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Chapter 113. Black Path Night March (3)
“What?”
Yong So-ah’s two brows shot up.
The members of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, who had been listening to So Je-ho’s report with him, were more surprised by Yong So-ah’s expression than by the contents of the report.
To the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, who had been with Yong So-ah since the Academy, Yong So-ah was practically a being without emotion.
“Jin So-un dragged his party into Four Emperors Peak. He is a madman.”
For some reason, So Je-ho gave his report with one eye swollen black and blue.
“……”
“It seems he hates you quite a bit.”
Moreover, Dang Seo-hui, who was no less taciturn than Yong So-ah, was also speaking as if her tongue had been loosened.
“……I do not understand.”
“What?”
“Four Emperors Peak was never an option he could choose in the first place. No, rather, it will only worsen the situation.”
Yong So-ah nodded.
He certainly had good options.
-Enter the Murim Academy alone with excellent results.
-Fail the exam together with his party.
And the answer he had chosen was an option that not only meant failing the exam, but also created a danger to his life.
“It seems the Black Flame Dragon has something in mind.”
“……”
Yong So-ah’s gaze fixed on Dang Seo-hui.
So Je-ho, of course, and even the members of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly knew well the pressure Yong So-ah’s gaze carried, so they swallowed without realizing it.
“No, such a thing cannot exist.”
“There is a rumor that the Black Flame Dragon has the nameplate he obtained on the Demon Spirit Plateau. It is also something he gained thanks to Yong So-ah.”
“……”
Cold air circulated.
An unknown, unprecedented pressure settled over the area, and the members of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly instinctively raised their Internal Qi to protect their Mental Strength.
“Do you know why the Black Path does not involve itself in the Murim Alliance’s events?”
“Because burying what happens in the Regular Exam applies only to the Orthodox Path.”
“Yes. The ban on retaliation or revenge for what happens in the Regular Exam applies only to the Orthodox Path. ……Conversely, the Black Path sects that tried to use the Regular Exam become targets for the Orthodox Path to vent its anger.”
Names of Black Path sects annihilated in previous Regular Exams, such as the Yellow Sand Sect, the Demon Fragrance Gang, the Jo Geuk Gang, the Hanho Sect, and others, were listed one after another.
“Four Emperors Peak may be one of the strongest powers of the Black Path, but in reality, its strength is inferior even to a single sect of the Nine Sects and One Gang. Moreover, an Orthodox Path sect with justification gains a legitimate reason to punish the Black Path. Four Emperors Peak absolutely cannot move.”
At Yong So-ah’s words, Dang Seo-hui nodded.
“Then there is nothing more to pay attention to.”
“……That is correct.”
“Then why are you still here?”
Yong So-ah’s eyelids trembled.
Regardless, Dang Seo-hui continued speaking.
“The Dragon and Phoenix Assembly has many things to do.”
At the sight of Dang Seo-hui walking a dangerous line, So Je-ho swallowed hard.
“……I see. What is the next thing we must do?”
So Je-ho quickly handed over a scroll.
“There is a report suggesting that Song Baek of the Huayang Escort Agency mobilized the warriors of the martial halls he had been supporting during this Regular Exam. Even though Song Baek is dead, the Alliance’s directive is to investigate the Huayang Escort Agency.”
“With the Wang Estate making strange movements, if even the Huayang Escort Agency falls out, the gap will grow large. Still, we must confirm it first.”
Meanwhile, Jin So-un dragged his injured body toward the Great Desert Pavilion of Four Emperors Peak.
The one supporting him, since his injuries made it difficult for him to move, was Namgung Seon-hwa.
At any other time it might have been different, but within Four Emperors Peak, she had come as the representative of her family, so Kang Seo-pyo quickly tried to stop her.
“Young Lady, as the representative of the Namgung Clan, you also……”
“Captain Kang, please do not say anything. I know all of that as well.”
At her unwavering expression, Kang Seo-pyo had no choice but to take a step back.
After all, the reason Jin So-un had suffered serious injuries was that he had saved Namgung Seon-hwa.
