Chapter 404: Southern Murim Alliance (1)
“We need to know the internal situation of the Southern Murim Alliance in detail.”
The larger a faction grew, the more gaps there were to dig into.
However, the more that was the case, the less likely it was for truly important information to leak outside.
At that moment, Jegal Eun opened her mouth.
“From what I’ve heard through personal channels, the inside of the Southern Murim Alliance is apparently in complete disarray.”
“Complete disarray?”
She clicked her tongue with a look of disapproval.
“Rather than opposing us, it seems they’re all too busy fighting among themselves over internal interests….”
“……”
“……”
Silence fell over the room.
Wisdom Talent struggled to speak.
“There’s no way it could be that much of a mess….”
“It’s entirely possible.”
She pulled out a letter from her bosom.
Her main family, the Jegal Clan, was naturally participating in the Southern Murim Alliance.
It was only natural, as the Alliance Leader was of the Jegal family.
But what was curious was—
“Did they willingly share information with you?”
“I’m officially distancing myself from the family and currently on a retreat.”
Her sigh grew deeper as she fidgeted with the letter.
“I only asked about their wellbeing… and this is the reply I got.”
She handed the letter to me.
Giving me such a private letter so casually?
Just what kind of reply did she receive?
With a similar expression to Jegal Eun, I accepted and read the letter.
The sender was her uncle, Jegal Gun, who had recently been appointed as the Outer Hall Leader of the Southern Murim Alliance.
“Uh, hmm….”
And then.
The contents he had written were filled with old man’s complaints and laments.
“What in the world is this….”
As expected of a senior member of the Jegal Clan, he hadn’t leaked any secrets of the Alliance or anything damaging to the clan, but there were subtle implications scattered throughout that hinted at the dire circumstances the Jegal Clan currently faced.
“Even though they produced the Alliance Leader, this is the response?”
“……”
Normally, a clan that produced an Alliance Leader would enjoy the highest prestige of the era.
The Namcheon Baek Clan was such an example, and so were the other Nine Sects and Five Great Clans.
“A leader raised through revolution is hard to accept, no matter the era.”
“That’s true.”
If the Alliance Leader were from the Evil Path Castle, there would’ve been merciless purges, but the Southern Murim Alliance couldn’t even do that.
‘Hmm? This is….’
I caught a curious phrase in the letter.
“He said suspicious people kept coming in and out of the Alliance, and it’s bothering him?”
“If he says suspicious people, wouldn’t he be referring to the unorthodox factions from the Evil Path Castle?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
If it were about the unorthodox factions, he would’ve used insults, not called them ‘suspicious’.
‘Maybe these people… are ones directly entangled with those bastards.’
Which meant that even if things looked like a mess on the surface, they were scheming something behind it all.
Baek Sang-ah seemed to be thinking along the same lines as she let out a sigh.
“It’d be great if we could grasp the internal affairs of the Southern Murim Alliance clearly… but we can’t just go there ourselves.”
‘Go there ourselves?’
At that moment, a flash of inspiration struck my mind.
“Then how about we go there in person?”
“……?”
“……??”
Everyone in the room looked at me as if to say, ‘Is he insane?’
‘Is he suggesting war?’
While some were thinking that—
“They don’t know our other identities, do they?”
“Our other identities… Ah!”
Baek Sang-ah, realizing my intention, gave a sly smile.
“There’s no one in the Southern Murim Alliance who knows who we really are.”
“Yes, the young miss and I can march right through the main gate of the Southern Murim Alliance without issue.”
Since the Namcheon Baek Clan had completely withdrawn after the Southern Murim Alliance was reformed from the Murim Alliance…
If she, a direct descendant of the Namcheon Baek Clan, were to approach them in these desperate times?
“Hoo, hoohoohoo… That’s an excellent idea.”
With those words, I suddenly realized how much Baek Sang-ah had grown.
In the past, she would’ve responded with doubts like ‘Do you really think that’ll work?’ or ‘Is it okay to do such a thing?’
But now, she wasn’t afraid at all to stick her head into a tiger’s maw.
