Chapter 551

Chapter 551

The Murim Alliance re-establishment ceremony.

The Poison Dragon, who was rumored to appear, had no news even on the day itself.

Buuuuu!

Starting with a long horn sound, drums rang out from all directions.

Finally, the establishment ceremony had begun.

All the tightly closed main gates opened wide.

Everyone who had come to the Murim Alliance could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, just because it was the day didn't guarantee the Poison Dragon wouldn't appear, but at least those who came to fight the Poison Dragon were completely gathered in one place. From now on, Unbreakable Heavenly Sword Baek Li-jung would officially step forward as the Murim Alliance Leader. They were prepared to fight systematically even if the Poison Dragon came.

On both sides of the path to the establishment ceremony venue, Baek Li Family's strategists came out, knelt, and shouted loudly.

"Welcome to the Murim Alliance!"

"You are the true heroes!"

"Great heroes! Please save jianghu!"

"The lofty spirit of heroes and warriors shakes jianghu!"

Additionally, maids dressed in beautiful clothes were waiting to give hero sashes to everyone entering.

"This is the hero sash specially prepared by the Alliance Leader for heroes."

"The hero sash suits you great heroes very well."

"After the ceremony, a banquet is prepared, so we hope all heroes will enjoy yourselves."

In between, strategists shouted.

"After catching the Poison Dragon, the world will belong to the heroes here!"

"Long live the Murim Alliance! Long live Unbreakable Heavenly Sword!"

Hidden among the frantically shouting voices were words subtly agitating the martial artists.

"We don't need prestigious families who closed their eyes to injustice and were scared of the Poison Dragon!"

"We must take everything from the fake prestigious families."

"That's right! Their daughters will be offered to the heroes here!"

Among the martial artists were riffraff who came hoping to strike it big. Some even drank late until the previous night and weren't fully sober yet.

Those who came for such purposes from the start were tempted by the strategists' words.

Then along the passing path, hundreds of warriors stood in formation on both sides.

"The Alliance Leader's command is to show respect to the heroes who came here with the sole determination to protect jianghu's justice! Everyone salute!"

The warriors clasped their fists and raised their hands high. Behind them, spear-wielding warriors pounded the ground with spear butts then lifted them up. At intervals, flag bearers holding large flags waved them vigorously.

It was made so that anyone would be greatly excited.

Those who weren't properly treated in the old jianghu had emotions welling up hearing terms like Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Martial Families. As sects like Mount Hua and Zhongnan dropped out further, unknown sects took their places.

But it didn't matter. The martial artists' shoulders rose as they were treated as great heroes, as if they had truly become great heroes.

"The Alliance Leader really knows how to treat people."

"Of course. When everyone fled scared like mice, heroes like us who came without sparing our lives to protect jianghu's spirit are the real heroes."

The martial artists whispered.

"I saw earlier they were saying after the Alliance Leader catches the Poison Dragon, he'll capture daughters of prestigious families who didn't participate and marry them to us. Is that true?"

"Of course. Heroes like us deserve that."

"Those who just call themselves prestigious families but tucked tail don't deserve to enjoy jianghu in the new world."

"How dare they turn their backs on a hero like the Alliance Leader, deceived by someone like the Poison Dragon. Ptui, trash."

Some martial artists shouted along when strategists called for hurrahs.

"Long live the Murim Alliance! Long live Unbreakable Heavenly Sword!"

Of course, some of those praising Baek Li-jung and cursing the opposition were instigated by the Baek Li Family.

Those from the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Martial Families entered through different entrances than ordinary martial artists, but they weren't deaf. Since they were right next to them, they heard everything whether they wanted to or not.

Therefore, the disciples of great sects looked uncomfortable. Especially the faces of Emei Sect's nuns flushed red and blue even more severely.

"Unbreakable Heavenly Sword is being too blatant with his tricks. To think we must join hands with someone who uses such schemes."

Nang Ling attended the establishment ceremony as Emei Sect's sect leader but couldn't speak because her tongue was cut. Another nun scolded the nun who just spoke.

"Junior sister, watch your words. We've already boarded the same boat as the Murim Alliance. Without Unbreakable Heavenly Sword's help, we'll die. This is the only place we can lean on."

Another nun said.

"That Unbreakable Heavenly Sword goes this far shows his confidence in catching the Poison Dragon. He knows well that after catching the Poison Dragon, those here will become his hands and feet."

"Even so, isn't it too much? To take their property and treat people as slaves just because they refused to join the Alliance..."

"Still, we're better off."

An elderly nun gestured to the side. Feng Shi standing a bit further away was visible. Feng Shi deliberately displayed his melted flesh as if to boast about fighting Jin Ja-gang.

Beside him were not Mount Hua Sect's official disciples but lay disciples. Since he couldn't be alone as Mount Bua Sect's representative, he hastily gathered lay members.

However, since Mount Hua Sect's main mountain became insignificant after being hit by Jin Ja-gang, the forces Feng Shi led had no presence at all. It was almost like a one-man sect with just Feng Shi.

