I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 91

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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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Chapter 91
Sa U-rin stepped into the Murim Alliance, and words simply failed him.
It was the sort of story that wouldn’t catch the ear of a stray dog passing by, and yet here it was being proposed.
“Are you seriously saying this with a sound mind?”
Even if Cheolga Gunsa pushed for it with all his weight, it would be impossible unless the elders of the Murim Alliance consented.
In the end, it would only be possible if both the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans accepted the Sa Pa’s supreme witch, Jang Ryeo.
So it was an absurd proposition. Nonsense, pure and simple.
“Word will spread before long.”
“No… word? What kind of word?”
“That the sect victorious in the Azure Dragon Martial Arts Tournament will claim the position of Murim Alliance Lord.”
“…What…? The Murim Alliance isn’t some children’s playground… but is that rumor actually true?”
The thought struck Jang Yu-un’s mind in that instant.
Given the current state of the Murim Alliance, it wouldn’t be impossible at all.
If the position of Alliance Lord sat vacant, and both the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans all unveiled their ambitions to claim the seat for themselves—
Jang Yu-un couldn’t deny that there was no better way than to use the approaching Azure Dragon Martial Arts Tournament.
“So that’s how it is, then.”
“Heh heh. What will become of Kangho…”
“Since when did you ever worry about Kangho? Don’t say such things. And when you think about it, there’s nothing fairer than this, is there?”
It was far better than seeing blood shed on keenly honed blades as factions fought to claim the position of Alliance Lord.
“That’s true enough, but… your words don’t quite add up, do they?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said the sect that wins the martial tournament becomes the Alliance Lord, but my two sons, while hardly lacking talent, aren’t quite at the level to win a martial tournament.”
The Head of the Jang Family, Jang Yu-un’s two sons—the lesser patriarch Jang Yu-jin and his second son Jang Yu-seok.
They possessed more than enough ability to lead the future of the Jang Family, which held one of the Seven Great Sects positions in the Sa Pa.
Yet they fell short of being called geniuses, regrettably.
In fact, the Jang Family maintained its position among the Seven Great Sects in the Sa Pa largely because of the very existence of the Sa Pa’s supreme witch, Jang Ryeo.
Had the Jang Family lacked Jang Ryeo’s presence—
They would have naturally descended from their place among the Seven Great Sects long ago. Without her, it would have been so.
At the Head’s unreasonable words, the witch Jang Ryeo’s eyebrows twitched.
“Hey.”
“Really, now. Even if you won’t call me ‘brother’ in front of your nephew, surely ‘hey’ is crossing a line?”
The Head of the Jang Family did have his dignity, after all.
“Want to die? You’re comfortable because I stay quiet, aren’t you? Hmm?”
“…No, that’s not it.”
“And I’m no fool. Do you think I’d speak of such things if I were betting on your two sons?”
“Then…?”
“Of course I’m speaking of my son, Sa U-rin.”
At that, the Head’s gaze turned toward Sa U-rin, who sat there expressionless as ever.
“…How old is he this year?”
“Nineteen, sir.”
“…He won’t come of age until next year. Heh heh.”
Then the Head turned his gaze back to his younger sister, Jang Ryeo.
“…At that age, can it be done?”
It seemed impossible.
No matter that he was the son of the Sa Pa’s supreme witch, Jang Ryeo.
And even Jang Ryeo herself hadn’t shown such a presence in the Sa Pa at that age.
“Have you been listening to me with half an ear this whole time? Hm? Really now. Would I stand here and prattle on about something with no chance of success? Would I?”
Hadn’t she proven herself capable of such things before?
“…Then, do you truly mean there’s a chance?”
No matter how he looked at it, there seemed to be no chance.
His bearing was weak, his presence slight, and save for a handsome face, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.
“Stop spouting nonsense and do as I say—stamp your seal on a letter and send it to Cheolga Gunsa.”
“But I should also inform the elders—”
“No. Just do it. You can tell the old men that I ordered it.”
That would work, at least.
The elders caved at a single word from the witch Jang Ryeo. Rather, they were old men who dared not speak a word against her.
Out of fear for their lives.
And yet they nitpicked at the Head’s every decision.
“Sigh.”
“And what now?!”
“……Is it really all right to do this? The Sa Pa won’t just sit back and watch, will they?”
“Don’t worry. By the time they realize what’s happening, everything will already be in motion.”
“That’s precisely the problem. It’s obvious the Sa Pa will weaken because of us and the Jang Family, so they’ll certainly do something about it. Especially when you’re away.”
“There’s no need to worry about that either. I’ve thought it all through. Besides, they won’t rush in headlong just to pick a fight with us.”
“Still, there will be damage. If things get bad…….”
They could target the Head of the Jang Family himself, or they might go after his sons instead.
“I told you not to worry.”
“How can I not worry?!”
“I’ve already told you—I’ve thought this through.”
“If I could hear what you’re thinking, then I could handle anything!”
“In any case, you worry too much. How do you expect to lead the clan that way? Listen—never raise your sons like this.”
Did the Head of the Jang Family choose to become this way?
When he was young, he feared nothing—not even death itself. But that was long ago.
As he aged and took on the burden of leading the clan, his worries multiplied. And the most pressing concern was his own failure—trapped against a wall, unable to break through to the next realm.
And so he watched himself grow weak in the eyes of the other masters of the Seven Great Sects in the Sa Pa.
Weakness bred worry, and worry fed more weakness. A vicious cycle, endlessly repeating.
