Chapter 323. Like the Leader of a Death-Defying Corps
Im Sobaek pointed to the study and said,
“See if there are any martial arts you wish to learn.”
“There are none.”
“How can you answer so quickly without even looking? Do you know what martial arts are here?”
I looked around the study as well and said,
“I already have too many martial arts I’m practicing. If I add more, it’ll become a mess. Since I haven’t seen even one of them through to the end yet, there’s no need for me to learn a wide variety.”
“Do you consider seeing one art through to the end more important than learning many different martial arts?”
“That’s my tendency, but somehow I ended up learning many different ones, so there’s a bit of a contradiction.”
It was because I came from the bottom.
In truth, the Wolyeong Mujeong Art and the Geumgu Soyo Art were more than enough. Even dreaming of harmonizing those two arts was already no easy realm. What I needed to train was the Zaha Divine Art I had yet to complete, not some retired old martial art stored in a secret archive.
It was a strange thing to say, but in the case of the Baekjeon Sipdan Art, it actually felt like a lower martial art of the Geumgu Soyo Art. It was something that felt suitable to practice somewhere between the Chogye and Geumgu realms. That was because both the Geumgu Soyo Art and the Baekjeon Sipdan Art were rare martial arts of the extreme yang type.
Im Sobaek nodded.
“Seeing something through to the end is important. Then let’s leave martial arts and books at that. Ah, one last thing. What about weapons? The sword you use is so thin that it often bothers me. It looks like something an assassin would use.”
Even though the Murim Alliance Leader was trying to shower me with gifts, I had no particular thoughts. I answered Im Sobaek in an indifferent tone.
“That’s fine, because I’m also an assassin.”
“I didn’t know that. So you were an assassin.”
“Yes. I dream of becoming the greatest assassin under heaven.”
“The master of Haomun and an assassin at the same time—what an absurdly poor match. I must make sure not to get on your bad side, Sect Master. I’d lose sleep at night.”
I tried to predict what Im Sobaek would say next. I thought he would likely ask about Gongsun Shen, but for a moment, Im Sobaek was focusing his senses and listening to the surroundings. I joined him in the silence and sharpened my senses, but I heard no noise or breathing.
Im Sobaek said,
“If you were me, what would you do in the current situation?”
“Hmm.”
It was a question without its beginning or end, but I understood it as asking what I would do about Gongsun Shen.
“If I were you, Alliance Leader, I would speak with the Chief Strategist alone.”
Had my prediction been right?
Im Sobaek maintained his silence for a moment, then asked again.
“Alone, and then?”
I adjusted my posture before answering.
“If I were you, Alliance Leader, I would ask him outright. Are you also a Scholar?”
Im Sobaek’s eyes widened slightly.
“That openly?”
“Is there any reason you cannot? If the Murim Alliance Leader asks, he should answer with utmost sincerity. The Chief Strategist is not the head of the Murim Alliance, is he?”
“What I mean is.”
“Yes.”
“I’m asking whether there has to be a reason to ask him that.”
I nodded.
“There is.”
In truth, the Chief Strategist would be an especially difficult opponent for Im Sobaek.
As far as I knew, Gongsun Shen had been a strategist since the time of the previous Alliance Leader. That meant he had spent more years as a strategist of the Murim Alliance and Im Sobaek as an alliance member than he had as the Alliance Leader and Chief Strategist.
In any case, that Chief Strategist Gongsun Shen was someone who had watched Im Sobaek rise from an alliance member to a unit leader, then be promoted step by step from unit leader until he became the Alliance Leader.
I stated my thoughts.
“In truth, there is no way to forcefully determine whether he is a Scholar or not.”
“That is true.”
“If he is truly an extraordinary figure even among the Scholars, then there is a high possibility he did not become Alliance Leader because he did not want to. Just as you were, Alliance Leader, he likely had no interest in the position. If he truly is not a Scholar, then he will also deny it himself.”
“What if he admits he is a Scholar?”
“Has Strategist Gongsun committed any crimes? The other Scholars have committed some crimes. That is why some of them died by my hand. But Strategist Gongsun’s reputation has no particular infamy attached to it. If anything, is he not the most famous person after you, Alliance Leader? However, before hearing his answer… it would be better to make one proposal.”
“What kind?”
I wondered if what I was thinking right now was correct. But in any case, the conversation was something Im Sobaek would have to conduct, so I could only make the proposal; accepting it and resolving the matter would also depend on Im Sobaek’s capabilities.
I proposed this to Im Sobaek.
“Propose an alliance with all of the Scholars.”
Im Sobaek looked at me in surprise, then folded his arms.
“An alliance?”
“Out of nowhere, the White-Robed Scholar comes and goes from the Alliance, we have no idea what he is thinking, and we do not know who is a Scholar and who is a disciple of the Scholars. Everything is wrapped in secrets. Up to this point, that is fine. But if the common enemy is the Demon Cult, then at the very least, until that common enemy falls, you should be the one to propose a proper alliance, Alliance Leader. If what the Scholars desire and want is…”
I looked at the study.
