Moorim Pochang - Chapter 35

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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 35. Chaos.

Yang Jeong emerged from his bath and changed into a pristine blue martial robe.
With his hair tied back neatly and a sword at his waist, he stepped from the room.
Though his appearance had always been striking, today something radiant seemed to emanate from him—from his face to his entire being.
“Off to your wedding ceremony?”
Gang Jo’s jab drew a faint smile from Yang Jeong.
“Surely I should present myself respectably before so many people, shouldn’t I?”
“So many people—you mean so many women.”
Yang Jeong grinned.
“What can I do if women simply take a liking to me?”
Gang Jo’s expression twisted slightly.
“Listen to that mouth running. Clean up your conduct first before spouting such nonsense, you wretch.”
“And what is wrong with my conduct that warrants such words? In any case, I shall take my leave.”
Yang Jeong departed with an unhurried pace.
He moved like a young nobleman of noble birth.
“Be careful. The head of the Open Sect might be waiting for you inside the Murim Alliance.”
At Gang Jo’s warning, Yang Jeong—who had been walking at leisure—gave a slight start.
“Come now—surely he wouldn’t attempt anything with so many witnesses present. Rest assured, I’ll be fine.”
As if he’d never been startled, he continued on with composure and crossed the Stone Bridge.
Gang Jo watched him go with an anxious expression.
‘Every time that bastard makes a move, trouble erupts…’
Neigh—whinny……
But his anxiety proved short-lived.
A horse’s cry pierced the air from the Stable within the Residence.
“Damn beast, again……”
Gang Jo clenched his fists and rushed toward the sound.

*

Upon arriving at the Murim Alliance, Yang Jeong spoke in a bright, clear voice.
“I have come in answer to the Alliance Leader’s summons.”
Unlike before, the martial artists guarding the Alliance’s main gate did not obstruct him.
“Please follow me.”
In fact, a young warrior offered to lead the way.
‘So this is the power of a good reputation.’
Yang Jeong followed with evident pleasure.
Any concerns about his renown had already left his mind.
Now he simply wanted to savor this glory.
After walking some distance into the Alliance grounds, a vast Training Ground came into view.
Countless martial artists had already gathered there.
They stared at him unblinking—men and women of all ages.
“How can one man be so handsome?”
“So he’s the one the women in town have been gossiping about.”
Yang Jeong reveled in their gazes.
Yet the younger men among them glared at him with poorly concealed resentment.
“Just how great are his merits that he receives such rewards……”
“Exactly. We’re the ones who bled fighting the enemy.”
As murmurs rippled through the crowd, the Alliance Leader and the elder masters emerged.
Shin Poong-gae was among the senior masters.
At once, the warriors bowed in unison.
“We honor the Alliance Leader……!”
“We honor the Alliance Leader……!”
Yang Jeong instinctively bowed as well.
“We honor the Alliance Lea……”
As the salutation ended, the Alliance Leader’s gaze swept across the assembled warriors.
“Long ago, the Blood Cult rose in rebellion, and the Martial Community stood forth with righteousness and chivalry to oppose them. Yet, overwhelmed by superior numbers, the Martial Community teetered on the brink of ruin. Then, a hundred heroes rose up without hesitation to face the enemy. Now, once again, the forces of the Blood Cult…”
The Alliance Leader’s speech stretched on at length.
‘How much longer is this going to take?’
Yang Jeong found himself stifling yawns from sheer boredom.
As he waited for the speech to finally end, the Alliance Leader at last fell silent.
With the Alliance Leader’s address concluded, Shin Poong-gae stepped forward.
“I shall now distribute rewards to those Chivalrous Warriors who have distinguished themselves in this great campaign. All the warriors present have earned honor, yet those receiving awards today have demonstrated exceptional merit. When your name is called, please come forward. First, Ak Hwan of the Ak Clan from Shandong…!”
At the sound of his name, Ak Hwan climbed onto the platform still holding his spear.
Yang Jeong watched the scene with indifference.
‘What’s this? Does the Murim Alliance have no one else? Why is that old man the one distributing rewards beside the Alliance Leader?’
Looking more closely, he noticed a middle-aged man with a disagreeable face standing behind Shin Poong-gae.
Judging by the fact that he carried no weapons, he seemed to be some kind of military officer or administrator for the Alliance.
“I’ll hold onto your spear for now.”
As Shin Poong-gae extended his hand, Ak Hwan passed him the spear he’d been holding.
“Young Hero Ak Hwan fought at the forefront of our forces more bravely than any other.”
Shin Poong-gae handed the Alliance Leader a different spear in turn.
Even at a glance, it was clearly a treasure of great value.
“Thank you.”
Ak Hwan bowed deeply and accepted the spear.
As he descended from the platform, another warrior’s name was called.
“Ha Hou-gyeong of Yang Town in Haenam…!”
At the call of his name, a middle-aged warrior climbed the platform.
He received a book that appeared to be a Martial Arts Manual.
‘When are they going to call my name?’
Yang Jeong watched the proceedings with his mind already wandering elsewhere.
Some warriors received swords, others received sabers.
Some accepted a Gold Toad, while others received a Silver Turtle inlaid with jade.
Yet still, Yang Jeong’s name had not been called.
“Yang Jeong…!”
At last, Yang Jeong’s name burst from Shin Poong-gae’s lips.
Yang Jeong straightened his shoulders and walked up onto the platform.
“Young Hero Yang Jeong, though not a warrior of the Murim Alliance, has performed a service in rescuing the Rear Guard Troops…”
As Shin Poong-gae’s words ended, Baek Moon-do looked toward him with a troubled expression.
‘Why…?’
As doubt clouded Yang Jeong’s face, Shin Poong-gae’s mouth opened again.
“This reward shall be presented to Young Hero Yang Jeong.”
The old beggar picked up the Dragon Head Staff that had been set aside and offered it forward.
In that instant, Yang Jeong’s eyes wavered.
‘Damn…’
His older brother’s fears had come to pass.
The moment he accepted that Dragon Head Staff, he would have no choice but to become the heir of the Open Sect.
As Shin Poong-gae held out the Dragon Head Staff, the warriors began to murmur among themselves.
That object was the sacred treasure of the Open Sect Patriarch.
Why would it be presented as a reward to a young man?
Baek Ha-yeong especially clenched her fists, her body trembling.
‘No, not you, Young Hero Yang.’
“Take it.”
Shin Poong-gae’s face was full of smug satisfaction.
‘No matter how hard you try to escape, you remain in the palm of my hand.’

