Chapter 46
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Alliance Leader's Decision
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The Martial Arts Alliance Intelligence Tower.
Vice-Chief Yuk Yeong-seo hurriedly sought out Chief Zhuge Mun-hyeon.
“Chief!”
“What is it?”
Seeing Yuk Yeong-seo's flushed expression, Zhuge Mun-hyeon grew slightly tense.
“Affectionate has killed the Mad Sword.”
“What? The Mad Sword?”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon wore an expression of disbelief.
Who was the Mad Sword?
A martial artist who straddled the line between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions, he was, as his moniker suggested, an old man mad about the sword.
His age was known to be over sixty, but no one knew his exact age.
Zhuge Mun-hyeon rated the Mad Sword so highly that he placed him above the Alliance's own division commanders.
“This proves that Affectionate wasn't giving his all last time. Truly astonishing.”
“I think so too.”
Yuk Yeong-seo, recalling the duel with the Red Tiger Division Commander Sak Cheon-hyeok, agreed with Zhuge Mun-hyeon.
He mustered his courage and advised Zhuge Mun-hyeon.
“Uh, Chief.”
“Speak.”
“First, please read Pure's report. I will speak after that.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon took the report from Yuk Yeong-seo and read through it quickly.
His expression grew progressively more serious, and soon, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.
“Now, speak.”
“We must have Affectionate take an elixir and make him the Alliance's secret weapon. He is a martial artist skilled enough to have gravely injured Dark Blood One and killed the Mad Sword, but he completely exhausted his internal energy each time. If even one more master had been present then, Affectionate would have died.”
“I agree. But he has already taken the Azure Sky Stone Milk to increase his internal energy, so most elixirs will have no effect on him now.”
“I know. You can just give him *that*, can't you?”
“*That*? Do you even know what you're talking about?”
“Of course. Right now, you are the only one who can persuade the Alliance Leader. We're receiving intelligence that not only the Dark Blood Heaven Cult, but also the descendants of the Black Way Union and the Evil Emperor Union are stirring. The outer martial world is in chaos as well. He has a high chance of becoming the Alliance's greatest martial artist. We cannot miss this opportunity.”
Yuk Yeong-seo argued forcefully.
As he was usually cautious in his words and actions, Zhuge Mun-hyeon could tell how much confidence he had in Affectionate.
At the same time, knowing how difficult this matter was, he let out a short sigh.
After careful consideration, Zhuge Mun-hyeon decided that Yuk Yeong-seo's advice was correct.
If Affectionate hadn't suppressed the Dark Blood Heaven Cult's momentum twice, their power would have grown even stronger.
Zhuge Mun-hyeon resolved to give it a try.
“Let's do it. The Martial Arts Alliance needs a young hero too.”
“I'm counting on you.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon nodded and rose from his seat.
The Alliance Leader's Hall.
Yang Cheon-rin frowned, looking at Zhuge Mun-hyeon.
His expression conveyed a sense of displeasure.
“Alliance Leader. For the sake of the Alliance, please make a bold decision.”
“Strategist Zhuge. I think you're going a bit too far.”
“It is not too far. The Dark Blood Heaven Cult has brought in a past great demon and has been training numerous masters to begin their activities in earnest. Their momentum was briefly broken after being stopped twice by Affectionate in Shanxi, but the tide has not turned. There is also intelligence that the descendants of the Black Way Union and the Evil Emperor Union are on the move. The Alliance needs a vanguard to fight against them, and I believe Affectionate is the right person for the job.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon asserted firmly, and Yang Cheon-rin could not refute him.
Having gravely injured Seop Yu-heun and killed the Mad Sword, Yang Cheon-rin also acknowledged that his skills were at the highest level.
What was astonishing was that his skills had improved by leaps and bounds in just a few months, to the point of being unrecognizable.
The one who had only managed to gravely injure Seop Yu-heun and Dark Blood One had this time killed the Mad Sword.
In Yang Cheon-rin's opinion, the Mad Sword was a cut above Seop Yu-heun.
That was how difficult and outstanding a martial artist the Mad Sword was.
That's why he thought Zhuge Mun-hyeon's argument was correct.
However, he was extremely reluctant to give up the precious elixir.
