Chapter : 87
A sense of tension hung over the solemn Martial Alliance.
Tap-tap!
People ran about in all directions, carrying bundles of reports, while others, armed, moved together in coordinated groups.
“Again today?”
Lately, this had become nothing less than routine within the Martial Alliance.
“Let’s just wait a little longer. I heard that when the young lady disappeared, Lord Mureong—who was stationed at the Hubei–Jiangxi front—also vanished without a trace. It’s highly likely that after saving her from danger, he went into hiding for some reason.”
“If someone of Lord Mureong’s caliber had to go that far, then it must mean one of the two is in serious trouble—either the young lady or Mureong himself. It would be a problem whether he reappears or not.”
Indeed, both held immense influence within the Martial Alliance. If even one of them were harmed, the organization would be shaken to its core.
“That may be true, but still… he should show himself soon and relieve this tension.”
The members of the Demonic Sect were certainly aggravating, but they had already suffered heavy losses at Hambyeoksan and had been marked by the authorities. In the south, it was said that the sect was being quietly monitored, their movements watched warily.
For now, this was disadvantageous to the Demonic Sect and gave the Martial Alliance a favorable reputation—but appearances could be deceiving. Even if the authorities and the Martial Alliance seemed to respect each other’s boundaries, tensions could easily erupt into conflict. Especially since the authorities disliked the Demonic Sect but didn’t necessarily recognize the Martial Alliance. Persecution of the sect could spill over to the Alliance at any moment. To the authorities, both were just gangs differing in ideology.
For the same reason, if the Martial Alliance, feeling constrained, decided to move south through Honam toward the Demonic Sect’s main base in the southernmost region—the Ten-Thousand Mountains—what would happen? The authorities would dismiss any protests as excuses and would never allow such a move to go unchecked.
“That’s right. But how do we stop it? The story I just mentioned is what’s been circulating in the Munryeong Pavilion… The warriors claim to have heard it, but they haven’t stopped polishing their weapons.”
He ran his palm over his face, revealing the weight of the burden he had carried.
“Oh, by the way, are they still the same?”
“Who? Namgungjang?”
Mention of Namgungjang immediately twisted the other’s expression.
“No, I mean Daejeongbang. Do you remember Wi Gangcheong of the Chiljinsa, who went to Hambyeoksan to save the young lady? He took her words and went to Daejeongbang.”
“Ah, that. I heard he only retrieved her broken earring and brought it back. That seems to be why people don’t trust the stories leaking from Munryeong Pavilion.”
That it was an earring, not a necklace or bracelet, suggested just how serious the incident had been.
The group fell silent for a moment, then exhaled deeply. Talking led only back to square one.
At that moment, someone came running, out of breath.
“What’s the matter?”
A deputy from the general department asked, recognizing the man. He paused.
“They say someone has arrived at the main gate with a letter from Lord Mureong!”
“What?”
Eyes widened in shock, and the rumor spread instantly.
The tension melted, replaced by the chaotic bustle of a marketplace.
The person who had passed through the main gate walked straight to the heart of the Martial Alliance. He was alone, exuding the aura of a powerful subordinate of Mureong. Ignoring everyone’s gazes, he headed not toward Munryeong Pavilion but to the merchant quarters in the north where trading groups were based.
Someone tried to correct his path, but a single icy glare made them flinch and retreat silently.
Even more astonishingly, he knocked on the door of Daejeongbang. After some time, a young girl with swollen eyes like a frog came out and looked up at him.
“W-What is it?”
Hongri, trembling, asked while shrinking her shoulders. He spoke.
“Bring Ji-won-hyung.”
It was impossible to question him; he was terrifying. Hongri nodded and ran off to fetch Ji-won-hyung.
Since seeing the young lady’s broken earring, both Yu Geonmyeong and Ji-won-hyung had been holed up in their rooms or practicing frenetically in the training hall, doing nothing else. Naturally, the commotion outside quickly reached them.
Before Hongri could even speak, the two opened the door and came out.
“Is it me?”
Ji-won-hyung asked, puzzled, and Hongri nodded subtly—both confirming and signaling caution.
Hongri had been a diligent, kind, younger-sister-like girl at Daejeongbang. Ji-won-hyung nodded and headed toward the main gate. Yu Geonmyeong, sensing something, did not leave this matter alone and followed him.
“Really… he called Ji-won-hyung instead of Master Yu?”
Those outside were puzzled. Ji-won-hyung, pretending not to notice, reached the gate. The messenger handed him a single folded sheet—no envelope.
Frowning, Ji-won-hyung took it without greeting and unfolded it. His eyes blinked.
On the paper were only three characters. Confused, he read them again.
At that moment, a hand snatched the paper over his shoulder. Yu Geonmyeong read it aloud:
“Iphwagyung…?”
The few Martial Alliance members following behind gasped.
Moryong Yunhwan also came to Daejeongbang upon hearing the news, choosing a crowded area to publicly share the atmosphere within the Martial Alliance.
“Munryeong.”
“Ah, Jeongseo, it’s you.”
He recognized the person and called out immediately.
“So… where is he?”
“…Is the girl with him?”
Moryong Yunhwan’s lips twisted as he observed the silence of Hak Jeongseo.
“Yes, there’s no need to ask. Just seeing that she sent it to the subordinate she values most is enough.”
He repeated the rumor that had spread inside the Alliance.
“The girl has reached the initial stage of Hwakyung.”
As the person who knew Mureong best and the most authoritative figure in the Martial Alliance, his words caused people to gradually accept vague speculation as fact.
Still, some could not easily believe it.
“Could it be about Lord Mureong? That’s why she went into hiding with him?”
“…Lord Mureong’s skill level is already said to have surpassed Hwakyung. The paper clearly says Iphwagyung. It’s absolutely not that.”
“But… how?”
It was already publicly known that the young lady’s martial skill was considerable. Estimates placed her at the verge of peak level. Even so, that was just the beginning of the peak. Peak was something a master could dream of over a lifetime. But Hwakyung was different: an almost divine realm, unreachable even in death. Just entering it was enough to make a mark in the martial world.
“So… it really was true?”
Someone muttered, drawing attention. A man scratching his head spoke.
“Didn’t the surviving Demonic Sect members at Hambyeoksan say that swords fell from the sky and killed everyone? Then Seolsang waved his hand and a path appeared, and when climbing the mountain, heaven and earth shook…”
It sounded like nonsense. Even Wi Gangcheong, who had seen the truth, thought it was partly plausible, partly delusional. Yet as the story resurfaced, a few cautiously nodded.
“I heard it too. They mentioned a celestial maiden or something.”
“I thought it was nonsense… but it was true.”
“A new Sword Master has appeared in the Martial World!”
Someone shouted. The title, coupled with a sense of divinity, rolled off tongues almost instinctively: Sword Master, Namgung Yeonhwa. A new master of the sword.
The news of a new master emerging in Hwakyung quickly dispelled the gloom that had hung over the Martial Alliance.
“Sword Master, you say?”
“Thanks to those Demonic Sect bastards. A sword fell from the sky, cut through mountains, split sect members in two…”
Many were disappointed that such a blunt, unimaginative title became widely known, despite her deserving a more fitting one.
“‘Sword Master’ is fine. It means she is both the master and the sword itself. It’s like the Martial Alliance now has another ‘Samryeong’ and their sword.”
“Is that so?”
It sounded reasonable, and soon everyone was jubilant.
The three characters sent by Tak Museong reversed the simmering anger inside the Martial Alliance, exploding with relief and joy in an instant.
