Several beggars dressed in shabby clothes were gathered at the entrance of Eun-ru. It was as Dmitry, who died to Lee Sungmin as expected.
But Eun-ru was no small location, it was a luxurious inn that was in the center of the city.
If there was a big disturbance, obviously the members of the informational sects like the Beggar Sect would flock to it first. Originally, Dmitry’s intention was to attract a crowd to create a mess and then run away from Lee Sungmin whilst the beggar sect members tried to enter and cause a mass confusion.
What Dmitry didn’t understand though, was that the skills between him and Lee Sungmin were far too wide and he was killed before he could do anything.
He was overpowered without even being able to tie up Lee Sungmin’s feet for even a few seconds, and he couldn’t make room to escape within that small gap of time.
On his way out of the annex, Lee Sungmin identified the fallen mercenaries.
To borrow Yana’s words from earlier, Lee Sungmin’s Dragon Fear left the halls with the passed out mercenaries in a complete wreck.
Although he had mastered his control over the power the first time he was in the Forest of Fairies, it was the first time he had used the power since waking up from his seal. Lee Sungmin was inwardly satisfied with the sheer power the Dragon Fear could produce now.
Sima Ryunju once said that Lee Sungmin would find his own ‘direction’. When Lee Sungmin reached the Realm of Transcendence, Sima Ryunju had explained to him that when one reached that Realm, their bodies and abilities would transcend human understanding and common sense.
But even within that amazing power, each person that the ability to find their own direction of how to grow their incomprehensible power. For Sima Ryunju, that ‘direction’ was the pursuit of absolute speed and he had reached the pinnacle of it through creating the Dark Storm Arts.
Lee Sungmin had accepted the pursuit of absolute speed as a ‘direction’ by inheriting his master’s heart and martial sea. Although he was not at Sima Ryunju’s level of absolute speed yet, it was because it wasn’t originally his direction to begin with and he still had more room to grow.
Not just that, since the pursuit of absolute speed was his master’s original direction, Lee Sungmin still had his own unique direction that he was pursuing and was finally becoming clear. It was the use and harmonization of the supernatural powers that were inside of his body.
“Your leader is dead and his corpse is in the room on the top floor.”
Lee Sungmin spoke to the gathered mercenaries who were still awake and hadn’t collapsed from the pressure of Lee Sungmin’s Dragon Fear. They gulped down their saliva with their pale faces as they sobered up at the realization of what had happened to their leader. Lee Sungmin spoke as he passed them.
“Bury it or burn him…. Do as you please.”
After saying that, he opened the gate of Eun-ru back out into the streets of Cron.
Several dirty and smelly men dressed in shabby clothes; members of the Beggar Sect, stood outside. Yana wrinkled her nose at the hideous stench that came from them. Baek Sogo sighed and avoided the Beggars’ gazes.
The Murim Alliance was made up of several Sects that followed Orthodox. Although Baek Sogo had gone off on her own will to pursue her dreams, Baek Sogo did not lose favor with the Orthodox Sects from the Murim Alliance. It was because her ideals were something close to the ideals of the Murim Alliance’s.
“Are you…”
One of the Murim Alliance members standing close to Lee Sungmin opened his mouth. Lee Sungmin gave an honest answer to the question.
“I’m the Ghost Spear.”
All of the members of the Beggar Sect who were present were appalled at the calm words uttered from Lee Sungmin’s mouth.
Thei surprise didn’t just end at Lee Sungmin’s identity though. It was because a lot of the people present, were martial artists who were in Cron 10 years ago.
It was still fresh in their memories as they recalled when Sima Ryunju had barged into Cron and trampled on the entire Alliance all by himself.
“Ghost…… Spear……? Why are you here……?”
“I had a debt that the Mercenary King owed me, and I’m on my way out after collecting it.”
A personal debt. The beggar who opened his mouth to ask the question was about to mindlessly ask about what the debt was but eventually realized something and stopped talking as he stared at Lee Sungmin, blinking his eyes in confusion.
