Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Woman from Precious Pagoda Pavilion
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Se Yeong recounted what he had seen and heard in Sabaekseong.
"I heard there are roughly a thousand warriors from Sabaekseong. Some were as fierce as jackals or wolves, while others were like that rogue swordsman Ak Su Deok who came last time—more like a decent hero. Ak Su Deok said his master was fit to be the lord of the martial world."
"As expected from an evil faction group, they don't hide their ambitions. You said you met the White Master, so tell me about him."
What should he say first?
Before answering, Se Yeong recalled the White Master.
Monstrously powerful martial arts, a strikingly handsome face, and profound composure.
He was perfect in every way.
"He might just be the strongest in the martial world, not the Alliance Leader."
The Strategist couldn't take those words lightly.
No matter how profound their martial arts, the leader of an evil faction could never qualify as the martial world's greatest.
"That's an overly generous assessment. Surely he's not that strong."
"I wasn't even a match for him."
Se Yeong's tone was heavier and darker than ever before.
Saying he wasn't even a match wasn't a lie.
But even if he threw everything he had at him, defeat was certain.
"You actually clashed martial arts with him?"
Only then did the Strategist realize Se Yeong wasn't exaggerating.
"Yes. For some reason, he let me live. Anyway, I've said everything I needed to, so I'll take my leave."
Se Yeong turned to step out, then paused.
"Oh... I almost forgot. The White Master is really handsome."
The comment about the White Master's looks didn't even register with the Strategist.
Only Se Yeong's words about not being a match echoed in his ears.
No matter how strong he is, he can't possibly match the Alliance Leader. He definitely can't.
The Strategist placed the letters and documents before the Alliance Leader.
"What are these?"
"Please take a look."
The Alliance Leader unfolded and read the top letter first.
With each one he opened, his expression grew stiffer.
But by the final document, he was serene as if nothing had happened.
"Who delivered these?"
"Han Se Yeong brought them from Sabaekseong."
"From Sabaekseong? Typical evil faction trickery. This is their scheme."
The Alliance Leader dismissed all the letters and documents as fabrications.
"You know full well these letters and documents aren't fake, Alliance Leader."
When the Strategist struck at the heart of it, the Alliance Leader countered.
"Who in the world is free of even a speck of dirt?"
"This isn't mere dirt, Alliance Leader. It's a situation where annihilation would be no injustice."
"Tell me, Strategist. If you had to choose between Han Se Yeong, the Moyong Family, and Zhongnan Sect, which side would you take?"
This was no question requiring thought.
No one would side with Han Se Yeong.
"You'd step up for the Moyong Family and Zhongnan Sect."
The Strategist knew that too.
The Moyong Family was inseparably tied to Zhongnan.
Emei Sect had the Sword Empress, and the Moyong Family's Iron Wire Fairy was her junior sister.
On top of that, Emei was close with Qingcheng and Jeomchang.
The Strategist also foresaw that internal division before a major battle would be fatal.
That's why, despite knowing all this, he had tried to put it off.
But Han Se Yeong knew, and so did the Tenth Squad members. It could be delayed no longer.
"Who has seen these letters and documents?"
"Han Se Yeong saw them, and the Tenth Squad members were with him, so they all know."
"Then abandon Han Se Yeong."
The Alliance Leader's voice went beyond firm—it was ice-cold.
"Alliance Leader!"
The Strategist raised his voice immediately.
He had never spoken so sharply before the Alliance Leader.
"Han Se Yeong is a prodigy of the Murim Alliance and a pillar of the next generation in the martial world. Lead him well now, and he'll become a mainstay or even a beam of the martial world in the future."
The Alliance Leader regretted losing Han Se Yeong too.
But he couldn't ignore Moyong, Emei, and Zhongnan.
"The Murim Alliance has plenty of such prodigies. Even without Han Se Yeong, the Tenth Squad members will follow the Alliance's will."
The squad members' sects and families, excluding Han Se Yeong, were all renowned in the martial world.
