Chapter 135
“Ahem.”
In the Alliance Leader's Hall of the Murim Alliance, said to be the head of the Orthodox Faction of the martial world.
The Murim Alliance Leader Song Il-do was in a very foul mood.
It was because not a single thing had gone his way during a meeting held while Chief Strategist Jegal Mun was away for a few days on urgent business for the Jegal Clan.
Take what had just happened, for instance.
He had heard that Thousand Gold Sect, an Orthodox Faction sect in the Qinghai region, had been causing frequent trouble lately, so he had ordered that men be sent at once to issue a warning and ensure it didn't happen again.
But Head Elder Jang Cheong suddenly stepped forward and stopped him.
“The Thousand Gold Sect has maintained a good relationship with the Murim Alliance for a long time, so let’s watch them a little longer. It may only appear that way on the surface; there must be circumstances we are unaware of.”
Still, it was a place that was causing immediate problems and generating much talk, so Song Il-do couldn't understand the suggestion to just stand by and watch. He was about to say something more.
But then, weren't all the elders chiming in, agreeing that Jang Cheong was right?
So much so that it was embarrassing to speak further.
With no other choice, Song Il-do let out a loud, fake cough and took a step back, saying he understood.
He, too, did not want his own authority to be further undermined.
It was always like this.
It had reached a point where he was sometimes confused whether he or Jang Cheong was the Murim Alliance Leader.
It was certainly less so when the strategist, Jegal Mun, was around.
‘Hmph. Truly, I can’t exactly raise my voice and ask who dares to question the Alliance Leader’s words.’
The duties of the Murim Alliance Leader were truly not easy for Song Il-do.
He had thought that once he became the Alliance Leader, people would simply look up to him and follow him.
But reality was different.
Even small matters had to be decided through meetings, and the work had to be carried out according to those decisions.
Of course, there were things he could handle without a meeting as the Alliance Leader, but most matters were handled through meetings.
But as is the case wherever people gather, there was someone in the meetings whose words carried a particularly strong influence.
That was none other than Head Elder Jang Cheong.
Whenever he uttered a word, a chorus of “That’s right, that’s right,” would erupt from one side.
Then another chorus of “That’s right, that’s right,” from the other.
*Sigh.*
Song Il-do found himself missing the days when he could settle any matter decisively with his sword.
He contorted his face without realizing it.
However, not a single person was paying attention to Song Il-do’s expression.
Rather, they were all busy watching Jang Cheong’s face.
It was a clear indication of where the balance of power in the Murim Alliance tilted.
But no matter how much real power he held, Jang Cheong, who had always skillfully hidden that power from view, had been showing a slightly different side of himself for the past few days.
It was as if he were openly flaunting his power.
There was a reason for it all.
It was to properly teach the Murim Alliance Leader whose side he needed to be on to maintain his position for a long time, in the absence of the thorn-in-his-side Jegal Mun.
He must have clearly understood over the past few days.
Who the people filling this Hall followed, and who he, in turn, should follow.
High martial skill and politics were two very different stories. Here, Song Il-do was nothing more than a third-rate warrior in Jang Cheong’s eyes.
But this was as far as he would push it.
Because even a cornered rat will bite.
“Still, I must say. Isn’t our Alliance Leader amazing?”
Jang Cheong, who had been ignoring Song Il-do, belatedly began to look after him.
In that moment, everyone’s gaze turned to Jang Cheong.
“Even if the decision on the matter must inevitably be different, I like that the Alliance Leader’s decision is filled with a hot sense of justice. Haha. Isn’t that right?”
For a moment, the men who had been wearing blank expressions, wondering what he was talking about, quickly began to chime in with Jang Cheong’s words.
“That is correct.”
“To speak the truth, who else is there like our Alliance Leader, so full of a sense of justice and concerned for the peace of the world?”
“Honestly, we too want to give a stern warning to the sects causing trouble. It’s just that various interests and positions make it difficult, but in the end, we all know the Alliance Leader’s words are the answer. Of course.”
“I’m just worried that the Murim Alliance’s position will become very awkward if we go and reprimand them, only to find out the circumstances are different. Otherwise, I too believe the Alliance Leader is right.”
As if they had forgotten all the words they had just said while vehemently opposing Song Il-do and agreeing with Jang Cheong, they now enthusiastically polished Song Il-do’s image.
It was an embarrassingly swift change of attitude.
However,
“Well, no need to go that far. Hahaha! I am truly grateful that you all think so highly of me.”
At their words, Song Il-do began to grin.
*‘Tsk, tsk. Isn’t he an easy man to handle?’*
Watching Song Il-do, Jang Cheong sneered inwardly.
Among all the Murim Alliance Leaders in history, Song Il-do was perhaps the type of man Jang Cheong had most desired.
If one were to strip away his outstanding martial skill and fame, his flaws were glaring.
A man who was utterly indecisive and timid, whose emotions were plain to see on his face.
Moreover, a man who was exceptionally weak to praise and flattery.
But those flaws were great strengths from Jang Cheong’s perspective.
Because he was the perfect man to use from behind the scenes.
Thus, a long time ago, when a new Murim Alliance Leader was being chosen, Jang Cheong, having learned of his personality and character through a prior investigation, had pushed for him.
Since Jang Cheong already held the real power, it was not very difficult for Song Il-do to become the Alliance Leader.
How wonderful it was.
