I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 14

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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 14
“These bastards, really…….”
Jang Hye-in’s eyes hardened with intensity as she met the burning gazes of the Squad Members one by one.
The gleaming eyes dimmed slightly in response.
‘Damn it.’
‘……Isn’t this it?’
‘That look in her eyes……terrifying…….’
When Squad Leader Jang Hye-in’s eyes went that way, she transformed into someone completely unhinged. No one could handle her. Especially not here, where there was no one to rein in a mad Squad Leader.
“You really want this?!”
“Yes!”
“Wow!”
“Oh!”
The dimmed eyes blazed back to life. When was the last time they got to see something this entertaining?
Not since they’d left the Murim Alliance, that’s for sure.
Jang Hye-in turned to Sa U-rin. “What about you?”
“If my opponent is the Squad Leader, I have no reason to refuse.”
Besides, he was severely lacking in real combat experience. That’s why he’d been willing to stake his life on a Life-and-Death Duel with Ma-in in the first place.
“Good. Then bring me the wooden swords.”
There was no need to draw blood in a simple Sparring Match between Squad Members.
And there was a reason Jang Hye-in wouldn’t shy away from a Sparring Match with the youngest member despite having no need to lower herself to the Squad Leader’s level — even at the risk of humiliating defeat.
As a Squad Leader, she needed to know each member’s exact capabilities so she could assign them roles suited to their strength, and gauge what level of missions Squad 11 could handle.
And there was another reason.
Jang Hye-in hadn’t had proper combat in so long that her body was practically crawling with restlessness — itching so intensely she was breaking out in hives.
At the Murim Alliance, there would have been countless opponents who could match her skill in a Sparring Match, but here at the Branch, that wasn’t the case.
The Squad Members’ martial strength was a full two tiers below her own, so Sparring Matches with them brought no real growth.
And then Sa U-rin had joined the Squad.
Sa U-rin had proven useful to Jang Hye-in in many ways.
Ju-un, who had been the youngest before Sa U-rin joined, quickly scurried off and returned with two wooden swords.
“Here, Squad Leader. And this one’s for our youngest.”
Jang Hye-in and Sa U-rin took the wooden swords. They stepped apart from each other, and the Squad Members nervously widened the circle around them.
“I should be the one to attack first, yes?”
“I have no preference.”
“Is that so? Still, you go first. I do have some pride, after all.”
“Very well.”
‘Why am I suddenly nervous?’
It had been far too long. A fight with real tension. Of course, it was only a Sparring Match, but the opponent was no ordinary person.
No — she was hoping he wasn’t. She hadn’t seen it herself, but she’d heard about it from Woo Chan.
That’s why her expectations ran even higher. The tension thrumming through her entire body was exhilarating.
‘Satisfy me.’
The corners of Jang Hye-in’s mouth lifted of their own accord.
“Whoa. Our Squad Leader’s really pumped up, huh?”
“Yeah. Now I’m even more nervous.”
“So who do you think wins this one?”
“The Squad Leader’s gotta win, right?”
“Yeah, she has to, right?”
“What if the Squad Leader loses…….”
“Man. Who’s gonna handle that?”
“The youngest would, wouldn’t he? Hahahaha.”
“Hey, looks like it’s about to start.”
Squad 11’s members held their breath.
“Shall I begin, then?”
“I’ll go crazy waiting, youngest.”
“You’re quite the character, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m just a Squad Leader so pretty you’d get it twisted.”
She was referring to the time he’d mistaken her reason for seeking him out — thinking she’d come because she wanted to court him.
“……Is this psychological warfare as well?”
“Impressive. Unflinching? Good. I’m even more curious now. Come at me.”
“If you wish it.”

Thump!
Sa U-rin pushed hard against the floor and shot toward Jang Hye-in.
‘There it is!’
He was fast.
Fast enough to make every nerve in Jang Hye-in’s body sharpen to a razor’s edge.
‘……What is this? The Samjae Sword Technique?’
It wasn’t a mixture of several movements—just a single, utterly simple strike.
A horizontal slash, one of the Samjae Sword Technique’s forms.
‘Really?’
