I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 84

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Justifying His Entry into the Murim Alliance | Chapter 84
“Yes, that’s correct. The Supreme Master of Sa Pa himself.”
“I see. But for what reason?”
“He’s devoted himself to cultivation there.”
“He can’t cultivate here?”
“There’s no worthy sparring partner for Sa U-rin in this place.”
“Isn’t there the Head of the Jang Family?”
“Sa U-rin refuses to face him.”
“You don’t mean…?”
Sa U-rin had grown so formidable that even Jang Hye-in was no longer a suitable opponent for him.
“Your suspicion is correct.”
“Ha ha ha. That boy always surpasses my expectations.”
He’d thought the boy might make a showing at next year’s Azure Dragon Murim Tournament, but perhaps—might it not be reasonable to hope for even more?
“But you said you were planning to see me?”
“Yes. Sa U-rin departed this morning and asked me to convey a message to you, Commander.”
“That boy, Sa U-rin?”
“Yes. He said it was time for you to be with him—or rather, for him to stand before that person.”
“That person, you say?”
“Yes. Sa U-rin’s mother.”
“Ah.”
Once more, a chill ran down Jegal Su-yeon’s spine.
Then Bi-ryeong, standing beside the Commander, whispered something into his ear.
“Think carefully, Commander.”
At that, Su-yeon laughed.
“Bi-ryeong.”
“Yes?”
“You’re frightened, aren’t you?”
“Frightened? That’s not—no, absolutely not.”
How could a man of honor confess to fear in front of his woman?
Then Jang Hye-in, stifling a smile, spoke up.
“Your concern is understandable.”
So Jegal Su-yeon asked,
“Why?”
“She often says, ‘Do you want to die?’ And the problem is, she means it. Every time we see her, we feel as though our thread of life might snap at any moment—our backs never dry of sweat.”
“Well, she is indeed a formidable person. But surely she wouldn’t go so far as to kill you all.”
“Of course not. Because Sa U-rin is there.”
“And if he weren’t?”
“Then frankly, there’d be no reason for us to meet her. But if we must entertain such a supposition… No. Not appearing before her at all would be the wisest course.”
“Is it truly that grave?”
Jang Hye-in and his men nodded in unison—with considerable enthusiasm, at that.
“Surely nothing unfortunate will happen today, then?”
“Sa U-rin is there. Yet when you think about it…”
“What do you mean?”
“Since this is a meeting between the Commander of the Murim Alliance and the Supreme Master of Sa Pa… there’s a chance that harsh words might be exchanged.”
“Well, I suppose I’ll have to accept that risk.”
“Still, don’t worry overmuch. Sa U-rin will handle things well.”
And he said this without a shred of concern.
Despite having just alarmed everyone beforehand.
“Should we depart now, then?”
“Yes, Commander. We’ll show you the way.”
* * *
Jegal Su-yeon arrived at Jang Manor, where the witch Jang Ryeo dwelt, accompanied by Bi-ryeong, the Head of the Jang Family, and his attendants.
Jang Hye-in asked the Commander,
“Shall we enter now?”
“Wait a moment.”
“Very well.”
Jegal Su-yeon drew a long, measured breath.
“Sigh.”
Beside him, Bi-ryeong steadied her own breathing. Then Jegal Su-yeon turned to her with a smile.
“Why are you smiling, sir?”
She seemed to be mocking me, at any rate.
“Because it’s funny.”
“……So what exactly do you find funny about it?”
“I’ve never seen Bi-ryeong this tense before.”
That was true.
“No……. Honestly, I am nervous. I’m worried about your safety, sir.”
Even if she was Sa U-rin’s mother, a military strategist of the Murim Alliance meeting the Master of Sa Pa was no ordinary occasion.
Jegal Su-yeon turned to Bi-ryeong with warm eyes.
“Really?”
“Of course it’s true. Surely you know that?”
Always, without fail, Bi-ryeong worried more about Jegal Su-yeon’s safety than her own.
“Thank you. With Bi-ryeong beside me, some of my anxiety seems to ease.”
