novelraw Chapter 76 : Chapter 76
Chapter 76 : Chapter 76
Chapter 76 Sado Alliance (2)
Ban Cheol-hwi, who tightly gripped my wrist, took a step forward and looked up at the giants.
“Since ancient times, the sages have spoken several times through various books about the harmony of Yin and Yang! How can a man harbor lustful desires upon seeing another man, and furthermore, go so far as to harass him!”
At Ban Cheol-hwi’s shout, the giants burst into laughter once again.
“Take a look down at your own body. Does it look to you like your body possesses Yang energy? No matter how I look at it, you seem to be overflowing with Yin energy. Hehe. We’ll find out once we check.”
Feeling a deep sense of humiliation from the giants’ glares and words, Ban Cheol-hwi’s body trembled finely.
I patted his back once and stepped forward.
‘It won’t do any good to escalate things within the Sado Alliance’s territory, but…….’
Seeing Ban Cheol-hwi’s trembling body, I couldn't just pass by like this.
I took a step forward.
“That’s enough. We cannot accept any more of this rudeness.”
At my words, the giants squinted their eyes and scanned my body up and down, licking their lips.
“Haha. And what will you do if you don't accept it? You’ll be quite tasty in your own right. Now, stop wasting time and come over here. I’ll treat you well.”
The giants took a step toward us.
Clenching my lips, I thrust my hand forward, and they stopped for a moment as if finding it amusing, staring intently at me.
“Will you stop now?”
I turned a sharp gaze toward the giants.
“Heh. This one has a bit of a feisty side.”
Just as the giants, who were licking their lips at my reaction, were about to take another step, I opened my mouth.
“The person behind me is someone who will become the Sado Alliance Leader’s concubine. Can you handle the consequences?”
At my sudden words, the giants stopped in their tracks all at once.
Hearing my words, Ban Cheol-hwi’s legs lost their strength, and he collapsed onto the floor.
“Y-Young Master. What on earth are you saying……!”
The giants, watching Ban Cheol-hwi tremble from the mental shock, frowned deeply.
“The Alliance Leader? Brat. Do you know what happens if you carelessly impersonate the Sado Alliance Leader’s name?”
“I’m scheduled to meet the Sado Alliance Leader tomorrow morning, so if you really can’t believe it, try following us then.”
At my confident appearance, the squinting giants exchanged glances.
“Could it be……?”
“Tsk. What rotten luck. I did wonder what kind of thought brought the two of them here alone.”
“No. That can't be. Don't talk nonsense. Why would the Alliance Leader’s concubine stay at an inn like this?”
At the natural question from one of the giants, I quickly racked my brain.
“The General Manager informed us that the rooms for the Alliance Leader’s concubine were full and guided us to stay here for just one day.”
The giants were speechless at my unhesitating response.
Scanning Ban Cheol-hwi’s body as he sat on the floor as if it were a waste, the giants licked their lips and turned around.
“Eigh. We wasted our energy for nothing.”
“Tell me about it. Tsk. Let’s stop by a brothel later. I need to cool down this heated body somehow.”
Confirming that the giants were returning to their respective tubs while grumbling, I took Ban Cheol-hwi’s hand.
“Let’s wash now.”
“……I, the sole successor of the Quanzhen and the one carrying on the knowledge of the ancient sages, I am……”
Helping the incoherent Ban Cheol-hwi to his feet, I began to walk across the bathhouse again.
****
“Kyahaha!”
The next morning.
Having heard what happened the previous evening, Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong clutched her stomach and laughed.
“I only threw that out as a joke, but it actually worked?”
Ban Cheol-hwi, who had hung his head at Ice Rakshasa’s laughter, trembled.
“Outer Energy. I must learn Outer Energy. I cannot simply let such an insult pass……!”
“Didn't you say you had no time to learn martial arts because you were studying the teachings of the ancient sages?”
“That is true, but……”
Ban Cheol-hwi, who had stopped mid-sentence while huffing, slammed the table.
