CHAPTER 178

The grand opening ceremony of the Murim Alliance's establishment unfolded magnificently.

To secure provisions and stand against Desolate Fortress, reputation was crucial. The worse the famine, the more it mattered.

In these times of chaos that deepened little by little, public sentiment and appearances were more important than ever. The Alliance sought to symbolize itself as the foremost coalition of the martial world.

The gates were opened.

A scale surpassing Desolate Fortress. A banner of chivalry. The impression that the Murim Alliance aimed to leave behind.

Through the grand ceremony, they solidified their presence. Masters of secret sects known for their single-successor traditions knocked on the door, and swordsmen from Mount Hua descended from their peaks.

Masters from prestigious clans, who had enjoyed power and authority, made their appearances in large numbers.

A martial artist from the Eun Clan donned his fighting gloves. Renowned masters lined up, appearing one after another.

The Alliance had spent a long time preparing for this.

The beggars of the Beggars' Sect spread rumors about the Murim Alliance across every marketplace and plastered posters. It was only natural for people to grow curious.

It was said to be a gathering where the righteous martial artists of the martial world would display their prowess.

An uncountable crowd gathered.

There wasn't a single village in the vast lands of Hanzhong that wasn't bustling. The lights of taverns and inns lining the main streets never went out.

"My eyes were blessed today. The Eun Clan's River-Severing Sword Art truly lives up to its reputation. I wonder just how refined Mount Hua's Twenty-Four Step Plum Blossom Sword might be. They say it's the most elegant sword technique under heaven. Truly, my heart races. It's a lifelong regret to have arrived late."

"I didn't see anything myself. Is the inner strength of your sect that extraordinary, or are you just boasting?"

"Boasting? How could a novice possibly grasp the insight of a master?"

Laughter and commotion mingled. The wide road before the main gate was so crowded that it was difficult to find a place to step.

Whenever word spread that a fairly famous master would step onto the martial stage, the five-ri-long streets turned into bustling marketplaces.

Common folk sold pancakes and candied treats. The modest innkeepers came out into the streets to solicit passersby.

Crowds.

The term "a sea of people" was fitting. Today was no exception.

"I never imagined such halls existed under heaven. So tall, grand, and elegant. Truly, it's like another world. It seems the Murim Alliance is indeed the greatest in the world."

"The true otherworldly sight was the martial arts of the Eun Clan's best. Wasn't it akin to shaking heaven and earth with the human body? No wonder those noble clans act like royalty. Surely, they could stand against entire armies alone."

The gathered gazes were overwhelming. For an ordinary commoner, the opportunity to glimpse the Murim Alliance's headquarters might never come again.

Even if one were to enter, movements would be strictly limited and thorough identity checks would be conducted, but enduring such scrutiny was worth it.

Commoners, merchants, martial artists from minor sects, and even guards protecting the flow of goods—people of all kinds filled the streets.

Even to the martial artists of the Murim Alliance, the influx of people was a spectacle.

It was a rare opportunity to take in so many faces at a glance. This was also true for the man and woman seated at the very top of the seven-story hall inside the Alliance headquarters.

It was a vantage point that allowed them to overlook the wide main road in front of the gates.

"It seems the leader of the Murim Alliance isn't the Sword Saint. Zhuge Clan Leader decides everything, after all."

A woman spoke, lounging nearly horizontally on the eaves of the roof. She was Lady Ye of the Ye family.

She was blindfolded with a soft white cloth, but she glanced below as if she could see through it with some mysterious ability.

"Why are there so many of them? They're like cockroaches."

"Compared to the noble lineage of True Blood, indeed they are."

A middle-aged man, dressed neatly in a pure white martial outfit, answered. He stood upright beneath Lady Ye's seat.

Despite the fierce winds blowing, his stance showed no signs of instability. His daily movements exuded the air of a martial artist.

"It was inevitable for the Zhuge Clan Leader to monopolize control. They established an orthodox coalition in their homeland. It's the price of their efforts behind the scenes. They now stand at the forefront of ruling the martial world."

"At least the Sword Saint is on my side. That's a relief."

Lady Ye spoke as she gently touched the white blindfold with her slender fingers.

"I wasn't sure if it would work on someone like him. But he didn't suspect a thing. Supreme masters are always eccentric and have blind spots. The late cult leader was the same. Why do you think that is?"

"There are realms reached only by abandoning one's sanity. The absolute masters of this era are likely all the same. There's a saying: the pinnacle of mastery is the realm of madness. The Divine Sword Squad Leader of Desolate Fortress supposedly said so."

"Still, that old man was a bit different. The methods he used to burn the cult leader should've been seen by the First Apostle. He was the grandfather of our Taesa, so he must've recognized the divine technique? I was so jealous."

