I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 67

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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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Blundering into the Murim Alliance — Episode 67
After spending the night with Jang Ryeo, Sa U-rin, Jang Hye-in, and the rest of the team moved with purpose and arrived at the Murim Alliance’s secret branch hidden in Yeo-gyeong District.
And far behind them, Chu Yeop and his twenty subordinates had taken position in the area.
Jang Hye-in and the team members circled through the secret branch, examining it from every angle.
“It doesn’t look like anyone died here.”
Jang Hye-in shared that assessment.
“I’d say that’s likely.”
There were no signs of struggle, and no bodies either. But Hyeong-jun offered a different view.
“Maybe. They had plenty of time to clean everything up thoroughly.”
“True enough. In the end, the real answer is that we can’t be certain of anything.”
Hyeong-jun nodded at Jang Hye-in’s words.
“Right. For now, we can’t be sure of a damn thing.”
“Then there’s only one way forward.”
“What’s that?”
“We hit the streets. We investigate, ask around, and find out what actually happened.”
“Yeah. That’s our only option.”
That’s when In-hyeok cut in.
“Do we have to?”
“Have to?”
“Bluntly? Someone’s going to come looking for us to kill us anyway, so why put ourselves through all this trouble hunting for the place where we die?”
“That’s not wrong.”
“Exactly. So I think we should—”
“But waiting here to die without doing anything is a problem too. Of course, we have people helping us from the shadows, which eases my mind. But that’s precisely why sitting idle like that would make us helpless.”
It was the exhaustion that came from waiting.
“We could train instead.”
“Would waiting for death truly be better? You’d start to be eaten away by tension, by fear, slowly, from the inside. Can you really focus on training under those conditions? I don’t think so. We’ve all been through it.”
They’d lived through waiting for death so many times they’d grown accustomed to it.
“Well… yes, maybe, but still…”
“Instead, I think it serves us well to investigate ourselves—to find out why we came here in the first place. First, if we focus our attention elsewhere, we can push aside the tension and fear. And we might also catch the unseen hand by the back of the neck, just as Sa U-rin wishes.”
“…I suppose I spoke out of turn.”
“Not at all. Shall we get moving then?”
And so Jang Hye-in and the team departed the secret branch at once.
* * *
Jang Hye-in and the team made their way to the marketplace near the secret branch.
Murim Alliance fighters stationed at the branch typically posed as ronin and made it their primary duty to report on events happening in the area around the branch.
One might think they should head straight to Ronin Village first, but given its nature—most people there minded their own business—they’d gain nothing. Instead, they decided it made more sense to focus their inquiries on taverns and inns where many people came and went, places the branch members would likely frequent.
The team could have split up to question people faster, but their situation didn’t allow for it.
The unseen hand moved at unknown times, in unknown places, in unknown ways.
After two hours, fortunately, Jeom So-i appeared—someone who knew about the martial artists from the secret branch who’d died two months prior.
Of course, he wouldn’t speak for free. So Jang Hye-in placed a silver coin in Jeom So-i’s palm.
Then Jeom So-i’s lips opened.
“Two months ago, you said? About ten ronin traveling together in a group?”
Hyeong-jun nodded.
“That’s right.”
“If I’m not mistaken, they sound like customers who come by our inn from time to time.”
“And?”
“I happened to overhear those gentlemen talking.”
“Tell me what you heard.”
“But… you can’t say it came from me. If you do…”
“Don’t worry. Speak freely.”
“…Then I’ll trust you?”
“You really can trust me.”
“Good. So when those warriors gathered, they were going on and on about how those Hyeol-u Bang bastards had shorted them on their wages. But wouldn’t you know it—there happened to be Hyeol-u Bang men there.”
“Hyeol-u Bang?”
“That’s right.”
“Where are they located, and what do they do?”
“They’re about a day’s travel from here. From what I hear, they run a gambling den, and they loan money at exorbitant rates too. Oh, and there’s a rumor they deal in human trafficking as well. Though I’m not certain about that last part.”
When the words “human trafficking” left Jeom So-i’s mouth, Jang Hye-in and the team’s brows furrowed slightly.
‘…Human trafficking?’
‘This reeks too much of conspiracy.’
‘This is it…….’
