I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 59

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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 Nothing — Episode 059
The Inner Hall, situated at the heart of the Murim Alliance.
Within that Inner Hall, at its highest point where it seemed to pierce the heavens itself, dwelt the Alliance Lord.
The Alliance Lord’s direct subordinates were the Myeolgeom-dae and the Cheongun-jisa-dae. Yet the Cheongun-jisa-dae, though nominally under the Alliance Lord’s direct command, was in reality nothing more than an organization that existed for the sake of existing.
Most of its positions were occupied by those planted there by the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans.
In other words, it was an organization swayed by the will of the elders dispatched from the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans.
As a result, it leaned toward no single faction. And so it received no fitting assignments either, for the Elder Council’s opinions aligned only rarely.
Thus the Cheongun-jisa-dae was merely a shell.
But the Myeolgeom-dae alone was an organization that obeyed only the Alliance Lord’s commands. It was also the collective of the Murim Alliance’s strongest martial masters.
An Alliance Lord capable of moving such a force could naturally wield the greatest power within the Murim Alliance.
Yet even so, reality dictated that the Alliance Lord could not exercise power befitting his station.
Not since the Murim Alliance’s founding purpose—the peace of Baekdo’s Gangho—had transformed into a coalition of the powerful.
And Hyeon-wi, the current Alliance Lord, could scarcely be unaware of such things.
Alliance Lord Hyeon-wi had once been a member of the Myeolgeom-dae.
It was this very Alliance Lord whom the strategist Jegal Su-yeon now sought out.
“Strategist, what brings you at such an early hour?”
Private audiences between the Alliance Lord and his strategist were exceedingly rare. Ideally, they ought to have met more often, but with the Gangho at peace, there was little requiring serious consultation between them.
Yet the true reason was that these two wielded the greatest share of power within the Murim Alliance, and their positions were fundamentally incompatible.
“There is an urgent matter I must report, and so I have presumed to seek your audience.”
The Alliance Lord’s displeasure showed plainly across his face.
“A matter to report to me? Well, that is welcome news indeed. Come then, let me hear this report of yours.”
The strategist Su-yeon spoke without regard for the Alliance Lord’s arrogant expression.
“I suspect you may already be aware, Alliance Lord, but I shall inform you nonetheless. Several days past, there occurred a matter at Hyungsan-chae in Honam Province—the elimination of a Human Trafficking Organization. Are you familiar with this?”
The Alliance Lord’s lips curled upward.
“I am.”
“Then you must also be aware that the deed was accomplished by warriors under the command of our Murim Alliance’s patrol unit, the Biryong-dae.”
“Of course.”
“Then I shall speak freely. I wish for the Gwicheon-gak, the Murim Alliance’s treasure vault, to be opened for the benefit of those who captured the Human Trafficking Organization.”
The Gwicheon-gak, the treasure vault of the Murim Alliance.
A repository of precious elixirs and countless valuable swords. Moreover, the Gwicheon-gak had not opened its doors even once in the span of ten long years.
Though it had been opened on rare personal occasions.
The Alliance Lord Hyeon-wi’s brow furrowed.
“The Gwicheon-gak, you say?”
“Indeed.”
“I do not believe this warrants such a measure.”
“I, however, believe it does warrant such action.”
Alliance Lord Hyeon-wi’s lips curved into a smile.
“Hah! If the Strategist believes it warranted, then so it must be. After all, my opinion was never necessary to begin with, was it?”
He meant that the strategist could have proceeded with the matter without his consent.
Though his mood would have been foul regardless.
“Nonetheless, I believed even the minimum courtesy of reporting was necessary.”
“Now you report at your own discretion too. Very well, what will you bestow upon them?”
“Both.”
Both the elixir and the precious sword.
“Both, is it? Whether I should call them blessed or unfortunate.”
He meant that treasures were wasted on men destined to die.
“But tell me—what do you truly hope to gain by going to such lengths?”
He was after all the Alliance’s strategist, was he not? One did not lavish such extraordinary rewards for the accomplishment of a single minor deed.
The Alliance Lord suspected he expected some significant effect from opening the Gwicheon-gak.
“To awaken the warriors of the Murim Alliance.”
He knew.
That it was impossible.
Yet Jegal Su-yeon had no choice but to try nonetheless.
Had you not heard?
Of the warriors of the Murim Alliance.
