“Ha! Are you saying Clan Lord Mo Yong made such a proposal?”
“He did.”
Je Gal Munho stroked his chin.
Tang Gwan, who had remained silent the entire time, spoke as if tossing the words out.
“I oppose it.”
“Why is that?”
“No one knows what that bastard Mo Yonggun is thinking. If a man like him bowed his head first and came in, it means he is definitely plotting something.”
Tang Gwan’s tone was decisive.
He had spent time with Mo Yonggun that could be called short or long, depending on how one saw it. A person’s thoughts could change a dozen times in a single day, but their nature did not change easily.
In Tang Gwan’s eyes, Mo Yonggun was absolutely not a man who moved with pure intentions. Whether making an offer or striking a deal, he always tried to take a profit. That was Mo Yonggun.
Yeon Wi said, “He even handed over his own younger brother’s life. I do not know Clan Lord Mo Yong’s true intentions, but at the very least, it did not seem as though he would play tricks without our knowledge.”
“He didn’t put his own life on the line, did he?”
Tang Gwan spoke coldly.
“That man never tries to take a loss in a deal. Blood kin? True. He is human too, so how could he have no affection between blood brothers? But what he values even more than blood is his own life.”
It was an extremely harsh statement. But it was not entirely wrong.
Je Gal Munho nodded.
“I partly agree with Clan Lord Tang. Clan Lord Mo Yong is absolutely not an easy man. He must have his own intention.”
“You see?”
“However, the fact that he reached out first is strange.”
“What does that mean?”
“One hand cannot handle ten burdens. Clan Lord Mo Yong knows his own abilities well. At the same time, he also knows that this side has people no less capable than he is.”
“Mm.”
“He reached out first? There is no way he himself does not know what that action means. If he made such a proposal while knowing full well that we would keep a constant eye on him afterward, it can be interpreted in three ways.”
“......?”
“Either he is sincere, or he is confident he can deceive us.”
“And the last one?”
“Both.”
“......!”
Je Gal Munho sighed.
“Looking only at the situation, the Demon-Sweeping Corps is Clan Lord Mo Yong’s only weapon aside from the military strength of his clan. Moreover, within the Martial Alliance, he cannot mobilize his clan’s military strength, so in a sense, it can be said that he has staked everything he has.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“I agree.”
“On top of that, Mo Yonggun’s brotherly affection for Commander of the Demon-Sweeping Corps Mo Yong-woo is sincere. He did not stake his own life, but at the very least, losing him would be a shock equal to having his arms and legs torn off. For Clan Lord Mo Yong, who is so keen to profit, it can be seen as a decisive move in his own way.”
Tang Gwan frowned.
“Then what do you mean, it could be both?”
“He is confident he can avoid our eyes and investigation. However, until our preparations against the public enemy are complete, he will not strike first.”
“......Hmmm.”
Yeon Wi wet his throat with a sip of tea, then spoke as if sighing.
“Whatever the case, the problem is us. Matters related to the Martial Alliance Leader election are not issues that can easily be pushed back. Moreover, even if we set the election aside, there are many people with sufficient qualifications to serve as acting Martial Alliance Leader.”
“I think so as well. For example......”
“Venerable Gonggong.”
“Yes, that is right.”
Venerable Gonggong also knew information concerning the Three Creeds. In other words, aside from those who had already known, he could be called the only one who knew the true identity of the Three Creeds.
“In truth, in terms of ability, character, and wisdom, it would be difficult to find anyone more suitable than Venerable Gonggong. Especially for the first Martial Alliance Leader, it would be better to put forward a stable leader whom everyone in the Orthodox martial world can accept.”
“I think so as well.”
“However......”
“However?”
Je Gal Munho, who had cut himself off and fallen briefly into thought, soon opened his mouth with a quiet sigh.
“Venerable Gonggong will absolutely refuse to accept the seat of Martial Alliance Leader. Even if it is only temporary.”
“Mm.”
Yeon Wi let out a low groan.
He, too, knew Venerable Gonggong’s character. And the Venerable Gonggong he knew was, just as Je Gal Munho said, not someone who would accept the post of Martial Alliance Leader even temporarily.
Setting everything else aside, the very request that they postpone the election and ask him to serve as acting Martial Alliance Leader for one year carried the implication that he was not suited to be the first true Martial Alliance Leader. There was room for it to be taken as meaning he had enough ability to fill the role temporarily, but not enough ability to become the real Martial Alliance Leader.
Even if Venerable Gonggong himself did not care, it was a matter the senior figures of Shaolin, as well as major figures close to Shaolin, would vehemently oppose.
Tang Gwan, who had been quietly listening, spoke as if tossing the words out.
“Let us decide one thing first.”
“......?”
“Are we accepting Mo Yonggun’s proposal, or not?”
A brief silence.
The first to break that silence was Je Gal Munho.
“I do not think it is bad.”
“You mean we accept the proposal?”
“That is right. Whatever else it may be, it is not a proposal that will cause us any loss for now. Rather, it is better. It is also an opportunity to control one of Clan Lord Mo Yong’s arms.”
“Mm.”
Tang Gwan looked at Yeon Wi and asked, “What do you think, Clan Lord Yeon?”
Yeon Wi let out a sigh.
“To be honest...... I do not like the proposal itself.”
“Why not?”
“Coordinating our words before the meeting and guiding the proposal in a way favorable to our side...... This is no different from political maneuvering.”
Tang Gwan frowned.
