I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 18

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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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Joining the Murim Alliance for No Good Reason — Episode 018
Jang Hye-in and all the members of the team looked hollow-eyed, as though their souls had fled their bodies.
“……Chief, Chief. You…… you heard that, right?”
“……Yes.”
“……We didn’t mishear it, did we?”
“……I don’t think so.”
“She said…… the Bloody Wind is coming.”
“The Bloody Wind…….”
Not a cool breeze, and certainly not a refreshing one—not even the biting cold of a harsh winter wind that tears at flesh—but the Bloody Wind itself.
The Bloody Wind.
Wasn’t that the wind that blew when multiple people died?
Yes, now I understand what the Bloody Wind means. Everything is fine, sure.
Truth be told, what did it matter to the members of the 11th Team under the Murim Alliance whether a Bloody Wind swept through the Dang Family Estate, a tidal wave crashed down, or lightning struck from above?
What mattered was this:
“……Why did the youngest……?”
“Why did she drag her along?”
“Still…… it didn’t look like she was dragged…….”
“Either way.”
Jang Hye-in, feeling like he might go mad with frustration, called down to the guard standing beneath the pavilion.
“Excuse me…… do you happen to know anything?”
The guard simply shook his head repeatedly.
He knew nothing.
The guard was just as bewildered as they were.
Still, he reasoned it away. What, the Bloody Wind? That couldn’t actually happen, he thought.
This wasn’t some young lady who caused trouble every other day.
Even if she bled, it wouldn’t be a Bloody Wind—just a few drops of blood, surely.
“Chief…….”
As though giving voice to his own state of mind, Jang Hye-in suddenly shouted.
“What?!”
“No, why are you yelling like that…….”
“Don’t I look irritated right now?!”
“……You do.”
“Then why are you calling me?”
“The Bloody Wind…… it won’t reach us too, will it?”
It was a worry.
Whether that Bloody Wind blows toward the youngest or not hardly mattered anymore. He’d only been with them a few days, so the 11th Team wouldn’t suffer much loss even if he suddenly vanished.
They could simply fill the vacancy again.
All they could do was hope that the Bloody Wind would not reach the 11th Team itself.
“How would I know that?”
They all knew nothing equally.
“That youngest really is a headache.”
“She really is.”
Because she kept creating problems.
* * *
The carriage carrying Dang I-ryeong and Sa Woo-rin raced toward the Dang Family Estate at full speed without hesitation.
There was something crucial that had to be done before the sun rose.
Though Dang I-ryeong soon would face an enormously grave ordeal, having finally escaped the shackles of a nightmare that had lasted so long, she felt as though she could now accomplish anything.
For eight long years, Dang I-ryeong had been forced to live under the grip of solitude, unintentionally.
And so the alias “Poison Flower” had come to be.
Solitude could be called a poison, but in truth it was not poison at all. It was an insect so minute it was nearly invisible. Of course, ultimately it was something that killed people.
It was usually called the Yin-Yang Insect.
The Yin-ko was the one who commanded, and the Yang-ko was the life form that received commands. That Yang-ko had been residing in Dang I-ryeong’s mind for eight years, controlling her as it pleased.
Dang I-ryeong had no choice but to obey.
To do otherwise brought excruciating pain. Some might say that pain could be endured, but those who have not experienced it do not understand.
That humiliating sensation of one’s own body not obeying one’s own will, but being manipulated by another.
Naturally, she could not tell anyone.
Dang Won-hu, the current patriarch of the Great Sichuan Dang Family and Dang I-ryeong’s father, and Dang Mo-jun, the current retired patriarch and Dang I-ryeong’s grandfather, could have removed the solitude in her mind without any harm—but since she could not speak of it, there was nothing they could do.
Yet Sa Woo-rin, sitting right before her eyes, had eliminated that Yang-ko.
Though it was still hard to believe, Dang I-ryeong could feel it. That intolerably repulsive life form had vanished from her mind.
Because of this, Dang I-ryeong could now live according to her own will. She no longer had to perform the unwanted actions of the Poison Flower that made others point fingers and curse her behind her back.
How could one express such joy, such elation, in mere words?
It seemed impossible to capture it with any vocabulary, any emotion at all.
Perhaps someday, when many years have passed, she might find the words to describe what she feels now.
For now, she simply wanted to savor this freedom to its fullest.
