Chapter 146: Chapter 146
The demonic practitioners facing Jang Geon growled like beasts. As if the Murim Alliance warriors they had been fighting until moments ago were completely out of sight, all of them glared only at Jang Geon, baring their teeth. Perhaps due to the demonic qi flowing around their eyes, they looked like dark blue wolves, just like the name of the Dark Wolf Unit.
Just then, Jang Geon, who stood towering while facing them, wobbled slightly. Seeing that, the demonic practitioner closest to Jang Geon threw himself forward without a second thought. The forearm-length twin blades he held became the fangs of a beast, aiming straight for Jang Geon.
The reflection of the blades flashed, and the demonic practitioner, carried by the momentum of his charge, brushed past Jang Geon and tumbled across the ground. His eyes, glistening with madness moments ago, lost their light. Blood flowing from his clean-severed waist soaked the earth.
Jang Geon remained in the posture of having swung Azure Dragon, then wobbled once more. The Dark Wolf Unit demonic practitioners flinched instinctively to attack. Yet not a single person actually moved. Seeing that, Jang Geon smirked even while dark blood trickled from his lips.
“What are you doing? You should keep going.”
At that near-mockery, the Dark Wolf Unit demonic practitioners stood dazed for a moment, then roared and charged at Jang Geon. Seeing that, Hyeokryeon Wi-jin, who had been watching Jang Geon with complicated eyes, brandished the Righteous Dragon Sword high and shouted.
“Let us go! We must help the hero of the Murim! Do not leave him to fight alone!”
At that shout, the quiet Murim Alliance warriors snapped to their senses. Though many were injured here and there by Tang Sa-un’s hidden weapons, there were also many who were not. They immediately let out war cries and sprinted behind the Alliance Leader who took the lead.
“Charge!”
“For the Murim!”
“Great Hero Jang! For Great Hero Jang Geon!”
Among those charging at the very front was Ga Yong-san of the Sword Dragon Sect. Even while fighting the demonic practitioners, he had been casting glances at Jang Geon from earlier, and thus he had witnessed everything from Jang Geon forming the Azure Dragon Wall to disposing of Tang Sa-un afterward. As if unable to contain his overwhelmed heart upon witnessing Jang Geon’s martial prowess, he sprinted while shouting at the top of his lungs. Thanks to that, all the Murim Alliance warriors there came to know Jang Geon’s name.
Jeok Se-in was running beside him. Having been fiercely fighting the Dark Wolf Unit demonic practitioners, she had not been able to properly observe Jang Geon’s martial arts. However, she had already experienced Jang Geon’s prowess multiple times, and so she shouted along with the cries echoing beside her.
“Jang Geon! Knight-errant Jang Geon!”
Beyond the large gate facing the front of the Alliance Leader Mansion, Jang Geon stood with blood trickling from his mouth, and the Dark Wolf Unit demonic practitioners charged toward him. And behind them, the Murim Alliance warriors followed close behind with roaring battle cries.
Looking at the eyes and teeth of the closest demonic practitioner, Jang Geon muttered.
“Splendid.”
“Roaaar!”
Three demonic practitioners in succession brushed past Jang Geon. Blade and blade tore through the empty air, flashing reflections, and sharp clashing sounds of iron striking iron rang out repeatedly. Both Jang Geon and the demonic practitioners who brushed past him stood frozen for a moment in the exact posture of having extended their blades.
Rather than meeting Jang Geon, the remaining demonic practitioners had to turn around and defend against the Murim Alliance warriors at their backs. Ferocious demonic qi and warriors’ blades met and clashed once more. However, seeing Tang Sa-un die, the demonic practitioners’ morale was plummeting, whereas the Murim Alliance warriors, sensing that Jang Geon had dispatched the demonic practitioners’ leader even without knowing the detailed circumstances, threw themselves forward relentlessly in high excitement. The demonic practitioners were driven onto the defensive in an instant.
The three demonic practitioners who had frozen after brushing past Jang Geon collapsed heavily one by one. And remaining in the posture of having swung Azure Dragon, Jang Geon once again spewed a mouthful of blood. A long horizontal bloody line formed on his cheek beneath his right eye, drops of blood trickling down.
