Chapter 305. The Alliance Leader’s Strong-Arming.

We boarded the last boat and departed White Snake Island. Since the men who had fled into the island earlier took over as oarsmen, the speed at which we cut through the current was something else.

As we filled our bellies with snacks, we gazed blankly at the moonlight spreading across the lake’s surface. It felt entirely different from the lake we had watched on our way to kill the foremost man of the Evil Path.

Im Sobaek looked at me.

“Sect Leader, among the gangho martial artists under thirty, do you have any rivals?”

What was he asking with that intention?

If I said there weren’t any, he seemed likely to arrange a fight. If I said there were, he would ask who, but in truth, I had no intention of losing to any expert under thirty.

“Probably not.”

“Are you certain?”

“I haven’t fought them all, so I can’t be certain, but there are none. Would there be? Even if there are, there soon won’t be.”

Im Sobaek burst into laughter.

In truth, the gangho was not a world where strength followed age. Internal energy certainly had a flavor that deepened only with the addition of time, but there were such things as fortuitous encounters and personal circumstances, so bastards like me were bound to exist.

And I had also heard how the Beggars’ Sect Leader, one of the Samjae, had become strong. The experts of the Beggars’ Sect had infused their internal energy into the young Divine Beggar to treat his internal injuries, and with coincidence and the sect leader’s comprehension added to it, he ended up possessing an uncommon reserve of internal energy.

The Lust Demon said,

“Aren’t there a few in the great clans?”

Im Sobaek tilted his head.

“There are a few in the great clans, and the Fist King’s disciple is about the same age as the Sect Leader as well. From what I hear, he’s an expert who could receive the Fist King title immediately, but no one has verified it yet. Mongrang, would you like to verify it?”

This time, the Lust Demon wore an expression as if the idea was beneath him.

“No matter how much he may be the Fist King’s disciple, would that young brat be a match for me?”

“Such remarkable confidence. He’s a few years older than you.”

“In any case, defeating me with palm arts or fists would be close to impossible.”

“I thought you were only good at drinking, but I suppose not.”

“Indeed.”

In truth, introducing an extraordinary woman was one unusual matter, but when it came to a man who could properly arrange contests between juniors, there would be no one like the Murim Alliance Leader. I grasped the Alliance Leader’s intentions, but offered no particular opinion. The Lust Demon kept acting arrogant, and the Alliance Leader was subtly accepting it all.

As expected, the Alliance Leader was the Alliance Leader.

He was even nodding along and accepting the words of such a childish bastard.

Im Sobaek said,

“Come to think of it, the disciples and children of the Emperor-Kings are around your age. They are not widely known, overshadowed by the fame of their masters or fathers, but before long they will be active at the center of the Orthodox Path. Even so, they would likely find it difficult to face Mongrang or the Sect Leader.”

The Lust Demon nodded.

“That is correct.”

“I hear they hole themselves up in their respective spheres of influence and act as if they have become kings of petty states. Their manners will have to be corrected someday...”

I roughly guessed the Alliance Leader’s intent and said,

“Even if we meet them, I will avoid a fight to the death, so do not worry.”

Im Sobaek laughed.

“Worry? As if you are of an age for that. I am not worried. In the past, I also fought those called Emperor-Kings once or twice each. It was necessary.”

“In what way?”

“Before I became a captain, I mostly lost. A few years later, when I sought them out again or when they visited the Alliance and we crossed hands, I was able to properly avenge myself. Those years were precisely the period when my martial arts grew the fastest.”

We nodded.

“Some have warped personalities, some pretend to be broad-minded while devoting themselves to training, and some are stiff-necked enough to think that the strongest martial artist must become the Alliance Leader. So the Emperor-Kings I defeated in my youth have continued to request martial contests with me. There are even some who say we each have one win and one loss, so we should settle it.”

Come to think of it, I had once heard from the Sword Demon that the Alliance Leader had often suffered defeats in his youth, then later sought them out and defeated them all in return. Judging by the flow of the conversation, he seemed to think that both victory and defeat served as fertilizer for the growth of both sides.

Considering that skill grew through fighting, perhaps crossing hands was the right thing. I also wondered whether there truly were young experts who could handle the Lust Demon or me. In other words, if we were at our level, wouldn’t it be right for us to fight the Emperor-Kings rather than young brats?

Or not.

I was not entirely sure either.

Im Sobaek said while looking at the rippling water.

“The fact that one cannot suppress the desire to prove one’s skill to others is also a small problem of the Orthodox Path. In truth, even I was like that. But looking back, that is also one of the Orthodox Path’s strengths. What fun would there be in a gangho without competition? I have no intention of retiring yet either, so I would like to put those Emperor-Kings who pester me every time in their place, but I only have one body and am busy.”

At that moment, Im Sobaek glanced at the Sword Demon.

“Fortunately, you are also a man who does not cling to defeat, so how about crossing hands with the Emperor-Kings one day? It is my personal belief that one who holds a sword should not train while staring at a wall.”