Sa U-rin had done the same thing when fighting Ma-in.
Back then, he’d been testing his own ability; now, he was comparing Jang Hye-in’s skill against Ma-in’s.
‘……Hold on!’
As always, Sa U-rin’s simple slash was far from simple. Right before her eyes, the angle shifted abruptly.
Jang Hye-in only understood it wasn’t a straightforward horizontal strike when it reached her.
Clang!
But she parried it without difficulty.
“What is this—misdirection right from the start?”
The technique felt too simple to call it a variation. It was nothing more than a last-moment feint designed to throw her off.
“That might fool the others, but not me. Still, I’m your squad leader. Isn’t it a bit condescending of you? I’m disappointed.”
Ma-in seemed to have the edge in Inner Power, but Jang Hye-in was clearly superior when it came to swordplay.
“It’s not misdirection, Squad Leader.”
“Then what?”
“You simply didn’t see it.”
“……What? What didn’t I see?”
The squad members watching didn’t understand what he meant either.
“Since you didn’t see it, explaining won’t help you understand.”
“Really? Now my pride’s stung. Want to try again?”
“Why not.”
Sa U-rin launched the same attack again. But this time, the direction was different.
Clang!
Jang Hye-in blocked it more easily than before. Yet she still hadn’t grasped what Sa U-rin meant.
‘What didn’t I see?’
It seemed like nothing more than a simple variation.
“I still don’t see it.”
“Ma-in didn’t see it either.”
“Is that so? Then I’m not off the mark. Well, I’m warmed up now. Shall I take a turn?”
“Go ahead.”
Jang Hye-in began her attack. What followed was a back-and-forth exchange that stretched across the training ground.
But neither Jang Hye-in nor the members of Squad 11 found it tedious. Whenever she pressed hard or struggled to defend, sweat would bead on the squad members’ palms.
Jang Hye-in constantly probed for openings in Sa U-rin’s stance. Each time, his response was solid.
It remained so for a good half hour. But after that, she began noticing his reactions growing more relaxed. Soon she felt as though he was actually holding back for her sake.
Strangely, that didn’t anger or upset her. It felt like he was doing it for her benefit.
Just as Woo Chan had said, this man was growing stronger before her very eyes during the sparring match.
She’d thought Woo Chan must have been mistaken, but he wasn’t.
‘How does a creature like this even exist?’
He was practically a monster. And now she knew for certain.
‘He’s stronger than me.’
It was almost ridiculous to accept, but she did. And somehow, it felt exciting and good.
‘How could someone like this……’
have fallen under her command?
Of course, she’d been the one to pull him in.
‘This bastard……’
A windfall had simply rolled into her lap. And he was even considerate enough not to embarrass her in front of the squad members.
His first impression had seemed arrogant and willful, but spending time with him revealed he had his own sense of decorum and thoughtfulness.
And then.
‘That face……. Wait, what am I even thinking right now?’
Thoughts were free, but honestly, the age gap wasn’t that small, was it?
‘……But what does the age gap matter?’
Jang Hye-in looked no older than the mid-twenties herself. But even so, he was a squad member under her, wasn’t he?
‘……Actually, it’d be even better if he were just a squad member. Always together like that……. But where exactly am I going with this line of thinking?’
I’ve lost it, I’ve completely lost it.
Jang Hye-in, her thoughts in disarray, addressed Sa U-rin. Yet without realizing it, her voice came soft and peculiar—nothing like her usual tone.
“That’s enough for today. How was it?”
“…Good? What do you mean?”
“…No, I’m asking how the sparring match went.”
“Ah, yes. It was very helpful.”
“I enjoyed it too. …I mean, the sparring match was good.”
‘What is wrong with me?’
Her thoughts and her words had split in two.
“Well then, shall we all drink until our noses are crooked?”
The squad members approached Sa U-rin, their expressions filled with wonder and amazement.
“Wow.”
“We didn’t even get to see you fight the squad leader.”
“This is better than I expected.”
“The youngest is incredible.”
“Hey, you bastards. It’s not that the youngest is incredible—it’s that you’re all incompetent. You fools.”
“Wow, Squad Leader. That’s discrimination, isn’t it? So what about you, Squad Leader? Hmm?”
