The Heaven-Slaying Sword - Chapter 60

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

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◈ The Heaven-Slaying Sword ◈

Chapter 60: Chapter Seven - Murim Alliance, Founding (3)

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“You, the Division Leader?”

Namgung Jin-cheon’s voice was cold. There was even a faint note of scorn in it, as though he were putting Mok Ri-won down.

From Namgung Jin-cheon’s perspective, it was understandable. Acknowledging Mok Ri-won’s martial arts was one thing, but his naive nature did not seem suited to the position of Division Leader.

Of course, he also had a personal desire not to follow the other Dragon Phoenixes. Even setting that aside, Namgung Jin-cheon believed that he was the man best suited to lead the unit.

“Do you know how to lead a division? Do you understand administrative procedures? No, do you even know what a Division Leader does?”

Each question struck Mok Ri-won squarely in the chest.

His body flinched, but he did not retreat.

This was a Division Leader’s post in the Martial Alliance. In Tales of Martial Heroes, only a character important enough to be a protagonist could claim such an illustrious role.

Mok Ri-won did not want to give up that honor so easily.

Besides, he had grounds of his own.

“I-I’m the strongest, aren’t I? The Division Leader is supposed to be whoever’s strongest!”

Crack.

Namgung Jin-cheon froze. His eyes widened beyond belief, and for some reason, he looked hurt as well.

The final match of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering had been a nightmare for Namgung Jin-cheon.

That day came back to him.

He calmed his trembling fists, but his deep jade-blue eyes still could not stop shaking.

This was a situation where he needed to be rational, but he could not help himself.

Namgung Jin-cheon was the sort of man who could not rest easy unless he stood above others.

“...Fine. It has been nearly two months. We need to settle our rankings again.”

Qi Waves began to seep from Namgung Jin-cheon.

Mok Ri-won raised ink-black Qi Waves as if refusing to yield.

What would happen next was obvious.

Mok Ri-won took a hard finger flick to the crown of his head, hard enough to make a sharp snap.

Dang Hwa-seo had done it.

“Young Hero Mok! Is it acceptable to raise Qi Waves in a place like this, or is it not?”

“I-I know it isn’t, but...!”

“But what? And Sword Dragon, you are at fault as well! Did you not say at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering that provocations would not work on you? Then why are you reacting to every word Young Hero Mok says and making such a scene?”

Mok Ri-won and Namgung Jin-cheon clamped their mouths shut.

Dang Hwa-seo rarely raised her voice, so her merciless barrage of truths left them with nothing to say.

Even so, the two continued glaring at each other, making her clutch the back of her neck.

‘They are both children!’

The limits of the Namgung Jin-cheon she had trusted were slowly showing.

He was on exactly the same level as Mok Ri-won.

Only then did Dang Hwa-seo realize it.

Namgung Jin-cheon had only looked dignified because he kept his mouth shut!

He was simply a taciturn Mok Ri-won!

With a throbbing headache, Dang Hwa-seo looked toward the others.

Jegal San was laughing so hard that he could barely breathe, while Hye-un had already wandered away and started talking to one of the Martial Alliance’s martial artists.

Il-un wore an awkward smile, but did not seem inclined to stop them.

Dang Hwa-seo’s face drained of color.

‘...We are doomed.’

The Dragon Phoenix Unit was doomed.

Doomed beyond all hope.

There was not a single reliable person among them.

* * *

Military Strategist Jegal Mu-yeon made an expression that defied description at the sight before him.

First, Mok Ri-won and Namgung Jin-cheon, the two men responsible for the Dragon Phoenix Unit’s martial strength, were staring in opposite directions with angry expressions.

Jegal San was clutching his stomach and groaning as if he felt ill, while Hye-un was teasing Il-un by running her fingers over his bald head, the veins on it standing out.

Dang Hwa-seo was the only one who looked remotely normal, but even she seemed strange.

For some reason, she stared at him with a weary, vacant expression.

“What happened?”

“Nothing. Not yet.”

Dang Hwa-seo gave a hollow laugh. Jegal Mu-yeon felt a hint of curiosity, but quickly suppressed it.

He was not someone with enough leisure to indulge the high spirits of the young.

“You are all gathered now. Immortal Dragon has stated that he intends to remain at Wudang Sect.”

“Yes. I would like to hear what comes next.”

Dang Hwa-seo pressed at her brow before asking. Jegal Mu-yeon nodded.

“The residence has been put in order. Once you head out, my adjutant will guide you there.”

“Then...”

“Yet the administrative procedures are not complete, so the unit’s founding will require more time.”

“There are that many procedures?”

Dang Hwa-seo tilted her head.

As far as she knew, even the Martial Alliance would not spend so much time establishing a single division.

“I understood that a division was established once the Alliance Leader gave approval. Is the Alliance Leader away?”

“That is not the case. On the contrary, the Alliance Leader himself is working to establish this division.”

“Then why...?”

“There will be a founding ceremony. A fairly grand one.”

All the Dragon Phoenixes turned toward Jegal Mu-yeon.

Jegal San’s brow furrowed. It was only natural, since he hated troublesome matters.

“A founding ceremony? Why make such a big deal of it...?”

As he spoke, Jegal San let out an “Ah,” then nodded.

“...Right. Now that I think about it, this is no ordinary division.”

No one failed to understand what he meant.

Except Mok Ri-won.

Dang Hwa-seo explained it to him.

“Given the state of the times, it is likely meant to raise morale. Also, since the Alliance is gathering the children of prestigious factions into one division, there are many eyes we must be mindful of.”

“Ah! So that is why!”

Jegal Mu-yeon nodded in agreement with their exchange, then continued.

“There is something you must decide soon.”

