Chapter: 366
Two months have slipped by since the raid.
The season that was on the brink of early spring was already approaching summer.
Just like the season that seemed to flow unusually quickly.
In the meantime, a lot of things have been happening in Hanam, including the Shinryonggwan.
So, what is the biggest news?
First and foremost, Shinryonggwan has been closed down.
It was already widely known across the Central Plains that Shinryonggwan had been attacked by a group of Safa warriors.
Even if the Alliance tried to suppress the information, it was impossible to cover it all when there were numerous witnesses.
No matter how much the Open Side claims to be the eyes and ears of the Murim Alliance.
They, too, are an intelligence agency with vested interests; it wasn’t possible for them to block everything.
As a result, Shinryonggwan was closed while several issues were raised.
The stated reason for the closure was repairs and the aftermath of the raid.
Still, people had somewhat anticipated it.
Surely, due to this incident, Shinryonggwan may not open for years.
It might never open again.
Even the Yongbong Conference and martial arts tournament scheduled for this year are now barely hanging on by a thread.
This incident was a big deal.
The second major development involved things that the Murim Alliance began to handle.
This unfolded after the Murim Alliance finally stepped in with support — albeit late.
They immediately brought in physicians to start treating the injured.
First, they gathered the corpses and stored them in the cold basement of the Murim Alliance’s headquarters.
The attackers? They say they were dragged off to a torture chamber.
Survivors of the assault reportedly received accommodations prepared by the Alliance simultaneously.
I think they handled things fairly well up to this point.
The problem arose afterward.
No matter how many measures were taken, in the end, nothing can replace the dead.
On top of that, most of those who died during the raid were lower-ranking martial artists.
Typically, they belonged to prestigious sects that provided a significant amount of support to the Murim Alliance.
The fact that many bloodlines from such sects have perished means that the financial channels linked to the Murim Alliance will be twisted.
Surely, there will be plenty of other sects willing to keep supporting, but
not all can afford to do so, and this would inevitably affect the Alliance’s influence.
Moreover, the deceased weren’t just from those sects.
It also included disciples from the major sects and blood relatives of prominent families.
From the perspective of the Murim Alliance, this was far from being manageable; it was utter chaos.
Thus, the Murim Alliance has opted to cancel all upcoming festivals and schedules.
After all, the gossip in the Central Plains is seething.
– What was the Murim Alliance doing while young warriors were falling tragically?
– They attacked Hanam, the location of the headquarters, but their response was way too late.
– What on earth were the leader and the Alliance’s warriors doing that caused this mess?
And so on.
Over the past two months, the narrative regarding the incompetence of the Murim Alliance has started to spread throughout the Central Plains.
In the past, those sects supporting the Alliance wouldn’t have wanted such rumors to circulate.
Not only that, but they would have even joined forces to suppress these stories.
The fact that things have come to this point means that even they have started to turn their backs.
Once, the existence of the Alliance was justified by the presence of righteous sects.
And the current peace was said to persist because of the Murim Alliance.
Those shallow and flimsy words began to crumble with just one attack from the Black Dragon Sword.
The raid itself was over in less than a day.
Of course, while the raid lasted under a day, the consequences involving those who were involved are by no means trivial.
Even now, two months after the raid,
“Cheonghae Ilgeom was defeated? How is that even possible…?”
Such stories remain the subject of interest for countless people.
Most people drink heavily in broad daylight, chatting about trivial matters.
Lately, their conversations have been echoing the same themes.
“Weren’t they saying they had to protect other disciples right away?”
“No matter what, losing to a mere Outlaw… Tsk, tsk, looks like Kunlun has lost its shine.”
“Hey, who are these second-rate folks quitting and saying they’re allied?”
“Oh! I’m telling you, my leg hurt, I couldn’t help it!”
“That must be true. Are you proud of tripping over a wild boar? You were running just fine a few days later.”
“… cough cough.”
While the middle-aged man clicks his tongue, another voice slips in, silencing his words.
“Goodness. Anyway…! The Murim Alliance used to mean something! But not now!”
“Here we go again, bring me some cold water!”
– Yes!
