#79. The Black Flame Dragon Surpassing the Pass (7)
The branch manager of the Murim Alliance's Hangzhou branch couldn't hide his shock as he listened to the report.
"Ssangmak Stronghold has been wiped out?"
This first gate of the Murim Academy exam had been a hellish trial for branches across the country. They had to observe over four thousand mountain strongholds one by one, determining who was raiding them and ensuring no first-rate experts or Murim Academy graduates were involved.
Fortunately, the Zhejiang region had few mid- or small-scale strongholds aside from three of the Green Forest Seventy-Two Strongholds, allowing for a more leisurely approach compared to other branches.
Of course, there had been a minor upset. Among the four thousand strongholds, the weakest one, Bongjim Stronghold, had allied with the nearby Guwoong Stronghold to counterattack the Gyerong Merchant Group, surprising the alliance members.
But now, Ssangmak Stronghold—which they'd only been monitoring perfunctorily—had suddenly been eradicated.
"Was there a peak expert hiding there after all?"
"According to the report, the exam candidates' martial skills are impressive, but not enough to register with the Murim Alliance."
"Then? Did the Murim Alliance or Huashan Sect join forces to take it down?"
Major powers often banded their disciples together, mobilizing hundreds to exploit the one-hundred-person limit per candidate.
Even so, Ssangmak Stronghold combined two bases with a thousand men. It would take a decent sect sending ten disciples each to match that.
"No, that's not it either. Fewer than twenty people were involved."
"……."
"I know it sounds absurd. Perhaps you should go see for yourself, Branch Manager."
Upon arriving at Cheonmok Mountain himself, the branch manager was left speechless by the scene before him. The vast, lush mountain had burned pitch-black, hundreds of corpses piled midway up the slopes, and streams of blood from the village outskirts forming rivulets.
"What in the world……."
As the branch manager trailed off, an alliance member overseeing Cheonmok Mountain approached.
"Men claiming to be exam candidates brought hostages down from the mountain and then set it ablaze."
"That doesn't make sense. With all the springs and underbrush, fire shouldn't spread easily."
"True. But the moment they ignited it, a massive wind blew in. Oil drums pre-placed around the mountain exploded, sparking a wildfire across the entire range."
"……."
Come to think of it, two days ago there had been a report of a sudden wind igniting a dry slope.
"They used the wind? A natural disaster?"
At that moment, figures who appeared to be candidates approached. One was a man with a body like Mount Tai, the other unremarkable.
The giant stood with arms crossed, chin haughtily raised, while the ordinary one politely cupped his fists in greeting.
"We've heard you're from the Murim Alliance's Hangzhou branch."
"That's right. Are you the ones who took down Ssangmak Stronghold?"
The ordinary man glanced back instead of answering, and those behind the giant brought forward two corpse-covered bundles.
"These are the vicious Gold-Faced Poison Blade and Poison-Eyed Blood Axe."
"……."
The alliance member rushed over, peeled back the straw mats, inspected the bodies and surroundings, then nodded. They were indeed the stronghold leaders.
"So you truly took down Ssangmak Stronghold?"
"As you see."
"Ssangmak is one of Zhejiang's top green forest powers. I can hardly believe you did this alone."
No sooner had the branch manager finished than the giant's face twisted in fury. He began channeling his inner energy.
"……Hup."
"Kuh."
"What kind of inner strength……."
His robes swelled as if about to burst, a powerful aura pressing down like a stranglehold. It was mere intimidation without killing intent, yet it felt like being crushed under a boulder.
"The mighty Murim Alliance won't even think to raid Ssangmak themselves, yet they doubt a man who fought for the common folk?"
The giant strode forward, hand thrusting out as if to rip out a throat in one go.
The branch manager, a lifelong martial artist, couldn't believe he was being utterly overpowered by this youthful-looking foe. He poured all his energy into resisting, but his body wouldn't obey.
"That's enough. You'll scare them."
The ordinary man raised his black sword, still sheathed, to block the giant's hand.
"Scum like this need their necks snapped—for the good of the Murim Alliance."
"Do that, and you won't set foot in the alliance."
"……."
The giant, who seemed impervious to reason, slowly withdrew his aura at the ordinary man's words. Not entirely, though—he returned to his spot, arms crossed, glaring. A clear sign he could explode again at any moment.
"As you've seen, this gentleman's vast inner energy made short work of Ssangmak. Heaven helped too."
"……."
The branch manager started to speak, then glanced nervously at the giant. His own sect was no slouch, but dying here would render it meaningless.
"If you need, investigate further. We're stuck here a few more days anyway."
The giant cut in. "Do that, and you won't leave on your own two feet."
"Ah…… just stay quiet! Why do you keep butting in?!"
"……Those bastards are doubting us."
"No, what nonsense to the alliance members! Apologize now."
"Hmph! I was gonna break an arm each to start—call it even."
The alliance members unconsciously rubbed their own arms.
"……Ahem, well, anyway, tell us who you are first. Then we can investigate or whatever."
