096 - New Year
Silence fell.
The acrid stench of blood stabbed at their lungs with every breath they drew.
No one in this room—no one in the entire martial world—could have imagined that Murim Alliance Leader Gongyo would meet such an end.
“Hah...”
One of the sect leaders let out a deep sigh and slumped into his seat.
At that moment, a sharp shout exploded forth.
“Don’t get shaken! That wasn’t Alliance Leader Gongyo! He must have died to that demon long ago!”
Wonji, leader of the Ami Sect, ground her teeth, her eyes blazing with venom.
Everyone knew it in their heads.
But how could their hearts stay calm when the man they’d just been laughing and chatting with lay dead?
The sect leaders shook their heads at Wonji’s poisonous glare.
“As Jin Family Head explained, Ma-seon plans to shake the world without distinguishing between righteous, evil, or demonic.”
Jegal Gak calmly summarized the situation.
But the sect leaders’ ears were still deaf to his words.
“I can’t believe it, even seeing it with my own eyes.”
“Now that you mention it, one of our sect elders has been acting suspicious lately.”
“Ah! My brother too!”
“Sword Demon! I’ll bring someone—have a look!”
“No, me first!”
“Hey! Take turns!”
Once ignited, suspicion spread like uncontrollable wildfire.
The sect leaders’ wariness of the Sword Demon had vanished long ago.
Instead, plunged into even greater anxiety,
they now saw the Sword Demon as the sole existence who could dispel it.
Thud! Thud!
Jegal Gak lightly rapped the table.
“Is no one outside?!”
He first summoned the waiting warriors and servants to tidy the room.
A moment later.
The sect leaders reseated themselves in the conference hall, still thick with the echoes of fierce battle and the tang of blood.
With the leader’s seat vacant, no one dared speak first.
Finally, Jegal Gak glanced at the empty throne and broke the silence.
“As you all know, these are perilous times where the world’s fate hangs by a thread.”
“Mm...”
“......”
The sect leaders nodded gravely.
The Shaolin Abbot and Nangong Family Head, both gone in a single night.
What crisis could outweigh this?
The eastern sky began to blush with deep indigo dawn light, but exhaustion had given way to taut tension in their eyes.
“In the leader’s absence, that role falls to me, the strategist.”
“What? Jegal Family Head—you’re not saying you’ll claim the leader’s seat now?”
Even amid the chaos, mention of the position drew immediate backlash from one sect leader.
Jegal Gak curled one corner of his mouth and eyed the speaker.
“If I did, I suspect you’d object more than anyone.”
“Mm... well, that’s not exactly...”
“Or perhaps you’d like to take it yourself?”
“Huh?”
Greed flickered briefly in the sect leader’s eyes.
Jegal Gak pressed on without pause.
“This isn’t peacetime—it’s war. We face all-out battle against Ma-seon, who seeks to shatter the world. The new leader must stand unmoved by any temptation, guiding every sect and house to victory. Character and reputation are vital, but above all, the prowess to command all heroes.”
“......”
The sect leader, once eager for the throne, slyly looked away.
No matter how he spun it, Jegal Gak’s criteria were worlds apart from him.
Instead, Wonji fixed cold eyes on Jegal Gak.
“Are you claiming you possess such qualities?”
“Haha! Hardly. My character, reputation, prowess—none befit the leader’s seat.”
“Then who should it be? We can’t leave it empty at a time like this.”
“Precisely.”
With the cue he’d awaited from Wonji’s lips, Jegal Gak took full command of the meeting.
“As Sect Leader Wonji says, the seat cannot remain vacant. Normally, we’d follow formal procedures, but this is war. Let’s decide the new leader here. Do you agree?”
“Mm...”
“Isn’t this too hasty?”
The sudden proposal left sect leaders unwilling to commit rashly.
How could they so lightly decide a matter tied to their sects’ futures?
Boom!
Wonji slammed the table, eyes bulging.
“Is there anyone obstructing the alliance’s unity?! That one is Ma-seon’s puppet!”
“......”
“......”
Wonji’s glare silenced them; they stole glances at Jin Muhon and held their tongues.
In this atmosphere, branding Jin Muhon a puppet would mean instant death.
Unwittingly, Wonji—who loathed demons more than any—bolstered Jin Muhon’s position.
“Jegal Family Head! Speak on!”
“My thanks, Sect Leader.”
Jegal Gak gave Wonji a slight bow, then rose.
All eyes from sect leaders and family heads locked on him.
“Character, reputation, prowess. As stated, the new leader must guide righteous Murim to save the world from Ma-seon.”
“......”
Jegal Gak paused for effect, then continued.
“You may differ, but one figure sprang to mind immediately.”
“Oh! Who?!”
Wonji’s eyes gleamed as she urged him.
Jegal Gak turned deliberately, his gaze settling on Jin Muhon.
“His character is deemed ruthless, yet against Ma-seon, that’s a strength. Reputation and prowess speak for themselves. Crucially, he alone among us detects Ma-seon’s puppets. I nominate Yunbong Jin Family Head, Jin Muhon, as new leader.”
“......!”
“...What?!”
Even in dire straits, elevating the Sword Demon to Murim Alliance Leader?
Wonji foamed and leaped up.
“Nonsense! Have you forgotten who he is?! How can such a vile demon lord lead righteous Murim?!”
“Think practically. If not Jin Family Head, then who?”
