Return to Hometown (5)
“Tu Wang Yang Cheon, eh.”
“Yes, that's correct.”
Silence fell over the conference hall.
Bok Ho Sa-tae cautiously spoke up.
“I've heard that his disciples have stepped out into the world. It's certainly a situation that warrants caution, but as far as I know, Tu Wang himself hasn't shown his face once while all those disciples were on the move.”
Jegal Munho nodded.
“That was the case, but recently, intelligence has come in that Yang Cheon is unifying the black path factions and seizing control of the local commerce in the region at a terrifying speed.”
“What?!”
“I wanted to inform you of this earlier, but the information came so suddenly that additional verification was needed. I apologize for the delay.”
Yonghwa Jin-in said with a displeased expression.
“No matter how sudden the information was, this concerns none other than the Immortal Emperor King. You should have told us right away.”
It sounded like nitpicking, but Yonghwa Jin-in's point was valid.
Information was power itself. And the intelligence network of the Muryeong Alliance, where the white path's might was concentrated, was among the best in the world.
The ones handling that power at the forefront were none other than Jegal Munho and Gadeuksang.
Regardless of anything else, failing to report such a critical matter immediately could set a dangerous precedent.
Of course, Yonghwa Jin-in wasn't concerned about precedents. He was simply worried that Jegal Munho might monopolize this powerful tool called information.
Gonggong Daesa raised his hand.
“Jegal Strategist is the unanimously appointed head of the Strategy Department. Not informing us immediately is certainly a mistake, but I don't believe he did so without reason.”
Yonghwa Jin-in cleared his throat awkwardly. With the Shaolin abbot defending him, there was nothing more to say.
Jegal Munho smiled.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“That said, Jin-in's point has merit. Beyond just reconfirming the information, there must have been other reasons, I presume.”
“Indeed.”
Jegal Munho's eyes sharpened.
“When the Tangma Myeol Sa Army marched out to annihilate the Hwarang Group, a certain group secretly approached our alliance's intelligence department.”
The atmosphere in the hall turned icy in an instant.
Gonggong Daesa asked, “Approached the intelligence department... what do you mean by that?”
“It means there were those who tried to cunningly disrupt our white path's intelligence network spanning the entire martial world.”
“...!”
“Their movements were ruthlessly covert. If not for Advisor Gadeuksang, we might not have even noticed the suspicious activity.”
“Disrupting the white path's intelligence network? What exact problems would that cause?”
“It could make us mistake falsehoods for truth or disguise truth as falsehood. With a single piece of information.”
The peak experts' faces hardened as they grasped the gravity of the situation.
Jegal Munho pointed to the tangled blue lines on the map spread across the round table. These complex lines crisscrossing the Central Plains represented the flow of information toward the Muryeong Alliance.
“If even one of these countless blue lines turns red, confusion in the information flow ensues. The more intricate the structure, the more a single flaw can lead to catastrophic results—and the same goes for an intelligence network.”
“Hah.”
Deng Tianjiao, the Kunlun Sect leader, spoke up.
“The Muryeong Alliance hasn't even been established for a full year yet. But the white path's intelligence network is the crystallized robustness built over centuries. Even if it's complex, can a single error really cause such fatal consequences?”
Jegal Munho shook his head.
“Of course, our network is both complex and solidly constructed. We've prepared thoroughly against enemy infiltration, and there are even backup networks to handle the destruction of any single one.”
“And?”
“Seventy-two.”
“Hm? What do you mean by that?”
“The number of false intelligence networks that the mysterious group infiltrated and disrupted in our alliance's main network: seventy-two.”
Deng Tianjiao's eyes wavered. Though ignorant of intelligence matters, even he could grasp the severity of the number seventy-two.
“In other words, the mysterious enemy was dead set on shaking our alliance's intelligence department. If we hadn't detected it in time, rebuilding the network would have cost an astronomical sum and consumed vast human resources.”
“...”
“Naturally, in the meantime, that mysterious group would have embedded spies who wouldn't get caught.”
Jegal Munho sighed.
“Once a network is compromised once, do you think they can't do it twice? Such attempts would have continued relentlessly, sparking an endless, vicious information war from that point on.”
The already frigid atmosphere grew even colder.
Namgung In frowned.
“Don't tell me that mysterious group is from the black path?”
“Yes. Precisely, it's the intelligence unit operating under Tu Wang Yang Cheon.”
“Nonsense. How could incompetent black path riffraff pull off such a sophisticated attack...?”
“So that's how you all see it.”
“What do you mean?”
Jegal Munho scanned the peak experts.
“Historically, the black path has always been beneath the white path. Occasionally, some once-in-a-generation genius would unite them and wreak havoc on the Central Plains, but evil is fleeting in the end. In short, the white path has always been above the black path.”
“That's exactly what I'm saying. There's no way those black path scum have that kind of capability...”
“Yet the black path has never vanished. Not even to this moment. Where do you think that weed-like tenacity comes from?”
Gonggong Daesa closed his eyes.
“Information. It's information.”
