The Youngest Member Chapter 13

Ink Guest felt his breath stop.

'Why is the Beggars' Sect Leader here...'

In his youth, when he had briefly been a part of the Beggars' Sect.

He had seen the Beggars' Sect Leader only once from a distance.

As Ink Guest stood with a tense face, she spoke.

"Your face is familiar. Have we t sowhere before?"

Ink Guest observed her expression and tone. It was to determine whether she was just testing him or really didn't know.

However, he soon gave up. If the Beggars' Sect Leader was determined to deceive him, how could he possibly know?

She was the one called Wildflower. The woman who, along with the Dragon Head of the Beggars' Sect, was the most knowledgeable in the world.

Soon, Ink Guest shook his head.

"...I don't know. It's my first ti seeing you."

"Oh, really? You have a common face."

"..."

It was a nonchalant reaction.

While Ink Guest and her conversation continued, Cheon Woojin, who was looking at Gu Jinseok, let out a smirk and started walking.

'Why is he smirking? Did he notice?'

Cheon Woojin's strange smile only complicated Gu Jinseok's mind.

* * *

Ink Guest, who had returned to his residence with Gu Jinseok, chased out the other rising talents and then spread a sound-blocking barrier throughout the room.

Thud-

Soon, Ink Guest knelt.

Ink Guest, who had bowed his head, said in a low voice.

"...I think we've been caught."

"What?"

"The woman who ca with Cheon Woojin. She's the Beggars' Sect Leader. She's a woman famous for never forgetting sothing she's seen once, so there's no way she forgot my face. She deliberately pretended not to know."

In other words, it ant that Wildflower had begun to suspect Ink Guest. Once she was on to him, it was only a matter of ti before he was caught.

Boom-!

Gu Jinseok roughly slamd the wall.

Soon, a ferocious aura rose from his overwhelming physique. It was an aura that could not be thought of as belonging to a rising talent of the white path.

Ink Guest flinched.

He was not afraid of Gu Jinseok. It was just that the fearso image of the Gu family head was projected onto his appearance.

Even Ink Guest, who had been through all sorts of hardships to the point of having been a part of the Beggars' Sect, was afraid of the Gu family head.

The Gu family was a family that had long remained between the righteous and the evil, and had only recently beco completely white path.

However, the things they had exchanged with the black path for hundreds of years did not disappear in an instant.

The influence of the Gu family head on the black path was still strong. It was to the point that rumors circulated that he was on close terms with the Black Plaque Star Lord, the number one of the black path...

Ink Guest slamd his forehead on the floor.

"...Please kill ."

"It was just a mont ago that you boasted that you would never be caught!"

"I will repay you with my death."

"You crazy bastard. If you die, who will take responsibility!"

"..."

Ink Guest, who had bowed his head, let out a deep sigh. If Gu Jinseok was imprisoned in the brain prison for this matter, he, his guard, would be a dead man to the family head.

"Young Master, how about we do this instead."

At Ink Guest's determined voice, Gu Jinseok glared at him with strange eyes.

Soon, Ink Guest's words continued.

"Report it to the Martial Alliance."

"W-what?"

Gu Jinseok was dumbfounded. To report it himself when it was a situation where he should be hiding it. However, at Ink Guest's following words, the corners of Gu Jinseok's mouth rose slightly.

"Report ."

"Oh."

In other words, it ant cutting off the tail.

Of course, there would be suspicions about Gu Jinseok, but since everything had been done in Ink Guest's na, even if evidence ca out, the alliance would not be able to do anything.

* * *

The Beggars' Sect Leader also skillfully spread a sound-blocking barrier as soon as she entered the room. Cheon Woojin, Song Yiyeon, and the Beggars' Sect Leader sat around a tea table.

The Beggars' Sect Leader said.

"No matter how much of a West Heaven Society it is, there will be a ledger."

"The Asura Demon Lord said it would not be easy to find."

The Beggars' Sect Leader nodded her head.

