Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Interlude - Yearning and Immorality (1)
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The Dragon-Phoenix Squad's return march to the Murim Alliance was a grand spectacle.
They made no effort to hide their identities on the journey back, just as they hadn't when they left.
Word spread like wildfire in their wake, and the most persistent rumor went something like this.
The Silent Dragon and Sword Dragon had both reached the Peak Realm.
It was obvious from the sheer aura radiating off them.
Even first-rate warriors exuded a palpable pressure, so how could they have gone all the way from Gui Prefecture to Wunan without crossing paths with a single one?
As the saying goes, rumors outpace even the swiftest horse, reaching the Murim Alliance well ahead of the squad.
And so the day of the Dragon-Phoenix Squad's scheduled return arrived.
The alliance gates were a chaotic swirl of excitement.
"Incredible... If the rumors are true, this generation's already produced two Peak Realm masters."
"Not just any Peak Realm either. Sword Dragon's twenty-two. Silent Dragon's eighteen. Unheard of in jianghu history. Especially Silent Dragon..."
"...A record without precedent."
The murmurs echoing everywhere followed a similar pattern.
Peak Realm.
In the jianghu, that title carried a weight no one dared joke about.
A Peak Realm expert could found a sect in any region and make it the dominant power there through sheer force. In a great clan or one of the Nine Great Sects, they'd rise to a high position. In the Murim Alliance, they'd command a "Division Leader" role.
All because of the power they wielded.
"But isn't Squad Leader Poison Phoenix still only at Pinnacle Realm? How does that affect the squad's pecking order?"
"Ah, I heard my White Sword Unit Leader chatting with Red Cloud Unit Leader. Silent Dragon and Sword Dragon are hopeless at actual duties, so no changes to the ranks."
"Heh... Should we call that 'fairness from the heavens' or what?"
"Fairness my ass. Some hit Peak Realm at that age while we're stuck at first-rate. What's fair about that?"
"True enough."
Envy and awe mingled in their voices.
Elsewhere, cheers erupted.
No surprise—it was Red Cloud Unit Leader Gang Chan, standing with Golden Sword Gwon Pyo-wol.
"I'm definitely challenging them to a match this time! No more holding back!"
"Don't be reckless."
"Azure Dragon Leader, that's your problem! You've gotta have some fire in you."
"...I shouldn't have said anything."
Azure Dragon Unit Leader Gi Tae-un sighed deeply and crossed his arms.
That's when True Origin Unit Leader Gyeon Dong sidled up slyly.
After getting crushed in the spar with Dragon-Phoenix Squad and keeping a low profile lately, his eyes now sparkled with anticipation.
"They're due any minute. Running a bit late."
Gyeon Dong's goatee twitched.
The defeat had stung, but he'd gained much from it—and Mok Ri-won's words had been immense comfort. He actually liked the guy.
He even planned to gift him some cherished liquor as a welcome-back present.
Gwon Pyo-wol eyed the bottle Gyeon Dong clutched and smiled faintly.
"They'll be here soon."
Right on cue.
"Ah! There they are!"
Six figures strode down the main road.
The bright-faced Dragon-Phoenix Squad.
Dang Hwa-seo, at their head, looked startled by the crowd, while Mok Ri-won beamed and waved at familiar faces.
Their arrival unleashed a roar that shook the ground.
"Waaaaah!!!"
The Murim Alliance welcomed its masters.
*
Back at the Dragon-Phoenix Squad hall, Dang Hwa-seo spoke up right away.
"I'll go make the report. Everyone, rest up."
"Got it!"
Mok Ri-won replied energetically and saw her off.
He walked her to the entrance, watched her leave, then turned back.
Returning home after two months felt special.
No dust or neglect in sight—well maintained.
"Ah! The training ground!"
Mok Ri-won headed there to consume the century-old Blackened Spatholobus he'd gotten as a reward from the Hao Sect.
And failed.
"All taken."
"Huh?"
"One's Namgung Brother. Two's Il-un Monk. Three's Hye-un Monk. Mok, our turn's way off."
Jegal San chuckled, and Mok Ri-won pouted.
"Everyone's thinking the same..."
"They're pumped up. Can't blame 'em—who wouldn't want a safe spot for century-old Blackened Spatholobus?"
"Fair point."
Century-old Blackened Spatholobus was an elixir guaranteeing at least twenty years of cultivation.
They could refine it into a pill, but that would diminish the natural essence only raw consumption provided.
Natural essence was so pure it outshone everything else—better to take the cultivation hit for it.
'Everyone wants to use it before it degrades.'
Mok Ri-won understood.
"Hmm... Wanna grab some food then?"
"Sure, let's go. Saw the head chef earlier—deep-fried pork today."
"Ooh...!"
"And fresh broth for the noodles."
"Ooooh!!!"
Fresh broth noodles.
Mok Ri-won's throat bobbed with dry swallows.
He bolted to the mess hall, Jegal San laughing behind him.
*
After eating, as Mok Ri-won and Jegal San sipped drinks overlooking the garden, Namgung Jincheon stepped out.
"Oh! Namgung Brother, all done?"
Jegal San asked; Namgung Jincheon nodded.
He glanced at the glasses between them, then sat down.
"Mind if I join?"
"Of course, Namgung Brother—have one."
Jegal San poured as Namgung Jincheon eyed the glass thoughtfully.
