Chapter 59

Chapter 59

What is a prestigious sect?

A prestigious sect fundamentally refers to a sect that possesses deep history, outstanding martial power, and has established numerous achievements. And that also means it’s a sect well-known to the common people.

Among those living in Hubei, there’s no one who doesn’t know Wudang, and among those living in Hebei, there’s no one who doesn’t know Shaolin. That’s why disciples of prestigious great sects are accustomed to being surrounded by cheers as part of their daily life.

Yes.

Just like right now.

“Waaaaah!”

“Look at that! It’s the Mujeongwando!”

Murim Alliance main gate.

Hearing the cheering sounds coming from both sides of the road, Mujeongwando Namgung Hyeon frowned slightly. Various noises noisily cluttering his ears.

“It’s noisy.”

“Bear with it.”

“This is why I wanted to come quietly.”

“Hey, I told you to bear with it.”

Namgung Hyeon, who had been watching Paeng Jin repeatedly cut off his words and cover his mouth, sighed deeply and looked around. The crowd still cheering toward them as they entered through the Murim Alliance’s main gate.

They’re all energetic. As if they don’t doubt for a moment that Mujeongwan will win the competition, the crowd raises their voices toward them.

Namgung Hyeon, who had been silently watching that scene, bluntly spoke.

“I don’t understand. Do they have nothing to do?”

“Hey now. Look at this twisted fellow. They all came out to cheer for us.”

“That’s what’s strange. Why do they need to cheer for us?”

At Namgung Hyeon’s blunt words, Paeng Jin let out a hollow laugh and scratched his temple. Even though his friend looked disagreeable to him, the facts were facts.

What is cheering?

Cheering is trying to encourage someone when they’re attempting something difficult. Conversely, that means cheering isn’t given if it’s not something difficult.

Think about it.

If a one-year-old child starts walking, everyone will cheer for the child. Because for a child, even walking isn’t easy. But would anyone cheer for a young adult who walks?

Unless it’s a special case, there wouldn’t be. It’s only natural. For a young adult, walking is something they’ve repeated millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions of times. It’s not difficult at all.

And it’s the same now.

“They can’t beat us no matter what training they received.”

Muryeongwando.

He admits they’re not weak. Namgung Hyeon and Paeng Jin both knew how much effort they had put in. Since they’re rivals but also peers who will become colleagues, they held some sympathy inwardly.

However, the world is never fair, and talent and environment are not equal. It’s an obvious fact that the current Mujeongwando are far superior to the Muryeongwando.

That’s why it’s irritating. Right now, they’re essentially cheering for a person stepping on an ant.

“Let’s not be so definitive. Maybe this time it’ll be different? You’ll get a scolding for being so disagreeable.”

“It won’t be different. Last year’s Muryeongwan was terrible. Even worse than the year before. Isn’t that right, San?”

“Don’t talk to me. Your disagreeableness might rub off.”

“……You’re disagreeable.”

“Hahahaha.”

Paeng Jin, who had been laughing while watching Baek Risan and Namgung Hyeon bicker and fight with each other, suddenly turned his head at a gaze he felt. The figure of their leader, who had stopped at the front of the procession and was staring at them intently.

The Muryeongwando slowly stopped walking as the procession halted. And.

The Mujeongwando’s instructor.

Taegeukhyeop Cheongryoo quietly opened his mouth.

“Juniors. You seem to be misunderstanding something.”

“……Pardon?”

“Your victory is not guaranteed. You haven’t gauged your opponents at all yet. Do you have a reason to be arrogant now?”

“……We apologize.”

At Cheongryoo’s words, sharp as a blade, all the chattering Mujeongwando closed their mouths. However, Cheongryoo’s words continued without stopping.

“When a tiger enters battle, it doesn’t look down on its opponent, no matter who they are. Even when killing a very small hedgehog, a single thorn stuck in its paw could take its life. Moreover, your opponents are academy disciples like you.”

“I don’t know how they were last year. But don’t think this year will be the same. Martial artists are a breed that grows differently day by day.”

“……But what can they do in just one year? Just as they’ve trained for a year, we’ve also trained for a year.”

“Mm.”

At Namgung Hyeon, who quietly raised his voice as if to refute, Cheongryoo, who had been standing with his arms crossed, quietly lowered his arms and nodded while caressing his sword hilt with his fingertips.

“For ordinary people, that might be true. Because the difference in talent and time can’t be easily overcome by them.”

“Then…….”

