novelraw Chapter 21 : Chapter 21
Chapter 21 : Chapter 21
Chapter 21 - Murim Alliance (1)
Blade Dragon’s blade, wielded without hesitation up, down, left, and right, melted all the surrounding ice.
It was fast enough to be difficult to follow with the naked eye, but it was a blade technique where each swing contained sufficient power.
At the very moment Blade Dragon, having unfolded a sequence of fierce and violent blade techniques, caught his breath and retrieved his blade, Ice Rakshasa leapt into the void and raised her palm toward the sky.
[Ice Cat Sky Breaker]
─ Crack
Ice Rakshasa slammed the palm she had raised straight down toward Blade Dragon.
With a hand gesture like the scratching of a cat, a chilling energy poured down over Blade Dragon’s head as if the frozen soil of the north had been unfurled.
Blade Dragon felt as if a massive ice wall was crashing down upon his head.
Feeling his vision turn white due to the extreme cold, Blade Dragon hurriedly raised his internal energy to its peak.
[Fierce Tiger Furious Strike]
Blade Dragon’s blade, surging roughly from below to above, carried a fierce energy and collided head-on with Ice Rakshasa’s energy.
─ Kwa-a-a-ang!
Ice shards scattered in all directions from the clash of the two people, and the table was knocked over and swept away by the whirling wind.
─ Thud
Amidst the scattered surrounding objects, Blade Dragon, whose upper body was covered in white frost, spat out a stream of blood.
“This is…… Cold Ice Divine Palm?”
As if realizing something after seeing Ice Rakshasa’s martial arts, Blade Dragon opened his eyes wide and stared straight ahead.
Letting out a smirk, Ice Rakshasa swept her hair to one side and loosened her neck by shaking it left and right.
It seemed Blade Dragon had already realized her identity, and he seemed to have no intention of wielding his blade any further.
‘This should be enough.’
Ice Rakshasa turned her body as if nothing had happened.
Then, as she walked slowly toward the party, she glanced at Jaun and sent a Telepathic Message.
[Did you see?]
Since it took the form of a spar where names of the moves were recited, Jaun could clearly understand and verify each of Blade Dragon’s movements.
Blade Dragon was at a level where he had just stepped into the First-Rate realm.
The martial arts he possessed were so fierce that he showed power beyond that momentarily, but it certainly felt like he hadn’t yet crossed the wall of the Peak Realm spoken of in the Jianghu.
[Blade Dragon is one of the thirty squad leaders belonging to the Anti-Demon Squad. He belongs to the youngest group among the squad leaders, but I know his skills are above average. I don’t know Jaun Young Hero’s level exactly, but……. If you want to do something proper in the Murim Alliance, you will have to show skills superior to Blade Dragon to make your activities easier.]
‘So, First-Rate is about the squad leader level.’
Jaun bowed his head slightly to express his gratitude for Ice Rakshasa’s consideration.
This seemed likely to be quite helpful for his future activities in the Murim Alliance.
Blade Dragon, who had been lost in thought with a blank expression, regained his senses and hurriedly opened his mouth.
“Ha, if it’s Cold Ice Divine Palm…… Perhaps you are the Sado Alliance’s Law Enforcer, Ice Rakshasa? The one said to have reached the Peak Realm at a young age…….”
“So we meet like this. Nice to meet you. I am Pan Bing-yeong. It is my first day visiting the Murim Alliance as an envoy of the Sado Alliance……. I didn’t expect to receive such an unwelcome welcome from the very first day.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, the complexions of the Golden Flower Twin Fists darkened rapidly.
Clearly, Ice Rakshasa had been polite to the two of them at first.
However, it was they who had ignored that courtesy and acted out.
No matter if the Golden Flower Manor was a top-tier merchant group in the Central Plains, they couldn’t completely disregard the Murim Alliance.
Furthermore, if it was Ice Rakshasa who visited the Alliance as an envoy of the Sado Alliance, it was certain she would report their disgraceful behavior to the upper echelons of the Murim Alliance just as it was.
‘If that happens?’
A situation where a severe reprimand from their father, the Merchant Head, might come down.
The two men, their bodies heating up, bowed deeply to Ice Rakshasa with a fist salute, not waiting for the other to go first.
“Young Lady. Our actions were excessive.”
“We apologize for our rudeness.”