They wouldn't abandon their own clans and sects.
"What if the squad members follow Han Se Yeong and leave the Murim Alliance?"
Kkekkeok...!
The Alliance Leader laughed heartily.
"Strategist, could you abandon your family?"
The Strategist had no answer to that.
But if he were from the Moyong Family, he would have left without hesitation.
As the Strategist fell silent, the Alliance Leader picked up the letters.
"These need to go back to Moyong and Zhongnan."
"If you do that, Moyong and Zhongnan will demand the source of these letters and documents."
"I'll tell them honestly."
Ah...
The Strategist squeezed his eyes shut in utter despair.
If only he weren't the Murim Alliance Strategist.
The outcome was obvious without seeing it.
Moyong and Zhongnan would hold a grudge against Han Se Yeong and seek to kill him.
He's sacrificing Han Se Yeong to grant a great favor to Moyong and Zhongnan.
"What are you doing over there?"
Se Yeong pointed at Paeng Se Gi, who stood motionless by a tree.
"Huh? I completely erased my presence—how did you spot me?"
Se Yeong scratched his head and gave him a pitiful look.
"You have no talent for stealth. Focus on detecting those who hide their presence instead."
"Got it, Brother."
As Paeng Se Gi stepped into the clearing, Se Yeong pointed sequentially into the forest.
"There, there, there..."
Yi Cheon Yeong, Dang Ok, and Sa Sa Un emerged, followed last by Hahu Yeon and Yeonggak.
Se Yeong stared intently at Yeonggak, the final one found.
"You have ties to assassins or something?"
Among the squad, Hahu Yeon had hidden his presence the best.
Yet Yeonggak, experiencing this training for the first time, had reached nearly the same level.
"Om mani padme hum. This novice simply maintained an unmoving mind."
"Unmoving mind, huh. More like no thoughts at all. Anyway, from now on, Se Gi will take over finding the squad members' presences for me."
"Thank you, Brother."
After issuing his orders, Se Yeong stepped back, and Instructor Kang came forward.
"Prepare yourself, Young Master Yeonggak."
In the center of the clearing, Instructor Kang and Yeonggak faced off.
The squad members watched Yeonggak's martial arts from a distance.
Shiiik.
A chilling whoosh cut the air as Instructor Kang's sword pierced toward Yeonggak's shoulder.
In an instant, the blade skewered his shoulder.
But Instructor Kang didn't stop.
Swaak...
The sword flashed, slicing Yeonggak's body into pieces.
"Diamond Immovable Step."
A deep voice rumbled from Instructor Kang's mouth, and Yeonggak's fragmented form reappeared a zhang away.
With hands clasped, Yeonggak suddenly spread his palms wide.
Papang...!
Air burst with a crack, and a cloud of dust rose from where Instructor Kang stood.
Swaak...
Instructor Kang's sword was already piercing Yeonggak's shoulder again.
Once more, Yeonggak's form shattered into pieces.
Reappearing to the right, he looked down at his torn clothing.
"Om mani padme hum. Please go easy on me, Instructor."
Hehehe...
Instructor Kang let out a hearty laugh.
"What was that palm technique just now?"
"Great Cycle Diamond Palm."
"I see. Here I come again."
Instructor Kang nodded and raised his sword, prompting Yeonggak to cry out dramatically.
"Please go easy! This novice doesn't even have a weapon to block your sword."
"Then move faster."
"This... damn it. Om mani padme hum."
Se Yeong watched Yeonggak's movements closely.
Shaolin's Immovable Mind Technique lives up to its reputation.
He hadn't fully mastered it yet, but Yeonggak's martial arts had something exceptional.
Se Yeong beckoned Paeng Se Gi over.
"What's up, Brother?"
"Spar with that guy often from now on."
Paeng Se Gi recoiled in horror.
"Why him of all people?"
"You've improved a lot, but your style is still savage and rough. His is calm and precise—the opposite. Learn from him through spars."
