Chapter 242

Chapter 242
## Chapter 242. Today’s Fortune

“Buhahaha! This is truly refreshing.”

Cha Seok-du, who had made his way into the private quarters with the assistance of Dam-ak, burst into a boisterous laugh.

“Alliance Leader, are you fully recovered?”

In all honesty, it could scarcely be described as assistance.

Before them was Cha Seok-du, a massive colossus of a man, and Dam-ak, a slight gentleman who possessed no knowledge of martial cultivation.

The sight resembled a small toddler straining to support his massive father, while the father humored the child by leaning into the gesture.

“Ah, I am perfectly fine, perfectly fine!”

The emotions swirling within Dam-ak as he watched Cha Seok-du settle into his seat were incredibly convoluted.

Cha Seok-du looked completely at peace, resembling a man who had narrowly escaped the jaws of a terrible catastrophe.

The realization that this serenity had been granted to him not by Dam-ak, but by Jin So-un, lay heavily upon Dam-ak’s conscience.

“What luck… What immense luck…”

Observing him mutter in a dazed, drunken state with a faint grin, Dam-ak felt a profound wave of relief, yet he was simultaneously plagued by remorse.

“Forgive me, Alliance Leader. This burden should have been mine to shoulder from the beginning.”

“Eh?”

Cha Seok-du blinked open his heavy, half-closed eyes.

“Why should Strategist Dam carry that blame? This was a crisis that demanded everyone’s effort to solve.”

“If only my wits had been sharper…”

“Buhahaha. Strategist Dam, you are dwelling on needless anxieties again.”

As if the fog of alcohol had cleared slightly, Cha Seok-du chuckled warmly, training his perceptive gaze onto Dam-ak.

“Strategist Dam. What exactly do I require from you? Have I ever demanded that you protect my position?”

“…No, you have not.”

“Precisely. My sole desire is for the Black Thought Alliance to firmly plant its roots in this domain and flourish grandly.”

Cha Seok-du’s expression softened to a degree never seen before.

“And up to this point, Strategist Dam, you have executed your duties flawlessly.”

“……”

“Every individual has a specific part to play. It was merely that the Black Flame Dragon possessed the exact traits required to untangle this knot.”

He had not just been suited for it; it was a strategy that no one else in the world except that arrogant scoundrel could have envisioned or executed.

Even the formidable Cha Seok-du had found himself clicking his tongue in disbelief after hearing the entire sequence of events from Jin So-un.

“There is no reason to berate yourself, nor is there any point in measuring yourself against that rogue. Do you not have your own obligations to fulfill?”

“…I shall remember your words.”

Cha Seok-du gave a firm nod, his face turning solemn as he shifted his weight forward.

“More crucially… is a pact truly that problematic after all?”

The subject that had been raised during the feast earlier was now being resurrected in private.

“Are you seriously contemplating a coalition?”

“That scoundrel Jin So-un literally screamed at me via Sound Transmission, bellowing, ‘How could you possibly do this?!’ Heavens, I genuinely believed my eardrums would burst.”

“…Did such an incident truly occur?”

Dam-ak suppressed a heavy sigh within his chest.

Regardless of how much assistance Jin So-un had provided to the Black Thought Alliance, speaking with such utter disrespect to the supreme leader of the Black Thought Alliance was unacceptable.

Yet, Cha Seok-du pressed on with the conversation, completely unbothered by the lack of manners.

“Hmm… To be candid, I also suspect it might be wise to forge an alliance for a predetermined duration. The Black Thought Alliance is presently grand only on the surface, is it not?”

Naturally, drawing a comparison between an entity boasting five centuries of history and a newly formed coalition was fundamentally ridiculous, but Dam-ak could fully grasp the underlying logic of Cha Seok-du’s thought process.

“By purging the infiltrators, we have managed to contain the inner leaders’ resentment toward the Murim Alliance to a degree, but advancing any further along that path will be impossible. After all, a portion of our members only aligned with us under the banner of fighting the Murim Alliance.”

Pondering the matter for a brief moment, Cha Seok-du inquired tentatively,

“What is your assessment? Do we stand a chance against the current Murim Alliance?”

“…We would not crumble instantly.”

“Which fundamentally means we would be defeated.”

