Chapter 764: Devoted Support
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 764: Devoted Support
"What matters right now is who we appoint to the vacant position of Cheonmu Alliance Leader."
Joo So-yang continued, her eyes sparkling like starlight.
"My Lady! Are you actually planning to maintain the Cheonmu Alliance!?"
Gye Sang-deuk asked, his expression clouded with bewilderment.
Appointing someone to the seat of the Cheonmu Alliance Leader? That meant she intended to keep the organization intact.
"Yes, that is my intention," Joo So-yang replied with a firm nod.
"Please, reconsider, My Lady! How can you speak of preserving the Cheonmu Alliance when it is still stained by the traces of Lee Jae-won!?"
The Cheonmu Alliance was a den of entrenched corruption where Lee Jae-won had reigned for over twenty years. It was a place overflowing with all manner of graft and injustice. How could she possibly suggest keeping such an organization alive?
"I find the idea just as distasteful as you do. However, we have no other choice..." Joo So-yang continued, her expression tinged with regret. "As much as I hate to admit it, the Cheonmu Alliance has served as the focal point for the Orthodox Faction for the past two decades. If it were to collapse in an instant, the strength of the Orthodox Murim would undoubtedly be scattered."
Joo So-yang’s expression turned solemn.
For twenty years, the Cheonmu Alliance had been the center of the Orthodox world. Because its founding principle was the realization of chivalry, those belonging to the Orthodox Faction could gather there naturally, setting aside the petty interests of their individual sects or clans.
This was how the Cheonmu Alliance became so powerful, transforming into the undisputed greatest single force in the land. It was the only entity capable of unifying the martial artists of the Orthodox Faction.
If such an alliance were to be disbanded overnight, the people who had gathered under a single cause would scatter to the winds, and the unity of the Orthodox Faction would be weakened to a disastrous degree.
Therefore, the preservation of the Cheonmu Alliance was inevitable—especially now, with the Heavenly Demon resurrected and eyeing the Central Plains.
"Does it have to be the Cheonmu Alliance? New wine should be put into new bottles! Instead of the Cheonmu Alliance, which was rife with corruption, we should restore the glory of the old Murim Alliance!" Gye Sang-deuk argued, his face flushed with excitement.
New wine in new bottles. That new bottle would be the resurrected Murim Alliance. If they absorbed the remaining forces of the Cheonmu Alliance, it wouldn't be a difficult task.
"We cannot do that."
Joo So-yang shook her head firmly.
"And why not!?" Gye Sang-deuk countered, looking as if he couldn't understand her stance at all. He couldn't fathom why she was blocking the revival of the Murim Alliance.
"Because if we try to restore the old Murim Alliance as it was, opposing factions will inevitably emerge," Joo So-yang explained gravely.
To the elders, the Murim Alliance was a precious entity that evoked nostalgia for the past, but not everyone felt the same way. As an organization with a long history, the Murim Alliance had its own share of deep-seated evils.
Unconditional obedience to any command, no matter how unreasonable, was mandatory. Because it prioritized seniority, positions were often determined by age and rank rather than ability. Furthermore, because it valued stability over change, it frequently left its corrupt elements untouched.
Due to these characteristics, younger martial artists harbored a strong resentment toward the Murim Alliance. That was why, when the Cheonmu Alliance was first founded, they had welcomed it with open arms, many of them transferring their affiliation or joining immediately.
In a way, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that the Murim Alliance's dissolution was caused more by its own internal issues than by the Demonic Cult.
In this situation, if they announced they were following the will of the old Murim Alliance and tried to establish it by absorbing the Cheonmu Alliance, there would be a massive backlash. Countless people would leave without a second thought. It would be the worst possible move, only accelerating their division.
"......B-But My Lady... if you were to make the announcement yourself, you could capture the hearts of the younger martial artists!" Gye Sang-deuk persisted, still unable to let go of the idea.
The Murim Alliance might be hated by the youth, but Joo So-yang was the chivalrous heroine of the Murim who had exposed Lee Jae-won’s hideous crimes. He believed that if she stepped forward, she could surely turn public opinion in their favor.
"Uncle."
Joo So-yang looked at Gye Sang-deuk quietly.
"New wine must be put into new bottles."
She spoke slowly.
"The Murim Alliance is also a bottle that has already worn thin. We must use a new bottle now."
"............My Lady."
Gye Sang-deuk’s expression turned somber as he realized her intent. She was telling him to stop clinging to the Murim Alliance—to focus on the present situation rather than past glory.
He stared at her in silence. He felt a surge of pride seeing how much she had grown, to the point where she was now the one advising him.
"............My thinking was shallow."
Gye Sang-deuk eventually apologized. He had given up on clinging to the glory of the past.
A solemn atmosphere settled over the meeting room. Gye Sang-deuk had been the most fervent and passionate advocate for the Murim Alliance's revival. Since even he had given up on its reconstruction, the other elders had no choice but to accept it.
"...Thank you for understanding," Joo So-yang said, bowing her head slightly in gratitude.
"......In a way, it is only natural...... I apologize for my stubbornness, My Lady," Gye Sang-deuk replied with newfound respect.
Joo So-yang smiled. She was inwardly satisfied that he had ultimately followed her lead.
"Then, shall we move on to the main topic? I believe that to preserve the Cheonmu Alliance, we cannot leave the position of Leader vacant. We need a new figure who can replace the former leader, Lee Jae-won."
Joo So-yang’s eyes sparkled as she continued.
"What are your opinions, Uncles?"
She looked around the room, inviting their input.
