Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Green Forest Total Stronghold Lord Gu Ja-seong - [2]
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Go Jin-cheol explained that the Invincible Unaffiliated's proposal had been reliably conveyed to the Martial Alliance.
"He said it would be tough to take down that Heavenly Demon bastard alone, so we need to bring in another peerless master. The committee members all agreed that made sense..."
It was certainly a reasonable suggestion. Two peerless masters had to be stronger than just one, right?
After much deliberation, the Martial Alliance contacted Gu Ja-seong, the peerless master affiliated with them. They personally asked him to step up and fight alongside them.
And they were rejected. The response they got was something like this.
'Our Chief Stronghold Lord is already ninety years old. What do you mean fight? Are you trying to bully an old man?'
It was a predictable refusal, but the Martial Alliance was persistent.
They even offered to send a skilled physician if he was truly too old and frail to move. Not to treat him, but just to verify if he was really that incapacitated. That got shot down immediately too.
Even after that, they kept at it, pleading about the future of Korean murim, saying this was exactly the time for the elders to step up.
But Gu Ja-seong never showed any intention of joining. So the Martial Alliance went as far as to provoke him.
'Are you scared of losing and losing face? Not that we've ever heard you're one of the stronger peerless masters anyway.'
The provocation backfired spectacularly, just the opposite of what they'd hoped.
Gu Ja-seong and the Joseon Green Forest under his command as Chief Stronghold Lord declared their withdrawal from the Martial Alliance. They said there was no reason to stick around after such an insult.
It was the kind of upheaval that could turn the Martial Alliance upside down.
If you compared the Martial Alliance to the UN, the Joseon Green Forest was like the United States. It was the largest organization among all the affiliated sects and clans, powerful enough to stand against all the others combined.
This was on the level of America quitting the UN.
The Martial Alliance begged them to reconsider, promising to retract the statement and apologize, but Gu Ja-seong wouldn't budge.
He answered with a declaration of war against the Martial Alliance instead.
"The Green Forest has declared war on the Martial Alliance?"
Yi Pung's question drew a response from Go Jin-cheol. He no longer addressed him disrespectfully due to his age.
"Yes. Just two hours after the declaration, Green Forest bandits came swarming in... to our Gwanak Sect's business site."
"Wait, your Gwanak Sect? Didn't you get chased out of Seoul and end up as a minor sect? What's the gain in hitting there first?"
"Well, that provocation... I was the one who said it..."
Yi Pung's lips twitched. He forced down a grin and spoke.
"At this point, aren't you the problem? We should be making three humble visits to beg, not provoking them. Why'd you do it?"
Even under the jab, Go Jin-cheol didn't snap back. He just stammered out his plea.
"Anyway, please... Great Hero Invincible Unaffiliated, go and say something."
"What are all those fancy Martial Alliance committee members doing that my brother has to step in?"
"The other committee members have already reached out multiple times, but they've been completely ignored!"
"What difference does it make if my brother calls?"
"They won't ignore another peerless master. Besides, your master and grandmaster both had ties to that Gu Ja-seong guy, didn't they? Please..."
Yi Pung's face twisted.
"There were ties, sure, but not exactly good ones."
"Still, please... In a time when all martial artists need to unite more than ever, can the Green Forest really just bail? This is about the survival of Korean murim!"
Heo Pung-gae didn't snap back that the survival of Korean murim wasn't such a big deal.
Like it or not, it was his workplace. He'd already been paid upfront for this job anyway.
Heo Pung-gae spoke up.
"Fine, I'll go talk to him. No idea if it'll work."
Two hours later, Heo Pung-gae arrived at the room salon that had been a Gwanak Sect business site just days ago.
Now it was occupied by Green Forest bandits. Bandits who, by the 20th century, had shifted from highway robbery to drug trafficking, human smuggling, gambling, and construction rackets.
Martial Alliance vehicles pulled up in front. Dozens of martial artists piled out.
Moments later, Green Forest bandits poured out of the building.
"What the hell at this hour?" "The fuck..."
The bandits' vibe was ferocious, like they'd just come back from a fresh raid.
