Chapter 138: Shall We Talk
Jin Seong-un’s group crossed directly through the Murim Alliance under the guidance of Sima Baek.
Many glanced at them. After all, it was rare for Sima Baek, the second-in-command of the Murim Alliance, to personally accompany three young people.
“Who are they?”
“Ah, that one looks like the second son of the Seomun Clan.”
At least quite a few recognized Seomun Ak.
Leaving aside that he was the scion of a prestigious clan, Seomun Ak was already infamous in the murim as a debauchee.
Seomun Ak slightly lifted his chin and basked in the attention.
The man, who was always seen as a troublemaker, had visited the Murim Alliance after a long while, receiving direct guidance from none other than the Chief Strategist.
‘This is incredible.’
He felt utterly satisfied. It was like a good-for-nothing young master returning home in glory after passing the imperial examinations.
While Seomun Ak was enjoying the moment to the fullest, Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom continuously shifted their gazes.
Seeing that, Sima Baek chuckled warmly and said,
“For you two, this must be your first time in the Murim Alliance. Well? Isn’t it far larger than you imagined?”
Those visiting the Murim Alliance for the first time always reacted the same way. Its vast scale dwarfed even the largest clans or sects.
Seo Yu-gyeom nodded and said,
“Yes, the halls are remarkably tall and grand.”
Thinking it was praise, Sima Baek smiled in delight. Meanwhile, Seo Yu-gyeom stored the arrangement of the Alliance’s buildings in his memory.
‘If an intruder comes, that hall would be the first to notice. Then those warriors there are likely to use heavy weapons, and behind them would be the swift ones…’
While Sima Baek smiled with bright eyes, the Murim Alliance was being analyzed beside him.
Jin Seong-un, on the other hand, admired it with pure awe.
‘At this scale, one really could open an inn here.’
Sima Baek had once made such a remark—about setting up an inn within the Murim Alliance itself.
At the time, Jin Seong-un thought it was nonsense. No matter how large the Alliance was, how could one operate an inn catering only to its members?
But seeing it now, it was no boast. With this size and the sheer number of martial artists, the revenue would easily surpass most inns.
Thus, while Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak enjoyed the moment in their own ways, the group finally arrived at their destination.
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Inside the Chief Strategist Sima Baek’s office.
Sima Baek and the three sat around a table.
After savoring the aroma of the tea for a moment, Sima Baek smiled faintly and asked,
“So then, what exactly happened with Captain Won Seo-pung of the Hwang Eung Squad?”
It bore repeating: Sima Baek was the Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance. Even if he had seemed distracted by Jin Seong-un at the gate, he had already grasped the situation.
That Captain Won Seo-pung had glared at Jin Seong-un, that the gatekeeper had watched the captain’s reaction.
And that all the warriors who went out on mission with the Hwang Eung Squad just happened to be from the Mount Heng Sect.
After wetting his lips with tea, Jin Seong-un answered calmly.
“There was a light clash.”
Had Captain Won Seo-pung heard that, he would have jumped in outrage. That “light clash” had left him with internal injuries, after all.
Jin Seong-un continued,
“In truth, I was looking into the Red Cliff Escort Agency. They had been receiving Bamboo-Shadow Mushrooms, and I also had personal ties with Escort Leader Bang Man-bok.”
Sima Baek nodded. He had always monitored the movements of the Seong-un Inn, so most of this was already known to him.
Jin Seong-un explained further. As always, his tone was plain, but he included every detail that needed to be said.
Bang Man-bok’s death, the visit to the Shui Band, and Captain Won Seo-pung’s response.
Sima Baek’s brows narrowed slightly.
“If what you say is true, then Captain Won Seo-pung was rather hasty. It is unusual to decide on suppression without a proper investigation.”
Only in cases involving exceptionally vile demonic practitioners, deranged individuals who threatened great harm, or the forces of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would suppression be carried out so quickly.
As Sima Baek tapped the table with his finger, Seo Yu-gyeom, who had been observing the Chief Strategist’s office in detail, suddenly said,
“Maybe he was paid off.”
“……”
Sima Baek’s eyebrow twitched.
