am-books Chapter 120
Chapter 120
Chapter 120
Trap (1)
Mu-jin, who had urgently taken care of Mu-gyeong and exited the Yongbongji Conference arena, headed towards the Shaolin Temple’s pavilion with the Shaolin monks.
‘Damn. I didn’t expect him to have mastered the Emperor’s Sword Form.’
So far, Namgung Jin-cheon had only been using the Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship in the duels, so Mu-jin couldn’t accurately gauge his level.
In the novel “Legend of the Evil Emperor,” the Yongbongji Conference ends with the protagonist, Dao Yuetian, being defeated by Namgung Jin-cheon’s Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship in just one move.
Later, it’s only mentioned that the winner of the Yongbongji Conference is Namgung Jin-cheon, and the runner-up is the Cheongsu Dojang.
The true extent of Namgung Jin-cheon’s power is revealed five years later when Dao Yuetian finishes his closed-door training for revenge.
Naturally, Mu-jin assumed that Namgung Jin-cheon would have learned the Emperor’s Sword Form after obtaining the prize from the Yongbongji Conference.
The Emperor’s Sword Form requires immense internal energy, and the prize for this year’s Yongbongji Conference was something closely related to internal energy.
But that was then, and now treating Mu-gyeong was the priority.
After arriving at the pavilion, Master Hyun-hyeon, who checked Mu-gyeong’s pulse after he was laid on the floor, spoke with a bitter expression.
“All his energy pathways are twisted, and his internal energy is rampaging chaotically. It might be a bit risky to treat him with just the internal injury medicine we have here.”
At those words from Master Hyun-hyeon, Mu-jin hurriedly went into the room and brought out a box.
“This is a Lesser Restoration Pill I received when departing from Shaolin. How about using this?”
“You mean to say the pharmacy gave you a Lesser Restoration Pill?”
Master Hyun-hyeon, who didn’t even know about this as the person in charge of this event, looked puzzled.
“More importantly, treating Mu-gyeong is our priority right now, Grandmaster!”
“Ah, yes! Quickly, give me the Lesser Restoration Pill!”
When Mu-jin shouted urgently, Master Hyun-hyeon also regained his composure and focused on treating Mu-gyeong.
* * *
Evening.
A grand mansion built in Woe-hyeon by the Namgung Family.
In the martial arts training hall prepared for the direct line of the Namgung Family in the heart of this mansion, Namgung Jin-cheon was meditating with his sword drawn.
‘To think he blocked that sword so easily.’
What he was recalling now was the appearance of Mu-jin, who had intruded at the end of the duel.
Specifically, the sight of him effortlessly catching his killing sword with his hand.
Even though it wasn’t directed at Mu-jin, it was a killing sword aimed to kill Mu-gyeong, imbued with his full intent using the Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship.
What irked Namgung Jin-cheon the most was not just the indifferent look in Mu-jin’s eyes, but the fact that he had so easily blocked his sword.
Blocking the king’s execution is nothing short of rebellion.
“Hoo.”
As Namgung Jin-cheon took a deep breath, a heavy wave of energy emanated from him, pressing down on the entire training hall area.
Namgung Jin-cheon’s heavy sword moved slowly, poised to crush the imaginary Mu-jin.
“In the final match, no one will be able to interfere.”
At this moment, in the Yongbongji Conference, Namgung Jin-cheon identified someone as a significant threat to the king—a traitor for the first time.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that very moment.
Deep within the Murim Alliance, three middle-aged martial artists were gathering once again.
Outwardly, they discussed the bright future of the righteous factions, engaging in boisterous conversations. However, behind the scenes, they were exchanging secret messages.
– “The final match of the Yongbongji Conference will commence after two days of rest. Are there still no orders from above?”
– “Do not worry. The orders just arrived a short while ago.”
– “That’s a relief. What are the instructions?”
– “The higher-ups decided to just leave it be.”
– “Leave it be? What do you mean by that?”
Although more people had gathered than usual because it was the finals, the real difference was the identities of those who had come to watch the final match.
“Since it’s the finals, even the major figures of the Murim Alliance have all come.”
Following the direction Master Hyun-hyeon was looking, there were several martial artists ranging from middle-aged to elderly gathered together.
They were in a position close to the arena, and judging by the atmosphere around them, it was clearly a VIP area.
Because the Shaolin disciples’ gaze followed his, Master Hyun-hyeon explained who they were, one by one.
