Chapter 151
'Hah... what kind of brat is this?'
Wi-ji Gang clicked his tongue at So-ah's eloquent speech, which flowed like a clear stream.
It wasn't that he was moved by the tragic lines or that his heart was stirred.
If he had been such a soft person in the first place, could he have become the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
However, he was greatly astonished by So-ah's logical coherence.
First, So-ah was humbling himself endlessly.
Moreover, he was repeatedly apologizing for the assault at the mountain gate, and while packaging himself as a junior of the martial world or someone with a deep connection to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, he had even praised Wi-ji Gang as the greatest master of his time.
In other words,
'Isn't he making it so that I can't find any fault with him?'
There was no justification to reject him, no excuse to order him to leave.
So-ah's wit, which completely erased all of that and made it so that Wi-ji Gang could neither move forward nor backward, was a truly flawless way of handling things.
Wi-ji Gang was the master of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
He was a man with the destiny to throw away his life like a blade of grass before honor and justification.
Regardless of his personal likes or dislikes, he had no choice but to acknowledge So-ah now.
"Young Hero Jin."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"I will ask you one thing."
"Please speak."
"In the Orthodox Path these days, do they teach the juniors how to speak well instead of martial arts?"
"Haha. Cult Leader. How could that be?"
"Then..."
"I'm just... a good talker."
"So you were born with it."
"Maybe... so?"
As the frozen atmosphere in the room slowly thawed, So-ah also gradually revealed his true colors.
While twitching the corners of his lips, which seemed as if they would go up at any moment.
"Phew... your crime of committing violence in our headquarters will be replaced with a penalty drink."
"...Cult Leader?"
"I'm saying let's share a drink."
"Then?!"
"Let's hear your thoughts on how to deal with the White Lotus Cult as the representative negotiator of the Martial Alliance with that eloquent tongue of yours."
Only then could So-ah smile.
At the same time, a bright color spread across the faces of Jeon Woo-chi and Wi-ji Chan.
***
Wi-ji Gang had long considered the human named So-ah to be unpleasant.
There were one or two reasons for this.
He was displeased by the fact that his father, the Heavenly Demon, Wi-ji Woon, had not only given various spiritual medicines to a useless brat from the Orthodox Path, but had also given him the rare treasure called the <Map of the Ghost Valley Villa> without any compensation.
Moreover, even his son, who did not have a single demonic cult-like aspect, cherished the child named So-ah like his own younger brother, so he was displeased with him from top to bottom.
But.
"Wow! As expected, our Cult Leader. You even drink well. Of course! Since you are the son of Grandpa Wi-ji, where would that bloodline go? Hahaha!"
"Hah... Young Hero Jin, you are really incorrigible."
"Aww! If it's the Cult Leader's words, I'll carry firewood and jump into a fire pit!"
He seemed to be gradually understanding why his father and son had fallen for So-ah.
'That brat... he has a rather cute side.'
That's right.
So-ah was just very cute.
In terms of appearance, he might not be a match for his son, Wi-ji Chan (of course, in a father's eyes, his son would look the most handsome in the world), but his moderately high nose, refreshing eyes, slightly plump cheeks, straight and thick eyebrows, and fair skin.
At a glance, his impression, which gave a cute and gentle feeling, was one thing, but since he was unparalleled in his affability and sociability, a side that was impossible to hate was glimpsed.
Was that all?
And how well he spoke, every word he uttered was a clear stream.
Moreover, in his appearance of leading the drinking party with great care, his driving force and guts were fully revealed...
"Ahem... then let's talk frankly now. Does the Martial Alliance Leader really want to cooperate with our cult?"
Wi-ji Gang decided to listen to the plan of the Martial Alliance's negotiator, So-ah.
***
"Hah...! Is that really true?"
"That's right, Cult Leader. The Alliance Leader has already consulted with the elders of the alliance and has delegated full authority to me. In that process, there was considerable opposition. As you know, the relationship between the Orthodox Path and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is not close."
"Abbess Hongryeon's flexibility is amazing. From the position of leading the dogmatic Orthodox Path people, to be the first to make a request to our cult is a surprising and courageous decision."
"Well... not all of the Orthodox Path is dogmatic. Our Moyong family is always open."
"Ahem! I understand. Because I am still skeptical about the Orthodox Path."
