Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Episode 7 - Murim Alliance, Establishment (7)
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Mok Ri-won felt his heart pounding from the heat touching his skin.
‘Master! I’ve earned my fame!’
The first things that came to mind were his master Mok Seon-o and Ma Il-seok, who had been like family.
The emotion surging from the fact that he, too, had now made his name in the murim like those he loved and respected was beyond words.
But was that all? The Dragon-Phoenix Squad, where he now had enemies, was a group that would fight on the front lines of the orthodox murim. The various incidents he would face ahead would forge him into a greater hero. Only now did Mok Ri-won truly realize it. He had left that remote mountain village in Gangseo Province and fully stepped into the murim.
Mok Ri-won’s gaze turned forward. There stood the Golden Sword, someone he had briefly acquainted himself with while staying at the Murim Alliance.
What stood out was his sword sheath, gleaming in gold.
‘They say he does that to engrain the value of drawing his sword!’
This was another story he had heard from Jegal San.
The Golden Sword Gwon Pyo-wol was one who said that drawing a sword required as much caution as spending a fortune.
Thus, he never drew his sword unless it was truly necessary.
‘So romantic!’
Mok Ri-won well knew how important it was for a swordsman to understand the weight of his blade, so admiration bloomed in his eyes.
[Squad Leader, Poison Phoenix Dang Hwa-seo!]
Amid this, Gwon Pyo-wol called out, and Dang Hwa-seo stepped forward. She turned toward the assembly and clasped her hands in greeting.
“Waaaaah!!!”
Cheers erupted. A clear sense of anticipation dwelled within them. Even if the weight on her shoulders was burdensome enough to make one’s heart heavy, Dang Hwa-seo’s face remained serene.
Mok Ri-won stared at her, entranced.
‘As expected, Little Sister is beautiful!’
He wondered if “beautiful” was the right word for such dignified poise, but he couldn’t help it. No other impression of Dang Hwa-seo came to his mind but beauty.
Dang Hwa-seo stepped down from the platform. Next came the introductions of the other squad members. But Mok Ri-won still gazed at her with sparkling eyes. Only belatedly noticing, Dang Hwa-seo gave an awkward smile and signaled him to compose himself, but alas, Mok Ri-won was far from perceptive.
Dang Hwa-seo grew anxious. What if he couldn’t hold back and made a fuss?
Fortunately—or perhaps not—her anxiety didn’t last long.
It was Mok Ri-won’s turn.
[Silent Dragon Mok Ri-won!]
At the call, Mok Ri-won startled and lifted his head.
Ahead stood Golden Sword Gwon Pyo-wol. To his sides and behind, countless people watched him.
Unlike at the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, with no upcoming spar to distract him, Mok Ri-won swallowed hard. Then he stepped forward.
“Waaaaah!!!”
“Kyaaaaah!!!”
As always, when Mok Ri-won’s turn came, the women’s piercing screams rang out. But Mok Ri-won couldn’t afford to mind them.
‘R-right, so first step forward! Then clasp hands in greeting!’
Mok Ri-won hurriedly recalled what Dang Hwa-seo had taught him.
Unlike the other Dragon-Phoenix members, he had no prior experience with such formalities, so an inevitable awkwardness seeped through, but no one viewed it negatively.
On the contrary, among the veteran masters, it came across quite endearingly.
The experts who had lived through the era of bloodshed valued purity toward martial prowess and heroism over empty rituals.
“Heh heh, seeing him so bashful up there, it seems he’s only ever trained with the sword his whole life.”
“Exactly, what’s all this formality? Righteousness is forged from an upright heart and experience honed over years of cutting through time.”
“I worry, though. That young man mustn’t lose that purity to the intoxication of fame.”
There was concern, anticipation, and satisfaction.
His princely appearance contrasted with his simple smile, his unwavering presence even as he smiled, and the weathered sword at his waist that spoke of years gone by.
All of it endeared itself to those who had lived through the past eras.
[This concludes the introductions of the squad members! Next, a speech from the Squad Leader!]
Dang Hwa-seo stepped forward again onto the platform. She continued in a strong voice.
It was another tedious ceremony, but those present harbored no complaints.
The future of the orthodox murim.
The aspirations of those called thus were like a blueprint for the next generation, so they simply listened attentively.
The founding ceremony was drawing to a close.
*
The event following the ceremonies was the banquet.
Now shedding their pristine white squad uniforms and back in casual attire, Mok Ri-won stuck to Dang Hwa-seo’s side and began making a belated fuss.
“Little Sister! You were so cool and beautiful! My mind went blank the moment I stepped up there, but how were you not nervous at all? Your voice didn’t tremble once, and it carried such power—I was shocked! I thought it was right for you to be Squad Leader! You’re so wise…”
“St-stop! Enough already!”
Dang Hwa-seo’s face was already beet red. It wasn’t mere words; one might think poking her cheek could make her head explode.
And truthfully, it was so. She wasn’t thick-skinned enough to brazenly respond to such pure, unadulterated admiration without a shred of ulterior motive.
“It was nothing! I prepared thoroughly, so making a mistake would’ve been the odd thing!”
“As expected! Little Sister is so well-prepa—”
“Pleeeease…!”
Dang Hwa-seo covered her face with her hands. The other squad members watched as if enjoying a spectacle.
