Chapter 163: Chapter 163
Dok-ra-su was a man of good intuition.
Therefore, he vividly felt that right now was a great opportunity that had arrived in his life.
Dragging along the Fifth Valley Lord, whose head was damaged by Extreme Yang Poison and had become an idiot, he headed toward the Martial Alliance.
He intended to boast of his merits and make a reconciliation of sorts with the Martial Alliance this time. It was his first step after deciding to live as an orthodox martial artist.
As he approached the Sichuan temporary headquarters, he felt considerably nervous. Deciding the major and minor affairs of the alliance was not solely the business of the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist. The influence of the old folks of the Five Great Clans and Nine Great Sects and One Clan played a large role.
‘If even a single person strongly opposes, matters will not be easy.’
In the worst-case scenario, someone might draw a sword and attack. At any rate, he was currently in the status of a public enemy of the martial world.
.
.
.
The timing was truly appropriate.
At that point when he arrived at the temporary headquarters, the grand council of the Martial Alliance was underway. Coincidentally, Tang So-yeon was also attending the meeting as the acting family head of the Tang Clan.
“…For such and such reasons, I subdued the Fifth Valley Lord of Poison Valley and saved the Martial Alliance members. If not for me, you couldn’t even dare imagine how many more alliance members would have fallen victim to poison.”
Pride was fully contained in Dok-ra-su’s voice. There was not a single thing wrong with his explanation.
However, displeased gazes were vividly felt from here and there.
‘Especially that ox-nose bastard.’
Sure enough, the Wudang Sword Immortal clicked his tongue and spoke.
“And so, did you come because you want to receive praise? A bastard who brazenly put his name on the list of public enemies of the martial world is truly fearless.”
The Wudang Sword Immortal exuded momentum blatantly.
If it were his usual self, he would have drawn his sword immediately and severed Dok-ra-su’s neck, but because this matter was indeed Dok-ra-su’s merit, he was holding back with effort.
Then it was Tang So-yeon who stepped forward.
She spoke in an irritable voice.
“Do not treat an elder of my clan carelessly. Even if the Martial Alliance treats him as a public enemy, to me, he is my eldest uncle and an elder of our household.”
“Hmph!”
The Wudang Sword Immortal snorted as if quite displeased. Even so, seeing that he softened his momentum, the prestige held by the Sichuan Tang Clan ahead of the war was truly formidable.
As the atmosphere settled, Dok-ra-su inwardly considered Tang So-yeon admirable and continued speaking.
“What I desire is just two things. First, take me off the list of public enemies of the martial world.”
“Ahem!”
“Mmm…!”
Discomfort was revealed from here and there.
Whether that was so or not, Dok-ra-su read the room with the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist, then spoke.
“Second, considering generational seniority and skill, grant me the position of hall master or elder of the Martial Alliance.”
“How dare this bastard!”
Unable to endure, the Wudang Sword Immortal sprang up from his seat as if bouncing. He even grasped the hilt of his sword as if about to draw it right away. The solemn and profound energy unique to a Daoist of the Wudang Sect weighed heavily down upon the hall.
“Although you are a public enemy of the martial world, I intended not to kill you by acknowledging this merit highly, but if you act so insolently, I have no other choice either!”
The Wudang Sword Immortal’s sword was drawn slightly.
Seeing this, Dok-ra-su swallowed hard. Although he had come with ample mental preparation, at any rate, the Wudang Sword Immortal was a person called one of the Three Great Swordsmen of the Righteous Path alongside the Alliance Leader and the Sword King.
When such a person blatantly revealed killing intent, even Dok-ra-su felt that heavy pressure quite heavily.
‘…Should I step back for today around this point?’
Somehow, it seemed better to come back when the Wudang Sword Immortal was absent and win over the Alliance Leader or Chief Strategist first.
Dok-ra-su, who was considering a tactical retreat, suddenly discovered the beggar bastard quietly sitting in that corner and observing the situation. It was none other than the Dragon Head Sect Chief of the Beggars’ Sect.
No, because of whom did I become a public enemy of the martial world!
Thinking thus, heat flared up within him for no reason.
“That damn public enemy of the martial world! Is there even anyone here who knows why I became a public enemy? Sword Immortal, you bastard, speak. Since you tried to draw your sword, you must know at least that reason.”
“Ha, they called you a madman, and you truly seem insane. Why, did not numerous masters of the Righteous Path die to your poison arts!”
“No. That was an affair after I became a public enemy of the martial world. Think about it: is there a master I attacked first and killed? If you can name even a single person, I will leave my head in this spot.”
Then the hall became quiet.
Everyone seemed to be racking their brains to diligently recall.
However, when the silence lengthened, Dok-ra-su cackled.
“Right, you guys despised me without even knowing a clear reason. You merely saw someone point fingers and raised your fingers together without any thought, and as those years grew long, you truly came to hate and despise me. That is how humans originally are. One should live with one’s own opinions, yet when someone says something is good, everyone rushes over, and when someone says something is bad, everyone rushes over…”
If you make an effort to dislike someone, you truly come to dislike them, and if you try to like them, that is how it turns out.
