The Alliance Leader's Preferences
The orthodox martial world is largely divided into the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans. The Nine Sects and One Gang emphasize master-disciple bonds over blood ties and are defined by ancient traditions and strict discipline. The Five Great Clans, by contrast, are rising powers that have rapidly expanded through family connections. These two forces joined together to create the Martial Alliance, a united front against the unorthodox factions and the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Deep within the Martial Alliance, an ambitious meeting of the old guard was currently underway.
“I believe the Alliance Leader’s betrothed should be chosen from the Five Great Clans.”
The speaker was Peng Mugang, the Heaven-Shattering Blade Ghost, who had once clashed with the Namgung Clan. His massive frame and closely cropped hair radiated an instinctive pressure. Yet not one person present was cowed by it. Every single one of them was a heavyweight in the martial world.
“Hehe. Unofficial though it may be, we should still regard the Alliance Leader as our sect leader’s disciple. Arranging a marriage with one of Wudang’s own would be the most natural choice.”
Do Hyeonmyeong, Supreme Elder of the Wudang Sect and spiritual pillar of the Martial Alliance, stroked his white beard as he surveyed the room.
“As you all know, it was only because he was our sect leader’s unofficial disciple that Jin Muhyeok—once called the Ghost of War—could claim enough legitimacy to become Alliance Leader.”
Everyone nodded. After all, they could hardly have elevated the commander of a mere combat unit to the highest seat simply because he had slain the Blood Demon.
“The Immortal Sword took special interest in that boy, as well.”
A middle-aged monk in simple robes murmured nostalgically, eyes distant with old memories.
“He is the Alliance Leader now. Please choose your words with care.”
It was Namgung Jinhyek, the Iron-Blooded Divine Spear. His tone was impeccably polite, quite different from his usual demeanor. The monk before him was a figure respected by both orthodox and unorthodox alike.
“Umm… My apologies.”
“I, too, apologize for my rude tone.”
When Namgung Jinhyek bowed with both hands clasped, the monk let out an awkward laugh.
“Hehe. Such fine manners, as expected from one of the Five Great Clans. Think nothing of it.”
“…More to the point.”
Peng Mugang leaned forward, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. The sight was so at odds with his hulking physique that several people had to stifle laughter, but he paid them no mind.
“Does anyone here know the Alliance Leader’s preferences?”
His question was met with total silence. In truth, none of them had been close to Jin Muhyeok back when he led the Black Dragon Unit. On top of that, the head of the Martial Alliance’s intelligence network was his closest aide. They had each tapped their own clan’s information networks, but the results were disappointing.
It was precisely because Peng Mugang had no answers that he had called this gathering.
“…Since the Immortal Sword cherished him, wouldn’t a graceful, refined young lady be appropriate?”
Do Hyeonmyeong answered calmly, but Peng Mugang’s expression remained grave.
“The Immortal Sword’s affection doesn’t mean the Alliance Leader’s personality has changed.”
These days he was called the Heavenly Guardian Sword Sovereign, but during his Black Dragon Unit days he had been a battlefield madman known as the Ghost of War. The fact was famous enough that no one was unaware of it. He had rampaged across the entire martial world, after all.
“How many women could possibly match such a temperament?”
“To begin with, are we even certain he likes women?”
“Umm…”
The Jin Muhyeok they knew hated evil and loved battle. He occasionally shared drinks with comrades but spent most of his time training alone, preparing for the day he would face the next great villain. There was not a single record of him showing interest in women.
“Could it be that he and the strategist… you know…”
“The strategist already has children.”
“There are those who deceive in that manner as well.”
Sighs filled the conference chamber. To think the Alliance Leader standing at the peak of the orthodox martial world might have such inclinations. It was a problem that could fracture centuries of accumulated legitimacy.
“Well…”
At that moment, a middle-aged woman, an elder of the Emei Sect, spoke up cautiously.
“From what I understand, he was an orphan who joined the Martial Alliance as a low-ranking warrior once he came of age.”
Everyone nodded. This much was common knowledge.
“Unlike us, his harsh environment may have left him no room to even consider meeting women. Could that be it?”
