Chapter 92: Chapter 92
The martial arts tournament came to a close like that.
Cheon Woo-jin had expected Tang Bi-cheon to throw a fit, but unexpectedly, he obediently acknowledged his defeat and left the Alliance as promised.
After all, with the Alliance Leader directly notarizing that he was White Elder’s disciple, it would have been difficult to claim that it was a lie and that the bastard was Black Elder’s disciple. In any case, in the eyes of the martial world, White Elder and Black Elder were incompatible martial artists standing at opposite extremes of each other.
If he claimed he was Black Elder’s disciple in that situation, far from gaining support, he would be fortunate not to be stoned.
Thus, various talks arose regarding the president of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering suddenly declaring his resignation and returning to his hometown.
From words that Tang Bi-cheon left because his pride was wounded after being defeated by a low-ranking Alliance member, to talk that he had returned to formally become the successor of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Yet no one could know the true answer.
The rumors regarding Tang Bi-cheon soon died down. It was because there was a topic people were far more interested in.
The spars that Cheon Woo-jin had shown with Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon and Tang Bi-cheon.
Furthermore, the fact that such a Cheon Woo-jin was the disciple of the greatest chivalrous hero of the contemporary era, White Flower Sword Immortal.
Among the martial artists who carried swords in their bosoms, there was not a single person who had not read novels of single-lineage chivalrous heroes in their childhood.
To them, it was only natural that Cheon Woo-jin overlapped with the protagonist of the novels they had read when they were young.
“It has already been half a month, yet the interest is burning hot.”
Song Yi-yeon spoke as he set down his chopsticks.
Cheon Woo-jin merely glanced around and gave a slight nod.
“Does Young Hero not mind at all?”
“Not really.”
Cheon Woo-jin shrugged. No matter how dull Cheon Woo-jin was, he could tell that the way people looked at him had changed. Even so, he did not particularly care. That change would not have much effect on him anyway.
Song Yi-yeon felt unfairly burdened for no reason. The one drawing people’s attention was Young Hero Cheon, yet he was the one feeling all the pressure.
The gazes felt while walking together like this were one thing, but those who could not easily approach Cheon Woo-jin due to his reticent aura often approached the approachable Song Yi-yeon to ask about him.
Of course, Song Yi-yeon would send such people away saying, ‘No, shouldn’t you just ask him directly?’
Having finished their meal, the two stepped outside the dining hall.
A welcome rain after a long time was cooling down the summer swelter.
“Ah, I hate getting rained on.”
While Song Yi-yeon grumbled, Cheon Woo-jin simply walked calmly into the rain. At that sight, Song Yi-yeon shook his head and followed after him.
Whether it rained or snowed, he was truly an indifferent person.
Even if a typhoon raged, he would probably come to the dining hall to eat as usual and return with such nonchalant steps.
Most definitely.
Thinking so as he caught up beside Cheon Woo-jin, Song Yi-yeon suddenly looked up at the sky.
“Huh?”
Rain was still drizzling down from the sky.
Yet, when he looked down, his clothes were not getting wet.
“Is this something Young Hero Cheon did?”
Observing closely, right before the streaks of rain touched the two of them, they bounced away as if blocked by something.
Cheon Woo-jin answered without even looking.
“You said you didn’t want to get rained on.”
“Oh.”
To think Young Hero Cheon had such a function.
Song Yi-yeon burst into genuine admiration for once. In truth, in Song Yi-yeon’s mind, Cheon Woo-jin was already a monster among monsters, so he had not even been particularly surprised during the martial arts tournament.
However, an ability that blocked rain was something else entirely.
Because Song Yi-yeon was a man who groomed himself every morning even applying pomade to his hair, he despised getting rained on to the extreme.
Around the time the two returned to the Black Tortoise Pavilion.
Cheon Woo-jin frowned slightly.
It was because another group of martial artists had gathered in front of the Black Tortoise Pavilion. Yesterday it was young martial artists, but today they were seasoned masters.
With awkward smiles, they acted familiar with Cheon Woo-jin.
“Oh, Alliance Member Cheon! Did you enjoy your meal?”
