I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 64

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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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It was foolish to join the Murim Alliance — Episode 064
“……So it’s come.”
“At last…….”
“Damn.”
“Hell.”
“Filthy and cowardly. Let’s go down swinging.”
“At the very least, I’m taking one arm with me.”
“Then I’ll take the left arm.”
“Then I’ll take the left leg.”
“Then I’ll take the right leg.”
“Then I’ll take the heart.”
“……Wait? Then we won’t actually die?”
By the men’s logic, truly, it didn’t seem as though they would die at all.
But hadn’t Sa U-rin said it himself?
Perhaps they could survive.
In other words, the person approaching them now was the Grim Reaper itself.
For Jang Hye-in, the men, and Sa U-rin.
So Jang Hye-in, exasperated, looked up at the sky.
“Well, the sky is clear.”
“Not a cloud in sight.”
“There’s not even a glimmer of hope for survival.”
“……Everyone knows it.”
“The youngest told us so.”
“Back in the day, I’d have said, ‘Steel yourselves. We’re all going to die.'”
“I’ve changed a lot.”
“Not that much.”
“……Haven’t I?”
“No, you haven’t.”
“Fine, then.”
“Besides, what’s the use of worrying about such things now? Nothing changes either way.”
“Sigh.”
They seemed resigned, yet didn’t quite appear so. And despite death looming before their eyes, they showed no fear or tension.
“Come to think of it, U-rin hasn’t cursed once this whole time.”
“Really?”
“Has he?”
“Now that you mention it, I kind of want to hear it.”
“U-rin, this looks like the end. Won’t you let out one good curse for us?”
Sa U-rin turned his gaze to face the men.
Then, all at once, he drew the sword he’d been carrying on his back — the Hwa-ryong Sword, to be precise.
Shink.
The startled men each took a step back.
“Whoa, whoa. Why? Why are you doing that?”
“Is cursing something you hate that much?”
“Ah. Fine then, don’t. It’s okay.”
“I don’t particularly want to die by your hand.”
So Sa U-rin spoke.
“He’ll be visible soon. Everyone, prepare yourselves.”
“……Yeah, yeah. Understood.”
“……Got it.”
……That bastard.
……He doesn’t read the room.
The room at all.
We were just trying to ease the tension with a joke. He could’ve just played along with it, made it light…….
This is why you shouldn’t try to reshape a person.
Why bring that up now? And anyway, U-rin isn’t even human to begin with.
Ah. Then he won’t die either, will he?
Ah, that’s a bit…….
Well, anyway.
Hyung-jun pointed and opened his mouth.
“There he is.”
It was climbing up from roughly fifty meters away.
“It looks bigger than U-rin, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, it does.”
Which meant it was easily over six feet tall, then. Since Sa U-rin himself was about that height.
Now Jang Hye-in and the rest of the team drew the Protective Swords they’d received from Gwicheon-gak.
Shink, shink, shink.
The sound of blades leaving their sheaths was crisp and bright. True to their name as Protective Swords, they were unmistakably different—sharper, somehow.
The man, who appeared taller than Sa U-rin, had now closed to within thirty meters.
“Oh.”
“He’s handsome, isn’t he?”
“No. That’s more like striking, actually.”
His face was sharp-featured. His eyes and brow distinctly defined. His eyebrows looked dark.
“What do you think, sir?”
“Our U-rin’s still better-looking.”
“The commander wasn’t always like this, you know.”
Before, he’d have appreciated any handsome man equally. But from some point on—no, ever since the youngest member, Sa U-rin, had joined—he’d had eyes only for him.
“Single-minded devotion, is it?”
“It’s not devotion—it’s just that U-rin’s face is the finest under heaven. You idiots. You experience it daily and don’t see it?”
Weren’t the female warriors constantly hovering around? How much fuss would women make if they didn’t think so?
“Fair point.”
“I concede, I concede.”
“Why should you? That bastard’s the one who lost.”
“Is he?”
“He is.”
Jang Hye-in turned to Sa U-rin with a question.
“U-rin, how does it feel now?”
He was asking what martial power that man possessed up close. It was a question born from the possibility that he might be even slightly weaker than expected.
It was a desperate grasp at the thinnest rope of hope.
“At minimum, the Head of the Dang Family.”
“…You mean the Head of the Sacheon Dang Family?”
“Yes.”
“…Hell.”
“…There’s no way out of this.”
Only death awaited them.
“Still, everyone—stay strong. You never know how things will end until you see them through to the finish. You all know that, right?”
“Yes, sir!”
They all steeled their resolve anew. Then they met each other’s eyes and steeled their will as well.
This really was the end. They wanted to exchange words, any words at all, but honestly there was neither the time nor the space for it.
Sa U-rin took the lead position.
“When I attack, everyone find the opening and strike. Put everything into a single blow.”
Everyone nodded with burning eyes, acknowledging the command.
But then….
…Wait?
…What is that?
…That’s….
…That’s ridiculous, right?
The striking man drew to within about ten meters and then his gait suddenly changed.
Or rather, he didn’t change gait—he started running.
Or rather, running wasn’t quite the word for it…. What would you even call that?
He was bounding toward them like a dog that needed to relieve itself.
No, that wasn’t it either.
That was it.
He looked like a cat rushing to greet its beloved owner, tail swishing back and forth.
Yeah, that was exactly what it looked like. Unmistakably so!
So everyone stood there in bewilderment. Or rather, flabbergasted. Or rather, utterly speechless.
Sa U-rin was no exception.
The approaching enemy….
Was it even the enemy?
The one sent by an unseen hand.
Well, either way, he should charge forward to meet him…. but he found himself hesitating about whether he should.
‘……Is that some kind of trick?’
‘……To deceive us?’
‘Why would he?’
