Chapter 218

Chapter 218
The saying goes that when a person experiences extreme shock, their cognitive processes grind to a halt.

That was exactly the state I was in.

“Join the founding ceremony of the Black Thought Alliance.”

Because Jegal So-myeong had spoken so casually, for an instant, I assumed the Black Thought Alliance was merely a new pub located near the Murim Alliance.

“Where exactly are you asking me to go?”

A Black Path coalition was being formed even sooner than in my previous life.

Furthermore, since the Demonic Cult had not yet emerged, every Black Path sect under the heavens would congregate at this inauguration.

After all, the Black Path coalition that would finally oppose the Murim Alliance was coming into existence.

Every sect that considered itself significant or powerful would flock there to secure a position.

“If it is a founding ceremony, won’t all the Black Path sects congregate there? It doesn’t seem right for a mere academy student to attend such an event.”

He was instructing me to walk right into a den of dragons and tigers.

“What is there to be afraid of? Aren’t you familiar with those individuals?”

“Wh-who said I’m familiar with them? I’m being framed!”

I was already enduring ridiculous rumors labeling me as the successor to the Black Path or a rising talent.

And now I was expected to attend the initiation of the Black Thought Alliance?

‘That would be like throwing gasoline onto a dying fire.’

The suspicious looks from my fellow academy students had only just begun to fade.

Moreover, I had finally started earning proper respect as their representative.

I had zero desire to visit some unnecessary place and get caught in hostile glares.

“You aren’t close with them?”

“Correct!”

“Oh?”

Jegal So-myeong rubbed his chin, eyeing me.

“Then why did that Four Emperors Peak Lord specifically name you and request that we include you in the envoy delegation?”

“Excuse me?!”

This lunatic!

Was he out of his mind?

Even if there was no one else to invite, to select me—someone destined to become an elite of the Murim Alliance and a major foe of the Black Path—to join the envoy delegation.

‘Wait…… Could he be intimidated by my potential and trying to create a stain on my reputation?’

When faced with an unwanted task, only absurd suspicions grew.

I quickly regained my composure.

“N-nevertheless, I won’t go.”

“What did you say?!”

“I’m not even a full Alliance member yet, nor am I part of Mantongbu. The only reason I arrived at Mantongbu was to assist Department Head Maeng with his duties.”

Maeng Ju-won, who had been lurking nearby with his ears perked, gave me a giant thumbs-up.

I am not doing this because I admire you!

“……It wasn’t to visit the Black Thought Alliance. Furthermore, I’m far too busy as a representative to fulfill the Grand Strategist’s request.”

I rejected the proposal quite bluntly and firmly, yet for some reason, Jegal So-myeong responded serenely.

“I have already informed the Academy Head.”

“Pardon?”

“This time, even if you are absent, the academy students will not organize a representative delegation on their own. Unlike in the past, a formal order will be issued.”

He then pulled out a rumpled, messy sheet from a pile of papers and shoved it toward me.

“That is your official order. What is inscribed at the very bottom?”

“……It reads Alliance Leader’s Hall.”

Why was a document that looked like someone had used it as a tissue and then smoothed it out an order from the Alliance Leader’s Hall?

“An order issued simultaneously by the Alliance Leader’s Hall and Mantongbu is absolute. Even if the recipient is an academy student. Or would you prefer to argue with the Elder Council?”

The only individuals capable of overturning an order from the Alliance Leader’s Hall and Mantongbu were the members of the Elder Council.

But even if I appealed to the Elder Council, as if those people would ever rescind the order on my behalf.

No, they would likely seize the chance to shove me forward and tell me to go perish.

Jegal So-myeong offered a smug smile.

“Well then, will you be locked in the Prison, or will you go?”

I gritted my teeth and replied.

“……It would be better to go.”

“That is the correct choice.”

Damn it, damn it, damn it.

What exactly had I done to deserve this constant stream of trouble?

Ah! If I had foreseen this, I should have paid the Mount Heng Sect to perform a massive ancestral rite on my behalf.

“But what do you mean by telling me to assist in forming an agreement with the Black Thought Alliance?”

In the first place, the Black Thought Alliance, a Black Path coalition, was initiated as a group to challenge the Murim Alliance.

If they intended to align with the Murim Alliance from the start, the blowback would be immense.

Obviously, there was no way they would accept the Murim Alliance’s proposal.

Furthermore, the Murim Alliance held the same view.

The primary enemy of the Murim Alliance at present was not the Blood Cult or the Demonic Cult, which were considered vanished.

It was the Black Path.

What reason would such a Murim Alliance have to initiate an alliance with the Black Path first?

“The campaign against the Blood Cult is dragging on. We cannot allow the Black Thought Alliance to perceive this as an opportunity.”

“…….”

I steadied my mind and spoke as calmly as possible.

“I don’t believe I can accomplish this.”

“Why not?”

“Isn’t that organization intended to keep the Murim Alliance in check? There is no way they will accept me.”

