Chapter 147
Chapter 147
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Unexpected Development
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tak Bu-yong spoke with a worried expression.
"Oh dear... Come to think of it, that's truly unfortunate."
All eyes in the room turned toward Tak Bu-yong.
The first to question him was Shaolin's Abbot Hyun-beop Dosa, speaking on behalf of the assembly.
"Sect Leader Tak, what do you mean by that?"
Tak Bu-yong let out a sigh as he replied.
"It was meant to be kept confidential from the start... but among esteemed guests like those gathered here, surely some already know. Ah! No, forget I said anything. Please pretend you didn't hear. I misspoke, so forgive me broadly..."
At that moment, Kunlun Sect's Leader Jin Ho-ryang bellowed.
"Are you joking right now? If you didn't want to say it, keep it in your gut and know it alone—why spit it out?!"
Hearing this, the gathered heroes thought his words a bit harsh but felt a refreshing thrill nonetheless.
They had all been thinking the same thing.
Tak Bu-yong nodded and said.
"Hmm... The Kunlun Sect Leader has a point... So, I'll trust in these great heroes and speak plainly."
He stood from his seat, hands clasped behind his back, and continued.
"Some of you may already know... but the Qingcheng Sect was actually attacked by unidentified forces not long ago. They suffered tremendous losses as a result."
A partial murmur rippled through the room.
As expected, those in the know knew, and the ignorant remained so.
Jin Ho-ryang bellowed again.
"So what of it?!"
Tak Bu-yong gazed at him with clear eyes and said.
"It was so heartbreaking that I let it slip unintentionally..."
"What exactly?!"
"Jong Ri-mae. Oh, that young friend must have suffered so much. Not long after his clan suffered a great calamity, his own sect faced a major disaster too..."
Once more, all eyes converged on Han Ibi.
Han Ibi hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond.
Just then, he heard Kunlun Sect Leader Jin Ho-ryang scratching his chin and speaking.
"What a truly coincidental affair..."
The heroes' gazes now shifted to Jin Ho-ryang.
Jin Ho-ryang addressed Han Ibi directly.
"The Jong name keeps coming up, so it reminded me. Do you know our Kunlun's Ki Bong-rim? In other words... have you ever visited the Night Orchid Escort Bureau?"
Han Ibi instantly recalled his time at the Night Orchid Escort Bureau.
The hidden expert in the rafters, a friend of the bureau chief Cheon Sin-u...
Yes.
He belonged to none other than the Kunlun Sect.
Han Ibi hesitated briefly but decided there was no point in hiding it and answered.
"I know of him... I met him once before."
Jin Ho-ryang nodded.
"I see. In truth, Ki Bong-rim asked me to pass a message to Jong Ri-hyeok. Do you know him?"
Han Ibi nodded.
"Yes. He's a fellow disciple of our Qingcheng Sect and the last remaining descendant of the Jong Clan."
Murmurs arose again.
Jin Ho-ryang said.
"It's not something to discuss here... but before you leave, come see me."
"Understood. I will."
At that point, Gam So-yeol, leader of Manhakhoe—the sole Confucian-origin faction—spoke up.
"Speaking of the Night Orchid Escort Bureau... didn't their entire family vanish mysteriously not long ago? Is that the place you mean?"
Jin Ho-ryang nodded gravely.
"That's the one..."
The atmosphere grew somewhat chilly.
Han Ibi overheard whispers nearby.
"That's strange. His clan, and now the sect he belongs to, both hit by mysterious attacks..."
"Exactly. And he even visited the Night Orchid Escort Bureau where the whole family disappeared..."
"Oh yeah! Come to think of it... I've heard the name Jong Ri-mae somewhere before."
"Me too, but nah... no way."
Those words acted as a trigger, sparking associations in several minds.
Zhongli Ruffian.
The only news from the fallen prestigious clan echoing through the jianghu.
Tales of the clan's ne'er-do-well 'Jong Ri-mae'.
Murmurs began sprouting here and there.
Then Tak Bu-yong's firm voice cut through.
"Everyone, do not jump to conclusions. Young Hero Jong has no obligation to answer every question. Isn't that right?"
Han Ibi was sweating coldly but maintained a calm demeanor as he replied.
"Yes. Of course."
Tak Bu-yong addressed the assembly.
"As fellow disciples under the Murim Alliance, we must protect and aid our comrade plunged into successive misfortunes."
For a moment, various thoughts raced through Han Ibi's mind.
This Tak Bu-yong... he's far more cunning and vile than I thought.
He's pretending to defend me while actually amplifying the suspicions.
This is... a trap of sorts.
Tak Bu-yong is the very source of all these doubts, yet he's acting like my savior!
What a piece of trash.
Just then, host Cheon Du-hong spoke up.
"Well, we've let the schedule drag on with side talk. The Vice Leader has been waiting too long."
Thereupon, Murim Alliance Vice Leader Dang Cheong-jeong of the Sichuan Tang Clan—who sat in the seat of honor as acting Alliance Leader—stood and said.
"What is there for me to wait on? The Alliance Leader feels deeply sorry for missing this important meeting due to his packed schedule."
Tak Bu-yong replied.
"Not at all. Given the times... we are the ones who should apologize for not accommodating the Leader's schedule."
"Haha, no need. Since everyone's waiting, let's get started."
He walked to the podium and announced.
"Three candidates have registered for the next Murim Alliance Leader position. Any other sects wishing to enter?"
