Chapter 38. The Flying Dragon Squad Leader
“A-A-Alliance Lord?!”
“W-why?! No…!”
The mont the Evil Faction Alliance Lord, Hyuk Gun-ak, entered the eting room, a great commotion arose.
Those who didn't know that he had already shown himself outside his quarters once before couldn't help but be even more startled.
But he himself, as if it were a matter of course, walked around the room and took a seat at the seat of honor that had always been empty.
He looked around at those seated.
Silence descended again. No one dared to et his gaze.
At one ti, they had all willingly placed themselves under the Paewang Family, but now, they were all divided under the Black Heaven Gang and the Hainan Sword Sect.
After examining the faces, Hyuk Gun-ak’s gaze finally landed on Maeng Jong-su, who was seated on the right.
“Right, Silent Dragon Hall Leader. As you said, the Rogues’ Guild is indeed an external force. But that boy is not a mber of the Rogues’ Guild.”
“…What do you an by that?”
“Since you are in a position responsible for the law, you must know the list of sects affiliated with this alliance. Am I wrong?”
The Evil Faction Alliance Lord grinned.
“The Falling Sword Sect of Yunnan.”
“…”
“If you’re not sure, go look it up. A na like that should be written sowhere in a corner of the records. Incidentally, they are also a blood ally of our Paewang Family.”
Of course, there was no way Maeng Jong-su knew that such an unheard-of sect was affiliated with the alliance.
“In other words, that child is a proper mber of the alliance. He must have just traveled with the Rogues’ Guild.”
But Maeng Jong-su had a hunch.
The truth did not matter. Even if it wasn't true, the mont the Evil Faction Alliance Lord said it, it beca the truth.
“…Alliance Lord, what is the aning of this?”
“aning? What aning? It’s just that the facts are as they are. Should we ostracize a disciple of a small and dium-sized sect?”
Maeng Jong-su looked at Hyuk Gun-ak.
One of the Ten Great Masters of the World. He was not an opponent he could dare to face. But he did not avert his eyes.
“Alliance Lord, is this your will as the head of the Paewang Family?”
Maeng Jong-su asked once more.
The air in the room froze solid.
Three years ago, the Paewang Family, which had been the number one family of the Evil Faction, suddenly locked its doors and ceased all activities in the Jianghu Murim.
And that did not simply an the seclusion of the Paewang Family alone.
The Paewang Family was the focal point of the Evil Faction.
It was because of the Paewang Family, and Hyuk Gun-ak, one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, that the Evil Faction mbers could be on equal footing with the Righteous Faction mbers despite their relative inferiority.
With such a focal point suddenly ceasing its activities, it was natural for the entire Evil Faction’s Murim to shrink.
‘No, it would have been better if they had disappeared completely.’
Maeng Jong-su clenched his teeth.
But the Paewang Family head, Hyuk Gun-ak, did nothing, yet he did not step down from his position as the Evil Faction Alliance Lord either.
He remained in the Evil Faction Alliance, built his own residence, tended to his vegetable garden, and let the years pass by idly.
No one could object.
Just by existing there, all the other Evil Faction forces were suppressed along with him.
It was as if he was intentionally obstructing the growth of the Evil Faction Alliance.
Maeng Jong-su had tried to escape from that suffocating shadow.
He wanted to erase the presence of the Paewang Family and fill that place with the na of the Black Heaven Gang, to re-establish the center of the Evil Faction.
The Hainan Sword Sect had opposed this, but it was rather a good thing.
It was better for the entire Evil Faction’s Murim to be divided into a competitive system and be energized, rather than sinking together with the Paewang Family.
Thus, the factions that had followed the Paewang Family were gradually divided between the Black Heaven Gang and the Hainan Sword Sect.
The factions that followed the Paewang Family to the very end completely held their breath.
And so, the Evil Faction forces, which had gone through turmoil, were scheduled to gather as one again starting from today.
