Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Murim Alliance Inspector
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"...Impressive."
The Murim Alliance Leader, Namgung Hyeok, let out a sigh of admiration.
"To extract such high-level intelligence all on your own? Could you repeat that one more time?"
"I managed to get close to one of the maids in the Demon Palace. After that..."
I spilled the entire story I'd prepared in advance.
Namgung Hyeok laughed.
"Excellent! Truly excellent! Such quick thinking and resourcefulness! It's as good as escaping alive from a tiger's den, isn't it? Now we can predict the Demon Cult's movements much more easily!"
"Shouldn't we reward him?"
"Of course! Naturally! A talent like this deserves a proper reward!"
---Rumble.
Namgung Hyeok stood up. He came down to my level and extended his hand personally.
"Silent Sword! I've heard that story until my ears are numb. Your exploits themselves were astonishing. I'd like to shake the hand of a young hero... you wouldn't refuse, would you?"
He's smiling, but not really smiling.
His eyes are calm. He's aiming for something.
I tightly wrapped Heavenly Tribulation around me. I completely sealed my energy pathways and even held my breath.
I clasped his hand.
The smile vanished from Namgung Hyeok's face.
"Hmm?"
The drawn-out sound cut off abruptly. With it, his hand pulled away.
"Silent Sword Red Cloud."
"Yes."
"Have you only trained in external arts?"
"That's right."
He didn't notice.
Namgung Hyeok chuckled.
"I heard you captured Divine Power Heavenly Tyrant."
"It was only possible thanks to the Qingcheng Sect's help."
"Even if you truly received help, not just anyone could pull it off. I can tell from shaking your hand. You've built yourself up with brute force... purely external arts. How about it? Care to test your sword against mine?"
"Alliance Leader."
"It's fine, Strategist. He's a mere junior. I'll control my strength appropriately. Just..."
Namgung Hyeok laughed heartily.
"You won't know until our swords clash! Haha! It's only natural for a martial artist to be curious! About where your honed skills stand!"
"...I humbly accept the lesson."
I drew my blood sword. Namgung Hyeok glanced at my waist.
"You carry four swords."
"They're spares."
"Spares?"
"I haven't learned to reinforce a sword with internal energy, so they break easily. That's why I carry spares."
"Makes sense. For someone who's only trained external arts, it's almost inevitable. Have you ever considered switching to heavier, sturdier swords?"
"The swordsmanship I've mastered is Three Disasters Swordsmanship, so I haven't thought much about the details."
"Three Disasters Swordsmanship?"
Namgung Hyeok's smile deepened.
"You have a knack for piquing curiosity. One strike. Just one. Once you experience it, you'll grasp the rest roughly."
"...I won't hold back."
"Come at me when you're ready. Here I am."
Namgung Hyeok didn't even draw his sword; he patted his own chest.
A symbol of confidence.
But I didn't mock it. He knew the full weight of what he possessed.
A body impervious to harm unless struck with tempered true energy.
That was the First Demon... and the man before me was likely similar.
"...Hoo."
After steadying my breath, I swung the gripped sword.
No more, no less-just one strike.
Three Disasters Swordsmanship laced with the essence of heaviness cleaved the air.
---Kaaaaang!!!
"Ho?"
Namgung Hyeok's body shook. In the next instant, the tip of my blade was caught between his fingers.
His smile dropped wide. As he released his grip, my form was flung backward. I slid smoothly and sheathed my sword.
Namgung Hyeok flipped his hand.
A drop of blood fell from his fingertip.
"...Well now... This is from a sword forged purely through external force?"
His shoulders shook.
"Outstanding! Truly outstanding! Who else in the world has elevated Three Disasters Swordsmanship to this level? Haha! A new star has risen in the martial world! Don't you elders agree?"
"...Impressive. It's swordsmanship infused with the passage of time itself, isn't it?"
"Anyone with eyes could see it. How heavy that weight was."
"It's proof that even basic swordsmanship can reach the top."
"However..."
"What a shame if internal energy dwelled in that body too..."
"Pity. One aspect perfect, the other failing to support it."
"And yet, magnificent!"
Applause poured in. I bowed lightly.
Namgung Hyeok beckoned me.
"You have the skills, and your presence is impressively weighty. I can grant you a position perfectly suited to you."
"...Pardon?"
"Your name is Silent Sword, isn't it? A quiet blade can pierce through the current martial world... so..."
Namgung Hyeok spoke.
Words I never could have imagined.
"Become this: an Inspector of the Murim Alliance, acting under its name."
Inspector.
A role to oversee and punish all manner of corruption.
"......."
A fine offer. Perfect for building fame or gathering internal intel.
But why give it to me? It benefits only me, doesn't it?
He's after something. The Murim Alliance Leader. Using me for it.
...What?
The reputation I've built as Silent Sword. And the Qingcheng Sect and Sakra Tang Family woven into it.
If he plans to use me for something...
The answer is clear.
"...Murim Alliance warrior Red Cloud."
He plans to use me as a pawn. Like before...
To exploit and discard as a disposable piece.
I fell for it thoughtlessly once, but not now. I've seen and felt much since then.
Above all, I learned from the First Demon.
「Follow the flow of power.」
The current Murim Alliance. Things I'd heard in passing.
