Unwanted Invitation (2)
Although Liu Bei had grandly established the kingdom of Shu Han, Sichuan Province ultimately fell to one of Cao Cao's lackeys and reverted to being just another administrative district of the imperial court. To the average person, it was known only as a land of many rivers and strange foods. But now, it was experiencing an unexpected boom.
Unfortunately, that boom was in the form of war—a most unwelcome kind.
"Damn it, when the hell is this war gonna end?"
"Winter's almost here, and they're still planning to keep fighting?"
"They said the Murim Alliance would crush them in one go... but isn't the Blood Cult stronger than we thought?"
"Or maybe the Murim Alliance is just weak."
Merchants who had initially grinned ear to ear at the sudden influx of people into the cities now began hardening their faces one by one as the flames of war spread across all of Sichuan, freezing trade and the economy in their tracks.
That said, it wasn't as if the Murim Alliance's affiliates had nothing to say in their defense. For one, the Blood Cult's numbers were far greater than anticipated—enough to make even Qingcheng, Ami, and the Tang Family scramble like they desperately needed to take a shit.
And mixed among them were the occasional Iron Corpses, objects of terror for the Alliance's rank-and-file warriors. The mere appearance of those pale-skinned monstrosities on the battlefield was enough to plummet morale.
Overwhelming with sheer numbers was the Murim Alliance and its allies' greatest specialty, but Iron Corpses and illusion sorcery weren't the sort of things you could bulldoze with headcount alone.
Nicknamed everything from "Affiliate Pulverizer" to "Corpse Factory," the Iron Corpses only lost some of their menace after the Tang Family's Poison King, Qingcheng's sect leader, and Ami's council of elders stepped in.
But problems remained. The demonic sorcery of the Blood Cult's sorcerers—something they'd only studied in theory—was far more bizarre and grotesque than any external instructor had described. And it left aftereffects almost every single time.
Moreover, the Demon-Breaking and Spirit-Control techniques that every Alliance affiliate was required to learn upon joining proved utterly useless. Not that it was fair to complain, considering they were the ones who'd sold all the Spirit-Control Orbs in the first place.
Even those who'd spent their first month in the Alliance twiddling their thumbs like good little monks, clutching their Spirit-Control Orbs like precious eggs, ended up going mad from the Blood Cult's illusions. After witnessing that, even those who still had orbs resolved to sell them off the moment they got back.
Few among the Alliance commanders had deep knowledge or experience with demons or sorcery, so they had no choice but to rely on the tactical manuals passed down through the Alliance. All that did was increase the screams of their subordinates and the curses hurled at their superiors.
Yet amid the chaos, one group was showing exceptional results.
"Hang on, why the hell are those Seung Ho Dang bastards fighting a completely different war?"
"Isn't their leader, Gu Jeongryong, a Blood Cult defector? How else do you explain the difference in casualties?"
"If that were true, they wouldn't be racking up that many kills."
As people wondered at Seung Ho Dang's spike-like accumulation of merits, Gu Jeongryong responded nonchalantly.
"We faced off against that guy Jin Sowoon first."
"Jin Sowoon?"
"The Black Flame Dragon?"
The familiar name hit like a thunderbolt, and people scrambled to figure out what set Seung Ho Dang apart from everyone else. Naturally, that started with digging into everything related to "Jin Sowoon."
"What the hell even is this guy?"
As everyone burned with curiosity, those on the front lines uncovered a clue in a classified document: the "Jin Sowoon Report."
The rescue procedures and Blood Cult counter-tactics outlined in the report differed starkly from the Alliance's standard manuals, breeding unease about verification. But for affiliates losing a comrade every day, it was just the difference between dying blindly or trying something new first.
War was harsh enough to drive anyone mad. The affiliates followed Jin Sowoon's tactics out of sheer desperation to survive.
And they unleashed curses like never before.
"Fuck! You crazy bastards—why the hell did you hide a method this good?!"
"You dogshit pricks! They must've spiked it just 'cause it's from some third-rate sect called Tae-eul Gate!"
"They're padding casualties on purpose—they've gotta be Blood Cult spies!"
The high command had their reasons for not adopting an unverified manual, but could grieving affiliates understand that? It became routine for them to crudely copy the classified report and pass it to other units, until copies circulated through every dispatched force.
The Murim Alliance finally cracked down.
"Reports keep coming in of affiliates fighting based on this irregular document. Division heads and family lords, please firmly guide your subordinates to obey high command."
But it only provoked the dispatched forces further.