‘……This master, I mean?’
‘……No matter what, it doesn’t make sense…….’
‘That can’t be……right?’
It was utterly lacking in dignity.
A man with a sturdy frame, and handsome at that, bounding toward them in that undignified manner.
It was truly difficult to suppress laughter.
At any moment he should have drawn his blade and unleashed it upon his enemy, yet he lacked even the strength for that.
All because of that indescribable, laughable gait.
If he were at least moving quickly, it might have been somewhat impressive……. But this was neither running nor walking…….
And so Jang Hye-in opened his mouth.
“Sa U-rin. What do you think we should do?”
“……I’m not entirely sure either.”
Could it be that someone approaching like this could actually kill them?
It was impossible to imagine.
So Sa U-rin spoke again.
“Let’s observe a bit longer.”
“……Really? Will that be all right?”
“……I don’t know.”
No, truly he didn’t know.
Not just Sa U-rin, but Jang Hye-in and the others couldn’t arrive at any answer for how to respond.
Faced with that man’s ridiculous gait.
And so U-chan spoke up.
“I think I could beat him by myself.”
“Sa U-rin, are you sure this man is a master?”
“Well……, yes, I’m certain.”
“Really? I don’t think so.”
“Neither do I.”
“Me neither.”
They all felt the same way. In the meantime, the man had already come within one zhang of them.
Then he stopped.
He stood there with such an innocent face, smiling and scratching his head.
Just like the village fool.
It was a gesture that froze everyone — Jang Hye-in, Sa U-rin, and all the others.
If this were truly an act, a deception meant to fool them, then everyone would certainly meet death in an instant.
And the village fool bowed his head respectfully toward Sa U-rin, as if offering courtesy…….
Didn’t that make no sense?
Why would he show respect to Sa U-rin?
And then the village fool finally opened his mouth.
“It is an honor to meet you, Young Master. My name is Chu Yeop.”
Even Sa U-rin, whose face typically showed no change of expression, seemed helpless before this village fool.
Sa U-rin’s face was clouded with bewilderment.
“……You’re speaking to me?”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Do you……know me?”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“There was even a time when I saved your life. Hehehehe.”
“……Me?”
“Yes, Young Master. Ah, you were there at the time, and your companions were beside you as well. Young Master.”
Sa U-rin, Jang Hye-in, and the others had never had their lives saved by this village fool.
“……When?”
“When was that……, ah! When you were at the Sunyeong District Branch.”
“……Ah. At that time……. Could it be, then, that you were the one who eliminated those assassins who invaded the Sunyeong District Branch?”
“Yes, sir. Young Master. Ah, of course, I wasn’t alone. I had my subordinates with me as well, you see. Hehehehe.”
Jang Hye-in and the others felt their heads naturally begin to shake in disbelief.
That this village fool actually had subordinates!
And how could such a village fool possibly slaughter such a terrifying number of assassins!
It was absolutely unbelievable!
he said.
“Ah, so you serve my mother.”
“Yes, that’s correct, Young Master. I am Chu Yeop, a humble servant who has the honor of attending to your mother—the second daughter of the Jang Clan and the supreme lord of Sapa. It is truly a privilege I cherish deeply. That is why I hold you in such high regard as well.”
“……Ah, yes. I see.”
Jang Hye-in and the agents fell silent, their mouths agape. The sheer absurdity of it all left them reeling.
“Then, my mother must be nearby?”
“Ah, yes. My lord instructed me most earnestly to spare needless talk and simply bring you to her. Yet here I am, running my mouth uselessly again. I beg your pardon. Allow me to guide you, Young Master. Shall we proceed?”
“……Yes, of course.”
“Your companions in the back may come along as well. And please, set your mind at ease—my lord has assured me she will not harm any of you. Hehehehe.”
“……Right.”
For reasons he couldn’t explain, the promise of mercy felt far more terrifying than the threat of death.
So Chu Yeop and Sa U-rin led the way, with Jang Hye-in and the agents trailing behind.
They followed, and yet……
“Say, Young Master.”
“……Yes?”
“You truly are admirable.”
“Ah, well……thank you.”
He wanted to ask what exactly was so admirable—or rather, he didn’t want to ask at all.
It exhausted him. For reasons he couldn’t fathom, it simply drained him. So he gave a brief reply and left it at that.
But then……
“The way you resolved the human trafficking gang—it was truly magnificent. Had I been in your position, I would have feared the consequences far too much to act so decisively.”
Wait—wasn’t this the same man who’d just slaughtered countless assassins? How could he speak like that with a straight face?
“And if such a crisis had befallen me, I would have run straight to my lord for aid without hesitation. Yet you, Young Master, did no such thing.”
“……Yes.”
“That is why you command such respect. Truly, you are a worthy son of our lord.”
At this point, Jang Hye-in couldn’t help but wonder if this man had become his mother’s subordinate purely through flattery. And his mother’s taste in servants was beginning to feel rather questionable.
In any case……
This fool of a man showed no sign of closing his mouth. He chattered ceaselessly the entire way.
Sa U-rin was suffering visibly, and the agents trailing behind couldn’t help but smile as they watched his torment.
‘……This guy……’
‘Our U-rin has finally met his match.’
‘He really has.’
‘I’ve never seen U-rin struggle like this before.’
‘It’s almost funny.’
‘Poor U-rin—he’s going to have nightmares about this.’
And it was true.
Sa U-rin was suffering at a level few could imagine.
In all of Gangho, there was scarcely anyone who could torment him so thoroughly.
This village fool was the exception.
‘Damn brat. He’s got it coming.’
As for Jang Hye-in and the agents, they had long since forgotten both the word “death” and the relief of having survived.
All because of this infuriating fool.
Truly, was he not a fool of remarkable proportions?

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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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