Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: The Resolver’s Society
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Hwang Byeong-chan’s steps led him to a shabby thatched hut on a deserted mountainside.
Unaware that Neung Un-bi was watching him from a distance, hidden, Hwang Byeong-chan carefully surveyed his surroundings before entering the hut.
*Who could possibly be waiting for Hwang Byeong-chan in there?*
*Yi Ok-sang? Or the elders?*
*If not them, could it be... 'him'?*
*If so...*
His heart began to pound, his breath growing ragged with excitement.
“Are you alright?”
“Hm?”
“You seem a little tense.”
At Hyang-i's words, Neung Un-bi took a deep breath, calming his trembling heart.
Hwang Byeong-chan's feigned betrayal, who he was meeting—it was all just speculation. Nothing was certain.
In such a situation, a rash move would only fuel his impatience.
“Let's just watch for now.”
“Okay.”
Hyang-i, who had been nodding at Neung Un-bi's words, suddenly flinched and looked toward the distant forest.
“Huh?”
“...?”
His mind a tangled mess, Neung Un-bi tilted his head at her reaction.
“What is it?”
In response to his question, Hyang-i frowned, her expression hardening.
“Look, someone else is coming.”
Where Hyang-i pointed.
A figure with their face hidden by a bamboo hat was cautiously approaching the hut. Just like Hwang Byeong-chan, they carefully scanned the area before entering.
That wasn't all. At intervals of roughly half an hour, more people continued to arrive.
*Who are these people?*
His confusion only deepened.
But as Hyang-i watched them, she tilted her head in puzzlement.
“Huh?”
“...?”
“Aren't they your subordinates?”
“Huh? My subordinates?”
“Those two over there.”
Following her gaze, Neung Un-bi saw two figures cautiously approaching the hut from a short distance away.
Reaching the hut, they surveyed their surroundings just as the others had. The taller one was a man, and the one with a smaller frame was clearly a woman.
“What? You don't recognize them?”
“...”
Hyang-i looked puzzled.
“Hmm, that's odd. I thought they were part of some secret organization you'd cultivated... Was I wrong?”
“What are you talking about? Who are they?”
“The ones from Anbon.”
“Anbon?”
“Yeah, you met them back then. They created a fake identity for you.”
“...What?!”
“I saw it too. I was nearby, disguised as a beggar.”
At her words, Neung Un-bi's eyes trembled.
Anbon Prefecture, a fake identity.
*Then are they Kim San and Shin Ye-rang?*
*And Hyang-i saw me meet them?*
*No, that's not important right now. Even if they'd hidden their faces with bamboo hats and concealed their figures with cloaks, Hyang-i wouldn't be mistaken.*
*That means it's definitely them...*
*But why?*
*Why would Kim San and Shin Ye-rang show up here? Why are they meeting Hwang Byeong-chan?*
*Could the person inside be...*
The theory that Hwang Byeong-chan's betrayal was a ruse was becoming more and more certain.
If so, his feigned betrayal was clearly a means to get close to the elders.
To infiltrate their ranks...
*And the person behind it all?*
The pounding in his heart, which he had barely suppressed, intensified as if it would burst at any moment.
*It's him.*
*It must be him.*
*Otherwise, why would Kim San and Shin Ye-rang be here, meeting with Hwang Byeong-chan?*
“Hey, are you really okay—”
“Hyang-a.”
“...Yes?”
“Don't ask any questions. Just wait here for a moment.”
“What...?”
“I'm begging you. Please, just wait here for a little while.”
“...”
Hyang-i stared for a moment at Neung Un-bi, who spoke in a rush with trembling eyes, then sighed.
“I told you, I can't do that.”
“...”
“I told you. I have to protect you.”
Hyang-i shook her head, but Neung Un-bi pleaded with her once more.
He couldn't miss this chance.
Hadn't he been waiting for this very moment ever since he was reborn?
Even if he couldn't reveal his true identity because of the others, he wanted to at least see his face. He just wanted to know if he was alive.
“There's absolutely no danger. I won't lose my life. I'll tell you everything later. Please.”
“...”
At his words, Hyang-i frowned, looking back and forth between the hut and him.
