I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Martial Arts World’s Mastermind
Chapter 51
Chapter 51
The Youngest Disciple of the Murim’s Hidden Mastermind
Episode 51
“I shall report, my Lord.”
“Proceed. Skip the trivial pleasantries and get straight to the point.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Hahou Yeon straightened the letter in his hand and began to read in a clear, resonant voice.
“I trust you have been well, Lord Alliance Leader. Two days ago, a daughter of our Namgung Clan chanced upon a stroke of fate and obtained a map that appears to be a Treasure Map (藏寶圖, a map indicating where treasures are hidden).”
“……A Treasure Map?”
The Alliance Leader’s brow twitched slightly.
The martial world had been engulfed in chaos for decades; it wouldn’t be strange for treasures to be buried somewhere.
But why would a power of the Namgung Clan’s stature report this to the Murim Alliance instead of investigating it themselves?
As the Alliance Leader’s brow furrowed, Hahou Yeon paused his reading.
“……May I continue?”
“Yes, let us hear the rest for now.”
“Understood. …At first, we doubted our eyes, but when compared against the legends of the Medicine Immortal, it is ten to one a genuine Treasure Map. Fortunately, the Namgung Clan has already completed a search of the location indicated, but as the entrance is highly suspicious and not a situation to be handled recklessly, we report this to the Alliance Leader first.”
The Alliance Leader rested his head in his hand and set down the documents he had been holding.
Hahou Yeon lowered the letter and added his own words.
“…In conclusion, the gist of the letter is that they intend to hand over both the Treasure Map and its location entirely to the Murim Alliance.”
“Hah.”
The Alliance Leader let out a dry laugh.
On the surface, it sounded like good news. But upon reflecting on the circumstances, it was by no means an entirely welcome development.
“You brought this yourself because you were afraid I might torment the Namgung messenger.”
“I cannot deny that.”
“So. What is the reason? The Namgung Sword Emperor is not the type of man to move without a justification.”
“He says it is a gesture of gratitude for the support provided during the recent bandit stronghold subjugation.”
The Alliance Leader clicked his tongue lightly.
“He’s dumping a bothersome task on us.”
A Treasure Map, yet he called it a bothersome task?
The strategist of the Murim Alliance, Hahou Yeon, quickly questioned him.
“But my Lord, if it truly is a Treasure Map… and if there are Elixirs or treasures inside, would that not be a boon to the Murim Alliance as well?”
The Alliance Leader gave a smirk and replied.
“The Murim Alliance has no need to amass wealth. And the Namgung Clan handed it over to the Alliance because they’re afraid that if word gets out about the Medicine Immortal’s Treasure Map, every riffraff in the land will swarm them and become a nuisance.”
“Ah…!”
“Did they not say a member of the Namgung Clan would join the excavation?”
Hahou Yeon scanned the letter again and nodded.
“Yes, you are correct. The daughter of Namgung who discovered the map wishes to participate in the excavation.”
The Alliance Leader clicked his tongue.
“Tsk. Send it back to the Namgung Clan. Tell them to handle it themselves and keep whatever comes out of it.”
“Is that truly alright?”
“Yes. It’ll likely be Elixirs or secret manuals anyway. There’s no reason for the Namgung Clan to covet new manuals, and if they grow stronger by consuming Elixirs, it ultimately benefits the martial world.”
It was a firm yet upright stance.
Hahou Yeon watched him quietly before speaking up cautiously.
“My Lord. However……”
“What is it?”
“This is also news that just arrived. According to a report from the Zhuge Clan, a large number of Black Way bandits impersonating the Demonic Cult have recently appeared and are terrorizing civilians.”
The Alliance Leader’s expression hardened.
At the mere thought of the Demonic Cult, the veins on his forehead bulged.
His lone remaining arm gripped the armrest of his chair with crushing force.
Ten years ago, he had barely managed to drive back the Demonic Cult at the cost of one arm.
But what of the Cult Leader?
He had retreated, but that was all.
He had not lost an arm like the Alliance Leader, nor had he lost a child.
Why he had retreated, and why he had not reappeared for ten years, was all shrouded in mist.
People said the martial world had regained its peace, but the Alliance Leader always felt as though he were walking on the edge of a razor.
“…….”
As the Alliance Leader’s breathing grew ragged, Hahou Yeon quickly added:
“…They are merely Black Way bandits impersonating the Demonic Cult, so they are strictly different from the cult itself.”
