I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 58

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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 without good reason — Chapter 058
Several days had passed.
Jegal Su-yeon, strategist of the Murim Alliance, was receiving reports through Ju Ok-ya of the Biryong Division as he did every day, gathering information.
As always, there was nothing particularly noteworthy to report. The current Gangho was at peace.
Or rather.
It was steeped in peace.
Steeped meant…….
The true substance remained intact, only hidden beneath something else.
Fine cloth, beautiful colors, pleasant scents, elegant wrappings painted over or covered what lay beneath.
If fortune held, that true substance was good—good cloth merely made to appear better.
Nothing malicious in itself.
Yet the peace obscuring the present Gangho, permeating it, was not good. True, the comfort of peace might seem appealing on the surface, but if what lay hidden beneath—that true substance—reeked of rot and corruption, then the story changed entirely.
No…….
Even this thought seemed packaged in plausible words. In reality, people couldn’t be bothered with even that veneer of plausibility.
Peace was fact, and corruption and decay were equally undeniable facts. Both were laid bare on the surface.
Openly displayed.
Without shame or embarrassment.
By those who won, those who were strong, those who possessed much.
As though it were natural.
And so the stench of decay and corruption grew stronger.
Even when corruption festered, when rot spread, everyone knew—yet no one acknowledged it. There was no need to know.
Victory was enough, strength was enough, wealth was enough.
That was the nature of the present Gangho.
And so Jegal Su-yeon always asked the same question.
“Nothing out of the ordinary?”
As always, he expected nothing. But.
The face of Ju Ok-ya, leader of the Biryong Division, shifted with unmistakable significance.
“What is it?”
“Strategist. Today there is something unusual.”
“……Is that so?”
“I have no reason to jest with you, Strategist.”
That much was true.
“Quite right. Then speak.”
“Four days ago, an incident occurred. The Human Trafficking Organization suffered a loss.”
Jegal Su-yeon’s brow furrowed.
“……Is this true?”
It had been long—no, very long—since such a thing had happened. So much time had passed that it was difficult to gauge just how long it had been since the last occurrence.
“Yes, it is.”
“If the incident occurred four days ago, it would have taken place in Honam Province, correct?”
“As expected of you, Strategist. Yes, that is correct.”
“And the location?”
“Hyeongsan Fortress in Hyeongsan.”
“A fortress, then. Was the method the same as before?”
“Yes, Strategist. However, the unfortunate part is that they were members of our Murim Alliance.”
Shocked by the revelation, Jegal Su-yeon surged to his feet.
“Is this true?!”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Who were they?”
“They were Jang Hye-in, commander of the Biryong Division’s patrol unit who was recently promoted, and his subordinates.”
“……This is troubling.”
Jegal Su-yeon swallowed a sigh.
He had sensed that these people who had come together were unusually talented. Among them, particularly, a young man named Sa U-rin had stood out as truly exceptional.
That was precisely why he had dispatched Byeol-ryeong all the way to Sacheon Province to learn everything about Sa U-rin.
If Sa U-rin was not a dangerous person or a spy, then he was surely an extraordinary talent who would accomplish great deeds for the Murim Alliance. Jegal Su-yeon had intended to employ Sa U-rin, along with his commander and his unit members, for significant tasks benefiting the Alliance.
But now……it seemed that was no longer possible, and the thought weighed heavily on him.
More than heavy—it felt as though everything were collapsing.
All his future hopes.
That day when the dark clouds hanging over the Murim Alliance would finally break.
He couldn’t possibly not have known……so why commit such a reckless act?
Had they resolved themselves to death?
Isn’t that what it means to survive in the Gangho?
And yet……, and yet…….
This matter is different, is it not? Steeling oneself for death and accepting death are as different as heaven and earth.
Surely, this was work worthy of applause and great celebration…….
Regret and sighs alternated through Jegal Su-yeon’s mind and heart, wringing them relentlessly.
“I took the trouble to wear a mask, and it seems someone knew regardless.”
“……As expected.”
Was there truly nowhere in all the Gangho that the invisible hand could not reach?
Nothing unknown, no one ignorant, nothing unheard, nothing unseen—it seemed they lacked for none of these.
