The Youngest Member Chapter 81

"My, my arm...!"

Byeoksanong looked at his arm with a vacant face.

The dark iron staff had pierced his outstretched arm in a straight line, from his palm to his shoulder.

The scene was so unrealistic that his mind froze for a mont. Cognitive dissonance had set in.

However, he could not deceive the pain. By the ti he had blinked his eyes three or four tis, Byeoksanong's jaw dropped as if it would fall off.

"G-guuuh..."

A terrible pain that made it impossible to even scream properly. No matter how outstanding a master of external arts Byeoksanong was, he could not train the muscles and bones under his skin.

Soon, the embedded iron staff was pulled out, and blood and flesh fell from his tattered arm.

Byeoksanong, forgetting his dignity, clutched his arm and sat down on the floor. His ki scattered, and the blue lightning ki that had been on his entire body scattered in all directions like sparks.

The White Dragon Unit Commander, Song Yiyeon, and Jin Yun hurriedly raised their energy and took a step back. The lightning ki emitted by a master of Byeoksanong's level was stronger than an ordinary sword ki, even if there was no intention.

However, the lightning ki would not harm them.

Because the Crescent Moon Staff had moved a step faster than that.

Thwack-!

A dull sound of tearing flesh echoed. The Crescent Moon Staff pierced Byeoksanong's head and then indifferently hit the floor.

The eyes and mouths of everyone on the scene opened wide. They had never thought that he would kill a master of Byeoksanong's level without hesitation.

Byeoksanong was an official of the Black Plaque Star. Also, Cheon Woojin was a mber of the Martial Alliance. There was a possibility that it could turn into a political problem between the Black Plaque Star and the Martial Alliance.

Of course, Cheon Woojin was not the type to consider such things. Cheon Woojin, who had read the expressions of Jin Yun and Song Yiyeon, said in his unique dry tone.

"He was raising his primordial ki. He must have been preparing for a final struggle. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't move faster than the lightning ki that was spreading in all directions."

Lightning ki boasted the fastest speed among all ki. To the extent that three of the five fastest swordsn in the history of the Central Plains martial world were martial artists who handled lightning ki.

"Young hero Cheon, are you perhaps worried about us?"

Song Yiyeon had a touched expression. Because Cheon Woojin was not the type to consider others when he was causing trouble.

Cheon Woojin shrugged his shoulders.

"It's more of a sense of responsibility than worry."

Anyway, it was Cheon Woojin who had brought Jin Yun and Song Yiyeon here. For that reason, he hoped that the two would not die here.

"Also, this one can't die yet either."

Cheon Woojin's gaze turned to the White Dragon Unit Commander.

The White Dragon Unit Commander's expression was truly a sight to behold. He was feeling countless emotions in a short mont.

The main emotion was emptiness. Although it was a life he had lived with a sword in his hand for most of his life, it all felt useless.

The days he had spent training in martial arts, the money he had tried to earn by backstabbing his friend, and even his own value as a martial artist.

A martial artist who had faced a wall that could never be overco was bound to feel emptiness beyond respect and awe.

Of course, Cheon Woojin did not care about the White Dragon Unit Commander's feelings. He just shook off the blood of Byeoksanong on the Crescent Moon Staff and then put it on his back, and suddenly, a group of martial artists appeared in the orchard with tense faces.

Cheon Woojin did not guard against them. Because a faint scent of plum blossoms was lingering. It must have been the martial artists of the Xi'an branch of the Martial Alliance who had appeared after seeing the signal flare that Song Yiyeon had shot up.

As it was a branch located in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, it was a place with many martial artists from Huashan and Zhongnan.

As expected, a young martial artist who was looking at the tragic scene with cautious eyes spotted Jin Yun and said with wide eyes.

"Oh! Senior brother Jin Yun!"

"Jin Yun? You an the Plum Blossom Swordsman, Jin Yun?"

The mbers of the Xi'an branch murmured. Because there was no one in Shaanxi, where Huashan was located, who did not know the rumor of the genius Plum Blossom Swordsman, Jin Yun.

At the pouring gazes, Jin Yun scratched his head.

* * *

Thanks to the appearance of Jin Yun's junior brother, the matter was handled much more smoothly. The black path gang that had colluded with the White Dragon Unit Commander and had used the orchard to smuggle salt and gunpowder was arrested and sent to the Xi'an branch.

