Chapter 199
Before the Nine Great Sects arrived, inside Jegal Gil’s room.
A massive pile of papers completely covered the table.
Written on them in detail were all the deeds Jang Cheong had committed thus far, along with the evidence.
These were all materials Jegal Gil had gathered while risking his life.
But now, all of this was in danger of becoming meaningless scraps of paper without ever seeing the light of day.
Jegal Gil clutched his head with both hands.
He had stayed up all night, eyes wide open, after hearing Jang Cheong’s warning.
He had confided in Yeo Un-hwi and caught his breath a little, but that didn’t mean the matter would resolve itself.
He had agonized over it endlessly, but he simply couldn’t think of a way to save his older brother.
No matter how meticulous the evidence was, there was a time for everything.
With Jang Cheong’s subordinates everywhere, what use would it be to present this right now?
He would be lucky if he didn’t ruin everything and get himself killed.
A sense of self-reproach washed over him.
Was this ultimately his limit?
It was then.
He heard the news of the Nine Great Sects visiting the Murim Alliance.
His surprise at the news that they had suddenly barged in without prior notice was brief; Jegal Gil’s eyes shot wide open.
The time was now.
No, it had to be now.
Such a golden opportunity would not come twice.
Jegal Gil urgently gathered all the evidence on the table.
Before they could leave again.
He had to arrive without a second to spare at the Alliance Leader’s Hall!
And now.
“I am Jegal Gil, an Investigator of the Murim Alliance. I intend to publicly reveal the crimes of Chief Elder Jang Cheong of the Murim Alliance right here and now.”
Jegal Gil’s gaze turned to the Sect Leaders of the Nine Great Sects one by one.
And it finally landed on Jang Cheong.
'…I’ve been had.’
At Jegal Gil’s sudden action, the corners of Jang Cheong’s eyes twitched.
And as if he had come fully determined, Jegal Gil continued speaking before Jang Cheong could even utter a word.
“Elder Jang Cheong has received bribes from countless people and committed all sorts of corrupt acts using his status as an Elder of the Murim Alliance. Furthermore, if his relationship with the other party soured even a little, he frequently hired an assassin to brutally murder his associates.”
Jegal Gil also revealed that Jang Cheong operated human trafficking rings and gambling dens, committing illegal acts without hesitation as long as they made money.
But that wasn’t all.
“Moreover, I have uncovered evidence that he has been selling major information of the Murim Alliance to the Demonic Alliance for a long time. These are the materials that prove my claims.”
The contents of Jegal Gil’s revelation were truly shocking.
It wasn’t just mere suspicion or empty words, either.
He had solid evidence to back up his claims.
Jegal Gil handed the evidence in his hands to Grandmaster Muheo.
That was a very wise choice.
Because no matter how powerful Jang Cheong was, he wouldn’t be able to easily snatch them away from Grandmaster Muheo or the Sect Leaders beside him.
“Hmm.”
Grandmaster Muheo and the other Sect Leaders slowly began to examine the documents they had received from Jegal Gil.
Gradually, their faces turned grave.
It was because every single crime Jang Cheong had committed thus far was truly horrific.
Unable to stay still, Jang Cheong soon defended himself with an aggrieved expression.
“This is a frame-up. What motive for committing such acts could I possibly lack? Isn’t that right? Look here, Investigator. What on earth are you talking about! And what are those ridiculous documents!”
At his words, the Elders of the Murim Alliance murmured among themselves and nodded in unison.
Jang Cheong was already in a position of great power within the Murim Alliance, recognized and respected by everyone.
Why would he bother doing such things?
This was the terrifying power of perception.
And even if they were suspicious, no one wanted to defy Jang Cheong to uncover the truth.
But what about the Sect Leaders of the Nine Great Sects?
“Unfortunately, human greed knows no bounds.”
Grandmaster Muheo, who had been examining the evidence Jegal Gil handed over for quite some time, sighed and spoke.
“Are you saying you believe that nonsense? Such claims are merely an attempt to slander and attack me. The only person in the world making such claims is that man right there. And yet…”
“Well. Is that really so?”
“What do you mean?”
“Actually, we have been investigating you, Elder Jang Cheong, for quite some time.”
Jang Cheong’s eyes widened at the words spoken by the Sect Leader of the Hwasan Sect, who stood beside Grandmaster Muheo.
It had been strange.
Why had Jang Cheong tried so hard to drive the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families out of the Murim Alliance?