Dang Cheong-jeong scanned the room briefly.
Silence filled the space.
He spoke again.
"Very well. To prevent further chaos, the Leader wishes for the next one to be decided swiftly. Thus... it seems best to conclude it right here at this general assembly, with all three candidates present."
Suddenly, the entire Yeondo Hall erupted in uproar.
Everyone knew "conclude" meant "settle it with martial arts."
One of the candidates, Kunlun's Jin Ho-ryang, rasped.
"Right here, you say?"
Dang Cheong-jeong shook his head.
"No. How about the sparring ground tomorrow afternoon? If all three agree."
"But the Leader isn't even here..."
"Hahaha. With so many witnesses, what is there to worry about?"
He wasn't wrong.
Murmurs rose again.
The unexpected spectacle excited many heroes.
After all, who among murim folk could resist watching a fight!
Tak Bu-yong said.
"Ahaha. Well then. The Leader truly has an unconventional side. Feels like I've been hit... Well, Wudang is practically our front yard, so I'm thrilled, but I wonder if it burdens the other heroes."
'Hah... look at that guy.'
Han Ibi inwardly clicked his tongue.
That's a trap making it impossible for the other two candidates to refuse.
Sure enough,
After brief deliberation, Namgung Clan head Namgung Myeong and Kunlun's Jin Ho-ryang had no choice but to agree to the Vice Leader's proposal.
Cheon Du-hong said.
"Now, the final agenda. The matter of the Nine Great Sects' positions."
The heroes fell silent, turning to him.
Cheon Du-hong continued.
"If any sect wishes to challenge for a Nine Great Sects position, have their representative speak now."
A hush fell.
He added.
"If no sects apply, then as is now..."
"We'll do it!"
A clear, ringing voice.
All eyes turned to the speaker.
It was Han Ibi, hand raised high.
"Our Qingcheng Sect will challenge to reclaim a Nine Great Sects position."
The rules for a non-Nine Great Sect to join were simple.
Pick one of the current Nine Great Sects and challenge them.
Naturally, weaker sects became targets.
A dozen years ago, the Qingcheng Sect had lost its position through the same process.
The difference? They accepted Jeomchang Sect's challenge but forfeited...
It was a humiliation rarely seen in recent murim history.
Thus, after a dozen years, Qingcheng's reputation teetered on collapse.
The day before, when declaring the challenge, Han Ibi had said.
[Our Qingcheng Sect... will challenge the Jeomchang Sect.]
No surprises there.
But it was entertaining.
A revenge match was always a crowd-pleaser.
The challenged Jeomchang Sect had to set the duel within sixty days.
Anyway, that was that.
Now, an even more entertaining event loomed before Han Ibi.
The spar between Sect Leader candidates.
A chance not easily come by in a lifetime.
The one nagging worry? No way to punish Tak Bu-yong right now.
Exposing him here wouldn't stick.
'Even if I reveal everything, one victim is already married to him, and the other's identity is murky—a Demonic Taoist rivaling Tak Bu-yong...'
Speaking out rashly would likely backfire first.
'Plus, the opponent's a renowned figure of the righteous murim. Who they'd side with is obvious.'
Wudang's sparring arena.
The ceremonial one, not for training, was set near sheer cliffs for added grandeur.
Murim Alliance reps grumbled about it being a power struggle among major forces but were thrilled at the spectacle.
As time approached, excitement built...
Han Ibi decided to watch the duel and ponder alternatives slowly.
Something unofficial yet devastatingly effective...
With that in mind, he turned his gaze forward.
There were Namgung Clan's Namgung Myeong and Kunlun's Jin Ho-ryang warming up.
True to top jianghu experts, even mundane motions exuded extraordinary auras.
Then, from afar, two figures approached the arena.
Tak Bu-yong and Murim Alliance Vice Leader Dang Cheong-jeong.
Seeing them, Han Ibi thought.
'Huh? But why do their faces look so grave...'
Upon reaching the arena, Tak Bu-yong spoke.
"First... as the one who hosted yesterday's meeting, I must apologize to my fellow murim disciples."
All eyes fixed on him.
Tak Bu-yong continued.
"The Vice Leader called an emergency meeting last night. Some of you here joined secretly as well."
The Vice Leader interjected.
"Our Murim Alliance had received scant intelligence. Regarding Demonic Cult spies."
The heroes began murmuring.
"The Demonic Cult has long planned this. Brainwashing children, teaching them demonic arts... then infiltrating mid-to-small sects under the Alliance."
Tak Bu-yong took over.
"They fully exploit demonic arts for superior prowess. Despite side effects, demonic arts excel in short-term gains. Spies use them to seize key positions in sects and the Alliance."
At this, Namgung Clan head Namgung Myeong frowned.
"Why bring this up right before such a crucial event?"
Tak Bu-yong sighed deeply.
"I too hoped the intel was mere paranoia. But yesterday... we discovered someone who matches it perfectly."
Namgung Myeong tilted his head, his long beard twitching.
"Who is it?"
Tak Bu-yong sighed again.
"Someone everyone here now knows. Of course, to avoid false accusations, the Vice Leader will investigate and clear it thoroughly."
Namgung Myeong asked loudly again.
"So, who exactly is this spy?!"
Tak Bu-yong declared.
"Qingcheng Sect's Jong Ri-mae."
'Gasp!'
Han Ibi was so shocked he couldn't even cry out.
(To be continued in the next chapter)