Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: I Will Marry the Alliance Lord!
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Soyang-gun stared straight at me. In that moment, I could tell he had a keen eye for judging people.
Well, I have a heart of steel, and a shameless streak.
“That’s right.”
What could Soyang-gun possibly read from my relaxed smile?
“Hmph!”
Soyang-gun grunted heavily. It was unthinkable to marry the Alliance Lord of the Martial Alliance to a complete stranger like me. He would now surely withdraw his offer to move the Hangzhou Branch to Dong-ro.
The idea of Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, the Celestial Jade Star and Alliance Lord, marrying me, a former low-ranking warrior of the Alliance, was so impossible you couldn't even write it in a novel.
But then, Soyang-gun nodded seriously.
“Very well.”
*‘Huh? Very well?’*
A heavy feeling sank into my chest.
“In exchange, I will change my own terms.”
I felt as if I’d been struck, but I didn’t let it show.
“And how is that?”
Soyang-gun said curtly.
“We will establish the main headquarters of the Martial Alliance in Dong-ro.”
“Uh…”
The shock hit me like a physical blow to the chest. I was so stunned, I was rendered speechless.
I glanced at Sang Gang-jo and saw that he, too, was utterly shocked.
But then I noticed a smile forming on Sang Gang-jo’s face.
*‘He’s smiling?’*
Just then, the door opened and Jin U-gun, a subordinate from the Peerless Sect, rushed in.
“My lord!”
Jin U-gun wasn't one to interrupt while I was with guests. This meant something important had happened.
Jang Ung asked urgently.
“What is it?”
“A formidable figure has arrived in Dong-ro!”
***
As Jang Ung and I walked down the main street of Dong-ro, Sang Gang-jo and Soyang-gun, following a few paces behind, conversed via telepathy.
[Senior Sang, is this young man, Ak Bi-ryong, truly that remarkable?]
[He is.]
Soyang-gun glanced at Ak Bi-ryong walking ahead before asking again.
[How remarkable?]
[Do you know what his ambition is?]
[What is it?]
[To become the strongest in actual combat.]
[The strongest in combat? You mean, the sole supreme being under the heavens?]
[That's right. The Supreme Emperor of Combat.]
Soyang-gun did not look incredulous. Taking everything seriously was his strong suit.
[Does he have the ability to achieve it?]
[From what I've seen, it's a possibility.]
Soyang-gun was serious.
[The number of individuals who have reached that state can be counted on one hand in the entire history of the martial world.]
[Even if Ak Bi-ryong fails to reach that pinnacle, a storm will surely sweep through the martial world because of him.]
[Do you know who he is?]
[I don't know the details, but he is a reclusive master, and seems to have some connection to our Alliance.]
[A reclusive master, you say?]
[Yes.]
It was not unheard of for those who reached the pinnacle of martial arts to undergo youthful rejuvenation and take on the appearance of a young man.
[Senior Sang, have you truly become one of his close associates?]
[I wish to, but not yet.]
Soyang-gun’s expression grew more serious.
[Hmph! What is his character like?]
[He is just and unyielding. An upright character, one could not ask for more.]
Soyang-gun looked surprised.
[I have known you for over twenty-five years, Senior Sang, and this is the first time I have ever heard you praise someone so highly.]
Sang Gang-jo smiled faintly.
[That is because I had never met such a person before.]
Earlier, at the Ziyun Pavilion, when Ak Bi-ryong had said he wanted to marry the Alliance Lord, Soyang-gun had telepathically asked Sang Gang-jo for his opinion.
Sang Gang-jo had replied instantly.
[Tell him you accept the marriage between the Alliance Lord and Ak Bi-ryong.]
And so, Soyang-gun had told Ak Bi-ryong he would accept his demand.
Soyang-gun looked once more at Ak Bi-ryong’s back as he walked, then asked Sang Gang-jo.
[Would the Alliance Lord and the Fire Dragon Sword make a good match?]
[They would likely be the greatest couple on earth.]