The Sword Demon nodded.

“The Emperor-Kings would not be bad. However, my martial arts are not suited to martial contests.”

Surprisingly, Im Sobaek spoke as if rebuking the Sword Demon.

“Do not make excuses. You are not the only one disadvantaged in a martial contest. It is the same for the experts of the Orthodox Path. Because there are many watching, they cannot use every method as they would in real combat or when killing an enemy. Even so, martial contests have their own meaning.”

“What meaning would that be?”

Im Sobaek said,

“If you win, that is good in its own way. If you lose, there is no better experience. Experts of the unorthodox and heretical paths often tend to look down on martial contests, but there is no need. You must not fear defeat. Losing to the Emperor-Kings is only natural. But I would like to recommend that experience of defeat. Yukhap, the same goes for you.”

The Sword Demon wore a sneer.

“As if I would be afraid.”

I looked at Im Sobaek in shock. He looked just like the owner of a gambling den making the stakes bigger.

The Lust Demon asked Im Sobaek,

“Alliance Leader, when is the period for reconfirming your mandate?”

“It has already passed.”

“I see.”

I asked the Lust Demon,

“What is that?”

Instead of the Lust Demon, Im Sobaek explained.

“The Alliance Leader has no term limit.”

“Is that so?”

“But just because there is no term limit does not mean there are no challengers. There are always those who try to drag the Alliance Leader down by skill. But if I accepted every challenger, I would be unable to work. So the experts of the great clans came to express it indirectly as the period for reconfirming the mandate. Every three or four years, several people challenge me in that fashion. It is an unofficial event to confirm whether I am still a man suited to the position of Alliance Leader. At the shortest, it happens once every three or four years, but it has already been more than five.”

I nodded.

“Aha.”

Since the Alliance Leader had never suddenly changed in my previous life either, Im Sobaek must have thoroughly stomped all the Emperor-Kings who challenged him.

To begin with, Im Sobaek was an expert ranked above the Sword Demon, and since people of the world also perceived him as the man standing opposite the Cult Leader, his skill was evaluated as just beneath the Samjae. Beneath him was a structure where those who, with outrageous audacity, attached Emperor or King to their sobriquets waited in a long line. In truth, long ago, Emperor-King was a sobriquet one would not dare attach lightly, but now there were quite a few of them.

The Lust Demon said,

“There have gotten to be far too many sovereigns in gangho. It’s become the sort of epithet even third-rate bastards tack onto themselves.”

Im Sobaek said,

“Do you know when so many people in gangho began calling themselves sovereigns?”

“I do not.”

Im Sobaek explained.

“It was after the imperial princes of the Sima clan died one after another.”

By the imperial princes of the Sima clan, he was referring, astonishingly, to the descendants of Sima Yi (司馬懿), who had fought among themselves and killed one another.

“Starting with the War of the Eight Princes, the Prince of Runan, the Prince of Chu, the Prince of Yiyang, the Prince of Huainan, the Prince of Qin, as well as the Prince of Donghai, Emperor Huai, Emperor Min… Sovereigns too numerous to remember all waged civil wars that devastated the common people, then died wretched deaths one after another. Thanks to that, the value of the word sovereign fell to the ground.”

“Mm.”

For some reason, I felt as if I were hearing the secret history behind the birth of the Murim Alliance.

“Naturally, they lost their dignity as well, and the perception that they were men mad with lust for power became ingrained. It began then. The people of gangho, out of a spirit of defiance, began attaching the word sovereign to their epithets. Sword King, Saber King, Saber Emperor, Sword Emperor… In a way, they are men much like those imperial princes who tried to stand at the summit of the world and fell. They are people who seek to become the greatest under heaven.”

The Lust Demon asked,

“How is it that you came to have no such epithet, Alliance Leader? As far as I know, you do not use any epithet at all. Wasn’t the previous Alliance Leader the Sword God (劍神)?”

The Sword Demon and the Ghost Demon remained silent, but each time the conversation went back and forth, their heads turned this way and that.

Im Sobaek nodded and said,

“I have no need for such an epithet. My task is to make the weight and value of the words Alliance Leader seem heavier than those sovereigns, and stronger than them. Titles may change in meaning or atmosphere with the times, but the Alliance Leader I envision must come to mean one who can encompass all the people of gangho. Bastards who call themselves Sword King or Saber King are no exception.”

In a way, I felt that this fighting spirit and pride were the very foundation that allowed Im Sobaek to endure all manner of hardships. In other words, Im Sobaek was a man striving to add weight to the very words Alliance Leader.

Perhaps the Sword Demon liked what Im Sobaek had said, for he nodded and murmured,

“A fine mindset.”

At any rate, it seemed that the only thing our eldest brother ever considered impressive was a person’s mindset.

