Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 230

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 230. Preparation and Meeting (5)
“Wow!!”
Moyong Su Hyang’s face lit up with pure astonishment.
“So, so this is the Martial Alliance?!”
Towering city walls stretched endlessly to the left and right, and within them lay countless buildings and smaller settlements, with an uncountable stream of people moving through the streets.
Even the term “colossal city” seemed inadequate to describe it.
At first glance, it seemed as though several villages could fit inside with room to spare—the scale was utterly overwhelming. In fact, the Martial Alliance’s capacity was staggering. It was said to be even larger than the Imperial Palace itself.
Though Jin Gwang said nothing, his eyes too gleamed with turbulent emotion as he gazed upon the Martial Alliance’s vast fortification.
What was truly remarkable was that even this was merely the outermost wall. He couldn’t begin to imagine what magnificent and splendid sights awaited once they passed through the inner gates.
Jung Hui spoke with a satisfied expression.
“Welcome to the Martial Alliance.”
Pride resonated in both his face and voice.
Unlike Moyong Su Hyang and Jin Gwang, who gazed upon the Martial Alliance as though entranced, Moyong Bi was seized by different emotions.
‘It has truly been a long time.’
Even after twenty years, the Martial Alliance’s exterior had scarcely changed.
This was only natural. The previous Alliance Leader, who had spent most of his tenure in warfare, had ordered the walls and internal structures to be maintained in ideal defensive configurations to withstand enemy assaults.
The Martial Alliance, built by the greatest geniuses of the age, would not crumble even after centuries.
‘The maintenance was handled quite well.’
The grand and imposing main gate came into view.
Across the gate were etched arrowhead marks and sword scars.
Yet it remained large and solid. It seemed as though even a battering ram could strike it without causing damage—the gate itself stood as living history, testament to how formidable an iron fortress the Martial Alliance had once been.
After staring at the gate for some time, Moyong Bi steadied his breath and spoke.
“Let us enter.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
Jung Hui felt slightly disappointed by Moyong Bi’s unexpectedly composed demeanor, but he quickly composed himself and walked toward the gatekeepers with an unflappable expression.
Moments later.
Unlike the people passing through the smaller gates on either side of the main wall, the party now stood before the Martial Alliance’s southern gate—the Namhwa Gate.
Creak, creak, creak!
The movement of the doors opening to both sides was as grand as a giant dragging its feet.
“Please enter.”
The gatekeepers were respectful, yet showed no servility whatsoever.
They seemed the very model of warriors guarding a gate. Moyong Su Hyang felt herself overwhelmed by their presence.
“Elder Brother, Elder Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“Later, when the Main Family House has more warriors, let’s select gatekeepers like these—impressive and strong ones.”
Though she spoke softly, the gatekeepers who had cultivated their Internal Energy could not possibly miss her words.
At the beautiful young girl’s passionate voice, smiles bloomed across the gatekeepers’ faces.
People often disparage gatekeepers as mere door guards, but in reality they are the face of an organization, so only those with good character and genuine ability are selected.
Though few recognize this, this young girl from Hubei understood it. For these stoic warriors, there was no helping but to feel pleased.
“You silly thing—no matter how kind the words, saying such things aloud can be disrespectful.”
“Huh? Is… is that so?”
“Well, that’s what they say. Isn’t it said that the mouth is the source of all calamities? Think twice before speaking, even kind words. This is the Martial Alliance.”
Moyong Su Hyang grumbled.
“Speaking of which, truthfully, all the calamities have come from Elder Brother’s mouth, haven’t they?”
At those words, the gatekeepers burst into laughter. Even Jung Hui was too busy stifling his chuckles with a cough.
Moyong Bi, who let out a soft laugh, spoke to Jung Hui.
“Since you’re here, shall we head in quickly?”
“Ah, shall we? Let’s go straight to the Inner City. We’ve already sent word, so a carriage should be waiting.”
Moyong Su Hyang and Jin Gwang were startled.
“A carriage?”
“The Martial Alliance is vast. It takes nearly half an hour of running for ordinary people to go from the Outer City to the Inner City alone.”
“My!”