‘Could it be……Jeom So-i is in on this too?’
‘Even if he is, there’s no way to know for sure.’
‘Fair point.’
“Alright. So?”
“At first, those Hyeol-u Bang men heard the story and left the inn right away. But a while later, they came back. Bringing about twenty men with them.”
“So the fight broke out here?”
“No, sir. There was a bit of back-and-forth for a moment, but then they all went somewhere together. After that happened, those people just disappeared. And, well, your men were searching for them. But you really won’t tell anyone, will you?”
“I told you already.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Yes, go without worry.”
With that, Jeom So-i bowed and headed back into the inn.
Hyeong-jun turned to Jang Hye-in.
“What do you make of it?”
“What do I make of it? We need to visit Hyeol-u Bang.”
“Now?”
“Not immediately. But we need to find out more about Hyeol-u Bang first…….”
A surface-level understanding wouldn’t help. Not when Jang Hye-in’s and his men’s lives hung in the balance.
Then Seo U-chan spoke up.
“Our fool brother might know something about them, wouldn’t he?”
“That does seem likely…….”
After all, he operated with the Evil Sect right here in Gwi-ju Castle as his base. Of course, he was always at the side of the Evil Sect’s supreme leader, Jang Ryeo.
And yet.
He couldn’t shake the doubt. What could the neighborhood fool possibly know? Still, it was worth a try, so Jang Hye-in turned to Sa U-rin.
“U-rin, go find out what you can.”
Only Sa U-rin knew where the fool brother was hiding at this moment.
“Understood.”
With that, Sa U-rin vanished before their eyes in an instant.
“……Anyway…….”
“Damn, he’s fast.”
“Anyone watching just that Divine Movement Technique would mistake him for a Supreme Master.”
“Could happen.”
“……Unless…….”
“Don’t say things that tempt fate.”
So Jang Hye-in spoke up.
“That’s not it.”
“……Really?”
“Yes. Definitely not.”
By now, Jang Hye-in could sense these things well enough himself. It meant he was drawing close to the threshold of Supreme Master.
Of course, that didn’t mean he would reach it. There were plenty of skilled practitioners who remained stuck at that level, like Jang Hye-in himself.
A short while later, Sa U-rin appeared before them, eyebrows raised.
Jang Hye-in asked, hope flickering in his chest.
“What did he know about them?”
“……He said he’d never heard of such a sect before.”
“……Damn.”
Well, that figured.
“He’s the fool brother, after all.”
“He’ll take offense if he hears that.”
“……Will he?”
“How could he not?”
“Tch.”
He was worried for nothing.
Hyeong-jun nodded.
“It’s not that the fool brother doesn’t know.”
“……Then?”
“Think about it. If even the fool brother has never heard of them, it means the sect has barely any presence.”
“Ah. That could be it.”
“It’s not ‘could be’—it will be. Absolutely certain.”
“We’ll see.”
“I’m telling you, it’s certain.”
Jang Hye-in threw a remark toward Ju-un.
“Forget the useless prattle and go fetch that Jeom So-i from before. We need to talk to him again.”
“Yes, sir.”
And so that Jeom So-i from moments earlier reappeared.
“What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if you might know where the Hao-moon operates in this area.”
The Hao-moon weren’t quite as sprawling as the Gaebang, but it was no exaggeration to say their disciples blanketed the Gangho.
From courtesans to pickpockets, fortune-tellers, merchants—whether or not they formally belonged to the Hao-moon, countless people across the Gangho fed information through its networks, all for a pittance.
Just to scrape together a few copper coins.
“Are you looking to learn about the Hyeol-u Bang?”
“That’s right.”
“Follow me, then.”
And so Jang Hye-in and his men followed Jeom So-i, muttering quietly to themselves.
‘Does this bastard seem like he’s in on it?’
‘Something feels off about it.’
‘He’s guiding us like he was waiting for this.’
‘Right?’
‘I’m getting the sense we’re wading deeper into a swamp.’
‘We sank in long ago.’
‘Ah. That’s true.’
So it went.
* * *
Jeom So-i led Jang Hye-in and his men to a shabby dwelling.
“This is the place.”
“Right. Much obliged.”
But Jeom So-i didn’t return to the inn; instead he held out his palm. Nothing in this world was free, after all. So they slipped another silver coin into his waiting hand.