Ice Rakshasa’s cold voice was sprinkled over the two men who had bowed deeply at the waist.
“It is fortunate that you know it was excessive. However, I don’t think I will be able to forget today’s insult. Sons of the Golden Flower Merchant Group.”
A momentary silence flowed between Jaun’s party and the two men who stood not knowing what to do at Ice Rakshasa’s reply, which reeked of coldness.
Just as the Golden Flower Twin Fists were fidgeting and about to speak again, the sound of someone running up hurriedly, ta-da-dak, was heard.
“The food will be out soon! I asked the chef properly to…….”
Stopping in his tracks instantly, Mad Beggar looked around blankly at the interior of the inn which had become a mess.
“No, what on earth is this…… Was that loud noise earlier coming from here?”
Blade Dragon, discovering Mad Beggar looking around with widened eyes, bowed deeply at the waist.
“Elder Future Beggar, how did you…….”
“Blade Dragon? What brings you here? And what is the reason for this trouble?”
Blade Dragon, with a troubled expression, quietly reported to Mad Beggar what had happened.
“……Tsk tsk.”
Mad Beggar, who listened to the story with a frown, looked at the Golden Flower Twin Fists and clicked his tongue.
“You guys should have done things in moderation. Without even the eyes to recognize an opponent’s skill…… Geez.”
As the expression of Mad Beggar, whose proper meal after a long time had been ruined, rotted away, the faces of the two men turned white.
If it was Mad Beggar Gong Il-geon, he was a key talent of the Beggars’ Sect who even had private audiences with the strategist of the Murim Alliance.
Realizing they had touched people who really shouldn’t be touched, the two men opened their mouths hurriedly, neither waiting for the other.
“Great Hero. We will quickly clean up the place.”
Mad Beggar, watching the Golden Flower Twin Fists run out quickly to tidy up the area, turned his head to Ice Rakshasa this time.
“Do you really have to make that dirty temper of yours so obvious? Did you have to go this far on a day like today?”
“Ha! Are you saying that even after hearing the whole story? You should consider it fortunate that I didn’t kill those guys.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, cold sweat trickled down the spines of the Golden Flower Twin Fists who were organizing the area in the distance.
The Golden Flower Twin Fists, having hurriedly tidied up the place, ran over like the wind and bowed deeply again toward Mad Beggar and Ice Rakshasa.
“Two of you, we really don’t know how to apologize……. It is all our negligence. Please let us treat you to today’s meal. Ah! If you haven’t decided on accommodation yet, we will rent the inn’s annex right away. Please relieve your anger while eating and resting comfortably.”
Looking at the clumsily tidied inn, Mad Beggar shook his head from side to side as if he didn’t like it, then approached the table and flopped down into a seat.
Following Mad Beggar who sat in despondency, the party also took seats at the table one by one.
The Golden Flower Twin Fists, who were stomping their feet not knowing what to do, exchanged glances and immediately ran down to the lower floor.
A moment later, the Golden Flower Twin Fists, who brought the food up themselves, carefully placed the food on the party’s table and slid a strange liquor bottle along with it.
“We brought this as a gesture of apology. Please relieve your mood while having a drink. We have also just rented the entire annex, so please rest as much as you wish.”
Checking the three small liquor bottles the Golden Flower Twin Fists had pushed forward while sweating profusely, Mad Beggar’s eyes widened in an instant.
The name Yongam Chimhang [Dragon Rock Submerged Jar] was deeply engraved on the liquor bottles.
‘If it’s Yongam Chimhang…… Isn’t it one of the three great wines of the Jianghu?’
This wine was a renowned liquor of the Jianghu, rumored to be enjoyed only in the Imperial Palace due to its extremely small production volume.
‘It’s a rare wine that even famous heavy drinkers often can’t even touch once…….’
Mad Beggar, whose appetite suddenly returned, coughed dryly and gauged Ice Rakshasa’s mood.
Checking Ice Rakshasa, who was chattering to Jaun as if her interest in this side had already disappeared, Mad Beggar stealthily pulled the liquor bottle and placed it in front of himself.
“Ahem! It’s not like this will resolve things, but still…….”
Mad Beggar’s diligently moving hand removed the stopper of the liquor bottle.
─ Pop
At the rich scent of liquor pushing into the tip of his nose, Mad Beggar’s expression relaxed smoothly.