Even if one was titled as the Mercenary King, a mercenary should always be careful when dealing with martial artists. Many mercenaries wanted to learn martial arts and it was always amazing if they could receive a martial artist’s techniques. But something could always go terribly wrong if there were to be a problem between mercenaries and martial artists.
Among all of those in Eria that joined the Mercenary Guild, the title of the Mercenary King was like a God’s.
“The Mercenary King…”
“He’s dead.”
“I killed him for a good reason. Since the confusion and hysteria has passed, I won’t be causing any more of a ruckus, So would you please move out of the way?”
Lee Sungmin asked politely. However, the members of the Beggar’s Sect that had gathered only hesitated and did not step aside. Lee Sungmin once again decided to repeat his stance.
“I can do exactly what my teacher did to you in the past. I’m ready for that. But I don’t think you guys are. You don’t even have the manpower left to get 100 Peak Realm Experts that have been trained in the formations.”
The members of the Beggar Sect’ trembled at the words. Insult, anger and fear. Their expressions were all different but they all reacted to Lee Sungmin’s words that struck a chord with their pride.
“I’ll say it again : I don’t feel like fighting. But you aren’t letting me leave here in peace. So…… Please open the way. Otherwise, I have no choice but to use force.”
That was all it took.
Little by little the road opened up. Baek Sogo looked bitter at the line that was slowly opening up to make way for their party.
Soon, Baek Sogo’s eyes turned towards Lee Sungmin. Just as Baek Sogo had changed since they had first met, Lee Sungmin had also changed.
She knew it for sure. Lee Sungmin was no longer the boy that she had met on the Mountain of Mush, who was only 15 years of age and could barely survive on his own. He was no longer the same person he once was who would constantly look down on himself either.
He was no longer the young man who had gone to save her in the dungeon from the doppelganger. Nor was he the same man who relied on his master to become stronger.
He also was not the same monster who had lost its sanity that day in Germane.
“I…”
What about herself?
Baek Sogo found it difficult to answer this on her own. Destroying all evil in the world. That was Baek Sogo’s ideal and conviction.
She had fallen into despair when she learned that the very world she wanted to help, was going to end no matter what anyone did. But yet…. Here she was.
Walking behind Lee Sungmin.
‘Ah.’
Following Lee Sungmin’s footsteps, Baek Sogo looked up at the sky.
Saving the world and changing the fate of everyone in it.
Her great conviction that had lost purpose was now regaining its purpose by just standing on Lee Sungmin’s side.
It was a good feeling. She was going on this journey with Lee Sungmin… together. They would face everything without holding back.
[You have to be a dagger.]
The words from Heoju resonated in Lee Sungmin’s mind as he sharpened his senses and stance. He didn’t have to be his master, Sima Ryunju, he just had to be Lee Sungmin.
After passing through the path made by the members of the Murim Alliance, Lee Sungmin immediately headed to the headquarters in the center of Cron. Fortunately, the distance between Eun-ru and the Alliance was not very far since they were both located in the central district of the City.
“Are you going to leave the trails of eyes following us, alone?”
“We don’t necessarily have anything to hide at this point.”
To Yana’s question, Lee Sungmin answered with a disinterested face. It wasn’t like he was aiming to fight when he got there. He was just sharpening his presence in case a need for it arose. His intentions were not to try and pick a fight,
After a bit of walking, the group of three arrived in front of the headquarters of the Murim Alliance. Ten years ago, Sima Ryunju had practically leveled the entire pavilion and all of the buildings that were within the headquarters. It was a wonder how the main pavilion and other buildings had been fixed and reconstructed within a short decade.
The gates were wide open, and not closed like before. The information that Lee Sungmin had business with the Murim Alliance must have spread quite fast. Beyond the open gate were hundreds of martial artists representing the Murim Alliance.
“Ghost Spear.”
