Episode 526
“How have you been?”
“Why did you co to see again?”
“Don’t look so anxious. “I ca to see your face one last ti.”
“Since when did we take care of each other’s well-being?”
The na of the man who offered a seat with a clear expression on his face was Seogunak.
Although he now uses a pseudonym and hides his past identity, he was once a disciple of a demonic cult.
‘Just seeing that look of disgust on my face made it worth coming all the way.’
I chuckled to myself.
They say you don’t know what’s going on in the world.
I never thought the day would co when I could talk so comfortably with my fourth brother, who stabbed in the back with Sosalma in my past life.
Of course, from the perspective of the person being bullied, there is no such thing as a cushion of thorns.
“Is there anything left for to do?”
“no. “I just ca by to say hello while I was stopping by the Hongwon family.”
“What’s going on with the Hongwon family?”
“I am visiting and requesting each and every one of the martial arts factions that I have ties to. “Please support .”
“Aren’t you already a hero of the Baekdo Martial Forest? “Among the martial arts people, it would be rare to find soone who doesn’t praise and support you?”
“It’s a slightly different issue than that. “It is an issue in which political factors are intertwined.”
“……?”
“Anyway, I heard that you will soon be getting married to your enemy Soger.”
“How do you know that?”
“The matriarch I t a little while ago told this.”
Seogunak’s expression beca distorted.
It seed like he felt instinctively uneasy when he saw smirking.
Suddenly, a sense of fun arose.
I placed my clasped hands on the table, lowered my upper body, and spoke sinisterly.
“I will attend the wedding day as a guest and congratulate you.”
“Didn’t you say you ca to see it one last ti?”
“I originally planned to do that, but I changed my mind.”
“There is no need for that. “It must be a body with a lot of public and private interests.”
“it’s okay. “Isn’t it a bit weird to pretend not to notice that soone who once worked under is going through an unfortunate event?”
“…….”
It couldn’t have been so pleasant to see Seogunak clearly showing his perplexed emotions.
I felt like the pain remaining in my chest was being relieved.
After leaving the cold sweat of Seogunak behind, I stretched out and muttered to myself.
‘My personality has also faded a lot.’
* * *
A neatly maintained tomb.
Seo Ho-seon slumped down in front of the polished tombstone.
“I was busy for a while and couldn’t co see you.”
Naturally, no answer ca back.
He took out a bottle of alcohol from his pocket, filled the glass, and set it down in front of the tombstone.
After staring blankly at the tombstone for a while, he pointed his gaze in the direction of Maeng’s headquarters and said:
“It was hard to find. “The remains of your family.”
The na engraved on the tombstone is Sawooyeon.
It was a pseudonym given by Yeonseon to enable Jeolyeong-gaek, a demonic cultist, to work as a warrior of Maeng.
“Invading the Demonic Cult’s outer garden is not as easy as it sounds. “I almost died.”
It was an amazing story.
The place where Sawooyeon’s family died and was buried is the headquarters of the Demonic Cult located in Cheonsan.
Even though it was an external source and most of the Demon Cult’s power was exhausted after being defeated in the Great Demon War.
The security of the Demonic Cult was not so lax as to allow the presence of an intruder.
“I will bury you next to your grave soon.”
Seo Ho-seon emptied the bottle in one go and trudged away.
When I glanced up, the sky was full of dark clouds.
“Have a happy ti there with your family.”
Not long after that.
Shoot!
The pouring rain soaked the ground.
The alcohol in the glass that Seo Ho-seon left behind overflowed and seeped into the grave.
* * *
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Every ti I co here, I ask the sa question.”
“As a disciple, shouldn’t you at least pretend to be worried?”
God’s Hall within the Murim Alliance.
I joked and put the fruit basket down on the table next to the hospital bed.
Master, who was leaning against the head of the bed, let out a chuckle.
The wife who was caring for the patient waved her hand with a happy expression.
“It looks like your injuries are all healed.”
“I recovered early.”
The arm and ribs that were broken due to the magic bridge were already completely healed.
The performance of the body strengthened by learning the White Thunder Godkung was so great.
“Master…”
“The divine doctor said that I would have to stay in bed for another month.”
“The Emperor Lei’s reputation is ridiculous. “Only in this way can I criticize my disciple for being weak.”
“…….”
Master narrowed his eyebrows sharply.
Even though I said this, I couldn’t help but hold my tongue at Master’s monstrous resilience.
