Chapter 97
Tian Ailang's eyebrow twitched.
"Murim Alliance?"
Song Kang nodded slightly. "Yes. To be precise, the Murim Alliance's strategist is seeking you out through the Beggar Clan's division leader. This comes straight from the division leader himself, so it's reliable."
Tian Ailang furrowed his brow. "Don't tell me the location of this Yi Pavilion has been exposed?"
He pondered whether they'd need to relocate if the pavilion's position had been widely leaked.
Song Kang shook his head. "No. Only Damga Lord's close aides—who send support for Sohee—and a select few from Haomen know about this place. Naturally, even the Beggar Clan's division leader is in the dark."
Tian Ailang felt relieved. "So, what's the Murim Alliance—or rather, their strategist—want with me?"
Haomen Lord Song Kang shrugged. "No idea. Too many possibilities to guess."
Tian Ailang's expression soured. "Can't you narrow it down at all?"
"Hm... There are plenty of factors, but I'd cautiously guess they want you under their control."
"Control...?"
Song Kang nodded again. "From the Murim Alliance's perspective, you're an unpredictable outlier they've never dealt with or reined in."
Tian Ailang tilted his head. "......?"
Song Kang smiled faintly at the reaction. "If you were weak or your deeds despicable, they wouldn't bat an eye."
"Why not?"
"Because they'd have the justification to keep you in check."
Song Kang continued. "But you've racked up feats praised across the land, so the Alliance is on edge."
"What nonsense is that? And what feats are you even talking about?"
Tian Ailang shook his head in disbelief.
Song Kang let out a hearty laugh. "Do you even know how impressive your publicized achievements are?"
Tian Ailang tilted his head again. He didn't.
Song Kang explained. "The hero who saved the Beggar Clan's division leader, the key figure in the Gwang Mountain Battle, the savior who protected civilians from Dangga poisons, the North Sea hero who crushed the Demonic Cult's Black Wind Squad alongside the Moyong Clan... and that's just the highlights."
"Hmph..."
Tian Ailang wondered what was so great about those.
"Before you know it, you've become a rising hero of the murim. Among the young folk and civilians who admire you, some even say they trust you more than the Murim Alliance."
Song Kang went on. "For the Alliance, who claim to lead all of murim, that's not exactly welcome news. To them, you might be a slippery eel stealing their authority and glory."
"Ridiculous."
Tian Ailang shook his head in exasperation.
Then he asked, "I've heard the Murim Alliance upholds justice, though? But from what you're saying, that doesn't seem to hold up."
Song Kang sneered at the question. "Sure, they aim for justice. But that's just the righteous facade of the Murim Alliance. Inside, desires and vested interests are tangled up fiercely."
"Hm."
Tian Ailang recalled Dang Cheongeum, the Dangga lord he'd killed—twisted by petty power. Song Kang's description of the Alliance evoked a similar ugliness, stirring caution in him.
"Anyway, that's my take. They're probably keen to figure out if you're on their side or not."
"Is that the core reason the Murim Alliance is looking for me?"
Song Kang nodded vigorously.
Tian Ailang cleared his complicated thoughts. Weapons come from blacksmiths, medicine from physicians—that was all. So he asked Song Kang, "In your opinion, what's the best move for me?"
Song Kang smiled at the question. "Even though the Alliance is seeking you directly, I think any meeting depends entirely on your will."
"Then there's no need to agonize. Pass. I'm busy enough as it is."
Tian Ailang stated it firmly, rejecting without a second thought.
Watching him, Song Kang's smile widened. He admired Tian Ailang's unswayed stance against power or pressure. Hadn't he himself chosen a neutral path between righteous and demonic factions out of disgust for such hypocrisy?
"Knew you'd say that. Got it. If the Beggar Clan's division leader asks, I'll handle it smoothly."
"Do what you think best."
"Will do."
* * *
After finishing with the Haomen Lord, Tian Ailang headed to the clearing before the formation. He'd already issued a summons to the Yi Pavilion apprentices via insect messengers.
On the way, he ran into Song Sogeol.
"Brother!"
Song Sogeol spotted him and rushed over in tears.
"What happened?!"
Tian Ailang tensed, scanning the surroundings at the sudden outburst. But Song Sogeol's next actions drew a wry chuckle, easing his guard.
"You've been through hell because of me. Waaah!"
Song Sogeol grabbed Tian Ailang's robe and wailed like a child.
Tian Ailang gently pushed him away as he subtly wiped snot on the fabric.
Song Sogeol gazed up at him with a tear-streaked face, looking like a pitiful puppy.
"Shaolin Temple, Sacheon Dangga, Namrim's Palgak Temple, North Sea Ice Palace—I heard it all from Father. Waaah!"
'Ah...'
Tian Ailang scratched his head. He'd dumped the explanations on the Haomen Lord out of laziness, not expecting such an intense reaction.
