Chapter 118
It was chilly.
Cold.
It was not sothing that could be expressed with re words like that.
Rather, the phrase frozen solid seed to suit the current situation far better.
Even though he had not cultivated an ice-based art, a frigid aura began to flow from Youngho’s entire body.
And for Han Yonghu, who knew Youngho’s martial arts, the shock was all the greater.
‘Just how?!’
If one had to choose between yang and yin, Youngho’s martial art belonged to yang.
Yet despite cultivating a martial art governed by warm yang energy, he was now exuding such an icy presence.
He could not understand what this ant. How could Youngho scatter such a dense, abundant yin aura? It made no sense.
There was only one thing he could be certain of. Youngho possessed martial might far superior to his own as the Murim Alliance Leader.
That alone was clear.
A thin sheet of ice began to form over the tea in Han Yonghu’s cup.
Without even touching it—rely with his aura—Youngho had frozen the tea.
Han Yonghu t Youngho’s eyes, deep as the abyssal sea.
There was no killing intent. He had rely shifted the atmosphere to favor himself.
Yet that alone made Han Yonghu feel threatened.
His muscles tightened, and cold sweat began to trickle down from his temples.
The droplets falling from his chin froze over in an instant.
Just as everyone was tense, Youngho opened his mouth.
“Master ignored the dogs that barked at him, but I am the type who does not ignore barking dogs—I trample them.”
It was a kind of warning. And at the sa ti, a clear asure of how displeased Youngho currently was.
When silence fell over everyone, Youngho let out a sigh and spoke.
“Now it’s finally a bit quieter. Speak, Alliance Leader. What misunderstanding is it that you wish to resolve with ?”
“……First, I apologize for causing offense.”
“It’s fine.”
At so point, Youngho had already withdrawn his aura.
“Then I shall tell you what has happened recently.”
The words from Han Yonghu’s mouth were simple.
Recently, an explosion incident involving Lightning Bombs had occurred at the secular sect of Shaolin, several other mid-sized and small sects, and lastly at the Namgung Clan.
The number of casualties was higher than expected, and there were still many receiving treatnt.
And there had been testimonies claiming that Youngho was nearby.
It seed that quite a few people had seen him on the very day of the incident.
Youngho whistled lightly as he said,
“I didn’t realize I had beco that famous. To think so many people recognize my face.”
At his words, Namgung Hyeon’s brow twitched.
“Are you mocking us?”
“Not at all. But there are more than one or two strange parts to this. For one, I was in Shaanxi, and Mount Hua and Zhongnan can vouch for that. Of course, Zhongnan did not see my face directly.”
Youngho nodded once or twice before speaking again.
“So what exactly are you asking of ?”
At that, Hye-gak, the Abbot of Shaolin, shot up from his seat.
“Is that all you have to say?”
Even at a glance, his voice was filled with fury. But Youngho was not one to be shaken by the anger of a re Shaolin abbot.
“Abbot, I express my regret regarding the secular sect. But must I say anything more?”
“Your arrogance pierces the heavens.”
“Yours exceeds mine.”
With a blank expression, Youngho addressed Hye-gak.
“You have already decided I am the culprit. Am I wrong?”
“That is correct.”
When Hye-gak admitted it more readily than expected, Youngho smiled.
“Then let ask you one question. If the secular sect of Shaolin had not been attacked, would you have doubted to this extent?”
Hye-gak lowered his gaze slightly, wary that his agitation might be noticed.
If he were truly the culprit, it would be impossible to observe his opponent’s pupils from this distance.
But who was Youngho? He was the only man in the world said to be capable of stopping the Heavenly Demon.
‘Of course, he couldn’t actually stop him.’
Youngho let out a faint chuckle.
“The answer is clear. Abbot, it seems you would do well to cool your head a little more.”
Hye-gak clenched his fists tightly, but soon sat back down.
Youngho t the eyes of each leader in turn and spoke.
“It would be best to make this clear. I have done nothing. Therefore, I shall take my leave.”
Namgung Hyeon, unusually flustered, spoke.
“You are leaving just like that?”
“Of course. The matter is concluded—must I remain? Especially as a mber of the Unorthodox Faction within the Murim Alliance? If you are suggesting I obediently confine myself in the Underground Prison, I refuse.”
“That is not what I ant.”
“Then what did you an? I have already said everything. Namgung Clan Head, it would be wise for you to cool your head as well.”
“What do you an by that?”
“I heard the Namgung Clan suffered the greatest damage in this incident. That is why I tell you to cool your head.”
Namgung Hyeon let out a low murmur, still unable to comprehend.
“I clearly said it was not . And thanks to Mount Hua and Zhongnan, it has already been proven that I am not the culprit. What more would you have do here?”
“That is….”
“If you are thinking of seeking my help in this matter, you will likely be disappointed. After all, I am still a junior disciple with dreams and hopes left in . I still hold illusions about the Orthodox Sect.”
At the words illusions about the Orthodox Sect, everyone except Han Yonghu stiffened.
In a heavy voice, Namgung Hyeon asked,
“You cannot… offer help?”
“Have you ever offered help in the affairs of the Unorthodox Alliance?”
“…….”
“It is the sa logic. To begin with, my coming here was unreasonable. The Unorthodox Alliance could have simply declared that I had nothing to do with this. You should be grateful to the Alliance Leader. My Master personally acknowledges him—that is why I honored his request.”