"Firmly guide? Is this fucker insane? You want us to stick our necks out and die? Keep this up, and we'll cut your heads off first."
"That's not what I meant! How do you plan to face the Alliance when you return?!"
Even within high command, heated debates raged over whether to follow Jin Sowoon's tactics.
"Hm... So this is the report that kid Jin Sowoon wrote?"
"P-Poison King, sir... That's classified..."
"If even our Tang Family's regular warriors have copies, what's 'classified' even mean?"
"......"
Poison King Tang Hyeokje pulled an identical copied report from his bosom and waved it.
"If it works, we use it."
"Poison King, sir... But we're under orders from the Murim Alliance..."
Before his subordinate finished, Tang Hyeokje raised a finger to his lips with a soft "shh."
"How long are we gonna listen to orders from the Alliance thousands of li away? You want to wake up after all the affiliates are dead?"
"......"
Tang Hyeokje tilted his head slightly and murmured low.
"The Alliance Lord scares you, but I don't?"
A chill settled over the command tent.
Gulp.
A man who could poison everyone in the room with a mere rub of his fingers if he wanted. No one could afford not to fear him.
Tang Hyeokje flicked his fingers through the air as if playing an instrument.
"I'll take responsibility for the Alliance Lord. Right now, minimizing casualties before we figure out the enemy is what matters."
Persuaded(?) by the Poison King, the Murim Alliance gradually began pushing the Blood Cult out of Sichuan. High command finally admitted their own tactics were sloppy and started following Jin Sowoon's report directly.
As battles with the Blood Cult intensified, winter slowly approached.
#
"Um... Benefactor Jin, may I ask what this is?"
They just had to call him "benefactor," even on their deathbed.
"Come on, can't you tell? It's the soul orb from the report. For our academy student Ilgak."
What was it again? Something about it being a demonic cultist's divine relic called the Demon Buddha or whatever. Its energy was too potent, so it'd been stored deep in the archives.
But Ilgak's expression was subtly off.
"Benefactor Jin... This is the Black Spirit Orb. It's an artifact brimming with the Demon Buddha's true qi from life. Bringing it out so casually..."
"But what choice did we have? It was the only anti-demonic item in the report. Whatever."
They'd scoured the deepest archives, but no Buddhist scriptures or golden Buddha statues. It was weird the Alliance even had Buddhist-related archives to begin with—Shaolin would've taken them all ages ago.
"That thing with the Reverse Muscle Meridian—just circulate to dispel the energy, right?"
"...Well, yes."
Ilgak stared at the Black Spirit Orb, his face a complex mix of emotions he couldn't shake. His shiny bald head practically screamed whether he should even accept such an item.
And understandably so. He'd never dreamed of rewards beyond his stipend in exchange for loyalty to the Alliance. When not getting paid becomes habit, you start seeing yourself and the Alliance as one. I am the Alliance, and the Alliance is me—that ridiculous mental gymnastics.
For someone like Ilgak with solid backing, it wasn't an issue. They got promotions and perks. But what about low-rank affiliates whose only pay was their stipend? In a system where effort earned no extra, they saw coasting on stipend as normal.
To fix that mindset, you had to rewire the top brass first.
"If you don't want it, give it back. I'll sell it for the representative team's funds. I'll consider your academy exploits as pure loyalty to the Alliance."
"N-No, that's not...!"
As I reached out, Ilgak hurriedly pulled the orb from my grasp. What was that? Did he just dodge with Guanyin Qinggang Hand?
Ilgak, naturally deploying elegant Shaolin technique, flushed even his glossy scalp red as he spoke.
"S-Sell it? Releasing a demonic relic of this caliber into the world would cause chaos..."
If you'd said that from the start, how nice. One corner of my mouth curled up naturally.
"So you'll use it yourself, then?"
"...Amitabha."
Ilgak clasped his hands around the Black Spirit Orb prayerfully. So damn tsundere.
But the others weren't much different. Yeo Samtong held a new bow. Namgung Seonhwa clutched Thousand Silkworm Silk armor. Cheol Sunjik gripped a voucher.
To ease their burdens, I said, "Anyone uncomfortable with Alliance rewards can return them anytime."
"......"
"......"
"......"
No one stepped up.
Then.
"Um... Big brother."
"Yeah? What's up, Jaehwa?"
Moyong Jaehwa shuffled forward hesitantly.
"Why... why didn't I get anything?"
"Oh! You mean you? I already picked yours up."
Moyong Jaehwa's face lit up instantly.
"Wh-What is it?"
