Chapter 79 - The Black Flame Dragon Who Surpasses the Gate (7)

The Branch Chief of the Murim Alliance's Hangzhou Branch could not hide his astonishment while listening to the report.

"The Ssangmak Stronghold was wiped out?"

This First Gate of the Murim Academy exam was a hellish trial for the branches nationwide.

They had to individually observe over four thousand mountain strongholds, keeping track of who subjugated them and ensuring that no experts of the First-Rate Realm or higher, or Murim Academy graduates, were involved in the process.

Fortunately, aside from three strongholds belonging to the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods, the Zhejiang Province area had very few medium or small-scale strongholds, allowing them to handle their work more leisurely compared to other branches.

Of course, there were some unexpected variables. The Bongjim Stronghold, identified as the weakest among the four thousand, collaborated with the nearby Gu-ung Stronghold to launch a counterattack against the Gyeryong Merchant Group, surprising the alliance members.

But now, he had just heard the news that the Ssangmak Stronghold, which they had only been observing as a formality, was suddenly wiped out.

"Could a Peak Realm expert have been hiding among them?"

"According to the reports, the martial arts level of the examinees was high, but not to the level of being registered with the Murim Alliance."

"Then what? Are you saying the Murim Alliance or the Mount Hua Sect launched a joint attack to wipe out the Ssangmak Stronghold?"

Powerful factions sometimes grouped their disciples together to mobilize hundreds of people.

It was a method that took advantage of the limit of one hundred people that could be mobilized per person.

Even so, the Ssangmak Stronghold was composed of two combined strongholds, numbering a thousand people.

An ordinary sect would have to send ten disciples just to match those numbers.

"That's not it, either. The group was said to be less than twenty people."

"..."

"I know it's absurd. That is why, wouldn't it be best for you to go take a look yourself, Branch Chief?"

Arriving at Mount Cheonmok in person, the Branch Chief couldn't close his mouth at the sight unfolding before his eyes.

The massive and lush Mount Cheonmok was completely burnt black, hundreds of corpses were piled up midway up the mountain, and a small stream of blood had formed at the village entrance.

"What is..."

An alliance member managing Mount Cheonmok approached the speechless Branch Chief.

"The men who identified themselves as examinees brought the hostages down from Mount Cheonmok and then launched a fire attack."

"That makes no sense. The foliage creates many springs, making it difficult for a fire to spread."

"That is true. However, the moment the examinees launched their fire attack, a massive wind blew, and the oil barrels they had set up throughout the mountain exploded, rapidly engulfing the entirety of Mount Cheonmok in a wildfire."

"..."

Come to think of it, he recalled a report from two days ago about a wildfire breaking out on a dry mountain due to a sudden gust of wind.

"They used the wind? A natural disaster?"

At that moment, the ones who appeared to be the examinees approached.

One was a man with a massive body like a great mountain, and the other was a plain-looking man.

While the massive man stood still with his arms crossed and chin raised arrogantly, the plain man offered a polite fist-and-palm salute.

"I heard you came from the Murim Alliance's Hangzhou Branch."

"That is correct. Are you the ones who wiped out the Ssangmak Stronghold?"

Instead of answering, the plain man looked back, and the people standing behind the massive man brought forward two corpses covered in straw mats.

"These are the wicked bastards known as Golden-Faced Buddha Blade and One-Eyed Blood Axe."

"..."

An alliance member hurriedly approached, lifted the mats to examine them here and there, and soon nodded. It meant they were indeed the Stronghold Masters of the Ssangmak Stronghold.

"Are you saying you truly wiped out the Ssangmak Stronghold yourselves?"

"It is exactly as you see."

"The Ssangmak Stronghold was one of the leading Green Woods factions in Zhejiang Province. I simply cannot believe you accomplished this alone."

No sooner had the Branch Chief finished speaking than the massive man's face contorted fiercely. He then began to raise his internal energy.

"... *Heup. *"

"*Keuk. *"

"What kind of internal energy is..."

Along with his martial robes swelling as if they would burst, a mighty wave of qi radiated outward, seemingly constricting their windpipes.

It was mere fighting spirit, entirely devoid of killing intent, yet it was enough to make them feel suffocated, as if crushed by a massive boulder.

