Chronicles of the Martial God’s Return - Chapter 122

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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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“What are you babbling about!”
A furious roar erupted from the Alliance Master Hall of the Murim Alliance.
The room where he stayed was thick with fragrant incense, and several women lay scattered about, drenched in sweat.
Then there was the Alliance Master himself, the true owner of this place.
Mo Yong Hyuk-mun’s condition was scarcely better.
His naked body looked as gaunt as that of a man who hadn’t eaten properly in months. His frame had wasted away noticeably compared to just a few months ago, and his hollow eyes gave the impression of someone ravaged by illness.
Yet indifferent to his own deteriorating state, he rose from his seat and hastily wrapped a White Robe around himself before opening the door.
The sharp clash of blades echoed violently from outside.
“Did I not ask you what was happening?”
“Ah, Father, t-this is serious!”
“Then what exactly is it!”
Mo Yong Hyuk-mun pressed Mo Yong Gwan-cheon, his brow darkening.
Had the Demonic Cult or some Heterodox Sect launched an assault?
The screams echoing from all directions surely meant people dying and killing. Wasn’t the stench of blood already reaching this place?
“T-the Nine Schools and One House are attempting to seize control of the Alliance!”
“What… what did you say! These worthless vermin!”
Bang!
At those words, Mo Yong Hyuk-mun’s fury detonated.
He harbored no doubt or suspicion at his son’s words. All that filled his mind was the image of the Nine Schools and One House—whom he had been patronizing—now drawing blades and storming the Master Hall.
Mo Yong Hyuk-mun reached out his hand.
A sharp crack sounded from his quarters, and his treasured sword flew into his grip.
“Whoever dares raise a hand against me will not leave this place alive!”
Clang!
Mo Yong Hyuk-mun’s shout resounded throughout the entire Murim Alliance.
Within his formidable Inner Power—the strength known as the Sword Emperor—there dwelt an unreadable, sinister edge.
Even Mo Yong Gwan-cheon, standing beside him, could not hide his shock.
His father’s martial prowess had grown even stronger than it was a few months ago.
It seemed as though he might now surpass even the Sword Emperor himself.
Truly, this was his father!
How much time had passed since he became the Murim Alliance Master, and already he had elevated his cultivation to this degree and seized such power. Even with his constant indulgences, he had never neglected his training and mental discipline.
Mo Yong Gwan-cheon smirked.
‘These foolish wretches from the Nine Schools and One House! Let me show them exactly what happens when you defy our father!’
For Mo Yong Gwan-cheon, who had never stepped out of his father’s shadow since childhood and had lived solely in dependence upon him, Mo Yong Hyuk-mun was nothing less than heaven itself.
With him to lean upon, everything falls into place.
See it now.
By following Mo Yong Hyuk-mun’s lead, he had grasped the immense power of the Murim Alliance.
And now, all those who dared oppose that power would be slaughtered. Mo Yong Gwan-cheon drew his blade and steadied his breathing. The thought of the Nine Schools and One House’s Renowned Masters kneeling before him was enough to make him laugh already.
“Man Hu-ryang! Where is that man? He has failed to properly manage those beneath him and deserves punishment for it.”
“T-that is… I went to find him, but I cannot locate where he has gone.”
Mo Yong Hyuk-mun shot his son an incredulous look. Gone? How could that possibly be? The man was the Director of this entire Murim Alliance.
How could he expect to believe that the one responsible for managing everything would be absent at such a moment?
In the instant his brow furrowed.
Whisper-whisper!
A group of men descended before Mo Yong Hyuk-mun.
Judging by the startled expression even Mo Yong Gwan-cheon wore, it seemed they had been completely unaware of these men’s presence until they appeared before their eyes.
“Who are you!”
He cried out and quickly grasped his sword.
Though he seemed ready to strike at a moment’s notice, the leanest-looking man among them paid Mo Yong Gwan-cheon no attention whatsoever and bowed his head before Mo Yong Hyuk-mun.
“The Director sent us. He bade us protect the Alliance Master.”
“Hmph, so the fellow still has his wits about him after all.”
Mo Yong Hyuk-mun nodded readily.
Judging by their aura, these men appeared to be among the strongest. Well, Man Hu-ryang was essentially the wealthiest man in the Central Plains, so it was hardly strange that he would keep such capable guards at his side.
Bang!
At that moment, the door to the Master Hall shattered.
Those pouring in were unmistakably familiar faces—just as Mo Yong Gwan-cheon had said, the Renowned Masters of the Nine Schools and One House had gathered and were now charging into the Master Hall.
Mo Yong Hyuk-mun slowly drew his blade.
“Alliance Master! It is time for you to relinquish that seat!”
At the sharp, ringing sound, he snorted dismissively.