“How can such a place exist! Sodomy is rampant and not a speck of etiquette can be found! They were humans, yet they knew nothing of human duty. If a human forgets their duty, how are they any different from a beast!”
“Tsk, tsk. You should have just shouted loudly in the bathhouse to call for me. If that was the case, I could have helped. And I could have feasted my eyes while I was at it.”
Ban Cheol-hwi flinched at Ice Rakshasa’s words and fell into thought with a furrowed brow.
“……Right. There was such a way. There was clearly a way, but why couldn't I think of it then? The art of war passed down by the sages says that clearly identifying one's resources before entering battle is the top priority……!”
Muttering various things to himself, Ban Cheol-hwi let out a sigh and tore at his hair.
“It is all due to my own inadequacy. It is because my studies are lacking.”
Glancing at Ban Cheol-hwi, who had suddenly started blaming himself, Ice Rakshasa shrugged her shoulders as if she couldn't understand.
“Anyway, an audience with the Alliance Leader is scheduled for this afternoon. Sometimes one has to wait for a long time, but fortunately, it seems the Alliance Leader has taken an interest in the Young Master as well.”
“Then has the possibility of receiving support increased a bit?”
“Well. I’m not sure if it’s simple interest or if he truly intends to provide proper support. We’ll have to meet him first.”
Taking a sip of the tea in front of her, Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong quietly set down her teacup.
“I’ve said it many times, but the Alliance Leader is a bit of a peculiar person. Should I say he's someone whose thoughts are unpredictable? However, if you speak only the truth without lies, he certainly won't turn you away.”
“I will do my best, so please help me get his support.”
“Of course. Whose business is it?”
Ice Rakshasa raised her teacup to her lips once more.
****
When afternoon came, the group entered the Sado Alliance and walked through the bustling crowds toward the Inner Court.
“Are we there yet?”
Ban Cheol-hwi asked while tapping his legs.
“Just bear with it a little longer. We’re almost there.”
Approaching the gate, Ice Rakshasa pulled something from her robe and held it out to the guard.
The guard, who carefully examined the object she offered, bowed slightly and stepped aside.
Ice Rakshasa gestured toward me and Ban Cheol-hwi.
“Let’s go in.”
The group passed through several more gates in the same manner.
It was only when Ban Cheol-hwi’s legs began to wobble that we were able to enter the Inner Court of the Sado Alliance.
Ban Cheol-hwi’s eyes widened as he struggled to move his steps into the Inner Court.
“Whoa……”
Ban Cheol-hwi let out an exclamation and looked around here and there.
The long-stretching path was entirely covered in Blue Steel Stone, and rare and exotic plants as well as magnificent decorations that stole one's gaze were lined up in all directions.
Ban Cheol-hwi’s mouth, once opened, showed no sign of closing.
I also looked around as if it were fascinating.
‘Certainly, it feels completely different from the Inner Court of the Murim Alliance.’
The landscape of the Inner Court, which was so perfectly decorated that even the word 'luxurious' was insufficient, held our steps for quite a while.
“The Inner Court is at least worth looking at, right?”
“It’s more than just worth looking at. I’ve never seen such a well-decorated place in my entire life.”
“It’s the same for me.”
I was struck with admiration.
Gold leaf was applied here and there to the pavilions lined up in rows, reflecting the sunlight and emitting a brilliant glow.
Ice Rakshasa, who had waited a moment for the two of us to look around fascinatedly, moved forward.
“Let’s go. The Alliance Leader will be waiting.”
After walking along the main road paved with Blue Steel Stone for a while while taking in the surroundings, a massive pavilion finally revealed itself.
We hadn't noticed it until now because our attention was stolen by the luxurious scenery filling the surroundings, but the pavilion standing before our eyes boasted an enormous size, as if four or five of the Inner Court pavilions had been combined.