The giant cocked his head arrogantly, glaring. The ordinary man intervened.
"This is Bang Du-chil."
"Reincarnation of Xiang Yu!"
"Myth of Lü Bu!"
Exclamations erupted among the alliance members—they'd heard the rumors.
"Urk…… I see. And you?"
"Ah, I'm Jin Sowoon of Tae-eul Gate."
"……."
"……."
Unlike the cheers for Bang Du-chil, the air turned icy.
The branch manager finally spoke, voice strained. "You're…… that Black Flame Dragon Jin Sowoon?"
"……Yeah, that's what they're calling me."
Jin Sowoon nodded unenthusiastically, and the branch manager whipped around, shouting.
"Hey! Bring the gate passes! Now!"
"Yes sir! Got 'em."
"If we've seen it with our own eyes, just hand over the passes—no need to call me out here for nothing! Sorry, Jin Gongja! My underlings are still green."
Jin Sowoon and Bang Du-chil could only tilt their heads at the sudden shift.
# Damn it. Damn it. Why do rumors of crimes I didn't commit keep spreading?
Perplexed by the Hangzhou branch manager's abrupt change, I subtly asked while receiving the gate passes. The response was astounding.
[Aigoo, we don't pull idiotic stunts like Gong Seok-chan.]
Gong Seok-chan was the Murim Alliance's Akyang branch manager. Back during the Ma-ryeong Plateau incident when I saved people, he'd come seeking revenge for the Taecheong Sword Immortal's humiliation in fleeing alone. I'd thought it resolved smoothly thanks to Namgung Jin-myeong and Sahyeokryeon leader Cha Seok-du stepping in.
But no. Afterward, Namgung Jin-myeong and Cha Seok-du rallied white and black path sects to formally protest to the Murim Alliance.
Black path complaints would have been ignored, but with Namgung family, Hyeongsan Sect, Mosanpa, and others raising issues about the Akyang branch's conduct—and the alliance's response overall—it left the Murim Alliance flustered.
As a result, the Akyang branch manager and all affiliated members were stripped of positions and dismissed back to their sects or hometowns. Related alliance figures faced a chain of punishments.
The problem? This sparked bizarre rumors about me: joint white-black path warrior, Namgung bastard trained at Sahwangbong, monster forged by outer sects to topple the alliance, and more.
"They said your skills were extraordinary—now I see why."
Bang Du-chil, listening beside me, nodded. I bellowed.
"Don't spout nonsense. Joint warrior? What joint warrior?!"
"If not, why get mad? Your anger suggests a guilty conscience. Maybe Namgung bastard trained at Sahwangbong……."
"No!"
"I don't scorn bastards. If you chose it yourself……."
"I said no!"
Baek So-ryeong, chuckling and poking me, chimed in.
"Still, it's a relief. No more strongholds on Cheonmok Mountain."
I shook my head.
"Doubt it."
"Huh? Why?"
"Cheonmok Mountain is the easiest, safest route linking Anhui and Zhejiang. It's essential for reaching Hangzhou. Soon enough, someone from the Green Forest Seventy-Two will claim it for their own stronghold."
"Ah……."
"……."
As Baek So-ryeong nodded, Bang Du-chil fell into heavy silence.
"Here, take these."
I handed four of the eight gate passes from the Hangzhou branch manager to Bang Du-chil.
He stared blankly at them, then asked Baek So-ryeong.
"So-ryeong."
"Yes, Gaga."
"Do I really need to join the Murim Alliance?"
"Pardon?"
"I've realized during this— the alliance isn't my path."
Still just past twenty, he couldn't grasp everything, but the alliance's "justice" didn't sit well.
"Then……."
"I'll pursue the green forest way."
Bang Du-chil gazed at the stripped-bare Cheonmok Mountain.
"The alliance's way doesn't reach the common folk. But green forest does—directly. Establishing it would let far more live in peace."
"……Gaga."
"In return, I promise: I'll become king of the green forest and make you my queen."
At Bang Du-chil's resolute declaration, Baek So-ryeong smiled.
"Gaga, I already see you as my king. Wherever you go, I'll follow."
Baek So-ryeong and Bang Du-chil embraced deeply—like a massive bear cradling a fish.
Guess it was fate. Maybe becoming Green Forest Alliance Leader suits him better. The alliance's schemes and politics weren't for him.
As I moved to give them space, Bang Du-chil called to me.
"You."
"……?"
"Walk the green forest way with me."
"What?"
"Ssangmak was two strongholds. With me, pursue green forest……."
"Don't be ridiculous. What kind of talk to an upright sect disciple?"
"……Tae-eul Gate as upright……."
"Wanna test it?"
After a moment's thought, Bang Du-chil nodded.
"Then, become sworn brothers."
His thunderbolt words made me snap.
"A white path man brothers with the future Green Forest Alliance Leader? Horrifying just to think."
"Ho, do I look the type?"
"……."
His utterly absurd words made me lose my reason, uncharacteristically.