Dokmaeuiseon - Chapter 165
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 165
The Inner Sanctum of the Sahyeolryeon Headquarters was extravagantly ornate to an excessive degree.
Red silk and gold-plated decorations covered the walls, incense smoke slowly rose along the ceiling, and
Martial Artists stood in rows to guard him.
‘No matter when I see it, it’s excessively over the top.’
All of this was an environment the Blood Lotus Master had created himself.
It was to display the grandeur he could show at present.
It was quite an effective sight for many Martial Artists.
In fact, many would become intimidated even before meeting the Alliance Leader.
“Alliance Leader. I have brought him.”
“Tell him to enter.”
Only after walking deep into the palace-like Inner Hall could the Guild Master finally see the Alliance Leader.
After making him take that long walk,
The Alliance Leader was leisurely leaning back in his seat.
The middle-aged Alliance Leader. Though his hair was mixed with gray strands, there wasn’t a single disheveled strand.
Even his wrinkles were neat like traces of having endured the years.
Instead of sharp killing intent, long-accumulated composure and dignity were ingrained in him.
Rather than the leader of an Evil Sect, he seemed closer to having the bearing of a great man who knew how to stand above countless people.
The Guild Master stared at him blankly and gave a cupped fist salute.
“I greet the Alliance Leader.”
The Alliance Leader received the greeting while rolling the cup he held in his hand.
“It’s been a while, Jang Heon. Should I call you Swift Blade?”
“I abandoned that old false name long ago.”
“Hmm… To abandon that, those who died by your hand would lament.”
“Would the already dead matter?”
“Indeed, would one who drives even the living to death care about the dead?”
“…”
The Alliance Leader’s expression was relaxed.
However, the words he threw at the Guild Master were sharp, unlike that composure.
At this, the Guild Master intuited.
‘Tsk. He’s already heard about the Hangzhou incident. He also heard that Ju Ma-ji-sal went there. I can’t figure out where he hears things so quickly.’
The Alliance Leader was reading the situation in Murim.
More deeply, before he as Guild Master could even speak.
The Alliance Leader definitely possessed an information network that no one else knew about.
‘I certainly thought we were moving together.’
After all, even the Guild Master was dreaming different dreams from the Alliance Leader.
Though they were on the same ship, they were only using each other.
In the midst of this, complaining about stealing one small pouch was something only amateurs would do.
“Didn’t we drive them out together?”
“Hmm. Did we do that?”
“We drove them out because the Alliance Leader wanted it. And I showed you results befitting that, didn’t I?”
The Guild Master put forward the achievements he had established.
“One was lacking from that.”
“It’s only one, isn’t it?”
“Even a dam collapses from one small hole.”
The Alliance Leader denied this.
It was utterly shameless.
However, it wasn’t the Alliance Leader who was in need, but the Guild Master.
The Guild Master also decided to proceed shamelessly.
“Fortunately, it’s convenient.”
“Convenient?”
“That one has just been filled, as the Alliance Leader seems to know?”
“Hmm… The Guild Master seems to consider that filled as well.”
“Isn’t it enough as long as blood flows?”
He showed an attitude of considering even the Hangzhou incident an opportunity.
“Hmm. Blood also has types to choose from. It should have been Orthodox Sect blood flowing, not fellow Evil Sect blood. That would be right.”
“Hangzhou is special.”
“Because it’s special, the blood should have been chosen more carefully.”
At that, the Alliance Leader now showed concern for the Unorthodox Sect Members.
‘What a disgusting old man.’
Until the Alliance Leader rose to his position,
Everyone in the world knew he had taken the necks of more Unorthodox Sect Members than most Orthodox Sect masters.
Yet in the midst of this, saying Unorthodox Sect Members shouldn’t shed blood.
It was nonsensical talk.
“Tsk. Fine then. What can be done? Even if it’s not perfect, living with what’s lacking is life, isn’t it? I suppose I should acknowledge this much.”
“…”
The Alliance Leader stubbornly pressed the Guild Master for a long while.
Then only when the Guild Master fell silent did he stop.
To anyone watching, it was the Alliance Leader’s scheme to shake and control the Guild Master.
“What? Don’t you like me acknowledging it?”
However, the Guild Master had no choice but to knowingly submit to that scheme.
“…How could I dislike it?”
“Hehe. Then that’s settled.”
Having consumed a considerable number of the organization’s martial artists at the Blood Temple.
And now with Ju Ma-ji-sal dead as well.
The scales had tipped toward the Alliance Leader.
In this situation, forcing further conflict would yield nothing.
“Since you said that life’s shortcomings must be filled as we go, I intend to arrange a way to fill them this time.”
“Yes. I had expected as much. Let me hear it. What is it?”
“You need to go to Hangzhou.”
At this, the Alliance Leader tilted his head.
“Rather sudden, isn’t it?”
“It’s not sudden. The game board has already been overturned, hasn’t it?”
“Hangzhou. Hangzhou…”
The Alliance Leader nodded while lifting his cup.
“Shouldn’t we cut down from the root someone who might become the next greatest martial artist under heaven?”