Having survived her own orphan childhood before being taken in by Emei, she understood Jin Muhyeok’s circumstances better than the others. At her words, every face in the room brightened.
“If that’s the case, we must proceed with the marriage alliance at once. Any man would naturally wish to be with a beauty.”
“Our Alliance Leader has lived an exemplary life.”
“It aligns perfectly with the Namgung Clan, which has grown alongside the common people.”
Peng Mugang, the monk, and Namgung Jinhyek all nodded with pleased expressions. The other elders of the Martial Alliance did the same, looking thoroughly impressed.
Then someone asked, “By the way, how old is the Alliance Leader?”
Peng Mugang had suddenly grown curious. An absolute master of his caliber could easily maintain a youthful appearance through rejuvenation techniques. With the added prestige of being Alliance Leader, no family would refuse him their daughters. Still, Peng Mugang was purely curious. He himself had been hailed as a genius in his youth and discussed as the greatest talent of the later generation, yet before Jin Muhyeok he had been no more than a firefly before the sun.
“He turned twenty-five this year.”
The voice came from a corner of the conference room where no one should have been standing.
“Jegal strategist? How did you—?”
At Peng Mugang’s startled question, Jegal Hyeon gave an awkward smile.
“I was personally inspecting whether the Martial Alliance’s secret passages were functioning properly. Many sections were damaged during the previous great war.”
“Hehe.”
“Hmm…”
Perhaps because they had just been speculating about a secret relationship between Jegal Hyeon and Jin Muhyeok, the elders turned their heads with meaningless coughs. Jegal Hyeon simply smiled quietly, unconcerned.
“I appreciate your deep concern for the Alliance Leader’s marriage, but—”
The eyes of Jegal Hyeon—once the Blood Money Mad Dog and second-in-command of the Black Dragon Unit—gleamed with chilling light.
“The Alliance Leader’s betrothed will be my younger sister.”
“That cannot be allowed!”
Yet those present were seasoned veterans of the martial world. They did not flinch at Jegal Hyeon’s pressure. Peng Mugang rose to his feet, expression hardening.
“Your sister already has three children!”
“…I have two younger sisters.”
“Hmm?”
Peng Mugang quickly recalled the Jegal Clan’s family information. Indeed, there were two direct-line daughters.
“But the remaining one is only ten years old, is she not?”
The Huashan Sect elder, who had remained silent until now, spoke softly.
“It is perfectly natural for prestigious clans to arrange betrothals at ten years of age.”
“Umm…”
It was not only the clans. Such arrangements occasionally occurred even within the Nine Sects. Of course, the age gap had never been quite this large.
“Kuk kuk!”
An old beggar suddenly burst into laughter. When every eye turned toward him, the old man spoke.
“In the end, isn’t this a matter for the Alliance Leader to decide? What use is there in us discussing it here?”
“That is also correct.”
“Since the Jegal strategist has come all this way, stay for a cup of tea.”
At the old man’s invitation, Jegal Hyeon quietly took a seat. Peng Mugang followed suit. The old man was right. Ultimately, the decision belonged to Jin Muhyeok, the Alliance Leader.
“More importantly, regarding the final representative for the junior generation battle following the Orthodox-Demonic Conference…”
Thus began the unofficial executive meeting of the Martial Alliance.
**
“Where the hell did that bastard run off to?”
In the Alliance Leader’s private office, I glared at the mountain of paperwork and muttered with a frown. Jegal Hyeon had said he was only going to check a few secret passages, yet he still hadn’t returned even as the sun began to set. Was this payback for leaving him behind yesterday when I went to watch the fight?
“I’m bored.”
Just then, the leader of the Heavenly Martial Unit—my direct guard force—opened the office door and walked in.
“What?”
“Alliance Leader, my stomach hurts. May I leave early?”
“Huh?”
The leader of the Heavenly Martial Unit was Jin Baekho, former third-in-command of the Black Dragon Unit. Most of the original unit had died gloriously alongside the previous Alliance Leader, so I had refilled its ranks with people I could trust. Having survived the battlefield together, our relationship was casual, but I couldn’t let this guy slack off. It made my stomach hurt too much.
“Stay right next to me.”
“But my stomach really hurts.”
