Chapter 216: 45. The Ember in the Ashes Becomes a Flame

The recommendation letter I had kept alongside my Martial Alliance access pass had become so badly stuck together that the ink had run, leaving not a single word legible.

I glared at the scrap of paper, stained black with dried blood, then rubbed my eyes in frustration.

I needed another way.

******

Tang Juhee glanced toward the light still burning in Sohae’s residence in the distance and stroked her chin thoughtfully.

She comes back smelling of a pleasure house every morning. I thought she might have found herself a man she was secretly meeting, but that doesn't seem to be the case...

“What do you think? It doesn't look as though our Little Sister is hiding a lover outside the estate, does it?”

“...”

“Then we can't have any nasty rumors spreading when there's no truth to them, can we?”

Whispering the words, Tang Juhee licked the sharp tip of her metal gauntlet and smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

Before her lay a maid sprawled on the ground, tears and snot streaming down her face.

Tang Juhee had struck both her immobilizing vital point and her speech point, leaving her unable to do anything but blink frantically in response to the questions.

Tang Juhee crouched until they were at eye level, then slowly reached out and lifted the maid's chin.

Bright red blood dripped from the skin scraped by her gauntlet.

“Make sure none of the servants spread any false rumors. If any unpleasant stories reach my ears, I'll come looking for you. And when I do, you'll wish you were dead.”

“...!”

At the chilling warning, the maid wet herself.

Tang Juhee pinched her nose against the stench of urine spreading around them. Then, as though touching something filthy, she extended the tip of her index finger and released the maid's vital points.

“You can come up with your own explanation for my aunt. Of course, you'll tell her that there's nothing wrong with Little Sister, won't you?”

“Yes...! Yes, Grand Princess...!”

“Take good care of my aunt and make sure she doesn't make any mistakes. That's what you're useful for.”

“Yes...! Yes!”

The maid's teeth chattered as she struggled to answer, her entire body trembling.

In contrast to the maid's deathly pale face, Tang Juhee looked thoroughly bored.

She brushed off her hands, rose to her feet, and covered her mouth as she let out a long yawn.

I suppose I should keep a closer eye on the people around her.

With everyone lying low to avoid the wrath of Tang Jung, what could possibly have possessed someone to try to tarnish Sohae's reputation?

If her aunt was still acting this recklessly despite the end of the days when she could throw her weight around under the protection of powerful relatives, perhaps the rumors that she had gone mad were true.

Madam Jo would never have acted so carelessly a few years ago that even Tang Juhee could see what she was doing.

Then again, she had good reason to be anxious.

The legitimate eldest son she had expected to die soon was growing healthier by the day, while the illegitimate daughter whose life she had tried so hard to snuff out had returned alive and well.

How could she possibly sleep soundly at night?

Well, that's none of my business. There's a reason that bastard is so obnoxious and arrogant. Mother and son keep doing stupid things together while thinking they're the cleverest people in the world.

Remembering her maternal half-brother, whose very face was enough to sour her mood, Tang Juhee drew her delicate brows together.

It would be a little troublesome, but...

For the time being, it seemed she would have to keep a close eye on her adorable Little Sister's surroundings.

******

After finishing my dawn training, I stared intently at the musty-smelling paper and pondered what to do.

Nobody in their right mind would mistake this miserable scrap for a recommendation letter, but it seemed a shame to throw it away.

After all, I doubted I would ever get a second chance to obtain a recommendation personally written by the Martial Alliance Leader.

I had no way of meeting Wiji Gok to ask him for another one. Even if I sent a message, the chances of my letter actually reaching him were extremely slim.

It wasn't as though the Martial Alliance Leader was just anyone. A letter from someone like me would probably be screened out long before it ever reached his hands.

Would anyone believe this rag was a recommendation letter?

My access pass is still intact. Maybe I could take it along and insist this really is the letter.

But how am I supposed to get all the way to Wuhan again? Should I contact Monk Beopgong and ask if he can help?

I spent a long while racking my brains before finally remembering that the Martial Alliance also had a branch in Sichuan.

Come to think of it, didn't Deokju once mention knowing someone at the Sichuan branch?

“Deokju.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“You told me about the Martial Alliance's Sichuan branch before. Do you still know anyone there?”

I asked without much hope, but Deokju nodded.

“Yes. There is a swordswoman I used to spend time with occasionally. I heard she became the branch chief not long ago.”

“Do you think you could arrange for me to meet her?”

“Of course. I'll contact her right away.”

Deokju readily agreed and bowed.

Chapter?45. The Ember in the Ashes Becomes a Flame

The Martial Alliance's Sichuan branch was located not far from the center of Chengdu.

It was nowhere near as grand as the headquarters in Wuhan, but with more than a dozen buildings on its grounds, it seemed to house a fair number of people.

“Welcome. The branch chief is expecting you. Ah, might this be...?”

The guard had greeted Deokju warmly upon recognizing her, but his eyes widened when he saw me.