“Isn’t he just now hearing talk of being Hangzhou’s greatest? I too was once the greatest skilled martial artist of a province.”
“The age is different.”
“Hmm…”
The Alliance Leader smiled to the end.
“Then all the more reason I have no need to step forward, don’t you think?”
The Guild Master’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“This isn’t just Hangzhou’s problem anymore.”
“Hangzhou has always had many problems.”
The Alliance Leader calmly cut off the conversation.
“Yet it’s still standing fine, isn’t it.”
The Guild Master steadied his breathing and spoke.
“That man doesn’t draw lines.”
The Alliance Leader’s hand stopped.
“…Doesn’t draw lines?”
“Yes. He neither crosses them nor touches them—he simply eliminates them.”
A moment of silence.
However, the Alliance Leader soon smiled again.
“So you’re saying I’m needed.”
“If the Alliance Leader were to show himself in Hangzhou—”
“At that moment.”
The Alliance Leader picked up the words.
“All eyes would turn to me. I would put on a damned clown show.”
“…”
The Guild Master didn’t answer.
“And what about that man?”
The Alliance Leader said while setting down his cup.
“He would laugh. At the fool who stupidly invaded his territory.”
The Guild Master’s brow furrowed.
“The Alliance Leader is taking the situation too lightly.”
“No. You’re taking it too seriously, so I’m doing this, aren’t I.”
The Alliance Leader slowly rose to his feet.
He looked down at the Guild Master and spoke.
“Then what do you wish to do?”
“Since the game has changed, we have no choice but to play it anew, don’t we.”
“Are you saying you won’t go directly to Hangzhou?”
“I won’t go.”
The Alliance Leader spoke clearly.
“At least, not in the way the Guild Master wants.”
He waved his hand.
“Instead.”
The Guild Master’s gaze returned.
“Let’s make that man move first.”
“…You mean to watch?”
The Alliance Leader smiled.
“Yes. I’ll watch how Hangzhou changes.”
“You’ll regret it if you do that.”
“Regret. I’ve already done plenty of that.”
The Guild Master was silent for a moment.
The Four Blood Alliance Leader didn’t miss that opening.
“If you really want it, there’s another way.”
He spoke softly.
“You’ll go to Hangzhou.”
The Guild Master’s eyes hardened.
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
Ryeonju said it casually.
“That’s…”
“That’s….”
“Why? Do I look dangerous?”
Ryeonju tilted her head.
“Or would you rather not see it with your own two eyes?”
The chairman gritted his teeth.
“Hm. How refreshing. But don’t be too angry. I won’t send you alone. I’ll attach forces worthy of those who caused the blood temple incident.”
“…Understood. I’ll be back.”
“Hmph. How refreshing. But don’t be too angry. I won’t send you alone. I’ll give you companions fitting for those who caused such bloodshed.”
From the beginning, what the Guild Master wanted was Ryeon’s power, not the Alliance Leader.
We have reinforcements. This changes everything.
From the beginning, what the sect leader wanted was Ryeon’s power, not Ryeon himself.
A small but controllable power suited the chairman’s taste better than an uncontrollable force.
The Guild Master was confident he could lure those skilled martial artists to his own organization.
‘Ryeonju. You’ll regret this.’
Besides, if only he would assign a master to help.
He was a guild leader who was confident he could lure those masters and bring as many as he wanted to his own guild.
The Alliance Leader waved his hand while sitting in his seat.
At this, the Guild Master obediently turned around.
The moment he stepped out the door, the Alliance Leader’s voice flowed from behind.
“Ah.”
The Guild Master stopped.
“If that man happens to find out where you came from.”
The Alliance Leader added with a smile.
“Don’t think about running away. Since he’s someone who even sent Ju Ma-ji-sal, you should see it through to the end, shouldn’t you?”
The whirlpool stopped.
Inside the inner hall, only the sound of the Alliance Leader tilting his wine cup spread softly.
* * *
Clang—!
The swords had already clashed several times.
“Huff…”
Song In’s breathing as he faced the sword was already rough.
Clang—!
The sound of clashing swords echoed through the medical hall.
He already knew that his current situation was only sustainable because Jung Myeong, who faced him with the sword, was showing consideration.
However, he felt no embarrassment whatsoever about this.
Rather than embarrassment, it was competitive spirit.
Song In’s breathing had already grown ragged as he faced the sword.
The ground was left with a chaotic mess of scratch marks from toes.
Song In assessed the situation while simultaneously moving his sword.
His breathing had become ragged, and his mental strength had been depleted for quite some time.
He already knew that he could endure his current predicament because Jeongmyeong, who faced him with sword in hand, was showing him consideration.
Even though it’s just a sparring match, I’m being shown consideration.
However, he felt no embarrassment whatsoever about it.
Isn’t this a sparring match with Jeong Myeong, who is called the number one in Hangzhou?
Competitive spirit rather than embarrassment.
Song-in was filled with a desire for improvement, wanting to learn even just a little, rather than being driven by competitiveness.
‘It’s impossible to break through even an inch from the front.’
Splash—!
Song In assessed the situation while simultaneously moving his sword.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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