Chapter 305. The Answer Is One (5)
Gi U-hui let out a sigh.
"At this point, you won't lose your life right away."
Jam Yeong-il-ho glared at her with bloodshot eyes. Not only had his dantian been completely shattered, but he'd also lost the stockpiled yin energy of the Soundless White Willow scattered through his meridians. Yeon Hojeong had thoroughly ruined his body, leaving him in a state where he could never cultivate martial arts again.
He had lost everything in this sudden ambush. It was no wonder resentment filled his eyes as he stared at Gi U-hui.
"That's it?"
Gi U-hui's response was calm.
"What do you mean?"
"Is that all? Choosing to betray the Church?"
"……."
"The blood of the Divine Flame flows through your veins! No matter how much persecution you faced, to betray the Church? I disgust myself for ever respecting you!"
The title of Saintess had been transferred to someone else. His sense of betrayal was that profound.
Gi U-hui offered a wistful smile.
"What point is there in talking now? It'll just be more of the same arguments we've had before."
"Have some shame!"
"……."
"If you hated the Church so much, you should have just taken your own life! Betrayal?! In the history of our Church, there's never been anyone like you…!"
"And yet you've betrayed the Central Plains martial world yourself."
"What?!"
Gi U-hui gazed steadily at Jam Yeong-il-ho. For a moment, he felt his words catch in his throat. Her eyes seemed to glow with a faint red light, unlike her usual gaze.
"I didn't realize you carried the lineage of the Central Plains' martial arts. Not just practicing their techniques, but actually belonging to that line."
"That's a different matter!"
"It's the same thing. Regardless of who's right or who has the better claim, people live by making their own choices."
Gi U-hui sighed again.
"I know. You won't understand no matter what I say. And I can't be absolutely certain my choice is right either."
"……."
"But at least, I'll bear whatever consequences come from it without regret. That's the responsibility of choice."
"……What do you plan to do with me?"
His body was already ruined beyond repair. But Gi U-hui wouldn't simply release him either. Jam Yeong-il-ho had never imagined his end would come in such an absurd moment. Still, he had no intention of begging or weeping like an ordinary man. He resolved to face his death with dignity.
That is, until he heard her words.
"Lord Yeon Commander will decide. Whether he uses you or leaves you in limbo between life and death, I won't interfere."
"……!"
"I'm sorry. A peaceful death doesn't seem possible."
Jam Yeong-il-ho's eyelids trembled.
"Kill me here and now! Despite our conflicts, I've guarded you for over a decade! You owe me at least that much for my end…!"
"And at the same time, you're the enemy who killed my mother."
"……!!"
Gi U-hui smiled bitterly.
"Jam Yeong-il-ho. When I made this choice, I decided to cast aside whatever scraps of conscience and guilt remained. Especially toward the enemy who murdered my mother—I have to be even more ruthless."
Jam Yeong-il-ho bit his lip. He could claim he hadn't killed her mother, that it wasn't him. But it would be pointless. Gi U-hui's divine eyes didn't just detect presences; they pierced through energy barriers to discern truth from lies.
Gi U-hui turned her gaze to the window. Her eyes, gazing at the overcast sky, looked deeply conflicted—unlike those of someone who had made a resolute choice.
"Betrayal……."
* * *
Moyong Gun's lips curved upward.
"Muk Ryong Bu?"
"That's right."
"One of Muk Ryong Bu's informants was spying on the Alliance?"
"Who knows. Not sure if it was spying or what yet. The bastard's lips are sealed tighter than a drum—hasn't uttered a word so far."
Those words put Moyong Gun at ease.
"If you've caught a Muk Ryong Bu informant, shouldn't you report it to the higher-ups and lock him in the Thunder Prison immediately?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"That's the plan. But the Thunder Prison doesn't seem all that secure."
"You're underestimating the Alliance's power. The Martial Alliance's Thunder Prison is impenetrable. Even the Sacred Heaven Thirteen Seats couldn't infiltrate it secretly without brute force."
"Maybe for others. But jailers manipulated by silver tongues could come and go freely."
Moyong Gun's eyes darkened.
"Your words make it sound like there's someone in the Alliance colluding with Muk Ryong Bu."
Yeon Hojeong shrugged.
"You remember, don't you? The operation where we infiltrated Muk Ryong Bu together. If we could do it, why couldn't they?"
"Don't compare the Alliance to Muk Ryong Bu. Those scum could never plant a spy here."
"Never…… That's an uncharacteristically absolute statement from you. Got a reason for that confidence?"
"A reason? Of course."
Moyong Gun's eyes blazed.
"The Martial Alliance is the world's greatest. Even now, our forces are growing, and security is ironclad."
"Nothing in the world is perfect."
"Moreover, the Alliance is the union of the Twelve Bonggong and countless minor sects. You might have slipped in by fooling their leader, but that won't work here."
