"An, an attack from the Black Alliance!"
"What."
The lower town of the Kunlun Sect, where more martial artists had gathered than expected.
When a martial artist who appeared to belong to the Murim Alliance shouted this while on watch, confusion and tension spread in an instant.
Of course, it was on their side, not ours.
"Hoo. Everyone, relax your faces. If you'd been carrying yourselves with proper weight, you wouldn't have been spotted from that far away."
"Um… young hero Cheon? If young hero Cheon had run over first and shown his face, wouldn't they have only seen young hero Cheon's face?"
"Tsk. Anyone would think I was being chased by the Demonic Head of the Unorthodox Sects."
"…"
Tang So-wol pressed her lips tightly shut, as if she had plenty to say but was holding it all in. The One-Blade Asura, however, seemed to have a bit less patience.
"If I had to name the biggest demon here, it'd be you—the White Moon Sword Lord, the number one of the Unorthodox Sects."
"What was that? I can't hear you clearly—that's the voice of a loser."
"…"
The One-Blade Asura was dumbfounded. The Illusion Witch let out a scoff at him, as if he were a joke, and then spoke up.
"Heh heh. Here, all we have to do is use illusion arts to make ourselves look better, right?"
"Don't do it."
"What? Surely you don't mean to say that a promising martial artist should be killed just because I made a small mistake…"
"That's not what I mean. There are plenty of absolute masters here, so don't do anything that will be seen through right away."
"Ah, right. I'd only been dealing with weaklings for years, so I'd forgotten."
"…No, weren't you supposed to not use illusion arts on anyone in the first place?"
From a short distance away, the Lord of the Paecheon Hall muttered that, but no one paid him any mind.
Perhaps it was because he worried about things like that that he couldn't break through the wall of the Harmony Realm and remained stuck at the Transcendent Peak.
Or maybe not.
He tilted his chin up with a confident attitude.
"Watch closely. I'll clear up the misunderstanding in no time, without any sorcery."
"Hmm. Given the reputation young hero Cheon has built up over the years, it shouldn't be difficult."
With Tang So-wol seeing him off with a faint smile, he unleashed the Thunder Step at full power and closed the distance in an instant.
By the time I arrived right before them in the blink of an eye, silence began to spread among the clamoring martial artists.
Their affiliations looked diverse. The most numerous were the martial artists of the Cheongpung Unit, who appeared to have been brought by the Murim Alliance Leader.
Aside from them, I could also see a few Shaolin monks with shaved heads and martial artists of the Namgung Clan in blue martial robes.
"…Huh?"
A Namgung Clan martial artist who recognized my face let out a puzzled voice. I smirked and spoke.
"I understand what misunderstanding you might have, but everyone can rest assured…"
But a martial artist from the Murim Alliance cut me off, gritting his teeth.
"Don't be fooled by that wicked liar!"
"Huh?"
"This lowly one saw it clearly! This man smashed several buildings inside the Murim Alliance!"
"…Ah."
So that's what they meant. The buildings I accidentally destroyed when my power got a bit out of hand while fighting the Blood Buddha. I had smashed them so thoroughly that not even the foundation stones remained.
A pang of guilt made me hesitate for a moment. Then one of the Shaolin monks snapped his eyes open.
"Ah, I remember now! I heard that this benefactor has repeatedly knocked out the former abbot of Shaolin with sheer force!"
"…Ah."
So that's what this was. On the way to the Shaolin Temple, I had rescued a merchant caravan attacked by Green Forest bandits, and Great Master Gakjeong had been caught up in the middle of it.
Startled by my killing intent, he mistook me for the Heavenly Killing Star and tried to subdue me—only to be subdued himself. About seven times, give or take.
I thought the misunderstanding had been cleared up, but apparently not. Well, it made sense. I hadn't gathered everyone together and explained things, so some people were bound to be in the dark.
After all, the Shaolin Temple had more than one or two monks. And the story of the former abbot being knocked unconscious repeatedly by a green young rising talent wasn't exactly something one went around telling.
I was pondering where to even begin untangling this when it struck me—such matters were better explained by a bystander than the person involved. So I turned my gaze toward the Namgung Clan martial artist who had recognized me earlier.
I had no personal connection with him, but I figured he would step forward to clear up this misunderstanding.
However, the moment our eyes met, he looked away.
…I'd remember his face.
Not for some grim reason like seeking revenge—just as a precaution so that if something like this happened again, I wouldn't ask the same person for help.
I added one name to my mental ledger… no, to my list of people worth remembering, then cleared my throat.
