The Murim Alliance Leader's 60th Birthday Banquet
In the world of Murim, the saying government and martial world shall not interfere is often heard. It means that the imperial court and the martial factions do not trespass upon each other's domains. However, from the state's perspective, there was no reason to leave a massive armed group that could also serve as a private army unchecked. That was why, during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor, the Righteous Faction of Murim signed a peace treaty with the government. In return, they established the Murim Alliance in Chang'an—the strategic heart of national defense and the starting point of the Silk Road—to act as a breakwater against foreign invasions. The result of that decision is the colossal Murim Alliance we see today. A gathering where key talents from the Nine Great Schools and One Union discuss policy, and in times of crisis, a military force that stands at the forefront to repel invaders. And the man who stood at the head of this enormous organization was none other than Wiji Cheon, the final boss of the novel The Heavenly Poison Witch.
"Come on! Cheap! Super cheap!"
"Buy one bolt of silk and get another one free!"
"The fruit here is cheap and delicious! Try one before you decide!"
The streets of Chang'an, the largest city in the western Central Plains, were packed with people coming and going. Our group wandered through the bustling market as we made our way toward the estate of the Murim Alliance Leader, where his 60th birthday banquet was being held today.
"There are so many people here," I muttered.
I had felt it when we visited Hanzhong before, but Chang'an, being a much larger city, truly lived up to its reputation as a metropolis.
"No matter what anyone says, this is the headquarters of the Righteous Faction Alliance, home to the hundred-year-old Murim Alliance. It also used to serve as the capital of countless dynasties in the past," Dokgo Seok said, fanning himself lightly before pointing his closed fan toward the northern part of the city. "Back then, the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty tried to move the capital here. But after the sudden death of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, who had been sent to inspect the Guanzhong region, the emperor was so devastated that he gave up on the idea. If not for that incident, the capital of the Ming Dynasty might have been Chang'an instead of the current Shuntian Prefecture."
"Ooh..."
I honestly had no idea what he was talking about, but I made the appropriate impressed noises anyway. To change the subject, I glanced around and said, "By the way, Young Master, doesn't it feel like there are way more people carrying swords around here?"
Realizing my intention, Dokgo Seok clicked his tongue and tucked his neatly folded fan into his robe. "Of course there are. All the martial artists scattered across the Central Plains have flocked to Chang'an for the Murim Alliance Leader's 60th birthday banquet."
Gyeong-a, who had been listening quietly beside us, asked, "But Young Master, what kind of achievements did this Murim Alliance Leader accomplish to be so revered by the Righteous Faction?"
"You really don't know? You're surprisingly ignorant about the ways of the world."
"...I'm asking because I don't know."
When Gyeong-a gave him a sullen look, Dokgo Seok shook his head with a theatrical sigh. "You've at least heard about the Righteous-Demonic War from thirty years ago, right?"
"Yes, of course."
"At that time, the leader of the Four Demonic Cults, the Iron-Blooded Demon Venerable Guyang Cheol, was so overwhelmingly powerful that no one from the Righteous Faction could stand against him. Then, out of nowhere, the current Murim Alliance Leader, Wiji Cheon—the Peerless Spear—appeared and subdued him. Back in his day, Wiji Cheon was known as the greatest genius ever produced by the Heavenly Martial Academy. After graduating, he disappeared for about ten years. When he finally reappeared in the martial world, he crushed Guyang Cheol in a single strike."
Because of that feat, Wiji Cheon was hailed as the greatest hero of the Righteous-Demonic War. After the conflict ended, he was elected as the Murim Alliance Leader by the Nine Great Schools and One Union.
"He was even more incredible than I thought," I said.
"That's why he's held the top position unchallenged for thirty years."
At that moment, Dokgo Rin, who had been silently listening to the conversation, suddenly asked, "Then, Brother, where was Wiji Cheon during those ten blank years?"
"No one knows."
"Why not?"
"The man himself refuses to speak about it, and it's not uncommon for martial artists who stumble upon a fortuitous encounter to seclude themselves for long periods of closed-door training."
Dokgo Rin seemed to ponder his answer for a moment before shrugging. "You always act like you know everything, but even you don't have all the information."
Dokgo Seok looked a bit sheepish. "I never claimed to know everything. I only know what I know."
"Anyway, it looks like we're almost there," I interjected at the perfect moment while watching the siblings bicker. Dokgo Rin stopped her sharp retort and turned her gaze forward.
In the distance stood a grand residence with towering walls. That was the estate of Wiji Cheon, the Murim Alliance Leader.
"It looks like we have to line up to enter. Let's hurry," Dokgo Seok said, picking up his pace. The rest of us naturally hurried after him.
"Wait for us!"
