Chapter 190: Chapter 190

A heavy tension hung inside the Academy Head’s office.

It was not because of Jegal So-myeong, who was frowning and openly revealing his displeasure.

The real reason for that heavy tension was……

“Hahaha, if I had known the Academy Head had such good taste in tea, I would have visited often.”

“……Pardon? Ah, is that so? Then I will send the same tea to the Alliance Leader’s Hall……”

“No, no. How could I use the Alliance’s money so easily? I will stop by from time to time.”

“……”

At Hyeok Mu-gang’s words, Buk Won-pyeong forcibly hid his dumbfounded expression.

The Murim Alliance Leader would come to drink tea whenever he pleased?

Just thinking about it was enough to suffocate him.

But this Murim Alliance Leader went one step further.

“Would it perhaps be uncomfortable if I came often?”

“Ah, no! How could that be? I am only grateful that you would visit often.”

He was forcing a smile, but the corners of his mouth and eyes were trembling.

At Buk Won-pyeong’s appearance, like a rabbit bowing its head before a leopard, I felt an inexplicable refreshment.

Serves him right.

Since he rejected the Chief Disciple’s request in a single stroke, the Grand Patriarch must have punished him.

Hyeok Mu-gang slightly lifted his head and continued speaking.

“At my age, there are no places that invite me. Staying in the Alliance Leader’s Hall every day is quite a hardship.”

“……”

“I built many memories while wandering the Murim with the successor of the previous Peerless Sword. Those were truly enjoyable days.”

I know your master well, and what? I even wandered the Murim with him and did all sorts of things, you brat!

……He was saying something like the stories old men would tell, but the atmosphere he gave off was clearly different.

It was as though he exuded an imperial air.

In a way, that was only natural.

The footprints he had left on the Murim were enough to inspire awe in every martial artist active in the Murim, regardless of whether they belonged to white or black.

‘Just looking at the fact that the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Clans cannot pull him down from the Alliance Leader’s seat makes that obvious.’

He did not even have a sect or a master.

The story of how he rose into the ranks of the ten greatest under heaven with his own unique martial arts, overcame all sorts of schemes and secret struggles, and was ultimately nominated to the position of Murim Alliance Leader was enough to stir the hearts of all those who lived in the Murim.

Moreover, I held an even more special feeling toward him.

When the Great Righteous-Demonic War broke out, he had been the one who fought fiercely at the very front line.

Even when we were disappointed in the Nine Sects and One Gang and disillusioned with the Five Great Clans, the White-Bearded Divine Sword had never betrayed our trust.

‘……Perhaps that was why he failed.’

In the end, he too had been one of the great stars that fell during the Great Righteous-Demonic War. But even after the Great Righteous-Demonic War ended, he remained in our hearts as a lamp that would never go out.

Seeing the hero I had once only seen from afar now standing before my eyes made a strange tremor rise in my chest.

‘……It might also be trembling because I am simply anxious.’

It could not be helped, because he had come with Jegal So-myeong at the very time I was supposed to be scolded by him.

Even if I had come prepared to be scolded by Jegal So-myeong, I did not want to be torn apart by the White-Bearded Divine Sword as well.

Hyeok Mu-gang, who had been conversing with the sweating Buk Won-pyeong, glanced toward me.

I lowered my head deeply so that I would not end up in the same situation as Buk Won-pyeong.

Fortunately(?), Jegal So-myeong’s voice, which was grinding his teeth, came first.

“Jin So-un…… Do you have any idea what you have done?”

Gulp.

‘To be honest, I did commit some wrongs, but thanks to me, the Academy Students survived, did they not?’

I swallowed the words I had prepared firmly down my throat.

I simply tried to listen to his curses with the heart of a meat shield(?) that disregarded defense.

After all, I had plenty of experience as a meat shield in my past life.

However……

“Haha, Grand Strategist. Did we not promise not to do that?”

That relaxed and benevolent voice cut in.

‘What is this?’

While I still could not erase the suspicion in my eyes.

“That is why I told you not to follow me, did I not?”

“Haha, Grand Strategist. In that case, would the promise not become meaningless?”

Jegal So-myeong looked as though he was dying to vent his anger to his heart’s content, while Hyeok Mu-gang was suppressing him with a gentle smile.

To think this could happen!

‘Hyeok Mu-gang truly is a man with the bearing of a hero!’