“I didn’t lose.”
“…That’s so cowardly.”
“Stop spouting nonsense and just drink.”
“Ugh, come on.”
Thus Sa U-rin’s welcome celebration continued through meat and alcohol until the stars above grew dim and retreated from the sky.
* * *
Several days had passed.
During morning training, Sa U-rin could bear it no longer and sought out Jang Hye-in.
Jang Hye-in was taken aback that Sa U-rin had come to find her so early.
“…What is it? What’s wrong?”
“I cannot focus on my training in this environment.”
“…This environment? What’s wrong with it?”
Since the day after the welcome celebration, the squad members had been watching Sa U-rin’s training with their eyes nearly bulging from their sockets.
“I’ve trained alone since I was five years old.”
“Ah, that. I told the kids to do that. But you really hate it that much?”
“Yes. I cannot concentrate at all.”
“Understood. I’ll speak to them again.”
There was no helping it. If he left the squad out of dislike, it would be troublesome. She had to give him what he wanted.
“Then, how about you spar with the kids and me occasionally instead? Including me.”
“That’s not bad. But in that case, no more holding back.”
“…All right.”
‘This bastard really says whatever he wants.’
Jang Hye-in decided that she would need to spare with Sa U-rin away from the squad members’ eyes. If she showed them an unseemly sight, the squad leader’s dignity would suffer.
“Anything else?”
“Nothing.”
“Then go on. Tell the kids to come in for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Just then the squad leader’s office door burst open loudly.
It was Jung-geol and Ju-un, who had been on patrol. Ju-un spoke hurriedly, gasping for breath.
“Squad Leader, Squad Leader. This is huge. Absolutely huge!”
“What is it? Why are you in such a panic?”
Ju-un drew his finger across his throat as he spoke.
“Last night the Dang Family attacked Unweol Gate, dragged off the gate master, his son, and five others. And they’ve disbanded Unweol Gate entirely.”
Jang Hye-in’s eyes widened.
“…What? Is that true? You didn’t pick up some bullshit rumor and come spouting it here, did you? If that’s the case, we’re finished.”
“Squad Leader, come on. Am I an idiot? I know perfectly well what happens if I spread lies—I’d get beaten like a dog.”
Jang Hye-in glanced at Sa U-rin’s face before speaking.
“…Hey. If someone hears that, they’ll think I actually do that.”
Ju-un’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What’s with you? You haven’t been drinking since this morning, have you?”
Jang Hye-in’s hand rose out of habit.
“…This bastard really…”
“Yes, yes. Look, what are you—”
Jang Hye-in lowered her hand without ever glancing at Sa U-rin again.
“How much have you found out?”
“I’ve confirmed it even with the street beggars in the capital.”
“Really?”
“Really, I’m telling you.”
“Why?”
“That part, I don’t know.”
“The beggars don’t know either?”
“Whether they know and are pretending not to, or genuinely don’t know—either way, they claim ignorance.”
Just then, the door to Jang Hye-in’s office opened again. It was In-hyuk, who had been watching Sa U-rin’s training.
“Squad Leader.”
“What is it now?”
“Well… outside…”
“What’s wrong with you? Spit it out!”
“That’s the thing…”
“What? You want to die too?”
“No, it’s not that. Outside… Dok-hwa’s here.”
“…Dok-hwa? You mean the youngest daughter of the Sacheon Dang Family?”
Dok-hwa, the youngest daughter who monopolized all the affection of the Sacheon Dang Family patriarch—a beautiful flower cradling poison in its heart, which is why she bore that name.
“…Yes.”
“Why would she come here?”
Ju-un jerked upright in alarm, practically leaping out of his seat.
“My lord, be careful—she might overhear.”
“What difference does it make? What’s she going to do about it?”
“Then perhaps you should speak more quietly.”
“You want to die? Anyway—why did she come?”
In-hyuk scratched the back of his head.
“She wishes to see the Squad Leader.”
“…Me? Why does she want to see me?”
His chest seemed to clench unexpectedly.
“How would I know that?”
“You bastard, you’re enjoying this.”
…
‘This is ridiculous.’

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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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