"Hyeoncheol!"
"Hy-Hyeoncheol?!"
I nodded emphatically.
"Yep. I got the materials and sent them to a master craftsman ahead of time. Once the rest comes in, you'll get an amazing bow back."
The absurd divine treasure called the Solar Bow. Unaware of the Fifteen Divine Artifacts' secrets, Moyong Jaehwa fixated on "hyeoncheol" steel, mouth agape.
So damn cute.
"Oh, right! Take this too."
"Huh?"
Moyong Jaehwa took the voucher, then bulged his eyes at the amount.
"B-Big brother! What is this?! A hundred nyang?!"
"Yeah! Go rest, buy what you need."
"...N-No, still..."
I patted his shoulder with my most benevolent smile.
"It's fine! It's fine! Just pocket it since it's from your big bro."
'Cause I'll have reasons to feel sorry toward you soon enough.
"Th-Thank you, big brother!!"
So innocent. Already feeling guilty.
Ahem.
Anyway, things with the Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Elephants Formation and Baek Do Hoe were more or less wrapped up. Jegal Somyeong, acting not as grandfather but as the Alliance's Chief Strategist before his grandson Jegal Jeonggi, threw him straight into the gold prison. Effectively expelled from the academy, and unable to serve even as a low-rank warrior after release.
Baek Do Hoe's representative team, nearly responsible for massive casualties, naturally disbanded. As promised, I took over their entire representative office.
And...
Heh heh... A hundred and thirty stalks.
I immediately checked the Seven-Colored Ginseng stock upon settling in. Holy shit, how much is this worth? What a ridiculous amount of money—but thinking they'd all go straight into my mouth suddenly filled me with affection for Baek Do Hoe...
"What did you get, Representative Jin?"
Cheol Sunjik, who had tucked away his two-thousand-nyang voucher, asked.
I replied casually.
"Just had the medicine hall make me some tonic."
"Tonic?"
I nodded calmly and showed my nearly healed wound.
"My body's taken a beating this time."
Sighs erupted here and there.
"Young Master Jin... Just that? Did you hold back for our sake...?"
As Namgung Seonhwa moved to hand over her armor, I shook my head.
"No. You all suffered because of me. Of course I have to look after you."
I smiled at those around me.
"I'm plenty satisfied just knowing you got your due rewards."
Because the tonic from Sama Jeong would, in the future, be a legendary elixir fit only for the Murim Alliance Lord. Heh heh. It boosted inner power and intensely amplified the Five Elements Qi traits. The recipe was top secret, unavailable no matter how much money you had later on.
After consuming it, my Demon-Exterminating Hand's power would rival the original Blood Jade Hand. Might even get suspected of being a Blood Jade Hand practitioner at this rate. Um hahaha.
As I enjoyed the Seven-Colored Ginseng with apparent detachment from personal greed.
"Representative Jin. Visitors from Baek Do Hoe."
Sudden guests arrived. The former owners of this office shuffled in awkwardly. Baek Do Hoe reps who'd survived mortal peril in the formation, here to retrieve personal items after vacating.
I put on a magnanimous face.
"Ah, take your stuff."
The ginseng was safely in my cabinet—they wouldn't dare touch it. Still paranoid, I guarded my spot, protecting the ginseng.
After packing small boxes of items, instead of leaving, the Baek Do Hoe group approached me.
What? Eyeing the ginseng?
I hardened my face, scowling fiercely at the unacceptable notion.
But then, starting with the frontmost, they began clasping hands in salute.
What the...?
"Representative Jin, we've been rude all this time."
"Huh?"
Stunned by their sudden actions, they continued.
"Our narrow vision led us to judge you harshly."
They bowed deeper.
"It won't happen again, and we'll repay the grace you showed in saving us."
The others bowed too.
Hoh, not everyone in Baek Do Hoe was a two-faced snake.
Confirming the ginseng safe(?), I nodded slowly with the world's most benevolent smile. Admiration dawned on the faces around me at my magnanimity...
"So, how exactly do you plan to repay that grace?"
"Pardon?"
The Baek Do Hoe members, heads bowed in salute, looked up blankly.
No way—they weren't planning to just say they'd repay it?
As I raised an eyebrow, one stepped forward with an awkward smile.
"D-Do you need anything?"
They broke into cold sweats at the unexpected question.
A great idea struck; I snapped my fingers.
"Ah! How about this? With Jegal Jeonggi in prison, the Baek Do Hoe chairman seat's empty, right?"
"Uh? Oh... yes."
