Chapter 142: Chapter 142
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Passing through the main gate into the Martial Alliance, Jang Geon’s party immediately moved toward the Baekrim Bureau where they had met Bae Yang-o. As they passed between pavilions and pagodas, Jeok-sein suddenly halted her steps and looked around.
“…Something is odd.”
At her unusual manner, Jang Geon and Yang Goeng also stopped. Soon, they realized what she meant by odd.
The pavilions and pagodas of the Martial Alliance cast long shadows in the reddish glow of sunset, and those shadows along with the dim sunlight made the Martial Alliance resemble a quiet temple. Looking at that single moment alone, it was a scene like a painting of late evening glow and a grand manor.
The problem was that this place was the Martial Alliance. Until the three of them had left to find the warehouse by the docks, alliance members busily coming and going could commonly be seen along this path. But now, it was quiet beyond measure, as though all those people had vanished somewhere.
“What is this…”
Jeok-sein looked around with a flustered expression as if seeing the Martial Alliance like this for the first time. No sign of human presence could be felt beyond the nearby walls or near the pavilions. Even with Jang Geon’s senses, he could not feel anyone at work.
While all three were feeling this sense of incongruity, they spotted people walking somewhere at a near-run from a distant corner. Recognizing one of them even from afar, Jang Geon raised his voice.
“Member Wi!”
Hearing the voice, the woman turned her head. She was Wi Ga-young, a member of the Reception Hall. The people with her also appeared to be Reception Hall members. Seeing Jang Geon outside the Reception Hall, her face brightened with gladness.
“Warrior Jang?”
Jang Geon’s party quickly approached them. Four women who appeared to be Reception Hall members were together, and Jang Geon, having spent the past few days at the Reception Hall, knew they were the ones responsible for day duty there. Estimating the time, it was about time for the day’s work to end.
Wi Ga-young, who had brightened upon seeing Jang Geon, composed her expression upon discovering Jeok-sein beside him. Then she assumed a straight posture, just like when handling duties at the Reception Hall.
“It is good to see you outside, Warrior Jang. And Patrol Officer Jeok as well.”
“Glad to meet you. I am Jeok-sein of the Patrol Corps. It may seem a bit rude to ask as soon as we meet, but where were you heading?”
Wi Ga-young tilted her head slightly at Jeok-sein’s straightforward question and answered.
“Were you out of the Alliance during the afternoon? Right now, in front of the Alliance Leader’s Mansion, the Council of Elders and the Alliance Leader are having a direct dialogue before the members. They said it’s due to the issue with Demonic Practitioners that has been problematic for the past few days. We finished our duties and were on our way to observe it.”
Hearing those words, Yang Goeng let out a leaking laugh as if finding it absurd.
“Don’t tell me the Alliance is quiet right now because everyone went to watch that?”
“Well, the fact that the day’s work has ended as dusk approaches would also be a reason. Though some members work until late, for most, it is time to wrap up work and return home or rest in their quarters.”
Wi Ga-young, who knew Yang Goeng’s face, answered gently despite his absurd tone. And hearing that explanation, Jeok-sein asked again with a serious expression.
“If it’s a dialogue between the Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders, is Elder Bae Yang-o also among the elders?”
“I was just on my way, so I do not know that much. However, since all elders currently within the Alliance have gathered there, he is likely to be with them.”
Learning Bae Yang-o’s location, Jeok-sein turned to look at Jang Geon with hardened eyes. Understanding her intent, Jang Geon nodded and answered.
“Let’s go.”
Jang Geon thanked Wi Ga-young, said goodbye, and immediately began moving toward the Alliance Leader’s Mansion with Jeok-sein. Thinking there would be no danger since many members were watching, Yang Goeng followed behind, while Wi Ga-young and the other Reception Hall members looked at each other bewilderedly before quickly following them ahead.
Passing through alleys, stone walls, and magnificent gates with tiles, the party could see Alliance members busily coming and going again as they drew closer to the Alliance Leader’s Mansion. The crowd grew steadily thicker, until by the time they reached the main street in front of the gate to the Alliance Leader’s Mansion, it was suffocatingly packed. It felt like walking through the New Sichuan night market rather than the Martial Alliance.
And reaching that point, Jang Geon and Jeok-sein could witness a scene that was hard to tell whether to call absurd or perhaps typical of the Martial World.
The gate of the Alliance Leader’s Mansion had high pillars rising beside the long wall, topped with a large roof. It featured large, magnificent tiles, perhaps for the dignity of the Martial Alliance Leader. The issue was that someone was standing towering atop it, hugging his sword with crossed arms while looking down below.