“Tch!”
“...”
*Well, she didn't see anyone particularly dangerous.*
*The only ones who could possibly harm Neung Un-bi were the Orthodox Murim Alliance elder Hwang Byeong-chan and Kim San, who had arrived last.*
*But they were no match for Neung Un-bi.*
“You, you better promise.”
“...”
“Don't do anything reckless.”
Hyang-i said in a firm tone, her expression full of annoyance, as if demanding a vow.
“Alright, I promise.”
“Fine. I'll wait then.”
“Thank you. I really mean it.”
Neung Un-bi gave a small, grateful smile and dashed toward the hut.
Watching him go, Hyang-i sighed again.
“Haa, I really can't figure him out.”
***
Shin Ye-rang and Kim San stepped slowly into the hut, their suspicious gazes falling on the people gathered around a table lit by a single flickering flame.
They were people who had united under a common cause long ago.
And at the head of the table sat Hwang Byeong-chan.
Though it was surely a welcome sight after so long, Shin Ye-rang didn't even offer a greeting.
“It's been a long time, Jahong. No, Ye-rang.”
At Hwang Byeong-chan's greeting, Shin Ye-rang removed her bamboo hat, revealing her face. Her expression was not just calm, but cold.
“Did you summon us?”
“Have a seat first.”
“...I heard you became an elder of the Orthodox Murim Alliance.”
“It was the Elder's command.”
“I know. However, I need to be certain.”
“...?”
“How can a monk who has tasted meat remain devoted to his path?”
Realizing she was doubting him, a look of displeasure crossed Hwang Byeong-chan's face.
“Did I not say it was the Elder's command?”
“Yes, I know. I'm sure it was. But please understand that I must be absolutely certain.”
At her words, Kim San, who stood behind her, drew his sword and held it low.
Hwang Byeong-chan's eye twitched at the cold killing intent emanating from the sword.
“‘He who is near ink will be stained black,’ as the saying goes.”
“...”
“Even if it was a feigned betrayal, spending so much time with them is bound to leave a mark.”
“You! Watch your tongue!”
“I trust you know better than I that I cannot.”
“What?”
“Only he knows the meaning of the gold lantern.”
“...”
“Thirty years ago, he commanded me to come to this place if the gold lantern was hung.”
“I am aware.”
“Of course, you are. But that was not the only command.”
“...?”
“He went on to say that if the gold lantern was hung and someone other than himself was waiting here, I was to bury everything so that no one would ever know... and kill that person.”
Shin Ye-rang untied her long cloth sash and threw open the front of her robe.
Revealed beneath her outer garment, explosives were strapped around her body. And in her hand, she now held a fuse lighter.
Shin Ye-rang brought the lighter close, ready to ignite the fuse at a moment's notice.
“These are incendiary bombs.”
“...”
“I smuggled them out, away from the eyes of the authorities. Their explosive power isn't immense, but they'll easily blow this hut to pieces.”
“You...”
“It has been ten years since we lost contact with the Elder.”
“...”
“No, since I haven't seen his face since *he* died, should I say it's been thirty years?”
At her calmly spoken words, Hwang Byeong-chan and the others in the hut grimaced.
“Now, will you tell me? Why is it you, and not the Elder, who hung the gold lantern and summoned us?”
“...”
Looking at Jahong's cold expression, Hwang Byeong-chan let out a deep sigh and turned his gaze elsewhere.
“Heh heh.”
“...?”
From behind the wall where Hwang Byeong-chan was looking, an old scholar in a crane-patterned robe walked out.
“Jahong, you haven't changed a bit.”
Recognizing the old scholar's face as he appeared in the dim light, Shin Ye-rang's eyes widened.
Her eyes quickly became bloodshot, and tears welled up and streamed down her face.
“Elder!”
Kim San, also recognizing him, collapsed to his knees.
“Elder!”
“...I'm sorry. Just as you did, I had no choice but to test your resolve. So much time has passed.”
“No, not at all. You did what you had to do.”
As Shin Ye-rang shook her head, tears streaming down, the old man placed a warm hand on her shoulder.
