Chapter 356
"So where does this road lead to if we go this way?"
To Wei Yan-ho's question, Jang-il answered matter-of-factly.
"If you follow this road all the way down, you'll reach Seokga Market."
"Seokga Market?"
"That's right. And if you go further down from there, you'll reach Jeongju."
"Ah, I see. Jeongju, Jeongju… Jeongju?"
Wei Yan-ho's eyes widened as he glared at Jang-il.
"Isn't Jeongju right next to Luoyang?"
"That's right."
"Then this road leads to the Righteous Martial Alliance."
"That's right."
"You crazy bastard!"
Wei Yan-ho kicked Jang-il in the rear.
Thunk! With that sound, Jang-il rolled on the ground as Wei Yan-ho pointed at him accusingly.
"Hey, you crazy… No, you beggar bastard! I'm trying to run away home to avoid going to the Righteous Martial Alliance! And you're telling me to walk into the Righteous Martial Alliance with my own two feet! Have you lost your mind after getting your bowl broken a few times?"
"There's only one road, so what do you want me to do!"
"If there's no road, we should make one and go around!"
"Does that even make sense!"
While Jang-il and Wei Yan-ho were pointing at each other and fighting, the others were calmly having their own conversation.
"What should we have for lunch?"
"There should be a village to rest in soon, so how about we decide there? We need to decide whether to eat something quick and leave, or stay the night."
"I miss hot soup. I'm sick of jerky."
"Amitabha."
It was a routine occurrence, so no one paid much attention.
Ever since they started their journey, Jang-il and Wei Yan-ho had been fighting endlessly like a cat and mouse. Wei Yan-ho constantly harassing Jang-il was one thing, but Jang-il never backing down despite getting beaten was also impressive.
"Then why did you leave separately in the first place!"
"Because you said you were going separately, I came separately! Why are you blaming others for what you did!"
"You should have stopped me!"
"Did you even say anything! Did you?"
"You should understand even without me saying anything! The reason you're in this pathetic state is because you only understand when people spell things out for you!"
"…This sounds like something I heard from the King Beggar once…"
Jang-il groaned at Wei Yan-ho's words that struck a deep wound in his heart. Why do all those in high positions say such nonsense?
"Now that you've become a Military Strategist, you talk like an old fart!"
"I was always an old fart."
"…Huh?"
"Master is the ultimate old fart. A complete old geezer, and I've been stuck with that old man for five years getting tormented. It would be stranger if I didn't become an old fart."
"If I had to pick the one thing I regret most in my life, it would be not meeting your master."
Everyone nodded at those words. And Peng Dao-ji, who didn't seem the type, even added commentary.
"And if I could see that guy getting beaten up there, I could die without regrets."
"My point exactly."
Hearing this, Wei Yan-ho said incredulously:
"What did I do wrong that you all want to see me getting beaten up?"
"Good heavens…"
"Amitabha."
"That seems like an illness. Miss Jin, is treatment possible?"
"It's difficult. Even if Hua Tuo came back, it would be hard."
Wei Yan-ho protested indignantly at the flood of criticism.
"I've been so good to you all!"
"I think the meaning is a bit different?"
"Even tyrants often think they're benevolent rulers."
"It's not quite right to call him a tyrant though."
Wei Yan-ho sighed deeply. Only Wei San-ho patted his shoulder, as if he understood everything
"So we have no choice but to pass by the Righteous Martial Alliance?"
"That's right."
"Then there's nothing we can do."
Wei Yan-ho's face hardened.
"We'll break through at maximum speed! Damn Righteous Martial Alliance."
* * *
Shin Gi-su looked around the assembly with a very satisfied expression.
'Ah, this is how it should be.'
Seeing the leaders of various sects filling the conference room made his shoulders rise with pride. In the past, this had been the natural state of things. It was natural for the Righteous Martial Alliance to stand at the forefront of the orthodox sects and lead everyone.
Of course, compared to those times, it was still lacking, but even this much was quite an achievement.
At least the Nine Great Sects had responded to the Righteous Martial Alliance's summons, which was a significant accomplishment.
"Now that you've gathered people like this, shouldn't you start talking, Military Strategist?"
"Ahem, my apologies. I was lost in thought for a moment."
Though he was criticized, he still felt good.
"Sending an urgent dispatch means this is no ordinary matter."
It was a subtle threat that if this wasn't something significant, they wouldn't stand for it. But Shin Gi-su wasn't angry at such threats at all. These people had ignored urgent dispatches more than once or twice.
The fact that they came despite complaining meant the Righteous Martial Alliance's position had risen that much.
'And it also means the times are that turbulent.'
Everyone had realized from what happened at Mount Hua. That the Demonic Cult was once again targeting the martial world. And who had been active there.
Shin Gi-su would have liked to give Wei Yan-ho a great reward if possible. Though he was a troublesome fellow who could cause stomach pain just thinking about him, it was also true that he had tremendously elevated the Righteous Martial Alliance's prestige.
Shin Gi-su glanced around once, making eye contact with everyone, then slowly opened his mouth.
Not hastily at all.
"According to our intelligence, the Demonic Cult is moving."
"The Demonic Cult!"
The impact of the name 'Demonic Cult' was certainly enormous. Just mentioning that name made the conference room heat up rapidly. Considering the caliber of people present, you could tell how intense this reaction was.
