The Youngest Member of the Martial Alliance Chapter 153

The temporary Martial Alliance headquarters in Sichuan.

A tense atmosphere flowed through the Martial Alliance after the extermination of the Demonic Cult's Ghost Demon Squad. It was a situation where a war between the righteous and the demonic could break out at any mont, depending on the Demonic Cult's reaction.

In such an atmosphere.

The Alliance mbers murmured as they saw a group of people enter the headquarters. It was because the martial artists of the Tang family, who had been in a state of self-imposed seclusion since the Tang Bicheon incident, had entered.

And they were led by the Hidden Dragon Unit Commander, Cheon Woojin.

"Great Hero! Are you really not going to tell us! We are a people who cannot sleep if we do not repay our favors and grudges."

"...There's nothing I need, so what can I do?"

Cheon Woojin had a rarely seen tired expression.

After the Poison King's treatnt, the martial artists of the Sichuan Tang family kept following him, shouting to let them repay the favor.

It was almost at the level of coercion, but Cheon Woojin was in a difficult position because he did not particularly need their help.

As befitting the hegemon of Sichuan, there were Tang family martial artists everywhere, in the taverns, the inns, the cloth shops, and the markets.

Because of that, as they were coming to the headquarters, Tang family mbers joined the group one by two from here and there, and in the end, nearly fifty people were following behind the Hidden Dragon Unit.

Naturally, a spectacle that drew all eyes unfolded.

All the Alliance mbers stationed at the temporary headquarters ca out to watch, and the leaders gathered in the grand eting hall also stuck their heads out the window.

The Chief Strategist said.

"Look at that. As soon as the Hidden Dragon Unit Commander was given autonomy, he imdiately brought dozens of Tang family martial artists. Wasn't my judgnt correct?"

The Chief Strategist's shoulders were filled with strength. In fact, in a war, a master of poison arts had the greatest value, more than masters of the sword, saber, fist, palm, or staff.

A war was sothing where a commander-level poison arts master could kill hundreds of martial artists if the situation was right.

Therefore, the Tang family should have been the first to be called before the war between the righteous and the demonic, but they could not. It was because the Sichuan Tang family had firmly locked its large gate due to the Tang Bicheon incident.

But, not only had he opened that gate, but dozens of Tang family martial artists had entered the Martial Alliance on their own feet.

While the Chief Strategist was feeling pleased.

The door of the grand eting hall opened.

The one who appeared was a young woman.

Even though it was a place where only the leaders of the factions, including the Alliance Leader, had gathered, no one looked down on her.

Regardless of her martial prowess and age, she was a mber of the Five Great Families and the acting head of the Sichuan Tang family, the master of poison.

"Tang Soyeon, the acting head of the Sichuan Tang family. I am finally eting the elders. I am only sorry that my greeting is late."

She was once a talented student who had achieved good results in the Martial Alliance selection test, and she was also once a mber of the Heavenly Phoenix Unit. But the Tang Soyeon who had reappeared had the sa qualifications as those gathered here.

"You have co at a good ti. Our Martial Alliance sincerely welcos the return of the Tang family."

The Chief Strategist personally brought a chair from one side and offered it to Tang Soyeon. Tang Soyeon expressed her gratitude with a light nod and sat down.

Soon, her green pupils looked at those gathered in the room one by one. The leaders of the Nine Sects, led by the abbot of Shaolin and the sect leader of Wudang. The leaders of the Five Great Families, represented by the Sword Princess of Namgung.

And the Beili Tian Alliance Leader, the symbol of the Orthodox Path itself, and the only man who could move him, the Sima Hui Chief Strategist.

Each and every one of them was a person who exuded a great presence in the martial world, but Tang Soyeon was not intimidated in the slightest.

It was because she had co here on behalf of her father, the Poison King. Her purpose was clear, and she knew well that the Martial Alliance had no choice but to accept the Tang family.

Tang Soyeon said confidently.

"There is only one reason why the Tang family has returned to the Alliance."

Everyone had a tense expression. Although the Tang family was more necessary than any other faction in a war, since they were such a stubborn and rough people, they were a little worried about what they would say.

Soon, Tang Soyeon's words continued.

