Chapter 378: Chapter 378

The Mantongbu’s reception room was, as a rule, a place the Murim Alliance’s Grand Strategist had no occasion to use.

If the visitor were important enough to warrant the Grand Strategist’s personal greeting, then by rights, the current Alliance Leader should be receiving them in the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

And if the visitor didn’t merit the Grand Strategist, then an underling — a hall master or the Mantongbu Department Head — would handle the reception.

If the Grand Strategist did use the reception room, it would only be to receive members of the Elder Council or key figures from various sects.

But Jegal So-myeong, who loathed nothing more than people scheming pointless political plots behind closed doors, would deliberately meet them in his own office to keep things short rather than bother with the reception room.

And yet, gazing upon the guest who had cleared every one of those formidable prerequisites, Jegal So-myeong found himself quietly impressed.

‘The Black Thought Alliance’s Grand Strategist……’

When the Black Thought Alliance was first formed, the biggest question for Jegal So-myeong and the Mantongbu had been: ‘Who will serve as Grand Strategist?’

Blood Brain, Cold-Blood Old Master, Dormant Demon, and others had the skill and experience to fill the role, but they belonged to Jegal So-myeong’s own generation — their seniority over the new Alliance Leader, Cha Seok-du, made them ill-suited to serve as a subordinate strategist.

Mad Scholar, Ghost Pine Master, and Heaven-Piercing Killer possessed the right age and experience, but their extremism was so severe that they would surely eat the Black Thought Alliance from within.

Ultimately, Jegal So-myeong had predicted it would be Cliff-Carved Blood Buddha, Red-Green Scholar, or Thousand-Face Thousand-Army.

But……

“I am Dam Ak, Grand Strategist of the Black Thought Alliance.”

Defying every prediction, a scholar named Dam Ak had taken the Grand Strategist’s seat.

‘He truly is young, just as the reports said.’

From his background to his remarkably young age.

It was hard to believe that the pale-faced scholar before him was the Grand Strategist of the ferocious Black Thought Alliance.

The Mantongbu’s estimate that the Black Thought Alliance would need at least three years to solidify its power structure had been shattered — the Alliance had established itself as the center of the Black Path murim in under two years.

And no one denied that the man at the heart of it all was this very person: Dam Ak, now lauded as the brain of the Black Path murim.

What was more, seeing him in person made something else even more astonishing.

‘Good heavens…… he hasn’t even studied martial arts?’

What kind of place was the murim? What kind of world was this?

A world governed by the logic of survival of the fittest, where even the finest arguments and noblest causes were ultimately crushed beneath power and force.

If even the Orthodox Path murim, which championed justice, operated that way, then how had Dam Ak — who hadn’t trained in a single art and had no powerful backing — managed to handle the titans of the Black Path murim……?

“Is something on my face?”

Dam Ak’s voice snapped Jegal So-myeong back to attention.

“Ahem, no.”

While Jegal So-myeong was considering what excuse to make for his impoliteness, Dam Ak smiled faintly and continued.

“The Orthodox Path murim is certainly different. Most people who meet me tend to fire off a torrent of qi…… or whatever it’s called, as a greeting.”

“……”

It sounded like a compliment to his host while simultaneously, and quite naturally, displaying his own composure — a deft touch that earned a small nod of admiration.

By nature, scholars who had not trained in martial arts felt an instinctive fear when facing martial artists.

And yet.

‘He’s suggesting he could steer even me to whatever outcome he wants……?’

Dam Ak was clearly lacking in every tangible asset, yet he neither strained to conceal his shortcomings nor puffed himself up with bluster.

Rather, he left himself open, all but inviting his opponent to exploit his weak points.

No doubt it was so that he could counterattack the moment his opponent let down their guard, seizing what he wanted.

For some reason, Jin So-un came to mind.

‘He’s similar to that fellow. Well, that fellow is more the malicious type who baits people into attacking his weaknesses, but still.’

Jegal So-myeong calmly shook his head.

“How could I commit such discourtesy toward a guest?”

Dam Ak was young, with impressive nerve and backbone.

But Jegal So-myeong was not so green as to be led by the nose.

So he decided to seize the initiative first.

With an opponent like this, it was far better to grab the reins early — it would make the entire future relationship more manageable.

“Strategist Dam is no ordinary guest, but a valued one with whom much must be accomplished going forward. Especially since.”

Jegal So-myeong added, slowly and softly.

“So-un risked his life to save you.”

Jegal So-myeong calmly opened the discussion by recounting Gun Yu-hyeon’s assassination attempt on Dam Ak within the Black Thought Alliance, and how Jin So-un had rescued him.

