Chapter 114 - <Night March of the Underworld (4)>

"Crazy bastard..."

As expected of an Underworld giant, Cha Seokdu lived with curses hanging from his lips. But the feeling that a similar curse had been spat out by Seong Moran standing behind me must have been because my body was in poor condition.

No matter how optimistically I looked at it, my current physical condition was no longer fit to take the standard exam.

If I forced my way through, I might somehow manage to complete the exam, but if I did that, I would suffer deep damage to my Dantian like the Combat King of the Green Woods and eventually be unable to live a proper life.

Ultimately, the best method right now was to move the Four Emperors Peak.

"…Hah…"

Cha Seokdu, who had maintained his solemnity until now, forgot that his subordinates were watching from all around and turned into a stone statue with his mouth hanging wide open.

It was understandable, as he probably never expected that the very thing he desired most would pop out of my mouth.

The Underworld Murim had long desired to form an alliance like the Murim Alliance.

However, for someone to serve as a central focal point, the forces were all too similar in power.

Considering the advantages of an alliance, there was too much to lose immediately, so in the heads of those with simple mindsets who hated losses, an alliance was just an unnecessary detriment.

Ultimately, the creation of an Underworld alliance would only be possible after the Demonic Cult's invasion began in earnest and most of the Underworld Murim was half-destroyed. But considering that the already halved alliance had a shorter lifespan than the Murim Alliance, it didn't even serve as a stopgap measure to buy time.

"As long as there is no entity with overwhelming power, the best method to establish an alliance is through public discourse and justification. It should be easy to understand if you consider that the Murim Alliance has survived for the past five hundred years using the justification of eradicating the Demonic Cult, which was the public enemy at the time of its creation."

Cha Seokdu, who had been staring blankly for a long time, mumbled before continuing.

"We are going to publicize what happened at the Demonic Spirit Plateau?"

"That is correct. Many members of the Underworld Murim are already feeling a strong sense of fatigue from the Murim Alliance's dominance over Jianghu. Isn't that evident just by looking at how most sects in the Underworld Murim take a period of rest to lie low whenever the standard exam is held these days?"

"But the incident at the Demonic Spirit Plateau happened half a year ago."

"By nature, public discourse and justification can be attached to anything. Is the Murim Alliance's current justification still solely to eradicate the Demonic Cult?"

"…It's not that I haven't thought of that either. However, what is truly important is what comes after. Even if we create the Underworld Alliance, there is no guarantee that people will gather and build power like they do for the Murim Alliance."

This was also the biggest reason why the Underworld Alliance collapsed.

People naturally flocked to the Murim Alliance, competed with each other within it, and then spread out into the world once again.

The already established system continued to make the Murim Alliance stronger.

In contrast, the Underworld Alliance lacked such a system. Moreover, the ideology most deeply embedded in the minds of those in the Underworld was the 'law of the jungle'.

As long as this existed, those in the Underworld would never care about painstakingly crafted systems or ranks.

This must also be the greatest concern for Four Emperors Peak Master Cha Seokdu.

Gathering people. And making them follow ranks and systems.

"That, on the contrary, is not difficult."

"…Not difficult?"

Cha Seokdu's eyelids trembled, and he unconsciously leaned forward by half an inch.

"We will go with a meritocracy based purely on skill."

"…How is that any different from a chaotic mess?"

"It is distinctly different. It guarantees a path to success for everyone. No matter their origins or where they are affiliated, as long as they have the skill, it opens a completely free path for them to rise in the world as much as they want."

"..."

"What is the Murim Alliance's greatest vice? Isn't it that one's success and benefits vary depending on their origins, whether from the Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Noble Clans, or the 108 Peaks? The Underworld Alliance will completely break away from that. Amidst people infinitely competing and infinitely developing, the system of the Underworld Alliance will solidify firmly."

"..."

Not only Cha Seokdu, but even the experts of the Four Emperors Peak could be seen pondering with complicated eyes.

And it was only after a long while that Cha Seokdu finally spoke.

"Is the march for that purpose?"

"Yes."

"But I don't understand this non-violent march you mentioned."

"All warriors will disarm and wear only black martial robes, carrying black flags. And in the center of it all, they will carry a funeral bier and march all the way to Wuhan. This march will serve to honor those who died at the Demonic Spirit Plateau."

"…It will be quite bizarre."

"That is precisely why the world's attention will be drawn to it."

"…And you will all go together with us in that march?"

"I, too, cannot suppress my desire to honor those who died at the Demonic Spirit Plateau."

"..."

Beside him, Hwang Bushik opened his mouth.

"Peak Master. Regardless, if we do that march, it seems we'll get to see the dumbfounded faces of those Orthodox faction bastards."

Starting with Hwang Bushik, the experts standing on both sides began to speak up one by one.