"The so-called members of the Murim Alliance didn't even think to wipe out the Ssangmak Stronghold, yet you dare doubt those who worked for the people?"

The massive man strode forward and reached out his hand, looking ready to rip off a head in a single breath.

The Branch Chief had practiced martial arts his entire life, yet he couldn't believe he was being so miserably overpowered by someone who still looked so young.

He tried drawing up his internal energy with all his might, but unlike his intent, his body refused to move.

"Stop. You're scaring them."

At that moment, the plain man lifted his black sword, still in its scabbard, and blocked the massive man's hand.

"Snapping the necks of these rotten bastards would be doing a favor for the Murim Alliance."

"If you do that, you'll never set foot in the Murim Alliance."

"..."

The massive man, who seemed like he wouldn't listen to reason, heard the plain man's words and slowly withdrew his aura.

However, he didn't retract it entirely. He merely returned to his spot, crossed his arms, and glared.

It was a display showing that he was ready to pounce at a moment's notice.

"As you can see, thanks to this man's incredibly vast internal energy, we were able to wipe out the Ssangmak Stronghold without much difficulty. Furthermore, we had the heavens' help as well."

"..."

The Branch Chief was about to say something but stopped, starting to read the massive man's mood.

His own sect was a formidable one that wouldn't lose to anyone anywhere, but wouldn't the power of his sect be completely useless if he died right here at the hands of this massive man? That fear had gripped him.

"If you need to, you may investigate further. We also plan to stay here for a few more days."

The massive man cut in.

"Of course, if you do, I will make sure you never walk back on your own two feet."

"Ah... please just stay still. Why do you keep interrupting!"

"... Because those sons of bitches are doubting us."

"No, what kind of nonsense are you saying to the members of the Murim Alliance! Apologize right now."

"Hmph! I was originally going to start by breaking one of their arms each, so let's call it even."

The alliance members unconsciously rubbed their arms.

"... Ahem, a-anyway, tell us your identities first. T-Then we can investigate or whatever."

The massive man tilted his head and glared fiercely.

Eventually, the plain man stepped between them and spoke.

"This person is Bang Duchil."

"The Reincarnation of Xiang Yu!"

"The Myth of Lu Bu!"

Gasps erupted among the Murim Alliance members.

It was because they were already well aware of the rumors surrounding Bang Duchil.

"I... I s-see. Then what about you?"

"Ah, I am Jin Sowoon of the Taiyi Sect."

"..."

"..."

Unlike when Bang Duchil was introduced, the atmosphere cooled as if cold water had been poured over the area.

Barely opening his mouth, the Branch Chief struggled to speak.

"Are you... that, the Black Flame Dragon, Jin Sowoon?"

"... Yes, it seems that's what I'm being called."

The man named Jin Sowoon nodded in displeasure, and the Branch Chief immediately looked back and shouted.

"Hey! Bring the gate tokens! Right now!"

"Y-Yes, sir! I have them here."

"If you saw it with your own eyes, you should've just handed over the gate tokens! What a big deal this is to drag me out here! I'm sorry, Young Hero Jin! My subordinates are still lacking in their training."

Jin Sowoon and Bang Duchil couldn't help but tilt their heads at the sudden change in attitude.

* * *

'Damn it. Damn it.'

'Why are rumors of wicked deeds I never even committed spreading further and further?'

Feeling suspicious of the Hangzhou Branch Chief's suddenly changed attitude, I subtly asked him while receiving the gate tokens.

And the story I heard in return was an absolute spectacle.

["Phew, we don't do idiotic things like Gong Seokchan."]

Gong Seokchan was the Yueyang Branch Chief of the Murim Alliance. Back when I saved the people in the Demonic Spirit Plateau. He had once come looking for me bearing a grudge because Yong So-ah's reputation had plummeted to the ground after fleeing alone.

At the time, I thought the matter had been resolved well because Namgung Jinmyeong and the Peak Master of the Four Emperors Peak, Cha Seokdu, had stepped in.

But, lo and behold.

After everything was over, the members of the Orthodox faction and Underworld sects, centered around Namgung Jinmyeong and Cha Seokdu, had formally raised an objection with the Murim Alliance.

If it had only been the objections of Underworld sects, the Murim Alliance wouldn't have even cared. But with all the involved sects—including the Namgung Clan, the Mount Heng Sect, and the Mount Mao Sect—taking issue with the behavior and response of the Murim Alliance's Yueyang Branch.

