I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 111

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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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Entering the Murim Alliance for No Good Reason — Episode 111
The Blue Dragon Martial Arts Tournament was a festival for martial artists.
And this day was a festival for ordinary people as well.
Normally, commoners had no opportunity to witness martial duels between masters firsthand.
Occasionally they might catch glimpses of passing travelers or porters from escort houses, but sometimes they’d find themselves entangled in death instead.
Thus, it was dangerous.
But what of the Blue Dragon Martial Arts Tournament?
Was it not an opportunity to enjoy the spectacle without risk?
On this day alone, they could savor the prowess of martial artists up close, making it a day unlike any other for them.
So ordinary folk streamed in like ants to a feast.
And for merchants, who lived and died by profit, it was an unparalleled chance to rub shoulders with the powers of Gangho and secure their merchants’ guilds’ futures.
And the Five Great Merchant Guilds that held Joongyeon in their grip did not stay away. Least of all from such a grand gathering of Gangho.
The Yaesung Merchant Guild of Hobeok Province.
The Geumhon Merchant Guild of Seomseong Province.
The Wonhyeon Merchant Guild of Habuk Province.
The Sanon Merchant Guild of Gwangseo Province.
The Biyeong Merchant Guild of Jeolgangseong Province.
The masters of these five guilds gathered in secret the day after the banquet ended.
* * *
The faces of the five guild masters had grown far more grave than before.
“This is entirely unexpected.”
“Indeed. That they should proceed with such a thing without a single word to us—it is deeply unsettling.”
“Surely this means they intend to seize Gangho without our hand in it?”
“Perhaps we need not view it so darkly.”
“What do you mean? Are they not even now seeking to claim the seat of Murim Alliance Leader?”
“That much is true. Yet have we not, in our own way, advanced our own designs without reporting every detail?”
They had deemed it unnecessary to report trivial matters, and that had been their custom until now.
“True as that may be, this matter is…….”
It had strayed far beyond expectation.
Cheon Hoon Mun coveting the seat of the Murim Alliance Leader, the center of the Orthodox Faction?
It was unthinkable. And this was surely no trifling matter to be brushed aside lightly, and——
Moreover, was it not a scheme that excluded them entirely?
And so their anxiety was beyond measure.
“Let us observe. Nothing has come to pass yet. Even should they claim the seat of Murim Alliance Leader, they will not immediately bare their ambitions to consume Gangho. It is difficult to assume they harbor such ambitions in the first place.”
“Still, I cannot make sense of it. These people, who lived quietly for so long—what sudden shift is this?”
“Who among us can say? But there is one thing certain.”
“They will no longer remain hidden.”
“Indeed.”
“Hah. Would you become just like them?”
“We are no different from them. We too wish to wield the power we possess.”
For merchants, power is wealth. And so they wielded wealth as power. There were times when money was more terrifying than the blade of a martial artist, wielding greater force.
Or rather, it had always been so. Of course, without the aid of Cheon Hoon Mun, none of it would have been possible.
“No different? Hah. I am left without words.”
It was far too true.
“Still, is there no way to stop them? Truly, should they seize the seat of Murim Alliance Leader, we might well find ourselves pushed to the margins.”
A prospect none wished to contemplate. Of course, they all believed it would not come to pass.
Without wealth, nothing in this world could be done.
Yet still they worried. The future was unknowable, after all.
“Honestly, I wish I could find a way. But there is none. If there were, I would hear it myself.”
“Hah. All that remains is to entrust it to Heaven.”
“Hah. So it comes to this.”
They had not imagined a moment would come when they were utterly powerless.
“To entrust it to Heaven… I wonder if there exists anyone who could match the martial artists of Cheon Hoon Mun.”
“Hah.”
“Alas.”
The five guild masters had never faced a crisis so grave in all their lives.
What they thought, they could achieve.
What they desired, they could obtain.
“And yet another problem has arisen, has it not?”
“Hah. Troubles never come singly.”
“I never expected the Jang Family to move like this.”
“And on top of that, the martial artist connected to the Blood Friendship Sect turned out to be the Witch’s son. Truly, a headache-inducing situation.”
“It seems the Witch made her move at that moment.”
“Then he must have survived and escaped from there.”
“To think he was the Witch’s son. I was shocked when I first heard the news myself.”
If the Witch had caught wind that they were somehow connected to that incident, it could lead to something catastrophic.
And these five merchant guild leaders knew—or rather, suspected—something crucial.
That the Witch Jang Ryeo was the Greatest Master Under Heaven in the Gangho today.
Yet there remained something they did not know.
That the Witch Jang Ryeo was far stronger than they imagined.
Still, they placed their faith in the Cheon Hoon Mun.
Believing that one Witch could be dealt with easily.
Or rather, that they possessed sufficient ability to dispose of her even if it proved difficult.
Having worked together for centuries, they understood the Cheon Hoon Mun’s power well.
Which was why they regarded this move by the Cheon Hoon Mun as extraordinarily dangerous.
“In a manner of speaking, this matter is even graver. The Jang Family’s mobilization has swung the entire balance of power in the Gangho toward the Orthodox Faction.”
“And furthermore, the Murim Alliance’s power will only grow stronger.”
“Hmm. That’s precisely why it’s a larger problem. The position of Murim Alliance Leader has become all the more critical.”
“Hmm. Truly vexing indeed.”
“But I must say, from what I’ve gathered, this Witch’s son has emerged as a formidable front-runner in the tournament.”
