The Mad Dog Inspector of the Martial Alliance

Chapter 115 : Extermination (4)

Zixia Divine Art's Yang, Yin, and Gang.

Jang So-gil carefully put the three secret manuals into his bosom.

They were the secrets that the genius martial arts scholar Sima Hui had interpreted, recompiled, and annotated from the Zixia Divine Art, which was considered one of the best divine arts in the world. The value of each one was higher than a thousand gold pieces.

Jang So-gil, who had quickly snatched them up lest someone take them, asked nonchalantly.

"So, Brother, if I master this, will I be able to fight the leader of the Four Black Alliance?"

"The leader of the Four Black Alliance? The Black Killing Hegemon King?"

"Yes."

"If you master it, you probably could..."

The Zixia Divine Art was a firm and unwavering supreme divine art.

Even if he mastered only a part of the three split branches, he had enough potential to look down on the world.

"But is that even possible? In the long history of the Huashan Sect, there was only one person who had mastered the Zixia Divine Art."

"It seems it's very difficult to learn."

"It's really difficult."

"Then how can I beat the leader of the Four Black Alliance?"

At Jang So-gil's question, Sima Hui's eyebrows twitched.

"How much do you know about the leader of the Four Black Alliance?"

"Isn't he the supreme ruler of the Black Way martial world?"

"That's right. But you're probably thinking this. The Black Way martial world is nothing special. So the Black Killing Hegemon King's name is just loud, but in reality, he's nothing special, right?"

As if he had really been thinking that, Jang So-gil nodded his head.

Jang So-gil had been a member of the Martial Alliance from the time he had first set out into the martial world, had only seen the masters of the Martial Alliance, and had grown up under the protection of Gumen Long.

Thanks to his position as an inspector, ordinary ruffians of the Black Way would faint just by making eye contact.

After Jang So-gil had grown into a master, it was even more so. What he ate were precious elixirs, what he learned were divine arts and supreme skills, and what he held in his hand was a divine weapon.

Since he had crossed the threshold of a first-rate master in one go and had been beating down the criminals of the Black Way with his own hands, it was true that he felt the groups of the Black Way were weak.

Sima Hui shook his head from side to side.

"There is a person called the 'Book-Crazed Grand Historian'. He originally worked in the imperial family, and since he liked to both read and write books, he had the nickname 'Book-Crazed'. This person takes pleasure in recording and organizing anything, listing them and compiling them into books, and arranging the books on the bookshelf in order."

"Hmm, there are those kinds of people. They would be very good at being a scribe."

"He was actually a scribe."

"Wow, he chose his profession very well. So?"

"One day, that person was taking shorthand notes of the results of a competition to recruit the imperial guards and was looking at the faces of the applicants when he had a question."

A person who wants to enter the imperial guards must be well-versed in martial arts.

So the imperial family measured the stamina and running speed of the applicants, measured their strength by having them lift heavy logs, and had them compete with each other with weapons to give them a ranking.

In this way, they evaluated the applicant's stamina, agility, strength, and skill and selected people in order of high rank.

"That's normal."

"But then, a series of questions arose. Then what about martial artists?"

Martial artists are as numerous as the stars in that sky.

In the orthodox sect, there are the Martial Alliance and the Nine Sects One Alliance. In the unorthodox sect, there is no clear central point, but there are many strange people and fierce strongmen like the Three Demons.

There are also the criminals of the Black Way martial world, and the champions of the Green Forest.

"There are so many people, but who among them is strong?"

"Isn't the Alliance Leader-nim the strongest?"

"That's right. That's for sure. But then. Then who's next?"

"The leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? Ah, but he's dead. That's right, who's next?"

"And then? And then?"

"Who knows that!"

"That's right. So the Book-Crazed Grand Historian decided. 'I will find that out, and I will list the ranks of the martial artists.'"

He was said to be crazy about books, but was he just truly a madman?

There was a limit to challenging the impossible. How could he find out who was stronger?

Jang So-gil frowned.