Did they truly rival heaven itself?
Suddenly, the fear was suffocating.
“Yes. The rumors are spreading little by little, as expected.”
“The same method, then.”
Word spreads gradually about who has harmed the Human Trafficking Organization. In that way, that person will tremble in anxiety until the very moment of their death.
“Yes. That is why it is frightening. Because it persists.”
“I see. Do the division commander and the other members know? That rumors are spreading?”
“It does not appear so, not yet.”
Jegal Su-yeon drew a bitter sigh.
“Sigh. They were talented men.”
“Friends you knew?”
Jegal Su-yeon’s head nodded, heavy with resignation.
“Yes.”
“You were keeping a close eye on them.”
“That is so.”
And for that reason, the regret ran deeper still.
Despite everything, he wished to do something for Jang Hye-in and his men.
Ju Ok-ya, of the Biryong Division, could guess what was on Jegal Su-yeon’s mind. She knew his character, and she understood the sincerity with which he desired the Murim Alliance to prosper.
And so Ju Ok-ya chose her words with care.
“Commander.”
“Yes?”
“Commander, you are thinking about what those friends need right now, are you not?”
“……How did you know?”
“It is my role and my duty.”
Ju Ok-ya believed that to discern what one’s superior was thinking, what intention they held, and then to act accordingly was the proper conduct of a subordinate.
Jegal Su-yeon’s lips curved into a pleased smile.
“Is that so?”
“It is only natural.”
“From what I understand, you did not conduct yourself this way with my predecessor?”
Ju Ok-ya’s lips too curved into a smile.
“As expected, you have investigated me.”
“Was it not necessary? You are to lead the Murim Alliance alongside me.”
“I have done the same. It is a fearful thing to speak aloud, but I have been watching you carefully all this while.”
To see if you were a person worthy of trust and loyalty.
“You speak such dangerous words without hesitation.”
“It is because I trust you.”
“I am grateful for that trust. So then, does the division chief have a good solution in mind?”
“Is there not a reward for merit?”
“A reward for merit…….”
It was far too obvious.
And yet, it was refreshingly straightforward. That was what made it good.
It was good.
Precisely because it was so obvious and natural a course of action that no one need suspect ulterior motives.
“And, is there anything better for warriors than growing stronger?”
“You are right. Thank you.”
And, so obvious was it that Jegal Su-yeon, known as a genius, had overlooked it entirely.
“It is naturally my duty to provide it.”
And so, Jegal Su-yeon and Ju Ok-ya exchanged smiles of trust.
* * *
The Warrior Dining Hall was beginning its morning meal service.
The moment Jang Hye-in and his men entered the hall, it erupted into murmurs. And yet, Jang Hye-in and his men seemed not to notice the commotion at all.
Today, as before, I couldn’t get a proper night’s sleep, so I was desperately tired.
At this rate, I thought I’d die of blood loss before any invisible hand could finish me off.
Jang Hye-in and his men, having collected their portions, sat down and stared only at Sa U-rin’s face.
Then Sa U-rin spoke.
“I think we can just eat now.”
If someone wanted to poison the rice, they’d have done it by now—they wouldn’t have dragged it out like this.
“Comfortable bastard.”
“Only thinking about himself.”
“If you’d just do us the kindness and let us die in peace, fine—but you’re taking so long about it because you can’t be bothered? Huh?”
“I thought all this pointless worry was just wasting your energy. You’re going to die anyway—might as well go with a clear conscience.”
“……Wow.”
“……He’s telling us to just drop dead.”
“Why not tell us to do it face-first into the plate while we’re at it?”
“Captain. See that? This is what our Sa U-rin is like.”
So Jang Hye-in spoke up.
“He’s not wrong. Just eat up, all of you. Looking at the state of you, I think you’ll really drop dead soon anyway.”
“……Wow.”
“……Traitor.”
Sa U-rin, who had been glancing around the dining hall, opened his mouth again.
“Captain. Everyone here is talking about us right now.”
“……Really?”
“Yes. Look. They’re all just staring at us.”
Jang Hye-in and his men glanced around nervously.
“……He’s right.”
“……What the hell. Why are they looking like that?”
“……Do we really look that pathetic?”
“Could that be why?”
