Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Silent Sword?
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"...Silent Sword?"
"Yes, Master."
The Murim Alliance wasn't home to just the Alliance Leader.
Beneath him existed the Council of Elders, tasked with keeping watch over the Alliance Leader. But were they still fulfilling that role even now?
Danri Jin-su, one of the Six Elders of the Murim Alliance and known as the Heavenly Sword Holy Child, shook his head at the question he'd posed himself.
The tea was bitter. Even though it had been brewed by his one and only disciple, it felt like his throat was parched.
In the current murim, was there truly...
...even a single proper martial artist left?
In the midst of all that, news of a new righteous figure had arrived, fresh enough to send chills down his spine.
"A man called Silent Sword... exposed the corruption in Kunlun? And even uncovered the Tang Clan of Sichuan's staged ploy...? He even took down that infamous Divine Might Heavenly Tyrant. A rare talent has emerged in the present murim."
"That's the rumor, but..."
Danri Jin-su's disciple.
Miao Chowa shook her head.
"It's not confirmed, Master."
"...If even you suspect it, then there must be something to it. Who started this rumor?"
"One of Kunlun's elders, Hyeon Do-gwang."
"Hyeon Do-gwang!"
Even amid Kunlun's rot, there had been a single ray of light. That name must have been Hyeon Do-gwang.
A rumor spread by such a man.
"If it's Hyeon Do-gwang, then it's trustworthy. He wouldn't spread false rumors."
"Master, the point isn't whether the rumor is true or false. It's how it was made."
Miao Chowa gracefully refilled his empty cup.
Danri Jin-su asked.
"How it was made?"
"We don't know that man's intentions in exposing Kunlun's corruption and the Tang Clan of Sichuan's ploy. The current Alliance Leader is cunning. Power isn't all he has. He uses those around him to solidify his position... so we can't entirely rule out his involvement. Silent Sword might be a hero created by the Alliance Leader."
"A manufactured hero..."
Murim Alliance Leader Namgung Hyeok.
Danri Jin-su pondered deeply.
"...You're right. It's a possibility we can't dismiss outright. The greatest martial family in murim is still his Namgung Clan, but the Nine Great Sects, the Beggars' Sect, and the other Five Great Families are growing their power too... He might have borrowed someone else's hand to pretend to uphold justice and curb their momentum before they become a threat. Have you looked into this Silent Sword separately?"
"Yes, but I couldn't find any details. Do you remember that incident? The Alliance Leader's unilateral decision to recall all the spies we'd planted in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
"...Of course I do."
It had also been a major clash between the Council of Elders and the Alliance Leader.
It would have been strange not to object to such a sudden mass withdrawal order.
"The man called Silent Sword, Red Cloud, was one of the spies planted in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. But he didn't return with the others that day."
"...What? So he's been staying in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult all this time?"
"I couldn't get any more information. As you know, the spies in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were handled by the Alliance Leader's office, and the records the current Council of Elders can access are limited."
A spy left behind in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
And his movements upon returning late.
"...You're right, Chowa."
Danri Jin-su nodded.
"He could be the Alliance Leader's blade, left in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult for some special purpose... and now returning late. Chowa, the current Alliance Leader's term is almost up. To change the murim of today, we must start from the top. To do that..."
"I know, Master. For the plan not to go awry, there can't be any variables."
Miao Chowa bowed her head.
"I'll keep watch on him. For the sake of reclaiming the justice of old."
"That's the right attitude. Then... I suppose I must move as well."
Danri Jin-su rose to his feet.
"Silent Sword should be on his way here, so even if I have to throw my weight around, I need to see what kind of man he is. You can gauge a person's character just by looking them in the eye."
...
"Silent Sword?"
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
Murim Alliance Leader Namgung Hyeok donned his outer robe. Zhuge So-eok, the alliance's strategist, handed him a cup of water.
"Do you remember the matter of withdrawing the spies we'd planted in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?"
"How could I forget? It was my doing, after all. Why bring it up now?"
"The current Silent Sword was one of the disposable pawns we used as bait back then."
"...Ah, the lightweights we scattered to draw out the heavy hitters? He was someone who should have died naturally... How did he make it back?"