“But this time is different. This time…….”

“What’s different?”

“Because Un, that fellow is on their side.”

“Un?”

At Paeng Jin’s puzzled question, Cheongryoo nodded. And at that moment.

“Yes. Un, or rather…… is it Baek Riyun now?”

“……What?”

Baek Risan’s eyes, who had been listening from the side, trembled greatly with emotion.

“Just now, what did you…….”

“……Come to think of it, he was your blood relative. This time, Baek Riyun took on the role of the Muryeongwando’s training instructor.”

Cheongryoo, who nodded slightly, slowly continued speaking.

“That fellow is bizarrely monstrous. I’m not just talking about martial power. He’s the kind who always finds a gap and achieves victory even in situations where it seems impossible to win.”

It was the same over ten years ago. He had never once thought they would lose. The Mujeongwando at that time thought they were superior to the Muryeongwando.

But what was the result?

Total defeat.

The Mujeongwando couldn’t beat the Muryeongwando even once.

“The premise is wrong. You’re not the hunters. The Muryeongwando are in the position of hunting you.”

Cheongryoo, who slowly swept his gaze across the group, watched as the Mujeongwando swallowed their breaths. And Cheongryoo, who put the finishing touch.

“From now on, approach this with the mindset of not being hunted.”

They never won once. But they can’t let the next generation be the same.

“Because seasoned tigers…… know how to devour hunters.”

This time, we destroy them.

Cheongryoo, who swept his gaze across the group coldly, caressed his sword hilt.

A chill was swirling at his fingertips.

What separates humans from non-humans?

Some might say intelligence, others might say the two hands that can use tools.

Others might say language that allows sharing knowledge with each other, and still others might say the laws that bind human society.

But one thing is certain. What makes a human cannot be defined by one thing alone, and can only be defined through comprehensive and universal judgment.

And in that sense, the Sado Alliance Leader was quite far from universal human standards.

“Huaaaam.”

On the road to the Murim Alliance.

The Alliance Leader, who had been lying on top of a carriage and yawned languidly, glanced around and rubbed his sleepy eyes with his fingers. Deep drowsiness permeating his movements.

“Still a long way to go. It really is far.”

Three days had passed since the Alliance Leader left the Sado Alliance leading the delegation.

During that time, nothing special had happened to the delegation. No, more accurately, nothing could have happened.

Daesageom and Taeak, the Sado Alliance Leader and the elites of each sect.

This is a situation where those who would cause a stir just by appearing alone in Gangho have gathered together. Moreover, they didn’t even hide their movements.

There are three of them who could face a major sect alone. The military strength to smash everything blocking their path.

That’s why this ominous group’s journey was paradoxically extremely peaceful.

The Alliance Leader didn’t like that.

“Boring. If only some bandits who don’t know their place would appear, I’d have no regrets.”

“Maintain your dignity. Alliance Leader.”

When the Alliance Leader, who had been chewing on a reed he’d picked while walking yesterday, spoke up, Daesageom Hyeong Seo, who had been silently walking beside him, frowned and spoke.

“If you’re the master of the Sado Alliance, you must show commensurate dignity. I haven’t said anything until now, but from here on, this isn’t the Murim Alliance’s territory.”

“There’s no one watching anyway, so is there a need to maintain dignity?”

“At least we’ll be watching. It’s natural for a leader not to show a bent back.”

“……Sometimes I wonder if you’re really from Sapa . If you’re this faithful to principles, you should have passed the civil service exam and become a magistrate instead.”

“Nonsense.”

At Daesageom’s dismissal of his words, the Alliance Leader let out a small hollow laugh and tapped his heels against the edge of the carriage. And seeing that, Daesageom sighed deeply.

“So, what exactly are you thinking?”

“Hm?”

“This competition, I mean. You didn’t even consult anyone. I’d like to hear the Alliance Leader’s thoughts.”

“Ah, the competition?”

“I thought you’d only stand to lose.”

At Daesageom’s words, the Alliance Leader, who had nodded, slightly raised his upper body and turned his gaze to Daesageom. It would be natural to be curious.

“Stand to lose, you say.”

It’s been several years since the Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance started full-scale war.

During that time, the Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance have been attacking each other back and forth. Actually, that could be considered strange.

Traditionally, the orthodox path is stronger than the dark path. Shadows are only created when there’s light, and people want to live in the light rather than in shadows. In fact, throughout the Murim’s hundreds of years of history, the dark path beating the orthodox path can be counted on one hand.

