RHD Chapter 118

In the early dawn, two carriages and about ten martial artists on horseback quietly left the Martial Righteous Alliance.

Ma Bong-gi rode in the first carriage, while Gal Sa-ryang and I were in the second.

The escorts for the two carriages were Lim Jung-tae, the leader of the Alliance Protection Regiment, and ten elite Alliance Protection Regiment martial artists. They all wore ordinary martial arts attire to conceal their identities. Compared to the usual number of martial artists accompanying the Alliance Leader’s travels, this was an extremely small group.

It was truly a secret departure from the Alliance.

As the carriages left the Martial Righteous Alliance and picked up speed, Gal Sa-ryang relayed in a low voice what Ma Bong-gi had told him, ensuring those outside couldn’t hear. After finishing his story, he asked,

“Why aren’t you surprised?”

“It’s not surprising. To be honest…”

I lowered my voice even further.

“It was strange how Ma Alliance Leader became the leader. How could someone like him become the Alliance Leader? Now it feels like that question has been answered.”

“Do you know about the Alliance Leader?”

“I’ve heard various rumors. No, scandals, rather.”

“I see.”

“I saw a woman getting into the carriage earlier.”

Ma Bong-gi had brought a woman into his carriage. Judging by her weak martial arts and her appearance, she was likely a bedmate. To think he’d bring a woman even in this situation.

Yes, he must be psychologically very anxious. I can understand it on a human level.

But rather than thinking, “Ah, he must be really desperate,” it made me think, “Ugh, that crazy bastard.”

“So, are we going to meet the person who made Ma Alliance Leader the leader?”

“That’s right.”

“They must be quite something. To draw the Alliance Leader out like this.”

In fact, I’m the one most curious about this background figure.

He might have been the one who killed me. No, it must have been his doing. The situation after my death seemed too planned to be considered a natural death.

Although I could let go of the grudge for killing me since I’ve been given a new life, the problem is that his goal wasn’t just to kill me.

After killing me, he placed Ma Bong-gi as the Alliance Leader. And now he’s up to something incomprehensible. He’s nurturing various organizations and even researching how to remove the side effects of the Bukhwe Marengdan.

What on earth is he trying to do? How did he manage to kill me, who was immune to all poisons?

Lost in these thoughts, I suddenly asked,

“But why did they suddenly agree to meet the Alliance Leader?”

Gal Sa-ryang shook his head.

“I don’t know that much either.”

The people we’ve encountered so far were never the type to act impulsively. They’ve been progressing with something according to a set plan.

Could this meeting also be part of that plan? Or is it truly a meeting born out of a spontaneous emotion?

The crux of this journey lay there.

***

In a spacious room, Number Two was giving a report.

“It seems that Gal Sa-ryang was indeed involved in Elder Go’s death, according to the report.”

In response to Number Two’s words, a man sitting far away spoke softly.

“Is that so?”

Unlike usual, his voice was so low that it was almost inaudible.

“Yes.”

Though Number Two answered loudly, there was no follow-up.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

As Number Two turned to leave, the man spoke.

“Come closer.”

Number Two was inwardly startled. He had never once asked him to come closer before. That’s why he didn’t even know what the man’s face looked like. He had lived like a disposable tool, merely carrying out orders, but now there was a change.

“Yes.”

Number Two walked slowly. Despite having nerves of steel that wouldn’t flinch at most things, at this moment, he felt a slight tremor.

As he got closer, the man’s appearance became clearer.

It was different from what he had imagined. First, he had a small build and a rather shabby-looking face. Number Two had to be careful not to let disappointment show on his face.

On the other hand, his attire was impeccable. He wore white martial arts clothing, with everything from his shoes to his scabbard and sword handle in white.

It was unclear whether this white ensemble was because he was called Baek Seok (White Stone)^[1].

One thing was certain, however. The man was truly a master. Not even the slightest opening could be sensed from him. It naturally felt like he was someone worthy of commanding Number Two from across the room.