"Of course. No matter how much of a mudskipper-like brat I am, I do not take the complex situation of the martial world and political judgments lightly. I fully understand the Cult Leader's position."
So-ah's way of speaking had a charm that drew people in.
In representing the position of the Orthodox Path, So-ah completely excluded the elegant rhetoric or ambiguous expressions that could become heavy, and expressed his meaning clearly and concisely.
Also, his narration, which used intuitive and plain vocabulary based on honesty and mixed in witty jokes in the middle, caused a ripple in the heart of the conservative Wi-ji Gang.
"Judging comprehensively, the position of the Martial Alliance seems to have a point. That's how much the White Lotus Cult is a public enemy that will destroy the balance of the martial world."
"Cult Leader. Then...?"
A strange light appeared in So-ah's eyes.
It was from the thought that if the Cult Leader approved the temporary cooperation between the Orthodox Path and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, they would be able to subjugate the White Lotus Cult more certainly and quickly.
But.
"That doesn't mean I'm going to cooperate right away."
'Of course. Aww!'
It was good while it lasted.
"Because suppressing the White Lotus Cult by adding 50% of our power as it is does not align with the interests of our cult."
As expected, Wi-ji Gang was not a soft person.
And his words were reasonable.
Even if the White Lotus Cult deceived the ignorant common people, practiced human sacrifice, and committed all sorts of evil deeds, that was a matter for the government to step in and resolve.
Also, wasn't the fact that the White Lotus Cult had attacked the Martial Alliance strictly unrelated to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
Of course, if they left the White Lotus Cult alone, they would swallow the private sector and the Orthodox Path, expand their size, and eventually attack the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but to invest a huge amount of power in something that had not yet happened was highly likely to be seen as an exaggeration by the elders and members of the cult.
"Cult Leader. I'm not saying you have to add exactly 50% of your power to form a coalition and subjugate the White Lotus Cult. Can't that part be adjusted as much as you want later? For now, just join hands with us. I'll draw the detailed picture."
"Are you saying you'll come up with the strategy and tactics?"
"Ah! Of course, I'm not saying I'll stand at the forefront of the military. However, it's not just the Orthodox Path and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in the White Lotus Cult subjugation coalition. I plan to draw in external help."
"External help? Are you perhaps referring to the small and medium-sized sects that are not members of the Martial Alliance?"
"They would be included. But the external help I mentioned is a slightly bigger concept."
"Ah...!"
"Aha!"
As So-ah's words continued, not only Wi-ji Gang, but also Wi-ji Chan, let out a short cry of admiration and expressed their curiosity.
"For example?"
"It is the court and the foreign forces."
"The court and the foreign forces?"
"The predecessor of the White Lotus Cult is the Blood Cult, and they cooperated with the Eastern Depot to try to swallow the world. Depending on the interpretation, it can be sufficiently framed as a rebellion. Besides, there are also rumors that the Blood Demon, Taeho-gong, is involved behind the White Lotus Cult. Of course, it's not confirmed, but this is a matter that can shake not only the Central Plains but also the foreign martial world. Furthermore..."
So-ah, who had been passionately speaking with a long breath, took a breath and then continued.
"I... have a lot of connections, Cult Leader."
'What is that again, after going so well!'
In an instant, Jeon Woo-chi's brow furrowed.
Where was this place?
It was the Cult Leader's office of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, which was on par with the entire Orthodox Path martial world.
Also, wasn't the man in front of him the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult of his time, whose martial arts and power had reached the heavens?
But in front of such a Wi-ji Gang, what was he talking about?
I have a lot of connections?
And a chick-like brat who had just turned twenty-two?
This time, it was definitely an overreach.
Not to mention Jeon Woo-chi, even Wi-ji Chan's face turned pale.
"Young Hero Jin. I've been calling you cute, cute, but you're spouting sophistry. Yes! Let's hear how great your connections are."
Wi-ji Gang was so dumbfounded that he wasn't even angry.
In front of him, who had risen to a position above ten thousand, a brat younger than his son was boasting about his connections!
But.
It didn't take long for him to understand So-ah's absurd words without misinterpreting them.
"The Green Forest Demonic Emperor. He is also called the King of the Green Forest. That is, the great hero Jang Beon-pal, who is one of the ten great masters of the Black Path, is my sworn brother."