He straightened his posture and shook Azure Dragon with a snap. Afterward, spitting the remaining blood in his mouth to the side, he watched the battle between the Murim Alliance and the demonic practitioners.
The battle did not last long. As expected, it was thanks to Alliance Leader Hyeokryeon Wi-jin and the Council of Elders stepping in and rampaging. After the last demonic practitioner collapsed, the Murim Alliance warriors, having looked around at one another and confirmed their victory, soon raised their respective weapons high and let out cheers.
“Waaah!”
“For the Murim! For the Murim Alliance!”
“We won! We drove out all the demonic practitioners!”
However, at that moment, the Alliance Leader suddenly shouted at the cheering alliance members.
“Is this the time to rejoice! Attend to those injured by the demonic practitioners and struck by hidden weapons! If poison was coated on the hidden weapons, it is a perilous situation!”
Startled by that reprimand, the alliance members quickly swarmed toward the wounded and the dead as he ordered. Helping hands reached out toward the warriors who lay groaning, and the corpses were collected. There was also someone approaching Jang Geon. It was Jeok Se-in.
“Are you alright?”
“More or less.”
Jang Geon answered her nonchalantly. Jeok Se-in hesitated for a moment as if contemplating what to say to him. However, when she soon gathered her thoughts to open her mouth, Jang Geon’s eyes had already left her, looking straight ahead. Another figure had approached.
It was Alliance Leader Hyeokryeon Wi-jin.
“…You have done a great deed for the Murim Alliance, Warrior Jang.”
Jang Geon looked at him without answering. Since Hyeokryeon Wi-jin, who had spoken first, said nothing more either, the two men stood quietly facing each other with closed lips.
The atmosphere instantly grew peculiar. All the alliance members collecting bodies and wounded cast furtive glances this way, and Jeok Se-in also read their moods and stealthily stepped aside.
Hyeokryeon Wi-jin spoke again.
“You have done a great deed, for the Murim Alliance, Warrior Jang.”
Yet despite the Alliance Leader’s repeated words, Jang Geon merely stared blankly without answering. One of the elders watching from the side, deeming Jang Geon insolent, stepped forward and raised a finger. It seemed he intended to point at Jang Geon and say something.
However, that motion was blocked by the Alliance Leader raising a hand slightly. That elder coughed dryly to himself and returned his forward step to where he had been standing.
Seeing that, Jang Geon finally opened his mouth.
“Where is Bae Yang-o?”
The Alliance Leader did not reply in words, but looked toward the corpses the warriors were gathering. There lay the corpse of Bae Yang-o, his neck slashed open red, lying with hollow gray eyes. Jang Geon’s eyes turned back to the Alliance Leader.
It was unclear whether Bae Yang-o had been caught in the fierce fight and died at the hands of a demonic practitioner, or died by the hand of the Alliance Leader who wanted to avoid complicating matters further. However, what had been closest to his neck was undoubtedly the Alliance Leader’s Righteous Dragon Sword.
Jang Geon spoke.
“A thrusting sword technique that throws one’s entire body as though turning into a flying arrow. I have seen a similar sword technique in the past.”
The Alliance Leader’s eyebrows twitched for an instant. His gaze turned peculiar.
“…Did you meet one of my disciples? Quite a few youths study under me. Whom did you meet?”
“Well. I do not know. We merely met in the wilderness and fought for life and death.”
“Meeting in the wilderness and fighting for life and death… That truly is the life of a martial artist.”
The peculiarly glistening light in the Alliance Leader’s eyes sank deeply. He had not yet sheathed the Righteous Dragon Sword. And the same was true for Jang Geon.
At that strange atmosphere, both Jeok Se-in and the elders looked between the two with slightly bewildered eyes. Jeok Se-in, who believed Jang Geon was connected to the disappearance of the Soaring Eagle Unit, wondered why Jang Geon, who ought to watch his tongue, was baring his fangs, while the elders, who thought both the Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders had obtained what each planned by eliminating Bae Yang-o and wiping out the infiltrated demonic practitioners, wondered why the Alliance Leader was unnecessarily provoking Jang Geon, who stood at the center of this incident.