But once again, they were suppressed.
No one could raise an objection.
It was no different from the past.
Just as no one knew the reason why the Paewang Family had closed its doors three years ago, they did not know the reason why he was suddenly stepping forward like this today.
“Very well.”
Maeng Jong-su smiled.
A disaster cannot be defied.
“If that is truly the Alliance Lord’s will, then it cannot be helped. How could I dare to raise an objection? I will accept that child as a mber of the Flying Dragon Squad.”
Murmur murmur.
Minor commotions arose here and there. Maeng Jong-su continued, unconcerned.
“No, it would be fine to entrust the position of leader to that child altogether. Since we are accepting him, we can’t have such a talent remain under the command of other children.”
Maeng Jong-su thought.
Nevertheless, he had to show that the world had changed.
If he had no intention of being a pillar of support, then this was no longer the Paewang Family’s Evil Faction Alliance.
Maeng Jong-su’s gaze moved.
He exchanged glances with a man sitting nearby. He was Maeng Sang-tae, the representative dispatched from the Black Heaven Gang.
Maeng Sang-tae nodded his head.
And it was the very mont Maeng Jong-su’s statent ended.
Creak.
Maeng Sang-tae stood up from his seat.
The gazes in the eting room were focused.
“I apologize to all the comrades of the alliance gathered here, but our Black Heaven Gang will be withdrawing from this Flying Dragon Squad.”
“…W-what is that?!”
“H-hey!! Great Warrior Maeng?!”
“It is difficult to explain in detail, but a sudden matter has arisen in our gang. Unavoidably, we no longer have the capacity to entrust our disciples to the outside. We hope for your understanding.”
Bow.
Maeng Sang-tae bowed his head politely.
He turned around as he was and strode out of the eting room.
“…”
The sudden withdrawal of the Black Heaven Gang.
At that mont, everyone realized.
In the first place, this summons for the Flying Dragon Squad was just a free recruitnt held under the pretext of experience and friendship among the prodigies.
It wasn't compulsory, and the Evil Faction Alliance, which was not in a state of war in the first place, had no such authority.
Of course, in reality, they had rushed here vying for a spot so as not to be left behind in the reorganization of power, knowing that this was an event of the Black Heaven Gang and the Hainan Sword Sect.
But now, the Black Heaven Gang, which was one of the two main pillars, had withdrawn.
Creak.
Just then, another man stood up from his seat. It was Pa Han-cheol, the representative of the Hainan Sword Sect.
“Alliance Lord, I respect you as a martial artist, but it is troubleso for you to keep playing gas like this. Our unity is as precarious as a small boat anyway.”
Step step.
He, who had been staring at Hyuk Gun-ak with sharp eyes, also turned and left the eting room.
“My, my. What did I do?”
Hyuk Gun-ak shrugged his shoulders.
The representatives of the Black Heaven Gang and the Hainan Sword Sect had left at the sa ti. Soon, the other representatives began to understand the aning.
Creak, creak.
The representatives in the room who had made their decision began to stand up from their seats one by one, quickly.
After a few more left the eting room, the rest also rushed to leave, lest they catch Hyuk Gun-ak’s eye.
“…At this rate, there is no point in proceeding with the eting. I will also take my leave now, Alliance Lord.”
Bow, Maeng Jong-su bowed his head.
And he left the eting room along with the crowd. Maeng Jong-su tried hard to hide the sense of triumph that was about to leak onto his face.
He had defied that Evil Faction Alliance Lord head-on. He pretended to be composed, but his fingertips were still trembling.
The efforts the Black Heaven Gang had made so far were not in vain. The other factions had all followed the will of the Black Heaven Gang, not the Evil Faction Alliance Lord.
“Hehehe, this is quite disappointing, I must say.”
Thus, with everyone gone, finally only Hyuk Gun-ak and a single middle-aged man remained in the eting room.
