Chapter 139
The White Wolf Unit arrived in Yueyang, a city with a beautiful lake, and headed straight for the Demonic Alliance without time to look around the city.
After all, they hadn't come here simply for sightseeing.
Naturally, none of the White Wolf Unit members complained about this.
Soon after, they arrived at the Demonic Alliance.
So this is the Demonic Alliance...
The eyes of the White Wolf Unit members widened as they faced the main gate.
*Above all, the enormous scale of the buildings overwhelmed them.*
Some members of the White Wolf Unit, including O Chae-mu, had visited the Murim Alliance before.
Even then, they had been amazed, but the buildings of the Demonic Alliance far surpassed those, much to their chagrin.
It felt as if this difference in buildings reflected not just the current gap between the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Alliance, but the widening power gap between the Orthodox and Demonic factions, leaving a bitter taste.
Soon the large doors opened, and they headed inside.
And the entire White Wolf Unit felt it.
The unfriendly gazes were directed at them.
Whether they intended to see the White Wolf Unit or not, several martial artists gathered at the entrance of the Demonic Alliance.
Their gazes toward the White Wolf Unit were filled with displeasure, no, hostility. They didn't even try to hide those emotions.
Though it was supposedly the same occasion to express gratitude, the atmosphere was clearly different from when everyone at the Namgung Family had come out to sincerely thank them.
Well, come to think of it, in their own way, this was probably their holding back a lot.
How could they possibly be welcoming?
But no one dared to approach or speak up.
Because they knew these people had been invited by the Black Emperor himself.
Of course, the White Wolf Unit had anticipated this atmosphere to some extent.
Moreover, they hadn't come expecting a warm welcome.
They were, after all, from opposing Orthodox and Demonic factions.
But even so, the White Wolf Unit couldn't help feeling wronged.
It's not like they had particularly wanted to come either.
“Hey, who asked you to invite us!”
They all thought this.
*Meanwhile, Yeo Un-hwi and the White Wolf Unit were promptly guided to the Alliance Leader's Hall.*
The massive Alliance Leader's Hall was filled with towering figures of the Demonic faction.
And at the highest seat among them sat an old man.
The White Wolf Unit's gaze naturally turned to him.
They could recognize him immediately.
It was he.
Surely, he must be the giant of this era, Black Emperor Dokgo Yeong.
Perhaps it was too obvious to say.
But even if he hadn't been sitting in that particular seat and had instead been standing among those Demonic masters, they felt they would have known instantly.
The aura emanating from him was so different, so extraordinary.
Was this the presence of an Absolute?
That old man possessed an aura that made one instinctively shrink back just by facing him.
Suddenly, Dokgo Yeong, who had been quietly observing the White Wolf Unit, waved his hand.
At that, the Demonic masters filling the Alliance Leader's Hall began to leave one by one.
Soon, only he, the White Wolf Unit, and the Soul Chasing Twin Swords who had escorted them remained in the hall.
I have brought the White Wolf Unit as commanded.
You've worked hard. Now go and rest.
Yes, sir.
Soon, the Soul Chasing Twin Swords also bowed deeply and left the Alliance Leader's Hall.
After a moment of silence, Yeo Un-hwi was the first to move.
Stepping forward, he bowed politely.
I am Yeo Un-hwi, commander of the White Wolf Unit. It's a pleasure to meet you.
It was the customary formal greeting.
Usually, after arriving like this, predictable exchanges like “You must be tired from your journey” and “No, it”s an honor to be invited' would follow.
It had always been that way, and this time would be no different.
So beyond the tension of facing the Black Emperor, the White Wolf Unit was even thinking a little about how it wanted to lie down in its assigned quarters soon.
But then,
Are you truly pleased? I doubt it. Aren't you thinking it's tiresome to be called all the way out here?
Huh?
The White Wolf Unit's eyes widened.
What did I just hear?
Did we mishear because we're tired?
Is he picking a fight with us for being from the Orthodox faction after calling us all the way here?
Is this some kind of trap where he'll lop off our heads if we show any sign of something?
Was the Black Killing Sword left at the Peng Family really... fake?
The White Wolf Unit's minds froze at this bewildering situation.
But Yeo Un-hwi's response was even more outrageous.
Hmm, to be honest... Yes. That's right. We are very tired from coming all this way. Honestly, we didn't want to come.
What did you say?
Dokgo Yeong's face twitched at Yeo Un-hwi's bold, no, seemingly insane honesty.
Naturally, he wasn't the only one surprised.
The entire White Wolf Unit was speechless, their lips flapping as they stared at Yeo Un-hwi.
*Commander... are you trying to fight one of the Twelve Venerables...?*
...Hoo? If you didn't want to come that badly, you could have simply refused. The fact that you came all this way to say that to my face means you must have quite a lot of complaints against me.
Practically forcing us, you made it so we had no choice but to come, and then you asked why we came if we didn't want to? That's not fair. So let's just move past the pleasantries of saying we're glad to be here.
Now the White Wolf Unit was beyond shocked and on the verge of fainting.
*Meanwhile, they were also imagining how to help Yeo Un-hwi fight one of the Twelve Venerables of the World if a battle broke out, which, if one were to look at it that way, might be considered the mark of loyal subordinates.*
But at that moment,
"Hahahahaha!"