Byeoksanong's corpse was also recovered by the Xi'an branch, and after verifying his identity, a report was to be sent to the Hubei Province Martial Alliance main headquarters.

However, it was decided that Cheon Woojin's party would take the White Dragon Unit Commander and return to the main headquarters.

Originally, the three also had no mission order, so they had to go to the branch together and verify their identities, but at least in Shaanxi, Jin Yun's face itself was like a verification certificate.

The party returned quickly. It was the sa on the way there, but the movent skill training continued on the way back.

Cheon Woojin carried the White Dragon Unit Commander, whose pressure points had been hit, and ran ahead as lightly as a feather, and behind him, Jin Yun and Song Yiyeon followed, sticking out their tongues and panting.

And so, the party, which had run day and night and had arrived at the alliance, first went to the postal hall. Since it was the head of the postal hall who had given them permission to go out, it was only right to inform him of their return.

"Hall Master, we're back."

The head of the postal hall nodded his head at Jin Yun's magnificent voice coming from outside the door. They had returned with plenty of ti to spare from the ti he had given them permission. As expected, the Taoist of the Huashan sect was trustworthy.

"Yes, co in. I just happen to have so fragrant tea..."

Soon, the office door opened.

The head of the postal hall's already white face beca even paler at the sight of the party that had appeared.

Jin Yun, with an expression of a guilty puppy, not knowing what to do.

Song Yiyeon, with a sohow triumphant expression.

Cheon Woojin, with a dry face, just like when he had left.

Although he didn't want to know why the three's expressions were so different, he couldn't help but ask.

Because in Cheon Woojin's hand, the tattered White Dragon Unit Commander was hanging like a wet seaweed.

Ah, those troublemaking rising talents have caused an incident.

But I was the one who helped them.

Thinking so, the head of the postal hall said urgently.

"Co in, co in right now! Before anyone sees, close the door quickly!"

"...Yes, yes!"

The guilty Jin Yun quickly closed the door, sensing the situation.

Song Yiyeon was drunk on the satisfaction of having realized justice, and Cheon Woojin silently dragged the White Dragon Unit Commander and started walking.

The White Dragon Unit Commander's limp body was dragged, leaving a scar on the wooden floor. The head of the postal hall, who was horrified at the office that was turning into a place for disposing of a corpse, said.

"I-is he dead? What on earth happened!"

"I just hit his pressure points for a mont."

"Hit his pressure points?"

The head of the postal hall's eyes narrowed. It was common sense that to hit a pressure point so perfectly, one needed a martial might of a much higher realm than the opponent.

'Is the rumor really true?'

The rumor about Cheon Woojin that had spread in the Martial Alliance was downplayed.

The matter of facing the disciples of the Dark Heavenly Son, the Blood Immortal and the Sex Demon, or the matter of killing the third-class public enemy, the Black Wolf Hand, were not properly known.

Not only were the mouths of the Black Tortoise Unit and Heavenly Tiger Unit mbers who had been dispatched on the mission at that ti heavy, but the alliance leader and the commander-in-chief at the very top had kept the contents of the mission report confidential to prevent chaos in the Martial Alliance.

However, even if it was downplayed, the matter of single-handedly bringing down the West Heaven Society and saving the lives of Jin Yun and Seok Dobyeok were already publicly known facts.

And so, a rumor spread within the Martial Alliance that Cheon Woojin's martial might far surpassed that of an ordinary ard force's unit commander.

The head of the postal hall's gaze on Cheon Woojin beca serious.

"Only alliance mber Cheon remains, and the other two wait outside."

First, he needed to grasp the situation. Anyway, the fact that a Martial Alliance unit commander had returned in that state was not a small matter.

* * *

The head of the postal hall asked Cheon Woojin for an overview of the incident.

Naturally, Cheon Woojin calmly told the story without adding or subtracting anything.

"So, you're saying that the White Dragon Unit Commander was behind the recent incident where the Black Tortoise Unit Commander and the deputy commander were investigated by the Punishnt Hall in relation to the treasure map of the Three Great Talents?"

"Yes."

"It's a hard story to believe."

Cheon Woojin just shrugged his shoulders. There were as many unbelievable truths in the world as there were grains of sand.

The head of the postal hall sent Cheon Woojin out and then called in Song Yiyeon and Jin Yun in turn and interrogated them. This was to prevent the three from colluding and matching their stories.