There was a reason Sa Woo-rin had knocked Dang I-ryeong unconscious—she had sensed through Spirit Essence that loneliness dwelled in Dang I-ryeong’s mind.
Or rather, “sensed” hardly did it justice. For Sa Woo-rin, Spirit Essence drifting through nature was as visible as anything else.
Yes, visible.
A great sphere materializing before her eyes.
Sa Woo-rin knew well: above the Murim Alliance stood the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance, and the Five Great Families. The Sichuan Dang Family was one of them.
So she could have ignored it and walked past—but she hadn’t. Because unless Dang I-ryeong was truly wicked, Sa Woo-rin would have removed the Yin-ko from her mind regardless.
She was not the sort to prioritize only her own gain. Not like those her father despised.
And so Sa Woo-rin became Dang I-ryeong’s cherished savior.
In turn, Dang I-ryeong made one further request of her benefactor: to help her second brother as well.
Her second brother, Dang I-su, had begun behaving differently around the same time as Dang I-ryeong—just as she herself had.
She was certain of it because she knew who controlled the Yin-ko. It was her eldest brother: Dang I-hyeok.
The Family Head’s firstborn son.
The one who would soon take the seat of Deputy Family Head. That such a worthless creature—a disgrace to humanity—would lead the Great Sichuan Dang Family in years to come was infuriating beyond measure.
But that was before.
Thanks to Sa Woo-rin, who now sat before her, the Sichuan Dang Family could finally turn away from those dark days of gathering storm clouds toward a future bright with sunlight.
At the very least.
“I really can’t thank you enough.”
Even saying it a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times would not be enough.
“It was nothing, really. You’re being too much.”
“I mean it. I’m truly grateful.”
“For me, it was simple.”
Which was why it seemed so strange and incomprehensible.
Removing the Yin-ko of loneliness was something only a supreme master could accomplish—yet how had a mere warrior of the Murim Alliance, and not even a particularly strong one at that, managed to do it? The questions nagged at her.
To look at her, she hardly appeared formidable at all.
Indeed, with only her face shining brightly, her martial aura was so faint she could pass for a third-rate fighter—just another common warrior drifting through the martial world, unremarkable and weak.
And yet she had succeeded.
Dang I-ryeong was now free.
Whatever the source of her ability, Sa Woo-rin clearly possessed skills worth noting.
“So, tell me—is there anything you want?”
“Anything I want?”
“Yes. You’re the savior of my life, and soon you’ll be the savior of our Dang Family. My father will certainly offer you something, but I’d like to give you something too—whatever you wish, if it’s within my power.”
In her heart, she’d like to hand over the entire Sichuan Dang Family, but that was merely wishful thinking.
Still, thought was free.
Which made it all the better—now her thoughts could be truly free.
‘What do I… want?’
What could it be?
She’d never stopped to think about it before.
‘… To grow stronger?’
Yes.
There was only one thing Sa Woo-rin wanted now: to become stronger.
The great sphere—that was already being built. And there was another waiting ahead.
But Dang I-ryeong couldn’t make her stronger. That was Sa Woo-rin’s burden alone.
So then.
“There’s nothing.”
“… Nothing?”
“No.”
That couldn’t be right.
Who was Dang I-ryeong?
The youngest daughter of the Great Sichuan Dang Family Head, doted upon and cherished above all.
For such a person to say she wanted nothing?
‘She’s quite humble, isn’t she?’
Not like people nowadays. Or perhaps she was just being playfully modest.
Either way, it was fine. It looked good on her.
“Don’t be shy. If there’s something you want, tell me.”
“I really don’t want anything.”
“… Really?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
‘Something doesn’t add up.’
He seems to be missing something.
Unless he’s a fool, this makes no sense. To have nothing he desires from the Sichuan Dang Family? Surely he should want at least money?
No, there’s so much he could want even without money!
Right now, he could say he wants to marry Dang I-ryeong herself—wouldn’t that be allowed? If that happened, he’d escape being just another warrior in the Murim Alliance and seize enormous power and wealth all at once.
Fine. If he finds marriage distasteful because he’s still so young…….
He could say he wants to spend a single night with Dang I-ryeong…….
‘……No, what am I thinking!’
I’ve lost my mind. I must have.
In any case.
Any person should have ambitions and desires—it makes no sense that he has none.
“Your face just went red.”