"Of course. But the things the black path bastards do are obvious. It'll be in a small rchant shop they trade with, or a Taoist or Buddhist temple that's easy to avoid suspicion."

"For that reason, wouldn't it be more likely to be in a corrupt white path family or a governnt office?"

At Song Yiyeon's question, the Beggars' Sect Leader shook her head.

"You don't know. The ledger itself is a weakness of the West Heaven Society, so would they entrust it to a place stronger than themselves? It'll be in a place they can completely control."

"Aha."

"Anyway, finding the ledger is a matter of ti, and what are you going to do after you find it?"

She asked Cheon Woojin, but Song Yiyeon answered.

"We should imdiately hand it over to the Martial Alliance, reveal the culprit, and if the person participated in the selection exam, they should be punished accordingly!"

The Beggars' Sect Leader let out a smirk.

It was a very white path rising talent-like idea. But to her, Cheon Woojin was not just such a white path rising talent.

The Beggars' Sect Leader looked at Cheon Woojin and said.

"Really? Is his disciple such a gentle man?"

Cheon Woojin, who calmly t the Beggars' Sect Leader's curious gaze, asked.

"What is your relationship with my master? You've been talking as if you know him well since a while ago."

"Before he disappeared from the martial world. We were in a relationship where we helped each other. And he was on even closer terms with my master."

The Beggars' Sect Leader, who said so, gave a strange smile as if recalling a pleasant mory.

Cheon Woojin stared blankly at that sight.

'How old is she?'

On the outside, she looked not much different from Zhuge Lin and Song Yiyeon. But considering her skill in spreading the sound-blocking barrier and her relationship with the Black Master, she must be at least close to forty.

She was either naturally young-looking, had learned a special martial art that prevented aging, or her level itself was high.

The Beggars' Sect Leader's reddish lips curled up slightly.

"You seem curious about my age?"

"...Well, I am a little."

Cheon Woojin was honest in everything.

To the Beggars' Sect Leader, that sight was enjoyable as it reminded her of the Black Master.

"My age is a secret, of course. But can I ask you one thing?"

"Anything."

"Are you going to officially enter the martial world?"

Cheon Woojin, who had been thinking for a mont, said.

"Well, it has co to that."

"Then you'll have many occasions to use us?"

The corners of the Beggars' Sect Leader's eyes curved thinly.

Song Yiyeon, who was looking at that sight, thought her appearance was quite dangerous.

Of course, Cheon Woojin was a man who was originally dull in that area, so he answered calmly.

"Probably so."

"Hehe, then I'll do this job without a fee. It's a small matter, and it's our monuntal first transaction."

The Beggars' Sect Leader gave a pleasant smile. The reason she was favorable to Cheon Woojin was clear.

Because the Black Master was an overwhelming client of the Beggars' Sect, and he was the one who protected the Beggars' Sect, which lacked military power for its size.

She was expecting Cheon Woojin to take on that role.

* * *

It was not just Cheon Woojin who had returned to the Martial Alliance.

Zhuge Lin hesitantly entered the Black Tortoise Unit Commander's office, and seeing that no one was there, she let out a sigh of relief.

"...Phew, there's definitely going to be an uproar."

"The uproar has already happened."

The door behind her burst open.

For a mont, a chill ran down Zhuge Lin's spine.

Soon, the Black Tortoise Unit Commander, Cheol Jiak, who had entered the office, glared at Zhuge Lin and said.

"Well, you're alive. I thought you were dead and ran around like a mad dog for days and nights."

"Hehe, I'm sorry..."

"You're laughing?"

When Cheol Jiak glared at her with a serious face, Zhuge Lin erased her smile and stood stiffly. The cheerful and playful Black Tortoise Unit Commander was gone. Cheol Jiak sat on the edge of the office desk with a heavy face and said.

"There's a deputy commander who went to subdue the hegemon of a regional black path, a place where a second-class public enemy of the martial world resides, alone."

Zhuge Lin narrowed her eyes and nodded her head.

"That's a person who's not in their right mind."

"But that's my subordinate."