The head of the postal hall used his experienced mind gas to finish interrogating Song Yiyeon and Jin Yun, and in the end, he realized that there was not a single lie in the three's words.

Since he could contact the Xi'an branch directly at any ti as the head of the postal hall, there was no reason for them to lie, ntioning another branch of the Martial Alliance, in front of him.

And so, the three were once again sitting side by side like acorns in front of the head of the postal hall's desk.

The head of the postal hall looked at the faces of Cheon Woojin, Song Yiyeon, and Jin Yun in turn and then let out a deep sigh that he had drawn up from his dantian.

"I heard that this year's class was a bit unusual, but I never thought it would be to this extent."

Unusual and brilliant.

Praiseworthy and outrageous.

It was sothing to be reprimanded for, for lying and going out, using his trust in the Huashan sect.

However, it was sothing to be praised for, for the newcors to have corrected the corruption of the Martial Alliance.

As the head of the postal hall narrowed his eyes and looked at the three, Song Yiyeon suddenly said.

"We'll probably receive both punishnt and reward when this matter becos known."

"You know well. Even if the result is excellent, you are martial artists of the white path. You must know that the process is no less important."

"...Yes. That's why."

The head of the postal hall waited for Song Yiyeon's words with a curious expression. The magnificent Taoist Jin Yun and the strange martial artist Cheon Woojin. Although both were rising talents who had caught his interest, the head of the postal hall was most curious about Song Yiyeon.

Because the head of the postal hall had a lot of dealings with rchants in his line of work, he knew very well the presence that the Anhui Song family showed in the Central Plains rchant world.

After a mont's hesitation, Song Yiyeon said.

"Could you please say that you had grasped the information in advance and had secretly sent us to confirm, and that things had turned out this way?"

"So, you want

to wrap it up as if I had led the matter, not that you had done it on your own?"

"Yes."

A deep furrow ford on the head of the postal hall's brow. If he did as Song Yiyeon said, the three would not be disciplined. Because it would be as if he had given them a special mission with the authority of a hall master.

However, there was a most important problem.

"Why should I."

"..."

"Of course, since I caught the ugly act of the White Dragon Unit Commander, I will gain rit. But I'm not at a stage where I'm attached to such things, and rather, I'll be criticized by the head of the Punishnt Hall for handling the matter on my own. You all know how terrible Chupunggae is."

"...Doesn't a hall master have the authority to give a mission on his own?"

"How nice it would be if everything went according to the law. In the end, it's a matter of people and people. In the first place, punishing the corruption of the alliance is the job of the head of the Punishnt Hall. Wouldn't I be infringing on his authority? Most of all..."

The head of the postal hall narrowed his eyes and looked at the three in turn. In particular, he looked at Jin Yun, whom he had trusted the most, for the longest ti. Jin Yun bowed his head deeply.

"Why would I take the fall for you, who are not even pretty?"

The head of the postal hall was firm.

In the end, Song Yiyeon also nodded his head.

"...Yes, I understand."

And so, the three got up from their seats. Song Yiyeon and Jin Yun bowed their heads to the head of the postal hall with thanks and apology, and Cheon Woojin naturally picked up the White Dragon Unit Commander like a piece of luggage.

The mont the three were about to leave the office.

The head of the postal hall asked in a low voice.

"Wasn't it that you made that request to avoid discipline?"

There was not a single bit of lingering attachnt in the attitude of the three who were turning away. The head of the postal hall thought that was strange.

Song Yiyeon's lips moved with a hesitant expression.

At that, the head of the postal hall narrowed his eyes and urged him.

"Speak. I will listen to the real reason and then judge."

"...It's for the unit commander."

"The unit commander? You an the Black Tortoise Unit Commander?"

"Yes. We did this without telling the unit commander. If this matter were to spread in the Martial Alliance as it is..."

The head of the postal hall nodded his head. Because he had realized what Song Yiyeon was truly concerned about.

"Are you worried that the Black Tortoise Unit Commander will be made a fool of?"

"..."

Song Yiyeon shut his mouth. Although the head of the postal hall's words were right, it felt disrespectful to affirm it.

The Black Tortoise Unit Commander had been backstabbed by his closest friend. Moreover, the one who had solved the matter was not the unit commander himself, but his subordinates. If the rumor spread, the Black Tortoise Unit Commander would be made a fool of.

