Became a God-Level Martial Artist

Chapter 202 : Inujeong

Yichang, Hubei Province.In a small village as peaceful and tranquil as its name, the greatest prodigies of the era had gathered.

An interim Special Task Force of the Murim Alliance, composed of the successors of the Five Great Clans and the Nine Sects One Gang. They had established their quarters not far from the Seong-un Inn.

Sword Dragon Moyong Hyeon slowly surveyed the faces gathered in the meeting room before he spoke.

"As you all may know, the mastermind behind this incident will eventually be exposed. Just like history has shown, no matter how thorough a group is, there will always be a trail to follow."

In Murim history, there had been countless demonic practitioners and groups from the unorthodox factions.

Each had committed various evils, great and small, but their end was always the same.

Justice generally prevails. Even if they are killed again and again, someone new always emerges to take their place, bound together by ideology.

This case was no different. They would be caught eventually. For Moyong Hyeon, what mattered wasn’t whether they were caught or not.

“What matters is who catches them. You should be aware that there are other groups tracking them besides our Special Task Force.”

There were wanderer groups commissioned by the Murim Alliance, as well as several units directly under the Murim Alliance headquarters.

“Well, that inn should also be considered a Murim force. They may pretend otherwise when it’s inconvenient, but we all know better.”

Moyong Hyeon revealed his hostility toward the Seong-un Inn outright. Everyone understood why he treated the inn—and Jin Seong-un—that way.

A sense of danger.

Everyone gathered here had recently felt a similar emotion.

A phrase had already begun spreading like wildfire among the people.

"Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes are a thing of the past."

A man who had appeared as if he had fallen from the sky was disrupting the order of orthodox Murim.

They didn’t want to see their honor and power diminished.

Moyong Hyeon continued.

"This incident is being closely watched by many. Thanks to the Chief Strategist personally forming this task force, all the wise elders of the orthodox factions are observing us. That’s why we must be the ones to catch them. This isn’t just a matter of accomplishment—it’s a matter of proving our existence.”

The Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans—

They were the central pillars of the current orthodox Murim.

Naturally, this Special Task Force, made up of their successors, would receive the best information the fastest.

Their martial prowess, too, would rival that of any other force of the era.

And their actions would be of a different caliber than ordinary groups.

In such a scenario, if another group—not even a proper organization, but an inn—were to uncover or apprehend the culprits first?

Moyong Hyeon shook his head furiously, as if the mere thought disgusted him.

"If we catch them, it will be remembered as a moment when the leaders of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans corrected the mistakes of the orthodox faction. But if someone else takes the credit, it will become a shameful stain on orthodox Murim."

At that moment—

A bald man who had been listening in silence quietly raised his hand. Instantly, all eyes, including Sword Dragon Moyong Hyeon, turned toward him.

"Do you have something to say?"

Sword Dragon asked in a casual tone. The man who raised his hand was Seung-ryong, a monk of Shaolin. He was quite a bit younger than Sword Dragon.

Seung-ryong awkwardly rubbed his bald head with his palm and cautiously spoke.

“Supremacy is not a particularly good ideology.”

Apparently, Moyong Hyeon's earlier remarks had sounded like arrogant declarations born of superiority to the monk.

Moyong Hyeon furrowed his brows and replied.

“If not for that ideology, would we be protecting the common folk? If they were superior to us, why would the Nine Sects One Gang, the Five Great Clans, and the Murim Alliance protect and fight for them?”

“……”

Seung-ryong pressed his lips together.

He wanted to rebut, but perhaps due to his still lacking studies, no suitable words came to mind.

Moreover, he disliked fighting.

Unlike the usual Shaolin monks known for their strength, he had a rather timid disposition.

Some resonated with the exchange between Sword Dragon and Seung-ryong, while others found it strangely irritating.

Dragon Seizer Huamyeong stretched with a refreshing yawn and said,

"Will the Five Great Clans and the Nine Sects One Gang even still exist ten years from now? Honestly, I’m embarrassed by all this talk of ‘Five Dragons’ and ‘Three Phoenixes’.”

That change came after his duel with Jin Seong-un.