“Then….”
I lightly touched my face and moved the muscles around.
Then a young man with a somewhat harmless-looking face stepped forward.
“It’s time for the appearance of the Heavenly Divine Dragon, Jin Myeong.”
Since Heavenly Divine Dragon, Jin Myeong, was known publicly as a follower of the Namcheon Baek Clan, he would easily avoid suspicion.
At that moment—
“Wait.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m coming too.”
So Cheon frowned and raised his hand high.
“No, So Cheon, your face is already….”
“I’m still coming.”
So Cheon’s attitude was stubborn.
I could feel his determination to go even if it killed him… of course, if someone really tried to kill him, he’d probably run, but either way, this was a different kind of stubbornness than usual.
“Hmm.”
If I could bring So Cheon along, of course I should.
There was no longer any doubt about his abilities.
However, unlike those who hid their faces behind Black Sky Master Mask, So Cheon had boldly revealed his face even while being treated as an officer.
Naturally, his face was known all across the Central Plains as the pretty boy raised by the Black Lotus Hall Leader.
‘…No, maybe it’s actually possible?’
As I stared intently at So Cheon’s face, I sensed a possibility and turned my gaze toward Jegal Eun.
“Military Strategist, a little help please.”
“Leave it to me.”
Jegal Eun instantly understood my intention and flashed a meaningful smile.
“W-what are you trying to do?!”
“If you want to come, then sit still.”
So Cheon, who was about to resist, instantly became meek like a lamb.
Jegal Eun swept her gaze over So Cheon’s entire body with the eyes of a beast eyeing its prey.
“Hmm, with this much, I think it’s possible.”
“So that’s your plan!”
Wisdom Talent and the others also started catching on to the situation, grinning as they surrounded So Cheon.
Soon, Jegal Eun’s hand, now holding makeup tools, began mercilessly ravaging So Cheon.
She began by tidying up the unkempt hair that hadn’t been cared for.
Then, his face, which had accumulated grime from lack of washing, was thoroughly scrubbed clean with what felt like water torture.
She subtly altered his facial features with bone compression techniques.
And finally, dressed him in a noble-looking violet outfit fit for a young master….
“…Body Reformation?”
“Woooow!”
Jegal Eun couldn’t hold back her admiration as she looked at the masterpiece she had created.
In truth, So Cheon’s appearance was so handsome that he’d never have to worry about starving no matter where he went in the Central Plains, as long as he just cleaned up.
Baek Sang-ah also gave a low evaluation as she observed the new So Cheon.
“Well, it’s decent.”
“R-really?”
“If you stayed like that all the time, it would be great.”
So Cheon’s expression immediately brightened.
He shouted in a voice higher than usual, something he had never done before.
“If the young miss wishes it, I will…!”
“…Will?”
“……”
Why couldn’t he finish the sentence?
“K-kkkkugh!”
Seeing deep conflict appear on So Cheon’s face, I was appalled.
‘T-this bastard?!’
His laziness and romantic feelings were visibly clashing violently inside!
“Wi…wiiill…”
So Cheon’s voice dipped sharply.
“That’s enough!”
Thud!
Unable to watch any longer, Baek Sang-ah exploded in anger and stormed out of the office.
“……”
“……”
A hellish silence engulfed the office.
No one spoke, but everyone was cursing So Cheon with their eyes.
With teary eyes, So Cheon looked at me for help….
Whip!
I coldly turned my gaze away from his eyes.
“……!!”
Well, it’s his karma, he has to resolve it himself. But still, what’s with that look, like he’s been betrayed?
***
About seven days passed.
Baek Sang-ah, So Cheon, and I arrived at the Southern Murim Alliance.
“We’ve come from the Namcheon Baek Clan.”
“F-from the Namcheon Baek Clan?!”
Baek Sang-ah, who had styled herself to look a bit younger as before, held out the insignia representing the direct line of the Namcheon Baek Clan to the gatekeeper.
“Southern Mist Sword Flower Baek Sang-ah. Granddaughter of the former Murim Alliance Leader, the Namcheon Sword King, and eldest daughter of the rightful Young Master of Namcheon, Righteous Sword Baek Mun-yak.”