“What is it?”

“Who will be the Division Leader and Deputy Division Leader?”

Dang Hwa-seo’s face turned pale.

The two men, whose mental ages were apparently the same, made their eyes blaze with hostility again.

Mok Ri-won and Namgung Jin-cheon’s gazes collided.

Dang Hwa-seo gritted her teeth at the sharp pull in the back of her neck, then raised her hand.

“I will do it.”

“Ah! Miss Dang!”

“I will do it. I will not hear any objections.”

Jegal Mu-yeon simply stood with his arms folded and listened until they had settled the matter.

After all, every member of the division was a peak-class master, and the role of Division Leader required more than martial strength. As long as someone could bring their opinions together, he did not care who it was.

The matter was settled very one-sidedly.

“Young Hero Mok. Stay quiet.”

At Dang Hwa-seo’s single remark, Mok Ri-won backed down with a whimper.

“Sword Dragon, do not consider becoming Division Leader either. Can you take full responsibility for all administrative procedures? Are you willing to look after the other members? Will you cut into your training time to attend meetings and handle other matters?”

Namgung Jin-cheon’s momentum gradually weakened as Dang Hwa-seo continued.

He truly did not enjoy looking after others.

“Jegal San, White Phoenix, neither of you would be interested anyway. And Monk Il-un, you would not wish to criticize others.”

The three nodded.

Only then did Dang Hwa-seo turn to Jegal Mu-yeon.

“It is settled.”

“Excellent. And the Deputy Division Leader?”

“Monk Il-un will take the role. That is my decision as Division Leader.”

She made it final before anyone could say another word.

From Dang Hwa-seo’s perspective, Il-un was the only remotely sensible person she could use as Deputy Division Leader.

“Very well. We will proceed on that basis and prepare for the founding ceremony. I will inform you of the details later.”

Jegal Mu-yeon rose from his seat.

The adjutant waiting outside then called to the Dragon Phoenixes.

“Please follow me.”

Only then did Dang Hwa-seo release a breath of relief.

‘...At least I have cleared one dangerous hurdle.’

She did not know what lay ahead, but one dangerous hurdle was behind them.

Dang Hwa-seo turned toward the Dragon Phoenixes with the gaze of someone watching a group of troublemakers.

‘Absolutely...’

She absolutely could not let them cause trouble.

That thought filled her mind.

* * *

The residence where the Dragon Phoenix Unit would live was extravagant.

It was so different from the other nearby residences that it looked as though someone had coated the entire place in money.

“Brother Jegal! There is a night pearl set into the wall here!”

“Oh! We could make a fortune if we pried that out and sold it!”

“Brother Jegal! Could this be...?”

“Jade! This carving is made from a single piece of jade!”

“Ooh!”

The support was astonishing, enough to make one wonder how they could lavish so much wealth upon a single residence.

Still, considering who they were, it made sense.

Three were children of the Five Great Noble Clans, while two were young talents representing the Nine Sects.

Everyone except Mok Ri-won belonged to a prestigious and renowned faction.

There was support coming from their respective factions, as well as sponsorship from various merchant guilds.

Of course, the greatest share came from the obscenely wealthy Five Great Noble Clans.

The night pearls set throughout the residence and the jade carvings were prime examples.

Dang Hwa-seo regarded a night pearl with a somber gaze.

She knew it had come from the Sichuan Tang Clan.

‘...I am sure they were not pleased.’

She had only recently returned from She County in Anhui after clashing with Dang Un-gyeong.

On top of that, she had made clear her intention to distance herself from the Tang Clan by joining the Martial Alliance.

Yet the Tang Clan, or more precisely its Family Head, was still providing such support. Dang Hwa-seo could not understand what they were thinking.

‘No. I should not think about it now.’

Dang Hwa-seo deliberately looked away from the night pearl.

Whatever their intentions were, with the Martial Alliance involved, no ulterior motive could be openly revealed. She decided it was better to focus on what needed to be done now.

Clap, clap.

Dang Hwa-seo gathered everyone’s attention.

“All right, enough sightseeing. It is time to assign rooms.”

The Dragon Phoenix Unit’s residence was quite large, but it did not have many rooms.

There were only six martial artists in the unit, so much of the available space had been used for a training ground and other facilities instead.

“There are three rooms in total. We will assign them in pairs. Naturally, White Phoenix and I will share a room, while the rest of you...”

Dang Hwa-seo narrowed her eyes as she assessed them.

‘Young Hero Mok and Sword Dragon must be separated.’

If they were put together, they would obviously cause trouble again. They had already clashed several times today. If she told them to sleep in the same room, how much trouble would that cause?

That could not happen.

Having decided to place them in separate rooms, Dang Hwa-seo considered the problem further.

‘The other two are Jegal San and Monk Il-un.’

Ideally, she wanted to pair Il-un with Mok Ri-won.

Would Jegal San not be a bad influence on him if they lived together?

Yet she could not simply do that. If she put Jegal San with the self-willed Namgung Jin-cheon, there would be no one to keep Namgung Jin-cheon under control.

“Haa...”

It was a choice between emotion and reason.

Dang Hwa-seo agonized over it for a long time before reaching a conclusion.

“Monk Il-un, please share a room with Sword Dragon.”

“Ah, I will do so.”

Dang Hwa-seo entrusted Namgung Jin-cheon to Il-un.

Mok Ri-won and Jegal San were delighted, but Dang Hwa-seo did not feel at ease.

Then Hye-un sidled over and whispered to her.

“How about we each take a room, then put all four men together?”

Dang Hwa-seo gave Hye-un a blank look and snorted.

“Do not be ridiculous.”

Who did not know that if Hye-un had a room to herself, she would not remain alone in it?