Chapter 165
Chapter 165
“Damn it! Why is this information only coming in now!”
At Cheonung’s wrath, the inn attendant standing before him flinched.
It looked as though he were threatening an ordinary commoner, but Han Yonghu, standing beside him, also spoke toward the trembling beggar with deeply sunken eyes.
“It would be best to summon the Branch Leader first.”
“Understood.”
The beggar broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly retreated from the spot.
Cheonung used Object Grasping Through the Void to pull the inn attendant toward him. In an instant, the attendant’s collar was seized.
The attendant barely had time to panic before meeting Cheonung’s chilling Killing Intent, leaving him no choice but to tremble uncontrollably.
“Is the current Hao Sect Master a man or a woman? If they do not come here within a day, then if it is a man, I will send him to a labor camp. If it is a woman, I will cripple the Dantian and keep her as my plaything for the rest of her life.”
Cheonung’s low yet resonant words carried an unfathomably deep fury along with killing intent.
“Tell the Hao Sect Master this. I will give exactly one day.”
“Y-Yes! I will, I will deliver the message.”
Unable to withstand Cheonung’s ferocious Martial Presence, the inn attendant finally lost control of himself. Seeing the liquid soaking the man’s pants, Cheonung frowned and released his grip.
The attendant barely managed to move his legs, which no longer obeyed him from terror, and staggered out of the room.
Cheonung did not restrain his deep anger. The unrestrained killing intent began crushing the miscellaneous objects around him.
“The Kunlun Sect has definitely been annihilated, right?”
“The Hao Sect has likely confirmed it as well, but this information came directly from the Beggars’ Sect. It must be correct.”
“Then we should gather the troops.”
“If we do not, something disastrous will happen. I must begin preparations immediately.”
As Han Yonghu spoke, an unmistakable killing intent filled his eyes.
The Demonic Cult had begun to move.
Not long after, that news reached the Joint Training Ground as well.
The soldiers of the Unorthodox Alliance bustled about frantically. The one suffering the most was Myeongnyang.
“You only managed to procure this much food? What about everything we gathered until now? Even if we lack grain, there’s no way it should be this little!”
“Th-that is…”
“You’d better answer properly. If I sense even the slightest suspicion, I’ll immediately have Chief Aide Cheongsol flip through the ledgers.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“Cripple this bastard’s Dantian and let him enjoy a stay in prison.”
“W-What? Strategist! P-Please wait a moment!”
Before the man could even finish pleading, the Asura Squad crippled the criminal’s Dantian.
The place turned into utter chaos. Still, this level of embezzlement had already been expected. After all, that was simply the nature of the Unorthodox Faction.
However, Zhuge Lianhua was different.
“What did you say?! Why did you spend the funds however you wanted?!”
“W-Well, we used the money to buy food…”
“You were told to buy weapons and armor with that money! Are you the one in charge? Huh? Will you take responsibility? The Murim Alliance allocated that money precisely—how could you spend it like this?!”
Zhuge Lianhua’s speech shifted from polite language to half-formal speech, and then completely dropped all formality. Her anger overflowed with betrayal she could not conceal.
“You sons of bitches! The Unorthodox Alliance would run things better than you! Get out right now!”
Fortunately, the suffering of the strategists was still less than that of Cheonung and Han Yonghu, who were clutching the backs of their necks nearby.
“The sword known as the Black Shield of Zhongnan… Therefore, we will support from the rear—”
“The enemy is entirely at the front! What rear support?!”
“Amitabha. Then Wudang Sect and our Shaolin shall stand at the vanguard. However, to do so, the Beggars’ Sect or at least the Mount Hua Sect must first gather some intelligence from the front…”
Watching this spectacle for a while, Yeongho let out a deep sigh.
This place truly shows no sign of improving.
Yeongho subtly listened in on the Voice Transmission between Cheonung and Han Yonghu.
—You’re telling me I still have to endure this?
—Damn it, I feel the same, so shut up and stay put.
The conversation was filled with curses and grim remarks to the point it was hard to tell who was Cheonung and who was Han Yonghu. Yeongho realized the two were on the verge of exploding.
‘Seriously… how did they endure this before the Regression?’
Just looking at things now, it seemed difficult to last even a year, let alone ten.
As the others continued their “meeting,” completely unaware of his presence, Yeongho deliberately let out a trace of his Presence.
Those who sensed it flinched for a moment before immediately falling silent.
Yeongho sat down in the seat of honor prepared by Cheonung and Han Yonghu and spoke.
“It seems you were holding the meeting quite well even without me. Please continue.”
Yeongho looked at the side of the Nine Sects and One Gang, who kept their mouths shut, then smiled faintly and turned toward the Five Great Families.
“It seems this side hasn’t voiced any opinions until now?”
The Clan Heads of the Five Great Families maintained their silence. Yeongho nodded slightly.
“A wise decision. It is far better to remain silent than to place responsibility on someone else’s shoulders.”
This time Yeongho looked toward the leaders of the Unorthodox Faction gathered together.
“Gold-Blood Hall Master, I suppose you can no longer grant my request?”
Nam A-pyeong laughed heartily as he replied.
“I never imagined a debt that could not be repaid even after a lifetime of struggle would be settled in less than ten years.”
Yeongho laughed together with him.
“Then perhaps I should give you a new gift.”
For a moment, Nam A-pyeong’s eyes flashed. Judging by how quickly he smelled money, his instincts were still sharp.
“There is a blacksmith I know. When I asked him, he said he could grant the Gold-Blood Hall three priority sales rights.”
Nam A-pyeong looked at Yeongho’s smiling face and laughed as well—this time with genuine delight.
