Chapter 438: A Coincidence That Changes the Situation (6)

“...And so, with the Righteous Justice Corps eliminating a large number of assassins under the leadership of Hong Gwan, disciple of Yangcheon, Lord of Ink Dragon Manor, the incident in Guangdong Province has, for the time being, been brought to a close.”

Sighs of relief and exclamations rose from around the room.

Pung Byeokja, sect leader of Qingcheng, nodded approvingly.

“As expected of the Righteous Justice Corps. They have lived up to our expectations.”

There were several councillors within the Alliance who had never clearly declared where they stood. Pung Byeokja was one of them.

They were men who kept their distance from politics. They had spent their entire lives cultivating martial arts and devoting themselves to causes ranging from their own sects to the welfare of the realm itself. They possessed experience and intelligence, but they had no desire to throw themselves into worldly struggles for power.

In that sense, Pung Byeokja could be considered one of the ideal representatives of the Orthodox Path, regardless of his actual ability.

Je Gal Munho spoke calmly.

“Now that the matter has been resolved, ordinarily we should order an immediate withdrawal. However, the orthodox martial world of Guangdong has suffered such severe damage that I believe the corps should remain there until the resulting power vacuum has been filled.”

“Mm. Quite right. What matters is not merely uprooting evil. We must ensure that evil cannot take root again.”

Pung Byeokja nodded repeatedly in agreement.

At that moment, Deung Cheongyo, sect leader of Kongtong, frowned.

“What the Strategist says is entirely correct. Even so, I do not believe it wise to disperse the Alliance’s strength too widely.”

Je Gal Munho shook his head.

“The Righteous Justice Corps is certainly powerful, but the absence of a single field-force unit can hardly be called a dispersal of the main Alliance’s strength. We possess countless units besides the Righteous Justice Corps.”

“Of course. The Righteous Justice Corps is only one of the Alliance’s many forces. But it was also the Righteous Justice Corps that made the name of the Martial Alliance known throughout the world. By now, it has become the unit that represents us.”

“I agree with you on that point.”

Je Gal Munho gave him a puzzled look.

“Then what exactly are you trying to say, Councillor Deung?”

Deung Cheongyo answered without hesitation.

“The election of the Martial Alliance Leader has already been postponed until next year. Punishing evil and restoring public sentiment are both important, but with no Alliance Leader even chosen yet, I feel we have been engaging in external operations far too frequently.”

Pung Byeokja could not hide his confusion either.

“Why should that be a problem?”

“Consider the situation. The Dark Path has consolidated its strength beneath the absolute power of Yangcheon, the Fighting King. Yet in terms of overall military strength—particularly the quality of its masters—Ink Dragon Manor cannot compete with the main Alliance.”

“And?”

“The problem lies in the fundamental difference between the main Alliance and Ink Dragon Manor. Both call themselves alliances, but our Alliance was formed by countless sects gathering together for a great cause. If we had an Alliance Leader, that would be one thing. Without a single central authority, however, it is difficult for us to respond swiftly to outside events.”

“Mm.”

“Ink Dragon Manor is different. It may call itself an alliance, but in truth, it is little different from a small state ruled by the Fighting King. He exerts absolute influence over every organization beneath him, and Ink Dragon Manor will always move and respond in whatever direction he desires.”

Deung Cheongyo turned to Je Gal Munho.

“Let me ask you, Strategist. Do you consider that difference insignificant?”

Je Gal Munho shook his head.

“Not at all. As you say, Councillor Deung, an organization capable of acting on the immediate command of a single leader can often move faster than one governed cautiously by multiple leaders.”

“Exactly. Regardless of which system is more efficient, Ink Dragon Manor possesses power. Absolute power in the form of Yangcheon, the Fighting King. Until now, even he has kept his head down. But once he begins moving in earnest, I want to point out that the main Alliance’s forces could potentially be defeated piecemeal.”

Deung Cheongyo had drawn the disapproval of many with his excessively hard-line views, but this was not something that could simply be dismissed.

