The Youngest Member Chapter 111

Cheon Woojin's calm voice beca a rock and fell upon the lake called the Black Plaque Star.

Naturally, a strong wave arose.

The thirteen martial artists, called the sky of the Unorthodox Path, looked at each other, unable to hide their bewildernt.

It was a surprising event, considering that each one of them was comparable to the heads of the Orthodox Path's Five Great Families and Nine Sects One Union.

In this large hall, only two people.

Only Cheon Woojin and the Black Plaque Star Lord maintained their composure.

The Black Plaque Star Lord, who had returned to his seat, rested his chin on his hand and was lost in thought.

Cheon Woojin just stared at that sight.

Was he so bold because he was a martial artist called one of the Three Lords of the World?

Or perhaps he had been considering the return of the Dark Heavenly Son to so extent.

Just as the Black Plaque Star Lord could not read Cheon Woojin's mind, Cheon Woojin was the sa.

Everyone looked only at the Black Plaque Star Lord.

How much ti had passed like that?

After a rather long period of thought, these words flowed from the Black Plaque Star Lord's mouth.

"Ink Jackal. From today, double the kids' al portions."

Cheon Woojin tilted his head.

He hadn't expected the topic of food to co up so suddenly.

However, a clear tension was flowing over the faces of the Thirteen Black Wolves.

"Are you preparing for war?"

The Ink Jackal asked. The lord he served always increased the martial artists' al portions before a war. It was the Black Plaque Star Lord's firm belief that one had to eat well to fight well.

The Black Plaque Star Lord shook his head.

"For now, I don't know. However, if the Dark Heavenly Son has really returned. No, if he has returned. We must prepare as soon as possible. To die less."

The words 'to die less' pierced the minds of the Thirteen Wolves like a dagger. The lord they served was a man who knew no defeat. He was a man who had united the vast Unorthodox Path in just twelve years after suddenly appearing in the martial world.

"First Wolf."

"Yes, Star Lord."

At the Black Plaque Star Lord's call, an elderly woman took a step forward and bowed her head.

A strange light flashed in Cheon Woojin's eyes as he looked at her.

Although the old woman's hair was white, her posture was straight and her gaze was clear. It was as if watching a bamboo that grew harder with the passing of ti.

"As soon as the day breaks, go to the Martial Alliance and bring the Shadowless Divine Thief. If a war breaks out, a fast guy will be very useful."

"I understand."

The Shadowless Divine Thief was imprisoned in the Martial Alliance's brain prison.

However, she nodded without asking any further questions. The leader had simply given an order, so she would carry it out.

She could negotiate with the leaders of the Alliance, and if there was no other way, she could directly infiltrate the brain prison and kidnap him.

In Cheon Woojin's view, the First Wolf was soone who would fight a life-and-death battle with the Alliance Leader if he were to block the brain prison. No, she was soone who would just nod her head even if ordered to bring King Yama's register from hell.

The Black Plaque Star Lord also had a very trusting expression on his face.

'What an amazing person.'

It was admiration for both the Black Plaque Star Lord and the First Wolf.

After giving orders to each of the Thirteen Wolves, the Black Plaque Star Lord got up from his seat and said to Cheon Woojin.

"Shall we talk for a mont?"

"Yes."

He was one of the people who knew the Black Master best, so there was no way a conversation with him would not be enjoyable.

* * *

The Black Plaque Star Lord took Cheon Woojin to his personal training ground.

Sitting face to face and drinking alcohol was not his taste. The bare ground of a battlefield where swords and sabers flew was more comfortable than a comfortable chair in a room.

And so, the two stood facing each other in the training ground.

There were no particular words exchanged. Nevertheless, they felt a certain sense of kinship in each other's gazes. The competitive spirit of a martial artist was rising.

The Black Plaque Star Lord had the experience to control his desires, but Cheon Woojin had neither the reason nor the experience to do so.

"Recently, I had a match with the Alliance Leader at the tournant."

"That White Robe Sword Saint is still the sa. It's not an easy thing to have a match with a low-ranking Alliance mber in front of people. I feel like I can hear the Chief Strategist's screams all the way here."

"He was amazing."

