Chapter 795: If you say one more word.

Another day passed.

I stayed up all night, watching the morning sun rise, but I didn’t actually sleep.

My body condition was such that I didn’t really need to sleep anyway. That’s because I had to train a bit during the night.

To re-experience the enlightenment I felt during sparring?

That was one reason, but ultimately, it was because I needed to get accustomed to the flow of energy.

“Hmm.”

I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my hands.

I went through various processes until dawn, but the conclusion was the same.

“It won’t be enough in just a day or two.”

Whether it was firepower or energy sensing, the increase was good, but adaptation was the problem.

I am trying to get somewhat used to it, but…

‘In this state, it’ll be a problem during actual combat.’

Since there’s so much to sense and the amount I can shoot out has increased.

I had to keep checking how to handle it in actual combat.

‘Dealing with those of lower cultivation won’t be a major issue.’

But if I encounter someone similar or of higher cultivation, the problem becomes obvious.

Of course, coming this far, I wondered how many more individuals stronger than me I’d encounter, but…

‘How often those cases occur isn’t important.’

Regardless of whether the probability is high or low.

‘The fact that the possibility exists is what’s important.’

If it’s not non-existent, I have to consider it countless times.

Even though they aren’t enemies now, they could become enemies someday.

‘Unless I properly grasp this. It becomes a dagger.’

Not a dagger to stab the opponent.

A dagger that will stab into me.

Every second, I had to worry about such things.

Whooosh-!

I retracted my energy, frowning.

‘Seven days and nights until Zhuge Hyuk arrives in Hanam.’

He was supposed to have arrived within four days, but I heard from Cheol Ji-seon that something came up.

I wouldn’t have called that guy if I could help it, but I had so many things requiring thought that I needed to ask for help soon.

There was also the matter entrusted to me by Sin-ui, and furthermore…

‘I need to call the other guys too.’

I needed the strength of the guys Zhuge Hyuk had assigned.

“Hoo…”

Since I’ve caused more than one or two problems, I wonder what Zhuge Hyuk will say when he sees it.

He probably won’t say much, but he’ll probably look at me with resentful eyes.

Or maybe, he’ll refuse, saying he doesn’t want to? That possibility wasn’t non-existent either.

In that case, well…

‘…I guess I’ll have to use Moyong Hi-ah a bit.’

Since there are excuses to be made, it should work out somehow.

‘Seven days and nights, huh.’

The time extended from four days.

If you ask whether I regret the delay in the plan due to setbacks, it wasn’t the case.

‘I’ve bought myself some time.’

Rather, I bought time.

Time to cause a little more trouble before he arrives.

Thinking that Zhuge Hyuk or Cheol Ji-seon would turn pale if they heard this, I moved my body.

“Shall I go?”

Training any further feels awkward.

It was also getting close to morning, so I had to move.

Shedding my sweat-soaked martial arts uniform, I turned my head.

“Hey.”

“Grrr…?”

As I called out to someone beyond my gaze, someone near the trees flinched at my voice and stirred.

“Get up.”

“Ugh… Cult Leader… is it all over…?”

“Yeah. We have to go now, so get up.”

It was Bong-sun, the woman wiping the drool she’d shed while sleeping.

Looking at her with a somewhat pitying gaze, I continued.

“Let’s go. We’ll be late if we wait any longer.”

“…Mmm.”

“…”

Her appearance made it unclear whether she was wiping drool or washing her face with it.

I turned my head, fearing my eyes might involuntarily show contempt.

With that kind of mess, it’s a bit awkward to travel together, but…

I couldn’t help it.

‘…Because starting today.’

Starting today, Bong-sun had a role.

A task I had been preparing for since long ago.

A dagger to be aimed at the Murim Alliance.

That was the role that would never change, even if the timing and situation shifted within the revised plan.

Because of that, Bong-sun had to enter the Murim Alliance with me starting today.

******************

After finishing a light wash of my face, I arrived at the Murim Alliance.

“Greetings, Star King.”

“Yes. Welcome.”

Entering was not difficult, just like last time.

Next, I followed the guide and moved.

Last time, we went deep inside to reach the conference room for the Grand Marshals.

This time, it was a location further ahead. A space that even ordinary people could enter if necessary.

Immediately upon arriving at the space, I had to suppress a burst of laughter seeing the situation.

‘Look at these people.’

Because a familiar space appeared.

I wondered where it was, and it turned out to be the very space where the martial arts tournament was held.

‘They’re trying to recycle it like this.’

It looked like it hadn’t been closed down but merely kept under separate management.

Given the incident that occurred, I naturally thought it would have been removed.

‘It’s a waste to destroy it, so they must be planning to use it again somewhere.’

Well, indeed.

The martial arts tournament turned into a mess, and even if I quickly apprehended the merchants using Na-na or the Dragon Brigade, there would certainly be sponsors who withdrew their support.

Because of that, they must be short on funds and intend to make use of even this.

‘Seriously.’

It feels a bit unsettling, but from my perspective, it’s not something to worry too much about, so I first accepted the guidance and took my seat.

The location was right in front of the martial arts stage where the tournament was held.

There, tables and chairs were set up, and a canopy was even installed overhead to block the sunlight.

My position was the honored seat in the middle of the various places.

After lightly sitting there, I looked to both sides and spoke.

“Good morning. Have you all been well?”

“…”

“…”

No answer came.

The people sitting around me were Sang-ui Hwan-geom, the Golden Dragon Brigade Leader, and Eun Rang-geom, the Iron Dragon Brigade Leader.

Seeing that the other Brigade Leaders weren’t visible, it seemed these two were the only ones.

The two didn’t even spare a glance at my greeting.

Seeing that, I had to click my tongue briefly.

