Chapter 74
Hmm.
On a dark night, a small, gentle-looking elderly man was quietly savoring his tea.
This was Jang Cheong, the Chief Elder of the Murim Alliance.
He was a talented individual who had maintained the position of Chief Elder for a long time, even as the Murim Alliance Leader changed twice.
At one point, he had even been a candidate for the position of Murim Alliance Leader, but he did not ascend to that seat.
The reason being that he had adamantly declined, stating that he was already overwhelmed with his duties as an elder.
This incident only served to deepen the trust people had in him.
Thus, he was a figure who commanded great respect both inside and outside the Murim Alliance.
But did the world know?
That in reality, he was more avaricious than anyone else.
Most people would think that someone who craves power would naturally covet the position of Murim Alliance Leader, but that was a narrow-minded view.
Here in the Murim Alliance, where the greatest power of the Orthodox Martial World was concentrated, the position of elder was actually perfect for holding onto power for the longest time.
Moreover, the position of Chief Elder allowed one to wield power that was no less than that of the Murim Alliance Leader, making it even more desirable.
Using his position and power, Jang Cheong had committed countless atrocities that the world could never imagine.
Not only did he consistently sell top-secret information of the Murim Alliance to the Demonic Alliance for money, but he also continued to engage in evil deeds that even the Demonic Faction would shudder at.
The current image of him leisurely sipping tea with a benevolent face was nothing but a carefully crafted facade.
"He's late, too late."
Recently, there was one person who had been greatly irritating Jang Cheong.
For some reason, this person seemed to be constantly digging into his past.
No matter how meticulously he kept everything secret, the fact that an investigator had begun to secretly investigate him was quite burdensome and tiresome.
At first, he thought the investigator would give up on his own.
Then, he thought the matter would be resolved if he sweet-talked him a bit, but the other party frustratingly paid no heed.
Instead, he only dug deeper and more tenaciously.
Moreover, he seemed to have no flexibility whatsoever, making it unlikely that he would be swayed by any form of persuasion.
Then a problem arose.
Evidence that could prove Jang Cheong was selling Murim Alliance information to the Demonic Alliance had fallen into his hands.
Upon hearing this news, Jang Cheong decided he could no longer just stand by and watch.
So he made one last semi-threatening proposal to him, and if that was rejected, he resolved to kill him cleanly.
But then, out of the blue, an incident occurred in Hebei, and the Chief Strategist, Jegal Mun, specifically recommended sending him there.
Could it be that the Chief Strategist already knew? Even about his intentions towards him?
Perhaps he had used this incident as an excuse to send his brother away.
In the end, Jang Cheong gave the order.
Find out where those documents were hidden and secure them as quickly as possible.
But no matter how many people he sent to search his room, they couldn't find where he had hidden that crucial evidence.
It was giving him a headache.
What if he had already smuggled everything out while escaping to Hebei?
What if he suddenly exposed everything one day?
It would cause quite a few troublesome incidents.
But then he returned. After finishing his investigation.
It seemed he hadn't fled to Hebei as thought. Or perhaps he had smuggled out the documents and only returned in person.
Whatever the case, it was fortunate.
If they couldn't find the documents, they could simply eliminate the one handling them.
As of today, the one causing him anxiety would disappear.
If there was no possibility of him becoming his man, it was best to remove such a person as quickly as possible.
So now, he was waiting for that result.
But that result was taking longer than expected.
His subordinate, who should have returned by now, was strangely silent.
This wasn't good.
Such matters needed to be handled swiftly and accurately; any delay was an ominous sign.
But then, he sensed a presence outside.
"Who's there?"
"It's me, Jegal Gil."
Hmm?
Jang Cheong's face twitched at this unexpected situation.
But before he could say anything, Jegal Gil flung open the door and entered the room.
Then,
Swoosh.
Step, step, step.
Jang Cheong's subordinates, who had been hiding in the darkness, quickly appeared to block him.
In an instant, three blades were pointed at Jegal Gil's neck.
"What's the matter? So suddenly at this hour."
Jang Cheong asked, pretending not to know as best he could.
Seeing this, Jegal Gil smirked.
"You know very well, don't you?"
"Well. I'm not sure what you mean."
"Weren't you waiting for me to come? Oh, I suppose you were waiting for my head to arrive."
"Young man, do you realize you're crossing a line right now?"
At Jegal Gil's words, Jang Cheong's usually gentle face hardened coldly.
An incredibly sharp and fierce expression suddenly emerged.
This was part of his true nature that the world didn't know.
However, while most people would have cowered under his aura, Jegal Gil remained as impassive as ever.
"Is that so? Hmm. This conversation won't get anywhere if we keep beating around the bush. Very well."
Thud.
Jegal Gil placed something wrapped in cloth on the desk.
Blood was dripping from it.
"What is this?"
Jang Cheong's eyes narrowed.
In response to his question, Jegal Gil grinned.
"It's the gift you sent me."
As he spoke, Jegal Gil unwrapped the cloth, revealing the head of the man sent to kill him.