The Alliance Leader spoke.
“The sword technique you mentioned is the Sun-Shooting Sword Art. It is a sword technique based on the ancient myth of shooting down the sun with a bow. It is a technique I devised and have been refining relatively recently. Would you care to learn it?”
The elders flinched. Offering to impart martial arts ultimately meant establishing a master-disciple relationship. It also meant adding new martial power to the already formidable faction of the Alliance Leader. However, Jang Geon slowly shook his head.
“I must decline. I have already learned and mastered many things.”
“Hah. What could you have mastered so much of to say that?”
The Alliance Leader wore a smiling face as if genuinely curious. Gazing at him, Jang Geon sheathed Azure Dragon into its scabbard with a slow movement and replied in a low voice.
“This and that. Among them is something carrion vultures were after.”
While Azure Dragon vanished into its scabbard with a metallic whisper, the Alliance Leader’s expression froze chilled in tandem. In the next instant, the tip of the Righteous Dragon Sword twitched slightly, and Azure Dragon, fully seated within its scabbard, produced a click.
Just then, the alliance members who had been tending to the wounded while glancing at this side let out screams.
“Aargh!”
“W-What! This bastard! He is still alive!”
One of the demonic practitioner corpses thought to be completely dead had suddenly leaped to his feet and begun sprinting. Moving on all fours like a true beast using both feet and hands, the demonic practitioner broke through the alliance members in a flash and ran along the walls and pavilions. Though many alliance members quickly drew their weapons, the demonic practitioner fled without looking back, far from confronting them.
Other alliance members who had retreated far away and were returning seeing that the battle seemed over were startled and thrown into confusion. Since most of them had stepped back because they were non-combatants, they were at a loss seeing the demonic practitioner scuttling along one wall on all fours. The demonic practitioner drew distant in an instant.
Seeing that, the Alliance Leader urgently tried to shout to capture the fellow. If a situation where a single fellow escaped after winning the entire battle occurred, it would not bode well for him either. If they had won, it had to be packaged as a complete victory.
“Murim Alliance! Block that demonic practitioner’s—”
At that moment, a long spear came flying like a gust from somewhere—swoosh—and impaled the demonic practitioner sprinting along the wall. The momentum carried by the spear pierced through the demonic practitioner and flew far further, driving firmly into the center of the avenue. His upper body pierced sideways, the demonic practitioner choked, spewed blood, and fumbled at the spear shaft embedded in the ground, then soon went limp.
Startled by that scene, the milling alliance members retreated to the side of the avenue in a crowd. Thanks to that, the avenue leading to the main gate of the Alliance Leader Mansion was cleared wide open, revealing a woman standing in the center of the avenue far away.
She was draped in a robe embroidered with golden threads on a black background over her shoulders. Her attire beneath looked luxurious as well, and that luxury was completed by her neatly pinned-up hair and the hairpin inserted therein.
At the same time, her gaze was peculiar, as though looking down upon all the Murim Alliance members in this place. She possessed an unapproachable distance and the arrogance of a ruler.
Across the demonic practitioner impaled by a spear and dead in the center of the avenue, the Murim Alliance leadership and her eyes met.
Anxiety flashed across the Alliance Leader’s face. She was a woman he had never seen before. Could she be a new demonic practitioner? In the next instant, the Alliance Leader realized that there were people lined up behind her. For a moment, her presence was so commanding that he had not seen them.
The gazes of all the alliance members present focused upon her. As if relishing their silence and gazes, she swept her eyes across the crowd. Then, spotting Jang Geon beside the Alliance Leader, her eyes widened slightly.
Blinking her eyes, she confirmed Jang Geon, the Murim Alliance people, and the front courtyard of the Alliance Leader Mansion turned into a mess, then soon walked forward.