“Precisely.”
Jegal Munho pointed to the networks south of the Yangtze, in the southern Central Plains, where red and white lines intertwined like a spiderweb—far more complex than the alliance's own.
“The way the powerless survive: information. Outmatched in raw power, they have no choice but to rely on wits. That's how the black path has endured until now.”
“...”
“To speak boldly, in terms of intelligence capability, we are clearly one step behind the black path.”
Among the white path martial artists of this era, few paid any mind to the black path. It was inevitable. The black path was weak.
To put it bluntly, they weren't even worth fighting.
They were certainly dangerous, but if one resolved to crush them, it was doable. Losing interest was only natural.
“And now, those very ones are gathering under an absolute powerhouse named Yang Cheon.”
Someone swallowed hard.
Tension etched across Jegal Munho's face.
“Before even speaking of factional might, this is a supreme expert who could claim to be the strongest in the Central Plains wielding the martial world's top intelligence network as well. Their existence will become a dire threat moving forward.”
A brief silence fell.
He'd said plenty, but it boiled down to this.
The white path hadn't eradicated the black path. They couldn't.
Because the black path always had eyes that could spot and escape crises at any moment.
And the monster named Yang Cheon had stolen those eyes.
“Just hearing this, I can tell it's a grave situation.”
All eyes turned to Seung-hyeon Jin-in.
He continued with a somewhat darkened expression.
“Now tell us. Why didn't you inform us of this information and issue immediately, Strategist?”
“You already suspect.”
“I hope it's not that reason.”
“It's exactly as Jin-in suspects.”
Jegal Munho's gaze turned icy in an instant.
“Because I was suspecting the Muryeong Alliance's leadership.”
The reaction was explosive.
“What did you say?!”
“What nonsense is that?!”
“Are you implying one of us is a spy?!”
Gonggong Daesa raised his hand again. The heated excitement cooled somewhat.
“This poor monk has no desire to crack the trust among us with provocative words. But I must say this now.”
“...?”
“With us peak experts reacting so emotionally, how could the strategist not hesitate to speak?”
The enraged peak experts cleared their throats awkwardly.
Gonggong Daesa sighed.
“Jegal Strategist's statement is certainly controversial. But let's hear him out first. We'll strive to understand, and if it still seems problematic, we can get heated then—it's not too late.”
It was sound advice, a hundred times over.
Jegal Munho spoke.
“Thank you. While we're on the topic, allow me to add: the strategist position cannot grant full trust even to the world's greatest hero. The moment you completely trust someone, you expose a vulnerability to the enemy.”
“...”
“You may see it as needless suspicion, but henceforth, I won't fully trust even you peak experts, nor the future alliance leader to be elected.”
Jegal Munho bowed his head.
“I ask for your understanding on that point.”
The peak experts coughed repeatedly.
If Gonggong Daesa hadn't intervened, someone might have snapped, 'The most suspicious person here is you.'
It was an obvious statement that would only stir pointless suspicion.
Gonggong Daesa had nipped a needless fight in the bud with a few words.
Jegal Munho continued.
“In any case, there were no suspicious signs. None among you peak experts here, nor anyone in the alliance leadership, was colluding with the enemy. Based on the investigation so far.”
“...”
“From the moment we grasped the enemy's intent, Advisor Gadeuksang responded immediately. The enemies retreated, and at least for the time being, they won't target us.”
Jegal Munho's eyes gleamed.
“That's why I believe now is the perfect opportunity.”
Seung-hyeon Jin-in asked curiously.
“Perfect opportunity for what?”
“To thoroughly investigate Tu Wang Yang Cheon. That's what I mean.”
“Ah.”
Namgung In asked cautiously.
“Is that wise? From what I've heard, Yang Cheon is vicious and brutal beyond words. He's quick on the uptake too—if we move to investigate, he'll likely burrow even deeper.”
Jegal Munho smiled.
“You're right, Namgung family head. That's why I've agonized over it. We can't sit idle, but rashly poking such a dangerously risky figure could lead to the folly of alerting the grass to scare the snake.”
“I agree.”
“Thus, we need the best.”
“The best?”
“Yes.”
Jegal Munho looked at Moyong Gun.
Moyong Gun, who had kept his eyes closed listening intently until now, slowly opened them.
“An agent capable of infiltration, intelligence disruption, and even targeted assassinations when needed. And a commander who can wield flexible strategy alongside such a specialist.”
Namgung In tilted his head.
“I won't say we don't need to go that far. But have you someone in mind for this crucial mission?”
“Yes.”
Jegal Munho called out toward the door.
“Come in.”
Clunk! Creeeak.
The door opened, and a young man entered.
The peak experts' eyes widened at the sight of him.
“Someone with powerful martial arts and keen insight, who can boldly employ any scheme or adapt on the fly when necessary.”
Jegal Munho smiled at the young man.
“He is the field commander I've chosen.”
The young man, Yeon Hojeong, bowed his head.
“Greetings to the peak experts. I am Myeol Sa Army Leader Yeon Hojeong.”