Chapter 448. On the Day of Retirement.
“Alliance Leader……”
Gongsun Yue came in with a flushed expression and looked at Lin Xiaobai. Observing Gongsun Yue’s face, Lin Xiaobai asked.
“What is it?”
“The Saber Emperor of Hebei came by.”
Lin Xiaobai gave a faint smile.
“The Saber Emperor of Hebei…… In any case, he’s late. Everything’s already been decided, so why now? No. Since so many people have gathered, he seems like a suitable opponent for a public spar.”
“Alliance Leader, that isn’t it. They say that experts from Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and other places have joined together to establish the Eastern Murim Alliance.”
Lin Xiaobai narrowed his brow.
“What?”
Their force was far too large to simply ignore. Lin Xiaobai, who had flared up for an instant, calmly settled his mind and continued speaking.
“Did he say the Saber Emperor is the alliance leader?”
“He said he is the Hebei Branch Chief of the Eastern Murim Alliance, that the Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian Branch Chiefs will each come as well, and that the Alliance Leader of the Eastern Alliance, who leads them, is waiting not far away.”
Lin Xiaobai asked back in an icy tone.
“And?”
“They have no interest in Alliance Leader Lin, who is soon to retire. They said they would determine superiority with the newly appointed Murim Alliance Leader and, what was it…… yes, discuss the launch of the Tianxia Alliance.”
Lin Xiaobai snorted.
“Tianxia Alliance?”
“Yes.”
“A Murim Alliance uniting east and west…… Seeing as they timed it for the inauguration, their intentions are far too obvious. I did say I would retire, but I have not retired yet. Tell the Saber Emperor to come in first.”
“He has already delivered only the message and left. He said he is merely the alliance leader’s messenger.”
Lin Xiaobai wore a sour expression, then shook his head.
“The jianghu is no easy place. It stays noisy to the end and bothersome to the end. In any case, if the Saber Emperor is taking such a low posture, it means the Eastern Alliance Leader is stronger. Anything else?”
“They say the Eastern Alliance is also an organization that has only just been founded, and that even the funds needed for its founding will soon arrive at our Murim Alliance. The alliance leaders are to have one sparring match, and the victor will become the unified alliance leader……”
Hearing this much, Lin Xiaobai tilted his head.
“Funds?”
“Yes. I also did not quite understand that part……”
Lin Xiaobai scratched the back of his head with a finger.
“They are bringing funds. Then does that mean they intend to appear at the inauguration after waiting nearby?”
“Yes. It seems he came ahead because he was a messenger.”
Lin Xiaobai nodded.
“The Eastern Murim Alliance. In any case, understood. The new alliance leader will have to step forward. He may be stronger than the Saber Emperor, but I don’t think Meng Lang will lose either.”
“Yes.”
“If Meng Lang happens to lose, I will challenge for the position of Tianxia Alliance Leader, so do not worry.”
“Understood.”
“Has word spread outside that Meng Lang is the designated new alliance leader?”
“No. Aside from the invited guests and some alliance members who went out as messengers, most do not know. Those outside would know even less.”
“I suppose so. Mobilize the Military Council and search the surroundings. The Eastern Alliance’s forces may be standing by.”
“They are already searching.”
“Understood.”
Just as they were about to end the conversation, someone outside reported again.
“Alliance Leader, I have something to report.”
“What now?”
The door opened, and two alliance members set a rather heavy chest on Lin Xiaobai’s desk. It was so heavy that a thud rang out.
“What is this?”
An alliance member answered.
“We confirmed it. May we open it?”
“Open it.”
When the alliance member opened the chest, it was filled to the brim with gold and silver taels mixed together.
The alliance member spoke with a bewildered expression.
“They say it is a gift from the Eastern Alliance Leader congratulating Alliance Leader Lin on his retirement. He hopes that after you retire, you will use it as you please to eat delicious food, stay in comfortable lodgings, and freely travel to any places you wish to visit.”
Lin Xiaobai looked at the alliance member.
“It’s not fake?”
“If you look here, there are traces where it was lightly checked with a dagger…… It is genuine. He also added that if you use it during your term, it would be a bribe, so you must use it after you retire.”
“For now, understood. You may go.”
“Yes.”
“Ah, call Young Master Meng here on your way out.”
“Understood.”
Lin Xiaobai looked at the gold and silver in the chest and said.
“This seems like a bribe urging me to retire.”
Gongsun Yue said.
“For now, please observe the situation and handle it accordingly.”
“Mm.”
“Alliance Leader, this is an opportunity. If Young Master Meng wins anyway, we can absorb the Eastern Alliance. Surprisingly, it does not seem to be a proposal born of schemes, but something that can be settled cleanly through the actual martial strength of the alliance leaders. In any case, you will be watching. The spar will also be held within our alliance. If it is a spar, there is not a single disadvantageous condition.”
Lin Xiaobai let out a slight sigh.
“Alliance leader, alliance leader—hearing it so much today, why is it so confusing?”
“I feel the same.”
“Who are the experts from the regions you mentioned earlier?”
