Episode 473
The entire Murim Alliance was turned upside down.
The unexpected revelation of Cheonan’s prison sentence.
And a flood of testimonies and evidence.
It was inevitable that attention would be drawn to the embers of internal strife that suddenly flared up just as an all-out war was about to begin.
“······It’s ruined.”
An elder from the Hebei Feng family, Hu Jundu, frowned and muttered.
There was definitely a traitor among those who had conspired together.
Otherwise, there was no way that a rumor containing the same content as what we had prepared would have spread at such an unfortunate time.
‘There is no choice. ‘I have no choice but to let go now.’
Even the same rumor would have different effects depending on who spread it.
If the revelation of Youngseong Dojang had been two days earlier, the public’s attention would have been focused on ‘What kind of answer will the Cheonan Inspectorate give?’
However, the opposite situation naturally unfolded because the Cheonan Gambu side hit a player.
The plan for the spiritual dojo had to be seen as a failure before it even began.
The goal of disparaging the reputation of the Cheonan Inspector General can be achieved to some extent, but the results will not be as desired.
All the followers’ attention was focused on the Senate.
What if Youngseong Dojo tries to drag him in like a water ghost?
In the worst case, I didn’t know that it would even put pressure on the monks.
‘It has to be cut.’
I didn’t even have the slightest desire to make a fuss.
The reason I decided to go along with the Youngseong Dojo’s plan was because I highly appreciated his determination to sacrifice himself.
After watching how things were going, I decided that all I had to do was add a little bit of effort, and that the risk I would have to take wouldn’t be that big.
But now things have changed.
‘I’d like to at least reveal who the traitor is.’
It was not the time to relax.
Action had to be taken now.
Hogundo shouted with energy in his voice.
“Is there anyone out there?”
* * *
Taeyeon Sword’s residence.
The two monks sat across from each other at the table.
The old man who picked up the teacup, Yeongseong Dojang, asked in a calm voice.
“Do you understand why I came to you first?”
“I don’t know. “Is there a special reason?”
“Because others cannot be trusted.”
“What does it mean?”
“There is a traitor among us.”
A spiritual stamp that affirms with bloodshot eyes.
Incontinence appeared on the surface of the teacup I was holding.
Taeyeon Geom just looked at that figure with a stern expression.
“I understand what you mean. But that makes me even more suspicious.”
“Why do you trust me when you are sure of the existence of a traitor?”
“I see.”
“Because I know that you are not the kind of person who would sell out those who share the same cause for profit.”
“······.”
Taeyeon-geom, who was pouring alcohol into an empty glass, made a nervous expression.
The same goes for Hojeongkwon (豪正拳) and the Youngseong Dojo.
I couldn’t figure out how he was looking at me.
It was definitely a good thing to say, but it didn’t make me feel very good.
“More than anything, don’t you have a grudge against the head of the Cheonan Inspectorate for being a smoker? “I don’t know about anyone else, but there’s no way you could have been in cahoots with him.”
“So, what do you have to say to me?”
“From now on, I will go to see the Lord. “I want you to come with me.”
“Will anything change if I go?”
“Not at all. Now that the Cheonan Gambu side has beaten the player, no matter what rebuttal I come up with, the middle class will not take it at face value. “Right now, I desperately need the presence of a sympathizer.”
There was earnestness in Yeongseong Dojang’s eyes.
The reason he did not visit the other elders except Taeyeon Geom was not simply because he was concerned about the possibility that they might have betrayed him.
He knew very well the tendencies of those he attracted.
We shouldn’t have expected loyalty from them.
‘Most likely, they will try to erase the link with me like cutting off a lizard’s tail.’
The only thing I could lean on was Taeyeon’s sword.
As I waited anxiously for an answer, Taeyeon Geom, who was rubbing her chin and thinking, slowly nodded.
Youngseong Dojang, who inwardly sighed in relief, put down his teacup and stood up.
By now, one of his subordinates should have conveyed the message to the governor.
We had to move before it was too late to aim for a reversal in public opinion.
* * *
Maengjubu’s conference room.
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Youngseong Dojang’s expression distorted as he looked at the faces of those present.
just as expected.
The elders did not even show their noses.
Except for Gojeong-kwon, who for some reason is sitting in the seat closest to the leader.
‘I don’t want to get caught up in the current situation.’
I thought it was a good idea to immediately go to Taeyeon and ask for help.
If I hadn’t been able to include him, I would have had to fight a lonely fight alone.
“······?”
At that time, Ho Jeong-kwon looked straight in the direction of the Youngseong seal and gestured to the seat next to him.
Youngseong Dojang, who was tilting his head at the action whose intentions were unknown, bit his lip tightly.
‘Are you mocking me?’
Otherwise, there was no reason to recommend a position close to the leader in this situation.
To begin with, he and I weren’t particularly close friends or anything.
I had doubts before.
It is said that Ho Jeong-kwon may have joined hands with the Cheonan Inspector General.