For some reason, Jegal So-myeong nodded.

“We also doubt they will accept a pact. A stable alliance will likely be an issue for the distant future. If so, at the very least, war must be avoided until the situation in Sichuan concludes.”

“…….”

“If war breaks out, then we will have crossed a river from which we cannot return.”

Could the Blood Cult and the Black Path truly be considered total enemies?

There was no way the sight of the Murim Alliance moving to wipe out the Blood Cult would look favorable to the Black Path.

Moreover, for the Black Thought Alliance, now was the ideal moment to strike the Murim Alliance.

‘Perhaps they might even sever the heads of the envoy delegation and declare war…….’

If I completed this mission without incident, I would be suspected of being a Black Path plant, and if things went poorly, war might erupt between the Black Thought Alliance and the Murim Alliance.

No matter how I looked at it, I didn’t want to go.

But since the mandate had already been delivered, appealing to logic wouldn’t work.

The only remaining option was to appeal to his emotions.

I bowed my head respectfully.

“But regardless, can someone like me truly forge such a monumental agreement with the Black Path coalition? I believe you are overestimating my capabilities.”

“Do not fret. Your duties will be confined to ‘assistance.’”

“……I am worried because I have no idea what might happen in the middle of those Black Path mobs.”

“I’m aware your inner strength is only at three cycles, so what is there to worry about? A guy who even severed the head of the Blood Cult’s Young Cult Master is acting timid. Tsk.”

Ugh.

The consequence of showing off to gain reputation had shackled my own feet like this.

No, and this old man was certainly not easy to deal with.

Jegal So-myeong was already patting my shoulder.

“Do not worry. Someone with formidable martial arts will accompany the envoy delegation.”

I made one last effort to resist.

“P-poison! How do I defend against poison? If they are Black Path scoundrels, they might lace the food with it…….”

Thanks to the Taeul True Scripture and my massive internal energy, I could likely reach a level of immunity to a hundred poisons, but I wasn’t immune to ten thousand.

Whether he realized my anxiety or not, Jegal So-myeong just nodded.

“I figured you would mention that, so I’ve prepared everything in advance.”

“…….”

What? He prepared it?

Hell, why was he so meticulous?

“Academy Student Jin So-un, ensure there is not even the slightest oversight in this mission.”

After abruptly speaking in a grave tone, Jegal So-myeong cleared his throat and walked away.

Maeng Ju-won, who had drifted closer, patted my shoulder as if telling me to buck up, but I didn’t feel cheered at all.

I truly couldn’t fathom it.

Why did my life remain filled with tribulations whether I ascended in the world or not?

—

The emergence of the Black Path coalition shook the entire Murim.

The Black Path sects began anticipating that, through this chance, they might be able to retaliate for what the Murim Alliance had inflicted upon them all these years.

Conversely, the Orthodox Path sects found the rising power of the Black Path unsettling to witness.

Even within the Murim Alliance, a subtle tension started to permeate.

Hardliners insisted that warriors be deployed immediately and that the very existence of the Black Thought Alliance should be eliminated, while moderates took the stance that there was no need to react impulsively to the creation of a simple organization.

In contrast to these clear public stances, the leadership could not take any definitive political position.

They couldn’t forgive an entity like the Black Thought Alliance, but since that group hadn’t actually committed any crimes, they couldn’t punish them.

They were claiming they were merely gathering to build camaraderie. It wasn’t as if one could flip the table and forbid them from doing so.

If that wasn’t the Black Path, then what was?

The Murim Alliance wasn’t some gang of thugs.

Moreover, intense conflicts were raging day after day in Sichuan at that very moment.

Victory was in sight, but the resistance of the Blood Cult, which was facing total annihilation, was fierce, and significantly more time was needed if they were to invade the enemy’s stronghold and root them out entirely.

Ultimately, regarding the Black Thought Alliance’s founding ceremony, it was decided that they would send appropriate gifts, a personal letter under the Grand Strategist’s name, and a small group of envoys.

Protests rained down from both the hardliners and the moderates, but when the reality of the situation in Sichuan was presented to them, they retreated like dogs told it was time for a bath.

Hyeok Mu-gang raised his teacup and asked,

“What did that kid say?”

“He made it perfectly clear that he wanted to avoid going with every fiber of his being. But what can a brat like him do?”

Jegal So-myeong looked as if he felt entirely satisfied, but a faint shadow crossed Hyeok Mu-gang’s face.

“For some reason, I wonder if we are placing an excessive burden on that child.”

“Is there any other alternative? There is no suitable person we can trust to handle this kind of task.”

It was a mission that would almost certainly fail regardless of who went.

Jin So-un, at the very least, had impacted the process of the Black Path coalition’s creation, and because of the events at the Demon Spirit Plateau, he had some acquaintance with the Four Emperors Peak Lord and many other Black Path giants, so they were giving it a try.

Jegal So-myeong also tightened his expression and stated,

“This time as well, we have no choice but to bet on that fellow’s unpredictability.”