“If it happens to be these records, books, and martial arts manuals… then you would not be interested in them anyway, Alliance Leader. You even considered disposing of them.”
“That is true. I did consider disposing of them.”
“If an alliance is formed, it honestly would not matter if you handed them all over. In exchange, if we can accept all of the Scholars as allied forces when facing the Demon Cult… the Murim Alliance and the alliance of Scholars would become the true death-defying corps spoken of by the people of old. Not some seditious organization with unpredictable variables, but a true death-defying corps that gathers its will for a purpose. And to begin with, that was probably the origin of the Murim Alliance.”
There was a contradiction in my words, but what I was proposing was the true Murim Alliance. Until now, Im Sobaek might have been only half a Murim Alliance Leader. But if he could even embrace the forces of the Scholars, then Im Sobaek would become the Murim Alliance Leader in the truest sense.
Im Sobaek murmured,
“An alliance with all of the Scholars…”
“Alliance Leader, fortunately, the one who spared the Life-Reaping Scholar at Dongting Lake was you yourself. Have you ever personally captured Scholars and, whether intentionally or not, killed or harmed them?”
“No.”
“Even Noshin, who cooperated with the White-Robed Scholar, was in any case only imprisoned in the underground prison. You did not kill him.”
Im Sobaek looked at me.
“Are you saying we should bury all of this in order to face the Demon Cult?”
“As you know, the Scholars are somewhat strange people. They are proud, intelligent, and their martial arts are strong. I do not know how to express it. If they are tainted by the demonic path, they can become demonic; if placed with the black path, they are the sort who could make the black path serve them like slaves. The Scholars are people who, if attached to an outstanding Alliance Leader over many long years, can also perform the role of Chief Strategist without any particular issue. Regardless of whether the Chief Strategist is a Scholar or not, I do not think he hates or resents you, Alliance Leader.”
“Your reason?”
Im Sobaek seemed to know the reason, but since he asked anyway, I gave him a realistic answer.
“If they disliked you, Alliance Leader, the Scholars would have attempted to assassinate you long ago. Their method would not have been martial arts. For someone on the level of the Chief Strategist, it would not be difficult to control the food, clothing, and shelter of the Murim Alliance. How could you block every poison that had seeped into daily life? At the very least, it would have been enough to mix a colorless, odorless poison into that black tea you drink every day.”
Because Im Sobaek was cautious, he asked me as if examining other possible outcomes as well.
“What if he denies it, refuses, or sets himself in opposition?”
“Alliance Leader, I am here, and my sworn brothers are here as well. The Demon Kings are here too. If those of the martial world cannot resolve matters through words, they have no choice but to fight. Neither you nor I are ones to fear such a fight, are we?”
Im Sobaek suddenly asked a question that veered off on a tangent.
“By the way, since when did you become sworn brothers?”
“They’re good-for-nothings, so I simply took them in.”
“Hahaha….”
Im Sobaek nodded.
“So no matter how things turn out, you’re saying we should break through head-on. To sum it up.”
“Yes. I am sick and tired of schemes and stratagems. If the situation and circumstances aren’t to our liking, flipping over the game board is best.”
“So you’re saying we should just flip the board entirely.”
Talking up to this point, we took a brief moment to organize our respective thoughts.
The reason I recalled an alliance with the Seosaeng is simple.
Because even in my previous life, the Martial Alliance remained the Martial Alliance. And the Alliance Leader was Im Sobaek then as well, and he was still holding on well. However, due to the Demonic Cult, the great families and allied forces were collapsing one by one, and he was gradually being isolated.
I spoke the thoughts I had briefly organized to Im Sobaek.
“Alliance Leader.”
“Mm.”
“Come to think of it, we must never kill the Chief Strategist. If he is not a Seosaeng, we would lose an excellent Chief Strategist. If he is a Seosaeng, the Chief Strategist becomes a martyr for the Seosaeng. They would probably rally around Cheonak and storm the Martial Alliance. This becomes another vicious cycle. If we lose to the Seosaeng forces, it is naturally our defeat; and if we barely achieve victory over the Seosaeng forces, then one day, you and I will see the Cult Leader appearing before us with a smile. Watching the Seosaeng and the Martial Alliance clash and destroy each other would naturally draw out a laugh. Then, who will stop the Cult Leader? Of course, Senior Singae is there, but the reality is that the Cult Leader is stronger in terms of organizational power.”
Im Sobaek nodded.
“So you’re saying it’s better to ask him directly and propose an alliance.”
“Yes.”
At this point, wouldn’t I be something like the Martial Alliance’s chief military advisor? Chief Strategist Gongsun Sim, Chief Military Advisor I Jaha, and plain advisor Gongsun Wol.
