Chapter 86: Who Is the Enemy (3)
Chapter 85 – Who Is the Enemy (3)
Trickle.
It was the sound of clear tea filling a teacup.
Once the maid withdrew, only a cold silence remained in the room.
A chilly night wind blew in through the open window.
Although the weather was quite cold, Namgung Geom stared blankly at Namgung Cheon sitting in front of him without even thinking of closing the window.
To be honest, Namgung Hwa, who was watching from the side, felt even more suffocated.
Who would look at this place and think it was a conversation between a grandfather and grandson?
Namgung Hwa reached for her teacup, but realizing that Namgung Geom had not yet picked up his, she moved her hand back onto her lap.
She did this several times.
The one who broke the icy silence first was Namgung Geom.
“Do you have nothing to say?”
It was a dry voice, like the biting wind blowing in the North Sea.
To this, Namgung Cheon also replied in a blunt voice.
“Should I?”
Namgung Hwa almost beat her chest.
Really, he did not need to resemble his maternal grandfather in that aspect!
‘Why on earth is he taking such a stiff posture…?’
She had felt for a while that Namgung Cheon’s attitude had changed after experiencing death, but hadn’t he become too much of a different person?
Would it not have been nice if he just answered obediently with a smile? No, would her father have even liked that?
Suddenly losing her confidence, Namgung Hwa let out another sigh and watched Namgung Geom’s reaction.
Sure enough, Namgung Geom frowned and spoke.
“You must make an explanation.”
“I did nothing wrong, so what do I need to explain?”
Namgung Geom narrowed his brows and smirked, as if finding it laughable.
“You act as if you are all grown up, but you are still childish.”
This old man, seriously…
Although Namgung Cheon was inwardly irritated, he controlled his feelings and asked.
“Are you saying that I am at fault?”
“You are.”
“What is it?”
“Are you so foolish that you cannot realize it on your own?”
“As I said in the meeting hall, I simply braved danger to save my comrade. The Martial Alliance arbitrarily misunderstood that and locked me in the dungeon.”
“Tsk. You still have a long way to go. Do you still intend to become the Young Patriarch with that attitude?”
“……!”
Only then did Namgung Cheon realize the meaning of Namgung Geom’s words.
It must have been about responsibility.
Clearly, looking at it solely as the action of a single cadet, it was not a mistake but something worthy of praise.
But what if he was the Young Patriarch who would lead the clan in the future?
It was a position where he could not treat his personal safety lightly.
He should have been a bit more cautious.
That must have been the gist of what Namgung Geom was saying.
“I will be more cautious in the future.”
At his unexpectedly quick agreement, Namgung Geom also showed a surprised expression this time.
Even if he had been waiting to give him a sharp rebuke, because he cleanly admitted his fault and backed down like this, there was nothing more to say.
Whether he was cunning or slippery like an eel…
Ultimately, Namgung Geom did not continue speaking either and let out a sigh.
“Go and rest.”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
Namgung Cheon bowed politely and stood up from his seat.
As Namgung Hwa stood up to see him out, Namgung Cheon stopped just before leaving the door and looked back.
“Thank you.”
“……?”
“For believing in me, not the Alliance Leader.”
Namgung Geom clicked his tongue and turned his gaze out the window.
“What can I do? Blood is thicker than water.”
“…….”
Namgung Cheon flinched slightly and turned around.
‘Anyway, that old man always touches my heart at the very end.’
Once the two of them left the room, Namgung Geom narrowed his eyes and looked at the brightly risen moon.
An exceptionally bright full moon was casting its brilliant moonlight over the world.
“Alliance Leader. I still do not understand your thoughts.”
With a sudden memory, Namgung Geom’s consciousness raced back to the past of several decades ago.
To those days when Namgung Geom led the Red Wave Corps and the Alliance Leader led the Blue Wave Corps.
‘The moon was bright like this on that day too.’
