Chapter 114

When Deung Jong-yu first came to find him, Namgung Woo thought it was for punishment due to him running wildly through the city the day before.

I’m not sure if there are laws against speeding in this era, but if you cause a disturbance in the city, the authorities would definitely intervene.

In the world of Murim, the Martial Alliance holds power equivalent to that of a nation. Moreover, in Luoyang, where their headquarters is located, they openly share some authority with state institutions to maintain public order.

Given that the Martial Alliance has both the justification and authority to intervene in disturbances in Luoyang, it made sense that they came looking for him.

However, when Namgung Woo followed Deung Jong-yu into the Martial Alliance headquarters, he revised his thoughts. The situation might be more serious than he thought.

The Martial Alliance, bustling with people unlike before, was busy preparing for the main tournament of the Martial Duel and ongoing alliance meetings.

But amidst the usual busy atmosphere, Namgung Woo sensed a strange undercurrent of unease.

Perhaps there was something going on that ordinary martial artists or servants were completely unaware of.

‘Is it about the alliance meeting? I haven’t heard anything from Brother Paeng.’

An embargo, or perhaps a gag order, might have been placed to prevent leaks about what happened during the alliance meeting.

‘I’ll find out when I get there.’

He tried to casually probe Deung Jong-yu, but the usually easygoing man was tight-lipped and remained silent.

It wasn’t until they reached the 5th floor of the Central Heaven Pavilion, the leader’s office, that Deung Jong-yu finally spoke.

“I’ve brought the Blue Sword Emperor.”

A familiar scene.

But unfamiliar faces.

Namgung Woo subtly raised his inner energy as he saw not just the alliance leader but several others present in the room.

The oppressive energy that had been pressing down on him suddenly lost direction, like a kite with its string cut, and stirred a spring breeze in the closed room.

“Your guest reception is quite rough,” Namgung Woo remarked.

The middle-aged man who had looked the most hostile from the start snorted and said, “Guest? Do you think you’re a guest here, Master of Changcheon Pavilion?”

A clear provocation. But Namgung Woo had no intention of backing down.

“It’d be better if I were a guest.”

If he weren’t a guest but an enemy, you wouldn’t even be breathing right now—Namgung Woo conveyed this unspoken threat with a surge of intense pressure directed solely at the man.

The man, also a Supreme Peak Master, was overwhelmed by Namgung Woo’s mental strength.

The essence of the Emperor’s Sword Form, realized through defeating the Five Yin Demon Emperor.

A fragment of that power pressed down on the space under Namgung Woo’s will.

“Ugh…!”

The middle-aged man’s body visibly rippled with energy. Unable to resist with mere energy waves, he began to summon his protective techniques.

But Namgung Woo, in response, further amplified the output of his Upper Dantian’s Void Spirit Divine Art. Just as the man gathered his energy, Namgung Woo prepared to unleash a full strike.

“That’s enough.”

The alliance leader stepped in.

His voice resonated heavily through the 5th-floor office.

Like the toll of a massive bell, his low yet solemn voice disrupted the clashing energies.

Though the sound itself wasn’t loud, the intent behind it made his words roar like a lion’s roar.

“You were indeed called as a guest. I apologize for putting you through this.”

“…It’s fine.”

He’d let it slide this time.

Namgung Woo didn’t want to antagonize the Martial Alliance itself. It was better to accept the leader’s mediation and move on.

But if something like this happened again…

‘I won’t let it slide next time.’

Respect and compromise are important, but in this world of swords and forests, maintaining one’s dignity is equally crucial.

Namgung Woo, now aware of his responsibilities as a leader, thought so.

“This is Seomun Pyo, an elder of the alliance. Pyo, I understand your feelings, but you went too far this time. Apologize.”

The middle-aged man, Seomun Pyo, who had provoked Namgung Woo, reluctantly bowed with a clearly unwilling expression.

“Seomun Pyo of the Seomun Family.”

“Nam Woo.”

Though Seomun Pyo bowed, his introduction was shorter than Namgung Woo’s, and his hostile aura flared again. But the alliance leader cut him off.

“This is Jin Il-hak and Beom Ryang, also elders of the alliance.”

