better now."
The moment they entered the agency head's office, Gu Hwan-gae sprawled out.
He casually grabbed a handful of snacks, shoved them in his mouth, chewed, and spoke leisurely.
"Some tea."
"Here you go."
"Puha. Damn, what a mess right from the start. Why are those kids here?"
"The Sacheon Tang Clan isn't off-limits, is it?"
"True, but shouldn't they be at the Ami Sect?"
"We met at the Ami Sect."
"I see. Anyway, that's not the point. Why do you think those kids came to Sacheon?"
"No idea."
"Acting like it's none of your business?"
"It isn't."
"Ugh. I heard the Black Alliance is advancing into Sacheon."
"Yes. I know that."
The Qinghai Three Evils had mentioned it before.
"Hm... Then do you know this? Among the forces advancing into Sacheon this time, there's a group called the Crimson Moon Faction."
'First time hearing it.'
"Never heard of them? It's new to me too. Even their sect leader's name is unfamiliar."
"Is there a problem?"
"The head of the Crimson Moon Faction is a guy named Yang Ju-gwang, the Slaughter Ghost Sword."
"First time hearing that name."
"They say he's a rising expert who suddenly made a name in Jiangnan."
Gu Hwan-gae's voice grew serious after sipping his tea.
This was the main point.
"There are strange rumors about that guy."
"What rumors?"
"The Crimson Moon Faction has four experts who follow Yang Ju-gwang. But those four are peculiar."
"Don't beat around the bush."
"Those guys... they don't die even when cut by blades."
"......"
"Even Yaksha Yun from Jiangnan has a guy named Wi Kang."
One of the unorthodox experts.
Cruel and arrogant, but his martial arts were the real deal.
"That guy went after Yang Ju-gwang and clashed with those so-called Four Heavenly Kings."
He popped a snack in his mouth, chewed roughly, and swallowed.
"And Wi Kang had one of the Four Heavenly Kings on the brink of death."
"And?"
"Surprisingly, the next day, that guy was perfectly fine."
"...Weren't there missing persons cases around where they were, with people vanishing?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
Gu Hwan-gae was startled.
"Right. Around when Yang Ju-gwang appeared, people started disappearing in Jiangnan Province."
"Did you find their bodies?"
"Yeah. Jiangnan's unorthodox territory. Dead bodies are a dime a dozen."
"Were their hearts intact?"
"No. Their internals were mostly destroyed."
-Hey.
'Yeah.'
Ye-ui and Dang Yu-wol thought the same.
These guys.
Blood Cult.
'Never heard the name Yang Ju-gwang. But...'
He knew of the Blood Cult's martial arts that rapidly recovered from injuries.
'There are various Blood Cult arts that heal by consuming human blood or flesh.'
-Among them, one effective in just a day...
'Heart-Blood Consumption Art.'
A blood art that heals the body by eating a living person's heart.
Only that one.
"Wait. Are you saying those guys are behind those incidents?"
"High possibility."
"Tell me more."
"Our clan records mention battles with the Blood Cult."
"The Tang Clan?"
"Yes."
"Did that happen?"
"The Beggars' Sect doesn't know everything."
Not wrong.
"There were records of Blood Cultists who cultivated the Heart-Blood Consumption Art."
They regenerated by eating human hearts.
Gu Hwan-gae's expression hardened.
"Damn... They're dangerous monsters."
"Yes. Like demons wearing executioners' hoods."
Then they couldn't just sit around.
He needed to inform the Murim Alliance immediately.
"Are they the only Blood Cultists?"
"Who knows."
"Ugh... Alright. Mind if I send this info to the Murim Alliance?"
"Planning to spread rumors that the Black Alliance is colluding with the Blood Cult?"
"Yeah. Then the Murim Alliance and the imperial court won't stay idle."
The Blood Cult were currently designated as reverse bandits.
No matter how unorthodox, they couldn't ignore the Great Empire.
It would deal a major blow.
"I don't think so."
"Why?"
"Will the Black Alliance admit it?"
"Hm... True."
-What then?
Dang Yu-wol crossed his arms, deep in thought.
'Best to capture them alive if possible. Then send them to the Murim Alliance.'
The Murim Alliance was already annoyed by the Black Alliance.
Handing them over would be put to good use.
"We'll capture them at our Tang Clan."
At Dang Yu-wol's words, Gu Hwan-gae grinned widely.
"Need any help from me?"
"Of course."
"What? I'm not just gonna stir the pot from afar and watch. If you want, I can call in Beggars' Sect experts."
"No need."
Support from Beggars' Sect experts would be nice.
But there was a better way.
"This kind of thing is for the young ones."
Dang Yu-wol's gaze turned outside.