Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Glorious Martial Emperor Festival (2)
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“Who might you be, young hero?”
The old man who had stopped his sword dance asked.
“I’d like to ask you the same thing. Who are you, senior?”
Since stepping into the martial world, Se Yeong had always shown utmost courtesy.
It wasn’t because the old man seemed like someone from the Demonic Cult. It was the profound depth in his face and expression that set him clearly apart from others.
Heh heh…
“I am Kang Seok-hyun, the martial arts instructor of the Murim Alliance.”
The old man revealed his identity with a warm smile.
“I’m Han Se Yeong, a member of the Elusive Squadron’s Tenth Squad.”
“Tenth Squad, eh… And what brings you here to seek me out?”
Se Yeong didn’t hide his true intentions.
“I followed the demonic energy.”
A glint flashed in the old man’s eyes.
Ho…
“If you sensed and tracked my demonic energy, you’re no ordinary youth.”
“That’s not the answer I want to hear.”
Heh heh…
“As expected of the young. So impatient. I once served in the Demonic Cult.”
The word “once” implied he no longer did.
Se Yeong took the old man at his word.
“My apologies for the rudeness, senior.”
Bowing deeply with respect, Se Yeong turned to leave.
He had more questions, but unless fate willed it, what was the point of prying into someone’s past?
This time, however, the old man showed interest in Se Yeong.
“I wonder why a young talent like you hasn’t made a name for himself yet.”
“I’m just an ordinary member of the Elusive Squadron.”
Keh keh keh…
The old man laughed heartily.
“Don’t underestimate this old man. In the past thirty-odd years, fewer than fifty people have sensed my demonic energy first. Lately, not a soul.”
With him going this far, Se Yeong no longer denied it.
“My name will spread soon enough.”
“I see. Then take care. Fame brings envy and jealousy in its wake—they’re two sides of the same coin.”
For the first time since entering the martial world, something truly weighed on his mind.
The old man had left such a strong impression that even after returning to their quarters, Se Yeong couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“Come here a moment.”
Se Yeong beckoned to Yi Cheon Yeong, who was practicing his martial arts.
“What is it, Brother Han?”
“Do you know of any martial arts instructors in the Murim Alliance who once served in the Demonic Cult?”
Yi Cheon Yeong paused in thought before speaking.
“I heard a rumor once, but I’m not sure if it’s true.”
“I’ll judge that. Just tell me what you heard.”
“Yes. So… Shortly after the Great War between righteousness and evil, a Demonic Cult expert surrendered. Afterward, he helped top martial artists push back the cult and was rewarded with a position in the Murim Alliance for his merits. He even taught the martial world’s prodigies for over a decade, but I don’t know what happened after that.”
Se Yeong’s hunch was that the rumor was true.
“I see. Then could Elusive Squadron members receive instruction from a martial arts instructor?”
“As long as the Infinite Sword Immortal was Alliance Leader, each squad had its own instructor. But after the current Leader took office, it was abolished.”
“What a shame.”
He truly regretted it.
If such a man had been the Tenth Squad’s instructor, the members would have learned so much from him.
Wait. They abolished it, but we can bring it back. Is there a good way to do that?
“What was the reason for abolishing it?”
“They fought so much among themselves over inviting famous instructors that they even drew swords.”
Anger bubbled up inside Se Yeong.
“They scrapped it over something that petty? What an idiot of an Alliance Leader!”
The squad members practicing nearby flinched at Se Yeong openly cursing the Leader.
Ha ha…
“Brother’s right. The Leader’s an idiot.”
Paeng Se Gi grinned as if it were obvious.
But Dang Ok Yi and Hahu Yeon looked a bit worried.
“Brother Han, if you shout that loud, others might hear.”
Se Yeong only yelled louder in response.
“What an idiot of an Alliance Leader…!”
Jackpot, you bastards.
Daring to curse the Alliance Leader right in the Murim Alliance. Elusive Squadron members, no less.
Sa Sa Un bolted toward the First Squad.
His chance to escape the ridiculous Tenth Squad had come sooner than expected.
The First Squad’s leader, Namgung Seok—the Leader’s son—would surely rage at the news.
Kekeke…
“Kneel and beg all you want now, bastards. It’s too late.”
“It’s almost evening. Where the hell did that guy go?”
Paeng Se Gi answered Se Yeong’s question.
“He left the quarters about an hour ago, Brother.”
“I saw him leave. It’s fine to go out on business, but why hasn’t he come back yet?”
Speak of the tiger, and he appears. Sa Sa Un slunk back into view, glancing warily at Se Yeong and the others.
“Where were you?”
“I, uh… had some brief business.”
Se Yeong eyed his excessive tension suspiciously.
“Something up?”
“N-no… Nothing at all.”
His stammering was blatantly odd to anyone watching.
But Se Yeong pretended not to notice.
I’ll find out soon enough without him saying.
Sa Sa Un went about his usual routine of washing rice and lighting the fire, same as always.
Please hurry and come save me from this place.
As he prayed desperately in his mind, the sound of multiple footsteps approached.
Finally.
His face lit up at the sound.
He didn’t realize Se Yeong was watching him.
So he had something up his sleeve after all.
Se Yeong sat still, waiting for the footsteps to draw near.
“Where are you, Han Se Yeong…!”
But an angry shout arrived before the footsteps.
Ha ha ha ha…
The moment he heard that furious yell, laughter burst from Se Yeong’s lips.
So that’s it. That’s why he’s so pissed.
Se Yeong rose and faced the First Squad members.
Namgung Seok’s eyes blazed with killing intent.