"???"
"Also, his real younger brother, the head of the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress, and the same ten great masters of the Black Path, the Waterway King, the great hero Jang Beon-ha, is my second sworn brother."
"???"
"The Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Wang Bang-tae, who is known to be the best among the foreign martial world and not at all inferior to the top masters of the martial world, has recently formed a cooperation with our family and started a joint venture because of his personal friendship with me."
"Y-Young Hero Jin!"
"Besides!"
"..."
"To properly fight a huge group like the White Lotus Cult, you'll need a lot of money, right? The great hero Yi Kun-hee, the head of the Yi family of Shandong, a legendary figure in the business world and one of the three great chaebols of the martial world, isn't he also on close terms with me? Ah! To add, the youngest son of that chaebol family is my top disciple."
"Ah...!"
It had been a really long time.
No.
Maybe it was the first time.
To show such a great emotion in front of an outsider, not a member of the cult.
But he had no mind to be conscious of it.
A 22-year-old junior of the Orthodox Path.
Moreover, he was not a member of the Nine Great Sects, nor a member of a huge family like the Namgung, Tang, or Zhuge.
He was just an external disciple of a small, insubstantial martial family whose fame had risen like a bubble due to the production of a great hero called the God of War, who was the best of the previous era.
Such a young man.
Such a young man had not only two of the ten great masters of the Black Path as his sworn brothers, but was also on close terms with the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, who was considered the best among the foreign martial world!
To top it all off, he was also on friendly terms with the great hero Yi Kun-hee of the Yi family of Shandong?
If he had said such a thing to someone who didn't know the situation, he would have been cursed as a crazy person with a mental illness and would have been slapped as a bonus...
But.
Towards Wi-ji Gang, who was asking about the truth of So-ah's words with his pupils shaking in astonishment.
Jeon Woo-chi, who had been silent, added.
"With all due respect... what So-ah... no, the representative negotiator of the Martial Alliance said... is all true. In case you don't believe me, to add, I am an official currently serving in the Astronomical Observatory of the Martial Alliance, and I am assisting the military strategist Zhuge Hyuk."
Only then did Wi-ji Gang become certain.
Even if there was an exaggeration.
That So-ah's words were not lies, but the truth.
And then.
"Hah... hoho... hohohohoho!"
...he burst into a hollow, loud laugh mixed with complex and subtle emotions.
"Young Leader..."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"You have a very interesting friend, don't you?"
"Ah... Cult Leader."
"It is a joyous thing to become friends with such a pleasant man."
What was this situation again?
Wi-ji Gang, who had suddenly turned his gaze to his son, was just spouting incomprehensible words.
'Was the mental shock great?'
Jeon Woo-chi was anxious.
Because he was nervous that Wi-ji Gang, who had become uncomfortable with So-ah's overly outstanding resume, would break off the negotiations.
But.
"And to realize a great cause with such a man is a truly wonderful and cool thing."
"Father... no, Cult Leader?"
"I will have a showdown with the old men of the Council of Elders."
"Cult Leader!"
"Cult Leader!"
"Cult Leader!"
Unless one was a fool, there was no way not to know the true meaning of the words Wi-ji Gang was uttering now.
So-ah, Jeon Woo-chi, and Wi-ji Chan all brightened up with extremely bright expressions.
"I, from this day, this hour, delegate all negotiating authority related to diplomacy with the Martial Alliance to the Vice-Leader of our cult, Wi-ji Chan."
"The Vice-Leader will do his best to subjugate the dregs of the Blood Cult. The specific details, such as the specific military force and budget support, will be announced again after consulting with the executive branch through an emergency meeting later."
"I obey!"
Wi-ji Chan quickly knelt before his father and bowed his head.
Watching the tragic and beautiful appearance of the father and son, Wi-ji Gang and Wi-ji Chan, So-ah,
[Brother Woo-chi. This is successful enough, right? Acknowledged?]
[Uh, acknowledged. I really lost to you, lost.]
[What did I say? I told you there was no problem. Is there anything that the great Jin So-ah can't do!]
[You crazy bastard. Kekekek.]
[Kekekeke.]
...burst into laughter while exchanging telepathic messages with Jeon Woo-chi.
(End of Chapter)