Paeng Se Gi made a sour face at Se Yeong's words.
They made complete sense, so he couldn't refuse.
"Does it have to be him?"
"Yes. It has to be him."
"Understood, Brother."
Paeng Se Gi bowed his head deeply in acceptance.
But imagining himself asking Yeonggak for spars turned his stomach.
A young woman carrying a seven-stringed zither entered the Murim Alliance.
Her appearance was refined and elegant.
The warrior, struck by her beauty, bowed politely.
"Where do you hail from?"
"From Precious Pagoda Pavilion."
The warrior was first startled by her looks, then again by her answer.
"Precious Pagoda Pavilion?"
Precious Pagoda Pavilion was a neutral sect that didn't meddle in martial world affairs.
Its disciples had a history of fierce battles with brutal pirates, so they were bold in nature but ruthless in combat.
"Yes. Please let me see the Strategist."
"Follow me."
The warrior led the way inside.
The woman followed, quietly observing the Murim Alliance grounds.
But she didn't voice her curiosities.
"She says she's from Precious Pagoda Pavilion."
Arriving at the Strategist's hall, the warrior handed her over to the guard.
"Wait a moment."
The warrior entered, obtained permission, and returned.
"Go in."
The woman entered the Strategist's hall with the warrior.
What natural elegance she exudes.
The Strategist was quite impressed by her appearance.
Her tall, statuesque frame matched her striking features perfectly, and the seven-stringed zither in her arms was a rare sight.
"Greetings to the Murim Alliance Strategist."
The woman bowed gracefully in formal courtesy.
Her manners were impeccably polite, yet her voice carried a bold, rough edge.
"Welcome. You're from Precious Pagoda Pavilion?"
Her refined demeanor made even the Strategist cautious in addressing her.
"Yes. I've come to join the Elusive Squadron."
Her unexpected words left the Strategist momentarily bewildered.
Hahaha...
But he soon broke into a joyful laugh.
A disciple from Precious Pagoda Pavilion joining the Murim Alliance meant the pavilion was siding with them.
As the Strategist beamed, the woman smirked faintly.
"I'm Baek Mong."
She gave her name and produced a letter from her bosom.
The Strategist carefully unfolded the letter he received.
It was a recommendation from the Precious Pagoda Pavilion leader.
But with no prior ties between Precious Pagoda Pavilion and the Murim Alliance, he couldn't fully trust it.
"How fares the Pavilion Lord?"
Precious Pagoda Pavilion's lord was known to only a handful in the world.
The Jegal Family head was one, so the Strategist knew as well.
"White Lotus Immortal is my master. She's skilled with axes and exceptional in sound arts."
Axes, not even Buddhist rites.
The Strategist found her answer absurd.
It didn't suit her elegant image.
"I see... You've come at a perfect time."
The previous Pavilion Lord had been Heavenly Echo Immortal, and the current one, White Lotus Immortal, was her disciple.
Now, White Lotus Immortal's disciple had come to the Murim Alliance.
"Do you have a preferred squad in mind?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know much about the Elusive Squadron."
"Then I'll assign you to the Third Squad. It has many female warriors, so you'll find it comfortable."
The First Squad had the most squad members and female warriors.
But the Strategist didn't want to send her there, filled with Emei disciples and Moyong Family ladies.
"Thank you, Strategist."
The Strategist eyed the seven-stringed zither in her arms.
For some reason, it looked less like an instrument for playing and more like a club for swinging.
Hahu Yeon was returning from the village with ingredients.
"Look, it's Hahu Yeon."
But clansmen from his family spotted him.
Hahu Yeon hurriedly tried to veer away.
Memories of being mocked for his aged face flooded back.
"His face looks different—much changed."
"Yeah, his complexion is brighter, and he looks way younger."
Hahu Yeon halted abruptly.
I've gotten younger?
He checked the mirror daily, so he hadn't noticed.
But hearing this from his clansmen confirmed it.
Hahaha... haha...
A laugh escaped him unbidden.