At Dok-ra-su’s words, everyone fell into deep thought. At any rate, those gathered in this place were people who had broken through countless walls of enlightenment to reach their realms, so their contemplation of life was by no means shallow.
Come to think of it, Dok-ra-su was called a madman obsessed with poison from the time he was chased out of the Tang Clan. As quite a few masters of the Righteous Path died by his hands over decades, everyone naturally regarded him as a public enemy of the martial world.
“Now, Dragon Head Sect Chief, you bastard, speak. Why did I become a public enemy?”
Then everyone’s gazes turned toward the sect chief.
The Dragon Head Sect Chief answered after scratching his head.
“Because I put you on the list of public enemies of the martial world.”
Everyone wore bewildered expressions. No matter how much they tried to recall, they couldn’t remember the reason he became a public enemy, yet the very culprit who engraved his name on that list was right here.
The Dragon Head Sect Chief’s words continued.
“Back then, without knowing that you who were on the run were Dok-ra-su, I took you in for a while, but didn’t you scatter poison on me and my disciple who were sleeping and run away? It was truly an act of ingratitude, so it was only natural that I put you on the public enemy list.”
Everyone nodded their heads and glared at Dok-ra-su. He had pretended to be aggrieved, but was he not a public enemy of the martial world after all?
However, Dok-ra-su was brazen.
“So, Sect Chief, do you still hate me?”
“I don’t particularly have any thoughts. It was a matter from decades ago, and on that day, I beat you within an inch of your life and kicked you out. Honestly, until I met you a while ago, I lived having forgotten your very existence.”
“You punk…”
“However, your deeds were not as clean as your words. You brutally killed those weaker than you just because they attacked first, and you even poisoned commoners who knew nothing of martial arts to test your poison on them. Although you did not kill them, the pain they suffered while poisoned would not have been small.”
Dok-ra-su, who was pointing his finger at the Dragon Head Sect Chief, flinched.
“…I admit that. That is why I am saying I will change from now on, is it not? Can you not watch over me for just half the time you misunderstood and despised me? I have truly changed. There were countless turning points, I say.”
Before anyone realized, Dok-ra-su was making a plea, not a proposal.
While everyone was exchanging glances, the Dragon Head Sect Chief’s words continued.
“Actually, I agree with Dok-ra-su’s words. Chief Strategist, you must have the same opinion as me, no?”
When the Dragon Head Sect Chief suddenly singled him out, Sima Hwi let out a low groan. Actually, his words were right. Ahead of the war, a poison arts master of Dok-ra-su’s caliber possessed tremendous value.
As a strategist, even if there were some blemishes in his past deeds, it was true that he would be reliable if only they could draw him to their side.
One cautious matter was Dok-ra-su stabbing the alliance in the back during the war… but if the Dragon Head Sect Chief of all people spoke like that, they did not need to worry about such things.
‘In the end, senior Wudang Sword Immortal is the problem again.’
He was still glaring at Dok-ra-su.
That stubborn and strict personality somehow became disarmed before Cheon Woo-jin, but at other times, it remained the same as ever.
By the Sword Immortal’s common sense, bringing a guy who had been a public enemy for decades, who had even administered poison to commoners who knew no martial arts, into the alliance would be something intolerable.
Sima Hwi’s head throbbed.
If he took the Wudang Sword Immortal’s side, he would lose a poison arts master and the trust of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
If he took Dok-ra-su’s side, he was concerned about having frequently displeased the Wudang Sword Immortal recently. At any rate, the Sword Immortal and the Wudang Sect, along with the Namgung Clan, were their greatest combat power.
It was at that moment.
Suddenly, a commotion was heard from outside.
– No, can we really enter the grand council? If we do this, we will be severely scolded by the Alliance Leader.
– It is fine. The Alliance Leader is not such a petty person.
– Then at least asking for permission…
– Once we enter, we can just pretend we mistook the room.
Everyone wore bewildered expressions. All this time when he barged into the grand council, they had thought it was truly a mistake.
No, rather than that, did he not even intend to hide it?
Surely he would know that the people inside could hear all the voices?
While having such thoughts, the door rattled open.
Cheon Woo-jin naturally bowed his head and apologized.
“Ah, it was the meeting room. I mistook the room.”
Everyone was dumbfounded, but no one got angry.
Since some point in time, the perception that Cheon Woo-jin was allowed to act like this had been deeply engraved in everyone’s minds.
Suddenly, Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon laughed heartily and spoke.
“Woo-jin, I heard from Abbess Jin-wol that you killed the Beast Palace Lord. It is not even surprising anymore now. But it has been quite some time since I heard the news; what were you doing that you only returned now?”
Having spoken thus, he greeted the Espionage Hall Master with his eyes. The Espionage Hall Master also bent his waist in half with a still nervous expression.
Meanwhile, Cheon Woo-jin’s words continued.
