Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Erasure.

This had to be called erasure.

Youngho’s single strike had wiped away even Mad Face’s clothes. As if she had never existed in this world from the very beginning, the body of the woman known as Mad Face had been erased.

By none other than Youngho’s sword.

Even so, Youngho did not relax his guard until the very end. If it were that vicious Mad Face, she might have protected her body with Heretical Arts and already fled this place.

At that moment, Youngho’s sealed internal energy regained its vitality.

Feeling his body grow much lighter, Youngho let out a faint chuckle.

It seemed that killing Mad Face dispelled the Heretical Arts.

‘Before the Regression, I hadn’t known since I hadn’t killed her myself…….’

Well, good was good.

Youngho lightly executed his Lightness Skill and headed toward the Martial Alliance.

The moment Youngho arrived at the Martial Alliance, he released his presence.

Han Yonghu, who sensed Youngho’s presence, immediately approached him and spoke.

“The Heretical Arts on the children have all been undone! Did you kill Mad Face?”

Han Yonghu’s excited voice resounded thunderously through the area, but Youngho had already anticipated this situation and had spread a Qi Barrier in advance.

“Yes, I killed her. It seems the Heretical Arts are lifted once that bitch dies.”

At Youngho’s firm answer, joy overflowed in Han Yonghu’s voice.

“Is there anything you desire?”

“What makes you think I would ask for something?”

“You would at least keep to proper bounds.”

At Han Yonghu’s words, Youngho gave a faint smirk.

“One should never take in a black-haired beast.”

Han Yonghu burst into hearty laughter at Youngho’s remark.

“Even so, it would not be wrong to say you did everything this time. We merely added a spoonful.”

“Then we shall quietly disappear. Please hold a modest banquet for the families of the victims who have been anxious all this time.”

Watching Youngho casually declare that they would simply vanish, Han Yonghu gave a bitter smile.

“It is fortunate that your temperament is kind.”

“Say such things after you die of old age and meet me in the afterlife. Others might misunderstand if they hear you.”

“I suppose so. Then where do you plan to go now?”

“My objective has been achieved, and by my Master’s order I have assisted the Alliance Leader as well. Now I shall return to the Unorthodox Alliance.”

“I see.”

“Yes, then I will take my leave.”

After bowing his head, Youngho walked toward where the Asura Squad was gathered.

Youngho went to Hyeokong and asked,

“Any injured among the members?”

“They have all fully recovered.”

“Then let’s get going.”

“…Pardon?”

The most startled by those words were everyone except Youngho.

“We’re just leaving?”

“Yes.”

“No, after all this hardship, shouldn’t we squeeze something out of the Alliance Leader?”

“Were you the ones who suffered? I was.”

“That’s exactly why we should squeeze something out! Do you know how hollow your eyes look right now, Young Master? You look like a corpse.”

At Kang Chowon’s words, the others nodded in agreement.

“That’s enough. It was my Master’s order anyway, and the Alliance Leader is my Master’s close friend. There’s nothing to squeeze out.”

“Ugh… even so…….”

“Let’s go. Staying longer won’t change anything.”

Kang Hosan let out a sigh, and Hyeon-gang beat his chest in frustration.

The others each expressed their vexation in their own ways, but Youngho ignored them.

“Shall we depart now?”

“Fifth Young Master!”

At that moment, someone called out to Youngho. There was no need to ask who—Youngho already knew the owner of the voice.

Watching Yeo Jeonghye running toward him in urgency, Youngho asked in puzzlement,

“Why are you running so urgently? There are not many things that would shake you this much.”

“A Qi Barrier! No, please set up a Hardened Force Barrier!”

Seeing her request for a Hardened Force Barrier—one that even a Transformation Realm master could not eavesdrop upon—Youngho realized something serious had occurred.

In an instant, he spread the Hardened Force Barrier and spoke.

“It’s up. What happened?”

“The Medicine Immortal! The grave of the Medicine Immortal has been discovered!”

Youngho’s face stiffened drastically.

“The Medicine Immortal?”

“Yes. The Demonic Cult, having obtained the information faster than anyone else, seems to have nearly arrived at the grave already.”

“My Master?”

“The Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance has already departed.”

“And the Martial Alliance?”

“It seems they were slightly delayed in receiving information due to the matter with Mad Face. At most, they will hear of it within one Shijin. Please depart at once.”

“Before that, there is a talent I must recruit.”

“You mean the woman named Myeongnyang?”

“Yes. As expected, you are quick-witted.”

“You paid that much attention to her. It would be strange not to notice.”

Youngho gave a faint smile and said,

“Alright. Let’s depart quickly.”

After dispelling the Hardened Force Barrier, Youngho told Horyeung to prepare in advance in case they needed to depart immediately.

Then Youngho slowly began walking toward where Myeongnyang was.

Youngho spoke to Myeongnyang, who was holding her child in her arms with a happy smile on her face.

“You seem very happy.”

“It is thanks to the care of the Mad Black Sword Ghost.”

“Thank you for saying so. I am short on time, so I will be direct.”

Youngho looked straight into Myeongnyang’s eyes.

“Are you willing to join the Unorthodox Alliance?”

“…….”

She could not say a word. Had she never imagined receiving a recruitment offer from the Unorthodox Alliance?

From Myeongnyang’s expression, Youngho could read nothing but bewilderment.

He waited. He simply waited. Even after half a Dakyung passed, and even after a Quarter-Hour passed, he continued to wait for her answer.

At last, Myeongnyang’s tightly sealed lips parted.

“Why someone like me……?”

“Because you are an extraordinary talent.”

Myeongnyang bit her lip.