"Ahem! It seems there's a misunderstanding here. I am the White Moon Sword Lord. I went to the Black Alliance on Murim Alliance business and came with those who shared my purpose to help."
"Don't lie! The White Moon Sword Lord reached the Harmony Realm at a young age and crushed the schemes of countless villains—he is the greatest of Great Heroes! Not someone commanding the Demonic Heads of the Black Alliance!"
"I'll remember you too."
"Do you think saying that will scare me?!"
I smiled warmly at him, but for some reason, the guy's legs started trembling. He seemed to be at the early stage of the Peak Realm, yet compared to his level, he was surprisingly timid.
For the sake of my harmlessness, I had no choice but to lightly swing my sword.
Thud.
A single strike that merely cut through the air sent the half-drawn weapons back into their waistbands and scabbards.
I had enveloped the surrounding area with my Intent and split off a bit of internal energy to tap the upper parts of their hilts.
Awe spread among the martial artists frozen by the display of skill on a different level. They must have realized I was not someone they could contend with.
And also the fact that, despite being able to cut their necks, I had deliberately only touched their weapons.
See? I am a merciful person. It's not that I'm worried about breaking the weapons like I did at the Centipede Gate and leaving them useless for the upcoming battle.
Just then, other martial artists who had noticed the commotion began to swarm toward this spot.
Among them, quite a few recognized me, naturally. Namgung Jong, for instance.
"What! You're already here, Cheon, my brother!"
"It's been a while… well, not quite that long, brother. Still, it's good to see you."
Namgung Jong's sharply honed Aura softened in an instant as he waved his hand with a delighted face.
At a short distance, the Murim Alliance Leader, Great Master Jeonghyeon, Seomun Hwa-rin, and Tang Jincheon were strolling over at a leisurely pace.
They had probably rushed out upon hearing news of the ambush, then relaxed their tension upon sensing the energy I had released a moment ago.
Namgung Jong was delighted, and the others were too, so the men who had been drawing their weapons with grim determination just moments before now radiated unmistakable embarrassment.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Namgung Jong looked around and asked.
"Young hero Cheon, everyone's acting as if they've wronged you somehow. What's going on?"
"It was just a small misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?"
"Yes. When I brought along some new friends I'd made, they mistook me for a Demonic Head of the Unorthodox Sects."
"Ah! So that's why I heard talk of a Black Alliance ambush and all that."
Namgung Jong nodded and clapped me on the shoulder as he continued.
"You must understand. I selected them based on skill, so many of them are so focused on their training that they're ignorant of the state of the martial world."
"Of course, I have no intention of blaming them for this. It's only natural, isn't it? They haven't undergone the same training as the gatekeepers of other sects, memorizing the appearances of famous masters by heart."
Having said that, he added as if he had just remembered something.
"Ah, by the way, what's that friend's name?"
"Hm? My apologies. Aside from the fact that he primarily uses a heavy sword, I can't seem to recall."
It was my turn to be surprised by such a Namgung Clan-like method of remembering.
From what I could see, he seemed to remember faces and martial arts, but not names. No, perhaps he distinguishes people by their faces and martial arts. That would be very much like the Namgung Clan.
I nodded inwardly and spoke.
"No, it's nothing. A heavy sword… I see."
The guy who had drawn mine and Namgung Jong's attention wore an expression as if the world was collapsing, but honestly, I had no intention of adding anything more here.
Just being mentioned among the higher-ups like this was enough to make his heart clench.
The Murim Alliance Leader, who had been watching this, let out a dry laugh.
"Heh. You were only gone to the Black Alliance for a moment, yet your Aura has turned even more ferocious."
"It's just your imagination."
"…I'll take it as that. But are you certain it's fine to bring them along? Of course, I'm not doubting you, but the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance is still at the stage where only words are exchanged behind the scenes. I'm grateful that they came to help, but I feel like they'll still be uncomfortable around us."
"You don't need to worry about that at all."
"If you can say it with such conviction, there must be something behind it."
"It just so happens that I've become the number one of the Unorthodox Sects. The Lord of the Black Alliance might not listen to me, but they'll listen to my words."
"???"
"???"
"???"
The Murim Alliance Leader and Namgung Jong. And then Tang Jincheon, who had been looking for Tang So-wol first before belatedly approaching me, blinked rapidly, his face twisted into a strange expression as if he couldn't comprehend what he had just heard.
Only Great Master Jeonghyeon offered a gentle smile and pressed his palms together in a bow.
"Heh heh. Your jokes have improved, young hero Cheon. The number one of the Unorthodox Sects, you say. As if you had toppled the Lord of the Black Alliance yourself."
"That's right."
