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SERIES: Return of the Divine Thief
CHAPTER 14: Return of the Divine Thief
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Return of the Divine Thief - Chapter 14
For two days, the nights in Uiju Castle were never free from the stench of blood.
The rumor of the gruesome purge that took place at the Daewoong Faction's banquet hall spread throughout Uiju overnight, and the name ‘Hwa Un, the Divine Doctor’ had now become synonymous with terror.
Heuk Cheolsan, the new Lodge Leader, moved swiftly, backed by that terror.
He ruthlessly culled the inhuman bastards and the remnants of the old guard who resisted to the end.
And to those who remained, he gave a choice.
Follow the new order, or disappear from Uiju.
For those who had witnessed the precedent of death, there was really only one choice.
And so, the great sandcastle that Wi Mugeuk had built over a decade fell completely into the hands of its new master in less than three days.
Having finished organizing everything, Heuk Cheolsan visited the annex where Hwa Un was staying.
Hwa Un was sitting in the garden, examining a newly carved white jade mask in the moonlight.
“As you commanded, Doctor, I have taken complete control of the Daewoong Faction. I have also culled all the malignant elements within the faction. The businesses that engaged in human trafficking and plundering innocent commoners have also been shut down.”
“You’ve worked hard, Lodge Leader Heuk.”
Muryang was now acknowledging Heuk Cheolsan, who had successfully consolidated and taken control of the Daewoong Faction, as its leader.
“From now on, I will record all The Daewoong Faction’s movements and financial situations without omission and report to you, Doctor….”
“No.”
Muryang cut him off.
“There’s no need for reports.”
“Pardon?”
“I trust Elder Heuk, no… Lodge Leader Heuk.”
That single phrase, “I trust you,” weighed heavily on Heuk Cheolsan’s heart.
“Thank you. And, these are the items from the warehouse judged to be of the highest value. Please dispose of them as you wish, Doctor.”
Muryang nonchalantly glanced over the mountain of treasures.
His gaze did not linger for even a moment on the gold, silver, jewels, or expensive paintings and calligraphy.
He was simply looking for items that were ‘useful’ to him.
Before long, his eyes settled on two objects.
One was a sword.
It was housed in a simple blackwood scabbard, a sword so ordinary-looking he had almost overlooked it.
But the moment Muryang drew the sword, the surrounding air grew chill.
The blade was pitch-black, yet it reflected light strangely, creating the illusion that a black liquid was flowing over it.
When he swung it lightly, it boasted such perfect balance that it felt weightless.
‘Yuyeong. Flowing Shadow.’
Muryang softly murmured the name engraved on the sword.
It would be more than sufficient as a weapon to serve in place of his own hands for a while.
The second object his gaze fell upon was a large, uncut raw stone of white jade.
It was the size of a man’s head and radiated a clear, cold energy, without a single impurity.
‘The Hwa Un Doctor's human-skin mask requires too much effort. Unless it’s a special occasion, it would be good to have a simple, expressionless mask for everyday use.’
Muryang took only those two items.
While Heuk Cheolsan was puzzled by his modest choices, Muryang brought up an entirely different topic.
“Lodge Leader Heuk. The truth is, I am not a Doctor.”
“What do you mean by that….”
A moment later, Heuk Cheolsan’s puzzled expression twisted into one of horror.
It was because the Doctor was slowly peeling off his own face, as if removing a thin membrane, from his ear to his jawline.
In the place where the middle-aged face, etched with wrinkles and experience, had been, the cool, clear face of a young man who looked to be in his mid-teens was revealed.
“Nice to meet you. I'm Cho Muryang.”
“……!”
Heuk Cheolsan stumbled backward without realizing it.
The disguise had been so perfect.
Above all, what horrified him was the age.
A young man who looked to be at least twenty years his junior.
‘At such a young age… how could he have cured my daughter's illness… and possess such incredible martial arts….’
It was unbelievable.
His mind was a chaotic mess.
He pointed a trembling finger at the young man.
“You… Who in the world are you…! Does this mean everything until now… was a lie!”