Moreover, as they drew closer to the Great Desert Pavilion, the atmosphere grew heavier, so they could no longer argue.
“Their discipline is excellent.”
At Cho Mu-bin’s impression after seeing the Black Path warriors standing along the road to the Great Desert Pavilion, Kang Seo-pyo naturally nodded as well.
“They are completely different from what we knew until now.”
When people commonly spoke of the Black Path, the image that came to mind was that of madmen craving blood within the law of the strong devouring the weak.
However, seeing their true nature properly, each one felt like a well-trained beast.
Moreover, the closer they approached the Great Desert Pavilion, the building standing at the center of Four Emperors Peak, the more sharply the level of the warriors improved.
“Leaving the exam aside…… We should hope that we can at least get out alive.”
“……”
In the first place, when they had heard Jin So-un’s plan, they had followed his opinion with the confidence that they could escape in the worst case, but they were now regretting that judgment.
When they entered the Great Desert Pavilion, an overwhelming great hall came into view, matching the massive size of the building.
On both sides, those who appeared to be the elite warriors of Four Emperors Peak were emitting a ferocious pressure, and on the high platform, a huge man wearing ornate silver armor was overpowering everyone present.
“They are Jin So-un of the Taeul Sect and his party.”
After giving only a simple explanation, Hwang Bu-sik stood respectfully to the left of the Peak Lord.
“They said the Black Flame Dragon’s name shakes all under heaven, but seeing your state now, that name is wasted on you.”
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Four Emperors Peak Lord Cha Seok-du.
As if the title of foremost leader of the Black Path was not undeserved, his ringing voice shook the great hall.
“……”
Jin So-un slipped free of Namgung Seon-hwa’s hand and took two or so steps forward.
“……”
The way his body trembled with each step made his condition clear.
Jin So-un spoke with a serious expression.
“Do you know how much trouble I have suffered because of that damned epithet?”
“……”
At the same time, the thought, ‘We’re fucked,’ surfaced in Kang Seo-pyo, Cho Mu-bin, and Baek Won-gak’s heads.
Killing intent swept through the great hall.
Those lined up on both sides of the great hall were each people who called themselves among the strongest of the Black Path.
Since he had spat a curse at Cha Seok-du, the Peak Lord whom they respected most, it was no different from Jin So-un choosing today as the day of his memorial rites.
“……Kuh.”
Unable to withstand the killing intent, Jin So-un suddenly coughed up blood.
As Namgung Seon-hwa turned pale and tried to run over, Jin So-un raised a hand and stopped her.
“Please clear away that killing intent. Do Black Path warriors have no eyes? To release killing intent in front of a patient.”
“……”
A strange silence lingered in the great hall.
Jin So-un’s party gazed at him with anxious hearts, while the warriors of Four Emperors Peak stared at him with displeased eyes.
“Heh-heh.”
“……”
“Hahahahaha!”
When Cha Seok-du’s laughter burst out, the warriors inside the great hall also withdrew their killing intent one by one and began laughing along.
Kang Seo-pyo, Cho Mu-bin, and Baek Won-gak, who had been dumbfounded by the sudden laughter, quickly rode along with that laughter and laughed even louder to try to ease the atmosphere.
“You are still amusing, I see. Even so, I believe I gave you a fine epithet. Thanks to it, whenever your name rings through Jianghu, mine spreads along with it.”
“What kind of Black Flame Dragon is that for an elite Orthodox Path warrior? Black Flame Dragon, of all things.”
“To be honest, is the Taeul Sect truly a legitimate prestigious Orthodox Path sect?”
“Huh. You are speaking too harshly just because this is your front yard, Peak Lord.”
“Heuheu. Then? Would you like to have a bout?”
“My physical condition is like this, so I will let it pass this time.”
It was not only Jin So-un’s party who was confused by the conversation between the two.
Even the warriors of Four Emperors Peak kept glancing sideways without rest at the sight of Cha Seok-du, who was usually solemn and serious to the extreme, acting as if he were dealing with his own grandson.
“Well then, I hear you have suffered many hardships while taking the Regular Exam.”
