Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Refusal to Be a Puppet
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A heavy silence hung over the grand hall.
“…….”
Myeong Hyeon-ja’s expression was rigidly frozen. His face was flushed red, as if he might erupt in anger at any moment.
Sama Won couldn’t hide his troubled look either, glancing back and forth between Seol Hwa-un and Myeong Hyeon-ja.
Only Seol Hwa-un remained utterly composed, staring steadily at Myeong Hyeon-ja, who deliberately avoided his gaze.
After a long silence, Sama Won finally spoke.
“Little Palace Lord, that’s rather difficult to accept.”
“Why is that?”
“Haha, you’re asking a tough question.”
“Do you think the Ice Palace’s forces are inferior to the Nine Great Sects?”
“That’s…… not it.”
The Martial Alliance’s intelligence network extended even to the Outer Realm. As such, they had a rough grasp of the Ice Palace’s current strength.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Well, you see…….”
Seol Hwa-un let out a cold sneer.
“If it’s too hard to say outright, I’ll spell it out for you. It’s because the Ice Palace is an Outer Realm force, isn’t it?”
“…….”
“So why invite the Ice Palace to join? It’s not about standing shoulder to shoulder as equals. You just want the prestige and our reputation without the commitment. And to show off to your rival factions in the process.”
“Little Palace Lord, there’s some misunderstanding…….”
Seol Hwa-un held up his open palm.
“It’s fine. Politics like this exist everywhere. Joining the Martial Alliance would certainly bring the Ice Palace many benefits, so there’s plenty of upside. However.”
His eyes gleamed sharply.
“I have no intention of becoming your puppet. So if you meet the conditions I’ve demanded, we’ll join.”
But he knew they would never accept it.
“…….”
Sama Won, who had been desperately searching for words to persuade him, couldn’t bring himself to speak in the face of such resolute words.
Myeong Hyeon-ja’s eyes blazed intensely as his lips trembled several times, but in the end, he said nothing.
As the long silence dragged on, Seol Hwa-un suddenly rose from his seat.
“I’ll take your silence as my answer.”
With that, he turned to leave. Just then, a maidservant entered with tea. Seeing this, he left one final remark.
“Consider the tea served as well.”
And so Seol Hwa-un exited the grand hall, leaving only Myeong Hyeon-ja and Sama Won behind.
Myeong Hyeon-ja finally spoke.
“What an arrogant bastard. He has the martial prowess to back it up, but he’s far too haughty.”
It was a single sentence laced with suppressed fury.
He had held Seol Hwa-un in high regard when the young man casually blocked his Formless Sword Qi without a care. But one sentence had shattered that impression, replacing it with the view of a “cocky upstart.”
Sama Won responded immediately.
“You endured it well, Wusang. My apologies—I didn’t expect the North Heaven Dragon to be so brazen either.”
“For some Outer Realm riffraff to demand to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Nine Sects? Preposterous.”
“Indeed.”
Sama Won nodded in agreement, but deep down, he disagreed with Myeong Hyeon-ja.
‘Excluding a handful of top-tier sects among the Nine, there’s no faction that can match the North Sea Ice Palace, Wusang.’
It was Sama Won who had most vehemently argued to invite Seol Hwa-un’s group and propose alliance membership.
Wusang Myeong Hyeon-ja was a man of immense ambition for a Taoist of the Wudang Sect, despite his formidable martial arts.
He harbored dreams of becoming Alliance Leader and unifying the Central Plains martial world—a goal Sama Won knew well.
Myeong Hyeon-ja certainly had the qualifications. That was why Sama Won had spared no advice in helping him ascend to Alliance Leader.
By doing so, Sama Won believed he could rise to prominence as the next leader’s closest confidant.
To give Myeong Hyeon-ja wings, Sama Won had invited Seol Hwa-un’s group and sought to bolster his position by bringing the Ice Palace into the fold.
He had invested considerable time convincing Myeong Hyeon-ja and finally elicited a positive response.
But now, just as they were on the verge of absorbing the North Sea Ice Palace into the Martial Alliance, Seol Hwa-un proved unexpectedly unyielding.
‘Equal status to the Nine Sects.’
A rational assessment might deem it not entirely unreasonable. It could expand the Alliance’s reach and stir up new public opinion.
They could even pretend to accept while effectively neutralizing it in practice.
But no matter what, the Nine Great Sects at the heart of the Martial Alliance would never tolerate such terms.
Even if they somehow persuaded Wusang, the other Nine Sects would surely object.
‘At least we haven’t ruined the relationship. That’s something to be grateful for.’
If Myeong Hyeon-ja had lost his temper, it could have escalated from a failed overture to outright hostility.
That was something to avoid at all costs.
‘With our ties to the Righteous Heaven Alliance not even properly established, adding enemies would be unwise.’
Sama Won glanced at Myeong Hyeon-ja.
‘His ambition runs deep. To hold back even in that situation.’