“Damn it.”

Baek Seok frowned deeply.

“How have I endured in this place without a single window?”

Peculiarly, there wasn’t a single window in this spacious room. Everything else was there, but no windows.

The same was true for Number Two’s office. Where a window should have been, there was a picture of waves breaking on a beach.

Here, instead of a picture, there was a fake window painted on the wall. From a distance, it really looked like there was a window there.

A bright spring scenery was painted outside the window. It looked beautiful from afar, but up close, it was rather grotesque.

“Ma Bong-gi has left the Alliance.”

“Where to?”

“Namhyeon Escort Agency in Zhejiang Province.”

“Surely not?”

“Yes, what we’ve prepared has begun.”

Number Two swallowed hard. The event that would once again plunge this martial arts world into chaos had begun.

“I’ve entrusted that task to Heuk Seok (Black Stone)[흑석(黑石)]][.”

Now Number Two understood. The reason for Baek Seok’s unusual behavior.

Baek Seok looked at Number Two and spoke dejectedly.

“That person chose Heuk Seok as the most suitable for this task.”

Heuk Seok and Baek Seok, Black Stone and White Stone.

Named after the two stones on a Go board, they had come this far in fierce competition. Though part of the same organization, they had grown almost like enemies.

And now, the most important task had been entrusted to Heuk Seok.

Number Two spoke calmly.

“It hasn’t succeeded yet, has it?”

At this, the corners of Baek Seok’s mouth curled up.

“That’s not comforting at all. You don’t know what kind of person Heuk Seok is, do you? That woman will never miss this opportunity.”

Number Two realized that Heuk Seok was a woman. Anyway, he was someone who had been following Baek Seok’s orders. The comforting and mood-matching should all be directed towards this person.

“Did Gal Sa-ryang go along?”

“That’s right.”

“Gal Sa-ryang could be a variable this time, like with Elder Go’s incident.”

“Do you really think so?”

A desperate hope shone in Baek Seok’s eyes.

Number Two met that expectation.

“Based on the report of the person who investigated Gal Sa-ryang this time, they can’t be too sure either.”

“Do you trust the investigator?”

Number Two nodded without hesitation.

“Yes, I trust that person’s intuition.”

It wasn’t just a nod to please his superior.

***

The two carriages stopped at an inn.

“We’ll stay at this inn tonight.”

Usually, when the Alliance Leader travels, they stay at Martial Righteous Alliance safe houses scattered throughout the Central Plains, but this time it was decided to stay at ordinary inns along the way. Instead, the Alliance Protection Regiment had rented out an entire floor of this inn in advance.

Ma Bong-gi, wearing a bamboo hat, and the woman alighted from the carriage. The two entered, followed by Gal Sa-ryang and me.

The entire top floor of rooms was reserved for us. With Ma Bong-gi’s room in the center, Gal Sa-ryang and I stayed in the room to the left, while the Alliance Protection Regiment leader stayed in the room to the right. The rest of the rooms were divided among the Alliance Protection Regiment martial artists.

Ma Bong-gi dined in his room.

I went down to the first floor of the inn with Gal Sa-ryang. There was no one who would recognize us anyway.

Two Alliance Protection Regiment martial artists sat drinking at a table with a clear view of the entrance. It was obvious they were on guard duty rather than drinking for pleasure.

We sat at a table a little distance from them and comfortably ordered food and drinks.

“This affair could be dangerous.”

Gal Sa-ryang nodded at my words.

“I know.”

“If an urgent situation arises… please trust me.”

“Alright.”

He didn’t hesitate to answer. No, it was probably because he already had such feelings that he brought me along for this crucial matter.

I had some drinks with my meal with Gal Sa-ryang. He talked about various past operations. Of course, I knew about most of these operations.

I could understand thoughts and concerns Gal Sa-ryang had at the time that I hadn’t considered before.