Hyeok Mu-gang turned his head and looked at me.

“Representative Jin So-un, you did something truly admirable this time.”

A faint smile settled around Hyeok Mu-gang’s mouth.

In contrast, Jegal So-myeong’s face crumpled like a sheet of paper.

‘Oho?’

The situation drew itself vividly in my head.

Jegal So-myeong must have wanted to scold me before giving any praise.

On the other hand, Hyeok Mu-gang would have opposed that.

Because of that, Jegal So-myeong had come all the way to the Murim Academy to avoid Hyeok Mu-gang’s eyes, but somehow, it seemed Hyeok Mu-gang had caught him from behind.

‘This seems roughly right.’

Once I had calculated that, what I had to do also became clear.

I answered in the most polite posture I could manage.

“You flatter me. I merely did what naturally had to be done.”

Hyeok Mu-gang made a satisfied expression and patted my shoulder.

“Even that natural thing is not something anyone can do. Moreover, I hear that while serving as Academy Representative, you had severe conflict with the Righteous Path Association.”

“If a person without anyone to pull him up wishes to rise in the world, are those not difficulties he must naturally endure? Even so, because they were not as difficult as what you must have endured, Alliance Leader, I never thought of them as truly hard.”

“Hahaha, of course! That is right. If a man is truly a great man, he must know how to embrace even those with flaws. Of course, of course.”

Hyeok Mu-gang laughed cheerfully for quite some time.

This should be enough flattery for what I needed.

Now it was time to clean up my mistakes.

I made a clasped hands greeting and lowered my head deeply.

“Nevertheless, I am endlessly ashamed of myself.”

“Hm?”

At my sudden attitude, Hyeok Mu-gang, who had not removed the smile from his face for a long while, asked as though puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

I answered in a miserable voice.

“Although I saved ‘hundreds’ of people and prevented the ‘Blood Cult incident’ that nearly spread further in Sichuan beforehand, thereby saving the Academy Students nearby and, further away, the warriors of the Murim Alliance……”

I stopped speaking for a moment and subtly glanced at Jegal So-myeong once.

“There may still be people who believe I did not follow the proper procedures in the process.”

Then I looked at Hyeok Mu-gang and drooped the corners of my eyes with all my might.

“Because of that, I am deeply ashamed and embarrassed. If you give me punishment, I will gladly accept any punishment.”

As soon as my words ended, Jegal So-myeong’s gaze turned like an axe.

Hyeok Mu-gang went “hahaha” and quietly closed his eyes.

He stroked his long white beard, grown like that of an immortal, several times.

After a brief silence, he opened his eyes in a flash.

A golden gleam flashed in his eyes for an instant.

“I…… am truly a blessed man.”

His gaze toward me was filled with affection.

“Such an excellent Later-Generation Talent has appeared in my era. With this much, could it not be said that I have fulfilled my duties as the Murim Alliance Leader faithfully?”

Astonishment beyond praise……!

I held down my shoulders, which were about to dance, and spoke even more humbly.

“You flatter me.”

As I kept my head lowered deeply like a sinner, I could feel snorting from beside me.

“Y-you damned bastard……! How dare you try to slip away from your mistakes with that flimsy tongue!”

Jegal So-myeong’s face had turned bright red, as though he was dying from frustration.

As expected, it was a little insufficient to deceive him.

But so what?

The Murim Alliance Leader was already on my side. Huhut.

I deliberately made an even guiltier expression and said,

“Grand Strategist…… I am truly sorry. But for my insufficient self, it was the best I could do for the greater cause. If you punish me…… if you truly must, I will gladly accept it.”

The excited Jegal So-myeong finally pointed at me and spoke.

“Haa……! Did you see that, Alliance Leader? This bastard is a truly terrifying bastard. He knew he would be scolded by me, so he is trying to put the Alliance Leader behind him……”

“Now, now, Grand Strategist. Compose yourself. What are you saying to our young hero?”

“Wow…… wow……. Truly! Wow……”

After calming Jegal So-myeong, Hyeok Mu-gang called me again.

“Representative Jin So-un. Raise your head. Of course, the process was wrong, but as a result, you prevented an enormous amount of blood from flowing through the Murim in advance, so your merits can be said to be greater than your faults.”

A moment of solemnity settled on the face where a benevolent smile had been hanging.

“Of course, that does not mean everything is fine as long as the result is good.”

