The Martial Alliance

The Military Bureau Hall of the Martial Alliance.

After remaining deep in thought for a long while, Zhuge Jigang suddenly slammed the table with a thud and shouted.

“It wasn’t the Sima Clan! Cheong-yeon! It was that child!”

Zhuge Jigang’s tightly clenched fist trembled.

Only now had every mystery been resolved.

No matter how much he thought about it, something had been strange about the recent incidents involving the Righteous Chivalry Guild and the Mountain Sword Sect.

There was the Sword Saint, who had repeatedly acted contrary to his expectations; the report from the Shadow Unit’s Eighth Squad about the Giant Demon and the Righteous Chivalry Guild before they were suddenly annihilated; and the story of the Eagle Five Siblings, who had abruptly arrived from Zhejiang Province, displayed absurdly extraordinary abilities, and then vanished.

Because of that, Zhuge Jigang had even begun to suspect that members of the Sima Clan, whom he had brought to ruin, had resumed their activities.

However, no movement whatsoever had been detected from the Sima Clan, which remained under strict surveillance.

Strangely enough, he found his first clue when he heard the names of the people calling themselves the Eagle Five Siblings.

‘Iron God Meteor Bae Jonggwan and Quickblade Kitten Cheon Jueun? I had definitely heard those names somewhere before…’

He remembered only that he had heard the names somewhere, but he could not recall where.

They had surely been insignificant names that had merely passed before him for a moment.

He finally remembered where he had seen their names when he heard that the Sword Saint had begun compiling and managing a register of discharged warriors.

While thinking that it would now be difficult to assassinate discharged warriors from unorthodox factions or wanderer backgrounds, he suddenly recalled Seol Pung, captain of the Seventh Platoon of the Thirteenth Unit.

‘His name was Seol Pung, was it not? I never even had the chance to try recruiting someone that capable, and now I cannot even dispose of him.’

It was while thinking that.

The names suddenly flashed through Zhuge Jigang’s mind.

‘Bae Jonggwan! Cheon Jueun?! Of course! It was them!’

Only then did he remember.

They were members of the Seventh Platoon of the Thirteenth Unit.

He suddenly recalled briefly seeing the platoon members’ names when Sag Muhun, captain of the Shadow Unit’s Fifth Squad, reported on them.

He had paid them no attention because they had been merely second-rate warriors at the time, but Zhuge Jigang’s exceptional memory had ultimately allowed him to recall even their names.

Through that, Zhuge Jigang immediately inferred everything else.

‘If two of the Eagle Five Siblings were Bae Jonggwan and Cheon Jueun, then Chang Hyuk, the so-called Reborn Zhao Yun, must have been Seol Pung. And if the woman called the Flowing-Sword Fairy was Vice-Captain Na Seoyu, then the girl called the Heavenly Beauty must have been…’

There was no chance that the woman described as being as beautiful as a celestial maiden descended from Heaven was anyone other than Hae Cheong-yeon.

The only girl he had ever considered more beautiful than his own daughter, Zhuge Seoyul, was the third daughter of Sword Saint Hae Unbaek.

Of course, one of Hae Cheong-yeon’s eyes was blue, while there had been no such rumor about the Heavenly Beauty Yeon-hae, but concealing the color of an eye would not have been particularly difficult.

And if he assumed she was alive, everything made sense.

Had the Sword Saint’s actions not begun deviating completely from his expectations from the moment he gave the order to kill her?

“More precisely, it probably began with that letter.”

The letter she had asked him to deliver to the Sword Saint during the Righteous–Demonic Summit.

It had probably been intended to probe him.

And the place where the Sword Saint, who had supposedly been in closed-door cultivation at the time, had actually been was likely…

Zhuge Jigang finally muttered with an incredulous expression.

“I was completely played. By that little child.”

It was unbearably hollow.

The Sword Saint had told him countless times that the girl’s talent surpassed even her beauty, but he had dismissed it as the doting boasts of an indulgent father.

For her to have manipulated him to this extent was simply astonishing.

However, that was merely how things had been until now.

Now that he had identified the cause, could he not also find a solution?

Zhuge Jigang smiled coldly and muttered.

“If everything was because of that child, then eliminating her must be the first priority.”

Of course, it would not be easy, since control of the front had now fallen completely into the Sword Saint’s hands.

Furthermore, he could no longer mobilize the Shadow Unit, much less trust it.

However, a method could be found if he searched for one.

She was at the front, a place where being killed by the Blood Cult would be entirely natural.

‘I will have to draw in the Blood Demon. And the Sword Saint must be dealt with first.’

Zhuge Jigang realized that he could no longer allow the Sword Saint to remain alive.

Before, his thought had been, ‘I should eliminate him when the opportunity arises.’

Now, it has changed to, ‘I must eliminate him no matter what.’

If Zhuge Jigang’s deductions were correct, the Sword Saint already knew far too much.

‘And to kill him…’

Zhuge Jigang immediately left the Military Bureau Hall.

