Chapter 365: Private Martial Union (3)
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Following me, the people hurriedly rushed out of the banquet hall. There stood a man rather frail for a martial artist, his beard quivering.
“……To even be enjoying a banquet. Disregarding the prestige of the Union Leader has its limits.”
Private Martial Union Leader Yu Il-su. Of course, as the Union Leader, he was famous as a master of poison arts, but he was an unusual case whose name was not as renowned as the Eight Exalts under his command.
That spoke to how well Yu Il-su conducted himself as an unorthodox figure and how exceptional his political instincts were. In that sense, he was sufficiently a self-made man.
“I have heard much about you, but this is my first time meeting you. I am Muk Hui-yeong, Association Master of the New Justice Association.”
“I did not come to speak with a fledgling like you.”
Yu Il-su flatly rebuffed my greeting without hesitation.
I had already heard plenty of information about the Private Martial Union Leader from Gwan Seo-ye, and having seen it directly through the Heavenly Eye, it was within my expectations.
Without losing my smile, I continued speaking.
“I understand that the Union Leader was angry enough to rush all the way to the New Justice Association, but please maintain your dignity.”
“Shut up! Getting a fancy title at such a young age has blinded you to everything. Where do you get off talking about dignity in front of a senior who is far your elder!”
It was well known that Yu Il-su had an authoritarian personality. Gwan Seo-ye had mentioned that first when discussing information on Yu Il-su.
To be precise, he was the kind of person who bowed well to the strong and showed a domineering stance toward the weak. That was not to say it was bad. In a way, it was that very clear attitude that had elevated him to Union Leader.
Of course, if he were an ordinary black-path ruffian, one would simply dismiss him as a fellow who cowered before the strong and bullied the weak, but once one rose to the position of Union Leader, it was difficult to belittle him so lightly.
While it was necessary to respect that, I was not someone who would quietly back down either.
“It seems you have misunderstood something. The dignity I asked to be maintained is not the Union Leader’s dignity, but my dignity. This is the headquarters of the New Justice Association; if you come here and make such a mess, what will become of my dignity?”
“So you try to act like an Association Master after all. I thought you were merely a figurehead put forward by the old fogies of the orthodox sects.”
Yu Il-su sneered and turned his body toward me. Only after I spoke to this extent did he seem to recognize me as an opponent.
Indeed, there were still many such perceptions. Looking at seniority or martial prowess, I had not been someone suited to be the New Justice Association Master.
That perception was not entirely wrong either. It was merely due to the symbolism of the Eastern Emperor and the meaning that the New Justice Association walked an unconventional path.
Thus, I was still frequently treated as the figurehead of the New Justice Association. In truth, hardly anyone knew that I handled all practical affairs myself.
“The Union Leader seems to place far too much trust in your own position. It would not be strange in the slightest if the Union Leader’s head flew off right here.”
“Hmph, then that would only prove that you are an idiot. Your martial arts seem wickedly strong, but that is all. You cannot sever my neck.”
Surprisingly, Yu Il-su was aware that I was relatively stronger compared to him.
In truth, it would be difficult not to know. The news of me defeating all the remaining Eight Exalts was rapidly spreading across the Central Plains. Yu Il-su must have surely heard it on his way here.
“Why do you think that?”
“I can tell. You are by no means someone who acts recklessly unless calculations are made. If you kill me now, you will immediately have to engage in a head-on confrontation with the Imperial Palace; could you manage that?”
“What are you talking about? I am the one who killed a Grand Eunuch right before the Emperor.”
“That too was possible because you had made all your calculations. As a result, did you not survive? Acting on emotion would never allow one to make such cold-blooded judgments.”
“Hoh.”
A smile formed on my lips. He had quite a good insight into what kind of person I was. For someone without the Heavenly Eye, this degree of insight was sufficiently worthy of being called an accomplishment or capability.
“Of course, that does not change the fact that you are a puppet of the orthodox old men. A puppet that can think. Just about that level.”
“Do you truly think so?”
“The world is made to turn that way.”
I saw Yu Il-su’s accomplishments and at the same time saw his limits.