The head of the postal hall tapped the desk with his index finger.

The Black Tortoise Unit Commander was a man of deep trust and integrity. Although there were those who laughed at his personality, the head of the postal hall was not one of them.

'He has enough character and ability to beco a commander.'

Moreover, the rising talents who had just joined the alliance were asking him like this, valuing their superior's honor more than the discipline they would receive.

How could he, as a respected elder of the white path and a senior of the martial world, coldly refuse that request?

"Damn it. That guy from the Punishnt Hall will co and complain with foam at his mouth..."

As the head of the postal hall said so, Song Yiyeon's face brightened.

"Are you granting our request?"

"Yes, you damn troublemakers."

The head of the postal hall, who said so, took out a piece of paper from a drawer and then quickly wrote two docunts.

One was a mission order for the three. It was a mission to investigate the orchard run by the White Dragon Unit Commander's family, as it had been discovered that they were dealing with the black path.

The other was a report. It was a result report that stated that they had grasped the collusion of the White Dragon Unit Commander and the black path during the mission, and that they had handled the situation on their own due to the risk of evidence being destroyed.

"I will report this directly to the alliance leader. You just need to show this mission report to the Black Tortoise Unit Commander and the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander."

Although the head of the postal hall had granted the three's request, he could not shake off the unsettling feeling.

Because it was obvious that the red-faced head of the Punishnt Hall, Chupunggae, would storm into the postal hall, place his two hands on the desk, and then shoot at him with spittle flying.

- Hey, you crazy paper pusher. If there's sothing like that, you should have told

first, but you handled it on your own? You're looking down on the Punishnt Hall!

The head of the postal hall already felt a headache coming on. Although he had been friends with the head of the Punishnt Hall since they were young, there were still tis when he was scared of him, even though he was old.

"I need to prepare to welco the head of the Punishnt Hall, so you all should leave. Leave the White Dragon Unit Commander there, and I'll deliver him directly to that guy Chupunggae."

"Thank you!"

"...I'm sorry, Hall Master."

Song Yiyeon and Jin Yun gave conflicting greetings.

The head of the postal hall, who had initially favored Jin Yun, was now only looking at Song Yiyeon.

'As befitting the son of a rchant, he's brilliant. His ability to grasp how far and how much the ripple effect of a matter will spread is also good.'

At that young age, it was not an easy thing to consider the possibility of his superior's honor being tarnished when a matter beca known, even after he had achieved rit.

It was sothing that was possible only with innate consideration, situational judgnt, and thinking ability.

"But, alliance mber Song."

"Yes?"

"Are you on the fast side?"

At the sudden question, Song Yiyeon tilted his head.

The head of the postal hall looked at Song Yiyeon with a sly smile.

There were many who looked down on the postal hall, thinking that it was just a place that managed carrier pigeons. However, those who knew its true nature did not look down on it.

The postal hall basically handled communication and information.

The speed and accuracy to move one step faster than the opponent.

The secrecy to avoid the opponent's eyes.

The postal hall was full of martial artists with speed and secrecy. They were people who beca postal hall martial artists when they held a docunt in their hands, and beca assassins when they held a dagger.

For that reason, the one with the most assassins in the Martial Alliance was the postal hall.

Of course, he could not bring in a new alliance mber who had just been incorporated into an ard force. A promotion of that magnitude was sothing that could be found only a few tis in the history of the Martial Alliance.

'But, I can keep an eye on him.'

In vulgar terms, it was to put a spit on him.

He didn't even covet Cheon Woojin. It was obvious that he would be sold to the Punishnt Hall or the alliance leader's direct organization in the future.

It was the sa for Jin Yun. How could he covet a person who could beco the sect leader of Huashan soday?

The head of the postal hall's eyes sparkled as he looked at Song Yiyeon. For so reason, Song Yiyeon felt burdened by that gaze and let out a dry cough.

"Ahem, I'm on the slow side."

"Really? It'll be fun to teach you."

"No... ahem! Anyway! Thank you so much for granting our request!"

Song Yiyeon hurriedly bowed his head and left the office as if he were running away. Cheon Woojin, who was looking at his receding back, burst into a smirk and then said, as if for the head of the postal hall to hear.

"He's very fast."

"Oh."

The head of the postal hall's eyes sparkled again.

(End of Chapter)