“It also takes considerable time to reach the Alliance Leader’s Residence from the Inner City gates. The Martial Alliance is larger than you might think, Young Miss.”
“I… I see.”
Confronted with a scale that defied common sense, Moyong Su Hyang could only shake her head in amazement.
After walking for about a quarter hour, an eight-horse carriage stood out prominently among the many carriages.
Jung Hui approached the coachman and drew out a small document from his pocket.
“I am Jung Hui, Vice Leader of the Righteous Protection Squad. I have brought guests from the Moyong Family of Hubei.”
The coachman nodded after examining the document.
“Heading directly to the Alliance Leader’s Residence, I see?”
“That is correct.”
“We’ve been notified. Please board—we’ll depart at once.”
Once everyone had boarded, the carriage moved forward with the coachman’s practiced crack of the whip.
Moyong Su Hyang spoke in a whisper.
“Impressive, the Martial Alliance is.”
“What is it now?”
“The coachman, sir. How should I put it… he seems remarkably composed and dignified?”
Jung Hui answered with a smile.
“Half of the coachmen who work in the Martial Alliance conduct private transactions with the Alliance.”
“Private transactions?”
“Usually, companies are involved and contracts are made collectively. However, the owner of this carriage personally modifies the carriage and manages the horses. In other words, this carriage and all eight horses are entirely the coachman’s property.”
“Goodness!”
Moyong Su Hyang involuntarily shook her head. It was a world she had never known.
Jin Gwang asked carefully.
“Does the Alliance not manage its own carriages and coachmen?”
“I’ve heard that in the past, it was operated entirely with the Alliance’s capital, but it changed after the war.”
“How do you mean?”
“For five or six years after the Previous Alliance Leader’s passing, the Alliance still raised horses and managed carriages itself, but afterward, they switched to company and private transactions.”
Moyong Bi interjected.
“A matter of money, then.”
Jung Hui let out a bitter smile.
“That’s correct.”
Moyong Su Hyang tilted her head in confusion.
“What do you mean? A matter of money?”
“During wartime, the Martial Alliance was the backbone of the Orthodox Martial World. It was a sacred ground for the Ancient Sects and Six Families, as well as nearly all Orthodox Martial Artists.”
“Isn’t it still that way now?”
“It’s somewhat different.”
“Huh?”
As Jung Hui wore an awkward expression, Moyong Bi spoke.
“Now that the war has ended, shouldn’t each sect focus on managing their own households? During the war, they gathered funds and weapons for the Alliance, but after the war’s end, they must attend to their own family affairs.”
“Ah!”
“Of course, they still allocate funds annually for the Alliance’s operations, but it’s incomparable to wartime.”
Jung Hui couldn’t help but admire this.
“Young Master, you truly are brilliant.”
“I wouldn’t call this level of thinking brilliant. The Martial Alliance is, in essence, a confederation. If there’s no reason to gather, then for the Great Sects, it’s nothing more than a useless burden, wouldn’t you say?”
It was bitter, but it was the truth.
Moyong Bi turned his head toward the spear mounted on the carriage as he spoke.
“There’s no need to be disappointed or angry at something so natural. The Martial Alliance is an organization created by people, and by its nature, interests and conflicts are bound to be tangled. It’s inevitable.”
Jung Hui nodded heavily.
“But the warriors of the Martial Alliance live with pride.”
“If pride doesn’t come from money or attitudes, then there’s no need to be swayed by such realities.”
For a moment, Jung Hui’s eyes wavered.
Moyong Bi’s words were simple.
Regardless of how others see me, if I have pride, that’s enough. Even if others mock me, if I am confident and sincere in this work, that suffices.
‘…Ah.’
Jung Hui felt ashamed.
He had thought of the Martial Alliance as the pillar of the Orthodox Martial World, but somewhere along the way, that thought had evolved into expecting everyone to revere and fear it—a realization that came only now.
‘Young Master Moyong is right. I was satisfied merely by becoming a warrior of the Martial Alliance. Unlike before, even if people don’t pay attention to me now, if I feel pride, isn’t that enough?’
From just a few words of conversation, he gained profound insight.