[Is that so?]
Sang Gang-jo smiled faintly.
[However, Ak Bi-ryong will refuse the marriage.]
[Didn't the Fire Dragon Sword just say he wished to marry the Alliance Lord?]
[From my perspective, it seems he was just testing the waters.]
[Testing? You mean, testing me?]
[You were being a bit slick earlier, and I believe Ak Bi-ryong found it irksome.]
[Hah….]
[And since Ak Bi-ryong has no intention of allowing the Hangzhou Branch or the main headquarters to be established in Dong-ro, he likely made that unreasonable demand in order to be rejected.]
[Good heavens!]
Sang Gang-jo smiled faintly.
[If we play our cards right, we may obtain two great fortunes at once.]
[Establishing the main headquarters in Dong-ro and marrying the Alliance Lord to the Fire Dragon Sword, you mean?]
[Precisely.]
[You consider the marriage of the Alliance Lord and the Fire Dragon Sword a great fortune?]
[I would stake my life to make it happen.]
[Oh! To that extent?]
*Creeak!*
I entered a tavern in Dong-ro.
Jang Ung looked at a man sitting alone at a table in the middle of the half-filled tavern, drinking, and sent a telepathic message.
[That's him.]
According to Jang Ung, the man had entered, gotten straight to the point, and asked the waiter to summon the Fire Dragon Sword.
The waiter immediately informed the Peerless Sect. A subordinate came to the tavern, recognized the man, and reported to me.
Jang Ung looked at the man and sent me another message.
[It is undoubtedly the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable, Nu Jong-won.]
Jang Ung explained that the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable was one of the Fifteen Venerables of the Martial World, and the older brother of Nu Jin-sang.
Nu Jin-sang, the Sword Demon King of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union's Zhejiang Division, had died by my hand. The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable, Nu Jong-won, was likely here to avenge his younger brother.
Previously, Sang Gang-jo had mentioned that my martial skill was likely on par with the Fifteen Venerables, the group his own master belonged to.
And now, I was finally meeting one of them. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I would fight him today.
A thrilling sensation surged from the depths of my being. It was fighting spirit mixed with excitement.
When excitement and fighting spirit surged to this level, unleashing my martial arts and internal energy became second nature.
If I defeated the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable, it would prove I was stronger than the Fifteen Venerables.
My fighting spirit surged so intensely it felt like it would burst through the crown of my head.
Jang Ung explained.
[The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable has no ties to the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union and is a supreme master who belongs to neither the orthodox, unorthodox, nor demonic factions.]
*Step, step!*
As I slowly walked toward the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable, Jang Ung, Sang Gang-jo, and Soyang-gun followed.
*Thud!*
I sat down across from the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable, and he looked at me.
He appeared to be in his mid-fifties, with a slender build, a slim face, and sharp, upturned eyes. A single glance was enough to know he was no ordinary man.
Sang Gang-jo and Soyang-gun had only heard Jin U-gun say a ‘formidable figure’ had arrived; they didn't know who it was.
Soyang-gun was a man of great learning and wisdom, but he didn't know the intricacies of the martial world as well as Jang Ung did.
The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable poured wine into an empty cup, drank it slowly, and then spoke quietly.
“Are you the Fire Dragon Sword?”
I nodded.
“I am. And you are the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable?”
“I am.”
When the name ‘Blood Shadow Sword Venerable’ left my lips, Sang Gang-jo and Soyang-gun flinched in surprise.
Neither of them had ever imagined that the ‘formidable figure’ would be one of the Fifteen Venerables.
They had assumed it would be one of the Demonic Emperor's Union Lords or perhaps one of the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path.
In truth, even the arrival of a Union Lord or one of the Ten Heavens in Dong-ro would have been a major event.
The Fifteen Venerables were said to be comprised of the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects and One Union, along with the heads of five other major sects and clans.
Soyang-gun and Sang Gang-jo exchanged glances and telepathic messages.
