Chapter 180
Translator: penny
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: The Sect Leader's Proposal
"Are you insane?"
Unlike before, this time I unleashed my internal energy, radiating my presence.
It was just like the way I'd acted during my trial at the Murim Alliance back then.
My cultivation realm might be lower than the Sa-ryeong Sect Leader's, but in terms of pure internal energy volume, I wasn't inferior at all.
It was proof of just how exceptional the Blissful Creation Art truly was.
"Kuhk..."
I could sense Paeng Deokjo, the guy collapsed behind me, twitching slightly, but I pretended not to notice.
Instead, I focused on the Sect Leader standing before me.
But as expected, a supreme master was a supreme master.
The Sa-ryeong Sect Leader countered without so much as a change in expression.
"Hmm, wouldn't that be a good offer for you?"
I'd braced myself for some clash of martial force, but his reaction was utterly lackluster.
Heck, he didn't even flinch after getting chewed out by a much younger junior...
'Tch, what a bore.'
In truth, fighting here would disadvantage me more.
No matter what, the reinforcements behind him would be impossible for me to handle.
"Let me turn the question around. Why would that be a good offer for me?"
I reined in my presence and tossed the question back.
At that, the Sect Leader's brow twitched ever so slightly—the first change in his stoic face.
"Because I'm personally offering you the Sa-ryeong Sect."
"Even if you offered me the Four Black Alliance, I'd refuse. The Sa-ryeong Sect alone? No thanks. Not interested."
I'd half-expected him to get angry, but again, no change in expression.
This old man was impossible to read.
"Then how about our Hye-rin? As the Evil Flower, she's plenty alluring, wouldn't you say?"
I had to concede that point.
Sa Hye-rin was indeed alluring enough.
'That's why I came all this way.'
The beauty with those sharp, upturned eyes that left such a striking impression.
In terms of looks alone, she didn't lose out to Moyong Hui or Nangong Sua at all.
'...Though her chest was a bit small.'
Regardless, it was a fact that Sa Hye-rin was attractive.
But that wasn't reason enough to give up my woman.
"You're right about that, but in my eyes, Hye-a is... er, I mean, the Sword Phoenix is even more alluring."
"Hmm, I've never seen your Sword Phoenix, so I wouldn't know."
After that exchange, silence fell.
The Sect Leader glanced briefly toward me—back where Paeng Deokjo lay—before plopping back down onto his jade throne.
"So, what brings you to the Sa-ryeong Sect?"
He sure got to the point quickly.
I was curious what reaction I'd get if I said I came to see Sa Hye-rin now, but I held back and brought up another matter.
"When I rescued the Evil Flower before, I heard something strange. She said she didn't know why the Shandong Evil Clan wanted her dead. And not only that—it was supposed to be a secret operation, so how did they even find out her location..."
"That's settled then. I'll call Hye-rin for you—talk to her yourself."
The Sect Leader cut me off mid-sentence, issuing an order to dismiss me with an irritated look.
I was more than happy to chat with Sa Hye-rin over dealing with this old geezer, so I nodded readily.
"Then I'll take my leave."
As I turned to exit, I spotted Paeng Deokjo, still out cold.
For a split second, I considered leaving him behind, but I quickly steeled myself, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and dragged him out.
Just as I stepped out of the Sect Leader's chamber, the guide from earlier came into view.
His gaze landed on Paeng Deokjo, then lifted to me.
"We'll take this one to the medical hall separately."
He was one of the top later-generation disciples of the righteous sects, after all. Handing him over to a fiendish sect like this felt a bit off, but the feeling passed quickly.
I had to meet Sa Hye-rin now, and dragging this dead weight around any longer was a hassle.
'Such a pain.'
The guide, a skilled martial artist in his own right, effortlessly hoisted the much bulkier Paeng Deokjo.
The complete opposite of me dragging him across the floor by the neck.
"Please wait a moment. I'll send someone else right away."
Thanks to that, I ended up standing awkwardly alone in the corridor.
Glancing around idly, my eyes fell on the closed door of the Sect Leader's chamber.
'That Sa-ryeong Sect Leader, huh...'
I'd dismissed him as the leader of a sect on the verge of collapse, but he turned out to be far more impressive than expected.
Both in martial prowess and mental fortitude.
'Can't read his intentions at all.'
Testing me, then trying to connect me with Sa Hye-rin afterward—that made sense.