Because he was so excessively insightful and had never seen anyone deviate from his insight, he was confining even me within that insight.
Even though I was already someone far beyond standard conventions.
“You have misjudged. At first, of course, the various sect leaders paid considerable attention to managing the New Justice Association. But now, they have practically handed all authority to me and follow my directives.”
“Those arrogant old men do that? Unbelievable.”
“That is because the Union Leader has not met me until now.”
I smiled faintly.
“From what I know, the Union Leader rose to the position of Union Leader through worldly conduct alone. Then I would like to ask how you intend to conduct yourself in the current situation. As the Union Leader said, I am a calculating person. I may be prepared to kill the Union Leader, or I may not be. One thing that is certain is that I can decide on my own arbitrary authority without receiving orders from anyone.”
No aura radiated from my body. That was because, rather than threatening with such things, I wanted to see more of how the person known as the Union Leader conducted himself.
The Union Leader’s eyes rolled around. He too was a calculating person. Naturally, he would have anticipated a situation like this as well. Though not visible to my eyes, I could feel it through my senses. The fact that there were numerous unorthodox masters brought by the Union Leader in the surroundings.
“……A pathetic threat.”
The Union Leader still tried to maintain his dignity. That was not foolishness. How many eminent masters of the martial world were present here right now; if he bowed his head immediately, it would look exceedingly unsightly. As the Union Leader, that was a grave matter.
“Don’t tell me you are relying on the unorthodox and Imperial Palace masters accompanying you? My being prepared to kill the Union Leader means that I am prepared to kill them as well, naturally.”
Yu Il-su flinched. Blades were exchanged within the conversation. Yu Il-su was definitely someone with a skilled tongue.
Had I been the master of the Radiant Crystal Merchant Company in my previous life, we might have fought on equal footing. But right now, I possessed the eyes known as the Heavenly Eye. It instilled certainty into actions and words that would not have existed otherwise. By that alone, the outcome of this clash was practically already decided.
“What will you do? I shall leave it to the Union Leader’s judgment.”
Perhaps the Union Leader now realized. That I was not a fox borrowing the tiger’s might, but the very tiger entrenched in the den.
Just as masters grasped an opponent’s realm in a single exchange, people like us knew what kind of person someone was once we exchanged words. The Union Leader must have already felt that something had gone wrong.
Yu Il-su clenched his fists and trembled. It was a sight of him struggling in conflict until the very last moment.
“……I apologize. There were parts where I was somewhat indiscreet.”
Ultimately, Yu Il-su bowed his head. His face, flushed with humiliation, was quite a sight.
Those who knew the person known as the Union Leader were all the more astonished. The Union Leader would probably not lose in momentum against anyone present here. Yet because I subdued him in merely a few words, they could not help but be surprised.
“Since the Union Leader has his dignity, I shall accept that apology.”
I smoothed over the situation with a smile. The Union Leader’s insight had not been off the mark after all. Because the loss would be greater than the gain from killing the Union Leader right now, I could not kill this man.
In terms of gambling, I had wagered with a bit more boldness and had won accordingly.
“You have probably come to speak with the elders of the Private Martial Union.”
“You know. We wish to speak secretly among ourselves. If there is a spare guest pavilion in the headquarters of the New Justice Association, we would like to borrow it.”
My smile deepened. Yu Il-su was indeed no easy opponent.
Though he had yielded to me, he had demonstrated his boldness once again by showing that he could step into the very headquarters of the New Justice Association.
“Naturally, that can be arranged. Are not all within the four seas comrades?”
“Indeed. Though we look in different directions right now, who knows when that might change again?”
Yu Il-su pretended to be leisurely. To try and act like a martial world senior at this point. It was absurd, but such shamelessness was likely his political strength.
“Then I shall prepare a place for you.”
“I end up imposing on you in an awkward manner.”
Jang Gwang-yeong clicked his tongue as if he disliked it.
It was an internal matter of the Private Martial Union, so having to discuss it in the headquarters of the New Justice Association was comical in itself.
“I will call the servants, so you may follow them.”
“I may bring one person from the Imperial Palace, I presume?”
“Of course. So long as you do not enter restricted areas.”
