Chapter 248: This Is Not It! (2)
Chapter 247 – This Is Not It!(2)
Slam!
Martial Alliance Leader Mok Cheon-ak slammed his office desk violently and stood up abruptly.
At that, the Chief Administrator, who was submitting a report in front of him, flinched his shoulders and bowed his head deeply.
Mok Cheon-ak let out words while his beard trembled:
“What did you just say?”
“U-um… Alliance Leader, please calm down first…”
“Do I look like I can calm down right now!”
“…”
When the Chief Administrator could say nothing with only his head bowed deeply, Mok Cheon-yue huffed for a long time before trudging to the window.
Cold wind rushed into the room.
Mok Cheon-ak, whose head had cleared slightly, let out a long sigh and muttered:
“Closing the gates. For Shaolin to close its gates!”
Whether it was frustrating even after repeatedly chewing over it, Mok Cheon-ak’s face turned red.
He had received the news that Shaolin had closed its gates as soon as the unorthodox martial artists advanced into Henan.
In the first place, Shaolin and Wudang were not on very close terms with the Martial Alliance.
Rather, they were in a relationship where they moderately kept each other in check while not interfering at all.
Mok Cheon-ak did not look kindly upon such Shaolin and Wudang.
Because, in the end, those two were also members of the Martial World, yet they feigned ignorance of all major and minor affairs occurring in the Jianghu, standing by with hands behind their backs and pretending to be noble.
Had Shaolin and Wudang not participated only at the very end even during the Righteous-Demonic War?
At that time, the Martial Alliance had subjugated the Demonic Cult while bearing numerous sacrifices, but with Shaolin and Wudang intervening at the end, it was practically equivalent to them snatching all the credit.
Were the insides of those who practiced the Dao and chanted scriptures not just as black as those of other Martial World men?
Yet, for them to act in this manner this time as well.
Shaolin’s current closing of the gates was not a true closing.
It was practically in name only.
It was no different from a unilateral declaration that they would consolidate their internal strength while simply not intervening in Jianghu affairs at all.
From the perspective of the Black Mist Coalition, it was something to be welcomed with open arms. With one of the giants of the Jianghu stepping out, what could be easier than this?
“They are ignoring me.”
When Mok Cheon-ak spoke in a low, sinking voice, the Chief Administrator said restlessly:
“Alliance Leader, you are being somewhat oversensitive…”
“Oversensitive? No. That is not it.”
Mok Cheon-ak shook his head.
Shaolin and Wudang were major sects counted among the first in the Jianghu.
Thus, they must have been highly displeased that the Alliance Leader came from a sect with no pedigree.
“They have been like that since the old days. They interfered in Alliance affairs even before I became the Leader. When I was becoming the Leader, they were also the ones who opposed me most strongly!”
Of course, even if two sects that were not even members opposed, there was no effectiveness.
However, this too was politics and diplomacy.
Making someone opposed by the giants of the Jianghu into the Alliance Leader was a rather difficult task.
Having climbed to the seat of the Alliance Leader after twists and turns, they had been uncooperative in every single matter since then.
“Hmph! Did I ever protect the Jianghu with their help? It might be better for them to close their gates forever at this rate.”
Mok Cheon-ak shouted coldly and turned around.
Perhaps his mind had calmed down a bit, as his face was better than before. The Alliance Leader, who brushed past the Chief Administrator, sat back at his office desk and spoke.
“Then this means the Black Mist Coalition has completely seized the north now.”
“Yes. If Henan is breached and they march south like this, our Alliance will take a direct hit.”
“What did the Chief Strategist say?”
“He judged that in that case, the Black Mist Coalition, whose power is still weak, would suffer heavy damage, so they will not march down immediately.”
“Then?”
The Chief Administrator pointed to a part of the map spread on the office desk with his hand and then moved it sideways.
“From here, like this.”
“Do you mean they will go to Shaanxi?”
“Yes, it seems they intend to seize them one by one.”
“The Mount Hua Sect and the Jongnam Sect should be holding out in Shaanxi.”
“The Chief Strategist’s opinion is that this is better than them entering our Alliance directly. Thus, he said they would move in that direction as well.”
