Chapter 136: Chapter 136

Bae Won-chan could not even think of pulling up his trousers, standing utterly frozen and trembling faintly. He hadn’t even seen Jang Geon draw his blade, and in the Murim, that ultimately signified death.

A martial artist proved himself through martial arts. Proving oneself merely by being skilled with a blade was an ignorant act in its own right, but there was no helping it. They were called martial artists because they were people who lived in such a Murim.

“…I have… seen it well…”

Only after quite a while did Bae Won-chan stammer out a reply to Jang Geon’s words. And the other martial artists, who had been staring at the two with astonished eyes, also finally broke their breathless silence and began murmuring among themselves.

“With that single move just now, Patrol Member Bae was… Did you see his blade being drawn?”

“Patrol Member Bae was the finest rising star of the White Forest Sect…”

“Was it only the White Forest Sect? He was the next generation of the Murim Alliance…”

“Didn’t they say he wasn’t even an Alliance member? Where did such a martial artist come from…”

At that moment, a martial artist standing relatively near the front turned around and shouted angrily.

“Quiet, quiet! When a quarrel is unfolding inside the Alliance, instead of trying to stop it, are you going to chatter like marketplace merchants? Everyone, be silent and stand properly!”

He shouted like that to silence the Alliance members, then hurriedly stepped forward and adjusted Bae Won-chan’s clothes. Bae Won-chan’s fully exposed lower body was barely covered. With trembling hands, he grasped the trousers that had been pulled up for him. The martial artist who stepped forward whispered to him,

“Pull yourself together, Patrol Member Bae. Many eyes are watching.”

Only after hearing those words did Bae Won-chan lift his gaze from the floor to look at Jang Geon. Jang Geon stood askew, tilting his chin as if looking down at him. Beneath that bamboo hat, Jang Geon’s calm eyes met Bae Won-chan’s.

“…It was an excellent move, Martial Artist Jang. At least with my eyes, I cannot fathom Martial Artist Jang’s martial arts. I apologize for the things I spouted earlier.”

Clutching his trousers, Bae Won-chan could not cup his fists and merely bowed his waist. Afterward, when Jang Geon lightly nodded in acknowledgment, he turned around still clutching his trousers and began heading back. The martial artist who had just tidied his trousers was about to follow hurriedly behind him, but paused and turned to look at Jang Geon.

“Did you say your name was Martial Artist Jang? Truly outstanding skill. Let us have a meal together next time we meet.”

“Then you should at least let me know your name.”

He smirked.

“I am Bae Won-hyeong. Won-chan’s elder cousin.”

Having revealed his name like that, he turned around and followed behind Bae Won-chan. Suddenly, a thin scarf wrapped around his neck caught Jang Geon’s eye. It was a New World fashion trend worn either for style or to wipe away sweat.

Once the one who appeared to be their representative backed down, the other martial artists who had rushed in also had to turn around and follow him. Before departing, they all stole glances at Jang Geon. Most showed astonishment, while some seemed to be pondering what impact he would have on the internal strife currently unfolding within the Murim Alliance.

However, meeting those gazes, Jang Geon merely stood in that place, looking just as composed and tranquil as ever.

“…I did not expect the matter to be resolved this quickly.”

When Jang Geon turned around at the voice behind his back, Jeok Se-in was there. She looked somewhat bewildered. It seemed to be due to Jang Geon stepping forward first and even drawing his blade.

“If you’re going to do a job, you should do it properly. I couldn’t just stand here like a folding screen, could I?”

“Well… that is true. Whatever work one does, one should do it as if it were one’s own affair… But there aren’t many people who truly live that way…”

“At least I am trying to live that way.”

Replying, Jang Geon smiled faintly.

“And I haven’t received the Alliance Leader’s reward yet.”

Jeok Se-in’s slightly stiff face softened a bit upon seeing that smile. Facing her as she nodded, Jang Geon turned his eyes to look at Yang Goeng, who was pretending to be a bystander alongside the guards to one side.

“Hey.”

“…Huh? Me? You calling me?”