Every member of the Murim Alliance was expected to remain incorrupt. The Alliance did not exist to generate profit, but to uphold values.
Seo Yu-gyeom’s words were a direct affront to that principle.
But he casually added, as if it were nothing,
“Mount Heng Sect is collapsing, after all.”
“Hm…”
Sima Baek let out a low hum.
Seo Yu-gyeom was not wrong. Mount Heng Sect had been in decline for a long time.
The reason was clear.
During the Blood Demon’s era, they had lost most of their masters and martial arts.
For that same reason, many factions across orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic paths alike were enduring hardship.
“Let’s suppose he was paid. Then who gave the money? Who would benefit if the river bandits were silenced?”
At once, both Sima Baek and Seo Yu-gyeom arrived at the same conclusion.
Those who would gain power at the Red Cliff Escort Agency after Bang Man-bok and his sole heir’s deaths.
“Yes, if your assumption is correct, then the Red Cliff Escort Agency most likely instigated it. The question is whether they acted alone, or colluded with another force.”
“Either way, if they could sway a squad captain of the Murim Alliance, it must be the latter. What power would petty merchants have?”
Their conversation continued.
In the meantime, Seomun Ak, who had been zoning out, suddenly cut in.
“The Red Cliff Escort Agency did it? Why? Aren’t they on our side?”
“……”
Sima Baek and Seo Yu-gyeom glanced at Seomun Ak, then casually ignored him and went on talking.
Meanwhile, Jin Seong-un simply nodded at the right moments, as though he understood everything being discussed.
Staying quiet was the way to remain neutral. Having lived most of his life as a lowly inn waiter, Jin Seong-un understood that truth well.
“Ah, you are here, Captain.”
Captain Won Seo-pung of the Hwang Eung Squad waved dismissively as he entered his office. Ever since returning, he had felt constant anxiety.
“Why would the Chief Strategist…?”
It was true that the Guest Dragon’s name had risen in fame lately. He was among the most talked-about figures in the mouths of gossipers.
The title of Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes was by no means an empty one. All of them would play important roles in the murim ten or twenty years from now.
Yet at present, they were still nothing more than later-generation prodigies. There was no reason for the Murim Alliance’s second-in-command to personally grant such treatment, especially during a sensitive time like this.
‘I don’t know what that brat will say to the Chief Strategist. Nor do I know how the Chief Strategist will respond.’
Not knowing was unpredictable. And having deeds to hide only made the heart more uneasy.
So then, how much time had passed?
Captain Won Seo-pung, who had been troubled the whole while, finally jumped up from his seat, unable to relieve the suffocating frustration in his chest.
It was nearly supper time. He did not know what the Guest Dragon and his companions might do, but at the very least, some preparation was necessary.
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Captain Won Seo-pung went straight to the dining hall. Many members of the Alliance had already gathered in groups, eating.
With a tray of food in hand, he naturally joined a group already dining.
Those at the table glanced at him, then brightened.
“What’s this? When did you return? You said it might take some time.”
They were squad captains with whom he had built some rapport in the Murim Alliance. Smiling, Captain Won Seo-pung took a seat among them and said,
“I thought so myself. But it collapsed so easily.”
“Collapsed? Are you saying you failed your mission?”
They looked at him in surprise.
Captain Won Seo-pung’s success rate in missions was usually very high.
None of them said it aloud, but they knew well that his circumstances were desperate. After all, the future of Mount Heng Sect rested on his shoulders.
With a bitter expression, he nodded and said,
“While investigating the Shui Stronghold, others intervened.”
“Who on earth?”
Their expressions turned grave.
What kind of lunatic would dare interfere with a mission led by a captain of the Murim Alliance?
This was no mere personal matter of Captain Won Seo-pung. It was a direct challenge to the name of the Murim Alliance itself.
“Ahem, enough of that.”
Captain Won Seo-pung suddenly closed his mouth and began to eat. The ones beside him grew even more curious and pressed him.
“Come now, tell us. Who would dare interfere when the Murim Alliance was investigating mere river bandits?”
The words he had used to threaten Jin Seong-un had not been entirely false.