“The foundational might of the Murim Alliance extends far beyond its visible forces.”

“I am well aware of that reality. That is precisely what causes me such distress. I simply refuse to let the Black Thought Alliance be an association that flashes briefly before dissolving into nothingness. I wish to forge a sanctuary where independent spirits can assemble, challenge one another, and occasionally march forward as one.”

Cha Seok-du’s tone dropped to a resonant, somber pitch.

“Within the Demon Spirit Plateau, the forces that ultimately brought order were not the Black Path Murim, but rather the collective strength of the Orthodox Path Murim. And an event of that nature could replicate itself at any moment.”

His gaze flickered with intensity as he recalled bygone days.

“There exists only a singular motive for our unification. To defend our own.”

Not a sliver of uncertainty remained in his eyes.

“I am asserting that our purpose is not to slaughter others or plunder what belongs to them.”

Dam-ak, intimately familiar with the magnificent ambition Cha Seok-du had harbored throughout his lengthy life, offered a slow, respectful nod.

“I will keep that truth close to my heart.”

“…Tsk, I allowed my emotions to get the better of me. Forgive me. Whenever wine fills my belly, I become terribly verbose.”

On the flip side, Dam-ak could deeply empathize with Cha Seok-du’s internal state.

There were precious few individuals within the Black Path Murim who aligned with his grand philosophy.

The vast majority were brutal, lawless renegades.

Nurturing a majestic dream completely alone amidst such company could never have been a simple task.

“I shall ensure that your vision becomes reality.”

“Yes… I place my trust in your hands.”

After speaking passionately for a length of time, Cha Seok-du’s energy began to wane.

His eyelids drooped significantly, signaling that exhaustion was overtaking him, prompting Dam-ak to prepare to take his leave.

“Ah, wait. Take this along with you.”

Right then, Cha Seok-du extended a hand to slide a hefty wooden container from the side of the table toward him.

“What might this be?”

“Ah, that brat Jin So-un insisted that you could be targeted, suggesting I should either designate a bodyguard for you or provide you with some form of defensive relic.”

“Jin So-un… stated that?”

Upon lifting the lid of the container, he discovered a magnificent treasure garment, constructed by tightly stitching together slender iron plates resembling scales.

“This is the Iron-Scale Robe, one of the foundational Holy Relics of Four Emperors Peak. Keep it concealed beneath your attire at all times.”

Dam-ak could scarcely believe what he was hearing.

“If this is truly the Iron-Scale Robe… is that not your personal Holy Relic, Alliance Leader?”

This meant Cha Seok-du was transferring the very protective gear he relied upon to Dam-ak.

Dam-ak immediately pushed the lid shut.

“I am perfectly secure. Please don it once more, Alliance Leader.”

“The most indispensable individual within the Black Thought Alliance at this moment is not myself, but you.”

“……”

Cha Seok-du reached out and slid open the container that had just been sealed.

“Should I perish, an alternative figure can step forward to claim the title of Alliance Leader, but if you are lost, would the legacy of the Black Thought Alliance not crumble entirely? Therefore, do not reject this. Accept it for my sake, and for the future of the Black Thought Alliance.”

Perhaps the reasoning Cha Seok-du provided was merely a convenient justification.

It was an act of profound tenderness aimed at Dam-ak, the sole member within the core leadership of the Black Thought Alliance who possessed no martial arts training.

Dam-ak found himself unable to spurn such genuine concern.

He conveyed his deep appreciation through his own earnest declaration.

“I shall elevate the Black Thought Alliance… into an entity that matches the Murim Alliance, no, one that completely eclipses it.”

“Ha, that is precisely the future I yearn for! Heh-heh-heh.”

For some inexplicable reason, Dam-ak felt a wave of warmth in this moment, reminiscent of the peaceful days he had experienced at Cheongwa Academy.

—

“Uaaah… Uuuugh…”

A skeletal figure, with dark smudges coating his eyelids, dragged himself from the bedchamber and collapsed onto the table.

“Wa… Water…”

This bizarre entity uttered human speech as it desperately gestured toward the pitcher. Il-myeong, observing this pitiful display, let out a profound sigh, filled a container to the brim, and slid it over.

