Chronicles of the Martial God’s Return - Chapter 121

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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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“Good grief…… what kind of old codger…….”
Ma Jang-gang sat slumped alone behind the inn, pressing an egg to his face and grimacing. He’d thought they were simply aging men, nothing remarkable—but these were clearly the ones who stayed by Dan Woo-hyun’s side.
He never even saw their sleeves brush past before taking a hit.
The fists flew so fast he couldn’t follow them, and by the time he thought to dodge, it was far too late.
They operated in an entirely different tier of physical ability.
“Why’d you have to run your mouth?”
Jang Sam-tae gave his thigh a light tap with his foot.
Watching that smug, even confident expression, Ma Jang-gang felt a surge of indignation welling up inside him.
“Now listen here. Despite how I look…….”
“Hundred Masters, Wave King—all that talk is just nonsense. That one was once called the Twin Blades of the Heterodox Sect.”
Jang Sam-tae jerked his chin toward Kwon Mu-jin, who stood at ease against the wall with no flicker of interest on his face.
Ma Jang-gang glanced back at Kwon Mu-jin.
‘Now that I think about it, that’s what the fight was over. Twin Blades of the Heterodox Sect…… I heard he was a master destined to lead the Heterodox Sect. So why is he here?’
Then again, if he was being honest, he himself was called the Wave King and here he was in this place too. Everyone had their circumstances, and Dan Woo-hyun possessed both the charm and strength to draw people to him—so it wasn’t strange that anyone might be here.
‘Besides, he seems to have no concept of political stance.’
Ma Jang-gang shrugged.
From what he could see, Dan Woo-hyun operated without any political stance whatsoever. Walking a middle path, so to speak. Which would explain why he’d casually accepted someone from the Heterodox Sect.
The two masked old men he’d seen earlier didn’t seem ordinary either. One radiated an orthodox aura, while the other emanated extreme demonic energy.
“Who exactly are those two old men?”
“If you knew, you’d faint. Don’t worry about it. More importantly—are you really planning to stay?”
Jang Sam-tae studied him with a slightly irritated expression. More people at the estate meant more hands to help, which was good.
But gathering any more strong fighters was a bit…….
His position was already growing precarious.
On top of that, he might have to deal with this eccentric old man who carried on about being a Hundred Master or whatever it was, like he had some sort of affliction.
It might be easier if such a troublesome fellow simply weren’t around.
“I was born to serve the Great Hero unto death! I shall dedicate this life to his service and cut down his enemies with this blade!”
He sprang to his feet, thumping his chest with grandiose declarations. Jang Sam-tae watched this display and felt a chill run through him, turning to look at Kwon Mu-jin.
Come to think of it, hadn’t that one said something similar?
They really do gather in pairs…….
“Why are you staring at me?”
“Huh? Is it wrong to just look…… you really are insufferable.”
“Hmph.”
Kwon Mu-jin snorted.
He could more or less guess what was on Jang Sam-tae’s mind. To his own eye, Ma Jang-gang’s behavior carried a certain creeping unease that he couldn’t quite shake.
If he himself acted that way, he’d be too embarrassed to show his face.
“You said your name was Ma Jang-gang? Managing the ronin must keep you busy—yet you follow us around…… doesn’t that seem a bit inconsistent?”
“Hah? My affairs are my own concern. Not something for you to worry about, I’d say?”
Jang Sam-tae watched the two men exchange words, momentarily silent.
The tone from Kwon Mu-jin, the tone from Ma Jang-gang—he could tell they didn’t get along. Watching them face each other was like watching sparks fly.
‘Are they really competing over a guard position?’
It made no sense…….
In truth, did Dan Woo-hyun even need guards? If anything, it seemed like guards should be assigned to Dan So-mi instead.
Was there anyone alive capable of touching that man?
Guards were pointless.
Exhausting yourself over something meaningless—what a waste.
“In any case, don’t forget that I’m the one the Estate Lord trusts most!”
Jang Sam-tae planted his hands on his hips and laughed loudly. If there was anyone in this estate as indispensable as Jang Sam-tae, he’d like to see it.
Laundry, cleaning, and cooking were just the start.
He even attended to Dan Woo-hyun and Dan So-mi, as well as the two old men.
He handled most of the costs needed to keep the estate running, and only he knew what needed to be done and how—without him, the estate couldn’t function at all.
Having such pride was hardly out of place.
Yet Kwon Mu-jin’s expression was decidedly cold.
“What nonsense are you spouting? You fool?”
For the first time, a curse left his lips.