Such banter happened often, so they should’ve been used to it by now, but Dang Hwa-seo’s reactions were always so entertaining to behold.
But they couldn’t let it go on forever.
Il-un slipped between them with a gentle smile. In such a soft atmosphere, he could fulfill his role as deputy leader.
“Come now, enough of that. Let’s head out. Don’t we have big matters ahead?”
At his words, a heavy tension began to flow among the squad members.
As Il-un said, they would meet someone at the upcoming banquet dinner.
“…Spear Star.”
Spear Star Sa Baek-un.
The hero of the bloodshed twenty years ago, one of the Four Saints who ascended to Alliance Leader after Buddha Star Won Myeong.
The Dragon-Phoenix Squad now had to meet him.
Dang Hwa-seo regained her tension at the mention.
“…The Strategist said he’s a straightforward man who won’t nitpick our behavior much. But that doesn’t mean we can act without manners.”
As she spoke, Dang Hwa-seo’s gaze fixed squarely on Namgung Jincheon.
Namgung Jincheon, arms crossed, looked down at her with an expressionless face.
“Why are you looking at me?”
Everyone but Namgung Jincheon knew the reason, and the question popped out.
Dang Hwa-seo suppressed her rising unease and averted her eyes.
“…It’s nothing.”
What use was saying more?
Rising from her seat with that thought, Dang Hwa-seo’s gaze landed on Mok Ri-won.
He seemed lost in thought.
“Young Hero Mok?”
“Ah, no. Just something came to mind.”
Mok Ri-won flashed a bright smile.
“Alright, let’s go!”
*
Stories of Spear Star Sa Baek-un were quite familiar even to Mok Ri-won.
The reason was simple. Tales of the Ten Great Masters of the orthodox murim, called the Four Saints and Six Kings, had been drilled into him by Ma Il-seok until his ears rang.
-The Spear Star is a peculiar fellow. He talks of hegemony and pursues ruthless martial arts, but his nature is soft. In other words, he’s a coward pretending to be tough. A laughable guy. But if you judge him as a righteous man… well, he truly is one. When the moment comes to step up, he suppresses that cowardly nature and charges forward.
The Sa Baek-un Mok Ri-won knew was a peculiar man. He also stirred Mok Ri-won’s admiration and romantic notions.
How could one who overcame inner fear to stand for justice not be cool?
Yet, Mok Ri-won felt reluctance about meeting him.
For no other reason than this: On the day the bloodshed ended, Spear Star Sa Baek-un had been one of the four who argued to kill him regarding his disposition.
-As I said, Spear Star is a coward. He frets easily over small things and insists on nipping potential dangers in the bud before they sprout. His opposition that day stems from that trait.
Mok Ri-won remembered. The apologetic expression on Ma Il-seok’s face as he said it.
-He feared your innate nature more than the possibility you might become a hero.
-…Yes.
-You may hate him. But try to understand. He loves this orthodox murim so much he can’t tolerate even the smallest threat.
Mok Ri-won understood.
The Heavenly Slaughter Star nature was so hard to bear even for its bearer, so how could he expect understanding from others?
Moreover, Sa Baek-un was a man Ma Il-seok praised without reserve. A man who usually garnished others’ stories with curses showed only goodwill toward him.
By Mok Ri-won’s standards, he was a proven good man.
‘…I’ll have to hide it.’
He was his master’s comrade. A senior of the jianghu fitting the term righteous man. Yet Mok Ri-won had to conceal his identity from him.
That fact left a bitterness in him.
“Young Hero Mok, are you alright?”
Dang Hwa-seo asked worriedly. Lifting his head, Mok Ri-won realized they had arrived at the banquet hall.
“…Ah, yes. Just tense about meeting the Alliance Leader!”
Pretending calm with a smile, his words made Dang Hwa-seo nod.
“Let’s go.”
Mok Ri-won nodded back and stepped forward.
In the noisy banquet hall, he headed to a notably quiet table shrouded in an inexplicable silence. He took a seat second from the head.
Sa Baek-un had not yet arrived.
“He had a schedule right up until now, so he’ll be a bit late. Please wait just a moment.”
Strategist Jegal Mu-yeon, already there, said.
Dang Hwa-seo nodded, and dishes began appearing on the table one by one.
The banquet hall’s atmosphere shifted the moment a meat dish was placed.
Murmurs arose. Sighs of admiration leaked from somewhere.
A man entered through the wide-open doors.
“Alliance Leader!”
Someone’s words ignited the mood.
The squad members and Mok Ri-won turned toward the entrance.
‘That’s the Alliance Leader.’
The first striking feature was his build. More suited to wielding a flail than a spear, his frame was the largest Mok Ri-won had ever seen.
Next came his stern countenance, snow-white hair, and elegant indigo robe.
Like Sword King Namgung Hyeok, no presence emanated from him. Only the bulging sun acupoint at his temple revealed he was a transcendent realm master who could perfectly conceal his qi.
Spear Star Sa Baek-un.
He sat at the head of the Dragon-Phoenix Squad’s table. Curiously, a demure old woman sat beside him, but the squad couldn’t spare her attention now.
Sa Baek-un greeted them with a warm, fatherly smile.
“Pleased to meet you. Seeing the future of our orthodox murim fills me with joy.”