“Did you really dare curse the Alliance Leader?”
As he jabbed a finger at Se Yeong and demanded answers, Paeng Se Gi bellowed in outrage.
“Who the hell are you pointing at, you bastard!”
“Paeng Se Gi, shut your trap! I’m asking Han Se Yeong right now!”
Se Yeong silently stared at Namgung Seok as he vented his rage.
If not for that petty temper, he’d be a prodigy among prodigies.
The aura surging wildly from his entire body was on another level from the others.
“Brother Han definitely cursed the Alliance Leader.”
Sa Sa Un had already sidled up beside the First Squad members, glaring at the Tenth Squad.
The Tenth Squad stared at him in disbelief.
“That traitor bastard…”
They could easily guess who was behind this mess.
“Why are you standing with them?”
A heavy voice rumbled from Se Yeong’s mouth, and Sa Sa Un quickly averted his gaze.
His mind might have forgotten, but his body remembered the old terror.
Se Yeong turned his eyes to Namgung Seok.
“What he says is true. But it’s the law that even emperors can be cursed behind closed doors.”
It was sound logic.
Who couldn’t curse freely out of earshot?
But Namgung Seok’s rage-addled ears didn’t take it in.
How dare anyone curse his father, the world’s greatest master?
“Get ready, Han Se Yeong.”
Shing…
Unable to contain his fury, he drew his sword.
Se Yeong extended his hand toward Paeng Se Gi behind him.
“Iron rod.”
Then a booming voice rang out from afar.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing…!”
The voice, infused with inner power, made the green leaves tremble.
“Strategist. First Squad Leader Namgung has taken his members and rushed to the Tenth Squad’s quarters.”
The Strategist shot to his feet at his subordinate’s report and dashed outside.
He instantly sensed something serious was afoot.
Already swamped without sleep, and now these kids stirring trouble.
Fuming, he flew toward the Tenth Squad’s quarters using lightness skill.
Has the fight already started?
As he neared, a chill of killing intent prickled the air.
This was far worse than he’d imagined.
The Strategist channeled his inner power into a shout.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing…!”
He yelled first, then burst into the quarters, spotting Namgung Seok with sword drawn and Han Se Yeong gripping an iron rod.
The Strategist cleared his throat.
“What’s going on here?”
Namgung Seok answered in an angry voice.
“This Han Se Yeong dared to insult the Alliance Leader.”
“Did he curse him right in front of you?”
“Well… No.”
Hah…
A sigh escaped the Strategist.
Drawing swords over something this trivial.
Wasn’t it natural to curse the Leader behind his back?
He’d done it himself during tough times.
“Do you intend to paint the Leader as petty?”
The question hit hard.
“N-no, I don’t.”
Namgung Seok’s anger subsided in an instant.
He was furious, but he couldn’t make his father seem small-minded.
As his rage faded, Sa Sa Un panicked.
“Th-the Tenth Squad steals food every night. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Tsk tsk…
So he’s the culprit behind this.
The Strategist clicked his tongue at Sa Sa Un’s tattling.
Glancing at the meal prep area, he saw only pork and greens.
“Where’d that pork come from?”
Dang Ok Yi stepped forward boldly.
“We bought it from the village last night.”
“N-no, Strategist. They definitely stole it from the supply warehouse.”
The Strategist ignored Sa Sa Un.
He knew those ingredients were pilfered.
But with the Radiant Martial Emperor event underway, martial notables were flooding the Alliance.
They couldn’t afford a big fuss now.
“Everyone, head back.”
At his order, Namgung Seok glared at Se Yeong reluctantly.
“You’ll pay dearly someday, Han Se Yeong.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Se Yeong smirked and brushed off the taunt.
As the First Squad withdrew en masse, Sa Sa Un collapsed to the ground with a lost expression.
How am I supposed to live now…
He’d surely face the Tenth Squad’s wrath over this.
Worse, Han Se Yeong’s revenge terrified him most.
His body already shuddered, recalling past horrors.
Unaware or uncaring of his fear, the Strategist casually asked Se Yeong.
“Why insult the Leader?”
“I heard each squad once had martial arts instructors. The Leader abolished them, so doesn’t he deserve the curses?”
The Strategist nodded at Se Yeong’s reply.
He too saw it as the Leader’s blunder.
But there were reasons.
“Squad members drew blades over famous instructors.”
“Then just have the Strategist assign one.”
“The gossip would be endless.”
“Sounds like fearing the flies keeps you from making the soy sauce.”
The Strategist didn’t deny it.
Not your average guy.
Se Yeong pondered what to do with Sa Sa Un, slumped in a daze.
What to do with this guy?
Paeng Se Gi approached, fists clenched tight.
“This bastard…”
“Stop.”
Se Yeong held him back from swinging.
“Brother, this scum needs a thorough beating.”
“I’ve got something better.”
“What’s that?”
Se Yeong looked to the squad members.
“Spread a rumor among the Elusive Squadron that Sa Sa Un cursed the Leader right alongside me.”
Ha ha ha…!
Kek kek ke…!
The squad erupted in laughter at Se Yeong’s words.
What ingenious revenge.
Now Sa Sa Un would be Namgung Seok’s enemy too.
“…Brother Han. No. Please, anything but that.”
Sa Sa Un clung to Se Yeong’s legs, pleading.
If the rumor spread, he’d have nowhere to go.
“I was wrong… Please forgive me just once.”
Tears streamed as he begged, but Se Yeong’s gaze remained ice cold.
It didn’t matter if they believed the rumor.
Planting even a seed of doubt was enough.