“Then we should dispatch the Red Wave Corps to help the two sects. First, Mount Hua, which is closer to Henan, will be in danger.”
“Yes. Although the distance between Mount Hua and Jongnam is not far, given the characteristics of the two sects, they do not seem likely to join forces and fight.”
“The Black Mist Coalition must be trying to exploit that too.”
“It seems so.”
Mok Cheon-ak slowly nodded.
Assuredly, the movements of the Black Mist Coalition were cunning.
The thought even arose suddenly that perhaps the Black Mist Coalition had moved like this after also understanding the relationship between Shaolin and the Martial Alliance.
If so…
‘It means there is someone using their petty brain in the Black Mist Coalition as well.’
He had thought he took a blow because minor fries suddenly ran rampant, but it was not a matter to be brushed off lightly.
The movements were unusual.
‘In this situation, those Demonic Cult bastards handled the matter in such a way…!’
Mok Cheon-ak gnashed his teeth and clenched his fists tightly.
Something he did not even want to think about came to mind.
‘Those foolish wretches…!’
To not even be able to scoop up and eat the cooked rice, only to vomit it out!
Mok Cheon-ak, who recalled the affairs of the Namgung Clan for a moment, shook his head and asked:
“How did the Hebei side go?”
“The Jinzhou Eon Clan and the Paeng Clan are currently abandoning their estates and moving to Hefei. Since the Shandong Yue Clan also suffered heavy damage, they have headed to Anhui Province.”
“The Martial World’s reputation must be in a terrible state.”
At Mok Cheon-ak’s murmuring, the Chief Administrator sighed with a bitter expression.
“To be honest… it is not very good.”
For the Chief Administrator to speak to this extent meant it was the worst in history.
Since he had always spoken positively.
Mok Cheon-ak raised his hand and pressed his temples.
His head throbbed.
Was it just his imagination?
Since holding the Joint Conference, not a single thing had gone as planned. No, to be more precise, it had been so since killing the Heavenly Great Killing Star Jin Cheon-rang.
As if having received the deceased’s aura, that son of his suddenly appeared and was ruining everything.
Namgung Cheon… Namgung Cheon…!
His father was at least useful for gathering the Martial Alliance, but there was no telling where that son of his would spring.
Like the attack on the Namgung Clan this time!
It would be great if he could make good use of Namgung Cheon while the Martial Alliance’s reputation was dropping like this.
The Demonic Cult had been lying low since failing in that attack. After he issued a warning once because White Cat came to argue, they did not even visit anymore.
‘Useless things… that is why they get subjugated!’
Mok Cheon-ak, who let out a long sigh, raised his head and asked:
“What state is the Namgung Clan in?”
“I hear the Patriarch and the Young Patriarch have set off on a journey. Their destination is identified as the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“The Sichuan Tang Clan.”
Mok Cheon-ak narrowed his brow.
‘It seems they have found a clue to the Demonic God Pill.’
In the first place, when White Cat came to him and said she would attack the Namgung Clan, Mok Cheon-ak had thought that the Demonic God Pill or the demonic sword might be involved.
Otherwise, why would the Demonic Cult cling to the Demonic Pill Valley’s elixirs like that?
However, if the Namgung Patriarch visited the Sichuan Tang Clan, a clue to the Demonic God Pill must have emerged.
The Chief Administrator continued speaking.
“Because they were selected as a disaster-stricken sect by the Hefei Branch and even received support, their reconstruction speed is fast.”
Mok Cheon-ak clicked his tongue.
He was irritated because the Hefei Branch went out of its way to do things it was not ordered to do, but it could not be helped.
Too deep an intervention might easily cause misunderstandings.
The only saving grace was that he was not the only one irritated by Namgung Cheon.
Had the Black Mist Coalition not failed in trying to wipe out the Paeng Clan and the Jinzhou Eon Clan as well? It was clear they would have feelings as bad as his toward Namgung Cheon.
‘Namgung Cheon… I am offering to make you a hero, yet you keep rejecting it.’
Mok Cheon-ak asked with eyes that had turned ice-cold:
“The guest?”
“I will call them.”
The Chief Administrator bowed and went outside.
A moment later, a hunchbacked old woman came in, leaning on a cane. She was an old woman who looked precarious as if she would collapse if tapped, but her eyes were vividly bright.
