The Youngest Member Chapter 92

The duel was thus concluded.

Cheon Woojin had expected Tang Bicheon to have a fit, but surprisingly, he ekly admitted defeat and left the alliance as promised.

Well, it would have been difficult for him to say that he was the disciple of the Black Master and not to lie in a situation where the alliance leader himself had certified that he was the disciple of the White Master. Anyway, the Black Master and the White Master were martial artists who stood at opposite poles of each other in the eyes of the martial world.

If he had claid to be the disciple of the Black Master in that situation, he would have been lucky not to be stoned, let alone gain support.

And so, various stories ca out about the president of the Dragon and Phoenix Society suddenly announcing his retirent and returning to his hotown.

From the story that Tang Bicheon had left because his pride was hurt after being defeated by a low-ranking alliance mber, to the story that he had returned to officially beco the successor of the Sichuan Tang family.

However, no one could know the correct answer.

The rumors about Tang Bicheon quickly subsided. Because there was a topic that people were more interested in.

The duel that Cheon Woojin had shown with the Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, and Tang Bicheon.

Also, the fact that such a Cheon Woojin was the disciple of the greatest hero of the era, the White Flower Sword Saint.

Among the martial artists who carried swords in their bosoms, there was no one who had not read a hero novel of a single-person succession when they were young.

It was also natural for them to overlap Cheon Woojin with the main character of the novel they had read when they were young.

"It's already been half a month, but the interest is hot."

Song Yiyeon said, putting down his chopsticks.

Cheon Woojin just glanced around and then just nodded his head slightly.

"Aren't you concerned, young hero?"

"I wonder."

Cheon Woojin shrugged his shoulders. Even the dull Cheon Woojin could tell that the way people looked at him had changed. However, he was not particularly concerned. Because that change would not affect him much.

For so reason, only Song Yiyeon felt wronged. Although it was young hero Cheon who was attracting people's attention, he was the one who was feeling all the pressure.

It was like that with the gazes he felt while walking around with him, and because of Cheon Woojin's taciturn atmosphere, those who could not easily approach him would co to the easy-going Song Yiyeon and ask about Cheon Woojin.

Of course, Song Yiyeon would just send those people back, saying, 'No, can't you just ask him directly?'.

The two, who had finished their al, ca out of the restaurant.

A tily rain was cooling down the sumr heat.

"Ah, I don't want to get wet."

While Song Yiyeon was grumbling, Cheon Woojin just walked calmly in the rain. At that sight, Song Yiyeon shook his head and followed him.

Whether it rained or snowed, he was a truly indifferent person.

Even if a typhoon were to rage, he would probably co to the restaurant and eat as usual, and then return with those nonchalant steps.

Of course he would.

Song Yiyeon, who thought so and followed beside Cheon Woojin, suddenly looked up at the sky.

"Oh?"

It was still drizzling from the sky.

But, when he looked down, his clothes were not wet.

"This, did you do this, young hero Cheon?"

When he observed closely, the raindrops were bouncing off as if they were blocked by sothing just before they reached the two.

Cheon Woojin answered without even looking.

"You said you didn't want to get wet."

"Oh."

So young hero Cheon had this function.

Song Yiyeon let out a pure exclamation after a long ti. In fact, in Song Yiyeon's mind, Cheon Woojin was already a monster among monsters, so he was not particularly surprised even at the ti of the duel.

But, the ability to block the rain, this was a little different.

Because Song Yiyeon was a man who even put oil on his hair every morning and grood himself, he hated getting wet in the rain to the extre.

And so, the mont the two returned to the Black Tortoise Pavilion.

Cheon Woojin frowned slightly.

Because another group of martial artists had gathered in front of the Black Tortoise Pavilion. Yesterday it was young martial artists, but today it was experienced masters.

They gave an awkward smile and greeted Cheon Woojin.

"Oh, alliance mber Cheon! Did you have a good al?"

"The side dishes were a little lacking today, right? On days like that, co and find our postal hall. Let's go to a nearby inn."

Cheon Woojin revealed his bewildernt without hiding it.

"...Why are you even here, Hall Master?"

Since he had revealed that he was the disciple of the White Flower Sword Saint, it had always been like this. People kept showing him favor. And it was a pure favor without even a little intention. If he had seen a selfish motive, he would have coldly ignored them, but he could not do that.

The head of the postal hall let out a hearty laugh.

"Our alliance mber Song, alliance mber Cheon, are the juniors I originally cherished the most, do you think I can't even buy them a al?"

The elders and commanders of the Martial Alliance who had co with the head of the postal hall looked at him with envious eyes. Thanks to that, the shoulders of the head of the postal hall were further straightened.

"...Yes, I understand."

Cheon Woojin knew from his experience over the past half month since the duel had ended. That if he refused, a troubleso thing would happen. It was less troubleso to just accept and then pretend to have forgotten later.

Cheon Woojin was being forcibly socialized.

As Cheon Woojin nodded his head, the head of the postal hall gave a pleased smile as if looking at his youngest son.

"Yes, if there's anything I can secretly help you with like last ti, just let

know. We're on those terms, aren't we? Hahahat."