* * *
Namgung Geom’s Emerald Silk Sword caught the cold moonlight and pointed at the area of Mok Cheon-ak’s neck. If even a tiny bit of force were applied, the Emerald Silk Sword was poised to pierce Mok Cheon-ak’s neck without mercy.
Namgung Geom asked in a voice as cold as the icy northern wind.
“I will ask again. What did you just say?”
“I said I intentionally let about thirty percent of the Demon Sect’s remnants go.”
“Silence!”
The moment Namgung Geom unleashed a Lion’s Roar, the members of the Red Wave Corps and the Blue Wave Corps, who had been kept at a distance, flinched and warily watched each other.
Just then, a night wind whipped fiercely through the middle of the battlefield.
Whoosh!
The hair of Namgung Geom and Mok Cheon-ak fluttered wildly.
Namgung Geom shouted, his eyes flashing sharply.
“What on earth did you do! Today of all days was the perfect opportunity to completely eradicate the remnants of the Demon Sect!”
Red Wave Corps Leader Namgung Geom had led his subordinates and swept north, while Blue Wave Corps Leader Mok Cheon-ak had rushed south with his subordinates.
Yet, Mok Cheon-ak had returned earlier than expected, and did he not say that he had let thirty percent of the enemy go?
And intentionally, at that!
Mok Cheon-ak asked with a bitter smile.
“Who do you think the true enemy is?”
“What?”
“Listen without misunderstanding. I just want to know your thoughts.”
“What are you saying right now? Is this the time to have such a conversation in this situation! We should pursue them right now and…!”
“It is an important matter.”
“I do not want to hear it! Have you forgotten that the Alliance Leader lost his life to the Demon Sect Leader? Have you forgotten that my uncle also shared the same fate as the Alliance Leader? The first captain of our corps died with his chest sliced open by the remnants of the Demon Sect! There is no way you do not know that! How dare you speak such nonsense in front of me!”
Whoosh!
Once again, a biting wind blew.
However, this was not a natural wind.
It was the killing intent emitted by Namgung Geom.
Therefore, a strange atmosphere was created on the battlefield, which was filled only with the corpses of enemies, as the Red Wave Corps and the Blue Wave Corps confronted each other.
Mok Cheon-ak let out a soft sigh.
“It seems we have suddenly become enemies.”
“You brought this upon yourself.”
“Is losing the enemy something to be hated this much?”
“Losing them and letting them go are strictly different!”
“If you want to cut off my head here and go chase the enemies, I will not stop you. But if you are even slightly curious about my thoughts, will you not listen to what I have to say?”
“What on earth are you…”
Namgung Geom twitched his eyebrows and then let out a long sigh.
It would be too late to chase them now anyway.
Namgung Geom spoke in a voice as hard as ice.
“If you are going to make an excuse, it had better be quite plausible. My sword is not bound by personal feelings.”
“Indeed. Your sword has always been like that. That is why I trust you.”
“What is it that you want to say?”
“We have spent a truly long time together in the Alliance. Yet now, we are treating each other like enemies.”
“That is all because you…!”
“I just want to say that the line between friend and foe can change depending on the situation.”
“……?”
“What if we wipe out the remnants of the Demon Sect? What happens after that?”
“The Chief Strategist will reorganize the Alliance.”
Since the Alliance Leader had already perished along with the Demon Sect Leader, the position was vacant.
Due to the nature of the current Martial Alliance, they did not appoint a Vice Alliance Leader, so the Chief Strategist would hold full power to reorganize the Alliance.
Mok Cheon-ak nodded and asked.
“That would be so. And after that?”
“They will elect the next Alliance Leader.”
“Who?”
“That is…”
Namgung Geom saved his words with narrowed brows.
Just who would become the next Alliance Leader?
Already, it was noisy inside the Martial Alliance because of that matter.
Perhaps a fierce struggle for power among the Alliance’s leadership and the renowned figures of the Jianghu would break out.
Mok Cheon-ak chuckled and asked casually.
“Do you have any thoughts of doing it?”
“Nonsense.”
“Why do you think so? If you rise to become the next Alliance Leader, I intend to devote my body and soul to serve you.”
