Chapter 188 : Report
Report
Jeong-un's eyes widened in an instant.
'The entire martial world...?'
It couldn't just be a symbolic statement.
After all, it was the chief strategist of the Heavenly Martial Hall saying this.
He meant that the orthodox factions of the martial world truly intended to band together and strike the Demonic Cult.
Jeong-un asked, his face composed.
"Is there a consensus, or is this still in the planning stage?"
"We've already finished our discussions."
Zhuge Cheon-woo nodded as he answered. Then he glanced at Zhang Mun-gi and asked,
"May I show him?"
"Go ahead."
With that, Zhuge Cheon-woo moved over to the massive desk in the office.
Step, step.
Jeong-un watched him with a perplexed look, then Zhuge Cheon-woo handed Jeong-un a single sheet of paper that had been on the desk.
"This is...?"
"It's the list of sects that have agreed to lend their strength in this matter. We received official letters sealed by each Gate Leader and the General Affairs Department is keeping them. All in all, there are a hundred sheets."
"When you say a hundred sheets..."
Zhuge Cheon-woo nodded and continued.
"All one hundred major sects affiliated with the Murim Alliance will participate in the extermination of those Demonic Cult bastards."
"......!"
Only now did Jeong-un begin to grasp the scale of the plan.
The intent to mobilize the entire martial world had not been an exaggeration.
At this level, one could truly say that all the orthodox sects were moving.
Zhuge Cheon-woo spoke.
"That's also why we reported this discreetly to the royal family and received their approval. If a group of martial artists wielding superhuman might gathers in such numbers, it would not be remiss to suspect them of treasonous intent. That's the very reason the royal family supported the formation of the Murim Alliance long ago: they wanted to keep such power where they could see and control it."
"So the royal family is also watching this matter closely."
"That's exactly right. Ever since you first submitted your report on the Demonic Cult Leader, they've been on alert. That faction is truly the descendants of traitors. The royal family cannot turn a blind eye to this."
The descendants of traitors—he wasn't wrong.
By now, Jeong-un knew well the story of the Demonic Cult invading the Hall of Ancestral Heaven in Beijing fifty years ago.
But it struck differently now.
It was because he recalled the story told by the Demonic Cult Leader: that the founding emperor of Great Ming built his nation with their help, then cast them aside when they were no longer useful.
'It was from his mouth, so I can't take it at face value...'
Still, it had sounded relatively plausible when he heard it.
The man's face as he had spat out those lines in rage was vivid—he had truly seemed aggrieved.
"......."
Jeong-un gazed steadily at Zhuge Cheon-woo, standing in front of him.
The Zhuge Clan was a prestigious orthodox faction with an ancient legacy, descendants of Chancellor Zhuge Wuhou from Shu Han, and a great house that had exerted tremendous influence in both imperial court and martial world for generations.
Among them, Zhuge Cheon-woo was the younger sibling of the current clan head and the chief strategist of Heavenly Martial Hall.
At that level, it was safe to say he was extremely well informed both inside the martial world and out.
The Zhuge Clan rivaled even the Beggar's Union when it came to intelligence gathering.
At last, Jeong-un spoke quietly.
"Separately, the man said something a bit strange."
"......?"
Zhuge Cheon-woo looked at Jeong-un with a perplexed expression. Beside him, Zhang Mun-gi also turned his head toward Jeong-un.
"He claimed that they contributed to the founding of Great Ming, but were then completely discarded. He spoke as though they had been betrayed."
"He said that to you?"
Zhuge Cheon-woo's eyes went wide as he repeated the question, obviously taken aback.
When Jeong-un nodded, Zhuge Cheon-woo let out an incredulous laugh.
"I'm surprised he said such things to you."
"It's nonsense, isn't it? There's no way a heretical cult like that could have played a role in founding this country."
When Jeong-un said this, Zhuge Cheon-woo looked at him for a moment with a strange expression.
"His claim may not be entirely wrong."
"Pardon?"
Jeong-un was left speechless.
That was the last response he expected.
Was it truly possible the Demonic Cult played a part in the founding of this country?
It was hard to believe.
"I'm not saying everything he told you is true. But you have to remember just how vast the manpower needed to found a nation is. It's possible that among them, a few were like him."
"So that means..."
As Jeong-un's words trailed off, Zhuge Cheon-woo shook his head.
"That's not what's important here. Even if his words were true, the ones cast aside aren't today's cultists. And it wasn't us who cast out those Demonic Cultists of the past. He's simply dug up an old, uncertain tale to justify himself."
"......."
"What matters now is that these people are cultists who oppress innocent civilians. Whatever their motives, it makes no difference at this point. You can imagine what will happen if the grand technique he mentioned truly comes to fruition."
Zhuge Cheon-woo was correct. Their motivations didn't really matter.
The problem was that if that technique, which the man called the Grand Formation Where All Laws Return to Emptiness, succeeded, the entire world would be under their heel.
'It would be a living hell.'
A world where only Demonic Cultists could use martial arts?
He couldn't even begin to imagine what sort of hell that would be.
At that moment, Zhuge Cheon-woo asked again.
"Did he say anything else?"
"He made me an offer. He asked if I'd join hands with him and together rule the martial world. He said he would make me the finest in the realm."
"What?!"
Zhuge Cheon-woo's face was aghast, completely blindsided.
Zhang Mun-gi also furrowed his brow and asked Jeong-un,
"Didn't you just say that he considered you a sacrifice for his grand technique?"
"That's right. But by some means, he said he would use my cultivated power to complete the grand technique, and afterward, he would let me keep all my martial prowess as it was."