"Here's the report."
Namgung Hyeok read through it without pause. Once finished, he smirked.
"Lucky bastard. So? How'd he get the nickname Silent Sword?"
"They say he helped clean up corruption tied to Kunlun. One of Kunlun's elders vouched for it."
"Vouched for it? Why vouch for something that should just be buried?"
"The one who exposed it is named Hyeon Do-gwang."
Hyeon Do-gwang. He knew the name.
Kunlun's one sole voice of conscience among the elders.
Exposing his own faction's dirt-perhaps a warning to those uninvolved in the corruption as well. Namgung Hyeok snorted.
Foolish move.
It was no different from cutting off his own flesh.
"All the better. Kunlun's reputation was starting to swell. The Nine Great Sects and Beggars' Sect are useful, but power that crosses the line is dangerous."
"Well said."
"So? Is that all?"
"No. They say he single-handedly exposed the Tang Clan of Sichuan's staged incident this time too."
"The Tang Clan of Sichuan's ploy? What's that about?"
"During a territorial dispute with Qingcheng, the Tang Clan infiltrated and freed some of Qingcheng's prisoners, I heard. They planned to feign ignorance and pressure Qingcheng over it, but Silent Sword recaptured the Divine Might Heavenly Tyrant and exposed the Tang Clan's deeds to the world."
"They dug their own grave. Too hasty. I wouldn't have done that."
"Because of it, Qingcheng's influence is reaching into the heart of Sichuan Province, and infighting in the Tang Clan has intensified. They won't be eyeing anything else for a while."
"Hmm..."
Namgung Hyeok gazed into a mirror.
"Quite the righteous figure. What's the name of this Silent Sword?"
"Red Cloud, I heard."
"I'd heard about the Divine Might Heavenly Tyrant before. No pushover martial artist... Can someone who was just a disposable pawn take him down?"
"That's a question for me too. It seems he gained some fateful encounter while in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult..."
"So it's uncertain."
"Yes."
Namgung Hyeok peered into the mirror, fiddling with his youthful features unchanged from his younger days, then spoke.
"Silent Sword, huh. If it's reached my ears, he's gained some real fame."
"Kunlun and Qingcheng seem to be backing him."
"The current Kunlun and Qingcheng are pricklier than anyone in murim. They revere justice and shun evil... Gaining their support means, in other words, he's useful."
"I agree, Alliance Leader."
"Tell me the strategist's opinion."
"Among the current Nine Great Sects, Beggars' Sect, and Five Great Families, some are suddenly expanding their forces, aren't they? Your term is ending, but your influence hasn't waned-it's only grown. We must prepare for the next term."
"Exactly. Who else but I, the strongest in murim, should hold the Alliance Leader's seat?"
"Precisely. The current murim is the most balanced it's been, so pressing down those building power now will keep things quiet come the next election. Moreover..."
The strategist, Zhuge So-eok, lowered his voice.
"I see some factions moving under the fame of Murim Alliance Sixth Elder Danri Jin-su. It's not out in the open, but it looks like they're preparing for the next Alliance Leader election. To check them, we should prune the sects and families tied to Danri Jin-su in advance."
"As expected, the strategist's thoughts align with mine. Go on."
"Yes."
Zhuge So-eok clasped his hands.
"Silent Sword's actions are righteous, so why not use that? Everywhere in the current murim is rotten to some degree... If he roots out the corruption of those building power, their momentum will naturally fade."
"And in return, I gain fame. As the one handling Silent Sword, who crushes corruption, I'll be in the running for Alliance Leader again."
"Exactly. So once Silent Sword arrives at the Murim Alliance, verify him and appoint him as an Alliance Inspector."
"You'll be issuing most of those missions, Strategist?"
"Yes. I'll dispatch him to sects and families connected to Danri Jin-su. Silent Sword gets what he wants, and in his silence, we get what we want."
"Haha! The strategist has a head that turns beautifully! That's why I favor you so!"
Namgung Hyeok sat in his chair and lightly tapped the table.
"But you know, for all this planning, Silent Sword's personal skills are the most crucial. Isn't that right?"
"Of course. Even an Alliance Inspector needs power, or he'll die quietly in some remote place. Personal prowess is key."