“S-Southern Mist Sword Flower!”
Apparently, the name of the Four Evils still carried weight—the gatekeeper immediately recognized Baek Sang-ah’s identity.
“T-then these individuals?”
“Heavenly Divine Dragon, Jin Myeong.”
“…White Qilin, Cheon So.”
“H-Heavenly Divine Dragon!”
The gatekeeper, exclaiming at my alias, then turned his gaze to Cheon So, who had called himself the White Qilin.
‘Who’s that?’
…his face plainly read.
With a sigh, Baek Sang-ah stepped forward.
“He’s a promising prodigy of the main family, personally acknowledged by my grandfather. He doesn’t yet have a publicly known martial name, but the title White Qilin will soon be renowned throughout the Central Plains.”
“…Ah!”
“If you understand, may we proceed?”
“I-I’ll inform the upper floor of your visit right away! This way, please!”
The chief martial officer at the main gate fussed as he escorted us to the VIP chamber.
And not long after—
“Welcome, noble lady! We sincerely welcome you to the Southern Murim Alliance!”
Literally rushing out in socks, a middle-aged man greeted us.
‘Ugh! Why him?!’
I whispered into her ear.
‘Do you know him?’
‘Serpent-Saving Sword, Gongson Un. A skilled schemer who used to clash with my family over influence in Hangzhou. He’s one of the elders of the Gongsun Clan.’
‘Ho, the Gongsun Clan….’
I narrowed my eyes at Gongson Un.
Hadn’t I just recently cut down Gwaegeomgun of the Gongsun Clan with my own hands?
‘It wouldn’t be surprising if the entire Gongsun Clan were entangled with the Heaven-Defying Society.’
But… why would a member of a rival clan be welcoming us so enthusiastically?
Then, So Cheon jabbed at my side.
“What is it?”
“Stand a little farther from Lady Baek.”
“……”
This guy, late blooming jealousy is no joke.
While Baek Sang-ah dealt with Gongson Un, I smiled and gripped So Cheon’s shoulder.
“I know you came to make a good impression on Lady Baek, but don’t forget the reason I brought you.”
“…I know.”
At least he had learned not to spew nonsense about bringing back the Alliance Leader’s head.
‘But we still need to infiltrate the Alliance Leader’s residence.’
Although the Murim Alliance had become the Southern Murim Alliance, the structure of the Alliance Leader’s residence was the same as before.
I had once stayed there at the invitation of the Namcheon Sword King, so I knew its layout thoroughly.
But then—
“The Alliance Leader is absent?”
“Yes. Because of that, the Evil Path Castle bastards are running rampant…!”
At those words, I narrowed my eyes slightly.
‘The Alliance Leader is away?’
At such a critical time?
“How long has he been gone?”
“It’s been over a month. With the Alliance Leader gone, those unorthodox bastards are going wild—it’s driving us insane!”
If he had been absent for over a month without explanation, it wouldn’t be strange for him to be ousted from his position.
Even if he were the Namcheon Sword King, a former Alliance Leader, it would be the same.
Yet Gongson Un only lamented the chaos within the Alliance, without a single word of complaint toward the Alliance Leader.
Which meant—
‘Regardless of politics, the current Alliance Leader has a firm grip on the Alliance.’
“That’s unfortunate. I wanted to pay my respects and deliver Namcheon’s position.”
“Indeed! Namcheon must quickly stretch and rise once again!”
Gongson Un grandly misunderstood Baek Sang-ah’s words.
With a feigned smile, Baek Sang-ah asked again.
“Then, do you happen to know where the Alliance Leader has gone?”
“Hmm…”
After a moment of thought, Gongson Un spoke with a peculiar expression.
“I heard, in passing… Mount Bokryong… but I don’t know exactly where that is.”
Bokryong?
The name Bokryong originally refers to Zhuge Liang.
But in this context, the name felt different somehow.
‘If Bokryong refers to a real existing being…’
Something far more troublesome could arise.