I knew because I felt the pulse and examined it myself.
Unlike , who only suffered a broken bone and minor internal injuries, Master literally ca to the brink of death.
‘It was literally an active volcano in the midst of an eruption, with energy all over my body boiling wildly.’
A fatal wound that cannot be recovered.
Everyone who examined Master at the ti must have had the sa thought.
If it had been an ordinary person, it was clear that he would have died.
No, there was no need to go to the general public.
Even I, who had equally learned the White Thunder Godkung, would have died without being able to endure if I had suffered the sa level of internal injuries.
Even if he miraculously survives, the aftereffects will remain for the rest of his life.
‘It’s scary.’
To be honest, I couldn’t believe it when I saw it.
I couldn’t figure out how on earth he was able to regain consciousness and recover so smoothly.
“But did you say it was a brain emperor?”
“yes. “This is Master’s new nickna.”
Master’s face beca strange.
I felt an unspoken pressure.
It was as if he was urging to explain in more detail.
I shrugged my shoulders and opened my mouth.
“After the end of the Great War, rankings, which had been quiet for a while, have begun in earnest.”
“Ranking?”
“yes. The question of who is the strongest in the martial arts world is which martial artist is at the top or at the bottom among the hundred great masters. You know sothing like that?”
“This is a aningless debate. “Strength is not sothing that can be compared using a one-size-fits-all standard.”
“But isn’t there anything more fun than ranking others after an argunt?”
There were several vacancies in the positions of not only the Hundred Great Masters but also the Ten Heavenly Emperors.
There were many masters who revealed their hidden skills during the war.
Is there any other snack that is as enjoyable to chew, tear, and taste as this?
After much debate, there was a major change in the ranking of Baekdae masters.
Among the mbers of Cheonan Gambu, there were quite a few who had newly beco 100-year-old masters.
For example, people with diocre skills, such as Baek Sang-hoo, the leader of the Hwangryongmugwanju (黃龍武館主), who previously occupied the lower ranks of the Baekdae masters, actually lost their place.
Naturally, the most talked-about thing was the ranking among absolute experts.
Soone said that it was ti for Buddha and Mujon, who had previously occupied the positions of two honorees, to step down from their positions.
Soone also said that considering those who died during the war, shouldn’t the na Sipcheonje be changed?
Opinions remain divided on this matter to this day.
The only thing that has been decided for certain is the new nicknas for and Master.
No one disputed the fact that the strongest person in Tanggeum martial arts was and Master.
“Then your nickna is….”
“Geomje (劍帝).”
Now (二帝).
It was a term referring to and my teacher together.
Although I agree to a certain extent with what Master said, I did not think that the world’s evaluation was wrong.
Because it is a clear fact that Master and I are strong enough to be treated as special even compared to other absolute experts.
One thing that bothers is that there are many people who place above the teacher and evaluate .
‘I was the one who defeated the Demon Cult Leader in the end, so it is not unreasonable to think so.’
The reason I was able to take the cult leader’s life was because situational factors supported it.
It was difficult to sympathize with the claim that I was stronger because I defeated an enemy that my teacher could not do anything about.
‘Of course, as ti goes by, I will reach a level where I can surpass not only my teacher but even the Demon Cult Leader.’
I learned a lot through my fight with the religious leader.
A newly presented path for growth.
The day to be reborn as the true powerhouse of martial arts is not far away.
“Not long ago, I heard that Seomun Family sent soone.”
“okay. “My father-in-law called .”
“You an Master?”
“I plan to visit you as soon as I feel better.”
The relationship between the wife and her family, the Seomun family, was still awkward.
Still, it was visible that the relationship was gradually being restored following the previous incident.
“If you leave Shinuidang, can you bring Sogeolgae here?”
“It’s not difficult. But why are you looking for Senior Sogeolgae?”
“Shouldn’t the torpedo squad also go through the process of disbanding soon?”
“As expected, you were planning to resign.”
“The reason I applied to the Murim Alliance was to protect my family from the threat of the Demonic Cult. “The problem has been solved, so there’s no reason to stay any longer.”
“The crew will be disappointed.”
“Now is the ti for them to find their own paths.”
I had so expectations.
Basically, Master was a person who had no desire for power, status, or fa.
I could tell this just by looking at the displeased expression on his face when he heard about the new nickna given to him a little while ago.
