Chapter 183
What is this guy really trying to do?
At Jang Cheong’s words, Jegal Mun’s face crumpled.
Right now, with the appearance of the Heavenly Demon, it is no different from a state of war.
Just as he had said a moment ago, they were already too busy trying to unite the scattered strength of the Orthodox Martial World.
It wouldn’t be too late to decide on crackdowns after seeing the problems that arose during the process of gathering their strength.
Yet Jang Cheong was suggesting they start with a crackdown right out of the gate.
It was far too terrible a move to truly be for the sake of uniting the Orthodox Martial World.
But did he really not know?
No, he definitely already knew.
He was acting like this anyway simply because Jang Cheong was the kind of person who felt joy in dragging everything along exactly as he pleased.
But to act like this even in a situation like the current one.
‘It’s truly baffling.’
The problems with a figure like Jang Cheong were countless, but the absolute worst among them was that he would say plausible things while craftily twisting the entire narrative to his own advantage.
More than one or two people had fallen for Jang Cheong’s cunning rhetoric.
What an ugly thing to do.
What he was doing was no different from toying with and manipulating people’s hearts.
Yet, far from feeling any guilt over his actions, he actually seemed to enjoy it.
In Jegal Mun’s opinion, Jang Cheong was the one person who, more than anyone else, should never be in a position of leadership.
But since such a figure had occupied the position of Chief Elder of the Murim Alliance for so long, there was no way the Murim Alliance could function completely normally.
However, setting all of that aside for now, there was something more questionable than anything else in this moment.
“Why the Peng Family?”
At Jegal Mun’s question, Jang Cheong replied with a calm smile.
“Because in times like these, the Peng Family’s conduct is not setting an example at all.”
“Not setting an example? What do you mean by that?”
“I’m sure you’ve all heard the rumors that the Peng Family has recently been associating with the Demonic Path.”
Furthermore, everyone already knew the story of the Demonic Alliance Leader, the Black Emperor, visiting the Peng Family recently.
And he had even stayed there for several days.
“If you are talking about the Black Emperor inviting the White Wolf Unit to the Demonic Alliance, wasn’t that to repay the debt he owed the Peng Family regarding the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon?”
The Black Emperor had even sent various large gifts in advance to the Murim Alliance to ask for their understanding before inviting the White Wolf Unit to the Demonic Alliance.
And everyone here had agreed to it.
But now he was going to make an issue out of it?
“Of course, that is true. But isn’t the Demonic Alliance Leader’s visit this time a different story?”
“What do you mean?”
“They invited them once as a token of gratitude. Even if we let that slide since they asked for our understanding in advance, the continued interaction afterward between the Peng Family and the Demonic Alliance Leader is a different matter. The Orthodox Faction and the Unorthodox Faction walk strictly different paths, do they not? If they continue to interact in such a manner, that alone will be enough to greatly damage the atmosphere within the Orthodox Martial World. Above all, in such an important time as this, that cannot be allowed. Isn’t that right?”
“Hoh. Now that I hear it, you have a point.”
The Elders inside the Alliance Leader’s Hall nodded at Jang Cheong’s words.
It was truly an absurd turn of events.
Jang Cheong’s logic certainly had no flaws.
But was the Murim Alliance in any position to say such things to the Peng Family?
When the Demonic Cult invaded Hebei not long ago, the Murim Alliance hadn’t even shown a hint of movement to help them, although they had ultimately overcome it well.
No, it would be more accurate to say they had completely turned a blind eye.
Yet was it right to interfere with them like this now?
Is this from a position of knowing the full story between them?
Even if that part was an issue, could they really unite the strength of the Orthodox Martial World by doing things this way?
Jegal Mun was deeply worried about every single aspect of this.
“Considering this, it seems best to properly make an example of the Peng Family’s issue, just as Elder Jang Cheong said.”
“Indeed. It certainly seems like a major problem.”
“I share the same thought.”
Before they knew it, they had forgotten their fear of the Heavenly Demon and were merely venting their dissatisfaction with the Peng Family rather than preparing countermeasures for the real threat.