Im Sobaek said,

“In any case, I, too, must slowly start looking for a successor, but it is not easy. There are young men who stand out early from time to time, but one fellow’s temperament is far too violent, and another seems far too fond of women. I may have to search among the successors of the sovereigns. Either way, the time will come when I must retire.”

As I listened, nodding along, I suddenly realized that the fellow with the violent temperament was me.

I met the Lust Demon’s eyes, then turned my head away without cursing.

The Ghost Demon asked, as if curious,

“Do the sovereigns still keep challenging you these days, Alliance Leader?”

Im Sobaek nodded, then looked around at us.

“I have already refused many of them.”

By the time the boat reached land, Im Sobaek made us a proposal.

“…If the four of you are willing to visit the Murim Alliance as a group, I will go ahead and hold that unnecessary event I have been putting off, whether it is some vote of confidence or whatever else.”

The matter was being settled like this?

Because Im Sobaek had explained, I quickly understood why he was saying this with such intent. In other words, if Im Sobaek accepted the sovereigns’ challenges one by one, it would truly become a pointless war of attrition.

Im Sobaek stated his conclusion.

“Watching the martial contests will have meaning, too. It will also be meaningful for the four of you to cross hands with the sovereigns, or compare your skills with their disciples. Only then will I have some fun watching.”

Im Sobaek provoked the Sword Demon.

“I am curious whether your skills will work against a sovereign.”

Next, he stirred up the Ghost Demon.

“You must grow further as well. See much, and think much.”

Lastly, he looked at the Lust Demon and me.

“You two are itching for it, aren’t you?”

To that simple question, the Lust Demon answered simply.

“Yes.”

When I did not answer, the Alliance Leader looked at me.

“And you, Sect Leader?”

“I will only watch.”

“Why?”

“I have no intention of losing to those who belong to the younger generation, but I have no confidence against the sovereigns.”

“Were you always this modest?”

“What I mean is, I am confident I can kill them, but I am not confident I can beat them in a martial contest.”

Im Sobaek nodded.

“Were you always this insolent?”

“Yes.”

“They are not men who will die easily.”

“Exactly.”

When the boat arrived at the pier, members of the Murim Alliance were waiting and newly paid their respects to the Alliance Leader.

“Alliance Leader, welcome.”

Im Sobaek nodded from the bow of the boat, then gave orders to the waiting alliance members.

“The Special Operations Unit has worked hard. Make certain to hand matters over properly to the personnel dispatched from the branch.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“The Number One of the Unorthodox Path is definitely dead, so focus on recovering his assets and stabilizing the lives of the people living around Dongho.”

“We receive your command.”

Im Sobaek shot up from the boat and landed lightly on the pier. We also sprang into the air at the same time, then landed with unspoken ease, as if competing in qinggong. Dan Hyeoksan, who had approached the Alliance Leader, asked,

“Alliance Leader, will you return immediately?”

Im Sobaek nodded.

“If I remain, it will only make them more uncomfortable. I will return at once. And…”

Im Sobaek spoke to us, who were standing there awkwardly.

“I plan to return with those four, so there is no need for a separate escort.”

“Understood.”

“I will have to take them with me and interrogate them a little.”

“Pardon? Did they cause trouble?”

Im Sobaek said in an indifferent tone,

“Not that. I think I shall have them fight a bit.”

Dan Hyeoksan nodded with an expression that said he understood this completely out-of-nowhere remark.

“Ah, understood.”

I met eyes with the Four Great Villains, then looked at Im Sobaek.

Im Sobaek looked at us and commanded us very naturally.

“I will be returning to the Alliance, so the four of you escort me. As the Alliance Leader, I cannot return alone and lose face. We may run into enemies on the way, after all.”

“……”

What was I supposed to say at a time like this? I was not the Alliance Leader’s subordinate. Of course, the other Four Great Villains were the same. With no other choice, I looked to our eldest brother to ask his opinion.

The Sword Demon said,

“Let’s go.”

The Ghost Demon nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

The Lust Demon said to Im Sobaek,

“Alliance Leader, please summon that Fist King disciple bastard. Since I’m paying a visit anyway, I’ll take the chance to settle the pecking order.”

Im Sobaek replied.

“If I say I’m seeking renewed confidence, all sorts of riffraff will come running on their own, so there’s no need to worry.”

The Alliance Leader had gone on about this and that, but in any case, he was inviting me as a guest, so I had no proper reason to refuse. Now that I thought about the situation anew, the Alliance Leader was in the middle of inviting the public enemies from my previous life to the Murim Alliance.

A thought occurred to me.

I, too, was, in name at least, a man of gangho and the sect master of a clan, so I ought to visit at least once in the capacity of someone who wasn’t a criminal. I spoke to the people who had been patiently waiting for my answer all this time.

“Let’s go. To the Murim Alliance. I should escort Senior Alliance Leader there safely.”

It might have been a temporary post, but in any case, for a while, I became the Alliance Leader’s bodyguard.