"......."
The wide office fell silent for a moment. The absurdity of what Jeong-un had said left everyone speechless.
After a pause, Zhang Mun-gi glanced at Zhuge Cheon-woo and asked,
"Is such a thing possible?"
"There's no point questioning what's possible. This is the man who developed a formation that manipulates natural energy at will. We have to consider every possibility."
"Understood."
Zhang Mun-gi's eyes turned back to Jeong-un.
"And what about you?"
"Pardon?"
"Were you tempted?"
Jeong-un replied flatly.
"I tore off the man's forearm immediately afterward."
At that, Zhang Mun-gi burst out laughing—a face that had heard something truly amusing.
Zhuge Cheon-woo cast him a glance and said,
"Hall Lord."
"My apologies. It's been so long since I've seen a young man like this."
Then, with a rather stiff face, Zhuge Cheon-woo spoke to Jeong-un.
"You'd best not mention this elsewhere."
"Why is that?"
Jeong-un asked back. He hadn't planned to brag, but Zhuge Cheon-woo's seriousness made him curious.
"There will certainly be those who twist your words. What you think doesn't matter. There's a reason so many who stand out in the martial world are surrounded by unsavory rumors."
"I'd think it doesn't matter what rumors spread so long as my conduct is above reproach..."
Jeong-un answered cautiously. He had no intention of accepting the man's offer, and found it all rather absurd.
He had only heard the proposal while probing the man's plans.
But just hearing the invitation was enough to earn suspicion?
He thought the martial world's love of gossip was a bit much.
But Zhuge Cheon-woo smiled and replied,
"You've recently acquired the title Heaven-defying Lone Sword, yes?"
"......."
"In any case, there's no harm in being careful. Especially if you plan to remain in the martial world."
"I understand."
He nodded obediently.
There was no need to push back, especially since Zhuge Cheon-woo meant well.
Besides, this was the Demonic Cult Leader they were talking about.
If word got out that such a person had sought alliance with the most outstanding rising talent in the martial world, anyone would be shocked.
Jeong-un silently observed the Heavenly Martial Hall Lord and chief strategist.
He had said all he needed to say.
Now, it was their turn to speak—and what they had to say was most important.
At last, Jeong-un broke the silence.
"So what are the plans going forward?"
He asked bluntly, not beating around the bush. Even Chief Yeom Baek had stepped aside to grant him this private audience.
More importantly, he was a four-stripes, the highest rank among the warriors.
He felt qualified to ask this of the Heavenly Martial Hall Lord and chief strategist.
Zhuge Cheon-woo answered.
"As I said, the orthodox sects of the Murim Alliance are already preparing. Thanks to your advance summary in your letter. Soon, a date will be set and we will launch an all-out offensive toward Xinjiang."
"What do you need me to do?"
This was the real question he wanted to ask. He understood the plan to unite the orthodox sects against the Demonic Cult.
But he had yet to hear about his own role. He naturally assumed he'd be at the forefront.
'This is my task.'
The Demonic Cult Leader wanted him, and he also sought his foe.
If the Heavenly Martial Hall's plan didn't include him, he was even prepared to act alone and take responsibility.
Zhuge Cheon-woo gave him a meaningful look and said,
"I know that you are exactly what he wants. That was heavily emphasized in Venerable Mu Jung's letter. The man is clearly fixated on you."
Then he paused, as if choosing his words, and added in a subdued voice,
"To be honest, I wish I could hide you where he can't find you. Especially after hearing what that grand technique entails, I feel it all the more."
"What?"
Jeong-un immediately asked back. Hide him from the man? What nonsense was this?
"There's no need for that expression. After all, without you, that impossible grand technique can never be completed, can it? Then he'll never get what he wants."
"......."
Jeong-un involuntarily furrowed his brow, even in the presence of his highest superiors.
He couldn't help it, so unbelievable were the words.
"No need to look so cold."
At that moment, Zhang Mun-gi spoke first.
He had quietly watched the conversation between Jeong-un and Zhuge Cheon-woo with a mellow smile the entire time, and for some reason, there seemed to be satisfaction in his eyes as he looked at Jeong-un.
"It's true I discussed this with him. But don't worry. There's not the slightest intention to exclude you from this matter. What kind of cowardly decision would that be?"
"If that's the case...?"
When Jeong-un asked slowly, Zhang Mun-gi continued.
"The very fact that we can prepare for this is thanks to you. Even if that man didn't have the grand technique, he would only have thought up some new way to overthrow the Central Plains. Hiding you is pointless, and in any case, I'm not brazen enough to attempt something like that. I never intended for this to end that way."
Zhang Mun-gi looked every part the kind old man.
He didn't wear the face of a martial artist preparing for battle with the Demonic Cult—it was more like the face of a grandfather admiring his well-raised grandson, which left Jeong-un feeling rather awkward.
Zhang Mun-gi smiled softly.
"I may be stuck here buried in documents, but I'm also a martial artist who's weathered many storms in my youth. I know you're at the center of this. Even if all the noble clans and Old Sects unite against him, I doubt any of them would truly confront him as directly as you will."
"What does that..."
Jeong-un trailed off and Zhang Mun-gi grinned, saying,
"As of now, you are no longer a member of the Blue Scale Corps. We'll supply you with all the resources and intelligence you need. Form your own plan and operate independently."
"......!"
As Jeong-un's eyes grew wide, the Heavenly Martial Hall Lord finished.
"We will advance and exterminate the foe in our own way. In the meantime, settle things between you and him."