After hearing the story, Chaeran pondered for a moment and asked.
“But wasn’t Munsahgong reluctant to meet the martial artists? You managed to meet them somehow?”
“Well, you know, I have my connections here and there.”
“Hehe, I see. By the way, there’s a chance that the Demon Cult might be involved…”
“That’s just our assumption among ourselves.”
Though it was indeed a fact. After a brief thought, Chaeran turned her gaze towards Hongryeon and Chaejin.
“So, what kind of support are you thinking to receive from the Murim Alliance?”
“Not really planning to receive any support right now. We could handle someone like Mack ourselves.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better to at least report it?”
Why else would we have words like report, consult, and contact?
Of course, it’s not like Hongryeon or Chaejin are living like prisoners in the Murim Alliance, but still, it’s best to help each other out in such matters. Better to avoid unnecessary friction.
“Got it. Then it’d be better to go report it now.”
With the inspector Hongryeon and senior combat officer Chaejin reporting, the higher-ups would surely take care of it. They nodded their heads and said.
“Then since things have come to this, shall we head to the Murim Alliance now?”
“That doesn’t sound bad either.”
We headed straight for the Murim Alliance. A large wall was visible next to the government office in the city center.
Inside, we could hear the shouts of those training and the sounds of weapons clashing.
“Wow, this really is impressive…”
As Sayoon looked around, I nodded in agreement. In Heavenly Bright Moon, it was merely a facility, but in reality, it was quite remarkable.
“The Murim Alliance is cool, but Moonjeong is incredible too. Sayoon, aren’t you excited?”
“Ugh. That’s true.”
Chaeran chuckled and patted the overly tense Sayoon on the back.
After that, we arrived at the grand entrance of the Murim Alliance.
Murim Alliance.
As Sayoon admired the entrance where the righteous martial artists gathered, the guards stationed there couldn’t hide their surprise and looked our way.
“To think the inspector and senior combat officer are together…”
…Now that I think about it, that’s quite surprising.
They must’ve fought every time they met.
Anyway, thanks to Hongryeon and Chaejin, we could enter the inner part of the Murim Alliance without any special checks.
“This is the Taemujeon, the first thing you’ll see when you enter the Murim Alliance.”
It was a vast plaza. Quite a few individuals were training there, either alone, in pairs, or in groups.
“This place is for exchanging martial arts. Of course, it’s not like a vision or anything.”
Martial artists from different sects duel and discuss to elevate their skills.
As Chaejin continued her explanation, Sayoon, who was visiting the Murim Alliance for the first time, nodded her head.
She seemed quite fascinated and looked around, then pointed at one side.
“Hey, Innkeeper! Innkeeper!”
“Hmm?”
“Looks like someone is training Ogumhee.”
“Ogumhee isn’t a bad martial art, you know.”
“Hehe.”
As Sayoon chuckled brightly, we moved calmly onward. While sightseeing is nice, we mustn’t forget our purpose.
“First, let’s go to the Inspection Department, then head to the Combat Division,” she suggested, thinking about our route. Chaejin nodded in agreement. Shortly after, we arrived at a large building that looked like it belonged to the Taemu War.
“Vacation, huh?” A voice called from the second-floor window.
Jumping down from there was an old woman in a black martial outfit—Chuyoung, the head of the Murim Alliance’s Inspection Department. Her piercing gaze swept over us before she asked Hongryeon.
“What brings you here?”
“I have a report for you,” Hongryeon replied immediately, detailing the current situation. After thinking for a moment, Chuyoung tilted her head.
“Hmm. It seems the wife of Munsahgong has caught wind of that part. Good job. There were guys in the Law Protection Division wanting to deal with matters related to Munsahgong. I’ll say we’re taking care of it.”
Anyway, with Hongryeon’s involvement, the Inspection Department should be able to save face regarding this matter.
After muttering briefly, she looked around at our party. Hyunhwi offered a quick nod after recognizing her from previous meetings, and Chuyoung chuckled at Sayoon.
“The Sword Saint has a remarkable eye for her disciples. Nice to meet you, I’m Chuyoung.”
“Ah! Yes. I’m Sayoon from the Hongseong Clan!”
“Right, right! Nice to meet you.”
With a beaming smile, she patted Sayoon’s head and then turned her gaze to me, puzzled.
“…And who might you be?”
“I’m Yu Wol from Seomhwa Village.”
“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you. I’m Chuyoung from the Murim Alliance’s Inspection Department.”
And that was that. I must not have piqued her interest, as she quickly resumed chatting with Hongryeon and went inside.
“Things seem to be going easier than expected. With Captain Chuyoung helping, I don’t think there will be major issues,” Chaejin remarked.
“True. If we had just gone in unannounced, we might have gotten into unnecessary trouble. I never thought the Law Protection Division would show interest in Munsahgong’s affairs.”
“With situations like this, it’s best to report and seek cooperation. Now, then, Chaejin.”
“Follow me!”
Chaejin led us to a massive building located on the eastern side of the Murim Alliance. Unlike the Inspection Department, this place was openly filled with a sense of competition and martial spirit.
“Oh! Who do we have here?” A smiling pair approached, a striking blue-haired man with a serious demeanor, and a woman with squinty eyes.
