Chapter 1628
Good things are good, right? (3)
“Here you go!”
“…”
Hyun Jong stared blankly at the document placed before him. It was a long scroll, filled with what seemed like signatures, but what should he call it? A petition?
“Handprints?”
“Since they relinquished their authority, it wouldn’t make sense to have their sect seals on it, right? So I got their handprints instead!”
Chung Myung puffed out his chest with a ‘Didn’t I do well?’ look on his face. Hyun Jong’s eyelids twitched at the sight.
“This… this…”
Hyun Jong asked, filled with suspicion, anxiety, and doubt.
“Did the sect leaders themselves… really put their marks on this?”
“Of course! Do you think I would have done it myself? Come on, who in the world would be brazen enough to forge the sect leaders’ handprints?”
“…You exist.”
“You would do it.”
“You’re more than capable of it.”
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. It wasn’t that there wasn’t anyone daring enough to do it, but rather, there wasn’t another person as daring as him.
But unfortunately (or fortunately), the varying sizes of the handprints suggested that they weren’t forged. While one could possibly fake other people’s handprints, there was no way to replicate the massive handprint of the Beast Palace Lord, which seemed like it was trying to escape the scroll even now.
“So all the sect leaders voluntarily did this?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Do they even know what they’re signing off on?”
“Oh, it’s written there! Why are you so suspicious all of a sudden? You weren’t like this before!”
“…”
Chung Myung. Who do you think is responsible for all this?
Hyun Jong let out a deep sigh as he examined the seals and tilted his head.
“This one has six fingers?”
“Was it shaking?”
“And this one looks like it was forcibly pressed down and smeared…”
Chung Myung smiled contentedly.
“Doesn’t that just show… um… enthusiasm?”
“…”
“…”
Hyun Jong’s cheeks trembled.
“Does that even make sense! You brat!”
“Ouch!”
The inkstone that had been on Hyun Jong’s desk flew through the air. Chung Myung quickly ducked to avoid the flying inkstone.
“I don’t even need to see to know. I bet you sweet-talked, coaxed, and threatened those poor weak sect leaders who didn’t even know what they were signing!”
“I’m telling you, that’s not it!”
“Not it? My foot! You impudent rascal!”
As the two turned the Alliance Leader’s office into a mess in an instant, Jo Geol subtly asked Yoon Jong, who was next to him.
“But, Sahyeong.”
“Hm?”
“Is it normal for the words ‘sect leader,’ ‘weak,’ and ‘threaten’ to be used together?”
“Would it be?”
“…Right?”
Jo Geol watched Chung Myung, who was dodging Hyun Jong’s punches with a perplexed expression. It really shouldn’t make sense… but it did…
“Please calm down, Alliance Leader.”
Unable to watch any longer, Tang Gunak stepped in to stop Hyun Jong.
“No, Lord Tang, this is-”
“Regardless, it’s true that the sect leaders signed the agreement. Surely, you don’t really believe they did it because they couldn’t withstand the threats of Hwasan Geomhyeop, do you?”
“…”
Hyun Jong couldn’t answer this question. He had his suspicions, but if he said ‘yes,’ it would be tantamount to dismissing all the leaders of the sects allied with Cheonumaemg.
“It’s not… like that…”
“Whatever the process, the fact that the seals were stamped means that they intended to stand by their words.”
Tang Gunak stood up and walked towards the door.
“If that wasn’t the case, they would have come here to protest by now. But look.”
Creeeak.
Tang Gunak flung open the door to the Alliance Leader’s office.
“…”
Thud.
Then, the door closed several times faster than it had opened.
Click.
With movements that proved the title of the Lord of the Tang clan was well deserved, Tang Gunak swiftly locked the door and turned around with a slight cough.
“Ahem. That’s not what’s important right now.”
“No, wait a moment. Just now, outside…”
“There was nothing.”
“But I clearly saw something…”
“There was nothing.”
“…”
Hyun Jong’s beard trembled slightly. He could have sworn he saw the sect leaders lined up, grinding their teeth, through the briefly open door…
Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly.
‘No. Let’s just say I didn’t see it.’
What would change if he admitted it? Even if he saw it…
“Phew.”
Hyun Jong’s gaze returned to the petition with the seals. The process was highly suspicious, but he couldn’t deny the fact that the seals were there. Just as Tang Gunak said, those sect leaders wouldn’t have stamped the seals so obediently just because they lacked the strength to resist.
They might have had their grievances, but in the end, wasn’t it a show of their willingness to follow through with whatever decision was made?
But that support did little to lighten Hyun Jong’s heart.
“You rascal.”
“Yes?”
“What on earth are you trying to do?”
“What else?”
Chung Myung replied calmly but firmly.
“I’m trying to win.”
“…”
Hyun Jong was at a loss for words as he looked at Chung Myung.
To win.
It was a pathetically simple answer. But for Chung Myung, there was nothing more to add. He was merely choosing the best strategy to win and minimize sacrifices. What other reason did he need?
It wasn’t Chung Myung who needed more reasons – it was Hyun Jong, who was still bound by honor, responsibility, and the opinions of other sects.
“Ugh.”
Hyun Jong groaned and glanced at Tang Gunak. Tang Gunak chuckled softly.
“Are you laughing?”
“I regret that I can’t be of help, but this is something the Alliance Leader must decide. That’s why the military advisors and other sect leaders aren’t stepping in.”
