I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 23

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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 League for No Reason — Episode 23
In the dead of night, when all of the Sacheon-dang Family slept, an emergency alarm sounded once more.
Because of one tremendous crash that jolted everyone awake.
That single blast shattered three-tenths of the Guest Pavilion. The only mercy was that the rubble and debris hadn’t buried the 11th Squad members who had been sleeping soundly inside.
Still, it was only natural that those sudden sleepers had to wake in shock.
The 11th Squad members burst from their rooms and looked around.
“……What on earth…….”
Jang Hye In managed the longest sentence. The rest of the squad members could only stand with their mouths open, unable to speak.
They’d been attacked in their sleep, right before their eyes. The image of what could have happened to them if they’d been buried under that wreckage painted itself clearly in their minds.
“……This is…….”
What else could they think but that someone had tried to kill them?
But who? Why? What possible reason?
Moreover, weren’t the 11th Squad members staying in the Guest Pavilion of the great Sacheon-dang Family?
Who in the Martial World would dare attack guests of the Sacheon-dang Family?
No matter how many questions they posed, each one only spawned another in its wake.
Jang Hye In and the 11th Squad members turned their eyes toward the Training Grounds.
“……That person……no, that…….”
Even for Murim League warriors, not to know was even stranger.
“Dok Wang…….”
“The squad leader — why is he…….”
Standing alone in the Training Grounds?
No matter how they looked around, there was no one else nearby.
Then…….
The question of why Dok Wang had tried to kill them arose again, seeming impossible to answer.
Had he lost his mind?
That couldn’t be.
An Absolute Expert losing his mind — the thought was preposterous.
Yet something seemed terribly wrong.
If an Absolute Expert of Dok Wang’s caliber had tried to kill them while they slept, would he have failed so badly?
It made no sense.
Then what on earth was the reason…….
As their minds reeled with unanswerable questions, many people began to gather. But once they confirmed that Dok Wang was in the Training Grounds, they merely watched from a distance.
‘The Patriarch has caused another incident.’
‘Things are already chaotic enough in the family without this.’
‘Why is the Patriarch acting like this?’
And among them, some did step closer to Dok Wang — namely, the Family Head, the Second Elder, and the Third Elder, Dang Yi Ryeong.
The Family Head, Dang Won Hu, confirming that Dok Wang — his own father — was the source of the chaos, let out a heavy sigh and turned to gesture the surprised guards captain to send the crowds back.
They were already about to leave anyway.
Then he approached Dok Wang’s side.
“Sigh. Father?”
He was asking what in the world had happened on this moonlit night.
Dok Wang spoke with perfect composure, as though he’d done nothing wrong.
“You saw it yourself — don’t you understand?”
He wasn’t asking because he didn’t know, was he?
“Surely there was a reason for this?”
He wasn’t losing his mind, after all.
“I was correcting that young pup’s manners. Now, send for a physician at once.”
“A physician?”
“Yes. It shouldn’t be too serious, but he took quite a hit.”
“The young pup — do you mean…….”
“……Grandfather, surely…….”
Ah!
Among those staying in the Guest Pavilion, there was suddenly one young person who fit that description.
And Dok Wang’s words hadn’t escaped Jang Hye In and the 11th Squad members either.
“Squad leader, could it be…….”
Jang Hye In quickly scanned the surroundings. The 11th Squad members turned their heads in all directions.
“……Where’s Sa Woo Rin?”
“……I don’t see him…….”
“Squad leader, could he be…….”
They pointed beneath the ruins of the collapsed pavilion.
“This bastard causing trouble again…….”
Not a single day passed without incident.
“What exactly has Sa Woo Rin done to make Dok Wang go this far…….”
“We said we’d correct his manners.”
“The youngest does lack respect, that much is true.”
Jang Hye In’s face twisted in frustration.
“You bastards, seriously. Find Sa Woo Rin already, what are you waiting for?”
“I think we can skip the search.”
“Now what…….”
“There’s the youngest, coming out now.”
Sa Woo Rin was squeezing his way out through the rubble and debris.
His clothes were torn to shreds here and there, looking barely better than rags, but he showed no signs of serious injury. Nevertheless, Jang Hye In rushed toward him, her worry overwhelming her.
“Sa Woo Rin!”
It wasn’t just Jang Hye In. Dang Yi Ryeong also hurried toward him with a startled expression.
“Sa Woo Rin!”
As Jang Hye In and Dang Yi Ryeong approached, their eyes met in front of Sa Woo Rin.
‘What’s with this woman?’
What exactly was their relationship?
‘Why is this old lady acting like this?’
Could she be harboring some unseemly interest in Sa Woo Rin despite her age?
“I’m fine, just give me a moment.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Don’t worry. Squad Leader.”
“Sa Woo Rin, you should still see a physician.”
“I’m really fine.”
Sa Woo Rin turned away from Jang Hye In and Dang Yi Ryeong and made his way back to the Training Grounds where Dok Wang was waiting. At that, Dang Yi Ryeong followed close behind him.
“……I’m uneasy.”
Jang Hye In couldn’t bring herself to go that far. Frustrated by her own restraint, she found herself biting her lip without knowing it.
“What are you uneasy about?”
Seo Woo Chan had appeared at Jang Hye In’s side.
“……Uneasy about what?”
“You just said it. That you’re uneasy.”
“……I did?”
“Yes. Squad Leader.”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember saying that.”
