Chapter 520

The young man gazed blankly out the window.

It was a beautiful spring day. The sunlight was just right, and the breeze through the half-open window was pleasantly cool. Flowers had come into full bloom, filling the air with their sweet fragrance.

It was a Wuling Peach Blossom Spring¹ in the mortal world.

Everything would have been perfect if a voice had not suddenly spoken behind him.

“It’s a beautiful day.”

The young man was not startled. He had sensed someone approaching long before they spoke.

Nor was it only this visitor he could sense.

In front of him, behind him, to either side. Above and below.

He perceived everything happening around him and took it all in. He did not do it out of necessity or by conscious effort. It came as naturally as breathing.

What a shame. I can’t even enjoy the spring scenery properly anymore.

The young man turned. An old man with the imposing bearing of someone much younger stood smiling at him.

“I stopped by out of an old man’s needless concern, only to find you slacking off.”

His voice carried the weight of his years. His tone was gentle, like a grandfather speaking to a young grandson, but experience had taught the young man what lay beneath it.

The old man before him kept a blade hidden—one whose edge was cold and sharp.

“What are you thinking about so intently?”

“Just that I’m fortunate not to be your enemy.”

The old man chuckled softly.

“Anyone overhearing you might think I was a frightening man.”

The young man knew better than to be taken in by that good-natured laugh. No one could say how many schemes and far-reaching plans lay behind that smiling face.

During the upheaval of the Great Faction War, the chief of the Murim Alliance’s Hidden Shadow Pavilion had read the state of the world as though it lay in the palm of his hand and eliminated countless fiends. No man who had done that could be ordinary.

“I doubt anyone else would agree with you, Thousand-Faced Fox.”

Thousand-Faced Fox Song Ho.

The Hidden Shadow Pavilion’s old fox, said to have a thousand faces, shrugged.

“Some people do fear this old man, of course. But I hardly think the man before me is one of them.”

“Me?”

“Does it not?”

The young man thought about it for a while. Then his eyes widened.

“Oh. You’re right.”

“Aren’t I?”

“Now that I think about it, I’m not particularly afraid of you.”

Had two ordinary Murim practitioners, each willing to stake his life on his pride, exchanged those words, they would have drawn blades by now.

But neither of these men was ordinary. The identity of the man facing Song Ho had much to do with why he took no offense at all.

“Stay alert to everything around you, but fear no one. An Alliance Leader must always do both.”

The young man—Sword Saint Mae Jonghak—looked uncomfortable.

“I’d rather you didn’t call me Alliance Leader.”

“You’ll have to accept it sooner or later.”

“I simply haven’t gotten used to it.”

“But you’ll soon be Alliance Leader.”

“I’m not yet.”

“They say it’s better to take the whipping early.”

“I’ve always wondered why I have to be the one whipped.”

Thousand-Faced Fox’s answer was brief.

“Because the Martial God isn’t here.”

The title Martial God had once meant perfection. No, it still did.

Everyone who had met him even once had praised him in unison, and even after the passage of many long years, that vast and brilliant Fame still illuminated the world.

But…

“We couldn’t find him.”

The Martial God had disappeared. No one knew whether he was alive or dead, or why he had vanished.

Back when the Murim Alliance still existed, Thousand-Faced Fox had cast the Hidden Shadow Pavilion’s entire intelligence network across the world. Not one trace of the Martial God had turned up.

Like a moment of sunlight in the middle of a storm. Like a meteor streaking across the night sky.

He had disappeared that way, leaving behind a title that had become the very heavens and still hung over the world.

“With him gone, Great Hero Mae Jonghak, you are the only one who can serve as Alliance Leader.”

“Hah. There must be plenty of suitable candidates besides me.”

“If you mean the other members of the Three Saints and the Ten Kings, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Why?”

“For one thing, no one knows where the Bow Saint is.”

“Isn’t the Hidden Shadow Pavilion still looking for him?”

“Do you think Dark Heaven will wait? Shall I send a messenger pigeon? ‘We’re looking for the Bow Saint. Please hold off for a while’?”

“Oh. When you put it that way.”

“…”

Thousand-Faced Fox held back the urge to bring his fist down on Mae Jonghak’s head and continued.

“And as you know, his personality is somewhat…”

“I liked his fiery spirit.”

“Others won’t be so fond of it if he runs the Murim Alliance into the ground.”

“Hmm. I suppose not.”

“As for the Slaughter Saint… I’d only wear out my mouth explaining.”

“He might be more suitable than you think. His martial arts aside, he had an overwhelming presence. He seemed capable of commanding people.”

“People would follow him, certainly. Anyone who refused would already be dead.”

“Aren’t you treating him too much like the Killing Ghost?”

“His title is Slaughter Saint. What do you expect from me?”

“You have a point.”

Should I actually hit him?

Thousand-Faced Fox looked at Mae Jonghak with exactly that thought in his eyes, then sighed.

“The other members of the Ten Kings are unsuitable for much the same reasons. Some have passed away. The rest cannot take the position for one reason or another.”

Strength in martial arts alone did not make an Alliance Leader. The position demanded someone decisive enough to make important choices, and possessed of the character and breadth of mind to bring others together.