"Young Master Cheon. No, Hidden Dragon Unit Commander. Our Tang family owes him a debt. As you know, the Tang family are people who cannot live forgetting their favors and grudges. So please give us a chance. A chance to help the Hidden Dragon Unit. If you do so, the Tang family will fight at the forefront of the Martial Alliance's side more than anyone."

Even though she said she would repay the favor, Cheon Woojin kept refusing. It was also certain that, given his personality, he would never be asked for help until he died.

So, the Tang family thought. Let's use the Martial Alliance.

If a war between the righteous and the demonic broke out, Cheon Woojin would surely be deployed on the most difficult and dangerous missions. It was a natural thing. It was because there were almost no masters who could replace his value.

Then the Tang family would also join. It was because not being able to repay a favor was more frightening than death.

Clap, clap, clap-!

Sima Hui clapped his hands with a more moved face than ever before. From the reason for returning to the Martial Alliance to the determination shown before the war. To Sima Hui now, Tang Soyeon was no different from a goddess of war.

"I, Sima Hui! I am truly impressed by the great righteousness of the Tang family. I will help you, staking my na and honor. If I refuse this request made with such a wonderful heart by a junior of the Orthodox Path, how can I be the strategist of the Martial Alliance and a descendant of the Sima family!"

"..."

People looked at Sima Hui with bewildered faces, but Sima Hui, as if he didn't care about such things at all, got up and even gave a standing ovation. It even seed that a few tears had ford in his eyes.

* * *

Cheon Woojin entered the estate of the Hidden Dragon Unit.

As the Tang family martial artists naturally tried to follow him in, the gate slamd shut with a bang!

However, it was not enough to stop the firm determination of the Tang family.

A martial artist opened the gate and entered the estate.

After that, with a thwack-! sound, he flew over the wall.

The martial artist who had collapsed to the ground trembled a few tis and then fainted.

"..."

The Tang family martial artists exchanged glances.

They soon gave up on entering the estate and headed for the Military Affairs Departnt. They planned to request an estate for the Tang family as close as possible from the Alliance.

.

.

.

Cheon Woojin shook his head from side to side. Although he was soone who rarely got tired, the Tang family's obsession was beyond a reasonable degree.

"They're more persistent than I heard."

Cheon Woojin, who had said so, placed his Crescent Moon Staff and Crane Feather Fan on the main hall and then sat down in a cross-legged position next to them.

"Young Master Cheon, you've worked hard. If the Poison King wakes up, that alone will be a great pressure on the Demonic Cult guys."

Song Yiyeon said, and Namgung Jin and Jinun also nodded.

Among the Five Great Families and the Nine Sects, there was a complicated superiority based on power and interests, but if they were to pick an enemy they didn't want to fight, they would all choose the Tang family.

Although a Tang family martial artist had flown over the wall with a bloody nose, the Hidden Dragon Unit mbers were now at a point where they didn't particularly care about that much.

"What do you think will happen now?"

Song Yiyeon asked. It was a question of how the Demonic Cult, which had learned that the Ghost Demon Squad had been annihilated, would react.

Cheon Woojin just shrugged. He had never particularly thought about it. If they admitted defeat and stayed quiet, that would be the end of it, and if they ca back for revenge again, he planned to go to the Demonic Cult himself at that ti.

It was sothing that was possible because he had obtained autonomy.

Unlike the nonchalant Cheon Woojin, the three Hidden Dragon Unit mbers had a very tense expression. For those who were born and raised in the Central Plains martial world, the fear of the Demonic Cult was like an instinct.

"I must step up my training. As it is, the Postal Hall Master has recovered quite a bit and said we should resu training from today."

Cheon Woojin nodded. It was a good thing that Song Yiyeon had beco the Postal Hall Master's disciple. The Postal Hall Master's unique movent technique and Song Yiyeon's Boy Art had a good synergy. In just one month, his movent technique had improved surprisingly.

Now, even if you searched the entire Martial Alliance, there would not be many who were faster than Song Yiyeon.

Jinun, who was next to him, also stepped forward.