"He's a madman."

"He is my grandfather."

"Ah, it was a story that seemed to have a strong flow of the Sima blood."

The investigation, analysis, and comparison of data, and the compilation of printed matter were the fate and destiny of the Sima clan.

It was a family where there could be a madman in that way.

"Tsk. Anyway, so the Book-Crazed Grand Historian set off on a journey. To the east, to the west, to the south, to the north. He continued to travel. He begged, asked, sometimes threatened, and bargained with every master he met and witnessed their martial arts. And he evaluated them by dividing them into ten categories."

It was truly a formidable power of action and drive.

"The Book-Crazed Grand Historian, who had met and evaluated hundreds of martial artists, thus created a book. Its name is the 'Martial World White Paper'."

"The Martial World White Paper..."

"Here, the evaluations and rankings of the martial artists that the Book-Crazed Grand Historian has seen throughout his life are written. The first place is, of course, the Alliance Leader-nim, and the second place is the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

"But the leader is dead, isn't he?"

"My grandfather had met and evaluated him before the leader died. Although the Martial World White Paper is still being updated every year, he said that as far as he knew, the only one comparable to the Alliance Leader-nim was the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, so he did not give the second place to anyone."

"That grandfather of yours, he's still alive..."

"Yes."

The martial world and the Central Plains were wide, and there were many people.

Since there were many people, there must be many madmen.

"Even so, I've never heard a story of a person as crazy as Byeokryeokja-nim."

"I said he was my grandfather. Watch your words."

"Yes, yes. So then, what rank is the Black Killing Hegemon King, Ha Hu-yeong, there?"

"37th."

"37th..."

It was an ambiguous rank that he couldn't tell if it was high or low.

As Jang So-gil made an ambiguous expression, Sima Hui crumpled his face.

"It means he's in the top forty among the martial artists of the world! Isn't it obvious that he's a tremendous master!"

"Ah, that's true. But the person I see every day is the supreme ruler of the martial world."

"If it's like that, I understand..."

"What rank is Man Bakja?"

"86th."

"He's surprisingly low."

"It's because a considerable number of strange people that most martial artists have never even heard of are positioned in the upper ranks. They said they cooperated with my grandfather, hoping for anonymity."

"Then what about Byeokryeokja-nim?"

"10th."

"High!?"

"Well, he's one of the Three Demons. If he's carrying around that dangerous Byeokryeoktan and even the imperial family and the Martial Alliance are leaving him alone, he has to be at least that level, right?"

"What rank are you, Brother?"

"I used to be around 300th. I don't know now."

Sima Hui had learned the variation form of the Cloud Dragon Eight Steps, and he had also learned a part of the Zixia Divine Art. Even by his own estimation, he had become at least thirty percent stronger than before.

He had a hope that he could proudly enter the top two hundred of the Martial World White Paper that would be made this year.

And Jang So-gil had a hope in a different sense.

"That book, can't I get it somehow?"

"It is a secret of my family."

"Wow, you guys are the only ones who see that interesting thing. Isn't that too much?"

Who is stronger than whom, whose martial art is stronger than whose.

There was no man who disliked this kind of story.

Jang So-gil was also the same.

Sima Hui grinned.

"But it can't be helped, can it? Since it evaluates the strength of martial arts, it can stimulate not only people's curiosity but also their competitive spirit and jealousy. To put it severely, the Martial World White Paper is something that can even start a war with a single book. It can't be given to just anyone."

"Just anyone? You mean you do give it to people who are not from your family?"

"There are quite a few martial artists who demand the Martial World White Paper in exchange for cooperating with the measurement of their martial arts. As far as I know, about thirty people receive it every year."

"That, aren't you coming to measure me?"

"Probably before this year is over, my grandfather will come back and talk to you. I know he's gone to the Hainan side now. I heard the King of Hainan has achieved a great accomplishment this year."

"Hmm, that's interesting."

The atmosphere had softened a bit.

