Episode 148
The leader’s personal office.
“This is the second time we’ve talked in private like this.”
“······I don’t think it’s a private position. “The place is like that, and the Commander-in-Chief is behind you.”
“Don’t worry about such trivial things.”
As I sat across from Hua Baek, sipping Yongjeong tea, I sighed inwardly.
It was an environment where one had no choice but to pay attention.
To stand alone with the Murim Lord.
It would have been unthinkable in my past life.
“I had an interesting experience thanks to you. It is unusual for a large number of elders to appear in the conference room, and I even saw the strange sight of them joining together to offer compensation to you.”
“It seems like elders don’t normally attend meetings.”
“I don’t do it. In the first place, they are not very interested in Meng’s major affairs. “Everyone has retired from active duty.”
“okay.”
“That is why you have made such a great contribution. “What more can I say, since we have gathered all those heavy-assed old men in one place.”
“······It seemed like he was more interested in the level of martial arts rather than the merits I had achieved.”
“I can’t deny it because it’s true.”
I hope to have a chat with Joohwabaek, who nods his head with a wry smile.
I slowly turned my gaze to the side.
“······.”
The masked person who appeared inside the office like a ghost placed a small wooden armor on the table.
‘I don’t think I opened the door and came in. ‘Is there a secret passageway connected to the office?’
The masked person took a step back and soon disappeared like smoke.
It was an amazing feat.
Even though I was watching closely, I almost missed the movement for a moment.
Even with my senses, which have reached the state of flower scenery, I cannot clearly detect their presence.
‘Was there such talent in the Murim Alliance?’
Looking at his current level, he seemed to be higher than Seo Ho-seon or Cheon Ga-ryeong.
When I returned to the Sacheon branch, I thought I would have to push Seo Ho-seon even more harshly.
“Are you interested in that friend?”
“Is that person also a member of the Dark Nights?”
“okay. “I can’t tell you the details of your personal details.”
“It is natural to hide the identity of someone in the dark. it’s okay.”
“More than that, aren’t you curious about what’s inside the wooden armor?”
Painter Joo drew a faint smile on his lips and gestured with his hand to invite me to open the wooden armor.
When I opened the lid, a small red sphere came into view.
I let out a quiet exclamation.
Subtle heat transmitted to your fingertips.
I felt like I knew what the item contained in the wooden armor was.
“Could it be the inner altar of fire?”
“okay.”
I quickly closed the lid, fearing that the spiritual energy of the inner altar might leak out, and lowered my head as I placed the wooden box in my arms.
“I will accept it gratefully.”
“Do you like it?”
“yes.”
10,000 years of fire.
A spirit creature that contains enormous fire energy within its body.
While ordinary carp live in rivers, the habitat of the perennial carp was a hot spring.
It is rarely found in volcanic areas untouched by humans.
Although its name was Mannyeonhwa-ri, it did not really have a lifespan of 10,000 years.
Would such a creature have any chance of existing in the world?
The actual lifespan is known to be around 200 years, but it seems that some individuals live up to 300 years.
For reference, there were many cases where two or more perennial squirrels were found at the same time.
‘It looks like there are a few thousand-year-old dwarfs being kept in Maeng’s secret place.’
Could it be that one of the dogs was given as a reward to Lee Kang-hak during his active duty days?
Anyway, I got my hands on something much more valuable than I expected.
The spiritual energy residing in the inner altar was very strong, as if it had been sliced open by a fairly old man.
“You did a great job this time.”
“I just did what was natural as a member of the alliance.”
“If crushing the conspiracy of the Demon Cult is a given, then most of the Murim Alliance members must be incompetent.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Excessive humility can lead to deception. “You need to be a little more proud of your achievements.”
“All right.”
“Apart from Hwari’s internal altar, we will send gold coins and silk to the Sichuan branch in the future. “It’s your private property, not public money, so you can use it however you want.”
After speaking, Hwabaek Joo leaned against the back of the chair and tilted his teacup.
He cleared his throat once and spoke in a soft voice.
“You might have doubts. Why did you call me separately this late at night? “If I had something to say, I would have said it in the conference room earlier.”
“Honestly, yes.”
“Actually, I wanted to have an honest conversation with you.”
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“······?”
“I am saying that he abused his power as a leader because he wanted to satisfy his personal curiosity.”
I ended up making a blank expression at the unexpected remark.
What on earth is this old man talking about?
“You don’t have to be so embarrassed. Because it’s literally just a conversation. “There will be no burdensome pressure or recommendations.”
I cursed inwardly.
I wanted to say that just being faced like this was burdensome enough, but I used my superhuman patience to suppress it.
The opponent is the Murim lord of the time.
He was a person of great importance to me.
‘I don’t necessarily want to be friends with you.’
Even so, it had to at least not look hateful.