“The man seated in the center is none other than the leader of the Murim Alliance, Wi Ji-hak.”
Mu-jin’s eyes sparkled at Master Hyun-hyeon’s words.
Wi Ji-hak, the leader of the Murim Alliance. Among his various nicknames, the most famous was the Fist King.
He was a man who had claimed the title of Fist King, the foremost martial artist, by surpassing the two great pillars of Shaolin from the Nine Great Schools and the Hwangbo from the Five Great Families.
‘So, that’s what he looks like.’
Having only read about him in novels, Mu-jin hadn’t recognized him until Master Hyun-hyeon pointed him out.
Wi Ji-hak, the Fist King.
Wi Ji-hak had become the Murim Alliance Leader almost by default due to the political struggles among the major orthodox forces who did not want to elect someone from different sects or families. Unlike the Heavenly Three Swords or the Seven Kings, who were either from the unorthodox faction or the Five Great Families and Nine Prestigious Clans, Wi Ji-hak’s position was more of a political compromise.
Nevertheless, he was one of the top ten martial artists in the world, ranked among the Seven Kings, just below the Heavenly Three Swords.
“He’s also accompanied by a strategist.”
The middle-aged man beside Wi Ji-hak, who did not look like a martial artist, was none other than Jegal Muhwan, the chief strategist of the Murim Alliance from the Jegal Family.
Mu-jin felt an unsettling aura as he looked at Jegal Muhwan.
‘I suspected that guy might be the culprit.’
Having read “Saga of the Demon Emperor,” where Do Wol-cheon is the protagonist, several times, Mu-jin knew that the hidden forces had concealed a trap within the prize of this Yongbongji Conference.
He also knew that the Jegal Family was in league with these hidden forces, leading him to believe that the trap was set by the chief strategist, Jegal Muhwan.
‘So, the Jegal Family hasn’t completely turned yet.’
Thanks to his encounter with Jegal Jin-hee, Mu-jin realized that the Jegal Family hadn’t fully allied with the hidden forces.
The problem, however, was that the Jegal Family was divided into factions.
Jegal Muhwan, the half-brother of Jegal Mun, the current head of the Jegal Family, had distanced himself from the family due to a power struggle and had quickly aligned himself with the Murim Alliance when he was younger.
In the end, it was possible that Jegal Muhwan was the culprit, but it wasn’t certain.
‘Well, if I break a few of the hidden forces’ plans after the Yongbongji Conference, I might get some clues.’
While Mu-jin was organizing his thoughts, Master Hyun-hyeon continued to brief the Shaolin disciples on the key figures of the Murim Alliance.
And shortly after.
As the time for the Yongbongji Conference finals approached, Murim Alliance Leader Wi Ji-hak stood up and lightly flew onto the arena.
“Greetings, comrades of the Orthodox Murim! I am Wi Ji-hak, humbly serving as the Murim Alliance Leader!”
“Yaaaaah!!!”
His deep voice, imbued with inner power, was not particularly loud but resonated clearly in the ears of the thousands of martial artists surrounding the arena.
Wi Ji-hak effortlessly demonstrated a level of skill far more advanced than simply amplifying his voice through sheer force.
“Today is an exceptionally special day. We are about to witness a martial arts competition to determine the most outstanding junior who will shoulder the future of our Orthodox Murim. Hahaha.”
When Wi Ji-hak burst into hearty laughter, some smiled contentedly, while others followed suit with their own hearty laughs.
“Our Murim Alliance was formed as a coalition of Orthodox Murim to fend off those vile practitioners of the Unorthodox Sect and the brutal Demon Cult. And the juniors participating in this Yongbongji Conference are the precious talents who will fight them in the future, ten or twenty years from now! Hence, our Murim Alliance has prepared a significant gift that will be a tremendous help to the future hero who will fend off the Unorthodox Sect!”
“Yaaaaah!!!”
“Then today, let’s witness together who among our juniors will lead our Orthodox Murim in the future and receive this gift!”
As Wi Ji-hak’s speech concluded, a tremendous cheer and applause erupted from the crowd surrounding the arena.
Wi Ji-hak greeted the martial artists surrounding the arena with a clasped fist salute before returning to his seat.
After the noisy and chaotic atmosphere calmed down a bit, a martial artist from the Murim Alliance, who was appointed as the referee, stepped onto the arena.
With the referee’s announcement, the protagonists of this final match, Mu-jin and Namgung Jin-cheon, headed towards the arena.