Chapter 146. Invisible Battles Are the Most Terrifying (1)
“You look quite fatigued, Lord Yeon.”
Yeon Wi shook his head at Jegal Munho’s gentle probe.
“I suppose it’s because I’ve been sleeping less lately.”
“Is it because of your son?”
The son Jegal Munho referred to was, needless to say, Yeon Hojeong. No matter the titles like Wall Mountain Tiger or Tiger of Gangdong, a child was still a child. Yeon Wi knew better than anyone the perils of the murim world, so it was only natural he’d worry about his son.
But Yeon Wi’s response was unexpected.
“As a father, worrying about one’s child is a given. However, my lack of sleep isn’t solely due to that.”
“Is there another issue?”
His tone carried genuine concern. Despite their similar ages, Jegal Munho’s speech was notably soft and courteous.
Yeon Wi replied calmly.
“I’ve increased my training time.”
Jegal Munho’s eyes widened.
“Training?”
“I’ve neglected my martial arts due to family duties. Now, I intend to make up for it, even if it means sacrificing sleep.”
“Heavens.”
At the level of a great family head or sect leader among the Nine Great Sects or Six Great Clans, swinging a sword in practice held little meaning. This was typical of orthodox white path martial arts. Once a realm was attained, enlightenment took precedence over physical conditioning. Many supreme masters had reached their heights this way.
Yet Yeon Wi’s tone suggested it wasn’t merely a pursuit of enlightenment.
“If even you appear this weary, Lord Yeon, the intensity of your training must be extraordinary.”
Yeon Wi smiled faintly. That single smile revealed it all—the ferocity of his regimen.
Jegal Munho inwardly chuckled.
‘What an incorrigible father-son pair.’
Yeon Hojeong was a once-in-a-generation prodigy who had grown into a monster at a young age. Naturally, it stemmed not just from talent but unimaginable effort. Now it seemed that diligence was the family tradition.
A martial alliance vice leader training within the alliance? Truly industrious.
“But why did you summon me?”
Straight to the point. Jegal Munho knew Yeon Wi’s temperament well—no need for beating around the bush.
“Lord Moyong is pushing quite aggressively.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes flashed. He had heard from his son that he’d confided everything about his enmity with the Moyong Clan to Jegal Munho. If so, Jegal Munho would know just how dangerous Moyong Gun was.
“Pushing how?”
“You know that the commander of the Tang Ma Army among the Tang Ma Myeol Sa remnant forces is Lord Moyong’s younger brother.”
“I do. Moyong Woo, was it?”
“Yes.”
A hint of embarrassment crossed Jegal Munho’s face.
“We’ve detected signs that he’s quietly siphoning the top talents among the warriors we plan to accept into the alliance under the banner of the Tang Ma Army.”
“……”
“As you know, Lord Yeon, though we’re called the Nine Great Sects and Six Great Clans, pillars of the righteous murim, the vast world holds many masters surpassing us.”
“I’m aware.”
“Hundreds of experts pounded on the alliance gates before the official notices even went out. Now, after distribution, thousands of murim folk are flocking in.”
“Selecting the gems from the stones and incorporating the exceptional ones…”
“He’ll undoubtedly pick only the finest jade among them.”
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“I’m no expert in politics, but I know this isn’t something Lord Moyong can force through alone.”
“Precisely.”
Jegal Munho’s gaze sharpened like a blade.
“And we’ve only caught what’s visible. There are factions allied with Lord Moyong.”
“Which ones?”
“Mount Hua Sect and Kunlun Sect.”
Mount Hua in Shaanxi, Kunlun in Gansu. Folk from the northwestern frontiers were known for their tenacity. Perhaps that was why—swordsmen of Mount Hua and Kunlun were generally resolute in character.
“The Nine Great Sects hesitate to dive into worldly affairs due to face. Lord Moyong has clearly exploited that gap.”
“Some form of collusion…”
Yeon Wi’s eyes grew icy.
“Just like him.”
He knew Moyong Gun’s insidious nature all too well from his son’s ordeals. These days, even the ‘Mo’ of Moyong set his nerves on edge.
“At minimum one more, likely two. That’s my estimate.”
“Meaning Moyong Gun has allied with four of the Nine Great Sects to form a faction?”
“Yes.”
Jegal Munho’s eyes gleamed. Unconsciously, Yeon Wi had said ‘Moyong Gun’—a slip revealing how much he despised the man, despite his emphasis on propriety and dignity.
“Moreover, as you may know, Lord Yeon, Moyong Woo is a genius unknown to the world. Evaluations place him at least on par with Moyong Gun in both martial prowess and commerce.”
“So the Tang Ma Army, an independent alliance unit, might move for the Moyong Clan.”
“Exactly.”
Jegal Munho sighed.
“Even if not, we can’t let Lord Moyong’s unchecked momentum continue. It risks the alliance’s immense power being wielded selfishly.”