"I agree."
"As My Lady said, if we are to maintain the Cheonmu Alliance, we cannot leave the leadership vacant indefinitely."
"Indeed, the Leader is the position that represents both the members and the Alliance itself...... If it remains empty, it could lead to a lack of pride, low morale, and many other issues."
"I believe it is necessary. Without a proper leader, the organization will lose its way."
One by one, the elders began to voice their agreement. These were men who had spent decades navigating the world of politics. Some had even held high-ranking positions during the days of the Murim Alliance.
They knew better than anyone that a leader was essential to maintain a group. Without proper leadership, the organization would inevitably turn into a disorganized rabble.
Joo So-yang smiled with satisfaction as she watched the elders agree with her. Everything was going according to plan.
"I believe the person who replaces Lee Jae-won as the focal point of the Orthodox Murim must be someone with immense influence. It must be a name that everyone knows. And they must be as powerful as Lee Jae-won was. In the Murim, martial power is authority."
Joo So-yang scanned the room with a heated gaze.
"I recommend the Sword God as the Leader of the Cheonmu Alliance."
Her starlit eyes sparkled as she made the proposal.
"That cannot be!"
"He is still too young! How can you suggest handing over all actual power to him!?"
"This is preposterous!"
The elders immediately erupted in protest. They could understand maintaining the Cheonmu Alliance. They had been convinced that the era no longer wanted the Murim Alliance and its past glory.
However, they could not accept Joo So-yang not taking the seat of the Alliance Leader herself. She had more than enough justification and legitimacy. Why would she think of handing over all the power to the Sword God? It made no sense.
"Silence."
A calm voice cut through the heated atmosphere of the meeting room. It was Gye Sang-deuk. The man who seemed most likely to explode in anger was, instead, speaking calmly.
The elders fell silent, sensing something unusual in his tone.
"My Lady."
Once the room was quiet, Gye Sang-deuk looked at Joo So-yang.
"Please, speak."
"I want you to take the position of Cheonmu Alliance Leader. In fact, I believe every elder here feels the same. So why do you intend to place the Sword God in that seat?" Gye Sang-deuk asked in a remarkably level voice.
"I believe the position is more than I deserve."
"It is not more than you deserve at all. You have the legitimacy of being the daughter of the former Murim Alliance Leader, the chivalrous spirit to expose Lee Jae-won’s atrocities without hesitation, and immense martial power. How can you say such a position is more than you deserve?"
"Uncle, do you know what the Cheonmu Alliance needs right now? It needs reform. It needs clear evidence that it is different from before. And for that reform, we need a new face. Not someone from the existing power structure, but a newly emerged hero."
"And you are saying that hero is the Sword God?"
"Yes, that is what I believe. A man like the Sword God, who has grown through countless hardships and possesses martial arts powerful enough to enforce his will, can be the hero who reforms the Cheonmu Alliance."
"You could be that hero as well, My Lady."
"It’s impossible for me. I have reigned as part of the power structure in both the Murim Alliance and the Cheonmu Alliance. How could I be a hero for reform?"
Joo So-yang shook her head. She was not the right person for reform. Rather, she was closer to the old guard, having enjoyed the sweetness of power for a long time. The people would never accept her in that role.
"It has to be the Sword God. It must be him."
Joo So-yang’s eyes shone with resolute determination.
"..........He is too young."
Political skill usually grew with age, and Sun-woo was far too young to sit at the pinnacle of power as the Alliance Leader.
"Age is not important. Didn't even Lee Jae-won take the position of Leader in his twenties? And if he doesn't know something, I can simply teach him from his side."
Joo So-yang spoke as if it were a trivial matter. No one was an expert from the start. If he didn't know, he could be taught. Besides, even that fool Lee Jae-won had held the title of Cheonmu Alliance Leader. There was no reason her beloved husband couldn't hold it as well.
"................"
"..............."
The elders all fell silent as if by agreement. They were convinced by her logic, but they didn't want to admit it. Thus, they could only remain silent, glancing at one another.
After a long silence...
"I agree with My Lady's opinion."
Lee Se-jin, who had been quiet until then, slowly spoke up in support. He felt her argument was correct.
Reform required a figurehead, and he believed there was no one more suitable than the Sword God. He was the young hero who had driven back the Demonic Cult when they invaded the Central Plains and nearly wiped out the Tang Clan. Furthermore, he was the greatest martial artist under heaven, having defeated Lee Jae-won to stand at the very peak of the Murim.
If not him, then who else could possibly reform the Cheonmu Alliance?
"I have a condition."
Gye Sang-deuk finally spoke.
"A condition?" Joo So-yang tilted her head curiously.
"If the Sword God takes the position of Leader, I want you to remain by his side as an advisor."
".........If the Sword God takes the seat...... I will do my best to ensure that happens."
"Very well. I also agree. Reform does indeed require a new figure."
Hearing her answer, Gye Sang-deuk gave his consent with a satisfied expression.
"I agree as well."
"I also concur."
"There is no one better than the Sword God. Hahaha!"
With Gye Sang-deuk’s approval, voices of agreement began to rise from all sides. Since even the most hot-headed Gye Sang-deuk was convinced, the other elders had no choice but to follow suit.
Seeing this, Joo So-yang smiled contentedly. Everything was going exactly as she had planned. Although there was a condition attached, she had ultimately succeeded in handing the entire Cheonmu Alliance over to Sun-woo.
'Sun-woo... he'll be happy, right?'
She thought to herself. Devoted support wasn't such a complicated thing after all.
The smile on her lips grew even deeper.