The Youngest Member Chapter 19

After Cheon Woojin left.

The Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, leaned deep into his chair.

A long sigh escaped his lips.

"Hah, to think I'd be watching the expression of a young brat at this age, even as the alliance leader."

But Cheon Woojin's potential was worth that much.

He had heard that he had single-handedly killed the Asura Demon Lord, a disciple of the Dark Heavenly Son, and subdued the West Heaven Society.

Even when he thought of all the masters who represented the era, there was no one who had achieved such a level at his age.

The fact that such a man could cross over to the black path or the demonic path at any ti was sothing to be very wary of as the Martial Alliance Leader.

"Senior, what on earth did you pick up and raise..."

Beili Tian, who was staring into the air, closed his eyes tightly. For so reason, he felt as if he could hear the White Master's carefree laughter.

It was then.

"Alliance Leader."

A voice ca from outside. A rather deep and intelligent voice.

Beili Tian sat up from his leaning position, composed his expression, and then opened his mouth.

"Co in."

Soon, the office door opened and a middle-aged man with neatly combed gray hair appeared. Beili Tian, who saw the blatant dissatisfaction on his face, gave a bitter smile.

"General Commander, what's the complaint this ti. First, have a seat."

The General Commander, Sima Pyeong.

He was a man who enjoyed the power of being under one person and above ten thousand in the Martial Alliance, the grand coalition of the white path.

The approaching man did not sit down, but looked at Beili Tian with his hands politely clasped. He always had this attitude when he was about to voice a complaint.

Soon, Sima Pyeong's words continued.

"It's about applicant Cheon Woojin. I know he is very strong. The potential he holds is also great."

Beili Tian nodded his head. The General Commander's and the alliance leader's offices were separated by a single wall, so unless a sound-blocking barrier was spread, they were bound to hear each other.

"That's right. It's natural, since the White Master senior picked up and raised the child with the greatest talent in the world."

"Even so, I think the alliance leader is being too humble. The alliance leader is the one at the pinnacle of millions of white path martial artists."

"Hoho..."

Beili Tian scratched his head as if he was in a difficult situation. He knew Sima Pyeong's loyalty well. It seed that it was not good to see him, whom he respected very much, fawning over a re rising talent.

Most of all, Sima Pyeong's duties also included upholding the dignity of the alliance leader. The man who represented the Martial Alliance should not easily bow his head to anyone.

"Alliance Leader."

It seed he had no intention of glossing over it with an awkward laugh. In the end, Beili Tian, who let out a sigh, lightly tapped the desk.

It was a sign to sit, so Sima Pyeong took a seat.

Soon, Beili Tian's serious voice continued.

"You don't know the White Master senior well, do you?"

"Yes, well. I've heard a lot about him, but by the ti I was seriously involved in military affairs, he had already retired."

Beili Tian nodded his head. His gaze was wistful, as if recalling a fond past.

"He was a great person. If he had set his mind to it, he could have beco the alliance leader himself and created the greatest Martial Alliance in the history of the martial world. He was a person who lacked nothing in terms of seniority, skill, or character."

Sima Pyeong listened with a serious face. Even though their active periods did not overlap, he had heard stories about the White Master, or the White Flower Sword Saint, until his ears were worn out. The martial artist whom the Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, who was respected by all righteous faction mbers, respected the most was the White Flower Sword Saint.

"If he had led the alliance himself, the current Demonic Cult and the black path would not be as rampant as they are now."

"...Why didn't he do so?"

Sima Pyeong's question was reasonable. He could not understand why he had not done so, even though he had the ability to suppress the unorthodox paths as a master of the white path. This was especially so because the White Flower Sword Saint's sense of chivalry was so famous.

The Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, gave a gentle smile.

"That's what I'm about to talk about. The White Master senior is not a man who acts without reason. The fact that he put aside the affairs of the Martial Alliance and went into hiding ans that there was sothing more important."

The man who understood the White Master more sincerely than anyone else was Beili Tian. His values and martial arts were also greatly influenced by the White Master.

"Is there anything more important than suppressing the Demonic Cult and the black path as a martial artist of the white path?"

"There is. No, there was. Are you really asking because you don't know?"

For a mont, Sima Pyeong's jaw dropped slightly. Because one na naturally ca to his mind. An existence that was more threatening than all the masters of the demonic and black paths combined. The absolute being who had made the world tremble in fear.

"The Dark Heavenly One..."

The Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, nodded his head.

"It's been over fifty years since the Dark Heavenly One has shown a single hair in the world. It's the established theory that he is already dead. But isn't it strange?"

"..."

"With the level of the White Master senior and the Black Master, they could have lived for at least another thirty or forty years. But the two died on the sa day at the sa ti, as if by appointnt. I can't shake the thought that there was soone's intention in the deaths of those two."

Sima Pyeong nodded his head with a serious face. A deep furrow was engraved on his brow, as if he was thinking deeply about sothing.

Sima Pyeong, who had finished his deliberation for a mont, opened his mouth. For a mont, a certain fear enveloped his entire body.

"Are you saying the Dark Heavenly One is alive?"

