Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Black Alliance (2)
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Gu Hwan-gae returned to the Beggars' Sect and sent word to the Murim Alliance, summoning the Dragon Corps members.
"You lot came here to investigate the Black Alliance's attempt to enter Sacheon, right?"
"Yes. The evidence and..."
"Here. Evidence."
"Whoa?!"
So Gyeok was startled.
The documents Gu Hwan-gae handed over were incredibly detailed.
This was more than enough to fulfill the Dragon Corps' mission.
"To think the Beggars' Sect was already conducting such a thorough investigation..."
"Then why didn't you report it to the Murim Alliance?"
"I figured we needed a bit more investigation first."
"I see..."
"Anyway, with this, your mission should be complete, right?"
"Yes. That's correct."
"Then you've got some time on your hands?"
"Yes... well..."
"How about you join forces with the Sacheon Tang Clan and take on the unorthodox fighters advancing into Sacheon?"
"Pardon?!"
This was another shocking suggestion.
Of course, as orthodox martial artists, fighting unorthodox scum was their duty.
But the opponents were the issue.
"Th-Thousand-Li Flying Swallow, sir. According to this report, the ones advancing into Sacheon this time belong to the Black Alliance."
"Our clans or sects could get in trouble."
'Tsk tsk...'
As some Dragon Corps members voiced their unease, Gu Hwan-gae looked at them pitifully.
'Of course, they're not entirely wrong...'
The future of the orthodox factions, and they're this cowardly?
Gu Hwan-gae unconsciously thought of Dang Yu-wol.
'In that regard, that kid's far better.'
Younger than these guys, yet he knows when to act.
Why don't they get that sometimes you need a bit of boldness?
"Is that so?"
"Yes. For now, we should contact our sects..."
So Gyeok cautiously spoke up, but Gu Hwan-gae whipped his head around.
Dang Yu-wol had arrived without a sound.
"The Tang Clan intends to block the Black Alliance's entry into Sacheon head-on."
"Heh. That'll cause quite a bit of damage, won't it?"
"Even so, we have to do what must be done. Who knows—some of them might even be Blood Cultists in disguise."
"What?!"
"Sir! Is that true?!"
"It's just a possibility."
"But..."
The Blood Cult.
An enemy of the martial world, just like the Demonic Cult.
At its mention, hesitation clouded the Dragon Corps members' faces.
"So, head back."
"...Uh..."
"What can you say when you're scared?"
'Ha! Resorting to reverse psychology...'
'As if we'd fall for something this obvious.'
They were late bloomers, but all had some experience in the martial world.
Most of them brushed off Dang Yu-wol's provocation with a laugh.
"Scared? Who, me?"
Namgung Seon-jae bared his teeth.
"H-Hey! Sword Dragon!"
"Namgung disciple. Stay calm..."
"I'm calmer than ever. And with the Blood Cult mentioned, I can't back down."
-Why's that guy acting up? Does he have a personal grudge against the Blood Cult?
'Beats me.'
Namgung Seon-jae's reaction was unusual.
As Dang Yu-wol looked at him, he grinned fiercely.
"Years ago, my uncle was killed by those vicious Blood Cult bastards."
"Ah. A family grudge."
Can't be helped, then.
Dang Yu-wol shrugged.
"If you're in, we're friends."
"Sounds good."
Dang Yu-wol was a powerhouse worthy of his acknowledgment.
Thanks to him, he'd even broken through a wall and advanced a step.
No reason not to be friends.
"Amitabha. If the Blood Cult is truly involved with the Black Alliance, Huashan cannot stand aside either."
So Gyeok felt the same.
In the past, Blood Cultists had poisoned Huashan, causing massive damage.
In a way, fighting their sect's enemies would be permitted by the sect.
"I'll join too!! How can we orthodox folk, seeking justice and righteousness, quibble over personal gain?!"
Moyong Hwa-ryeon stepped forward.
Another followed.
"Hahaha!! Our Jo Clan is founded on the principle of never overlooking injustice!"
Jo Yang-chu didn't hide his usual positive attitude.
"This Jo Yang-chu will lend his strength for justice and righteousness!"
Their words stirred the remaining Dragon Corps members.
Of course they did.
Refusing here would just lead to questions about how their clans or sects had raised them.
"It's only natural for an orthodox martial artist to step up."
"Catching Blood Cultists aligns with the Murim Alliance's will too."
As the Dragon Corps members stepped forward one by one, Dang Yu-wol smiled.
They were all peak experts.
They'd surely be helpful.
No need to hesitate once they had a target.
According to intel from Taeseong Pavilion and the Beggars' Sect, the Crimson Moon Gang's current position was eastern Sacheon.
Xian County.
"You've already entered Sacheon?"
"Yeah. No major movements yet, but..."
Gu Hwan-gae relayed the information gathered by his Beggars' Sect subordinates.
"Seems they're waiting for more reinforcements alongside the Black Alliance."
"So right now, Xian County only has the Crimson Moon Gang?"
"Not quite. There are also unorthodox experts they've recruited from various places."
It was a story they'd heard before.
Gathering unorthodox fighters from everywhere to move together.
"Plus, some local Sacheon unorthodox groups have joined them."
"I see."
"What'll you do? Even roughly, their numbers exceed a hundred."
Dang Yu-wol thought for a moment, then stood.
"Any reason to hesitate? Let's go."
-You'll need a lot of poison.
'Yeah. Mind helping out?'
-Of course.
