Chapter 380: Stagnant Water Is Bound to Rot (5)

Flutter!

Though spring had fully arrived, the winds sweeping through the mountains remained fierce and sharp.

Five enormous banners snapped in that wind, announcing the Righteous Justice Corps’s departure.

The atmosphere differed markedly from when the combined Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Smiting Corps had deployed before. The number of troops was the same, and the stated purpose of carrying out an operation was the same as well.

But one thing had changed decisively.

They had become one.

This was no longer a force in which equals had each been assigned their own roles. They had become a single unit that had to carry out a single mission.

That burden and unfamiliarity had sharpened the eyes of every member of the Righteous Justice Corps to a terrifying degree. Their qi waves naturally grew sharper as well, and their departure radiated such overwhelming force that it was difficult for anyone watching to breathe.

“What a sight.”

Je Gal Munho’s eyes deepened as he looked down at the Righteous Justice Corps from atop the fortress wall.

“Their razor-edged tension can be felt all the way up here. Supreme Commander Yeon truly is a remarkable man.”

Tang Gwan gave a faint snort.

“If that brat were truly exceptional, he would have tempered that excessive aura a little more. It seems he has not yet fully integrated them.”

“That could not be helped. Supreme Commander Yeon has been extremely busy. Still, with his temperament and ability, I believe this mission will allow him to truly make the Righteous Justice Corps one.”

“Hmph! If that happens, that rude bastard’s arrogance will only grow further.”

Though he grumbled, Tang Gwan’s eyes as he watched Yeon Hojeong at the front of the formation were calmer than ever.

No matter what he said, he trusted Yeon Hojeong’s abilities as well. Especially after recently discussing the shortcomings of the Full Sky Art and the Flower Rain Art, Tang Gwan’s gaze toward Yeon Hojeong had become noticeably gentler and deeper.

“By the way...”

Tang Gwan glanced at Yeon Wi.

“Are you all right?”

“What do you mean?”

“That brat’s axe work is famous enough that there is little need to worry, but that bandit has dragged his younger brother along as well, has he not?”

“...”

“From what I saw before, the second son’s talent is far from ordinary. But he still seemed young.”

He did not mean simply that Yeon Jipyeong was young in age.

He meant that Yeon Jipyeong still lacked experience and martial skill.

Yeon Wi shook his head calmly.

“The second’s talent could be called the greatest in the history of our clan. But as Clan Lord Tang says, he is still lacking in many ways.”

“And yet?”

“I trust the second’s talent. And I trust the eldest’s judgment and ability. They will surely return safely.”

“For them to return safely, they must first succeed in their mission. Does Clan Lord Yeon believe those men can make this mission a success?”

“I simply trust Hojeong.”

Yeon Wi answered every question, but his tone alone revealed how complicated his feelings were.

Tang Gwan watched him silently for a moment, then turned away.

“Come. Let us go have a drink.”

“I am fine.”

“I am not, so come with me. There is no meeting today, and nothing needs doing. On days like this, we should have a drink and ease our minds.”

Yeon Wi gave a bitter smile.

He was grateful that Tang Gwan was trying to look after him in his own way, but as a parent who had sent his children to a battlefield, he could not imagine a drink going down easily.

Then—

“It is far too early for a toast.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes turned cold.

The person climbing onto the fortress wall was none other than Mo Yonggun.

“This mission is not something that can be handled by the Righteous Justice Corps’s capabilities and the main Alliance’s intelligence alone. The southern Central Plains are a region where the Dark Path’s influence is broadly stronger than that of the Orthodox Path. How Ink Dragon Manor chooses to act will determine the mission’s difficulty.”

“That is an interesting thing to say.”

Tang Gwan sneered openly.

“Is that not why we sent our exceedingly capable Clan Lord Mo Yong to Ink Dragon Manor?”

“Yangcheon is dangerous. He is a chivalrous hero with his own pride, but he has already tasted the sweetness of power. I believe he will handle matters properly, but if he makes even one reckless move, the entire Righteous Justice Corps could be put in danger.”

“You know him awfully well. Were you comrades who joined hands to seek the peak of the martial world together?”

Mo Yonggun looked directly at Tang Gwan.

“I have never joined hands with him.”

Tang Gwan snorted.

“Of course you did not.”

It was a truth that could not be revealed publicly.

Mo Yonggun knew that they were aware of his relationship with Yangcheon, but he still could not openly admit to it.

In any case, even that relationship had now become a thing of the past, making the matter largely meaningless.

Mo Yonggun continued.

“Regardless, the force best positioned to grasp Ink Dragon Manor’s current movements is our clan, which is based in Hunan as well. The Mo Yong Clan will cover the rear of the Righteous Justice Corps as it passes through Hunan toward the far south. The rest of you should assist the strategist and sift out only the important information from what comes in.”

“You certainly sound like our master.”

“I merely believe it is the most rational division of duties.”

Tang Gwan was about to speak again when Je Gal Munho said,

“Clan Lord Mo Yong is right. This is not the time for us to squabble among ourselves. It is time for all of us to support the Righteous Justice Corps so that it can complete its mission successfully.”

Yeon Wi spoke.

“Strategist.”

“Please speak.”

“Can you spare me some time?”

Je Gal Munho could guess why Yeon Wi was asking.

He likely wanted to know why the Righteous Justice Corps had been deployed in such a hurry.

Je Gal Munho smiled.

“Of course. But before that, I have something to discuss with Clan Lord Mo Yong. Would you please excuse us for a moment?”

