Chapter 526

“Waaaaah!”

Boom! Boom-boom!

A colossal roar swallowed everything.

The deafening cries of thousands, infused with their qi and fierce determination, shook the silent Songshan and echoed endlessly across the land.

Though they differed in names, personalities, lives, and even gender, they all stood beneath the same towering banner.

Murim Alliance (武林盟).

Against the backdrop of pure white fabric, only those three characters were inscribed.

It was neither as lavish as the banners symbolizing the Emperor nor as massive as the Black Flag of the Demonic Cult that once invaded the Central Plains.

But it was enough.

Within those three characters, everything was contained.

Now, the martial world of the Central Plains would unite beneath this banner. In this new era they forged, they would face a new enemy together.

And…

“A new hero will rise.”

A quiet murmur from someone in the crowd.

High atop a nameless tree, now lush with spring leaves, Moon Kyung observed the scene below, his gaze locking onto a single figure.

Jin Taekyung.

Moon Kyung could see it clearly—the young warrior standing tall like a steel tower, holding the Murim Alliance’s banner aloft, his eyes ablaze with determination.

Flanked by two titans—Sword Star, Ma Jong-hak and Fire King, Jeok Cheon-Gang—along with the rising star, Cheongpung, the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, Jin Taekyung stood firm, accepting the flood of cheers from every direction.

He already looked like a hero.

“Blazing Fire Dragon!”

“Blazing Fire Dragon, Jin Taekyung!”

The gathered warriors shouted his name with unwavering fervor.

And as he watched this spectacle, a quiet whisper escaped Moon Kyung’s lips.

“It has finally begun.”

A new era.

A new enemy.

And new heroes.

At last, after so long, the curtain had risen on the stage of fate.

Some would fall in nameless fields, never to rise again.

Some would etch their names into the endless history of Murim.

Life and death.

Disgrace and glory.

Right here, on Songshan, the prologue to a great war that would decide the fate of the world had begun.

The entire martial world trembled.

No, this was more than mere trembling—it was a great upheaval.

Rumors and hearsay about the war had circulated before, but they had been just whispers—mere speculation.

Now, however, the war had become reality, and its impact was monumental.

On a warm spring day, the Nine Great Clans, the Five Supreme Families, and countless other sects had finally gathered under a single banner.

The news spread like wildfire.

And with it came an undeniable truth—

A fierce war to decide the fate of the world had begun.

—

“Sect Leader! The Murim Alliance has been officially established in Henan!”

“Send out the carrier pigeons immediately! Our sect will stand beneath the banner of the Murim Alliance.”

“Understood!”

“Inform the other sect leaders in Fujian as well. We must convene at once.”

The world was vast, and the number of sects and noble families scattered across the land was countless.

Those who had been unable to reach Henan for various reasons now scrambled to pledge their allegiance to the Murim Alliance.

Even wandering martial artists, those unaffiliated with any sect, made their decisions.

“Grandmaster Jang, come with me to Henan. Shouldn’t we join the Murim Alliance?”

“Apologies, but I intend to head to Sichuan. You’ll have to go to Henan alone, Grandmaster Kwak.”

“Hah… Even though Qingcheng and Emei still stand, if Dark Heaven attacks Sichuan first—just as the Demonic Cult once did—won’t it become a battlefield of blood?”

“That is precisely why I must go. Even if my strength is but a drop in the ocean, I must lend my aid.”

Some carried righteousness in their hearts.

“Master Hyungjang, our paths seem to align. Shall we travel together?”

“A true warrior! May I ask your name?”

“Names are meaningless. I am but a wandering swordsman who lives by the blade. I care not for titles of honor. I don’t know how strong this ‘Dark Heaven’ may be, but if I cut down enough of them, my name will spread, and I’ll make my fortune.”

Others wielded their swords out of ambition and personal gain.

And among those who did not belong to any particular sect, there were faces never before seen in Murim.

Some had remained hidden for years.

Some had never revealed themselves at all.

—

“What brings you outside, Master?”

“The weather is fine. I was enjoying the breeze. But your expression seems troubled.”

“Well… Actually…”

The young disciple hesitated before finally speaking.

“I was searching the mountains for snow ginseng to present to you when I met an herbalist. He told me…”

The revival of the Murim Alliance had been a widely known rumor, long before the Oath of Songshan.

Even those who had secluded themselves deep within the mountains had heard the whispers.

“Hmm… Dark Heaven and the Murim Alliance, is it?”

“The world below is in turmoil. The Murim Alliance has declared war on Dark Heaven, and the common people tremble in fear.”

“Hah… A calamity follows a long peace.”

“Master, what should we do?”

“Just as in the past Great Battle of Justice and Evil, countless lives will be lost. We must make haste. Prepare yourself—we leave for Henan immediately.”

Thus, an old master, who had long withdrawn from the world, departed for the Central Plains with his disciple.

—

“Old man, how was the fishing today?”

“Bah! The damned fish aren’t biting.”

“Hahaha! You’ve been saying that for forty years. Here, I caught a few carp for you. Take them home and eat well.”

“Of course, I will! After all, I saved your father’s life ten years ago! Give me the biggest one.”

“Alright. Since this will be the last time, you can have them all.”

“Huh? Last time? What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Haven’t you heard? A great disaster is upon Murim.”

“Disaster? Tell me more.”