"I'm also thinking of visiting the Sect Leader. I felt it keenly in the Kunlun Sect. I'm still too weak, and if a war really breaks out, I need to beco much stronger. I'm thinking of taking the test and officially becoming a great disciple. There is a divine art that only a great disciple can learn."

Jinun had also grown remarkably after overcoming the brink of death a few tis. It was ti for him to go beyond being an outstanding successor and prepare to take charge of a part of the Orthodox Path martial world.

Cheon Woojin also had a mory of hearing about the divine art of the Huashan Sect. The White Master had picked the Zixia Divine Art of the Huashan Sect as one of the five most outstanding ultimate arts of the Orthodox Path.

And so, Song Yiyeon and Jinun left the Hidden Dragon Unit.

What remained were Cheon Woojin and Namgung Jin.

The two, as always, communicated with their eyes.

Namgung Jin also had an expression that he could not lose to Jinun and Song Yiyeon. If he could just perfectly perform the ultimate art of the Namgung family, the Emperor Sword Form, he would be able to play a big role in the war.

He had no worries about his master. Was there a need to say that his father was one of the three best swordsn in the world and at the sa ti the master of the Namgung Sword Wave?

Nod.

Nod, nod.

Namgung Jin and Cheon Woojin nodded in turn.

Namgung Jin, who had finished the silent conversation, also left the Hidden Dragon Unit.

Cheon Woojin, who was able to spend ti alone for the first ti in a long ti, looked at his Crescent Moon Staff and Crane Feather Fan for a mont.

"He said he heard the Black Master's voice."

The Poisonous Hand had clearly said so when he had taken the sun-secret flower.

Cheon Woojin had thought that the voices of his two masters that he had been hearing were just an illusion born from his longing.

But, since even the Poisonous Hand had heard it, it was very unsettling to dismiss it as just an illusion.

Cheon Woojin glared at his Crescent Moon Staff and said.

"What are you?"

"..."

Naturally, the Crescent Moon Staff did not answer.

Cheon Woojin, who had been having a staring contest for a mont, soon let out a sigh. To be talking to an iron staff in an empty yard. He felt as if he were becoming strange too, as he was always with strange people - for example, the Hidden Dragon Unit mbers.

Of course, if the three Hidden Dragon Unit mbers had heard, they would have said, 'No, the strangest one is Young Master Cheon, who is he to talk to.'

It was then.

A commotion suddenly arose outside.

Cheon Woojin got up from his seat with a fed-up expression. This ti, he even had his Crescent Moon Staff in his hand. He had endured as much as he could, so if they bothered him anymore, he planned to beat them up, whether they were from the righteous path or the Sichuan Tang family.

But the one who opened the door and entered was an old man.

It was the master craftsman, the White Night Craftsman, whom he had t in the village while subjugating the Ghost Demon Squad, and he entered in a hurry with a pale face.

"H-help ."

"...What's the matter?"

Cheon Woojin aid his Crescent Moon Staff outside and asked.

At that sight, the dozens of Martial Alliance mbers who had been chasing the White Night Craftsman looked at Cheon Woojin with a hesitant glance and then scattered.

"Those guys won't leave alone. They really won't leave alone for a mont, so I can't even eat properly."

It was understandable.

The master craftsman who had created the swords called treasured swords of the era and the Crescent Moon Staff had co to the Martial Alliance. The love of martial artists for their weapons was already famous. Naturally, they would have gathered to get on his good side and would have talked endlessly.

Cheon Woojin, who had been harassed by the Tang family, felt a sense of camaraderie with the White Night Craftsman and let him into the Hidden Dragon Unit.

Seeing that the people had retreated, the White Night Craftsman let out a sigh of relief.

"So it was true."

"What do you an?"

"Soone who saw being chased gave a hint. That if I was with you, the Alliance mbers wouldn't dare to co. It seems the martial artists are afraid of you, right?"

"That can't be. It seems they all suddenly rembered sothing urgent."

The White Night Craftsman let out a long laugh.

The two sat side by side on the main hall.

Throughout their various everyday conversations, his gaze was fixed on the Crescent Moon Staff.

"Would you like to take a look?"

"Is that okay?"

The White Night Craftsman's face brightened. In any case, since it was a work that had already left his hands, it was awkward to ask for it back recklessly.

