Episode 109
Zhuge Huan let out a hollow laugh as if he was enjoying my reaction.
I asked, handing him a cup filled with hot tea.
“What happened?”
“An incident before where you were attacked by a group of black swordsmen. “I was concerned, so I used Meng’s information network to do some research.”
“As a result, it was revealed that Changin Dojo was behind it?”
“okay.”
“Why are you telling me that?”
“At the very least, as a party to the incident, shouldn’t you know the context?”
“Is that all?”
“Is there any other reason?”
Zhuge Huan sipped tea with a puzzled expression.
After staring at him in silence for a while, I suddenly spoke.
“Honestly, I was surprised.”
“What part surprised you? The part where I, as a soldier of the Maeng Dynasty, personally ordered the transport of Changin Dojang? Or the part where the unknown old man I met in a dirty alley turned out to be the leader of the Maeng Army?”
“I didn’t expect Maeng to risk conflict with the Jeomchang faction for the sake of a humble late index.”
“······That’s very straightforward.”
Zhuge Huan’s eyebrows rose slightly.
As the leader of the alliance, it was a remark that he could not help but feel uncomfortable about.
‘Maeng is tacitly condoning the misconduct committed by contestants. ‘Because this is based on the premise of that fact.’
But what can you do?
But the truth is.
As someone who was directly harmed by Changin Dojo, I had the right to say this.
‘If you’re going to punish me, I’ll punish you right away.’
This was not the first time that Changin Dojang committed fraud.
What is the reason that they stayed silent when irregularities occurred in the first preliminary round and now come forward to punish them?
Thanks to this, it has become difficult to take personal revenge and collect compensation for bets.
Naturally, there was bound to be dissatisfaction on this side.
“I think I know how you usually view the Murim Alliance.”
“At least we have no illusions that the Murim Alliance is a group that protects justice.”
“Hahaha!”
Zhuge Huan suddenly burst into laughter.
He laughed, shaking his shoulders, and relaxed his neck, perhaps conscious of the attention of those around him.
He said, putting the steaming glass down on the table.
“Well, it’s not unreasonable for you to be dissatisfied.”
“······.”
“Because it’s an open secret. There are loopholes in the rules of the competition, and there are people who take advantage of those loopholes to commit fraud. “And that Maeng is tacitly condoning it.”
Does he want to say that this is not a reflection of his opinion?
Zhuge Huan had a bitter look on his face.
The changes in facial expressions were truly diverse.
“But Changin Dojo’s actions went too far. As the organizer of the event, it is something that cannot be overlooked or overlooked. This is beyond the acceptable limit that can be passed quietly, pretending not to notice. So, inevitably, I decided to punish him. “That’s just the story.”
“······.”
“It looks like you have a lot to ask.”
“What punishment do you plan to impose on Changin Dojang?”
“I plan to detain him in prison for a while.”
“Is that all?”
“Why do you think this is too lenient?”
“yes.”
“I understand your dissatisfaction, but since we have to consider the reputation of the Jeomchang faction, any further formal punishment is impossible.”
I had some expectations.
It is said that Changin Dojang will be released in the near future and will return to his position as a monk.
The reason Zhuge Huan dispatched Meng’s warriors only after he was eliminated from the martial arts competition was probably because of the underlying thought that he did not want to escalate the situation.
When the rumor spread that Jisoo Hui, who was on a roll in the competition, had been detained for corruption, attention was bound to be focused.
It would be natural for the reputation of the Jeomchangpa, a recluse of cheaters, to be lost.
“Instead, the private office of Changin Dojo decided to impose severe punishment on its own. So don’t be too sad.”
“The arms are bent inwards. “There is no guarantee that Jeom Changpa will keep his promise.”
“Some of the elders of the Jeomchang sect are close to me. Since they have decided to take charge of this matter, the agenda will not be lost.”
“······.”
“It seems like you still don’t like something.”
“Is that how you got pregnant?”
“You can almost tell by looking at the face.”
“I think I put some effort into managing my facial expressions…”
“I came into contact with many people while working as a soldier of the Maeng Army. “As I deal with people who are full of evil on the inside every day, I have become adept at reading emotions and thoughts that are not revealed on the surface.”
“Actually, I made a bet with Changin Dojo.”
“Know. “I guess that’s why he cheated.”
“You won the bet, now it’s time to get paid.”
“However, since the Changin seal was consigned from the village, I was unable to demand compensation. “Is that what you want to say?”
“That’s right.”
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A furrow was carved between Zhuge Huan’s eyebrows.
He muttered softly as he licked his lips.
“I didn’t think about it that far. I was trying to gain favor in my own way. “In fact, it had the opposite effect.”
“······?”
I narrowed my eyes.
I heard you were trying to gain favor.
Is there any reason why a person who is as powerful as a military leader should be seen well by me?
“From what I saw firsthand, Changin Dojang did not seem like a person who would readily admit his defeat. Even if you ask them to pay the promised price, they will probably remain oblivious.”
“That’s my opinion too.”
“What were you planning on doing?”