The Alliance Leader’s eyes narrowed.
“And? Why bring that up?”
“It means that no matter how much the Alliance has you, my Lord, we must cultivate even more strength.”
“……Hoo.”
The Alliance Leader slowly inhaled and exhaled.
Having mastered his emotions, he nodded at his clever strategist’s words.
“Indeed. We must be prepared for the day the Demonic Cult reveals itself in the martial world once more.”
“I am of the same mind.”
The Alliance Leader rose, his body like that of a great beast, and paced his office for a moment before speaking.
“Very well. Notify every sect, clan, and gang. Explain the Treasure Map suspected to belong to the Medicine Immortal in detail, and include that while it originally belonged to the Namgung Clan, they have conceded it to the Alliance.”
“Understood.”
“Also, write that those who wish to participate should send one rising star each.”
Hahou Yeon, who had been nodding, paused mid-motion.
“…Are you sure you want me to write to send rising stars, and not absolute masters?”
“Yes. There is no need for the likes of the Sword Emperor or the Blade King to come. They are past the stage of coveting new manuals or Elixirs. But for the rising stars, such things are desperate needs.”
A faint smile touched the Alliance Leader’s lips.
“If Elixirs or manuals are discovered in this excavation, ensure they are divided fairly among the participants. Mention that anything difficult to divide will be kept by the Murim Alliance to be offered as prizes in the next martial arts competition. That will bring many of them flocking.”
“I understand.”
“Hoo.”
As if he had never smiled at all, the Alliance Leader withdrew the expression from his wrinkled mouth and murmured with a deep sigh.
“Since it has come to this, I should use this as an opportunity to check if everyone has been neglecting their training……. Have the Murim Alliance select a few members to participate in this excavation as well.”
“Will you not go yourself?”
“It would not look good for me to involve myself after calling upon the rising stars. Send one of the Pavilion Lords instead.”
“Yes. Understood. I shall ask the Pavilion Lords.”
Instead of asking further, Hahou Yeon bowed quietly and left the office with deliberate steps.
“…….”
After Strategist Hahou Yeon left the office, the Alliance Leader tried to focus on his documents again, but it was not easy.
Struggling to control his trembling lone arm, he pushed the papers aside and poured some tea.
Lukewarm tea filled a cup that was incredibly plain for an Alliance Leader’s teaware.
As he lifted the cup, he paused and muttered.
“…It’s cracked.”
It felt exactly like his own heart.
Strangely, even the peace of this moment felt to him like a cracked cup—something that could shatter at any time.
“The Murim Alliance Leader has taken the bait,”
Senior Brother Hyeonhak said in a low voice.
“That was fast. I thought it would take a while since it was going through Namgung,”
Danhwi replied casually. Unlike him, I was sitting next to Ryang, stuffing my face with the dumplings Hyeonhak had made, and my eyes went wide.
“What bait?”
Hyeonhak looked down at me and tapped his own mouth.
“Saje Soyoung. You have it all over your face.”
“Oops. …Hehe.”
I guess I was eating too fast.
I wiped my mouth vigorously with my sleeve and looked at Ryang.
“Is it okay now?”
“…Yeah.”
As soon as I got Ryang’s confirmation, I turned back to Hyeonhak.
“So, what bait?”
This time, instead of Senior Brother Hyeonhak, Danhwi puffed out his chest and started acting smug.
“Hey, hey, do you remember when I went out to plant that Treasure Map a few days ago?”
“Ah.”
I did remember. Unusually, the mission had taken a long time, so I hadn’t received lightness technique lessons for several days.
When I nodded, Danhwi grabbed a fresh dumpling and explained.
“When that Treasure Map eventually finds its way into the Murim Alliance, the Alliance Leader will gather the rising stars of the Orthodox faction and order them to go excavate the treasure.”
“Heh……. Why make it so complicated? I feel like we could have just given it to the Murim Alliance from the start.”
“Master wanted to create an opportunity for the Orthodox factions to harmonize.”
Finishing his explanation, Danhwi polished off a massive dumpling in just two bites.
I stared at Danhwi for a moment before a thought occurred to me.
“But… in a place where a treasure like that is hidden, there must be tons of Mechanisms and Formations hidden too, right?”
Just like the cave at Dongting Lake where I first met Master.
Danhwi seemed to think for a second before giving a light nod.
“Well, that’s usually how it goes.”
“They’re gonna have a rough time~”