Meeting first the corpse of the demonic practitioner impaled by the spear in the avenue, she reached out and pulled the spear free. Deprived of its support, the corpse slumped onto the ground with a thud. Afterward, flicking the spear blade and extending it to the side, someone who had approached unnoticed received the spear. It was another woman dressed in neat martial robes.
Having removed the obstacle like that, the woman stepped with long strides over the corpse of the demonic practitioner and continued walking toward the leadership. Following behind her, those who filled the path in neat formation marched with steady strides. The terrifying thing was that even though dozens of people were walking, only the sound of heavy footsteps echoed, as if a single person were walking. The fact that their attire was completely unified in black robes and bamboo hats also added to the chilling atmosphere.
The non-combatant alliance members who had retreated to the side of the road watched them pass without being able to do anything. When that distance drew fairly close, one of the elders, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward. This time, even the Alliance Leader did not stop him.
“Halt! No matter how I look, you do not appear to be people of the Murim Alliance. Just who are you? How did you enter?”
Her steps halted. Without a word, she looked over the Murim Alliance leadership once more, including the elder who had questioned her, then took something out from her bosom and held it forth. That palm-sized object was an octagonal golden plaque. Engraved within it was a surging yellow dragon in raised relief.
The instant the Council of Elders recognized it, their mouths fell wide open, and simultaneously, the other woman who had received the spear from the woman earlier raised her voice and shouted.
“Righteous Dragon Sword Master Hyeokryeon Wi-jin and the Murim Alliance, pay your respects to Princess Yu Seol, General Jin Dong of the Eastward Subjugation Army!”
Hearing that shout, all the alliance members murmured in bewildered confusion.
“What? A princess? A princess of the Han Empire?”
“A general? And General Jin Dong at that?”
“No, what on earth is…”
However, that murmuring fell silent as Alliance Leader Hyeokryeon Wi-jin sheathed the Righteous Dragon Sword and stepped forward. Stepping forward like that, the Alliance Leader spoke with a hearty chuckle to the awkward, hesitant crowd.
“What are you doing? She is a General of the Imperial Army. Pay your respects, everyone.”
Saying so, he bowed his head in greeting to Yu Seol. Seeing him, the other alliance members also all bowed their heads to greet Yu Seol. The only one who did not bow his head was Jang Geon. And seeing such a Jang Geon, Yu Seol confirmed that none of the Murim Alliance members were watching, grinned, raised her hand, and wriggled her fingers in greeting toward Jang Geon.
Afterward, as the Murim Alliance Leader’s head rose, she promptly lowered her hand and returned to a dignified expression.
Jang Geon chuckled in amusement. He had unexpectedly met Seol Myo-geum—that is, Princess Yu Seol—whom he had parted ways with in New Sichuan in the past, once again. And with a grand title like General Jin Dong, no less.
Jang Geon’s eyes turned toward the Alliance Leader. Having bowed his head in greeting, he continued his greetings as though not flustered in the slightest by Yu Seol’s sudden appearance. But to Jang Geon, drops of sweat beading densely on his nape were clearly visible.
Afterward, Jang Geon’s gaze turned toward the bodyguard Jin-ha, who stood behind Yu Seol resting a spear on the ground with an equally dignified expression. When her eyes met Jang Geon’s, unable to raise her hand to greet him like Yu Seol, she merely acknowledged him with an eye signal.
His gaze passed beyond her to those standing neatly lined up behind her. Martial artists dressed in black robes with their eyes and expressions concealed under black bamboo hats. Seeing that they followed behind Yu Seol who was called a general, they were the Imperial Army. Those who had left for Hawaii had returned. And though he did not know how many commanders or generals there were, they were surely a unified force that could not be compared to the fragmented Murim Alliance.
“It is finished.”
Jang Geon muttered softly. Jang Geon himself did not know exactly how things would unfold in the future. However, in any case, someone who had plotted with the Demonic Palace had emerged from within the Murim Alliance, and an attack by demonic practitioners had taken place. And over there, Namgoong Cheon was still alive and well. Neither the Alliance Leader nor the Council of Elders would be able to scheme anything further. For they had to face the returned Imperial Army right away.