"That's a sha. But strictly speaking, I wasn't alone. I was with young hero Cheon."

"That's the bigger problem. You, who should be responsible for the applicants, couldn't even stop him and went with him?"

"Thanks to that, we killed the Asura Demon Lord. Of course, not , but young hero Cheon."

Cheol Jiak let out a deep sigh.

"...Yes, that's a good thing, but do you know how much of the Martial Alliance's power was deployed to find you and that Cheon Woojin kid? Not only the Black Tortoise Unit, but also the entire White Dragon Unit was deployed."

Zhuge Lin stared blankly at Cheol Jiak's face.

His already bad skin was even more damaged. His eyes were bloodshot, and his lips were dry.

Because he had wandered all over the central plains for days and nights to find Zhuge Lin and Cheon Woojin.

"I'm sorry, Commander."

"Phew, it's fine if you know."

"But to find out the truth, I had no choice..."

Just as Zhuge Lin was about to make an excuse, Cheol Jiak roared.

"Shut up and get out! You're suspended for three months, so know that."

"What?"

Zhuge Lin's eyes widened like a startled rabbit.

To her, who had been half-abandoned by her family, there was nothing more enjoyable than her work at the Martial Alliance.

Cheol Jiak said coldly.

"It's a decision from the higher-ups. It's a relief that you weren't dismissed, so don't talk back and get out."

"...Yes."

Zhuge Lin, who was about to leave after bowing her head, suddenly turned around.

"But Commander."

"What."

At that blunt answer, Zhuge Lin asked cautiously.

"Do you perhaps know the Black Master?"

"Why the Black Master."

Cheol Jiak's eyes narrowed.

"No, I was just curious. I heard he was a disciple of the Dark Heavenly Son, just like the Asura Demon Lord who died this ti. I can't access information related to the Black Master with a deputy commander's authority, so I was wondering if it's possible for a commander."

"Black Master..."

Cheol Jiak's eyes, which were staring into the air, sohow looked pitiful.

"I know him. But why. Did that guy reappear?"

Zhuge Lin hesitated for a mont and then opened her mouth.

"No, not the Black Master, but..."

The Black Master's disciple has appeared. And it's young hero Cheon who killed the Asura Demon Lord. Such words ca up to her throat, but Zhuge Lin shook her head.

"It's nothing. I just asked because I was curious."

Cheol Jiak sat down again with a disappointed expression.

"Alright, get out."

"Yes, but I don't get paid during the suspension, right?"

"You crazy bastard...!"

"I'm sorry! Rest well! Thank you for your concern!"

Zhuge Lin spat out her words and hurriedly fled.

Cheol Jiak, who was left alone in the room, let out a long sigh.

"Why is she suddenly bringing up the Black Master? By the way, she said that Cheon Woojin kid killed the Asura Demon Lord."

It was a very surprising thing even in the midst of the chaos. A young man who was at most in his early twenties had killed a disciple of the Dark Heavenly Son.

"Cheon Woojin, Cheon Woojin... It's definitely a na I've never heard before."

Cheol Jiak, who was resting his chin on the desk, muttered as he recalled Cheon Woojin.

* * *

Several days had passed with the Martial Alliance's exam suspended.

Song Yiyeon looked at the book placed between Cheon Woojin and himself and asked cautiously.

"Young hero Cheon, what are you going to do now?"

"I wonder."

"I haven't known you for long, young hero, but I know you're a person who doesn't have a backup plan. So I'm saying this out of concern..."

Song Yiyeon, who was needlessly wary of the empty room, lowered his voice and continued.

"The Gu family is a pretty big family. They have a lot of money, great connections, and a pretty deep tradition... Anyway, they're not a place you can easily touch."

"Is that so?"

When Cheon Woojin asked back nonchalantly, Song Yiyeon, who had beco even more anxious, said.

"It's not 'is that so', but your eyes right now are on the verge of taking that iron staff, going to Gu Jinseok, and smashing his head. I'm scared to death, really."

"Oh, that's a good idea."

