Chapter 203
“Hello, Sect Leader.”
“Haha. You look even more handsome today. Have you eaten?”
“Wow, it’s the Sect Leader! Hello!”
The people of the Hebei Peng Clan all greeted Jin So-baek warmly.
Jin So-baek returned their greetings with a warm smile.
Everyone had already heard about it.
They knew how great a role Jin So-baek had played in keeping the Hebei Peng Clan safe during the Demonic Cult’s attack.
Had he not been there, the Peng Clan would have had to face the Demonic Cult completely defenseless.
Moreover, Yeo Un-hwi would not even have known that the Hebei Peng Clan was in danger, so returning in time would have been unthinkable.
Above all, everyone vividly remembered how he had risked his life and fought alongside the Hao Sect members at the final moment.
In other words, Jin So-baek was an immensely valued benefactor to the Peng Clan.
That was why even the clan head, Peng Mugang, treated him—the leader of the Hao Sect, an unorthodox sect—as an honored guest.
“Haha. This popularity of mine…”
“They’re all completely fooled, aren’t they?”
Someone suddenly appeared behind Jin So-baek as he happily waved at the people of the Peng Clan.
It was Bae Cho-jin, his most cherished subordinate.
Seeing her displeased expression, Jin So-baek raised an eyebrow and asked,
“What do you mean? Fooled?”
“The truth is, you only stepped forward that day after thoroughly calculating everything with your relationship and dealings with Commander Yeo in mind, didn’t you? Yet everyone here looks at you as though you were a righteous hero who willingly risked his life for complete strangers he had never even met. That’s fraud, isn’t it?”
“Oh, come on. There you go again, failing to understand people’s hearts and slandering me. What do you really take me for, huh?”
“A born negotiator and swindler who would risk even his life for advantageous negotiations or profit. And a wretched fellow born solely to become the Hao Sect Leader… That’s how the previous Sect Leader assessed you, wasn’t it? I agree with that assessment completely.”
“Urgh.”
Perhaps because Bae Cho-jin had been loved by the previous Sect Leader, she remembered everything he had said without missing a single thing.
Especially the things he had said while badmouthing Jin So-baek—she remembered them exactly, without missing a single letter.
Seriously, how unlucky did I have to be for someone like her to become my right hand?
What would be the point of arguing with her?
Before long, Jin So-baek sighed and shook his head.
“Good grief. You’re probably the only person in the world who mistreats and looks down on your own sect leader like this. Anyway, what’s that in your hand?”
“Ah. It’s a letter that just arrived.”
“Really? Let me see.”
Jin So-baek accepted the letter and slowly began examining its contents.
But then,
“Huh? …What?”
Jin So-baek’s mouth fell open at what the letter contained.
“Good heavens… W-what is all this?”
***
At the same time.
“Kyaaa!”
A huge figure was flying between the peaks of the mountain behind the Hebei Peng Clan.
It was Peng Mugang.
Yul-i was laughing with pure delight atop his shoulders.
Yul-i was having the time of her life playing with her grandfather.
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Yes! I’m having sooo much fun!”
“Haha! I’m glad to hear it! Now, shall we go over there this time?”
“Kyaa!”
Instead of an answer, Yul-i’s laughter rang out.
Yul-i especially loved flying high in the sky.
‘She likes it. What a relief.’
Peng Mugang had been even more eager to play with Yul-i ever since the Black Martial Emperor had come by.
Although he still could not let Yul-i fly around by herself the way the Black Martial Emperor had, he tried to do the best he could.
It was truly fortunate that Yul-i enjoyed it.
If she had happened to say, ‘Why can’t Grandfather do it like Grandfather Black Martial Emperor?’ he might have been terribly hurt.
How long had they played like that?
Peng Mugang and Yul-i returned to the Peng Clan.
When they reached the garden, Yul-i gave Peng Mugang a beaming smile.
“I had fun again today, Grandfather! Then I’m off!”
Since it was almost time for Yul-i to go to Sowol Academy, she waved cheerfully before scampering off toward her mother.
“You’ll fall. Don’t run; go slowly.”
“Hehe. I’m okay!”
“That girl.”
Thus, the happiest and most enjoyable part of Peng Mugang’s day had come to an end.
He soon made his way to the clan head’s office.
***
“Hmm. It should be about time some news arrived…”
Peng Mugang muttered as he stroked his beard.
Having played to his heart’s content with his granddaughter, Peng Mugang had returned to the clan head’s office and was now having tea with Peng Seo-jin.
Hearing Peng Mugang mutter, Peng Seo-jin, who was sitting beside him, looked worried.
“I hope nothing has happened.”
“Ho ho. Don’t worry. He’ll be fine. What could possibly go wrong?”
Yet, unlike Peng Seo-jin, Peng Mugang looked relaxed.
He looked as though he had not a single worry in the world.
Of course, unless the Martial Alliance had called Yeo Un-hwi over simply to get along, he expected some degree of a battle of wills. Still, he couldn’t imagine Yeo Un-hwi losing that exchange.
If anything, he’d be the one turning things upside down.
Hadn’t he been absurdly nonchalant even when he first came to the Peng Clan?
And even if some degree of conflict did arise, that worried him even less.
Who was he, anyway?
Truly, Peng Mugang now trusted Yeo Un-hwi more than anyone.
As a son-in-law, and as a son.
By then, Yeo Un-hwi was no different from his own child.
Seeing Peng Mugang like that, Peng Seo-jin smiled.
