Chapter 116: Chapter 116
The grand coalition of the Righteous Path, the Martial Alliance.
Its tallest building was a pavilion consisting of five floors, where the Alliance Leader’s office was situated at the top, while the Chief Strategist’s office and the Grand Council Chamber were located beneath it.
Those summoned by the Alliance Leader gathered in the Grand Council Chamber.
Aside from Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon and Chief Strategist Sima Hwi, it was a council room permitted to only fifteen individuals in the entire realm.
“Thank you all for making the journey despite your busy schedules.”
Naturally seated at the head, Bukli Cheon looked around the room, speaking in an even voice.
Masters of each faction sat to the left and right of the long table.
Since the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Zhuge Clan, which were not yet stabilized, had not attended, there should have been thirteen people, yet today’s attendees numbered fourteen.
A woman with sharp eyes like a well-forged silver blade, Sword Maiden Namgung Yi-hwa. Next to her sat a man who carried the exact same atmosphere. He was not originally a member of the Grand Council.
Bukli Cheon realized that the participants of the meeting were subtly paying attention to him.
‘Why is that fellow, the Sword King, here?’
Far from attending to Martial Alliance affairs, he was a man who postponed even the business of the Namgung Clan to wander all over the realm, yet somehow he had visited the Martial Alliance right in time for the Grand Council.
Like Bukli Cheon, the Sword King was a master belonging to the Realm Beyond the Heavens of the Righteous Path. Naturally, if he stated he would attend the council, no one could block him. Nor was there any reason to.
Since the Sword King was the Sword Maiden’s elder brother, it could be expected that the main remarks in this council would come from his mouth.
“Then, may we begin the meeting?”
Chief Strategist Sima Hwi spoke as he looked around at the assembly.
As everyone nodded, Sima Hwi attempted to bring up the matter of the Zhuge Clan first.
It was at that moment.
“May I speak first?”
“…”
The Sword King preempted the floor.
Sima Hwi covered his lips with his folding fan as if displeased.
The Sword King was not usually someone so devoid of courtesy, but the matter he brought was just that grave.
Although presiding over the Grand Council was Sima Hwi’s role, he deliberately refrained from granting the Sword King permission to speak right away.
It was a measure taken out of consideration for the Alliance Leader’s prestige.
“Please speak.”
“Thank you, Senior Bukli Cheon.”
Acknowledging the Alliance Leader with his eyes, the Sword King looked toward the assembly. When he hesitated uncharacteristically, a hint of tension crossed everyone’s faces.
“I believe the Dark Emperor has returned.”
Instantly, everyone’s eyes widened as if about to pop out.
It was a natural reaction for those hearing news regarding the Dark Emperor for the first time, while Bukli Cheon and Sima Hwi wore expressions suggesting they never expected those words to come from the Sword King’s mouth before their own.
Sima Hwi asked, struggling to steady his composure.
“Senior, what do you mean by that?”
“Do you remember the mission from before? The one undertaken by the Black Tortoise Squad and the Heavenly Tiger Squad…”
It was then.
Bukli Cheon swiftly sent a sound transmission to the Sword King.
– Do not mention Woo-jin. No, it would be best not to bring up this story at all if possible.
The Sword King paused for a moment before naturally continuing his words.
“Ahem, anyway, since everyone is busy, I will get straight to the point. I have been pursuing the Sword Demon. I had to contest swords against him at least once.”
Everyone nodded.
Since long ago, the Sword King and the Sword Demon had often been compared.
Naturally, the Sword King was certain of his victory, so he wanted to settle the score with the Sword Demon as soon as possible.
Of course, that bastard the Sword Demon was likely the same. Although their ideologies differed, as martial artists who wielded swords, they could understand each other’s feelings without needing to speak.
“So, did you meet the Sword Demon?”
It was Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon, an elder of the Qingcheng Sect. He too was a swordsman, so he had many questions regarding the relationship between the Sword King and the Sword Demon.
The Sword King nodded.
“I did. Having chased him so relentlessly, it finally came to pass.”
Everyone wore tense expressions. If the two had met, a conclusion must have been reached.
Yet unexpected words flowed from the Sword King’s mouth.
“I was fighting him. He was quite strong. To tell you the truth, up until midway through, I thought I would never return to the Namgung Clan. It was difficult even to block his sword.”
