Watching the Fire
In the main hall of the Military Department, within the sky garden prepared on the uppermost floor, a man was suffering.
"Sect Master of Jeomchang. Stop clamping your mouth shut and say something!"
"Your Jeomchang Sect withdrew from the operational zone without leave, without even a request—unauthorized desertion."
As the left and right Grand Strategists pressed him with sharp intensity, the former sect master of Jeomchang clutched at his hair inside his mind and shook his head.
Ahh, damn it.
Raising the controversy over responsibility and then escaping had gone well enough.
But everything afterward had twisted in directions he had never anticipated.
"We even prepared a separate seat for you, Sect Master, because you claimed you were reluctant to speak in front of the others for the sake of face, did we not?"
"Perhaps…?"
Grand Strategist Sima's eyes gleamed with a chilling light.
"You were the ringleader, were you not?"
"Ringleader? What nonsense is that?"
The former sect master of Jeomchang flinched inwardly and shot back on reflex.
But Grand Strategist Sima was a man thoroughly seasoned at seeing through such shallow performances.
"We have obtained testimony that immediately before your desertion, an incident deliberately sowed chaos in our command by pressing the question of responsibility."
"I know nothing of it."
Grand Strategist Sima had remained a strategist of the Murim Alliance until the very final moment of its dissolution, a man who had held his position unyielding even through the horrific political turmoil of the Alliance's last days.
"Do not play ignorant, former master of Jeomchang. If you continue in this manner, we will have no choice but to return to you the very method you employed."
"The method I employed…?"
Grand Strategist Zhuge, whose exceptional ability had earned him the rank of Grand Strategist at the young age of thirty and the recognition of all, flicked his white-feathered fan and answered.
"Surely you are not asking because you do not know? Though Hyeongsanbukryu bore the primary responsibility, he is currently missing."
The meaning was clear: they would manufacture a controversy of responsibility exactly as the former sect master of Jeomchang had done, and make him the next sacrificial offering after the sect leader of Hyeongsanbukryu.
"The command staff confined to the garrison now desire their next scapegoat."
The former sect master of Jeomchang cried out as if seized by a fit.
"What kind of baseless accusations are Grand Strategists making?! On the contrary, I am a man who deserves commendation for merit!"
At those words Grand Strategist Zhuge furrowed his brow.
"Commendation for merit? On what grounds?"
The former sect master of Jeomchang secretly wiped his hands, soaked with cold sweat, and shouted.
"I sensed the crisis and immediately withdrew the forces under my responsibility, preserving their combat strength intact!"
He justified his actions with fiery passion, as if spitting flames.
"What is the condition of the troops remaining at the garrison now? Nearly three-tenths are said to be complaining of mental anguish, are they not?! Including those who keep silent for the sake of a warrior's pride, our camp's fighting power has plummeted at this very moment!"
"Even so—"
He gave them no opening to interrupt and pressed on.
"In that situation I succeeded, through excellent judgment, in preserving Jeomchang's forces! Not only do you refuse to reward me for it—you intend to punish me instead!"
He began to babble whatever came into his head.
"Military Department, it is you yourselves! Are you not trying to create a scapegoat to escape the controversy of responsibility in this affair?! I will not simply sit and endure this fact! I shall gather our elders at once and—!"
Even as he spat and poured out words without pause, cold sweat streamed down inside him.
Uwaaaaah! Yeon So-hyeon, you devilish bastard!
He screamed inwardly with a heart full of resentment toward the First Young Master.
What in the world are you doing right now?! Why are you showing no movement at all?!
His miscalculation had begun there.
By his original reckoning, the First Young Master's movements should have thrown the Third Young Master's camp into an uproar as if a fire had broken out.
Only then would my desertion problem be buried…!
Yet for some reason Yeon So-hyeon remained shut away in Wongak Pavilion, silent for more than a day.
And so the former sect master had been summoned to the Military Department and was being interrogated over the crime of unauthorized withdrawal and the scapegoat-making that had taken place in the command tent at the time.
Please! Please! Just once in my life, be of some help! You devilish bastard!
Even as he thought so, his mouth continued to move without rest.
"…And thus this body officially questions the qualifications of the Grand Strategists and, through a vote of reaffirmation—!"
Grand Strategist Sima slammed the table.
"Enough!"
The tea set on the table overturned with a clatter.
His aged, wrinkled face twisted like a malevolent demon as he roared.
"I have heard quite enough of your nonsense! As of this moment our Military Department will commence an official inquiry into the circumstances…!"
The former sect master of Jeomchang saw darkness before his eyes.
