Confession (1)
Moyong Gun did not panic.
"What do you mean by that? Gong Gong-daesa?"
Dang Gwan simply glared at him in silence. The atmosphere was utterly different from his usual demeanor. Though his presence was inherently sharp and venomous, right now he looked ready to stake his life on the line.
Yonghwa Jin-in cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Tang family head. I don't know what's going on, but why not sit down and talk it over?"
Deng Tian Jiao nodded as well.
"That would be best. And tone down that killing intent. You might poison the food at this rate."
Dang Gwan let out a cold laugh.
"If I'd intended to poison the food, you lot would be dead before you even noticed."
Deng Tian Jiao frowned.
"That's a bit harsh."
"I have business with Moyong family head. Irrelevant third parties, leave."
"Hey now, Tang family head!"
At that moment, Moyong Gun raised a hand.
"Calm down, everyone."
Deng Tian Jiao glared at Dang Gwan wordlessly, while Yonghwa Jin-in appeared far more composed than expected. Moyong Gun turned to Dang Gwan.
"I know you despise gatherings like this, so I didn't mention it to you separately. I hope there's no hard feelings over something so trivial, but let's clear up any misunderstandings."
"I couldn't care less about this farce. I'll ask again. Gong Gong-daesa..."
"Are you asking if I'm targeting Gong Gong-daesa?"
"Yes."
Moyong Gun smiled faintly.
"Didn't I tell you before? Gong Gong-daesa isn't someone you touch lightly. Even with full preparations, I said there's no guarantee of toppling him."
"I'll ask once more."
Dang Gwan's eyes grew icy.
"Are you targeting Gong Gong-daesa?"
Moyong Gun's expression hardened slightly.
"Why bring this up out of nowhere?"
"I'm not asking—I'm demanding an answer."
Even Moyong Gun, who knew Dang Gwan's temperament well, couldn't brush this off easily. It might have been different in private, but there were two pairs of eyes watching. Moreover, Yonghwa Jin-in and Deng Tian Jiao were far more calculating and ruthless than they seemed. He couldn't afford to show weakness.
Moyong Gun's voice sank lower.
"I respect you greatly—perhaps even more than these two gentlemen here. Not out of fear, but because I understand your nature."
"So, your answer?"
"But if you keep pushing like this, it becomes a problem. Even my patience has limits."
Dang Gwan laughed coldly.
"Dodging the question confirms it. You are targeting Gong Gong-daesa."
"Listen here, Tang family head."
"Be honest. I don't care what schemes you hatch. We've never meddled in each other's affairs. But using me as a pawn when we're not even true allies? That's another matter."
Moyong Gun furrowed his brow at that.
'Pawn?'
Yonghwa Jin-in and Deng Tian Jiao looked at Moyong Gun with puzzled eyes.
"What do you mean by that? Pawn?"
Moyong Gun stared at Dang Gwan before asking flatly,
"I don't follow."
Dang Gwan pulled a handkerchief from his bosom and tossed it to the ground.
"What is this?"
"Can't you see? A handkerchief."
"What the...?"
"That handkerchief is laced with our family's secret Blue Sound Poison."
In an instant, Yonghwa Jin-in and Deng Tian Jiao instinctively circulated their inner energy. But not Moyong Gun. He merely regarded Dang Gwan with clear, unflinching eyes.
Dang Gwan's face twisted.
"Your reaction's different. Unlike these two, you didn't muster your qi."
"Tang family head."
"You knew the properties of Blue Sound Poison. Otherwise, you couldn't stay so calm."
That wasn't the reason. Moyong Gun knew Dang Gwan's character. He might seem reckless and crude at first glance, but he knew when to bide his time. He wasn't the type to spread poison in a setting like this. That was why Moyong Gun hadn't circulated his qi.
But to Dang Gwan, Moyong Gun's composure only fueled his suspicions into certainty.
"I trusted you because I thought you were more than a schemer. Overly thoughtful, yes—but not out of cowardice, but because you're suspicious, clever."
Dang Gwan grinned viciously. That chilling smile sent shivers down the spines of Yonghwa Jin-in, Deng Tian Jiao—and even Moyong Gun.
"Looks like I misjudged you. Treating even allies like chess pieces... I can't work with someone like that. Wouldn't you agree?"
Moyong Gun opened his mouth instinctively, then paused.
'......'
He glanced at Yonghwa Jin-in and Deng Tian Jiao. They maintained stoic faces, but doubt and unease shadowed them. It was inevitable. They didn't grasp the full meaning of this exchange or why the uproar had erupted. Yet they could sense the deep rift between the two—and that it stemmed from Moyong Gun.
'This is bad.'
The situation was dire. If Dang Gwan had come alone, he might have explained. But with fellow faction members present, clarification was tricky.
'And Gong Gong-daesa of all things.'
Moyong Gun's eyes wavered.
'How the hell did he find out?'
He had only just begun the groundwork to tarnish Gong Gong-daesa's reputation. He hadn't told Dang Gwan because the man's reactions were too transparently honest. Moyong Gun could evade Gong Gong-daesa's scrutiny, but Dang Gwan would inevitably get caught. It wasn't distrust—it was a precise assessment of his capabilities.
Yet how had Dang Gwan learned of it? And what was this handkerchief, this Blue Sound Poison?