Ak Jupyeong, who should've naturally appeared in Jegal Jeonggi's absence, hadn't shown, leaving Baek Do Hoe in chaos. And now was the moment.
"Why not put a proper chairman in place this time?"
"A proper chairman...? What do you...?"
I slung an arm around one and spun him to face Namgung Seonhwa.
That hint should suffice, right? Sure enough, he asked in surprise.
"N-Namgung young lady?"
"Ah! No pressure! It's ultimately an internal Baek Do Hoe matter. But! In these divided times, doesn't someone truly qualified deserve the seat?"
Namgung Seonhwa was a direct Namgung descendant who'd overcome all obstacles to enter the academy on her own merits—an elite among elites. What qualification could top that?
Jegal Gipyo? What the hell would we use that weasel for?
After pondering my words and exchanging glances, the Baek Do Hoe members spoke amid brief silence.
"Th-Then, we'll discuss this among ourselves."
I smiled satisfiedly and beckoned Namgung Seonhwa.
"That's what they said, Lady Seonhwa. Go talk it over with them."
"P-Pardon? Me?"
I ushered out the dazed Namgung Seonhwa and Baek Do Hoe group together.
"Choose wisely! This is all for Baek Do Hoe! Disappoint me or betray—just a little. Just a tiny bit, and I'll be heartbroken!"
"A-A little..."
They'd act accordingly after that. They'd imagine how "little" my little was. If they still botched it after these hints, real judgment was due.
Bloody judgment.
As the group filed out, quiet returned to the office.
"Ha... You even swallowed up Baek Do Hoe?"
Seong Moran, who'd watched it all, let out a disbelieving chuckle.
I shook my head at her.
"Swallow? Just handling the natural course of things."
At my nonchalant response, Seong Moran—now accustomed—shifted topics.
"So, what about the 'Famous Scholar Invitation'? We haven't said who's coming. Can we just use the one Baek Do Hoe invited?"
"Probably not. Someone's bound to hate that Baek Do Hoe's under my thumb now."
"Then what? Didn't you invite someone separately, Young Master Jin?"
"Invite?"
Would anyone even come if I invited them? The most likely was Bang Du-chil... Er... um... Inviting the King of Nokrim to the academy? Probably not.
As I hesitated, Seong Moran furrowed her brow slightly.
"What... You didn't invite anyone? This could be our rep team's symbolic event. We can't just let it fizzle."
I nodded in agreement. Of course—the Jin Sowoon Rep Team that toppled even Baek Do Hoe couldn't botch its symbolic event.
"Mm... I sent a different letter."
"Different letter?"
"Someone who won't accept an invite but will come running at a letter."
"Huh?"
Seong Moran tilted her head in confusion, but I couldn't answer now. I just felt sorry for Moyong Jaehwa.
#
"...Hm?"
Eunho eyed the voucher Moyong Jaehwa proffered suspiciously.
"From big senior brother?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Said just take it and buy something tasty."
Doubt clouded his face.
"...Nyang...?"
The near-same-age duo, thick as thieves, huddled over the voucher.
"Feels like... some scheme."
Moyong Jaehwa glanced anxiously at Eunho's face.
"...Wh-Why?"
"Nah. There's a hidden motive. Big senior brother doesn't throw around big money like this."
"But he looted the archives for our gifts from the Alliance."
Eunho shook his head firmly.
"Different. For some reason, when it comes to money... he gets weird. Like, really weird."
To put it precisely, his eyes glaze over?
"And that guy just hands out this much cash?"
"......"
Listening to Eunho, Moyong Jaehwa started feeling off too. Beyond feeling—his instincts' antennae clicked frantically.
"N-No way..."
"What? Got a hunch?"
"Nah, probably not. No way... Even if... He's involved too..."
Within Moyong Family, only Moyong Jaehwa had awakened his sixth sense. Evolved through days of brutal torment to escape suffering.
Dubbed Grandfather Sense!
That sense blared alarms wildly, anxiously. His body trembled, cold sweat pouring like rain.
"E-Eunho! We gotta run!"
"H-Hey! What's wrong suddenly?!"
Before Eunho could respond, Moyong Jaehwa dashed out, firing his Flying Dragon Claw to reach the dorm rooftop.
Eunho, stunned, followed to the rooftop.
As he approached the shuddering Moyong Jaehwa—
"MOYONG JAEHWA!!!! You damn bastard!!!! Where are you!!!!"
"Gahk!"
A roar unlike any he'd experienced ravaged his insides.