“Thank you, Young Master.”
“What are you saying?”
“It seems arrogance had begun to sprout in my heart without my notice.”
Moyong Bi smiled.
“Isn’t it said that people must cultivate themselves until death? Still, I’m grateful that the Vice Leader’s nature is virtuous and righteous.”
“If that’s the case, then this person is truly remarkable.”
Jin Gwang was flustered by Jung Hui’s gaze.
“Are you speaking of me?”
“It’s somewhat awkward to say, but there were many rumors that the Moyong Family had lost its former prestige and fallen into decline.”
“Ah….”
“Yet you remained with the Moyong Family until the end, never abandoning your loyalty. If you had found it difficult to endure the eyes of the outside world, you wouldn’t have been able to do so.”
Jin Gwang was even more flustered. He couldn’t fathom what he’d done that was so remarkable.
Moyong Su Hyang interjected with a soft laugh.
“If Squad Leader Jin hadn’t been there, things could have gone very badly indeed.”
“Ha ha.”
As the three of them laughed and chattered away, Moyong Bi kept his gaze fixed on the scenery rapidly vanishing beyond the window.
‘My heart feels heavy.’
How long had it been since I returned to the Martial Alliance?
Since I died and awakened in my great grand-nephew’s body, even stretching the timeline generously amounted to little more than half a year.
Yet I felt both a joy and strangeness as if I’d returned after more than a decade.
‘I simply cannot feel the same familiarity as before.’
In a sense, what I’d said to Jung Hui bordered on self-deprecation.
The Martial Alliance of the past and the Martial Alliance of now were vastly different. Perhaps I was more disappointed and regretful about that fact than Jung Hui himself.
Moyong Bi shook his head inwardly.
‘Do not be seduced by such changes. I am not the Martial Alliance Leader—I am Moyong Bi. This place is no longer my workplace, nor is it a stage for me to exercise authority as its master.’
Once I steadied my resolve, the shifting scenery felt even more unfamiliar.
That was when it happened.
‘…?!’
As I gazed blankly out the window, I spotted a unit moving in the distance.
Their movements bore the discipline of a well-trained force. Yet at their head rode a woman clad in heavy armor, commanding her horse.
‘Who is that?’
It wasn’t her being a woman that startled me.
Though the distance was great, I sensed something familiar in that woman’s face.
‘What is it? She doesn’t feel like a stranger.’
Thud-thud-thud.
The unit soon disappeared toward the Outer City gate.
After tilting my head in brief puzzlement, I leaned back against the chair and closed my eyes.
‘Still, the Martial Alliance is unmistakably the Martial Alliance.’
Just from their movements during transit and their discipline, one could tell they were an elite force.
Setting aside my curiosity, I suddenly recalled Meng Ha Sung.
‘That fellow must have become quite the formidable master by now.’
What sort of conversation would we have when we met?
As I drifted between peculiar intrigue and contemplation, the carriage continued its hurried journey.
Half an hour later.
“This is the Alliance Leader’s Residence.”
The party descended from the carriage, their eyes alight with turbulent emotion as they beheld the grand structure before them.
“Wow, magnificent.”
“Quite splendid.”
While Moyong Su Hyang and Jin Gwang gazed in awe at the Alliance Leader’s Residence,
Moyong Bi’s eyes brightened as he regarded a man standing before the gate.
A middle-aged man who had been conversing with the gatekeepers approached with a smile.
“Guests have arrived.”
Jung Hui knelt on the spot.
“I pay my respects to the Supreme Commander of the Martial Alliance.”
The man, Gong Sun Baek, waved his hand and helped Jung Hui to his feet.
“What is this unseemly display in front of our guests? Please, be at ease.”
“Yes, sir. Ho Jeong Dan Vice Leader Jung Hui has completed the Supreme Commander’s orders.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Gong Sun Baek’s gaze turned toward Moyong Bi.
“One iron spear and dual long blades? Are you Moyong Bi, the Eldest Son of the Hubei Moyong Family and the one called the Northern Dragon?”
Moyong Bi muttered involuntarily in surprise.
“…Gong Sun Baek.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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