The Answer is Singular (6)
Yeon Hojeong let out a quiet sigh as he emerged from Moyong Gun's residence.
Gang Ryang asked, “Are you alright?”
“Why wouldn't I be?”
“What kind of heated conversation did you have in there? There was all that yelling and crashing—sounded like total chaos.”
“It carried outside, huh?”
“Loud and clear. Pretty intense.”
Yeon Hojeong chuckled softly.
“Nothing major. Just riled up the old fox a bit.”
Gang Ryang looked uneasy. “I don't know the details, but you've got some guts, brother. He's still the Martial Alliance's peak master. Is it really okay to piss him off that much?”
“Moyong Gun can't act recklessly right now.”
“Why not?”
“All he can see is that alliance leader's seat.”
Yeon Hojeong had provoked Moyong Gun more than necessary precisely to gauge his reaction. And the response had been more rational—and detached—than expected. It wasn't deference to Yeon Hojeong; it was Moyong Gun meticulously curating his own image. He wouldn't dare make any flashy moves. At least not in front of Yeon Hojeong or the other peak masters.
This is a pretty shitty thing to do.
Every clash with Moyong Gun so far had some justification. But not this time. Over the past few months, Moyong Gun had been unnaturally quiet. No missteps that could give anyone leverage. That was why the two hadn't crossed paths. If something had blown up, one of them would have moved for sure.
In other words, Yeon Hojeong had just slapped Moyong Gun across the face in an open field and bolted.
He must be fuming. But he can't strike back rashly. No flashy moves.
But.
I can't just brush off that talk of capturing a Muk Ryong Bu informant. The moment he's thrown in the prison cells, Moyong Gun will pull out all the stops to silence him.
Still, killing him outright wouldn't be easy. Act too hastily, and all eyes on that informant would turn straight to Moyong Gun. He'd either use someone with no obvious ties or approach with extreme caution—one or the other, for certain.
What if...
Yeon Hojeong's gaze deepened.
What if there's no reaction at all, even after calling him an informant? How should I interpret that?
Yeon Hojeong was convinced Moyong Gun had allied with Yang Cheon. But there was no hard evidence. In the worst case, it could all be his delusion.
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
Don't waver. People's actions reveal their intentions. Read those, eliminate the illogical possibilities one by one, and eventually, only one undeniable truth remains.
That truth was the reality, the answer. Don't cling blindly to assumptions, but hold enough conviction to guide the process. That way, stray reactions wouldn't throw you off.
The answer will come in time anyway.
He'd deliberately leaked the intel about targeting Gong Gong-daesa to make Moyong Gun move cautiously. If he did, Muk Ryong Bu would inevitably reach out. Read that moment right, and Moyong Gun would plummet into the abyss.
I can hand this off to the strategist now. Time to shift my focus elsewhere.
Yeon Hojeong glanced back at Moyong Gun's residence.
One of his backers has to be from the same faction.
He wouldn't use both. It was like how Dang Gwan had made one backer a Western divine maiden—no need to draw extra scrutiny. But he couldn't exactly avoid registering a Tang Clan ally as a backer either; public perception mattered.
One of Moyong Gun's backers is definitely tied to Muk Ryong Bu.
Of course, who that was remained unknown. So first, shake up Moyong Gun's faction.
Yeon Hojeong was deep in thought when—
“Brother.”
“Hm?”
Gang Ryang scratched his head. “But seriously, why'd you bring me along? You didn't even let me inside.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled. “To make use of you. Moyong Gun needed to sense your qi for my bluff to have a better shot at landing.”
“Ah, got it.”
“What? I brought you to broaden your horizons, but now you feel like disposable bait?”
Gang Ryang chuckled. “What am I, an object? Or a kid? Nah, that doesn't bother me.”
“Then?”
“Just curious.”
“About what?”
“Using someone to take out a rival—it's basically borrowing a knife to kill, right?”
“Yeah? It's a monster we can't just kill outright, so yeah.”
“Then why not use me properly?”
“Huh?”
Yeon Hojeong blinked. Gang Ryang's unexpectedly innocent expression made him laugh despite himself.
“Use you properly? What do you mean?”
“I'm a black path swordsman, aren't I?”
“Sure.”
“If you wanted him to sense my qi, he'd assume he knows my background too, right?”
“Yeah. It's all out in the open.”
“Then word'll spread through the leadership soon enough.”
“Not just them—could reach the outer castle too. So, what's your point?”
“Regardless of whether he actually knows, as heir to Gwi Cheol Geom Mun, they'd figure I know the black path murim inside out.”
“And?”
“So just say you're sending me as a spy to Muk Ryong Bu. To check if any alliance personnel are colluding with them.”
“...!”
Yeon Hojeong's face hardened.
A spy...
He hadn't even considered it.
Gang Ryang smacked his lips. “Of course, I know I'm not reliable. Hell, even I doubt I could pull off proper espionage. Not exactly born a deceiver.”