"There seems to be nothing better than this to condemn those bastards for not stepping up back then."

"When I think about how they hindered us instead of helping back then, I still..."

"That's right. This is worth a try."

As words of agreement burst forth, a look of relief began to spread across the faces of our group.

After nodding for a long time, Cha Seokdu waved his hand, and all the chatter stopped.

"It is a good idea. As expected, it is a thought worthy of the Underworld's Divine Star, the Black Flame Dragon. However, what reason is there to do this right now? Wouldn't your involvement cause problems for our justification?"

"..."

"Rather, it would be better to do it to coincide with the one-year anniversary after the standard exam is over."

As expected of an Underworld giant, he knew how to maximize his own profits. But if I was just going to have my idea stolen, I wouldn't have come here in the first place.

"Do you think that would be possible?"

"Wouldn't it be better to do it then rather than right now?"

"No, what I am asking is whether you are confident you can persuade those ignorant Underworld bastards with these words."

"..."

The experts who had been agreeing with my words just moments ago glared at me with cold eyes once again.

"How many guys out there would even understand and agree that public discourse and justification are at least necessary? Moreover, would others agree to the Peak Master monopolizing that justification?"

Did Cha Seokdu fail to establish the alliance until now because he lacked justification?

It was because there was no one who could understand his grand ambition, or because their own greed was greater than that ambition, so most of them simply did not align with him.

"If you can do it like that, then it is fortunate. Anyway, it seems there is nothing more I can do, so I will go out now, surrender, and give up on the exam."

"..."

"I am indebted to you for these past few days. I will see you again next time."

Just as I immediately turned around and led our dumbfounded group about three steps away.

"W-Wait!"

"..."

The solemn Cha Seokdu had stepped forward a whole pace.

"Are you saying you have a way?"

"I might not be able to make them understand the justification or persuade them on the public discourse, but I can make them move."

"How?"

I untied the bundle in my hands.

CLACK, CLATTER.

The prominent figures of the Underworld Murim who, like Cha Seokdu, had given me their identification tags at the Demonic Spirit Plateau. Their identification tags scattered haphazardly across the floor of the Four Emperors Peak's grand hall.

* * *

"Haha, Young Master Jin needs to wake up quickly."

As he spoke, Kang Seopyo's lips were trembling, unable to hold back his laughter.

And watching him, Cho Mubin felt quite annoyed.

Right after leaving the grand hall following his conversation with Cha Seokdu, Jin Sowoon had collapsed again.

And the one who stepped up to nurse him was Namgung Seonhwa.

Even though it could have been embarrassing for her to step forward when there were maids, servants, and a resident physician at the Four Emperors Peak, Namgung Seonhwa acted as if she couldn't see anyone around her, clinging tightly to Jin Sowoon and refusing to leave his side.

It was true that Cho Mubin should have been prioritizing his concern for Jin Sowoon's safety, but he couldn't help feeling displeased every time Kang Seopyo smirked.

"Is it something to be that happy about?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm saying that if Young Master Jin completes the exam with the help of the Four Emperors Peak, wouldn't that cause its own set of problems?"

Listening to their conversation from the side, Baek Wongak also nodded.

"There might be people who question the exam results themselves. Regardless, the main enemy of the Orthodox faction is the Underworld. And isn't the Four Emperors Peak the foremost power in the Underworld Murim? Furthermore, if a true the Underworld Alliance is actually created from this incident..."

"That is true."

Listening to the two men, Kang Seopyo formed a meaningful smile.

"But you guys only know one thing and not the other."

"What?"

"Right now, the exam might seem important, but looking at the big picture, that's not necessarily the case."

"What does that mean?"

Kang Seopyo clicked his tongue pitifully.

"With you guys acting like that, when will you ever escape your perpetual Squad Captain positions?"

"..."

"..."

"From what we saw yesterday, you guys also felt that the intentions of the Four Emperors Peak Master didn't differ much from Young Master Jin's, right?"

Since the need for an Underworld alliance was a topic that had always been brought up, the two simultaneously nodded.

"If the Underworld Alliance really is formed using this incident as a catalyst, what do you think will happen?"

"The Murim Alliance will be in an uproar."

"Exactly. A war might even break out. But in the end, the alliance will be made. That's already the state of Jianghu. The people of the Underworld Murim, who have been oppressed by the Murim Alliance all this time, are just hoping for any kind of catalyst to appear."

"…Why do you look so pleased about the Underworld Alliance being formed?"

"Listen to the end. The Underworld Alliance will be formed, and it is obvious that the Four Emperors Peak will be its core. Then let me ask you. When the Murim Alliance wants to contact the Underworld Alliance, what method would be best to use?"

"…!"

"…!"

Kang Seopyo continued.