“Wait a mont.”
Slightly irritated, Youngho replied sharply,
“What now?”
“From your recent actions, it sohow seed as though you were trying to protect the world just as we are. Was that my misunderstanding?”
For a fleeting instant, interest flickered across Youngho’s face.
He relaxed back into his chair and said,
“Go on.”
“Recently, information from the Unorthodox Alliance has leaked.”
“I am aware. There was a slight disruption in our intelligence network.”
“Indeed. We have learned a little about what you were doing.”
“Speak plainly.”
“You prevented the Orthodox–Unorthodox War. Everyone here shares that opinion. There is no room for doubt.”
Youngho said nothing and simply looked at Namgung Hyeon. Taking that as a signal to continue, Namgung Hyeon resud speaking.
“The Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance has an aggressive temperant, yet at the sa ti he is a man of peace. I cannot help but think that you, Mad Black Sword Ghost, resemble your Master.”
“That is slightly off, but close enough. Continue.”
“You desire peace. Do you not?”
“That is correct.”
“Yes, as if you would admit it so easily—… what?”
“I said it is correct.”
Namgung Hyeon appeared quite flustered, clearly not expecting Youngho to agree so readily.
“As expected of the Namgung Clan Head. To show such excessive interest in a re junior disciple—truly, I scarcely know where to place myself.”
Of course, Youngho’s expression remained blank.
‘It does not seem like mockery….’
Paradoxically, the more one spoke with him, the less one seed to understand the existence known as Youngho.
“Then could you not cooperate just a little more?”
It was said with pride cast aside—by the Namgung Clan Head himself. For once, Youngho regarded Namgung Hyeon with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
“Do not grow agitated at the words of a re junior disciple. Listen calmly.”
“I shall listen.”
“You are an excellent Clan Head.”
“…….”
Every one of Youngho’s followers was struck speechless by such lavish praise, scarcely believing it had co from their lord.
Youngho was not stingy with praise, but neither did he offer it so openly.
Had Namgung Hyeon known the usual Youngho, he would have been genuinely delighted.
But Youngho had not yet finished.
“You genuinely strive to walk the path of the Righteous Path, and you always attempt to uphold chivalry and righteousness.”
Namgung Hyeon quietly closed his eyes.
“I wondered how much influence a man like you had upon Namgung Cheon. It seems he was born to good parents. The spirit of Namgung that you possess will be inherited intact by Namgung Cheon.”
“You have my thanks.”
“I am not rely gilding the Clan Head’s face.”
Everyone realized that this was the true beginning. Greater condemnation would surely follow the praise.
Sensing it instinctively, Namgung Hyeon looked at Youngho with a resolute expression.
“I have a question for the Namgung Clan Head.”
“Speak.”
“In the peace of the world that you envision, is there room for the Unorthodox Faction?”
“……!”
Namgung Hyeon’s eyes widened. The sa was true for the sect leaders of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Clan Heads of the Five Great Families.
“The Unorthodox Faction certainly contains those worse than beasts. And the Demonic Cult is far worse than even us.”
“…….”
“But I can assure you that at least half of the Unorthodox Faction uphold benevolence and righteousness.”
“That is untenable.”
Hye-gak spoke quietly.
“I regret to say this, but even now the common people suffer and despair under the cruelty of vicious Unorthodox mbers.”
“And are there none who suffer under the Orthodox Sect?”
“…….”
“And do you believe there are no common people suffering under corrupt officials who feed upon state stipends?”
With cold eyes, Youngho t the gaze of each leader in turn.
“The world teems with suffering. And those who create that suffering are not limited to the Unorthodox Faction. There are certainly many places where our Unorthodox Alliance has failed in governance, where corruption runs rampant.”
“Then—!”
“And is the Murim Alliance any different?”
“…….”
“Do you think I am unaware of why the Flowing Wind Spear entered the Murim Alliance this ti?”
“…….”
“I may not know the exact details, but I know that a vacancy arose in the position of Hall Master, and that it ca about due to an unsavory incident.”
Their breathing grew tight. They could not deny it. And yet they had to deny it.
For they were the pillar of the Orthodox Sect. They were the Orthodox Sect that bore chivalry and righteousness upon their shoulders.
As if piercing straight through their hearts, Youngho’s words flew like daggers.
“The Orthodox Sect rely followed chivalry and righteousness. With that alone, you gained the trust of the common people. No matter how much hypocrisy overflowed, you were always the Orthodox Sect that upheld righteousness.”
Each of Youngho’s words was a Throwing Knife that endangered lives. Their sharpness rivaled any blade, and the poison within them slowly seeped through every vein.
“Do not forget. We are rely strong monkeys. And it is entirely possible that there may be two monkeys who possess chivalry and righteousness.”
Youngho rely sought to protect—his people, his comrades.
Unfortunately, those he protected were insulted and forced to endure humiliation simply because they were mbers of the Unorthodox Faction.
No matter how upright their character, no matter how kind their nature, within the fence of the Unorthodox Faction they were bound to be pelted with stones.
“My thoughts are not entirely correct. But you… no, the Orthodox Sect….”
“Wait! That is far enough.”
Han Yonghu hurriedly tried to stop him, but Youngho continued.
“Soday, you will lose your chivalry and righteousness. Just like the Murim Alliance decades ago.”
User Comments
0 comments from readers