“Tsk. How can newcomers be treated so coldly when they greet? If the workplace is this bleak, how can anyone feel like working here?”

This hazing is no joke.

If it’s like this, how can a sensitive person like me feel comfortable working here?

Thump.

Thinking that, I casually placed both my feet up on the table.

Leaning back in the chair in the most comfortable posture imaginable, the expressions of the Brigade Leaders on either side instantly soured.

“What are you looking at?”

Receiving their gazes, I asked curtly, and Sang-ui Hwan-geom asked me with a look of extreme discomfort.

“…Star King. What is this behavior?”

“What behavior? Can’t you tell by looking?”

“There are many eyes watching. Yet, acting like this-“

“And so?”

“…What?”

At my brazen attitude, Sang-ui Hwan-geom lost his words.

Indeed, there were many eyes watching.

Although only two Brigade Leaders were present in person, there were other Murim Alliance personnel besides them.

Individuals who seemed to be at the level of Vice-Brigade Leaders or Squad Leaders.

They were all deputies for the Brigade Leaders who couldn’t attend.

Not just those sword-wielding members, but looking around, there seemed to be personnel from the command center where Muk-yeon might be, meaning it was a place where quite a few important figures had gathered.

‘But so what?’

I didn’t care about any of that.

What does it matter how these people see me?

“So? What do you want me to do about it?”

“…”

My attitude was quite irritating, as Sang-ui Hwan-geom’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“Star King, do you still not know what this position entails…? As a member of the Murim Alliance-“

“No, what is this position?”

“…This guy really…!”

“Why should I have to watch my step for a position that isn’t that great? Besides.”

Heh heh. I smirked at Sang-ui Hwan-geom.

“A member of the Murim Alliance? Oh, how incredibly proud I am.”

Would I be proud of this when there’s nothing to be proud of?

“Moreover, if you think about it, this is a position where I can do as I please, isn’t it? That’s what I heard from the Strategist.”

Then, I added, tilting my head slightly.

“Of course, the Golden Dragon Brigade Leader, and everyone else here, are strictly spectators who came to watch. So let’s not waste each other’s energy. I didn’t even eat breakfast, so I’m tired.”

“What…? Spectators?”

Hearing my words, Sang-ui Hwan-geom’s eyes intensified.

His expression suggested he might attack at any moment.

“Why? Are you going to hit me?”

“To be so insolent just because you possess some talent-! Do you think you can still ascend to the position of Alliance Leader acting like this?”

“Listening to you, this senior keeps saying strange things?”

I forced myself to suppress a chuckle.

“That so-called Brigade Leader position. Who asked for it? I’m doing it because they begged me. Anyone hearing this would think I crawled and begged my way in.”

“You-!”

“Ah, shut up…”

He was shouting so loudly, it was hurting my ears, so I waved my hand and cut him off.

“If you don’t like it, get out.”

“Huh…?”

“Didn’t you hear me? If you don’t like it, get out through that door right now.”

The tip of my finger pointed towards the entrance I came through.

“If you don’t like that either.”

I briefly turned the tip of my finger again towards the martial arts stage.

“Stop the useless chatter and let’s have a match.”

“…”

“Why? Scared?”

“You…!”

Sang-ui Hwan-geom finally tried to stand up as if exploding, but…

“Golden Dragon Brigade Leader.”

“…!”

“…Calm down.”

Eun Rang-geom, the Iron Dragon Brigade Leader. He stopped Sang-ui Hwan-geom.

“Iron Dragon Brigade Leader…. But this guy.”

“As the Golden Dragon Brigade Leader said, there are many eyes watching. Also.”

Eun Rang-geom looked at Sang-ui Hwan-geom with sharp eyes.

“We didn’t come here today to fight, did we?”

“…”

He spoke as if reminding him, and hearing that, Sang-ui Hwan-geom forcibly suppressed his anger.

Watching that, my eyes narrowed slightly.

‘Look at these two.’

Within the seemingly calming tone, I detected a subtle anomaly.

Not sound, but energy.

I could feel energy being exchanged between the two during the gaps in their conversation.

‘It’s telepathic communication.’

Perhaps because they are martial artists of the Hwagyeong level, they were sending telepathic messages even while speaking.

Since I was sitting between them, I could feel it more clearly.

‘Does this mean they’ve prepared some kind of plan?’

It felt strange that two Brigade Leaders were personally attending such an event, but…

As expected, it seemed they came with something planned.

‘Hmm.’

Figuring this out, I instead sank deeper into the chair.

‘Well then, shall I watch for now?’

If they’ve gone to the trouble of preparing a plan, let’s see it.

They must have prepared diligently. I should at least taste it.

Just as I was organizing my thoughts with that in mind.

“…Now that we’ve confirmed Star King has taken his seat, may we bring in the applicants?”

“Yes. Please do.”

I nodded at the question carefully asked by a Murim Alliance member.

Simultaneously.

“We will enter.”

Creeeak–!!

A much larger door, different from the one I entered through, opened.

Innumerable individuals began to enter from within.

Whoooosh–!!

Wind surged with the opening of the door.

The energy emanating from inside the door was heavy.

Internal energy was mixed in the wind.

This meant there were many people harboring internal energy inside.

The individuals who appeared, as expected, were all martial artists.

The number of people who entered slowly was approximately one hundred.

That’s quite a large number.

These individuals slowly gathered around the martial arts stage, following the Murim Alliance’s guidance.

As I observed them one by one.

“Thank you for coming like this.”

Soon after, the person in charge of guidance explained the reason these people had gathered here.

“From now on.”

The reason so many martial artists had gathered here.

It was precisely because…

“We will begin the Seongryongdae entrance examination.”

Because I had to select the members for the brigade I would lead.