Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: North Heaven Alliance Leader 5
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I killed a person.
Yet, upon returning to his lodging, what Baek Moo-jin did was change his clothes, check if any blood had splattered on his shoes, and gaze into the mirror to examine his expression. His face was flushed red from the punishment wine he had no choice but to drink after the Alliance Leader offered it.
He had never ventured beyond Snow Mountain, so it was only natural that today was his first time killing someone. But he was surprised at himself for not trembling even slightly when he swung his sword, and once again surprised at how surprisingly calm he felt even now in this moment.
But there was no helping the inexplicable discomfort welling up from deep in his chest.
It was because he had tried to save people, only for the karma of killing to pile up on him.
Had he simply stood by and watched, all the rebels would have died by Goo Yang-hoo's hand. Judging by his level of martial arts... he probably wouldn't have even needed to kill them one by one. Just scattering his aura a few times would have dyed the entire garden in blood—Goo Yang-hoo's martial prowess was that formidable.
Baek Moo-jin had swung his sword to prevent that catastrophe.
'It was the right thing to do, so no regrets.'
Baek Moo-jin tried to push away the discomfort. What surfaced instead was Goo Yang-hoo's level of martial skill.
In Baek Moo-jin's view, Goo Yang-hoo had displayed overwhelming dominance against the rebel forces without revealing his true depths.
How much preparation had he made to orchestrate something like today's events? Goo Yang-hoo must have meticulously concealed his true power even before ascending to Alliance Leader.
But Baek Moo-jin had hidden his own strength just as well.
Having returned to his lodging and lain down, Baek Moo-jin intended to rest quietly from the mental fatigue.
But the moment he lay down, he realized it.
Today was a day that called for more alcohol.
In the end, the only people Baek Moo-jin could think of in the North Heaven Alliance were two.
Seo Moon-geuk and Joo Ja-woon.
The fortunate part was that, as on-standby participants, they were even freer than he was.
Baek Moo-jin rose and went to find the two.
He wanted to say something. Or hear something.
Along with some alcohol...
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2.
Joo Ja-woon refused the alcohol, saying he hadn't been feeling well since the examination sparring matches, so the two left the alliance grounds alone and entered a nearby inn. Even on the way here, Seo Moon-geuk kept tilting his head.
"Something definitely happened. I saw people running toward the Alliance Leader's palace. Streets this close can't be this deserted at this hour. Isn't that right, Brother Baek? Even the warriors from other organizations felt like they were on standby for something..."
Baek Moo-jin nodded in response.
"Yes. It's different from usual."
"What happened? I asked the Execution Hall folks, but they didn't know either. You were at the Alliance Leader's palace, so you must know."
"Yes, actually, that's what I came to talk about."
"Go ahead."
Conveniently, the two of them were the only ones on the second floor of the inn.
Baek Moo-jin spoke.
"Brother Seo Moon, do you happen to know of the Danmok Sword Family?"
Seo Moon-geuk replied with a smile.
"Think I wouldn't?"
It wasn't much of a response, but Baek Moo-jin couldn't help chuckling. Seo Moon-geuk's eyes sparkled as if to say, don't doubt my vast knowledge.
"A sword family that wields swift sword techniques. The place is led by Dan Mok-pyeong, a great sword hero of his generation. They're practically hegemons in demon territory, running all sorts of businesses there. Pretty ruthless. I hear they clash with the Black Path forces there constantly, killing back and forth."
At Seo Moon-geuk's words, Baek Moo-jin asked in surprise,
"Isn't a man named Dan Mok-heon the patriarch?"
"Dan Mok-heon? Who's that?"
Baek Moo-jin furrowed his brow.
"He's an elder of the North Heaven Alliance. I heard he's from the Danmok Sword Family."
"Dan Mok-pyeong is the patriarch. A young one in his thirties. First time hearing Dan Mok-heon. Maybe a collateral branch member."