“…Heoh!”
To think such words would come from the mouth of the Sword King, of all people.
Sighs burst out from here and there.
“However, once we passed the halfway point, I gradually seized the momentum. The sharp precision and instantaneous power of that bastard the Sword Demon’s swordsmanship were frighteningly outstanding, but it did not last very long. Anyway, just as I was about to take his neck.”
The Sword King took an unnecessary pause. At that, everyone stared only at his mouth with expressions dying of curiosity.
“He fled.”
“…?”
Everyone could not conceal their astonishment.
It was astonishing that such a casual tone came from the mouth of a clan patriarch, and it was equally astonishing that an extraordinary swordsman like the Sword Demon ran away when faced with death.
It made sense, as the years the Sword King and the Sword Demon had been compared were so long that the loser would not truly be living even if alive.
He would likely receive either the ridicule or pity of the entire martial world.
And yet, he had fled in such circumstances.
“I know him well. I have heard about his every move for a very long time, so even though I have only met him a few times, I can easily anticipate what kind of personality he has and how he will act. If driven to death, the Sword Demon is the type who would attempt mutual destruction. Yet such a fellow fled without lingering hesitation, or rather, with ruthless determination. It must mean he found a place he absolutely had to return to.”
Instantly, an immense presence filled everyone’s minds.
Since the disappearance of the Dark Emperor, the most elusive of his disciples had been the Sword Demon. As though he held no further attachments to this world, he rarely showed himself and rarely caused any notable incidents.
If such a man endured disgrace just to return, one could not help but think of the Dark Emperor.
Tap, tap.
The Chief Strategist lightly tapped the table with his folding fan.
With that small motion, the atmosphere was refreshed in an instant.
“Thank you for coming in person to deliver such crucial information. Indeed, the movements of the Dark Emperor’s disciples have been noticeable lately. A disciple of the Dark Emperor is also involved in the matter we are to discuss today.”
Realizing anew that something was brewing, the Chief Strategist naturally followed up on the Sword King’s remarks to bring up the Sichuan Tang Clan, the subject he had originally intended to discuss.
“It concerns the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
The Chief Strategist told them about the incident that had taken place in the Sichuan Tang Clan. Of course, he thoroughly concealed the fact that the Qingcheng Sect, Zhongnan Sect, Hebei Peng Clan, Murong Clan, and Ten Thousand Gold Manor had been mentioned by the elder.
Even while speaking, he closely observed their expressions, but everyone seemed to have several cunning vipers coiled inside their bellies, as nothing showed on the surface.
‘Of course, the possibility that the Tang Clan’s elder spoke falsehoods cannot be ruled out, but…’
Sima Hwi felt an intense intuition as a strategist. An intuition that at least three or more individuals in this room were definitely plotting schemes alongside the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Until Sima Hwi finished his explanation, there was no particular reaction from anyone. Since rumors had already spread considerably, they were merely hearing it officially and in greater detail from Sima Hwi’s mouth.
But the moment Sima Hwi finished his explanation, a man immediately opened his mouth. Once again, it was Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon of the Qingcheng Sect.
“Why did the Black Tortoise Squad and the Heavenly Tiger Squad Leader go to the Tang Clan? It is fortunate that the matter was resolved well, but somehow the timing seems overly coincidental.”
The very moment Young Patriarch Tang Bi-cheon attempted to kill Tang So-yeon to carry out his plan. The Black Tortoise Squad and the Heavenly Tiger Squad were in Sichuan at that exact moment.
Sima Hwi replied without the slightest hint of fluster.
“We dispatched them after discovering suspicious movements from the Black Overlord Castle’s Sichuan branch. Just as Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon said, it was a coincidence.”
“And rashly meddling in another clan’s succession battle?”
Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon suspected that the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist had sent them to keep watch on the Tang Clan. That was true, of course, but it could not be openly admitted.
“Alliance member Tang So-yeon is an heir of the Tang Clan as well as a Heavenly Tiger Squad member of the Martial Alliance. If we cannot protect our own member right before our eyes, what meaning does the Alliance’s existence hold? Furthermore, thanks to that, we were able to discover a connection to the Demon Physician… Could it be that Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon is dissatisfied with this outcome?”
Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon groaned softly and backed down.