He was Alliance Leader Helian Wi-jin, and the sword he held was the famous Righteous Dragon Sword. And the people he was looking down upon from the gate roof were the key figures of the Council of Elders, including Bae Yang-o.
Furthermore, beneath the roof where the Alliance Leader stood were martial artists belonging to the Alliance Leader’s Mansion, Je Un-seong, and Namgoong Cheon, who looked slightly paler than in the morning.
It was a bizarre sight. The Alliance Leader atop the gate, Namgoong Cheon below him, the Council of Elders opposing them, and countless members who, not satisfied with filling the street, climbed onto the roofs and walls of other nearby pavilions to watch the confrontation. From the perspective of Jang Geon and Jeok-sein, who had just arrived, it was a scene not easily understood.
Just then, someone pushed through the crowd and approached Jang Geon, who was looking around.
“Great Hero—no, Warrior Jang! You’ve come to watch too, Warrior Jang!”
When Jang Geon turned his head, it was Ga Yong-san, a warrior of the Sword Dragon Sect. Behind him were other guests from the Reception Hall. Thinking he would know the situation, Jang Geon asked immediately.
“We just arrived and don’t know what’s going on. Could you explain what they’re doing right now?”
Even though it was just a request for information, Ga Yong-san spoke with delight, looking glad to be of help to Jang Geon.
“Ah, of course I must explain! About an hour ago, the elders of the Council of Elders led their subordinates and stood in front of the Alliance Leader’s Mansion. And they loudly denounced the Alliance Leader for taking the Demonic Practitioner out of the dungeon earlier today and bringing him into the Alliance Leader’s Mansion. They claimed he was using his power as Alliance Leader to ignore procedures and disrupt the laws and discipline of the Martial Alliance.”
“Then what does the Alliance Leader say? Did he admit fault?”
Yang Goeng, who had followed behind, asked out of curiosity. Ga Yong-san did not stop his excited explanation and excitedly continued the story.
“Of course he didn’t admit fault! The Alliance Leader leapt onto the roof and shouted toward the elders of the Council of Elders: ‘If you prove that the Council of Elders did not co-opt Demonic Practitioners to create the current situation, I will apologize and return the Demonic Practitioner to the dungeon!'”
Ga Yong-san eagerly conveyed the situation, mixing in large hand gestures as if performing a play.
“Then Elder Bae Yang-o shouted back! ‘How dare you insult the Council of Elders without evidence!’ And then he demanded that since the current situation arose from the Alliance Leader’s incompetence, he should resign as of this moment and entrust everything to the Council of Elders!”
“And then?”
“And then the Alliance Leader sneered and said, ‘Elder Bae, can you take responsibility for those words?’!”
As Ga Yong-san finished speaking, silence fell around them. Those who had arrived late and did not know the exact situation fell silent to organize their thoughts, while those who had been present from the beginning grew quiet as the confrontation between the Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders they had watched for an hour was briefly summarized, comparing it with their own thoughts. And Ga Yong-san, apparently satisfied with his speech-like summary, nodded with a contented expression.
Just then, someone shouted in a loud voice.
“That was an excellent summary! Now then, can we hear what the very person who pulled the Demonic Practitioner Namgoong Cheon out of the dungeon thinks about the current situation?”
People’s gazes focused on the owner of the voice. He was none other than Elder Bae Yang-o.
“Patrol Officer Jeok-sein! And Warrior Jang Geon! Did you not forcibly obstruct the transfer of the Demonic Practitioner Namgoong Cheon ordered by the Council of Elders and move his custody to the Alliance Leader’s Mansion? Can you claim there was no intention from the Alliance Leader to check the Council of Elders behind that action!”
Ga Yong-san’s loud voice had drawn the attention of not only the people around them but also the Council of Elders and the Alliance Leader who were confronting each other. Subsequently, the gazes of people who understood the content of his shout turned toward Jang Geon and Jeok-sein beside him.
While glaring at Elder Bae Yang-o, Jeok-sein tightly bit her lips, appearing quite flustered by the sudden influx of countless gazes. If she misspoke a single word here, public opinion in the Martial Alliance could turn severely against the Alliance Leader.
However, she soon organized her thoughts, opened her mouth, and shouted out.
“Elder Bae Yang-o! The person who needs to explain in this place right now is neither me nor the Alliance Leader! The explanation for the corpses of Demonic Practitioners remaining in a secluded warehouse by the New Sichuan docks and Bae Won-hyeong who led them is something you, Elder Bae, must provide!”
At the somewhat sudden remark, the listening people began to murmur. Soon, word spread about who Bae Won-hyeong was, and voices echoed wondering what this talk of Demonic Practitioners was about.