The fact that Yu Seol, who had already experienced an attack by the Demonic Palace, had returned bearing a general’s rank, the title Jin Dong, and coming directly—at least officially—to the Murim Alliance upon returning; looking at these facts, Yu Seol was likely dispatched by the Imperial Court to properly conduct the fight against the stagnant Demonic Palace.
If such a Yu Seol came to know the situation of the Murim Alliance over the past few days, there was no telling what would become of the Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders. In the worst case, the Alliance Leader’s Righteous Dragon Sword might even be revoked. After all, Yu Seol was a princess, the Emperor’s daughter, so if there was a flaw in Hyeokryeon Wi-jin, she was fully capable of doing so.
Jang Geon let the rambling voice of the Alliance Leader pass through one ear and raised his head. In the sky, an evening glow spread out, reddish and evoking a peculiar sentiment.
If the Murim Alliance functioned properly thanks to Yu Seol, compensation for the native tribes of Gowon City would also be made quickly. Searches would also be conducted to see if there were other demonic practitioners within New Sichuan, and if found, they would be slain. Since Tang Sa-un was dead, the remaining ones would probably not be greatly dangerous either.
Though it was thanks to Yu Seol’s sudden appearance, even so, Jang Geon could say that he had done his best as promised in his own way. He had prevented the death of the Murim Alliance high command, and Bae Yang-o overextending himself was ultimately because of Jang Geon.
Lowering his head and adjusting Azure Dragon at his waist, Jang Geon wiped the bloody mouth with his sleeve and began moving. Because people’s gazes were focused on the conversation between the Alliance Leader and Yu Seol, no one noticed Jang Geon slipping away. Jang Geon grew farther and farther from the gathered crowd.
However, there was someone who spotted him. Yu Seol, who was not paying much attention to the Alliance Leader’s words. Her eyes pursued Jang Geon.
At that, the Alliance Leader, who had been delivering grand welcoming remarks, also turned his gaze following her eyes, and as the gazes of the two at the center shifted, the eyes of everyone in the courtyard also turned toward Jang Geon.
“…Warrior Jang? Where are you going?”
At the Alliance Leader’s words, Jang Geon’s steps leaving the courtyard came to a halt. Jang Geon looked around at the gazes focused upon him and slowly turned around.
Countless unfamiliar warriors, Namgoong Cheon and Je Un-seong still in front of the Alliance Leader Mansion far away, Ga Yong-san of the Sword Dragon Sect who had cried out his name, uncomfortable-looking elders, Jeok Se-in, the Alliance Leader, Yu Seol, and Jin-ha behind her all met his eyes. And Jang Geon unwittingly smirked. It was because Yang Goeng was nowhere to be seen.
Finally meeting eyes with the Alliance Leader again, Jang Geon fumbled inside his robes, took something out, and tossed it. That silvery object flew gently and landed in the Alliance Leader’s hand. It was the Righteous Dragon Medallion.
Looking at the Alliance Leader and the people staring at him with blank faces, Jang Geon spoke.
“I shall return what I received this afternoon. Since it is not mine.”
Afterward, before the Alliance Leader could offer any reply, Jang Geon turned around. And with long strides, he walked out along the avenue before the Alliance Leader Mansion. Toward the side where the black-clothed Imperial Army stood in formation. They remained motionless even seeing Jang Geon approaching.
At that moment, Yu Seol softly raised her hand and flicked her fingers. Then the aligned Imperial Army split to the left and right in disciplined movements, creating a path. Every person in the courtyard was watching the receding back of departing Jang Geon. But paying no heed to such gazes, Jang Geon walked away without pause past the path opened by the Imperial Army.
The Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders watched his back with eyes that found it hard to understand Jang Geon for simply walking away, most alliance members felt a peculiar sentiment difficult to put into words, while Jeok Se-in and Namgoong Cheon looked at his back with understanding eyes. Only Yu Seol alone smiled peculiarly and nodded to herself.
Jang Geon thus left the Murim Alliance that had turned into a mess.