Yang Goeng, who had been looking unconcerned, hastily approached Jang Geon when called. His waist bent naturally, and a customer-service smile surfaced on his face.

“What is it, Brother Jang?”

Jang Geon spoke while watching the Alliance members disappearing between the distant pavilions.

“Do you know that person?”

“Who? Bae Won-chan? Of course I know Bae Won-chan. He’s the White Forest Sect’s greatest prospect and a rising star of the Murim Alliance. Though who knows what will happen as of today.”

“What about Bae Won-hyeong?”

“…Bae Won-hyeong? Who is that?”

Turning his head to look at Yang Goeng, pity surfaced on Jang Geon’s face. Of course, it wasn’t directed at Yang Goeng, but pity for the Dark Dragon Squad who used such a fellow as an informant.

“Bae Won-hyeong is a martial artist affiliated with the Department of Recommendation. The Department of Recommendation is an institution that screens branch heads when sending them to various branches across the country. While Bae Won-chan is famous for being Elder Bae Yang-o’s nephew, not many people know that Elder Bae’s actual son is Bae Won-hyeong. Because he himself is reluctant to reveal it.”

Jeok Se-in, who had been listening, explained instead. Yang Goeng scratched his head, and Jang Geon nodded. Either way, it seemed that troubles would continue to arise with that Bae family and the White Forest Sect. Committing them to memory, Jang Geon asked Jeok Se-in,

“What happens now? Should we wait for the people coming to discipline you?”

“…We cannot leave our posts. They might be looking for an opportunity. As I mentioned earlier, the Alliance Leader’s Office will soon come to fetch Elder Namgoong. They might arrive together with the Department of Inspection, which will hand down the discipline. At any rate, if it reaches that point, it can be considered a success.”

Having heard the explanation, Jang Geon nodded and fumbled through his clothes to pull out tobacco and paper. Then, slowly rolling it, he turned his body toward the prison.

Seeing that, Jeok Se-in asked,

“Where are you going?”

“Since I’ve come all the way here, I should at least see his face.”

Jang Geon replied while putting the tobacco in his mouth. When his index finger touched the tip of the tobacco, it soon gave off a thick puff of smoke. Afterward, approaching the main gate of the prison, he opened the door without hesitation.

Upon opening the door, the first thing visible was a small space with another door inside and two guards standing with crossed arms on either side of that inner door. Perhaps already aware of the situation outside, they were not flustered even upon seeing the wide-open gate and Jang Geon. They simply spoke while maintaining their firm posture.

“Visiting that prisoner requires permission from superiors. You cannot enter.”

As Jang Geon puffed smoke while looking at them beyond the door, Jeok Se-in came up beside him to dissuade him.

“You cannot enter the prison carelessly. I didn’t mention it earlier, but… it became even stricter because Imperial Army Commandant Gyeon Woo-yeong was murdered inside the prison last time. It was also due to that incident that the prison slipped from the Alliance Leader’s control. Outsiders aren’t even permitted visitation…”

Listening to Jeok Se-in trying to dissuade him from beside him, Jang Geon gazed at the two guards for a moment, exhaled a stream of smoke, and suddenly yelled out loudly,

“Is it bearable in there—?!”

Not only the guards and Jeok Se-in, but even Yang Goeng’s eyes went wide. Jeok Se-in opened her mouth to stop Jang Geon.

“…Wait, no matter which floor Elder Namgoong is on, there’s no way he could hear—”

“Not bad—! Except that the floor is too cold—!”

Just then, Namgoong Cheon’s voice resonated from a place not very far from the door the guards were blocking. Hearing that sound, Jang Geon nodded and continued,

“Wait just a moment! They said they’ll move you to a warm room soon!”

Shouting that and putting the tobacco back to his mouth, hearty laughter echoed from inside the prison. The guards chuckled incredulously as they looked at Jang Geon, while Jeok Se-in merely shook her head lightly.

