Chapter 299: A Fight Without a Bell (3)
“For a person who uses their brain, witnessing an unpredictable situation is a moment where they feel a poignant sense of defeat, but at the same time, it is also a moment that is endlessly joyful as it is another lesson…….”
Zhuge Wen-hu looked at the two people with a dazed expression.
“I never imagined that the two of you would come to my residence together.”
That was right. Sitting in front of Zhuge Wen-hu were Yeon Wi and Tang Kwan.
Yeon Wi, the Clan Head of the Green Mountain Yeon Clan.
Tang Kwan, the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
There were not many people who maintained personal friendships with these two giants.
It was because of their positions, but also because their reputations as possessors of personalities that were difficult to approach were widespread.
Tang Kwan went without saying, and rumors were also rampant that Yeon Wi was one of the most blunt people under heaven. For two such people to knock on the Strategist’s door together was something that would surprise even the Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats.
“I am sorry if I surprised you too much.”
“No. It was just unexpected.”
Zhuge Wen-hu looked at Tang Kwan with a strange eye.
It seemed that Yeon Wi had dragged Tang Kwan along, but given Tang Kwan’s personality, he was not the type of person who would quietly follow just because he was told to go. That was why it was even more amazing.
Whether he felt Zhuge Wen-hu’s gaze or not, Tang Kwan snorted and looked at Yeon Wi.
“What are you trying to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I am asking why you brought me here.”
“I think we can start talking about that now.”
“What?”
Yeon Wi said while looking at Zhuge Wen-hu.
“Did you hear from my eldest son?”
“About what?”
Yeon Wi explained the circumstances.
Zhuge Wen-hu looked at Tang Kwan in surprise.
“You mean you are running as a candidate for the Alliance Leader?”
“Hmph!”
Tang Kwan turned his head away while crossing his arms.
Yeon Wi said calmly.
“Clan Head Tang has also accepted.”
“Heh!”
With that one word, Zhuge Wen-hu could tell that Tang Kwan had changed a lot from before.
‘Indeed, they say that what changes a person is not logic, but human affection.’
He also knew what had happened to Tang Kwan in the meantime.
The conflict with Murong Jun, the reconciliation with his daughter, and most other things had reached his ears. It was inevitable, as Tang Kwan was a person who did not know where he would jump, so he had always been closely watching him.
However, even so, he did not know he would change this much. Zhuge Wen-hu looked at Tang Kwan with an amazed eye.
Tang Kwan’s expression immediately became unpleasant.
“If you are going to keep looking at me with those kinds of eyes, I will leave.”
“O-Oh, no. I have made the Clan Head feel uncomfortable for no reason. I apologize like this.”
Zhuge Wen-hu bowed his waist and apologized politely.
A sneer appeared on Tang Kwan’s face.
“Your waist is truly flexible. It seems you are prepared to bend your waist to anyone depending on the situation.”
He was openly being sarcastic.
Although he might have felt bad, Zhuge Wen-hu instead burst into laughter.
“Do they not say that the joints of a person in politics are better the more flexible they are? My creed is to approach allies with a posture lower than anyone else, and to present enemies with a dagger sharper than any other.”
“That is a great creed.”
Although he said that, Tang Kwan also understood Zhuge Wen-hu. Without that level of flexibility, it would also be difficult to control the huge monster called the Murim Alliance.
At that time, Yeon Wi stepped in.
“In any case, I believe you have understood the situation entirely.”
“Of course.”
“I wanted to call my eldest son as well, but I thought informing the Strategist of the current situation first was more important, so I brought him here.”
Zhuge Wen-hu gave a smile.
“You did well. It is better to know this kind of information as soon as possible, even if by a moment.”
The corners of Tang Kwan’s mouth curled up.
“Now that I think about it, even if it is politics, I think this is a bit excessive.”
“What do you mean?”
“Is impartial handling of affairs not a virtue of a Strategist? Working beforehand because we are of the same faction, such manipulation is no different from what that bastard Murong Jun does, is it not?”
Zhuge Wen-hu shook his head.
“You are mistaken.”
“Mistaken?”
“Two candidates who intend to run have come to me. I am merely handling the administrative processing of the documents concerning the candidates.”
Tang Kwan’s eyes sparkled.
“Two people have already visited?”
“That is right. The reason Clan Head Yeon brought Clan Head Tang to me is to put your name on the list of candidates.”
“But, if I fail to play my role, you will give me strength from behind.”
“That is also a correct statement.”
“I will not be able to hear that you are a clean politician.”
Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes deepened.
“What kind of person do you see me as?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If you are at a loss for words to answer, I will tell you myself. I am a person who exists to protect the Murim Alliance.”
“…….”
“It would be one thing if I did not know, but as long as I have come to know that a disaster of the times called Murong Jun exists, I have no choice but to move, even if I have to cover myself in muddy water. Even if it were a matter of someone who does not suit the position of Alliance Leader running, I cannot help but worry about the candidacy of a dangerous person like Murong Jun.”
“…….”
“And one more thing.”
Zhuge Wen-hu gave another smile.
“We are not of the same faction. In the first place, we have never even formed what is called a faction.”
“What?”
“It was merely our intention to make it perceived as such to Murong Jun, the Clan Head of the Murong Clan; in reality, there has not been a single time when Clan Head Yeon and I collaborated to shake the direction of the Alliance.”
Tang Kwan’s eyes deepened.
“To my ears, it sounds like nothing more than wordplay.”
“You can certainly think so. The important thing is that I have a line, at least, of when to step forward and when to step back.”
A line…….
After coming to the Murim Alliance, he heard a lot about lines. Murong Jun was like that, and the damned eldest son of the Yeon Clan was also like that.
