Chapter 141
Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Strategist's Dilemma
The Military Hall, the brain of the Murim Alliance.
From early morning, loud voices were echoing through the place.
The leader of the White Tiger Unit, Hyeok Jongdae, shot back as if he couldn't comprehend it at all.
"Why on earth not! What do you mean it's impossible!"
His target was the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist, Zhuge Hak.
It might look like some kind of insubordination, but Zhuge Hak replied in a calm voice.
"Didn't we convey it yesterday through the Black Tortoise Unit? It's not too late to move after waiting for the Four Black Alliance's reply."
But Hyeok Jongdae only grew more furious.
"Not too late? How many casualties have already piled up in Shandong Province! Do you, Chief Strategist, feel at ease only if Shandong falls into unorthodox hands!"
"Sigh... If the Murim Alliance moves first, the Four Black Alliance will follow suit. And what happens then? Do you want war?"
"If necessary, as much as it takes! Are you doing this out of fear of war, Chief Strategist?"
That wasn't it.
Zhuge Hak was, after all, the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist.
Even if a great righteous-unorthodox war broke out, he wouldn't need to step onto the battlefield himself—what was there to fear?
But...
'War must be avoided at all costs.'
The Murim Alliance's enemies weren't just the Four Black Alliance.
At the northwestern edge of the Central Plains, in Xinjiang Province's Ten Myriad Mountains.
They couldn't forget the Demonic Cult hiding there.
From the start, there were more than one or two suspicious things about the current events.
If the Murim Alliance's foes were the Four Black Alliance and the Demonic Cult, then the Four Black Alliance was likewise facing off against the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult.
In such a situation, if a righteous-unorthodox war erupted, the only ones to profit would be the Demonic Cult.
The Four Black Alliance surely knew this fact as well.
'Yet why do these people not see this simple truth?'
Peace had lasted far too long.
The name "Demonic Cult" appeared only in street novels, and the horrors of the past righteous-unorthodox war were confined to history books.
The righteous factions' chivalry had faded into personal ambition, and the Murim Alliance's noble ideals had been whittled away.
"How long must we endure this! Aren't you thinking of those dying helplessly even now, Chief Strategist!"
The White Tiger Unit leader, Hyeok Jongdae, raising his voice before him.
Was this man's rage born of true chivalry, or forced ambition for personal gain?
Zhuge Hak closed his eyes.
"This year. If there's no reply from the Four Black Alliance by year's end... I'll send the White Tiger Unit to Shandong as you wish."
The year had just ten days left.
That was a concession even Hyeok Jongdae could accept.
"...Understood. Then I'll trust you, Chief Strategist, and take my leave."
After Hyeok Jongdae left the Military Hall, Zhuge Hak lifted his head with eyes still closed.
'Is there truly no other way?'
This decision hadn't been made because of Hyeok Jongdae.
Internally, the elders, clan heads, and unit leaders deciding major Alliance matters were applying pressure; externally, several great sects under the Nine Great Sects, along with massive clans like the Shandong Evil Families, were stoking the flames of war.
The Zhuge clan's influence was mighty, but the Murim Alliance was ultimately a coalition of righteous factions.
No matter his position as Chief Strategist, some currents couldn't be stemmed.
He had tried his utmost to hold it back, but...
"You've had it rough."
At that moment, a voice came from behind the chair where Zhuge Hak sat.
A figure had appeared there unnoticed.
"...How long have you been here, Alliance Lord?"
It was the Murim Alliance Lord, Heo Eunchang.
As if this wasn't the first time, Zhuge Hak naturally rose and fetched a teacup.
Heo Eunchang chuckled heartily and followed Zhuge Hak to the table.
"Not long. Since you told that Jongdae fellow to wait for the Four Black Alliance's reply."
That meant he'd been there almost from the start.
Zhuge Hak sighed and grumbled.
"If you were there from then, why didn't you say something yourself, Alliance Lord?"
"What could I say? 'Do as the Chief Strategist says'? And if Jongdae turned his anger on me too?"
"That wouldn't be so bad."
The two burst into quiet snickers at the same time.
Heo Eunchang sipped the tea Zhuge Hak poured, asking in his usual tone.
"Still nothing on the puppet master?"
"Yes. We're focusing on the Demonic Cult, but no traces so far."
They were already convinced a third party was intervening in the current situation.
