The World Does Not Change (1)
“Are you prepared?”
“Yes.”
“……”
“Why do you look so grim?”
“No.”
“As you already know, we’re people who don’t deserve pity. Even if our families were held hostage and we were all suffering from chronic poison, that doesn’t erase the sins we’ve committed.”
“……”
“To be frank… we acted on Moyong Gun’s orders, but we also committed atrocities behind his back.”
“……”
“There are many families ruined not by him, but by us. Perhaps it was a desperate recklessness, but excuses like that mean nothing.”
“Enough.”
“So there’s no need for that sorrowful expression. For wretches like us who abandoned human decency, this death is more than we deserve.”
“……”
“For an elder of the Point Cang Sect to bow his head to us—that alone makes this a satisfying end.”
“I will never forget your names.”
“It’s an honor.”
“What worries me is your families. The operations leader will handle it properly, but I can’t help fretting that some harm might come to them.”
“Haha, you’re more concerned for them than we are, Senior. This just shows how far we fall short.”
“I know my heart doesn’t measure up to yours.”
“No, we’re not truly worried. If we were, we wouldn’t have made a deal with Young Master Yeon in the first place.”
“Hoo.”
“We were raised like dogs, but that taught us a few things. Moyong Gun values face above all. He crosses lines sometimes, but he keeps his promises.”
“If you trust that, then I’ll set my worries aside.”
“Thank you.”
“Now… let’s begin.”
“Understood. And Senior Paeryul.”
“Speak.”
“Thank you… truly.”
“……I’m not worthy of such thanks.”
Paeryul let out a deep sigh.
Chaaaang!
A fierce surge of energy rose from the drawn sword blade.
“Let’s begin.”
A moment later.
Kwaaaang!
The group’s lodging exploded, flames erupting in all directions.
* * *
“……”
A strange silence enveloped the table.
Watching Yeon Hojeong’s relaxed expression, Moyong Gun thought,
What’s your game?
When Yeon Hojeong had first opened the door and stepped in, he’d truly felt like his heart was being ripped out.
He’d wondered if something had gone wrong.
Though he’d calmed his shock, a chill still ran down his spine.
Why the hell did you show up? Without a single word of warning?
It couldn’t be that his identity was exposed or that he’d been recruited by Muk Ryong Bu.
He was certain of that.
But barring those reasons, this wasn’t the sort of guy to appear out of nowhere.
No matter how urgent, he wasn’t incompetent enough to skip even a single letter.
And even Hui Gae said things were proceeding smoothly.
Moyong Gun’s eyes wavered.
You bastards, surely not…?
Offering him up as a sacrifice to Muk Ryong Bu?
……Why?
Studying Yeon Hojeong’s eyes calmly, Moyong Gun shook his head inwardly.
No. They have zero intention of selling me out to Muk Ryong Bu.
If they truly meant to betray him, there was no need to reveal themselves like this.
To put it bluntly, sending Muk Ryong Bu’s top experts and troops to seize and raid the entire area would end it.
No reason for such convoluted games.
What the hell are you thinking, you bastard?
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong spoke.
“You look quite startled.”
Moyong Gun gave a wry smile.
“Indeed. I thought I’d get to meet the great expert, Tu Wang, this time.”
“I understand.”
“You must also understand that my mood isn’t the best right now.”
Yeon Hojeong shrugged.
“I get it fully, but in the end, as long as the outcome’s good, does it matter?”
“Not wrong. But I’m curious—do you even have the authority for this?”
“I’m here as deputy vice leader. I may not be on his level, but you can take my judgment as the vice leader’s own.”
Moyong Gun smiled faintly, eyeing him.
“Impressive talent, seeing you like this.”
“Is that so?”
“Handsome, with remarkable martial prowess. And at your age, not only intelligence chief but deputy vice leader? That makes you a real power player.”
“……”
“Our alliance has a young man much like you. He astonished everyone with his skills and brilliant strategies at a young age too.”
Yeon Hojeong smirked.
“Sounds like the famous Myeol Sa Army Leader.”
Moyong Gun’s eyes flashed.
Outright admitting it?
It was a jab meant to provoke.
But Yeon Hojeong’s response was bold.
Meaning it’s not just about stabbing me in the back.
Moyong Gun glanced at Hwa Won.
Her face was coolly composed.
But he read the subtle discomfort shadowing it.
Hmm.
Moyong Gun grinned widely.
“Care for a drink?”
“Not much for alcohol.”
“Heh, you’re at the age to appreciate such refinements, no?”
“I trust you’re not the type, clan head, but who knows? Maybe you spiked it with poison.”
Hwa Won flinched at that.