“Rise. I have much to ask, but first, I must explain why I summoned you here.”
“Yes...”
Helped by the old man's hand, Shin Ye-rang staggered to her feet, finally stemmed her tears, and sat in an empty seat at the table.
The old man then took the seat of honor that Hwang Byeong-chan vacated, and everyone looked at him.
“Comrades, it has been a long time.”
“Yes, Elder. It has been ten years.”
“Indeed. It has already been that long since I cut off contact with you.”
The old man closed his eyes for a moment and nodded, as if reminiscing about the long years.
The old man's name was Yun An-ro.
In his youth, he had dreamt of changing the world.
But the world he experienced, worn down by its harsh realities, was different from his ideals.
Countless people were suffering from the atrocities of martial artists who pursued only their own interests.
Government non-interference with Murim? Government-Murim collusion was a far more accurate term.
Having blinded the eyes and deafened the ears of the authorities with countless bribes, the martial artists who slipped through the net of the law wielded absolute power in their world and the world beyond.
The powerful devoured the powerless.
No one questioned their crimes; they were too busy defending them.
No matter how loudly he cried out, those who had formed great factions and consolidated their power were too busy covering up their sins to ever admit their wrongs.
It was then.
That he sought to change the Murim with those who shared his ideals.
He sought out and persuaded those who had lost family to martial artists, and gathered those whose fortunes had been stolen for nonsensical reasons.
With these like-minded individuals, he formed an organization called the 'Resolver's Society'.
To build their own strength and right the wrongs committed by martial artists...
But it was not easy. The power of the greed-driven martial artists was beyond imagination, and the ugliness hidden beneath the surface was nauseating.
He realized then how foolish it was to confront lawlessness with powerless honesty.
Furthermore, he lost his suicide squad—men who had not shied away from hardship in pursuit of his ideals—all because of a single mistake.
He should never have granted the request to save Jeong Chi-su...
Ten years after that.
Those who had shared his purpose left, speaking of trying to break a rock with an egg, and the organization fell apart.
In the end, Yun An-ro had no choice but to change his methods.
And five years ago, he finally managed to infiltrate the ranks of the very enemies he sought to fight.
By siding with them, he went undercover, biding his time and uncovering countless acts of corruption.
Then, Hwang Byeong-chan informed him that Alliance Leader Yi Ok-sang had been meeting secretly with a disciple of the Demonic Cult.
Yun An-ro was ecstatic.
The time had come.
Alliance Leader Yi Ok-sang was preparing to draw his sword to change the rotten Murim.
And he would provide them with the cause and justification they needed.
What he possessed, what Cheok Wol-rin, the leader of the suicide squad, had passed on to Jahong, and the countless evil deeds and shameful secrets of their enemies that had occurred over the years.
Besides, wasn't everyone gathered here a witness?
Now, there would be no escape for them.
“From now on, I intend to side with Orthodox Murim Alliance Leader Yi Ok-sang.”
“...!”
As Yun An-ro finished his thoughts and opened his eyes, everyone nodded with determined expressions.
It was something they had already foreseen.
Weren't they the ones who knew the current situation better than anyone?
“Byeong-chan.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“From now on, you will secretly approach Yi Ok-sang, inform him of our intentions, and tell him I wish to meet.”
“Understood.”
“Jahong.”
“Yes.”
“You and Kim San will go back and bring everything we have collected.”
“Yes.”
Yun An-ro gave orders not only to Hwang Byeong-chan and Shin Ye-rang, but to the others as well.
Among them were the owner of a great merchant guild recognizable by name alone, and a government official who shared Yun An-ro's ideals.
“The operation will likely commence after the Demonic Cult's disciple leaves the Alliance. Until then, you must be extremely cautious.”
“Understood.”
At Yun An-ro's words, everyone nodded with grim expressions.
And at that moment.
“...!”
Sensing someone's approach, Kim San's eyes flashed fiercely as he swung his sword toward the door.
*Claaang!*
With the sound of a sword being deflected, the door burst open.
As everyone stared, unable to hide their shock at the unexpected situation, Shin Ye-rang and Hwang Byeong-chan cried out in unison.
“Th-Third Young Master!?”