Afterward, Jang Geon sat perched on the threshold of the prison’s main gate, smoking while gazing out at the Murim Alliance. It was an attitude devoid of hesitation, and truly so in reality. Perhaps thanks to that, Jeok Se-in felt her needlessly heavy heart lighten a little.

Setting aside their individual purposes, Jang Geon, Jeok Se-in, Yang Goeng, and the three guards blocking the front of the prison spent time quietly in their respective spots without further conversation. The dazzling sunlight and drifting clouds in New Sichuan’s sky, the towering pavilions and pagodas casting shadows and shade upon one another’s bodies and the earthen ground. As if the commotion from earlier had been a lie, the front of the prison gate appeared tranquil and cool.

What broke that tranquility was the appearance of four people who looked modest, unlike the crowd that had rushed in earlier. Despite the warm weather, they strode toward the prison, their faces and bodies concealed beneath large cloaks and bamboo hats.

Seeing them, Jang Geon flicked away the butt that had burned almost to the end and stood up. The one walking at the very front of the four took off his bamboo hat. He smiled faintly and shook his head gently.

“We meet again, Jang Geon. Shouldn’t we share a meal instead of merely bumping into each other’s faces all the time?”

The one who took off the bamboo hat was Je Un-seong. Confirming that face, Jang Geon shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“Well. I don’t particularly want to eat with you.”

“Oh. Actually, neither do I. Then let’s share a meal later when we get a bit closer.”

After joking lightly, Je Un-seong pulled out the Alliance Leader’s written order from his robes and handed it to the guards. The guards, who had shown an obstinate attitude toward Jang Geon, immediately opened the door upon seeing the order and brought out Namgoong Cheon from the first floor of the prison.

Stepping outside, Namgoong Cheon grimaced as if the dazzling sunlight hurt his eyes, then smiled upon discovering Jang Geon and Jeok Se-in watching him. However, his face was distinctly far more gaunt and fatigued than four days ago. At the very least, his bandages were clean, as if they had been changed daily.

Confirming that he could walk on his own, Je Un-seong and the Alliance Leader’s Office martial artists surrounded him on all sides and spoke.

“Let us go. The Alliance Leader is waiting.”

And just as they were about to depart, as if suddenly remembering, they looked toward Jeok Se-in and Jang Geon.

“Patrol Member Jeok and you should come along as well. The Alliance Leader said he wished to meet you together.”

“Me? Right now?”

At Jang Geon’s query, Je Un-seong laughed.

“Why wouldn’t it be right now? If you were the Murim Alliance Leader, wouldn’t you be curious about yourself? The undercurrent struggle inside the Alliance has settled down to some extent over the past four days. If not now, who knows when he will have free time again.”

Thinking for a moment, Jang Geon felt it wouldn’t be bad to meet the Alliance Leader now that things had turned out this way. Last time, all he would have gotten was a reward and a medal, so he had simply left, but this time, he had requests entrusted to him by the Tribal Alliance’s Great Warrior and Flowing Bone. Meeting the Alliance Leader would allow him to learn how he intended to resolve the Tribal Alliance incident.

“Mm. Let us go.”

Thus, a short escort procession was formed, with the group surrounding Je Un-seong and Namgoong Cheon taking the lead, followed by Jang Geon, Jeok Se-in, and Yang Goeng.

“W-why me…? Why on earth me…? Why would I meet the Murim Alliance Leader…?”

“Go brag about it somewhere. That a thief even met the Murim Alliance Leader.”

“Ah… damn it, ah…”

Yang Goeng tried to slip away at that very moment, but Jang Geon did not let him go. Since Jang Geon vouched for him, Je Un-seong did not say much either. Jeok Se-in, who knew his identity, seemed somewhat bewildered, but she did not broadcast his identity to Je Un-seong and the Alliance Leader’s Office martial artists. She figured Jang Geon had his own thoughts.

Crossing the wide Murim Alliance, they were able to enter the Alliance Leader’s Office beyond the high walls at its center, and after being guided smoothly through, they arrived before a certain door.

Standing there, Je Un-seong spoke.

“Alliance Leader, I have brought the defector and the other guests.”