Perhaps recognizing Jegal So-myeong’s intent, Dam Ak allowed a slight smile to touch his lips.

His voice rang through the air, a touch more relaxed.

“I had been wondering when I might have the chance to visit Young Hero Jin…… and the pretext presented itself nicely.”

Sensing that his opponent was being drawn in, Jegal So-myeong began throwing moves in earnest to seize Dam Ak’s initiative.

“This visit will likely lead people to believe that the Black Thought Alliance has repaid its debt to the Murim Alliance. Of course, saving a Grand Strategist can hardly be offset by a mere graduation attendance, but still.”

An ambush like that might have flustered most people, yet Dam Ak simply nodded with quiet composure.

His tone didn’t even rise.

“Perhaps. Those who don’t know better might think so…… but those who do know would say the Murim Alliance already received ample help from the Black Thought Alliance through the ‘Sichuan affair,’ wouldn’t they?”

When Dam Ak raised the matter of the Black Thought Alliance pacifying the Black Path murim during the Sichuan Blood Calamity, Jegal So-myeong let out a small, contemplative sound.

“Furthermore, I hear Young Hero Jin So-un is not exactly a welcome figure within the Orthodox Path murim. And the word on the street regarding the Black Thought Alliance affair was less ‘the Murim Alliance’s strength has been proven’ and more ‘how lucky the Alliance is to have such a rising star’ — was it not?”

Against the seasoned negotiator Jegal So-myeong, Dam Ak deflected the hand reaching for his collar with gentle, measured words.

“From what I can see, the affair in the Black Thought Alliance doesn’t seem to have been recognized as much of a credential for Young Hero Jin, either.”

And then tried to grab Jegal So-myeong’s beard in return.

Jegal So-myeong knew he shouldn’t respond, yet no better move came to mind, so he answered.

“Jin So-un is already a promising rising star representing the Murim Alliance as the Academy’s top graduate.”

“And yet such a person still hasn’t been assigned a posting, I hear?”

“That is due to internal circumstances……”

“Internal circumstances. I see.”

The way Dam Ak nodded as if he already knew everything made Jegal So-myeong’s brow furrow slightly.

At this rate, even his remaining beard would be seized.

Jegal So-myeong quickly flipped the board.

“And…… since you brought it up, Strategist Dam, how can the Sichuan affair be considered entirely to the Murim Alliance’s benefit? With the entire murim exposed to the Blood Cult’s threat, the Black Path murim couldn’t have acted recklessly either.”

“Perhaps. Had the Black Thought Alliance exploited the Sichuan affair, we could have solidified our position a full year faster.”

During the Sichuan Blood Calamity, the Black Thought Alliance’s suppression of the Black Path murim’s cries to ‘attack the Orthodox Path’ had undeniably been an enormous boon to the Murim Alliance.

Had the Black Thought Alliance seized the opportunity and leveraged the Alliance’s vulnerability, the Murim Alliance would be half-destroyed by now, locked in an endless war with the Black Thought Alliance.

“If we liken it to a person, the Black Thought Alliance is still at the level of a child. Wounds suffered in childhood leave the deepest scars.”

“And yet people must endure hardship to truly become adults. No matter how old one is, can one truly be called an adult if the substance within is hollow?”

“……”

Dam Ak was saying that the more blood the Black Thought Alliance shed, the stronger it would become.

For a moment, Jegal So-myeong wondered if this was simply Dam Ak’s method.

Prioritizing the goal over the process, regardless of what sacrifices were needed — that was a common mindset among Black Path figures.

‘Was he always this way? Or did the Black Path mold him into this?’

Yet doubts remained.

If raw audacity alone had earned him this seat, there were plenty of people in the Black Path murim with far more extreme ideas.

And flimsy bravado, in the end, crumbled easily when one’s own life was at stake.

Jegal So-myeong lowered his voice to a measured calm.

“There is something that those who sit in the seat of command often mistake. The certainty that they will remain safe until the very end.”

“……”

“For instance — if the Black Thought Alliance were an enemy of the Murim Alliance, would it not be most efficient to eliminate their brilliant Grand Strategist during his visit to the Murim Academy?”

With that, he let a subtle killing intent seep out.

Psychological pressure combined with the pressure of qi arts produced physical reactions, which in turn branded fear deep into the recesses of the mind.

This was precisely why Jegal So-myeong had never let martial training slip from his hands, even at the cost of sleep.

Sure enough, beads of sweat began forming on Dam Ak’s face.

“……”

No matter how sharp one’s wit or how iron one’s nerve, when one’s own life hung in the balance, the bedrock always showed through.