“I’m aware. But he’s still in his prime years. He merely trades on his mother’s name to gain renown.”
“What if that renown is truly born of skill?”
“Even so, he won’t prevail against the Cheon Hoon Mun’s martial artist.”
“I’ve heard that the Cheon Hoon Mun’s disciple is also still in his prime years.”
“Why do you ask if you already know? The martial arts they’ve mastered are exceptional.”
“……That may be true. Yet surely we can afford some hope, can we not?”
“Hmm. Well, even if we shouldn’t—”
“We can’t dismiss it entirely. Is the Witch an ordinary person?”
“The Witch is no ordinary person. But her son—he is different.”
“I think otherwise. It’s not unreasonable to prepare for contingencies.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The four other guild leaders leaned forward, ears alert.
“We can’t know how the Cheon Hoon Mun will move forward, can we?”
“……We should pray they don’t.”
“That’s precisely my point. We can’t simply stand idle and leave everything to fate.”
“Do you have a sound strategy?”
“Not a sound one, but we ought to have a contingency plan at least.”
“Then tell us.”
“Yes, let’s hear it.”
“Having some contingency is better than none.”
Regardless of whether the Witch’s son wins the tournament, we should join hands with the Jang Family. The Orthodox Faction’s power will soon shift dramatically in their favor.”
“……It seems you know something we don’t.”
“Among the foremost masters in the realm, the Witch is the one whose movements are most difficult to discern. And frustratingly, here too, her actions have remained opaque.”
“That’s true.”
“Which is what makes this even more troublesome.”
“However, by good fortune, I’ve learned who the Witch has been meeting.”
“……Is that so?”
“Hmm. Now that does pique one’s curiosity.”
“Surely you don’t mean that business with the Baek-ri Family? We all know of that already.”
“Are you truly speaking of what happened that day? If so, this is hardly worth hearing.”
“No. Of course that day was significant, but they’ve met since then as well.”
The four guild leaders’ eyes widened.
“……Truly?”
“You mean to say that’s a fact?”
“Indeed. That’s why I bring it up.”
“……Frankly, it’s hard to believe. The Witch, Dok-wang, and the Gaebang’s leader together? And so suddenly, at that.”
“And Jegal Gun-sa was present there as well.”
“What? Are you certain of this?”
“I am.”
“Do you know the reason they gathered?”
“Unfortunately, I’m not aware of such details.”
“……This is troublesome.”
“That’s precisely why I’m saying we must join hands with the Jang Family and prepare for contingencies.”
“There’s merit in that, but I’m not certain it’s even possible.”
“Wouldn’t it be more urgent to discover why they came together in the first place?”
“Then we must grow closer to the Jang Family?”
“It does seem like something we’ll need to do either way. The problem is, I see no clear path forward. Both Dok-wang and Cheol-gae are figures who stand apart.”
“There’s no need to rush. Let us proceed slowly, as we always have.”
“Even so, if the Cheon Hoon Mun catches wind of our activities…….”
“Should we abandon our plans for fear of maggots? And besides, we maintain relations with more than one faction. Let us take this lightly, and they too will think nothing of it.”
“If that’s the case…….”
“For now, let us simply enjoy this martial arts tournament.”
“I came intending to do so, but circumstances won’t allow it.”
“What’s to be done? The situation is as it is. We shall simply do what we can.”
“True. I share that view.”
“Good. Then let us proceed. Let us enjoy ourselves.”
“Indeed. Let us do so.”
* * *
So Seol-ru sought out the Cheon Hoon Mun, whose quarters lay within the Murim Alliance grounds.
Under normal circumstances, the Cheon Hoon Mun would never have been granted designated lodging within the Alliance, but through the influence of five merchant guilds, they enjoyed treatment equal to that of renowned major sects. As a result, many had begun to take interest in the rising faction.
Though little of substance could be discerned.
In the private training ground provided by the Murim Alliance to the Cheon Hoon Mun, Seol-yeon was conducting her practice.
While training, Seol-yeon sensed someone watching her. She paused her exercises—and could feel that whoever observed her had also cultivated the same Honyeon art.
“Who goes there? Show yourself.”
At this, So Seol-ru, who had been lurking in the shadows observing Seol-yeon’s practice, grimaced and stepped into view.
“As expected, you were aware of me?”
Though So Seol-ru and Seol-yeon had learned the same Honyeon art, they had no previous acquaintance. Yet Seol-yeon spoke to her plainly while So Seol-ru addressed her with formal respect—this distinction arose from the hierarchy that existed within the Cheon Hoon Mun.
Just as martial achievement determined rank and position, so too did innate talent for perceiving Honyeon Energy establish a hierarchy fixed from the very beginning.
This was why.
Seol-yeon, who had sensed the highest grade of Honyeon even as a trainee, held a senior rank; So Seol-ru, capable of perceiving only intermediate-level Honyeon, was positioned at an intermediate rank.
Though they had learned the same martial art, their progress in achievement differed markedly according to their rank.
“I was under the impression no one from the Cheon Hoon Mun was present at the Alliance. How do you move about freely here?”
“Ah, that came about differently. I was originally in Gwiju Province, but I received orders to approach the Witch’s son, and now I remain at his side.”
‘The Witch’s son……?’
“……You don’t mean Sa U-rin?”
“Yes.”
So Seol-ru’s demeanor suddenly shifted.
It would all come to light soon enough anyway.
“……You, you say yes?”
“Yes. Why?”
Why, indeed?

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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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