Only then did Jeom So-i grin widely and head back to the inn.
“Making money comes this easy?”
“Hey, those people stake their lives on it.”
It wasn’t uncommon for someone to learn something valuable, begrudge a single silver coin so badly they’d rather kill and bury the informant.
“Fair point.”
Jang Hye-in and his men stepped inside the shabby dwelling.
“Anyone home?”
A finely dressed young woman then opened the door and poked her head out.
“What brings you here?”
Through the open door, they could see men gambling in the room beyond.
Hyeong-jun spoke up.
“We’ve come to learn about the Hyeol-u Bang.”
“How much are you willing to pay?”
“As detailed as we can get it.”
The young woman suddenly stepped out and shut the door behind her.
“We can’t discuss that here. Follow me.”
“Where are we going?”
“The Bunh-wah District. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
“No, it’s fine. Lead the way.”
The young woman took the lead, but her eyes had turned scheming. She quickly moved to Sa U-rin’s side and linked her arm through his.
“My, my—aren’t you something to look at? So tall too. Shall we go?”
Sa U-rin immediately pulled his arm away from her.
“Wasn’t it you who said you wanted to discuss the Hyeol-u Bang? This won’t do.”
Sa U-rin fumbled in his robe and produced a silver coin.
“That won’t work. Not for less than ten silver coins.”
“What?”
Ten silver coins just to be escorted somewhere?
Jang Hye-in and his men clicked their tongues, but there was nothing for it. The price, after all, was whatever the merchant decided.
They could refuse to buy, but Jang Hye-in and his men were in no position to walk away—they needed this information.
In the end, Sa U-rin sighed deeply and relented, offering his arm.
Truth be told, ten silver coins was far more than he wanted to spend. In fact, the price was absurd.
And so Sa U-rin found himself obliged to surrender his body for those ten silver coins.
Or rather, to be dragged along by it.
Such was the way of things.
It seems like that, but then again, maybe not.
‘That bastard’s enjoying this more than he lets on.’
‘Well, the youngest is still a man.’
‘…True enough.’
And so they found themselves standing before a pleasure house in the Bunh-wah District of Yeo-gyeong.
Of course.
There was a saying that the Hao-moon began and ended in pleasure houses.
The young woman who had slipped from Sa U-rin’s embrace stepped inside the pleasure house and exchanged whispered words with a man. Then she turned back to Sa U-rin with a radiant smile and offered him a parting line.
“That was fun, handsome. Take care of yourself. I hope we meet again. Goodbye.”
“……”
What could he possibly say to that?
The man who had been whispering with the woman approached Jang Hye-in.
“Follow me.”
Jang Hye-in nodded and fell into step behind the man. The rest of his unit came along.
The man led them past the pleasure house’s main entrance and deeper into the interior.
They passed through a well-maintained garden and then a separate wing, until a reed thicket came into view. Within it stood a pavilion, hidden from sight.
Ten armed guards surrounded the pavilion, standing watch.
Frankly, it was strange.
What made the Hyeol-u Bang such a significant sect that they would guide him to such a secretive place?
It would have been simple enough to take a few silver coins and recite what he knew of the Hyeol-u Bang.
That’s when the thought occurred to him.
‘…Here?’
Were they planning to eliminate Jang Hye-in and his men here?
The guide called out toward the pavilion’s entrance.
“Branch Commander. The friends you mentioned have arrived.”
Suspicion deepened.
‘Why bring a branch commander into this?’
Did the Hao-moon’s branch commander have so little to do?
It was genuinely strange. Or rather, conviction was forming.
That was what ran through the minds of Jang Hye-in and his unit.
A voice like jade beads emerged from within the pavilion.
“Let them in.”
“Yes, Branch Commander. Please come inside.”
Jang Hye-in replied.
“Of course.”
They had come this far. Turning back now would be absurd. Besides, they were already well aware that every path forward from here led to the Yellow Springs.
Jang Hye-in and his unit stepped into the pavilion.
A woman who appeared to be in her late thirties.
Sol-ji, the Yeo-gyeong branch commander of the Hao-moon.
The branch commander Sol-ji greeted them with a radiant smile.
“Welcome. I’ve been looking for you.”

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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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