In any case, he could not defeat the Chief Strategist with words.
In that way, the incident that had taken place in the Sichuan Tang Clan was concluded as an internal matter sorted out by the Military Strategy Department.
Like a snake slipping smoothly over a wall, the Chief Strategist brought up the next topic.
It was the proposal to promote Black Tortoise Squad Leader Cheol Ji-ak to Inspection Hall Master. Naturally, Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon flared up and tried to step forward again, but the Chief Strategist’s words preceded him.
“The authority over hall master appointments is the Alliance Leader’s exclusive prerogative, so I ask everyone for their understanding.”
In the first place, unlike martial squads and martial divisions, the Halls, due to their unique nature, were inherently much closer to the Martial Alliance itself rather than to the Five Great Clans and the Nine Great Sects and One Clan.
Along with the Chief Strategist’s assertion, Bukli Cheon deliberately adopted a stern expression. It was an attitude that dared them to see what would happen if they revolted.
No matter if he was an elder of the Qingcheng Sect, he could not stiffen his neck before the Martial Alliance Leader.
Fortunately, since there were many who originally viewed Cheol Ji-ak favorably, there were no further objections.
Thus, Cheol Ji-ak was officially promoted to Inspection Hall Master, and Zhuge Rin to Squad Leader of the Black Tortoise Squad under the Inspection Hall.
However, the real problem was the Chief Strategist’s subsequent words.
“We intend to establish an additional martial squad under the Inspection Hall.”
This was not within the exclusive authority of the Alliance Leader.
Appointing someone to an existing but vacant position like the Inspection Hall and establishing a brand new organization were matters on entirely different levels.
For a new organization to be formed within the Martial Alliance, a majority of the fifteen elders attending the Grand Council had to agree.
If the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Zhuge Clan were treated as abstentions, at least seven people needed to agree.
Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon added to the Chief Strategist’s explanation.
“Stagnant water naturally rots. Since we have recently recruited many skilled new alliance members, I intend to introduce some change.”
The Sword Maiden, who had remained quiet the entire time, suddenly spoke up.
“That is a good idea. Unlike in our time, youngsters these days cannot bear boredom. So, what is the name of this new organization?”
“The Hidden Dragon Squad.”
At the same time, the expressions of several people stiffened.
The name Hidden Dragon Squad itself implied a martial squad composed of rising young talents.
Once a new martial squad was established, a squad leader naturally had to be selected. Naturally, they could not place rookies in the position, so they would just need to select candidates for promotion from among the vice squad leaders of other martial squads.
Yet in the words of the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist, a distinctively different intent could be sensed.
The one who stepped forward this time was also Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon.
“Our Qingcheng Sect casts a vote against it.”
It was an aggressive move made even before anyone had mentioned whom they would appoint as the Hidden Dragon Squad Leader. That was how fiercely Cheong-hyeon was expressing his stance.
The Alliance Leader watched Cheong-hyeon and asked mildly.
“Why is that?”
“Are you not planning to seat that bastard Cheon Woo-jin in the squad leader position?”
“That is correct.”
The corners of Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon’s mouth twisted wryly.
“He is a fellow who hasn’t even been in the alliance for a year. I understand that he is strong. Elder Zhuge Seong and Young Patriarch Tang Bi-cheon. He has already killed two key figures of the Five Great Clans.”
Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon intentionally brought up the Five Great Clans.
It was to provoke the Namgung Clan, the Peng Clan, and the Murong Clan.
Sure enough, the Peng Clan and the Murong Clan showed visible displeasure.
Yet the two members of the Namgung Clan remained calm.
Originally, when Zhuge Seong died, the Sword Maiden was a woman who had insisted on disciplining Cheon Woo-jin, calling him an arrogant brat.
However, her elder brother, the Sword King, held goodwill toward Cheon Woo-jin. Knowing that fact, the Sword Maiden maintained silence, at least beside her brother.
In that way, the Namgung Clan’s stance appeared neutral.
However, as the Hebei Peng Clan and the Murong Clan openly cast dissenting votes, the situation took a turn for the worse.
As if he had anticipated it, the Chief Strategist looked toward the Nine Great Sects and One Clan.
Unlike Cheong-hyeon, who had cast his opposition right away, the others seemed to still be contemplating. With half of the Five Great Clans opposing, things would go smoothly only if they had at least their support.