“In Henan, a group calling itself the Murim Alliance has formed, and they plan to engage in a decisive battle against Dark Heaven, which is said to be the successor of the Demonic Cult. No one knows what will happen next, so I was thinking of taking my family somewhere safe for a while… Old man? What are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I’m preparing to leave.”

“Where to? Wait, are you leaving your fishing rod behind?”

“I won’t be needing it anymore. You can use it instead.”

“Old man—old man!”

“We’ll meet again someday. Stay safe.”

The white-haired elder, who had once spent his days quietly fishing by the secluded lake, now left with a spear slung across his back instead of a fishing rod.

A venerable warrior who had once shaken an era—or perhaps, simply an old hermit who had dedicated his entire life to martial arts—had stepped out of seclusion and returned to the world.

—

“Is this the Murim Alliance?”

“That’s right. But if you’re here to enlist, you’ll need to go to that pavilion over there and provide your title, name, and proof of identity before—”

“I’ve come to the right place. Go and tell them Hongjeok is here.”

“Whether you’re Hongjeok or Honggeonjeok, we still have to follow the verification pro—wait, what did you just say?”

“Hongjeok. From Guangxi.”

“Y-you mean… Fist King…?”

Names thought to have vanished with time, now resurfaced.

Yet, despite the decades that had washed over them, the titles that had been engraved into the memories of all still carried weight.

Even as the sun set and darkness fell, their presence shone like torches.

And alongside them, rumors of new rising stars continued to spread from mouth to mouth.

—

“I’ll bet my arm that the Ten Phoenix and Dragons will be the key players in this war.”

The middle-aged man with a jutting jaw spoke confidently, only for a man with beady eyes to scoff.

“Don’t make me laugh. Sure, they call them the greatest young warriors of the era, but in the end, weren’t they just handpicked from the elite disciples of the great sects?”

“So what’s your point?”

“They’re nothing but hothouse flowers—pampered brats raised in the best conditions. How much real impact do you think they’ll have on an actual battlefield?”

The man with the jutting jaw narrowed his eyes.

“Listen to this guy… Are you with Dark Heaven?”

“WHAT?!”

Beady Eyes shot up, furious.

“Watch your damn mouth! Don’t say reckless things! Why the hell would I be with Dark Heaven?!”

“Then why are you badmouthing the finest warriors of our righteous sects?”

“I’m not badmouthing anyone! I’m just stating the facts! Not that I can say the same for your ridiculous chin!”

“Wait, what the hell does my chin have to do with this?! Are you insulting my appearance?!”

A flame of rage erupted in Jutting Jaw’s eyes.

“If you so much as mention my chin one more time, you’d better be prepared for what comes next. Understood?”

“Jutting Jaw! Jutting Jaw! That chin could block a sword, it’s so damn strong—Boom! KABOOM!”

“YOU LITTLE SON OF A—!”

Crash!

Tables overturned, food and liquor bottles spilled everywhere.

Just when it seemed as if a full-blown brawl was about to break out, a man with a goatee quietly spoke.

“You’re both wrong.”

Both Beady Eyes and Jutting Jaw turned to him at the same time.

“…What did you say?”

“Say that again and I’ll yank your beard off.”

Goatee shook his head and continued.

“I don’t disagree that the Ten Phoenix and Dragons will be significant. However, compared to the power Dark Heaven has displayed so far, they are, in the end, still just young warriors.”

A satisfied look spread across Beady Eyes’ face.

“So, you’re saying I was right?”

“To an extent, yes.”

“Hah! You’ve got a sharp mind. And might I say, your beard is particularly impressive today.”

Jutting Jaw gritted his teeth, glaring daggers at Beady Eyes.

“You have the eyes of a rat, and now you’ve gone deaf as well. Did you forget what he just said about both of you being wrong?”

“…Oh. That’s true. Then what’s your point?”

Goatee stroked his beard thoughtfully before answering.

“My point is that true prodigies exist everywhere. You’re right that the Ten Phoenix and Dragons were raised in the best conditions. But that doesn’t change the fact that they are still the greatest young warriors in Murim.”

“Hmm… and?”

“Not all of them hail from the great sects. Take Jin Mu-gyeong, the True Heaven Sword from the Taewon Jin Clan, for example.”

“Ah… I forgot about him.”

Seizing the moment, Jutting Jaw sneered.

“Jin Mu-gyeong is one thing, but Moyong Yeonghui, from the esteemed Moyong Family, is just as formidable. Not that a pea-brain like you would know anything about that.”

“What did you say?! You, whose chin alone would stay afloat if you drowned?!”

As the two men started growling at each other again, Goatee let out a deep sigh before speaking.

“Enough fighting. Just listen.

Right now, the warriors we should be paying attention to aren’t the Ten Phoenix and Dragons.

There are two dragons standing ahead of them.”

Beady Eyes and Jutting Jaw froze.

They both knew exactly what he meant.

Blazing Fire Dragon, Jin Taekyung.

Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, Cheongpung.

Even the Ten Phoenix and Dragons paled in comparison to the two dragons standing before them.

“…Yeah.”

“That’s true.”

With no room for argument, they nodded.

Then, another question surfaced.

“What do you think they’re doing right now?”

“Who knows? But one thing is for sure.”

Goatee’s expression grew grave as he continued.

“They must be doing something incredible.”

—

Cheongpung, face set in determination, finally spoke.

“Ah? I feel like eating dumplings!”

“Shut up, you idiot.”

(T/N: Yeah, so much for doing something incredible. ROFL)