How the unit commander and her subordinates, knowing full well they would likely die, had nonetheless braved the Human Trafficking Organization and rescued the women it had abducted—had you not heard this news?
That was why.
That was why merely standing idle felt shameful and unworthy.
Shameful was he who spoke only with words, he who dreamed only in slumber.
And so he resolved to kindle a flame. No—he had to breathe upon it so that it burned bright and fierce.
To become a flame capable of illuminating even the faintest darkness. So that wicked spirits and vile creatures would turn tail in fear.
Even if that flame eventually guttered out, unable to fulfill its role.
And so the Murim Alliance Master Hyeon-wi broke into hearty laughter.
“Puhahahaha! This is delightful. Truly delightful. That the military strategist harbors such modest notions—I simply cannot stop laughing! Hahaha!”
“I am pleased to see the Master so amused.”
The Master had spoken with mockery, and so the strategist had answered in kind.
“Is that so?”
“It is.”
The Master’s eyebrows twitched.
“You may withdraw now that your report is complete.”
“Understood.”
And so Jegal Su-yeon, the military strategist, rose to leave.
Murim Alliance Master Hyeon-wi continued staring at the doorway through which the strategist had vanished.
Then he laughed again.
With a twisted smile.
“Hah. Of all things. That cursed fool Ganghi suddenly comes to mind.”
* * *
It was most extraordinary.
Never before had every warrior within the Murim Alliance gathered in one place like this.
By order of the military strategist, all save those of clan-leader rank assembled on the Great Training Grounds of the Murim Alliance.
Murmur, murmur.
Rustle, rustle.
Jegal Su-yeon, the military strategist, ascended the platform with grave composure.
The chaos of the hall fell silent.
Every eye turned toward the strategist standing upon the platform.
“You have all heard the rumors spreading throughout the Murim Alliance of late.”
The strategist paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the thousands of assembled warriors.
As if rumors within the Murim Alliance were few and far between.
Baseless whispers—or those requiring no investigation whatsoever—perpetually circled the Alliance.
Some man had caught some woman’s eye, they say.
Someone had made a fortune recently, they say.
Court favor with the right people and advancement comes swiftly, they say.
And so forth.
Yet those gathered here on the Great Training Grounds sensed instinctively which rumor the military strategist meant to address.
The strategist resumed speaking.
“That is correct. Someone among you here has eradicated the Human Trafficking Organization.”
The murmuring and rustling swelled once more.
And all eyes fixed upon Jang Hye-in and his unit.
And whispers were heard.
Madmen.
Have they nothing better to do?
If they must die, let them die with grace.
Is this something others cannot accomplish?
Senseless fools.
Playing heroes on their way straight to the grave.
Yet there were those who offered encouragement.
Magnificent!
Admirable.
May they survive to the end.
The strategist’s voice grew forceful.
“Yes. You all believed them destined to perish! And yet they acted. They fulfilled what any Murim Alliance warrior ought rightly to do! And make no mistake—it is a deed worthy of pride, a heroic deed, deserving of all respect! A feat none other could accomplish! Therefore, as military strategist, I shall bestow upon them a reward!”
Murmur, murmur.
Rustle, rustle.
Tsk.
A reward to spend on wine and revelry before the end, no doubt.
Yes, eat and drink your fill before you die.
But then—
“The gates of Gwicheon-gak have been opened!”
……Insane.
……Did I hear that correctly?
……The Gwicheon-gak…….
No……, merely catching a Human Trafficking Organization, that’s all.
Ju Ok-ya, the vice-chief of the branch, approached Jegal Su-yeon with a silver tray bearing ten exquisite boxes, each the size of a fist.
Jegal Su-yeon picked up one of the elegant boxes and spoke.
“Taeyang Dan.”
Gasps ripple through the crowd.
That……, that of all things……!
No……, why would you give such a thing to men about to die……!
The Taeyang Dan was known to enhance Inner Power by twenty years.
Any martial artist would naturally risk their life to possess it—a Rare Elixir of the highest order. Its price, of course, is whatever one asks.
It was obvious that even a lifetime of wages as a Murim Alliance warrior could not purchase it. And even with the money, acquiring it was far from simple.
Even if one were fortunate enough to obtain it, at minimum ten thousand silver coins would be required—such was the Taeyang Dan.