The reason Father had opened his heart to Brother was not simply because Brother possessed astonishing martial prowess as the successor to the Martial God.
If that had been the only reason, Father would have been even more wary and careful around him.
But Father had seen the sincerity with which Brother had spent his entire life doing everything he could, with heartfelt devotion, to love and protect his family.
Though I think I understand that feeling too, there must be emotions one can feel only after becoming both a father and a husband.
Suddenly, Peng Seo-jin found himself wanting to experience that feeling as well.
That aside,
“Even so, I’m a little worried, Father.”
What if they provoked Yeo Un-hwi too much or treated him rudely?
Moreover, if they happened to cross even the minimum boundary they ought to observe, there was no way Brother would quietly endure it. That worried him too.
“Ho ho. Why worry about that? I’d rather have Un-hwi run wild to his heart’s content.”
“What if he goes too far?”
“He has limits of his own. Ho ho. Do you think he’ll run wild without any regard for the consequences? Besides, he is the successor to the Martial God.”
“But he’s also the Heavenly Demon.”
“Ahem. Th-that’s true too.”
The memory of the moment when he had first learned that Yeo Un-hwi was the Heavenly Demon came flooding back.
Could this be called a blessing? Peng Mugang couldn’t even casually boast—or even mention—that he had a son-in-law who was both the Martial God and the Heavenly Demon.
Where could he even say such a thing?
He’d only be treated like a madman and told to stop spouting nonsense.
Moreover, it was a secret among secrets, known only to a tiny handful of people within the Peng Clan.
It was simply the sort of thing no one could easily handle.
Just then,
“Clan Head! Are you inside?”
“Hmm? Come in.”
A familiar voice sounded, and soon someone came rushing into the clan head’s office, out of breath.
It was none other than Jin So-baek, the leader of the Hao Sect.
Seeing him so flustered, unlike his usual self, Peng Mugang looked puzzled.
“Hmm? What is it?”
“N-news from the Martial Alliance has arrived.”
“Oh, really? Go on, tell me.”
“Well, you see…”
But Jin So-baek hesitated, unable to bring himself to say it easily.
It was news from a Hao Sect branch.
The news was so shocking that it left even Jin So-baek gaping, making it difficult for him to put into words.
Peng Mugang calmed him and spoke in a composed voice.
“What kind of news is it? It’s all right. I’m confident I won’t be surprised no matter what happens. That’s what faith is. Indeed, I have that kind of faith in that fellow.”
“T-the Martial Alliance Leader is dead!”
“Huh?”
Peng Mugang’s nostrils flared wide.
“No, what in the world has that crazy fellow done…”
Peng Seo-jin was witnessing firsthand how quickly a person’s faith could disappear.
Peng Mugang’s heart pounded.
He’d thought he could handle anything, but even so, how could Un-hwi have killed the Martial Alliance Leader?
How had things gone so far…? More importantly, what were they going to do? How were they supposed to clean this up…?
In that brief moment, his mind raced so frantically that he nearly developed a headache.
This had gone far beyond anything he had considered a mere accident.
“War. There might be a war.”
No matter what they fought, Un-hwi could probably handle it all himself, but was this really all right?
Even so, they were supposed to be an orthodox faction; acting like this made them no different from the Demonic Cult… No, since Un-hwi was the Heavenly Demon, perhaps it didn’t matter…
“…Of course it matters!”
Peng Mugang looked utterly confused as he unconsciously clutched at his hair.
“Ah. I forgot to mention, but they say the Martial Alliance Leader’s death had nothing to do with Commander Yeo or the White Wolf Unit.”
“No! You should have said that first! Good grief! Are you trying to make me die of a heart attack? Then who killed the Alliance Leader…?”
“They say Chief Elder Jang Cheong was the culprit.”
“What?”
He was strong enough to kill Song Il-do, one of the Ten Great Experts?
“They say he had secretly learned demonic arts.”
“Good heavens.”
“And they say Jang Cheong is dead as well.”
“Huh? Who killed him?”
“They say he was killed by Commander Yeo. And most of the other elders died too.”
“What? Even the other elders? Just how much havoc did he wreak!”
“Ah, they say Chief Elder Jang Cheong killed them.”
“…You know, you’ve been thoroughly confusing me since you started talking.”
Peng Mugang’s face repeatedly flushed red, then paled.
Soon, Peng Mugang’s face contorted as he growled at Jin So-baek.
“From now on, if you don’t tell me properly in order, I’ll go to war with the Hao Sect.”
“Ah. I’m sorry. I was so shocked myself that I wasn’t making much sense.”
Jin So-baek caught his breath, then began explaining carefully once more.
After hearing what he had to say, Peng Mugang and Peng Seo-jin’s mouths fell open.
The state of the Martial Alliance, which had been controlled by Jang Cheong, and the fact that the Martial Alliance had responded tepidly even to the Heavenly Demon’s appearance.
The Nine Great Sects had arrived, enraged by their conduct.
At the gathering, one of the Martial Alliance’s investigators exposed Jang Cheong’s horrific crimes, and the Nine Great Sects declared that they would sever ties with the Martial Alliance before leaving.
Jang Cheong had then flown into a rage, revealed the demonic arts he had secretly learned, and killed everyone he saw, including Martial Alliance Leader Song Il-do and the elders. Yeo Un-hwi had stepped forward and put an end to him and his lackeys.
Things had become far bigger than they had ever imagined.
“And I have another piece of information I obtained separately.”
The next piece of news Jin So-baek conveyed was just as shocking.