*

“I… my contributions have been quite modest. Please withdraw the reward.”
Yang Jeong forced himself to remain composed.
But Shin Poong-gae was not one to release prey already caught in his net.
“That’s precisely why I’m merely lending it to you for now.”
“Actually… that’s not necessary. Please take it back.”
Cold sweat began to trickle down Yang Jeong’s back.
How in the world was he supposed to handle this?
Then Baek Moon-do’s lips moved silently.
‘Run.’
He was clearly saying exactly that.
Yang Jeong understood it.
‘Hell. I don’t know anymore.’
With so many eyes on him, if he didn’t flee now, he’d be destitute without question.
Bang!
Yang Jeong tore through the air, deploying his Body Technique from the platform.
Shin Poong-gae, startled, widened his eyes in shock.
How could anyone flee in a moment like this?
“Daring to refuse the Alliance Leader’s honor…! Seize him…!”
Shin Poong-gae bellowed at the top of his lungs.
The martial artists, catching on belatedly, gave chase.
“Catch him…!”
“Apprehend that disrespectful wretch…!”
But Yang Jeong’s Body Technique was already vanishing between the pavilions.
Whoosh…
Shin Poong-gae deployed his Body Technique without hesitation.
In the wake of the departed martial artists, only Baek Moon-do, Baek Won-yeong, Ja Seol, and Baek Ha-yeong remained.
Tsk…
Baek Moon-do gazed after Yang Jeong’s disappearance, smacked his lips, and descended from the platform.
Baek Won-yeong, his eyes wide with astonishment as he stared after Yang Jeong, finally spoke.
“Why did you do that, Father?”
“Do what?”
Ha…
Baek Won-yeong couldn’t help but smile.
His father’s lips had definitely moved.
“Regardless, his Lightness Skill is extraordinarily swift. I had no idea Yang’s speed was quite that formidable.”
He couldn’t suppress his admiration.
Could an arrow fly any faster?
With Lightness Skill like that, few in the entire Martial World could stand against him.
“I was a bit surprised myself.”
Baek Moon-do seemed genuinely taken aback.
Yet Baek Ha-yeong worried about something other than Yang Jeong’s Lightness Skill.
“What happens if Yang is caught, Father?”
“He’ll have no choice but to become the heir to the Open Sect.”

