Chapter 127. White Path Martial Alliance (2)
“My lord. The White Wind Squad Leader has come with an interim report.”
“Speak.”
“The sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects—Shaolin, Wudang, Hwasan, Jongnam, Cheongseong, Ami, and Gongdong—have gathered. Of the Six Great Families, our house and the Jegal and Paeng families are present, while the Yeon and Namgung families are just around the corner. The Tang family says it will take some time.”
“Mm, I see.”
“And...”
“I'll hear the rest in half a day. Good work.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
The presence of the White Wind Squad Leader faded from beyond the door.
Moyong Gun, who had been sitting silently watching his counterpart, soon broke into a smile.
“Do you enjoy drink?”
“I have a cup now and then.”
“Haha, indeed. Before I knew it, you've become a full-fledged man.”
Moyong Gun gazed out the window.
“The sun is still high, but it's been so long since brothers met—we can't just sip dull tea. Shall we have a drink?”
“Very well.”
“Good.”
Moyong Gun called a maid to bring liquor.
The Martial Alliance was vast. Its scale was truly immense, to the point where it assigned separate inner castle districts to the Nine Great Sects and Six Great Families. It was a way of honoring them while also enlisting them for security. Given the current state and sentiments of the martial world, it was a rational arrangement.
Perhaps because of that, the Tamrang Pavilion, where the Moyong family had taken root, was already deeply shrouded in Moyong Gun's shadow.
“Before the liquor arrives, there's something we must discuss.”
“Please speak.”
“I hear you humiliated Yeonhwa.”
The man seated across from Moyong Gun—Moyong Woo—nodded.
“I did.”
Moyong Gun's eyes gleamed.
She was the family head's daughter and his own niece. There was no need to cower in fear, but it was natural to feel some restraint. Yet Moyong Woo was utterly composed.
“How did you do it? Yeonhwa is more delicate than she seems. She seemed quite wounded.”
“If a few harsh words can wound her that deeply, then Yeonhwa still has much growing to do.”
Look at this one.
A strange flicker of interest crossed Moyong Gun's face.
This was not the Moyong Woo he knew. A pure, gentle soul—one that didn't suit him at all. But the man before him now was utterly different from the brother he remembered.
“Heh heh, today I see a new side of you.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, you're right. I didn't raise Yeonhwa to be that fragile. Her heart is soft, but I trained her rigorously to never show it. Still, as you say, she has shortcomings.”
“Yes. Yeonhwa is lacking. She needs time to regroup and work harder.”
“Hahaha!”
Moyong Gun burst into loud laughter.
Why? He couldn't help but laugh himself.
Zhejiang was a land of beauty. Anyone born and raised in the Central Plains dreamed of settling there. But with the Moyong family as the main house, it was no different from being exiled to the frontier for Moyong Woo.
Yet this brother, once banished, was now rebuking his own daughter as weak and in need of more training. The irony was strangely amusing.
“Fascinating. Truly fascinating. Amid all the recent chaos, I never imagined I'd share a conversation like this with you.”
“......”
“When I received your letter about doubling the Zhejiang operations, I suspected some great change in your heart. Seeing you here now, it seems you've made a resolve I know nothing of.”
“I've resolved firmly. A resolve that will never waver.”
Moyong Gun smiled.
Just then, the maid brought the liquor tray.
“It's Dukang liquor. Have you tried it?”
“No.”
“It suits my taste well. Short fermentation, yet a fine flavor. I wonder if it will suit you.”
As Moyong Gun lifted the bottle, Moyong Woo respectfully raised his cup.
“Come to think of it, this is the first time. Pouring liquor for you.”
Glug glug glug.
A sharp, fragrant aroma swiftly filled the room.
“Now, let our youngest pour me a cup.”
Moyong Woo filled Moyong Gun's cup.
“A drink, then.”
“Before that, I have something to say.”
“Mm?”
Moyong Gun set down his cup.
“I thought we'd start with a drink.”
“We are brothers, yet in some ways, we've been less than strangers. And I do not share cups lightly with those I lack closeness with.”
“......Heh heh.”
“I've come to change that bond. This cup—we'll empty it after I've spoken my piece.”
Moyong Gun nodded.
“Very well. Speak.”
“I'll be direct.”
Moyong Woo's eyes flashed.
Those eyes, burning with fierce resolve, set Moyong Gun's heart racing.
“I wish to walk beside you and confirm if your path is right.”
“Mm?”
“You overthrew the eldest and became head of the main house. Two of our brothers died, and the rest aligned with you—all but me.”
“Indeed.”
“I say it plainly: I believe your path is wrong.”
“I know.”
“Your methods are far too perilous. Moreover, they stray from the righteous path. Thus, I deem your way unjust. And because of it, many innocents have died.”