Jeomsoi cheerfully responds and runs off for the water.
“The Murim Alliance should’ve been able to tackle anything, right?”
“They’re responsible for our lives, so stop complaining about them.”
“Responsible for our lives? They couldn’t take care of their own children and had a funeral instead… sigh!”
As the middle-aged man tread dangerously close to a line, the young one quickly put a hand to his mouth to hush him.
“Is this guy for real…?! What if one of the Alliance hears you!?”
“Tsk tsk! What’s going to happen if they hear it! What I’m saying isn’t a lie!”
“Ugh….”
The young man clutches his forehead.
The middle-aged man wasn’t wrong.
In fact, they even held funerals for those who truly passed.
“Besides, they probably announced a meeting because they realized there was a problem.”
The middle-aged man continued his rant.
The Murim Alliance had proclaimed across the realm that there would be a righteous assembly in seven days and nights.
Perhaps that’s why these days, people who were once absent in Hanam are beginning to make their appearances.
Two months ago.
Upon receiving the advanced notice from the Alliance, attendees began arriving to participate.
Some noteworthy characters were such that their names alone would make your eyes widen.
Including individuals tied to notable families.
A sect that seemed to belong to the Ten Sect Alliance began to make its appearances.
While they each hailing from diverse regions and practicing different martial arts,
they shared one thing in common.
“Geez, look at those faces — they’re like a bunch of sourpusses.”
“How could it not be? They’d rot and still remain.”
Their expressions were heavy and dark.
How could it be otherwise?
Having their own kin or brothers sent to Shinyonggwan, only to end up taken by surprise in an event like this would certainly sting.
The fact that they’re hardly letting their anger show demonstrates considerable restraint.
As the middle-aged man moans about having another drink, he turns to the young man.
“So who all’s coming this time?”
“I don’t really know. I’m too busy trying to make a living, so how am I supposed to keep track of that?”
The young man replies with a smirk.
“Although, I did hear that the Shaman sect is going to show up.”
Among the Ten Sect Alliance, only a few showed interest in attending this gathering.
To begin with, there aren’t that many factions closely aligned with the Murim Alliance.
The sects that sent their disciples to Shinryonggwan immediately are just the Shaman sect and the Volcano sect.
The Shaman sect was an ally of the Murim Alliance right from the start, always attending when invited.
The presence of the Volcano sect, however, seems a bit unusual.
There’s a rumor that it was because the Chu was the Cheonghae Ilgeom of Kunlun that they were given the green light.
“So, does that mean the Volcano sect won’t be coming?”
“I can’t say for sure; that’s too far ahead for me.”
The Shaman sect has one of their own disciples among the casualties.
As longtime allies of the Murim Alliance, it’s only natural for them to attend such a meeting.
The Volcano sect, however, is a whole different story.
“Anyway… this is really a huge deal. I hope there won’t be crying or bloodshed for a while.”
“Hey, isn’t it nice to see something we’ve never seen before?”
“Well…”
Before long, the heads of the so-called Four Great Families will also show up.
To ordinary folks, both the heads of the Four Great Families and their blood relations seem like heavenly beings.
That is to say, they aren’t seen often, anywhere, for that matter.
“How come something so disastrous had to happen precisely while the precious bloodlines of the Four Great Families were all around?”
This was certainly the talk of the day about it being the greatest generation to walk the earth. A generation where both geniuses and ordinary folks crowded at Shinryonggwan.
“Sigh, tsk tsk…”
“But still, it’s not like we’ve gained nothing, right?”
The middle-aged man immediately grasped what the young man was alluding to.
“Are you going to go on about this again?”
“Uncle Chu keeps saying the same thing every day.”
“That’s just because you’re always on about that! I mix in other conversations at least!”
“Well, you wouldn’t be saying that if you didn’t find it interesting.”
It’s certainly not that nothing has been gained from all this.
What this implies is that, amid the aftermath of the late martial artists who had perished and those who struggled to protect them,
a uniquely bright character has emerged, captivating attention.
They say heroes often appear in times of crisis.
And that statement couldn’t be more spot-on.
“That damn True Dragon… Are you ever going to get tired of hearing about it?”