They had been investigating the Demonic Cult—the biggest beneficiary—from early on.
But the distance to the Ten Myriad Mountains was too great, yielding scant results.
"Hmm, what's the odds it's not the Demonic Cult?"
"...Fifty percent."
Fifty percent.
Just half a chance.
It was ridiculous that the Murim Alliance's resources were poured into this mere possibility, but there was no alternative.
The Central Plains martial world was too vast, and the Alliance's manpower endlessly insufficient.
If it wasn't the Demonic Cult, they'd have to investigate every martial force—an impossibility in practice.
"Then, what's the chance the Four Black Alliance's leader just rashly charged in?"
Zhuge Hak paused briefly at the Alliance Lord's unbefitting speech but answered nonchalantly.
"...My judgment: twenty percent."
They'd know for sure once they got a reply from the Four Black Alliance side.
The problem was the remaining thirty percent.
"Sigh, it's tricky. Ah! What about the odds that the Blood Cult the Moyong clan head mentioned is behind it?"
"How long will you keep asking these pointless questions? Excluding the Demonic Cult, listing all suspects could take the entire workday."
From the Shandong Evil Families demanding reinforcements to the Alliance's own war-hawk elders' clans, to the unorthodox sects moving aggressively—there were too many suspects.
As Chief Strategist, he had to keep all possibilities open.
Heo Eunchang let out an awkward chuckle to mask his embarrassment.
"I just wanted to help since you seem to be shouldering it alone."
"If you're helping, do it in situations like earlier. I'll handle the thinking."
"Ahem..."
Not wanting to lose face by intervening awkwardly, Heo Eunchang cleared his throat pointlessly and changed the subject.
"By the way, how's your grandson doing?"
"Zhuge Wei, you mean?"
"Do you have another grandson besides him?"
Of course not.
It was just suspicious that the Alliance Lord was suddenly interested.
At Zhuge Hak's dubious gaze, the Lord added,
"The Sword Phoenix has returned. It's famous that your grandson admires her."
"Tch, does the Alliance Lord concern himself with such gossip?"
Zhuge Hak flatly called tales of his own grandson "gossip."
Underlying it was a foundation of trust.
"He's a smart kid. Not the emotional type to pine after someone who already has a lover."
But grandfather-grandson bonds were close yet distant; Zhuge Hak unfortunately didn't know everything about his grandson.
However, at Zhuge Hak's confident tone, Heo Eunchang smacked his lips in disappointment.
"Hmm, is that so? It might've been fun watching the young ones bicker and grow."
"It's not the growth that's good—it's the spectacle of watching it that's enjoyable, isn't it?"
"Why split hairs? It's all the same."
Zhuge Hak shook his head.
No point arguing; it'd just tire him out.
Then a sudden curiosity struck him.
"By the way, Alliance Lord, what about that Mok Jimyeong kid? Is he talented enough to tussle with my grandson?"
"Hm? Uh-huh?"
Heo Eunchang hadn't revealed anything about Mok Jimyeong to anyone.
No, he couldn't.
'If I spoke, they'd just say I've gone senile.'
It was talent of that caliber.
Of course, if Heo Eunchang explained properly, they'd believe him, but...
'That too is dangerous.'
Genius: heaven-sent talent.
But the moment it was revealed to others, it could turn into a calamity.
Even he, who had trained his lifetime at the Wudang Sect, felt envious.
Could others fully accept it?
Envy and jealousy—natural human emotions, yet exceedingly perilous.
The Demonic Cult might rise to nip it in the bud before it grew further.
Assassins from the Four Black Alliance might come.
Even...
'Can't fully trust the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families.'
He couldn't even wholly trust his own Wudang Sect, where he had enemies.
Peace had endured too long, and righteous chivalry had devolved into personal ambition.
The Murim Alliance persisted, but its members chased individual gains over the greater good.
In such circumstances, revealing Mok Jimyeong's talent could invite unknown dangers, so Heo Eunchang kept it secret even from Chief Strategist Zhuge Hak.
"Ahem, would I recommend just anyone? He's a fine young talent."
"Hmm, I see."
Zhuge Hak didn't press further.
He had more pressing matters piling up.
Meanwhile, at that very moment, Mok Jimyeong was...
"Where do you keep glancing! Focus!"
...caught peeking at Baek Iryeong during White Tiger Formation practice and getting scolded by instructor Yang Dogun.