The Alliance (2)
Time passed.
It was nearing noon. Yet none of the people gathered in the room spoke.
“……”
The silence was heavy.
The tea that had given off a decent aroma had gone cold.
Yeon Hojeong, who had been glancing around, asked casually.
“I went to the trouble of brewing it, so why isn’t anyone drinking?”
Dang Gwan spoke in a cold voice.
“Tea brewed by a brat who doesn’t even know the basics of the tea ceremony would only torment my tongue if I drank it.”
“Still, I went to the trouble of brewing it.”
“Shut up.”
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue. He had expected this kind of reaction from Dang Gwan’s personality, but it was much more prickly than he thought.
Well, given his pride, it was fortunate he hadn’t poisoned everyone here. At least after meeting Yeon Wi and improving his relationship with his daughter, his terrifying personality seemed to have softened a bit.
“Since the topic came up, I’ll ask one thing.”
“Speak.”
Was he about to pour out a barrage of insults?
“Those bastards, where exactly have they been hiding?”
The eyes of everyone in the room turned to Yeon Hojeong.
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“Other than that they’re from beyond the borders, I don’t know much. It’s reported that they originated somewhere far in the northwest, but even that isn’t certain.”
“If it’s the northwest, do you mean Qinghai or Xinjiang?”
“Xizang would be included as well. Of course, that too isn’t certain. If there had been even one thing I could be sure about regarding them, I wouldn’t have moved so cautiously either.”
“Hmph! Fine words.”
Dang Gwan’s eyes emitted a nasty killing intent.
“So they’re scum from beyond the borders.”
Although he had nothing to do with the ‘joint consciousness’ unless it concerned his family, he was someone overflowing with pride as a person of the Central Plains.
Sichuan Province was like the first gateway to an invasion by the martial world beyond the borders. Some say Qinghai Province is the first gateway to war with the outside, but if it’s war within the Central Plains, Sichuan is the real stage.
In other words, for Dang Gwan, an invasion by the martial world beyond the borders was not something to take lightly. His family’s history was stained with the stench of blood from conflicts with the outside. He had no choice but to burn with more hatred than anyone else here.
“If it’s Xizang, there would be the Potala Palace and Leiyin Temple, but surely they aren’t in league with them too?”
“I don’t know about that. But the Three Sects and they are religious groups pursuing completely different paths. They might be at odds, but I don’t think they would have joined forces.”
“What about the movements of the Potala Palace or Leiyin Temple?”
“According to Huigai, they’re being excessively quiet. Of course, that was last year’s information, so I don’t know now. It seems Leiyin Temple is starting to stretch its legs, but nothing is confirmed yet.”
“Quiet……”
Dang Gwan furrowed his brow.
“I know enough about those crazy monks. Their ideology is excessively heretical. The Potala Palace is tolerable, but those Leiyin Temple bastards are no different from the scum of the unorthodox factions.”
If one looked into the history of Leiyin Temple, they too had started as a group of ascetics following the advanced Buddhism of the past.
However, as time passed, they accepted the Yoga Qigong of Tianzhu, and Leiyin Temple, which began to obsess over power rather than asceticism, obtained strange spells and martial arts from the Western Regions and the East, developing into an independent martial force.
Those who branched off to not forget their roots were the Great Leiyin Temple, and those who developed into heretics were the Small Leiyin Temple. The current martial world divided them that way.
The Leiyin Temple Dang Gwan spoke of referred to the Small Leiyin Temple.
“There must be some connection. Even if not elsewhere, Xizang is a region they’ve dominated for hundreds of years. As you said, if the Three Sects have built such immense power, whether it’s the Potala Palace or Leiyin Temple, they wouldn’t be unaware of the Three Sects.”
“That’s probably true.”
At that moment, Yeon Wi interjected.
“Before dealing with them, it would be right to resolve the immediate problem first.”
“I agree.”
Dang Gwan clicked his tongue.
“You said you killed the guy who was the Jinwu official of the Regional Military Commission?”
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“That’s right.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about since he was just a low-ranking soldier.”