Just saying it out loud brought fear. He had never faced the Dark Heavenly One. But if you think about who the masters of the righteous and unorthodox factions, and the Demonic Cult who had died at his hands were...

The Dark Heavenly One was truly an existence that had transcended the level of a human.

Such a great evil had prolonged his life until now and killed the White Master and the Black Master, the top masters of the righteous and evil factions? If that was true, what would happen next?

"I wonder. The probability of him being alive is slim. But it's not a problem we can just ignore. Now, if we think about it again..."

Before Beili Tian could even finish his new assumption, Sima Pyeong, the most brilliant man in the world, had already sorted out the situation.

"The top masters of the righteous and unorthodox factions who were killed by the Dark Heavenly One gathered a prodigy of the ages and raised him with all their might. Also, the fact that they sent him to the Martial Alliance ans..."

The Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, nodded his head.

"Yes. It's definitely a conjecture. That the Dark Heavenly One is still alive, and that the Black and White Twin Elders raised one absolute master to prepare for him. But it's not sothing we can just ignore."

"If those absurd assumptions are true, one in a thousand, one in ten thousand..."

"Cheon Woojin is the hope and warning that the White Master senior sent to the Martial Alliance."

Sima Pyeong shot up from his seat. His gaze was completely different from when he had entered the office.

"I will call the Dragon Head and hold a eting. Although it is an unusual event, if we can reach the Beggars' Sect, we will request their cooperation. I will search the world thoroughly once again."

The Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, nodded his head. It was a aningful thing if they could find even a single fingernail of the Dark Heavenly One by searching the whole world.

After Sima Pyeong left, the Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, who had leaned deep into his chair again, let out a long sigh.

"Well, it could just be a bet between two prodigies for fun."

* * *

The regular eting of the unit commanders.

Even in normal tis, those who were not on missions usually attended, but this ti, most of the unit commanders were present.

Strangely, everyone had a tense expression, leaving the wine glasses in front of them untouched.

The White Dragon Unit Commander, who sensed the strange atmosphere, burst into laughter.

"Oh, everyone, don't be so tense. There's nothing we can do, is there?"

Soon, the selection of the top five successful applicants will take place.

They had gathered the most prominent rising talents from all over the country and selected the five most outstanding among them.

Each and every one of them would be a great asset to the strength of the ard forces.

Even while expecting all of them to choose the Heavenly Tiger Unit, they could not give up even a sliver of hope.

Because very, very rarely, an oddball who did not choose the Heavenly Tiger Unit would appear.

The White Dragon Unit Commander put his arm around the shoulder of the Black Tortoise Unit Commander, Cheol Jiak, next to him with a friendly smile.

"Everyone, learn from our Commander Cheol. He's already given up and is just drinking his fill. As expected, the experience of the perennial commander of the Black Tortoise Unit is different."

"Let go, you bastard."

Cheol Jiak lightly shook off his shoulder and drank his wine. It was one of the few days he could drink all night without worrying about his mission.

The White Dragon Unit Commander let out a smirk.

"Commander Cheol, you're not expecting anything, are you?"

"..."

Cheol Jiak was silent.

To be honest, he had a sliver of hope.

First place Cheon Woojin and third place Song Yiyeon. His deputy commander, Zhuge Lin, seed to have built up quite a bond with those two.

In particular, Cheon Woojin was being evaluated as a rising talent who was in the top five in the entire history of the Martial Alliance selection exam.

Considering how deeply the other four who were ntioned together had engraved their nas in the history of the martial world, Cheon Woojin's future was truly anticipated.

'Well, it's actually ridiculous.'

Cheol Jiak also knew. When he thought about it rationally, it was impossible for them to choose the Black Tortoise Unit instead of the Heavenly Tiger Unit because of a few days of affection.

The Black Tortoise Unit was just an average ard force, and the Heavenly Tiger Unit was the best elite of the Martial Alliance with a guaranteed smooth path.

When Cheol Jiak was silent, the White Dragon Unit Commander's eyes widened.

"What? Are you really expecting sothing? Hey, you know our situation. Even if there's an oddball who doesn't choose the Heavenly Tiger Unit, wouldn't they choose the Golden Wolf Unit or the Poison King Unit over there? Your Black Tortoise Unit and our White Dragon Unit have no chance, no chance."

The Golden Wolf Unit was the next best elite after the Heavenly Tiger Unit. Sotis, ambitious guys who aid for the head of a snake rather than the tail of a dragon would apply.

Also, the Poison King Unit was a unit founded by the Poison King, who was a past absolute master of the Tang family.

Traditionally, a martial artist of the Tang family always held the position of unit commander, and of course, they mainly dealt with poison and hidden weapons.

Since it was a relatively rare technique, passionate people would sotis apply because they could learn many new things.

Cheol Jiak glanced at the White Dragon Unit Commander.

"Don't lump us together as 'us' and put us down."

"Ahem, I was just complaining about my situation. You're a bit sensitive today."

The White Dragon Unit Commander and Cheol Jiak were friends of similar age. However, Cheol Jiak's joining period was strictly much higher.