Jang Hye In’s gaze remained fixed on Dang Yi Ryeong’s retreating figure following Sa Woo Rin.
‘Uneasy.’
This time, Seo Woo Chan felt the unease.
Meanwhile.
Dok Wang’s expression grew somewhat bewildered as he watched Sa Woo Rin walk casually out of the hall’s ruined remains.
‘……How is he…….’
He had naturally employed Force Control.
One couldn’t kill a boy just to correct his manners, after all.
Even so.
Normally a youth should be bedridden for at least a day or two. How was he walking out on his own two feet without a scratch?
‘……Did I hold back too much?’
No.
Who was Dok Wang?
Was he not a warrior who had reached the realm of an Absolute Expert?
In other words, he was a martial master who had reached a level where something like Force Control could not fail.
So how had this fresh-faced boy walked out unscathed?
“……How are you unhurt?”
Sa Woo Rin bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for your guidance.”
Guidance?
Dok Wang had offered the boy no guidance. He had merely raised a hand to correct his manners…….
What could he possibly have learned?
Or……did this punk speak with a mocking tone?
If by any chance that were truly the case, wouldn’t he be a dead man?
“Is that so? Then tell me. What did you learn from me?”
Perhaps he’ll say nothing at all, or try to slip past it with some halting tongue-twisting nonsense.
How could anyone grasp a teaching that was never given? That’s impossible.
“I saw it. Why an Absolute Expert is an Absolute Expert.”
Well, there we have it.
Utter rambling, nothing more. A stray dog passing by could spit out words like that.
So I pressed further.
“Explain it in detail.”
This boy.
He’s run out of things to say.
If he uttered another platitude, I wouldn’t let it slide this time.
“I saw that Mind Arises, Qi Naturally Follows.”
Just as I thought.
“Talk like that is merely—”
Wait. Hold on.
Did he really see it?
Without reaching the realm of an Absolute Expert, it’s impossible to know such a thing. In other words, if one hasn’t seen it, it cannot cross the lips.
The Sacheon-dang Family master, Dang Won Hu, who had been listening beside me, was deeply startled.
“You really saw it?”
Something he himself had yet to perceive.
“Yes, Family Master.”
“Hah.”
I was at a loss for words.
‘What on earth is this child…’
What extraordinary ability does he possess?
Perhaps it’s related to his ability to sense Yin-Yang Resonance. Yet the origin of that power itself is suspect.
What’s more, the fact that such a remarkable boy is merely a foot soldier of the Murim League only deepened the suspicion.
Dok Wang, harboring similar thoughts, questioned Sa Woo Rin again.
“What is your true identity?”
“As I said, I am a warrior of the Sunyeong County Branch.”
“You wretch!”
Dok Wang’s atmosphere turned harsh.
“You know full well what I’m asking, yet you spout such nonsense?”
“I understand.”
“Then?”
“That’s why I’ve told you exactly as it is.”
“You truly have nothing to hide?”
At that, Jang Hye In, unable to bear it any longer, interjected.
“Forgive my interruption, but it is the truth.”
Dok Wang’s gaze shifted to Jang Hye In.
“Who are you?”
“I am the commander of the Sunyeong County Branch.”
“Interesting. Then, can you stake your life on what you’re saying?”
In that moment, Jang Hye In’s eyes widened.
“…My life, sir?”
“That’s right. Are you certain?”
Jang Hye In had, in the brief time she’d observed Sa Woo Rin’s inexplicable strength, discerned what she could. Yet there was nothing remarkable to note.
“You don’t seem confident.”
“…It’s not that. The truth is, this person has only belonged to our squad for a few days. However, from what I’ve been able to observe, there’s nothing extraordinary.”
“A few days?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Then tell me what you have observed.”
Why is he pressing so hard?
Jang Hye In sensed that Dok Wang’s demeanor was grave, and decided she should at least share what she knew.
“…Very well. This person was born in Sunyeong County and has lived there all his life. His father passed when he was thirteen, and from then until just days ago, he lived within a gambling house. That is all I know.”
Dok Wang’s brow furrowed.
“Is that truly all?”
“It is.”
“It must be…”
Yet no matter how I consider it, it seems there’s more to this. Everything in this world has a reason.
When a person is born, there must be love between man and woman, or lust; and when a person dies, there are countless reasons—
So there must be a reason for strength, for extraordinary ability.
A direct bloodline from some vast martial school with a long tradition, or a disciple of one, or perhaps a student of someone wielding extraordinary martial prowess.
In other words, nothing in this world falls from heaven without cause. Nothing should fall from heaven except rain and snow, thunder and lightning.
Yet this boy possessed exceptional abilities for no apparent reason, and was absurdly strong.
Surely there had to be a reason somewhere. He couldn’t have simply fallen from the sky.
Dok Wang’s gaze turned toward his own son.
“Father. Why have you allowed these people to stay in the Guest Pavilion?”
“It’s rather a long story.”
“No matter. Tell me.”
Only then could he decide whether to kill this boy here or let him live.
That was how the world worked.
That was how the Martial World worked.
A man strong without reason—or rather, a man whose strength could not be explained—if he were not of his blood, not one of his allies, then it was necessary to nip him in the bud early, for the sake of the Martial World, for the sake of the Sacheon-dang Family.
Even if you knew the reason for a man’s strength, it was better to kill him if you could.
That way, you could reduce the number of unpredictable variables.
That way, you could maintain your present power and authority across the long years.

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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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