Chapter 214: Cooperation Is A Mess (1)
Chapter 213 – Cooperation Is A Mess (1)
Paeng Jeok-ho silently gazed at Namgung Cheon, who was mingling with the cadets in the distance.
That fellow moved the Jinzhou Eon Clan?
He was truly an amazing guy.
If he had personally requested help, would the Jinzhou Eon Clan have moved?
Unconsciously, a bitter smile seeped out.
The Paeng Clan and the Eon Clan were not in such a simple relationship.
They were families that always maintained a tense rivalry over Hebei.
Although it was an old story, the one that opposed until the end when the Eon Clan tried to be incorporated into the orthodox faction was also the Paeng Clan.
Thus, from the Eon Clan’s perspective, there was no way they would look kindly upon the Paeng Clan.
Even if the Paeng Clan remaining robust was beneficial to the Eon Clan, it was the Eon Clan that secretly preferred for them to go ruined.
If not enemies, they were definitely in a relationship of arch-nemeses.
Yet that Eon Clan moved.
To rescue the Paeng Clan.
‘Just what kind of magic is that fellow performing?’
While Paeng Jeok-ho was clicking his tongue inwardly, Eon Yang-geol approached his side and spoke.
“He is an amazing fellow.”
“Certainly. However, I was also surprised by Clan Leader Eon, who ran here to help my family. It could have been dangerous, but you truly came up with a clever plan.”
Paeng Jeok-ho spoke his honest feelings.
At first, he also looked at the fire set on all sides and thought without a doubt that the Alliance had sent reinforcements.
Otherwise, would they block all paths of retreat?
Yet to think the Eon Clan martial artists were all of it.
The deception could have been caught, but thanks to opening the valley as an escape route, the scheme succeeded.
Eon Yang-geol smirked.
“Though my pride is hurt, the strategy was entirely devised by that Jianghu Divine Dragon.”
“The Jianghu Divine Dragon did…?”
“Indeed. To tell the truth, our family refused to help the Paeng Clan.”
“…….”
That was not surprising.
He was merely curious about how he had persuaded them.
“However, that Divine Dragon informed us of the reason why we had to move.”
“What is that reason?”
“Well, it was nothing much. However, our family made the decision after hearing the Divine Dragon’s words. Rather than trying to protect what we have, we decided to look toward a higher place.”
“I see. In any case, thank you. The Paeng Clan owes a great debt to the Eon Clan.”
“Now, let’s leave. Since there will be nothing good in staying here too long. If they happen to notice our strategy and return, it will become troublesome.”
“Let’s do so.”
“Since you likely have no proper place to go anyway, let’s go to our family’s estate.”
“Then, despite my lack of shame, I will accept your hospitality.”
Paeng Jeok-ho bowed his head with cupped fists.
The Paeng Clan martial artists thus began to head toward the Eon Clan Estate while supporting the wounded.
* * *
Sitting in the office of the Alliance Leader’s Hall, Martial Alliance Leader Mok Cheon-ak unfolded a letter and read it. Reading through the writing slowly, his expression changed from moment to moment.
Each time, the expression of the Chief Administrator standing before the office desk also twitched here and there.
“Mmm.”
Mok Cheon-ak, who finally finished reading the letter, let out a heavy groan.
The Chief Administrator flinched and watched the Alliance Leader’s reaction.
Mok Cheon-ak narrowed his eyes and muttered.
“They say it is Hebei, not Yunnan?”
“It seems so.”
The Chief Administrator bowed his head.
The Heavenly Brain Hall had concluded that it would be Yunnan, not Hebei.
Zhuge Seung, the Heavenly Brain Hall Master and Martial Alliance Chief Strategist.
It was the judgment of Zhuge Seung, who was called the Three-Brained Immortal for being three times smarter than ordinary people.
However, he was wrong.
For them to strike Hebei, which was the exact opposite, when all the Alliance’s manpower was concentrated in Yunnan.
It was equivalent to taking a solid hit.
“What about the Chief Strategist?”
“Currently, we are mobilizing the Heavenly Brain Hall’s manpower as much as possible to settle the situation.”
“Since there must be a point when the branch sent the letter, Hebei must have fallen by now.”
“Perhaps the Paeng Clan is also in danger.”
“Black Mist Valley. Is there any information?”