It was a statement revealing terrifying confidence.
Although not comparable to the Regional Commander, the Jinwu position also carried considerable authority. No, the very act of a martial artist killing an official was shocking in itself.
Yeon Hojeong sighed.
“Well, that’s that, but the one coming now is different.”
“You said it was the Assistant Regional Commander?”
“More precisely, it should be at the level of Assistant Regional Commander or higher. In the worst case, it could be the Regional Commander, but no matter how I think about it, that would be too much.”
The Regional Commander was a terrifying position that controlled the military administration of an entire province. No matter how carelessly one handled politics, they weren’t someone with time to get involved in something like this.
Dang Gwan spoke in a stiff voice.
“The Assistant Regional Commander who commands the provincial troops is responsible for war preparations as well as military training departments. If it’s at least Assistant Regional Commander level or higher, most of Henan Province’s military power may have already fallen into their hands.”
“……That could be the case.”
“This has become troublesome.”
Dang Gwan muttered as he stroked his chin.
“Assistant Regional Commander…… If it’s second rank or higher, I don’t know, but if it’s below that, even if I kill them secretly, I could somehow clean it up.”
The atmosphere in the room grew terrifyingly cold.
Yeon Wi coughed.
“Family Head. That’s an excessively dangerous statement.”
“If those Three Sects bastards have truly seized control of the imperial family and the government, the danger is already right in front of us. No matter how we respond, it’s dangerous, so there’s nothing new about it.”
It wasn’t wrong. However, as Yeon Wi said, it was also an excessively dangerous and radical statement.
“By the way.”
Dang Gwan glanced at the window.
“It’s almost noon now, so why isn’t that damn bastard coming?”
“He’ll be here soon, won’t he?”
Yeon Wi’s words were true.
A moment later.
Whoosh!
A single aura approached, enveloping the entire Pagun Pavilion.
Muk Bi and Yeon Ji-pyeong’s faces hardened with tension. They instinctively realized how great a master the owner of this aura, which felt damp yet possessed tremendous explosive power, was.
Dang Gwan wore a sneer.
“Ridiculous.”
Whether his mind was complicated or it was simply for show, wasn’t it excessively childish?
At least Dang Gwan thought so. And the reason he could think that was because he was one of the two people here who could face Moyong Gun head-on.
Yeon Wi gave a bitter smile.
“That person must have his own pride wounded as well.”
“Hmph! As if I care.”
“It’s not for any other reason, but because of Hojeong.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Yeon Wi looked at Yeon Hojeong and said.
“Many things have happened, but in any case, the person who stood at the forefront in the fight against Moyong Gun was Hojeong. And Moyong Gun had acknowledged Hojeong as his opponent.”
“……”
“But the enemy he thought was his rival actually saw much more than he did, and he learned that his final target wasn’t him. Moyong Gun’s pride must have been greatly wounded as well.”
Yeon Hojeong scratched his head. He had never thought of it that way.
Dang Gwan stared at Yeon Hojeong quietly and said.
“Anyway, you’re tangled up in a filthy mess too.”
“I don’t care.”
“Rude brat.”
A moment later.
Creak.
The door opened, and Moyong Gun and Jegal Mun-ho entered.
“……”
The air in the room had now settled so heavily that it was suffocating.
Moyong Gun looked around.
Yeon Wi looking at him with indifferent eyes, Dang Gwan’s eyes filled with killing intent, Muk Bi and Yeon Ji-pyeong with tense faces, and…….‘…….’Yeon Hojeong’s deep eyes, too transparent to read, were directed at him.
Jegal Mun-ho stepped forward.
“Please have a seat.”
Moyong Gun sat down on a chair without a word.
Jegal Mun-ho, who had closed the door and entered, opened his mouth.
“There’s no need for long words. Everyone here is busy, and I know that discussing unnecessary past events will only make us uncomfortable.”
Jegal Mun-ho’s voice was incomparably clear.
The voice of a scholar with deep cultivation. Although it was intentional, thanks to his voice, the endlessly heavy air seemed to lighten a bit.
Swish.