He soothed the sobbing Song Sogeol casually. "I told you, it was just what any sworn brother would do. Don't sweat it."
"Waaah! As expected of Brother Ailang! Unlike that prickly Brother Chanh Ho... Hup!"
The habitual slip made Song Sogeol clap a hand over his mouth and glance nervously at Tian Ailang.
Tian Ailang gave a bittersweet smile. 'Sigh...'
Mention of Chanh Ho briefly conjured the feeling of all three together. Fleeting nostalgia surged, quickly chased by anger and bitterness.
Tian Ailang shook his head lightly to brush off the emotions.
"It's fine. Water under the bridge. Come with me. I've got an announcement for everyone about our future plans."
Song Sogeol nodded and trailed after him like a chick.
"Thanks, Brother."
The quietly following Song Sogeol murmured to Tian Ailang's back.
Without turning, Tian Ailang replied, "Thank you too, for hanging in there and staying alive. I'll make sure nothing like this happens again."
Song Sogeol, eyes misty with emotion, felt his tears evaporate at those final words—like the saying come to life.
* * *
The Yi Pavilion apprentices had gathered in the clearing before the formation at Tian Ailang's summons. The space had been expanded and packed firm, resembling a proper training ground.
The apprentices' eyes sparkled as they awaited Tian Ailang. They'd heard he'd personally train them.
As the pavilion lord who worked medical miracles, they secretly hoped to learn something that could elevate their arts—expanding their horizons. They'd gladly endure any hardship for that.
That's when Song Sogeol entered the clearing, pulling a weird face.
"What the...? Perverted masochists who love training?"
Even knowing hellish training awaited, the apprentices stared eagerly like baby birds craving food.
"Good."
Tian Ailang smiled in satisfaction at the lined-up group.
As he stepped forward, all eyes locked on him.
Tian Ailang spoke slowly. "I don't want my people getting hurt easily or risking their lives lightly."
The apprentices' faces lit with emotion. Voices murmured praise for their warm lord.
Looking at them, Tian Ailang boomed, "No more fluff. Get strong! Strong enough to protect your own body, your friends, your family."
The apprentices, expecting a lecture on qi arts and medicine, began to shift uncomfortably. The vibe felt off.
Just then, Haomen workers arrived with carts.
Thud! Boom! Thud!
Grunting, they unloaded heavy loads.
Song Sogeol and Ma Chung—who'd been briefed—watched, swallowing hard.
"I'll train you myself to make you strong. Strap what's in front of you to your wrists, ankles, and torsos."
Before them lay special rings and vests forged from dense ore. Their weight was obvious at a glance.
Seol Dong timidly raised a hand. "Um... Lord?"
Tian Ailang glanced at her. "Speak."
Seol Dong ventured carefully, "What we're learning... it's not medicine, is it? Martial arts?"
Tian Ailang nodded firmly. "Of course it is."
Confusion rippled across the apprentices' faces.
Ma Chung soothed them kindly. "It'll help your medicine too. Haven't you seen it yourselves through the lord? Raising your qi arts realm directly boosts your medical skills."
At his words, their expressions changed. These medicine obsessives ignited with resolve.
"Right! We've got basic gong down pat!"
"Let's do this!"
"If it sharpens our skills, we'll dive into hell."
"Let's go! Let's go!"
And soon, they tasted hell.
The one who'd shouted about hell wept, regretting his loose tongue.
Tian Ailang's first session focused rigorously on strength and stamina.
They trembled, holding horse-riding stance. The rings and vests crushed them with overload.
"Your bodies are too frail. Namrim beastkin warriors surpass inner art realms with raw physicality alone."
"A body that's the vessel and conduit of great nature can't be weak, or nothing's possible."
"No inner arts! Endure with pure body strength! A perfect body completes perfect channels!"
Despite Tian Ailang's relentless encouragement, stragglers fell.
Everyone watched eagerly, wondering how he'd handle them.
'Can we rest?'
'Please, just a breather.'
'Will he let us off?'
Tian Ailang shouted to all, "Stop! Reset stance!"
The trainees chorused in unison, "We're saved!"
They thought rest was coming. But Tian Ailang's face had chilled coldly, defying expectations.
"On the battlefield, giving up means accepting death. If you want to die, I'll gladly help."
A arctic chill emanated from him, choking their breath.
"Those who know will recognize this as killing intent. In real combat, it constricts lungs and muscles, hindering breath and movement."
"Urk."
The apprentices writhed under it.
"Countering with inner arts is easiest, but useless against superiors. So we train mental fortitude too."
Whoosh——
His killing intent intensified.
"If physical training's too hard and you want to quit, go ahead. We'll jump straight to mental."
Whooshhh——
It grew fiercer.
"Ughhh."
Even Song Sogeol, more skilled, struggled.
Then, Seol Dong laboriously raised a finger—and promptly sealed her own acupoints.