Chapter 75: Chapter 75
The group soon arrived at the Murim Alliance.
“Ugh.”
“Keok!”
Normally, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen would have gone straight into their lodgings, but due to the aftereffects of the horse stance, they were carefully getting out of the carriage.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and get off.”
Cheon-hwi, who had gotten off first, urged them.
‘Making such a fuss over just doing the horse stance inside the carriage until we arrived.’
He clicked his tongue with a ‘tsk’ and spoke.
“The last person to get off will do the horse stance I taught you a few days ago in the backyard for one more shichen.”
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen freaked out and shouted.
“J-Junior Brother! Anything but that!”
“I, I can’t do it anymore!”
“Why? Didn’t you say you would follow all my words? Are you going to give up? You were the ones who asked for it, saying you wanted to get stronger.”
Keok! Keok!
Cheon-hwi’s indifferent words pierced their hearts like a dagger.
It hadn’t even been ten days since they had swallowed their pride and desperately asked for his teachings.
But giving up already.
It was too embarrassing to even lift their faces.
“Eek! I’ll still go first.”
“Senior Brother So. Please yield!”
“I already did it twice yesterday too. Junior Brother Cheon Geuk, you yield this time.”
“I did it this morning!”
Without caring who was first, they all forced their trembling legs to move.
“Hahaha.”
Hyeon-jin smiled awkwardly as he watched the Plum Blossom Swordsmen advancing desperately.
“Aren’t you going to do it, Martial Uncle Hyeon-jin?”
As Cheon-hwi looked at him and asked, cold sweat instantly poured down his forehead.
“I, I have to go report, don’t I?”
“Is that so?”
“Haha. Then I will be going.”
Hyeon-jin left as if he was running away.
Cheon-hwi, who was watching that, opened his mouth.
“Can I also go out for a bit?”
In an instant, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen raised both hands and welcomed it.
“Of course you can.”
“Since you’re at it, take your time and enjoy yourself.”
“Hmm.”
Cheon-hwi scanned them one by one as they tried to play tricks, then chuckled.
“Just know that I won’t teach you martial arts later if there are no signs of training.”
The faces of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen turned into expressions of chewing on dung.
“It seems like you all weren’t going to train if I left?”
Everyone forced a smile.
“Ha, ha, ha. What do you mean?”
“Even without you, Junior Brother, shouldn’t we continue our training?”
“Well, I’ll take it as that for now.”
As soon as Cheon-hwi left, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen immediately flopped down at the same time.
“Pant, pant. To think our Junior Brother would be such a demon.”
“But didn’t we get stronger thanks to him?”
“The training is definitely hard, but it feels different every time I use martial arts.”
“And the martial arts he taught us are good too.”
At that moment, Cheon Yu, who had been lying down, got up.
“Let’s move again now.”
One by one, they raised their bodies.
Their whole body’s muscles were still screaming, but there was strength in their eyes.
Soon, as everyone was dragging their tired bodies inside, Cheon Geuk asked.
“But is it okay to let Cheon-hwi wander around the Murim Alliance alone?”
Gu Gyeom-wi chuckled.
“What could possibly happen to our youngest Junior Brother.”
In the past, no, even just a few days ago, if Cheon-hwi had disappeared, they would have made a fuss trying to find him, but it was different now.
‘If it’s Cheon-hwi, he’ll be safe.’
‘Who’s worrying about whom.’
Meanwhile, Cheon-hwi was taking in the surrounding scenery as he roamed the Murim Alliance alone.
“Was there such a handsome young man among the Mount Hua Sect’s Taoists?”
“Isn’t that the Taoist who came with the Mount Hua Divine Sword?”
In an instant, people’s attention was captured by Cheon-hwi.
“But red and black Taoist robes, what a very unique attire.”
Cheon-hwi ignored their whispering and surveyed the surrounding scenery.
‘Everything is good.’
Most of the pavilions visible when he turned his head had good geographical locations and their exteriors were antique and nice.
‘Except for our lodgings.’
Cheon-hwi, who was walking while examining the pavilions one by one, soon nodded.
“I’ll have to negotiate.”
* * *
“Here it is.”
Seol Geom had a satisfied smile after receiving the letter Hyeon-jin handed him.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Warmth dwelled in his eyes.
‘It was good that we joined hands with the Mount Hua Sect.’
Zhongnan and Mount Hua.
Between the two, he joined hands with Mount Hua.
To be exact, it was an unavoidable choice since the Strategist joined hands with Zhongnan.
But was it a blessing in disguise?
In the past, he would have concluded that it was a declining sect, but the situation was different now.
A sect that had finished preparing to soar.
In particular, the reputation of the Mount Hua Divine Sword was growing day by day, and he had heard from a close aide that he was making some kind of deal with the Alliance Leader.
‘Besides, everyone is outstanding.’
By dealing with the Black Valor Slaying Demon this time, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, including One Red Plum Blossom, even gained titles.