Huamyeong no longer wished to be called Dragon Seizer, or to be grouped under the title of the Five Dragons.

Among his peers, there existed someone utterly overwhelming. What meaning did such titles have?

It felt more like frogs in a well praising each other with lofty names—and he was simply ashamed of it.

“Heh, of course you’d say that. I, for one, take pride in my alias as Sword Dragon. Of course, as a descendant of the Mount Hua Sword Sect, I can understand why you’d feel offended.”

Moyong Hyeon believed Huamyeong was acting that way out of jealousy for losing the alias of Sword Dragon.

After all, names like Plum Blossom Swordsman and others had failed to claim the title, and instead, Huamyeong had ended up with the rather laughable alias of Dragon Seizer. Who wouldn’t be bitter?

He continued,

“In any case, our Moyong Clan will still be part of the Five Great Clans even a hundred years from now. I’ll make sure of that. Isn’t that the same for all of you?”

At least on this point, everyone generally agreed. The desire to make their clans flourish even more than in their parents’ and masters’ time was natural.

Feeling he had successfully steered the mood, Moyong Hyeon looked satisfied—until Huamyeong let out a long yawn.

The kind that clearly said he couldn’t care less about superiority, chivalry, or orthodox ideologies. It was insufferably annoying.

As Moyong Hyeon glared at Huamyeong, a rough voice rang from outside.

— “Elder. Since we’re back in Yichang for once, why don’t we get some of that... what was it again? That bamboo dish?”

— “Yeongtangjukcheong?”

Then followed the roughest voice of a woman:

— “Cheongtang Bamboo Stew, you fools. I scrubbed you clean for once, and it even washed your brains? And since when did beggars sit at the table like refined folks to eat such a luxurious dish?”

— “Hey, beggars can appreciate taste too. It’s not like we’re freeloading—we brought intel.”

At those voices, the prodigies of the Special Task Force shot up from their seats.

It was the Beggars’ Union. The group responsible for intelligence in the Murim Alliance had brought them a lead.

Sword Dragon Moyong Hyeon's eyes gleamed as he bolted outside. No longer did he need to agonize over whether to rely on Guest Dragon for intel.

When Moyong Hyeon stepped into the market street and confirmed the beggars' identities, he flinched hard.

Of all people—why did it have to be the Mad Rooster?

Elder Byeok of Gwanggye was a woman feared throughout Murim. Especially those of lower rank than her wouldn’t even dare meet her gaze.

Normally, Moyong Hyeon would have deliberately avoided her even if she was walking toward him. But after a brief internal struggle, he approached Elder Byeok.

“What is it?”

Elder Byeok asked as she looked at the obstructing Moyong Hyeon with disinterested eyes.

Moyong Hyeon deeply bowed and said,

“I am Moyong Hyeon, eldest son of the Moyong Clan. I greet a revered senior of the Beggars’ Union.”

“Is that so.”

Still a tone of indifference.

Moyong Hyeon began to feel that something was off.

“By chance, I happened to overhear the seniors’ conversation. Have you finally found some information related to this incident?”

“Well, that’s right.”

Elder Byeok nodded obediently.

Moyong Hyeon’s eyes gleamed as he stared intently at her. Elder Byeok also gazed back at him wordlessly.

“……”

A brief silence followed.

While the members of the Special Task Force who had arrived late were offering their greetings one by one, the two engaged in a silent staring contest.

It was Moyong Hyeon who spoke first.

“So, what kind of information is it…?”

“Why should I tell you that?”

“Pardon?”

Moyong Hyeon blinked in confusion.

No, if she had obtained information from the Beggars’ Union, shouldn’t it naturally be shared with the Murim Alliance?

If that wasn’t the case, then why on earth had those beggar bastards come all the way to Yichang where the Special Task Force was stationed?

“Did you entrust the information to me?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. The Murim Alliance clearly cooperated with the Beggars’ Union…”

“Am I the Beggars’ Union?”

“Pardon?”

Moyong Hyeon felt dizzy. He couldn’t make sense of what this woman was saying.

Elder Byeok then leaned in close to his face and spoke in her uniquely fierce tone and glare.

