Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Moon Shadow (2)
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Meanwhile.
"...You said this was sent by the Chief Patrol?"
Justice Alliance Leader Geum Myeongju let out a hollow laugh as he faced the stranger.
The man's identity was that of a rough-looking fellow in shabby clothes, who claimed to be an envoy sent from the Green Forest.
"What brings an envoy from the Green Forest all the way here?"
"Exactly as I just told you."
"That's why I'm asking. What connection does the Alliance's Chief Patrol have with the Green Forest that he would send someone all the way here?"
"This."
The man handed over a bundle of letters.
The Alliance Leader received them and began reading slowly.
"...This?"
The contents were nothing short of astonishing.
Cheongun had killed the chieftain of Unbong Mountain Stronghold, participated in the Green Forest Assembly in that chieftain's stead, and eventually challenged Green Forest King Jin Muhyeok to a duel wagering the fate of the Green Forest—in the name of the Alliance, no less.
The result was Cheongun's overwhelming victory.
Thus, Cheongun had become the Supreme Chieftain of the Green Forest.
What the hell? The Alliance's Chief Patrol was the Green Forest King?
The Alliance Leader was utterly speechless when the man handed over yet another bundle of letters.
"This time, this one."
"......"
Taking the letters with a troubled expression, the Alliance Leader muttered to himself.
Green Forest reform plan? What kind of nonsense was this?
As he read through the bundle with a heavy heart, his face grew paler with every line.
It proposed paving and maintaining the treacherous mountain paths where the Green Forest's seventy-two strongholds were located, driving out the beasts to create safe roads for travelers.
And since the Green Forest would be doing the paving, they would charge a reasonable toll from those passing through.
That wasn't all.
They would renovate the strongholds into livable inns where passing merchants could safely eat and rest.
Furthermore, they aimed to use them as warehouses or logistics hubs whenever possible, contributing to commercial development.
This would dismantle the Central Plains' largest bandit force while simultaneously boosting commerce, stabilizing public order, and securing safe mountain routes.
It even noted that notorious villains with massive bounties had all been crippled at their dantian and bundled up for delivery to the authorities, complete with a list of names.
Bloodline Pavilion, Darkwood Sect, Filth Gate, and Myriad Dragon Escort Agency had agreed to the plan and pledged support—insufficiently, as the Alliance's own Chief Patrol was actively championing it.
And what? Bang Jongdae, Shaolin's promising young high monk of the next generation, was the key figure mediating and overseeing the reforms?
Reaching the final line.
The conclusion followed.
They requested the Justice Alliance's support for all of this.
"...Heh."
Geum Myeongju thought to himself.
On the surface, the outcomes were impressive: the Central Plains' headache of a bandit force brought under Alliance oversight, securing public order and funding streams just as Cheongun claimed—a plausible reform.
But the process was the problem.
No, he'd killed the chieftain and taken his place, then brawled with the Green Forest King at the assembly?
And Bang Jongdae—that damned disciple—how had he wormed his way into that mess to stir up such bizarre schemes?
His one and only disciple was already tarnishing Shaolin's reputation with that ridiculous moniker of the Three Lights, giving him splitting headaches.
And Cheongun.
How long had it even been since he'd assigned him as Chief Patrol? Already, two major fiend-side factions were folding under the Alliance?
Listing just the results, it looked like purging villains to normalize the Green Forest. But words and deeds differed—Geum Myeongju, having met Cheongun a few times, sensed something off.
Did he really target the Green Forest from the start to normalize it?
He couldn't be sure.
...Was this a good thing or a bad thing?
Meanwhile, Huashan Sect Leader Jin Baekgyeong, seated beside him, laughed heartily in approval.
"What a brilliant idea! The Filth Gate, middlemen for assassins day in and day out, and the perennial Green Forest headache—both absorbed by an Alliance figure! The Chief Patrol, no less! This is the Alliance's great fortune and holds immense strategic value!"
"That's true, but..."
At the Alliance Leader's lukewarm response, Elder Go Hak of Huashan clicked his tongue.
"What's the problem? The Chief Patrol roams the land raising the Alliance's name."
"The methods are a bit questionable, aren't they?"
"Heh, Alliance Leader. When purging ruthless fiends, we don't nitpick the process. Look at the results. Has the Alliance ever garnered such grassroots support since its founding? Even the bureaucracy sings praises, and they're sharing minor stakes with supporting factions, offering them a cut of future profits!"
"Heh......"
The Alliance Leader let out a deep sigh.
Ignoring him, Huashan Sect Leader Jin Baekgyeong nodded firmly.
