I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 112

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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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112
Seol-yeon’s eyes widened in alarm.
“……You’ve lost your fear. Surely you know how strict Cheon Hoon Mun’s discipline is?”
“I know.”
“Then?”
“After I make my approach, you’ll figure it out yourself, won’t you? Whether what I’m saying is true or not. Either way, it’ll all come to light eventually.”
‘……Come to light?’
What was he getting at?
“You’re planning to betray…….”
“It’s not betrayal.”
“……Then what is it?”
“It applies to both of us, doesn’t it?”
“……What does?”
“We were kidnapped. By them. Why? Don’t you remember? Or do you just not want to?”
Eighty percent of Cheon Hoon Mun’s members were composed of the kidnapped.
Seol-yeon’s brow furrowed.
“……My memory is that I grew stronger because of Cheon Hoon Mun. That’s all I choose to remember.”
“Ah. So you’ve forgotten even the love of the mother and father who gave you life? Walking around wearing a human mask? Is that how you want to live?”
“Spare me the nonsense. But why were you speaking formally at first?”
Seol-yeon had no desire to share his story with anyone.
“I wanted to see that look of shock on your face.”
“……Shock? I was merely surprised for a moment, that’s all.”
“Ah, is that so? That’s not what my eyes told me.”
“Your abilities must be that limited, then.”
“Ah, I see. You must feel fortunate to be so talented.”
“But why did you come? Surely not just to tell me you’ve betrayed Cheon Hoon Mun. Or did you come hoping to die by my hand?”
Seol-yeon wanted to hurl his blade at So Seol-ru’s face, which was twisted in mockery.
“This isn’t Cheon Hoon Mun. This is the Murim Alliance. What do you think will happen if you kill me here?”
His competition eligibility for the Cheongryong Murim Tournament would be revoked, and he would be thrown into the Thunder Prison, the Murim Alliance’s dungeon.
Murder was forbidden within the Murim Alliance. Especially the murder of a warrior affiliated with it.
“I know that much.”
So Seol-ru spoke with confidence. The Seol-yeon standing before him was clearly a novice to Kangho.
Therefore, he reasoned, there was much the man still didn’t understand.
“Well, thank goodness. I thought you might not know. Yes, you should at least know this much.”
Unless you were a complete fool.
“So? Why did you come to me?”
So Seol-ru’s playful expression suddenly turned grave.
“Cheon Hoon Mun didn’t just kidnap me—they took my family hostage as well.”
Seol-yeon’s eyes trembled. This was exactly what he didn’t want to hear. He’d been fighting hard to push it from his mind…….
Irritation surged up within him at this sudden intrusion, at being raked over like this.
“……And? Why do you insist on telling me this?”
“My mother and father died after I was kidnapped.”
‘Could mine have also…….’
Hadn’t he already considered that possibility?
“……So what exactly are you trying to say?”
“Listen to the end.”
“…….”
“You were kidnapped too, weren’t you? Weren’t you?”
Seol-yeon did not want to answer.
“Yes. Cheon Hoon Mun would have no interest in someone like me.”
He was a person of no consequence—useful if they needed him, disposable if they didn’t.
“You know that too. That’s why I’m appearing before you now. Cheon Hoon Mun is rotten from the very beginning. I don’t know what they’re trying to achieve with such a damned undertaking, but it’s clearly wrong. That’s what Cheon Hoon Mun is. They kidnap children and push their families into the abyss of misery. Do you truly wish to dedicate the rest of your life to such a place?”
“……I’ve already said it clearly. I became strong because of Cheon Hoon Mun.”
“Ha. I’m sure that’s true. But there are likely many like me. We’re too afraid of Cheon Hoon Mun to dare do anything about it.”
“……But how are you still alive?”
“Me? Sa U-rin and Sa U-rin’s mother protect me. And someday, I will have my revenge on Cheon Hoon Mun.”
‘Revenge…….’