I gave him a slight bow, and he hurriedly began showing us the way, looking thoroughly flustered.

“Th-this way, please!”

A woman dressed in red martial attire was waiting outside the building he led us to.

When our eyes met, she gave me a cheerful smile and a clasped-hands salute.

“I am Danmok Seol, chief of the Sichuan branch. So I finally get to meet the Poison Butterfly I've heard so much about.”

“A pleasure to meet you. I'm Tang Sohae.”

I returned her salute politely and took a closer look at Danmok Seol.

She was rather small for a martial artist who wielded a sword.

Yet the well-defined muscles visible beneath her red martial attire bore ample evidence that she had devoted more than twice as much time to physical conditioning as most people.

Her presence is anything but ordinary. I bet more than a few martial artists have underestimated her because of her appearance and ended up getting beaten to a pulp.

I was inwardly admiring her physique and wondering what sort of swordsmanship she practiced when Danmok Seol burst into laughter.

“If you look at me with such eagerness for a fight, Poison Butterfly, you'll make me want to challenge you to a spar.”

“Ah, forgive me.”

I hurriedly apologized at her pointed joke, but a mischievous smile spread across Danmok Seol's face.

“Not at all. Sparring with the Poison Butterfly would be an interesting experience in its own—”

“Danmok Seol.”

“All right, all right.”

At Deokju's warning, Danmok Seol laughed and waved her hands in surrender before composing her expression.

Even so, the way she exchanged glances and continued teasing Deokju suggested that the two were quite close.

Perhaps that was why Danmok Seol seemed genuinely pleased to have me there as she served us tea and refreshments.

After chatting amiably about one thing and another, she soon got to the point.

“So, what made the Poison Butterfly want to meet me?”

“There's something I'd like to show you.”

I promptly pulled out the rag that had once been a recommendation letter and placed it before her.

A puzzled look appeared in Danmok Seol's eyes.

“This is...”

“A recommendation letter personally written by the Martial Alliance Leader.”

I delivered the answer with a perfectly straight face.

Danmok Seol shrugged.

“I'm not questioning your word, Poison Butterfly, but to my eyes, that looks like a piece of rotting paper.”

“There was a slight problem with how I stored it, but I assure you that Elder Wiji Gok wrote this recommendation himself.”

“You have no reason to lie to me. I believe you.”

Danmok Seol nodded, then scratched her cheek with an awkward expression.

“Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to submit the letter to my superiors. There's no way to verify its authenticity.”

“Branch Chief, I know how ridiculous my claim must sound, but...”

When I hurriedly tried to explain, Danmok Seol waved her hand to indicate that I had misunderstood.

“No, I'm not saying this because I don't trust you. The problem is that even if I submit it to my superiors, there won't be anyone who can confirm it. You see, the former Alliance Leader retired not long ago.”

The news struck me like a bolt from the blue.

My mouth fell open.

“What? He retired?”

That old man retired while I was away?

He kept boasting that he'd help me whenever I needed it, and now he's no use to me at all.

Danmok Seol looked a little apologetic as she watched me sit there in a daze.

“Yes. Abbot Hyegak of Shaolin has succeeded him as Alliance Leader. The former Alliance Leader is currently preparing for his ceremonial retirement from the martial world.”

For a moment, my mind went blank at the news that the abbot of Shaolin had risen to become the Martial Alliance Leader.

The political situation in the Central Plains, which had been so unpredictable until now, was somehow beginning to follow the course of Namgung Under Heaven.

When I failed to respond, Danmok Seol quickly changed the subject.

“In any case, since you've brought me a recommendation letter, I assume it's fair to say you intend to join the Alliance. I doubt you're looking for a position as an ordinary martial guard... Is there a particular organization you have in mind?”

“I want to join the Demon Extermination Corps.”

“The Demon Extermination Corps, you say? That's usually where people with personal grudges against the Demonic Sect volunteer to serve. Why that particular corps...?”

Danmok Seol looked puzzled, but before I could say anything, she seemed to arrive at an explanation on her own and continued.

“Well, the Poison King's grudge is famous enough. I suppose it wouldn't be strange for his disciple to take the lead in exterminating members of the Demonic Sect. However, there's no way to enter the Demon Extermination Corps directly.”

“Do you mean they aren't accepting new recruits?”

“Yes. As I understand it, only Alliance members who have served for at least three years are allowed to volunteer for the Demon Extermination Corps. The rule was probably introduced to screen out infiltrators. The corps commander has had to execute spies on several occasions.”

“Three whole years...”

The unexpected obstacle made everything seem hopeless.

I couldn't afford to waste three years when every moment mattered.

Do I need to find another way?

As I anxiously chewed my lip, Danmok Seol watched me for a moment before asking,

“If what you need is an achievement that will qualify you for the Demon Extermination Corps, why not enter the Martial Tournament for Promising Young Martial Artists?”