The Youngest Member Chapter 4

Cheol Jiak looked at Zhuge Lin with a dumbfounded face.

Then Zhuge Lin said, as if making an excuse.

"N-no. He was talking so aningfully as if he knew sothing, so I thought we were caught."

"...Right, so why did you suddenly ask the deputy commander about the treatnt of the pirates in that situation?"

When Cheol Jiak asked, Cheon Woojin calmly continued.

"I didn't know you were from the Martial Alliance, but I knew the boatman was a master. Actually, I was confused, but you released your energy right before my head was about to be split by the broadsword."

"...You saw that?"

When Cheon Woojin nodded, Cheol Jiak pointed at Zhuge Lin and asked again.

"Then what about her?"

"Well, a master like the boatman was acting like he was being beaten by pirates who were no match for him, and this young lady was subtly provoking the pirates into a fight they couldn't avoid, while observing the whole situation as if not to miss anything..."

As Cheon Woojin's words continued, Cheol Jiak's eyes lit up.

"It looked like we were controlling the situation?"

"Yes, actually, I was wondering if you two were villains, but I'm glad you're from the Martial Alliance."

"Hah, look at this kid. What if we were villains?"

"I wonder."

However, Cheol Jiak knew.

This kid's Crane Feather Fan would have been aid at him and Zhuge Lin.

Soon, Cheol Jiak burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahaha, good. A rising talent of the white path should have a chivalrous side. It's like seeing my younger self. Especially the face is a bit similar."

Zhuge Lin narrowed her eyes and looked at Cheol Jiak.

"I don't think so..."

"Ahem!"

Regardless, Zhuge Lin looked at Cheon Woojin with a strange expression and asked.

"Na?"

"Cheon Woojin."

"Your school?"

Cheon Woojin pondered for a mont.

He rembered his Black Master telling him not to reveal it carelessly because he had many enemies in the martial world.

"I can't say."

"Well, who doesn't have secrets. I like it."

"What do you like?"

"...I was just saying, so sit down. Not just young hero Cheon, everyone sit down. It's going to be hard to keep your balance."

Just as everyone was failing to understand Zhuge Lin's words.

The Black Tortoise Unit Commander, Cheol Jiak, picked up an oar lying on one side.

Seeing this, Cheon Woojin quietly grabbed the boat's railing, and the quick-witted Song Yiyeon followed Cheon Woojin's lead.

Everyone thought Cheol Jiak would row with that, but.

Whoosh-!

Cheol Jiak swung the oar behind him and unleashed a sword wind. No, should it be called an oar wind?

Anyway, with that repulsive force, the boat shot forward, cutting through the water roughly.

"U-uaagh!"

A few rising talents rolled on the floor ridiculously.

Of course, Cheon Woojin didn't move an inch even in the midst of that, and Cheol Jiak and Zhuge Lin were looking at Cheon Woojin with strange eyes.

* * *

The Martial Alliance.

The grand coalition of the white path martial artists, including the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Families. Unlike its initial purpose of confronting the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the prevailing assessnt was that it had already far surpassed the Demonic Cult.

Cheon Woojin, who was rarely surprised, had his jaw slightly agape and his head held high.

It was the first ti in his life he had seen such a high wall.

The door alone was bigger than the hut where Cheon Woojin had lived with his two masters, and there were several tis more people than in the marketplace where a village festival was held.

Among those coming and going from the Martial Alliance, there were no martial artists who could be called masters by Cheon Woojin's standards. He didn't know if it would be different if he went deeper into the alliance.

However, even the lowest-ranking martial artists had spirit, even if their martial skill was low. Their eyes were full of intelligence, their movents were cheerful, and they were full of confidence.

'It reminds

of the White Master.'

In the Martial Alliance, there were many people who resembled the White Master, regardless of age or martial skill. On the other hand, there was not a single person who resembled the Black Master, which made him feel that this was indeed the Martial Alliance.

As he looked at the scenery of the Martial Alliance, he suddenly rembered a conversation between his masters.

- Woojin, my boy, the hypocrisy of the righteous faction bastards is generally disgusting, but do you know who the worst among them are? It's the Martial Alliance. They solve everything with force, yet they talk about peace, fairness...

- Ahem, where else is there a place that upholds the righteousness of the white path as much as the Martial Alliance!

His two masters would fight whenever the topic of the Martial Alliance ca up.

The White Master cherished the Martial Alliance very much, and the Black Master always showed hostility.

The end of the fight always ended with these words.

- Hah, then we can just have Woojin see and experience it for himself and judge. How disgusting the Martial Alliance bastards are.

- Good. Woojin, my boy, you must see for yourself. Feel their chivalry up close and you too will beco a chivalrous hero.

Recalling the vivid conversation of his two masters, Cheon Woojin let out a smirk, while Song Yiyeon openly let out a series of exclamations.

"Young hero! Look over there. It's the Martial Alliance flag!"