These days, Green Forest bandits didn't carry the wooden swords martial artists usually wielded.
They were armed with real weapons now—hand axes and machetes that could actually kill.
They'd probably swung those yesterday when ambushing the Gwanak Sect disciples. Those blades had no doubt tasted the blood of unlucky martial artists. Rare in Korean murim.
"You're from the Martial Alliance, right?"
The bandits advanced like they were ready to fight on the spot. The streetlights glinted off their weapons.
In contrast, the Martial Alliance folks had shown up with just wooden swords. It wasn't just a difference in arms—it was a mindset gap. They were already losing in momentum.
As the martial artists shot desperate looks his way, Heo Pung-gae stepped forward.
Yi Pung yelled from beside him.
"Get lost, you minions! Great Hero Invincible Unaffiliated wants to see your Chief Stronghold Lord!"
The bandits knew about this new peerless master. They'd seen the video too, not long ago.
"Invincible Unaffiliated?"
The bandits flinched and halted.
With the martial artists finally relaxing, a burly man emerged from their ranks.
"Kim Yong-seong here. Chief of Full Moon Mountain Stronghold. It's an honor to meet you, Great Hero Invincible Unaffiliated. What brings you here?"
Was he keeping decorum for a master on par with their own Chief Stronghold Lord?
Heo Pung-gae asked.
"Can I see your Chief Stronghold Lord?"
"Ah, well. He's not doing well mobility-wise. Doesn't want to meet anyone."
"A phone call? Too much to ask?"
Kim Yong-seong pondered briefly.
"That should be doable. Please wait a moment."
Soon after, Heo Pung-gae got the call he'd hoped for.
He started the conversation in a secluded room salon room where no one could see or hear. He held his cellphone to his ear.
The voice of the Joseon Green Forest's Chief Stronghold Lord, Gu Ja-seong, came through.
Test, test? You're the disciple of Great Hero Invincible BB Bullet?
It wasn't a voice he'd never heard before. He already knew Gu Ja-seong by face. They'd even fought twice.
"Yes. Good to meet you, Chief Stronghold Lord."
I saw the video. You have no idea how impressed I was...
Just like back when they'd clashed before, Gu Ja-seong's manner of speaking was impeccably polite. For a filthy bandit bastard.
Heo Pung-gae swallowed his nausea and said,
"Thank you, but before we exchange compliments, I have a question first."
A question? Fire away.
"No intention of reversing your withdrawal from the Martial Alliance?"
None.
"Not even a little?"
Not at all. Why should I? Everything the Martial Alliance does lately is a waste. No benefit for the Green Forest sticking around. That Gangnam's Greatest Sword guy betrays them, their hitman who might get nabbed by prosecutors slips away. You knew about that?
"I suspected."
Idiots, all of them! Fat around their hearts or something? The old Martial Alliance wasn't like this. Now they're not just incompetent—their mindset's rotten too. They try to label Great Hero Invincible BB Bullet, who rose up for murim's honor, a public enemy. Did I ever tell you how much I respect Great Hero Invincible BB Bullet?
Well, if beating him down and thrashing him senseless counted as respect, then yeah, it was true.
The humiliating memory of defeat started bubbling up again.
Heo Pung-gae had to suppress the shame creeping back into his head. He forced a casual tone.
"Yes, my master—who's in prison now—says he respects you too, Chief Stronghold Lord."
That's music to my ears. So, questions done?
"One more. You teaming up with that so-called Heavenly Demon? The blonde bitch."
Straight to the point, and Gu Ja-seong hedged.
Well...
"She pitched an alliance to me too. Said she wasn't just approaching me among Korea's peerless masters."
Only then did Gu Ja-seong admit it openly.
Yeah, she made the same offer to me.
"And you accepted?"
Yes. Why shouldn't I?
"Dunno. So what'd that fake Heavenly Demon offer as alliance payment? Hard to imagine she can top what the Martial Alliance provides."
She promised to extend my lifespan.
Heo Pung-gae's eyebrow twitched.
"Lifespan extension?"
Yeah, a way for this ninety-year-old geezer to live longer. Doesn't know the exact method yet, but hey, grasping at straws. Plus, after seeing that latest video, she seems capable enough. So I took the deal.