“The side dishes today were a bit meager, weren’t they? On such days, come visit our Courier Hall. Let’s go to a nearby inn with me.”
Cheon Woo-jin showed his bewilderment without hiding it.
“…Why is even Hall Master acting like this?”
Ever since he revealed that he was White Flower Sword Immortal’s disciple, it had always been like this. People kept bestowing goodwill. It was even pure goodwill without the slightest ulterior motive. If there had been obvious selfishness, he would have coldly ignored it, but he could not even do that.
The Courier Hall Master burst into hearty laughter.
“Our Alliance Member Song and Alliance Member Cheon are juniors I already cherished the most, so do you think I can’t even buy you a meal?”
The Martial Alliance elders and division heads who came along with the Courier Hall Master looked at him with envious eyes. Thanks to that, even more pride filled the Courier Hall Master’s shoulders.
“…Yes, understood.”
Through his experience over the past half-month since the tournament ended, Cheon Woo-jin knew. If he refused, bothersome things would happen. It was far less troublesome to simply accept and pretend to have forgotten later.
Cheon Woo-jin was undergoing forced socialization.
When Cheon Woo-jin nodded, the Courier Hall Master smiled warmly as if looking at his youngest son.
“Right, if there is anything I can help with secretly like last time, just let me know. Aren’t we on such terms? Hahaha.”
“…Yes.”
Cheon Woo-jin nodded purely out of reluctance and stepped inside the Black Tortoise Pavilion.
* * *
Entering the Black Tortoise Pavilion, Cheon Woo-jin was briefly rendered speechless.
The martial artists of the Black Tortoise Squad were putting on the pretense of training with utterly awkward expressions and gestures. There was no need to ask the reason separately. Right beside them, Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon and Chief Strategist Sima Hwi were eating rice balls.
“Oh, you’ve arrived.”
“You certainly take a long time to eat.”
The Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist welcomed Cheon Woo-jin in their respective ways.
Cheon Woo-jin asked in an exasperated tone.
“What on earth are you doing here?”
“The side dishes today weren’t great, so we were just having some rice balls.”
“…That is not what I was asking.”
I mean, why are you eating that here?
When Cheon Woo-jin spoke with his eyes, Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon scratched his head as if sheepish, then handed something over.
Thinking it must be the purpose of their visit, he looked at it seriously, but it was a rice ball.
“You have one too. The Chief Strategist’s culinary skills are better than they look.”
“…I just came from eating.”
“Is that so?”
Bukli Cheon put the rice ball back down, seemingly sheepish.
Soon, he spoke with a serious expression.
“I was waiting because there is something we need to discuss discreetly.”
“To me?”
“You’re acting quite full of yourself already. It is something to discuss with the entire Black Tortoise Squad.”
“Umm…”
Cheon Woo-jin scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
Watching that sight with amusement, the Alliance Leader led all members of the Black Tortoise Squad inside the pavilion.
* * *
“What? The Sichuan Tang Clan?”
Since Black Tortoise Squad Leader Cheol Ji-ak was absent, Vice Squad Leader Zhuge Rin spoke on their behalf.
When Zhuge Rin asked in return, Chief Strategist Sima Hwi nodded with a solemn face.
“It is a matter we have been investigating for a long time. They say the Sichuan Tang Clan, or more precisely Young Clan Leader Tang Bi-cheon, harbors the ambition to betray the Martial Alliance and establish the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.”
Never in the history of the martial world have the Martial Alliance and the Righteous Heavenly Alliance coexisted.
Usually, those dissatisfied with the current Alliance establish a new alliance and pursue change. However, just as two suns cannot coexist, one of the two inevitably meets a catastrophic end.
Zhuge Rin’s expression turned extremely grave. At the same time, doubts arose. This was not a matter to be discussed at the level of a single combat squad. The Righteous Path martial world was in danger of being split in two.
“It is an impossible feat through Tang Bi-cheon’s own abilities alone.”
At Zhuge Rin’s words, Sima Hwi nodded as if pleased. From ancient times, the Zhuge Clan and the Sima Clan were the two families that served as the think tanks of the Righteous Path.