The current Alliance Leader's term is ending. Some factions grow stronger, and names for the next leader multiply.
Using me, under the guise of rooting out corruption...
He plans to eliminate rival factions.
All the better.
If you're using me, I'll use you in turn.
I'll be your pawn.
Pretending to fall for it while seeking the intel I need.
"I accept the command."
......
Murim Alliance Inspector.
I examined my new piece in the light. Additionally, I made a separate request to the Alliance Leader.
The academy operated by the Murim Alliance itself.
Could he enroll two people there?
The Alliance Leader laughed heartily and nodded.
"How could I refuse a request from the inspector who'll handle so much for me? I'll tell my subordinates. They'll take care of it."
Narin and Gwangyang.
I sent those two to the Cheonmu Academy. The ones who'd heard said they wouldn't leave and clung to my legs.
"Master! Wh-why...!"
"This is different from what we agreed!"
"You promised to teach us martial arts on the way to the Murim Alliance. And after graduating from Cheonmu Academy, we'd have the skills to proudly call ourselves warriors."
I stroked their heads.
"Go learn. How to live differently."
"...Hng... always just receiving..."
"Master... I'll build my skills. Enough to follow by your side."
I sent Gwangyang and Narin off like that. Next, I set my priorities.
The most important was...
Visiting the Murim Alliance's archive. But no one could enter freely.
Only authorized personnel. Its location was secretly hidden, so finding it alone was impossible.
The info I wanted was probably there. The First Demon had inferred as much.
To reach it, I first needed to become indispensable to the Alliance. Not just in name as inspector, but with real achievements to earn the Leader's trust.
After that, it'd be easy. Under the pretext of detailed inspections, I'd gain access.
Fortunately, the position suited me. Even if it meant faction purges, the justification was purging corruption.
The first mission didn't bother me at all.
"Disappearances continue in the Shaolin territory. Inspector Jeok."
The Murim Alliance Strategist, Jeon Jeok So-ak, said softly.
"Go uncover the truth and recover the missing under the Murim Alliance's name. Punish those involved in the Alliance's name as you see fit."
Search for the missing.
Likely tied to Shaolin. They pretend otherwise now, but it's said to be overrun with precept-breaking monks.
Helping the innocent and legally dealing with the rest. The direction was excellent, so I accepted without hesitation.
Jeon Jeok So-ak added,
"As your first mission as inspector, I'll introduce someone helpful. Go together and resolve it."
A watcher, then.
One man joined. Quiet-spoken, he briefly introduced himself.
"Nine Yang Blade Geum Pyeong."
His heavy tone matched his appearance. His build was enormous.
Jeon Jeok So-ak spoke awkwardly.
"I planned to end the inspection team with Inspector Geum and Inspector Jeok, but the Elder Council insists on adding one more. You'll have to travel together."
"Who?"
"Disciple of Danri Jin-su, Violet Sword Myo Cho-ah. She's famous. One of the top later-generation talents. Also called Golden Plum Blossom, so you'll enjoy the view... but..."
Jeon Jeok So-ak lowered his voice.
"Rumors about the elder, Danri Jin-su, aren't good."
"Pardon?"
"Stay vigilant. You never know what offers she'll make. For your future, Inspector Jeok, I advise suspecting everything."
Bad blood between them.
I nodded.
"Thank you for the consideration, Strategist."
Jeon Jeok So-ak stepped back satisfied.
"Additionally, Sixth Elder Danri Jin-su requests an audience. He wants to see you separately... what do you think?"
"When a senior calls, it's proper to visit once."
"Excellent, Inspector Jeok. I'll arrange a meeting."
On the appointed day, I visited Danri Jin-su.
An old man sat in a deserted garden devoid of people.
"You've come. Second time now?"
A familiar face. One among the Murim Alliance members who'd greeted me.
I bowed. He asked,
The blunt question was far too heavy to spring suddenly.
"What do you think of the current martial world?"
"......."
It held many layers.
I answered simply.
"A mess."
"As inspector, you'll fix that mess bit by bit. But do you truly believe it's for justice?"
"......."
"It might all be part of a grand scheme. Now's not the time to purge corruption. It's time to let the corrupt fight among themselves."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Think and act, Inspector Jeok. Following your heart isn't always the answer."
He's speaking in metaphors.
Delay exposing corruption until the new Alliance Leader is decided.
Anyone with ears would understand. I sat before him.
"Let the corrupt fight... Then who takes responsibility for the victims until they do?"
"......."
"I don't know. The ones crumbling now lack even the strength to fight. What meaning is there in a victory seized by ignoring them?"
"...Necessary sacrifices."
"You could call it that."
I picked up the cup before me.
I downed it in one go.
"But it's a different path from the one I choose. I'll do my duty. That's why I accepted this inspector role."
I purge corruption for those without the strength to fight.
And simultaneously uncover intel on those I must kill within the Alliance.
To achieve both, I planned to do my job diligently.
The Alliance's internal power struggles?
Irrelevant to me. Even this man decrying the rotting martial world...
Might be rotten himself.
"...If that's your will, so be it."
His gaze shifted. I caught the underlying hostility.
"Go do your work. I'll do mine."
His disciple will be by my side.
...At least one thing's clear.
Both by my side are enemies.