Jegal So-myeong was certain he had finally seized the upper hand.

“Well then? Is the Black Thought Alliance……”

He looked into Dam Ak’s face and smiled.

“An enemy of the Murim Alliance? Or a friend?”

A heavy silence descended upon the reception room.

After a long pause, Dam Ak spoke with quiet composure.

And what left his mouth —

“If I were to die here, then the Black Thought Alliance could truly become one.”

— was something that sailed far beyond Jegal So-myeong’s every expectation.

Having said that, Dam Ak quietly closed his eyes.

He made no attempt to add further words or search for an escape.

He simply waited for death to come, without the faintest trace of fear.

It was Jegal So-myeong who was taken aback.

From Dam Ak, there was not the slightest hint of the ‘attachment to life’ that any human being ought to possess.

The transcendent attitude of one who seemed content no matter what followed — it was something Jegal So-myeong could never have imagined.

And in that moment, Jegal So-myeong understood.

‘So that was it?’

How Dam Ak, a mere scholar who had never trained in a single martial art, had managed to manipulate and direct the titans of the Black Path.

‘I see…… so this is how.’

He was using not only others but himself as a piece on the board.

Not because doing so yielded greater profit.

No-Mind.

He simply acted because it was the right thing to do.

And this transcendent state of the heart — beyond fathoming — overwhelmed all who beheld it.

‘He has reached this level through scholarship alone.’

The breadth of the world struck him anew.

“My apologies.”

In the end, it was Jegal So-myeong who spoke first.

Dismissing it as a jest was impossible when the other party had responded with such utter sincerity.

The only way to avoid losing further ground here was a gracious apology and a concession.

The reason the Black Path titans had ultimately been seized by Dam Ak was surely because, in moments like these, they could not bring themselves to bow their heads.

And Jegal So-myeong was not so foolish as they.

He gave the slightest incline of his head.

“The jest went too far. Let us say I was curious to see how you handle martial artists.”

Dam Ak opened his eyes and nodded as if nothing had happened.

“Apology accepted.”

Jegal So-myeong accepted that he had no choice but to be led by Dam Ak.

His beard was now firmly in the other man’s grasp.

“Even if we cannot be friends, I would hope you understand that we must not become enemies.”

“I am aware. There are many these days who stir up chaos by impersonating the Demonic Cult and the Black Path, are there not?”

The greed of the Orthodox Path murim was providing pretexts to those who lurked in wait for every opportunity, and Jegal So-myeong did not want the Black Thought Alliance adding to that chaos.

‘Because a true chaos is on its way.’

An alliance with the Black Thought Alliance was impossible until the Demonic Cult fully revealed itself, but unnecessary conflict had to be prevented.

“At the very least, if the Murim Alliance and the Black Thought Alliance display an amicable relationship, those impersonating the Black Path should diminish somewhat.”

A warning to those exploiting the turmoil: at least do not impersonate the Black Thought Alliance.

This time, Dam Ak nodded deeply.

“I am aware. That is the purpose of this visit.”

In the end, after going round and round, it had turned into the Murim Alliance making a request of the Black Thought Alliance.

Jegal So-myeong did his best not to let the taste of defeat — something he hadn’t felt in a long while — show on his face.

At the same time, he couldn’t even begin to guess what a man willing to forfeit his own life might demand, so it was a luxury to feel exhausted this early.

Keeping his guard up, Jegal So-myeong asked.

“What does the Black Thought Alliance want? The northeastern logistics routes? Dominion over the Shanxi region? Let me say in advance — a White South, Black North is out of the question.”

He had drawn the line prepared to concede at least the first two.

Or perhaps, more precisely, he had set a ceiling to make it feel as though the Murim Alliance was giving something substantial.

Dam Ak remained as calm and composed as ever.

Just as Jegal So-myeong’s nerves were fraying from watching him —

Dam Ak slowly parted his lips.

“There is but one thing we desire.”

Jegal So-myeong swallowed hard.

What staggering demand was he about to……

“Please allow the Black Thought Alliance to officially congratulate Academy student Jin So-un on his graduation.”

“……”

Jegal So-myeong wondered if his ears were broken, and nearly went to clean them before stopping himself.

Then his mind began spinning at full tilt.

Throwing away the chance to extract enormous concessions — and all he wanted was a congratulation?

‘Yes, there must be……’

There must be some diabolical, far-reaching scheme that he simply couldn’t foresee.

“……”

But no matter how hard he racked his brain, he could not decipher the intent at all.

It was one of the most vexing puzzles Jegal So-myeong had faced since becoming the Murim Alliance’s Grand Strategist.