Seven Plum Blossom Swords (Maehwa Chilgeom).
‘Perhaps there is also the halo of the Mount Hua Divine Sword, but the names of the other Plum Blossom Swordsmen will be known now too.’
Of course, they didn’t gain the title solely through their reputation, but it was still something.
At that time, Hyeon-jin let out a sigh.
“Huu, I’ll consider the mission completed now.”
“You should have been resting originally, so thank you for taking the mission.”
“It’s fine. It would have felt worse if someone else had been entrusted with it.”
Hyeon-jin waved his hand as he watched Seol Geom bowing respectfully.
He could have actually refused this mission, but since he had defeated the Black Valor Slaying Demon, he carried it out with a sense of responsibility.
“Instead, please don’t forget your promise.”
“Hahaha. Don’t worry. As it is, everyone is showing interest in the Mount Hua Sect due to the recent activities of the Mount Hua Divine Sword Great Hero and the Seven Plum Blossom Swords. If things continue like this, the Mount Hua Sect’s position in the alliance will grow even larger.”
“That’s a relief.”
Hyeon-jin nodded.
Then, he suddenly felt like he had heard a strange title in Seol Geom’s words.
“What are the Seven Plum Blossom Swords?”
“Ah! You must not know since you were at the Namgung Clan all this time.”
Seol Geom snapped his folding fan shut.
“It’s a title given separately to the Great Hero and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen who dealt with the Black Valor Slaying Demon this time.”
“By Seven Swords, do you perhaps mean calling me and my disciples together by a title?”
Hyeon-jin asked in bewilderment.
A martial artist getting a title meant they had gained that much reputation.
However, gaining such a reputation in just a few days was a difficult task.
“Perhaps defeating the Black Valor Slaying Demon was a catalyst, but the actions of the Great Hero and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen up until now became known, and you quickly obtained the title.”
Hyeon-jin’s expression brightened slightly.
Up until now, life in the Murim Alliance had been met with skepticism.
Because no matter how many missions they carried out, the reputation they gained was so little that it was exhausting.
But now a change had occurred.
And a change in a very good direction at that.
“Seven Plum Blossom Swords, it’s a very good title.”
His heart naturally fluttered since the disciples he had led for a long time finally got a title.
Seol Geom opened his folding fan and whispered.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Hyeon-jin’s eyes widened.
“Did you create it, Vice Strategist?”
Seol Geom curved the corners of his eyes instead of answering.
That was enough.
“Thank you.”
“No. It’s just a shabby result compared to the missions the Great Hero and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen have resolved for the alliance.”
“By the way, may I ask what the deal requested from the Namgung Clan is?”
Seol Geom’s pupils shook.
“I’m sorry. That was sent separately by the Alliance Leader.”
“Is that so?”
Hyeon-jin smacked his lips as if it was a pity.
“Then I’ll visit later.”
“Hahaha. I’ll call you with good news then.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Soon Hyeon-jin left.
Tak.
Seol Geom put down his folding fan.
His face, which had been smiling radiantly just moments ago, was stiff like a stone statue.
“Heuk Oh (Black Crow).”
“Oh my. Why would the great Vice Strategist call this dirty crow?”
A rough answer came from above.
“You talk too much.”
“Tsk, tsk, fine. Why did you call me?”
“How does it look to you?”
“It doesn’t seem that special.”
Seol Geom nodded at the answer.
“I think so too.”
“But that’s why it’s strange. How did that guy defeat the Black Valor Slaying Demon?”
“……Are the Black Valor Slaying Demon’s martial skills known to the world true?”
“They’ve actually been understated. His martial arts belong to the Blood Cult.”
“The Blood Cult?!”
Seol Geom abruptly raised his head.
“How did you know that?”
When he asked while glaring at the ceiling, a voice full of laughter came from the left this time, not from above.
“There’s a way to know everything.”
“……”
Seol Geom bit his lip.
They had formed a temporary alliance for the same goal, but the true identity of this Heuk Oh remained unknown to the end.
“It seems you have no intention of telling me.”
“Were we close enough for me to tell you that?”
At the voice mixed with laughter, Seol Geom calmly lowered his head again and asked.
“Then what about the Strategist?”
“The Strategist is the same as usual.”
“……Has he still not gone out?”
“Probably. The alliance would be in an uproar if he went outside. Especially since you know how much the Alliance Leader cherishes the Strategist.”
“……What about Mu Sang and Mun Sang?”
“They are the same as usual too.”
“So nothing has changed.”
“Right.”
“Then the Beggars’ Sect Leader must be staying still too.”
“I don’t know about him.”
Heuk Oh said flatly.
“Because it’s actually dangerous if we go.”
Seol Geom bit his fingernail.
Even for the future, he had to cause a change. A huge change capable of shaking the stagnant Murim Alliance.
Just then, a telepathic transmission suddenly rang out.