“I fully understand your sentiment, Strategist. But this is an elixir for the Alliance Leader. Meant exclusively for the Alliance Leader. I don't know if I can just give it to someone else on my own authority. Hah.”
“The elixir's potency will gradually diminish over time. Besides, isn't that particular elixir incompatible with you, Alliance Leader? For the sake of the Alliance, please make a bold decision.”
A fire lit up in Zhuge Mun-hyeon's eyes.
It was a complete contrast to his cautious demeanor when speaking with Yuk Yeong-seo at the Intelligence Tower.
“Is there any guarantee that the Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Carp Pill will suit his constitution?”
“Have you forgotten? He is practicing the Universe's Will Divine Art. Since it's a technique of extreme yang, the Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Carp Pill might as well be an elixir made for him. Originally, Alliance Leader Hwa was going to take it but left it for future generations. I never imagined it would be such a perfect match.”
“Hmm.”
Yang Cheon-rin let out a groan.
He fell deep into thought.
The saying that every elixir has its destined owner felt particularly poignant to Yang Cheon-rin today.
After a period of conflict, he decided to give up the Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Carp Pill.
Though somewhat timid by nature, he set aside his personal feelings to protect the Martial Arts Alliance.
“So be it.”
“Oh, with your decision, Alliance Leader, the Martial Arts Alliance will grow even stronger.”
“So, what now? Wouldn't it be better to summon Affectionate here?”
“The Soul-Chasing Sword Squad has not yet departed. We can send it through Yeo Jung-myeong.”
“I'm just thinking. Yeo Jung-myeong might harbor some resentment.”
The Soul-Chasing Sword Squad Commander, Yeo Jung-myeong.
He was directly under the Intelligence Tower and had been with him for a long time, so Zhuge Mun-hyeon thought he knew him well.
So, he judged Yang Cheon-rin's concern to be excessive and was about to reply, but he hesitated.
The amount of internal energy gained would vary depending on the user's constitution, but it was the Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Carp Pill, said to grant between sixty and a hundred years' worth of internal energy to one who practiced an extreme yang art.
It was an elixir potent enough to blind a man with greed.
“Strategist Zhuge.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“Let's not needlessly make Yeo Jung-myeong into a bad person. Summon Affectionate here. It may be a hassle for him to travel back and forth, but I think the Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Carp Pill is worth the trouble.”
“Understood. Then I will omit any mention of the Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Carp Pill from the letter.”
Yang Cheon-rin gave a quiet nod.
**
Gissi County.
Having fully recovered my energy, I headed for the Jin Family Estate.
-They really burned it all down.
-Why would they do that? They left everything as it was when they retreated in Shanxi.
-It might be a group unrelated to the Dark Blood Heaven Cult.
-If it's the descendants of the Black Way Union and the Evil Emperor Union, couldn't they have recruited someone like the Mad Sword?
-It's possible.
I frowned, gave a short reply, and then inspected every corner of the Jin Family Estate.
When I went to the rear garden, the tables and chairs from the banquet were scattered about, half-burnt.
And the bodies of Hou Eun-ryang and the Mad Sword, as well as the heavy sword used to seal his blood points, were gone.
I quickly moved inside.
As I entered the room where the martial artists had been, I was met with only emptiness.
‘All those martial artists vanished without a trace.’
-Pure.
-Yes.
-Dozens of martial artists who were invited here have disappeared. At the time, merchants and residents were gathered outside for a feast. But there are no bodies burned to death in the Jin Family Estate.
-Understood. To move this many people, there must be traces left behind.
-Exactly. Go check for them. I need to stay here.
-Here? Why... Ah, you believe they will definitely show up again.
-Right. The Mad Sword and Hou Eun-ryang are dead. And since they burned down the estate and retreated, they must be furious by now.
-Won't it be dangerous?
Pure recalled the duel between Affectionate and the Mad Sword, and worry took over.
-Don't worry. I'll launch a surprise attack this time. If I commit to an ambush, I'm confident I could even take on the leader of the Dark Blood Heaven Cult.
-Ah, I'm worried.
-About what?
-It seems your martial prowess grows with your boasting. I'll go take a look.
Her presence vanished.
Lately, I'd grown much fonder of her.
When I first met Pure, she had a sly yet cold image, but now she had become more feminine.
‘She deserves to meet a good man.’