With that darkness still upon him he squeezed his eyes shut and prayed fervently within.
You devilish Yeon So… no. First Young Master Yeon So-hyeon! First Young Master Yeon So-hyeon!
"We shall investigate to the very end the incident that occurred in the command tent at the time, uncover the truth, and unfailingly find the culprit who deliberately stirred public opinion to create a scapegoat!"
Spare this old man just once!
Grand Strategist Zhuge took up the words in a frigid tone.
"Furthermore! Separate from that matter, we shall officially handle the case of Jeomchang Sect's desertion and set right the discipline of the camp's command…!"
The former sect master of Jeomchang screamed inwardly like a shriek.
First Young Master! Please!
Perhaps his desperate plea had somehow reached the indifferent heavens.
"Left and Right Grand Strategists!"
At the cry of a senior strategist who burst hastily into the sky garden, the former sect master of Jeomchang's eyes flew open.
C-could it be…?!
"What is it?! I ordered that we were not to be disturbed for any—"
"Urgent report!"
The senior strategist shouted without even a moment to gauge the two Grand Strategists' displeasure.
"The Supreme Operations Committee has issued an official announcement regarding the disturbance at the Yongbongjihoe Arena Construction Site!"
A messenger followed on his heels, gasping as he ran in.
"Urgent report! The ox-cart confirmed to be carrying the First Young Master has left Wongak Pavilion! Destination currently under investigation!"
Grand Strategist Zhuge shot to his feet.
"What did you say?!"
The tea vessels that had been tumbling about on the table from Grand Strategist Sima's earlier blow finally crashed to the floor and shattered with a raucous clatter.
At last he has moved…!
He was saved.
In complete contrast to them, the former sect master of Jeomchang closed his eyes, tilted his face to the sky, and felt pure rapture.
"If it was going to be like this, why delay until now…?!"
Grand Strategist Sima rose with a sigh, lifting his aged frame from the seat.
"At the very least we must properly confront them! Prepare at once to go to the Administrative Hall of the Supreme Operations Committee!"
They vacated the place in a flurry.
Ohh, I believed in you, First Young Master!
Left alone in the sky garden, the former sect master of Jeomchang crowed with joy inside.
Now that the fire has fallen on their own feet, they will have no leisure to spare a thought for me!
With that he too hurriedly departed the sky garden.
If it was an ember dropped by none other than that First Young Master, it would not merely scorch their feet—it would soon become a great conflagration that burned the storehouses and set the fields ablaze.
By then, the fact that he had left the garrison a little early would become a trivial matter.
It was time to remain out of everyone's sight for a while and quietly watch how the situation unfolded.
Thank you! First Young Master!
He had never imagined a day would come when he would express even heartfelt gratitude toward the First Young Master.
And so the sky garden was emptied of all people.
Only the shattered pieces of the finest tea set clinked and rattled in the wind, as if mocking the conduct of the Third Young Master's camp.
Yongbongjihoe Arena Construction Site.
The Third Young Master's garrison.
The Third Young Master's command staff were protesting fiercely.
"Elder Yeom!"
"Withdraw from this place at once!"
"Even if it is the Supreme Operations Committee, this is going too far!"
The shouts of the dozens who had crowded in were enough to make one's ears ache.
Good grief…
Elder Yeom, perched on the edge of the desk, clicked his tongue inwardly and opened his mouth.
"Gentlemen. This elder has been delegated the authority to investigate and the authority to control the acts of insubordination that occurred here by the Supreme Operations Committee—"
"Is this investigation not enough already?!"
The moment Elder Yeom's words grew a fraction longer, they cut him off without fail.
On the first day, chaos caused by Amcheonjonza had left them flustered as well, but once a day had passed they had grasped the situation.
"The Supreme Operations Committee clearly gave us the authority to resolve the disturbance!"
"Yet looking at Elder Yeom's actions now, it is clear that investigation is secondary and you have set your sights on seizing the resolution of the disturbance!"
Elder Yeom spoke once more with patience.
"This elder has no intention of stealing your merit. I am merely following the resolution of the War Department that carries out the will of the Supreme Operations Committee—"
At the same words already repeated dozens of times, the personnel of the Third Young Master's command staff rushed in like a swarm.
"So it is not the Supreme Operations Committee but the War Department that seeks to interfere in our affairs!"
"We will lodge an official protest with the War Department! Do not expect this matter to pass lightly!"
Elder Yeom swallowed another sigh beneath his characteristically blunt expression.
"…"
Standing with arms folded behind him, the sect master of Jongnam met Elder Yeom's gaze and shrugged his shoulders without a word.