Jegal Mun-ho placed documents on the table.
“Family Head Moyong, please read them first.”
Moyong Gun read the documents without a word.
Contrary to his fierce aura, his eyes were only cautious. Deep concentration could be seen in his fingertips as he turned each page of the documents.
A moment later, he put down the documents.
“I’ve read them all.”
There must have been quite a few shocking contents, but there was no sign of surprise.
Jegal Mun-ho continued.
“Family Head Dang, please look as well.”
Dang Gwan snatched up the bundle of documents with a whoosh.
Flip!
Dang Gwan was different from Moyong Gun. Nervous emotions were fully revealed in his fingertips as he roughly turned the pages.
But he too was the head of one of the Six Great Families and a giant of the martial world. Although annoyed and angry, his gaze was filled with as much caution as Moyong Gun’s.
A moment later, Dang Gwan also finished reading all the documents.
“Uiseon Pavilion Head Ki Woo-hee, that wench is the daughter of that damn Shinhwa Sect Leader?”
“That’s right.”
“What a ridiculous wench.”
Jegal Mun-ho added.
“Regardless of anything else, there’s no need to suspect Physician Ki. Regarding her, I, Family Head Yeon, Military Commander Yeon, and Department Head Muk all……”
“I’m not suspecting her.”
“Pardon?”
Dang Gwan frowned.
“Even if it’s someone else, would this rude brat have brought an enemy spy into the Alliance without checking?”
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
“I’m grateful for your trust in my abilities.”
“Did you take ‘sly snake’ as a compliment?”
“Yes.”
Dang Gwan turned his head away sharply.
Yeon Wi opened his mouth.
“First, everyone here has shared information about the enemy. At least up to what we’ve investigated so far.”
Jegal Mun-ho nodded.
“As you all know, we’ve only dug deeper and more detailed into limited information, but in reality, we have no real information about them.”
That was the problem.
The Shinhwa Sect had infiltrated the imperial family and the government and was already exerting considerable influence.
The Saum Sect had provided enormous help in establishing the Black Dragon Department and still coveted it as a bridgehead for advancing into the Central Plains.
In the end, that was all. Nothing had been grasped about where the enemies were, what organizations they had infiltrated and to what extent if they had, or what their strength was.
“In other words.”
Dang Gwan’s voice, which had been irritable, became as cold as the north wind.
“It means we have to properly interrogate that Assistant Regional Commander bastard who’s coming here.”
Jegal Mun-ho nodded.
“Furthermore, if he is truly a member of the Shinhwa Sect, we must never allow him to set foot in the Martial Alliance. If he uses the empire’s public authority, we’ll have no choice but to be caught.”
At that moment, Moyong Gun spoke.
“He’s the first one.”
“What do you mean?”
“Wouldn’t it be enough to catch him first?”
“Of course, but…… I’m sure you know it’s dangerous.”
Moyong Gun did not answer Jegal Mun-ho’s words. He simply looked at Yeon Hojeong with profound eyes.
The two men’s gazes clashed, creating a strange atmosphere.
Yeon Hojeong asked.
“Do you have connections?”
Moyong Gun replied.
“It’s precarious.”
“I’ll believe it works.”
“Are we going to clash head-on?”
“Whoever steps up, that would be best.”
“It would be better if you stay out this time.”
“I think so too.”
“The answer is out. Let’s support from behind, you and I. We just need to choose who will clash head-on.”
It was a series of conversations whose meaning was unclear. Even Jegal Mun-ho of all under heaven tilted his head in confusion.
Moyong Gun looked at Dang Gwan.
“Family Head Dang.”
Dang Gwan did not answer. Moyong Gun paid no attention to his attitude.
“An Assistant Regional Commander presumed to be a master of the Shinhwa Sect side, will you catch him?”
“……What?”
Yeon Hojeong scratched his head.
“Your hands must be itching…… I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Please fight for us.”
“……?!”
“Ah, they’re specialized in Heat Yang Art. I recommend not using poison……”
Dang Gwan finally lost his temper.
“Explain in detail what you’re talking about first!”