Chapter 794: The Refusal
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 794: The Refusal
[The Cheonmu Alliance has disbanded!]
The public was struck with absolute consternation upon hearing this shocking news. It was simply too difficult to believe.
What kind of place was the Cheonmu Alliance?
Was it not a group for the realization of justice, formed by the heroes of the Murim who had achieved brilliant military feats during the Great War of Righteousness and Demons twenty years ago? Was it not the strongest martial organization that had led the order of the Murim, wielding immense influence for two decades?
And yet, such a Cheonmu Alliance had disbanded?
People found it impossible to accept. They thought it must be a hollow statement blurted out just to handle a temporary crisis—that they would surely reverse the decision before long.
However, their expectations were completely shattered by the news that followed.
[A new organization for justice, the Uicheon Alliance, is being established.]
News arrived that a new organization, not the Cheonmu Alliance, was being founded. Furthermore, it was being spearheaded by the Sword God himself, the very man who had announced the dissolution of the Cheonmu Alliance.
Upon hearing the announcement, the majority of people assumed it was a trick—a ploy to discard the tainted name of the Cheonmu Alliance while absorbing its remaining forces. They believed it was nothing more than a process to whitewash their reputation.
But after hearing that the Uicheon Alliance would be established in Nanchang rather than Jinan, they were forced to admit they were wrong.
If the intent had been to absorb the remaining forces, they would have settled in Jinan and slowly devoured the foundation the Cheonmu Alliance had already built through conciliation and threats.
Yet, the Uicheon Alliance took a different path. They publicly declared they would abandon every foundation the Cheonmu Alliance had built and head to Nanchang.
Thus, the public had no choice but to acknowledge it: the new leaders had no intention of simply absorbing the old alliance.
Once they accepted this, their curiosity intensified. They wondered why such a choice had been made. Soon, the eyes of the world began to focus on the newly forming Uicheon Alliance.
People were dying to know what their intentions were and what kind of impact they would have on the Murim. The name of the Uicheon Alliance spread far and wide, becoming the hottest topic in the land.
*
"I want to join the alliance!"
"Please let me join!"
"If I can just join, I'll go anywhere—the North Sea, the Great Desert, or Nanchang!"
"Please, grant me permission to join!"
"I get it, so... just... get in line! Stand in line!"
Lee Se-jin spoke with a flustered expression. He was overwhelmed by the sudden swarm of applicants.
"Hey, stop pushing!"
"Who's pushing?! You're the one pushing!"
"Don't push me!"
The scene quickly grew rowdy. When gruff martial artists gathered, they tended to let their pride flare up over trivial matters, creating a murderous atmosphere.
This is driving me crazy.
Watching the spectacle, Lee Se-jin felt a massive headache coming on. Applicants were pouring in, but he was the only one there to process them.
Those damn old farts!
Lee Se-jin cursed inwardly at the elders who had dumped the task of processing applications on him just because he was the youngest.
"Stop fighting! The moment you fight, your admission will be denied!"
Lee Se-jin bellowed at the applicants, his voice thick with irritation.
The applicants, who had been in the middle of a tense standoff, immediately quieted down. They couldn't risk throwing away such a golden opportunity.
"Now, the hero who arrived first, come forward."
Once the area was quiet, Lee Se-jin continued in a calm tone.
Step, step.
A man with a sturdy build stepped forward.
"I have come to join the alliance," the man said with a very polite attitude.
"Nice to meet you. What is your name?"
"I am Ki Tae-seon."
"Age?"
"Thirty-two!"
"Older than I thought. What was your rank in the Cheonmu Alliance?"
"I was an Ordinary Martial Artist."
"Hmm... I see."
Lee Se-jin wrote down Ki Tae-seon's personal details on the documents and continued.
"What is your reason for deciding to join?"
"I was moved by the Uicheon Alliance's philosophy of pursuing Chivalry and Righteousness..."
"Accepted."
Thump!
Lee Se-jin slammed a large stamp right in the middle of the document and handed it straight to Ki Tae-seon.
"There. Take this document and find your way to the Uicheon Alliance in Nanchang within a month."