More precisely, it was an issue that would unquestionably have to be resolved someday.

The only reason they had not yet discussed a solution was that there were far more urgent matters demanding their attention. Je Gal Munho knew how to distinguish between different levels of priority according to the situation.

Which was precisely why he found this strange.

Why now?

It was an argument anyone could have raised at any time.

The problem was that the man raising it was Deung Cheongyo.

Deung Cheongyo belonged to Mo Yonggun’s camp. He himself might deny it, but there was little doubt that Mo Yonggun could sway him.

Could it be...?

Je Gal Munho glanced toward Mo Yonggun.

Mo Yonggun was calmly sipping his tea.

Is he planning to reveal his ambition again, now of all times?

He was certainly capable of it. Yet the anger Mo Yonggun had shown while confronting the Three Creeds had been genuine.

Of course, that did not mean his ambition was dead. If anything, it would only continue growing with time.

But not now.

Je Gal Munho trusted his own judgment, Yeon Hojeong’s assessment, and Yeon Wi’s instincts. In the eyes of all three men, Mo Yonggun was not the sort to expose his ambitions again even under circumstances like these.

More importantly, it was Mo Yonggun himself who proposed postponing the Alliance Leader election until next year. That wasn’t some trick meant to make us lower our guard. He isn’t that petty.

Mo Yonggun had even put the life of his own younger brother, Mo Yong-woo, on the line.

Could things be different because he had not wagered his own life? Certainly.

But it was equally undeniable that, to Mo Yonggun, Mo Yong-woo was an incomparably valuable asset.

There was no reason for him to take such a reckless gamble.

Especially not now.

Then...

Je Gal Munho looked back at Deung Cheongyo.

Deung Cheongyo met his gaze with clear, steady eyes.

So this was his own decision.

Why?

What had prompted it?

Deung Cheongyo soon revealed the reason—and with it, a fact shocking enough to stun everyone present.

“I do not know whether any of you are aware of this, but it seems to be something everyone will need to know sooner or later, so I will say it now.”

“What are you referring to?”

“I have received intelligence concerning a disturbing group beyond the frontier.”

The atmosphere in the meeting hall plummeted in an instant.

Pung Byeokja cocked his head.

“A disturbing group? What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. I have received intelligence that an organization beyond the frontier harbors ambitions of seizing the Central Plains.”

“W-What?!”

Shock spread openly across Pung Byeokja’s face.

He was far from alone. Everyone hearing this for the first time stared at Deung Cheongyo in astonishment.

A dangerous gleam entered Deung Cheongyo’s eyes.

“My Kongtong Sect lies close to the northern frontier. Naturally, we are not as far west as Kunlun, but one reason our sect has been able to accumulate wealth rivaling anyone else’s is that our influence extends all the way to Jade Gate Pass.”

Jade Gate Pass stood at the far end of Gansu, the final gateway connecting the Central Plains not only to Dunhuang but to the western lands beyond it.

The Kongtong Sect was based on Mount Kongtong, which itself lay within Gansu. Of course, Mount Kongtong and Jade Gate Pass were at opposite ends of the province, separated by a tremendous distance, but the influence of the Kongtong Sect was great enough to encompass Gansu as a whole.

“Every kind of merchant passes through Jade Gate Pass, along with amounts of intelligence beyond imagination. Our intelligence network can scarcely afford a single day of rest throughout the year merely sorting through that flood of information.”

“...”

“Do you understand? At least where information concerning the far north of the Central Plains and the lands beyond the frontier is concerned, our sect is no less capable than the Beggars’ Union. In fact, I would say we surpass them. In other words, there is almost no possibility that this intelligence is false.”

“I see.”

“So I would like to ask the Strategist something here, before everyone.”

Deung Cheongyo’s expression hardened.

“I understand that your position requires you to pretend you are not surprised even when you are, and to pretend you know things even when you do not. But unlike the other councillors, you seem far too calm.”

“...”