“We have a public enemy. Worse still, the power of those damned bastards is so immense that it spans the entire Central Plains. I do not think this is the time to concern ourselves with such things.”
“The saying that one must live while preserving what must be preserved carries a weight as heavy as Mount Tai. If we preserve it when circumstances are good, then gloss over it when circumstances are bad, why do we need norms at all? It would make a mockery of the name Orthodox Path.”
“I do not think so. At times when it is necessary, one must show a certain flexibility. I believe now is such a time.”
“At times it may be more complicated. At times we may have to take the longer road. Even so, there is a line that must be kept.”
Yeon Wi let out another sigh. For some reason, he was sighing more than usual today.
“I am afraid. Afraid that at this rate, we may truly become monsters. Afraid that we may lose the right to teach righteousness and norms to the generations below us. There are certainly values more important than life, and I worry that we may become hypocrites who only speak of them, yet fail to show them through action.”
Je Gal Munho looked at Yeon Wi with a heavy gaze.
Only then did he understand why Yeon Wi’s expression had been so grave. He and Tang Gwan had been weighing Mo Yonggun’s proposal itself, but Yeon Wi, apart from the benefits that proposal might bring, had been staring directly at the problem inherent in this situation itself.
He is truly upright.
He did not know what Tang Gwan would think, but Je Gal Munho did not consider that side of Yeon Wi stubborn.
More precisely, he thought this was a stubbornness one ought to have. If the Orthodox Path failed to act like the Orthodox Path, what difference was there between it and the Dark Path?
And so Je Gal Munho was able to make his decision.
“Do you know what sort of creature a strategist is?”
“......?”
“A strategist of an organization is someone who has half stepped away from the righteous Way that one ought to follow. The reason is that if one is bound by norms, one may harm the lives of every member of the organization.”
“Strategist.”
“We who walk the Orthodox Path must pursue values that transcend profit and loss. Like you, Clan Lord Yeon. But I am different.”
Yeon Wi spoke with a troubled face.
“Do not do this.”
“No. Rather, I should have been the one to make the decision first. Before the two clan lords had to agonize over it, I, as strategist, should have finished organizing the matter.”
Je Gal Munho smiled.
“That is why I receive more monthly pay and bear more responsibility than the two of you. A strategist is a position that can transcend Alliance law in times of emergency.”
“.......”
“Of course, that does not mean one may wield power however one pleases. That is why, generation after generation, the post of strategist has been entrusted only to those who not only have outstanding minds, but also distinguish public and private matters clearly and are worthy of everyone’s trust.”
Je Gal Munho added playfully.
“Someone like me.”
It was a remark meant to ease the rigid atmosphere, even if only slightly. Yeon Wi could not help but let out a small laugh.
Tang Gwan asked, “Then what are you saying, Strategist?”
“I will pursue Clan Lord Mo Yong’s proposal separately. I will have it settled within five days at the latest, so I ask the two of you to pretend you know nothing. This is a request not from the Clan Lord of the Je Gal Clan, but from the strategist.”
Tang Gwan nodded.
“Since you have made up your mind, handle it well.”
“Thank you.”
Yeon Wi could not bring himself to answer. He only sighed again, his face full of worry.
Je Gal Munho spoke as if soothing him.
“The two of you staked your lives fighting the masters of the Divine Flame Cult. In other words, that is the responsibility the two of you, and furthermore, countless members of the Alliance, must bear. Clan Lord Yeon, you have borne more than enough of that responsibility, so now I, too, will bear responsibility as strategist.”
“......I only feel stifled.”
“There is no need to feel stifled. I will take responsibility for everything.”
“That is why I feel stifled. If you truly choose such a path, Strategist, then after the fight against the Three Creeds is finished, things will become very difficult for you.”
It meant that not only might he have to step down from his post, but if matters went wrong, he might even be punished under Alliance law.
Je Gal Munho burst into hearty laughter.
“When that time comes, I have no doubt the two of you will defend me.”
Tang Gwan snorted and rose to his feet.
“You people truly do handle matters in a complicated way. In any case, I shall take my leave.”
Yeon Wi asked, “Where are you going?”
“To meet the clan lord’s eldest brat.”
“Mm? You mean Hojeong?”
“That is right.”
“Why would you see Hojeong......?”
Tang Gwan smacked his lips.
“That boy asked something of me, and it seems it has just been completed.”
*****
“You called for me?”
Tang Gwan glanced at Yeon Hojeong’s face and snorted.
“You look ridiculous. Are you still not fully recovered?”
“Well, that is how it turned out.”
“Lack of training. I thought you were fairly tough-boned, but now that I look at you, you are weak as a reed.”
Yeon Hojeong scratched his head.
“I admit it. That is why I plan to focus only on training for a while. I do not want to embarrass myself by passing out again.”
“Fine words. With that frail body of yours, can you even swing an axe properly?”
“Of course......”
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong’s eyes shone.
Tang Gwan kicked the large box placed on the platform.
“It was made at a smithy belonging to my clan. They reproduced the measurements, weight, and form you ordered exactly.”
“It is finally here.”
“Open it. I will say this in advance, but even if you do not like it, I have no intention of making it again. Whether it turns out useful or useless, swing it like your life depends on it.”
Yeon Hojeong opened the box with a faint smile.
Soon, surprise rose on his face.
Tang Gwan spoke with a face full of mockery.
“It seems a million times better than that vicious axe you carry around. Doesn’t it?”
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