Chaejin waved her hand with a smile as she looked at the two.
“Did you guys do well? Hyuwan, Goje.”
“We’re fine. By the way, I heard you’ve been too busy to come to the Murim Alliance lately?”
“Haha, that’s true.”
“What!? Chaejin! When did you come?!”
A booming voice interjected. A large man with tiger-like eyes emerged from the training ground.
As he strode over confidently, he scanned us and growled, “What’s going on?”
“Could you tone it down a bit? You’re going to scare the kids.”
At Chaejin’s remark, he was taken aback. Then, seeing Chaeran and Sayoon, he began to fumble.
“I-I’m so sorry about that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his flustered appearance.
He was Hansoo, the senior commander of the Murim Alliance’s advanced combat division.
The man known for his great strength looked exactly as he did in Heavenly Bright Moon.
Despite his large stature and fearsome face, he always stumbled over his words when faced with kids as young as his daughter.
And just like that, he was now staring at Sayoon and Chaeran, astonished and slightly frozen.
“This is Hansoo, the senior commander of the Murim Alliance’s advanced combat division. And these are…”
“This is Hyuwan, the senior combat officer. He’s Goje’s husband.”
“This is Goje, the senior combat officer. She’s Hyuwan’s wife.”
They all greeted each other, and just as I was about to introduce myself, Hansoo, Hyuwan, and Goje looked puzzled.
But that was all. They didn’t ask anything more.
“So, why are you here?”
“Oh, well…”
As Chaejin began to explain the circumstances, Hansoo nodded after a while.
“Got it.”
“Is that all?”
“Have you seen us take an interest in such things? If a fight with the Demonic Cult ever comes up because of it, just call us. Until next time.”
After lightly dismissing us, Hansoo took the other two away, leaving Sayoon tilting her head in confusion.
“Seems like those guys aren’t interested in other people’s business?”
“Haha… it’s just their nature.”
Chaejin smiled bitterly.
As she said, combat officers are indeed these simple folks who are only focused on fighting.
But that also made them pure-hearted and strong.
That’s why they’re always the first ones sent out to support during battles against the Demonic Cult or Evil Monsters.
“Well, since we have some time left, how about we explore the Murim Alliance a bit more?”
We were on our way out after wandering around the Murim Alliance when I felt a few martial artists watching us.
“Those are the Law Enforcement Department folks.”
Chaejin must have sensed it too, for she responded with a nonchalant tone, while Sayoon, recalling earlier events, asked Hongryeon, “Senior Sister, is there some issue with the Law Enforcement Department?”
“Is something wrong?”
“It’s because of the work range. The Law Enforcement Head and the Inspection Head have had a bad relationship for a long time.”
Meanwhile, the inspector, Hongryeon, has been doing a good job, and that made the Law Enforcement Department unhappy.
This was a story I had never heard even in Heavenly Bright Moon, so I couldn’t help but listen with curiosity.
As we chatted about various things while moving around the Murim Alliance, the sun was setting before we knew it.
“Let’s get going. If we can catch Mack today, we can move a bit more leisurely from tomorrow.”
“Then we have to do well today, right?”
Hongryeon smiled, and Sayoon clenched her fist.
“I’ll just be a hindrance to catching Mack, so I’ll wait at the inn. You all do well.”
“Huh? You won’t be a hindrance at all, so let’s just go together.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t seem like it, and we could accidentally stir up trouble.”
“Someone needs to talk to Scholar Moon after the work is done. I noticed they seemed a bit uncomfortable talking to us earlier…”
Hongryeon, Hyunhwi, and Chaen all chimed in. And Sayoon was also looking at me, wanting to go together.
“Then I will step back, so don’t worry about me and do well.”
“I’ll protect you no matter what happens.”
Chaen smiled and grabbed my shoulder. Now, that’s reassuring.
“Then I’ll stick with Sayoon.”
As Chaen said she would protect me, Chaeran headed in that direction.
Hongryeon glanced at Chaen and calmly said, “…Take care.”
“Don’t worry. I’m Chaen. Chaen.”
And so, we chatted as we moved and arrived at Munsahgong’s estate.
After being guided by Jang Gweong into the interior, as soon as we arrived at the inner courtyard with Munsahgong waiting, Hongryeon spoke calmly.
“We need to escort the lady to the garden.”
“…I’d appreciate that.”
“And Munsahgong, please step back with the innkeeper. It could be dangerous.”
Hongryeon’s voice remained calm.
Yet, Munsahgong came over to me with a worried face, trembling as he looked at me.
“Don’t worry.”
At that moment, the lady appeared in the garden. As she sat in a chair, Hongryeon, Hyunhwi, and Sayoon stood around her with weapons drawn.
And as a red aura began to rise from the three of them.
-Kuuuuuung….!!
A low rumbling sound accompanied a black aura rising behind the lady.
Wrapped in that black aura was a monstrous figure grinning unpleasantly.
The creature, chuckling as it sank its tail into the old lady’s back, opened its mouth filled with sharp teeth.
-Kyaaaah!!
At the same time…
The ominous energy pierced the evil monster that was lurking in a dream.
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