And right at that moment, Jang Geon saw a dim ray of wild light flash within Bae Yang-o’s eyes the instant Jeok-sein mentioned the word corpse. However, he instantly concealed that sign and shouted out again.
“What nonsense is that, Officer Jeok! Why is my son being brought up here? And corpses? Who did you kill just now, and are you trying to frame me for that crime!”
The people between Jeok-sein and Bae Yang-o backed away in a rush, clearing the space between the two. Jeok-sein took a step forward into that empty space and spoke.
“Bae Won-hyeong already confessed everything before he died, Elder Bae. Stop twisting the situation and confess about the Demonic Practitioner who attempted to assassinate Old Master Namgoong last time. Do you wish to see even the Baekrim Gang in Heavenly Empress City wiped out?”
Far from answering that question, however, Bae Yang-o laughed as if it were absurd and turned back to the Alliance Leader atop the gate.
“Alliance Leader! Is this how you intend to remove me from office? The Martial Alliance does not belong to you alone! The Martial Alliance is a stronghold built by all martial arts comrades to uphold justice in this land! Just because my views differ from yours, you cannot do this!”
The Alliance Leader’s gaze looking down at him was subtle. To others, it appeared he was contemplating whether to trust Elder Bae Yang-o, but to Jang Geon, who knew the truth among the high command, it looked as though he was slightly flustered by a situation that had erupted far faster without even the Imperial Army’s intervention.
And the other elders lined up behind Bae Yang-o bore similar expressions. Their eyes seemed to indicate they now understood why Bae Yang-o had suddenly overturned the war of nerves he had maintained well with the Alliance Leader today. Some unhideable trace between Bae Yang-o and the Demonic Palace had come to light.
Thus, a very brief conversation communicated solely through glances passed between the Alliance Leader and the other elders, and subsequently, the elders quickly took a step back to distance themselves from Bae Yang-o. The instant Bae Yang-o, startled by the movement felt behind his back, turned around, the Alliance Leader uncrossed his arms and shouted out.
“Do not move, Elder Bae! Officer Jeok is an outstanding patrol officer, not an investigator who would raise suspicions recklessly! Therefore, do not act recklessly until Officer Jeok’s suspicions are resolved! If Elder Bae is innocent, I shall apologize directly and take full responsibility with my position as Alliance Leader!”
The Alliance Leader’s voice shouting from above resounded loudly and grandly. The murmuring members felt a sense of stability and trust from that voice and grew quiet. Some even nodded as if agreeing that what he said was right.
However, looking up at him, Bae Yang-o gritted his teeth, appearing to feel fury rather than stability. Seeing his distorted expression, the elders backed away even further in a rush, and those who appeared to be Baekrim Gang warriors also milled about in confusion, flustered by the Alliance Leader’s words, the elders’ attitude, and the members’ gazes.
Bae Yang-o’s eyes turned from the Alliance Leader back to the elders. His face flushed bright red as if more enraged by the elders looking at him with eyes colder than the Alliance Leader’s.
“These damn old fools…”
His hand reached stealthily into his bosom as his face distorted like a malicious devil. Among the rapidly changing situation and the gap of Baekrim Gang warriors surrounding Bae Yang-o, only Jang Geon and the Alliance Leader caught that hand gesture. And despite the distance between them, the eyes of the Alliance Leader and Jang Geon met at that moment.
The next instant, the Alliance Leader kicked off the tiles, drew the Righteous Dragon Sword, and flew toward Bae Yang-o. His entire body drew a straight line as if becoming a flying arrow.
Jang Geon moved as well. Unlike the Alliance Leader who plunged drawing a straight line in midair, Jang Geon, with numerous people as obstacles, ran like flowing water, like a gust of wind.
The Alliance Leader’s eyes glanced at Jang Geon. Perhaps because the Alliance Leader had moved first, it seemed the Righteous Dragon Sword would reach Bae Yang-o before Jang Geon.
The Righteous Dragon Sword drew a flash of light and slashed through Bae Yang-o’s wrist.
“Euaaaack!”
Bae Yang-o’s scream echoed, immediately followed by the sharp clashing noise of metal against metal. The Alliance Leader, who had been wearing a satisfied smile, bore a puzzled expression the instant he heard that sound. He soon erased his smile, hardened his expression, and looked down at the ground. In Bae Yang-o’s severed hand lying on the ground, a pouch was clutched. Judging by the spilled colored sand, it was clearly the poison sand that had exploded on the streets of New Sichuan.
And beside it, a black iron arrow that Jang Geon had blocked rolled around, sliced in half. It was an arrow aimed not at Bae Yang-o, but at Alliance Leader Helian Wi-jin.