[Will he be alright?]
[He should be fine.]
[How powerful is he?]
[A while ago, when the Fire Dragon Sword killed the Sword Demon King, I estimated his skill to be on the level of the Fifteen Venerables. But he killed the Red Messenger's Divine Sword after that. I believe I was wrong. The Fire Dragon Sword is clearly stronger than the Fifteen Venerables.]
[Then you're saying he's on the level of the Eight Absolutes of the World?]
[It's hard to say for certain.]
[Hard to say? Do you mean he could be even stronger?]
[That is what I believe.]
Soyang-gun looked astonished.
[You said he was on the level of the Fifteen Venerables just a short while ago, and now you're saying he's surpassed the Eight Absolutes in a matter of days?]
[His true capabilities are slowly being revealed.]
I waited for the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable to speak first, but he just continued to drink his wine at a leisurely pace.
In that case, I was in no hurry either. Dong-ro was my territory, wasn't it?
They call this place the eye of the storm, a calm zone, right? And I was the one who created it.
The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable was probably waiting for me to speak first. But it's not in my nature to do what my opponent wants.
As I remained silent, he finally spoke.
“You killed my younger brother.”
“You mean Nu Jin-sang?”
“Yes.”
The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable and I spoke as if we were old neighbors catching up.
Sang Gang-jo and Soyang-gun had only just learned that the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable was Nu Jin-sang's brother. He was that much of an enigma.
“Why did you kill him?”
The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable asked, staring at me intently. His gaze was as sharp as a well-honed blade. If looks could kill, I would already be dead.
“He tried to kill me first.”
There was no better answer. If I hadn't killed him, I would have been the one to die.
“And why did he try to kill you?”
“Well, Nu Jin-sang was a man of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union, and I am the Grand Branch Master of the Martial Alliance's Dong-ro Branch. Isn't that reason enough?”
“Grand Branch Master?”
“That's my title.”
Sang Gang-jo and Soyang-gun smiled as they watched me remain relaxed even in the presence of the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable.
There was one thing Sang Gang-jo had neglected to mention. Soyang-gun was probably just now realizing that I was fearless.
The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable narrowed his eyes.
“Are you telling me my younger brother, one of the Nine Demonic Union Lords of the Grand Union, was killed by a mere Branch Master?”
This conversation with the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable was starting to bore me.
“That's what I'm saying. It's quite embarrassing.”
The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable’s gaze sharpened.
“…In any case.”
He set down his wine cup.
“I'll have to kill you.”
I smiled brightly.
“That's what your brother said before he died.”
The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable looked slightly taken aback.
“Did my brother perhaps die by your tongue?”
*Is my gift of gab really that deadly?*
***
In the courtyard of the Dong-ro Branch, the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable and I stood facing each other, about five or six paces apart.
Ahn Do-pil and the branch members, oblivious to all this, were still drinking themselves into a stupor at the Ziyun Pavilion.
The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable glanced at Jang Ung, Sang Gang-jo, and Soyang-gun standing to the side.
“Who are they?”
“One is my subordinate, one is a close associate, and one is a matchmaker.”
Soyang-gun looked flabbergasted.
*‘A… matchmaker?’*
He looked at Sang Gang-jo.
[Did you hear him call me a matchmaker?]
It was a dismissive term for someone who paired up men and women.
[Well, aren't you?]
[Hah! I’ve suddenly become a matchmaker.]
The Blood Shadow Sword Venerable spoke.
“How shall we fight?”
“As you wish.”
“Let’s make it a duel of life and death.”
“Sounds good to me.”
A fight to the death was exactly what I wanted.
Just then, Jang Ung sent an urgent telepathic message.
[My lord! A duel of life and death is a fight where you wager not only your life but everything you possess! The winner takes everything from the loser, down to their last spoon!]
*‘Huh!’*
Ignorance truly is a sin!
I’d rashly agreed without even knowing that. It was too embarrassing to back out now, so I had no choice but to go through with it.