Comically, even the Alliance Leader, Song Il-do, could not hide his discomfort.
It was truly a sigh-inducing situation.
“Then how about we give them a strong warning this time?”
At the words uttered by one of the Elders, Jang Cheong shook his head.
“A warning alone won’t do.”
“Then do you have something else in mind?”
Jang Cheong gave a sinister smile, keeping his thoughts to himself.
A short while later, the meeting ended, and Jang Cheong immediately returned to his room.
Then, he soon put on a satisfied expression.
“Excellent. To think the timing would align so perfectly. Heh heh.”
He had anyway been wanting to teach the Peng Family, which had already started to become an eyesore, a lesson at some point.
But to think such an opportunity would come.
“But, Elder, shouldn’t we prepare for the Heavenly Demon first, no matter what?”
Jegal Gil, who had been constantly by Jang Cheong’s side helping with his work recently, spoke with a worried face.
The Heavenly Demon - That was utterly terrifying news to him as well.
It was likely the same for everyone living in the Central Plains Murim.
Yet Jang Cheong, the Chief Elder of the Murim Alliance who should be at the forefront more than anyone else if a war with the Heavenly Demon broke out, wore a relaxed expression as if this were all someone else’s problem.
“Of course we must prepare. But there is no need to worry about that. We just need to join forces with the Nine Great Sects.”
“Will they really step forward so willingly?”
The relationship between the Nine Great Sects and the Murim Alliance was not very good.
Even more so after Jang Cheong ascended to Chief Elder and grasped the strongest power within the Murim Alliance.
However,
“It’s a matter concerning the Heavenly Demon. There is likely no one in this world who fears the Heavenly Demon as much as the Nine Great Sects, so they will gladly step forward. But, even if we can’t stop the Heavenly Demon, it can’t be helped.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
It can’t be helped even if they couldn’t stop him?
For a moment, Jegal Gil thought he had misheard.
Jang Cheong soon continued speaking with an indifferent expression.
“I believe the Heavenly Demon is akin to a calamity.”
“A calamity?”
“Yes. A calamity sent by the heavens. It is like a massive storm or an earthquake. What can a human facing such a calamity do? Of course, we must use everything at our disposal. But if even that doesn’t work, well, isn’t it something that can’t be helped? We just have to give up.”
Jegal Gil’s expression went blank.
He had never imagined Jang Cheong would act like this.
He thought he would struggle to somehow protect his power and live even a little bit longer.
But to have this kind of reaction.
Glancing at the blank-faced Jegal Gil, Jang Cheong smiled faintly and prepared to water his orchids.
His gentle hands adjusted the antique watering can.
“Honestly, I do not fear the Heavenly Demon. As long as I can maintain the power I hold while the Murim Alliance remains intact, that is enough for me. So, if the end of the Murim Alliance is decided, then so be it. I intend to stay true to my desires until the very end, and in my final moments, I will die most gloriously as an Elder of the Murim Alliance.”
Jang Cheong paused, as if imagining such a situation for a moment.
And then,
“Yes. An end like that would be quite splendid. Indeed, splendid.”
In that instant, Jang Cheong pulled both corners of his mouth up into a grin.
A distinctly different light filled his two eyes, which were curved into crescents.
It was none other than a terrible madness and a horrifying selfishness.
Facing it right in front of him, Jegal Gil felt goosebumps erupt all over his body.
He even felt a sense of dread from Jang Cheong’s suddenly changed atmosphere.
“So I intend to live exactly as I please until the end. I will crush and torment everything I dislike, while enjoying everything I can to my heart’s content. And then I will die honorably. How could there be a more perfect life than this?”
It seemed as though something inside him had become twisted.
He was a truly insane individual.
He acted like a more normal human being than anyone else, but in reality, he was an incredibly hideous monster.
In that way, he was trying to fabricate even his own end with lies.
“I see. Now I understand.”
Through this conversation, Jegal Gil felt like he knew what Jang Cheong truly wanted, and what he feared.
Jegal Gil’s eyes sank coldly.
Having returned to his usual self at some point, Jang Cheong was watering his orchids and smiling pleasantly.
