Chapter 123
Translator: penny
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The Alliance Leader's Summons
Moyong Hui had recommended a top-notch restaurant, but the food on our table was disappearing much more slowly than usual.
It was because everyone except me was just picking at theirs.
Baek Rihyeon was burdened by his mouth vow.
Cheon Woojin was half-heartedly eating due to his dissatisfaction with becoming an ordinary warrior.
And Moyong Hui was so thrilled to be back in Jeongju, home of the Murim Alliance, that she was lost in sentiment rather than paying attention to the food.
Truth be told, I wasn't in a state to focus on eating either.
'The Murim Alliance...'
What did that place mean to me?
In my days as the Flowery Playboy, it had been something like a holy grail.
When I was a lowly warrior in the Red Serpent Sect, it was an untouchable enemy.
And during my time as the Lecherous Demon...
'It was my arch-nemesis.'
Of course, later on, the Four Black Alliance, the Demonic Cult, and even the Outer Frontier Martial World all came after me, but that was much further down the line.
Back when I first started making a name for myself as the Lecherous Demon, my relationship with the Four Black Alliance had actually been pretty good.
'I was one of the unorthodox factions, after all.'
In fact, I'd been invited by the Four Black Alliance a few times and treated to their hospitality.
I had no real beef with the Demonic Cult either.
'Things soured with the Demonic Cult because of that Ma Haryeong girl.'
She'd come looking for me after hearing rumors about the Blissful Creation Art.
The daughter of the Heavenly Demon had offered her virginity, but when she didn't get the inner energy she wanted, she threw a massive fit. That was the spark that ignited the feud between me and the Demonic Cult.
Anyway, in those early Lecherous Demon days...
Put simply, before I ascended to the Profound Realm, the only ones hunting me down to kill me were the Murim Alliance.
For about ten years, I was on the run from the Murim Alliance.
During that time, the number of their warriors I killed exceeded a thousand.
'And now, we're supposed to be comrades?'
Me, Mok Jimyeong.
In my previous life, I'd committed countless massacres and made countless enemies.
I'd met Baek Rihyeon, who killed me, and Chumunrak, whom I'd tried to kill.
I'd heard about Namgungchan, whom I'd slain, from Moyong Hui.
Hell, I'd even wiped out the Red Serpent Sect, the sect I'd once belonged to.
But I'd never crossed paths in this life with anyone I'd personally killed in the previous one.
This felt strangely surreal.
Of course, that didn't mean I was about to get all sentimental and treat the Murim Alliance folks like true comrades.
Still, nominally speaking, we'd be under the same banner.
We'd be standing side by side against our enemies.
'Sigh... I wonder if we can get along.'
And that wasn't the only issue.
There was another problem staring me right in the face...
'What if I can't hold back and kill someone?'
The Murim Alliance was adamant that my fiery temper needed to be tamed.
Lately, traveling with Moyong Hui had mellowed me out quite a bit.
In fact, since my regression, I'd only committed murder twice.
Chumunrak and the Red Serpent Sect rabble.
And those were all guys who deserved death by orthodox standards.
So far, no issues.
But...
'Killing a Murim Alliance warrior would make me a prime public enemy.'
Once I joined the Murim Alliance, everything changed.
I couldn't kill even if they pissed me off.
No, I shouldn't kill.
My very first goal after regression had been to stay in the orthodox faction.
Having turned the entire world against me before, I knew full well how solid the protection of the orthodox sects was.
So, I had to make a major resolution.
'Beat 'em if I have to, but don't kill. If there's truly someone who needs killing, do it where no one will see.'
At least in public, I had to hold back on murder.
For someone like me, who'd lived without a care for others' opinions my whole life, this was going to be damn tough.
As I steeled myself with that vow, Moyong Hui, who'd been quietly sitting beside me, suddenly beamed at me.
"Gaga, are you worried, by any chance?"
Worried?
Not quite.
'Worst case, I can just leave the Murim Alliance.'
I could grab my women and head off somewhere far away.
Sourcing new girls might be a hassle, but I sure as hell wasn't going back to my old ways.
Of course, that wasn't what Moyong Hui meant by her question.
I shrugged and smiled at her.
"About what?"
"You're pretending otherwise, but aren't you worried about Hyeon?"
Her absurd misunderstanding made me burst out laughing for real.
