Chapter 118: Chapter 118

Henan was the sacred land representing the orthodox Martial World.

First, the thousand-year Shaolin, one of the pillars of the orthodox path, stood firm, and second, the Martial Alliance, which could be called the backbone of the orthodox Martial World, was situated there.

A very long time ago.

The formation of the orthodox Martial Alliance long ago was due to the emergence of the Martial God.

At that time, when even the concepts of Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demon Sects had not been established, those who watched the pitiful sight of martial artists bleeding and dying at the hands of the Martial God.

Gathered people under the banners of righteousness and chivalry.

That was perhaps the very beginning of the Orthodox Martial World.

Afterward, many sects and families joined to subjugate the Martial God, and immediately after the Martial God disappeared, the Martial Alliance was formed out of a sense of righteousness to protect the orthodox Martial World, which could be said to be the beginning.

In hindsight, this meant that the Martial Alliance, much like the thousand-year Shaolin, had also existed through the flow of nearly a thousand years of time.

Such was the Martial Alliance.

Hocheon Pavilion.

At the place where the figures of the Nine Sects and One Gang stayed, quite a few people were gathered, despite the late hour. Each of them was a representative of their respective sects, and they were undoubtedly masters who would not fall short anywhere.

The one leading them was none other than Buddhist Master Ja-un.

He was a pillar of the thousand-year Shaolin and a man holding an important position in the Martial Alliance.

“Are you really planning to do this?”

“Master Ja-un! We have reached a situation where we can no longer overlook this. The Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance has not only fallen into pleasure but does not even attend to his duties, so the Alliance itself has long been paralyzed.”

The one who spoke was a middle-aged man.

He wore the Taoist robe of Wudang.

He was one of the top experts known as the Seven Swords of Wudang, and the one leading them, Go Dam-jin. An extraordinary aura flowed from his eyes. There were even rumors that he might reach the realm of the Sword Saint or the Five Emperors in the future.

“Are you really going to just sit back and watch like this?”

“Keep in mind that you were the ones who chose Murong Hyeok-mun.”

Buddhist Master Ja-un frowned and chanted a Buddhist prayer.

Originally, the next Alliance Leader should have been Master Seon-jin of Shaolin. Since Zhuge Un, the former Chief Strategist, had pushed for him the most, it meant he possessed that level of capability.

However, since the Nine Sects and One Gang, as well as several of the Eight Great Families, had supported Murong Hyeok-mun and put him in office, Ja-un was not very inclined to drag him down now.

“T… That is…”

“W-Well, since we lost the Sword Emperor, it was inevitable to lead the Orthodox faction…”

They tried to think of excuses, but nothing in particular came to mind. In truth, they could not speak of the fact that they had made a backroom deal with Man Hu-ryang for the interests of their respective sects.

‘No matter how powerful Man Hu-ryang is, he wouldn’t have been able to lay a hand on Shaolin.’

Go Dam-jin let out a sigh with a bitter smile.

Wudang had also miscalculated.

They had accepted money because they had many expenses recently, and they had never even imagined that he would use that against them.

He did not doubt that the majority of those present here were, knowingly or unknowingly, indebted to Man Hu-ryang.

But that was that.

This was this.

Murong Hyeok-mun had already gone too far.

He had crossed the line of what the leader of the orthodox Martial Alliance should do. Since ominous rumors about him were circulating inside and outside the Martial Alliance, it was time to depose him as quickly as possible and restore the Alliance’s strength.

Furthermore, this matter was a golden opportunity for the Nine Sects and One Gang.

The Nine Sects and One Gang were the ones who had protected the orthodox Martial World since long ago. However, having lost the seat of the Alliance Leader to the name of the Namgung Family, this was a golden opportunity to reclaim it.

Did he read the look in their eyes?

Buddhist Master Ja-un sighed deeply.

“Have you all… thought about the repercussions of this? A full-scale war with the Murong Family will be inevitable.”

“Who are we? We are those who have supported the orthodox Martial World believing only in righteousness and chivalry. Yet, now that our very roots are shaking, would we fear something like the Murong Family?”

Buddhist Master Ja-un nodded with a bitter expression.

With the Namgung Family ruined, the balance of power had virtually shifted from the Eight Great Families to the Nine Sects and One Gang. That was why their actions were bound to be even more relentless.

Could they be stopped?

Ja-un let out a long sigh and looked up at the ceiling.

The face of his old friend flickered before him.

‘Why did you leave like that…’

Namgung Cheon.

If he were still alive, things would not have come to this point. He was an outstanding talent, possessing a spirit that even the Nine Sects and One Gang had no choice but to follow.

They could no longer be stopped.

In that case, there was no choice but to move forward.

Ja-un quietly stared into their eyes and spoke.

“Shaolin… will stay out of… this matter.”

And he uttered shocking words.

* * *

“They are later than I thought.”

Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak, who had entered Henan, were staying inside an inn, drawing glances from here and there, perhaps because they were wearing masks.

This inn, not far from the Martial Alliance in the Henan provincial capital, was one of the best places to wait for Dan Woo-hyun. Moreover, since they had agreed to meet at the inn, they thought he would arrive quickly.

However, even though two days had passed, he had not appeared yet.

“Did he get lost?”

“No way. Him? That’s ridiculous. Even if he got lost, he’s the kind of guy who would fly here.”

When Sa Do-hak spoke indifferently, Namgung Cheon burst into laughter. He wondered how highly Sa Do-hak must evaluate Dan Woo-hyun to make such a statement.

Of course, Namgung Cheon also agreed with that thought.