However, call it heavenly fortune.

After the current Sado Alliance Leader established the Sado Alliance, that relationship reversed. The orthodox path looked down on the dark path, and the dark path rallied perfectly under the Sado Alliance Leader’s command. That’s the result of the current situation.

That’s why it’s even more incomprehensible.

“If your intention was to completely unite them under your banner, why bother with a ceasefire now? Even if you can’t destroy the orthodox path, weakening them further would make the future easier. If we continue the war for just half a year more, we could drive at least one of the Five Great Families or Gupa Ilbang to extinction.”

“That would be if we lose the bet. We just need to win.”

“That’s precisely the weak point. Isn’t this a bet we can’t win?”

“A bet we can’t win. Does Daesageom think so?”

“Of course. Because there’s no reason for the Murim Alliance not to do so.”

The Alliance Leader, who smiled faintly, watched as Daesageom, looking frustrated, crossed his arms and continued speaking.

“If the Murim Alliance pressures the Muryeongwando to force them to lose, the small and medium sects will accumulate dissatisfaction. But among the Murim Alliance’s forces, aren’t the ones experiencing the greatest anxiety from the war with our Alliance none other than the small and medium sects? That dissatisfaction can’t burst forth.”

“That’s not wrong. But the Murim Alliance isn’t foolish either. If they don’t want to give us something to criticize, they can’t apply direct pressure.”

“Even without direct pressure, it’ll be the same. The Muryeongwando have to think about their future anyway. Aren’t they disciples of small and medium sects?”

Survival of the fittest.

In the Murim where the logic of strength dominates, the meaning of backing is greater than anything else. Just look at how even the illiterate bandits of Noklimchae absolutely won’t touch those wearing the green robes symbolizing the Tang Family.

If your background is insignificant, you’re bound to be crushed even if you’re strong alone and talented. Because an individual is weaker than a group. In such a Gangho, what does it mean to live as a disciple of a small or medium sect?

“Their opinions aren’t entirely their own. Even out of fear of the impact on their sects, they can’t try to win. Even if by some chance they try to win…….”

“Even if?”

“Objectively speaking, the probability of winning is low. Because the Muryeongwando are inferior to the Mujeongwando. So this is no different from directly extending a hand of peace to the opponent.”

“Hmm.”

A bet structured from the beginning assuming loss.

The Alliance Leader, who chuckled at Daesageom’s speculation, nodded. Well, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

“It’s not wrong. As you said, seeking a ceasefire is correct. But I’m not planning to lose.”

“……What do you mean?”

“Not planning to lose means planning to win.”

The Alliance Leader, wearing a faint smile, twirled his finger and tapped the side of the carriage.

“It’s a ceasefire we have to do anyway. If we do it in the form of a bet that we’ll ‘obviously lose,’ everyone will think like Daesageom. That we’re seeking a ceasefire by borrowing the form of a bet! But what if I win the bet?”

If Muryeongwan wins the competition, the ceasefire won’t happen. And the Alliance Leader will be able to make one ‘small request’ to the Murim Alliance.

That’s the Alliance Leader’s true intention.

“Daesageom, didn’t you have two disciples?”

“That’s correct.”

“Among them, there’s one you can’t embrace, isn’t there?”

“It’s regrettable. Even knowing you can’t embrace him, he’s too valuable to give to someone else. That good raw gem, I mean. Isn’t that right?”

At the Alliance Leader’s words, Daesageom, who suddenly recalled his disciple’s face, remained silent while looking at the Alliance Leader. And at that sight, the Alliance Leader smiled faintly.

“It’s the same for me. Just because I can’t embrace him doesn’t mean I’m okay with someone else embracing him.”

“The Murim Alliance is vast and deep. Things with history always have their own foundation. But precisely because their history is so deep, they can’t see a single gem rolling beneath their feet.”

“……You mean?”

“It would be a small request. From the Murim Alliance’s perspective.”

All I want is a small doubt. A small crack that won’t even show much from the outside.

But those who believe their history is superior won’t tolerate that crack. They’ll dig and dig to handle it in a way that doesn’t harm them.

“Even if a dragon emerges from a ditch, it can’t keep living in the ditch. I hope they accept my goodwill as a gift.”

The Alliance Leader, who smiled faintly, looked up at the sky. The sun setting far away in red light.

“Because it’s time for us to invest too.”

The Alliance Leader, who finished speaking, quietly closed his eyes.

The era was changing.