Of course, the Chief Strategist had prepared seven different alternative plans in case things went awry, but it was preferable to settle it in one go if possible.
“It is ambiguous.”
Shaolin and the Beggars’ Sect cast votes in favor.
However, the remaining sects were divided evenly or still sorting out their positions.
Bukli Cheon pressed his temples firmly. It felt as though the meeting would drag on. The factions that had not yet voiced an opinion maintained an attitude of wanting to decide after further discussion.
Naturally, since Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon had been childhood friends with the late Zhuge Seong, he poured out unfavorable remarks about Cheon Woo-jin.
“Uncontrollable martial power is no different from a natural disaster. Furthermore, a sword has no eyes.”
He spoke as if muttering to himself, but everyone heard it.
Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon was issuing a warning. That if they did not wish to end up like Zhuge Seong or Tang Bi-cheon, they had better choose properly.
Seeing this, the Alliance Leader spoke, struggling to suppress his anger.
“As far as I know, Alliance Member Cheon Woo-jin’s martial power has never once been directed at the rightful Righteous Path.”
“Alliance Leader, to be frank, isn’t Alliance Member Cheon far too young? His experience is still shallow, so how could we entrust him with such an important post as squad leader?”
The Alliance Leader was dumbfounded. Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon was not a humble man, so under normal circumstances, he would never have considered a mere squad leader to be an important post.
“According to alliance laws, there is no age requirement to serve as a squad leader. Surely you would not argue generational standing against the disciple of Senior White Flower Sword Immortal. Since his martial strength and ideology have been verified, why should we not appoint him?”
The Alliance Leader and Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon engaged in a staring contest.
Normally, he would never have dared engage in such a battle of wills with the Alliance Leader, but Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon truly seemed determined to keep Cheon Woo-jin out of a key post.
Just how much time had passed like that?
Clack.
In an instant, everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance of the conference room.
Who dared enter without permission during the Grand Council, the highest assembly of the Martial Alliance?
Soon, everyone wore differing peculiar expressions.
Most were baffled, the Sword King and the Beggars’ Sect elder wore amused expressions, and Cheong-hyeon’s face visibly crumpled.
The man who appeared out of nowhere was none other than Cheon Woo-jin.
“You bastard!”
Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon sprang to his feet and roared in anger. Because it was laden with subtle internal energy, it would not have been strange if an ordinary young martial artist had fallen flat on his back.
Yet Cheon Woo-jin merely blinked blankly at Cheong-hyeon before speaking to the Alliance Leader in an indifferent tone.
“My apologies. I mistook this for the Alliance Leader’s office.”
Everyone could not overcome their bewilderment. How could a martial artist of Cheon Woo-jin’s caliber confuse the fifth floor with the fourth floor?
No, even if it were the Alliance Leader’s office in the first place, was it permissible to fling open the door and walk in like this?
However, Cheon Woo-jin was surprisingly terrible with directions.
He had truly gotten confused and simply come to the wrong room.
Behind Cheon Woo-jin, a man rushed down from the fifth floor in haste.
“A-Alliance Member Cheon! Not here…!”
He had told Cheon Woo-jin that a waiting room was prepared in front of the Alliance Leader’s office and asked him to wait until the meeting concluded.
Yet when he brought simple refreshments up to the fifth floor, no one was there.
He could never have foreseen that the youth would abruptly fling open the door to the fourth-floor Grand Council Chamber.
Cheon Woo-jin bowed his head to apologize to everyone.
However, Cheon Woo-jin’s thought process was somewhat different from others.
Though unintentional, it led to the astonishing thought that since he had met the Alliance Leader anyway, he might as well say his piece and leave.
It was an idea an ordinary person could never have conceived while being glared at by leaders of each faction.
“Alliance Leader, I will do that.”
“…Do what?”
“The Hidden Dragon Squad Leader.”
With his head lowered, the Chief Strategist held his forehead.
He had planned to coax, appease, and sway the opposition here to achieve the desired outcome, yet the person in question barged in out of nowhere and uttered such words.
Still bowing his head, he slightly raised his eyes to glance at Daoist Master Cheong-hyeon’s face.
‘At this rate, he will explode.’
His face had reached a state resembling a firearm specially manufactured by the Thunderbolt Gate.