“I won’t tell you that much.”
“Seeing as he was avoiding answering, it seems he had some shady plan.”
“It was aborted due to the intervention of the Commander-in-Chief.”
“You don’t deny that you had an insidious plan.”
“The opponent used the male and female first, so there is no reason for us to stick to the legitimate method.”
“That’s right.”
Zhuge Huan, who was tilting his teacup while smiling ‘tsk tsk’, slowly stood up from his seat.
I asked with a puzzled expression.
“Are you leaving already?
“Didn’t you say that the construction work was very busy?”
“Anyway, I didn’t know you wouldn’t even have time to have a cup of tea.”
“I’ve finished my errand, so I should get back to work. “I’m so busy these days because of my lazy leader.”
Steam was still rising from the teacup.
I followed suit and muttered to myself.
‘What on earth is this plan?’
I thought that once I finished talking about the Changin Dojo, the other person would get to the point.
For example, like Jegal-hye, you could offer to recruit him.
Isn’t it possible that a nobleman who was as powerful as the entire army would go to such lengths to deliver just a brief piece of news?
But my expectations were spectacularly wrong.
“I will send a brief letter to the Jeomchang faction. “It contains the content that you and the Changin Dojo made a bet, and the Changin Dojo that lost the bet is obligated to pay the price.”
Zhuge Huan, who was leaving the room with the black-clad warriors who were assumed to be his guards, turned to me and said,
Although it was a grateful story, questions naturally arose.
“Why are you showing me such favor?”
“I heard that you are considering joining the alliance.”
“······?”
“Isn’t it natural to take care of a family that will soon be eating a meal together?”
It was a meaningful statement.
Even more so because he emphasized the word ‘one pot meal’.
Zhuge Hwan leaves the guesthouse.
I scratched the back of my head as I pushed away Cheon Ga-ryeong, who was pouring out a barrage of questions as if she had been waiting.
Zhuge Huan is the commander-in-chief of the Murim Alliance.
So to speak, he was the leader of the Maengju faction.
‘When we first met, I wanted to find out his identity, so I said that I wanted to return the favor and that I wanted to see you again.’
Now that I found out his identity, I felt like he was a burden.
My honest feeling was that I didn’t want to get involved with him if possible.
‘I guess I’ll have to avoid it as much as possible.’
* * *
“Commander General.”
The way back to Meng.
One of the black warriors who were escorting Zhuge Huan cautiously opened his mouth.
“Why didn’t you offer to recruit that young man?”
“Were you that curious about that?”
“It would have been enough to send a letter just to tell the story of the Changin Dojo’s disposal.”
“So there must be some other purpose. “I guess that’s what you thought.”
“That’s right.”
“It is true that we are trying to attract him to our allies. But he doesn’t plan on rushing.”
“Why?”
“Hyeah said that. He said he had ‘no intention of belonging to any faction of the Maeng’. Even if I had made an offer to recruit him on the spot, most likely it would have been rejected.”
“A person’s mind can change at any time. “If he changed his mind and joined the elder faction…”
“That’s why I took the step myself. “To have a conversation and judge for yourself what type of person you are.”
“······.”
The black uniformed man frowned slightly.
Even though I had a boss for a long time, I still couldn’t guess his principles of action.
“For now, it’s just good for him to remain neutral and not belong to a particular faction. No, I would say it is better because it is neutral.”
“······?”
“We just need to provide behind-the-scenes support. “So that he can achieve his achievements smoothly.”
“······.”
“I plan to get to know each other first and build a friendship step by step. “Today’s meeting can be said to be the first step toward that goal.”
Zhuge Huan yawned, rubbing under his dark-shaded eyes.
He glanced back in the direction where Cheonho Gaekjan was and muttered.
“I hope you grow up quickly.”
* * *
The opponent he faced in the eight-legged martial arts competition was Namgung Seong-hun, a direct descendant of the Namgung family.
It was a name that felt familiar to me, who had memories of my past life.
The next sword dragon.
A genius who learned martial arts from King Geom, an elder of the Namgung family and an absolute master who held the first rank of the Ten Heavenly Emperors.
Excellent military talent, a brilliant mind, and even a handsome appearance.
He was a person who never missed anything.
Tomorrow during the day, he and I were scheduled to meet on stage.
“So, why did you go all the way to Ye?”
“I’ll tell you straight.”
Late at night.
A middle-aged man covered in a black robe visited Cheonho Gaekjan and looked for me.
I couldn’t help but be surprised when I heard the other person’s identity.
He was an elder of the Meng clan.
Direct descendant of the Namgung family.
Former White Tiger Lord.
A big man who has occupied the top spot among the hundred great masters.
Namgung Jonghyeon, the sword of great strength.
This was the reason why he came to me late at night and asked me to stay alone.
“Couldn’t you intentionally lose the match tomorrow?”
“······?”
“If you do me a favor, I will definitely repay you. Not on a personal level, but on a sega level. “It is definitely not an offer that you will lose money on.”
Out of nowhere, I was asked to participate in an illegal match.
martial arts,