His voice was laced with bewilderment and even a faint sense of betrayal.
But Muryang, without a hint of agitation, calmly replied as he tidied the human-skin mask he had removed.
“The identity of Hwa Un was a lie.”
The young man lifted his head and looked Heuk Cheolsan straight in the eye.
His gaze held a depth that was completely at odds with his age.
“But, Lodge Leader Heuk, the fact that I saved the dying Aran is the truth, my will to excise the rotten Daewoong Lodge and establish a new order is also the truth, and my plan to right the wrongs of Uiju with your help is also the truth. Does the truth change just because the face behind the mask was different?”
As soon as he reverted from Hwa Un to Muryang, his manner of speaking also changed to that of a young man.
It was a speech pattern Muryang consciously adopted to reduce the dissonance between his young body and his vast experience.
Heuk Cheolsan couldn't say a word.
He mulled over the young man’s words.
The face of Hwa Un, the face of the young man, and the face of his daughter, Aran, smiling healthily, all overlapped in his mind.
That’s right.
Just because his benefactor’s face had changed from that of a middle-aged man to a young man, the fact that he was the savior of his daughter’s life did not change.
Ashamed of his own rashness and agitation, Heuk Cheolsan bowed deeply once more.
“My apologies. For a moment, I was blinded by what was before my eyes and forgot what truly matters. Thank you again for your grace.”
He raised his head and asked, his eyes firmer than before.
“Then, how should I address you?”
Muryang thought for a moment before answering.
“Pavilion Master.”
“Pavilion Master… Are you perhaps part of a cult?”
“No. But I am in the process of creating an ‘Alliance.’”
Muryang’s eyes seemed to look far away, beyond Uiju to the entire world.
“An alliance that serves to punish those with the faces of men but the hearts of beasts, and to block the demonic path. Within that alliance, I intend to take on the role of Pavilion Master of the Dragon Gate Pavilion, which will discover talented individuals throughout the world and guide them onto the right path. Lodge Leader Heuk, I welcome your Daewoong Faction as a member of the alliance, starting today.”
“It is an honor. However, if our benefactor is the Pavilion Master, is there a separate Alliance Leader?”
“Still vacant.”
“……? Perhaps, the name of the alliance is……”
“Haven't decided yet.”
“Th-then, the factions under it!”
“The Daewoong Faction and the Red Bridge Faction I picked up a while ago.”
“……”
The back I've just climbed on... should I get off now?
A single bead of cold sweat trickled down Lodge Leader Heuk’s back.
“But… yes, it would be good if it was a name that could encompass the entire Murim.”
“You mean… the Murim Alliance?”
“Oh, that's good. Adopted!”
“Th-that is….”
The Murim Alliance—it was an absurdly arrogant name.
The current Murim was divided into four great regions: east, west, south, and north.
And even within those regions, countless sects and factions, as numerous as the stars in the sky, fought endlessly, driven by their own interests and pride.
And yet, he dared to call it the ‘Murim Alliance’.
It was a declaration worthy of an emperor of the Murim, a claim to unite the entire fractured martial world.
Seeing the unconcealed bewilderment on Heuk Cheolsan’s face, Muryang chuckled and asked.
“Sound like a pipe dream?”
At his words, Heuk Cheolsan was startled and hastily bowed his head.
“My apologies, Pavilion Master. Your ambition is so grand that my own narrow perspective could not grasp its depth.”
“This is just the beginning. I will definitely unite the Murim. No, I *must*.”
Muryang’s eyes turned cold.
Of course, in the process, he would have to engage in bloody struggles with countless martial arts factions.
There was no way those blinded by their own interests and pride would meekly gather under a single banner.
‘But I must succeed.’
In his past life, the Demonic Cult that Muryang had faced had easily trampled over all the martial factions Heuk Cheolsan was now worried about and seized the world.
If he didn’t have the power to suppress all their petty squabbles and prideful fights by force, to make them kneel under a single banner…
‘I wouldn't even have the right to fight the Demonic Cult in the first place.’