To have a man with a personality completely opposite to those damned Family Heads of the Five Great Families.
Thus, after Song Il-do became the Alliance Leader, Jang Cheong intended to do even more things his own way than before.
He believed it would surely be so.
Until Song Il-do suddenly appointed Jegal Mun as Chief Strategist.
It was a truly absurd event.
He still didn't know why Song Il-do had appointed Jegal Mun as Chief Strategist, but in any case, Jang Cheong could no longer pursue his own greed because of him.
Thus, he was biding his time, looking for an opportunity to get rid of Jegal Mun.
Though he was holding off for now due to complicated relationships, Jang Cheong believed that day was not far off.
When that day came, he would purge all the people of the Jegal Clan from the Murim Alliance.
By using ‘him’.
The fellow who had once brought the head of a friend he had cut down with his own hands and offered to be a hunting dog.
A man of the Jegal Clan, yet one who hid an endless greed, similar to his own, behind that stoic face.
Jang Cheong thought of the man he had now almost accepted as his own.
Of course, just as he never easily trusted anyone, Jang Cheong did not fully trust him either.
But even if he didn't trust the person, he trusted greed.
Greed and ambition never betray.
That was the logic Jang Cheong had believed in until now.
Watching the foolish Alliance Leader, who was now grinning, surrounded by elders who spared no flattery and adulation, as if he had never contorted his face, Jang Cheong raised the corners of his mouth.
*‘No matter what anyone says, the Murim Alliance is mine. Heh heh.’*
*****
The day after the drinking party thrown at the Peng Family for Gu Wang-pyo.
For a change, Yeo Un-hwi was spending a leisurely time with his family.
He had just returned from subjugating bandits and had drunk his fill the day before, so he judged it would be good to rest for a day.
Even so, a few members of the White Wolf Unit, including Peng Do-hwan, would probably be out at the training ground today.
How one spent their time was up to the individual; sometimes, such autonomous time was necessary for everyone.
“Daddy, I folded paper!”
Yul-i, who had been diligently doing something on her own for a while, said with a smile.
Soon, Yul-i came running over and held something out to Yeo Un-hwi.
But upon seeing it, Yeo Un-hwi’s head tilted slightly.
Something unidentifiable had been created in Yul-i’s hand.
“Let’s… see. What could this be? It’s not a butterfly, hmm.”
“It’s a wild boar! A wild boar!”
“Huh? A wild boar? This is a wild boar?”
“Yes! Little Grandfather taught me.”
It just looked like a round, crumpled ball of paper… wait, could this protruding part be a leg?
What on earth was he teaching a child?
Soon, Yeo Un-hwi awkwardly raised the corners of his mouth.
“R-right. You did a good job.”
“Hehe. He said he’ll teach me how to fold something more fun next time. I’m excited to see what it is!”
For a moment, Yeo Un-hwi became seriously conflicted.
Should he stop these lessons, or not?
For some reason, he had a feeling it might be harmful to Yul-i’s developing mind.
Soon, Yul-i, who was in a great mood from spending the whole sunny day with her mom and dad, ran around the yard.
It was then.
“Here you go.”
At some point, Peng Seo-yeon had approached and offered him a warm cup of tea.
Taking the teacup, Yeo Un-hwi spoke with a deliberately serious expression.
“About that origami.”
“Ah. The wild boar?”
It seemed she had folded it a few times already.
“Shouldn’t we stop it?”
*Pfft.*
Yeo Un-hwi spoke so seriously that Peng Seo-yeon couldn't help but burst out laughing.
“No, I’m being quite serious.”
“Oh, come on. It’s fine. It’s fine.”
Peng Seo-yeon smiled brightly.
“Elder Gu did it to make Yul-i happy. I think it’s fine.”
“You think so?”
“Besides, kids try all sorts of things when they’re young. As they grow up, they’ll learn what’s weird and ugly.”
*Cough!*
Listening to his wife, Yeo Un-hwi inadvertently spat out the tea he was drinking.
At that, Peng Seo-yeon tilted her head.
*“Cough, cough.”*
“Hm? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Ah, no. I’m fine. Haha.”
His wife, who so nonchalantly called the paper wild boar taught by Elder Gu “weird and ugly.”
She sometimes had a scarily ruthless side to her.
Soon, watching Yul-i play in the yard and feeling the cool breeze, Yeo Un-hwi and Peng Seo-yeon drank their tea pleasantly.
Then, Yeo Un-hwi’s gaze turned to Peng Seo-yeon’s side profile as she lovingly watched Yul-i.
He recalled his conversation with Jegal Gil last night.
In fact, he had been agonizing over it all day.
‘You may have been able to hide your identity easily until now, but it may become difficult in the future. It would be wise to prepare for that day in advance.’
The moment he heard those words, the first person who came to mind was, of course, Peng Seo-yeon.
He hadn't thought he could hide it forever anyway.
Nor did he intend to.
He had just been thinking about when and how to tell her, and until now, time had passed.
A secret is often hardest to confess to the person closest to you.
Because as precious as that person is, you fear how their view of you will change because of the secret you’ve confessed.
Moreover, were Yeo Un-hwi’s secrets ordinary ones, like regression or the power of the Martial God?
But now, it might really be time.
The time to confess everything to his wife.
Yeo Un-hwi’s eyes deepened as he looked at Peng Seo-yeon.
And it was around that time.
That an entirely unexpected visitor arrived at the Peng Family.