In that sense, Sword Saint Mae Jonghak was the only possible replacement for the Martial God.

“Great Hero, the leaders of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Families have given you their approval. You are upright and fair. You show no special favor even to Huashan, your own sect, and you listen to others. You are more than qualified.”

With the rise of the New Murim Alliance, the Hidden Shadow Pavilion had been officially restored, and Thousand-Faced Fox had regained his former standing. But one man’s support could not make an Alliance Leader.

Only someone recognized by all—someone with the qualities of a leader as well as exceptional martial arts—could take that seat.

Not that there were no objections at all.

Thousand-Faced Fox pushed the thought aside and frowned.

“And yet someone like you is leisurely enjoying the spring weather.”

Mae Jonghak glanced wistfully toward the window.

“It was a nice day. I only looked outside for a moment.”

“Do you know how many matters are waiting for you—”

“Oh, right. Take them with you. I put them all together.”

Thousand-Faced Fox stopped in the middle of his scolding.

“What do you mean?”

“The bamboo slips the Hidden Shadow Pavilion brought in earlier. Seventy-eight matters, to be exact. I’ve dealt with all of them.”

“…?”

All of them? In so little time?

Thousand-Faced Fox stared at the mountain of bamboo slips in the corner of the office. Then his eyes narrowed.

“Did you read the letter from Qinghai?”

“You mean the Kunlun Sect? Of course. It said they were pressed for time because they had to suppress bands of bandits and mounted bandits. It would be good if they arrived on time, but it should not matter much if they are a little late.”

“And the news from Sichuan?”

“Everyone is working together to speed the Tang Clan’s reconstruction. Ah, tell the Inner Hall to prepare an especially potent elixir. I heard the Family Head’s condition is poor. We should send substantial aid, but for now, we can at least do that much.”

“Then the letter from the Nanman Beast Palace…?”

“Was there one? I saw nothing about the Nanman Beast Palace among today’s matters.”

There was a simple reason for that. None of the matters submitted today had mentioned the Nanman Beast Palace.

Only then did a faint smile reach Thousand-Faced Fox’s lips. Until now, he had only half believed Mae Jonghak.

“Hm? Why are you smiling?”

“It’s nothing. I’m simply pleased to see you attending to your duties so—”

“Do not smile so slyly. Someone else might be horrified if they saw you.”

“…”

“Anyway, the breeze is lovely. What a fine day.”

Having spoiled Thousand-Faced Fox’s mood, Mae Jonghak went back to gazing out the window. Then he spoke again.

“Would you like to take a walk outside with me? We may not have another day like this after today.”

“I’d rather not.”

Thousand-Faced Fox’s answer was curt.

“I will send up another matter shortly, so do not do anything pointless, Alliance Leader. Get to work.”

“An honored guest is arriving. The least I can do is go out and greet them.”

“Greet them?”

Thousand-Faced Fox paused, then limped toward the window on his prosthetic leg.

“Look over there.”

“…!”

Something was slowly approaching beyond the city wall.

It was still a considerable distance away and blurred by it, but once he focused his internal energy, he could easily make out a carriage.

What he could not explain was the familiar face on the driver’s bench of that four-horse carriage.

Why is Shadow Killer there?

Shadow Killer was among the Hidden Shadow Pavilion’s finest agents. At the Star-Array Grand Banquet, he had tracked Mae Jonghak while the Sword Saint was hiding his identity. During the Great Faction War, he had taken the heads of countless fiends.

“A familiar face, isn’t it?” Mae Jonghak said.

“Yes. I sent Shadow Killer when I heard there was trouble on the main road, but…”

I sent him to capture them, and now he’s escorting them here.

Thousand-Faced Fox swallowed the rest of his words as Mae Jonghak’s voice reached his ears.

“An urgent report came while you were away,” Mae Jonghak said.

“An urgent report?”

“Yes. Some welcome faces are on their way.”

Mae Jonghak patted Thousand-Faced Fox’s shoulder twice, then leaned out the window and muttered, “Come, let’s go.”

“Welcome.”

The carriage entered the Murim Alliance’s Inner City and came to a stop. The voice that greeted us as soon as we got down was fairly familiar.

Sword Saint Mae Jonghak.

I’d once known him as Always-Victorious Sword Jongni Chu. He spotted me and gave a short laugh.

“How have you been, my friend?”

“…”

He’s really sticking with that act.

I dipped my head in greeting. Mae Jonghak smacked his lips as if disappointed, then turned to Jeok Cheongang.

“I’m glad to see you looking well.”

Jeok Cheongang, who had been yawning extravagantly while looking around, furrowed his brow.

“Were you speaking to this old man?”

“It has been a long time. I’m glad to see you again.”

“You must have mistaken me for someone else. This old man has no particular connection to a brat whose blood hasn’t even dried on his head…”

Jeok Cheongang trailed off. He looked Mae Jonghak up and down, and his eyes widened.

“Could it be you?”

“It is. It’s me.”

Mae Jonghak beamed.

“Since we’ve met again, would you consider becoming Alliance Leader?”

“…?”

“…?”

Is this the Murim version of picking a group-project captain?