Also, even though everyone thought it was an insignificant ard force, Cheol Jiak cherished the Black Tortoise Unit.

The White Dragon Unit Commander, who had stealthily removed his arm from Cheol Jiak's shoulder, turned his head and let out a strange laugh. It was a clear sneer.

The other unit commanders who saw this inwardly clicked their tongues.

'That snake-like guy is ssing with Commander Cheol's insides again.'

Sotis there are cases like that. A type that pretends to be a friend on the surface but secretly puts down the other person to boost their own self-esteem.

The White Dragon Unit Commander was exactly like that. Although his promotion had been blocked for a long ti, he would comfort himself by looking at Cheol Jiak, who had been a unit commander for much longer than him.

Suddenly, the Golden Wolf Unit Commander, who was quietly fiddling with his wine glass, looked around and said.

"It's been quite a while. It seems the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander is absent from this eting."

"He must have no worries. He's in a state where he's confird for the new hall master position, and all the successful applicants will choose the Heavenly Tiger Unit."

The White Dragon Unit Commander clicked his tongue. Even though his tone was sowhat blunt, he could not hide the envy that showed on his face.

He raised his wine glass and said.

"Anyway, let's just drink as usual."

The White Dragon Unit Commander, who had scratched Cheol Jiak's insides, smiled with a much more relieved expression. Everyone expected that on the day Cheol Jiak left the Martial Alliance, he would beat up the White Dragon Unit Commander.

* * *

Everyone's attention was focused on the future of the top five successful applicants. Song Yiyeon, who had beco the protagonist along with them, could not hide his excitent.

"Young hero, doesn't it feel strange?"

"What does?"

Cheon Woojin, who was looking at the Martial Alliance from the window as usual, tilted his head. At that calm and composed sight, Song Yiyeon shook his head.

"Everyone is bombarding us with questions whenever they et us. A huge amount of attention is being poured on us."

"It's annoying."

At Cheon Woojin's indifferent expression, Song Yiyeon clicked his tongue.

"Hah, I'm losing my steam. Do you know? People are calling

the White Flower Sword. It's rare for a man's nickna to have a flower in it... Everyone has a similar eye for people."

"It's a good nickna."

The White Master's nickna was the White Flower Sword Saint. The thought that his master would have found young hero Song very lovely if he had t him made him smile automatically.

Song Yiyeon, who sowhat misunderstood that smile, smiled with satisfaction.

"The young hero's nickna is even more amazing. You might get hurt if you know, but if the young hero is really curious..."

It was then.

Creak, thud.

The door of the residence opened smoothly.

Naturally, Song Yiyeon's and Cheon Woojin's gazes turned to the door.

A middle-aged man with a rather sharp impression was standing there. He was slender but had a strong fra, and his gaze was as sharp as a well-honed blade.

As soon as Cheon Woojin saw him, he had an intuition.

"Are you the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander?"

At those words, Song Yiyeon's eyes widened. The fa of the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander was so great that it had spread far beyond the Martial Alliance.

Song Yiyeon bowed his head with a polite attitude, unlike him.

"White Flower Sword, Song Yiyeon. I greet the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander."

The Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander just glanced at Song Yiyeon and had no particular reaction. Although Song Yiyeon was also a third-place successful applicant and had received offers from many unit commanders, he was not enough to attract the attention of the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander.

The Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander was only looking at Cheon Woojin.

Song Yiyeon, who was watching his expression, stealthily moved two steps away from Cheon Woojin with a crab-like walk.

A staring contest suddenly broke out between Cheon Woojin and the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander. It was as if they were observing each other.

How much ti had passed like that?

"Cheon Woojin."

"Yes."

A short call and an even shorter answer.

Song Yiyeon felt like his breath would stop.

Young hero Cheon was a rather taciturn man, so he had a sense of weight, but the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander was no less. The air felt heavy as the two n faced each other.

The Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander, who was looking at Che-on Woojin for a mont, continued.

"Will you join the Heavenly Tiger Unit?"

Song Yiyeon's eyes widened. He had heard that the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander had never made such an offer to anyone. Because even if he didn't make an offer, they would co to him on their own.

Cheon Woojin lightly bowed his head. At that sight, the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander gave a slight smile.

'As expected.'

He had taken Cheon Woojin's action as acceptance. However, the following words were completely different from his expectation.

"I have already chosen."

"What...?"

It was then.

A ringing voice that echoed throughout the Martial Alliance ca from outside the building.

"Hey, you lovely brats! Co out right now! Song Yiyeon! Cheon Woojin!!"

It was none other than the Black Tortoise Unit, Cheol Jiak. As soon as he heard the news that two of the top five successful applicants had chosen the Black Tortoise Unit, he had rushed over with all his might, using his movent skills.

The rotting expression of the White Dragon Unit Commander made Cheol Jiak's mood very pleasant.

The Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander, who heard that gruff and overwhelming shout, frowned slightly.

"Not wise."

Leaving those words behind, the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander turned his body and walked away.

(End of Chapter)