“Now then, how will they react? Things are going to be truly entertaining from now on. Heh heh.”
A letter from the Murim Alliance arrived at the Peng Family, which recently had been frantic with various matters.
And now, the inside of the Family Head’s Hall was in an uproar over the contents of that letter.
The contents took issue with their recent actions, questioning how the Peng Family, which should be an example for the Orthodox Martial World, could associate with the Demonic Path.
Following that, what the Murim Alliance demanded was -
“What? Come directly to the Murim Alliance and explain ourselves? These crazy bastards!”
For the first time in a while, sparks flew in the eyes of Peng Mugang, who had recently had more reasons to laugh than to be angry.
It wasn’t just him.
“To think those bastards who didn’t even show their faces when the Peng Family was in immediate danger are now acting as if they sit above us! Their arrogance seems to pierce the heavens!”
“Exactly! How can they be so shameless!”
The Elders of the Peng Family were also incredibly furious.
“Let’s pretend we didn’t see it. Ignoring them is the answer.”
“That’s right. Dealing with them will only be exhausting.”
“Oho! What do you mean, ignore them! That’s nonsense. We must officially protest against those brazen fools!”
“I also think that’s right! We must show them our anger strongly!”
Opinions were split even among the Elders, like that.
At that moment,
“We must not do that.”
Peng Seo-jin opened his mouth.
“What do you mean, Young Master? Why must we not?”
At Peng Seo-jin’s words, the Elders made faces showing they didn’t understand.
Then, Peng Seo-jin continued speaking with a serious face.
“Of course, from our perspective, it is true that their attitude and demands are extremely infuriating. But the problem is that from a third party’s perspective, the contents of this letter seem to have no issues at all. No, rather, their demands look reasonable.”
A prestigious family representing the Orthodox Martial World is continuously interacting with the Demonic Alliance, and with the Demonic Alliance Leader at that.
That could potentially cause a major problem in uniting the Orthodox Martial World, so an explanation for that part is necessary. Therefore, one must explain.
In truth, that was all the letter contained.
However, how they had acted up until now is relevant.
And how they had turned a blind eye when the Peng Family was in a great crisis due to the Demonic Cult - such details were not addressed at all. So, from the perspective of people who didn’t properly know the relationship between the Peng Family and the Murim Alliance, the Murim Alliance’s demands would seem even more reasonable.
“Therefore, if we ignore this or show ourselves officially protesting, it is our Peng Family that will be at a disadvantage. It will only give them more room to find fault with us later.”
“Hoh.”
As one listened to him, there was no flaw in Peng Seo-jin’s words.
“Then what should we do?”
At the Elder’s subsequent question, even Peng Seo-jin couldn’t easily open his mouth this time.
An answer to that part didn’t come to mind.
He knew what they shouldn’t do, but what they should do didn’t clearly come to mind.
No, he even doubted whether there was such a method in this situation.
Because no matter how much he thought about it, it was an ambiguous situation where they couldn’t do this or that.
It was clear that they, too, had come out like this fully knowing the Peng Family’s position.
It was truly a malicious move.
Even so, for his father, the Family Head, to personally go to the Murim Alliance over this matter would look like the Peng Family was bowing down to the Murim Alliance.
“Hmm. What on earth should we do…”
Peng Seo-jin felt frustrated, as if a fog had settled in his mind.
At that moment,
“Is there any need to overthink this?”
Yeo Un-hwi, who until now had kept his mouth shut the entire time, spoke up.
“We just need to grant their request, but do it in a way that doesn’t make us lose face.”
“So what are you suggesting we do?”
Peng Mugang asked, clutching his throbbing head.
Then, Yeo Un-hwi gave an answer without the slightest hesitation.
“Send someone capable of conveying the Peng Family’s position, but who seems to lack the weight to be considered an official representative, preferably someone who can protect their own body no matter what.”
“Hm? Who would that be?”
“That would be me.”
As Peng Mugang and everyone else tilted their heads in confusion, Yeo Un-hwi soon smiled and pointed a finger at himself.
At that sight, everyone wore blank expressions.
“I will go to the Murim Alliance.”