“That’s precisely why I’m more anxious.”
“Thank you.”
Jegal Su-yeon turned to address Jang Hye-in.
“Now, then. Shall we go?”
“Yes, of course.”
Just as Jang Hye-in moved to open the gates of Jang Manor in obedience to the strategist’s order.
Bang!
Crash-smash-crash!
The gates of Jang Manor shattered into pieces.
And then.
Thud.
Sa U-rin flew backward and crashed to the ground.
And then again.
Thud.
Jang Hye-in, who had been standing at the gate, suddenly flew backward and crashed to the ground as well.
Everyone was shocked. Most of all shocked were Jegal Su-yeon and Bi-ryeong.
“……What in the……”
“What on earth……”
The attendants rushed over in alarm. To Sa U-rin.
“Are you all right?”
“Are you injured?”
“Be careful, will you.”
“You’ll hurt yourself like this.”
“Shall I help you up?”
Sa U-rin then rose lightly as if nothing had happened, brushing the dust from his clothes.
Pat, pat, pat.
“I’m fine. But……”
Sa U-rin’s head turned to the side.
“Why are you here, Master?”
“Oh, Master? Don’t worry about it. You don’t need to concern yourself.”
“Right. As long as you’re all right, that’s what matters. You are all right, aren’t you?”
“……Yes. I’m fine.”
Jang Hye-in, who had been sprawled beside him, opened his eyes wide and sprang to his feet.
“Hey! What the hell is this!”
Then the Witch Jang Ryeo appeared through the ruined gateway.
“Hey, what? These two are doing just fine. What? You want to die?”
“Ah, no, it’s not that……”
“Say one more word and you’re really dead.”
“……I apologize.”
And Jegal Su-yeon, watching from beside them, found himself instinctively diving behind Bi-ryeong.
The Witch Jang Ryeo, Master of Sa Pa, fixed her gaze on Jegal Su-yeon hiding behind Bi-ryeong.
“You think hiding behind an iron wall will stop you from dying? Hmm? Shall I check whether you’ll die or not? Hmm?”
“Mother?”
Sa U-rin called out to Jang Ryeo.
“And you—can’t even withstand the Ten Strikes Technique and you go flying back like that? Hmm?”
In fact, withstanding the Ten Strikes Technique against the former Master of the Murim Alliance, Hyeon-wee, was a remarkable feat.
“……I swear I’m going to die of a rage-induced illness from this. I’m dying! Damn it! Either I go back to Guiju Castle or something!”
If she returned to Guiju Castle, the Head of the Jang Clan and her brother would waste away, lamenting that she herself might die of apoplexy.
“Mother.”
“Yes, yes, I heard you. What’s Jegal doing?! Come in already!”
With that, Jang Ryeo vanished back into the Jang Manor.
But her sharp, clear voice echoed from within moments later.
“You idiots! Do you want to die?! If the door’s broken, fix it right away with a new one! What are you doing?! Put it back up, now!”
Clatter-clatter-clatter.
Bang, bang.
Chu-yeop’s subordinates moved with the speed of arrows.
And just like that, impossibly, the shattered door hung whole and new once more.
Sa U-rin approached Jegal Su-yeon, whose face had gone white as bone.
“Commander, shall we step inside?”
“……Are you sure it’s safe?”
Wasn’t that look in her eyes alone enough to kill him?
If Bi-ryeong’s account was accurate, she certainly had the power to do it.
“Don’t worry. She’s just particularly sharp today.”
In truth, she’d been sharp every day lately—confined as she was within the manor walls, forced to share space with Hyeon-wee, the former Murim Alliance Master and once a pillar of the Baekdo martial world.
Simply put, she wanted to kill the righteous-faction bastard before her eyes but couldn’t, and that was making her temper increasingly feral.
“……Then wouldn’t it be better to come back another time?”
“No. Today is the best time.”
It would only get sharper from here on.
“Then……shouldn’t we just talk here?”
“No. You must go inside. If you’re to be part of us.”
“……Very well.”
