Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Audience with the Alliance Leader
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The office of the Murim Alliance Leader was incredibly spacious.
Not only that, but all around the room were various beautiful artworks, weapons, and instruments artfully arranged in every corner.
From hanging scrolls depicting martial monk painters to sculptures that seemed to capture the likeness of immortals, and short spears with intricately patterned handles.
Han Ibi's jaw dropped as he thought to himself.
'What’s with all this stuff?'
Then he quickly realized the reason.
'Ah, right. These must be the treasures collected by past Alliance Leaders. They probably plundered them mainly from places like Shaolin and Wudang every time a new one was elected...'
And in the center of the office stood a massive desk, behind which sat a man who exuded dignity and poise.
He looked to be in his mid-to-late thirties at most, but patches of white streaked his hair, creating a strangely mismatched impression.
Even with people entering the room, the man remained engrossed in a mountain of documents.
At that moment, Maeng Gap-son spoke up.
"Alliance Leader. I've brought the guests from the Qingcheng Sect."
Eh? Alliance... Leader?
He looks so young?
But the man at the desk, still frowning intensely at the papers before him, said,
"Maeng Gap-son."
Eh? This kid who looks barely out of his twenties is talking down to him?
Yet Maeng Gap-son responded nonchalantly, as if it were nothing.
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
"Why hasn't the dispute between the Great Willow Sect and the Purple Tiger Bandit Stronghold been resolved yet?"
"My apologies. We've sent people to both sides, but sporadic clashes have only heightened their animosity."
The man looked up at Maeng Gap-son with clear dissatisfaction.
"If we can't even handle a bunch of bandit scum like them, how can the Murim Alliance maintain any prestige?"
"As you know, the Purple Tiger Bandit Stronghold is... Ahem. In any case, Alliance Leader, perhaps we should set that aside for now? The Qingcheng Sect disciples have arrived."
Only then did the man set the documents down on the desk and glance briefly at Han Ibi and the others.
"What is this? I said no visitors for a while because I have too much work."
Maeng Gap-son smiled faintly as he replied.
"A few days ago, you mentioned prioritizing the Qingcheng Sect's matter."
The man lightly tapped his forehead and responded.
"Ah, right. Qingcheng Sect... Qingcheng Sect... Yes, that's right. There was that."
Maeng Gap-son turned to Han Ibi's group.
"Please, make your greetings. This is the 33rd Murim Alliance Leader, the great hero Zhuge Yu-hyun of the Zhuge Clan."
At that moment, a snippet of information flashed through Han Ibi's mind.
'Ah! I remember now. In Dream of the Ant Snake, the Alliance Leader was uniquely from a murim clan, not one of the Nine Great Sects or Eight Great Clans! It was the first time in nearly three hundred years. The Zhuge Clan usually played supporting roles with their sharp minds. But Zhuge Yu-hyun, who rose to the ranks of the supreme experts through a stroke of fortune, along with his clan's efforts to produce a clan-born Leader, finally ascended to the position. And that's this guy... Zhuge Yu-hyun!'
Indeed.
According to the novel's description, Zhuge Yu-hyun was over fifty, yet he appeared as youthful as a man in his thirties.
Not only youthful, but strikingly handsome too.
In modern terms, a flower in middle age?
He could see hearts practically bursting from Yeon Nan-ju's eyes beside him.
Then Jong Ri-hyeok spoke.
"Greetings. It is an honor to meet the Murim Alliance Leader. I am Jong Ri-hyeok of the Qingcheng Sect. This is..."
Jong Ri-hyeok pointed to each member of Han Ibi's group in turn, naming them one by one.
"So Eun-ri, Yeon Nan-ju, and Jong Ri-mae."
What? Why am I last again?
There was no choice but to greet them in the order introduced.
Zhuge Yu-hyun looked intrigued as he asked,
"Both of you have the surname Jong Ri?"
Jong Ri-hyeok nodded.
"Yes. We are... brothers."
"Oh ho. I see. The Jong Ri name is hardly common."
Maeng Gap-son said to Jong Ri-hyeok,
"Please go ahead and report to the Alliance Leader."
"Understood."
Jong Ri-hyeok pulled out the prepared report as he replied.
Zhuge Yu-hyun took it and began reading quietly.
The group had no choice but to wait.
Around the time Han Ibi, bored out of his mind and fidgeting restlessly,
Zhuge Yu-hyun finished the report and spoke.
"Is everything here completely accurate?"
Jong Ri-hyeok replied,
"Yes."
"What scum has that trash Gu Cheon-se allied himself with? Tsk tsk... Can't even keep one idiot in check."
Then Zhuge Yu-hyun murmured thoughtfully, lost in contemplation.
"A hallucination technique that truly drives people to such savagery... Does it really exist?"
Han Ibi, unable to hold back, interjected.
"It's not just any hallucination technique. It's a combination of hallucinogenic pills and sonic arts."
Zhuge Yu-hyun shot him a look that said, 'And who might you be?'
Han Ibi suddenly felt his face heat up.
Zhuge Yu-hyun said,
"That was a simplified explanation for clarity. You're not suggesting I couldn't even understand the report's contents, are you?"
"N-no, of course not."
Zhuge Yu-hyun snorted in displeasure, then handed the report to Maeng Gap-son.
"You read it too."
"Yes."
Maeng Gap-son accepted it politely.