*

Why was the Murim Alliance so vast, and why did its paths wind so endlessly?
Towering pavilions rose everywhere, blocking even the sight of the alliance’s entrance.
Whoosh…
As Yang Jeong rounded a pavilion, he spotted martial artists rushing toward him from the opposite direction.
“There he is…!”
“Seize him…!”
When he altered his Body Technique, Shin Poong-gae was already rushing in from behind.
“Don’t let him take a scratch…! Capture him intact…!”
With the path blocked both ways, Yang Jeong’s vision darkened.
‘What…what do I do?’
Panicked, Yang Jeong looked up at the towering pavilion before him.
“Damn it…!”
Bang! Whoosh…!
Yang Jeong’s Body Technique surged upward like wind itself, scaling the pavilion’s wall.
The pursuing martial artists watched, mouths agape, at the spectacle.
“What are you doing…!”
But when Shin Poong-gae deployed his Body Technique and surged upward, they too began scaling the pavilion’s walls.
Atop the roof, Yang Jeong surveyed the surroundings.
Below, martial artists had encircled the pavilion.
‘This is really bad.’
Leaping to the opposite pavilion would be risky at best.
Whoosh…
Yang Jeong retreated a step, then surged forward with powerful momentum, his body technique launching him skyward.
“There he goes…………..!”
“He’s clearing the pavilion roof……..!”
Below, the Murim Alliance warriors erupted in shouts.
Shin Poong-gae, who had climbed onto the roof moments too late, stared across at the opposite pavilion.
Whoosh……..
Yang Jeong was already soaring toward another pavilion’s roof.
“That………obstinate bastard.”
Shin Poong-gae hesitated for a moment, then immediately mobilized his body technique.
Whoosh…….
His body technique carried him precariously down onto the opposite pavilion’s roof.
‘So the old man’s turned into a roof-runner like some common thief.’

*

From the pavilion roof, the Murim Alliance’s city wall was plainly visible.
Tap…
Yang Jeong’s feet brushed the ground lightly as he dashed toward the city wall.
Behind him, Shin Poong-gae gave chase, while Murim Alliance warriors converged from both sides.
Whoosh……
As he rounded the winding path, the wall finally came into view.
Yang Jeong launched his body technique without hesitation.
Tap.
Whoosh……
A single light kick against the wall was all it took—his body technique already carried him onto the wall’s summit.
The warriors stationed atop the wall rushed toward him.
But he was already descending from the wall, vanishing into the distance.
“I’m alive. I’m alive…!”
Yang Jeong shouted with unbridled joy.
Yet he could not afford to relax just yet.
Whoosh….
As he raced through grass, the moment he spotted the forest where the inn stood, he changed direction.
Upon entering the forest and vaulting over the residence’s wall, he finally released a relieved breath.
Phew………….
‘I almost became a pauper.’
“Brother……….! Brother……….! Brother…….!”
Yang Jeong raised his voice.
Then Gang Jo came running, his face flushed with anger.
“Why are you shouting like an idiot………..!”
Haack…Hack….
Having bellowed, Gang Jo questioned him through heavy, ragged breaths.
“Why vault over the wall when there’s a perfectly good gate? Are you a thief?”
“It’s just that, brother. The Open Sect’s master was chasing……”
Whoosh…….
Before Yang Jeong could finish, Gang Jo’s expression transformed, and he mobilized his body technique.
“This is my land. Leave at once.”
The moment Gang Jo descended onto the wall, his voice turned glacial.
Shin Poong-gae, who had been pursuing Yang Jeong, brought his body technique to a halt.
With trembling eyes, he gazed up at the wall, then hardened his resolve.
‘If not this moment, I shall never be able to take that man as my successor.’

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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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