Tangma Myeolsa (1)
Moyong Gun's face was frozen as cold as a slab of ice when he entered his residence. Hoking asked cautiously.
"My lord..."
At that moment, Moyong Gun raised his hand. The cold gesture clearly conveyed his desire to be alone.
Hoking bowed his head and left the room.
Thus, Moyong Gun was left alone in the chamber. He crossed his legs casually and tapped the table with his index finger, a strange sense of incongruity filling his demeanor.
How much time passed?
Suddenly, the corners of Moyong Gun's mouth twitched.
"Did you think I wouldn't know?"
Moyong Gun, gazing up at the ceiling, had eyes as fierce as a beast's and as deep and wise as those of an enlightened monk.
"Did you think I wouldn't know that you were pulling the strings from behind Jegal Munho?"
With a chilling smile and eyes a thousand times colder, he glared into empty space. Soon after, he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
The laughter exploded through the room, laced with a sense of profound relief.
"Your cunning truly leaves me at a loss. Indeed, you're a talent worth acquiring for this Moyong Gun. Kicked out at the founding ceremony, and now you go straight for the hair and yank it out."
What a guy.
Exceptional intellect and political acumen weren't enough—he'd even touched the pinnacle of the Martial Alliance, the Vice Leader position.
Is there such a person in the world?
This went beyond mere ability. No one but a madman who could stake his life on trivial matters would even dream of attempting it.
This wasn't boldness or audacity. It was sheer insanity.
Insane, but the real problem is that he's got the vessel to contain that madness.
Even a genius wouldn't dare think of using the patriarchs of the Six Great Families, far above them in status, as shields to dominate the grand game.
Yet that guy does it.
That was Yeon Hojeong. A sinister warrior cloaked in the guise of a hot-blooded general.
In a way, that venom of his surpassed even the Tang Family of Sichuan.
I can't remember the last time. The last time this Moyong Gun was caught flat-footed in an enemy's trap.
Getting one over on him and making him the commander of an independent detachment? That was nothing. Hadn't he split the detachment into two, creating a position for Moyong Woo in the process?
The ability to turn crisis into opportunity was essential for a politician.
But this time, there was no counter.
I said to decide after some time, but already over half the elders seemed in favor.
Once the proposal was out, the Vice Leader position would be pushed through no matter what.
Dispersing positions meant sharing power. In the righteous White Path factions, no sect welcomed concentrated power.
It might take time, but it would pass. Though two Vice Leaders was excessive, they'd likely settle on one.
The key is the Vice Leader position itself, to prevent the Leader's dictatorship. Proposing two seats on purpose was to engrave the importance of the role.
Moyong Gun's cheek twitched.
Is this Yeon Hojeong's scheme or Jegal Munho's?
Jegal Munho was a fox. No one could ignore the words of the strategist who had once invoked alliance laws to assert his presence.
That's why he'd clung to the strict expedition timeline. Denying two separate issues in a row was hard.
Especially when the proposer was a key alliance figure like the military strategist.
"Impressive."
Moyong Gun smirked.
"A peerless genius and a seasoned schemer join hands—truly terrifying. I got hit hard this time."
But one lingering question remained.
"Why the rush?"
Jegal Munho had clearly anticipated he'd advance the elders' meeting and planned to drop the Vice Leader bomb there.
Why bother?
Fast or slow, it was just a day apart. Even if held on schedule, the outcome wouldn't change.
Of course, it could be to induce complacency with the haste and then hammer home the Vice Leader's importance.
But was that really all? Why go so far as to mobilize even Ami lay disciples to rattle them?
...!!
Moyong Gun's eyes widened.
"You...?"
Yeon Hojeong came to mind. The genius with a scholar's slender features and blade-sharp eyes.
"Did you use me to perfectly pull the Ami Sect's acting leader to your side?!"
Pokhosaeng was one who valued righteousness alongside the heads of Shaolin and Wudang.
To win such a man as an ally required extraordinary means. Without creating a clear enemy and highlighting its viciousness, it was impossible.
"Hah! Double, triple played."
He knew Pokhosaeng had sided with them but hadn't focused on it amid more pressing matters.
But now, this was no small thing.
The elders knew Pokhosaeng's sense of justice and morality well. It meant his voice carried weight.
When a good man holds power, the truly frightening moment is when evil appears.
Yeon Hojeong and Jegal Munho had branded Moyong Gun as that evil in Pokhosaeng's mind.
"Factional strife... to balance the power."
Moyong Gun unwittingly raised both hands.
