I Shouldn't Have Joined the Martial Arts Alliance - Chapter 96

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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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Foolishly entering the Murim Alliance instead — Chapter 96
So Seol-lu hadn’t yet caught sight of Sa U-rin’s expression, clouded over with bewilderment. She was turned away from him.
So without understanding what was happening, she spoke.
“I’ve never done this before. So please be careful… and if you could, I’d like you to treat me like we’re lovers.”
The response she’d been hoping for didn’t come.
‘Isn’t this too much?’
After all I’ve done.
So she turned to face Sa U-rin and spoke again.
“Fine. I won’t ask for that much. But at least the bare minimum……”
As So Seol-lu spoke, she saw Sa U-rin’s face. Something was wrong.
“…What’s with that look?”
His expression.
Just moments before, hadn’t it been blank?
‘Did he fall for my body?’
Is that why he’s making that face?
‘Or…surely not?’
That couldn’t be.
If he were as inexperienced as she was, he wouldn’t have come forward so boldly—or rather, so shamelessly.
“…Say something, would you?”
She was standing here unclothed in front of him. It was embarrassing.
So Sa U-rin finally spoke.
“…What exactly are you doing right now?”
“…Isn’t that…why you called me here?”
Now Sa U-rin understood why this woman had been acting the way she had.
“…What were you imagining? I called you because I have something I want to ask you.”
So Seol-lu’s eyes lost focus, blinking rapidly.
“Oh, then…wait a moment.”
‘No! What is this! At least say something sooner!’
She felt like she might die of shame.
So Seol-lu hurriedly began to gather her clothes—then stopped.
For some reason, it felt like she was losing out. No, she was definitely losing, wasn’t she?
After all, she’d already removed everything.
So she remained unclothed and continued.
“Look. Since it’s already come to this, why not just go through with it?”
If she became that kind of woman to the son of Safa’s Patriarch, surely she could get her younger brother released from Daeheukmun without difficulty.
In that case, this was an opportunity for So Seol-lu.
“I don’t know how much experience you have, but I have none. So put your clothes on.”
“It’s my first time too.”
“…Your first time and you’re like this?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing……”
How could a woman stand before a man for the first time wearing not a thread and be so confident about it?
And even suggesting it.
“That’s enough. Stop talking nonsense and put your clothes on.”
So Seol-lu stepped closer to Sa U-rin. Sa U-rin stepped back.
It was the first time in his life he’d retreated before anyone.
The first time……
“You’ve already seen me. There’s no turning back now. So let’s just do it.”
She’d always wanted to try it sometime. She was curious. Besides, it was something she’d have to do eventually anyway.
“No. So put your clothes on.”
“That doesn’t make sense. I won’t tell anyone, so let’s try it once. Well?”
Sa U-rin was at a loss for words.
And.
There was no sign she would back down. So Sa U-rin drew his sword.
Shing.
“I didn’t pay good money to come all this way just for jokes. Put your clothes on. While I’m still being nice about it.”
“…Listen. What kind of man are you…? Are you impotent?”
She’d never heard of such a man existing in the world. She’d heard of men who attack women in the night—but not this.
“…If you value your life, just put them on.”
“You’re pathetic. Can’t you even take it when it’s offered? Ugh. Fine. Fine. I’ll put them on. I’ll put them on.”
So Seol-lu scoffed several times as she dressed, her exasperation plain.
“Tch. Idiot.”
And wasn’t she right?
A beautiful woman, not a thread on her, telling him he could have her—and he refuses?
What kind of madman does that?
Did the Lord of Safa know the truth about his son?
That he was a cripple and a eunuch?
Once dressed, So Seol-lu faced Sa U-rin again.
“So what? What were you going to ask? You draw your sword, threaten to kill me—and then what? Huh?”
Useless cripple.
‘Damn it all.’
That handsome face made her heart race despite everything.
“Sit.”
“Tch.”
They both sat. Sa U-rin stared at So Seol-lu, his gaze boring through her.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
Then Sa U-rin spoke.
“You’re not afraid of anything, are you?”
She seemed to share something of his nature—at least when it came to fearlessness.
“If I weren’t afraid, I wouldn’t have followed you this far.”
That much was true. If death held no terror, she wouldn’t have moved from that room at all.
“……Fair enough.”
Now that he thought about it.
“You’re stupid, aren’t you?”
Not even grasping something so obvious on her own.
“I’ve never heard that before.”
“Tch. Lucky you, so many firsts ahead.”
Useless bastard.
“Whether you’re frightened by what I say or not doesn’t concern me. But from now on, if you don’t answer my questions properly, if you lie, or if you dodge—you die here. Understand?”
So Seol-lu’s shoulders tensed.
“Can’t you be a little less terrifying about it?”
Earlier, at the banquet, she’d sensed that murderous intent—and she’d wanted to verify whether it was real or feigned. But Sa U-rin’s demeanor made it clear it was genuine. She didn’t want to test it again.
And honestly, he looked capable of killing her right now.
“What harm have I done to you that warrants this? At least tell me that much?”
Then she’d know whether to beg on her knees or make some other choice.
“Just answer my questions honestly. Then nothing will happen to you.”
A lie.
Given the current situation, there was a ninety percent chance Sa U-rin would kill the woman standing before him.
Or rather, the situation would drive him toward it. Sa U-rin’s questions would be far too lethal to her position.
“……Understood. Go ahead and ask.”
Sa U-rin fell silent for a moment.
‘What to do?’
So Seol-lu wanted to try something. To test whether the Lord of Safa’s son was truly stronger than her.
She hesitated—but it felt like now or never.
‘Damn it.’
Her sword leaned against the wall. She’d set it aside while undressing, and now that carelessness came back to haunt her.
‘Still.’