"...Yes."

Cheon Woojin forced himself to nod his head and then entered the Black Tortoise Pavilion.

* * *

Cheon Woojin, who had entered the Black Tortoise Pavilion, was at a loss for words for a mont.

The Black Tortoise Unit martial artists were pretending to train with truly awkward expressions and gestures. There was no need to ask for the reason. Because right next to them, the Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, and the Commander-in-Chief, Sima Hui, were eating rice balls.

"Oh, you're here."

"You're eating for a long ti."

The alliance leader and the commander-in-chief greeted Cheon Woojin in their own ways.

Cheon Woojin asked in a dumbfounded tone.

"What on earth are you doing here?"

"The side dishes were not good today, so I was just eating rice balls."

"...That's not what I was asking."

So why are you eating that here?

As Cheon Woojin said with his eyes, the Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, scratched his head as if embarrassed and then handed him sothing.

Thinking that it was the purpose of his visit, he looked at it seriously, but it was a rice ball.

"You have one too. The commander-in-chief's skill is better than it looks."

"...I just ate."

"Really?"

Beili Tian put the rice ball down again as if embarrassed.

Soon, he said with a serious expression.

"I waited because there was sothing I wanted to talk about secretly."

"To ?"

"You're already so full of yourself. It's sothing I have to say to all the mbers of the Black Tortoise Unit."

"Umm..."

Cheon Woojin scratched his cheek in embarrassnt.

The alliance leader, who was looking at that sight as if it were funny, led all the Black Tortoise Unit mbers and entered the pavilion.

* * *

"Yes? The Sichuan Tang family?"

Since the Black Tortoise Unit Commander, Cheol Jiak, was absent, Deputy Commander Zhuge Lin had been given the right to speak as a representative.

As Zhuge Lin asked back, the Commander-in-Chief, Sima Hui, nodded his head with a solemn face.

"It's sothing we've been investigating for a long ti. The Sichuan Tang family, to be precise, the young master Tang Bicheon, has an ambition to betray the Martial Alliance and establish the Righteous Heaven Alliance."

In the history of the martial world, the Martial Alliance and the Righteous Heaven Alliance had never coexisted.

Usually, those who were dissatisfied with the current alliance would establish a new alliance and seek change. However, just as two suns could not coexist, one of the two would see a catastrophic end.

Zhuge Lin's expression beca very serious. At the sa ti, she had a question. This was not a problem to be discussed at the level of a single ard force. The white path martial world was on the verge of being divided in two.

"It's sothing that Tang Bicheon can never do with his own ability."

At Zhuge Lin's words, Sima Hui nodded his head as if pleased. From ancient tis, the Zhuge family and the Sima family were the two families that had served as the brains of the white path.

"There are definitely those among the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Families who agree with this. Also, Tang Bicheon has united them using the organization called the Dragon and Phoenix Society."

Although everyone reacted by saying that a general eting of the Martial Alliance should be convened for a matter of this level, Zhuge Lin quickly grasped the essence of the incident.

"You can't convene a eting."

"Yes, because they don't know that we know that fact."

The mont a eting was convened, those who had joined hands with Tang Bicheon and were about to open a new world would cut their tails.

It ant that they had to live with potential enemies within the alliance called the Martial Alliance. That was a foolish thing to do.

"The only people who know that fact are , the alliance leader, and the commander-in-chief. And the head of the Punishnt Hall and the White Sword Hall Master. Ah, now the Black Tortoise Unit also knows."

"..."

The Black Tortoise Unit mbers suddenly felt as if a stone had been placed on their hearts.

Whether that was the case or not, Sima Hui's words continued.

"Although I thought it would be a matter of at least a dozen years, our military affairs departnt has judged that it could change with this duel as a starting point."

"Tang Bicheon's pride was hurt."

"Yes, the deputy commander is easy to talk to."

"Thank you. No, then what should we do?"

Sima Hui could not easily open his mouth. The more he did so, the more anxious Zhuge Lin beca. What on earth was he trying to say?

It was the Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, who continued the words.

"Anyway, we have to investigate. For what exact purpose the Sichuan Tang family is planning such a grand sche. Who are the ones who have joined hands with them. Whether they have the will to not hesitate to go to war in that process."

"...T-that's right?"

"I'm thinking of entrusting that to you."

Beili Tian said calmly, as if sending soone on an errand for noodles at an inn. At the sa ti, Zhuge Lin had a fit.

"No! It's too big a mission for a single ard force to handle, isn't it? Moreover, our unit commander is also absent. Ah, I'm sorry for raising my voice, was I too disrespectful? But the lives of our unit mbers are at stake. How can I not raise my voice now..."

"Deputy Commander Zhuge Lin."

Sima Hui said, frowning.

At that, Zhuge Lin flinched a little, but her challenging gaze was still the sa. Even if it were the order of the alliance leader and the commander-in-chief, she could not accept a mission where the lives of her subordinates would be in such danger.

It was not just dangerous, but it was at the level of sending young children to a battlefield.

Rather, she would be imprisoned in the prison for insubordination as a representative, but what was not right was not right.

Soon, Sima Hui's words continued.