"…?"
"After persuading those who were a bit uncooperative with the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance, strange rumors started spreading, so I just had a clean sparring bout to settle it. I won."
"…"
"Ah, but I did decline the position of Lord of the Black Alliance. After all, I'm a martial artist of the Orthodox Sects."
"…"
Great Master Jeonghyeon gave no answer at all. Looking closely, he was quietly circulating his Qi while chanting a sutra, as if treating an internal injury.
…Was it really that shocking?
After the misunderstanding was somehow resolved, each group's Martial Force Unit was seated separately to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.
Only the leaders gathered separately to hold a meeting on what to do about the Potala Palace. But then—
"Wait, so our son-in-law really became the number one of the Unorthodox Sects?"
"Th-That's right…"
"And you, Illusion Witch—you're saying you entered the Tang Clan to do personal research?"
"Um… is that not allowed?"
"As long as you don't cause trouble, there's no reason it wouldn't be…"
Tang Jincheon, who had been pondering for a moment, looked over Tang So-wol and, seeming to have decided she was fine, continued speaking.
"How old are you this year?"
"I'm older than the Poison King… Why are you speaking so informally to me?"
"…"
Let's just leave that alone.
As I shook my head, the Murim Alliance Leader, seemingly accustomed to this sort of thing, let out a dry cough with a slightly exasperated expression.
"Ahem. Save the small talk for later. We should focus on the task at hand."
"That's right. But let me say this now—don't bother asking for our opinion."
One-Blade Asura pretended to accept the Murim Alliance Leader's words, then spoke in a manner that seemed to cut off the conversation entirely.
At this, the Murim Alliance Leader, his brow slightly furrowed, glared at One-Blade Asura.
"…So you're saying you came to help, but you have no intention of joining forces—you'll move separately?"
"No. I'm just saying that I and the Illusion Witch are only sitting here because we're Harmony Realm martial artists, not because we're the ones making the decisions."
Having said that, One-Blade Asura quietly looked at me. The Illusion Witch, who had been locked in a tense standoff with Tang Jincheon as he grilled her about herself, also nodded and turned her gaze to me.
"Amitabha. So it was true."
Great Master Jeonghyeon began reciting a Buddhist sutra in a dazed voice. It seemed he still couldn't believe it.
But the Murim Alliance Leader was not someone who held his position for nothing. Quickly collecting himself, he turned to me this time and asked.
"Then, White Moon Sword Lord, I ask you as the general opinion of the Black Alliance. To rescue the surviving Kunlun disciples and drive out the rogue monks of the Potala Palace, what do you think must be done? In the discussions so far, the conclusion reached was to put all the lesser fighters to sleep with the Poison King's poison, and while the masters fought among themselves, our Martial Force Unit would separately extract the survivors."
"That's fine. However, with a slight adjustment, it would be far more efficient."
"How so?"
"Set fire along with the poison."
"…?"
"Fire is more effective at throwing people into confusion. Flustered and trying to put it out, they'll be poisoned without realizing it and collapse one by one."
"…"
The Murim Alliance Leader seemed to have something to say, but as if the sentence couldn't quite complete itself, only the corners of his mouth twitched toward me. It was only after a long while that he finally spoke.
"…Our goal is not to defeat the rogue monks of the Potala Palace, but to rescue the disciples of Kunlun."
"Ah, there's no need to actually start a fire. Isn't it enough to make them believe the whole area has become a sea of flames?"
"R-right? As I thought, I trusted you, White Moon Sword Lord. No matter what, I knew you weren't the kind of person to suggest setting fire to a place with hostages!"
"Of course. As it happens, the Illusion Witch here is skilled in sorcery, so we can simply have them all fall into an illusion. The Kunlun disciples will experience the illusion as well… but that's far better than actually suffocating."
"Hic…?"
The Illusion Witch flinched at being called out so suddenly. I gave her a smile full of trust.
"You can do it, right?"
"W-well, you see…"
The Illusion Witch paused to choose her words, then counted on her fingers as she organized what she had heard.
"So you're saying I should use the most horrifying sorcery I can to scare the wits out of the enemies, even if the hostages get caught in the crossfire?"
"Exactly that."
"I can do it, but…"
She glanced around, checking the mood of those nearby. Her neck shrank back.
"You're really going to make me do it?"
"If not for that method, the only thing I know how to do is cut down the Kunlun Sect's buildings whole."
"O-okay, I'll try!"
The Illusion Witch nodded her head with an urgent voice.
For some reason, the way she looked at me was like she was looking at something that wasn't human.
That's too much.
I had found a peaceful method, after all.