The White Night Craftsman, who had received the Crescent Moon Staff, handled it carefully as if he were handling porcelain, and even tapped it here and there.

Soon, the White Night Craftsman's brow furrowed.

"Huh, it's gotten a lot weaker."

"Is that weak?"

"It's a surprising thing. I don't know how that guy who is your master used it. But to think that an iron staff that I thought would last for a thousand years has beco so weak in just a few decades."

Cheon Woojin recalled the Black Master's fights and nodded.

"He was a great person. Then how much longer can the Crescent Moon Staff be used?"

Cheon Woojin, who had asked so, was rarely nervous. The Crescent Moon Staff was a beloved weapon that he used more often than the Crane Feather Fan. If the Crescent Moon Staff disappeared, where on earth could he find a weapon to replace it?

The White Night Craftsman looked at the Crescent Moon Staff with a serious expression and then said.

"Well. Have you ever heard the cry of the Crescent Moon Staff?"

"No."

"You were a great person."

"Why do you say that?"

"It's embarrassing for to say it, but the Crescent Moon Staff is a divine weapon. It's a guy who can read its owner's heart. If it feels that its owner is using all his strength, it will surely resonate. If you share a communion while listening to that sound, you will be able to know instinctively. How much longer this guy can endure for you."

In other words, not having heard the resonance ant that Cheon Woojin had never used his full strength until now.

The White Night Craftsman, who had added so, handed over the Crescent Moon Staff. It was a look that said to quickly put all his internal energy into the Crescent Moon Staff.

Cheon Woojin, who had received the Crescent Moon Staff, contemplated for a mont.

At that sight, the White Night Craftsman let out a hearty laugh.

"I also have a body and mind that are harder than most martial artists. Don't worry about and put your full strength into it."

Soon, Cheon Woojin got up from his seat.

To think that it was a guy who would resonate and commune only when he used his full strength.

Thinking that it was a very strange guy, he slowly raised his dark ki.

The dark ki that Cheon Woojin had exuded like a dark cloud t the air and spread a small thunderous sound.

Soon, the energy began to be contained in the Crescent Moon Staff.

The dark surface of the Crescent Moon Staff was engulfed in the blackish dark ki and emitted a faint and eerie luster.

"Hoho, as expected, you were not an ordinary martial artist."

When he had put in one-tenth of his internal energy, the White Night Craftsman laughed.

When it went beyond two-tenths and three-tenths were contained, the smile disappeared from the White Night Craftsman's face.

When about four-tenths were contained, the ground and the building shook violently, and the White Night Craftsman instinctively took a step back.

Even though there was a considerable distance, just by feeling it with his skin, his stomach churned. Nevertheless, the Crescent Moon Staff still did not spread its resonance.

'How much internal energy does he have...'

By the ti the White Night Craftsman's face was slowly turning pale.

"Are you okay?"

"Ah, I'm still okay."

"Yes."

Cheon Woojin, who had nodded, began to put in more internal energy.

Soon, the mont exactly five-tenths of his power was contained.

Lightning began to spark in all directions. The air, rubbing against the energy of the dark ki, was scattering lightning.

Even the hall shook as if it were about to collapse, and outside the estate of the Hidden Dragon Unit, the Martial Alliance mbers were running around in a hurry.

"Wh-what's going on!"

"Is it the Demonic Cult!"

The ki wave was so huge that it was mistaken for the outbreak of a war.

Cheon Woojin, who had been concentrating on the Crescent Moon Staff, looked around for a mont. The White Night Craftsman had already fallen into a deep sleep, lying neatly. He had fainted, unable to handle the energy.

Soon, Cheon Woojin scattered the energy at once.

The vibration that had been shaking the ground stopped, and the Martial Alliance mbers, realizing that the ki wave had erupted from within the Hidden Dragon Unit, returned to their original places as if it were a daily occurrence.

Cheon Woojin woke up the White Night Craftsman. The White Night Craftsman, who had woken up with a start and had jumped up, blinked his eyes.

"D-did you check?"

"I stopped in the middle. It seed that if I put my full strength here, the building would collapse."

Of course, the White Night Craftsman would have died before that, but he could not say so.