“It’s far more entertaining than Uncle Chu’s whining daily about the Murim Alliance.”
“Ha! You scoundrel.”
The True Dragon.
With the story that Shinryonggwan had been attacked,
the tale of him began to spread widely throughout the world.
He was already a well-known figure.
He was the final member among the Six Dragons and Three Peaks, symbolizing the Meteor Generation.
At a young age, he reached the pinnacle of his abilities.
He was a young martial artist renowned for his overwhelming power even among late-rank martial artists.
He had become the subject of this rumor.
“Isn’t that amazing? He’s not even beyond his teenage years.”
“… It’s impressive, no doubt.”
Word on the street claims he single-handedly held off half of the attacking Safa warriors at Shinryonggwan.
It’s said he made the renowned Cheonghae Ilgeom kneel in defeat.
The middle-aged man, hearing that, clicked his tongue as if in disbelief and spoke to the young man incredulously.
“How old are you to still believe such tall tales?”
“Are you going to call it mere rumor again?”
“No matter how many times you hear it, doesn’t it seem like a fantasy with no basis in reality?”
The middle-aged man took another swig and continued.
“If Cheonghae Ilgeom was bested, then that would imply that Daemadu is also a martial artist who has reached that pivotal stage. Does that sound like it could be true? That this late-rank martial artist Jinryong has made it too?”
“…”
“You should really think before you speak. Come on, tsk tsk! Even if he did truly make someone kneel, it’d be when they were exhausted, delivering the finishing blow.”
Oh really? A late-rank martial artist reaching the pinnacle?
That’d be the same as the sun rising in the west!
“Moreover, you think he took out all those Safa warriors by himself? That’s just outrageous!”
“That could be true; why do you insist on looking at it in such a negative light?”
“What do you expect to convince me? I haven’t even seen that much and yet this is worse than I thought!”
The middle-aged man assumed that the rumors were propagated by his faction known as the True Dragon.
While they recognized Jinryong’s talents, they didn’t believe for a second that he could live up to the exaggerated tales.
The stories were just too ridiculous to believe.
The young man frowned, clearly displeased with the middle-aged man’s insistence.
“Hey? What’s with that expression?”
“No matter how you look at it, when is a True Dragon ever a ‘True Dragon’?”
“Now you intend to go down that rabbit hole?”
“Well, we need to get things straight!”
The middle-aged man’s face showed disbelief at the young man’s insistence.
“It’s been a while since his title changed. What’s with the shock?”
“Why are you getting so worked up over this, idiot!”
Certainly, since the incident became known, Jinryong has earned a new title.
He accomplished such grand feats solo that it drew attention.
It’s only natural for those who heard the tale to catch on.
This indicated that Jinryong was no longer just a late martial artist.
“What was that new title again…? I swear I heard it not too long ago.”
As the middle-aged man fumbled for words, the impatient young man interjected.
“You can’t even remember that? Obviously…”
Tap.
Just as the young man was about to speak, someone entered the guesthouse.
Naturally, all heads within the tavern turned towards the sound.
Generally, this wouldn’t have attracted attention.
Yet, as soon as the guesthouse door opened, a chilly breeze swept in.
“Ugh….”
The young man who was about to speak swallowed his words on seeing the person who entered.
Not just him; even the loud group stilled as they gazed at the woman who had just entered.
“… Tsk.”
The woman clicked her tongue as she noticed the eyes glued to her upon entering.
Typically, one would have worn a face covering.
This time, she simply forgot it at home.
As the woman showed a hint of discomfort, Jeomsoi dashed over.
“Oh, welcome!”
“Could you hand me what I ordered ahead of time?”
“Ah…! Yes, I’ll get it for you right away!”
At the woman’s request, Jeomsoi once again sprinted into the kitchen.
He returned with something steaming and handed it to her.
It turned out to be dumplings.
The woman inspected the food, gave Jeomsoi a small silver coin, and turned to leave.
A handful of dumplings, and she offered a coin? What a strange transaction…
Amidst the questions, the woman gracefully walked away.