“Certainly, there must be those among the Nine Great Sects and One Clan and the Five Great Clans who sympathize with this. Furthermore, Tang Bi-cheon used the organization called the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering to unite them as one.”
Everyone reacted that a Martial Alliance grand council should be convened for a matter of this scale, but Zhuge Rin quickly grasped the essence of the affair.
“You cannot convene a council.”
“Right, because they do not know that we are aware of that fact.”
The moment a council was convened, those trying to open a new world hand in hand with Tang Bi-cheon would cut their tails.
It meant having to live while keeping potential enemies within the coalition known as the Martial Alliance. That was foolish.
“The only people who know that fact are the Alliance Leader and myself, the Chief Strategist. And the Disciplinary Hall Master and White Sword Hall Master. Ah, now the Black Tortoise Squad knows as well.”
“…”
The members of the Black Tortoise Squad suddenly felt as if a heavy stone was placed upon their hearts.
Regardless, Sima Hwi’s words continued.
“We thought it was a matter at least a dozen years away, but our Military Strategy Department judged that things might change starting from this tournament.”
“Tang Bi-cheon had his pride wounded.”
“Right. As expected, communicating with the Vice Squad Leader is smooth.”
“Thank you. Wait, then what shall we do?”
Sima Hwi could not easily open his mouth. The more he hesitated, the more uneasy Zhuge Rin somehow felt. Just what was he trying to say?
The one who continued speaking was Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon.
“In any case, we must investigate. For what exact purpose the Sichuan Tang Clan is plotting such a grand scheme. Who are the ones joining hands with them. And whether they have the resolve to wage war in that process.”
“…R-right?”
“I intend to entrust that to you all.”
Bukli Cheon spoke nonchalantly, as if sending someone to an inn on an errand for noodles. At the same time, Zhuge Rin exploded.
“No! Isn’t this too grand a mission for a mere combat squad to take on? What’s more, our Squad Leader is absent. Ah, I apologize for raising my voice, was that too disrespectful? But our squad members’ lives are at stake. Am I in a position not to raise my voice right now…”
“Vice Squad Leader Zhuge Rin.”
Sima Hwi spoke, furrowing his brow.
Zhuge Rin flinched slightly, but her defiant gaze remained unchanged. Even if it was an order from the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist, she could not accept a mission where her subordinates’ lives were placed in such danger.
Was it not beyond simply being dangerous, driving mere children into a battlefield?
Even if she was imprisoned in the subterranean prison for disobeying orders as their representative, wrong was wrong.
Soon, Sima Hwi’s words followed.
“I think so as well. However, the Alliance Leader stubbornly insisted, so I had no choice but to come this far.”
“…Ah.”
Zhuge Rin somehow sent a gaze of mutual sympathy toward Sima Hwi. It was because she too served a stubborn superior.
Of course, that did not mean she could accept the mission.
“Coming here directly rather than summoning us must also be because you were conscious of the gazes of hidden traitors, right?”
If the Alliance Leader summoned the Black Tortoise Squad, anyone could see that an important mission was being assigned. On the other hand, visiting the Black Tortoise Pavilion in person would look like merely dropping by after a meal.
If they had to be that wary, it meant the Military Strategy Department already viewed the scale of those siding with the Sichuan Tang Clan to be quite substantial.
Sending a single combat squad on such a mission?
“Just lock me up instead.”
“We cannot do that to the Young Clan Leader of the Zhuge Clan.”
“…And driving me to death’s door is fine?”
Sima Hwi let out a sigh. It was because he too deeply sympathized with Zhuge Rin’s reaction.
“Of course, we will not send only you. I will attach Heavenly Tiger Squad Leader to go with you. Furthermore, we are not telling you to go fight the Sichuan Tang Clan. It is merely to investigate.”
Zhuge Rin’s eyes narrowed. If Heavenly Tiger Squad Leader was attached, the story changed. The reason the entire Heavenly Tiger Squad could not be deployed was simple. There could be those among them who dreamed of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
In other words,
“The Black Tortoise Squad could betray you too. Since we aren’t recognized by the Martial Alliance anyway, we could just defect to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and dream of living lavishly.”