“Hanam seems quieter than I expected.”
That was Dan Woo-hyun’s first thought upon entering this land of Hanam. If Anhui had been thrown into chaos by the Acupoint Sealing Technique, this place was eerily calm.
True, there were loud moments.
Back when they’d first arrived at the Inn, the Orthodox Faction types were laying siege, demanding that Kwon Mu-jin be handed over. But aside from the disconcerting looks the Orthodox Faction members cast while one ate, there was nothing to suggest what was actually happening here—only a pervasive quiet.
The rumors made it sound like chaos, yet it all seemed worlds away from what he was witnessing.
“Wait, something’s wrong.”
“You picked up on that?”
Sa Do-hak regarded Namgung Cheon with a slightly twisted expression. He was troubled by the thought that they’d traveled all the way to Hanam only to leave without so much as glimpsing the Murim Alliance.
“Of course. Hanam is far too quiet right now. You don’t see just the Nine Schools and One House—you don’t even see the younger generation or the Eight Great Families’ representatives.”
Namgung Cheon gazed out the window, his eyes half-lidded.
It was strange. Very strange indeed.
Despite being of the same Orthodox Faction, the Nine Schools and One House, along with the Eight Great Families, were absolute powers that had governed the Central Plains for ages. Normally, either they’d patrol the towns regularly, taking charge of security, or—confident in their backing—they’d let foolish elements run wild and cause trouble. One or the other.
Since Mo Yong Hyuk-mun became Alliance Master, if those reckless fools had reformed and stopped raising hell, that would be one thing. But judging from the rumors alone, matters should have escalated further, not settled into a silence this profound.
It was equally strange that only Shaolin appeared among those who ought to be overseeing security.
Namgung Cheon’s eyes grew half-lidded.
“I think I need to venture inside the Murim Alliance after all.”
“Seriously?”
Sa Do-hak shot to his feet.
What was his purpose in coming to Hanam?
To see the Murim Alliance, of course.
The Nine Schools, the Eight Great Families—places like those could be visited whenever one wished if one had the power to seize them. But the Murim Alliance? That was something one couldn’t easily lay eyes on, and there was no telling when such an opportunity might arise again.
Sa Do-hak’s eyes gleamed.
Namgung Cheon regarded him with a somewhat lukewarm expression.
“You’re… planning to come along?”
“Of course! Why else would I have traveled this far?”
“And guarding Dan So-mi at the Inn?”
“Out of the question!”
Namgung Cheon let out a groan.
Dan Woo-hyun, regardless of his political stance, maintained neutrality and posed no threat to the Alliance—he wouldn’t cause harm even if shown around. Besides, he had a temperament that fundamentally disliked troublesome matters.
Sa Do-hak, on the other hand?
One of the Five Emperors and a master who represented the Central Plains.
More than that, as leader of three factions and one known as the Demonic Emperor, he was already, by definition, hostile to the Orthodox Faction.
Though they conversed casually enough now, the destination they sought was among the most closely guarded secrets within the Orthodox Faction’s Murim Alliance. Namgung Cheon harbored no desire to expose it to someone of a rival power.
“Listen here! I want to see that Murim Alliance with these very eyes! That’s why I came from Honam through Anhui and all the way to Hanam!”
“But… your journey to Anhui was your own choice, wasn’t it?”
Namgung Cheon wiped cold sweat from his brow.
When they’d first gone to Anhui, he hadn’t mentioned moving on to Hanam. He’d assumed Sa Do-hak wouldn’t come to the Murim Alliance then, but now the man was reframing their entire journey as motivated by a desire to tour the Alliance.
Namgung Cheon couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
“No. I absolutely must see the Murim Alliance. And besides, you… if those rumors are true, I’m curious how you’d handle that person.”
“…….”
Sa Do-hak stared at Namgung Cheon, his gaze steady and unflinching. Those dark eyes revealed nothing of his thoughts.
If he’d been playing the role of the Demonic Heavenly Lord for entertainment until now, then the one standing before him was undoubtedly the Sword Emperor Namgung Cheon—the true Demonic Emperor Sa Do-hak that Namgung Cheon knew.
Namgung Cheon finally raised both hands in surrender.
“There’s no helping it, then.”
“Haha! That’s right, that’s right—it’d be absurd to leave me out of a place like that! Yes, absolutely.”
“This isn’t a pleasure excursion. And don’t cause any trouble. We’re simply observing the atmosphere of the Alliance.”
Namgung Cheon sighed and turned to regard Dan Woo-hyun.
The man leaned gracefully against the window frame, sipping from a cup. At his side lay Dan So-mi, fast asleep as though she wouldn’t be separated from him for even a moment.
“Already evening, and the child sleeps like that. Heh, she must have been exhausted.”
Given the rigors of their recent journey, such a young girl wouldn’t normally be able to endure it. She should have been worn out, yet she’d shown no sign of it—perhaps the child had been thinking of the adults in her own way.
Besides, there had been some commotion at the Inn as well.
Yet, contrary to Namgung Cheon’s thoughts, Dan Woo-hyun tilted his cup and shook his head.
“I’ve applied Acupoint Sealing.”
“What? Acupoint Sealing? Why on Dan So-mi…?”
When had he done such a thing?
Neither Namgung Cheon nor Sa Do-hak could hide their astonishment—they hadn’t witnessed the act at all. Until now, Dan Woo-hyun had appeared merely as someone cradling Dan So-mi while drinking.
Then, as Dan Woo-hyun gazed out the window, he extended a hand lightly. With a gentle push, the window swung open with a soft creak.
“Tonight seems as though it might grow somewhat loud.”
Unable to discern the truth behind those words, both Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak wore expressions of bewilderment.
As they stood and approached the window one by one.
A sound reached them.

Faint, but unmistakably the sound of a blade.
Woven through it, the muffled padding of footsteps.
Someone was moving. There was no doubt about it.
“What in the world is happening……!”
“The Murim Alliance. Something’s unfolding there.”
Dan Woo-hyun tilted his cup with a soft chuckle, sipping as though that barely-audible sound—barely perceptible even if one strained to listen—were a delicacy to be savored. Was it mere imagination, this impression?
No.
Dan Woo-hyun’s expression betrayed genuine relish.
Something unfolding that he hadn’t foreseen.
And the outcome of it all.
Namgung Cheon couldn’t hide his chill.
Even as he heard—faint though it was—the unmistakable sound of people dying, Dan Woo-hyun had been smiling this whole while, hadn’t even blinked, and was casually passing the cup back and forth?
The thought alone sent ice down his spine.
The moment such a thing took root in his mind, he felt a deeper cold wash over him, and his voice rose sharply.
“What—what? The M-Murim Alliance!”
Namgung Cheon’s face drained of all color.

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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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