“Yes, this is the information on Black Mist Valley analyzed by the Heavenly Brain Hall.”
The Chief Administrator bowed his head and handed over the documents.
Mok Cheon-ak silently flipped through the documents page by page to examine them.
However, to be called information, only extremely basic things were written.
In particular, the information on Ryu Nan, who was said to be the Valley Leader of Black Mist Valley, was extremely poor.
Neither the exact level of his martial arts was written, nor was the number of personnel in Black Mist Valley revealed.
It was a thoroughly disappointing level to be materials analyzed by the Heavenly Brain Hall.
Rather, that fact was conveying more information.
That Black Mist Valley was that formidable of an opponent.
The Heavenly Brain Hall was one that saw through the matters of the world in most cases.
Yet to think they failed to grasp that Black Mist Valley would unite the unorthodox forces and pick a direct fight with the Martial Alliance.
‘It must mean he is that meticulous of a person.’
It was concerning.
Mok Cheon-ak was one who had always thought an external enemy was a necessary evil for internal solidarity.
However, there was one condition here.
That he must be able to manipulate that enemy at any time.
That if he made up his mind, he must be able to sufficiently obliterate the external enemy.
Yet this uprising of Black Mist Valley was an event that occurred outside his control.
That was extremely unpleasant.
On top of that, it was producing unexpected results.
Although it could lay the foundation for internal solidarity as Mok Cheon-ak wished, if it grew excessively huge, it might cause internal division instead. No, it might even lead to collapse.
‘I cannot let it turn out like that.’
How did he achieve this peace of the Jianghu?
It was a peace and a position he had protected by even sacrificing innocent lives.
“What about the Blue Wave Corps?”
“They are said to be returning.”
“Is there nothing happening in Yunnan?”
“There is some friction, but it seems it was indeed a trick after all. It has been reported that the Red Wave Corps settled the situation.”
“If the Paeng Clan collapses, the Jinzhou Eon Clan will be next.”
“Would the Eon Clan not be strengthening their defenses by now?”
“Come to think of it, did you say the cadets went toward the Paeng Clan?”
“Yes, four of them, including Namgung Cheon, went to Hebei.”
“Namgung Cheon.”
Mok Cheon-ak muttered coldly.
He knew that originally the cadets had been dispatched to Yunnan.
However, he had heard that a few cadets pleaded to be sent to Hebei out of concern for their colleague Paeng Su-hyeok.
“If they went quickly, by now they must have met the Paeng Clan or…”
“Arrived at the Eon Clan.”
“It would be a dangerous situation either way.”
“I will send a message to the Blue Wave Corps to hurry.”
“No.”
Mok Cheon-ak threw out the words abruptly and shook his head.
As the Chief Administrator flinched and watched, Mok Cheon-ak spoke with a faint smile.
“He is the Jianghu Divine Dragon who has caused a stir in the world after a long time. When a chaotic world is about to begin like now, a hero is needed. It would not be bad to buy some time for him to stand out a bit more.”
“However, even if he is the Jianghu Divine Dragon, if the Paeng Clan collapses…”
“A hero does not necessarily have to win.”
At Mok Cheon-ak’s low voice, the Chief Administrator flinched and soon bowed his head.
Indeed.
A hero does not need to win always.
And always…
‘There is no need to remain alive either.’
On the contrary, are there not also many who give a warning to the people of the world through death and ascend as heroes?
Mok Cheon-ak muttered quietly.
“It is the perfect time for a hero to appear.”
The Chief Administrator only nodded silently.
The Alliance Leader he served was this kind of person.
There was nothing new about it.
For his goal, he did not choose means and methods.
In the beginning, he used to feel a sense of incompatibility with such an appearance of the Alliance Leader.
However, as a result, he always obtained what he pursued. As once became twice, and twice became thrice, the Chief Administrator’s thoughts also changed little by little.
Over what a precarious peace maintained by keeping to proper means and methods is really good.
Is sacrificing a small thing for the sake of the greater good only bad?
The conclusion he reached after wrestling with these concerns was as follows.
‘Yes, that too is courage. Some might call it a twisted justice, but is being able to shoulder all that criticism also not courage?’
One would never be able to lead a large organization with a soft heart that harbors compassion for small things.