What was relatively better was Kongtong Sect from Tianjin in the capital. Since they weren't on the path Jin Ja-gang passed, most of their strength was preserved. Among the great sects participating today, Kongtqong Sect was probably almost the only one with a sect leader alive and well.

Next to them was also the Namgung Family, but the Namgung Family was in a similar situation. Since they betrayed the family head and submitted to Shaolin Temple while Sword King Namgung Rak was still alive, they had no choice but to attach to the Murim Alliance.

What was unusual was that the Southern Sea Sword Sect occupied a spot among the Nine Great Sects. Sword Empress Im Yi-eon's figure was also visible.

Sword Empress Im Yi-eon had mostly recovered from injuries and was the strongest master in the current Murim Alliance excluding Unbreakable Heavenly Sword. Therefore, Southern Sea Sword Sect's prestige was also extraordinary.

"I heard the Sword Empress's disciple spent time with the Poison Dragon..."

"Strange affair."

Martial artists from other sects glanced sideways at Sword Empress Im Yi-eon. Im Yi-eon tried not to care, but her face was very stiffly hardened.

Among people from Heavenly Blade Sect and Wei Family, many had their eyes on Ice Phoenix Son-bi and tried to build friendships with Southern Sea Sword Sect, but Im Yi-eon only greeted coldly and turned away.

"Is this the middle of a marketplace?"

Lim Yi-eon glared at Baek Li Family strategists shouting from all directions praising Baek Li-jung and cursing the opposition. Some strategists trembled from inexplicable chill, then continued inciting people with their chatter.

"Please enter inside."

Soon beautiful maids guided those from Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families inside. The gate they entered was much more splendid and larger than where ordinary martial artists passed.

Other martial artists looked at them with envious eyes, hoping someday they too could pass through that gate and enter the Alliance.

***

The workers who had been in charge of construction inside and outside the Murim Alliance were relieved. They no longer had to stay at the Murim Alliance.

"Phew. I thought I'd die for sure."

"Even that Poison Dragon bastard couldn't dare attack where all jianghu's martial artists gathered."

"Anyway, good thing. Let's get paid quickly and go home."

"If they pay us. When will they even tell us we can go? Hey, foreman! Go get the money quickly."

The workers urged the foremen, who were responsible, to hurry and get paid so they could leave.

"Ah, can we just go and ask for money? We have to wait for contact."

The foremen grumbled. Merchant guild members also anxiously waited for the next contact on one side. They too must be full of desire to leave quickly. Unlike workers who would leave once paid, they had to continue staying at the Murim Alliance, contacting merchant groups and handling all necessary accounting work.

Soon a strategist came out from inside with servants. The foremen rushed over in a crowd.

The strategist didn't drag out time and paid wages right there on the spot.

The workers' faces, always worried about when they'd be paid, brightened. However, the strategist waited instead of leaving immediately.

The foremen returned to the workers, distributing money and explaining.

"Since it's a feast day, food and goods are also prepared, so come and take some home."

"Why give such things again? Just send us home quickly."

"They prepared a ton but not many people came, so lots of what they prepared must be left over. A few from each team follow along. Seems we need to carry a lot."

Zhang also distributed wages for the workers he brought and selected a few.

Jin Ja-gang was also included among them. When Zhang made eye contact with Jin Ja-gang, Jin Ja-gang nodded. Zhang sensed it was time to part with Jin Ja-gang. In such chaotic times, even if one person disappeared after infiltrating the Alliance midway, no one would know.

***

With Jin Ja-gang not appearing, the establishment ceremony began safely.

However, Baek Li-jung was very twisted inside.

Not even fifteen thousand. Not even twenty thousand filled.

The number of martial artists gathered at today's establishment ceremony.

He expected tens of thousands but didn't even reach half of that.

Baek Li-jung struck the table with his fist.

Bang! The table shattered into pieces as if beaten hundreds of times with a hammer and collapsed.

Crrrack.

Baek Li-jung ground his teeth. Standing looking out the window from his office, tingling killing intent poured from his entire body.

"Insolent bastards. How dare they think lightly of me? Those who ignored me and didn't come today, I'll make sure they regret it."

Unable to calm his temper for a while, Baek Li-jung exhaled loudly and turned around.

As if nothing had happened, Baek Li-jung's face had become the expression of a serious hero.

"Let's go."

At Baek Li-jung's words, the goat-bearded strategist who became the new Chief Strategist trembled and raised his head.

Baek Li-jung opened the door wide himself and went out.

The huge great training ground where all martial artists were gathered came into view. The martial artists who discovered him cheered.

Waaaah!

Baek Li-jung clasped fists one by one to the sect leaders of Nine Great Sects and family heads of Eight Great Martial Families standing on left and right sides of the platform, then ascended to the center of the platform.

Boom! Boom boom!

Drum sounds and cheers rang out chaotically.

Baek Li-jung raised his hand.

Everyone closed their mouths and focused on Baek Li-jung.

Baek Li-jung shouted.

"Brothers!"