Though it seemed they wanted to come…
“…Is your opinion still the same, Lord Tang?”
“Yes, it is.”
Tang Gunak nodded.
“I understand that it’s radical and difficult to accept. However… if I were in a position to decide, I wouldn’t hesitate.”
“May I ask why?”
“Hmm.”
Tang Gunak paused for a moment.
He had already explained his reasons several times, but what Hyun Jong wanted now was a bit more of his genuine thoughts.
“There are countless reasons for everything in this world.”
“Yes.”
“But sometimes, all those reasons and justifications become meaningless in the face of a single word.”
“A single word, you say…?”
“Righteous Cause [대의(大義) – a single word in Chinese].”
Tang Gunak looked at Hyun Jong with resolute eyes.
“The truth is, reasons and justifications are only needed by those who fail to establish true Righteous Cause. I believe that before the righteous cause discussed by Hwasan Geomhyeop, everything else is insignificant.”
A faint voice escaped Hyun Jong’s lips.
“Righteousness…”
Hyun Jong closed his eyes slowly, sinking into deep thought. Though a considerable amount of time passed, no one in the room interrupted his contemplation.
“…Chung Myung-ah.”
Finally, Hyun Jong opened his eyes and looked at Chung Myung.
“I understand what you’re trying to do, but as the Alliance Leader of Cheonumaeng, I cannot allow it. The members of Cheonumaeng did not come here to be tools for Hwasan.”
Chung Myung’s face hardened slightly.
“The position of division leader carries responsibility. I cannot place inexperienced people in such positions. The leader of each division will be chosen from the leaders of the sects that align with Cheonumaeng.”
As a sigh of frustration was about to escape from Chung Myung and Tang Gunak, Hyun Jong spoke again.
“But how about this instead?”
“…Yes?”
“The ones you recommended. Those…”
Hyun Jong’s gaze shifted to Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Geol.
The look in Hyun Jong’s eyes as he looked at them was not one of concern but of trust.
“Let’s appoint them as vice-leaders [Budangju] of each division to assist the division leader. That way, the swift decision-making you desire can be achieved, can it not?”
“Huh?”
“Oh…”
Chung Myung’s mind started working rapidly.
The division leaders would be chosen from among the sect leaders who had stamped the petition. Thus, they would not likely oppose the judgments of the vice-leaders.
It couldn’t be denied that the process would become a bit more cumbersome, but it wouldn’t derail what he intended to do.
“Indeed… That would also help quell the dissatisfaction among the various sects.”
“Most likely, yes.”
Tang Gunak nodded in admiration.
If Chung Myung hadn’t obtained the seals, it might have been difficult for Five Swords to have a voice among the division leaders. But since Five Swords were formally acknowledged to lead the new factions within the alliance, division leaders would find it hard to ignore their voices.
As a result, while relinquishing some authority, it also lightened the burden of responsibility.
A chuckle escaped from Tang Gunak’s lips.
If such a suggestion had come from anyone else, it would have been considered a highly political maneuver. But Hyun Jong had no such intentions. His sole aim was to consider those who had allied with Cheonumaeng, and it led to this ingenious solution.
“What do you think?”
“Hmmm.”
Chung Myung scratched his cheek for a moment, then nodded.
“It’s a bit awkward, but it shouldn’t be a major issue. However!”
“Yes?”
Chung Myung grinned.
“Let me choose the people who will become division leaders.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I can choose them well.”
A mischievous smile twisted Chung Myung’s lips.
“I noted their expressions when they stamped the seals.”
“Expressions?”
“Yes. Some stamped it smoothly, while others resisted. If we appoint division leaders from those who stamped it smoothly…”
“You liar! You said there was no resistance earlier!”
The inkstone, which had barely been put back in place, flew through the air again. Chung Myung quickly ducked to avoid it, stammering an excuse.
“No, no! That’s not the kind of resistance I meant…”
“What you’re doing now is resistance! Come here! Can’t you come here, you rascal!”
Tang Gunak shook his head as he watched Hyun Jong rant and Chung Myung flee.
‘He noted their expressions beforehand?’
He had thought it was an overblown task when Chung Myung insisted on getting the seals, but it seemed the cunning brat had anticipated Hyun Jong’s response. The process of getting the seals was likely to pre-select those who would cooperate with Five Swords even if they became division leaders.
How far ahead did he plan this?
“…Is he a monk dancing on Buddha’s palm?”
Tang Gunak shook his head again in disbelief.
Chung Myung ran, Hyun Jong chased, and Tang Gunak nodded. The situation was complicated, but they had found a solution.
However.
One person, who felt completely left out of this situation and the series of decisions, cautiously spoke up.
“Um, but…”
“…”
“…”
“What about our opinions…?”
But his dejected voice was drowned out by the commotion in the room.
“No, I mean…”
Jo Geol’s hand reached out meaninglessly into the air.
No… If they were going to decide something like this, they should have at least considered the opinions of those who would soon have to deal with the pressure of division leaders and piercing glares from below…
Thud.
Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon placed their hands on Jo Geol’s shoulders.
“Just give up.”
“Now that it’s come to this, just take it easy.”
Suddenly, they found themselves appointed as vice-leaders, having to lead people who had lived twice as long as they had.
“…Why does it always end up like this?”
“What can we do? We have to adapt.”
“…”
Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Geol.
A collective sigh of resignation escaped from all three.
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