Cheon Woojin shot up.

Song Yiyeon was terrified and clung to his arm.

"Young hero Cheon, are you serious?"

"He's a guy who tried to kill , so is there a reason to let him live?"

"That's true, but let's think about it. The woman who found this ledger is such a great person. How about we ask her? No, let's just tell my father. It's a bit much for

to say it myself, but our family also has so power in the Martial Alliance..."

Song Yiyeon was fidgeting like a puppy that needed to poop. Cheon Woojin, who was looking at that sight, let out a smirk.

"Is the Gu family such a great place that even the son of a family with so power in the Martial Alliance is afraid of it?"

"Ahem! I-it's not that I'm afraid, but it's a bit uncomfortable. Because the Gu family head is on close terms with the Black Plaque Star Lord, the number one of the black path."

Cheon Woojin's eyes widened. At that sight, Song Yiyeon inwardly thought that his persuasion had worked, but...

"That guy is the number one of the black path?"

"..."

It was a misunderstanding. Song Yiyeon squeezed his eyes shut. His dangerous friend had an attitude as if he didn't care about the Gu family at all.

"I'll say it again, the Gu family is really dangerous."

"It's not the Black Plaque Star Lord himself, so what's there to be afraid of a Gu family that sells his na?"

Cheon Woojin, who said so, grabbed the Crescent Moon Staff and left the room.

Now that he had secured the ledger with Ink Guest's na, there was no need to needlessly delay the matter.

* * *

Cheon Woojin's steps were unhindered.

He passed through the long corridor and stopped right in front of a room door. After grasping the person inside by spreading his senses, he burst open the door.

The people inside were startled, but Cheon Woojin calmly entered the room.

There were Gu Jinseok, Ink Guest, and a few rising talents who were watching from the corner.

"Everyone except Gu Jinseok, get out."

It was a rather polite tone, but those who t his gaze were terrified and hurriedly left. In an instant, only three people were left in the room.

Cheon Woojin stared blankly at Ink Guest.

"You get out too. I have sothing to talk to this guy about."

"I can't do that. I'm this person's guard."

Ink Guest replied, looking at the Crescent Moon Staff pointed at Gu Jinseok and Cheon Woojin. Cheon Woojin let out a smirk.

"You have to be able to protect to be a guard."

"..."

A faint killing intent rose from Ink Guest's entire body.

He was also a swordsman who had earned the trust of the Gu family head.

Even Gu Jinseok, who was next to him, flinched at that cold aura. Ink Guest's martial skill was one of the best in the Gu family.

'It's not for nothing that my father attached him to .'

Ink Guest had nothing more to lose. The young master had delivered a petition to the Martial Alliance accusing him. Soon, the alliance mbers would co to arrest him.

In a situation where he would take the bla for everything anyway.

Ink Guest was thinking of teaching the arrogant rising talent in front of him a lesson. Although the process would be a bit rough.

Of course, it was a choice he would not have made if he had known that the arrogant rising talent had returned after completely annihilating the West Heaven Society where the Asura Demon Lord was.

Then, Cheon Woojin's lips curled up. It looked like a contemptuous smile, so Ink Guest's expression contorted.

Suddenly, an aura rose from Cheon Woojin's entire body, and.

Rumble-!

With a short tremor, Ink Guest's aura was washed away.

Cheon Woojin's presence completely dominated the room.

Ink Guest felt the hair on his whole body stand on end and instinctively placed his hand on his sword hilt.

His special skill was a sword-drawing technique that instantly drew a dark longsword and cut off the opponent's neck in one blow.

Seeing this, Cheon Woojin looked into Ink Guest's pupils and said.

"Draw it."

To Ink Guest, it felt as if the words 'if you want to die' were omitted in front.

The conflicted Ink Guest looked at Gu Jinseok. The Gu family head, who was very similar to Gu Jinseok, naturally ca to his mind.

Ink Guest's gaze cald down.

Soon, his hand gripping the sword hilt naturally tightened.

(End of Chapter)