Chapter 601: Kunlun or Geezer-lun, Tell Them to Go There!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 601: Kunlun or Geezer-lun, Tell Them to Go There!
"I'm not even close to him, though?"
Yorang tilted her head and asked.
She had never even met Lee Jae-won, the Leader of the Cheonmu Alliance. She couldn't understand why his letter would summon her specifically.
"It seems to be something we all need to hear."
"Ugh... how annoying..."
Yorang spoke with a look of blatant irritation. She had been planning to go to her room and get some proper rest. Her body was heavy and sluggish from the duel, and she had intended to throw herself straight onto her bed.
To be summoned so suddenly—there was no way she wouldn't find it a nuisance.
"The Acting Head asked that you come as quickly as possible."
Geum Jeok-hwa added, sensing that if she didn't make it clear, Yorang would likely wander off somewhere else.
"Run along then, Yorang. This lady shall go soak herself in a warm bath."
Neung So-hwa, who had been watching the scene, spoke with a mischievous smile. Seeing Yorang’s overt annoyance had naturally piqued her playful side.
"The Acting Head mentioned that Princess Gyeonghwa should come along as well."
Geum Jeok-hwa spoke up before the Princess could finish.
"What!?"
Neung So-hwa turned back to Geum Jeok-hwa with a look of pure bewilderment. Why was she being called regarding a matter involving a letter from the Cheonmu Alliance?
She wasn't a martial artist. She was strictly a member of the Imperial Court. There was absolutely no reason for her to be involved in the affairs of the Murim.
"She said it is something the Princess must know as well."
Geum Jeok-hwa spoke firmly.
"...Ah."
Neung So-hwa’s expression turned to one of regret. It seemed her soak in the warm tub would have to be postponed.
"What are you going to do? Looks like you're going too."
Yorang’s taunting voice drifted over from beside her. Hearing that snide remark, Neung So-hwa knit her fine brows. Yorang felt even more obnoxious than usual.
"Then, if both of you would follow me."
Watching them, Geum Jeok-hwa quickly turned to lead the way. She knew that if she left them alone, a verbal spat would surely break out.
Yorang and Neung So-hwa watched her back for a moment before they began to follow, their footsteps heavy with reluctance.
*
The Meeting Room
Several women sat around a large table. Every single one of them possessed such peerless beauty that it created the illusion of flowers in full bloom within the room.
"Ugh... when is Seo-yoon coming?"
Yorang, the peerless beauty with a cute impression, spoke in a voice thick with boredom.
"She’ll be here soon. Please wait just a little longer."
Geum Jeok-hwa, sitting beside her, began to soothe her gently.
"I wonder what was written in that letter?"
Ok-ryeong, the peerless beauty with a pure aura, asked as she tilted her head. She was curious about what could be so important that it required summoning so many people at once.
"That... I don't know either. I was only told to gather everyone..."
Geum Jeok-hwa replied with an apologetic expression. She, too, had not been told the details.
"You said it definitely bore the seal of the Cheonmu Alliance Leader, right?"
Kang Ha-yoon, sitting next to Ok-ryeong, asked with a questioning look.
"Yes, I confirmed it myself."
Geum Jeok-hwa nodded. She was the one who had personally delivered the letter from the Cheonmu Alliance to Tang Seo-yoon. That was how she had seen it—the Alliance Leader's seal stamped clearly on the envelope.
"......I have a bad feeling about this."
Kang Ha-yoon spoke with an anxious expression. The thought of a letter coming from Lee Jae-won—the man whose arm her beloved Sun-woo had severed—filled her with an inexplicable sense of dread.
".............Surely... nothing has happened to my Lord, has it?"
Un Ga-ryeo spoke with a trembling voice, her eyes welling up. She, too, was gripped by anxiety. The fear that something might have happened to Sun-woo gnawed at her.
"That is unlikely. If such a thing had happened, the entire Murim would be buzzing with the news."
Neung So-hwa spoke in a calm tone. Ever since he had cut off Lee Jae-won’s arm, Sun-woo had been the center of the world's attention under the title of 'Sword God.' If something had happened to him, rumors would have traveled faster than any letter.
"So, do not worry."
Neung So-hwa looked at the trembling Un Ga-ryeo and reassured her.
"......Thank you... Princess Gyeonghwa."
"Did I not tell you to call me Sohwa...?"
Neung So-hwa said with a grin.
".......Yes... Lady Sohwa.."
A warm atmosphere began to settle over the meeting room.
Creeeeeak—
Suddenly, the door to the meeting room swung open. A woman stepped inside.
She was a peerless beauty with eyes that slanted up slightly like a cat's, a nose as sharp as a blade, and charming lips that suggested a stubborn streak.
It was Tang Seo-yoon.
"I apologize. I am late."
As soon as she arrived, Tang Seo-yoon offered her apologies.
"It's okay~ we haven't been waiting long."
Yorang shook her head. They had only been waiting for about fifteen minutes. It wasn't enough to warrant an apology.
"More importantly, I would like you to get to the point. Why was even I summoned here?"
Neung So-hwa asked, tilting her head curiously. Aside from the fact that they shared a magnificent man named Sun-woo, she had no connection to the Tang Clan or the Murim at large. She was genuinely curious as to why she had been called.
"Because something has happened that everyone here needs to know."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke with a heavy expression.
"Something everyone needs to know?"
Neung So-hwa asked back, puzzled. What on earth could that be?
"I believe you are all aware that a letter arrived from the Cheonmu Alliance. The contents of that letter are quite grave, so I felt it necessary to inform all of you. That is why I gathered everyone here."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke in a level voice.
"What exactly does it say, Seo-yoon?"
Ok-ryeong asked, her curiosity piqued.