Despite his whiny tone, he had the face of a stern general. His mouth, however, was a complete disaster.
“What do you want me to do about it?”
“Boss. I’m married, remember? It’s our honeymoon period. It’s already evening—can’t you send me home? Please?”
“I’m still single, and you’re rubbing your marriage in my face?”
When I narrowed my eyes and scowled, Jin Baekho dropped his head and began grumbling in earnest. Once this guy got sulky, he stayed that way for a long time, but sending him home was out of the question. It would make my stomach hurt way too much.
“What’s the point of serving by your side if you never let me go home and only make me work overtime every day? How is it this hard to see my lovely wife’s face?”
“Heh heh heh.”
Yes. This was exactly right. This guy needed to be tormented a little. I had been so relieved thinking someone with his personality would remain single forever, yet he had gone and gotten married while I was buried under paperwork. The sense of loss I felt back then had been enormous.
“What are you two doing?”
Jegal Hyeon suddenly poked his head down from the ceiling, narrowing his eyes at us.
“What are you doing?”
“I told you I was coming after checking the secret passages.”
“If you’re finished, come help me work. I’m dying here alone.”
When I grumbled, Jegal Hyeon sighed, dropped to the floor, and walked over to Jin Baekho while rubbing his shoulder.
“You can go home.”
“Really? Is that all right?”
“Yeah.”
At Jegal Hyeon’s permission, Jin Baekho didn’t even glance at me. He immediately unleashed his movement technique and fled. I stared at Jegal Hyeon in disbelief.
“I thought movement techniques were banned inside the Martial Alliance?”
“The Heavenly Martial Unit is an exception since they’re the Alliance Leader’s direct guards.”
“Ah.”
So the exception made to protect me was being used to leave work early. Unbelievable.
“We’ve all suffered enough, haven’t we? Let’s take it easy now.”
“…I was only planning to mess with him a little before sending him off.”
I turned my head with a huff. It was true I had been feeling petty, but it wasn’t because I disliked Jin Baekho. Before the superior-subordinate relationship of Alliance Leader and guard captain, we were comrades who had crossed countless lines of death together.
Once seated, Jegal Hyeon looked at me with a slightly serious expression.
“The Orthodox-Demonic Conference is in just a few days.”
“Handle the junior representative selection yourself.”
“Leave the small details to us. And when you meet the Heavenly Demon, don’t get intimidated. You are now the symbol of the entire orthodox martial world.”
At his advice, I twisted my lips into a smirk. Did this guy still not know me?
“Have I ever been intimidated even once?”
“That’s true.”
“No matter how strong the Heavenly Demon is, what’s the big deal? We’re all human.”
According to the Black Shadow Unit—Jegal Hyeon’s personal intelligence organization—the Heavenly Demon had reigned over the Heavenly Demon Sect for thirty years as an absolute expert. Yet he had shown no activity in the martial world for the past decade, making his exact strength difficult to gauge. He had briefly crossed swords with the previous Alliance Leader, but that was all. And since the former leader was now dead, there was no one left to ask.
“They say he looks terrifying. I was a little worried I might piss myself.”
“Aigo, no matter what, he has to be better-looking than Peng Mugang.”
“Heh heh heh.”
The absolute expert chosen by the law of the strong. As one martial artist, I was genuinely curious. After all, he was one of the supreme masters I had only heard about in childhood stories.
“They say he’s quite the lecher, so his wives must all be stunning, right?”
“They’re supposedly rare beauties even by martial world standards.”
“I’m dying of envy. All I have around me are smelly men.”
Sitting in the office chatting with an old comrade like this was the highlight of my day. Jegal Hyeon knew it too, which was why he made time to humor me like this between tasks.
“Still, don’t suddenly pick a fight or cause trouble.”
This guy had become much naggier since becoming Chief Strategist. I narrowed my eyes and answered grumpily.
“Would the Martial Alliance Leader really act that way? I’ll behave with perfect dignity and solemnity, so stop worrying.”
“You?”
“What?”
From orphan to the pinnacle of the orthodox martial world. After a life as turbulent as a storm, peace had finally arrived. The thought made laughter bubble up naturally.
“Hahaha!”
3 Days Until the Orthodox-Demonic Conference