"Is... is that it?" Ki Tae-seon asked with a hollow expression.
He had heard there would be interviews and had prepared himself accordingly, but this felt far too rushed.
"That's it."
"Isn't it... a bit too fast?"
"If I can feel your righteous spirit, that's enough. Now, move along."
Lee Se-jin waved his hand dismissively. It was a performative interview anyway; there was no need to be strict.
Right now, the priority wasn't sifting through the crowd to find elite talent. It was absorbing the Cheonmu Alliance's forces as quickly as possible. He considered this level of simplification to be necessary flexibility.
Of course, if Elder Gye saw this, he'd hit the roof...
Naturally, this was only possible because he was conducting the interviews alone. If the other old fogies had been by his side, they would have meddled in everything, claiming they needed to "distinguish the gems from the stones."
"......Th-thank you."
Ki Tae-seon bowed with a dazed expression, then turned and left immediately.
"Next!"
Lee Se-jin shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice ringing out across the area.
That day, Lee Se-jin managed to admit nearly a thousand martial artists into the Uicheon Alliance.
*
Nuzzle, nuzzle.
Joo So-yang snuggled into Sun-woo’s embrace, rubbing her head against him with a look of pure bliss.
"Why are you so affectionate today?"
Stroke, stroke.
Seeing this, Sun-woo chuckled and began to gently stroke her hair. He found her display of affection quite adorable.
"I just like it... Hehehe..."
Joo So-yang looked up at Sun-woo with sparkling eyes.
"What do you like so much?" Sun-woo asked, curious.
"Everything... Sun-woo-nim's scent... your warmth... your breath... your muscles... your arms... legs... toes... fingers... face... eyes... nose... mouth... even the way your hands touch me... everything..."
Joo So-yang spoke with a face full of happiness. She was truly content—spending this leisurely time with the man she loved more than anyone, feeling everything about him while held in his arms.
"I wish time would just stop like this..." she murmured, burrowing deeper into Sun-woo's broad chest.
"Good grief."
Sun-woo let out a small laugh. He wondered how she could possibly be this happy.
"Do you really like me that much?"
"Yes! I love you so much—as much as the sky, the earth, and the whole world!"
"Then why did you try to kill me before?" Sun-woo asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"...Th-that... was because... I didn't... know you well... back then... I made... a mistake..."
Joo So-yang’s expression froze instantly, and she began to stutter, looking incredibly anxious.
"I'm disappointed."
"Th-that's..."
Joo So-yang’s face crumpled into a pout. The thought that she had disappointed Sun-woo brought a wave of gloom over her.
Sun-woo watched her, thinking she was heart-stoppingly cute. Usually, as people age, their emotions tend to dull. Friendship, love, and lust—all of it fades as the years pass and everything becomes experienced and predictable. People become numb and stop showing major emotional shifts.
But Joo So-yang was different. Despite being past the Age of Forty, she displayed such a colorful range of emotions. It was incredibly endearing.
Squeeze.
Sun-woo reached out and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I'm joking. Did I scare you?" he whispered softly into her ear.
"......Then... you're not disappointed?" Joo So-yang asked, looking up at him with lingering anxiety.
"Why would I be? Unlike before, you love and support me more than anyone now, don't you?"
"...Phew... Thank goodness..."
Joo So-yang let out a long sigh of relief. Knowing she hadn't disappointed him eased her anxiety.
Smooch.
Seeing her like that, Sun-woo couldn't resist and kissed her forehead.
Smooch.
Next was the tip of her dainty nose.
Mwah.
And then, her moist lips.
"Will you forgive me with this?" Sun-woo asked, pulling back after the kiss.
"..........If you make it... a little more lewd... I think I could forgive you.."
Joo So-yang blushed and spoke shyly.
A deep smile spread across Sun-woo's lips. It seemed a proper "service" was in order. Sun-woo slowly reached out his hand.
But just as he was about to undress her—
Flash.
His senses detected something. He quickly withdrew his hand.
"What... is it?" Joo So-yang asked, looking puzzled when he stopped.