“What else?”
“Hell if I know.”
So Jang Hye-in spoke loudly enough for everyone in the dining hall to hear.
“Hey! What?! What is it?!”
Everyone turned away then, not wanting to get bitten by a mad dog.
“……These guys are really something.”
Just then, the dining hall door burst open with violent force.
Bang.
It was Dok-hwa.
All eyes snapped toward her. The door had opened forcefully, yes—but more than that, a woman famous enough to command the Murim Alliance simply by her beauty had appeared in the Warrior Dining Hall.
Dok-hwa was in a state of profound agitation. Thick tears streamed down her cheeks and dampened her shoulders.
“Sa U-rin!”
Dok-hwa rushed toward Sa U-rin.
Sa U-rin rose from his seat. She had called his name, and he knew she was running toward him.
Thump.
Dok-hwa ran straight into Sa U-rin’s arms. Though he might have been startled, he didn’t hesitate—he simply held her.
For whatever reason, she was clearly weeping.
And in that instant, a gasp of astonishment echoed through the dining hall.
“Whoa.”
It was subdued, but it resonated loudly. Hundreds of warriors had exhaled it at once.
Everyone was shocked.
Dok-hwa herself……, the legendary Dok-hwa! Holding a man in her arms!
Wasn’t Dok-hwa a celestial being who treated men like stray dogs she passed on the street?
Certainly, that’s what everyone had always believed.
But…….
Dok-hwa had just embraced the Jade-Faced Fire Dragon!
Dok-hwa was the Jade-Faced Fire Dragon’s woman!
The men in the dining hall clenched their fists, and the women ground their teeth.
It was simply unbelievable. No—they didn’t want to believe it.
Even as they stared directly at what was happening before their eyes.
No matter that he was called the Jade-Faced Fire Dragon, he was still just a warrior of the Murim Alliance, wasn’t he?
And Dok-hwa was of direct lineage to the Dang Family of Sacheon.
Such a connection should be impossible. It must be impossible…….
What in the world…….
Dok-hwa, who had been weeping endlessly cradled in Sa U-rin’s embrace, parted her trembling lips in a whisper while remaining in his arms.
“Why did you do that?”
“If you ask me so bluntly, how am I supposed to know what you mean?”
Dok-hwa raised her large, liquid eyes and looked at Sa U-rin’s face.
Then she bit her lips, which glowed a deep red.
“The Human Trafficking Organization.”
“You knew?”
Dok-hwa nodded silently.
At that moment, Jang Hye-in and his officers, startled by what Dok-hwa had just said, looked to their leader to speak.
“……Miss. How did you come to know that?”
Dok-hwa withdrew from Sa U-rin’s embrace and wiped away the tears streaming down her face.
Then she turned her gaze—or rather, her glare—toward Jang Hye-in and his officers.
Her eyes blazed with a light so fierce it seemed ready to pour forth crimson flames at any moment.
“Division Commander.”
How could her eyes shift so suddenly…….
“……Yes.”
“A person of your standing shouldn’t do such things.”
“……What do you…….”
“Sa U-rin is not yet of age. You cannot involve him in such matters! Don’t you see?! This is clearly dangerous, so why on earth did you do it?! Tell me! Explain yourself!”
“……No…….”
Even if you seized an innocent person, there would be limits…….
But wasn’t it Jang Hye-in and his officers who were drawn into this affair, not Sa U-rin?
The injustice of it was almost unbearable.
Setting that aside for now.
Unjust as it was, what could he do about it?
Neither Jang Hye-in himself nor his officers were unaware of how much Dok-hwa cared for Sa U-rin, and he understood well enough the affection she bore toward protecting him.
But.
“How on earth did you learn this fact?”
“How? Everyone here already knows it!”
“……Everyone knows?”
“Of course!”
“……Ah.”
Only then did Jang Hye-in and his officers understand why the other warriors had been staring at them the way they had.
“Damn it.”
“We’re killing a man in public.”
“I really……want to die.”
“We’re……dying by inches.”
Just then, the dining hall door opened again, and a warrior appeared and spoke in a loud voice.
“After this meal, everyone without exception is to gather at the Grand Training Grounds!”
The dining hall stirred once more.

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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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