His escort warriors promptly followed him.

“Chief Strategist, where are you going?”

“To the Alliance Leader’s Hall.”

“Yes! Understood!”

The current Martial Alliance Leader, Chivalry King Moyong Geom, could be called someone who shared Zhuge Jigang’s fate.

Even so, Zhuge Jigang did not particularly enjoy visiting him.

That was because of the voices that gradually became audible as he approached the Alliance Leader’s Hall even now.

“Oh, Alliance Leader, it’s broad daylight…”

“Hohohoho! What does it matter if it is broad daylight? Would anyone dare criticize something done by me, Chivalry King Moyong Geom?”

“Oh my, Alliance Leader… Ah!”

The coquettish voice of a woman, the Alliance Leader’s voice, and their moans came from inside the hall.

Zhuge Jigang finally stopped in front of the Alliance Leader’s Hall and loudly ordered the escort warriors.

“Inform the Alliance Leader that Chief Strategist Zhuge Jigang has come to discuss an urgent matter!”

The interior of the Alliance Leader’s Hall immediately fell silent.

A short while later, the Alliance Leader’s voice came from within.

“Enter, Chief Strategist!”

When Zhuge Jigang entered immediately, the first thing he saw was Alliance Leader Moyong Geom with his clothing thoroughly disheveled.

There was no mistaking what had been happening until moments ago, and Zhuge Jigang inwardly sighed at the sight.

He could not decide whether he should lament it or be grateful that the woman had at least been sent out through the rear door.

Then Chivalry King Moyong Geom welcomed Zhuge Jigang with a bright smile.

“Welcome, Chief Strategist Zhuge! It seems you have been very busy lately as well.”

He was probably saying that because it had been such a long time since Zhuge Jigang last visited.

In truth, Zhuge Jigang had not always been busy, but since they barely saw each other despite being so close, it was natural for Moyong Geom to say that.

However, Zhuge Jigang chose not to correct his misunderstanding.

“Yes. As always, there have been many trivial matters.”

Moyong Geom nodded happily.

“Oh, then I should not detain such a busy chief strategist for long. So, what is the matter?”

It appeared to mean that he should state his business quickly and leave.

Zhuge Jigang forcibly suppressed another sigh and lowered his voice conspiratorially.

“Something has arisen for which I urgently require the Alliance Leader’s authorization.”

Sensing that it was no ordinary matter, Moyong Geom’s expression also hardened.

“…What is it?”

“Whew, the matter is…”

Zhuge Jigang first released a deep sigh to establish the mood.

It involved removing the Sword Saint, one of the pillars of the orthodox faction.

To make the Alliance Leader accept the justification for it, he expected he would have to spend a very long time explaining.

After pausing briefly, Zhuge Jigang finally spoke to Moyong Geom with a grave expression.

“Alliance Leader, it appears we must kill the Sword Saint.”

Moyong Geom asked back with a surprised expression.

“…The Sword Saint?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Zhuge Jigang nodded and immediately attempted to explain.

“At present, the Sword Saint…”

However, he could not continue.

Moyong Geom interrupted him with an answer.

And upon hearing that answer, even Zhuge Jigang could not continue speaking for a moment.

Moyong Geom had spoken as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I see.”

Instead, Zhuge Jigang was the one left bewildered.

“…Pardon?”

Moyong Geom nodded again, as though it were deeply regrettable but unavoidable.

“Kill the Sword Saint. If Chief Strategist Zhuge, whom I trust completely, has reached that decision, then surely you have sufficient reason. I shall authorize anything requiring my name, so proceed as you please.”

“……”

“Now, if our discussion is finished, you may leave. I should not detain the busy Chief Strategist Zhuge any longer, should I? Then continue your good work.”

Zhuge Jigang stared at Moyong Geom for a moment with an expression that suggested he did not know how to react.

Although phrased indirectly, it had been an order to leave.

It appeared that even the Sword Saint’s life or death was now less important to Moyong Geom than his time spent frolicking with women.

After remaining silent briefly, Zhuge Jigang deeply bowed and turned away.

“Understood. Then I shall take my leave.”

Although everything had gone exactly as he wished, Zhuge Jigang could not determine whether he should feel pleased or saddened.

Moyong Geom had once been a proud martial artist and the Sword Saint of the previous generation, yet he had fallen this far.

It was merely hollow and bitter.

However, Zhuge Jigang soon cast aside his sentiments.

If the Alliance Leader remained in such a state, then Zhuge Jigang had no choice but to become the Martial Alliance’s true master, did he not?

If so, there was no need to refuse.

After leaving the Alliance Leader’s Hall, Zhuge Jigang immediately went to the Outer Hall and issued an order.

“This is the Alliance Leader’s command! Find the whereabouts of the Eccentric Sword Seo Il and make contact with him!”

The One-Eyed Gambling Eccentric Sword Seo Il, one of the Five Eccentrics of the World.