The Golden Flower Twin Fists approached quickly and filled Mad Beggar’s cup, and then filled the cups of the other party members as well.
Although the apology wasn’t formally accepted, the two men let out small sighs of relief when Ice Rakshasa began to eat the food without saying anything particular.
***
The next morning.
The party, having rested well in the annex provided by the Golden Flower Twin Fists, headed to the Murim Alliance early.
Arriving in front of the massive main gate of the Murim Alliance, the party could spot Blade Dragon who had come out to meet them.
“Did you rest well? I heard you had a drinking party until late yesterday.”
To Blade Dragon who was bowing with a deep fist salute, Mad Beggar waved his hand while pressing his throbbing head.
“What brings you here?”
“I felt uneasy as I think I committed a breach of etiquette in many ways yesterday. It seems you have business at the Murim Alliance today, so I came out to guide you and apologize once again.”
“Oh my. It’s not like you caused the problem. It’s fine, so don’t mind it too much. Thanks to it, we rested well too.”
Mad Beggar patted Blade Dragon’s shoulder.
“Anyway, since you came out like this, could you guide my party a bit? The Sect Leader guy keeps pestering me to come in early, wondering about something so much.”
Hearing Mad Beggar’s words, Blade Dragon’s face brightened.
“Do not worry. Great Hero. I will escort your party well.”
Blade Dragon, who bowed to Mad Beggar, carefully turned his eyes toward Ice Rakshasa.
Ice Rakshasa, whose face was puffy perhaps due to overdrinking yesterday, nodded her head once toward Blade Dragon.
Blade Dragon, whose nape turned slightly red, gave a deep fist salute to Ice Rakshasa and then turned to the party and asked.
“Where should I guide you?”
“I am fine. It is a path I have come to often, so I can find my way alone.”
Eun-wol, who was standing next to them, spoke to Blade Dragon first.
Blade Dragon, who also offered a polite fist salute to Eun-wol, turned his body and asked Jaun.
“Then, Young Hero is…….”
“Ah, I intend to take the Murim Alliance entrance exam. If it’s alright, could you guide me to the place where I can take the exam?”
“Ah! I see. The recent situation is unusual, so we needed more hands anyway……. It will be a great strength if someone like you, Young Hero, joins us.”
Blade Dragon, who sent a smile to Jaun, slowly turned his body toward Ice Rakshasa and scratched his head.
“Perhaps, Young Lady is…….”
“Strategist Hall.”
At the words thrown out as if it were bothersome, Blade Dragon nodded his head heavily.
“Young Lady, the Strategist Hall is located in the Inner Castle, so you have to walk a bit. The entrance exam site is right in front, so it would be good to guide Jaun Young Hero first and then move to the Strategist Hall together.”
Blade Dragon, who answered with a slightly flushed face, took the lead and began to guide the party.
“I’ll go with you to the exam site too.”
Eun-wol smiled looking at Jaun and came to stand by his side.
After that, the party exchanged short farewells with Mad Beggar and slowly followed behind Blade Dragon, moving their steps into the Murim Alliance.
***
“This is the place. It just so happens that today is an entrance exam day, so you can go in right away and take the test. There are times when you have to wait for up to a week, so you are lucky.”
Blade Dragon, having looked around the exam site once, continued speaking.
“That……. However, it seems it will take quite some time until the exam is over…….”
Jaun spoke to Blade Dragon who was lost in deep thought.
“Ah, it’s fine. Since I’ve learned the way here. I’ll go to the inn on my own when it’s finished, so please take good care of Miss Pan. She said she was a bit tired because of overdrinking yesterday.”
At Jaun’s words, Blade Dragon’s eyes sparkled.
“Ah! Would that really be okay?”
“Of course. It was nice meeting you. I hope to see you as a member of the same Murim Alliance next time.”
“I truly hope so.”
Blade Dragon nodded sincerely at Jaun’s words.
Jaun then turned his body toward Ice Rakshasa and Eun-wol.
“I’ll be back. See you at the accommodation later.”
At Jaun’s words, the two people also stepped forward and sent their regards.
“Young Hero. Watch the atmosphere well, and if you think it’s not right, make sure to say so. The doors of Dark Blood Fragrance are always open.”