In that sense, Mok Cheon-ak was the true Martial Alliance Leader.
The Chief Administrator spoke with a bitter smile.
“Then, I will instruct the Blue Wave Corps to prepare sufficiently.”
“Do that.”
In a word, it meant to take their time and come slowly.
After the Chief Administrator withdrew, Mok Cheon-ak rose from his seat and walked to the window.
He looked at the stars in the night sky and muttered quietly.
“Since you have arrived, why do you not enter.”
To whom were these words spoken?
Instantly, a gentle wind brushed past, and a figure appeared beside Mok Cheon-ak like a lie.
Pure white clothes, a pure white cat mask, and also a white folding fan.
Even though she was entirely white, it was to the extent of being amazing that she moved without being detected in this night.
As she sat on the window frame and crossed her legs, a leg like white jade was revealed up to her thigh through the slit of her skirt.
White Cat replied, twisting the corner of her mouth.
“Because you seemed lost in thought.”
“An excessive consideration. For someone who frequents the Alliance Leader’s Hall as if it it were your own home.”
“If anyone heard you, they would think I was sneaking in. Who is the one that always opens the back door for me to come and go.”
“Cut the useless talk. Speak of your business.”
“Oh, it is disappointing when you pretend to be ignorant like this. Although I am already highly disappointed.”
“Disappointed?”
Mok Cheon-ak narrowed his eyes and glared at White Cat.
“How scary.”
White Cat pretended to be scared and covered her face with her unfolded fan.
A faint anger sat on Mok Cheon-ak’s face.
“To say you are disappointed to me. It seems you have become quite comfortable.”
“I have no choice but to be disappointed. Since you take all kinds of credit in front while playing tricks behind my back.”
Hwooooosh!
Instantly, a blast of qi blew out in all directions from Mok Cheon-ak’s entire body. Simultaneously, his long robe fluttered as if it would burst.
Standing right beside him, White Cat, who fully bore Mok Cheon-ak’s anger, also could not help but be slightly tense.
After a moment of murderous atmosphere flowed, Mok Cheon-ak let out a cold voice.
“What made you so disappointed? Let’s hear it.”
“Demonic Pill Valley. Did you not say you obtained nothing from the Thieving Ghost?”
“And?”
“You sent Bi Ryang to Guangxi Province.”
“So?”
“You surely could not be ignorant that Demonic Pill Valley was located there.”
Instantly, Mok Cheon-ak flinched and turned to look at White Cat.
“Demonic Pill Valley was in Guangxi?”
“Are you feigning ignorance?”
“……!”
When Mok Cheon-ak’s expression distorted heavily, White Cat also wore a strange look and tilted her head.
For even in her eyes, Mok Cheon-ak seemed to know nothing.
“Keep talking.”
“Our sect’s subordinate infiltrated Demonic Pill Valley but failed to escape in the end. However, there is a figure who escaped from there.”
“Is that Bi Ryang?”
“No. According to our sect’s investigation, it seems Bi Ryang did not even enter Demonic Pill Valley.”
“Then?”
White Cat stared quietly at Mok Cheon-ak.
As if to confirm whether he was asking because he truly knew nothing, or feigning ignorance despite knowing.
Soon, White Cat let out a light sigh.
“It seems you truly do not know.”
“Speak.”
“According to recently obtained information, it appears the Namgung Clan moved the Demonic Pill Valley elixirs.”
“What?”
Mok Cheon-ak’s expression was dyed with shock.
White Cat stared silently at Mok Cheon-ak.
Indeed, it was true that she suspected Mok Cheon-ak.
For the current Martial Alliance Leader Mok Cheon-ak was fully such a person.
A person whose front and back were different.
One who would not choose means and methods to enforce his will.
That was why she had thought he might have pocketed the Demonic Pill Valley elixirs using the Namgung Clan while despising them so.
For if so, it would certainly be easy to deceive their eyes.
However, looking at his reaction now, it did not seem to be the case.
‘Was he really unaware of it?’
Mok Cheon-ak’s expression was now moving beyond bewilderment and drawing close to fury.
“The Namgung Clan did the Demonic Pill Valley elixirs…! Just how in the world did they?”
“There was only one person from the Namgung Clan who went to Guangxi Province.”
“Is it… is it Namgung Cheon again!”