"An official request for cooperation has arrived from the Alliance Leader. He states that he wishes to station the entire military force of the Cheonmu Alliance within the Tang Clan estate."
She spoke with a stiff, hardened expression.
"What!?"
Ok-ryeong’s eyes went wide with shock. What did that even mean? Stationing the entire force of the Cheonmu Alliance?
"You have all likely heard the news that the Cheonmu Alliance recently declared war on the Demonic Cult. And that they are preparing for battle."
"I have heard. Even I, an outsider, know of this."
Neung So-hwa answered promptly. The news of the Cheonmu Alliance’s declaration of war against the Demonic Cult had spread like wildfire. Since the fate of the Murim hung in the balance, it was impossible for the rumors not to spread.
"However, it seems a problem has arisen in the process of preparing for that war."
Tang Seo-yoon’s expression turned even more serious.
"A problem?"
The women looked at her, confused. What kind of problem could have occurred?
"There has been a setback in the supply of food, and it seems the war is being delayed because of it."
"What kind of setback?"
Yorang asked, curious.
"Since the harvest season is approaching, it seems everyone is hoarding their grain. Because they aren't releasing the grain, the Alliance hasn't been able to secure proper provisions."
"Ah!"
Yorang let out a small gasp of realization. She could roughly guess what kind of setback had occurred. The Cheonmu Alliance numbered in the thousands. The amount of food required to feed them would be staggering—likely hundreds of sacks of grain a day. Securing such a massive amount of food, not just for a day but for months of stockpiling, would be an incredibly difficult task.
"But what does that have to do with them staying at the Tang Clan?"
Yorang asked again, still confused. She didn't understand why they needed to be stationed there.
"It seems the Cheonmu Alliance intends to use the Tang Clan as a strategic hub."
"A strategic hub?"
Yorang tilted her head. What was that supposed to mean?
"Aside from Kunlun, the Tang Clan is currently the Murim power located closest to the Demonic Cult. The Cheonmu Alliance likely intends to stay here while they wait for their supplies to be finalized. Doing so would minimize the waste of movement and manpower."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke with a grim expression.
"Those people are insane."
Yorang spat out a curse, looking absolutely incredulous. The idea felt utterly absurd to her.
"Who do they think they are, deciding whether to stay or not? And in someone else's house, no less... Are they out of their minds?"
Yorang scowled. She couldn't understand the Alliance's logic. If they wanted to station themselves somewhere, they could go to some empty field. Why did they have to come to the Tang Clan?
"Kunlun or Geezer-lun, tell them to go there! Why the hell are they coming to the Tang Clan!?"
Yorang’s voice rose in anger as she shouted.
"..........It seems they chose the Tang Clan because Kunlun isn't equipped to accommodate a massive force of over three thousand people."
"No, why do they get to choose? The owner of the house hasn't given permission... Seo-yoon, refuse them. You don't have to listen to them. Tell them to go pitch some tents and sleep outside."
Yorang spoke with an expression of pure annoyance.
"Sigh... I want to do that more than anything, but..."
Tang Seo-yoon let out a long sigh and let her words trail off.
"Is there a problem?"
"If we refuse the Alliance's official request under the current circumstances, we will face a major backlash."
She continued with a worried look.
"The Cheonmu Alliance currently enjoys the support of countless people under the pretext of protecting the peace and security of the Murim. If we refuse their request for cooperation, we will surely be condemned by those supporters."
Tang Seo-yoon’s expression was dead serious. Currently, the Cheonmu Alliance held the moral high ground. They had the grand justification of saving the Murim from the Demonic Cult and preserving peace. If the Tang Clan failed to cooperate with an organization carrying such a heavy mandate, they would face public outrage.
In the worst-case scenario, all the businesses operated by the Tang Clan could be shaken. Although the Tang Clan had established a unique domain through their superior weaponry and herbalism, they could not go against public sentiment. Ultimately, a business's customers are swayed by public opinion. If trust in the Tang Clan fell and resentment grew, people wouldn't buy their weapons no matter how excellent they were, and they would hesitate to purchase even high-quality herbs.
Therefore, they couldn't easily refuse the Alliance's request. Public sentiment would shift according to the grand justification those people carried on their backs.
"I don't want them coming here!"
Yorang shouted in anger. She hated it. She hated the idea of strangers setting foot in her sanctuary. She hated the thought of her home being jerked around by such pathetic bastards.
".........."
At Yorang’s angry outburst, Tang Seo-yoon lowered her head in silence, looking ashamed. She understood Yorang’s feelings all too well. She also hated the idea of anyone entering the Tang Clan, where her precious loved ones resided.
But she simply couldn't refuse. She couldn't place such a heavy burden on the remaining bloodline of the Tang Clan just because of her own personal distaste.
"Seo-yoon."
A very clear, elegant voice reached her ears. Tang Seo-yoon quickly raised her head to look at the speaker.
"Please, speak, Lady Ok-ryeong."
She opened her mouth as she looked at the pure and beautiful woman.
"If... just if..."
Ok-ryeong spoke with a trembling voice as she looked at Tang Seo-yoon.
"If the entire force of the Cheonmu Alliance is stationed at the Tang Clan... does that mean the Alliance Leader will also be coming here?"
She stared at Tang Seo-yoon with eyes that shook uncontrollably as she asked.
Would the Alliance Leader—would Lee Jae-won—be coming to the Tang Clan?
"Yes. Since Lee Jae-won is the core of their strength... he will certainly be stationed here as well."
Tang Seo-yoon nodded. Lee Jae-won was the key power in this upcoming war. There was no way he would be left out of the deployment.
".......Is... that so?"
Ok-ryeong spoke, her voice still trembling.
"I see... so that's how it is..."
And then, a deep smile began to spread across her face. It was a cold smile, filled with an inexplicable, bone-chilling frost.