Towering walls, massive pavilions, and crowds already filling the entrance even though it was still morning. Built on one of the most expensive plots of land in Chang'an, this enormous estate clearly displayed the current Murim Alliance Leader's overwhelming prestige—the kind of power that could make even a flying bird drop from the sky with a single word.
Following Dokgo Seok, who represented our group, we joined the long line of people waiting to enter and passed the time with idle chatter.
"Young Master, are all these people martial artists?" I asked.
"Not necessarily. There are merchants, officials from the imperial court, and nobles who want to curry favor with the Alliance Leader as well."
Dokgo Seok answered while gently waving his fan, which was painted with plum blossoms, and explained the people in line with a nod of his head. "For example, the group in black robes over there belongs to the famous Wudang Sect. They're a Taoist sect based on Wudang Mountain."
When I turned to look, I saw Taoist priests in black clothing with long swords at their waists writing their names in the guest register at the entrance.
"And right behind them are the swordsmen from the Huashan Sect. A bunch of lunatics who practice the Plum Blossom Sword Technique on a mountain where not a single plum blossom actually blooms."
"...Isn't that evaluation a bit harsh?"
"I don't have the best memories when it comes to those Huashan bastards."
As he spoke, Dokgo Seok turned his gaze elsewhere and let out a small sound of admiration. "Oh, that young lady..."
Wondering what had caught his attention, I turned my head and saw a girl with rare golden-blonde hair and red eyes standing among people wearing blue martial uniforms.
"If my eyes aren't deceiving me, those are people from the Namgung Clan. Then that girl must be Namgung Ruby, the one recently praised as the Qilin of the Namgung Clan."
"...Huh? Namgung what?"
"I said Namgung Ruby."
"Wait, how can someone's name be Namgung Ruby? Isn't that a foreign name?"
"From what I hear, her mother is from the Western Regions. Murim is becoming a multicultural society these days, so it's not that strange."
"Ah... I see."
The mood had suddenly grown heavy thanks to my unintentional faux pas, so I quickly changed the subject. "Then are those monks over there from Shaolin Temple?"
"Not bad. Your observation skills are decent."
"Wait, really?"
I had just taken a wild guess. Was I actually right?
"The white-bearded elder in the center is Great Master Jinmok, the Vice Head of Shaolin. I met him once at the academy. The ones around him all appear to be Arhats."
I couldn't believe my random shot had hit the bullseye. "I-I see."
When I awkwardly lowered my right hand, Dokgo Seok gave me a faint smile. "What? Have you run out of questions already?"
"...Yes."
"There are a lot of unusual names in Murim, so it's best not to be surprised by every single one. It's fine since it's just us right now, but if you say something like that in front of the person themselves later, they might hold a grudge against you for life."
"I'll keep that in mind."
When I bowed my head in acknowledgment, Dokgo Seok simply shrugged. A short while later, it was finally our turn. Dokgo Seok wrote our names in the guest register on behalf of the group, and only after that were we allowed to enter the Murim Alliance Leader's estate.
"I thought so when I saw it from outside, but this place is really luxurious," I muttered as I looked around at the buildings inside the estate.
Dokgo Seok, who was walking beside me while gently waving his fan, replied, "I heard the Alliance Leader's second wife has quite a taste for luxury. Just building this estate apparently cost an astronomical amount of money."
As we walked and talked, we eventually emerged into a wide-open courtyard. Long wooden tables were lined up in rows across the yard. It seemed the birthday banquet was being held outdoors rather than inside. Countless famous figures of Murim were gathered in small groups, chatting among themselves. When Dokgo Seok saw them, he told us he was going to greet a few people and left for a moment.
That naturally left just me, Dokgo Rin, and Gyeong-a. Since we didn't know anyone else, we stood in a corner of the courtyard and watched the people passing by.
"I wish this would end quickly," Dokgo Rin muttered.
I asked her carefully, "Young Lady, do you dislike events like this?"
She shook her head slowly. "It's not the event. I just hate being around so many people."
"Why?"
"Because everyone stares at my face."
"...That's true."
If anyone else had said that, I would have laughed and called them delusional, but coming from Dokgo Rin, who would one day be called the greatest beauty of Murim, it was strangely convincing. When I nodded in understanding, she stood up, brushed off her clothes, and held out her right hand to me.
"Chilbok, let's go."
"Where?"
"We came all the way here. It'd be boring if we just leave without doing anything. Let's look around a bit."
"Is it okay for us to wander off without a guardian?"
I glanced at Gyeong-a, who was momentarily distracted, but Dokgo Rin gave me a mischievous smile.
"We'll be back before anyone notices."
She had a point...!
Completely taken in by her obvious sweet talk, I quietly slipped out of the courtyard with Dokgo Rin, leaving the birthday banquet behind.