Chapter 240
**
The day broke. With both body and mind neatly arranged, we set out for the Martial Alliance, accompanied by the Jinju Family.
“U-Um, are we really allowed to be here…?”
“This way is better.”
It would be wise to show that we are also within the same fence as the Jinju Family.
The doors of the Sapa were now openly revealing themselves in the street for the first time. With their numbers exceeding a hundred, people’s gazes naturally turned towards them.
“W-Who are those people?”
“Moving around in black clothes during broad daylight…”
“They must be part of some sinister organization…”
It seemed we were misunderstood, but I chose to ignore it. I prioritized looking more intimidating.
The bloodthirsty members of the Former Society were also with us. Narin and Gwangyang stood confidently by my side.
A moving crowd. And amongst them, the Jinju Family who appeared anxious.
We arrived at the gates of the Martial Alliance. Upon seeing the group walking towards them, the Martial Alliance Warriors, who had been waiting in advance, drew their swords.
“State your affiliation! Who are you?!”
“We were invited, you see.”
“…Invited? By who…?”
“It’s Jeok-un. I am the Martial Alliance Inspector.”
“B-Blood Lord?!”
The startled warriors began to sneak glances.
“W-Who are the people behind you…?”
“They are my companions. Could you let us in?”
“B-But we cannot allow those whose identities are unverified to enter…”
“In that case, I’ll refuse the invitation from the Martial Alliance.”
I tried to turn on my heel. However, the Martial Alliance Warriors hastily grabbed me.
“I-I’ll check with the higher-ups! Please wait a moment!”
A familiar face soon emerged. A military officer who always stood by the Martial Alliance Leader’s side.
Jegeol Soak.
He greeted me with a stern expression, whispering softly, partly covering his face with a fan.
“…Blood Lord. Congratulations on your survival… But who are the people behind you?”
“These are those who share my intentions.”
“Share your intentions… you say…?”
“Just as it sounds. They are with me. Both in life and death.”
“…….”
Jegeol Soak’s expression hardened. It seemed he wanted to gauge my intentions but ultimately closed his mouth again.
“Even so, we cannot recklessly bring outsiders into the Martial Alliance. Blood Lord. I hope you understand.”
“Is that the law of the Martial Alliance?”
“It’s to prevent any unexpected dangers.”
“Dangers, you say…”
I did not appreciate the twisted way of speaking.
However, these were the ones who had sent me to my doom once.
…No, on reflection, twice.
“I would also like to be with them to prevent danger.”
“Blood Lord. This is the Martial Alliance. There is no one here who could threaten you.”
“Isn’t this the same place that sent me to my doom twice? The third time might just be here. I won’t dismiss them. If you won’t let us in, I will take my leave.”
“…….”
Jegeol Soak sighed. With a look that appeared somewhat amiable, he dropped his fan and smiled awkwardly.
“It seems there’s a misunderstanding between us. While clearing it up is paramount… I cannot keep a guest standing here for long. Very well, Blood Lord. However, since it may be cramped for everyone to be in one place, I will arrange a separate location within the Martial Alliance for some to wait. How does that sound?”
Jegeol Soak lowered his voice.
“This is the best I can offer. I hope you understand, Blood Lord.”
That statement was laced with a firm judgment.
It meant they recognized us as potential enemies.
But, ironically, that was exactly what I wanted. I responded crisply.
I had no intention of accepting conditions that distinguished allies.
Even if the situation went awry and friction arose, I had to be visible to protect them.
“If we can’t enter, then how about the leader comes out to meet us?”
“…Blood Lord! How dare you underestimate the authority of our alliance! Please retract that statement!”
“It seems this conversation is about to go off the rails.”
I nodded silently.
“If you refuse to either come out or let us in, I will take my leave.”
“…Do you understand the weight of the words you’ve just spewed?”
“I certainly know the weight of my own words. It seems you, military officer, might not understand.”
I lowered my voice.
“Do you think our relationship is the same as before?”
“…….!”
Jegeol Soak bit his lip. He glanced at the crowd that was gathering and then stepped aside.
“…Come in.”
The Martial Alliance’s warriors surrounded us. Like prisoners being escorted, we entered the depths of the Martial Alliance.
Narin and Gwangyang tried to remain calm, but a slight tremor was noticeable. After all, they were entering the very lair of an enemy they often fought against…
It was only natural for them to be tense.
I wrapped my arms around their shoulders and whispered to them.
“Don’t worry.”
It may come off as rather arrogant…
But it was far more important to ease my disciples’ anxiety.
“Because I’m here.”
“…….!”
“…….!”
Narin and Gwangyang smiled brightly, nodding enthusiastically like children.
Su-ryeon echoed my words in a singsong voice.
“Don’t worry… because I’m here…”
“Su-ryeon.”
“The girl is just copying me because I look cool.”
“…I’d rather you not do that…”
Il-ho’s lips twitched. I could see he was trying to hold back a laugh, so I sighed.
Was that a mistake?
Our moving party finally reached the end. The environment was the same as before, but this time we waited outside instead of inside the building.
A massive door swung open, and a force capable of bursting forth streamed out. It was as if countless knives were brushing against our cheeks, enveloping the space with ruthless killing intent.
An overwhelming threat. The unspoken violence summoned by one’s inner strength.
However, those who were not part of the Sapa held their ground. They had learned to control their emotions and maintained composure in the face of death, aptly being called assassins.