Thus, the Murim Alliance warriors could only ever dream of glimpsing such a Rare Elixir.
“Jang Hye-in, vice-commander of the Biryong-dae Patrol Unit, and his team members—come up to the upper platform.”
Jang Hye-in and his unit members climbed to the upper platform of the Great Training Grounds with bewildered expressions.
Jegal Su-yeon distributed the Taeyang Dan directly to the members himself. Then, standing once more upon the platform, he gazed down at the thousands of warriors below.
“These men’s fortune did not come by chance. All of you know well how reckless their deed was! Listen! They rescued those women. They threw away their precious lives to do so. Yet I find myself wondering—is there truly another capable of such sacrifice? But I wish to believe, I must believe, that there are others with the will to undertake such righteous and honorable acts. Therefore, I, Jegal Su-yeon, make this vow to all gathered here: should anyone step forward onto this platform as these members have done, anyone willing to cast aside their life for a righteous cause, they shall receive a reward equal to theirs this day!”
Again, the crowd stirs.
No—it churns.
……Cast away one’s life for righteousness?
What truly is a righteous deed?
Many pose the question, even as their minds fully comprehend the answer.
It speaks of casting away one’s precious life not for personal gain, but solely for a righteous purpose.
They know.
Yes, they surely do.
Yet it does not come easily to accept.
Unless one were mad, who would throw away their precious, irreplaceable life for a cause that yields no benefit?
In a sound mind, such a thing is impossible.
Those standing upon the platform are simply mad, nothing more.
And yet, among the many, there will be those who step forward for righteous causes.
An opportunity will arise to consume a Rare Elixir one could never even hope to see in a lifetime.
A Rare Elixir.
To a martial artist, it is a dream made manifest.
That is so.
They will move for their own selfish gain. What Jegal Su-yeon truly desires is not movement for selfish profit, but movement with a genuinely righteous heart. Yet even so, Jegal Su-yeon will gladly bestow the reward.
If only they begin to move in such a way.
Slowly, cracks will widen.
Slowly, fissures will form in walls long solid.
This is what he wishes to believe.
That it is possible.
That it is not impossible.
That the Gangho of ages past can be reclaimed once more.
Of course, many will snort and claim that only the survivor is the strong one.
Yet if even a single person moves according to Jegal Su-yeon’s will, this endeavor can be called a resounding success.
Jegal Su-yeon turned to Jang Hye-in and his men and opened his mouth.
“Follow me.”
They were heading to the Gwicheon-gak. There, he would place Precious Swords into their hands.
Jegal Su-yeon did not speak of the Precious Swords before the Murim Alliance warriors. If word spread that these Precious Swords had come into their possession, they could die not because of the Human Trafficking Organization, but because of the swords themselves.
Countless eyes throughout the Gangho would surely turn upon Jang Hye-in and his men to seize the Precious Swords.
Jang Hye-in and his men remained dazed. Thus Jang Hye-in asked.
“Where are we going, Commander?”
“To the Gwicheon-gak.”
Had they not just received the Rare Elixir housed there?
“……For what purpose, sir?”
“Simply follow.”
“……Yes, sir.”
They could only follow. Jang Hye-in and his men.
But Sa U-rin was different.
‘……The Gwicheon-gak.’

The word Gwicheon-gak flashed through Sa U-rin’s mind.
A place that held not only Rare Elixirs, but Precious Swords as well.
He’d already received the Rare Elixir—so what remained was the Precious Sword, wasn’t it?
It might have been Sa U-rin’s misunderstanding alone, but the odds seemed to favor it.
Suddenly, he recalled words his father had spoken long ago, reeking of alcohol.
Always listening with one ear and letting it slip out the other, he’d only now remembered what had been said.
Had the name Gwicheon-gak never crossed Jegal Su-yeon’s lips, he might never have recalled his father’s words at all.
According to his father.
There might be a sword connected to Honyuan Gong kept in Gwicheon-gak—or rather, his father had been certain of it.
The sword stored in Gwicheon-gak was called the Muyong Sword, he’d said. Like Honyuan Gong itself, it was so ancient that no one even knew when it had been deposited there.
The Muyong Sword.
It was called by that name, he’d said, because it was a sword of no use whatsoever.
Then why would such a useless sword be kept in that supposedly great place, Gwicheon-gak?
His father had said it was because it was mysterious and precious.

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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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