After a brief wait, Zhuge Yu-hyun asked,
"What do you think?"
Maeng Gap-son frowned as he replied.
"Quite an unusual affair."
"Any idea who's behind it?"
Maeng Gap-son shook his head.
"Hard to speculate from this alone."
"Hmm. Show it to the Four Sages Guard and compare notes."
"Yes, understood."
'Ah! The Four Sages Guard!'
Familiar terms flooded Han Ibi's mind.
In Dream of the Ant Snake, the Alliance Leader was advised by four sage-like guards known as the Murim Four Heavenly Kings, whose influence rivaled the Leader's own.
They handled security and deliberated on major murim affairs.
The current generation hailed from Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, and the Nangong Clan.
At that moment, Zhuge Yu-hyun said,
"In any case, I understand."
Was it Han Ibi's imagination, or did Zhuge Yu-hyun's gaze sweep over the four of them appraisingly?
He muttered, almost to himself,
"Still... I just can't quite trust them."
Maeng Gap-son replied,
"Since he mentioned it directly, we can't ignore it."
"Well, time will tell."
Han Ibi and the others were utterly baffled, having no clue what the Leader was talking about.
"Anyway, you're dismissed."
Jong Ri-hyeok, already thoroughly bored, replied promptly.
"Yes, understood."
He performed a respectful fist salute, bidding farewell plainly as when they entered.
"Alliance Leader, we wish you good health."
Zhuge Yu-hyun waved him off irritably.
"I'm always healthy, so no need to worry. See you later."
Eh? See you later...?
Eh, just standard parting words, probably.
What business would nobodies like us have with the Murim Alliance Leader again?
In any case, they followed Maeng Gap-son's lead out of the Alliance Leader's office.
Outside was still bustling with people.
It was a far cry from the romantic audience with the Alliance Leader Han Ibi had imagined in wuxia tales.
'Too much realism kills the romance of the jianghu...'
As he hurried after Maeng Gap-son striding ahead, Han Ibi mentally reviewed the next plot points.
'Okay... Next, these three finish their errand for the Qingcheng Sect Leader and return to the sect. Of course, without me there.'
Yes.
In Dream of the Ant Snake, the trio heads straight for Qingcheng Mountain.
This is where the novel's true opening begins.
Because it's when Jong Ri-hyeok truly steps up as the protagonist.
A stroke of fortune, a qiyuan.
These fortunes are all so similar across novels, lacking originality, which draws criticism...
'Heh heh. But a wuxia without qiyuan would be truly lacking. Readers would probably drop by seventy percent.'
Maybe that's why.
His father occasionally threw in baffling setups that left Han Ibi perplexed.
This part where Jong Ri-hyeok gains his fortune was a textbook cliché scene.
On the way back, some incident causes them to lose their way, and Jong Ri-hyeok stumbles into a cave at a cliffside, obtaining the fortune.
'I don't quite remember the person's or technique's name...'
Not particularly unique for a first fortune, but it dramatically boosts his internal energy.
A crucial setup carrying the protagonist through the mid-novel.
Han Ibi thought.
'Right, this fortune is hugely important for me too. I need to stick close to Jong Ri-hyeok. At minimum, get a chance to learn it together. How can I naturally steer things that way...'
Just as Han Ibi racked his brain recalling the details of how the fortune was obtained, Maeng Gap-son's voice rang out.
"Now that the report to the Alliance Leader is done..."
All eyes turned to Maeng Gap-son.
"...we should prepare for initiation."
Yeon Nan-ju couldn't hide her puzzled expression as she asked,
"Initiation? What do you mean?"
Suddenly, Maeng Gap-son burst into loud laughter.
"I always feel bad about this. But since you all came this way, you can't really complain."
Sensing something suspicious, Han Ibi spoke up too.
"Pardon? What are you saying?"
Maeng Gap-son, still smiling, replied,
"You still think you came all the way to the Murim Alliance just to report? Sending four fresh-faced young disciples, no less?"
Even Jong Ri-hyeok seemed flustered.
"Hero Maeng, we have no idea what's going on. Please explain clearly."
"Very well. No, you'll all find out soon enough, so I'll speak freely. It was such a top-secret matter that we only informed the Qingcheng Sect Leader—my apologies for that."
Han Ibi's group exchanged bewildered glances.
Maeng Gap-son continued.
"Truth is, you came here to enter a training program sponsored by the Murim Alliance."
An awkward silence fell over the group...
After a long moment, Jong Ri-hyeok regained his composure and asked,
"Training? What kind of training program... We're completely confused."
"Ah, as I said, it's not something I can discuss freely. Sorry, but you'll learn in due time—please hold your questions for today."
Then Yeon Nan-ju's indignant voice cut in.
"No, Hero Maeng! Is there any law that allows this? Even prisoners know their charges when they're imprisoned. Even for the Murim Alliance, shouldn't you at least ask for our consent?"
"Your consent is irrelevant. I'm repeating myself and getting annoyed... but everything has already been agreed upon with your Sect Leader."
Gasp, did that old hag Bok Yeon-hwa sell us out?
Han Ibi, seething, said,
"Fine, whatever. But at least tell us what we're initiating into."
Maeng Gap-son replied,
"Hmm... It doesn't have an official name, really. But among us, we call this program the Dream Snake Society."
(To be continued in the next chapter)