Where Song Yiyeon pointed, the blue flag symbolizing the Martial Alliance was fluttering high.

Zhuge Lin slightly lifted her small but prominent nose and said proudly.

"It's amazing, isn't it? Our Martial Alliance."

Cheon Woojin was still nodding his head with his jaw agape.

At that sight, Zhuge Lin couldn't help but let out a laugh.

'Is this the sa person who cut off the pirate's wrist in one go?'

Cheon Woojin was a very interesting man.

When dealing with the pirates, he was as cold as a martial artist who had killed people as if it were a daily al, but now he looked as naive as soone who had never even stepped on a bug.

It was the first ti Zhuge Lin had seen soone in whom black and white coexisted in such contrast.

"Now, pull yourselves together. The first exam hasn't ended in other places yet. I'll give you a temporary residence to use while you wait. By the way, five people is more than I thought. I expected about two. It's probably thanks to young hero Cheon."

Zhuge Lin, who said so, glared at Song Yiyeon.

Song Yiyeon's shoulders flinched.

Because he originally had no intention of stepping forward either.

"Hehe... Let's go. Deputy Commander."

Song Yiyeon smiled awkwardly and started walking, and Cheon Woojin naturally followed behind him.

Zhuge Lin narrowed her eyes as she looked at the two's backs.

"That one is practically a guaranteed pass. Why do I feel like that slacker will pass too?"

* * *

As they moved to the residence, Zhuge Lin's explanation continued.

"Instructors like

and the commander are stationed at all the roads leading to the Martial Alliance from all over the country. Even those who co through unusual routes will take the first exam that you young heroes took on the boat, without exception. We've been preparing for this exam for a whole year. The commander actually rode a boat for a year."

Song Yiyeon nodded his head.

He hadn't noticed at all until the Black Tortoise Unit Commander Cheol Jiak and Deputy Commander Zhuge Lin revealed their identities.

Especially Cheol Jiak looked like a boatman who had been rowing a boat for thirty years, no matter who looked at him.

Song Yiyeon glanced at Cheon Woojin.

'No matter how I think about it, he's a strange young hero.'

He had never even heard his na, yet his martial skill was so strong that it couldn't even be grasped, and his judgnt was also good.

Where on earth did a monster-like young hero like this pop out from?

"Hey! Are you listening?"

At Zhuge Lin's sharp voice, Song Yiyeon was startled and babbled whatever ca to mind.

"Ah, of course. But was there always a process like this in the Martial Alliance mber selection exam? I've never heard of it."

A deep furrow ford on Zhuge Lin's brow.

"That's right. It's an order from the new alliance leader who took office this ti. He said that a martial artist who doesn't know righteous chivalry can never set foot in the Martial Alliance..."

"T-the alliance leader, Beili Tian?"

When Zhuge Lin nodded, Song Yiyeon's eyes sparkled like stars.

"He's one of the three great swordsn of the white path. The martial artist I want to be like the most is alliance leader Beili Tian."

"...You're a swordsman, aren't you? The alliance leader is a swordsman."

"Anyway."

Song Yiyeon's heart seed to pound just by thinking of the alliance leader.

A man who had taken the position of alliance leader purely with his own skills, without any background or special favors, at an age just over forty.

The symbol of a self-made man! The goal of all rising talents!

"Ha, the more I think about it, the cooler he is."

Song Yiyeon shook his head as if drunk on sothing.

Cheon Woojin, who was next to him, said.

"What is the alliance leader's nickna?"

Song Yiyeon looked at Cheon Woojin as if surprised.

"What's with our young hero Cheon being curious about sothing like that? Is the alliance leader also a dream and a goal for the stoic young hero Cheon? Let's see, what was his nickna..."

Just as Song Yiyeon was trying to rember.

Zhuge Lin said in a rather blunt tone.

"It's the White Egret Sword Saint. You call him your goal and you don't even know that?"

"Ah, right."

Song Yiyeon scratched his head as if embarrassed.

Cheon Woojin let out a sigh.

"It wasn't him after all."

The White Egret Sword Saint.

Yes, nicknas were usually like that.

Was there really a martial artist in the world who used the nickna 'Sword Slower than a Turtle'?

When Cheon Woojin showed a disappointed expression, Song Yiyeon asked.

"What's wrong?"

"Actually, I didn't co here to take the exam, but to find soone."

"Huh?"

Song Yiyeon made a strange sound. He had thought they would pass the exam together and beco eternal rivals.

Zhuge Lin also said with a serious face.

"Are you sure?"

"That's right. I only got on the boat because the boatman... no, the Black Tortoise Unit Commander told

to."

"No? When I checked the list on the way here, the na Cheon Woojin was definitely there?"

"Hmm?"

How could he be on the list if he didn't co to take the exam?

Cheon Woojin, who had been thinking deeply for a mont, let out a sigh.

The only people who would do sothing like this were his masters.

'My masters knew I would head to the Martial Alliance.'

