In the heart of the night, the Martial Alliance was alive with activity.

Torches and lanterns were strategically placed, casting a warm glow that mingled with the darkness, creating an enchanting atmosphere. The sound of string instruments like the guqin and se played softly in the background, adding to the ambiance.

People from all walks of life gathered at the edge of light and shadow, reveling in the lively atmosphere.

“Brother Muhui, what was that elixir in the box from the Ice King?”

“It’s quite a rare elixir. But since I’ve already taken the Great Rejuvenation Pill, there’s no rush to use it. I’ll keep it for now.”

“Not a bad idea to have a miracle medicine on hand for emergencies.”

The street of the Martial Alliance was lined with makeshift stalls, much like a bustling market, each one offering a variety of tempting foods.

“Seems like they’ve got everything here.”

“I told you, all the famous spots around here have set up shop.”

The enticing aromas wafting through the air made even Muhui, who hadn’t been particularly hungry, feel his stomach growl. The sounds of sizzling and boiling only heightened his appetite, and he found his mouth watering.

Sunju noticed Muhui’s eyes lingering on the food stalls and chuckled, covering her mouth.

“Shall we grab a bite? The sect leader was generous with the prize money, so I’ll treat you to celebrate your victory.”

Muhui grinned as he watched Sunju toss a hefty coin pouch into the air.

“How about we try those stir-fried noodles over there?”

“And that one next to it. Normally, you’d have to line up at that chef’s inn.”

Muhui glanced over to see what Sunju was pointing at—glutinous rice meatballs. The sticky rice on the outside gave way to a savory, well-seasoned meat filling inside.

The combination of the tangy rice and the rich meat was a delight to the palate.

“Delicious, isn’t it?”

“Definitely worth the hype.”

As Muhui slurped up the noodles and popped the meatballs into his mouth, his hunger quickly subsided.

Sunju, her cheeks full, continued to scan the stalls, darting over to grab anything that caught her eye.

“Brother Muhui, try this too.”

Sunju kept bringing food to Muhui, who was starting to slow down.

“I think I’ve had enough.”

As Muhui moved to set down his chopsticks, Sunju’s chopsticks darted in, blocking him.

“Didn’t you say you hadn’t eaten all day? Just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you can skip meals.”

Sunju’s stern gaze left Muhui with no choice but to keep eating.

After filling their bellies at an outdoor table, the two wandered the night streets of the Martial Alliance.

“Facing them alone while protecting others? That won’t be easy.”

“Nothing’s been easy since I took up the sword and entered the martial world.”

“Haha! A hero returns to the martial world!”

A street opera was being performed, depicting a lone hero standing against villains to protect a woman and child. The exaggerated gestures and dialogue drew the attention of passersby.

“Brother Muhui, did you know? That opera is about the Alliance Leader’s younger days.”

“What? Really?”

“Yes, it’s the story of how he defended a small village from rogue martial artists.”

The tales of the legendary hero, known as the White Knight, were well-known throughout the martial world, inspiring many young warriors.

“A story from his heroic days…”

Hearing that it was based on the Alliance Leader’s own experiences, Muhui found himself more engrossed in the performance.

As the actor portraying the White Knight engaged in a dazzling sword fight, Muhui discreetly stepped away, returning moments later with sweets in hand.

Sunju, noticing the sweet aroma, looked down to see the treats and beamed.

“Oh, are these for me?”

“Hmm.”

Without a word, Muhui handed her the sweets, and Sunju’s smile grew even brighter.

“These remind me of the sweets we shared before.”

“Indeed.”

As they watched the opera, they nibbled on the sweets, surrounded by other couples enjoying the performance.

Muhui found the situation unfamiliar, having never spent such leisurely time with someone before.

‘I’ve never had such a relaxed moment. My idea of leisure was drinking alone.’

Though watching the opera, Muhui’s mind drifted to memories of his past life. A life spent wielding a sword, mastering martial arts, and seeking greater heights. A life of solitude and relentless pursuit of strength.

But now, as Muhui, he was living a different life, influenced by the people and environment around him.

‘This is so different from my past life.’

If he had lived the same way as before, he wouldn’t have experienced the warmth of Sunju’s gaze or the simple joy of sharing sweets while watching an opera.

“Strange, but not bad.”

Sunju looked up at Muhui’s murmured words, her eyes soft and curious.

“What is? The actor playing the Alliance Leader? He’s doing well, I think.”

Sunju’s fox-like eyes were gentle as she blinked at him.

“Is that so?”

Muhui smiled, turning back to the performance.

As the crowd surged, Sunju was jostled, causing her to grab Muhui’s sleeve for balance, bringing them closer together.

“Sorry, Brother Muhui. The crowd…”

“It’s fine. Just stay like this.”

Sunju didn’t let go of his sleeve, her fingers playing with the embroidered plum blossoms.