His offer to hand over the Sa-ryeong Sect was probably sincere too.
But he gave up too easily, and that irritated expression when he dismissed me...
'Something's up.'
As I pondered the Sect Leader's thoughts while staring at the chamber door, it suddenly creaked open.
The door to the room where he'd been alone.
So naturally, the Sect Leader should emerge.
But the one who stepped out was someone unexpected.
"Young Master Mok, it's been a while."
It was Sa Hye-rin emerging from the Sect Leader's chamber.
"Hm? Miss Sa?"
When I'd first entered the chamber earlier, there had clearly only been the Sect Leader inside.
A master of my level wouldn't miss Sa Hye-rin's presence.
So there was only one explanation for this.
'The chamber has more than one entrance.'
I could sense living presences, but not the layout of rooms or door positions.
And now, I couldn't sense the Sect Leader's presence inside anymore.
"...Surprised?"
It was a rather cute prank.
I was genuinely a little startled.
"Yeah, you got me, haha. But it's great to see you again. You look much healthier than last time—I'm relieved."
I laughed heartily, acting as if nothing was amiss, and exchanged greetings.
At my response, Sa Hye-rin blushed and mumbled embarrassedly.
"Truth be told, I didn't want a reunion like this either, but my master insisted I give it a try..."
"..."
That old coot must've been really bored.
'No way he built multiple doors in the chamber just for pranks like this...?'
It was entirely plausible.
For a long-awaited reunion, it felt a bit lackluster, but the atmosphere itself wasn't bad.
Proof of that was the distance—or lack thereof—between us.
"The Sword Phoenix didn't come, I take it."
As we walked down the corridor to relocate, Sa Hye-rin was pressed right up against my side.
Close enough that I could smell her fragrance.
"Yeah, Hye-a had business at the Murim Alliance..."
"You didn't leave her behind because of what I said before, right?"
She gazed up at me with a cheeky expression.
Seeing it brought back the moment from our last parting.
-Come alone, without the Sword Phoenix.
She'd winked with one eye then.
'Maybe something could happen today?'
She was more forward than I'd expected.
Though inwardly excited, I kept a nonchalant face as I replied.
"Haha, think whatever suits you, Miss Sa."
"Oh? Then I'll assume it was because of what I said."
With that, she quickened her pace and walked ahead.
"Come in."
We'd already arrived at our destination.
'Hm? This place?'
It was an ordinary room.
Literally just an ordinary room.
There was a table and chairs, with simple snacks and a bottle of liquor set out.
And in one corner, even a bed.
It could've passed for a room at an inn.
But what was a room like this doing attached to the central building with the Sect Leader's chamber?
'And why bring me here?'
I'd assumed it'd be some reception hall, so this was completely out of left field.
As I puzzled over the surroundings, Sa Hye-rin let out a small sigh.
"It's Master's taste. This is our Sa-ryeong Sect's reception room."
"...This is it?"
I had a lot I wanted to say, but I held my tongue.
No need for an outsider to meddle in another sect's affairs.
'More than that, that Sa-ryeong Sect Leader really runs his sect however he pleases.'
At this point, I needed to rethink his earlier offer to hand over the Sa-ryeong Sect.
He seemed to treat the entire sect like his personal plaything.
'He wasn't just offering the leadership position—he meant the whole Sa-ryeong Sect itself.'
Even so, my answer wouldn't change.
How could I trade my woman for a mere sect?
"This way."
Sa Hye-rin led me to the table with the snacks.
I'd half-hoped we'd head straight for the bed, so it was a bit disappointing.
As I sat in the chair, she finally broached the main topic.
"Master told me. You came about the Shandong Evil Clan incident from before..."
"Yes. Do you happen to know what happened?"
She seemed to hesitate for a moment before cautiously speaking.
"I suppose it's fine to tell you, Young Master Mok. You are my lifesaver, after all..."
How much did the Sa-ryeong Sect really know?
I waited for her answer.
She let out a small sigh and continued.
"There was a spy in our Sa-ryeong Sect. Someone who leaked information to the Shandong Evil Clan..."
It was the answer I'd anticipated on the way here, but since I'd also braced for a dead end, I was slightly shocked.
My voice rose a notch without me realizing.
"Did you catch them?"
She nodded quietly.
Unable to wait, I pressed further.
"What happened to the traitor?"
"...They're dead."
And so, the tale of the past spilled from Sa Hye-rin's lips.