"Elder Gye is coming."
"What?!"
"Shh, be quiet."
Sun-woo placed a finger to his lips. Joo So-yang quickly covered her mouth.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of someone knocking on the door echoed.
"Who is it?" Sun-woo asked in a calm tone.
"It is Gye Sang-deuk, Alliance Leader."
Gye Sang-deuk’s voice drifted in from outside the door.
"What is the matter?"
"It seems... you must head to the Outer Guest Room."
Gye Sang-deuk spoke with a voice that sounded quite troubled.
"Is it someone so important that I must greet them personally?" Sun-woo asked.
Gye Sang-deuk rarely called for him for minor matters. He held the philosophy that an Alliance Leader should be "heavy-seated"—meaning they shouldn't move unless necessary. If he was calling, it had to be someone significant.
"..........Yes."
"Who is it?"
"The Regional Military Commissioner has arrived."
"The Regional Military Commissioner?!"
Sun-woo’s expression turned grave. He could guess why the man had come.
"He's here regarding the relocation of the Uicheon Alliance."
"Yes, it appears so."
"Understood. I'll prepare and be out shortly."
"Understood."
Step, step, step.
The sound of Gye Sang-deuk’s receding footsteps followed.
"I guess we'll have to finish this later."
Sun-woo stood up with a look of regret.
"..........It can't... be helped.... Work... comes first.."
Joo So-yang spoke with a face full of disappointment. She seemed genuinely saddened that they couldn't go all the way.
"I'll be back soon."
Smooch.
Sun-woo leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Flush.
Joo So-yang’s cheeks turned a deep shade of peach. Her mood seemed to have improved at least a little.
".....I'll be... waiting.."
"Good girl."
Sun-woo stroked her hair one last time, then turned and headed outside toward the guest room where the Regional Military Commissioner was waiting.
Creeeeeak.
Thud.
The door closed, and Sun-woo’s figure vanished. Joo So-yang stared blankly at the closed door, praying in her heart that he would finish his business and return quickly.
*
"He certainly keeps me waiting a long time."
Regional Military Commissioner Lee Geom-han spoke with a look of displeasure. He was a man who had rarely had to wait for anyone in his life. In Shandong Province, he held absolute power, second only to the Emperor.
Thus, he did not appreciate being made to wait by someone like Jang Sun-woo.
This is why I don't associate with these ruffians.
Lee Geom-han despised the "wild men" known as martial artists. He viewed them as uneducated, rude thugs who put strength above all else. If it weren't for the matters concerning Jinan, he would never have deigned to meet such an uncultured brute.
Just as he was looking down on martial artists in his mind—
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Enter."
He granted permission immediately, knowing there was only one person it could be.
Creeeeeak.
The door opened slowly, and a man walked in.
He was tall, standing at least six feet. He had a handsome, sharp face and a solid body packed with lean muscle.
It was the Sword God, Jang Sun-woo.
"Are you the one they call the Sword God?"
"I am."
"How arrogant. For a mere human to call himself a God."
The Commissioner spoke curtly.
"Does it not simply mean they feel that much awe?"
"Hmph. To me, you look no different from a snake-oil salesman performing tricks."
"Hahaha... You're quite sharp-tongued."
Sun-woo burst into laughter.
"Even your laughter is vulgar."
The Commissioner shook his head. Every single action the man took grated on his nerves.
"I don't wish to waste words, so I'll be direct."
Lee Geom-han stared at Sun-woo with cold eyes.
"Cancel your plan to relocate and establish your alliance in Nanchang."
"I refuse."
Sun-woo answered instantly, without a moment's hesitation.
"........Do you know who I am?"
Lee Geom-han glared at Sun-woo, his eyes as cold as the bitter northern wind.
"Are you not the Regional Military Commissioner?"
"And yet you dare to defy my words?"
"I do."
Sun-woo nodded in affirmation.
"There is no reason to follow words that aren't worth listening to, is there?"
Sun-woo spoke with a gentle smile on his lips. And as he met that smile, fire began to surge in Lee Geom-han’s eyes.