I put my thoughts about Pure aside and began to meticulously inspect the Jin Family Estate again.
I couldn't find anything out of the ordinary.
Then again, they had intentionally burned the place down before leaving, so perhaps that was to be expected.
I hid in the estate and patiently waited for them to appear.
After two days, doubts began to creep in.
But I shook off the doubt and continued to hold out.
This time, I was determined to catch their tail.
The fifth day.
-Affectionate. There's a summons from the Martial Arts Alliance.
-The reason?
-Well... there's no specific reason given.
-Then let's watch this place for a few more days. It would be a problem if they showed up after I leave. I want to gather information on them, no matter what.
-Understood. Please eat.
She left a simple meal and water in the designated spot and then disappeared.
I concealed myself in a spot with a panoramic view of the Jin Family Estate and munched on dumplings.
The eighth day.
I really thought I had barked up the wrong tree.
‘Dammit. I went through all this trouble for nothing...’
Just as I was about to get up, I quickly controlled my breathing and perfected my concealment technique even further.
A few people were entering the estate, and it was clear at a glance that they were martial artists.
They began to meticulously inspect the estate.
“There are no traces.”
“It can't be helped. Hurry to the Jin estate master's son's room and retrieve it. To think they left something so important behind. What a bunch of fools.”
“Understood.”
At the command of a man in black who appeared to be in his prime, two middle-aged men in blue robes leaped inside.
The man in black carefully surveyed the surroundings.
Having completely suppressed my presence, I watched their every move while preparing to gather my internal energy to strike at any moment.
Having realized the pinnacle of martial arts, I had reached a state where my true energy would rise with a mere thought.
How much time had passed?
One of the men in blue emerged, carefully carrying a box.
The other man in blue followed behind him.
The man in black carefully opened the box to check its contents, and his expression brightened.
It seemed he had recovered what he wanted.
‘I'm torn. Should I attack now? Or should I follow them secretly and find their base? The item in that box seems extremely important.’
Finding their base would be good, but I hesitated because of the possibility of encountering a master stronger than the Mad Sword.
I decided it would be better to seize that item and escort them to the Martial Arts Alliance to extract information.
‘I can leave them to Pure.’
Having made my decision, I gathered my true energy and launched myself forward.
“Huh! An enemy! Stop him!”
The man in black cried out in surprise, and the man in blue who wasn't holding the box drew his sword.
The man in black then drew his sword as well.
Thump. Thump.
I unleashed the Thunderclap Finger Strike with all my might.
“Gah.”
“Kuhk.”
The Thunderclap Finger Strike, unleashed with the intent to subdue the opponents at all costs, was terrifying.
The man in black and the man in blue dropped their swords and tumbled to the ground.
Tap. Tap.
Landing on the ground, I immediately sealed their disabling and silencing acupoints, then faced the remaining man in blue.
“Hand it over.”
As I held out my hand, he shook his head and backed away.
Fear filled his eyes, having witnessed his two companions being subdued in an instant.
I shot a finger strike and sealed his disabling acupoint.
I caught his falling, log-like body with my left hand, laid him on the ground, and took the box with my right.
-Pure.
-Yes. I'm on standby.
-Are any of their companions nearby?
-I don't sense anyone else's presence.
-Good. Interrogate them and dig up information. Can you do it?
-Of course. It's my specialty.
-I'm counting on you.
Pure immediately appeared, tucked the two men under her arms, and disappeared into a room inside.
She then reappeared, took the last one, and vanished.
I took a deep breath and slowly opened the box.
My anticipation turned to bewilderment.
It was a single painting, depicting a rugged mountain, a steep cliff, and an old man practicing martial arts in front of them.
The painting exuded a profound aura.
‘What is this? It's no ordinary painting. The fact that it was in such a high-quality box, and their cautious behavior... Could it be a legendary treasure from a past era? How frustrating.’
I calmly examined the painting again.
Looking closely, the painting seemed different from when I first saw it.
I had the illusion that the martial artist in the painting had changed his posture.
At first, it was a side view of the old man in a ready stance, but now he was facing forward.
And I felt as if the old man was glaring at me.
‘Did I see that wrong?’
I rubbed my eyes and looked at the painting calmly again, but now it was unchanged.
After inspecting it a bit more, I closed the box.
I planned to go and ask Elder Geum about it.