Enjoying tea and refreshments, Sima Hui and Jang So-gil continued to talk.

"If the Martial World White Paper is released, there will be a big commotion in the martial world."

"If you know that, wouldn't it be better not to write it?"

"My grandfather's obsession has honestly crossed the line."

"More than that, it's strange that the Martial World White Paper hasn't spread rumors in the martial world until now. Is it possible to collect information on so many martial artists and for that to be possible?"

"In most cases, he investigates secretly while hiding his identity. If it's a martial artist whose skill is lower than my grandfather's, he secretly follows them and measures them, or he even disguises himself as a mountain bandit and attacks them to see their skill. Or he gives a suitable reward and makes martial artists of a similar level fight..."

"That's a real disease... No, wait. That person, the Book-Crazed Grand Historian, does he even know how to fight?"

"My grandfather places himself at 40th. Although he can't boast about it anywhere, he is also the best master that the Sima Clan has produced."

"Wasn't the best genius of the Sima Clan you, Brother?"

"I'll be stronger when I'm my grandfather's age."

"Ah. I see."

The Sima Collection Record was a divine art that became stronger through consistent life-nourishing methods. As time passed, Sima Hui would certainly become stronger.

Jang So-gil nodded his head.

"But Brother, how did our story get here?"

"...That's right."

Sima Hui and Jang So-gil simultaneously cleared their throats.

"So what I wanted to say was. The Black Killing Hegemon King is a very strong master, so you should give up the idea of learning some martial arts in a rush and trying to beat him."

"Yes, yes. I understand. I won't even dare to think about it."

"Yes. You've thought well."

"Then what the hell, is the Alliance Leader-nim telling me to die? Or is he telling me to just be content with being escorted and living in luxury? He'll cherish me until I die, so let's just walk on a flower path, is that it?"

"I-isn't that a good thing?"

Strictly speaking, it was a good thing.

Because it meant he could live without any hardship for the rest of his life, seeing only good things and eating only good things, while receiving the favor of the Martial Alliance Leader.

"Isn't it a story that most of the common people would suck their fingers in envy?"

"Am I some kind of pet?"

"If you're the pet of the Martial Alliance Leader, isn't that the best way to live in the world?"

"I have no use for it. I will create a merchant guild in my own name, I will wipe out the Sichuan Tang Clan with my own hands, and I will even become a master who makes a name for himself in the martial world. I have no intention of living in a cage for the rest of my life."

"Keueung..."

Sima Hui, as if he were in trouble, gathered his brow. Then, as soon as his eyes met Jang So-gil's, he covered his eyes with his fan. Jang So-gil's eyes, seeing that, showed a different color.

Sima Hui was really bad at lying. Because all his emotions were visible in his actions.

That was clearly an action to avoid Jang So-gil's 'mind-reading'.

Jang So-gil began to question him fiercely.

"Brother, why are you avoiding my eyes? You're hiding something, right?"

"Keueueueum..."

"Tell me. What is it?"

"I can't say."

"What can't you say?"

He was persistent. Like following a prey caught in a spider's web, Jang So-gil continued to press and cling.

After a persistent interrogation that lasted for more than an hour, Sima Hui raised the white flag.

"The reason I can't say is because the Alliance Leader-nim strictly warned me not to say."

"The Alliance Leader-nim's warning? Wait a minute, then was there an answer to this story? As far as I can think, no matter how much I worry, no answer comes out?"

"There is an answer. But I can't say."

"Heo..."

Jang So-gil's pride was a little cracked.

Because he couldn't come up with an answer that Sima Hui could come up with.

"What is it? What is it? What did I miss?"

"..."

Sima Hui, pretending not to see Jang So-gil who was muttering in a daze, turned his gaze away completely.

From that sight, Jang So-gil, who had realized that Sima Hui really knew the answer, let his shoulders droop in a daze.

The question that was gradually deepening. Jang So-gil's question was resolved two months after that.

And at a place he had never even thought of.

A person he had never even thought of brought the answer.

(End of Chapter)