Shattering Rumors of the Flame King
A shocking rumor spread through the murim world.
Reactions to the rumor split people into two camps.
Some flatly denied it was possible, while others couldn't hide their despair.
Either way, it was undeniable that the news had stunned countless people.
Such a rumor couldn't have reached the Murim Alliance unnoticed.
And the shock it delivered to the Alliance was far greater than anywhere else.
The atmosphere in the Murim Alliance sank in an instant.
It felt heavier than it had ever been before.
Upon hearing the rumor, Sa Ma-gang immediately ordered his subordinates to investigate the truth.
After issuing urgent commands, he let out a deep sigh and sank deeply into his chair.
Then his expression shifted subtly.
A smile? Or not quite.
It was hard to tell if the faint curve at the corner of his mouth was a smile at all.
Woo-gang was swinging his spear in his quarters.
There was still time before Jang Hak-jin was due to arrive, and he'd grown accustomed to this once-unfamiliar space, so he'd woken early.
His whole body was drenched in sweat from the long-overdue exertion.
One might expect it to feel sticky and unpleasant, but a satisfied smile spread across Woo-gang's face.
Moving his body after so long felt refreshingly invigorating.
After swinging the spear for a good while, Woo-gang stopped.
Dokgo Seol-ran approached with a darkened expression.
"What is it?"
"Elder Jang Hak-jin sent word that he won't be coming today."
"I see."
In truth, the lessons with Jang Hak-jin were optional—skipping them changed little.
But that wasn't the reason for Dokgo Seol-ran's grim look.
Woo-gang stared at her steadily.
"And there's a rumor spreading about Elder Yeom Wang."
"A rumor about Grandfather? What is it?"
Woo-gang asked urgently.
But Dokgo Seol-ran hesitated to speak.
Her expression and reluctance gave him a bad feeling, though he tried to push it aside and waited for her to continue.
"It's not confirmed, but... a corpse believed to be Elder Yeom Wang's has been found."
Thud!
Something dropped deep in Woo-gang's heart.
At the same moment, the spear slipped from his grasp and clattered to the floor.
Woo-gang stood there blankly.
A faint tremor started at his fingertips and soon spread through his entire body.
No thoughts came to him.
His eyes were open, yet he saw nothing; his ears were clear, yet he heard no sounds.
Darkness shrouded his vision, and his ears rang with a muffled fullness, like they were plugged with water.
His breath came in shallow gasps, as if it might snap at any moment.
"Young hero, calm down. It's just a rumor for now. The Cheopun Dan has been dispatched to verify the truth..."
Dokgo Seol-ran tried to reassure him, but before she could finish, Woo-gang bolted into action.
"Young hero!"
Woo-gang dashed out of his quarters.
Dokgo Seol-ran couldn't bring herself to stop him.
Bang!
The office door flew open violently.
Sa Ma-gang, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
"I've heard the rumor."
Sa Ma-gang's face hardened at Woo-gang's strained words.
"I hadn't planned to inform you until it was confirmed."
Woo-gang's expression deepened into despair at his response.
"Stay calm. It's just a rumor. Not every rumor turns out true—this one likely won't either. Elder Yeom Wang isn't one to fall easily, is he? Besides, there are many suspicious aspects. Why now, of all times? If someone wanted him dead, they'd have done it right then, not abducted him."
Sa Ma-gang spoke calmly.
But Woo-gang's ears barely registered the words.
"I've already sent the Cheopun Dan. We'll hear back soon. You're not the only one hoping it's baseless. I am too—as is the entire Murim Alliance."
At Sa Ma-gang's words, Woo-gang's trembling eased slightly.
"I'll go myself! I need to see with my own eyes. Where is it?"
Woo-gang stared straight at Sa Ma-gang.
"Impossible."
"Why?!"
Woo-gang's voice rose sharply.
"This will be handled through the Murim Alliance's official procedures. I can't allow any disruptive elements to interfere."
Sa Ma-gang invoked protocol.
As the Alliance's literary leader, such rigidity was crucial for grave matters.
Yet it could also provoke backlash by being overly inflexible.
Until now, things had gone according to his plans with good results, quelling any disputes.
And everyone in the Alliance had followed his lead without question.
But Woo-gang was different.
Not affiliated with the Murim Alliance, he had no reason to obey.
"Then I'll be on my way. The rumor has spread far enough—surely even outsiders know the location by now."
Woo-gang said coldly, turning to leave.
"Leaving the Murim Alliance is also forbidden."
Woo-gang slowly turned back, glaring at Sa Ma-gang with sharper eyes than ever—eyes laced with killing intent.
"Try stopping me, if you can."
With that, Woo-gang stormed out of Sa Ma-gang's office.