His gentle but firm voice continued.

“When we make everything rational according to the result, do illegality and violations not arise in the process? So take this incident as a lesson and always examine your own actions.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

“If you understand, relax your expression and raise your head now. Your current appearance does not suit the bearing of a hero.”

I began raising my head, then paused briefly and showed myself watching Jegal So-myeong’s mood.

At that, Jegal So-myeong beat his own chest as though dumbfounded.

“Wow…… this bastard was an incredible actor. He should not come to Mantongbu. We should send him to perform Peking Opera.”

“……”

Hyeok Mu-gang shook his head and said,

“Grand Strategist, stop. Is he not already reflecting sufficiently?”

“No! Ha……. Hoo……”

Jegal So-myeong, who had lost the words to say, soon let out a long sigh as though giving up.

I barely hid the corners of my mouth that tried to rise.

Since Hyeok Mu-gang had instructed him like this, the worry of being scolded by Jegal So-myeong had practically disappeared.

‘This worked out far better than I expected.’

Just as I thought I could leave the Academy Head’s office with a light heart now.

“More importantly, since you have established a great achievement, we should give you a reward. What would be good?”

As expected, was a hero who had risen alone to the position of Murim Alliance Leader different in some way?

“What reward are you talking about? Not being punished is a reward for that bastard.”

As expected, I could not feel the bearing of a hero from Jegal So-myeong.

Hyeok Mu-gang laughed and looked at Jegal So-myeong.

“Grand Strategist, you are mischievous as well. You are the one who thought more than anyone about what we should give Representative Jin.”

“That was…… after that bastard had gladly accepted punishment.”

“In any case, what would there be to give this child?”

At Hyeok Mu-gang’s firm attitude, Jegal So-myeong eventually sighed.

“Well. He has not yet become an official Alliance Member, so we cannot promote him. And it would not do to give wealth to an Academy Student……”

When Jegal So-myeong trailed off, Hyeok Mu-gang asked me,

“Representative Jin So-un, is there anything you need? If there is, speak without hesitation.”

I quickly searched the book archive inside my head.

If it was something I could receive as a reward, it would be best if it was an item the Murim Alliance currently possessed.

At the same time, it should not be something so excessive that it surpassed my achievement, and it would be even better if its value had not yet been properly assessed.

Considering all of that.

Among the Murim Alliance’s current possessions, what I needed most was……

“I would like Diamond Indestructible Iron and Phoenix Wutong Copper.”

“Diamond Indestructible Iron…… is one thing, but why do you need Phoenix Wutong Copper?”

“I have a personal use for it.”

After pondering, Hyeok Mu-gang asked again,

“Are you perhaps trying to make a sword?”

“Yes.”

“Hm…… If so, would Black Iron not be better?”

“Alliance Leader!”

Jegal So-myeong paled beside him.

It was only natural.

Both Diamond Indestructible Iron and Black Iron were equally precious, but in the Murim, Black Iron was praised as the superior metal.

Above all, Black Iron had a high capacity to receive Qi, so even when using the same Sword Qi, its efficiency was better.

In my past life, the Red Radiance Sword had also been a divine weapon made of Black Iron.

‘But everyone does not yet know that its hardness is weaker than Diamond Indestructible Iron.’

The matter of hardness would only be revealed after the Great Righteous-Demonic War broke out and the Demonic Cult’s Demonic Beasts appeared.

I felt it during this Iron Corpse Puppet incident as well, but when facing Demonic Beasts with skin hardness beyond that of humans, there was nothing like Diamond Indestructible Iron.

Considering the beings I, and the people of the Murim, would have to face in the future, preparing a weapon made of Diamond Indestructible Iron was a better choice than Black Iron.

Moreover, there was one secret people did not know.

The hidden effect of Phoenix Wutong Copper and Diamond Indestructible Iron.

If Diamond Indestructible Iron was mixed with Phoenix Wutong Copper and refined, it would show even greater capacity to receive Qi than Black Iron.

If I made the Red Radiance Sword with Diamond Indestructible Iron, Phoenix Wutong Copper, and Blood Sea Jade, I would be able to see an object greater than the one I had seen in my past life.

“Black Iron is far too much for someone like me. Diamond Indestructible Iron and Phoenix Wutong Copper are enough for me.”

“Haha…… As a martial artist, one would normally be more greedy for a weapon.”