A martial artist doesn’t need a blade to subdue an opponent. Hands and feet are weapons too.
Isn’t that what Sword Technique is—where the hand follows the arm’s path, and the sword follows the hand’s path?
Though it depends on the opponent.
So Seol-lu made her decision. She drove her fist straight at Sa U-rin’s face.
Whisht.
Her punch split the air in the room and reached Sa U-rin’s nose in an instant.
But.
Click.
“…….”
Sa U-rin’s hand caught her fist.
“That’s your last one.”
“……Huh.”
Stronger than he looked.
‘I admit it.’
The son of Safa’s supreme master indeed.
“Then why don’t you just kill me quickly so you stop overthinking it.”
Dragging things out was pointless either way.
“I’m asking now. That Martial Art you’ve mastered—it’s Hyonwon-gong, isn’t it?”
Yes, it was.
The reason Sa U-rin had approached So Seol-lu was because she had mastered Hyonwon-gong. And the reason he had to kill her was also because she had mastered Hyonwon-gong.
Simply put, he believed So Seol-lu belonged to the Invisible Hand.
No—he was certain of it.
Then it happened.
So Seol-lu’s eyes went wide as saucers.
“……How…….”
It was something she could never possibly know…….
“So it’s true.”
Shring.
Sa U-rin drew his sword in one fluid motion.
“……Wait, hold on! Why are you drawing your sword like that?!”
“Because I have to kill you.”
“……No, I mean why do I have to die?!”
“Because you’ve mastered Hyonwon-gong.”
“……Damn it!”
So Seol-lu spat a curse at Sa U-rin and immediately bolted toward where her own sword lay. She drew it in an instant.
She couldn’t just stand here and let herself be slaughtered without a fight.
“What kind of insane reason is that for me to die! Are you out of your mind?! And another thing! How do you even know I’ve mastered Hyonwon-gong in the first place?!”
She genuinely couldn’t wrap her head around it.
“……Don’t tell me…… you came from the Cheonhon Sect?”
‘But that doesn’t make sense either.’
Just days ago, she’d been given orders to approach this bastard.
“The Cheonhon Sect? Ah, so the Cheonhon Sect is a faction created by the members of the Invisible Hand?”
So Seol-lu looked utterly baffled.
“……What nonsense are you talking about? The Invisible Hand? You really are crazy. My hands are visible, your hands are visible, everyone’s hands are visible—what kind of absurd thing are you spouting? Are you some kind of pervert? One of those weirdos who picks out pretty women to kill?”
“You don’t know about the Invisible Hand?”
“That’s complete garbage. What are you even talking about?!”
Sa U-rin tilted his head slightly.
The woman before him didn’t seem to be pretending—she genuinely didn’t know.
Which made it all the more strange. She’d admitted to mastering Hyonwon-gong, yet knew nothing of the Invisible Hand?
The pieces didn’t fit together.
So Sa U-rin asked something else.
“Then, what faction do you belong to?”
“……What? You’re going to kill me without even knowing that?”
“I’m asking again. Your name and your faction.”
“……Damn it. This is ridiculous. I’m So Seol-lu, Vessel Master of Daeheukmun. There, happy now?! Huh?!”
Sa U-rin fell into thought for a moment. Or rather, into bewilderment. He’d thrown himself into this situation so hastily that he was completely unprepared.
Sa U-rin, who knew nothing about Gwijuseong, could hardly be expected to know anything about Daeheukmun.
“……My question was wrong. How did you master Hyonwon-gong? Where did you learn it?”
“What the hell is this?! Your questions keep jumping around! What do you even want to know?! Huh?!”
Then.
Whoosh.
Sa U-rin’s blade flashed across the space between them, stopping a hair’s breadth from So Seol-lu’s throat. One more inch and her neck would be pierced.
“……!”
So Seol-lu froze in shock.
She hadn’t even seen his movement. It had been too fast. Fast enough to make her doubt her own eyes.
“Just answer my questions.”
“……Okay, okay, I get it. Can you lower the sword first? Huh?”
“Just talk. You’ve wasted your last chance yourself.”
So Seol-lu glared at him, her words sharp as a blade.
“You! How am I supposed to talk like this! Damn it! Just kill me! Go ahead! Huh?!”
At So Seol-lu’s fierce defiance, Sa U-rin felt laughter bubbling up from within him almost without his consent.
She reminded him of his mother in her youth. Of course, Sa U-rin had never actually seen the Sorceress Jang Ryeo when she was young, but he imagined it must have been something like this.
“……Very well. Sit back down.”
“I won’t be able to kill you.”
At that, Sa U-rin’s gaze pierced into So Seol-lu’s eyes. In that instant, she felt as though she were staring into the depths of some bottomless abyss, and her skin erupted in goosebumps.
‘……What in the world is this bastard……?’
Those eyes bore nothing of the softness his face promised.
“……All right, I get it. Stop looking at me like that.”
I’m about to fall for him. Damn it.
To fall for the very person trying to kill you—could anything be more absurd?
The mere thought made her skin crawl.
So Sa U-rin and So Seol-lu took their seats again. Then Sa U-rin turned his gaze back to her eyes, waiting.
Waiting for her answer.
‘Christ. I’m losing it.’
Every time those eyes found hers, her heart hammered like it was trying to escape her ribs.
“……I’ll tell you, just stop looking at me that way.”
“How am I looking at you?”
“……It’s……. Never mind. Forget it.”
“Just give me an answer.”
“You’re so damn persistent. Seriously. This is going to take a while.”
“I rented an expensive guest house. We have all the time we need.”
……
Right. That was a point.
She’d paid good money for this place. So why had this man tried to refuse?
So Seol-lu had already decided—once her story was done, she’d make another attempt.

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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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