Moyong Hui, embarrassed by my reaction, glared at me with mock fierceness.
"Then why do you look so serious?"
Her gentle features made even that fierce glare look adorable.
I pondered how to respond, then decided to give her an answer she'd like.
"Just wondering if guys will be hitting on my Hui once we get to the Murim Alliance."
It was half my honest feelings, too.
I was worried I'd snap and kill any who tried.
Moyong Hui's eyes softened into crescents at my words, clearly pleased.
She blushed and murmured,
"Don't worry. You're the only one for me."
As we finished eating and stepped out of the restaurant, we ran into someone I wasn't thrilled to see.
Well, "ran into" wasn't quite right.
'Already here, huh.'
He'd clearly been waiting for us.
And I could instantly guess why he hadn't come inside the restaurant and had waited out front instead.
"Huh? Beggar grandpa?"
He was a beggar who'd obviously get chased off if he tried entering.
Huga Bae Cheolsan, the beggar with eight knotted ropes dangling from his waist.
The future leader of the Dragon Head Gang, and the guy who'd been showing interest in me lately.
Last time we'd met, Moyong Hui had been pretty annoyed with him for badmouthing me, but today she greeted him warmly.
Seemed she'd completely forgotten those negative vibes.
Bae Cheolsan didn't repeat his previous mistake either, exchanging a smooth greeting with Moyong Hui.
"Hui, long time no see. Everything alright?"
"Yes. And you, Beggar grandpa? No troubles?"
"What troubles does a beggar have?"
With that, he glanced my way for no reason.
Then added,
"Except that the guy heading to the Murim Alliance took a detour elsewhere, so I had to wait anxiously."
He'd been tracking our route through the Beggar Clan network.
I sighed and stepped forward.
"What brings you all the way here?"
"What brings me? I arrived in Jeongju first, didn't I?"
Obviously, I knew that.
Him waiting here meant he'd planned ahead.
'He must've left the day I said I was heading to the Murim Alliance.'
We'd wasted time stopping at Jename Castle along the way, so naturally he'd arrived earlier.
But that wasn't what I was asking.
"So why seek us out?"
"Hm, shall we move to a quieter spot first?"
Yeah, talking here wasn't ideal.
It was peak lunch hour, crowded with people, and blocking the restaurant entrance with a beggar was begging for dirty looks.
Normally, I'd ignore reputation, but as someone about to join the Murim Alliance, I had to start minding it a little.
As we followed him, Cheon Woojin whispered from behind.
"My lord, who is this gentleman?"
He kept sneaking glances at the knotted ropes on the man's waist.
I'd half-expected it.
'He wants an introduction.'
That's why he whispered instead of sending a transmission.
The guy was already networking.
'He really hates being an ordinary warrior that much?'
What's wrong with it?
I hear the salary's three silver taels.
(For reference, I pay Cheon Woojin five silver taels. Add three more from the Alliance, and that's a whopping eight.)
Not answering and lost in thought, Cheon Woojin gave up and approached Bae Cheolsan.
He politely cupped his fists.
"My knowledge is limited, so I can't be certain... but are you perhaps Elder Huga?"
"Huh? And who might you be?"
Bae Cheolsan, focused only on me and Moyong Hui, looked startled at Cheon Woojin.
Then he stopped and exclaimed in admiration.
"I thought only that Mok guy and Hui were exceptional... but your whole group are dragons!"
His gaze shifted to Baek Rihyeon too.
He'd already sized up everyone's skills.
I cut in before Bae Cheolsan could spout more nonsense.
"This should be far enough. Now, get to the point."
He shot me a disappointed look.
But he quickly composed himself and spread a sound barrier around us.
Cheon Woojin and Baek Rihyeon were excluded from its range.
'Must be something important.'
Otherwise, no reason to shut them out.
Moyong Hui noticed too and tensed slightly.
Bae Cheolsan double-checked the barrier, then spoke quietly.
"The Alliance Leader wishes to meet you and Hui."
"What? The Alliance Leader?"
Moyong Hui looked stunned.
I was pretty shocked myself.
'The Sword Star?'
The man who would later ascend to the Three Stars of the Ten Strongest Under Heaven.
Alliance Leader Heo Eunchang, the Sword Star himself, wanted a private meeting.