Chapter 527

Seven days and nights had passed since the day people called the Mount Song Resolution.

Amid the shouts of countless Murim heroes, the Murim Alliance’s flag had been raised once more. News that the Alliance had officially been restored for the first time in decades swept beyond Henan and shook the entire Murim world.

Things have been moving at a frantic pace.

At first, I’d thought there was no reason for me to be particularly busy. I learned how naïve that was less than half a day after the Murim Alliance was formed.

“Captain. I hear there’s a visitor downstairs.”

“What do you mean, you hear there’s a visitor?”

“Apparently Cheongpung ran into him on his way back from buying dumplings. He says the man’s waiting downstairs.”

“I suddenly want dumplings. And I’m not meeting him.”

“I caught a glimpse of him. He looked like someone important.”

“What, am I some lowborn bastard? Send our important guest home with all due courtesy.”

“How could I do that? I hear he made an appointment.”

“What the hell are you talking about? I haven’t made any appointments since I got here. And how many people do I even know?”

“That’s true. You don’t have any friends, Captain.”

“Really? Because it looks like you’re about to lose your head.”

“Hmm. Maybe he spoke with the Lesser Family Head?”

“This bastard doesn’t even flinch anymore.”

“Spend three years as Hyuk Mujin, and you wind up with about three lives.”

“Enough nonsense. Send him back. Ah, but who exactly is this important person?”

“Oh, wait a moment. I’ll go ask.”

“Go on.”

Hyuk Mujin went downstairs at a leisurely pace, then came racing back.

“K-K-Kongtong Sect! The Kongtong Sect Leader!”

“Bring him in at once! Bring him innnn!”

Wait, why is hyung¹ here?

Starting with the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, one of the Nine Sects and One Gang, a steady stream of renowned figures of Murim came to visit.

The Family Head of the Namgung Family, whom I already knew, came in person. People from sects and families I’d formed connections with while traveling across the Murim world arrived one after another.

Of course, far more of them came to make a new connection.

“Captain.”

“…Who is it this time?”

“The Shandong Yue Family. The Family Head came in person.”

“…Receive him with due courtesy.”

“A representative from the Murim world of Guizhou was sent as well……”

“…Bring him in as well.”

“Oh, and Captain.”

“…Bring him in.”

I hadn’t realized I was this famous. No, to be precise, I hadn’t realized I was this famous.

After three days of meeting one visitor after another, I was exhausted.

Fuck, I can’t keep doing this.

It would be one thing if these were blind dates with pretty women.

But dealing with more than ten middle-aged and old men every day left me feeling like my soul had been sucked out. By then, the smell of tea alone made me nauseous, and the conversations across those teacups were mostly the same.

“Oh! So you’re the Blazing Flame Divine Dragon I’ve heard so much about!”

The Jin Taekyung Conversation Guide.

Had they all read a book with that title before coming? Every one of them opened with the same line.

But even an obedient child eventually gets contrary. At first, I’d forced a smile and exchanged meaningless pleasantries. As time went on, I got more honest.

“I’ve heard many rumors about you.”

“I’ve heard plenty of stories about myself too.”

“A young hero has appeared in Murim. It’s truly wonderful. Ho ho ho.”

“I’m the happiest person of all. Ha ha ha.”

“Incidentally, I have a daughter of marriageable age…”

“I have two older brothers of marriageable age.”

“Good heavens, man! How dare you spring your daughter on him out of nowhere? Have you lost your mind? Young Hero Jin, don’t pay that fellow any mind.”

“It’s all right. I wasn’t listening anyway.”

“Then listen to me instead.”

“Wow. So that’s where this is going.”

“As a matter of fact, I have a daughter too. I’m sure you’ll like her.”

“I’ll stake Hyuk Mujin’s balls that I won’t.”

“What are you talking about? Balls—no, what man in the world would turn down a beauty?”

“A beauty? Is your daughter very pretty?”

“Do you even have to ask? Her beauty is already famous throughout Fujian!”

“Oh. Ohhh.”

“Everyone knows her! Stop anyone passing by and ask. She’s already pretty, but in five years, she’ll surely be the First Beauty of Fujian!”

“Ohhh, the First Beauty of Fujian… Wait. Why five years?”

“She’s twelve.”

“Get out.”

I could hardly remember how those seven days and nights had passed.

Some of my visitors already knew me, while others came out of simple curiosity. Most, though, wanted to forge some kind of connection with me or the Jin Family of Taiyuan.

And not all of them were martial artists.

“Captain. Someone from a place called Central Plains Commerce is asking to see you.”

“Bring them in—no, wait. Why is a trading company looking for me? My eldest brother, maybe, but me?”

“I’m not sure why. But I have an eye for people, and they don’t seem bad. It might be worth meeting them.”

“Hey.”

“Y-Yes?”

“You bastard. Central Plains Commerce slipped you money, didn’t they?”

“Gasp! H-How did you know?”

“Give back every last bit and send them away. While I’m still asking nicely.”

Now there were even people slipping bribes to Hyuk Mujin.

Most of the visitors so far had arranged their appointments through Jin Wikyung, so I’d met them reluctantly. They knew full well he was the only way to get an appointment with me. Anyone who came directly fell into one of two categories.

Either Jin Wikyung would turn them away for some disqualifying reason, or their standing was so high they could show up whenever they pleased.