Wonji scorched the sect leaders with her glare.
Its edge so keen, they averted their eyes.
“Fine! I’ll do it! My character may fall short, but none hate demons more! My reputation and prowess rival any here—I’m most fitting!”
“Hmph!”
“Laughable.”
Sneers erupted among the sect leaders.
Her venom, yes—but claiming equal reputation and prowess?
Absurd.
“Sect Leader, we all know your excellence. Yet a wartime leader demands more than that. To wage war, all must acknowledge and obey. I fear others might not follow you.”
“What?! Who dares refuse me?!”
Boom—!
Then, a portly sect leader in black Taoist robes smashed the table.
“So noisy.”
“What?!”
Wonji whipped her head toward the voice, glaring fiercely.
“Does only Ami Sect bear grudges against the Demonic Cult?”
“......”
Oddly, as the black-robed leader spoke, Wonji—who’d raged unchecked—deflated.
The leader rose slowly, cupping his hands.
His deliberate, weighty presence evoked a colossal boulder.
“Gongdong Sect’s Hyeonamja.”
Even among old allies, the introduction was purely for Jin Muhon’s sake.
Jin Muhon nodded faintly back.
“Wonji Sect Leader. Gongdong Sect trembles at the Demonic Cult too. Ami isn’t alone in suffering their depredations.”
“Hmph! Then what do you propose?!”
“First, hear the nominee, as Jegal Strategist suggested. Deciding the leader comes after.”
Such rare words from the taciturn carried immense weight.
As Hyeonamja’s first utterance in the uproar, other leaders nodded support.
Of course, their disdain for Wonji factored heavily.
“Then, Jin Family Head. Your thoughts?”
Jegal Gak yielded the floor.
Every gaze shifted to Jin Muhon.
Wonji scowled but sat amid the mood.
“If character, reputation, and prowess qualify one, then certainly not me.”
“Hmph!”
Wonji snorted loudly, but pleased, said no more.
Jegal Gak pressed.
“Jin Family Head, you see our dilemma. Were Sword Emperor hale, perhaps. Now, any choice breeds dissent.”
“Then choose one sparking no dissent.”
“Easier said.”
Jin Muhon shifted from Jegal Gak to the assembly.
“Nine Great Sects ascends, families rebel; a family rises, sects rebel—is that it?”
“Mm... not strictly, but not unfounded.”
Jin Muhon nodded.
“Then the solution is simple.”
“Insight?”
“No need to overcomplicate. Elevate one unbound to Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families, possessing all three qualities.”
“Precisely why I nominated you.”
Jin Muhon smirked.
“Others exist.”
“......?”
Jin Muhon slid his gaze elsewhere.
Heads followed unanimously.
“Hm?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Hmm... her...”
Sect leaders murmured assent.
Even Wonji pursed her lips in agreement.
Buso-yong, bathed in stares, widened her eyes.
“Jin Family Head. You mean me?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve no interest in such a seat.”
Buso-yong shook her head firmly.
Jin Muhon smiled in understanding.
“Okhwa Palace Lord ranks among the highest in seniority here. Your character, unmoved by temptation, is famed; your prowess fells Ma-seon’s puppets in one stroke. Who fits better?”
“Jin Family Head. But I—”
“Indeed. Okhwa Palace Lord is present.”
Jegal Gak cut in swiftly.
Jin Muhon met Buso-yong’s eyes.
“Palace Lord, fret not. I, and Elder Muheo, will aid you.”
“......”
Muheo beside her nodded vigorously.
Buso-yong glanced sidelong, sighing deeply.
“Hoo...”
Time dragged; answers grew elusive.
Jegal Gak hastened closure.
“Details later—here, we decide. As proxy leader and Alliance strategist, I, Jegal Gak, nominate Okhwa Palace Lord Buso-yong. Objections?”
“I agree!”
“Okhwa Palace Lord is trustworthy.”
“Aye!”
None opposed.
Affiliated with no faction, keeping worldly distance, Buso-yong ascended unchallenged.
Others might revel; her brow furrowed in concern.
“Palace Lord, worry not. This old man will always stand by your side.”
Muheo beamed, tail wagging.
Buso-yong’s gaze sharpened.
“You make me worry more.”
“Hahaha!”
Clap! Clap!
Jegal Gak clapped, drawing eyes.
“Now, the new leader’s address! Leader.”
He bowed courteously and sat.
Buso-yong rose slowly.
“Okhwa Palace Lord Buso-yong.”
She cupped her hands.
All sprang up, returning the gesture.
“Yes, Leader.”
“Well met.”
Buso-yong gestured stiffly for them to sit.
Commotion faded; silence returned.
Buso-yong spoke.
“With none suitable, I’ll hold the post until one arises.”
Jegal Gak and leaders’ lips curved slyly.
As if the Murim Alliance Leader could be quit at whim.
“But while I do, I’ll give my utmost—so follow diligently.”
“Yes, Leader!”
“Command us!”
Buso-yong nodded.
Worry shed, power filled her eyes; austere aura emanated.
Sect leaders tensed, awaiting orders.
“Hear my command. The Alliance declares war on Ma-seon. Jegal Strategist, devise plans. Sect leaders, purge your ranks of puppets. Upon readiness! March with all forces!”
—Yes!
Their resounding chorus shook the hall, echoing outward.
By then, a new sun bobbed above the eastern sky.