Dang Yu-wol grinned at Ye-ui's relaxed reply.
"Young Master Tang. Are you planning to bring Sacheon Escort Agency escorts?"
"No. They've got their own tasks."
At Moyong Hwa-ryeon's question, Dang Yu-wol slowly turned.
They and Taeseong Pavilion's warriors would block unorthodox forces coming from elsewhere.
Namgung Seon-jae clenched his fist slightly at the answer.
'Is that guy not afraid?'
It wasn't just Blood Cultists they'd face.
Super-elites and over a hundred unorthodox fighters.
'The Tang Clan can only field about twenty usable disciples at full strength.'
Even with the Dragon Corps, it wouldn't reach half their numbers.
Was that okay?
Dang Yu-wol smirked at him.
"Scared?"
Namgung Seon-jae ground his teeth.
How could a Namgung swordsman fear enemies?
Fit for succeeding the Sword King, he smiled leisurely.
"As if."
"Good. Let's move."
Dang Yu-wol rose casually and stepped out without a care.
Upon arriving in Xian County and being guided by beggars monitoring the area, the state of Hoyeon Village didn't look good.
The stench of burning flesh wafting from nearby made them want to pinch their noses.
"...This is."
Moyong Hwa-ryeon's face hardened.
This smell. She knew it.
"...It's the smell of human flesh burning."
"Is that true?"
"Yes. Our Moyong Clan is located in Yoneung. We often clash with northern nomads."
No duty to bury the bodies of pillaging nomads.
So they burned them—that was standard.
"This smell is all too familiar."
So Gyeok's expression darkened.
"...Amitabha. The villagers?"
"Probably."
It was a familiar smell to Dang Yu-wol too.
Unlike his calm reaction, the Dragon Corps members' faces twisted more and more.
"Young Clan Head's proxy. We're ready."
A Tang Clan disciple approached cautiously.
One of those Dang Yu-wol had trained since becoming the Clan Head's proxy.
Perhaps because of that, his expression and demeanor resembled Dang Yu-wol's.
Stoic and emotionless.
'I heard the Tang Clan's disciples' skills plummeted after their decline... How are these guys...?'
They were said to be merely second-rate at best.
Yet the aura from him and the other disciples was no different from first-rate.
Dang Yu-wol spoke calmly.
"Form the formation."
"Yes."
Formation?
As the puzzled Dragon Corps members wondered, Dang Yu-wol held out something from his sleeve.
Detox pills.
"What's this?"
"Antidote."
"Antidote...? You're planning to use poison?"
"And if I am?"
Using poison felt somewhat repulsive to martial artists.
And this was a village.
It could harm civilians.
"Don't worry. It's Gentleman Mountain Poison."
A poison that sealed inner energy.
Civilians without inner energy would be fine.
"But..."
To the hesitating group, Dang Yu-wol said leisurely,
"Bugs are exterminated with poison."
Jang Sam, an unorthodox warrior active in Zhongqing, gazed at his sword in ecstasy.
Sword qi, proof of first-rate mastery, rose from the blade like a haze.
'With this...!!'
The martial world was full of warriors like grains of sand.
Most were third-rate or second-rate.
'I thought I was just like them.'
Scraping by in a small unorthodox group, preying on commoners.
But now he could wield sword qi.
"Uahaha!! Can you see it?! See it!!"
One unorthodox warrior shouted in joy.
Sword qi shimmered on his blade too.
Proof of first-rate level.
All thanks to them.
"Leader! Leader! We truly thank you!"
"Without you, we'd have lived worthless lives!!"
The one receiving their gratitude.
Yang Ju-gwang, head of the Crimson Moon Gang who had suddenly settled in Guizhou, smirked.
"No big deal. The unorthodox world is one under the same sky, isn't it?"
"Aaaah... Leader!!"
"We'll follow you till death!!"
"Hah. Conquering Sacheon won't be easy."
"Haha! We know!"
"Two of the Nine Great Sects are there, plus the rapidly rising Tang Clan."
Yang Ju-gwang continued leisurely with an unusually mild expression for an unorthodox leader.
"To face them, I need your help."
His gentle words stirred the unorthodox warriors' hearts.
"So helping you grow stronger— what's so special about that?"
"Ooooh!!"
"You're the ones shedding blood up front—that's the real hardship."
Tears welled up.
Had anyone ever cared for lowly lives like theirs this much?
The unorthodox warriors gathered in the village bowed to him.
"So eat and drink your fill today. I prepared it for you."
Yang Ju-gwang raised his hand, and his four nearby warriors and village folk moved.
Food was laid before them.
Meat and liquor.
The staples for unorthodox folk.
"Thank you! We'll dig in!"
"Haha! Thanks to Leader, we can fill our bellies!"
"I've been thirsty and starving lately!"
Made second-rates draw sword qi.
And the side effect was just hunger and thirst?
Anyone would welcome it.
"Hahaha! Delicious! So delicious!"
"Hey! Try this! It's from the Leader!"
"This is...?"
"Blood wine mixed with animal blood. Tastes amazing!!"
"Kuhaha!! Who knew blood wine was this good!!"
Yang Ju-gwang watched them greedily downing the blood wine with satisfaction.
All were drinking the blood wine.
Adapting to blood.
'Good. Perfect...'
Then—
"Damn it!! We're under attack!!!"
"What?!"
Attacked mid-meal?
As a puzzled unorthodox warrior looked up, someone shouted.
"My inner energy!!"
"My inner energy won't move!!"