The attitude seemed to say that this was Elder Yeom's own fault and there was nothing to be done about it, which only made Elder Yeom's insides more uncomfortable.
Unless the Supreme Operations Committee issued an official announcement regarding this affair, his predicament would continue.
My lord…
He cast a meaningless glance in the distant direction where Wongak Pavilion stood—where Yeon So-hyeon, said to have lost consciousness, was located.
He had heard the news that Yeon So-hyeon had collapsed, yet he showed no particular sign of worry.
For some reason, with that First Young Master, even the collapse itself might have been an action calculated into his plans.
"Stop keeping your mouth shut and say something!"
"If that is the case, return control of this place to us and go back to the main house at once!"
They drew closer and closer to Elder Yeom, their voices growing louder.
The gestures of protest grew larger and more threatening, yet—
"Are you threatening this elder, who has been delegated all authority by the Supreme Operations Committee?"
Elder Yeom stood firm like a mountain range itself, true to the moniker Sword Peak Mountain Breaker.
I do not know how much longer I can hold out.
Just then a voice came, as if savoring the very difficulty he felt inside.
"To think I would witness the renowned martial artist Sword Peak Mountain Breaker being driven into such a corner…!"
That clear, ringing voice, openly mocking those who pressed him, was by now familiar to Elder Yeom.
My lord—!
When Elder Yeom looked toward the direction from which the voice had come, the gazes of all present followed his.
"As expected, the prowess of the orthodox faction leaders once belonging to the Murim Alliance is astonishing! It seems the future of the Luoyang Sword Family is bright indeed—I am delighted."
The sect master of Jongnam, who had been watching the situation from the very rear, spoke without realizing it, a dazed expression on his face.
"Mugeomza…?"
Yeon So-hyeon, who had somehow already entered the tent, turned a broad smile toward the sect master of Jongnam.
"That is so. I am your friend, First Young Master Yeon So-hyeon."
Strength entered Yeon So-hyeon's eyes.
"…!"
The sect master of Jongnam, who had just uttered the name Mugeomza, felt a chill from that gaze and hastily took a step back.
"…"
Inside the tent, now wrapped in an uncomfortable silence, Yeon So-hyeon looked around at those present and wore a twisted smile.
"Well now. Everyone is giving me such a warm welcome that I hardly know where to put myself."
Elder Yeom pushed through the murmuring crowd, bent his massive frame, and offered a respectful greeting.
"I pay my respects to the First Young Master of the main house."
Only then did the members of the Third Young Master's command staff reluctantly gather their hands and greet him.
"…I pay my respects to the First Young Master of the main house."
There were even those whose voices trailed off, as if they found it distasteful to offer a proper greeting.
Yeon So-hyeon paid such things no mind at all and, with his characteristic leisurely gait, headed for the innermost part of the tent.
"This First Young Master has merely come to watch—ah, excuse me. To observe. So you need not mind me."
He perched himself on the desk against which Elder Yeom had been leaning.
Then, crossing one leg over the other and resting his elbow upon it to prop up his chin, he spoke.
"What are you doing? Continue."
One of the Third Young Master's elders stepped forward, grinding his teeth.
"…First Young Master. Information has been circulating since yesterday that you stand behind this affair."
Then the others stepped forward one by one as well.
"Take responsibility and explain what is going on here!"
"Return control of this site to our side at once!"
There was even one who sneered.
"Instead of taking responsibility and explaining, it would also be fine to explain and then take responsibility."
Whether they did or not, Yeon So-hyeon did not so much as glance at them.
"You have worked hard all this time, Elder Yeom."
Elder Yeom stood at his side and shook his head.
"Something of this level was nothing at all."
In the very moment the personnel of the Third Young Master's command staff felt something strange at their unconcerned composure—
"Reporting! The Administrative Head of the Supreme Operations Committee has just passed the outer checkpoint!"
A warrior who had been standing watch outside entered the tent and announced it.
"The Administrative Head of the Supreme Operations Committee?!"
"Is that not a man who is practically the proxy of the Supreme Operations Committee itself?!"
"That means the Supreme Operations Committee intends to make a significant announcement…!"
Their gazes, momentarily thrown into confusion, turned one by one toward Yeon So-hyeon.
Was it not all too convenient that the First Young Master—rumored to stand behind this decision of the Supreme Operations Committee—had chosen this very moment to visit their garrison?
"Ohh. Is that truly so? The Supreme Operations Committee has moved?"
Yeon So-hyeon pretended not to know what was happening, put on a show of surprise, and then spread a deep smile across his face.
"At last it is time to properly watch the fire."