Chapter 299. A Battle Without Bells (3)
“For those who rely on their wits, witnessing an unforeseen situation brings a stinging sense of defeat, yet it is also a moment of profound joy, another lesson learned……”
Jegal Munho gazed at the two men with a bewildered expression.
“I never imagined that the two of you would visit my quarters together.”
Indeed. Seated before Jegal Munho were Yeon Wi and Dang Gwan.
Yeon Wi, patriarch of the Bi-san Yeon Family.
Dang Gwan, patriarch of the Sichuan Dang Family.
Few people maintained personal ties with these two titans. Not only due to their lofty positions, but because of their notoriously unapproachable temperaments.
Dang Gwan went without saying, but Yeon Wi was rumored to be one of the most stoic men under heaven.
For such men to knock on the strategist’s door together—it would surprise even the Heavenly Star Thirteen Seats.
“My apologies if we’ve startled you.”
“No, not at all. It was merely unexpected.”
Jegal Munho eyed Dang Gwan with a peculiar look. It seemed Yeon Wi had dragged him here, yet given Dang Gwan’s personality, he wasn’t one to follow meekly.
That made it all the more intriguing.
Sensing Jegal Munho’s gaze, Dang Gwan snorted and glanced at Yeon Wi.
“What’s this about?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why’d you bring me here?”
“We can discuss that now.”
“What?”
Yeon Wi turned to Jegal Munho.
“Have you heard from my eldest son?”
“Which matter?”
Yeon Wi explained the situation from the beginning.
Jegal Munho’s eyes widened as he looked at Dang Gwan.
“You’re running for Alliance Leader?”
“Hmph!”
Dang Gwan crossed his arms and turned away.
Yeon Wi spoke calmly.
“The Dang patriarch has accepted.”
“Heh!”
That single word told Jegal Munho that Dang Gwan had changed dramatically.
As they say, it’s not logic that changes a man, but human sentiment.
He knew of the events surrounding Dang Gwan lately—Moyong Gun’s opposition, reconciliation with his daughter, and more. All major happenings reached his ears.
He had no choice; Dang Gwan was an unpredictable wildcard, always under close watch.
Still, he hadn’t expected such a profound shift.
Jegal Munho looked at Dang Gwan with genuine curiosity.
Dang Gwan’s face soured instantly.
“Keep staring like that, and I’m leaving.”
“Ah, no, forgive me. I’ve unnecessarily discomforted you, Patriarch. My deepest apologies.”
Jegal Munho bowed deeply at the waist.
A sneer crept across Dang Gwan’s features.
“That back of yours is remarkably flexible. Ready to bend for anyone, depending on the winds.”
It was blatant mockery.
Yet Jegal Munho burst into hearty laughter—kekekeke.
“Isn’t flexibility in the joints a virtue for those in politics? I approach allies with the lowest posture and gift enemies daggers sharper than any blade—that is my creed.”
“Some creed you’ve got there.”
Though his words were biting, Dang Gwan understood Jegal Munho. Without such adaptability, steering a behemoth like the Mu Rim Meng would be impossible.
Yeon Wi interjected then.
“In any case, I trust you grasp the full situation.”
“Of course.”
“I wished to summon my eldest son as well, but I thought informing you first was priority, so I brought you these two.”
Jegal Munho smiled.
“Well done. Such intelligence is best shared at the earliest moment.”
The corner of Dang Gwan’s mouth twitched upward.
“On second thought, even for politics, this seems a bit much.”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t impartial handling a strategist’s virtue? Preemptively aiding your own faction—such scheming is no different from that bastard Moyong Gun’s tactics.”
Jegal Munho shook his head.
“A misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“Two candidates have come to me. I merely handle the administrative paperwork for them.”
Dang Gwan’s eyes gleamed.
“Both have already visited?”
“Indeed. Yeon Patriarch brought you here to add your name to the candidate list.”
“And if I fail in my role, he’d back me from the shadows.”
“That too is correct.”
“Hardly clean politics.”
Jegal Munho’s gaze deepened.
“What sort of man do you take me for, Patriarch?”
“What are you getting at?”
“If words fail you, allow me. I exist to protect the Mu Rim Meng.”
“……”
“Ignorance is one thing, but knowing of a calamity like Moyong Gun means I must act, even if it means wading through filth. If it were merely an unworthy candidate, I’d overlook it—but someone as dangerous as him? I cannot stand idle.”
“……”
“And one more thing.”
Jegal Munho smiled again.
“We are not of the same faction. I’ve never even formed one.”
“What?”
“It was merely to make Moyong Gun and his clan perceive it that way. Yeon Patriarch and I have never truly conspired to sway the Alliance’s fate.”
Dang Gwan’s eyes narrowed.
“Sounds like wordplay to me.”
“You may see it that way. What matters is I know when to step forward and when to yield.”