“I am me, and the Beggars’ Union is the Beggars’ Union. I didn’t come here to meet you people, so stop bothering me. Since when does some snot-nosed brat have the right to demand something from me?”

“……”

Moyong Hyeon quickly turned his head toward the Special Task Force—or more precisely, toward the beggar standing there blankly.

Naturally, the Beggars’ Union had also sent their successor candidate to join the Special Task Force.

Moyong Hyeon sent a telepathic message to Neung Sogae, the disciple of the current Dragon Head Division Leader.

– She’s an elder of the Beggars’ Union. Do something about her! What on earth is wrong with Elder Byeok?

But Neung Sogae subtly avoided his gaze, as if he wanted to avoid eye contact with Elder Byeok at all costs.

– Even I can’t handle Elder Byeok. Not only does she belong to a different faction, but she’s also someone who ignores even half of the Division Leader’s words. What do you expect me to do?

Moyong Hyeon’s expression turned dumbfounded.

What kind of chaotic household was this? How could the Beggars’ Union allow such an elder to run rampant?

As that thought crossed his mind—

Perhaps due to the commotion outside, Jin Seong-un stepped out of Seong-un Inn.

At that moment, Moyong Hyeon realized just how many expressions a human face could make.

Elder Byeok’s face, which seemed ready to throw a punch at the next person who spoke, transformed completely—her features softened into the kindest, most benevolent smile filled with warmth and delight.

Then Elder Byeok called out to the guest in the gentlest tone imaginable.

“Seong-un, it’s been a long time.”

At that instant, goosebumps ran down the spines of Moyong Hyeon and everyone else who knew Elder Byeok well.

No one had ever imagined that the Mad Rooster could call someone by name so affectionately.

The conversation that followed was even more shocking.

“Did you bring the information?”

That was the same question Elder Byeok had just snapped at Moyong Hyeon for asking.

But when Jin Seong-un asked the very same thing—as if genuinely expecting the report she had gathered—Elder Byeok instead smiled brightly.

“Of course I did. Why else would I have come? There are barely any people within the Beggars’ Union who share information with me, but since you asked, I beat up quite a few to get it.”

Elder Byeok said this proudly, as if expecting praise for her efforts.

Jin Seong-un nodded.

“It was a sudden request, but thank you for going out of your way.”

“Haha, what’s with such formality between us? Let’s go inside and talk.”

“Mm.”

Jin Seong-un paused for a moment and took a deep breath—as if trying to check for a smell. The Special Task Force members flinched in alarm.

Especially Neung Sogae, who knew Elder Byeok’s temperament better than anyone, squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head, expecting an awful scene to unfold.

But everyone’s expectations were once again betrayed.

Elder Byeok chuckled and said,

“I washed thoroughly in the river on my way here, so don’t worry. If I smelled bad, you’d probably have kicked me out without mercy again.”

“…It’s not merciless. It’s just proper manners and etiquette when entering a restaurant.”

“Yes, yes. Anyway, I scrubbed myself clean, so let’s go in.”

Everyone witnessing their exchange looked as if they were dreaming.

This was a conversation Elder Byeok would normally have smashed a hundred tables over.

Yet the atmosphere between the two was harmonious. To be precise, Jin Seong-un was calm, while Elder Byeok beamed as though even if he spat dung, she’d still find it endearing.

It was only natural.

To Elder Byeok, Jin Seong-un was the benefactor who had forgiven her massive debt.

White Cloud Sword, Poison Lord, and Shin Mok—

Hadn’t she incurred an enormous debt at Seong-un Inn under those three demanding seniors’ pressure?

She had no talent for making money. If Jin Seong-un hadn’t paid off her debt, she would probably still be begging under some bridge.

Elder Byeok then slung her arm affectionately around Jin Seong-un’s neck as they entered the inn together.

The Special Task Force members who witnessed this could only blink in disbelief.

Hwamyeong murmured faintly, barely audible.

“So… who’s going to tell us the information now?”

At his teasing remark, Moyong Hyeon whipped his head around and glared at him as if to kill.

Hwamyeong cleared his throat awkwardly and quickly averted his gaze, muttering under his breath,

“…Shortened, it’s Inu-jeong.”