“...Very well. I will wait in the office.”

“Thank you.”

With Yeon Wi and Tang Gwan gone, only Je Gal Munho and Mo Yonggun remained atop the fortress wall.

Mo Yonggun asked in an even voice,

“What did you wish to discuss with me in private?”

Je Gal Munho said,

“Have you completely severed all dealings with Ink Dragon Manor?”

“That is an interesting question. Did I not say that I have never had dealings with them?”

“We will not discuss this matter any further. Let us say that this is our final conversation about it.”

Je Gal Munho took several sheets of paper from his robes.

“These documents support the claim that you are connected to Yangcheon, the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor.”

“...!”

“Of course, they are not decisive evidence. They are merely analyses of the suspicions we have accumulated over time. I have shown these documents to no one.”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes turned cold.

“What are you trying to do?”

“They may not be conclusive evidence, but if they spread through the martial world, the standing of not only Clan Lord Mo Yong but the Mo Yong Clan itself will fall to the ground. You may even face a crippling financial crisis. The merchant guilds that do business with the Mo Yong Clan live on credit and reputation. If such a rumor spreads, there is a high chance that they will turn their backs on you as well.”

“Do you intend to wage war against my clan?”

“Why would I do that?”

Fwoooosh!

Blue flames surged from Je Gal Munho’s hand.

The divine arts of the Je Gal Clan were fundamentally built on Wood Qi and Water Qi. Yet Je Gal Munho summoned the Threefold True Fire as naturally as breathing, making it clear that his martial arts were not inferior to those of the other clan lords.

Je Gal Munho shook his hand once and spoke calmly.

“These are documents I organized systematically in case I ever had a use for them. You may not believe me, but the materials I have just shown you are everything related to this matter.”

“...”

“I have burned them all. Now let us speak frankly one last time.”

“...What is it that you want to hear?”

“I will ask again.”

Je Gal Munho’s expression turned cold.

“Have you completely severed your relationship with Ink Dragon Manor—more precisely, with its Lord?”

“...”

“Please answer.”

“What meaning would my answer hold for you?”

“I burned the documents first to make this conversation smoother. I hope you will not evade the question and dilute the seriousness behind it with needless words.”

“...”

“I ask again. Have you completely severed your relationship with the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor?”

Mo Yonggun stared at Je Gal Munho for a long moment before speaking as though spitting out the words.

“I am the man who provoked Yangcheon’s deepest wrath and still returned alive.”

“...”

“I drove a dagger through the heart of a man whose pride runs that deep. If I were him, I might have let the offender live that once, but when we met again, I would swear to tear that person limb from limb.”

It was an indirect admission that their relationship had been completely destroyed.

Je Gal Munho’s eyes gleamed.

“Then I will understand that your relationship with Vice Manor Lord Yang has been completely severed.”

“What does that matter?”

“It matters. Clan Lord Yeon agreed to allow you to go to Yangcheon alone because we wanted to see your reaction.”

“...!”

“As Clan Lord Mo Yong said, Commander Mo Yong has placed himself under Supreme Commander Yeon’s command. That is more than enough of a hostage. Even so, I hope you understand why I have had no choice but to remain suspicious of you.”

Je Gal Munho nodded and added,

“The Clan Lord Mo Yong I know is a man who, once he sets his mind to it, can lie as naturally as he breathes. But to my eyes, you do not appear to be lying now.”

“...”

“I look forward to working with you from now on.”

“You went through all this merely to confirm that?”

“It is not merely that. If a comrade-in-arms we must fight beside harbors vicious intentions we do not know about, how can we trust that person enough to board the same ship?”

“...”

“I apologize for pressing you so rudely. You may leave now.”

Mo Yonggun stared at Je Gal Munho for a while longer before turning away.

“Leave Woo out of this. He truly has nothing to do with it.”

“Of course.”

Mo Yonggun descended from the fortress wall.

Je Gal Munho turned his eyes back toward the Righteous Justice Corps.

By then, the corps had already crossed the distant mountain ridge.

They were moving at incredible speed.

“...Supreme Commander Yeon.”

Je Gal Munho smiled faintly.

“It seems we can proceed.”

*****

An hour later.

FLAP-FLAP-FLAP!

A pitch-black crow spread its large wings and glided down onto Yeon Hojeong’s shoulder.

Yeon Hojeong removed the message tube attached to the crow’s ankle and read its contents.

“...Hm. As expected, there was no funny business.”

With a bitter smile, Yeon Hojeong took a strip of jerky from his robes and fed it to the crow.

“You have done well. Go back now.”

CAW!

With a vigorous cry, the crow took off and soon shot toward a distant mountain peak.

Mo Yong-woo and Mookbi approached Yeon Hojeong.

“Is that a message from the Alliance?”

“Yes.”

“What does it say?”

Yeon Hojeong shrugged.

“It is nothing important. It merely says that we may carry out the orders we received before deployment exactly as they were.”

“What?”

They could continue carrying out the orders they had received before deployment?

What was that supposed to mean?

Yeon Hojeong turned his horse’s reins.

NEEEEIGH!

Mad Dragon was so heavy that Yeon Hojeong needed a special warhorse capable of carrying its weight. The horse he rode this time was a divine steed, larger and more powerfully built than any of the warhorses ridden by the troops.

“Before we head south through Hunan, there is somewhere we need to stop.”

“Stop? Where?”

“Ink Dragon Manor.”

“...What?!”

Yeon Hojeong smiled coldly.

“It has been a long time, Fighting King.”