Is it because the Cheonan Gambu was recently disbanded?
I felt sowhat emotional.
I felt like I had lost a reliable ally who always had my back.
“At this ti, I have sothing to tell you, Master.”
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
“I have also stepped down from my position as Director of the Cheonan Inspector General. I think it is ti for a new position.”
“Do you plan to take over the leader’s position?”
“yes? “What does that an?”
“Isn’t it? “Recently, the way the leader looks at you seems to be as if he is looking at a successor.”
“Of course the leader would like to succeed him. However, I have a lot of responsibility and am reluctant to take on such an arduous position.”
“if? Which departnt are you planning to apply to?”
I raised my eyebrows and smiled.
At my continued remarks, not only my teacher but also my wife looked blank.
“I will join the Senate.”
* * *
Clap clap clap!
The sound of applause hit my eardrums.
It was truly a place worthy of the expression ‘Mureungdowon (武陵桃源).’
Golden koi fish in the pond.
In the grass, there is a white horned deer that seems to be kept as a pet.
On top of the tree, there is a Jeonseo-eung (傳書鷹) with beautiful stains that can easily be called a spirit object.
No matter where you search in the central plains, it would be difficult to find such a luxurious place.
As I entered the garden, which had a quiet atmosphere, the elders of the village welcod with a very happy expression.
“Welco!”
“I’ve been looking forward to the day when you beco an elder and join us!”
Finally the day ca.
It is the day when one is officially recognized as an elder of the Maeng clan in recognition of one’s achievents.
In fact, preparations were already in place.
When I defeated the Demon Cultist with these hands, no one could stop or restrain .
Money, status, reputation, public connections.
I made it this far without leaving anything out.
In fact, it was safe to say that there was no person within the Murim Alliance who was more influential than .
‘He even toured the clans and families of each region and garnered their support. Even if the lords and elders join together to stop , it will be of no use.’
Of course, the elders welcod with open arms.
The youngest senior in history.
In the history of the Murim League, there has never been a single person like who achieved the status of an elder at a young age.
As I glanced around, a familiar face caught my eye.
I waved lightly and greeted him.
“I am deeply moved to et each other like this as fellow elders.”
“ too.”
Sohyeongeom (昭賢劍) responded with a voice mixed with laughter.
Master Baekmang, who was watching, sneaked in and chatted with .
The elders around looked at it with envious eyes.
‘This is just the beginning.’
Everyone here knew.
I am different from them, who only beca elders in recognition of their achievents when they were young and with the support of their clan.
Who will beco the powerful person in the Senate in the future?
As I received congratulations from the elders around , I reflected on my goal once again.
‘I will beco a senator and place the entire Murim Alliance under my feet.’
* * *
Unlike the Senate, which had a harmonious atmosphere, Joo’s office, located in the main office, was literally a portrait house.
Ju Hwa-baek sighed heavily and threw away the bottle of alcohol in his hand.
Fragnts of the shattered bottle littered the floor.
It was like a child whining, but Zhuge Huan, who was sitting across from him, did not stop it.
He just played with his chopsticks and nibbled on his snacks with dead eyes.
“I had no idea that Yeonsun would really end up in the Senate.”
“Who knew? The elders who were hostile to the Cheonan governnt suddenly changed their attitude as if they had made a promise. Even Yeonsun would fall for it alone.”
“I can’t help but feel disappointed. “I thought we had finally found a talent who could make our long-awaited dream co true.”
“You must be heartbroken, as am I. “You were even thinking about giving the Vice-Gunsa a companion.”
“It’s all my fault for not recognizing the essence of Yeon-woon. Please rebuke .”
“Is that your fault? “Rather, it was I who tempted you.”
“…….”
“In the end, wasn’t he able to overco the temptation of luxury, pleasure, and power?”
Juhwabaek sighed again and picked up a new bottle of alcohol.
He envisioned a happy future in which he would hand over the leader’s position to Yeonsun and retire to watch the Murim Alliance change.
It is also said that having the intelligent and beautiful vice-military Zhuge Hye next to the new ruler would be the icing on the cake.
Where on earth did it go wrong?
Was it a mistake to blindly believe in the chivalrous spirit of Yeon-woon?
All kinds of thoughts were floating around in my head.
‘I’m only thinking more and more negatively.’
I could feel the strong alcohol going down my throat.
Right now, I just wanted to forget my worries with alcohol.
It was then.