Even as she stepped out and closed the door,
everyone in the tavern had their eyes glued to her retreating figure.
Click.
As the sound of the door shutting echoed,
everyone let out a breath they had been holding.
“Wow, she’s stunning. Where does someone like that come from?”
“… At first glance, she looks like a precious lady, but what on earth brings her here?”
The young man’s conversation shifted to wonder.
Jeomsoi, who returned with another order, relayed information.
“Oh, she comes here often.”
“Hmm? It’s my first time seeing her. I’m here almost daily; how come I’ve never spied her before?”
“Uncle Chu only hangs around during the day. She shows up at night.”
“Huh? At night?”
“Yes. She only comes to buy dumplings.”
“Dumplings…?”
The young man tilted his head in confusion.
Is she possibly more particular than he expected? Why on earth venture out at night just for dumplings?
It seems odd to personally come when there are servants available, no?
Perhaps sensing the young man’s confusion, Jeomsoi quickly added,
“She says her husband loves our dumplings. That’s why she comes herself.”
The nearby men released sighs as if they had been waiting for the revelation.
“She’s got a man….”
“How envious…”
As the men began to drown their sorrows in drink again, the thoughtful young man fell into deep contemplation.
“What’s going on? Are you not drinking?”
“That woman from earlier… She feels oddly familiar.”
“No kidding, quit fooling around and eat some more snacks. When do we get to see another like her?”
“It’s not that I saw her face before… More like, her clothes seem familiar?”
The sky blue outfit adorned with braided embroidery caught his attention.
That embroidery… he felt he had seen it before…
“Ah…?”
It suddenly clicked.
“…Moyong Clan?”
The pattern belonged to the Moyong family operating in Hanam.
Typically, those seen wearing such embroidery are mostly blood relatives.
‘That suggests….’
The beautiful woman who just bought dumplings.
Could she truly be of the Moyong bloodline?
For a moment, the young man pondered intently.
“Of course, that’s absurd.”
Quickly brushing off the thought, the young man forced himself to dismiss it.
Even the mention of Jinryong had been riddled with disbelief;
how could one expect that a blood relative of the grand Moyong Clan would come in broad daylight merely to fetch dumplings for her husband?
The young man shook his head, falling back into drink once again.
Meanwhile, the woman who had just purchased dumplings had reached her destination.
Situated on a mountainside.
It looked like a cave that had been rather artificially formed.
As if someone had smashed its entrance, the woman… no, Moyong Hi-ah moved forward into the cave as if completely at ease.
The cave wasn’t particularly deep.
It was illuminated by torches placed at various points along the way.
After taking just a few steps,
Moyong Hi-ah caught a whiff of something.
There was no need to contemplate the source of the smell.
It was undoubtedly the stench of sweat.
Acknowledging the odor, Moyong Hi-ah shook her head instead of covering her nose.
She had suggested resting, but it seemed he couldn’t show restraint and moved around instead.
“I told you you’d collapse if you kept it up….”
Even if she said that, he likely wouldn’t heed a word.
Moyong Hi-ah resumed her walking
and reached the inner section quickly.
Thud—thud thud!
Deep inside, a resounding, thunderous noise erupted time and again.
With each sound, the cave reverberated.
Above her, fragments of stone tumbled from the vibrations.
Feeling this, Moyong Hi-ah called out,
“I brought food!”
Thud!—Thud!
Though her voice wasn’t soft, it seemed he didn’t pick up on it.
Moyong Hi-ah understood:
In situations like this, it wouldn’t matter if she shouted at the top of her lungs.
Familiar with such situations, she gently placed the food wrapped in cloth onto the floor.
Then she cupped her hands to her mouth.
It was an action to amplify her voice.
Usually, she knew exactly what to say in moments like these.
“Great Swordsman Xiao Yanluo, it’s time to eat.”
Stomp…
At Moyong Hi-ah’s words, the cacophony and vibrations ceased in an instant.
Just after,
a figure approached from the depths, grumbling to himself.
You could see that his ears burned a bright red.
“Hey! Didn’t I tell you not to call me that?!”
A young man with thick black hair and fierce eyes.
It was Gu Yangcheon.
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