“…Alliance Lord.”
The middle-aged man said.
A nondescript black martial uniform.
He, whose impression was even sowhat faint, was Gongson Uk, the representative of the Dark Shadow Pavilion, one of the four great powers of the Evil Faction Alliance.
“What on earth are you trying to do?”
“Do what? They left on their own accord.”
“For the past three years, everyone has been suppressed without knowing the reason. You, of all people, should know that better than anyone.”
The Evil Faction rejects order.
At the sa ti, they seek to beco the order themselves. That is why soone has to be the head.
And that, of course, must be soone with enough power to impose their order on others.
“Are you planning to subjugate them all by force once again?”
“Aish, why would I do sothing so troubleso? Do I look that vigorous to you? My body aches now, so I can’t do it even if I wanted to.”
“…”
“Rather, as you said, I feel sorry for Hall Leader Maeng. He must have had a hard ti cleaning up my ss.”
Hehe, Hyuk Gun-ak laughed softly.
“But a fellow who’s about the ‘age of a son’ ca to see in my old age. I don’t have much to pass down, but shouldn’t I at least find him a place to stand tall?”
“…The result is this ss, however.”
The sudden intrusion of the Evil Faction Alliance Lord led to the breakdown of the Evil Faction’s unity, which was about to be rebuilt around the prodigies.
The Flying Dragon Squad and everything else was shattered.
“What! That’s none of my business. If I gave him a title, he should gather the people he needs with his own hands and use them. Am I wrong?”
“…”
Smack, Hyuk Gun-ak licked his lips.
“How about it? Gongson Uk, since we’ve seen each other after a long ti, won’t you have a drink with ?”
***
“…”
Lee Byeok looked at the token in his hand.
[Evil Faction Alliance]
[Flying Dragon Squad Leader]
Inside the square token, along with the image of a dragon frolicking in the clouds, the words certifying his identity as the Flying Dragon Squad Leader were powerfully embossed.
Lee Byeok had beco the Flying Dragon Squad Leader.
That fact was unilaterally notified to him today, two days after the martial arts tournant.
Of course, it was sothing he had never expected.
But there was an even more surprising fact. Lee Byeok was the Flying Dragon Squad Leader, and also currently the only mber of the Flying Dragon Squad.
It was said that the majority of the factions that had previously sought to join the Flying Dragon Squad had taken their disciples and left the Evil Faction Alliance in a hurry.
“…”
An Evil Faction ard force without the Four Factions.
How did things turn out this way?
Lee Byeok had decided to go out into the Murim to find an enlightennt that would overco his inner demon, and as a ans to that end, he had chosen to join the Flying Dragon Squad.
To add to the reasons, the Evil Faction Alliance Lord was Hyuk Dae-woong’s father. And he was also concerned about Eon Mi-hee.
Therefore, he had stepped onto the dueling stage belatedly, and had defeated Maeng U-gang, who happened to be his opponent.
That was all.
As a result, everyone had left.
He didn't know the detailed reason, but it was a reaction as if an foreign object that shouldn't have been involved had gotten involved.
‘This has turned into a ridiculous situation.’
Lee Byeok smiled bitterly.
The identity token of the Flying Dragon Squad Leader, which had suddenly lost its master, had fallen into his hands, and it was closer to a mockery.
The Evil Faction Alliance, with most of its factions having left, had beco deserted. It was as Lee Byeok was walking towards the Rogues’ Guild’s quarters.
“Ah, Young Master!”
A familiar voice was heard.
“…Miss, is your body alright?”
Eon Mi-hee was over there.
After the martial arts tournant ended two days ago, Eon Mi-hee seed to have been receiving treatnt at the dical hall.
“Ahaha, of course. I’m perfectly fine. I just took one hit at most. If I get bedridden over sothing like that, I’m no fist fighter!”
Eon Mi-hee approached him warmly.
And the two naturally began to walk together towards the Rogues’ Guild’s quarters.
