Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Unrest in Zhangsa
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"Somehow, it feels so chaotic."
Upon arriving in Zhangsa, Jegal Rin immediately noticed that the atmosphere was vastly different from before.
"There are so many martial artists around. Has something happened again?"
"The Demonic Alliance has resurfaced, haven't they?"
Tang Moon-yeong nodded at Tang Ho-gwan's words. It made perfect sense. The newly emerged Demonic Alliance seemed to possess tremendous power. The ones they called Black Warriors were particularly tricky opponents.
Setting aside their overwhelming strength and speed, once a fight began, they charged in madly, ignoring all but the most severe wounds. That sheer momentum made them even harder to handle.
"True, their power is truly fearsome."
"And the scariest part is how hard it is to gauge their numbers. They're clearly warriors created through some evil great magic."
Tang Ho-gwan was convinced of it. As an elder of the Tang Family, experts in poisons, he had a keen eye and solid knowledge in such matters.
In his judgment, the Black Warriors the Demonic Alliance had unleashed were undoubtedly products of drugs and dark sorcery.
They might have even used massive quantities of narcotics. It was inhuman. Absolutely.
"Let's look into it a bit."
Jegal Rin refrained from jumping to conclusions. Deep down, she was glad they'd returned to Zhangsa.
Finding out what was going on was simple. They just went to a nearby inn, pricked up their ears, and information came flooding in. Inns and taverns throughout Zhangsa were packed with people, all buzzing excitedly about recent events.
Just piecing together those conversations was enough to grasp the overall situation. For someone as skilled at gathering and utilizing information as Jegal Rin, it was even easier.
The group settled into a large, well-known inn in Zhangsa. Some of them went around collecting intel. Of course, heavyweights like Dan Hyeong-u stayed put.
Umun Hye, whose stunning beauty instantly drew all eyes, did the same.
In the end, the ones who had to hustle were Jegal Rin, Tang Moon-yeong, and Yeongsa.
Yeongsa was one thing, but Jegal Rin and Tang Moon-yeong felt a bit resentful. There were too few men in the group.
When had they ever had to run around on foot gathering information like this? And it was the same when preparing to camp—they had to set up beds and cook. How unfair was that?
They grumbled inwardly, but there was no choice. They were the only ones who could move right now. Of course, they had plenty of complaints about Umun Hye.
Though they had to admit her beauty was on another level entirely.
As the three women left the inn to gather information, Yeom Hye-mi grew restless, fidgeting in her seat. It felt like she should be out there doing something too, instead of just sitting. But even if she went, there wasn't much she could do.
The Sword King seemed to sense her feelings and smiled gently, patting her head.
"It's fine. Everyone has their own roles and duties. Right now, yours is to eat well and get healthy fast. So relax and rest."
Even with the Sword King's words, Yeom Hye-mi couldn't settle her mind.
"B-but still..."
As Yeom Hye-mi trailed off, Dan Hyeong-u stood up from his seat. He'd finished eating and saw no reason to linger. Lately, he no longer obsessed over sitting or lying down under the pretense of training.
And the moment he shook off that fixation, he felt himself advance to the next level.
Dan Hyeong-u glanced at Yeom Hye-mi, then at Umun Hye, and spoke.
"We're staying here tonight."
Umun Hye beamed brightly and nodded. Her smile seemed to radiate light, instantly brightening the entire inn and capturing every gaze.
In truth, from the moment Dan Hyeong-u's group entered, all eyes had been glued to them. Four extraordinary beauties entering together was bound to draw attention.
But the ominous auras emanating from the Sword Demon and Sword King had forced those gazes away.
Umun Hye's smile surpassed even that.
"Yes, Young Master."
After replying to Dan Hyeong-u, Umun Hye beckoned the waiter over and immediately rented out the entire rear courtyard of the inn. As the most beloved figure in the Umun Family, money was no object for her.
Of course, she never handled the money herself. Yeongsa managed most of it. But that didn't mean she didn't carry any.