The voice of the black night guard guarding the outside of the door pierced Joo Baek’s ears.
“Lord. “There is soone who asks to see the Lord.”
“Tell them to go back. “I don’t want to et anyone today.”
“I am the son of Lord Thunderbolt. “Can you really just send it back?”
“…!”
Zhuge Huan and Zhou Hwabaek suddenly raised their heads and their gazes crossed.
They exchanged glances for a mont and then adjusted their disheveled clothes as if they had made a promise.
“Tell them to co in.”
“yes.”
The door opened and Dokgo-seong stepped inside.
His complexion was not disturbed in the slightest even by the remnants of the broken liquor bottle, which was filled with the scent of alcohol.
Standing in front of the leader and commander-in-chief, he spoke with restrained authority.
“It’s Dok-go-seong.”
“What did you co to see for?”
“I ca here because my brother, or rather, Elder Yeonseon, sent .”
Zhuge Huan’s expression beca grim.
I was still upset, but I couldn’t feel better when I heard that Yeonsun, the culprit behind everything, had sent soone.
Sensing that the atmosphere was not good, Dok-go-seong swallowed his saliva.
I felt a terrifying energy constricting my whole body.
He took a deep breath and continued talking with a firm expression.
“I want to beco a leader.”
“……?”
“The elder said that if we go to the two of them, they will tell us the way.”
Zhuge Huan and Zhou Hwabaek simultaneously showed blank expressions.
He suddenly ca to and wanted to beco a leader.
What kind of ghost-forgetting noise is this?
Let the ti of silence pass.
“ha ha ha!”
Suddenly, Zhuge Huan burst into laughter.
Joo Hwa-baek looked at him with an incomprehensible expression as he pounded on the table and laughed.
“Right! “It was like that!”
“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“Lord! “We were wrong!”
“…You seem to be very drunk.”
“Now I understand! Yeonsun decided this way! “The only way to reform ng is to join the Senate!”
“What does that an?”
Hwabaek Joo’s eyes widened.
It was a word that was not easily understood.
You beco an elder, a hotbed of corruption, for the sake of reform.
Aren’t there contradictions like this?
“The leader of the Murim Alliance has as many restrictions as his mighty power. This is what Yeon-woon felt while attending several etings hosted by Maengju as the head of Cheonan Gambu. “Even if you beco the leader, true reform is impossible.”
“no way……!”
“yes. That’s right. Yeonsun decided that if he beca a leader, he would only end up following the sa path as his predecessor. “In order to solve the fundantal problem, we have to do sothing about the Senate, a group of vested interests that divides the power of the people!”
Hwabaek Joo let out an exclamation without realizing it.
The color in my face, which had been pale due to excessive drinking, turned.
His eyes turned to Dok Go-seong, who was looking at him with a puzzled expression.
‘If you think about it.’
Dok Go-seong was also not an ordinary talent.
Although he was overshadowed by the reputation of Geomje Yeon-woon, he was also famous among the monks.
Did you say that you recently achieved enlightennt and broke through the wall of transcendence?
At a similar age, Yeon-woon was already at the level of flower gardening, but that ant he was outside the standard.
It should be said that there was virtually no martial artist in the martial arts world of the ti who had advanced faster than Dokgoseong.
In terms of talent and growth potential, even the Namgung family’s Sword Dragon did not reach him.
If they were raised well, there would be no shortage of talented people who could entrust the future of the Murim Alliance.
‘If Yeon So-woon takes control of the Senate and Dok-go-seong, whom he can trust, ascends to the throne of Maeng Ju-wi.’
The boundary that divided the Murim Alliance will disappear.
Reform in the true sense becos possible.
I could definitely say it.
It is a grand plan that cannot be compared to the one-dinsional idea of simply appointing Yeon-woon as the leader and entrusting the future of the group to him.
“Total military force! “You are right!”
“This is not the ti! Now that we know Yeon So-un’s true intentions, we must make a new plan accordingly!”
Two old n chatting excitedly.
The inside of the office was filled with bustling noise.
The mbers of the Dark Nights who were standing guard outside shrugged their shoulders and looked back at the door.
‘……is it?’
Just one person.
Only Dok-go-seong tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
Joo Hwa-baek grabbed his arm and sat him down next to him, poured alcohol into his empty glass and handed it to him.
The laughter of the leader and the commander-in-chief resounded throughout the entire community.
– Completed
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