Moyong Gun merely smiled.
Moyong Woo continued.
“Yet you spared me.”
“Because you never challenged me.”
“And because I proved useful, no doubt.”
“Haha, you saw through it.”
“While handling Zhejiang affairs, I pondered why you walk this path of hegemony. Why cloak such a dangerous road in the guise of righteousness.”
“......”
“Looking at our house's past and present, I finally understood what you truly desire.”
“And what do you think that is?”
“To become Martial Alliance Leader and elevate the Moyong family to the world's foremost.”
Moyong Gun's eyes sharpened.
Moyong Woo spoke evenly.
“I know you're willing to commit ruthless acts to reach the pinnacle. No—I thought that was all there was to it. But I'd never considered you had such a concrete goal.”
“Heh.”
“Now I see. You wish to become Martial Alliance Leader, to rule the White Path martial world—and ultimately, the Central Plains as emperor.”
“......Impressive.”
Moyong Gun spoke with genuine admiration.
“Only one person ever discerned my dream before now. Today makes two.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I've shared it with no one but Yeonhwa and a few closest aides.”
Moyong Woo shook his head.
“You needn't say it—I could tell.”
“Far from it. Without reading my nature, our family's actions, and the world's currents, no one could reach that conclusion.”
Moyong Gun was truly impressed.
“I knew you were a rare talent, but I never imagined your insight ran this deep. Remarkable.”
He had praised someone to this degree only once before. It showed how surprised Moyong Gun was.
“So, you know my aims: Martial Alliance Leader and Moyong family as the world's greatest. What change has that wrought in you?”
Moyong Woo's gaze deepened.
“I've steeled myself to tread through filth.”
“Mm?”
“I loathe sacrificing the small for the great. But I cannot stop you. Likely, no one can.”
“Heh heh heh.”
“Thus, I have one choice.”
Tsss.
A terrifying aura surged from Moyong Woo's body.
“To help you ascend the throne as swiftly as possible.”
Moyong Gun's eyes widened.
He had suspected Moyong Woo came to join hands, but such bold words were unexpected.
“Seat me on the throne?”
“I'll stake my life to make you the martial world's supreme power, its apex.”
“Heh heh, hahaha!”
“If you promise two things.”
“A promise?”
“Yes.”
“What promise?”
Moyong Woo clenched his fist.
“I believe your ruthless path stems not just from lust for power, but from some grand stratagem to bring peace to all.”
“......!”
“Once you become Martial Alliance Leader, wield that power for the world's sake.”
Moyong Gun's mouth slowly fell open.
“You're truly set on astonishing me.”
Moyong Woo shook his head.
“You must never stray. Become a lord overflowing with benevolence and righteousness. If you won't promise that, I'll end my days in the wilds.”
Moyong Gun, staring at his brother in shock, suddenly grew curious.
“And the other promise?”
“Give me the family.”
“What?”
“When you become Martial Alliance Leader, hand the Moyong family to me. I'll lead it to truly deserve the title of world's foremost—a flawless masterpiece for the ages.”
Moyong Woo caught his breath briefly.
Yet his gaze on Moyong Gun held not a shred of hesitation.
“Promise those two, and from today, I am yours.”
“......”
“No matter the harsh task, I'll obey without question. If my heart wavers, I'll temper it. That too is growing pains.”
“......Why?”
Moyong Gun asked gravely.
“Why this resolve? Because you learned my dream?”
“One reason among many.”
“What is the decisive one?”
“Because I'm different from you.”
“What?”
“Unlike you, I can't sever blood ties until my dying breath. So, after aiding my kin's dream, I'll walk my own path.”
Moyong Woo bowed his head.
“I endured for over a decade, but victory never came.”
“......”
“I lost.”
Moyong Gun's eyes rippled fiercely.
“Uya.”
He seized Moyong Woo's hands.
Moyong Woo felt a surge of emotion.
His brother's hands, grasped after twenty-odd years, had grown so rough in the interim.
Moyong Gun spoke with a face full of.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
“......Don't say that. I am the one who hates you.”
“You rascal, you rascal.”
Moyong Gun thumped Moyong Woo's shoulders.
Fists devoid of any real force. Yet brimming with turbulent heart.
“Truly grateful. So grateful.”
“Will you promise?”
“I promise. I'll surely do so. Whose promise would I break?”
Moyong Woo lifted his cup.
“A drink, then.”
“Yes, a drink. No—today, let's get thoroughly drunk. Hey! Bring the whole barrel!”
The brothers emptied their cups.
Their gazes held emotions beyond words.
At least in this moment, the feelings they showed each other were sincere.
Brother.
Moyong Woo closed his eyes.
I'm sorry, but I haven't lost yet.