And furthermore, taking issue with the Murim Alliance's subsequent handling of the situation, the Murim Alliance couldn't help but be flustered.

As a result, everyone belonging to the branch, including the Yueyang Branch Chief of the Murim Alliance, was relieved of their duties and dismissed, forcing them to return to their sects or hometowns, and even those involved within the Murim Alliance were disciplined one after another.

The problem was that strange rumors about me had spread because of this incident.

Bizarre rumors claiming that I was the joint inheritor of the Orthodox and Underworld Murim, that I was an illegitimate child of the Namgung Clan who learned martial arts at the Four Emperors Peak, or that I was a monster created by an alliance of extra-terrestrial sects to destroy the Murim Alliance.

"I heard your skills were extraordinary, so you had that kind of background."

Bang Duchil, who was listening to the story next to me, nodded his head, and I yelled sharply.

"Don't speak such nonsense. What do you mean, a joint inheritor?"

"If you're not, then you're not, so why get angry? Seeing you get so mad, you must be feeling guilty about something. Then perhaps, as the illegitimate child of the Namgung Clan at the Four Emperors Peak..."

"I am not!"

"I do not look down on illegitimate children. That is not something one chooses..."

"I said I'm not!"

Baek Soryeong, who had been giggling beside us, said.

"Still, it's a relief. There are no more strongholds on Mount Cheonmok now."

I shook my head.

"It probably won't stay that way."

"What? Why?"

"Mount Cheonmok is the most convenient and safest path connecting Anhui Province and Zhejiang Province. Moreover, to reach Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, one must pass through Mount Cheonmok. For all we know, someone among the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods who wants to build their own stronghold will appear again."

"Ah..."

"..."

While Baek Soryeong nodded, Bang Duchil continued his heavy silence.

"Take this for now."

I handed over four of the eight gate tokens I received from the Hangzhou Branch Chief to Bang Duchil.

Bang Duchil stared blankly at the gate tokens before suddenly asking Baek Soryeong.

"Soryeong."

"Yes, darling."

"Is it alright if I do not become a member of the Murim Alliance?"

"Pardon?"

"I felt it while doing this task. The Murim Alliance does not seem to be my path."

He was still merely a youth who had barely passed the age of twenty, so he couldn't have mastered all the affairs of the world, but even so, the justice of the Murim Alliance seen through his eyes was not very pleasant.

"Then..."

"I wish to pursue the path of the Green Woods."

Bang Duchil looked at Mount Cheonmok, which had essentially been stripped bare.

"The path of the Murim Alliance does not reach the common people. But the path of the Green Woods directly touches them. If I establish the path of the Green Woods, wouldn't many more people be able to live in peace?"

"... Darling."

"I will make a promise instead. I will become the king of the Green Woods and make you my queen."

At Bang Duchil's resolute declaration, Baek Soryeong smiled and spoke.

"Darling, I already think of you as my king. Wherever you go, I will be with you."

Baek Soryeong and Bang Duchil embraced each other deeply.

It looked as if a large bear was holding a fish in its arms.

'I suppose this was destined to happen in the end.'

'Perhaps becoming the Green Woods Alliance Leader is a much better fit for Bang Duchil.'

'He was never the type to fit into a place like the Murim Alliance, where complex schemes and politics are exchanged.'

Just as I was about to tactfully excuse myself, Bang Duchil spoke to me.

"You."

"...?"

"Walk the path of the Green Woods with me."

"What?"

"Isn't the Ssangmak Stronghold made of two strongholds? With me, the path of the Green Woods..."

"Don't speak such nonsense. What are you saying to a disciple of a prestigious Orthodox sect?"

"... Calling the Taiyi Sect a prestigious Orthodox sect is..."

"Are you asking for a fight?"

After pondering for a moment, Bang Duchil nodded and said.

"Then let us become sworn brothers."

At those words that felt like a bolt from the blue, I shouted furiously.

"An Orthodox martial artist who is brothers with the Green Woods Alliance Leader. Just thinking about it is horrifying."

"Oho, do I have the face of someone who will become the Green Woods Alliance Leader?"

"..."

His words were so absurd that I lost my reason, which was unlike me.