"No need to stick to that method. If they're determined to send a spy, they'll find a way."
"Ridiculous……."
That was when it happened.
Yeon Hojeong's hand brushed his waist.
Kwak!
Moyong Gun's cheek twitched. Yeon Hojeong had drawn a hand axe and slammed it into the table, his voice laced with menace.
"One question. Answer sincerely."
It was blatant intimidation. Their relationship was already poor, but this crossed a line.
Moyong Gun's voice turned icy.
"……That question had better be important and justified. If you raise baseless suspicions, you'll answer for daring to draw an axe before a Bonggong of the Martial Alliance."
No matter their enmity, Moyong Gun's position in the Alliance far outranked Yeon Hojeong's. Threatening him with an axe like this could be treated as a grave offense.
Yeon Hojeong didn't flinch at the veiled threat.
"Have you made a deal with the Muk Ryong Bu leader?"
Moyong Gun's lips curved again.
"Worthless nonsense."
"I'll ask again. Have you?"
Asking so directly implied a lack of concrete evidence. If Yeon Hojeong had proof of ties between him and the Muk Ryong Bu leader, he'd have struck quietly instead. Even so, Moyong Gun couldn't help but admire—bordering on fear—the sharpness of Yeon Hojeong's mind, which had deduced that far.
How does this bastard……?!
Moyong Gun replied calmly.
"Let me be clear. I've never made any deal with the Muk Ryong Bu leader."
"……."
"Dragging a Bonggong of the Alliance like a criminal over unverified claims, then intimidating with an axe? And bringing a Black Path swordsman into the Alliance? You've crossed the line."
Moyong Gun rose with a smile.
"Thank you. Defensive play paid off. You've handed me the perfect excuse to throw you in the Thunder Prison and remove a thorn in my side."
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
"You must be desperate. You know such flimsy excuses mean nothing."
"What nonsense is this?"
"No one to prove you were intimidated."
"……."
"Even if proven, the great Moyong family head intimidated by a mere remnant army captain…… With the Alliance Lord election around the corner, want to plant that image of incompetence in the public?"
Moyong Gun scowled.
"I'm warning you. Report to the Thunder Prison voluntarily right now."
"Think you can handle it?"
"It's not about handling. Your crime won't drag me down—it's just empty talk."
"Empty talk?"
Yeon Hojeong stood, yanking the axe from the table and sheathing it at his waist. He shrugged.
"I'll go to the Thunder Prison. And send the informant I caught to Abbot Gong Gong."
"……!"
"I'll report everything—the recent incidents, why I suspect you of dealing with the Muk Ryong Bu leader, and whatever you've been up to."
"You bastard……."
"Even if it's not the full truth, you won't become Alliance Lord. The election will end before it's properly investigated."
"……."
"You know better than anyone how fearsome public opinion is. Provoking me like this gains you nothing. Your instincts are sharp, but your head can't keep up."
Killing intent flickered in Moyong Gun's eyes.
"Must we drag this into the mud?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"So stop trying to flip the board with empty words and talk properly. If either of us ends up in the Thunder Prison, we can both destroy the other."
"……."
"We might decide a winner, but mutual destruction isn't an option. I don't want to tarnish my family's name over you."
Moyong Gun, who had been glaring, sat back down.
"I've never dealt with the Muk Ryong Bu leader. I couldn't. No matter how much I crave the throne, I wouldn't shake hands with lowly Black Path scum."
The conversation resumed. Yeon Hojeong remained standing, arms crossed.
"Last question. Is it true?"
"Interrogating me? If you want dialogue, make it one. Keep pushing like this, and I'll drop the defense and go on the offensive."
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"Fine. Another question then."
"One-sided talk. Not considering my mood?"
"By figuring out why I'm asking, you can infer things about me you didn't know."
"Nonsense. If you want answers, make sure you're above reproach."
Moyong Gun's eyes blazed.
"Report the Muk Ryong Bu informant to Abbot Gong or whoever. That's the proper order."
"Proper order……."
"Keep overstepping, and I won't let it slide. This is for the Alliance before politics. Don't cross that line."
It was sound advice. Sound, but meaningless to Yeon Hojeong, who knew Moyong Gun's secrets.
"Fine. I'll report up and send him to the Thunder Prison."
"Good decision. And one more thing. Bringing in a Black Path swordsman—report that too. Times being what they are, 'personal ties' won't fly. Time to own up to hiding it."
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
"Not a problem."
Moyong Gun nodded.
"Now, let's start the real conversation……."
"Thanks for the meal."
"……What?"
Yeon Hojeong turned.
"Nothing more to say. Learned what I needed."
"……?!"
"Thanks for the info today."
Before Moyong Gun could react, Yeon Hojeong flung open the door and left. Moyong Gun stared blankly at the door, his face twisting in fury.
Kwang!
The table shattered under a heavy fist.