At the time, Jang Cheong had used the imbalance of power concentrated in the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families as a pretext, making plausible excuses to fill the Murim Alliance with his own people.
The Nine Great Sects, growing suspicious of Jang Cheong due to his extreme actions, had subsequently begun investigating him.
“Because you hid it so well, we couldn’t find out anything at first. But after spending a long time investigating, we uncovered a few things. The contents were quite shocking, and sure enough, the materials Jegal Gil provided detailed those exact matters.”
If they returned and combined the materials the Nine Great Sects had gathered with this new evidence, the truth would be revealed even more clearly.
Soon, Grandmaster Muheo spoke.
“This matter naturally cannot be overlooked. As soon as we return, we will publicize the matter regarding Elder Jang Cheong.”
“Look here, Grandmaster Muheo! How can you take things this far…!”
At that moment, Grandmaster Muheo’s eyes flashed.
RUMBLE.
When the Fist Emperor, one of the Twelve Venerables, fully unleashed his Aura, everyone present felt a suffocating pressure, except for one person.
“I wish to execute you right this instant, but I am holding back as much as possible, so shut your mouth, Jang Cheong.”
Under Grandmaster Muheo’s Aura, Jang Cheong snapped his mouth shut.
It was clear that if they didn’t properly publicize this issue, the Murim Alliance would try to hush it up again.
They absolutely could not let that happen.
But there was one more piece of shocking news Grandmaster Muheo had to deliver to the Murim Alliance.
“Listen well. As of today, the Nine Sects One Alliance, including the Beggars' Union, will cut ties with the Murim Alliance.”
“What do you…”
“It is our belief that at a time when the Heavenly Demon has appeared, we cannot trust the current Murim Alliance and move forward with it.”
They had judged that there was no longer any hope left for the Murim Alliance.
“We agonized over what to do until we arrived here, but thanks to you, our minds are now firmly made up. We will go our own way. Farewell.”
With that final ultimatum delivered to the Murim Alliance, the Nine Great Sects turned around.
Meanwhile, Grandmaster Muheo looked at Yeo Un-hwi.
It was the first time he had seen someone withstand his Aura so effortlessly, making the man’s existence feel truly mysterious.
Yet, for whatever reason, that man was looking at him with highly displeased eyes.
It didn’t seem like they had any ill-fated history together.
It was also the first time Grandmaster Muheo had openly received such a glare, leaving him feeling rather strange.
‘Well, I suppose I’ll see him again someday.’
The atmosphere was too awkward to single him out and speak to him right now anyway.
As he prepared to leave, Grandmaster Muheo spoke one last time to Jegal Gil.
“Will you come with us? It might be dangerous if you stay here.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I will stay.”
“Hmm. Is that so? I understand.”
He was worried about Jegal Gil, but since the man had made his choice, he couldn’t force him.
How much time passed after they left?
Song Il-do let out a hollow laugh.
The fact that the Nine Sects One Alliance would no longer stand with them meant that the Murim Alliance had just lost nearly two-thirds of the Orthodox Martial World’s power.
It was a devastating blow.
Everyone was in deep shock.
Because they had never dreamed the Nine Sects One Alliance would act like this, no matter what.
However,
“It is difficult to say this in such a situation, but the Five Great Families, including our Peng Family, share the same stance as the Nine Sects One Alliance.”
“Why are you only saying this now?”
Song Il-do looked at Yeo Un-hwi, who had just spoken, with a resentful expression.
Yeo Un-hwi merely shrugged.
“Because you shoved us into a corner and ignored us all this time, that is why I am only telling you now.”
“Hah…”
He didn’t know if the man was always like this, but he certainly had a talent for driving people crazy.
That must have been why Jang Cheong had turned red and raised his voice at him earlier.
But now, Song Il-do didn’t even have the energy to get angry.
No, had he ever truly held power since becoming the Murim Alliance Leader in the first place?
Regardless, according to Yeo Un-hwi’s words, both the Nine Sects One Alliance and the Five Great Families were now cutting ties with the Murim Alliance.
And the moment that became officially known, numerous other Sects and Families would follow suit.
If that happened, the current Murim Alliance would be…
“It’s… it’s all over.”
It was a total catastrophe.
He had always known it would end someday, but he hadn’t expected it to happen like this, making him feel even more hollow.
Just then,
“Keuk. Kuhahaha…”
Jang Cheong, the main culprit who had brought about this entire situation, burst into maniacal laughter.