“That is the Alliance Leader's Palace. The Alliance Leader uses the topmost floor of the pavilion. The Alliance Leader's Palace is more strictly guarded than any other place in the Sado Alliance. Everyone is sensitive to even minor things, so I hope you act carefully from now on.”
Having finished speaking, Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong carefully tidied her attire as if she were nervous.
Seeing Ice Rakshasa’s nervous appearance for the first time, I looked back at her with curiosity.
Ice Rakshasa, who had straightened her clothes and taken a deep breath, gestured toward the two of us.
“If you walk just three more steps from here, you will enter the formation protecting the pavilion. Make sure to prepare your hearts thoroughly.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s mention of a ‘formation,’ Ban Cheol-hwi glanced around and nodded.
“It’s a Hidden Form Formation of a considerable level. It seems to be a formation that hides energy. Is there a reason such a formation was installed here instead of a defensive one?”
“……You’ll know once we enter. Let’s go.”
Ice Rakshasa began to walk forward carefully, and Ban Cheol-hwi and I followed behind her.
‘……This is incredible.’
The moment I took a step into the formation that was said to surround the pavilion after walking a few steps forward, goosebumps broke out all over my body.
It was because of the enormous energy pouring out from inside the pavilion.
That energy was so intense that my internal energy vibrated on its own.
Seeing my hardened expression, Ice Rakshasa let out a large breath with a tense look.
“The formation surrounding the area was set up by the Alliance Leader because he found it a nuisance to hide his own aura. Now that you’ve entered, you understand, right?”
I quickly scanned the inside of the pavilion with my sensory perception.
There was one massive aura whose end was impossible to know, at least ten Peak Realm martial artists, and those at the tail end of the First-Rate were too many to count individually.
The curiosity I had while passing through the Sado Alliance’s sphere of influence—wondering why the level of the martial artists wasn't as high as expected—was resolved here.
“Why…… are they all gathered here?”
“The Sado Alliance is different from the Murim Alliance. Rather, its structure is similar to the Demonic Cult. The strong eat the weak. The strong are destined to take everything.”
Ice Rakshasa continued speaking while looking at the distant pavilion.
“The Alliance Leader's Palace over there is the center of the Sado Alliance and the place where all facilities and support are concentrated. Only the strong can enter the Alliance Leader's Palace, and only the martial artists who have entered can enjoy all those benefits.”
“……In that respect, it certainly is similar to the Demonic Cult. A structure where the strong receive all the support.”
“That’s right. It’s also a temptation from the Alliance Leader to become strong somehow and climb up to this place. Therefore, the martial artists of the Sado Alliance train their martial arts day and night, dreaming of entering the Alliance Leader's Palace. It’s a device that provides powerful motivation to the warriors.”
From an overall perspective, it was a method that was by no means harmonious, but in some ways, it was also the safest method.
As long as the Alliance Leader's Palace survived, it was the same as the entire Sado Alliance surviving.
Even if there were an external invasion, strength could be concentrated, and since the leadership was gathered in one place, the efficiency of work could also be increased.
I scanned the energy of the Alliance Leader's Palace once more as if it were fascinating.
“Let’s go. Since we’re headed straight for the Alliance Leader's Palace, act as carefully as possible.”
Ban Cheol-hwi, who couldn't feel energy because he hadn't learned martial arts, must have realized something was extraordinary as well, as he let out a dry cough with tense eyes.
Before the eyes of the group slowly advancing toward the Alliance Leader's Palace, a sparkling Crystal Path stretching in a straight line unfolded.
“……Don't tell me, this is all crystal?”
Ban Cheol-hwi widened his eyes and looked down at the Crystal Path.
“A single piece of crystal would be equivalent to a year's living expenses for a civilian family……”
“Don't even think about prying a piece off. Something else might fall off first.”
Ice Rakshasa relaxed the tension with a silly joke and stepped onto the Crystal Path.
And as soon as the entire group stepped onto the Crystal Path, a stinging energy began to concentrate from all directions.