Since Dan Woo-hyun was a monster who seemed capable of easily overcoming anything, no matter what happened.

“By the way, what on earth has that Sword Saint fellow been doing to have an even worse reputation than me?”

Sa Do-hak spoke as he dug at his ear, out of earshot.

The words heard while sitting in the inn for a short moment were truly shocking. The Sword Saint of the world had fallen into pleasure. They had seen young girls entering the Alliance Leader’s Palace.

Alcohol flowed in and out day and night, and the coquettish groans of women never ceased?

“…Well. Rumors are just rumors, aren’t they?”

Namgung Cheon adjusted his mask and laughed sheepishly. He was his close friend. The more he heard bad rumors about someone he had been with since childhood, the heavier his heart grew.

‘What on earth is the Murong Family doing?’

He was also angry at Murong Gwan-cheon, the current Family Head.

If a father committed a wrongdoing, it was naturally the duty of a child to correct it. However, it was deplorable that the Murong Family was instead using the power of the Martial Alliance to act solely for the benefit of their own family.

“We are back.”

At that moment, Gwon Mu-jin and Jang Sam-tae, who had approached their table unnoticed, bowed deeply. Beside them, So-mi was busily munching on something.

Watching this, Namgung Cheon pulled So-mi and sat her on his lap.

“So, how did it go?”

“There doesn’t seem to be anything in particular. It is still quiet, and there was no feeling of anything moving.”

“I see…”

“What do you plan to do?”

Gwon Mu-jin quietly turned his gaze to Namgung Cheon.

In fact, the stares had been stinging for a while.

This was due to the eyes of the Orthodox faction members who had recognized Gwon Mu-jin. Although they could not easily approach because of the two men wearing strange masks, it wouldn’t be surprising if a fight broke out at any moment.

It was a situation where he deeply worried whether he should keep So-mi by his side like this.

“Manor Lord Dan needs to arrive quickly.”

“It is not that kind of problem. I am here…”

“Gwon Mu-jin!”

Crash!

Suddenly, the door of the inn was shattered as a group of people poured inside. After scanning the inn with eyes full of killing intent, they quickly spotted Gwon Mu-jin and drew their swords.

“You bastard! To think I’d see you in a place like this, your luck has run out!”

Rumble!

His voice rang loudly through the inn.

Was it because of that?

Those who had been half-doubting whether he was Little Twin Sabres Gwon Mu-jin of the Unorthodox Path also sprang to their feet. Only then did they become certain.

From all sides, those holding swords glared at Gwon Mu-jin.

“There are quite a few guys I have grudges with… I am a bit late in mentioning it.”

“Hahaha.”

“What a ridiculous fellow.”

Namgung Cheon laughed and Sa Do-hak snorted. Paying no heed to the people’s killing intent, the two rose from their seats, with Namgung Cheon holding So-mi close.

“W-Where are you going? Uncle Gwon is…!”

“Do not worry. He is not someone who will get hurt.”

“No, I think it is dangerous. What if Uncle Gwon dies?”

So-mi struggled in Namgung Cheon’s arms.

She threw a tantrum asking to be let down, but there was no way she could overcome Namgung Cheon’s strength. Realizing that force would not work, So-mi finally bit his finger with a snap.

“Ouch!”

Namgung Cheon laughed in disbelief and carefully set her down. A child had bitten him. It did not hurt or itch, but since So-mi’s spirit was quite something, he decided to watch the situation first.

Running forward, So-mi vigorously stretched out both arms to stand between Gwon Mu-jin and them.

And soon, she puffed out both of her cheeks.

“Why are you doing this to our uncle!”

“What…? Uncle? Do you know who that guy is that you are trying to protect him!”

“I don’t know! I don’t even want to know! Uncle Gwon is just Uncle Gwon!”

Gwon Mu-jin’s eyes widened.

He had known for a long time that So-mi possessed quite a lot of nerve. There was a time when she had guarded him even after seeing him bleeding and dying, and did Jang Sam-tae not tell him that she had tried to protect him even in a situation where she could have died?

Now was exactly that situation.

“Y-You damn brat! If you do not want to die, right now…!”

Crack!

In an instant.

No one in the place could grasp what had just happened. The man who had raised his voice and seemed ready to swing his sword at So-mi at any moment had vanished.

Crash!

Only at the sound that followed did the people realize.

He had been sent flying.

The man.

He smashed through the inn’s tables and furniture before crashing into the wall.

His trembling figure, foaming at the mouth, looked critical. It seemed his life could not be guaranteed if they did not take him to a physician immediately.

“Who are you shouting in front of whose daughter?”

At the voice that followed, the entire inn turned ice-cold.

Even the fallen man’s companions could not move, as if frozen solid. The single sentence that came out of his mouth was that cold, seeming to pierce their entire bodies like an awl.

“Daddy!?”

So-mi’s eyes widened in surprise.

When did he appear?

And why was the man who had been standing in front of her lying over there?

Since she did not know the reason, she could not understand the situation.

“Haha, are you finally here?”

“Am I late?”

“No. You arrived just in time. If you hadn’t, a truly major incident would have occurred.”

Sheath!

Namgung Cheon, who had drawn his sword halfway before they knew it, sheathed it and smiled.

Had they tried to touch So-mi even a little more, none of those people would have been standing intact on their two feet.

“Hmph…”

Even Sa Do-hak withdrew his hand and snorted.

The demonic energy that had gathered at his fingertips vanished as if washed away.

“Then, what should we do with them?”

Dan Woo-hyun glanced around, letting out a small smile as he looked at those who stood frozen and unable to budge.

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