"Huashan fully supports the Chief Patrol's endeavors."
Peng Clan Patriarch Peng Mugeuk, seated nearby, nodded as well.
It wasn't just them.
Most sect leaders, long plagued by Green Forest bandits and Filth Gate intrigue, voiced their support.
"Peng Clan stands in agreement."
"Wudang as well."
"Ami Sect concurs."
...
...
...
And in the end.
The Alliance Leader, who had been swallowing sighs, finally spoke.
"...Shaolin also supports it."
"How far have you investigated?"
"......"
Moon Shadow stood silently, gazing at Cheongun.
It wasn't particularly surprising.
Cheongun's moniker was Radiant Heaven Martial Sword—one of the Three Madmen, the craziest trio in the Central Plains.
Of course Moon Shadow knew that, so she had no need to be shocked by his insane responses one by one.
If anything, it was a relief that he was as mad as the rumors said.
The madder they were, the truer they stayed to their desires.
Thus, Cheongun had no reason to outright reject her offer.
Maintaining her composure, Moon Shadow countered.
"State your terms first. Then we negotiate..."
"Shut it. You're not the desperate one here, yet you're spouting nonsense about terms? 'Desperate,' my ass—all lies."
Cheongun ruthlessly cut off the girl.
In truth, even playing the original game, he'd hated these Secret Society types.
They were all malicious preemptive offer pests.
Of course, leveraging seller advantage to pressure buyers was standard negotiation, but it still pissed off the mark all the same.
Besides, in this situation, Cheongun held all the cards.
They were the ones begging—how dare they demand preemptive offers?
As Cheongun's face twisted, Moon Shadow hurriedly added.
"That's not what I meant! I just don't know what you want, so tell me first! I'll match it as best I can!"
"Then spit out your best."
"Asking like that out of nowhere, I can't think!"
Cheongun clicked his tongue.
"Information broker, right?"
"Yes."
"How much authority do you have? What can you broker?"
Moon Shadow puffed out her meager chest proudly.
"The Secret Society Leader is my blood sister!"
"Can you temporarily act with the Leader's full authority?"
"Heh, you could say that!"
Cheongun nodded.
"Hand over the Secret Society."
What? Hand over what?
Thinking she'd misheard, Moon Shadow blinked, but Cheongun repeated with his signature wistful expression.
"I want the Secret Society."
"...Are you insane?"
Cheongun tilted his head.
"Any issue?"
"Ha! Issue? Obviously plenty! At least make a request that makes sense!"
"Why doesn't it?"
"Begging to save the Secret Society, and you want me to hand it over? Does that make sense?!"
Cheongun scoffed.
"Wrong premise. Is this the time to worry about the Society's survival? You've made an enemy of the Sword Sovereign—worry about your and the Leader's necks first."
"What?"
"Even if you didn't know she was his disciple, you still touched Namgung's daughter, didn't you?"
Moon Shadow bristled.
"Namgung's nothing! The Secret Society can handle them!"
"What, is your head just decoration? Foolish from the start—thinking touching one faction means facing only that faction. What about the hordes tied by marriage, sworn brotherhood, master-disciple bonds?"
Moon Shadow flinched.
"Fine, I admit it. But it's weird! We erased every trace—how did word reach the Sword Sovereign? Even our secret bases known only to executives—how does he know them all?!"
Because I'm the possessor.
Knowing the original story's info, it'd be weirder if he didn't.
Left alone, the Secret Society would fall to the Demonic Cult anyway.
In the original, after total annihilation by the Sword Sovereign, its remnants got absorbed by the Cult, becoming a massive threat.
Seeing Cheongun's distant expression, Moon Shadow pleaded tearfully.
"Please, just help us!"
"Hand over the Secret Society. Then I will."
"Impossible."
"Pity. Negotiations failed."
Moon Shadow gritted her teeth and asked once more.
"No other demands at all?"
"None."
"Come on, money, info—something! I'll even make you Vice Leader!"
"If you won't meet my demand, get out of my sight."
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Moon Shadow clenched her fists in rage, grinding her teeth.
Without Cheongun, persuading the Sword Sovereign was impossible.
But groveling like this hurt her pride and boded ill for future talks.
So, planning to retreat a step, she turned.
That was when it happened.
"!!!"
Two swords floated up, suddenly flying in to flash blue before Moon Shadow, blocking her path.
Cheongun's Crimson Night Sword and secondary blade.
Startled, Moon Shadow whipped around to face Cheongun.
Cheongun said.
"My master's enemy. Unforgivable. Come at me."
"......"