I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 86

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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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There’s no point joining the Murim Alliance — Chapter 86
Everyone was watching, waiting, and at last the lips of Jegal Gunsa Su-yeon parted.
“The person I have in mind is Sa U-rin’s mother, and the supreme master of the Sa Pa — Jang Ryeo of the Dang Family.”
In that instant, silence fell.
No.
Silence blanketed the entire Jang Estate.
Everyone’s mouths fell open as one — everyone except Jang Ryeo and Jegal Gunsa, that is.
They had heard it clearly, with both ears.
Sa U-rin’s mother, the supreme master of the Sa Pa, Jang Ryeo of the Dang Family — that’s what had been said.
‘…… What is this.’
‘…… Insane.’
‘…… Did the Gunsa……’
‘…… lose her mind?’
Clearly, moments ago she had seemed perfectly sound in body and mind.
How could a strategist of the Murim Alliance speak such words aloud unless she had taken leave of her senses?
No matter how freely the human imagination soars, there are limits.
This wasn’t……
something that should even be imagined, was it?
Yes, this should have remained a fantasy, nothing more.
A pure fantasy.
Whoooosh.
A chill wind swept through the Jang Estate, running down everyone’s spines.
‘This is trouble.’
If she meant to speak of such a thing, she should have given Bi-ryeong at least a word of warning beforehand……
‘…… This is serious.’
It was certain as day that Jang Ryeo would not sit idle. So Bi-ryeong stepped forward to shield Jegal Gunsa Su-yeon, positioning herself instead to face Jang Ryeo.
Her knees trembled beneath Jang Ryeo’s piercing gaze.
At that moment, Vice-leader Jang Hye-in jabbed Sa U-rin in the ribs.
Poke, poke.
Sa U-rin’s vacant eyes turned toward Jang Hye-in.
“……?”
Jang Hye-in gestured silently with his chin toward Jang Ryeo.
There, there.
The meaning was clear: shouldn’t he stop this before things got worse?
Sa U-rin nodded in understanding, then turned to his mother and opened his mouth.
“…… Mother.”
Jang Ryeo’s mouth opened as if she’d been waiting for this.
“Hold your tongue.”
“But, Mother……”
“A man’s virtue lies in knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.”
…… Was there such a thing?
In any case, it wasn’t wrong.
No one could have imagined such absurd words coming from Jegal Gunsa Su-yeon’s mouth.
And Sa U-rin sensed it: his mother was not angry.
In a situation where anger would be entirely justified, she was not angry at all — which itself seemed strange.
At that moment, Jegal Gunsa Su-yeon pushed past Bi-ryeong, who stood in her way.
“Su-yeon…… Gunsa?”
“It’s fine.”
“No……”
Wasn’t that precisely why Bi-ryeong had stepped forward to block her way?
“I said it’s fine.”
“…… Yes.”
Bi-ryeong had no choice but to step aside. Then Jegal Gunsa Su-yeon asked Jang Ryeo again.
“What do you think of my proposal?”
Jang Ryeo, who had been watching with unwavering eyes fixed solely on Jegal Gunsa Su-yeon, opened her mouth.
“You, Jegal……”
Gulp.
The throats of all who watched moved visibly up and down.
“Hahahaha! Ahahaha!”
Without warning, Jang Ryeo burst into laughter. Yet no one dared to join her.
She couldn’t tell if she was laughing from pleasure or from rage boiling up inside her.
The witch Jang Ryeo’s laughter ceased. Then she opened her mouth again.
“So there was a reason Gangho keeps talking about Jegal, Jegal.”
She’d always assumed it was simply a sect full of people who were good at scheming—nothing more.
But clearly that wasn’t the case.
The fact that Jegal Gunsa had conceived of a stratagem so subtle that even the witch Jang Ryeo herself hadn’t dared imagine it—that alone was remarkable.
There is always a limit to what a person can conceive with the mind they possess.
No matter how brilliant or gifted, one’s knowledge and common sense are shaped within a framework built by one’s surroundings.
And it is precisely that framework from which it is hardest to escape.
Yet here before her very eyes, Jegal had thought of something that completely shattered the Orthodox Sect’s rigid, hidebound conventions.
She was contemplating overturning the very board of Gangho itself.
“This is amusing.”
The witch Jang Ryeo was a woman who’d refused even the position of Chief of the Sa Pa. It was simply too tedious.
But the position of Murim Alliance Master—that felt different somehow.
To become the head of the Orthodox Sect while remaining the supreme authority of the Sa Pa?
Now that sounded genuinely entertaining.
“Clever. Quite clever. But can it actually be done?”
“Yes. I have already secured confirmations from the elders.”
“Confirmations recommending me, I suppose? Or not?”
“……Correct. Not exactly.”
“So you’ve secured confirmations stating that if our U-rin wins the tournament, they won’t oppose whoever Jegal recommends for the position.”
“……That is accurate.”
“Are you confident?”
“Of course. Since I’ve already secured the confirmations…….”
“No, wait. You were doing so well just now. Why falter?”
“I’m……sorry?”
“Can you convince me? And more than that—for this to work, our Dang Family would have to defect to the Orthodox Sect. Have you thought that through as well?”
‘Ah…….’
In that instant, Jegal Gunsa Su-yeon felt as though she’d been struck on the back of the head.
She’d believed that the witch became what she was simply because of her overwhelming martial prowess, her cold and merciless temperament, her position as supreme authority of the Sa Pa—
Yet with a single remark, she was piercing straight through to the heart of everything.
And so Su-yeon felt genuinely amazed. And even jealous.
How could a woman possess such extraordinary insight?
Su-yeon had never felt herself lacking in ability before, yet today she was experiencing the weight of many things she could not match.