“You have considerable boldness.”
A person from the Imperial Palace. Soon, from somewhere, a scholar dressed in the robes of a literatus with a pale complexion walked out staggering. Looking frail at a glance, he gave the impression of someone who could not hold his head high among martial artists.
“A civil official background. It seems he came to discuss administrative matters.”
While the servants of the New Justice Association guided the people of the Private Martial Union, Namgung Jin-hyeon approached subtly and spoke.
“Have you seen that person before?”
“Who? That official?”
“Yes. Though it may not be so now, the Namgung Clan in the past must have had many interactions with the Imperial Palace.”
At my question, Namgung Jin-hyeon seemed to ponder for a moment before shaking his head.
“No. It is an unfamiliar face. It might be that I simply do not remember. No matter how many interactions we had with the Imperial Palace, it was only with specific individuals; I did not know every single one.”
“I see.”
“If you are curious, shall I look into it?”
“No. It is fine.”
I watched the official staggering behind the Private Martial Union Leader. Namgung Jin-hyeon tilted his head as he watched me.
“He seems not to have learned any martial arts at all. Looking at his gait and breathing, that is.”
“Yes. It seems so.”
“Is there something bothering you?”
“No. It seems too early to say right now. Nor is it certain.”
At my words, Namgung Jin-hyeon wore an even more puzzled expression. I continued to gaze at the back of that official.
* * *
“I tried to respect your opinions as much as possible, but this is an act of completely disregarding me.”
Yu Il-su glared fiercely even before the tea was served. Fighting Exalt Jang Gwang-yeong and the Dark Exalt also looked displeased.
In the first place, their paths had essentially diverged. Still, from the perspective of the Fighting Exalt and Dark Exalt, out of the affection they had shared over the years, they had not immediately thrown themselves into the New Justice Association.
“Let us call it mutual respect. We came as martial artists to witness the birth of a new absolute master. Didn’t the Fist Exalt of Shaolin come as well?”
“The Fist Exalt certainly wouldn’t have disregarded the words of the Shaolin Abbot and rushed out!”
Yu Il-su slammed his palm down onto the table.
Jang Gwang-yeong’s gaze gradually turned cold. Although they had stayed together for quite some time, Jang Gwang-yeong, a martial artist to the core, and Yu Il-su, who had political instincts, never had matching wavelengths.
Yet how could one associate only with people of matching wavelengths in this world? Though they had come together while repairing the cracks that drifted apart, it seemed time to call an end to that as well.
“I respected the Union Leader’s will in my own way. Did I not endure taking all seventy-two strongholds of the Green Forest under the Imperial Palace?”
“Why bring up that topic now? We should be talking about the future. Are you trying to settle past merits and rewards now?”
“The future, you say. I don’t know if a Private Martial Union without the seventy-two strongholds of the Green Forest has a future.”
Jang Gwang-yeong smiled coldly. In truth, the seventy-two strongholds of the Green Forest accounted for a large portion of the Private Martial Union’s revenue. Were they not the seventy-two strongholds that had practically formed toll fee contracts with countless merchant companies?
“……What do you think? Seeing that these fellows are acting so insolently.”
Yu Il-su turned his head to the side. The one he addressed with honorifics was the scholar-dressed man who had been sitting with a pale complexion until now.
Jang Gwang-yeong and the Dark Exalt had also seen him for the first time, so they had not paid much thought, but they were slightly surprised that the Union Leader spoke politely. Because Yu Il-su was not someone who spoke politely to just anyone.
“Just how long will you carry on this tedious conversation?”
The scholar-dressed man opened his mouth in a languid voice. It was a voice in which not a shred of tension could be found.
“The matter is simple. You decide. Will you continue to follow the Imperial Palace, or will you not?”
At that thoroughly condescending tone, Jang Gwang-yeong and the Dark Exalt flared with anger, but for some reason, strength would not enter their bodies.
“I cannot give you much time. Three, two……”
Jang Gwang-yeong looked at the scholar. In his eyes looking at them, there was contained a complete nothingness devoid of any emotion. At the chilling sensation, his spine turned cold.