Mok Ri-won spotted the worry there.
"Sword Dragon Brother, something bothering you?"
It had started after leaving the Hao Sect.
Precisely, after his private talk with the Sect Leader.
Had she threatened him or something?
The squad had asked repeatedly, but he always brushed it off as nothing.
Now, today of all days, with that furrowed brow again, Mok Ri-won asked with concern. Namgung Jincheon hesitated.
"..."
He stared at the untouched, rippling liquor.
Finally, he spoke.
"Got a question."
"Hm?"
"Wha..."
Namgung Jincheon faltered.
Shame twisted his face; he sighed.
Jegal San, impatient, narrowed his eyes.
"...Namgung Brother, what's up? Spit it out like a man."
"Yeah! We're comrades! Jegal Brother and I'll hear you out!"
Namgung Jincheon's gaze dimmed further.
He bit his lip, held his breath, then exhaled.
"Wha... What do you think of Sa-rang?"
The two froze.
Mok Ri-won always listened earnestly to others' troubles, but now...
'...Why are you asking me that, Sword Dragon Brother?'
Mok Ri-won panicked.
*
Dang Hwa-seo didn't return to the hall until late evening.
Reporting on the Gui Prefecture trip, the two Lust Demons at the Hao Sect's hideout, and intel from the Sect Leader.
So much to cover, so many decisions—it had been a long day.
She ran into Mok Ri-won.
And heard something utterly ridiculous that washed away her fatigue.
"...Sword Dragon asked that?"
Dang Hwa-seo's brow furrowed.
Mok Ri-won nodded.
"Yeah. Threw me for a loop. Looked like that's what he'd been brooding over... You know, whether Sword Dragon Brother and Sa-rang even make sense together."
Dang Hwa-seo agreed wholeheartedly.
Heaven Above All, I Alone Am Supreme.
Self-absorbed hothead who drew his sword at the slightest frustration.
To her, love was far too soon for Namgung Jincheon.
As that thought crossed her mind, another popped up.
"...But is it okay telling me?"
He must assume she'd keep it secret, but was it right to spill so easily?
Her curiosity piqued; Mok Ri-won laughed heartily.
"Telling you 'cause you're Little Sister! No secrets from you! True friends don't pile up even the smallest..."
His voice trailed off.
A flicker of bitterness crossed his face, then vanished.
"...secrets! That's what I think."
Dang Hwa-seo smiled faintly.
'Must be bugging him that he can't talk about his sect.'
That was the only thing he hid from her.
Even that, his carelessness had half-exposed it.
She watched his awkward grin, then—without thinking—reached out to ruffle his hair.
"You're such an honest soul, Young Hero Mok."
"Mm-hmm!"
No resistance to the gesture—it stirred improper thoughts.
She tamped them down.
And asked.
"...So what did you tell him?"
"Hm?"
"About love. Your answer to Sword Dragon's question?"
Her tone was deadly serious.
His response mattered deeply to her.
'We've never had a talk like this, so...!'
An intel goldmine, maybe!
Tension built inside.
Oblivious, Mok Ri-won grinned brightly.
"Said I don't know!"
"Uh, huh?"
"Too hard! Love is!"
His gaze drifted to the starry night sky.
A trace of longing softened his face.
"As a kid, my master-to-be told me that once. Said love's too great and too trivial to teach lightly."
"Strange words."
"Yeah, really strange. So I can only vaguely define it."
"Vaguely...?"
"I love my master. Love my teacher too. Love everyone I've met here. You too, Little Sister!"
Thump—
Dang Hwa-seo's heart plummeted.
She knew it wasn't romantic love, yet...
That word from his lips felt so special, tangling her thoughts in an instant.
"Gh..."
Heat flushed through her.
An incomprehensible sound escaped.
Still, Mok Ri-won continued.
"Precious feeling. One we must never forget. But we can't swear it'll stay beautiful forever."
He closed his eyes.
"The one who cared for me with my master said that. Love turns selfish sometimes, hurting the other. It twists into hate. That's why it's trivial."
"...Ah."
"Great and trivial. Fits perfectly, right?"
Dang Hwa-seo's fingers twitched.
Her tangled mind cleared.
'...Get a grip, Hwa-seo.'
Serious talk, and she'd let emotions derail her.
She steadied herself and smiled.
"Your master sounds profoundly wise."
"Yes! Master loved deep thought and debating it with me!"
"I feel like I've learned something too."
"Good to hear."
Mok Ri-won beamed.
"Anyway, couldn't give Sword Dragon Brother an answer. Love's too tough for me."
Dang Hwa-seo nodded.
"Quite right."
"Oh, Jegal Brother said something else!"
"Hm?"
"Love's pure joy! Like a drug! Even more when you know it's wrong. Taboo thrills are humanity's most secret pleasure!"
Dang Hwa-seo got it instantly.
Mok Ri-won grinned innocently, clueless, but this was that bastard's married-woman fixation again.
Taboo thrills stir humanity's deepest pleasures.
Crunch—
Her fist clenched.
Mok Ri-won tilted his head.
"...Little Sister?"
"Nothing."
Kill Jegal San.
Even as that thought raged, she wrestled her shaking heart.
...Truth was, she got it.
No point saying it.
Whenever she saw Mok Ri-won's innocence, Dang Hwa-seo found herself pondering taboo emotions deeply.