"The Chief Strategist? Well, I suppose."

"...Both of them."

The corner of the Black Plaque Star Lord's mouth lifted slightly. It was a smile that was exactly like his son, Ha Inseong's.

Cheon Woojin, taking in that smile with his eyes, said.

"I would like to try with you as well, Star Lord."

"Try what?"

The Black Plaque Star Lord knew, but he changed the subject. To eat a ripe apple, one had to wait a year. How could he not endure a mont to recruit such a talent?

Cheon Woojin's brow furrowed slightly.

"A match."

Saying so, he subtly let out his montum.

Although he was being polite because he was his master's junior, a provocative emotion was mixed in.

Cheon Woojin also knew that the Black Plaque Star Lord, like himself, was feeling a competitive spirit.

However, the Black Plaque Star Lord did not respond at all. He just kept saying things like, 'The moon is nice tonight.'

And so, when Cheon Woojin's competitive spirit reached its peak.

"Do you want to have a go?"

Cheon Woojin drew his Crescent Moon Staff as if he had been waiting.

At the sa ti, the Black Plaque Star Lord also drew his pitch-black straight sword. Just by holding the sword and standing, a sharp energy that seed capable of splitting even the sky lingered in the training ground.

An ordinary martial artist would have found it impossible to even stand properly, feeling as if their entire body were being cut to pieces.

However, Cheon Woojin rather felt joy at such a stimulus. The Black Plaque Star Lord's energy had a primal stimulus that reminded him of the Black Master.

Did the two know? That they were simultaneously thinking of one man while looking at each other.

Just as the air in the training ground beca increasingly tense and was on the verge of exploding.

"Eh, I don't want to."

"...?"

The Black Plaque Star Lord sheathed his straight sword.

Cheon Woojin, for all intents and purposes, cursed with his eyes.

What on earth was this?

Regardless, the Black Plaque Star Lord said with a voice mixed with laughter, as if he were very amused.

"No matter how much you are my senior's disciple, how can I have a match with a Martial Alliance mber? Well, if you co to the Black Plaque Star, I can have a match with you every day."

The last words were muttered as if to be unheard.

Cheon Woojin stared intently at such a Black Plaque Star Lord.

- Woojin, let's just smash that guy's head. What can he do if he doesn't draw his sword?

- Ignore him. If you engage, you'll get drawn in.

Cheon Woojin contemplated for a mont.

It was the voices of his masters, and at the sa ti, a conflict between his inner reason and emotion.

But, as was usually the case, it led to the White Master's victory.

"I understand. Let's do it next ti if there's a chance."

Cheon Woojin sheathed his Crescent Moon Staff.

At that, the Black Plaque Star Lord made a flustered expression.

'A disciple of my senior can't be like this...'

As the master of a faction, he couldn't go back on the words he had uttered. The Black Plaque Star Lord, who had been fiddling with his weapon out of regret, sat down with a sigh.

"Alright, let's just talk. It's manly and good."

* * *

The conversation between the two was endless.

It was because the person who had the greatest influence on their lives was the sa, and they had a common interest called the Dark Heavenly Son.

The story flowed and flowed, leading to Mangija's letter.

The Black Plaque Star Lord stared hard at the letter from Mangija that Cheon Woojin had handed him. But putting strength in his eyes did not make non-existent letters appear.

The Black Plaque Star Lord, who had given up, handed the letter back and said.

"Since it's a letter left by the Divine Beggar, go and see his disciple, the Dragon Head Beggar Lord. You might find so clue."

Cheon Woojin nodded.

Just with the red knot that was with the letter, the Beggars' Sect's elder and the Martial Alliance's Disciplinary Hall Master, the Autumn Wind Beggar, had shown great favor. The Beggars' Sect's leader would be no different.

As Cheon Woojin, who had put the letter in his bosom, nodded, the Black Plaque Star Lord's words suddenly continued.

"When you return to the Martial Alliance, tell them that you t . Also, that I told you to co to the Black Plaque Star."

Cheon Woojin tilted his head.

In any case, the Martial Alliance and the Black Plaque Star were in a hostile relationship.