Umun Hye pulled a small gold ingot from her bosom and handed it to the waiter. His eyes went wide. And just like that, the group claimed the whole rear courtyard.
Under the waiter's excessively courteous guidance, the group reached the rear courtyard. He bowed so deeply it seemed his head might touch the ground, then scurried back inside.
Since the leftover money after renting was all his, such enthusiasm came naturally.
Once the waiter was gone, Dan Hyeong-u looked at Yeom Hye-mi. She stood nervously beside the Sword King, clutching Cheonseom tightly to her chest.
"Begin."
At Dan Hyeong-u's command, Yeom Hye-mi's expression shifted oddly. She understood exactly what he meant.
"Already? The sun's still high in the sky..."
"Keep going until bedtime."
Yeom Hye-mi's eyes widened at Dan Hyeong-u's words. That was impossible. Over the past few days, she'd swung Cheonseom a hundred times a day. At first, she'd thought it impossible, but somehow she'd managed.
But that was her limit. After a hundred swings, her whole body went limp, and she often collapsed into sleep right there.
"I-it's impossible."
Dan Hyeong-u glanced at the Sword King in response to Yeom Hye-mi's protest. The Sword King looked troubled. It was a no-win situation. But even he thought Dan Hyeong-u was pushing too hard this time.
"Do you really think she can do that right now?"
The Sword King said with a hint of irritation. Dan Hyeong-u nodded immediately. The Sword King's eyes widened.
He let out a deep sigh.
"Hah..."
The Sword King looked at Yeom Hye-mi with pity, then back at Dan Hyeong-u. He couldn't fathom what the young man was thinking. He never gave straight answers, which only frustrated him more.
But he could trust him. He couldn't explain why, but he trusted Dan Hyeong-u.
"Others might think the Sword King has lost his mind."
Muttering to himself, the Sword King turned to Yeom Hye-mi. A resolute glint shone in his eyes.
Yeom Hye-mi read the situation in that gaze. Her face paled slightly, but she gritted her teeth. If her grandfather said it was okay, then it was.
"I'll do it."
With that, Yeom Hye-mi drew Cheonseom and began swinging it as usual.
Dan Hyeong-u stood silently, watching her swings.
Tang Ho-gwan glanced cautiously at the Sword King and Dan Hyeong-u, then quietly moved aside to begin his own training. He had to train as much as possible when Dan Hyeong-u was around—to gain every insight and sensation he could.
As Tang Ho-gwan started training, the Sword Demon and Sword King exchanged looks. They moved to one side and began moving their bodies. Though without swords or inner energy, their motions were unmistakably sword dances.
With everyone training, Umun Hye couldn't just stand idle. She sidled up close to Dan Hyeong-u, drew her sword, and began the downward strikes he'd taught her.
A training fervor swept through the inn's rear courtyard.
When Jegal Rin and the other two returned to the inn, everyone was still at it. Yeom Hye-mi wobbled perilously with each swing, on the verge of collapse, but she refused to quit. Her face was ashen, her body trembling violently—enough to tug at anyone's heartstrings.
Yet Dan Hyeong-u simply stood there, watching her in stoic silence.
"What in the world is going on here?"
Jegal Rin muttered in shock upon entering the courtyard. The training fervor died down.
The group headed to their rooms. Yeom Hye-mi, however, kept swinging Cheonseom. Dan Hyeong-u stood before her, unmoving, like a watchful sentinel.
And Umun Hye didn't enter her room either.
Excluding the three women, the rest of the group gathered in a room with grave expressions. The situation was more serious than expected.
The Demonic Alliance had wreaked havoc on a wide scale. Over ten sects had already shuttered their doors, and several families had been drowned in blood. The murim world was in turmoil, and the Martial Alliance had begun to mobilize.
"And because of this, the Righteous Heaven Alliance is preparing to act as well. That's why the city's in such an uproar."
"The Righteous Heaven Alliance? I figured as much. It wouldn't be worthy of the name if they sat this out."