“While heading south to strike Poison Valley, I met the monks of the Lesser Thunder Sound Temple. In fact, it was west, not south.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes, while having a dispute with them, a fight broke out, and having no choice, I killed them all. Soon I tried to find the way again to go to Poison Valley, but arrived at the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
“…”
Everyone was startled out of their wits as if someone had poured hot water into the hall. Even up to the Lesser Thunder Sound Temple was extraordinarily shocking, but to have visited the Demonic Cult in this current state of affairs?
However, as always, Cheon Woo-jin was nonchalant.
“Somehow, I came to pose as a martial artist of the Demonic Cult, and there I met the Espionage Hall Master present here. Then somehow I went to Poison Valley together with the Poison Demon Corps led by the Poison Lord, but…”
By this point, everyone had lost their minds.
Even after that, Cheon Woo-jin plainly explained what he had experienced without the slightest exaggeration or omission.
The annihilation of Poison Valley, the slaughter of the Poison Lord and Poison Demon Corps, the death of the First Valley Lord and encounter with the imugi, all the way to the story of it becoming a dragon and ascending to heaven.
“This is the scale the imugi left behind as it ascended. Since there were too many, I took only the hardest single scale for now. I will tell you the location, so please send people to retrieve all the scales. Being harder than ordinary iron, they will be very useful.”
Cheon Woo-jin presented the imugi’s scale. Among the eighty-one scales of the imugi, it was the reverse scale: the hardest yet most sensitive scale that one must not touch.
“…”
Silence continued.
Meanwhile, Cheon Woo-jin suddenly discovered Dok-ra-su and spoke.
“Did the conversation go well as you wanted?”
Dok-ra-su could not easily reply. At any rate, he was still a public enemy of the martial world. He was saving his words afraid that he might cause harm to Cheon Woo-jin, whose future was bright.
He felt ashamed for no reason. The fact that because his past life had not been upright, merely being close with him could become a blemish to someone, and even more so because that opponent was Cheon Woo-jin, the disciple of his close friend and someone who now truly felt like a nephew.
At that sight, the Wudang Sword Immortal’s eyes narrowed.
“Squad Leader, what is your relationship with Dok-ra-su?”
“He is someone like an uncle.”
It was truly a nonchalant reply.
Everyone was startled at that reply. Of course, the most startled was Dok-ra-su. He had never imagined he would call him an uncle in front of others.
At the words that he was Cheon Woo-jin’s uncle, the Wudang Sword Immortal’s brow twitched.
“Hmm, calming down a bit and thinking about it, what Dok-ra-su said just now also makes sense.”
His attitude flipped completely like flipping the palm of a hand.
Dok-ra-su wore an absurd expression.
Yet, astonishing things continued to unfold.
Starting with the Wudang Sword Immortal who had fiercely opposed, the Zhongnan Sect and Mount Emei Sect who had been subtly glaring also suddenly nodded their heads.
Not to mention Shaolin, Mount Hua Sect, Namgung Clan, and Zhuge Clan who had maintained neutrality, and the Sichuan Tang Clan and Beggars’ Sect went without saying.
The Chief Strategist did not miss this opportunity. As if he had been waiting, he immediately called Tang So-yeon.
“Acting Family Head Tang So-yeon.”
“Yes, Chief Strategist.”
Because the Chief Strategist’s voice was quite grave, Tang So-yeon rose from her seat and took an attitude of listening attentively.
“Considering the generational seniority within the Tang Clan, I intend to bestow the position of alliance elder upon senior Dok-ra-su. Do you agree?”
Each of the Five Great Clans and Nine Great Sects and One Clan stationed elders in the Martial Alliance. They were those who represented the opinions of each faction and exercised decision-making power on behalf of sect leaders and family heads who could not leave their seats.
Tang So-yeon looked at Dok-ra-su’s dark green eyes.
On that day, if not for Dok-ra-su, she would have been torn to death by Tang Bi-cheon’s hand. The sight of him loudly rebuking the Tang Clan martial artists in the hallway was still vivid.
“Yes, as the acting family head, I agree.”
Just like that, with the Sichuan Tang Clan as the last, Dok-ra-su became an elder of the Martial Alliance by unanimous agreement of everyone present.
Dok-ra-su wore an emotional expression. It was not merely because he had become an elder of the alliance.
‘Black Elder, are you watching? It seems your disciple has taken over the Martial Alliance before anyone noticed.’
It was a situation that could sufficiently look that way.
In fact, it was half right.
‘Naturally so. Since about half of those gathered had their lives saved by Woo-jin.’
Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon laughed with satisfaction. While Dok-ra-su was reminiscing about Black Elder, Bukli Cheon was reminiscing about White Elder.
Just when he had first seen Cheon Woo-jin, he had worried about what if his unique free-spirited nature did not match the Righteous Path, yet before anyone noticed, was he not receiving more support than anyone in the alliance?
‘Perhaps I might be able to retire faster than expected.’
In the chaotic atmosphere, Bukli Cheon was picturing the future of the Righteous Path alone.