His two sons, who would inherit his legacy and lead the Jang Family into the future—they weighed on him as well.
They were strong enough, but they lacked brilliance.
Of course, one’s current realm of martial arts mattered less than one’s future potential. Wasn’t the whole point of cultivation to grow stronger in the years to come?
Who knew? Perhaps one of his sons would shatter that barrier and ascend to the Absolute Realm.
But how could he hope for that when he himself had not broken through?
The Head of the Jang Family lacked the martial power, the insight, to guide his sons toward the Absolute Realm. He could not offer them the wisdom or enlightenment they would need.
So whenever he had the chance, he asked his younger sister, Jang Ryeo, to teach them. But Jang Ryeo never budged.
That was why he hated her even more.
And yet, there was no one else to rely on but his younger sister. It was a bitter truth.
Perhaps that’s why his expression had grown so dark.
“……Your nephew is here. Keep your composure. So tell me—what makes you so confident?”
“As I was saying, normally…….”
“Enough. Just tell me what I want to hear.”
“Fine. When I step away, Hyun-wi will be here. And once he is, the Sa Pa won’t be able to move so carelessly. They value their own lives, after all.”
“……Hyun-wi? Who’s that?”
“The former leader of the Murim Alliance, Hyun-wi. And you call yourself Head of the family? Unbelievable.”
“……Ah.”
An entirely unexpected name had suddenly surfaced, and for a moment he couldn’t place it.
“But how could he possibly……?”
Wasn’t he the leader of the Murim Alliance?
Not an ordinary man, surely?
A figure who once stood at the height of Kangho, looking down on it all. Why would he……?
Why would he be connected to the Sa Pa?
There was no intersection. There couldn’t be one.
“He was close friends with your nephew’s father.”
“Good heavens. What…….”
Such a connection existed?
If someone had joked about such a thing, he would have dismissed it as nonsense. But this was hardly a joking matter.
“……So the former leader of the Murim Alliance is helping you?”
Even so, it was hard to accept.
The leader of the Murim Alliance, aiding the master of the Sa Pa? And knowing his younger sister Jang Ryeo as he did, the Head of the Jang Family found it even more incomprehensible.
How could a man of such standing have endured his younger sister’s capricious temperament?
If blades hadn’t been drawn, they were lucky.
“He’s not helping me.”
“……Then?”
“He’s helping my son, Sa U-rin.”
“…….”
Madness. Absolute madness.
Ever since he’d heard the first word, every single thing had been nothing but absurdity piled upon absurdity.
Yes, it was all true. The situation was exactly as she described. And if things went well, it would be a blessing.
Yes, his damned younger sister would have her way regardless, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
But truly, the words coming from his younger sister’s mouth now defied all reason, all understanding…….
No, from beginning to end, it was like listening to a tiger graze on grass—utter nonsense.
The former leader of the Murim Alliance, helping his younger sister’s son—helping his own nephew?
What on earth……
Not a question of whether there was anything to help with—suspicion bloomed instead.
“So you’re saying…no, wait. You’re going to help my nephew win the martial arts tournament?”
Jang Yu-un felt embarrassed the moment the words left his mouth.
With the Lord of Sa Pa around, there was no need for such a thing.
“No.”
“……Right, of course.”
That made more sense.
The Lord of Sa Pa lending his strength to win a martial arts tournament, and the former Murim Alliance Master helping? It made no sense.
Not in all of history……
The very suggestion was beneath contempt.
“Then what? What exactly are you helping with? ……Wait, hold on.”
Something struck Jang Yu-un then—a thought, or several thoughts all at once.
Something felt…deeply wrong.
The military strategist of the Murim Alliance was asked to defect to the Lord of Sa Pa. His sister had accepted the proposal without hesitation.
Fine, suppose that was possible.
But then……
The former Murim Alliance Master was helping—not his sister, but his nephew?
A boy not yet of age, helping him?
Why?
For what reason?
No, this itself was strange. The military strategist and the former Murim Alliance Master together.
Along with the Lord of Sa Pa.
This was no ordinary matter.
Were they plotting something grand for Kangho?
But that didn’t fit……
His sister Jang Ryeo would never be the sort to harbor such ambitions. So why would she seek the seat of Murim Alliance Master?
Jang Yu-un shook his head vigorously.
No matter how he tried to piece the story together, his mind simply would not fit the parts.
“Something big is at play here. Isn’t it.”
The Witch Jang Ryeo’s eyes widened.
“Well, well. Impressive. You can even think that far.”
“Don’t play games. What is it? What’s wrapped up in this so grandly?”
And so the Witch Jang Ryeo spoke.
“The Invisible Hand.”
“……The Invisible Hand? ……What do you mean?”
“Really, I swear. An organization that exists in Kangho yet does not exist. The Invisible Hand.”
“……Ah, yes.”
He knew of it.
He knew, but…why would its name emerge here, so suddenly?
“……But why them? No, that’s not it.”
Jang Yu-un’s eyes suddenly grew wide as lanterns.
“You don’t mean…they’re connected to this? They are?”
The Witch Jang Ryeo nodded.
“Yes.”
“……Insane. Ryeo! What in the world……”
“To be precise, it’s not a connection—it’s that my son Sa U-rin intends to destroy them, the Invisible Hand that is. I’m helping him with that. The military strategist wants it too. And Hyun-wi, the former Murim Alliance Master, desires it as well.”
“……”
Ah, ah, ah.
The mind of Jang Yu-un went white.
No—his entire world within turned white.

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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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