At Zhuge Rin’s serious question, Sima Hwi repeatedly cleared his throat. There was no way the Black Tortoise Squad would do so. To be exact, they lacked the capability to do so. Unless Tang Bi-cheon had lost his mind, he would never make such an important offer to the Black Tortoise Squad.
Of course, he could not say that outright.
“Is not the Black Tortoise Squad exceedingly loyal?”
“I understand roughly.”
“Mmm…!”
“You’ve seen through it accurately. I don’t know whether to be happy about this or not.”
Zhuge Rin let out a sigh as well.
Meanwhile, Jang Woo-pyeong, the immediate senior of Cheon Woo-jin and Song Yi-yeon, spoke with a bright smile.
“Hehe, isn’t it great that they trust us anyway?”
“…”
Zhuge Rin reflexively went to smack the back of Jang Woo-pyeong’s head, but held back because it was in front of the Alliance Leader.
Soon, the Alliance Leader’s words continued.
“If division or hall level martial artists move, we cannot evade their notice. Naturally, if I, the Alliance Leader, move personally, not only will there be the same problem, but we also cannot prepare against checks from the Demonic Cult and the Black Overlord Castle.”
It was not an era of Righteous Path unification.
The Alliance Leader was a martial artist symbolizing the Righteous Path, yet for that very reason, he could not move recklessly.
It was merely the sole comfort that the Demonic Cult Leader and the Lord of the Black Overlord Castle were in the same position.
“I will not say it is an unhazardous mission. But it is a task someone must do. Furthermore, it is not a decision made merely by appealing to emotion.”
The Alliance Leader’s gaze turned toward Cheon Woo-jin.
Although he had drawn quite a bit of public attention lately, he did not possess enough weight for the Five Great Clans and the Nine Great Sects and One Clan to constantly watch and guard against his movements.
Yet at the same time, he was the sole talent under heaven possessing martial prowess sufficient to exchange blows with the Alliance Leader himself.
“It is an order given as the Alliance Leader, but at the same time, a request made as a subpar senior. Investigate the Sichuan Tang Clan. Prevent the division of the Righteous Path martial world.”
While Zhuge Rin was pondering seriously, Cheon Woo-jin, who had been quietly listening, spoke.
“To what degree is the Alliance Leader’s resolve?”
“Hm?”
Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon tilted his head.
Cheon Woo-jin knew that Tang Bi-cheon had colluded with a disciple of the Dark Emperor. However, he had no intention of speaking of it in this place. Even if he trusted the Alliance Leader, he did not yet trust the Chief Strategist.
“If by chance we all die during the mission, will the Alliance Leader stake your life to avenge us?”
“…”
It was a calm tone carrying content that was anything but.
Because of that, everyone was startled, but only Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon replied without the slightest hesitation.
“Of course. I cannot say I will immediately draw my sword and march into the Sichuan Tang Clan. That is also because of the Demonic Cult and the Black Overlord Castle. However, at least until the day my lifespan ends, I will avenge you in the manner of an Alliance Leader.”
“Even if it is an enemy that cannot be handled?”
This time, even the Alliance Leader flinched. He had not expected such words to come from Cheon Woo-jin’s mouth.
Yet the answer the Alliance Leader would utter was already determined.
“There is no enemy that the Righteous Path martial world cannot handle.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. Because even if I die, the next Alliance Leader is bound to emerge.”
For some reason, the Alliance Leader’s gaze as he spoke flared fiercely toward Cheon Woo-jin.
Cheon Woo-jin merely shrugged.
He had merely wanted to verify. To what extent was the resolve of someone who drove others to death’s door. Whether the Righteous Path martial world that Master White Elder spoke of still maintained its former appearance.
Cheon Woo-jin felt White Elder’s reflection in the Alliance Leader’s answer just now. That was enough. Whether the Black Tortoise Squad stepped forward or not was Vice Squad Leader Zhuge Rin’s choice.
Merely,
Cheon Woo-jin decided to resolve this matter.