The first was far more common. Those people usually tried some shallow trick, then left without so much as seeing my face.

Why were they going to such lengths? I had a pretty good idea why all this attention had suddenly fallen on me.

The flag, obviously.

On the day the Murim Alliance was officially proclaimed, I’d raised its flag together with Mae Jonghak, the new Alliance Leader, Jeok Cheongang, and Cheongpung.

It had moved me, but I hadn’t thought much more of it. To everyone else who’d witnessed it, apparently, it had been an enormous culture shock.

I suppose it makes sense. Two young punks got the spotlight instead of all those elders.

The platform had been packed with people from prestigious sects and families, including the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Families.

Murim had reached such an extreme level of population aging that the platform could have passed for a senior center. Even the men in their forties who’d managed to get up there were little more than pu’er tea² runners. Yet Cheongpung and I, barely past twenty, had the audacity to take part in that glorious, historic moment.

The sight had clearly startled everyone. Some nodded, acknowledging the ability and qualifications of those two young punks. Others seemed to find it deeply irritating.

The Zhongnan Sect, for example.

I couldn’t be sure, but their guts were probably twisted with resentment by now. After all, the Jin Family of Taiyuan and I had begun rising rapidly, and our history with them was anything but friendly.

The bad blood had started with the Three Hands of Zhongnan, the three idiots of the Zhongnan Sect. It had worsened when the Roaring Fury Swordsman came to the Jin Family of Taiyuan’s New Year’s Day banquet and caused a scene, only to be beaten by Jeok Cheongang like a dog on the hottest day of summer.

And that wasn’t all. The feud had reached its peak when the Taeeul Merciless Sword, regarded alongside the Sect Leader Wind-and-Cloud Sword Lord as the Zhongnan Sect’s greatest master, was defeated by me.

After that much humiliation, seeing me in the spotlight must have made them grind their teeth. For all I knew, they were somewhere right now biting, tearing, and chewing on me, the Jin Family of Taiyuan, and Jeok Cheongang.

Given the personalities of the Zhongnan Sect’s people I had seen so far, I could almost believe it if they joined hands with Dark Heaven.

Hey, Zhongnan Sect.

Dark Heaven! Come on in.

The Murim Alliance has been formed. Why the long faces?

Jin Taekyung is pissing us off. That fucking brat.

Ho ho ho. Want a hit of a Temporary Strength Pill?

Sure. Roll me one.

I could picture it. I really could.

Still, Zhongnan was a venerable orthodox sect and one of the Nine Sects and One Gang. Surely they weren’t crazy enough to join hands with Dark Heaven. But they’d find some way to get in our way at every turn.

Hang on. This isn’t fair. Why is everyone swarming me?

At the thought, I looked toward the rice weevil—or rather, the dumpling grub—fidgeting in a corner with Mimi-chan.³

“Why, Benefactor?”

“Good heavens, the bug talks.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. But Cheongpung, why do you look so free? Doesn’t anyone come to see you?”

“I don’t meet people when I’m full. And I don’t meet them if they don’t bring me something tasty.”

I thought about that for a moment, then asked, “Aren’t you always full?”

“Yes. So I don’t meet anyone.”

“…Right.”

Must be nice not having a care in the world.

If I had to pick the person in all Murim who gave the fewest fucks and did exactly as he pleased, Cheongpung would be a strong contender.

Even on the day of the Mount Song Resolution, he’d bounced around in delight because it was his first time raising the Murim Alliance’s flag.

Is he a genius or a lunatic?

Probably both. Hmm.

As I was thinking that, Cheongpung yawned and spoke.

“And I’m not free. I’m training right now.”

“What fresh bullshit is this?”

“I’m serious. Look.”

Cheongpung took Mimi, the Thousand-Year Poison Horned Snake, off his shoulder and began squirming in his seat.

“…Sorry to interrupt, but are you evolving into a bug?”

“No. It’s martial arts.”

“Martial arts?”

“Yes. I made it after watching Mimi move.”

Then why did it look nothing like martial arts?

I asked with complete sincerity.

“Please tell me this martial art isn’t called Squirming. Or Toughening Up. Something like that.”

“No. It’s a footwork technique.”

“……Then you should stand up and do it, you idiot.”

“Oh, right. I forgot.”

Did I really have to tell him that?

While I was at a loss for words, Cheongpung sprang to his feet and took a step.

Or rather, the moment I felt him take a step, his figure disappeared.

Whoosh!

With a faint sound, Cheongpung reached the far end of the spacious room and flashed me a toothy grin.

“Ta-da. What do you think?”

“…!”

What did I just see?

Goose bumps shot up my back.

His movement was ghostlike—no, snakelike. It was unmistakably a footwork technique, and yet it wasn’t.

Cheongpung hadn’t walked. He’d slid, so fast that even I could barely follow him with my eyes.

“I mixed Mimi’s movements with a few different martial arts. Moving like this makes me feel like I’m Mimi too, and I like it!”

“…You mixed them?”

“Yes! It’s called Mimi Step! Would you like to learn it, Benefactor?”

He really is insane. In more ways than one.

I stared at Cheongpung with my mouth hanging open, then shook my head.

“No. I don’t want to.”

“Aww…”

Just as Cheongpung’s shoulders drooped, Hyuk Mujin’s voice came from outside the door.

“Captain. There’s a visitor here.”

A visitor? Was there anyone else left who could come see me?