"Teaming with the Demonic Cult's ringleader isn't good for the Green Forest."
Hmm, why not?
"No matter how you slice it, what the Demonic Cult's doing looks like it'll collapse Korean murim. The Green Forest could get swept up too..."
Might be, but what can I say? I just want to live longer somehow. Told my boys straight up, and they all agreed. So grateful. Still got so much attachment to life. Ninety years in, you'd think it'd be boring, but nah.
Appetite's still sharp, love screwing women to death. Want to enjoy more—another ten years would be nice... You probably can't relate, huh?
"Why couldn't I?"
A disciple of Invincible BB Bullet? Bet you don't indulge in food or women. No clinging to earthly stuff... And you're young to boot. Can't even imagine this old man's desperation to live a bit longer.
Of course, Heo Pung-gae could fully understand that sentiment.
So he gave up trying to persuade him. Even he wouldn't turn down an offer like that.
"No, I get it. Then I'll stop bothering you."
Much appreciated.
With that, the call ended.
Stepping out of the room salon, he found Go Jin-cheol and the martial artists waiting. They looked at him desperately.
"How'd it go? Any sign he'll reconsider...?"
Heo Pung-gae shook his head at Go Jin-cheol's question.
"No way he's backing down."
"Ah..."
Go Jin-cheol visibly deflated.
Understandable. He'd not only lost his sect's business site but would face blame back at the Martial Alliance.
Go Jin-cheol shuddered and collapsed to the ground.
He looked so pitiful that even Heo Pung-gae, who didn't like him, felt a twinge of sympathy.
Heo Pung-gae said,
"Your gaffe wasn't even the real cause of this mess."
"Pardon?"
"That Gu Ja-seong bastard? He was planning to ditch the Martial Alliance from the start. Your words were just an excuse."
"You really think so?"
"Yes. So go back and prepare for war."
Go Jin-cheol asked cautiously.
"When I report back to the Martial Alliance... can I borrow your authority?"
"My authority?"
"Say it's not my guess, but what Great Hero Invincible Unaffiliated told me directly..."
Heo Pung-gae nodded.
"If you want."
Go Jin-cheol seemed to regain a bit of strength.
He pushed up on wobbly legs, then pulled something from his pocket and offered it.
An antique wooden box. Surely packed with an elixir.
"It's not much, but..."
No reason to refuse.
"If you're giving it, I'll gladly take it."
Heo Pung-gae pocketed the elixir. Go Jin-cheol didn't seem to regret handing over the treasure. If anything, he looked relieved it was accepted.
As the martial artists bowed him off, Heo Pung-gae left with Yi Pung.
In the car, Yi Pung asked,
"Talk fell through, huh? So now it's war between the Green Forest and Martial Alliance?"
"Probably."
"Whoa, actual strife among martial artists? First time in decades..."
Yi Pung seemed thrilled by the situation. Likely because less peace in murim meant more money-making chances.
Suddenly, Heo Pung-gae asked,
"So, where's Baram?"
"Huh?"
"You said you wouldn't stop your daughter from debuting in murim. Korean murim's peaceful, martial artists don't get hurt much, so it's fine. But now... having second thoughts?"
"Uh, well..."
"She can keep training her arts for health and longevity. But can't you stop her from being a murim thug?"
Yi Pung hemmed and hawed before answering.
"I'll think about it."
Back at the office, a man was waiting.
"Great Hero Invincible Unaffiliated? Got your ordered item."
He carefully handed over a wooden box as he spoke.
Another elixir, far more precious than the one from Go Jin-cheol today.
It made sense—this was bought with every penny earned lately.
A 21 billion won elixir. Something he'd barely glimpsed a few times in his life.
Not quite on par with the one President Park had given him. But it was the first time he'd ever bought an elixir this valuable with his own cash. He'd never handled 20 billion before.
"Need a guard while you digest it?"
Heo Pung-gae nodded at Yi Pung's offer.
"Yeah."
Heo Pung-gae entered the room and locked the door. Yi Pung stood watch outside.