"We must not underestimate the Sword Saint. The moment even a trace of the Cult's martial arts is revealed in your conduct, disaster will follow. This unworthy Apostle has repeatedly warned you, but even with vigilance, caution is never enough."

"Are you saying I'm unreliable?"

Lady Ye lightly brushed her blindfold at the corner of her eyes with her fingertips. The middle-aged man's eyes flashed sharply.

"Without a doubt, that is the sacred artifact of our Cult's techniques. As the sacred relic of successive cult leaders, it was designed to protect the direct descendants from lowly creatures. From birth, the divine bloodline's natural vitality made them targets, even without practicing blood arts."

"So it's an item that has ensured the survival of our bloodline?"

"When the noble bloodline veils its eyes, no one recognizes them. In the realm of techniques, it isolates awareness. Unless the true blood arts are revealed, the deception holds. With only that limitation, it truly is a sacred artifact."

"But didn't you tell me not to let my guard down?"

"No matter how much one conceals their temperament, voice, and appearance, behavior is another matter."

"I've heard that plenty. Still, I'm a little nervous. The Taesa will arrive soon. A divine being who mastered the ability to dissolve evil with internal energy. Are you sure I won't be discovered?"

Her hand, which had been fiddling with the blindfold, moved to her hair below her shoulders. She lightly twisted the jet-black ends.

The middle-aged man, standing in respectful silence, replied with a calm, expressionless face.

"You have thoroughly erased your own habits. You possess qualities surpassing the late cult leader. With respect, my advice is to focus solely on your behavior. It will be the hardest task of all."

"Well, then. I can't wait. It's been so long since we've been this close."

"…The sacred artifact is unparalleled in this world. Please treasure it."

"The only thing precious to me is just one."

Lady Ye's lips curled into a smooth smile.

* * *

Jung Yeonshin entered the main hall of the Murim Alliance with his party. As soon as they stepped inside the main gate, the vibrant energy was overwhelming.

The surging energy from the countless gathered people continuously stimulated his Baihui Acupoint.

At the same time, he felt a sense of unease.

"A fierce character? A golden-threaded robe? What a flamboyantly dressed nobleman."

"Wait a moment. That age, the character for 'Desolate', a black robe… Could it be the Lightning Genius of the Radiant Demon Squad? A supreme master from Desolate Fortress?"

"What? That was a real person?"

"Stop acting like a country bumpkin from Guangdong. It'll only provoke him. Let's move quietly."

It was different from before. There were no curious or hostile stares.

While onlookers unconnected to the Alliance glanced at Jung Yeonshin and his party with curiosity, the Alliance's martial artists averted their gazes and passed by.

"Do they know shame? They invite emissaries only to start the opening ceremony among themselves?"

Heon Won-chang openly ridiculed. No response came. Even Gongsun Min and the Little Sword Queen showed rare awkward expressions.

"Could there have been some mistake?"

Asked the young heir of the Gongsun Clan.

Though young, he was the successor of a prominent noble clan. His jet-black eyes flickered with dark flames.

It was the light created by the inner power of the Gongsun Clan's 'Unyielding Steel Energy'.

He had just witnessed the Radiant Demon Squad leader resolving a duel with the Sword Sovereign of Henan.

Gongsun Min's face was marked with shame and distress.

"Even for a sect claiming righteousness… For clans to chase worldly fame, it's beyond disgraceful. Our clan would never have agreed to this. It's a stain on the orthodox martial lineage."

"Well, the Profound Martial Alliance's retreat has probably already been reported. There must be no shortage of Beggars' Sect spies in Hanzhong. If a clan master had achieved what squad leader Jung has, they'd have come out to greet us long ago…"

Little Sword Queen Chui So-ok, lifting her drowsy brows with effort, spoke. Alongside Gongsun Min, she glanced at Jung Yeonshin.

She seemed subtly concerned. It was uncharacteristic for her, signaling the gravity of the situation.

Jung Yeonshin observed them calmly.

"Take a rest."

It was a brief remark, befitting the dignity of the Radiant Demon Squad Leader, who had resolved the Alliance's dilemma single-handedly.

Gongsun Min blinked in surprise, muttering unconsciously. He still had to retrieve a sword from Murong Mingjun.

The group dispersed.

Jung Yeonshin had no intention of immediately reporting to the Sword Saint. His priority was checking on Namgoong Hwashin, who had been left behind.

If the opening ceremony had already commenced due to the Alliance's accelerated activities, then, judging by the temperament of the White Qilin, it was unlikely he had remained idle.

Among the countless crowds, figures scattered in all directions. The moment they spotted Jung Yeonshin, they began to move.

The martial artists of the various factions comprising the Alliance seemed to have gone to report to the leadership.

Step.

The young Radiant Demon Squad Leader walked forward slowly.

With each step he took, the crowd parted. Uneasy faces and curious expressions spread in every direction.