“Gulp, chug, chug, chug. Pwuh…!”

The unusual creature, who drained the container in a flash as if pouring liquid onto scorched earth, was none other than Jin So-un.

“Haa… I feel like I am at death’s door.”

Watching Jin So-un carelessly wipe the moisture from his chin, Il-myeong remarked with an air of pure exasperation,

“Benefactor Jin… If the aftermath is so severe, why do you not simply employ your internal energy to expel the toxicity of the wine?”

Hearing this, Jin So-un shook his head slowly, adopting the demeanor of a sage who had unlocked the mysteries of the universe.

“Senior Il-myeong… if I intended to just purge the alcohol using my energy, what would be the point of consuming it in the first place?”

“……”

[Jin So-un appears to be an ‘Enlightened One.’]

…Enlightened, my foot.

Namu Amitabha…

Concluding that there was absolutely no reasoning with the man, Il-myeong silently resumed gathering his belongings.

Jin So-un, tracking his movements, tilted his head in confusion.

“What are you preparing for now?”

“I am packing our luggage, naturally.”

“For what purpose?”

“…We are obligated to journey back to the Murim Alliance.”

Jin So-un was questioning an incredibly obvious reality.

Il-myeong, conversely, felt completely bewildered.

Could this man genuinely be contemplating the offer Cha Seok-du had extended the previous evening?

“Are you planning to remain here and assume the role of Vice Alliance Leader then?”

Dang Seo-hui, her eyes gleaming with a strange hint of anticipation, voiced the question that Il-myeong was holding back.

Jin So-un, who had somehow managed to drain a second vessel of water, twisted his features into a harsh scowl.

“What nonsense are you uttering? How could a practitioner of the Taeul Sect, a fundamental pillar of the Orthodox Path under heaven, reside among these wildly savage Black Path scoundrels?”

“……”

“…… shrink”

“Ah… Tremendous!”

Was Jin So-un not currently the single most terrifying entity within the entire Black Thought Alliance?

Wildly savage, he says…?

For some reason, it felt as though he would integrate into that vicious environment far more naturally than anyone else…

Il-myeong fought to maintain his composure and inquired,

“Then why are you instructing me to halt the packing?”

Jin So-un ceased his water consumption and declared,

“Haa… There is still an essential piece of business that requires my attention.”

“An… essential piece of business?”

Ak Byeong-bi and the rest of the Envoy Delegation had successfully vindicated themselves of the false allegations, the hidden conspirators had been uncovered, and the treaty had been finalized.

What could possibly be left to accomplish after all that?

Speculating if there was a hidden plot he had been left in the dark about, Il-myeong glanced toward Ak Byeong-bi, but Ak Byeong-bi merely offered a shake of his head.

“I am entirely unaware.”

Then Ak Byeong-bi added an afterthought.

“However, if that maniac claims he has a task to perform, it must undoubtedly be something of significant consequence.”

“……”

What in the world was happening?

When they initially journeyed to Shanxi Province, he had been so utterly certain that Jin So-un was an undercover agent for the Black Path that he refused to even sit at the same table with him.

Moreover, Jin So-un accepted Ak Byeong-bi’s drastically altered demeanor, which had flipped like a coin, as if it were the most natural progression in the world.

“That is the situation, meaning we shall tarry a bit longer before making our departure.”

“Benefactor Jin… Could you at least enlighten us as to what this business entails?”

“You shall discover the truth shortly.”

“……”

Il-myeong felt an overwhelming sense of dread regarding spending even a single additional day within the headquarters of the Black Thought Alliance…

“So, from this point forward, are you functioning as the Vice Alliance Leader?”

“Vice Alliance Leader? Well, you might as well view it in that light. Bwahahaha.”

“In that case, can I be appointed as a Vice Alliance Leader as well?”

“Senior Dang, you possess a massive mountain left to climb. Your cultivation is severely lacking.”

“I wish to be one too. A Vice Alliance Leader.”

“……”

…And it gave him a massive migraine that he appeared to be the lone individual troubled by this dynamic.

Il-myeong, terrified that their casual banter might drift past the walls and reach the ears of the gathering Black Thought Alliance members, finally activated his internal energy to seal the acoustics of the room.

‘Amitabha, Amitabha.’