He was the blade Zhuge Jigang had chosen.

That beastlike man, obsessed solely with contests of strength, would not hesitate to tear into the wounded Sword Saint.

Zhuge Jigang looked toward the southern sky, where the Sword Saint would be, and smiled.

The sunset dyeing the heavens red appeared almost like his old friend.

Meanwhile, Alliance Leader Moyong Geom, who had appeared eager to dismiss Zhuge Jigang and summon the women back inside, remained seated with a faint smile even after Zhuge Jigang left.

Then he suddenly spoke.

“To think he would so readily decide to kill even the Sword Saint, whom he could call a friend. It seems strategists truly possess no affection in their hearts. Do you not agree, Yeoryang?”

A voice answered from somewhere.

“A true strategist possesses no greed, and one without greed has no need to betray loyalty. That man discards people so easily because he has fallen into avarice, not because he is a strategist.”

Moyong Geom refuted him with an amused expression.

“Did you not also come to me because of your own ambition? If so, you do not seem so different from him.”

“His avarice is for his own wealth and glory. My ambition is to realize my will upon the world. Therefore, they are entirely different.”

Moyong Geom chuckled and nodded at the unwavering rebuttal.

“Very well. I do not fully understand the difference, but if someone as wise as you says so, then it must be true. I shall look forward to seeing how a strategist of the Sima Clan differs from one of the Zhuge Clan.”

The voice answered firmly.

“You will never be disappointed.”

Moyong Geom smiled with satisfaction as he listened.

Zhuge Jigang had been an excellent tool, but the moment a tool began creating secrets behind its master’s back, did it not lose its value as a tool?

Moyong Geom had decided to remove Zhuge Jigang a long time ago.

Diancang Mountain, Yunnan Province.

After reading the entire letter from Zhuge Jigang, Blood Demon Jeon Mugwang, seated in the office of the Diancang Sect Head, smiled faintly and said.

“Zhuge Jigang must be extremely desperate. To ask for not only the Sword Saint, but his daughter as well.”

A voice came from empty air.

“According to our spies’ intelligence, control of the front appears to have passed completely to the Sword Saint. Most members of the Shadow Unit operating near the front have either been slaughtered or entered the Sword Saint’s service. Therefore, it seems only natural that he would become desperate.”

The Blood Demon nodded in understanding, then suddenly asked as though remembering something.

“Come to think of it, how are Yusang’s activities within the Un Clan progressing? Has he been sowing the seeds properly? He must establish his position before the Sword Saint’s power grows any stronger.”

The voice answered again.

“Yes. The report stated that he has completely seized control of the Un Clan. He has not yet been able to interfere with the Mountain Sword Sect, which recently caused such a disturbance, but it appears he has already begun sowing seeds within two other members of the Eight Houses of Guizhou—the Seonu Clan and the Six Ghost Hall.”

The Un Clan was the place where Man Jongim, the Demon-Hating Wanderer and commander of the Eleventh Unit, had recently been annihilated alongside the members of his unit during the Righteous Chivalry Guild incident.

It was the very place where Man Jongim had fallen for the scheme of Gu Yusang, the White-Jade Earth Dragon, infiltrated under the belief that it was a forward base of the Blood Cult, and been exterminated together with his unit members.

The Un Clan had exhausted its strength while fighting Man Jongim, the Demon-Hating Wanderer, only to be attacked from behind by Gu Yusang and swallowed by the Blood Cult.

Every part of it had been Gu Yusang’s scheme.

Pleased by the news, the Blood Demon smiled and said.

“As expected of Yusang. Excellent work. I heard he was also called the White-Jade Earth Dragon among the orthodox factions?”

“Yes. It seems his exceptional appearance even earned him the title of Sichuan’s Foremost Young Master. Since he was taught by the Supreme One, perhaps it was only natural.”

“Hmm.”

The Blood Demon nodded with a satisfied smile for a moment, then suddenly spoke again.

“Come to think of it, I heard the Sword Saint’s daughter was also exceedingly beautiful. Have you heard of her?”

The voice responded once more.

“Yes. According to information acquired while investigating the Sword Saint, his third daughter, a girl named Hae Cheong-yeon, appears to be a remarkable prodigy. There are rumors not only of her beauty, but also of her brilliant mind and extraordinary talent in martial arts. One unusual detail is that one of her eyes is said to be blue.”

The Blood Demon paused at those words and repeated them.

“She possesses beauty, wisdom, and martial talent, and one of her eyes is blue?”

“Yes, that is what the reports say.”

The Blood Demon’s eyes flashed.

“Is that so?”

Then, with the expression of a predator that had discovered prey, he gave an order.

“Investigate that child in greater detail. Find her current location and level of martial arts as well.”

“Your command shall be obeyed!”

When the presence of Gi Eum, the Nine Abyssal Yun Demon, immediately vanished after receiving the Blood Demon’s command, the Blood Demon stroked his chin and muttered once more.

“Perhaps… I may have found the vessel.”