The line……
Since arriving at the Mu Rim Meng, he’d heard much of this “line.” Moyong Gun spoke of it, as did that damned eldest son of the Yeon family.
Jegal Munho clapped his hands.
“In any event, with your candidacy, this Alliance Leader election will be fierce indeed. I’ll add your name to the roster.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“Any other requirements?”
“Nothing particular. The Alliance’s nature makes it hard to impose limits like campaign fund caps. However, we will restrict endorsers to two per candidate.”
“Endorsers.”
“It’s simple.”
Jegal Munho’s eyes sparkled.
“Once the election begins, no candidate may leave the inner castle. Thus, shaping public opinion falls to the endorsers.”
“I see.”
“In other words, they become the candidate’s hands and feet. Naturally, endorsers with greater influence in the jianghu benefit their candidate most.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“I understand.”
It was a battle without clear bounds. On the surface, confining candidates to the inner castle seemed restrictive, but it didn’t prevent letters or influencing the political landscape.
Endorsers were limited to two, yet allies of those endorsers couldn’t be barred from aiding.
In essence, a fight where form was observed, but every resource mobilized.
Jegal Munho asked Dang Gwan.
“Then, whom will you choose as your endorsers, Dang Patriarch?”
Dang Gwan scowled.
“I only learned I was heading here to register moments ago. No time to consider.”
“Very well, take your time. I’ll add your name today; inform me of your endorsers by noon tomorrow.”
Dang Gwan shook his head.
“No need for that. Give me half a gak.”
“Understood.”
Dang Gwan eyed Yeon Wi.
Yeon Wi smiled.
“This man has many shortcomings.”
“I don’t see myself becoming the real Alliance Leader anyway, nor do I intend to.”
“Still, wouldn’t choosing someone more capable than me be wiser?”
“Finding someone more capable than you is hard enough, and among them, none would be close to me.”
“Heh heh.”
It wasn’t wrong.
Yeon Wi nodded.
“Very well. I’ll take one of the two endorser slots.”
Jegal Munho smiled.
“Noted. Now, name the final one.”
Yeon Wi glanced at Dang Gwan.
After a moment’s thought, Dang Gwan nodded.
“I’ve decided.”
“Who?”
“The Western Divine Maiden.”
“……!!”
Jegal Munho’s expression hardened.
Yeon Wi looked shocked as well.
“Dang Patriarch.”
“No objections. The final endorser is the Western Divine Maiden.”
Yeon Wi asked.
“Have you already met her?”
Dang Gwan replied curtly.
“Didn’t we agree to go together? I’ve yet to see a single hair of that miracle healer you praise.”
“Then why choose her as endorser? Leaving that aside, if she refuses……”
“We’ll make sure she can’t. Let’s go meet her the moment we’re done here.”
“Heh!”
Jegal Munho spoke up.
“If discussions aren’t settled, I’ll wait until noon tomorrow.”
“Fine.”
“One question, if I may?”
“What?”
Jegal Munho asked cautiously.
“Is there a reason for choosing the Western Divine Maiden? Of course, she’s not an endorser until she accepts.”
Dang Gwan chuckled.
“Didn’t you say public opinion is key for candidates?”
“Indeed.”
“In the current world—excluding that mad alliance of healers called the Uiseon Association—who receives more love than the Western Divine Maiden?”
“……!”
“In terms of Chivalrous Reputation, her reputation rivals or surpasses a leader of the Nine Great Clans.”
“You’re right, but her fame is greater among the common folk than the jianghu. Someone like Tongcheon Jin-in might……”
“Enough. I’ll handle it. Just note it as such.”
“……Heh heh, I thought you’d pick Yeon Army Leader for the last spot.”
Dang Gwan snorted.
“I’ve no desire to give that impudent brat an endorser title too. Besides, with his father already my endorser, would that boy dare stand idle?”
It was true.
After all, Yeon Hojeong was the one who urged Dang Gwan to run.
No need for formal endorsement; he’d push regardless.
“And in my view, extra titles would only constrain him. He’s most dangerous unbound.”
Dang Gwan laughed coldly.
“I’ve put the Dang Patriarch forward. Let him sweat for it.”
Calculating that much in moments—Dang Gwan was no ordinary man.
“Now, let’s go.”
Flustered, Yeon Wi rose awkwardly.
“Already?”
Dang Gwan furrowed his brow.
“Didn’t you say? That Yeon Hojeong brat plans to thrust me into the Alliance’s power core.”
“……”
“No need to block his unsolicited aid. But my life is mine to lead. Nothing more humiliating than being dragged along.”
Dang Gwan turned.
“Clear the path to the Western Divine Maiden. We end this today.”
With hands clasped behind his back, he strode out—untouchable, unyielding.
Yeon Wi and Jegal Munho exchanged glances.
Their eyes held a strange gleam.
“……What an entertaining fellow.”