“Did you already know about this?”

Je Gal Munho stared silently at Deung Cheongyo and was just about to answer.

“I knew.”

Every eye in the room immediately turned toward Venerable Gonggong.

Venerable Gonggong nodded.

“I knew that suspicious forces beyond the frontier had begun to stir.”

“What?!”

Deung Cheongyo’s face twisted sharply.

“You knew as well, Venerable?!”

“I did. And I was the one who informed the Strategist.”

“...!”

The revelation was so explosive that everyone present was left reeling.

Je Gal Munho and Yeon Wi were no exceptions. Even Mo Yonggun’s gaze wavered slightly at Venerable Gonggong’s declaration.

The skin around Deung Cheongyo’s eyes trembled.

“You knew, and yet you told none of us?”

“That is correct.”

“...Then you owe us a proper explanation! Why did you keep this from us?”

Venerable Gonggong’s expression remained composed.

“Because I could not trust you.”

“What?!”

“I learned how long they—more precisely, the Three Creeds—have coveted the Central Plains, and that the power they possess is more than sufficient to sweep across it.”

“Then all the more reason—!”

“And I also learned that some among them had already infiltrated the provincial governments, the imperial court, and even the martial world itself, preparing the board in advance.”

“...?!”

Venerable Gonggong took a sip of tea.

“I am a man who serves the Buddha. Yet no matter how devoted I may be to the Buddha, once I have entered the secular world, I cannot forget my duty to work for peace.”

“...”

“The problem is the path taken to achieve that peace. I do not know whether a flawed result can be accepted merely because the process was righteous. Nor can I agree that a corrupt process is acceptable so long as the outcome is good.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?!”

FLASH!

For an instant, Venerable Gonggong’s eyes blazed.

The force of his gaze was so intense that Deung Cheongyo flinched despite himself. Pride alone kept him from turning his head. Had his guard been even slightly lower, he would already have looked away.

“What I am saying is that if they have been eating away at the Central Plains without any of us realizing it, then we have already suffered one defeat.”

“...”

“And there is an even worse possibility. What if one of us is an infiltrator working for the Three Creeds?”

“...!”

“We would not even get the chance to fight a proper battle. Before we knew it, we would be watching the larger game unfold exactly as they intended, only to suffer a meaningless defeat at a moment none of us anticipated.”

Venerable Gonggong sighed.

“I know how deeply such words wound your pride. But that is also precisely why I could not reveal this information so readily.”

“Even so—!”

“Their forces are already fully prepared. They have spent many years infiltrating the Central Plains only because they seek not some Pyrrhic victory, but a flawless one. Judging solely by their actual combat strength, I suspect they could confront the martial world of the Central Plains even now.”

Venerable Gonggong narrowed his eyes.

“And now, Councillor Deung, the secret we worked so hard to preserve has been rendered meaningless thanks to you. The Strategist and I were investigating whether any of our councillors might be infiltrators and, if so, where their connections led. If there truly is an infiltrator among us, that person will only hide more thoroughly now.”

Deung Cheongyo looked flustered. Venerable Gonggong had suddenly turned the accusation back on him.

“How can you possibly blame that on me...?!”

“I am not rebuking you, Councillor Deung. I too am guilty of deceiving the councillors, and I should rightfully accept whatever punishment follows for that.”

“...”

“However, in the name of Shaolin, I will not tolerate anyone pressuring the Strategist over this. He works day and night for the sake of the realm. If necessary, he is a man who must be willing to deceive every one of us in order to achieve what is right. To reproach him over something so trivial strikes me as exceedingly disrespectful.”

“...”

“If you wish to throw stones, throw them at me. I will take full responsibility for my arrogance.”

“...I will remember those words.”

“I do not say one thing today and another tomorrow.”

Venerable Gonggong looked toward Je Gal Munho.

“Wouldn’t you agree, Strategist?”

Venerable Gonggong smiled and gave him a wink.

Je Gal Munho could only sigh inwardly.