“Come in.”

A voice that seemed to come from somewhat far away could be heard, and the door opened. Jang Geon could see a desk, chairs, and bookshelves that appeared to be an office. The Alliance Leader was not there.

The Alliance Leader was beyond a wide-open door on the opposite side of where they had entered. That place looked like a small garden, where an elderly man who had been tinkering with something slowly stood up. Sweat was beaded on his white beard that reached down to his chest and his neatly combed, tied hair, and his worn clothes were stained with soil here and there. However, unlike what his white beard suggested, his waist was straight and his physique was sturdy.

He was the Murim Alliance Leader and the foremost chivalrous hero of the New World who had been bestowed the Righteous Dragon Sword by the Emperor, Hyeokryeon Wi-jin.

* * *

“He must… he must have used some kind of sorcery! How could a mere child of a Central Plains merchant family, not even from an ancient great clan, possess such martial arts? Surely…”

“Quiet.”

Bae Won-chan, who had been chattering indignantly, kept his mouth shut at the low rumble of his uncle’s words. Elder Bae Yang-o looked at Bae Won-chan with a displeased expression.

“Narrow-minded fool. If you truly thought it was sorcery, you would have openly revealed it on the spot and appealed to the Alliance members. Why? Back then, you were stunned by his blade skill and acknowledged it, but now that you stand before me, is it difficult to say so?”

“…No, Uncle. I apologize.”

Bae Won-chan hung his head low and spoke like that. Bae Yang-o shook his head gently and even clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“It is not something to be viewed entirely in a negative light. In any case, it is true that Patrol Member Jeok directly obstructed the Council of Elders’ orders, and according to the recent report, she entered the Alliance Leader’s Office, so we can use that as leverage to attack the Alliance Leader. Even if we could not kill Namgoong Cheon, we cannot say we gained nothing.”

When Bae Won-hyeong beside him offered a defense, Bae Yang-o affirmed it as well.

“Yes. That is fortunate at least. But the problem is that this fool Won-chan lost to that man named Jang Geon without even laying a finger on him. How many spirit elixirs has this guy gorged on, and how many invited masters taught him, for him to only amount to that much? I must write a letter to elder brother saying that we need to select a new successor for the sect.”

“U-Uncle! That is…”

Bae Yang-o turned his head away from the trembling Bae Won-chan.

That place was the residence of Elder Bae Yang-o. Bae Won-chan and Bae Won-hyeong, who had botched the task, had come to him to deliver a report. Looking as though he didn’t even want to see his face, Bae Yang-o waved his hand at Bae Won-chan.

“Leave now. Go reflect on your conduct and train in your martial arts.”

Bae Won-chan mumbled his lips as if wanting to make some excuse, but when Bae Won-hyeong beside him shook his head, he ultimately dropped his head and walked out. Watching his retreating back, Bae Won-hyeong spoke.

“Do not scold him too harshly. His blade was truly swift. Even I couldn’t see it properly.”

“Enough. Do not keep defending that fellow either. He has only learned martial arts, an idiot who doesn’t even know how our sect operates. If he weren’t my elder brother’s son, I would have cast him out long ago.”

Bae Yang-o, who had been massaging his temples while sitting in his chair, suddenly looked up as if recalling something and asked his son,

“So, what did they say should be done? They couldn’t kill Namgoong Cheon; do they have another operation?”

At the sudden topic, Bae Won-hyeong unconsciously looked around with cautious eyes. Even so, there was no one in Bae Yang-o’s residence other than the two of them. Realizing that, Bae Won-hyeong smiled bitterly and opened his mouth.

“…If things do not resolve smoothly, in the end, there is no choice but to break through the problem by radical means. A knot that cannot be untied must be cut. Those were his words.”

Bae Yang-o let out a sigh and leaned back into his chair. It was a look that wondered if things were truly going to turn out this way. Watching his father, Bae Won-hyeong raised a hand and fiddled with the thin scarf wrapped around his neck. For some reason, the faint scar underneath stung slightly.