Apart from Ma Jang-gang and Kwon Mu-jin, who were protecting Dan So-mi, and Jang Sam-tae, the three men stood before the Stone Wall of the Murim Alliance, listening to sounds as fierce as a battlefield in full fury.
“Weren’t we supposed to use a secret passage?”
Sa Do-hak frowned and muttered his complaint.
Hadn’t they said there was a secret passage to enter the Murim Alliance? He’d thought that if he could avoid such a thing, it would be ideal.
Yet Namgung Cheon had led them to stand before this very wall.
What could his reason be?
Naturally, it meant climbing over like a night thief.
At his age, he had to scale a wall? The shame of it.
Sa Do-hak pushed out his lip and grumbled.
“In the current situation, how long will it take to get to that passage? Scaling the wall is faster.”
“But even so! We have our dignity and standing—does it make any sense, logically speaking, to climb over a wall like this?”
At that, Namgung Cheon tapped the mask covering his face. He seemed to want to say that wearing such a thing rendered all pretense of dignity pointless.
Sa Do-hak was left without words and snorted again.
“Hmph!”
“Let’s go in. It looks rather amusing.”
Then Dan Woo-hyun’s eyes gleamed with interest, and he launched himself forward. With a light spring, he cleared the high wall in a single bound and landed atop the roof beyond.
His light, agile movements were like those of a feather.
Sa Do-hak and Namgung Cheon watched him for a moment, then followed. For reasons they couldn’t quite grasp, he seemed enormously pleased.
After all, wasn’t watching a fight said to be the most entertaining thing in the world?
They climbed onto the roof and surveyed their surroundings.
It was utter chaos.
Some wielded their blades with ferocity, while others were surrendering. Most were doing so. They were all martial artists belonging to the Murim Alliance, and beyond lacking loyalty to the Alliance Master, their opponents were Renowned Masters of the Nine Schools and One House.
Unless one wished to die, it made sense to drop one’s sword.
Watching this, Dan Woo-hyun’s expression grew lukewarm.
He’d imagined more blood, something that truly felt like a battlefield. But aside from the sounds, the actual combat was smaller and less impressive than he’d hoped.
“Disappointing.”
“These are Renowned Masters of the Nine Schools and One House, no less. The vast majority of those belonging to the Murim Alliance are made up of Outer Disciples or Inner Disciples, with perhaps a scattering of Wanderers of exceptional ability.”
There was no way this could be a true fight.
This was different from those who’d plotted rebellion to become emperor. Whereas some risked their lives to protect an emperor, the Alliance Master was merely protected by a faction of his own family.
Most of the sounds of clashing blades came from the warriors of the Moyong Family who had gathered to protect Mo Yong Hyuk-mun.
Dan Woo-hyun pushed off again and leaped forward in long, bounding strides. Though he didn’t know where he was going, he seemed to be following some faint sense, drawn toward something.
Was he heading toward the Alliance Master Hall?
Yet somehow, without knowing the way, he was finding it.
“This direction looks far more interesting.”
“There he goes…… We’re not here for amusement, mind you…….”
Namgung Cheon broke into a cold sweat.
Their ultimate purpose was to meet the Murim Alliance Master, Mo Yong Hyuk-mun, and speak with him. Yet with this unexpected chaos erupting, Namgung Cheon found himself in an impossible position—should he attempt to mediate, or simply let events unfold?
Dan Woo-hyun stopped and looked down at the scene below.
A fierce battle was raging.
It was distinctly different from what they’d seen moments before. Those defending were undoubtedly using the Divine Force Technique, overwhelming their opponents completely, while the Renowned Masters of the Nine Schools and One House attacking them seemed to struggle even to parry each blow.
“How can such a thing be possible…… Who are these people?”
Namgung Cheon, too, found himself speechless as he watched.
Every Martial World Alliance Master always has an honor guard. When Namgung Cheon had been in the Alliance Master Hall before, he’d also observed hidden figures silently protecting him.
But those before him now were different from such men.
The aura emanating from their bodies was razor-sharp.
It was like looking at sword blades given form. Moreover, their Divine Force Technique seemed far more refined than anything he’d witnessed before—this was no illusion.
Their eyes showed no bloodlust, nor did they appear to have lost their will. Like puppets, they moved mechanically, swinging their swords and repelling each attacker.
Before the entrance to the Alliance Master Hall.
Though the Renowned Masters of the Nine Schools and One House had easily penetrated this far, they still had not reached Mo Yong Hyuk-mun—and these warriors were the reason why.
Numerous bodies lay scattered around.
Faces he recognized.
Some lay without the slightest movement, while others writhed in agony.
Namgung Cheon turned his gaze away. He could not bear to witness the death of those who had followed him.
“Is that Mo Yong Hyuk-mun?”
Then Dan Woo-hyun looked toward a particular spot and asked.
Namgung Cheon forced himself to turn and look. Before the door that led into the Alliance Master Hall, standing motionless, was the silhouette of his old friend.
He immediately lost words and his eyes widened.
The figure before him was not the man he had once known.
He had grown painfully gaunt. Whether from neglecting even basic meals, his frame had withered to little more than skin and bone, and the fact that he could stand holding a sword at all seemed almost miraculous.
His eyes were hollow.
Like a man who hadn’t slept in ages.
Could this truly be Mo Yong Hyuk-mun?
Even passing by, one could scarcely believe it.
And look—
Beyond the wide-open door, the blurred figures of naked women were dimly visible. One could guess what must have been happening inside.
The scene proved the rumors were no idle gossip.
Namgung Cheon squeezed his eyes shut.
He drew the sword from his grip and hurled himself into the fray. Landing at the heart of the chaos, flashes of brilliance erupted in all directions the instant his feet touched ground.
Screech!
Those he cut down were the ones guarding Mo Yong Hyuk-mun. The flashes of steel were countless; those who could not dodge in time fell severed in two, littering the floor.
All fighting ceased in that instant.
Because of the unexpected intruder who had burst into the hall.
The faces of the Martial World’s renowned masters trembled, and Mo Yong Hyuk-mun’s expression darkened.
“What manner of fool are you? Do you know where you are, swinging your blade about so recklessly?”
Mo Yong Hyuk-mun spoke with a somewhat bitter smile. The moment he perceived the swordwork of his opponent, he recognized it was no ordinary display, and his curiosity about the intruder’s identity burned intensely.
At the hollow voice reaching his ears, Namgung Cheon’s breath caught for a moment. Behind his unseen mask, he found himself smiling wryly, his fingers flexing around the sword hilt.
After a pause, as if having made a decision, he muttered while facing Mo Yong Hyuk-mun.
“I am called… the Gentleman’s Sword.”
His words rang out quietly through the chamber.

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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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