"Won't it beco awkward with the Martial Alliance?"

"Well, it might be a little like that. But when you return to the Martial Alliance, there will be many people who dislike you. Geniuses are originally subject to envy, and there will be many who were friendly with Tang Bicheon, whom you killed."

Cheon Woojin nodded calmly.

It was sothing he had fully expected.

"But if you show an attitude that you can go to the Black Plaque Star at any ti, they won't dare to treat you carelessly. They'll be afraid of incurring the Alliance Leader's wrath under the pretext of having contributed to kicking you out."

It was a statent genuinely for Cheon Woojin's sake.

No matter how strong he was, to the Black Plaque Star Lord who had known Cheon Woojin since he was a child, he still seed infinitely young.

He wasn't worried that soone would harm him. It was just that he didn't like seeing a child like a nephew being needlessly hated and persecuted.

"I understand."

Cheon Woojin nodded calmly.

At that, the Black Plaque Star Lord smiled with satisfaction.

How could he not smile when a child who looked so much like the person he missed so much was in front of him?

"You've grown up well."

The Black Plaque Star Lord patted Cheon Woojin's shoulder.

Although Cheon Woojin could have dodged, he stood still. He felt a familiar warmth from the hand patting his shoulder.

It was like that when he had faced the Martial Alliance Leader.

If the White Master was like a father, the Alliance Leader was no different from an uncle.

The Black Plaque Star Lord was the sa.

To Cheon Woojin, who had no family, he had two fathers and two uncles.

The Black Plaque Star Lord, pretending not to care, smiled benevolently and glanced at Cheon Woojin's expression.

'Did it work?'

The first chapter of recruiting talent.

Target the emotions.

He was the Black Plaque Star Lord who had united all of the rough and unruly Unorthodox Path. His strategy was not over until it was over.

Suddenly, the Black Plaque Star Lord and Cheon Woojin simultaneously looked at the entrance of the training ground. At their level, they could sense an approach even without a special signal.

Suddenly, a cheerful voice was heard from outside.

"Star Lord, it's ."

It was the third-in-command of the Black Plaque Star, the Ink Jackal.

As soon as permission was granted, the Ink Jackal, who had entered the training ground, looked at the two, especially Cheon Woojin, with a curious expression.

"Did you have a match?"

"Am I at the level to have a match with Woojin?"

"Ahem, I'm sorry."

The Ink Jackal let out a needless cough. In fact, the Star Lord he knew was soone who would have had a match a hundred tis over.

Soon, the Ink Jackal said.

"A letter has arrived from Gu Yongbaek."

The Black Plaque Star Lord clicked his tongue. How long had it been since he was kicked out with an order to leave, and he was already sending a letter?

"What did it say?"

"The Gu family has already been forsaken by the Orthodox Path, so if the Black Plaque Star also abandons them, they will be at a cliff's edge. He asks for your generosity just once, saying that the Star Lord knows well how a cornered wild dog will act, but..."

The Ink Jackal's tongue felt rough even as he spoke.

How dare the likes of the Gu family send such a threatening letter to anyone?

"His arrogance pierces the heavens. Shall I go and cut off his head?"

The Ink Jackal always showed a sloppy and light attitude, but he was, after all, the third-in-command of the Black Plaque Star. He did not fear the likes of the Gu family enough to say that he would go alone and take the head of the family head.

The Black Plaque Star Lord pressed his temples as if he had a headache.

"Right, I told you not to touch that business. Why does a guy with so much money smuggle gunpowder?"

"He's crazy for money. It's always the ones who have more that are worse."

No matter how much it was the Unorthodox Path, there were lines that should not be crossed.

Betraying the one you served, things that could cause a war with the Demonic Cult or the Martial Alliance, and especially, provoking the Imperial Palace were to be avoided.

However, the Gu family crossed this line as if it were a daily al.

"There's no need to respond to the letter. However, if a mber of the Gu family tries to set foot in the Black Plaque Star again, cut them down regardless of the reason. They are no longer of the Unorthodox Path but are getting closer to the Demonic Path, so there's no need for us to take them in. By the way..."

The Black Plaque Star Lord looked at the entrance of the training ground.