Because the White Master had written it in his last will.

Both masters, for different reasons, wanted Cheon Woojin to go to the Martial Alliance. The White Master thought Cheon Woojin would feel true goodness in the Martial Alliance, and the Black Master thought he would feel hypocritical evil.

"It seems my master registered

without my knowledge."

Zhuge Lin kept tilting her head.

"Hmm, well, I'll check again, but... so you're not participating? The commander is going to be very disappointed. He was happy that a proper junior had co after a long ti."

Song Yiyeon also chid in from the side.

"That's right, young hero. Since you're on the list anyway, let's just do it. Your master wanted it too. They say that the ruler, the teacher, and the father are one. The ruler! The father! The teacher! Are one. Young hero, are you going to be an unfilial son?"

"..."

Cheon Woojin looked at Song Yiyeon with a dumbfounded face.

Zhuge Lin also thought, 'He's a guy whose mouth would float even if you threw him in the water!' and clicked her tongue, but since she wanted Cheon Woojin to join the Martial Alliance, she didn't say it out loud.

Cheon Woojin, who was looking at the two, finally said in a sigh-mixed voice.

"...I'll do it."

"Yes, good thinking. By the way, who were you originally looking for?"

Cheon Woojin pondered for a mont, but since it wasn't related to his Black Master, he said.

"I don't know who it is either. But his nickna is 'Sword Slower than a Turtle'."

"Pfft, don't lie. Is there such a nickna in the world?"

Even Zhuge Lin next to him let out a smirk.

"I've never heard of such a nickna either. I'll let you know if I find out."

Zhuge Lin, who said so, opened the door wide.

Song Yiyeon let out an exclamation.

"Oh, is this the residence we'll be using from now on? It's much better than I thought?"

"It's a temporary residence, temporary."

Song Yiyeon said with a disappointed expression.

"But why are you using honorifics with us, Deputy Commander? We're just applicants."

"It's because you're just applicants. Anyway, you're not my subordinates yet. If, and I an if, our applicant Song Yiyeon passes and joins the Black Tortoise Unit..."

Zhuge Lin, who trailed off, pointed at Song Yiyeon with her index finger.

"..."

At the sudden gesture, Song Yiyeon's eyes widened.

Zhuge Lin then made a gesture of slitting her throat with her thumb and smiled sweetly.

The aning was a very clear warning.

"W-what did I do..."

"Because of you, this whole exam was almost ruined."

Only then did Song Yiyeon rember insisting to Zhuge Lin on the boat that she was from the Zhuge family.

He had literally insisted.

Because a woman who was intelligent and beautifully looked exuded an aura of being quite sothing, he had just linked her to the Zhuge family.

"To think it would co back to

like this..."

Song Yiyeon plopped down on the floor. He could only hope that even if he passed the exam, he wouldn't be assigned to the Black Tortoise Unit.

At that sight, Zhuge Lin smiled sweetly. In contrast to her usually very cold impression, it sohow looked even more malicious. At least, that's how it felt to Song Yiyeon.

"Oh! Right before the second exam starts, we'll be grading you individually on your physique, movent skills, dynamic visual acuity, internal energy, and external energy. Well, it's not difficult, so just know that."

Cheon Woojin just nodded, and Song Yiyeon, who was sitting on the floor, said in a quiet voice.

"Difficult my ass. Young hero Cheon, don't believe that. The real exam starts with the grading. You have to do your best."

"...Be quiet, will you?"

At Zhuge Lin's chilly voice, Song Yiyeon shut his mouth and nodded.

Zhuge Lin, who smiled again, closed the door and peeked her head out.

"Then change your clothes and rest comfortably. Young hero Cheon, the slacker, and the three over there... what were your nas?"

"..."

"Eh, who cares."

Then Zhuge Lin disappeared.

Sohow, the three naless people who had received a notice of failure looked shocked.

Song Yiyeon patted their backs and said.

"Cheer up. It's too early to give up. But what are your nas really?"

"..."

Cheon Woojin let out a sigh.

"Killing them twice."

Of course, Cheon Woojin didn't know their nas either.

Song Yiyeon approached with a beaming smile and put his hand on Cheon Woojin's shoulder.

Then he said with his smooth, handso face.

"This ti, I'll show you properly. Young hero, I'm actually quite a bit stronger than you think. Don't be surprised."

"I know."

"No, I'm serious."

Of course, Cheon Woojin could see right through Song Yiyeon's level.

Song Yiyeon, who was sohow hurt by Cheon Woojin's dry gaze, said as if he had just rembered sothing.

"Ah, right. About the person you're looking for."

"The Sword Slower than a Turtle?"

Song Yiyeon seed to still find that nickna funny as he smiled and nodded.

"I think I can help you find him."

"How?"

"I'll tell you since I passed the first exam thanks to you, young hero Cheon. Now, listen."

Song Yiyeon, who curled up the corners of his mouth in a smirk, began his explanation.

(End of Chapter)