Jegal So-myeong disliked relying on unpredictable variables in this manner.

The likelihood of failure was high, and in the aftermath, the consequences would be catastrophic.

But at least in this instance, he hoped it would succeed, even if by pure luck.

“Because if it fails…… it will mean war.”

The resentment of the Black Path Murim toward the Murim Alliance had deep roots that stretched over a long period.

Now that they had just started consolidating their strength, they needed to project that power, if only to maintain internal order.

The Murim Alliance also couldn’t suddenly offer an olive branch to the Black Path now.

How had the current strength of the Murim Alliance and the Orthodox Path grown until now?

Had it not been because of the justification that they were suppressing the Black Path and maintaining order in the Murim?

Perhaps war had been inevitable all along.

“I only hope that a situation requiring more bloodshed does not arise.”

Hyeok Mu-gang’s voice grew heavier than ever.

—

“Eldest Senior Brother, reach out your arm. You need to wear your pack.”

“…….”

Eun-ho threaded the strap over my unmoving arm and slung the heavy bag onto my back.

“Ah, and don’t forget the souvenirs when you return.”

“……Do you think I’m going on a casual excursion?”

As if he couldn’t hear my words, Eun-ho continued saying only what he wanted.

“I’ve heard there are people among the Black Path martial artists who create strange artifacts. When else would I ever get to see them if not during a time like this?”

“……But Geum-pyo, why do you look like that?”

Geum-pyo, with clothes reduced to rags and bruises covering his body, gave a shy smile.

“I’ve been practicing outer arts lately……”

“……I see. You’re working hard.”

“Senior Brother. Please be careful.”

Sa-ryeon, who worried about me the most, stepped forward.

“As expected, you’re the only one who……”

“Even if someone picks a fight, you must not shatter their head whenever you feel like it. That place is effectively the heart of the Black Path Murim. Don’t do what you did at the Iron Sword Sect.”

“…….”

After receiving my juniors’ affectionate(?) farewell and greeting my acquaintances, I headed straight to the Murim Alliance.

‘An envoy delegation……. An alliance…….’

Admittedly, an alliance with the Black Thought Alliance was necessary.

The moment the front lines expanded, the blood of warriors would flow like rivers throughout the Murim.

The issue was that there wasn’t a single person inside the Murim Alliance who had a positive relationship with the Black Path.

That was why I was extremely curious about the members of this envoy delegation.

If they were to go as an envoy delegation to the Black Thought Alliance and negotiate a pact, didn’t that imply they were people capable of acting as a bridge between the Murim Alliance and the Black Thought Alliance?

And if this agreement was reached successfully, the members of this envoy delegation were individuals likely to serve as a bridge between the Murim Alliance and the Black Thought Alliance later, against the emergence of the Demonic Cult.

‘I should make sure to remember them.’

When I reached the rendezvous point, I saw a small traveling party.

Perhaps they had finished their preparations early, as the guards from the escort agency were checking the carriages, and the drivers were inspecting the condition of the horses.

“Could you perhaps be the academy student joining the envoy delegation?”

A driver asked while bowing halfway.

I nodded slightly.

“Yes. That is me.”

“Ah, I will guide you this way.”

The driver acted with extreme caution, as though escorting a VIP.

I looked around and inquired,

“Hmm…… Are the envoy delegation members already here?”

“Yes. You are the final one to arrive, Young Master.”

I had arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the scheduled time, yet they had already gathered.

Following the driver’s direction around the carriages to where the horses were waiting, I saw the people who appeared to be the envoy delegation.

And the moment I laid eyes on them,

“Fuck…….”

I couldn’t help but curse and freeze in my tracks.

At my exclamation, a woman turned toward me.

“……Cursing is ill-mannered.”

Short stature. Long ebony hair. Dang Seo-hui, with an expressionless face and a peculiar way of speaking.

“…….”

“Please approach. Benefactor Jin. It has been quite a while.”

Next to her, Small Buddha Il-myeong greeted me with his palms pressed together.

“To think a mere delegation member would dare arrive after the delegation leader.”

And finally, there was Ak Byeong-bi, who had attempted to torture me not long ago over the matter of shattering Ak Ju-pyeong’s leg bones.

‘I’m going insane.’

After confirming their identities, I felt truly appalled.

A daughter of the Tang Clan, whose tactics were even more ruthless than the Black Path.

The Chief Disciple known as the future abbot of Shaolin, the Mount Tai and Northern Dipper of the Orthodox Path.

An ideological inquisitor who would brand not only Black Path members, but even perfectly upright Orthodox Path followers as Black Path if he found them suspicious.

‘What kind of envoy delegation is this!! It’s a punitive expedition!!!’

Even if they had deliberately selected only the individuals that Black Path members despised, it would have been difficult to curate such a group.

“It is a pleasure to meet you again after all this time.”

Dang Seo-hui waved with a blank expression.

‘I won’t do it! Damn it!’

I had already not wanted to go.

Now I wanted to go even less.