If you use your tongue incorrectly here, your work life could go wrong.
“I remember the first time I saw you. “It was during the preliminaries of the martial arts competition, right?”
“yes. I never would have thought that the leader would be there watching the preliminaries.”
“I also never thought that there would be a late index that takes the test in that way.”
“······.”
“Even back then, I thought he was extremely talented at such a young age, but now he has turned into a complete monster.”
“As expected, I can’t hide it from the Lord.”
“The young man of the covenant is Hwa-gyeong. “I can’t believe it when I see it.”
The eyes of Zhuge Huan, who was standing like a folding screen behind Painter Joo, became glazed over.
It seemed like he never thought that I would reach the same level as him.
‘Well, it’s normal for both of us.’
In fact, I was also surprised.
I didn’t realize it before, but I realized it the moment I made eye contact with Zhuge Huan in the conference room.
That he is a master who reached the level of flower painting a long time ago.
The state of a soldier who is not even a military commander is the state of peace.
The Murim League was definitely a great group.
The same goes for the masked man from just now, as well as Zhuge Huan.
Because they did not show off their martial arts skills at official events, they were not among the top 100 masters, but they were skilled enough to compete with the Blue Blood Master.
Suddenly, a curiosity arose.
How many more hidden talents like this exist in the world?
“Is there some special secret?”
“Nothing in particular. “I just tried harder than others.”
“It’s a story that will make people angry when they hear it, even though they devoted their whole lives to martial arts training and still haven’t been able to overcome the wall.”
“If you do that, you will be considered more talented than others.”
“Don’t you think that comment will inflame the anger even further?”
“······.”
I get angry no matter what, I get angry no matter what.
What on earth are you telling me to do?
If they felt unfair, they could just go back like me.
“Anyway, I’m curious to how far you’ve grown. Would you like to spar with me now?”
“sorry. “I’m not feeling well, so sparring will be difficult.”
I lied without even putting saliva on my mouth.
Are you saying you’re crazy enough to spar with King Wujon?
It is true that sparring with a high-ranking martial artist is helpful for growth, but there was no reason to ask Dokgo Woojin for guidance from Joo Hwabaek.
‘You’re going into a knife fight with your boss? ‘I don’t even want to imagine.’
There was nothing good about winning or losing.
It was an offer I never wanted to accept.
“You’re not feeling well?”
“yes. “The internal injuries sustained in the fight with the vampire demon have not fully healed yet.”
“On the outside, it looks fine.”
“Only on the surface.”
The injuries sustained during the fight with the Vampire Demon had healed long ago, but there was no way for Joo Hwa-baek to know that.
He nodded and said with a nervous expression.
“okay. “If that’s the case, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Fortunately, I was able to overcome the crisis by using my wits.
I was wondering if I should clutch my stomach and make a groaning noise, but it didn’t seem necessary.
“Then let’s just spar next time.”
······Didn’t you give up?
He was truly a persistent old man.
I decided that if I had to visit Maeng’s headquarters in the future, I would make an excuse and send a representative.
Joo Hwa-baek, who had finished his appetite with regret, grabbed the handle of the tea cup and asked as if throwing it.
“What do you want to achieve?”
“······?”
“Isn’t it because you decided to join the group for some purpose? “It’s unlikely that joining the family was a dream.”
A dream you want to achieve?
Of course it existed.
Although it is a dream that cannot be said to the Murim Lord’s face.
“I asked a similar question when we first met. “Do you remember?”
“Of course I remember.”
“They didn’t give a clear answer back then. “I’m just trying to move on from a bunch of wordplay.”
“······.”
“It was obvious that you were hiding your true feelings.”
“I didn’t really mean to deceive the Lord. “I just didn’t have anything in particular in mind at the time.”
“A person like that would ask to be assigned to the Sichuan branch in front of everyone? “If you’re going to lie, why not make it believable?”
“······.”
“Tell me honestly. “Maybe I can help you with what you want to achieve.”
I had to try very hard to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out.
What does it mean to help?
Maengju is a person who shows such a friendly side now, but if he finds out what I want to become in the future, he will immediately show a hostile side.
“I know a little, but I know about the origins of the swordsmanship you mastered.”
“······?”
“Wolyeonggeom. It is a martial art from a historic samurai family that was powerful in Hanam in the past. Was it Wolhwajang (月華莊)?”
“How could the Lord do that…?”
“The fact that you have mastered the old Wolyeong sword means that you are a survivor of Wolhwajang or a person involved in it. “Am I wrong?”
“······.”
“That’s why I’m asking. What do you want to achieve in the future? Are you dreaming of the rebirth of your family, or are you seeking revenge on the Demonic Cult?”
I once again made a blank expression.
What on earth is this old man misunderstanding?
I have never heard such long-winded nonsense in my life.
‘You made a mistake.’
martial arts,