"Haha, an undeniable, perfect defeat."
He never imagined such a counterattack in his moment of complacency.
It had been a chaotic day in many ways. Moyong Gun hunkered down in his residence, grumbling for a long while.
* * *
"So that's how it went."
"Yes."
Yeon Hojeong sipped his tea calmly. Yeon Wi watched his son, whose expression showed no change, and asked casually.
"You planned to turn it into factional infighting?"
"Pardon?"
"Pulling in Pokhosaeng this time."
"Ah, yes."
Yeon Hojeong's face grew serious.
"The forces allied with Moyong Gun number at least four. That's enough power to twist any agenda at the elders' meeting to their taste."
"Hm."
"His ultimate goal is Leader of the Martial Alliance. But countless will be sacrificed in the process."
"......"
"The ones most obstructing his path are people like me. Unfortunately, he's an elder, while I'm just a detachment commander."
"He's at the head, you're at the body's extremity, so you preemptively tied his hands against reckless moves?"
"That's part of it. Above all, he's adept at ruthless politics. No guarantee there aren't more elders like him."
"......"
"Black Path demonic sects might worship power concentration, but in the White Path righteous factions, it brings misfortune to many. No matter who becomes Leader, creating a position to check radical dictatorship is wise."
Yeon Wi looked at his son with eyes full of astonishment.
"Truly remarkable."
"Pardon?"
"Sometimes conversing with you makes me wonder where you honed such keen insight. You've shown this brilliance more than once or twice."
Yeon Hojeong smiled faintly.
"Just a minor talent."
Those who pursue power without scruples exist everywhere. Yeon Hojeong's political acumen was specialized in dealing with them.
Conquering the Black Path took force, but ruling it required sharp senses and insight.
Facing countless challengers for the Black Emperor Castle lordship had naturally sharpened his eye for essence.
Thus, he knew. The White Path was no different from the Black—just a world full of filthy sludge.
"In any case, Moyong Gun took a solid hit in this round with no counter. He'll lie low for a while."
"I think so too."
"Publicly, yes."
"Hm?"
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.
"I don't want to tangle with his kind, but both he and I are the type to repay blows received. Quiet in front, but who knows what schemes brew behind."
Yeon Wi shook his head.
"He might. But you and Moyong Gun are different."
He seemed intent on clarifying that before cautioning about the future.
Yeon Hojeong shrugged.
"So what if we share traits? Even with the same nature, the path chosen determines saint or villain."
Yeon Wi smiled faintly.
"So, which are you?"
"Definitely not a saint. My nature's rather petty."
Yeon Hojeong's face turned serious again.
"Anyway, if Moyong Gun seriously plots in secret, we have no way to detect it."
"True."
"In the end, caution upon caution."
Of course, through Moyong Woo, he might probe somehow. But this time, Tangma Army and Myeol Sa Army marched together.
He couldn't inquire via Moyong Woo, and even if he did, caution was needed. A misstep could expose the critical card that was Moyong Woo.
We might need to take some hits. The issue is calibrating the degree.
Adjust it well. So their intentions stayed hidden, keeping him seen as a tricky young adversary, not easy prey.
Yeon Hojeong didn't know. That Moyong Gun was far more fixated on him than he imagined.
No matter how sharp the insight, such things were hard to grasp. What was natural as breathing to him wasn't to the foe.
The mind could infer, but not feel it. That might be Yeon Hojeong's blind spot, if it was one.
"We've done enough to stop his rash moves like before."
"Yes."
"Don't worry about that. Focus on recovering. The expedition's in three days."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"Don't worry."
Worrying was inevitable, ability aside.
To Yeon Wi, Yeon Hojeong was his son. A child remained a child, no matter the age.
"No need to compete with Tangma Army. They'll handle themselves, but don't vie for merits recklessly."
"Understood."
"Though Moyong Gun's man, Tangma Army Leader's character is exceptional. Annihilating foes matters, but safest return is paramount—aid each other well."
"I'll keep it in mind."
Still uneasy, Yeon Wi showered Yeon Hojeong with affectionate nagging for a long while.
They say even good words sour if repeated too much. But Yeon Hojeong loved his father's scolding.
He sincerely hoped for more like this long after navigating the Three Sects' chaos.
How much time passed?
"......?!"
"......"
Father and son's eyes sharpened instantly.
This energy?
Then, a clear voice rang from the distant gate.
"Amitabha. Is Commander Yeon present?"
Surprise crossed Yeon Hojeong's face.
"Shaolin?!"