The Cult Leader and his demonic bastards must be gathering their strength somewhere, even at this very moment.
Muryang’s brow furrowed slightly.
The unfortunate thing was that, at present, he didn't know where their main base was.
The Cult Leader's residence he had infiltrated in his past life was a new base established after they had conquered the world with their demonic ways.
Therefore, for now, he had to focus on building his strength and eliminating the Demonic Cult members who were already out in the Central Plains.
Having finished his thoughts, Muryang asked the stiff-faced Heuk Cheolsan.
“Any more questions?”
At his words, Heuk Cheolsan hesitated for a moment.
It wasn't the kind of topic to bring up in this atmosphere, but it was a problem he had to address as the Lodge Leader.
He wore a troubled expression and spoke with difficulty.
“Um, Pavilion Master. My apologies, but… there is one practical problem.”
“Speak.”
“Following your orders, I have shut down all the unsavory businesses like human trafficking and plunder… and now almost all The Daewoong Faction's sources of income have disappeared. We can survive for now on the funds we've accumulated, but if this continues for long, it will become a problem.”
It was a natural concern for a Lodge Leader who had to feed hundreds of mouths.
Muryang nodded upon hearing his words. He had already anticipated this.
“The Red Bridge Faction guys ran into the same problem.”
“Then, what should we do….”
“We just have to make money through legitimate means from now on.”
Muryang pointed to several places on a map of Uiju Castle, as if dotting them.
“In places like this, by the scenic riverbank or outside the castle walls, build a few more clean inns and taverns.”
“Inns and taverns, you say?”
“Yes. And you’ll need a special liquor to attract customers. Regularly source the Peach Blossom Wine brewed by the Red Bridge Faction. If you sell it with a decent markup, you'll make a pretty good profit. I’ll vouch for the taste, so don’t worry.”
“I understand. But with that alone….”
“Trade isn't a one-way street. Consult the working-level members of the Red Bridge Faction and supply goods to them regularly. That'll be another source of income.”
‘Live like human beings.’
Easier said than done.
But for those with empty pockets, such words are nothing more than a hollow slogan.
In his past life, he had seen it with his own eyes.
No matter how noble the cause, a lack of funds would cause an organization to crumble and its people to turn traitor.
Were the warriors of the underworld any different?
If he was going to stop them from plundering and extorting, he had to provide a legitimate way for them to fill their bellies.
This would become the sturdy cornerstone that would sustain the massive organization Muryang intended to build.
“I understand.”
“Of course, this alone won't be enough. Currently, it’s just the Red Bridge Faction, but in time, there will be many more factions to trade with. The amount of money circulating will grow as well. So, you don’t need to worry too much.”
‘Righteousness’ might move an individual, but it is a weak force for moving a group.
And the best way to move the masses is, as always, ‘profit’.
Therefore, the first step was to create a ‘alliance’ that encompassed the entire martial world and have them share in each other’s profits.
‘Once that happens, they’ll step up to help each other even without a grand cause like stopping the demonic sects.’
However, the true form of the martial alliance Muryang envisioned was not a simple interest group, but a vast, intricately woven spiderweb.
It would begin with money, of course, but as interactions became more frequent, trust would blossom even among merchants who once only cared about their bottom line.
Among the warriors who cross paths traveling through each other’s lands, a strange sense of kinship would bloom.
They would discuss their martial arts over cups of wine and build camaraderie by fighting back-to-back against common enemies.
And then… yes, marriages could take place.
The son of the Daewoong Faction might marry the daughter of the Red Bridge Faction, and the granddaughter of the Red Bridge Faction might marry into another prestigious family.
In this way, the web would expand beyond mere financial ties, intertwining through personal connections and bloodlines, until it became a massive, unbreakable community bound by a shared destiny.
When that time comes, the reason other factions will step forward when a demonic sect attacks one of their own will no longer be just about protecting their own livelihood.
To protect a friend, to defend the family of their in-laws, and to preserve the world their descendants will inherit.
They will gladly draw their swords.
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