Dokgo Yeong, who had been glaring fiercely at Yeo Un-hwi as if about to leap from his seat, suddenly burst into loud laughter.
Now the White Wolf Unit turned its gaze to Dokgo Yeong, thinking “Has this man gone mad?”
They quickly realized what a dangerous thing they were doing and averted their eyes, but still, the danger remained.
Hahaha! You're right. I did stubbornly insist. It's understandable to have complaints!
I'm glad you understand.
Haha! But you should have wanted to see me a little. With various matters piling up, I just couldn't wait any longer. I'm sorry.
The White Wolf Unit couldn't understand the current situation.
Though they had seen and heard it directly, it felt like “What exactly did I just see and hear?”
It was mind-boggling enough that their commander was confronting the Black Emperor, one of the Absolute beings of the martial world whom they were meeting for the first time, asking why he had called them here so tiringly, in the Alliance Leader's Hall of the Demonic Alliance no less. But for the Black Emperor to acknowledge it and apologize?
It felt like they might be dreaming.
Regardless, the overwhelming aura that had been pressing down on them vanished without a trace, and Dokgo Yeong approached, chuckling.
So. It's you, the ones who lifted a burden from my heart.
Dokgo Yeong stood face to face with the White Wolf Unit and greeted them warmly.
I'm truly sorry for making you come such a long way due to my selfishness.
Again. He apologizes again.
With a kindly smile.
That Black Emperor.
That terrifying king of the Demonic faction.
But this is the first time I've ever been so eager to meet someone. Haha.
Isn't that what you say to everyone you invite?
Oh, did it seem that way? Hahaha! No. Not particularly. I rarely invite anyone, you see.
Excuse me. Why are you two conversing so familiarly?
And Commander, why are you being so prickly today of all days, making our hearts race?
The White Wolf Unit never dreamed they'd be so tense because of Yeo Un-hwi rather than the Demonic faction, even after coming all this way.
Of course, they had thought that with Yeo Un-hwi, they wouldn't fear facing any enemy in the world, but watching this unfold before their eyes, they couldn't help feeling their hearts shrink.
After all, they were ordinary people.
In truth, Yeo Un-hwi had already heard all about Dokgo Yeong's personality from Jin So-baek before coming here.
Dokgo Yeong disliked unnecessary flattery and adulation, as well as people hiding their true feelings while conversing.
Rather, he preferred those who openly revealed their thoughts, even if they were a bit rough.
From the beginning, though he had walked the Demonic Path, he was a man who never committed cowardly or shameful acts.
It was quite an interesting thing.
That such a person was the king of the Demonic faction.
Anyway, that's why Yeo Un-hwi chose that style of conversation without hesitation.
Honestly, he was a bit annoyed too.
How much time had he spent away from his family because of this old geezer's invitation?
If it hadn't seemed like he truly had his reasons, Yeo Un-hwi wouldn't have even considered coming, no matter what troops were sent.
So he ended up grumbling even more roughly than he had initially intended.
Quite peculiarly, Dokgo Yeong seemed to like that attitude and kept bursting into hearty laughter.
This actually made the conversation easier.
Soon, the Black Emperor—no, an old man grateful for the revenge of his younger sister—spoke sincerely to those benefactors:
I hope your time here will be enjoyable.
After brief greetings, they decided to have a proper conversation over dinner after resting, as the journey from Hebei to Yueyang, where the Demonic Alliance was located, had been extremely long and tiring.
Thus, the White Wolf Unit was guided to its lodgings.
It was a magnificent guesthouse that left them gaping in awe.
They were also shown consideration by being told that the area around the guesthouse had been cleared for their comfort, so they could use it freely.
The White Wolf Unit was set to stay in Yueyang for three days.
It was a period that could be considered long or short, depending on one's perspective.
Soon after room assignments were completed, the White Wolf Unit gathered in one room as if by prior agreement and began to chat.
It's quite different from what we expected, isn't it?
Who? The Black Emperor?
The White Wolf Unit members exchanged glances and then nodded vigorously.
It was certainly very different from what they had imagined.
I thought he'd be more like a terrifying king of bandits or something.
Right. I expected a more rugged, fierce face, but he wasn't like that at all. Rather...
"Hmm?"
As they talked, they realized someone matched the image they had in mind exactly.
The head of a certain prestigious family in Hebei...
Ahem.
"Uh-hum!"
They quickly erased the face of someone who came to mind, as if they were thinking they shouldn't be doing this.
And hastily changed the subject.
Anyway, I never thought I'd receive treatment like this in my life.
And from the Demonic Alliance, no less.
Haha. Strange things do happen.
Ah. But it still feels awkward. Maybe it's because I'm used to training hard all day, eating until I'm stuffed in the evening, and then passing out.
I feel more comfortable with that too.
It felt somewhat embarrassing.
After doing nothing but train, train, train to death, traveling such a long distance and now resting like this made their bodies itch.
Yeo Un-hwi smirked as he watched the White Wolf Unit members thinking about training even after coming all this way.
Everyone, enjoy this leisure while you can. Who knows when trouble might break out?
The White Wolf Unit members thought it was quite a chilling thing to say so casually.
Lying on their beds, all of the White Wolf Unit fervently prayed that no such thing would happen