He was right.
This was the proper sequence of events, but……
The pressure radiating from the witch Jang Ryeo felt like it would burn the very skin from his bones. He was freshly reminded why she was called the supreme master of Sa Pa—and why that title was no exaggeration.
Yet what choice did he have?
If he wanted to carry out his own mission properly, he’d have to endure this as well, wouldn’t he?
“……I’m going in.”
“A wise decision.”
And so they all entered the Jang Manor.
But the moment they crossed the threshold……
The eyes of both Jegal Su-yeon and Bi-ryeong went wide as lanterns.
“No……”
“……How is the Master here……?”
Indeed.
The former Murim Alliance Master Hyeon-wee was sitting solidly in the manor where Jang Ryeo dwelt.
“Ha ha ha. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? You both seem quite startled. Well, come now—sit, and let’s talk.”
At that moment, the witch Jang Ryeo opened her mouth.
“Look at this nonsense. Absolute nonsense. Acting like you’re still the Murim Alliance Master. After being cast out, no less. This is my house. My house! Not yours. Who does this bastard think he is, playing master in someone else’s home? Playing master, my ass! Want to die? Huh? Should I really let loose today? Should I?”
‘This is……’
Neither Jegal Su-yeon nor Bi-ryeong had anticipated this.
Even if he’d been cast out, Hyeon-wee was undeniably the former representative of the Baekdo martial world—the Murim Alliance Master himself.
Yet he couldn’t even squeak a protest against the supreme master of Sa Pa?
Even while enduring such contemptuous words?
Which meant……?
That even the former Murim Alliance Master Hyeon-wee was no match for the witch Jang Ryeo?
It was this realization that shocked them most of all.
And yet.
“Mother, perhaps you should just step into the other room and……”
“No. Hold your tongue and stay quiet.”
‘Wow……’
Bi-ryeong had spoken truly—it was even more stunning to see the witch Jang Ryeo, the woman who could twist the former Murim Alliance Master like a puppet, close her mouth when speaking to her own son.
If things were like this……
If Sa U-rin were to defect to Sa Pa’s side and join their ranks……
Would Sa U-rin become the supreme master of Sa Pa?
It was an absurd notion, utterly impossible—and yet wasn’t the situation before them proof otherwise?
It was a thought that held a terrible logic to it.
Impossible as it seemed.
“Truly, isn’t that right?”
“……All right.”
“You’ve promised, then?”
“I said I understood, didn’t I?”
“Good. Then please, everyone sit. We have serious matters to discuss now.”
They all settled into their seats.
Sa U-rin spoke again.
“Everyone gathered here today shares a single purpose. To oppose the Invisible Hand. That is why we have all come together in this place. If any of you disagree, you are welcome to leave Jang Manor immediately.”
No one moved.
But.
“This mother of yours did not come here because of that…….”
Jang Ryeo, the supreme witch of Sa Pa, harbored no interest in the Invisible Hand itself. Yet her son sought vengeance against them for his father’s death, and so she had no choice.
“That is precisely the point, Mother.”
“……I understand.”
“And did you not promise?”
To hold your tongue.
“Didn’t you just say you understood?”
“The one who said she understood — how can she not bear to wait even a moment before opening her mouth like that…….”
“Son! Must you really treat your mother this way in front of so many people? That’s too much, isn’t it?”
“It’s because there are so many people that I must speak this way, Mother.”
The witch Jang Ryeo’s lips moved, twisted and crooked with irritation.
“If only I couldn’t speak, at least I wouldn’t be hated for it. Tch!”
Sa U-rin, leaving his grumbling mother behind, continued.
“As I said moments ago, from today onward we have all boarded the same ship. Yet we have no idea where that ship is headed. Because we know nothing — absolutely nothing — about their true nature.”
At that moment, Jegal Su-yeon, the strategist, interrupted and stepped forward.
“U-rin, would it be all right if I spoke first?”
Sa U-rin nodded.
“Please.”
“Thank you.”
Jegal Su-yeon, taking up the thread, cleared his throat.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————