“I have no need for a martial artist who lets the enemy go.”
“Oh dear.”
Mok Cheon-ak scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed look.
Perhaps somewhat refreshed by that action, Namgung Geom also stopped pointing his Emerald Silk Sword and sheathed it.
“I must inherit the clan.”
“True.”
Mok Cheon-ak nodded with a bitter expression.
Now that the conversation had progressed this far, Namgung Geom could ease his mind a bit, as he could guess what Mok Cheon-ak was thinking.
“Are you worried that internal strife will break out once the unorthodox paths are pacified right away?”
“I am.”
“However, our Alliance is a group of martial artists who pursue the orthodox path. There may be some discord, but it will be resolved within the bounds of common sense. Letting the enemy go out of worry for something that has not even happened yet is unacceptable within my common sense.”
“Do not worry. We left less than thirty percent. What can those remnants do even if they remain? I only left enough of them alive to buy some time until we reorganize the Alliance. Their existence will help with the internal solidarity of our Alliance.”
“Are you saying you will use evil to protect justice? What if that becomes another evil?”
“Even so… at least is the purpose of that other evil not the protection of justice? Only the method is slightly different.”
“……!”
“Without external threats… an organization is bound to rot from within. Your problem is that your belief in human nature is too strong. Not everyone is like you.”
“Even so, are you saying we should leave behind a seed of injustice that could cause who knows what in the future!”
“I left them all within a manageable range. We are simply utilizing them.”
On this day, the only thing eavesdropping on the conversation of the two men was the brightly shining full moon.
* * *
Alliance Leader Mok Cheon-ak, who was looking up at the moon with his hands behind his back, muttered to himself.
‘Patriarch Namgung. I have never regretted the choice of that day even once.’
Having been lost in reminiscence for a moment, the Alliance Leader soon felt a presence and turned around.
A person was entering the backyard of the Alliance Leader’s Palace.
It was Blue Wave Corps Leader Murong Sin.
“They say the Gale Squad has pursued them to Mount Mulan.”
“It is right in front of us.”
“If you give the order, I will rescue her.”
“There must be absolutely no mistakes in this matter.”
“Of course.”
“The Gold King is a man who would do anything for his daughter. Moreover, he is famous for clearly distinguishing between gratitude and grudge. While that will provide us with a good opportunity, we could also easily become the target of his resentment if we are not careful.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“If by any chance things go wrong…”
“There is no ‘by any chance’.”
The Alliance Leader nodded.
“Indeed. It should be so. But if by any chance things do go wrong, at the very least, a corpse must not talk.”
Murong Sin’s eyes flashed sharply.
It was clearly an order to silence them by death.
Murong Sin bowed deeply.
“I understand.”
“Go. Go and rescue Jin So-hong.”
“At your command!”
Having replied politely, Murong Sin turned around and left the backyard.
The Alliance Leader placed his hands behind his back again and looked up at the moon.
“Indeed, there must be no ‘by any chance’. Absolutely not. But…”
Why did he feel this uneasy sensation?
Just like back then, when the decision made on that bright, moonlit night led to unexpected results.
Just like back then, when he ended up owing a debt to Namgung Geom for the first and last time because of it.
What was this feeling that things would keep flowing contrary to his thoughts?
Was it because he had met Namgung Geom after a long time?
Or…
Was it a warning delivered by his instinct based on the experience he had accumulated in the Jianghu over the long years?
A trace of ominous foreboding that a ‘by any chance’ might happen kept rising.
* * *
Namgung Cheon narrowed his brows and looked at the Gold King.
The reason he had gone through the trouble of visiting the Gold King was to express his gratitude.
After all, it was thanks to his great influence that he was not locked in the Martial Alliance’s dungeon.
Yet, to think he would hear such words from the Gold King.
Namgung Cheon asked again.
“What did you just say?”
The Gold King spoke clearly to Namgung Cheon with a face that showed not a shred of agitation.
“You, rescue my daughter.”