A somber voice called out to Lee Sungmin. Lee Sungmin saw a middle-aged man standing in front of the hundreds of warriors.
The man, who was only looking to be middle-aged, was wearing dirty and ripped clothes as well as a straw hat.
It was a face that was vivid in the back of Lee Sungmin’s memory. Lee Sungmin stopped and looked at the man.
Mugeol-Gae, the former captain of the Heavenly Martyrs and Patriarch of the Beggar Sect.
All of those titles however, were nothing in comparison to his title of the current Leader of the Murim Alliance.
Ten years ago, he was the Captain of the Heavenly Martyrs which guarded the Alliance Leader and was the one in charge of the hundred-man formation , but after the disappearance of the Black Dragon, Jehu, he handed over the position of the Captain of the heavenly Martrys to his disciple, Chigweol, and became the leader of the Alliance.
“Long time no see. Do you remember me?”
“……I remember everything.”
Mugeol Gae murmured aloud. He had never forgotten what happened a decade ago. Sima Ryunju, who had humiliated Mugeol-Gae and the rest of the Murim Alliance and had destroyed the hundred-man formation they were so proud of…. Had died.
But even if that memory was fresh, there was one more individual who had been there that day and not done a thing. That very person was Lee Sungmin, the disciple of the Demonic Emperor, Sima Ryunju, and was standing before Mugeol-Gae at the same place as he had a decade ago.
“……I heard you killed the Mercenary King.”
“I killed him for a good reason. I don’t want to talk about it in a place like this because it’ was a rather personal matter.”
“Why did you come here?”
The faces of the Murim Alliance martial artists were full of tension and fear. The young man in front of them was the Ghost Spear. He was the man who had taken down the Monarch of the Death Knights and the Half-Devil, Kim Jonghyun, all by himself a decade ago.
He was also the only disciple of the strongest man to ever walk the world of Eria : The Demonic Emperor, Sima Ryunju.
“I’m here for a favor.”
He had no intention of fighting. Lee Sungmin made sure to announce that his intention was to do this peacefully if possible.
“The Black Dragon, the Previous Leader of the Murim Alliance. Ten years ago my master kidnapped the Black Dragon. It was so sudden that I would think that his things would have remained intact in his office at the time. I hope you didn’t discard of his personal items because if you haven’t, I would like to receive one of them if possible.”
“Why?”
“It’s a personal reason.”
Lee Sungmin did not bother to say that he was trying to find the Black Dragon because he was now missing. This was because he felt that Mugeol-Chae wouldn’t cooperate if he learned of the fact Lee Sungmin was trying to find the Black Dragon.
“……it’s all personal reasons for you. I’m going to ask you right now…. Ghost Spear, why should I… No. Why should the Murim Alliance cooperate with your requests?”
“If you don’t cooperate, I have no choice but to use force.”
Mugeol-Gae’s eyebrows twitched the very moment Lee Sungmin gave his reply and his internal energy swelled up around his body.
“Do you think I will just stand here and endure your insults?”
“Think rationally.”
Lee Sungmin spoke as he shook his head.
Crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrung……
Lee Sungmin did not back down and circulated a massive amount of internal energy around his body; radiating the absolute strength of the Realm of Transcendence. The purple internal energy swirled and crackled like lightning around his body with a threatening aura.
As the energy spread out, another powerful aura started to ripple out from Lee Sungmin’s body : the Dragon Fear. The eyes of all the Murim Alliance Warriors, including Mugeol-Gae, widened in shock from the sudden oppressive force that shook the area.
Something invisible seemed to squeeze their hearts and caused them to sense and fear an imminent death when in front of Lee Sungmin.
“I can do exactly what my teacher did. I assure you, no one in the entire Alliance will be able to stop me except for the people next to me. Do you understand what I mean? I can kill all of you right now if I wanted to.”
The threat was no longer just a warning. It was Lee Sungmin blatantly outlining his stance.