“I greet the Alliance Leader.”
When the old woman spoke while bending her already bent back even further, Mok Cheon-ak sneered.
“No need to show courtesy all of a sudden. How is your master?”
“He is doing well.”
“I suppose so. Since I am paying no attention now.”
At the Alliance Leader’s words, the old woman’s eyebrows twitched, but there was no further reaction.
Mok Cheon-ak stared at the old woman silently and let out a cold voice:
“You must keep in mind that trash like you are still breathing thanks to the generosity of our Alliance.”
“I am deeply moved that you call even such trash like this.”
There were thorns in her words, but Mok Cheon-ak sneered.
“It is recycling. In the distant future, when an era overflowing with trash comes, a true concept of recycling might emerge.”
“Recycling. If so, it seems it is no longer trash.”
“It is trash. If thrown away, it is trash. If used again, it is recycled. So you wretches should thank me.”
“I suppose you did not call us just to hear words of gratitude.”
“Tell the Killing Valley Master. If he eliminates Namgung Cheon and Namgung Geom, I will permanently exclude him from the list of public enemies of the Martial World.”
“…!”
The old woman’s eyes opened wide.
After a moment, she exhaled a long breath and asked as if to confirm:
“Is it the Namgung Clan?”
“Yes.”
“Why the nearly collapsed Namgung Clan…”
“An old person is quite curious.”
“Permanent exclusion. Is that certain?”
“I promise.”
Mok Cheon-ak stared at the old woman with an unwavering gaze and said:
“Because now is the time to make a hero using trash.”
“However, even so, without receiving payment…”
“Down payment of two hundred thousand taels. If successful, I will give five times more.”
“One million…”
Grinning to reveal her yellow teeth, the old woman bowed.
“I will convey it to the Valley Master.”
“Get lost now.”
“Then.”
The next moment, the old person leaning on a cane slipped away into the shaded darkness in the corner of the room.
Mok Cheon-ak, left alone, flashed his eyes sharply.
‘Namgung Cheon. Hold out as much as you can. If you hold out to the end, I will guide you along your father’s path.’
* * *
A carriage ran diligently along the official road.
Namgung Cheon looked at the clouds floating in the sky through the open window.
‘One cloud, one me… two clouds, two old men… three clouds… Ugh! Why is time seriously not passing like this?’
Namgung Cheon scratched his head roughly and sighed repeatedly.
He had thought Namgung Geom was becoming a bit more comfortable, but when left alone like this, he felt as if his hands and feet were shriveling and disappearing from the awkwardness.
How long did that suffocating silence flow?
“How are things lately?”
At Namgung Geom’s sudden question, Namgung Cheon flinched.
What did he mean, how are things?
What kind of question was that?
How should he answer this?
“Uh… well… good?”
“I see.”
“…”
“…”
Awkward.
He shuddered with dislike for this awkwardness.
Was there no suitable word?
While his eyes wandered here and there, they locked right with Namgung Geom’s.
“Ah… um…”
“Speak.”
“How have you been… lately?”
“…”
“…”
“Quite fine.”
“I… see.”
“…”
“…”
In the end, unable to endure it, Namgung Cheon suddenly poked his face out the window.
“Phew!”
This was truly unbearable.
They said if a father and son go on a journey together, they return stiff as stone.
Who knew a maternal grandfather and grandson would be like this too.
No, wait. Should it be viewed as father-in-law and son-in-law?
Come to think of it, this awkwardness made sense again.
No, even if he himself was like that, what was up with that old man’s attitude toward his grandson!
Just then, Namgung Geom asked again.
“What are you doing poking your head out the window?”
“Ah… I was getting some air.”
“I see…”
Namgung Cheon, who quickly returned to his seat, rolled his eyes around again.
One could almost hear the sound of his eyeballs rolling.
“Autumn is also drawing to a close.”
“Indeed.”
“…”
“…”
“Are you not hungry?”
“Since it has not even been half a shichen since we ate.”
“Come to think of it, that is true.”
“…”
“…”
“Lately, your hobbies are…”
“…?”
“Forget it. Let’s drop it.”
“…”
“…”
Ah, I want to get off now! Please!