"Actually, this Dan Mok-heon attacked the garden where the Alliance Leader is staying."
At those words, Seo Moon-geuk unwittingly shot to his feet and bellowed,
"What?"
"Sit down."
"Ah! Got excited there. But what happened? Why's the alliance so quiet?"
"To put it briefly, Alliance Leader Goo Yang-hoo suppressed them all."
As Baek Moo-jin nodded, Seo Moon-geuk rubbed his chin and said,
"The Alliance Leader himself? Did you see it by any chance?"
"See what?"
"The realm of the Tyrant Blade. You were at the palace, so you might have."
"The Alliance Leader's strength in the martial world?"
"How would I know? No offense to him, but until recently, he was just the Escort Commander, right? No one really knows how strong he actually is. That's probably why the elders thought they could pull this off. The Escort Commander position must have been a perfect spot to hide his power."
Goo Yang-hoo's strength was something Baek Moo-jin had witnessed up close.
"Actually, I saw it from the closest vantage, and he was incredibly strong. Strong enough to suppress the rebels while still hiding his full power."
"That much?"
"Yes."
Seo Moon-geuk nodded.
"Knew coming to the North Heaven Alliance was the right call. Lots of interesting things are bound to happen. Our Seo Moon Family's too quiet for its own good."
Suddenly excited, Seo Moon-geuk grew even more talkative. But Baek Moo-jin, who had been listening quietly, had a different question he truly wanted to ask.
"Brother Seo Moon, have you ever killed someone?"
Baek Moo-jin asked with evident discomfort, but Seo Moon-geuk's reaction was utterly casual.
"If you're in the martial world, of course. Why ask? Don't tell me you still haven't?"
To Seo Moon-geuk's question, Baek Moo-jin uttered a single word.
"Today."
The perceptive Seo Moon-geuk caught on immediately and nodded.
"That's why you wanted drinks, huh. Haha. On a day like this, a woman's better than booze. Don't tell me that's still a first too?"
As Baek Moo-jin stared silently, Seo Moon-geuk burst into laughter.
"Holy hell, martial arts strong as can be, but a greenhorn slipped into the North Heaven Alliance. Here's to you. Ha ha ha!"
Baek Moo-jin downed his drink, and Seo Moon-geuk refilled his cup while chuckling.
"To Baek Moo-jin, strong in martial arts alone, clueless about booze and women."
Baek Moo-jin replied like a crotchety old man.
"Well, everyone's a beginner at first."
"Ha ha ha, drunk already? What're you on about?"
"You'll get used to it soon enough, so don't tease."
"Never teased. Ha ha ha."
"Don't laugh."
"Hey, we're drinking to have fun, and you're nagging over someone laughing? Your drinking etiquette's a mess. You gotta learn proper to savor the booze. Laugh! You survived sword fights and came back alive. Went straight into the Alliance Leader's palace after swearing your oath. Younger than me! Martial arts stronger than mine."
Strangely, as he listened to Seo Moon-geuk, Baek Moo-jin's heart gradually eased. Drinking like this, trading idle banter, laughing and chatting—it made him realize how stiff his earlier insistence on formal speech with Seo Moon-geuk had been.
In the midst of their conversation, Baek Moo-jin pointed out the casual speech just as he had last time.
"You keep using informal half-speech..."
"But the guy's in the middle of important talk, always..."
"Heh heh, let's keep it casual from now on. I'll call you brother."
"For real?"
"Yes."
"Ha ha ha, so damn stiff before—turns out you needed booze to loosen up. Alright, then you're Little Brother Baek from here on."
"Sure."
"Man, hard to brother someone."
Baek Moo-jin lifted the bottle and filled Seo Moon-geuk's cup, tossing a jest.
"Since this little brother's martial arts are strong, please give me lots of guidance ahead."
Seo Moon-geuk replied in kind.
"This big brother's just weaker in martial arts but superior in everything else, so learn well going forward."
Baek Moo-jin shook his head and laughed.
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