Seol-yeon had thought of that word before. As a child, he’d wept alone countless times. Ground his teeth. Made vows.
But.
“……It’s impossible.”
“I suppose so. But now, revenge against Cheon Hoon Mun—that’s the reason I’m alive.”
“Haven’t you thought for a moment that Sa U-rin might be put in danger because of you?”
“What? Are you worried about Sa U-rin now?”
‘Me… worrying about Sa U-rin?’
Seol-yeon’s eyes faltered for a moment.
“……No. I’m simply trying to remind you that others will suffer because of your actions.”
“Fine, let’s say that’s true. After all, at first I only approached Sa U-rin on Cheon Hoon Mun’s orders.”
“……And?”
“But somehow, without realizing it, I found myself opening my heart to that man.”
“……So?”
“Sa U-rin offered to help me himself. He said he’d kill the one who controlled me and get my sister and me out of there. Thanks to him, I’m living well now. That’s why I’m telling you—think carefully about this.”
“……About what?”
“About your revenge on Cheon Hoon Mun. If you truly have no intention of pursuing it, there’s nothing I can do. But do you really not understand?”
“……Understand what?”
“Cheon Hoon Mun built a castle on sand. One day it will crumble to dust without a sound—that kind of castle. And I’m not the only one like me, am I? Think carefully.”
Seol-yeon, who had hesitated for a moment, opened his mouth again.
“……I’m different from you.”
“I’m sure you are.”
He must be someone important to Cheon Hoon Mun. That’s why the treatment would be different. The fact that he’s competing as Cheon Hoon Mun’s representative in the Cheongryong Murim Tournament speaks for itself.
“But here’s the thing. What if you fail to win this Cheongryong Murim Tournament? Do you think Cheon Hoon Mun would look upon you favorably?”
There would certainly be censure. Severe censure at that.
Cheon Hoon Mun naturally expected Seol-yeon to win this Cheongryong Murim Tournament. Seol-yeon himself certainly did too.
But if, by some terrible misfortune, such a thing were to happen……
Seol-yeon knew full well what horrors would befall him.
“……That won’t happen.”
“No. That is something that will happen soon.”
“……What do you mean by that?”
“Sa U-rin will win this Cheongryong Murim Tournament.”
So Seol-ru believed this.
Sa U-rin was the kind of man who inspired such belief.
‘……Sa U-rin?’
No. Hadn’t they even faced each other directly?
Now that he thought about it, something was strange.
Based on what Seol-yeon himself had felt……shouldn’t Sa U-rin have died in the battle against the Baekri Clan?
“……Why do I sense nothing from Sa U-rin? Did you feel the same?”
So Seol-ru understood Seol-yeon’s meaning immediately.
“I did.”
“……Yet you’re so certain of his strength?”
‘……Why is that?’
Until now, Seol-yeon had never failed to sense anyone.
“That’s right.”
“Why is that the case?”
“I wouldn’t know. Natural talent, I suppose.”
So Seol-ru naturally knew the truth, but this was something that must never be revealed to the outside world, so she said nothing.
“But is Sa U-rin truly that strong?”
“You’ll understand once you experience it yourself.”
“……Then so be it.”
“So think about it carefully.”
“……No need. No matter how strong Sa U-rin is, I will win.”
Absolutely.
I have to succeed no matter what.
“Fine, do it if you can. But that’s not what I’m saying. Don’t trust Cheon Hoon Mun too much.”
“……Enough. Get out.”
He didn’t want to hear any more.
“If you ever find yourself in such a situation, seek out Sa U-rin. He will help you.”
“Don’t trust either of you too much. If Cheon Hoon Mun moves, even the witch won’t amount to much.”
“Will that truly be the case?”
“They say ignorance is bliss, and you’re the living proof.”
“Isn’t it you who truly doesn’t know the truth?”
“……Just get out already.”
“All right, I’m going. And from now on, don’t pretend you know me. Truth is, I’d rather you hadn’t come to Sa U-rin in the first place. So don’t come. Understood? I’m really leaving now.”