"The Righteous Heaven Alliance plans to hold a murim conference."
Everyone nodded at Jegal Rin's words. It was a logical and wise plan. The sect-opening ceremony had only recently ended, and most of the martial artists who'd gathered were still in Zhangsa.
Near Zhangsa lay Dongjeong Lake. Most visitors would want to see it before leaving. Rounding them all up for a conference would be highly effective.
"The Demonic Alliance seems stronger than anticipated, and with the righteous sects divided..."
Tang Ho-gwan muttered with a sigh. But the Sword King saw it differently.
"It's not all bad. The two factions will compete, and that might produce even greater power."
The Martial Alliance wielded immense might already. If they moved in rivalry, it could unleash tremendous force.
The Nine Great Sects—the Alliance's greatest strength, yet to fully mobilize—would sweep the world like a tidal wave if unleashed.
"The problem is the Righteous Heaven Alliance. They have considerable power, but compared to the Martial Alliance's Nine Great Sects, they're somewhat lacking. If they suffer heavy losses to the Demonic Alliance, it could weaken the entire murim world's strength."
The group nodded in admiration at Jegal Rin's analysis. It was spot on.
"The Righteous Heaven Alliance doesn't seem weak, though. Didn't we see that at the sect-opening? The Martial Alliance is the one we should worry about."
Despite the Sword King's words, Jegal Rin couldn't fully agree. Comparing the two was still a stretch.
"In any case, their murim conference is in three days. Let's head there for now."
The Righteous Heaven Alliance's conference was set for three days later. They'd have to rest at the inn until then.
"By the way, how long do you plan to make her keep swinging? Honestly."
With future plans roughly set, the Sword King immediately turned his attention to his granddaughter. Yeom Hye-mi was still swinging Cheonseom without rest. A flicker of worry crossed his face.
Three days flew by. The group spent them resting adequately and training.
Yeom Hye-mi had to swing Cheonseom almost nonstop for those three days. A frail girl who hadn't even learned proper martial arts doing such training—true warriors couldn't just sit by.
Thanks to that, an unexpected training boom swept the inn's courtyard for three days. And the group made significant progress. Just from training. It was truly miraculous.
Only the Sword King and Sword Demon understood why. They trained with utmost diligence, unwilling to miss this chance.
As the three days passed, Zhangsa grew even noisier. More and more martial artists flocked to the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
The group set out for the Alliance at the start of the conference, taking their time. The main gate stood wide open, welcoming all.
"What confidence."
Jegal Rin murmured as they entered. No guards at the gate. No guestbook like at the sect-opening. Anyone could waltz in.
Unthinkable for the Martial Alliance. Even for a conference, they'd only admit the select few. Otherwise, things could spiral out of control.
"Will the Demonic Alliance just sit still?"
Tang Moon-yeong asked worriedly, but Tang Ho-gwan shook his head.
"They'll probably provoke us somehow. I just hope the damage is minimal."
If the Demonic Alliance struck now, with tempers already flared, the victims wouldn't be the Alliance—but the conference attendees. They wouldn't discriminate.
The group entered anyway. The scene was much like the sect-opening: a grand platform with familiar faces atop it.
"It's the Tyrant Dragon."
The Tyrant Dragon was already a core figure in the Righteous Heaven Alliance. As the group entered, a gleam sparked in his eyes—specifically upon spotting Dan Hyeong-u.
The Tyrant Dragon glared at Dan Hyeong-u, then noticed Yeom Hye-mi clutching Cheonseom. His eyes bulged.
Krunch.
The seat beneath him sank slightly. The platform was carved from solid marble, yet it couldn't fully withstand his aura.
The Tyrant Dragon hurriedly reined in his energy. He couldn't turn the place into chaos before it even started.
Thus, the murim conference began. Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader Cheon Yeong appeared, along with numerous renowned elders of the Alliance.
Cheon Yeong stepped forward as he had at the sect-opening, commanding the crowd. His ceremonial words carried immense power, drawing everyone in. Then came the main point from his lips.