"...What are you doing? Do you truly wish to die here today?"
"No. I'm doing this because I want to live."
Soon after, Jegal Gil pulled out something else from his breast pocket. It was a bundle of papers.
Jegal Gil placed this on the desk as well.
One of Jang Cheong's eyebrows raised slightly.
"This is..."
"You could call it the dirt I've dug up on you, Elder. You'll understand the contents at a glance."
For a moment, Jang Cheong's eyes widened.
He immediately gestured for his subordinates to stand down.
Then he looked at the bundle of papers.
He's willingly bringing this himself? Why?
What could his ulterior motive be?
Jang Cheong couldn't understand why Jegal Gil was doing this unless he had gone mad.
But then,
Jegal Gil stepped to the side and knelt down.
Jang Cheong's head tilted.
"What are you trying to do now?"
"I believe I've sufficiently proven my abilities. Elder, please... take me under your wing."
"What did you say?"
For the first time, Jang Cheong showed an openly surprised expression.
This was a situation completely beyond his expectations.
Meanwhile, Jegal Gil spoke with the most serious face he had ever shown.
"I want to play in deep waters. I want to earn big money, gain high status and honor. I don't want to live a petty life."
"You? Weren't you someone who didn't care about such things?"
When Jang Cheong asked with a puzzled expression, Jegal Gil shook his head.
"How could a person not be interested in wealth, honor, and power? I was simply biding my time. And because that time didn't come, I moved to create that opportunity."
"So that's why you investigated me?"
"Please forgive me. I thought this was the only way to leave a deep impression on you and demonstrate my abilities, Elder."
"Aren't you a member of the Jegal Clan? Then why go to such lengths?"
"As you know, I won't inherit the Jegal Clan. That position belongs to my eldest brother. And in the Murim Alliance, there's my second brother, the Chief Strategist."
Bloodshot eyes appeared in Jegal Gil's gaze.
"Being the youngest, I've lived my whole life being pushed around by my two brothers. Don't I need to find my own way to survive?"
"What...? Hahaha!"
Jang Cheong burst into laughter.
It was a reasonable argument.
Moreover, as Jegal Gil said, Jang Cheong had indeed been deeply impressed by this man.
His method had worked.
Until now, Jang Cheong had simply regarded Jegal Gil as merely the younger brother of Chief Strategist Jegal Mun.
Moreover, this fellow didn't seem to care much about killing someone who had been his friend.
Ho-oh. So this was the kind of person he was.
They say you can know ten fathoms of water, but not one fathom of a person's heart.
"I know how others evaluate me. But I simply didn't reveal my true nature until the most appropriate time came."
"Ho ho. Is that so?"
"In case you're concerned, I'll tell you this: the documents I have are all here."
The documents he had already presented were piled high on the desk.
Jang Cheong picked up a few of the documents and skimmed through them.
"Huh...!"
He let out a gasp.
It was impressive. To think he had dug up so much about him so thoroughly.
If he had remained an enemy until the end, Jegal Gil would undoubtedly have been the first person that needed to be killed.
But conversely, if this person became an ally, he would likely become the best shield.
Soon, Jang Cheong nodded and looked at Jegal Gil.
"And if you allow me, I will handle and manage any future risks of exposure for you, Elder. Please trust me and leave it to me. I will do it perfectly."
"What do you want?"
To Jang Cheong's question, Jegal Gil answered without hesitation.
"To become like you, Elder. I want money, honor, and everything else."
"What? Haha. This friend is more ambitious than he looks."
Jang Cheong laughed heartily.
It was so honest that it was laughable. No, he was pleased.
There was no one easier to handle than a person with such desires.
It was an interesting turn of events.
The person he thought was a troublemaker turned out to be someone desperately trying to become his right-hand man.
But one thing was certain.
His ability was indeed outstanding.
There would be many ways to use him in the future.
With a satisfied smile, Jang Cheong asked Jegal Gil.
"This might mean betraying your brother. Are you alright with that?"
"I've already turned my back on the Jegal Clan and started my own path when I became an adult."
Jegal Gil spoke with a resolute face.
"And if I were to be held back by such useless sentiments, I wouldn't have started this in the first place."
"Oh ho. Is that so?"
Jang Cheong once again looked at the documents Jegal Gil had presented and the head of the man he had killed.
To think he could be so ruthless.
He never imagined Jegal Gil had such a side hidden within him.
But in any case, he was very pleased.
"Very well. I'll take you in."
"R-Really?"
"After all this, how could I turn you away? I look forward to working with you."
"Thank you."
Jegal Gil bowed deeply to Jang Cheong.
Seeing this, Jang Cheong nodded with great satisfaction.
"Things are going to get quite interesting from now on. Hahaha!"
Jang Cheong's laughter echoed in the room.
But did he know?
That even as Jegal Gil bowed, his eyes still burned with the same sense of justice as before.
'Become wiser than the villains.'
From now on, Jegal Gil intended to follow those words to the letter.
He would become more cunning than evil itself and manipulate them.
Yes. Just like a snake.