Truthfully, there is a hole in my plan.
If Gongsun Sim is an exceptionally rare villain, all of this is ruined. That’s why I had this thought.
This is why the Martial Alliance Leader must be chosen well.
The success or failure of this matter depends on whether the Seosaeng can trust and acknowledge Im Sobaek as the Martial Alliance Leader.
In my eyes, this man seems like someone born to be the Alliance Leader.
Because although born into an ordinary family, he is a great man who exercises restraint and effort due to the heavy responsibility of being the Martial Alliance Leader. If a narrow-minded and prejudiced Alliance Leader had taken the seat, he would have long since died at the hands of the Seosaeng and the martial world would have become a mess, but that is not the case now.
If you think about it that way…….
It means that the Baekui Seosaeng did not come to watch the martial arts demonstration, but to see the Im Sobaek of rumor.
Im Sobaek, who had been organizing his thoughts, spoke.
“Actually. I am surprised, I feel empty, and I feel betrayed.”
“I understand completely.”
“The reason my feelings are complicated and bitter is because the Chief Strategist supported me all along. Even before I was the Alliance Leader, I heard he often told the previous Alliance Leader that he should consider Im Sobaek as the next Alliance Leader…… things like that. Though it was the previous Alliance Leader who told me that.”
“I see. Then that is even better.”
“Was I not just a puppet…… life grows mournful.”
I snapped to attention and called out to Im Sobaek for the moment.
“Alliance Leader?”
“Speak.”
I studied Im Sobaek’s expression. Fury and rage, emptiness and hollowness overlapped in an instant, and I worried that he might soon succumb to qi deviation. I racked my brains as quickly as possible and blurted out nonsense.
“You are not a puppet. You couldn’t be. There’s no way.”
Because I was spewing whatever words came to mind, I too felt like my words were getting tangled.
“Let’s go out for now. The air in the secret chamber is stale.”
“Let’s go.”
As soon as I exited the secret chamber with Im Sobaek, I took a deep breath and loosened my body. Fortunately, Im Sobaek also took a deep breath and walked slowly as soon as he came outside. He appeared to regain his composure in an instant.
Having experienced qi deviation several times myself, I know.
It can come while training in martial arts, but ultimately it is an illness of the mind. I finally thought of something to change the subject and immediately threw out a question.
“By the way, will you have a match with the Demon King tomorrow?”
“Is the Sword Emperor remaining?”
“Yes.”
“We have one win and one loss, so it is right to fight once more.”
I looked at Im Sobaek.
“You look like your state of mind is very complicated; surely you won’t lose tomorrow because of that?”
“Though I lost here and there often in my youth, it has been a long time since I have experienced defeat.”
“But it is Namgung Sword Emperor. After losing to the Alliance Leader, he must have spent years of agony.”
Im Sobaek answered.
“It is a bit stifling.”
“In what way?”
“If I fought with a real sword to kill, I think I would win more easily, but it is a wooden sword, so it worries me. How could a man called the Alliance Leader kill the head of an allied faction? I have to defeat him moderately, but he is a man who does not yield to moderation. This is why I refused the challenges of the Demon Kings. It’s gotten tangled.”
“It has gotten tangled.”
Im Sobaek suddenly raised his head and looked at the stars in the night sky.
“But I have the Yukjeon Daegeom. No chance. Watch closely tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
They arrived at the Alliance Leader’s residence, and Im Sobaek nodded.
“Sect Leader, rest now. The night has grown deep…….”
“Yes.”
“You have worked hard worrying in the right direction and giving advice.”
“Rest peacefully.”
I watched the Alliance Leader head back to his office and then turned around. I could not predict how Im Sobaek would handle things specifically.
But I had roughly established the broad strategy.
If the Seosaeng had been using the Martial Alliance to their own taste all this time…….
I intend to somehow use the Seosaeng. Unconditionally opposing them is not the right strategy. It doesn’t matter if I can’t draw them all in. Even if I have to split the Seosaeng forces, I will make some of them join the Martial Alliance.
I looked up at the night sky that Im Sobaek had been gazing at.
They say there is a hidden hand in the martial world?
Then I am the hidden hand behind the hidden hand.
I am the hidden hand of Ilyanghyeon who goes around flipping over game boards, the villain of Ilyanghyeon, the master of Gyeduguksoo noodles, the mysterious man who is not mysterious, one who looks like a madman and actually is one, whose true form is the Haomun Sect Leader, whose true body is the Gwangma, but whose real identity is Jeom Soi…….
Who could properly know my true identity?
For now, the fact that even I don’t know myself well makes me mysterious too.
“Ah, it is beautiful.”
If the stars in the night sky containing each person’s destiny are shining over there, then to my eyes, all those countless stars looked like Haomundo.
They could not help but be beautiful.