She was hesitating. But this was not enough. Although the current situation was sudden, from the beginning Myeongnyang had never been someone who would be swayed by mere words like these.

“I want you to become a Strategist.”

At that, Myeongnyang’s eyes widened greatly.

“What do you mean…?”

“I will not look down on you for being a woman. I will wait by your side until your closed heart opens.”

Youngho spoke with a steadfast gaze like a pine tree.

“If you are worried about dying quietly in the Unorthodox Alliance without anyone knowing, I will tell you that such concern is unnecessary. I take very good care of the talents I bring in.”

At Youngho’s words, which erased even the faint trace of worry she had harbored, Myeongnyang let out a low groan.

“…Since when?”

It was an abrupt question without a proper subject.

Yet Youngho could not help but understand what she meant.

“I knew from the very beginning.”

“…What about me made you decide to make me a Strategist?”

From here on, he had nothing proper to say. Originally, he had planned to converse with her gradually and bring her to the Unorthodox Alliance in time.

‘I have to lie again.’

He did not particularly feel aversion toward lying, yet it still left an unpleasant taste.

Letting out a deep sigh, Youngho said,

“I can smell something different from others.”

“Smell… you say?”

“Yes. To be precise, I can distinguish a person’s talent through scent.”

Myeongnyang looked at Youngho with clear interest, evidently intrigued by his words.

“There is a fellow among my personal physicians named Hyeon-gang.”

“I am aware.”

“Good. I smelled life from him.”

“…Life?”

“Yes. The scent of life that gives off warmth and comfort.”

“Then what scent do I carry?”

“You carry several scents.”

“What do you mean?”

“Blood, earth, rain—various scents. At first even I wondered what kind of scent it was.”

“How would the Mad Black Sword Ghost define those various scents?”

Youngho bared his white teeth in a grin.

“War.”

“…!”

“Strangely enough, I also smell iron. Like a sword heavily rusted and covered in mold—an exceedingly foul scent.”

“…….”

“At first, I thought you had talent in martial arts. I have never seen someone carry such a heavy scent so densely.”

“Then for what reason did you evaluate me as a Strategist?”

“Among my subordinates, there is a child whose talent is the greatest. You carry a fundamentally different scent from that child.”

“What scent did that child have?”

“You would not understand, but I smelled resilience from that child.”

“Resilience…?”

“Yes. There was also a scent related to martial arts. Does that somewhat explain why I am trying to recruit you?”

“I still find it difficult to trust you completely.”

“That is only natural. But there is one thing I can promise.”

“What is it?”

“Your safety—and your child’s.”

For an instant, Myeongnyang’s brows twitched.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Is that because I belong to the Unorthodox Faction?”

Seeing her fierce expression, Youngho instead posed a question.

Perhaps she had not expected such a question—Myeongnyang was visibly flustered.

“What do you mean…?”

“If the Fist King of Shaolin had promised to protect you and your child, I doubt you would have reacted this way.”

At that, Myeongnyang’s eyes trembled pitifully.

At this rate, he would not be able to bring her quickly.

‘It cannot be helped. I will have to appeal to her emotions a bit.’

With a bitter smile, Youngho spoke.

“If I belonged to an Orthodox Sect, perhaps I would not hear such words from you. I often feel it—I regret being part of the Unorthodox Faction.”

“Th-that….”

“Simply for being of the Unorthodox Faction, I have been subjected to all manner of contempt and disregard. People always discriminate against me.”

“…….”

“You are still an unripe fruit. In terms of military strategy, there is much you must learn. Above all, you still lack the eye to judge people. That is because you lack experience.”

It was an objectively precise assessment of the present Myeongnyang.

Youngho met her trembling gaze for a moment before speaking.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Revealing an overwhelming presence like that of a giant, Youngho said,

“Do you not wish to rise higher?”

As Myeongnyang attempted to speak, Youngho cut her off.

“I am not speaking of things like power, wealth, or fame.”

“Then…?”

“Your worth.”

“…!”

Myeongnyang’s eyes widened greatly. Chuckling softly, Youngho continued,

“A situation where your very existence alone shakes the world. Do you not wish to see that? At least once in your childhood, you must have dreamed of it. And beyond that….”

Watching Youngho continue without pause, Myeongnyang fell into reverie.

Her dream had once been to become an outstanding martial artist. At least once, she had wished to become the greatest under heaven, and in her dreams she had leapt over mountains and rivers.

But she had realized she possessed no talent in martial arts. Even so, she did not give up. There were many who accomplished things far more important than a single martial artist without possessing martial talent.

Thus she had wished to accomplish great deeds with her exceptional intellect. Yet even that had not come to pass.

Had she possessed a good master, perhaps it would have been different. But she had learned everything alone. She could not properly read even the most common military treatises imbued with the spirit and wisdom of thousands of years, nor did she know how to apply basic strategy.

Her intellect was worthy of being called genius, yet it was impossible to become a high-level Strategist through self-study alone.

Little by little, her dream had faded. In the end, she married a moderately wealthy man nearby and bore a child.

But once a single wrinkle appeared on her face, her husband busied himself playing with other women. Ultimately, she had no choice but to work at the Martial Alliance and raise her child alone.

The dream once painted gray began little by little to regain its color.

The meadow that had been gray regained its vibrant green, the dull sky brightened, and the motionless clouds slowly began to drift once more.

At that moment, Youngho extended his hand to Myeongnyang and said,

“Will you not come with me? I will give you the opportunity to learn. I will guarantee your safety. I will not abandon you.”

As if bewitched by those words, Myeongnyang took Youngho’s hand.