It marked the very first instance in his existence where he experienced a profound crisis of faith regarding his path as a martial artist.

—

Every single leader representing the Five Sects, Two Gangs, and One Peak, who formed the absolute backbone of the Black Thought Alliance, had assembled inside the grand chamber.

As the voice for Four Emperors Peak, Cha Seok-du would typically be seated among them, but owing to his elevation to Alliance Leader, Hwang Bu-sik was present in his stead.

Il-myeong, scanning the countenances of those present, felt his throat go completely dry.

If one drew a parallel to the Murim Alliance, this was equivalent to having the leadership of the Nine Sects and One Gang alongside the Five Great Clans convened in a single room.

And given that they had assembled at the behest of a Black Path… no, an Orthodox Path Murim youth, this assembly was something that theoretically should never have transpired.

‘What on earth is that boy plotting?’

Evidently, the figures gathered shared his exact sentiment, as their countenances were uniformly sour.

Particularly, those who had championed the pro-war faction were scowling as though they were forced to swallow filth.

Yet.

The individual causing Il-myeong the greatest amount of anxiety was none other than Jin So-un.

“How much longer are we expected to sit here?”

That was the crux of the issue.

Jin So-un had summoned these legendary masters to a singular location, yet he himself was nowhere to be found, forcing them to wait indefinitely.

‘Amitabha, Amitabha.’

By the time Il-myeong had chanted the sacred name roughly ten times within his churning gut, Jin So-un, the object of their agonizing wait, finally strolled through the threshold.

“Ah, I ran a fraction behind schedule.”

He wore a look of complete, unbothered tranquility.

‘A… mitabha…’

Jin So-un, who walked in clutching a stack of documents under his arm, nonlinearly claimed the primary seat of authority, an action that only served to stoke the embers of the leaders’ fury.

“Black Flame Dragon… I have maintained my patience, but your arrogance knows no bounds. For what reason have you summoned us?”

“Eh? If your presence here was so distasteful, you were entirely free to remain in your quarters.”

SLAM—!

Enraged by a reply that treated their righteous indignation as trivial nonsense, the Demonic Path Sect Leader brought his fist crashing down upon the surface of the table.

“Did you not brandish the Alliance Leader’s Decree to force our attendance, you wretched brat?!”

Hearing the mention of the Alliance Leader’s Decree, Il-myeong felt his face drain of all color.

However, the words that escaped Jin So-un’s mouth next allowed his racing heart to settle slightly.

“Can your mind not grasp that I requested that authority from the Alliance Leader precisely because this is an issue of paramount significance?”

“……”

Jin So-un’s tone dropped to an icy, commanding register.

Faced with this, the Demonic Path Sect Leader could do nothing but grind his teeth in silent fury, unable to offer a rebuttal.

Il-myeong found himself growing immensely curious as well.

Exactly what kind of monumental crisis had prompted Jin So-un to delay their journey back to the Murim Alliance and leverage the supreme Alliance Leader’s Decree just to gather these titans?

Jin So-un proceeded to distribute the pages from his stack, passing them down one by one.

Il-myeong, eager to decipher the mystery, discretely swiped one of the leftover pages to scan the text, and immediately after…

“Son of a bitch, what sort of ridiculous trick is this?!”

“What?! Compensation funds?! What in the heavens do you think you are pulling?!”

Violent curses erupted across the room before Il-myeong could even finish reading the top line.

Il-myeong rapidly skimmed down the page.

And he felt a sudden urge to curse at the top of his lungs as well.

“……”

[Statement of Reward Payment for Exposing Hidden Agents]

-The aforementioned signatories shall render a bounty payment to Jin So-un, who successfully uncovered the perpetrator behind the homicide occurring on the day of Sinmyo within the month of Imja…

Ah… so this was the grand, essential business he absolutely had to settle before leaving the Black Thought Alliance?

‘Amita…’

Il-myeong, who had been desperately attempting to restore his inner peace by whispering the Buddha’s name, suddenly let go of all his worldly concerns. He turned his gaze toward Jin So-un and let out a gentle, serene chuckle.

‘To hell with it, I genuinely do not care anymore.’

It was a radiant, blissful expression perfectly embodying the moniker of the Smiling Buddha.