The response of the black-clad emissary from Desolate Fortress quickly became the center of attention. Would the grand ceremony descend into chaos?

Or would the vibrant festival energy enveloping Hanzhong transform into a symbol of the Murim Alliance's influence, spreading across all of Zhongyuan?

'The Murim Alliance is vast yet insular. What could have happened?'

The boy, accompanied by Lazy Flame Dragon and Heon Wonchang, walked silently.

As he moved, he thought of Namgoong Hwashin, his most reliable ally and subordinate. Surely, he would have voiced his objections.

Discussions among martial artists often led to clashes of force. There was little difference between the Demonic Faction and the righteous sects in this regard.

When positions could not be reconciled, it was common for significant matters to be decided based on the level of martial skill. It was a world where the word of a master carried the weight of law.

The Alliance had disregarded Namgoong Hwashin's opposition.

If they had resorted to threats during that process, Jung Yeonshin was prepared to use the pavilions of the Alliance as testing grounds for his new sword techniques.

'If they think being righteous will make me hesitate to draw my sword, they're sorely mistaken.'

Heon Wonchang would make the justification clear. The sword wound inflicted by the Spirit Heaven of Eternal Heaven Sword Demon could be offset by Lazy Flame Dragon devouring his poppy.

Swish.

Unconsciously, his left hand moved to grip the sword hilt of the Beiming Sword. A sharp intake of breath could be heard from all around.

It was the astonishment of the Alliance's martial artists. Did they think they were about to witness a supreme master draw his blade?

It was at that moment.

Tap, tap.

Suddenly, the soft and crisp sound of footsteps echoed. They were unusually distinct.

'Hm?'

A swiftly approaching presence. It was an ethereal movement technique, like walking through clouds.

In just a few steps, the scent of her presence reached close enough to perceive.

She wore pure white garments. The wide, flowing sleeves of her attire were somewhere between martial robes and courtly attire.

The woman approached Jung Yeonshin directly. A white silk blindfold covered her eyes, and a strand of hair was tied down by it.

It seemed carefully styled, but her long, deliberate strides left an impression.

It was unclear whether she was blind or a martial artist who trained in heightened sensory techniques.

"..."

The surroundings fell silent.

Was it due to her considerable status? Or perhaps her striking appearance?

Sunlight filtered through the leaves of nearby trees, scattering rays that highlighted the elegant bridge of her nose.

Her porcelain-like skin shimmered with a smooth glow. The swaying of her hair as she walked with cheerful steps added an air of mystique.

'She's training in both mental techniques and movement arts. Her senses are extraordinary.'

From her faint breaths, Jung Yeonshin sensed her energy flow. Her footsteps were the same.

He discerned the orientation of the Eight Trigrams near the big toe of her pale pink shoes.

With each cheerful step, a subtle force rippled out.

The autumn wind seemed to touch her with unusual clarity, as though she had refined ancient techniques to perfection.

There was a youthful elegance in her movements.

An aura that breathed with martial grace.

If one were to describe the concept of peerless beauty within the martial world, it would take her form.

Jung Yeonshin felt an unfamiliar sensation in his chest. The movement of the Radiant Wheel Energy. For a brief moment, it undeniably pulsed.

It was somewhere between rejection and resonance. A part of the energy inherent in the Radiant Wheel Technique stirred simultaneously.

He couldn't identify the reason. Was it the unique energy the woman possessed?

'What is this?'

As Jung Yeonshin pondered, the woman who had approached within arm's reach spoke.

She acted as though she was completely indifferent to the martial artists surrounding her.

"There's no need for it to be now. That's the Sword Saint's message."

"What?"

"Oh, can I speak casually? I know you're the squad leader of Desolate Fortress. But I'm a proxy for a squad leader. Acting as the High Leader of a very, very large group. How about we speak comfortably? I even address the Grand Strategist informally."

"State your rank and name."

The young Radiant Demon Squad Leader spoke briefly.

It was at that moment.

Jung Yeonshin felt as though he met her gaze. It was an odd sensation, as there was no hostility in the energy he sensed in his upper dantian.

Was this what it felt like to have the night sky stare back at you? A brief silence ensued.

The woman standing before him offered a faint smile, her demeanor exuding a seductive grace.

"This is a secret, but… since the honored Radiant Demon Squad Leader commands it, I'll tell you."

She extended her elegant fingers, her crimson lips moving slightly as she spoke.

"Ye Clan Sword Sect, Ye Merchant Group."

The woman's pale hand gently rested on the young Radiant Demon Squad Leader's fist, which was gripping the hilt of his sword. A subtle, unfamiliar fragrance spread around them.

As she softly layered her hand over his ready sword stance, she inclined her head slightly.

A faint exhale scattered near the boy's collarbone.

"My name is Ye Hwa-rin." 

She whispered.