“...”
“But the key is implanting the belief that you're sending me to investigate—not actually doing it. Plus, it lets us watch Moyong Gun's moves.”
Surprise flickered across Yeon Hojeong's face. “How'd you come up with that?”
Gang Ryang shook his head. “You called Moyong the old fox yourself. Foxes are sly; surround 'em with wolves, and they won't leave their den.”
“...”
“To lure him out, make him think it's safer outside than in.”
“This kid's got real talent.”
“Whoa.”
Yeon Hojeong looked at Gang Ryang with genuine admiration. “Didn't know you could scheme like that.”
“Heh heh.”
“But no.”
“...Why?”
He'd finally earned his keep, or so he thought. But Yeon Hojeong was rejecting it. Confusion crossed Gang Ryang's face.
Yeon Hojeong shook his head with a smile. “It's tempting, no doubt—solves a headache down the line. Might even be the simplest, surest way to test Moyong Gun right now.”
“Exactly. So...”
“But it'd put you in danger.”
“Pardon?”
“There are safer ways. No need to send my own into the jaws of death.”
Gang Ryang's expression turned serious. “Brother. I don't know how you see me, but I'm a man who stakes his life on a single blade.”
“I know. But risking your life on something unnecessary is the height of folly.”
“...”
“If your martial prowess and judgment matched mine, I'd at least consider it. But I still wouldn't.”
“Why? Just because we're close?”
“That's part of it. But it's the line I've drawn.”
“A line?”
Yeon Hojeong's smile turned bitter—the most wistful Gang Ryang had ever seen since they met.
“Do you think the political games I've played have been fair fights?”
“...”
“Most of what I've done is deception: misleading foes, striking weaknesses, twisting truth into lies.”
“Brother.”
“Keep that up long enough, and everyone wonders the same thing at least once.”
Yeon Hojeong looked up at the sky.
“How deep into the abyss will I fall?”
Gang Ryang steeled his gaze. “It's for the alliance, for the world—eliminating threats. No need to limit yourself...”
“And after? In the 'clean' world we've won, you think washing these mud- and bloodstained hands will erase the stench?”
“...”
“I don't know your thoughts, but if possible, I'd eliminate enemies without my people spilling blood. Burn through them just because it's easy, and eventually, I'll become a monster even I can't control.”
“...”
“This homecoming was hard-won. I don't want to disappoint the precious people here.”
Yeon Hojeong patted Gang Ryang's shoulder.
“Anyway, thanks for offering to risk it all for us. I appreciate the loyalty.”
“Brother.”
“Even if things go south later, I won't regret skipping this. It was my choice.”
Gang Ryang sighed. “But the situation's so tangled. If Moyong's tied to Muk Ryong Bu, even failing for alliance leader could shake the whole alliance.”
Yeon Hojeong burst out laughing despite himself. “Hearing the little lord of Gwi Cheol Geom Mun fret over the alliance is hilarious. What, you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
“I know, man. Yeah, you're right. It's a mess—nothing resolved, just more knots, sinking deeper into the mire.”
“Exactly.”
“But.”
Yeon Hojeong gazed south, toward Gi U-hui's residence.
“Answers always emerge. The trick is ensuring they converge on one perfect outcome, not a mess of them. That's the twisted appeal of this dirty game.”
“...”
“I've gathered enough kindling. Time to toss in a spark. Who knows? It might ignite the hearth... or spark a wildfire.”
“Family head.”
Moyong Gun opened his eyes.
“An urgent peak masters' meeting has been called. Summons for all peak masters to attend immediately.”
“...”
“...Family head?”
“Interesting.”
“Pardon?”
A chilling smile curled Moyong Gun's lips.
A Muk Ryong Bu informant? Nonsense. If Yang Cheon were sending one, he'd contact me first. No prior coordination? The Earth King wouldn't make that blunder.
So Yeon Hojeong's claim was likely a lie. Yet the sudden meeting suggested someone had been sent—someone who could be mistaken for a Muk Ryong Bu informant.
Probably some enemy of his I don't know about.
The issue was how to play it at the meeting.
Push hard. Make sure Yeon Hojeong's name comes up.
No need to bow just because they'd come on strong.
And so Moyong Gun attended the peak masters' meeting. But events were spiraling in a direction he hadn't anticipated.
“Th-this is bad!”
Jegal Munho's eyebrow twitched. “This is a meeting with all peak masters present. What merits raising your voice like that?”
The prison warden, who had burst in unannounced, swallowed hard.
“The prisoner... he's been assassinated!”
“What?!”
All the peak masters shot to their feet in shock.
“Inner castle troops are pursuing the assassin now! He's heading south!”
Moyong Gun felt the world go dark for a moment. It was as if Yeon Hojeong were whispering in his ear from the shadows.
“You can never escape my grasp.”