“Jin Il-hak of the Righteous Blood Society.”

“Beom Ryang of the Taesan Faction, known as the Taesan Sword Lord.”

In response to the more formal introductions of the two elders, Namgung Woo also spoke with a bit more courtesy.

“I am Nam Woo, leading Changcheon Pavilion.”

After the brief introductions, Namgung Woo looked at the alliance leader.

The first meeting had already left a bad impression. He didn’t want to drag this out.

“If you called me here to introduce me to the esteemed elders of the Martial Alliance, that’s fine. If it’s about yesterday’s incident, I admit my fault and will take responsibility.”

“Hmm… I wish that were the case, but this matter isn’t so simple.”

The alliance leader’s words suggested this wasn’t a minor issue. Especially since four elders were present during an ongoing alliance meeting.

Seeing that Namgung Woo seemed ready to listen, the leader explained the situation.

“Yesterday, around the time you were using your movement technique to run through Luoyang, an elder of the Martial Alliance was assassinated.”

The assassination of a Martial Alliance elder.

Namgung Woo immediately understood why he’d been summoned.

“So I’m a suspect?”

§

A brief silence followed Namgung Woo’s direct question.

Seomun Pyo looked like he wanted to shout that it was obvious, but the alliance leader’s sharp gaze kept him in check.

The leader chose his words carefully.

“Not a suspect, but a person of interest. We’ve already cross-verified with multiple witnesses that you were watching the southwest preliminaries at the time.”

“A person of interest… I see.”

Though called a person of interest, if suspicions grew, he could easily become a suspect.

The incident had just occurred. Evidence, witnesses, and analysis were still lacking.

Yet, they called him in because of the commotion he caused the day before.

From Namgung Woo’s perspective, it was a case of being unfairly implicated, but from others’ perspectives, he did seem suspicious.

If not for his backing from the Hapbuk Paeng Family and the Jegal Family, along with his formidable martial prowess, the meeting might have been in the Martial Alliance’s underground prison.

“Let me explain further.”

The elder’s death was discovered by Beom Ryang, who was supposed to meet him. Jin Il-hak arrived shortly after as the second discoverer, and Seomun Pyo, the victim’s closest friend, was also present.

“I don’t think you did it. But we can’t overlook why you caused such a scene yesterday.”

“Alliance Leader! What do you mean by ‘overlook’?!”

“Seomun Pyo, calm down. The leader is speaking.”

“Beom Ryang! You know it too! This matter…!”

“Enough! Leader, I apologize. Master of Changcheon Pavilion, please ignore this and continue your conversation with the leader.”

Namgung Woo silently watched as Beom Ryang and Jin Il-hak restrained Seomun Pyo.

The assassination of a closest friend.

It was understandable that Seomun Pyo was furious.

But that was one thing, and this was another.

Namgung Woo sympathized but kept his emotions in check, turning his gaze away from Seomun Pyo.

“I used my movement technique in Luoyang yesterday because I was chasing someone.”

“Who? Is it someone we know?”

“I don’t know who it is. I’ve never seen their face. But their energy felt similar to Yi Ja-ryong’s. That’s why I chased them.”

“Yi Ja-ryong!”

“Could it be…!”

Beom Ryang and Jin Il-hak exclaimed in shock.

Instead of dismissing or doubting Namgung Woo’s words, they reacted with shock and horror.

Namgung Woo didn’t miss the emotions they briefly revealed.

“You seem to have some idea.”

“Ahem.”

“Um…”

The two elders averted their gaze and fell silent, but this only reinforced Namgung Woo’s conviction.

Though they were Martial Alliance elders, their cultivation wasn’t particularly deep. Unlike the leaders of the Eight Guards, who prioritize martial prowess, these elders were selected through political dynamics.

Perhaps realizing there was no point in hiding it, the alliance leader shared what they had been concealing.

“We’ve also been tracking Yi Ja-ryong. And recently, we thought we’d caught his trail.”

“Then…”

“Indeed. If what you say is true—if someone from the same school as Yi Ja-ryong is in Luoyang—then the assassin might be their retaliation against us for finding them.”