“Is the esteemed person known to the Sword Exalted perhaps the one recently called the greatest blacksmith under heaven?”
“I’m not sure about that. His name is Kang Yongchong.”
“Haha, the carrot given by the Sword Exalted is so large that I have always wanted to repay you.”
“Good. Starting today, the Gold-Blood Hall will receive priority treatment exactly three times, regardless of what request Kang Yongchong is working on.”
“It is truly an honor.”
“It will only be possible after the war ends, so I sincerely need the Hall Master’s help.”
Nam A-pyeong laughed boldly and said,
“I understand well. Then may I offer an opinion?”
Yeongho shrugged his shoulders with a sly smile, signaling him to go ahead.
“Then first, it would be best for the Namgung Clan, Mount Hua Sect, and Shaolin to stand at the very front.”
Nam A-pyeong had already returned to his usual tone of speech and continued without caring about the disapproving glances from others.
“Since we will be taking a temporary defensive stance, Zhongnan might actually be better than the Namgung Clan, who charge forward without thinking. But unfortunately, the Sword Exalted does not wish for that, and more importantly, Zhongnan lacks the will to do so, so it would be best to compromise at this level.”
The moment Nam A-pyeong finished speaking, a rebuttal immediately came.
“If the Namgung Clan, Mount Hua Sect, and Shaolin stand together, they will inevitably push inward rather than merely defend. What if they end up surrounded within the enemy formation?”
“Why is that burned octopus so talkative?”
“W-What?!”
Nam A-pyeong looked at Hye-gak with an exasperated gaze. Although it was Yeongho who had burned his head, Hye-gak glared at Nam A-pyeong instead.
“Now is not the time to argue from the petty positions of Orthodox and Unorthodox factions! Are you saying the Murim Alliance should take the vanguard while the Unorthodox Alliance withdraws?!”
“You all seemed reluctant to send your forces to the front, so I decided for you. Since I belong to the Unorthodox Faction, I can at least be more objective than you.”
“Then what troops will the Unorthodox side send?”
“Well, since we are despicable people who fight using numbers, we’ll probably have to send the bandits from the Green Forest and the water bandits from the Yangtze Waterways.”
“That is ridiculous! Not to mention they are disciples, we will be sending our elites!”
“Then we’ll just bring ten thousand each from the Green Forest and the Yangtze waterway strongholds.”
“…What?”
“To put it simply, we’ll send twenty thousand meat shields. No matter how elite the Shaolin are, they’re still human and will need rest. Ten thousand should be sufficient as meat shields.”
“Y-You barbaric man! Are you selling out your comrades like that?!”
“They’re people who would’ve died at your hands if it weren’t for the Demonic Cult anyway. They’re just paying the price for being spared. Just accept it.”
When Hye-gak tried to say more, Nam A-pyeong, who no longer wished to listen, turned to Yeongho.
“I ask the Sword Exalted. Is there any reason we cannot mobilize the Green Forest and Yangtze waterway forces?”
“Why would there be? As you know, the Yangtze River grew far too arrogant, and the former Green Forest King bared his fangs at his master like a hunting dog and was killed. This punishment is already lenient for those who defied the Unorthodox Alliance. They should be grateful.”
“The Green Forest will surely be pleased as well. They will feel relieved that those parasites were at least somewhat useful.”
“Haha. Originally I intended to erase the Green Forest from the world instead of the Orthodox Sect, but the world truly works in mysterious ways. Seeing the Green Forest King suddenly reminded me of the former Hao Sect Master.”
At those words, the current Hao Sect Master, who had been silently sitting in the corner without making even a sound, began sweating profusely and spoke to Yeongho.
“I am always grateful for the Sword Exalted’s generosity. The Alliance Lord’s mercy this time is something I truly appreciate.”
“You are quite different from the previous Hao Sect Master, which I like. Continue working hard like that, Jeakjeong. However, I have a request.”
“Please command me.”
“I believe we should plant a spy within the Demonic Cult.”
“…What? Where should the spy be planted?”
“In the Demonic Cult, of course. The Branch Leader of the Beggars’ Sect will surely perform excellently as well, but personally I have great trust in the Hao Sect Master’s abilities. If you were not the Hao Sect Master, I would have wanted to create a position for you within the Unorthodox Alliance.”
At that moment, Jeakjeong’s eyes gleamed just as Nam A-pyeong’s had earlier when he smelled money.
‘Those words are genuine! If we win this war, I may be able to join the Unorthodox Alliance!’
More precisely, he would not become Yeongho’s direct subordinate but would likely serve under Muyeon, known as the Stench Ghost.
After all, he was both the Hao Sect Master and the most outstanding information broker.
The position had been forced upon him in the first place, so if an opportunity appeared, he had every intention of throwing away the title of Sect Master immediately.
Watching Jeakjeong’s shining eyes, Cheonung admired how perfectly Yeongho had scratched exactly where it itched.
Until now, Cheonung had moved groups solely through power and fear. But that day he realized something.
Most humans had to be driven with strength and fear, but those with value needed not only the whip, but occasionally a carrot as well.
Yeongho himself claimed he was bad at politics, but in Cheonung’s eyes that was not true.
Yeongho’s eloquence rivaled that of the Gold-Blood Hall Master, and his flexibility reminded Cheonung of his cunning second disciple.
Thus Yeongho continued to lead the meeting. They discussed planting spies within the Demonic Cult, which troops should be stationed in the rear, and matters such as supply units and supply routes.
And due to Yeongho’s extremely meticulous nature, the people in the meeting hall were only able to leave around the time dawn broke.
After the Regression, the first council led by Yeongho as commander concluded perfectly.