Even in the lingering trace of Woo-gang's killing intent, which pierced deep like a needle in the lungs, Sa Ma-gang somehow appeared composed.
Woo-gang returned to his quarters with furious, urgent steps and packed haphazardly.
He hadn't brought much to begin with, so there was little to gather.
Grabbing a few changes of clothes, he shouldered his spear and left the room.
"Young hero."
Dokgo Seol-ran stood waiting at the door.
"Here to stop me?"
"Pardon?"
She asked, startled.
She had come out of concern, seeing his utterly changed demeanor as he left earlier.
But Woo-gang, unaware, assumed she was like Sa Ma-gang—another obstacle to leaving the Alliance.
He fixed her with blazing eyes.
Faced with his unfamiliar gaze, Dokgo Seol-ran couldn't respond.
No words came; an intangible pressure squeezed her body, making breath shallow and ragged.
Though the Hyang-hun-dan consisted of women, their individual skills rivaled any unit.
Dokgo Seol-ran ranked high among them, recognized as potential unit leader material.
Yet Woo-gang's overwhelming presence was too much even for her.
It was the first such pressure she'd felt since starting martial arts.
The difference was inevitable: Woo-gang's harsh life, scarred by abuse and the trials of Hanchon Secret Cave, versus her relatively peaceful training.
As she stared back with fear-filled eyes, unable to reply, Woo-gang averted his gaze and brushed past her.
"Hah...!"
Once he was gone, Dokgo Seol-ran clutched the corridor railing, gasping for air as the pressure lifted.
After steadying her breath, she watched Woo-gang's retreating figure with trembling eyes.
Woo-gang had no choice but to halt at the quarters' main gate.
The warriors who usually patrolled discreetly had gathered to block his path.
They belonged to the Chuhon Dan, specialists in searches, reconnaissance, and shattering enemy vanguards—directly under Sa Ma-gang, the literary leader.
Woo-gang secured his bundle tightly on his back and gripped his spear firmly.
He had no intention of harming them, but if they wouldn't yield, he'd force through.
He eyed them steadily.
But it was clear to anyone they had no intention of stepping aside.
Whoosh! Clang!
Woo-gang spun his spear lightly, sending a clear, resonant hum through the air.
In response, the Chuhon Dan warriors drew their swords in unison, aiming at him warily.
"I bear you no ill will."
Thud!
With that, Woo-gang kicked off the ground.
More than twenty blocked his way.
On his first day here, there had been twelve; they'd gradually increased to double that.
As Woo-gang charged, the Chuhon Dan moved nimbly.
Maintaining perfect intervals, they formed an encirclement—their training evident.
Unleashing Chu Pung Gu Hwan Bo to its limit, Woo-gang closed in on the nearest and swung his spear wide.
The blade arced toward a Chuhon Dan warrior, but without intent to harm.
The encirclement parted momentarily with his motion.
Seizing the gap, Woo-gang tried to break free—
Swish!
The sound of their movements was eerily synchronized, like one person.
They shifted swiftly to match his path, closing the gap instantly.
With the spear's length limiting his range, they aimed to constrict and capture.
But Woo-gang wasn't one to falter.
Swish!
Was Chu Pung Gu Hwan Bo hailed as supreme for nothing?
He surged his qi, accelerating further.
In the confined space, his movements became too fast to track.
With swords drawn, their maneuverable area was even narrower.
Woo-gang ignored it.
If space was tight, he'd make more.
He swung his shortened grip rapidly.
Clang-clang-clang!
Spear blade and tip clashed noisily with their swords, deflecting weapons and disrupting balance.
But the Chuhon Dan were no pushovers.
Those flung back recovered in two steps, while others filled gaps seamlessly.
'This is the Murim Alliance's caliber.'
Their superior skill and coordination outclassed the black path rabble he'd faced before.
No time to admire, though.
He'd barely exited the quarters; who knew what awaited at the main gate.
Woo-gang channeled more qi.
Scorching heat radiated outward as his momentum built.
His rhythm of probing and retreating quickened.
Not just faster—irregular changes in his bursts created unpredictable flow.
The Chuhon Dan's fluid adjustments began to crack.
And finally—
A gaping hole yawned before Woo-gang, like an open gate.
Shrieeek!
He thrust deep into the breach.
His spear tore through the fleeting opening.
The Chuhon Dan lunged with swords to prevent escape.
Not lethal, but willing to wound to snag him.
Whoosh!
A sharp wind whistled.
Woo-gang had already slipped their blades and broken free.
Turning outside the net, he swung wide once more.
A heavy force blasted outward, shoving the air.
The Chuhon Dan staggered back, shielding themselves from the pressure.
By the time they looked up, Woo-gang was already dashing far away.