If you think about it, it was strange that Seonryong (仙龍), the next general of the Kunlun faction, suddenly joined the Cheonan Ganbu.
Perhaps it was not just a simple cooperative relationship, but the head of the Cheonan Inspectorate was holding the leash of the Hojeong-gwon.
‘You look at me like water.’
My pride was hurt.
How can an old man who has not yet been able to rebuild his monasticism laugh at himself for being so good?
Wheezing, he sat down in a distant seat, took a deep breath, and raised his head.
‘uh?’
An unbelievable sight appeared in his eyes.
Taeyeon Sword naturally sits next to Ho Jeong-kwon.
Gojeongkwon speaks to him with a smile.
Even Maengju quietly covers his mouth with his hand and laughs.
It didn’t take long to understand the situation.
‘They’re all in the same boat!’
It felt like I had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer.
The composure I had worked so hard to maintain was suddenly shattered.
It didn’t feel real.
I even had the illusion that time was passing slowly.
Could it be that Taeyeon Geom, and no one else, was the traitor?
Are you saying that the frequent confrontations with the Cheonan Inspector General in the conference room were all just an act?
‘Was Taeyeon Geom such a meticulous and careful person?’
The meeting started before I could gather my confused mind.
Zhuge Huan, who briefly explained the turmoil currently taking place in the Murim Alliance, looked around the Youngseong dojo and said:
“I will give you the right to speak. If you are going to claim your innocence, do it now in front of Lord Maeng.”
“······.”
Ling Xing Dojang felt momentarily suffocated.
Although I have attended countless meetings, the air here has never felt so heavy.
Everyone around him was his enemy.
Even if they see the slightest gap, or even if there is no gap at all, they are ready to bite as soon as a signal is given.
My hand was shaking as I picked up the documents on the table.
“······.”
That too for a while.
There was venom in his eyes.
After being scolded by Zhuge Huan several times, he regained his composure and spoke as if chewing.
“I have no intention of denying the charges against me.”
“······!”
“In order to correct the discipline of the League, those who commit crimes should receive appropriate punishment. “Especially as we face a break with the Demonic Cult.”
The rumbling noise spread.
Everyone in the conference room looked at the spiritual seal with surprised expressions.
Tendons sprouted from the back of his hand as he clutched the documents.
“However, I believe that this standard should be applied equally rigorously to others. Even if the target is a young hero with a reputation throughout the central plains.”
* * *
‘Did it come out that way?’
Youngseong Dojang unpacked the evidence he had gathered.
He gave up defending himself and focused only on achieving his original goal of disparaging the reputation of the Cheonan Inspector General.
There was a counter-fire effect, and at first the public opinion that had unilaterally criticized the spiritual stamp began to be aimed at me as well.
“In the end, if you think about it, isn’t it true that the Dragon King also violated the rules of Meng?”
“That’s right. But isn’t there room for extenuation? “In order to make the Cheonan Government Department function properly, they probably felt that it was necessary to increase their power, even if it meant using somewhat extreme methods.”
“In order to stabilize the Murim Alliance, which had grown rapidly after the Yongbong branch, we had no choice but to compromise with reality to some extent. As you said, considering the background at the time, the Dragon King’s decision is not entirely incomprehensible. But even so, I can’t help but feel disappointed.”
“Me too. Whatever the justification, sin is sin. However, there is a story that the Dragon King received compensation from the Black Island family when he was the head of the Sichuan branch. Have you heard anything?”
“Was there such a story?”
It was around this time that the interest of the apostles in Cheonan Gambu increased significantly.
I returned to the headquarters quietly, avoiding the gaze of others.
Meng’s underground prison.
Yeongseong’s seal was locked inside a steel-wrapped grate, barred from entering.
Perhaps out of respect for his position, his limbs were not restrained.
“How are you feeling?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Of course I came to check on my senior.”
“You will not die alone.”
“I’m already on my way after receiving a report from my subordinate. This put me in quite an awkward position.”
Originally, I was planning to return when public opinion calmed down a bit, but a revision of the plan became inevitable, so I moved a little early.
Still, this is within the expected range, so there is no problem.
“······.”
There was a furrow between Youngseong Dojang’s eyebrows.
Contrary to what I said, I seemed to be displeased with the way I shrugged my shoulders slyly.
“Didn’t I tell you so?”
“······?”
“I will kill you next time.”
“I wish I could, but you’re not trying to commit murder here, are you? “No matter how much you do, you won’t be able to handle the aftermath.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would I do something like that? “What benefit is there?”
“You just…”
“A person does not necessarily have to have their head split open and their heart stop to die.”
I smiled, showing my teeth.
There are different types of death.
Physical death was not the only death.
I was planning to bring despair to Yeongseong Dojang.
He will brutally destroy all the values he values more than life.
“On the way, I sent a copy of the book to the Qingcheng faction. “Aren’t you curious about what kind of contact I had?”
“······?”
martial arts,