“It is only natural that a bastard with nothing to his name has a hard time trying to rise in the world.”
“In that case, how about using this chance to transfer to a Black Path sect? We have not yet hardened into entrenched evils like the Nine Sects and One Gang or the One Hundred Eight Peaks of the Murim Alliance.”
“If I do that, would all the suffering I have gone through until now not become useless?”
At Jin So-un’s words, Cha Seok-du nodded.
“That is why I have come so suddenly like this, partly to ask a favor. If there was any breach of courtesy, please forgive me.”
No sooner had Jin So-un finished speaking than the smile slowly disappeared from Cha Seok-du’s face.
“Before you speak, I will say this first. Give up on the Regular Exam, or make an appropriate deal with those outside.”
“……”
“I hear you have an unprecedented number of Entry Tokens. Through a deal, you or one or two of your party should be able to enter the Academy. If you wish, I will mediate.”
Seeing that he seemed to know what Jin So-un was going to ask, the party looked drained.
If the deal here failed, there was nothing they could do.
“Even if I say I will use the nameplate?”
“……”
At Jin So-un’s words, Cha Seok-du’s face hardened, and the pressure in the great hall rose.
“The nameplate is merely a guarantee that I will make an effort. Surely you also know it cannot resolve an affair so grave that one’s sect and one’s own life are at stake.”
“……”
“For Four Emperors Peak to become involved in the Murim Academy’s Regular Exam would be something that poses an extremely serious threat to my sect. Even if I am asked to do such a thing, there is no way I could accept it. Keep the nameplate carefully. You will have need of it someday.”
The face of Cha Seok-du, who had been looking at Jin So-un as if he were his grandson, was filled with disappointment.
“If you intend to give up on the exam anyway, you may stay here. I will give you good rooms and assign maidservants so you can live comfortably.”
As if he had no more business with him, Cha Seok-du suddenly rose from his seat.
At that moment, Jin So-un, who had kept his mouth shut until then, opened it.
“That is not what I desire.”
In Cha Seok-du’s eyes as he turned his head, anger mingled with disappointment.
“Do you intend to toy with me?”
“I have not yet said what I am asking of you.”
“……”
With a grave expression, Cha Seok-du sat on the platform once more.
“I hope this occasion does not become one that makes me disappointed in you. I was already disappointed from the moment I heard you had entered Four Emperors Peak to avoid the Nine Sects and One Gang.”
It was only a plain voice, but those listening from the side were shuddering at his overwhelming presence.
“What I wish to ask is that Four Emperors Peak become the center of the Black Path Murim.”
“……?”
At the sudden statement, the people tilted their heads one after another.
“Since before, the Black Path Murim has had no central axis like the Murim Alliance. It is the same even now. Because of that, even when a large-scale disaster occurs, there is no proper way to respond.”
It was something the Black Path Murim had always talked about.
Everyone needed a central axis, but no one had accomplished it.
“It was the same on the Demon Spirit Plateau. The Black Path side suffered more damage, but in the end, it was the Murim Alliance that moved people, and the Black Path Murim had no choice but to stamp its feet in frustration and wait.”
“……Wait, wait. I do not understand. Why is that story coming up here? No, before that, even if you ask us to become the central axis, how are we supposed to do that?”
“It is not very difficult.”
“Not very difficult?”
Until now, countless Black Path sects had tried to establish an alliance, but none had ever succeeded.
They had neither an opportunity like the Murim Alliance nor a place with overwhelming military might.
“Please hold a nonviolent march in memory of those sacrificed on the Demon Spirit Plateau. From here at Mount Dabie to Wuhan, where the Murim Alliance is. Use the protest as an opportunity to draw out the people’s opinions, and in the end, establish an Alliance.”
“……”
Cha Seok-du’s mouth fell open.
So did the mouths of the elite warriors gathered in the great hall, and even Jin So-un’s party.
A disciple of an Orthodox Path sect was trying to create the central axis of the Black Path Murim?
In various parts of the great hall wrapped in silence, people began whispering, ‘madman.’