I could tell that he was sharing these stories with me to nurture me into a good military officer. It’s a good sign. If he was only thinking about revenge and trying to use me, he wouldn’t need to tell me these things.

Gal Sa-ryang has genuine care for me. He’s telling me these things hoping that I’ll become a good military officer in the future.

I thought that perhaps he was contemplating his own end. Wanting to pass on everything and die with a peaceful mind.

Sa-ryang, that won’t happen as you wish.

That day, I had many conversations with Gal Sa-ryang and learned a great deal as a military officer.

***

Ma Cheol-gun awoke from his sleep.

As he was pondering why he had awakened, he suddenly sat up.

Someone was sitting in a corner of his room. Being in the darkness, their face wasn’t visible, only the outline of their body.

‘A woman?’

The body’s contours looked like those of a woman.

Ma Cheol-gun felt a chill. If the other party had wanted to kill him, his neck would have already been cut.

However, befitting the leader of the Heavenly Way Sect and still the most likely successor to Ma Bong-gi, he remained calm. He didn’t attempt to shout and summon his subordinates.

After all, it would have been an unsightly act when the other party had spared his life.

“Please pass me that water.”

At Ma Cheol-gun’s words, the other party grinned. In the darkness, exceptionally white teeth gleamed. He was certain it was a woman.

Whoosh.

The teapot placed nearby flew through the air towards Ma Cheol-gun.

Ma Cheol-gun’s heart chilled once again as he caught the teapot. To send a teapot full of water so lightly? It was truly an extraordinary level of air control.

‘She’s a far superior master than me.’

Who could this extraordinarily skilled female master be? He frantically tried to recall a few people, but no one fit this situation.

After drinking water directly from the teapot, he held it out to the woman.

“Would you like some?”

The woman in the darkness shook her head.

“Why have you come to me?”

“Sect Leader Ma.”

It was indeed a woman’s voice. It was a calm voice that made it impossible to guess her age, but the energy in her words was extraordinary.

“To make you the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader. How about it? Are you interested?”

Though calm and polite, the content was truly unexpected.

After staring blankly at the woman in the darkness for a moment, Ma Cheol-gun said,

“Of course I want to. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be fighting for succession with my relatives.”

“And how long would it take you to become the Alliance Leader that way? Your father is taking all sorts of elixirs and practicing dual cultivation with young women. He’ll live at least another thirty years.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’ll make it happen for you. As quickly as possible.”

“How?”

If he hadn’t witnessed the other party’s skills, this conversation wouldn’t have continued.

“It’s simple. When the Alliance Leader dies, a new one will be needed, and at that time, Sect Leader Ma can take that position.”

“What?”

Ma Cheol-gun’s eyes widened.

“What madness are you speaking?”

Ma Cheol-gun’s voice trembled.

“I’ll take that as your permission. I’ll handle the aftermath.”

“When did I? Shut up! I never gave permission!”

The woman stood up and spoke calmly.

“Cheon Hajin became the Alliance Leader when he was younger than Sect Leader Ma. There’s no reason you can’t do it.”

Just as Ma Cheol-gun was about to say something, the woman looked at him.

In the darkness, the woman’s eyes glowed white. The moment he saw those eyes, Ma Cheol-gun felt fear.

Unconsciously, he closed his eyes and when he opened them again, the woman had vanished from that spot. She had simply disappeared before his eyes without a trace. It was the first time in his life he had seen such extraordinary movement skills. It felt more like sorcery than martial arts.

Ma Cheol-gun’s heart began to race.

‘I must inform Father about this immediately!’

But his feet didn’t move right away. At this moment, Ma Cheol-gun realized.

‘Father.’

The pounding of his heart wasn’t just from worry about his father’s death and anger towards the woman. Some intense excitement was also beating in his heart.

It was the moment when the woman in the darkness planted a seed deep in his heart. A small seed filled with desire that, once it started to grow, would shoot up to the sky in an instant.