Hyeok Mu-gang, who had been looking at me with benevolent eyes, turned his gaze toward Jegal So-myeong.

“What do you think? Our young hero wishes for those. Are the items in the Treasury?”

Jegal So-myeong’s eyes trembled.

“How does he know every last detail of the items in the Treasury……?”

Then he soon let out a deep sigh, as though resigning himself.

“I believe we can give them.”

“Then that settles it. Grand Strategist, do you have any opinion to add?”

“I do not.”

Hyeok Mu-gang looked at me again with a smile.

“Representative Jin So-un, the award ceremony can only be held after all matters in Sichuan are finished. However, I will arrange for the items to be used first.”

Was the award ceremony important?

The items were important.

He truly had generosity worthy of a hero of the Murim.

I glanced at the Grand Strategist, then answered quickly.

“Thank you.”

Once things were roughly wrapped up in a pleasant atmosphere that satisfied everyone except Jegal So-myeong, it naturally turned into a time for conversation.

The topic naturally moved to the story of Sichuan, and since I had not known what kind of discussion had occurred inside the Murim Alliance, it was a good opportunity to satisfy my curiosity.

I listened quietly so the flow of the conversation would not be interrupted.

“Fortunately, that old Poison King and Qingcheng’s horse-nosed one have agreed to step forward.”

“That is fortunate. I was very worried about what we would do if they did not.”

“Since the incident took place in their front yard, of course they should step forward.”

From the Murim Alliance’s perspective, since they had dispatched sufficient manpower, there was no issue in carrying out battle.

On the other hand, because they lacked numbers among those who had entered the ranks of absolute masters, how to deal with the Blood Cult’s experts was the greatest difficulty of all.

Fortunately, the story was that the absolute masters of Sichuan had stepped forward and resolved that to some degree.

‘It will be resolved faster than expected.’

In my past life, they had spent a long time identifying the enemy, so their response had been late, and because they did not know how powerful the Witchcraft was, the damage had been severe.

On top of that, because there were beings with absolute military force like Iron Corpse Puppets and Blood Demons, the number of deaths had been enough to make even the Murim Alliance stagger.

Compared to that time, the current situation was fortunate enough to be considered almost without damage.

“By the way, I still find it questionable. Why did the Blood Cult bastards stop their eastward advance?”

“Hm……”

The brilliant Jegal So-myeong tilted his head and raised a question.

“If their identity had not been revealed, perhaps, but now that their identity has been exposed, dragging out time will never be advantageous for them.”

“For now, it would be best to send word telling them to stay cautious. There may perhaps be some kind of trap.”

As I listened quietly to the conversation between the two, only then did I remember something very important I had forgotten.

“Um……”

When I, who had remained silent until now, opened my mouth, everyone focused on me.

“I should have mentioned this earlier.”

I placed the bundle I had brought on the table.

Once again, everyone’s gaze gathered in one place.

“What is that?”

Doubt appeared in Hyeok Mu-gang’s eyes as he looked at the bundle.

I looked at him and scratched my head for no reason.

“Ah, well, um. It is the head of the person called the Blood Cult’s Young Cult Master.”

“……”

“……?”

The three people wore blank expressions, as though they did not know what they had just heard.

After a brief silence.

“Hm?!”

Buk Won-pyeong made a strange sound and quickly rose from his seat to untie the bundle.

And then.

“Hah……”

When the face of the Blood Cult’s Young Cult Master, who had died with his eyes wide open from the shock of being attacked without warning, appeared, shock settled on all three faces.

I looked at them and finished my report.

“That, probably…… The reason they cannot advance east is because this man is dead. He seemed to be playing quite a central role inside the Blood Cult.”

In truth, losing the Blood Sea Jade and the Illusion Ring was probably even more significant, but there was no need to tell them that.

“Y-you made him like this?”

At Jegal So-myeong’s question, I nodded.

“When we were retreating, I somehow felt they would attack from behind, so I removed the bud in advance.”

Jegal So-myeong and Buk Won-pyeong’s expressions turned dumbfounded in turn.

Even Hyeok Mu-gang, who was trying hard to manage his expression, had his gaze shake all the same.

“……”

Their gazes seemed to ask, What kind of bastard is this?

Unable to find anything in particular to say, I quietly sipped my tea.

Slurp.

Oh, as expected, it was delicious.

There was a reason Hyeok Mu-gang said he would visit often.