“…….”
With that, So Seol-ru rose and departed.
Seol-yeon’s mind kept circling back to the words she’d left behind as she left.
“……Don’t come?”
It had felt like truth.
But then.
“She definitely said to come, too.”
That had felt like truth as well.
“Between the two…….”
It wasn’t easy to tell which was real.
“No.”
Seol-yeon shook his head violently, his mind churning. Sa U-rin kept appearing unbidden in his thoughts.
“I have to forget…….”
But the memories kept surfacing.
“Why here, of all places…….”
To meet him here. And what if they had to face each other as opponents?
And if the opponent really turned out to be Sa U-rin…….
“How would I…….”
Face him? He had no idea. His vision blurred. All he could do was pray such a thing never came to pass.
* * *
“Wow!”
“Ended it in one second again!”
“Incredible!”
“He really was a championship contender!”
“With a face like that, he’s basically already won.”
The entire Murim Alliance was filled with roaring acclaim.
The Cheongryong Murim Tournament had begun. Nearly a thousand Late-Stage Martial Artists were pouring everything they had into displaying their true strength.
But beneath the tide of cheers lurked bitterness, self-reproach, regret, frustration, and despair.
The cheers belonged only to the victor. It was only natural.
And.
“But what about Cheon Hoon Mun?”
“Right? I’ve never heard of that sect before.”
“I heard they’re newly established?”
“That’s what I heard too.”
“But they’re incredible, aren’t they? If you ask me, they’d count as championship contenders.”
“Same.”
“This really could be exciting.”
“Maybe someone outside the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans could actually win this year?”
“Yes. Especially the witch’s son from the Jang Family.”
“I’d vote for the witch’s son too.”
“Nah. Still, the championship will go to the traditional powers in the end.”
“Then it’s too predictable to be fun.”
“What can you do? You can’t just ignore tradition.”
And it was true.
The traditional powerhouses remained formidable. The championship contenders bearing that tradition were methodically stacking up victories.
For seven full days, preliminary rounds that felt like main rounds continued daily. Now only thirty-two remained.
The real main rounds would begin in earnest. As expected, the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans had breezed through the preliminaries.
And Sa U-rin from the Jang Family, as well as Seol-yeon from Cheon Hoon Mun, had also passed through the preliminaries without difficulty, basking in thunderous cheers.
The reason all these traditional powerhouses passed through the preliminaries so smoothly was, as always, thanks to a carefully arranged bracket.
But that was as far as it went.
Cheong So-un, the Second Disciple of Kunlun School and one of the championship contenders, had been matched against Sa U-rin, the witch’s son from the Jang Family, in the Round of Thirty-Two.
Naturally, countless eyes fixed upon this matchup.
And the upper seats of the Tournament Arena where the bout would take place were now filled with figures rarely seen there before.
It was a clash that commanded that much attention.
The witch Jang Ryeo was seated there as well, of course.
Jang Ryeo opened her mouth as the match loomed.
“My, what do we have here? Looks like Kunlun’s about to be knocked out in the Round of Thirty-Two.”
At that, the Kunlun School Sect Leader’s brow furrowed. But he held his tongue, preserving his dignity.
“……We shall see.”
“Does a sect leader of Kunlun’s stature lack eyes in his head? I can see it plain enough.”
At this, the Dang Mo-jun and the Gang Leader of Gaebang seated nearby shook their heads slowly.
Jegal Su-yeon could only shift uncomfortably in his seat.
Those who knew Jang Ryeo understood what was happening—she was deliberately provoking the Kunlun School Sect Leader.
It was a headache, pure and simple.
With Sa U-rin absent, there was no one to rein her in.
If by some misfortune the Kunlun School Sect Leader took offense and unleashed his displeasure on Jang Ryeo without restraint, what then would unfold?
“Sigh.”
A breath escaped from Jegal Su-yeon unbidden.

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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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