“Do you know why I haven’t done that to begin with? It’s simple. I don’t want to fight or kill innocent people. So I’m asking for your cooperation. But if you continue to force your opinions and thoughts and don’t want to cooperate, then I will do the same.”
“Ha…!”
Blood flowed from the mouth of Mugeol-Gae, who was trying to resist the oppressive force of the Dragon Fear with his bare body. It was true that Mugeol-Gae was a person with high capability since he was elected as the next Leader of the Murim Alliance after Jehu.
It was also true that Mugeol-Gae was at the very pinnacle of the Peak Realm. But that was it. For Lee Sungmin, who could treat other Transcendent Martial Artists like children, the hundreds-no… now thousands of martial artists that were standing behind Mugeol-Gae did not matter in front of sheer power.
“I…”
Baek Sogo stepped forward. She took off the skin mask on her face and revealed her identity. As this happened, Mugeol-Gae suddenly stopped and widened his eyes in shock.
It wasn’t just Mugeol-Gae who had this reaction. Many of the thousands of martial artists gathered at the gates of the Murim Alliance recognized the face of the Silent Flare, Baek Sogo.
“I am Baek Sogo, the Silent Flare.”Baek Sogo introduced herself.
“Silent Flare…… Why are you……?”
“I’m Lee Sungmin’s friend.”
Baek Sogo revealed her affiliation with a calm look. As she said this though, everyone’s level of shock increased.
Very few people in the entire world of Eria knew of Baek Sogo and Lee Sungmin’s friendship. This was groundbreaking information.
The only public knowledge of the Ghost Spear and the Silent Flare ever encountering each other was in the dungeon where the Minor Heavenly Demon had monopolized.
Chigweol had not revealed to his teacher, Mugeol-Gae, that the Ghost Spear had helped him escape that dungeon only because Baek Sogo was there.
“I swear on everything that I’ve ever built up under the nickname of the Silent Flare. The Ghost Spear is not requesting this for evil intentions.”
Baek Sogo bowed her head. Looking at it, Mugeol-Gae gave a bitter smile.
Baek Sogo, who was famous for many chivalrous acts of justice, was vouching for the disciple of the Demonic Emperor, Lee Sungmin.
Mugeol-Gae looked at Lee Sungmin with melancholic eyes. Lee Sungmin approached Baek Sogo with his head down and shook his head.
“Baek Sogo-nim… You don’t have to.”
“But…….”
“I just spoke a little harshly to stress the importance of the request. I don’t actually mean to kill all of them. If I do that, then you will hate me for it.”
Baek Sogo smiled bitterly and did not refute his words. The words made Mugeol-Gae feel even more despondent. ‘That’s the only reason……that we are alive.’
He closed his eyes.
“………Demonic Emperor……… You made a monster.”
Mugeol-Gae sighed as he muttured to himself. Lee Sungmin, the Ghost Spear. Mugeol-Gae looked at him and estimated that Lee Sungmin was probably in his mid-30’s now.
When he heard that Sima Ryunju had passed away suddenly and that the Ghost Spear was not interested in the affairs of the Sama Order, he figured there would be no figures within the Unorthodox who could oppose the Murim Alliance.
Mugeol-Gae did not understand what kind of person the Leader of the Blood Alliance was but he had a strong feeling that they would be manageable to fight against.
But he was wrong in more ways than one.
The deceased Demonic Emperor’s disciple, who was said to have died in the fight against the Half-Devil, Kim Jonghyun, was alive was no longer a human being whose power could be measured. Mugeol-Gae turned around feeling bitter.
“Let’s trust the words of the Silent Flare.”
Mugeol-Gae felt grateful for Baek Sogo that came forward. Because she had pleaded and vouched for Lee Sungmin, it gave Mugeol-Gae a chance to at least not escalate things or lose face. Her actions had quite literally saved thousands of people at that moment.
“Just wait here for a bit.”
Mugeol-Gae left those words as he turned back and entered the headquarters of the Alliance.