The once confident White Night Craftsman finally nodded. Realizing that it was not the master who had made the Crescent Moon Staff so weak, but the Cheon Woojin in front of him.

"In any case, it's not to the point of breaking right away. If you have a chance later, check and let know."

"Yes."

Cheon Woojin contemplated where he should test it. Since parting with his masters, he had never operated his internal energy with all his strength. It was because his masters had warned him several tis.

- In any case, Woojin also needs to know his own limits! Since your internal energy is deeper than mine, you have to check it yourself!

- Black Master, do you think I'll be happy just because you admit it at tis like this? Stop talking nonsense and you check it.

In the end, the two masters, while yielding to each other, received Cheon Woojin's full strength together. They had fought a pure internal energy battle without any techniques, and the Black and White Masters had been sick in bed for several days from that day.

Cheon Woojin thought that he would have to go to a wide field alone soon and check.

It was then.

The outside, which had been quiet, beca noisy again, and the hurried footsteps of the Alliance mbers were heard. Their steps were all heading for the Alliance Leader's Hall.

Cheon Woojin raised his senses. At that, the sound of speech from a distant place was heard as if it were whispering right next to him.

- Alliance Leader! Urgent news! Xishuangbanna in Yunnan has been attacked!

- The front line in the Ailao Mountains has also collapsed!

- Kunming has also collapsed! A certain force is advancing north, and its montum is enormous!

The Sima Hui Chief Strategist was startled. From Xishuangbanna through the Ailao Mountains to Kunming. It was a front line of a considerable distance, but urgent news had flown in from three places at the sa ti.

In other words, it ant that they were advancing at an enormous speed.

As far as he knew, there was only one force in the world that could show such speed and montum.

The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace. It was a huge force outside the country, called one of the three powers of the world along with the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the Poison Valley.

As the na Beast Palace suggested, they would be advancing north, trampling everything in sight with a reckless attitude like a beast.

- At this rate, they will soon reach Sichuan!

- That can never happen!

Sima Hui was greatly alard. Sichuan was no different from a gateway to the center of the Central Plains. For that place to be attacked ant that an enemy would be stationed in the mainland of the Central Plains.

His head was spinning. He had to send a large number of masters at once to stop them. He quickly recalled the masters he could send on a mission right away.

The Beggar Lord was not an option. The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace had a very close relationship with the Demonic Cult. The fact that they had stepped forward ant that the Demonic Cult's influence had been at play. At tis like this, he had to pay more attention to information.

The Namgung family was also not an option. He could not lose the ones who would stand at the forefront when a war broke out here.

The other masters of Heaven Beyond Heaven had just finished their missions. Since each and every one of them was the best force, they had to have a gap in their missions so that they could always maintain their best physical condition.

This one was not an option for this reason, that one was not an option for that reason...

In the end, Sima Hui, who had grabbed his forehead in a headache, looked at the Beili Tian Alliance Leader.

As a strategist, it was a card he wanted to use as little as possible, but there was no one else to send.

"Alliance Leader."

"It's what I've been waiting for."

Beili Tian picked up his sword with a slightly flushed face. He had been full of doubts about his position as Alliance Leader recently. To think that it was a position where he could not step forward even when battles were breaking out here and there.

Beili Tian was a person who swung his sword at the forefront of the front line, not soone who was suited for desk argunts.

"Should I just cut them all down and co back?"

"...Yes."

"Then."

The Alliance Leader nodded and then put on a white robe with the character 'Alliance' written large on it. His heart was pounding, and his treasured sword trembled as if it wanted to go out to battle right away.

It was then.

A strategist rushed into the Alliance Leader's Hall.

"We're in big trouble!"

"Wh-what is it?"

The Chief Strategist asked with a fearful heart. Don't tell Sichuan has already been attacked...

Soon, the strategist said.

"A mont ago, the Hidden Dragon Unit Commander headed for Yunnan alone."

"Huh?"

"As you know, since he has autonomy, we could not stop him. However, he left a ssage..."

The strategist hesitated and then, at the urging of Sima Hui and Beili Tian, continued.

"He asked to move the Alliance's forces on the front line to the rear. Saying that he had sothing to test..."

(End of Chapter)