"He caught the Divine Might Heavenly Tyrant, so he has the basics at least. But Strategist, that's not all we need to do."
"Pardon?"
"We should keep a close eye on him, no? Even if he's drunk on justice and rampaging, we don't know how far he'll go... At least he shouldn't touch those who support me."
"Well said, Alliance Leader."
"Attach someone reliable under the pretext of an inspection team. Someone who can subdue him by force if needed... You know."
"Of course. An uncontrollable horse must be culled midway."
"You see right through the intent even when I say it lightly-that's why you're the Murim Alliance Strategist. Excellent!"
"You're too kind."
Namgung Hyeok propped his feet on the table and swirled his cup of water as he muttered.
"Still, we need to verify him thoroughly. I should see his face myself. Oh, Strategist. Any separate word from... that person?"
"Not yet."
"Nothing... I wish to meet them at least once... but I can't request an audience, can I?"
"Unless they reach out first, there's no way to contact that person, Alliance Leader."
"Waiting is the only way, then... No helping it. Anything else noteworthy?"
"A request for reinforcements from the Heavenly Dragon Society."
"Those guys still causing a fuss?"
"Yes. They're still clashing with the Evil Path Union over territory."
"Always whining. They preach the Murim Alliance's justice and all that, but in the end, they're just busy protecting their rice bowls. Every force we send gets wiped out, so it's a waste to bother. But we can't ignore them completely..."
Namgung Hyeok stroked his chin and asked slyly.
"This Silent Sword fellow... If he does well later, won't he build quite the reputation?"
"Yes. He'd become very famous."
"That fame might threaten my position someday, so it'd be best to deal with him later."
"How..."
"The fight between Heavenly Dragon Society and the Evil Path Union has dragged on for three years already, and all the warriors we've sent for support have died at the Evil Path Union Leader's hands..."
Namgung Hyeok chuckled darkly.
"So after we've used him up, send him as reinforcements to the Heavenly Dragon Society. He dies naturally without dirtying my hands-perfect cleanup."
"...Called the greatest mind of the Murim Alliance, but you're far superior to me, Alliance Leader. I'm impressed."
"Even I think this one's clever. Haha! Heaven itself aids me!"
...
The nickname Silent Sword felt a bit itchy.
He hadn't done anything that grand, yet here he was, getting a new name besides his real one.
Kwangyang and Narin were going wild.
"As expected of Master!"
"Silent Sword! Silent Sword!"
"...Please."
The Murim Alliance had summoned him. As soon as preparations were ready, he grabbed his things and headed straight for the Murim Alliance.
The buildings he hadn't seen in ages had changed quite a bit here and there. True to the most prosperous castle, most of the nostalgic spots were gone.
Well... it had been several years, so it was only natural.
Still, some paths remained in memory. The single paved road leading to the center. The many buildings spread atop it.
He blended into the crowd of bustling people. He walked the road that had become foreign soil, no longer his hometown.
"What is your business?"
"I believe I have an appointment with the Alliance Leader."
"Ah... please wait a moment."
He headed deeper inside. A space where people faded away, leaving only silence.
Among dozens of buildings, the innermost one welcomed him.
This place...
Was somewhere his past self could never have entered.
The Alliance Leader's Hall.
The nexus of the Murim Alliance's power, where the Alliance Leader resided.
"Please enter."
The clerk bowed. He returned the bow in kind.
He opened the door. In the space thick with silence, gazes turned toward him.
Heavy.
The very air.
But he pressed on steadily. He was no criminal now. Rather, he was a hero who had succeeded in his mission and returned safely.
He pulled out the documents he'd brought. Along with them, he bowed deeply.
A trembling atmosphere. An overwhelming presence that asserted itself naturally.
The ruling figure spoke.
"Raise your head."
The Murim Alliance Leader, the undefeated swordsman called Invincible One Sword by all.
The man who had elevated the Namgung Clan to the pinnacle of the Five Great Families looked down at him with a grin.
"It ill suits a meritorious hero to bow his head. Come, show me what you've brought. Silent Sword Red Cloud."
...The rumors had already spread this far.
He handed over the documents he'd brought.