It was astonishing, considering Myeong Hyeon-ja’s usual temperament.
“Doesn’t this make all our efforts so far for nothing?”
At Myeong Hyeon-ja’s question, Sama Won nodded with a bitter expression.
“It does. But maintaining amicable relations with the North Sea Ice Palace still holds value.”
“…….”
“Either way, my apologies, Wusang. This is my fault for being so stubborn…….”
Myeong Hyeon-ja shook his head with a faint smile.
“How could everything go as planned? Unexpected variables crop up now and then. Don’t trouble yourself over it.”
But Sama Won knew just how furious he truly was.
‘Haha, he wants to appear magnanimous as a sect leader.’
Burying his true feelings, Sama Won bowed his head.
“Thank you, Wusang.”
* * *
As Seol Hwa-un emerged from the Alliance Leader’s hall, Jeong Ji-hwang was waiting for him.
“You’re out early.”
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Yes. My orders include escorting you back to the Noble Guest Pavilion.”
“I can find my own way.”
Jeong Ji-hwang shook his head.
“No. Please allow me to fulfill my duties.”
“……Fine.”
Seol Hwa-un grudgingly followed behind him, then paused.
“……?”
“Could we make a quick detour to the Alliance’s training grounds?”
“Ah, yes. Of course.”
Seol Hwa-un knew the way well but silently trailed behind. After about fifteen minutes, a massive training ground loomed before them.
‘It’s as impressive as ever.’
The Martial Alliance was vast, with countless warriors under its banner, so its training grounds were enormous—three times larger than the Ice Palace’s main one.
Hundreds of warriors were scattered across the expansive field, engaged in individual training.
“It’s personal practice time right now, so everyone’s training freely.”
Most belonged to martial squads or brigades, so group sessions were common too. Those usually focused on formations or joint techniques.
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un quietly surveyed the entire training ground. For some reason, he examined each person meticulously, one by one.
‘Just as I expected.’
He turned to Jeong Ji-hwang.
“As far as I know, the ratio of Martial Alliance warriors is three from the Nine Sects and seven from minor and mid-tier sects. Is that correct?”
“You know the Alliance well. Yes.”
“But the current training ground doesn’t reflect that ratio. Nearly eighty percent look like Nine Sects disciples.”
Jeong Ji-hwang flinched involuntarily.
“Th-that’s…….”
“The mid and small sect members are probably all on guard duty or chores at this hour, right?”
Jeong Ji-hwang wore a troubled expression.
“I have nothing to say to that.”
Seol Hwa-un stared straight at him.
“Are you satisfied with your current treatment in the Martial Alliance, Hero Jeong?”
“Hero is too much. But what do you mean……?”
“If you don’t get it, I’ll be direct. Escort squad member. Do you truly believe that position matches your abilities?”
“……!”
Jeong Ji-hwang’s face stiffened. But he soon forced a smile.
“The Alliance operates with the Nine Great Sects at its core. I acknowledge there are some inequities as a result.”
“…….”
“But it can’t be helped. Still, I’m content to be an upright warrior of the Martial Alliance.”
A flicker of pity crossed Seol Hwa-un’s eyes. There was genuine sincerity in his words.
‘He’s already half-given up, settling for small comforts. No wonder—any sects dissatisfied with this have already defected to the Righteous Heaven Alliance.’
Seol Hwa-un closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
“I may be young, but I can’t hold back this one piece of advice, Hero Jeong.”
“……?”
“If the Nine Sects are the roots and trunk of the Martial Alliance, then the mid and small sects are the branches and leaves. Roots and trunk are vital, but without branches and leaves, it dies.”
Seol Hwa-un’s face flushed slightly.
“It’s a symbiotic relationship. Not one where one side suppresses and discriminates against the other!”
“……!”
“Mid and small sects can’t rise to high ranks anyway due to the limits of their arts. But their presence in the Alliance isn’t insignificant. At the very least, they deserve positions commensurate with their abilities!”
Jeong Ji-hwang knew it all too well. Juniors far less experienced and skilled than him— all from the Nine Great Sects—were squad leaders issuing him orders.
“…….”
Jeong Ji-hwang’s expression shifted repeatedly.
“If you keep accepting and rationalizing it like this, your treatment from the Nine Sects will only worsen. Do you really want to remain subjugated in the Alliance forever?”
“Th-that’s…….”
“I’m an outsider, so my words may not resonate. But I can’t help feeling sorry for you.”
“…….”
Jeong Ji-hwang wanted to argue, but his mind went blank, words failing him.
‘Are you really satisfied with the status quo, Jeong Ji-hwang?’
That question echoed endlessly in his head.
Soon after, Seol Hwa-un and Jeong Ji-hwang headed back to the Noble Guest Pavilion.
But one person in the training ground watched their retreating figures intently.
“……Interesting.”
In an instant, his form vanished like a shadow. Yet no one in the training ground noticed.