"Considering how the Murim Alliance has oppressed the forces of the Underworld Murim, creating a communication network from scratch would be impossible. So, a person who has connections to both the Underworld Alliance and the Murim Alliance simultaneously would be needed..."

"That would be the Taiyi Sect."

"More specifically, Young Master Jin."

"Exactly."

At Kang Seopyo's words, Cho Mubin and Baek Wongak felt even more complicated emotions.

Looking back on it now, it even felt as if their stop at the Four Emperors Peak in the middle of the standard exam wasn't just a coincidence.

"The biggest issue is whether the Four Emperors Peak resolves to move or not..."

The Four Emperors Peak mobilizing during a Murim Alliance event was no ordinary risk.

Moreover, a march done after completely disarming and relinquishing their swords could, if things went wrong, turn into an opportunity to subjugate the Underworld Murim.

"That is why they must still be continuously debating it in the Four Emperors Peak."

It was already the fourth day. There had been no contact at all from the Four Emperors Peak.

"The time has come for us to finally make a decision and figure out what we should do, too."

There was not much time left until the exam ended.

If they dragged things out any longer here, they might end up in a situation where they achieved absolutely nothing.

STEP. STEP. STEP.

The three, who had been chatting while squatting in the courtyard drawing pictures on the ground, stood up simultaneously and looked toward the entrance.

A giant of a man, so massive that he had to duck his head low to fit through the doorway, stepped inside.

Giant Shield Hwang Bushik.

He looked at the three men with his characteristically glaring eyes.

"Where is the Black Flame Dragon?"

"He's still..."

Just then, the door to the inner quarters opened, and Namgung Seonhwa walked out.

"Young Master Jin is waiting."

"Is he awake?"

"Yes."

"That's a relief."

With anxious hearts, the three watched as Giant Shield Hwang Bushik entered the inner quarters.

* * *

The thousands of warriors gathered near Mount Daebyeol in Henan Province were glaring at the Four Emperors Peak with sharp eyes.

It was because a huge pile of Admission Tokens, which would bring glory to their sects, was inside there.

The esteemed elders of their sects had ordered them to cooperate with other sects to retrieve the Admission Tokens, but they had also added a caveat not to lose in the competition, resulting in a subtle, ongoing war of nerves among them.

However, that only lasted a day or two.

Now, approaching the fifth day, those gathered at Mount Daebyeol were beginning to feel the fatigue of each passing day.

Since they hadn't prepared to sleep outdoors at all, they had to cram into the few guest houses located near Mount Daebyeol until the rooms were bursting. And because supplies were depleting rapidly, even when merchants raised their prices, they had no choice but to pay exorbitant amounts since they couldn't afford the time to fetch supplies from neighboring villages.

But the biggest problem was the mounting pressure that the deadline for the standard exam was steadily approaching.

"Just how long do we have to wait?"

"At this rate, we're going to fail the exam, too."

"Aren't they waiting for us to do exactly that instead?"

Just what on earth was a disciple of an Orthodox sect planning to do inside the Four Emperors Peak?

"How about we just attack the Four Emperors Peak instead?"

"Are you crazy?"

"Think about it. The Four Emperors Peak has already interfered with a Murim Alliance event, so isn't that a clear violation of the treaty?"

Caught in a situation where they could do neither this nor that, their ire naturally turned toward the Taiyi Sect, the Iron Sword Sect, and the Namgung Clan.

"A rootless bastard like him causing a fuss about taking the standard exam... at this rate, isn't the whole meaning of the exam being tarnished?"

"That's not all. The real problem is that the Namgung Clan and the Moyong Noble Clan are tagging along with them."

"It's a waste of the title of the Five Great Noble Clans, which supposedly stand shoulder to shoulder with the Nine Sects and One Gang."

On the sixth day.

The representatives of the Nine Sects and One Gang gathered in one place to make a decision regarding their future plans.

"Once today passes, the failure of Jin Sowoon's group will be confirmed anyway, so let's wait a little longer."

"The Four Emperors Peak is making a move!"

"Did the Four Emperors Peak finally kick Jin Sowoon out?"

Preparing for the worst, everyone gathered near Mount Daebyeol simultaneously drew their swords.

The sword blades densely filling all directions around Mount Daebyeol formed a veritable forest.

It was a situation set up just in case the Four Emperors Peak intervened in the standard exam.

"Prepare for battle!"

Along with someone's shout, thousands of warriors simultaneously roused their internal energy and unleashed their killing intent toward the Four Emperors Peak.

CREAK. THUD.

From inside the Four Emperors Peak, a crowd of hundreds slowly began to walk out.

"…T-That is…"

"No, what in the world…"

Those who were preparing for battle immediately let their swords drop with a thud and stared at the Four Emperors Peak.

"…A funeral bier?"

Hundreds of personnel dressed in black martial robes began a long march with a massive funeral bier at the center.