Dang I-ryeong covered her flushed cheeks with her own hands, embarrassed.
“……Me?”
“Yeah. You.”
“No, it’s just…….”
“Thinking indecent thoughts?”
“……No, it’s not that.”
“Doesn’t sound like it—you’re stammering.”
“It’s because you said something so absurd!”
“Fine. I’ll take your word for it.”
“No, I’m serious, I’m not!”
“I hear you.”
……
‘Damn it.’
How did he figure it out just from her red face?
By the look of him, he’s not stupid—so why doesn’t he want anything?
He’s really something peculiar.
* * *
The carriage, which had been racing without pause, finally reached the Dang Family Estate. They arrived at the Yin Hour Beginning—between three and four in the morning.
Fortunately, they weren’t late.
This was where it mattered most.
Surely Dang I-hyeok, the eldest son of the Sichuan Dang Family head, would know. With one of the Yin-ko insects dead, he couldn’t possibly not know.
He would be waiting for Dang I-ryeong to appear. Or he might have already set out to find her.
He would know she wasn’t in the Dang Family Estate.
Though everyone else would be sleeping, Dang I-ryeong and Sa Woo-rin needed to move with utmost discretion and speed.
But sadly, they weren’t managing it. And the reason was Sa Woo-rin.
Dang I-ryeong believed Sa Woo-rin’s martial prowess was weak, so she had to match her pace. She couldn’t move alone, after all.
Even in this urgent situation.
“Moving this slowly is okay?”
“……Is this slow?”
Is she joking?
“It’s slow.”
Then what would be fast?
“Ah, I’m…….”
She’s thinking of her own pace.
“What about you?”
“Never mind. Should I speed up?”
“Yes.”
So Dang I-ryeong increased her speed.
“……What are you doing?”
“……What do you mean?”
“You said you’d speed up?”
She had. Slightly. Adjusted to Sa Woo-rin’s pace.
“I did speed up.”
“This is?”
“Yes.”
“Is it urgent or not?”
“It is urgent.”
This is all because of you right now.
“At your maximum speed.”
“……Really?”
He wouldn’t be able to keep up…….
“Come on.”
“……Okay.”
So she pushed harder. But somehow, her heart held her back—Dang I-ryeong didn’t quite reach her true maximum.
Still, he was her savior, and soon to be the Dang Family’s benefactor. She couldn’t let him fall behind in shame.
Even so, it was far from slow. Third-rate martial artists would never catch her at this pace.
‘……What is this?’
……He’s keeping up too easily?
“Hey.”
“……What? Why?”
“This won’t do. I’ll take the lead—you stay behind me.”
Sa Woo-rin, growing impatient at his sudden confidence, stepped forward.
“Oh, okay.”
What’s with this guy?
He’s nothing like she expected. She hadn’t even imagined him being like this. He didn’t look anything like it at all.
And somehow, that made him appear entirely different.
‘……He’s impressive.’
No, what am I even thinking!
Sa Woo-rin increased her speed.
Whoosh!
“……?”
Wow.
She’s incredibly fast.
No, wait.
“……Hey.”
At that speed, Dang I-ryeong couldn’t keep up. Sa Woo-rin was going all out now.
Sa Woo-rin had already vanished from Dang I-ryeong’s line of sight.
“Ah……! What do I do…….”
The task was already going wrong from the start. She had no way of knowing where Sa Woo-rin had gone.
Whoosh.
Sa Woo-rin suddenly reappeared before Dang I-ryeong’s eyes.
“……You…….”
“I don’t know where your father is staying.”
Of course. Sa Woo-rin wasn’t even from the Dang Family, and this was her first time at the Sichuan Dang Family.
Or anywhere else here, for that matter.
“……Right, right. Of course.”
“Get on my back.”
“……Huh?”
“Get on. Now.”
“On your back? You mean it?”
“Yes. We don’t have time.”
“Right, okay.”
Dang I-ryeong, caught off guard, climbed onto Sa Woo-rin’s back. Her warm back.
No—it felt like molten lava boiling beneath her.
It wasn’t Sa Woo-rin’s back that burned. It was Dang I-ryeong’s heart.
“You just ride and point with your finger to show me the way. Understand?”
“……Okay, yes.”
Whoosh.
‘……So fast…….’
……What is this?
……What could it be?
……How is this happening?
Dang I-ryeong’s cheeks were flushing red again.

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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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