“The First Sword of Mount Tai, Yongchunzi, the Saber Emperor…… About that many.”
“They are not threatening figures. Nor do they have particularly bad reputations.”
“Yes.”
“I have decided.”
“Please speak.”
“If by some chance Meng Lang loses, I will rescind my retirement.”
“Please do so.”
“How dare they interfere with my retirement. I should cut off at least one arm.”
Gongsun Yue reached out and tapped the chest.
“You need not go that far……”
“Shall I share some with you?”
“No.”
After the report ended, and while they were chatting idly, Meng Lang arrived.
“……Alliance Leader, did you call for me?”
Why was he so busy today of all days? Lin Xiaobai answered at once.
“Come in quickly.”
“Yes.”
As soon as the lecher entered, he stared blankly at the gold and silver on the table, then made a joke.
“Is that a gift for the new alliance leader?”
Only then did Lin Xiaobai laugh with a hollow expression.
“As if.”
“I expected it probably wasn’t.”
When Lin Xiaobai explained what he had heard from Gongsun Yue, the lecher laughed as well.
“The Eastern Alliance Leader? There are quite a lot of alliance leaders in the jianghu.”
“Indeed.”
The Lust Demon met Im Sobaek’s eyes.
“Do not worry. I will make him a sacrifice in public for the launch of the next Murim Alliance.”
“A sacrifice… You mustn’t kill him.”
“Yes.”
“Since he commands the Blade Emperor, he is certainly no shabby fellow. I would like to commend him for bringing together the eastern region the Murim Alliance failed to attend to, but even if you are defeated by the Eastern Alliance Leader, I have no intention whatsoever of handing over the Murim Alliance so easily. Keep that in mind.”
The Lust Demon nodded.
“I will handle it well, so as not to disturb your life after retirement, Alliance Leader.”
Im Sobaek let out a slight sigh.
“Strangely enough, I think I understand a little how the Sword Demon feels.”
“My master’s feelings?”
“For some reason, you don’t inspire much trust. Maybe it’s because your face looks a bit too slick.”
The Lust Demon burst into laughter, then looked at Gongson Wol.
“Hahaha. What do you think, Chief Strategist?”
Gongson Wol glanced at the Lust Demon and nodded.
“You do look slick.”
The Lust Demon pointed at Gongson Wol with his finger.
“I like your honesty. That’s how a Chief Strategist should be.”
Im Sobaek said,
“Chief Strategist, prepare the ceremony for the hour of Mi (未時, 1–3 p.m.) without issue. Mongrang, stay in your quarters and prepare for the duel so you won’t be exposed to fools.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“Understood.”
Im Sobaek spoke like a man facing war.
“I, too, will be preparing to receive the guests and the Eastern Alliance.”
A short while later, left alone, Im Sobaek reached out and toyed with the gold and silver pieces, then fell into thought. Strangely, the words Gongson Wol had relayed lingered in his mind.
‘Eat something delicious?’
It was far too much money for eating something delicious. If Im Sobaek continued living frugally as usual, it was so much that he would not be able to use it all after retirement. Suddenly, as Im Sobaek thought of something, he muttered,
“Travel?”
The corners of Im Sobaek’s mouth curled upward. If his guess was right, then the Eastern Alliance Leader was naturally someone he knew.
Im Sobaek murmured,
“The eastern sea… the Eastern Alliance, ah….”
...“I could not find out who the new Alliance Leader is. The Chief Strategist had no answer either.”
At the Blade Emperor’s report, I nodded.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“They have opened the main gate. The visitors kept increasing and are now entering in lines, and there are more alliance members on patrol as well. If Alliance Leader Im tries to stop us, it may be difficult to get in. The retirement ceremony begins at the hour of Mi.”
The branch leaders of the Eastern Alliance still did not know me well.
“The alliance members won’t stop me.”
I stood and looked at the Mad Monk.
“Let us go.”
The bald men and the branch leaders stopped resting and rose. In truth, if this force clashed with the Murim Alliance, each individual was so strong that it would truly turn into chaos. If the bald master stepped forward, Alliance Leader Im would likely have to face the Mad Monk alone for so long that he would be unable to do anything else.
When we set off, King Eunpyeong also led his subordinates and followed from the rear. Of course, at the end of the procession was a load of military funds plundered from the east.
I led the procession and set out toward the Murim Alliance.
“Let’s go.”
...Im Sobaek had climbed onto the platform early and was watching the gathering heroes. With a somewhat complicated heart mixed with a sense of relief, he had intended to deliver one final long speech, but the sudden appearance of the Eastern Alliance left his mind unsettled.
If, as he expected, the Hao Sect Master who had left for the east was coming back as the leader of the Eastern Alliance….
Im Sobaek looked at Mongrang, who was mingled among the alliance members.
‘Can Mongrang win?’
There was no possibility of that at all. Then what if he revoked his retirement and challenged the Eastern Alliance Leader himself? Since they said the Sect Master had defeated the Cult Leader at Mount Hua, he would probably lose as well.