"The First Wolf is waiting outside, right?"

"Yes, it seems the First Wolf senior thought of him quite specially."

Cheon Woojin noticed that the 'him' the Ink Jackal was talking about was the Black Master.

The image of the First Wolf, who exuded a profound atmosphere despite being of the Unorthodox Path, and the endlessly rough Black Master together was not easily drawn.

The Black Plaque Star Lord, after asking for Cheon Woojin's opinion, called the First Wolf.

Soon, the First Wolf entered the training ground. The First Wolf, wearing a pitch-black martial uniform as if she were scheduled to head to the Martial Alliance soon, was different from the appearance he had seen in the Star Lord's Hall.

The First Wolf stared intently at Cheon Woojin, who was holding the Crescent Moon Staff.

Cheon Woojin was inwardly tense. After all, most of the martial artists in the world were enemies of the Black Master.

It was then.

The First Wolf's eyes, which had been staring silently for quite so ti, reddened slightly.

At that sight, Cheon Woojin was uncharacteristically flustered.

The First Wolf, who had approached him before he knew it, held Cheon Woojin's hands with her two hands. They were wrinkled, rough hands, but Cheon Woojin flinched slightly at the infinitely gentle and soft touch.

"You resemble him. You really resemble him."

What was contained in her voice was a deep longing.

The First Wolf looked at Cheon Woojin's face and recalled the young days of the Black Master. It was a long story, but she didn't bother to say it out loud. How could the old-fashioned stories of the elderly be enjoyable to this young martial artist?

However, she had to say this one thing.

"I wanted to repay his grace my whole life, but was he soone who needed anyone's help? But, as I've lived a long life, an opportunity like this has co."

The First Wolf withdrew her hands.

On Cheon Woojin's palm was sothing like a small silver coin.

"It's a Grace and Grudge Token. If there is anything I can help with, I will move once for any matter, regardless of ideology. Even if it is a matter that requires risking my life."

Saying so, the First Wolf looked at the Black Plaque Star Lord.

Having sworn loyalty, she had lived thinking that even her life was not her own. Since she had rashly wagered it, she was asking for the Star Lord's permission.

The Black Plaque Star Lord nodded. Contrary to the First Wolf's thoughts, the Black Plaque Star Lord just kept her by his side as a single martial artist and a comrade.

* * *

Cheon Woojin stayed overnight at the Black Plaque Star Lord's invitation.

It was the first ti since the Black Plaque Star was founded that a lodging was given to a martial artist of the Martial Alliance, and a low-ranking mber at that.

He was given the guest room closest to the Star Lord's Hall, and a well-prepared al and new martial clothes were prepared.

Cheon Woojin, who had been treated as a guest of honor, had a grand breakfast with the Black Plaque Star Lord, his son Ha Inseong, and the Thirteen Wolves the next day before leaving the Black Plaque Star.

The Black Plaque Star saw Cheon Woojin off with full formality until the very end. It was only natural. The Black Plaque Star Lord and the First Wolf respected the Black Master, and they considered his disciple, no matter how young, to be of the sa seniority as themselves.

Since the two greatest elders of the Black Plaque Star respected Cheon Woojin, the other Thirteen Wolves naturally had no choice but to do so as well.

"Woojin, think carefully about what I said."

The previous night, the Black Plaque Star Lord, who had drunk heavily, saying he was just enjoying himself, had once again invited Cheon Woojin to co to the Black Plaque Star.

Saying how could the disciple of the Black Master be in the Martial Alliance and not the Black Plaque Star.

Cheon Woojin did not give a particular answer. He just planned to live as things flowed, just as his two masters had.

If the flow of the world were to lead him to the Black Plaque Star, that was a problem to think about then.

Cheon Woojin bowed his head and turned around.

Ha Inseong, who was watching his back, asked his father casually.

"Will that guy co to the Black Plaque Star?"

"Who knows."

Even the Black Plaque Star Lord could not easily predict.

However, what was certain was that even himself, the Martial Alliance Leader, and the Demonic Cult Lord, who were called the Three Lords of the World, could not force his steps.

Because he was the disciple of none other than that person.

(End of Chapter)