"Tang family head."
"......"
"No need for long talk."
Moyong Gun's eyes turned cold.
"Who told you about Gong Gong-daesa?"
Dang Gwan's cheek twitched.
"Admitting it now, are you?"
"I'm asking who."
"Why should I tell the likes of you?"
Yonghwa Jin-in shouted,
"Tang family head! Mind your words! No matter how angry, how dare you speak to a fellow Bonggong like that...!"
"You two should watch yourselves too. That smile he shows you is all fake. He's laid traps everywhere—he'll use you as stepping stones soon enough."
"What?!"
"Isn't that right, Moyong family head?"
Moyong Gun scowled.
"Watch your tongue."
"Or what? You'll scar me with that filthy sword of yours?"
Dang Gwan was being far more aggressive than necessary. Even amid rising anger, Moyong Gun couldn't comprehend it.
'This isn't like him.'
Blood ties or not, he wouldn't lash out this viciously. It wasn't speculation—it was conviction. If Dang Gwan had always been this reckless, Moyong Gun's side would have cut ties first.
Whatever he'd heard, Dang Gwan was overreacting wildly.
'No choice.'
Regardless, Dang Gwan's loyalty had already turned. Excuses in this emotionally charged mess were pointless. Better to salvage pride and call a truce.
Moyong Gun spoke coldly.
"No need to continue. Please leave."
Dang Gwan snorted.
"I agree. You won't have to face me again."
"One question first."
Moyong Gun's eyes deepened.
"Have you met Yeon Hojeong?"
Dang Gwan's lip curled.
"Why? Scared I'll cut ties with you and join him?"
......So he had.
'Damn it.'
Yeon Hojeong must have pulled some ploy. The puzzle was how he'd known Moyong Gun was targeting Gong Gong-daesa.
'......No. Yeon Hojeong was likely the finisher, but a third party set the stage.'
Jegal Munho. The man who sniffed out rumors in the Alliance like a ghost had finished his preliminary investigation. Then he'd consulted Yeon Hojeong, whose action matched his brilliant mind. He'd moved immediately upon hearing.
But Moyong Gun hadn't expected him to strike Dang Gwan first instead of coming directly.
Moyong Gun sighed inwardly.
'I got complacent.'
He had the sturdiest backer imaginable. Turning dire crisis into opportunity, he'd allied with the Black Path's strongest. He'd told himself to stay vigilant, but that massive support had lulled him.
'Without it, I'd have approached Gong Gong-daesa more cautiously. I knew Jegal Munho was on high alert, that Yeon Hojeong's strikes were unconventional.'
Moyong Gun smiled bitterly.
'It wasn't them playing well—it was me slipping up.'
A foolish mistake, uncharacteristic of him. He'd lost a valuable piece because of it. A painful blunder.
'Gained Yang Cheon as backing, lost Dang Gwan as a pawn... Still a net gain, but.'
The key was that the loss wasn't necessary.
Moyong Gun's face turned frigid.
"If you're severing the alliance, so be it. Don't regret it later."
Dang Gwan chuckled and turned away. No reply.
With that, all ties with Moyong Gun were severed.
Staring at Dang Gwan's back, Moyong Gun sent a secret transmission none could hear.
"I don't know what happened, but when your emotions cool, tell me. I'll come hear the full story myself."
Dang Gwan paused as he opened the door. But that was all. He slammed it shut with a bang and left.
Yonghwa Jin-in hurriedly asked,
"What in the world was that?"
"Nothing serious."
Moyong Gun gave a wry smile.
"Just... a reminder that I need to lie low and build strength for a while."
"......?"
"Cancel our future plans for now."
Moyong Gun closed his eyes.
'......I need to regain my composure first.'
* * *
Jegal Munho gazed at Yeon Hojeong with admiration.
"I thought nothing you did could surprise me anymore. But I was wrong. I surrender completely to your stratagems."
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
"Just sowing discord. Petty scheming, not worthy of the word 'stratagem.'"
"Even discord requires reading your opponent perfectly for maximum effect. Impressive."
Yeon Hojeong smiled silently.
Jegal Munho tilted his head.
"But did you predict this outcome?"
"What do you mean?"
"Tang family head cutting ties with Moyong Gun is the ideal result. Hindsight makes it a win, but if his trust in Moyong Gun had deepened instead, it might have bound them tighter."
"True."
"You wouldn't have overlooked that. So you foresaw the split?"
"Hardly. I'm no god."
"Huh? Then?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"Moyong Gun's move this time was sloppy. Not like him at all."
"Agreed."
"But now that Tang family head sniffed it out, he'll proceed with caution. He'll go quiet for a bit."
"Isn't that more dangerous?"
"Yes. And that caution will reveal something we can exploit."
"Hm?"
Yang Cheon—their connection. While Moyong Gun lays low, Yang Cheon will surely send signals. Watching that would allow a fatal strike against Moyong Gun.
"Tang family head must have had his own grievances piled up."
Yeon Hojeong looked out the window.
"Perhaps deep down, he never fully trusted Moyong Gun. With that pride, standing behind anyone would chafe anyway."
"Heh!"
"Anyway, we won the first battle upon our return. He'll play dead for a while, so no need to worry."