“Un-a. Don’t overdo it too much, and don’t get hurt……. Finish well and come back.”
Following Ice Rakshasa’s greeting, Eun-wol shyly offered her greeting.
Jaun, waving his hand once toward the two people as a final farewell, turned his body and headed toward the exam site.
Blade Dragon, who was glancing at Ice Rakshasa repeatedly, soon began to lead the two people into the Murim Alliance.
***
‘……There are more people than I thought?’
Jaun, moving to the place Blade Dragon had indicated, shook his head from side to side.
From young boys to old men with white hair.
A sigh leaked from Jaun’s mouth as he looked around the people filling the open ground.
It seemed likely that just waiting would consume a significant amount of time.
This was not good news for Jaun, who intended to finish as quickly as possible and return to the accommodation to rest, as he still had a hangover from drinking a bit excessively last evening.
‘Is it unavoidable?’
Jaun, soothing his uncomfortable stomach and examining the surroundings in detail once again, was able to discover the word ‘Reception’ written on a table at the edge.
Approaching the table, Jaun scratched his head.
A middle-aged man with a goatee was sitting at the table, diligently writing something down with a look of annoyance on his face.
“Ahem.”
When Jaun coughed dryly, only then did the man lift his head and glance up at Jaun.
“Nickname and name.”
The middle-aged man, dipping his brush in ink and turning a page of the book, opened his mouth again as if annoyed.
“Can’t you hear? I asked what your nickname and name are.”
“I have no nickname, and my name is Han Jaun.”
“Age and school?”
“Age is fifteen. I don’t have a place that can be specially called a school. I practiced martial arts in the mountains with my father.”
The middle-aged man, twirling the brush over the book, let out a deep sigh.
“No nickname, no school. Since when did the Murim Alliance become a place where even this kind of riffraff applies?…… Tsk tsk.”
The middle-aged man, tapping his own shoulder with his left hand, erected his brush again and wrote something down.
“Age is fifteen. You are a nameless soldier and…….”
Fifteen years old. Nameless soldier Han Jaun.
Having written that on the paper, the middle-aged man asked again without even lifting his head.
“Motivation for applying to the Murim Alliance?”
“A battle with the Demonic Cult…….”
Cutting off Jaun’s words, the middle-aged man opened his mouth.
“Want to execute the Demonic Cult and make a name for yourself. Then the motivation is rising in the world and gaining fame…….”
Jaun stared blankly down at the middle-aged man writing ‘Rise to Fame’ next to his name.
‘He looks somewhat, extremely annoyed.’
Jaun decided to think of it as proof that there were that many people applying to the Murim Alliance.
Since the confrontation between the Sado Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had intensified recently, it was something that could sufficiently happen.
‘But even so, it feels like he’s writing it down too roughly. Well, it’s not that important.’
Jaun shrugged his shoulders once.
“Weapon used and martial arts?”
“I mainly use a sword, and I have trained in the Three Talents Sword Art the longest.”
“Main martial art is Three Talents Sword Art…….”
The middle-aged man, glancing up at Jaun, asked subsequently.
“Martial arts level?”
“I am at the First-Rate level.”
The middle-aged man, who sighed as soon as he heard Jaun’s words, slammed the brush down on the table and let out a sigh as if the ground were collapsing.
“No school either! You practiced some Three Talents Sword Art in the back hills with your father, yet at fifteen years old, you’re at the First-Rate level? What, is your father the Heavenly Demon or something? Did you train in some New Demon Art that allows you to learn martial arts swiftly? This is the Murim Alliance, Young Hero. It is not a place free enough for playing pranks!”
Jaun flinched briefly, and the middle-aged man, looking up sharply at him with a sullen expression, shook his head from side to side.
“Why are there so many kids who only come to their senses after getting beaten?”
Grumbling while finishing writing the two characters for First-Rate, the middle-aged man stamped a seal with a bang and tore the paper, handing it to Jaun.
“I have absolutely no responsibility. The entrance exam for First-Rate masters is conducted at the far right end, and unlike other exams, real weapons are used. Even if an arm or two gets cut off, you must not blame or resent me. It is all written exactly as you said.”
Jaun made a fist salute to the middle-aged man with a bitter expression and accepted the paper.
Jaun, having received the paper, looked around the surroundings once and slowly began to walk across the open ground toward the right side.