“Uhm… Young Master. You know?”
Suddenly, Eon Mi-hee spoke.
“That… why did you make that decision?”
“…What do you an?”
Lee Byeok looked back at Eon Mi-hee.
“When the Young Master appeared on the dueling stage and defeated that guy, I was really happy. But… you said you had a place to return to, didn't you?”
“…”
Lee Byeok traced back the mory of when he had exchanged blows with her earlier. He had certainly said sothing like that.
“…I can no longer go now.”
“Eh…”
The reason was difficult to explain.
It was a personal matter of the heart, and just a feeling that he had to do it. But it was also a conviction.
His killing intent was bound by the mnemonic of the Red Faction Heart Art, but he didn't know when or what trigger might cause it to erupt.
Therefore, he could not return to Flower Pavilion Village. Soday, when he gained enlightennt and the ti was right, he would know for himself.
However,
“Thanks to that, both you and I are in a strange situation. To be honest, I don’t know what to do from now on.”
A bitter smile lingered again.
The Flying Dragon Squad had effectively beco an ard force in na only, and the pretext of strengthening friendships among the Evil Faction’s prodigies had fizzled out.
“Young Master, excuse .”
Suddenly, Eon Mi-hee stopped walking. When Lee Byeok looked back, Eon Mi-hee was bowing deeply.
“Thank you. For saving .”
“…”
“Back then, I was in a state of confusion and couldn't even thank you properly, right? If it weren't for the Young Master… my circumstances would have been ruined in many ways.”
Hahat, Eon Mi-hee laughed awkwardly.
“I want to repay your kindness, Young Master, but I’m a poor debtor… all I have to offer is my body.”
“…”
Lee Byeok was silent.
“Ah, i-it’s not in a weird sense…”
Eon Mi-hee, who had raised her head again, waved her arms about in the air. As if resolving herself to say what she had been holding back, she spat out the words.
“…If I were to follow the Young Master, would I be a hindrance?”
“What do you an?”
“…Joining the Flying Dragon Squad was the order given to by the Pavilion Lord. She said her intention still remains unchanged. Of course… the Young Master, who is the Flying Dragon Squad Leader, would have to permit it.”
“…”
Lee Byeok was a little flustered.
But far from leading soone, he himself was at a loss as to what to aim for and where to go from now on.
He just had a conviction that enlightennt would not co to him if he remained stagnant.
He would go out and search, without even knowing where in the world what he was looking for was.
It was a crazy thing to do.
Let alone being with soone.
“…You don’t have to force yourself to follow the order. If necessary, I will speak to the Pavilion Lord.”
“No, I want to be with you.”
“…”
“I want to be of help to the Young Master.”
Eon Mi-hee’s gaze was firm and her voice was solid. Lee Byeok was at a loss for words.
“…Will you give so ti to think?”
“Yes, of course.”
Lee Byeok could not give a definite answer.
The two walked on, lost in their own thoughts, and soon the Rogues’ Guild’s quarters appeared in the distance.
Creak, Lee Byeok opened the door.
And at that mont, he discovered a girl he had never seen before in the middle of the quarters. The girl, whose eyes t his, hurriedly approached.
“Wow! Young Master! I missed you!”
Grab, Lee Byeok’s hands were grabbed.
He didn't avoid it because there was no hostility, but the grasped hands were surprisingly strong and difficult to break free from.
“…Who are you, Miss?”
“Ah, have you forgotten …?”
The girl put on a deliberately sad face.
She began to wipe the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.
Lee Byeok was flustered. Following him, Eon Mi-hee, with a slightly pale complexion, looked back and forth between Lee Byeok and the girl.
Shake shake.
Lee Byeok shook his head.
“You really don’t know? I’m hurt~”
The girl, changing her expression, chuckled.
“It’s , . Gongson Su of the Dark Shadow Pavilion.”
“…”
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