Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Translator: Penny
Chapter 24
The Message of My Death (2)
Gal Saryang gazed out the window.
He had finally announced the Alliance Leader's death, a task he had been putting off for far too long.
At first, he couldn't believe it. How could the Alliance Leader, whom he had just been conversing with, suddenly be dead? He was certain it was murder.
He immediately summoned the Divine Physician to perform an autopsy.
But no anomalies were found. The cause of death was determined to be natural causes.
The Alliance Leader's behavior had been strange on the day he died.
But it wasn't strange enough to be connected to his death.
Gal Saryang never imagined Cheon Hajin would die so suddenly and meaninglessly. The emptiness was so profound that even when he saw the body, no tears came.
Gal Saryang had no time to wallow in grief or mourn properly. A mountain of urgent tasks had crashed down upon him, tasks he couldn't have imagined just yesterday.
Of course, the most pressing matter was choosing the next Alliance Leader. Even with the Alliance Leader dead, the Martial Arts Alliance had to continue functioning.
"We can't postpone the vote any longer," a low voice murmured from behind him. Gal Saryang remained silent.
After standing motionless for a moment, Gal Saryang turned around.
The man sitting at the table, sipping tea, was like a perfectly honed sword in human form. Even as he held the teacup, he exuded a danger as palpable as if he were gripping a blade.
This man was the central figure among the leaders of the Martial Arts Alliance's Ten Great Clans.
To briefly introduce the ten organizations, there were three corps directly under the Alliance Leader's command, answering only to their orders.
First was the Radiant Moon Corps, second was the Iron Cavalry Corps, and third was the Thousand Bow Corps. These were collectively known as the Three Core Corps of the Martial Arts Alliance.
The Radiant Moon Corps was an elite organization of martial arts masters proficient in various weapons, each member renowned for their extraordinary Martial Arts Level. It was also the only one of the ten organizations whose exact size and composition remained a closely guarded secret.
The man currently sipping tea was none other than Ju Cheolryong, the leader of the Radiant Moon Corps.
Next, the Iron Cavalry Corps was exactly what its name suggested: an armored cavalry unit. Five hundred martial artists clad in iron armor, mounted on armored horses, and armed with long spears.
These were not merely warriors relying on armor and horses; each member was a seasoned martial artist, and their flawless teamwork amplified their power to an overwhelming degree.
The Thousand Bow Corps was precisely what its name suggested: an organization of archers. Only the most skilled martial artists with exceptional archery skills were selected, totaling a staggering one thousand members. Imagine the sheer force of a thousand trained archers unleashing a thousand arrows in unison.
These three organizations formed the Three Core Corps of the Martial Arts Alliance. It was widely known that they would never mobilize without the Alliance Leader's Command.
The remaining seven organizations were as follows:
First, there was the Pavilion of Righteous Intent, an intelligence-gathering organization led by the Chief Strategist himself. Then came the Alliance Guard Corps, responsible for protecting the Alliance Leader, commanded by Baek Pyo.
Next were the White Tiger Corps, responsible for defending the Alliance Headquarters, and the Red Dragon Corps, tasked with providing external support.
Generally, when people referred to Martial Arts Alliance members, they were referring to the members of these two corps. As the largest organizations, the White Tiger Corps numbered three thousand members, while the Red Dragon Corps boasted a staggering eight thousand.
The Law Enforcement Hall, responsible for oversight and law enforcement, and the Treasury Hall, which managed the Alliance's finances, were also included among the ten major organizations.
Finally, there was the Elder Council, a gathering of retired veteran masters. Due to the potential for various complications, entry into the Elder Council was difficult, and even those who gained membership were subject to the strictest regulations.
The leaders of these ten organizations would elect the next Alliance Leader.
Initially, everything proceeded smoothly.
Although the Alliance Leader hadn't officially named an heir, he had someone in mind—someone he believed could capably lead the alliance.
The person he had in mind was Yeop Mugil, the Sect Leader of the Thunderclap Blade Gate.
Yeop Mugil possessed impeccable character, his sect enjoyed a sterling reputation, and above all, his martial arts prowess was unmatched.
While the Thunderclap Blade Gate wasn't one of the Five Great Forces of the Central Plains, popular opinion held that Yeop Mugil's individual martial arts level was the strongest among them all.
The Alliance Leader had assumed everyone would naturally follow his recommendation, but a last-minute variable had emerged.
The man currently present at this gathering.
Ju Cheolryong, the leader of the Radiant Moon Corps, had nominated a new candidate. The Alliance Leader had never dreamed that the head of the Radiant Moon Corps would put forward a candidate without even consulting him first.
The greater problem was that the person he had recommended was someone who absolutely should not become the Alliance Leader.
It was none other than Ma Bonggi, Sect Leader of the Heavenly Blade Gate—a member of the Five Great Forces of the Central Plains and hailed as the Foremost Sect North of the River.
Ma Bonggi's complicated affairs with women were an open secret.
Knowing that one could infer ten from a single instance, Ju Cheolryong vehemently opposed the nomination. But Ju Cheolryong stubbornly pushed forward.