[I’ll hold my breath.]
While he was flustered by Heuk Oh’s urgent transmission.
Kwaang!
The door opened and a familiar figure appeared.
“Why is the path so complicated?”
The Taoist Cheon-hwi, who opened the door, scanned his surroundings and spoke with a face full of complaints.
“So you were here.”
“Young Hero Cheon-hwi?”
Cold sweat beaded on Seol Geom.
“What brings you here?”
“I wanted to talk a bit.”
“Talk?”
“But there’s a rat here.”
Cheon-hwi looked behind Seol Geom.
Seol Geom, wondering what he meant, turned his head that way and smiled awkwardly after discovering a mouse hole.
“Haha. It seems mice are roaming around a bit because the pavilion is old.”
“……Let’s just talk first.”
A moment later, Cheon-hwi downed the tea in front of him in one gulp and spoke to Seol Geom.
“I’ll speak straightforwardly.”
Just as Seol Geom was getting tense.
“Change our lodgings, will you?”
“Pardon……?”
Seol Geom, who had been tense wondering what kind of request it would be, let out a deflated voice.
“Do you mean the lodgings?”
“Yes. I looked around the Murim Alliance a little while ago, and our lodgings were the oldest.”
“Ha, haha. That is true.”
Seol Geom was in a tough spot.
The Mount Hua Sect’s lodgings being moved there was one of the things the Zhongnan Sect had forcefully demanded in the past.
“So you’ll change it, right?”
“But since that’s not normally a light matter…….”
“So are you saying it’s a no?”
“We have to follow the procedures step by step…….”
“So it means shut up and stay in that lodging in the meantime.”
Seol Geom was slightly annoyed at Cheon-hwi who kept pushing, but he put on a smile.
“Not to that extent.”
Cheon-hwi stared at Seol Geom.
“Hmm. Martial Uncle Hyeon-do would be delighted if he saw the lodgings.”
Seol Geom’s smile shattered.
“……Are you threatening me right now?”
“I was just stating a fact.”
“Haa, we need a justification to advance a matter of that magnitude.”
Seol Geom massaged his throbbing forehead.
“Think about it. If you change lodgings just because your reputation suddenly rose, what would other sects think?”
He continued his explanation logically.
“You’ll receive jealousy from other sects, saying that the Murim Alliance is supporting the Mount Hua Sect or not just because you’re famous now.”
It was the truth.
“So just wait a little……. Ah!”
Clap!
Seol Geom clapped his hands in the middle of speaking.
“Would you rather consider resolving a mission?”
“A mission?”
Cheon-hwi frowned.
A mission out of nowhere.
But Seol Geom was serious.
“It’s a mission that’s been a big headache recently, and if you succeed, no one will be able to find fault even if we change your lodgings.”
“What kind of mission is it?”
“Do you know that the Water Dragon Stronghold (Suryongchae), one of the Yangtze River Waterways Strongholds, has been running rampant recently?”
“No.”
“Hahaha.”
Seol Geom laughed awkwardly.
“The problem is that the Water Dragon Stronghold keeps attacking people related to our alliance.”
Hmm? Isn’t that a given?
It was natural for water bandits to attack.
But from his next words, one could clearly tell what the problem was.
“In the past, it could still be resolved if we gave them money, but recently they’ve been ignoring us even if we offer money.”
It was strange.
Water bandits rejecting money?
“So what I mean is, could you stay by the Yangtze River and protect them from the Water Dragon Stronghold’s atrocities?”
Cheon-hwi furrowed his brow.
“Are you telling me to keep staying there?”
“Haha. No. Our alliance is also drafting personnel to resolve their attacks. However…….”
Seol Geom burst into laughter.
“Since we are drafting them starting now, it will take a little time.”
“About how long?”
“It will take about a month.”
“A month?”
Cheon-hwi frowned.
It was unexpectedly a long time.
But.
“If I resolve that matter, I can come back quickly, right?”
‘Resolve?’
Seol Geom was puzzled but replied.
“That is correct.”
Cheon-hwi answered immediately and stood up.
“Are you planning to go right now?”
Seol Geom was the one flustered by that.
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you going to listen to the details?”
“I’ll know when I get there.”
“But in order to prepare a carriage for the Plum Blossom Swordsmen to ride…….”
“No. I’ll be going alone.”
“Pardon?”
“Because that’s comfortable.”
With those words, Cheon-hwi left.
A moment later, Seol Geom, who confirmed that Cheon-hwi had left, smiled faintly.
“Fufu, I was thinking of changing their lodgings anyway, this is good luck.”
He had already prepared separate lodgings long ago through a deal with Hyeon-jin.
But since he was taking care of the mission on his own, it was a welcome thing from his perspective.
But then.
“That guy is…….”
Heuk Oh’s trembling voice was heard.
His expression as he stared blankly at the spot where Cheon-hwi left was stiffening.
“Who is he?”
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