Unlike the Jinju Family members who had collapsed or the bloodthirsty warriors who swayed, the assassins of the Sapa maintained their poised stances. Soon, the Martial Alliance Leader, Namgung Hyuk, revealed himself in the heavy atmosphere, taking a seat on a chair prepared outdoors.
Our eyes met. His face was unchanged. He bore a seemingly amicable face…
But those were the eyes of a greedy man.
For a moment, the killing intent receded. After sweeping his gaze over the assembled crowd, he focused on me.
Namgung Hyuk, the Martial Alliance Leader, broke into a wide grin.
“Jeok-un! You’ve returned! Haha! Congratulations on your survival!”
“For someone congratulating me, you seem rather sharp.”
“Ehehe. I must confirm this myself, right? Your fame could be a farce, and you could very well be an imposter. Just consider it a formality. But it seems you’ve brought quite a few extra legs with you.”
Clearly derogatory words.
I let out a small sigh.
“They are not mere legs; they are pillars. Each one supports my actions. I would appreciate it if you refrained from underestimating them.”
“You’ve changed. You. Didn’t we get along rather well back in the day? Hm? Why have you become so prickly?”
“How could I look at someone who sent me to my doom with kind eyes?”
“To doom, you say? I sent you away thinking you’d genuinely be helpful to the Cheonryong Association. And didn’t it all turn out well? Although the Cheonryong Association has perished, you fought to the end and returned here. Even if you couldn’t change the tide of that war…”
Namgung Hyuk grinned.
“Still, your achievements are achievements. You’ve saved face for ‘us.’ Our alliance has always been grateful to you. Given the situation as it is, can’t we build a better relationship? Don’t be so prickly; it’s makes my skin tingle.”
“A person seeking a good relationship doesn’t release killing intent upon reuniting nor does he use violence to gauge people, Leader.”
“You’re so uptight. So uptight. Didn’t I say? I wanted to confirm if you were real or an imposter.”
“Do you believe you can distinguish truth from falsehood simply by stopping my momentum?”
“…….?”
“Do you wish to ascertain if I am truly the gatekeeper of the Martial Alliance…”
I placed my hand on my sword.
“You should have mixed your blade instead.”
“…….?!”
A provocation.
At my clear taunt, Namgung Hyuk’s eyebrows twitched.
The lightness of my tone shifted to seriousness.
“…You haven’t been drinking on your way here, have you? You’re being reckless. Have you forgotten who I am?”
“The Sword Lord. I understand you’re a member of the former Martial Alliance and the previous Head of the Namgung Clan.”
“The former Martial Alliance? Leaving aside other matters, that’s something you shouldn’t say. Those who speak so of the current Martial Alliance are merely fools spouting false names after having left our ranks. The Martial Alliance has always been united, and the legitimacy lies here.”
“It seems you have plenty of misdeeds for the legitimacy argument to stand firm.”
“…Strange. Very strange. Your words hold weight. Then why are you here? What reason do you have for bringing your subordinates and seeking a private meeting? I had hoped for a reply suggesting we might walk this path together.”
“Once with the Demon Cult. Twice with the Cheonryong Association. If I were to get caught up in the same thing a third time, it would be akin to having no head at all, wouldn’t you agree?”
“…….”
“I have come to deliver a warning.”
“A warning.”
The Sword Lord leaned back in his chair.
He waved his hand.
“Go ahead. What is it that has you so tormented that you’re hedging your words? What do you want to say?”
I looked up at him.
Above me now was the Martial Alliance Leader, Namgung Hyuk. But the actual positions between us had flipped entirely compared to before.
Those who had looked down on me had lowered themselves.
And those I looked up to had risen high.
“In the name of the Blood Lord,”
With that single phrase, the atmosphere grew heavier. Now, without even a hint of concealment, the Martial Alliance Leader stood up.
—Kugugugugugugugu…!
The wind began to howl. The sharp intensity pressed down like hundreds of swords descending from the sky.
Those who couldn’t withstand the overwhelming inner strength screamed. Even the assassins of the Sapa who hadn’t budged under the prime threat now twisted their bodies.
“Blood Lord. How dare you utter such nonsense before me… Do you truly think someone like you can dine with me?”
A voice that could shake the heavens and earth.
It reverberated out, as if the tide of a master martial artist was attempting to swallow the entire Martial Alliance whole.
But I too had arrived there.
…No.
I had arrived above it.
I calmly gazed up at him. In the tempest of intensity, I revealed my own depths as well.
A crimson world. From the depths of my expanded shadow, countless blood hues burst forth, overwhelming the oppressive force descending from above.
—Kuguguguguguguguuuuu!!!
Threat met threat.
Intimidation met intimidation.
The retaliatory force engulfed the color of the enemy, dyeing the world in my hue.
“Dine?”
—Kwaaaaang!!!!
The clash of forces. In the midst of that clash, the walls couldn’t bear the pressure and exploded in unison.
The Martial Alliance Leader’s face turned pale. I calmly dispelled the pressure he unleashed.
The overwhelmed Martial Alliance Leader, unbeknownst to himself, stepped back.
“W-What…?!”
“I find myself wanting to ask you first,”
I didn’t hide my teeth.
Rather, I revealed them.
There was no reason not to.
“Do you truly believe you can dine with me?”
