12.The Strong Gather the Strong

Chapter 42: The Strong Gather the Strong

– Strength is not forged alone. The strong draw others, and together, they rise to become the strongest.

Why the Strong Grow Stronger

Jin Ha-yeong was already formidable.He had reached the point where few could stand against him.Given enough time, he might very well stand at the peak of the Murim.

But—this was an age of war.And in times of crisis, Gangho looked to its strongest.

The Murim Alliance spared no effort in backing their champions.Countless clans and sects offered Jin Ha-yeong their aid.Martial arts scrolls, rare elixirs, refined weapons,and elite warriors gathered under his banner.

A true master is never forged by strength alone.The strong attract the strong.And with that, rise swiftly to dominance.

Jin Ha-yeong was no longer merely a rising talent—he was becoming a central force in all of Gangho.Those who followed him drew blades in his name.His power only continued to grow.

The Magyo's Truth – Only the Strong Survive

But the Murim Alliance was not the only one growing stronger.The Magyo did not remain idle.

The Blood Demon Five were powerful—but they were far from the Magyo's entirety.The Magyo was not just an organization—It was an ideology.

Their truth was brutal:Only the strong survive. The weak perish.

They were outnumbered by the Murim Alliance.But individually, they were on an entirely different level.

The Magyo did not cultivate strength through mere training.Only the "chosen" were permitted to grow strong.Their martial arts demanded blood and flesh as price.They were beings who shattered the very notion of limits.

And now—the Magyo was ready to strike back.

Their true monsters were beginning to emerge.

The Dawn of a New War

The Murim Alliance concentrated its strength into one man.And that man was Jin Ha-yeong.

The Magyo thinned their ranks,eliminating the weak,leaving only true monsters behind.

They were few—but their strength rivaled entire battalions of Murim warriors.

The real war was only just beginning.And the time had come—for the strong to face the strong.

Chapter 43: The Death of the Alliance Leader, and the Dawn of a New Era

– The strong survive. The weak are cast aside.

Clash of Elites – The War Begins

The Murim Alliance and the Magyo.At last, their elite forces clashed head-on.Thousands of warriors charged across the battlefield—and blood painted the ground red.

BOOM!Even the earth of Gangho trembled.Martial arts collided with such ferocitythat even the sky seemed ready to split.

But at the center of it all,only two men stood—

The Leader of the Murim Alliance,and the Lord of the Magyo.

Alliance Leader vs. Magyo Lord – A Duel in Blood

Alliance Leader: White Dragon Divine Sword Jang Cheon-un (張天雲)Magyo Lord: Heavenly Blood Ghost Sovereign Baek Mu-ya (白無夜)

Two unmatched titans faced off.This wasn't just a battle.It was a contest for the soul of Gangho.

Crash!Jang Cheon-un's blade cleaved through the air toward Baek Mu-ya.But from the Lord of the Magyo's fingertips—a crimson killing aura surged.

Hiss—Jang's stance faltered.His body reeled ever so slightly.

"This… is the true power of the Magyo."

Baek Mu-ya murmured as he stepped forward.

Cold sweat beaded on the Alliance Leader's brow.He had faced many battles—but never a malice so chilling.

And then—

Thwack.Blood sprayed into the air.

The Alliance Leader collapsed to his knees.His chest—pierced through.

Baek Mu-ya leaned in and whispered:

"The law of Gangho is simple—the strong live, the weak die."

One final strike from his fingers.And the Alliance Leader fell.

Chaos in the Murim Alliance — Jin Ha-yeong's Rise

The morale of the Alliance collapsed.The death of their leader wasn't just a loss—it shattered their spirit.

At that moment, Jin Ha-yeong stepped forward.

"Do not retreat!""The battle isn't over yet!"

His cry rekindled the warriors' resolve.Then he charged into the heart of the chaos.

His opponent—the Magyo's third strongest warrior,Blood Demon So Cheon-myeong (蘇天命).

A vicious killer.He had slain dozens of Alliance masters with a single hand.A demon in human form.

Now, he stood before Jin Ha-yeong.

"You? A mere pup dares face me?"So Cheon-myeong sneered, raising his blade.

But Jin Ha-yeong answered only with steel.

Hiss—The air split with his swing.

And for the first time,So Cheon-myeong's expression changed.This was no longer a fight he could take lightly.

Their duel began.

The Victor Only Grows Stronger

But it didn't last long.

Jin Ha-yeong's swordsmanship—was already complete.

Crash!So Cheon-myeong was blasted backward.His sword shattered into fragments.

And then—Jin Ha-yeong struck the final blow.

So Cheon-myeong's head flew.

Silence fell over the battlefield.Alliance warriors stared in disbelief.

"He… cut down the third seat of the Magyo… in a single blow?"

Jin Ha-yeong's reputation exploded overnight.He was no longer a rising star—he was the heart of the Alliance.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Alliance Leader—had achieved nothing of note.Appointed for political reasons,he lacked the strength Gangho demanded.

Whispers grew louder within the Alliance.

"Our leader must be strong—to protect Gangho.""Jin Ha-yeong is the one who deserves to lead."

And so,even the power structure of the Murim Alliancebegan to tremble.

제44장: 떠밀리는 운명 (Chapter 44: A Fate Pushed Forward)

– The path of the strong is not always one they choose. Sometimes, it is the current of Gangho that chooses them.

Power Struggles Within the Murim Alliance

After the war ended, discussions began within the Murim Alliance regarding a new leader.The former alliance leader had fallen in battle. A new figure was needed.

But among the warriors of the Alliance, there was no real debate over who that should be.Jin Ha-yeong.

He was the strongest.He had proven his power on the battlefield.He had cut down the third seat of the Magyo—he had earned his place at the center of Gangho.

As his name spread, the atmosphere tilted heavily in one direction.

"The Murim Alliance must be strong, or it cannot protect Gangho!""Jin Ha-yeong must be our new leader!"

But—Jin Ha-yeong quietly shook his head.

"I do not seek that seat."

He was a swordsman of the righteous path.He understood the responsibility of standing at the heart of the Alliance,but it was not the path he desired.

"I will protect Gangho with my sword. But I have no interest in power.""There is someone else better suited to lead the Alliance."

He declined respectfully.He tried to return to his original position.

But fate would not leave him be.

Those who followed him did not step back so easily.

"Master Jin, the strong must take the reins of power!""This era needs the strong to protect the weak!"

He began to waver.He was a warrior who held a sword—not a man of politics.But Gangho would not release him.

He was being swept forward—by forces beyond his control.

Seung-chan Draws Attention

Meanwhile, one figure remained under the radar even after the war.Seung-chan.

He was still working within the lower ranks of the Alliance.His squad had taken fewer losses than most.

The public chalked it up to luck.

"Seung-chan's group just got lucky.""They didn't face the Magyo's elite forces."

But Jin Ha-yeong thought differently.He sensed something beneath the surface.

It wasn't luck that had kept Seung-chan alive.It was skill.

His movements had shaped the battlefield.The lack of casualties wasn't coincidence—it was control.

Jin Ha-yeong narrowed his eyes.

"The strong know the strong."

He was already watching Seung-chan.But Seung-chan remained quiet.He had not yet entered the current of Gangho.