Moyong Gun, eyes fixed on Yeon Hojeong, caught her reaction like a ghost.
Some disruption there.
Feigning offense, Moyong Gun said,
“You see me in a poor light. Even street thugs don’t pull that these days.”
“Haha, my words were rough. Unlike the vice leader, I lack magnanimity. I know you wouldn’t, but caution never hurts.”
“Heh, true enough.”
Yeon Hojeong glanced around.
“Looks like you’ve made preparations too, clan head. Not poison, but maybe gunpowder?”
“……”
“Looking down on the area earlier, you picked a fine spot. Retreat to the west—river and mountains… You’ve stationed your clan’s warriors there too?”
Moyong Gun faltered for a moment.
This bastard?
With Muk Ryong Bu people present, blurting it out like that?
Knowing wouldn’t change much, but no need to say it.
At least, that’s how Moyong Gun saw it.
“Heh, you got me there.”
“As I said, caution benefits us both.”
“Fair point.”
Moyong Gun crossed his legs calmly.
“Startling, but I knew you weren’t ordinary. Naturally, you’ve placed experts around the area?”
Yeon Hojeong shot back cheekily.
“I’ve heard your cultivation is exceptional, clan head.”
“As expected.”
Moyong Gun chuckled.
The conversation skirted the surface.
Someone needed to break the ice.
“So.”
Moyong Gun’s eyes turned feral in an instant.
“Why show up like this without a single prior notice?”
His tone had shifted.
Yeon Hojeong shrugged.
“What do you think?”
“No idea.”
Perhaps tired of the charade, Moyong Gun’s face twisted visibly.
“I really don’t get it. No good comes to either of us from handling things this way. You’re not that clueless.”
“I’m not.”
Yeon Hojeong’s expression cooled too.
“But I’ve got a question too. Did you think I’d just let that slide?”
Now it was out in the open.
Hwa Won didn’t matter.
“Of course.”
Sincerity laced Moyong Gun’s voice.
“Frankly, those people had nothing to do with you. You might be angry, but what matters to you is completing the mission, not backstabbing me.”
“You mean that?”
“Did you think otherwise?”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“You killed innocents for your own gain.”
“And did that harm you?”
“I can’t ally with someone I can’t trust. And before that, think why we were deployed for this mission.”
“What’re you getting at?”
“Small scale: to check them. Large scale: to build a better world, right? Yet as operation commander, you went to that place, killed innocents for selfish reasons, and dumped the cleanup on the operations team.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“So answer me. Leaving aside trusting each other’s abilities, could you trust someone who pulls petty thug stunts like that?”
“Let me be clear…”
“If I pulled that crap on you without warning while you’re busting your ass, how would you react?”
Moyong Gun fell silent.
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“Exactly. You know I hold grudges. I never forget once burned.”
“Aye. We’re both petty like that. But it doesn’t hinder us because we know timing.”
Flaaash!
Flaaash!
Lightning-like energy crackled from Moyong Gun’s eyes.
The enraged man’s long-suppressed supreme art, Thunder Purity Technique, began leaking out.
“Say it. Are you serious? Did you pull this pointless stunt just to see me flustered?”
“And if I did?”
“I’d be disappointed. Truly.”
Moyong Gun scowled.
“Is this all you amount to? If you wanted payback, you could’ve waited till the mission ended.”
“Absolutely not.”
“What?”
“You’d prepare countermeasures knowing I’d hit you after. Why give you time?”
Moyong Gun was dumbfounded.
“Do you want this mission to fail?”
“That’s it. You think you won’t try tricks on me since mission success is priority, right?”
“……!”
“Funny certainty. Why choose—succeed and smack your head—when I can do both?”
Moyong Gun’s face hardened.
The air grew chillingly heavy.
In it, Hwa Won couldn’t hide her panic.
What? What’s this conversation?
Are these two… acquainted?
What the…?
Moyong Gun glanced at the flustered woman and spat,
“Bringing in that insolent wench means you don’t care if things go south here, right?”
“Correct.”
“You’ll regret this. I guarantee you won’t escape reprimand this time.”
Yeon Hojeong smirked.
“You should brace yourself too. The board’s all set.”
“What?”
Then—
Thuuud!
Terror washed over Hwa Won’s face.
“Monkey.”
Yeon Hojeong, who had already thrust his spear into her solar plexus, said coldly.
“I told you—no need to repay favors.”
“Kuhk!”
“If you’re gonna mess with drinks even in a Buddhist temple, gauge your opponent first.”
Hwa Won’s body trembled.
“You… bastard…!”
Yeon Hojeong flicked the spear upward.
Spluuurt!
Hwa Won’s body split vertically.