Zhuge Wen-hu clapped his hands.
“In any case, since Clan Head Tang is running, this Alliance Leader election will become quite fierce. First, I will put your name on the register.”
Yeon Wi nodded his head.
“Is there anything else that is needed?”
“There is nothing else like that. Due to the nature of the Murim Alliance, it is difficult to specify restrictions such as setting a ceiling for election funds. However, I will limit the sponsors to two people.”
“Sponsors.”
“Sponsors are nothing else.”
Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes sparkled.
“The moment the election begins, none of the candidates can leave outside the inner castle of the Murim Alliance. In other words, the formation of public opinion regarding the candidates must all be done by the sponsors on their behalf.”
“I see.”
“In other words, they are the people who will act as the candidate’s hands and feet. Naturally, the stronger the influence they have on the Jianghu, the more advantageous it will be for the candidate.”
Yeon Wi nodded his head.
“I understand what you mean.”
It was a fight without clear limits. At first glance, it seemed like restricting the candidates from leaving the inner castle, but that did not mean preventing them from delivering letters or leading the political situation.
Furthermore, in the case of sponsors, they were limited to two people, but there was no way to limit the help from those who had connections with those sponsors.
In other words, it was a fight to mobilize everything that could be mobilized, while only maintaining formalities.
Zhuge Wen-hu asked Tang Kwan.
“Then I will ask. Who will Clan Head Tang choose as your sponsors?”
Tang Kwan frowned.
“I only just found out that I was on my way to put my name on the list as a candidate. I have not had time to think about such a thing.”
“Then I will give you time. I will put Clan Head Tang’s name on the list of candidates as of today, so you can choose your sponsors and let me know by noon tomorrow.”
Tang Kwan shook his head.
“Is there a need to go that far? Just give me half a quarter of an hour.”
“I understand.”
Tang Kwan looked at Yeon Wi.
Yeon Wi gave a smile.
“I am a person with many shortcomings.”
“In any case, I do not see myself as truly becoming the Alliance Leader, nor do I have any intention to.”
“Still, would it not be better to choose someone more capable than me?”
“It would be difficult to find someone more capable than you, and among such people, there would likely be no one who has a friendship with me.”
“Haha.”
It was not a wrong statement. Yeon Wi nodded his head.
“Fine. Then I will take on one of the two sponsors.”
Zhuge Wen-hu gave a smile.
“I understand. Now you only need to tell me the last person.”
Yeon Wi looked at Tang Kwan.
Tang Kwan, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded his head.
“I have decided.”
“Who is it?”
“The Divine Maiden of the Western Regions.”
“……!!”
Zhuge Wen-hu’s expression hardened. Yeon Wi also had a surprised expression.
“Clan Head Tang.”
“I have no objections. I will have the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions as the last sponsor.”
Yeon Wi asked.
“Have you perhaps already met the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions?”
Tang Kwan said bluntly.
“Did we not agree to see her together? I have not even seen a single hair of that physician who is said to be so skilled.”
“T-Then why did you choose the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions as a sponsor? No, leaving that aside, if the Divine Maiden refuses……”
“So that she cannot refuse, let us go to meet her immediately as soon as this meeting is over.”
“Heh!”
Zhuge Wen-hu opened his mouth.
“If you have not had a proper conversation yet, I will wait until noon tomorrow.”
“I understand.”
“But, can I ask just one thing?”
“About what?”
Zhuge Wen-hu asked carefully.
“Is there a reason why you chose the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions? Of course, she is not yet a sponsor since she has not accepted.”
Tang Kwan chuckled.
“Did you not say that public opinion is the most important thing for an election candidate?”
“Of course that is so.”
“In the current world, except for that crazy physician alliance called the Medical God Society or whatever, how many physicians are loved as much as the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions?”
“……!”
“In terms of chivalrous reputation, the value of the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions’s name is comparable to or greater than the leaders of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.”
“Clan Head Tang’s words are correct, but the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions’s fame is much better known among the civilians than the Murim. If it were someone like the Divine Physician of Heavenly Communication, perhaps……”
“That is enough. We will take care of that part, so just keep that in mind for now.”
“……Haha, I thought the Clan Head would choose Commander Yeon as the remaining person.”
Tang Kwan snorted.
“I do not want to give even the qualification of a sponsor to such an ill-mannered brat. Besides, since his father is already my sponsor, will the fellow be able to hold out without helping?”
It was a correct statement.
Then again, the person who had told Tang Kwan to run for the Alliance Leader election in the first place was Yeon Ho-jeong. Even without designating him as a sponsor, he would help in some way.
“And from what I have seen, for that fellow, a title more than necessary will instead only add restrictions to his actions. He is more dangerous when he is in a position of not wearing anything.”
Tang Kwan laughed coldly.
“Since he pushed the Clan Head of the Tang Clan as a candidate, tell him to run until sweat comes from the soles of his feet.”
Seeing how he had calculated that far in such a short time, Tang Kwan was certainly not ordinary either.
“Now then, let us go.”
Yeon Wi, flustered, stood up awkwardly.
“Are you leaving already?”
Tang Kwan frowned.
“Did you not say it? That fellow Yeon Ho-jeong, he intends to make me the center of the Murim Alliance’s power.”
“…….”
“There is no need to prevent him from helping as he pleases. However, I lead my own life. There is nothing as shameful as being dragged around by someone.”
Tang Kwan turned his body.
“Lead the way to the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions. Let us finish it within today.”
Tang Kwan’s back as he left the room with his hands behind his back truly looked as if there were nothing to hinder him.
Yeon Wi and Zhuge Wen-hu met each other’s eyes.
The eyes of the two people were tinged with a strange light.
“……He is truly an interesting person.”