Together, they watched the opera, as close as the other couples around them.

The opera reached its climax, lively and spirited, and the sweets seemed even sweeter.

“Sweet.”

Sunju’s lips curved into a soft smile.

‘Just as planned.’

Though the bump was accidental, her stumble was not. Sunju, a skilled martial artist, wouldn’t have been thrown off balance so easily.

‘Waiting all this time was worth it. Hehe.’

Sunju giggled to herself, pleased with how she’d used the opportunity.

Unbeknownst to her, Muhui had seen through it all, choosing to play along.

‘She has her charming moments.’

As Muhui turned back to the stage, the actor playing the White Knight was making his dramatic exit, marking the end of the hero’s tale.

***

The opening ceremony of the Martial Alliance concluded successfully, and the organization began its operations in earnest.

Even after the ceremony, the crowds didn’t disperse immediately.

“So, the second disciple will be staying for a while?”

“Yes. I think it’s a good opportunity for the disciples.”

Baekyu nodded at Muhui’s words.

The Martial Alliance, a vast and structured organization, would take time to fully establish itself. In the meantime, they sought help from the various sects that had attended the ceremony.

Many young warriors stayed behind, creating a new space for interaction and learning.

At the center of this was the Sojeong Society, led by Muhui.

The Alliance assigned simple tasks to the young warriors, allowing them to gain experience while contributing to the organization.

Those in key positions within the Alliance observed these young talents closely, looking for potential recruits.

“Staying here offers more diverse experiences than traveling the martial world from Shaanxi.”

The elders, listening to the conversation, agreed.

“With so many young warriors around, it’s a great chance for them to learn from each other. Just today, they went out early to challenge the Six Dragons.”

“They can explore Shaanxi anytime. It’s better for them to see more of the martial world through the Alliance.”

Baekyu nodded, turning to Muhui.

“With you here, I have no worries. As the senior disciple, return when the time is right.”

“Thank you, Master.”

After seeing off the elders who were leaving for the Mount Hua Sect, Mu-hwi headed straight to the Wulin Alliance’s library.

Modeled after the Shaolin Temple’s famous library, the Wulin Alliance’s library was an impressive structure with three underground levels and five above ground. Even the Mount Hua Sect’s library couldn’t compare to its size.

“Ah, it’s Mu-hwi. You can access all the books except those in the top tier,” the librarian said with a smile, recognizing Mu-hwi before he even signed the guestbook.

Despite not holding any official position in the Wulin Alliance, Mu-hwi, the winner of the Heavenly Martial Tournament, had access to all books from the fifth to the first tier. The top-tier books, however, were reserved for the Alliance Leader, the elders, or those with special permission.

“Missing out on the top-tier books isn’t a big deal,” Mu-hwi thought. He hadn’t come to the library to seek out rare secret manuals anyway.

His stay at the Wulin Alliance was partly for the growth and experience of the second-generation disciples, but also for his own benefit.

The library housed a wide range of books, including martial arts manuals, but Mu-hwi headed straight for the section with the secret manuals. Since the library was relatively new, most of the manuals were from orthodox sects. Some were even entrusted by various sects to the Wulin Alliance.

There were manuals from sects that had been destroyed, as well as those from notorious demonic practitioners. The Mount Hua Sect’s manuals, entrusted to the Wulin Alliance, were classified as top-tier and kept securely within the library.

“Let’s get started,” Mu-hwi murmured, grabbing a handful of manuals from the first shelf.

In his past life, he had built his martial arts foundation on the more accessible unorthodox techniques. After earning the title of the greatest swordmaster of the unorthodox sects, martial artists from the Seven Killers sought him out, hoping to claim his title. This allowed him to gain a broad understanding of unorthodox martial arts, but his knowledge of orthodox techniques was lacking.

Mu-hwi intended to fill that gap through the resources in this library.

“Especially the mental cultivation techniques and sword formations,” he thought. He aimed to broaden his understanding by experiencing the core techniques and formations of various orthodox sects. Pursuing breadth, not just depth, was crucial for his growth.

With the creation of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art, the development of sword formations was accelerating. Rather than adding more, refining and simplifying the formations was enhancing their effectiveness. Mu-hwi felt confident he could perfect his sword formations during his stay at the Wulin Alliance.

“With so many talented martial artists around, it should be a good place to test the formations,” he mused.

As Mu-hwi was engrossed in the books, a shadow fell over the pages. Looking up, he saw a middle-aged man with a gentle smile.

“This is the first time we’re meeting alone, isn’t it? Should I introduce you as the head of the Zhuge family, or is it more appropriate to call you the Grand Strategist here?” Mu-hwi said.

The Grand Strategist of the Wulin Alliance, Zhuge Jin, looked at Mu-hwi with a calm smile.

“I’ve been waiting for a few hours, but it was worth it,” he said.

“I could use your help,” Mu-hwi replied.