"Those bastards…"
"But it's not exactly surprising news. They already showed themselves at Mount Hua."
"We nearly suffered great losses."
Shin Gi-su shook his head.
"A Cardinal has emerged."
"…"
This time it was silence.
The word 'Demonic Cult Cardinal' made even the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects freeze. The weight that name carried was that heavy.
In the Demonic Cult, Cardinals were completely different from regular sect elders. While elders were more like honorary positions gained naturally as one aged and became naturally stronger, Demonic Cult Cardinals were positions that only the strongest demons in the Demonic Cult could obtain.
In the Demonic Cult where strength is truth and strength represents everything, being in the position of Cardinal spoke to their power, didn't it?
"Is this confirmed information?"
Shin Gi-su nodded.
"The sacrifices the Righteous Martial Alliance paid to place informants in the Demonic Cult were not small."
On the surface, it emphasized 'information gained through such sacrifice couldn't be wrong,' but in reality, it meant 'while you were playing around, we prepared for the martial world's future even at great sacrifice.'
Coughing sounds came from here and there.
No one present couldn't read the hidden meaning in Shin Gi-su's words. Though they felt uncomfortable, it was a cold hard fact they couldn't rebel against.
To escape the Righteous Martial Alliance's influence, they had intentionally ostracized the Righteous Martial Alliance. Yet amid this, having to depend on the Righteous Martial Alliance for such important information was embarrassing for them.
"Ahem."
Mount Hua's Cheong Yeong-ja coughed loudly and spoke.
"While the Nine Great Sects haven't been much help to the Righteous Martial Alliance since the Demonic Cult's resurgence, to think you've placed informants even inside the Demonic Cult – we're truly ashamed."
"Not at all. Isn't everything for the peace of the martial world?"
Mount Hua, having received great help from the Righteous Martial Alliance during the Mount Hua incident, had no choice but to speak up. The uncomfortable gazes of other sect leaders turned toward Cheong Yeong-ja, but he slightly turned his head to avoid their stares.
'When it comes down to it, we'll inevitably have to join hands with the Righteous Martial Alliance, yet they're still concerned about saving face.'
Cheong Yeong-ja felt newly ashamed that he had discussed the Nine Great Sects' independence with people who didn't even know what practical benefit meant.
"Amitabha."
The one who organized the somewhat confused assembly was Shaolin's Master Hye-jeong.
"Military Strategist."
"Yes, Master."
"A Demonic Cult Cardinal entering the martial world… should we understand this as the Demonic Cult beginning all-out war?"
"That's not certain yet."
"Demonic Cult Cardinals don't move easily."
"Of course not, but…"
Shin Gi-su trailed off slightly.
Certainly, a Cardinal moving was no ordinary matter. Even in the past, hadn't wars intensified several times over from the point when Cardinals appeared on the front lines?
"To be honest, I'm puzzled about that aspect too. Clearly a Cardinal has moved, but the Demonic Cult shows no movement."
"That means there's something important enough for a Cardinal to personally venture into the martial world."
"I think so too."
"Hmm…"
Master Hye-jeong's expression darkened.
'Something important enough for a Cardinal to act alone… '
Perhaps it was something more important than the entire Demonic Cult moving.
"Do you have countermeasures?"
"…We have no measures."
"No measures…"
Shin Gi-su nodded heavily and said:
"We obtained intelligence that a Cardinal left the Demonic Cult, but we have no idea where or how they're heading. We cannot guard this entire vast martial world, so beyond issuing alert orders, further preparation is difficult."
"Mmm."
Though it wasn't something the Righteous Martial Alliance's Military Strategist should say, it was understandable. How could one guard against a single person in this vast martial world?
It was more difficult than finding one grain of sand in the desert.
"Do you have no idea about their purpose either?"
"…I'm sorry."
Master Hye-jeong closed his eyes and chanted a Buddhist phrase.
"You don't know the purpose, and you don't know their movements. All we can know is that a Demonic Cult Cardinal has headed toward the martial world."
"My apologies."
"No. Just discovering that much shows how much the Military Strategist has suffered. While we were acting shamefully, the Righteous Martial Alliance alone has been protecting the martial world."
At Master Hye-jeong's words, Shin Gi-su felt as if all his past hardships were being rewarded. Though he was technically a deputy sect leader, Shaolin's Hye-jeong had influence beyond that of most sect leaders.
Such a person had acknowledged the Righteous Martial Alliance's achievements.
"But I heard there was a child who performed great deeds at this Mount Hua gathering?"
Looking at Hye-jeong asking casually, Shin Gi-su swallowed a bitter smile.
In reality, wasn't Shaolin one of the first sects to identify Wei Yan-ho? Mentioning facts they already knew clearly meant they were setting the stage before the Nine Great Sects' leaders.
Though he followed Buddhist law, Hye-jeong's reaction showed he wouldn't miss the cunning aspects of a seasoned martial world figure. Shin Gi-su nodded.
'If you're setting the stage, I should dance properly.'
Shin Gi-su smiled lightly and opened his mouth.
"Yes, his name is Wei Yan-ho. He's the son of Righteous Hero Sword Wei Jeong-han. That child accomplished great things at this Mount Hua gathering."
Then he felt slightly cold gazes.
"Isn't that exaggerated?"
As expected, at the probing response, Shin Gi-su moistened his lips.
It seemed that the dance he would have to perform this time would be a sword dance.