– For in the Murim Alliance, there were many who believed that the unorthodox path should always be slain without mercy.
Indeed, the Alliance had long defined itself by facing clear enemies.
And among those loyal to the Murim Alliance, many bore personal grudges against the unorthodox or the Demonic Cult.
To them, the situation was simple.
The orthodox united Murim Alliance investigated unorthodox river bandits.
If someone protected the bandits and obstructed the Alliance?
That was a direct provocation against the orthodox murim.
From all around, unfriendly eyes turned toward Captain Won Seo-pung.
Their gazes clearly urged him to speak.
Feigning hesitation, Captain Won Seo-pung finally spoke as if he had no choice.
“It was the Guest Dragon. In any case, since I considered him an orthodox man, I could not bring myself to attack alongside you.”
In truth, a clash had broken out, and it was only after being struck once that he realized it was futile—but he left that part unsaid.
“What, the Guest Dragon?”
The reactions split in two.
Some were startled by the unexpected name. Especially those connected to the Wudang Sect or the Tang Clan of Sichuan quietly averted their eyes.
They already knew how close the Guest Dragon was to those two powers. Criticizing him here would not be wise.
Particularly considering the Tang Clan of Sichuan’s disposition, all the more so.
On the other hand, those without ties to either faction grew more displeased.
They knew of the Guest Dragon’s rising fame in recent days, but that did not give him the right to obstruct a mission of the Murim Alliance.
Those tied to the Sima Clan clicked their tongues even more openly.
For Gi-ryong Sima Hwi, once called the future of the Sima Clan, had fallen to none other than the Guest Dragon.
“Explain in detail. Wasn’t the Guest Dragon inclined toward the orthodox? Why would he protect river bandits?”
Nods of agreement spread around.
After all, everyone rumored to be close to the Guest Dragon was orthodox.
Just as their doubts reached their peak.
Captain Won Seo-pung sensed the time was ripe.
The Guest Dragon himself had said that a river bandit was a waiter at his inn. That was more than enough to spark suspicion of collusion between the Guest Dragon and the Shui Stronghold.
If he planted that suspicion here and there, it would at least dull whatever nonsense the Guest Dragon told the Chief Strategist.
After finishing his calculations, Captain Won Seo-pung deliberately delayed, then opened his mouth just as the tension in the room peaked.
“In truth, you see… at the inn run by the Guest Dragon—”
Tap. Someone placed a hand on Captain Won Seo-pung’s shoulder.
He frowned and turned his head. Who dared lay a hand so casually on the shoulder of a captain?
In the Murim Alliance, a captain ranked just below the Alliance Leader, the Chief Strategist, the Elders, and the Hall Leaders. It was by no means a low rank.
But when Captain Won Seo-pung saw who it was, his eyes softened at once.
A familiar face.
Hall Leader Do Won-hyeok of the White Sword Hall.
Among all the Hall Leaders of the Murim Alliance, he boasted the greatest strength and authority.
Though he had no particular foundation, he earned recognition from the Alliance Leader and Chief Strategist purely through skill and loyalty.
He was also the very man who, right after returning from being dispatched during the Food Butcher incident, had strongly urged Sima Baek to recruit Jin Seong-un.
Hall Leader Do had also been present in the Qinghai Iron Workshop incident with Sima Baek. He had personally witnessed Jin Seong-un subdue the forces of the Demonic Cult.
Gripping Captain Won Seo-pung’s shoulder firmly, Hall Leader Do spoke in a calm tone.
“Captain, shall we talk for a moment.”
At once, Captain Won Seo-pung realized.
This was not a personal matter. This was an investigation by the White Sword Hall into him.
The nature of the White Sword Hall was clear.
Guardians of order.
When their swords turned outward, they slew the enemies of the murim without fail.
But when their blades turned inward, they investigated and punished those who disrupted order within.
‘Damn it…’
Cold sweat drenched Captain Won Seo-pung’s back.
He glanced around in haste.
But the ones who had just been nodding along, sharing in his criticism of the Guest Dragon, now one by one coughed awkwardly and rose from their seats.