As if he had completely lost his mind.
“E-Elder! What do we do now? Huh? What are we supposed to do!”
The Elders who had always followed and pandered to Jang Cheong approached him, demanding answers.
“No, before that, is it true that you really committed all those crimes?”
“Even so, hasn’t this crossed the line way too far?”
“That’s right. What on earth were you thinking, going that far…”
Those who had enjoyed all kinds of wealth and glory thanks to Jang Cheong were now turning around and blaming him.
They were equally disgusting.
However,
“Chatter, chatter… You’re too loud, you pieces of trash.”
Jang Cheong waved his hand as if annoyed, and in an instant, several Elders surrounding him were reduced to bloody mist.
Everyone stared at Jang Cheong in shock.
The other Elders, suddenly drenched in blood, screamed and scrambled backward.
They desperately tried to run away.
But,
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Even they were instantly killed by Jang Cheong’s hands.
SWOOSH.
Before anyone realized, a chilling blue Aura was pouring out of his body in torrents.
“Right. So it has come to this in the end. Tsk tsk. How truly amusing. Amusing indeed.”
But contrary to his words, Jang Cheong’s eyes were boiling with rage.
Everyone was bewildered by the sheer power that seemed to crush the very space around them.
To think that the man they had assumed was merely a born politician had been hiding such power.
Furthermore, Demonic Force could be felt radiating from his entire body.
“Demonic Martial Arts…?”
Someone muttered.
It was true.
Jang Cheong had been practicing Demonic Martial Arts.
The Chief Elder of the Murim Alliance, of all people.
“To think the day would actually come when I’d have to use this power.”
It had been pure coincidence that he had obtained the Secret Manual of a Demonic Leader who had long ago dyed Under Heaven in blood.
“Yes. I’ve lost count of how many villages I sacrificed to master this.”
Of course, he had also been the one to ensure those rumors never spread.
The eyes of those watching him turned exceptionally cold.
How could a human being be so evil?
“Now then, the Fist Emperor is gone. You will all have to serve as the targets for my venting.”
He resolved to kill everyone present.
His mood had been thoroughly ruined, and he felt his rage wouldn’t subside unless he did at least this much.
And then, he would disappear like smoke.
He vowed to no longer care about honor or anything else, and simply slaughter humans as he pleased, whenever he pleased.
Inside the Alliance Leader’s Hall, his heavy footsteps as he approached the remaining survivors felt utterly chilling.
Just then,
“I suppose this is the only thing left for me to do.”
Song Il-do stepped forward, blocking Jang Cheong’s path.
He was no longer the inadequate Murim Alliance Leader, but the Meteor Sword Emperor, one of the Ten Great Masters.
“So our terrible fate ends like this. Farewell.”
Song Il-do immediately prepared to unleash his proud Red Flower Shadowless Sword Art.
However,
“Bullshit.”
Jang Cheong’s hand had already pierced straight through Song Il-do’s chest.
“H-How can this… Keugh!”
It was unbelievable.
Song Il-do, one of the Ten Great Masters, had lost his life at Jang Cheong’s hands in an instant.
It was a truly hollow and futile death.
Because he was inferior to the Twelve Venerables, he hadn’t dared to reveal his power in front of the Fist Emperor, but Jang Cheong’s strength was still incredibly astonishing.
And then,
“You’re next.”
Jang Cheong’s gaze turned to Jegal Gil.
“If you had just followed me, you could have enjoyed wealth and glory, you stupid fool.”
“No. Every moment would have been hell. You were always the worst.”
“Tsk tsk. Let’s see if you can still say that after I pluck your eyeballs out while you’re alive.”
In an instant, Jang Cheong’s body vanished.
He reappeared right in front of Jegal Gil’s eyes.
His hand shot forward, aiming to pierce straight through Jegal Gil’s skull.
“G-Gil!”
Jegal Mun shouted in a desperate voice, but it seemed it was already too late.
But right at that moment.
SWISH!
Jang Cheong hurriedly leaped backward.
However, a long gash had already been sliced from his neck down to his chest, spraying blood.
“Keugh! Y-You bastard.”
“Hoh. You dodged that? Not bad. I was planning to slice you in half with a single strike.”
Someone slowly walked out from behind Jegal Gil.
“How does it feel to lose everything you held most precious?”
Yeo Un-hwi flicked the filthy blood off his sword, Wolya, onto the floor.
“I’ll let you taste the most horrific death in the world, Old Monster.”