If the man were an enemy, he would cut off even one arm.
He would offer his own life as a sacrifice to the new era about to unfold.
But if the opponent was the Hao Sect Master, he felt no desire to fight at all.
Because he had never before felt such helplessness as an Alliance Leader, Im Sobaek kept sighing.
‘Sect Master, is it you?’
Even when he tried to predict it, he could not.
An opponent whose every prediction would invariably go astray.
Gongson Wol approached and asked,
“Alliance Leader, as you instructed, I have prepared the brass basin.”
“Good.”
Originally, it was called Golden Basin Handwashing (金盆洗手). It was the act of washing hands stained with blood to announce one’s retirement, but the Murim Alliance had no basin made of gold. Rejecting the Chief Strategist’s suggestion to prepare one, Im Sobaek had the brass basin he had used for many years brought up onto the platform.
Im Sobaek stared blankly at the water being poured into the brass basin. In truth, he was too distracted because of the Eastern Alliance.
‘Is it not the Sect Master?’
Having finished the preparations, Gongson Wol looked at Im Sobaek. Gongson Wol was slightly flustered, as the Alliance Leader had never shown himself this nervous before.
“Alliance Leader?”
“I know.”
“You are far too tense.”
“So I am.”
When Im Sobaek stood, everyone who had been seated rose as well, and the heroes all looked toward the platform.
Im Sobaek walked to where the brass basin was and looked around. Someone said,
“Alliance Leader, you should say a few words.”
Im Sobaek nodded and opened his mouth.
“Has everyone gathered?”
Several people shouted from within the crowd.
“Why are you retiring already!”
“Who is the new Alliance Leader?”
Im Sobaek extended his hand and quieted the commotion.
“Wait. I will introduce him. But before that, should my retirement not come first?”
Im Sobaek drew in a deep breath, composed himself, and spoke.
“My mind is unusually unsettled today. All of you have gone through much to come from distant places.”
Im Sobaek was about to continue when suddenly, someone’s booming voice, infused with internal energy, rang out.
“…The Eastern Alliance Leader arrives! Make way! The leader of the Eastern Murim Alliance has come in person to congratulate Alliance Leader Im on his retirement!”
Judging by the internal energy contained in the voice, he was no ordinary expert. As the procession from the main gate approached, the onlookers withdrew to either side. Above all, the procession was made even more striking by the shining bald heads scattered throughout it.
Where on earth had they come from?
They were all sunburned, their skin far darker than those who had arrived at the Murim Alliance earlier.
More flustered than ever, Im Sobaek stared at the leader walking between the onlookers who had parted to the left and right, then let out a long breath.
‘This bastard, seriously….’
The Haomun Sect Master was striding over, swinging his arms vigorously. Meeting Im Sobaek’s eyes, he said,
“Brother Sobaek, I’m here.”
Im Sobaek nodded.
“You’ve come?”
“Yes.”
When the Haomun Sect Master reached the foot of the platform and looked up, Im Sobaek said,
“You’re the Eastern Alliance Leader?”
“Yes. Who else would it be but me?”
Im Sobaek nodded again and again. Only then did he understand why the brothers had been fighting and beating each other so much. Whether their skills were high or low, he wanted to go down at once and smack the Haomun Sect Master on the head, but he forced himself to hold back.
Im Sobaek asked,
“You want to launch the Alliance Under Heaven?”
The Haomun Sect Master looked into Im Sobaek’s eyes for a moment, then nodded.
Im Sobaek beckoned.
“Come up first.”
“You should give your retirement speech first.”
“Get up here quickly. I’m getting angry.”
When the Haomun Sect Master sprang up onto the platform, Im Sobaek strode over and stood facing him.
“Sect Master.”
“Yes.”
Im Sobaek reached out with both hands, took hold of the Haomun Sect Master’s face, examined it this way and that, then whispered,
“……You haven’t suffered qi deviation, have you?”
“I have not.”
“How was the sea?”
“Nothing special. It’s just water.”
“What’s with the money?”
“What else? I took it.”
Lowering his hands, Im Sobaek asked as though seeking his opinion,
“What should I do now?”
“You should retire.”
“Understood. And after that?”
“Tell the new Alliance Leader to come up.”
Im Sobaek threw back his head and laughed.
“Very well. The next Alliance Leader, come up to the platform.”
Everyone’s gaze followed Im Sobaek’s to one place.
The Lust Demon, his head tilted crookedly and his posture sagging, was glaring up at the platform.
Im Sobaek said to the Lust Demon,
“I said come up.”
“Yes. Ah, damn it……”
The Lust Demon, suddenly exploding in temper, shot high into the air, turned a somersault, and landed on the platform.
Im Sobaek looked back and forth between the Haomun Sect Master and Mongrang.
The Haomun Sect Master was staring at Mongrang with his eyes gone round.
“…….”
Among the onlookers, someone’s sigh mingled with someone’s laughter. Of course, it was the sigh of the Sword Demon, reunited with them after a long time, and the laughter of the Ghost Demon.