"I also think so. But, since the alliance leader was stubbornly insisting, I had no choice but to co this far."

"...Ah."

Zhuge Lin sent a look of sympathy to Sima Hui. Because she was also serving a stubborn superior.

Of course, she could not accept the mission just because of that.

"You didn't call us, but you ca in person, probably because you were conscious of the gazes of the traitors who might be hiding, right?"

If the alliance leader were to call the Black Tortoise Unit, it would look as if he were giving them an important mission. On the other hand, if he ca to the Black Tortoise Pavilion in person, it would look as if he had just stopped by after a al.

To the extent that he had to be so mindful, it ant that the military affairs departnt was already seeing the scale of those who had joined hands with the Sichuan Tang family as quite large.

And they were sending a single ard force on such a mission?

"Just lock

up instead."

"We can't do that to the young mistress of the Zhuge family."

"...It's okay to send

to my death?"

Sima Hui let out a sigh. Because he also deeply sympathized with Zhuge Lin's reaction.

"Of course, we won't just send you. We'll attach the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander. Also, we're not telling you to go and fight with the Sichuan Tang family. We're just telling you to investigate."

Zhuge Lin's eyes narrowed. The story would be different if the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander were to be attached. The reason why the entire Heavenly Tiger Unit could not be operated was simple. Because there could be those among them who were dreaming of the Righteous Heaven Alliance.

In other words,

"The Black Tortoise Unit could also betray. Since we're not even recognized in the Martial Alliance, we could just switch over to the Righteous Heaven Alliance and live in luxury."

At Zhuge Lin's serious question, Sima Hui let out a dry cough one after another. The Black Tortoise Unit would never do that. To be precise, they did not have the ability to do so. Unless Tang Bicheon had gone crazy, he would not have made such an important proposal to the Black Tortoise Unit.

Of course, he could not say it as it was.

"The Black Tortoise Unit is so loyal, isn't it?"

"I see."

"Uuuuum...!"

"You saw it correctly. I don't know whether I should like this or not."

Zhuge Lin also let out a sigh.

In the anti, Jang Woopyeong, who was Cheon Woojin and Song Yiyeon's imdiate senior, said with a bright smile.

"Hehe, but isn't it a good thing that they trust us?"

"..."

Zhuge Lin habitually tried to hit the back of Jang Woopyeong's head, but she held back because she was in front of the alliance leader.

Soon, the alliance leader's words continued.

"If a commander or hall-level martial artist moves, we cannot avoid their gazes. Naturally, if I, the alliance leader, move directly, there will be the sa problem, and I cannot prepare for the checks of the Demonic Cult and the Black Plaque Star."

It was not an era of the white path's unification.

Although the alliance leader was a martial artist who symbolized the white path, for that reason, he could not move carelessly.

The only comfort was that the Demonic Cult Leader and the Black Plaque Star Lord were also in the sa position.

"I won't say that it's not a dangerous mission. But it's sothing that soone must do. Also, it's not a decision that was made just by appealing to emotions."

The alliance leader's gaze turned to Cheon Woojin.

Although he had been receiving a lot of attention from people recently, he did not have the weight to the extent that the Five Great Families and the Nine Sects One Gang would always watch and be wary of his movents.

And yet, he was the only talent in the world who had the martial might to exchange blows with the alliance leader himself.

"It is an order that I give as the alliance leader, but at the sa ti, it is a request that I make as a poor senior. Investigate the Sichuan Tang family. Prevent the division of the white path martial world."

While Zhuge Lin was seriously contemplating, Cheon Woojin, who had been listening quietly, said.

"To what extent is your resolve, alliance leader?"

"Huh?"

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

Cheon Woojin knew that Tang Bicheon had communicated with the disciple of the Dark Heavenly Son. However, he had no intention of saying it in this place. Although he trusted the alliance leader, he still could not trust the commander-in-chief.

"If, we all die during the mission. Will you, alliance leader, risk your life and avenge us?"

"..."

Although it was a calm tone, the content was not.

Because of that, everyone flinched, but only the Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, answered without a mont's hesitation.

"Of course. I can't say that I'll imdiately draw my sword and attack the Sichuan Tang family. Because of the Demonic Cult and the Black Plaque Star. However, at least until the day my life ends, I will avenge you in the way of the alliance leader."

"Even if it's an enemy you can't handle?"

This ti, even the alliance leader flinched. He had not thought that such words would co out of Cheon Woojin's mouth.

However, the answer that the alliance leader would give was set.

"There is no enemy that the white path martial world cannot handle."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Because even if I die, the next alliance leader is bound to appear."

For so reason, the alliance leader's gaze, who said so, burned fiercely towards Cheon Woojin.

Cheon Woojin just shrugged his shoulders.

He had just wanted to confirm. To what extent was the resolve of the one who was sending others to their deaths. Whether the white path martial world that his White Master had spoken of was still maintaining its form.

Cheon Woojin had felt the image of the White Master in the alliance leader's answer just now. That was enough. Whether the Black Tortoise Unit would step up or not was Deputy Commander Zhuge Lin's choice.

Just.

Cheon Woojin decided to resolve this matter.

(End of Chapter)