First, Ju Cheolryong postponed the vote, sensing something was amiss.
His instincts proved correct: Ma Bonggi had already secured six votes—from the Radiant Moon Corps, Iron Cavalry Corps, Red Dragon Corps, Law Enforcement Hall, Treasury Hall, and even the Elder Council.
He had effectively co-opted all the core organizations of the Martial Arts Alliance.
Ju Cheolryong postponed the vote twice more, exhausting every possible means to delay the inevitable.
In the meantime, I tried desperately to sway their hearts, but my efforts were futile. Instead, one of our votes defected to their side.
Just as I failed to win them back, they brazenly secured the support of even the White Tiger Corps Head.
Now their vote count stood at seven. A complete defeat.
How could this have happened?
Gal Saryang was now certain:
This had been planned long ago.
The Alliance Leader must have been assassinated.
Ma Bonggi.
Was he behind this?
But the Ma Bonggi I knew wasn't meticulous enough to orchestrate such a scheme. Had I misjudged him?
What if there was another mastermind pulling the strings?
If so, why Ma Bonggi? Surely someone of this caliber would have chosen a more plausible figurehead.
It was truly a series of incomprehensible events.
"The time for decision has come."
If the vote proceeded as planned, Ma Bonggi would become the Alliance Leader.
Ju Cheolryong had sworn absolute loyalty to the Alliance Leader when he was alive. Gal Saryang never imagined he would be leading such a rebellion.
Saryang, Saryang. You still have a long way to go.
The pride he once felt for helping Cheon Hajin achieve the Unification of the Central Plains now seemed like outdated arrogance.
Cheon Hajin's final years were considered the most stable period in the history of the Martial Arts World. Yet, while everyone was basking in peace, the roots of the Martial Arts Alliance had been rotting from within.
Concealing his bitter self-reproach, Gal Saryang maintained a composed smile.
"While principles are important, I believe honoring the late Alliance Leader's final wishes is equally crucial."
"The late Alliance Leader's dying wish? What do you mean?"
"As you know, the Alliance Leader dedicated his entire life to serving the common martial artists. He was particularly wary of the Five Great Forces of the Central Plains disrupting the Martial Arts World. You're aware of this, aren't you?"
Ju Cheolryong's displeasure was evident, but he couldn't deny the truth of Gal Saryang's words. He nodded slightly.
Gal Saryang continued calmly, "If the next Alliance Leader is chosen solely by these forces, wouldn't that betray the late Leader's intentions?"
But Ju Cheolryong had no intention of backing down.
"Strategist, your words have merit, but the Alliance has strict rules that must be followed. I believe the Alliance Leader should be chosen according to these established principles."
"I will consider it carefully."
"If you delay any further, we will proceed with the vote, excluding the military."
Ju Cheolryong declared, his words ringing like a declaration of war, before striding out of the room.
Only then did Gal Saryang finally exhale a sigh. With two of the Three Core Corps having turned against him, there was nothing more he could do.
He turned back to the window, watching the Martial Artists diligently moving across the training ground. All wore white martial robes and white headbands in mourning for Cheon Hajin's death.
The master of this place was now gone, yet the Martial Arts Alliance continued to function as usual. No, it was even more vibrant and dynamic than when he had been alive.
Alliance Leader, you shouldn't have left us like this.
Baek Pyo stood at the center of the Alliance Leader's Hall.
The hall had remained empty ever since Cheon Hajin's death.
Baek Pyo walked to one of the walls, where the Alliance Leader's history was recorded.
The legendary battles fought by Cheon Hajin.
He had once glanced at these records casually when Cheon Hajin was alive, but now he found himself reviewing them countless times.
When a new Alliance Leader was chosen, this wall would be erased, and a new history would be inscribed. As the Corps Head of the Alliance Guard Corps, he too would have to protect the new leader.
But could he ever truly forget Cheon Hajin?
After circling the hall once, Baek Pyo stopped before the Grand Seat.
The Alliance Leader's Grand Seat remained empty.
The image of Cheon Hajin's hearty laughter flashed through his mind. It felt as if the man might burst through the doors at any moment, chuckling.
"Hahaha, Baek Pyo! Come, have a drink with me. You'll get sick if you're always so tense, you know."
"Thanks to you, I can sleep soundly at night. Thank you, truly thank you."
"I heard your wife is quite ill. I'll grant you a few days' leave to go and take good care of her. Heh heh, this is an order! Alliance Leader's Command!"
"Remember those days when we fought like madmen? I still think about them. You guys suffered terribly, though. Hahaha."
The Alliance Leader's words still rang vividly in Baek Pyo's ears.
Tears welled up in Baek Pyo's eyes and streamed down his cheeks.
"Alliance Leader!"
Once the tears started flowing, they wouldn't stop.
"Hwaaaah... Alliance Leader..."
The tears continued to pour. He felt guilty for not protecting him better. He reproached himself for not paying more attention to the Alliance Leader's health.
Baek Pyo collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. His entire body trembled, and his throat tightened with grief.
"...I wish I could see you again... Alliance Leader."
In that silent place, only Baek Pyo's mournful weeping echoed.