“Then what do you propose?”
Jegal Munho extended both index fingers onto the table.
“Right hand: Tang Ma Army. Left: Myeol Sa Army. And right now, Lord Moyong is focusing on the Tang Ma Army.”
He spread the remaining fingers on his right hand. Five for Tang Ma, one for Myeol Sa.
“Leading with the Moyong Clan, plus three or four from the Nine Great Sects. The Tang Ma Army will swell with that power.”
“Diminish that power?”
“No. At this stage, there aren’t many ways to weaken them, nor any guarantees of success.”
“Then what?”
Jegal Munho folded his left index finger, extending the other four save the thumb. Three for Myeol Sa.
“Better to bolster the Myeol Sa Army than erode their strength now.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes deepened.
“It’s like waging a proxy war through these two remnant units.”
“Precisely.”
“I’ll be frank: I don’t see why we must escalate the board like this.”
“The reason is simple.”
“What?”
“It’s the same as seizing the initiative in battle.”
A cold wind howled in the eyes of Jegal Munho, brimming with knowledge and wisdom.
“Like you, Lord Yeon, I need no more power than this. Dead or alive, this balance is ideal.”
“……”
“But our opponent differs. Fail to seize first move here, and the alliance’s power will tilt decisively one way.”
“That would…”
“And power skewed thus will gravely impact next year’s grand affair.”
Yeon Wi’s gaze blazed.
“The selection of the Martial Alliance Leader.”
“Yes.”
Jegal Munho relaxed his hands.
“This year, the vice leaders jointly manage it—necessarily so. But next year differs. Surely, before this year ends, someone will raise the leader selection.”
“……!”
“The alliance, reborn after decades. Its first leader for our generation must be fair, consultative in all matters.”
“Agreed.”
“That seat cannot fall to one consumed by lust for power.”
Yeon Wi pondered briefly. Jegal Munho waited patiently. The man was head of Gangdong’s premier martial house; even the Jegal Clan head, famed for intellect, might miss what he saw.
Moments later, Yeon Wi spoke.
“I understand your point, Lord Jegal: wage the proxy war to blunt their momentum, bolster the Myeol Sa Army.”
“Thank you.”
“Then how do you intend to bolster the Myeol Sa Army?”
“Instruct all vice leaders save those aligned with Lord Moyong to divert at least thirty percent of jade heading to the Tang Ma Army.”
“To the Myeol Sa Army?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“Let’s not.”
“You have another plan?”
“No grand scheme, nor my preferred way… but yes.”
“Please share.”
“Lord Moyong sifting jade means the Tang Ma Army isn’t yet formed. The Myeol Sa Army’s edge is mobilizing far quicker.”
“True.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes deepened further.
“Deploy our direct lineage heirs.”
“……!”
“I hear your eldest daughter shares ties with my lacking son. And the Paeng lord’s sons as well.”
Jegal Munho’s face hardened.
“You mean send representatives to embody our factions’ might?”
“Yes.”
Not selecting from alliance recruits, but deploying clan heirs outright. Jegal Munho knew well how perilous, terrifying a notion.
“Lord Yeon, that’s…”
“The alliance is newly formed. If leadership squabbles now, its authority plummets.”
“Still dangerous.”
“Dangerous, yet the ultimate stroke to crush their spirit.”
Jegal Munho sighed.
“It may stall them short-term, but it’ll breed future trouble.”
“We’ll handle that later. And I don’t believe it will.”
“Why?”
Yeon Wi smiled faintly.
“Might seem nepotistic, but my son’s read on the political landscape is uncanny. What you fear won’t come to pass, Lord Jegal.”
Two remnant units. One filled with renown murim luminaries, the other with young experts from Nine Sects and Six Clans.
The world resents the privileged. The Myeol Sa Army would draw envy; Moyong Gun would exploit it.
Yet Yeon Wi said: trust my son.
Gazing at him, Jegal Munho smiled.
“I know well how exceptional your eldest is, Lord Yeon.”
“You embarrass me.”
“Very well. Since we’re at it, let’s go bold—no overthinking.”
Resolving thus eased his mind. Lingering unease remained, though—not from this power struggle, but his daughter.
‘Can you endure?’
Jegal A-yeon. His daughter, yet as father, he’d given her nothing. His weakening house had nearly sacrificed her future.
Entrusting her again tore at him. What if she came to harm, suffered gravely?
‘But…’
Jegal Munho smiled at Yeon Wi. A good man—stiff, yet trustworthy as lord and individual.
And his son Yeon Hojeong differed utterly yet mirrored him in ways.
‘This time, stake your life on it too.’
Smiling long, Jegal Munho suddenly sobered.
“Since it’s come up, one more thing.”
“What?”
“In this turbulent political landscape, one unusually silent faction has contacted me.”
“Faction? Which?”
Jegal Munho’s eyes deepened.
“Sichuan Tang Clan.”