“Why so quiet? Use that scheming mind of yours carelessly in front of me, and I really will tear your limbs from your body.”
“……Of course, I have considered it. The Dang Family has long dwelt within the sphere of the Sa Pa, but I believe we walk a path that would suffer no great strain even if we were to stand between the two.”
“Either way, I found the conduct of both sides equally repulsive.”
Moreover, since the Dang Family had begun as merchants, a culture emphasizing efficiency and practical gain ran deep within them.
“Therefore, a defection to the Orthodox Sect presents no significant obstacle. And afterward, chaos is precisely what I desire, so there is no real problem to speak of.”
“Your reasoning isn’t flawed. So you thought I’d be easily swayed by such arguments? If so, you’ve miscalculated.”
“Of course, I never believed I could convince you directly.”
“Then?”
Jegal Gunsa Su-yeon suddenly pointed to Sa U-rin as she spoke.
“I have wagered everything on the young master here.”
At that, the witch Jang Ryeo’s expression turned dumbfounded.
“Damn it.”
“Mother. Such language is…….”
“What does it matter? Because of you, I’m in a shameful state. Look at her. She’s using you as a hostage to manipulate me back and forth.”
So Sa U-rin asked Jegal Gunsa directly.
“Surely that’s not what’s happening, is it?”
“Not at all. Rather than taking you hostage, I would say I am placing my hopes in you.”
“See?”
“Tch. Why would I trust the word of Jegal? And besides—if this scheme succeeds, Jegal will undoubtedly reap enormous merit and expand her standing within the Orthodox Sect considerably. Isn’t that right?”
The witch Jang Ryeo posed the question to Jegal Gunsa.
“You’re not wrong, but that was never my intention in undertaking this.”
Yet all those standing nearby failed to grasp what the witch Jang Ryeo meant.
They would have expected the opposite—concern that drawing the Sa Pa into this would narrow the Jegal Family’s position, not expand it.
Especially after recruiting such a troublesome figure as the witch.
And placing her in the very seat of Murim Alliance Master, no less.
So Sa U-rin spoke up with a question.
“Mother, I don’t understand. I thought it would be the opposite.”
“Good heavens. You slow-witted creatures. I’ll forgive the boy—he has no experience in Gangho yet—but you? You don’t understand either?”
She was addressing Jang Hye-in, her deputy.
“I… I don’t quite…”
“Enough. It’s not that Jegal has a brilliant mind—it’s that everyone else’s minds are dull.”
“Mother?”
She meant: if it were simply a matter of something being good, explain it plainly.
“Think about it. If the Dang Family defects to the Orthodox Sect, what else do you suppose will follow?”
“You don’t mean… Guiju Castle?”
“Exactly, you fool. Guiju Castle’s master is none other than the Dang Family. They’ve switched to the Orthodox Sect. So what do you think the sects stationed in Guiju Castle will do?”
“Calculate their position.”
“Right. But it’s an obvious calculation. The castle’s master has defected—what courage would they need to hold out? Surely at least half, no, at least sixty percent will consider switching to the Orthodox Sect as well. And that means Guiju Castle as a whole shifts to the Orthodox Sect, which in turn means the balance that’s been holding between Orthodox and Sa Pa collapses. Don’t you see?”
“Ah.”
Only then did everyone nod in understanding.
“Idiots.”
So said Su-yeon, Jegal’s assistant.
“You’re remarkable.”
To see through everything in an instant like that.
“Spare me the flattery.”
“Yes… of course.”
“But we need to change our approach.”
“What do you mean?”
“If we proceed that way and the Dang Family joins the Murim Alliance, Jegal will earn recognition for her achievement, but the Dang Family will inevitably be treated as outsiders for having come from Sa Pa. Even with me sitting in the Alliance Master’s seat.”
Ah.
Jegal hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“The Alliance Master in name, but I could end up looking like this fool next to me.”
She was referring to Hyun-wi.
“Why are you suddenly singling me out like this…?”
“Quiet.”
“Hmph.”
“So what is this new approach?”
“My son.”
“Yes, Mother?”
“Let’s reveal to all under heaven that you and I are mother and son.”
“Really? Is that wise?”
“There are pros and cons, I suppose, but I see more gain in it. First, your safety will be far more secure than it is now. And if you compete in the Cheongryong Murim Tournament not as a member of the Murim Alliance, but as my son—as a member of the Dang Family—and win it honorably, then I’ll be well-established in the Alliance Master’s seat. From there, Jegal’s ambitions will have much stronger footing.”
“That makes sense.”
“And then we can push forward your plans more forcefully.”
“Though I’d say it’s less my ambition and more Sa U-rin’s. He started all this in the first place.”
Sa U-rin had thrown himself into it, bringing things to this point.
“In any case.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Son, get up.”
“Why?”
“We’re going somewhere.”
“Where?”
“Where else—to the Dang Family.”
“Why?”
“You fool. You’re going to live as a member of the Dang Family from now on. You can’t go through life not knowing your kinfolk’s faces. Especially your uncle, the Head of the Dang Family—surely you should meet him.”
“Ah, I see.”
Then the witch Jang Ryeo turned her gaze to Jegal.
“In a month’s time, a document bearing the Head of the Dang Family’s official seal will reach you. Start proceedings once you have it.”
“But will the Head of the Family stamp it right away?”
“Don’t worry about that. If he won’t seal it, I’ll turn him over. He won’t be able to refuse.”
“Yes… understood.”
Her business dealings were as refreshingly direct as her temperament.
Having finished speaking, Jang Ryeo looked toward Chu-yeop.
“Yeop.”
“Yes, my lady!”
The witch Jang Ryeo pointed to Jang Hye-in and her deputies, and their eyes widened.
It came without warning.
Then Jang Ryeo spoke.
“Kill them.”

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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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