Chapter 384

Chapter 384

Upon receiving the report from the Silver Wing Pavilion Master, Wi Jin-hak turned his attention toward Il-mok and spoke in a caring tone.

“Our youngest brother is still in a frail state, so remain here and recuperate. I shall handle this matter on my own.”

A dependable warmth spread across Wi Jin-hak’s face, but Il-mok firmly shook his head in disagreement.

“I am quite alright. This gathering could determine the very fate and future of our cult, so I truly wish to be present if at all possible.”

There was a strong likelihood that official deliberations regarding a potential coalition would commence.

The primary concern was that Wi Jin-hak, in his position as the supreme leader of the cult, held a deep-seated animosity toward the orthodox factions of the Central Plains.

Because of this, Il-mok was convinced that his own presence was mandatory to serve as a buffering presence between the parties.

“Besides, have I not been the primary intermediary handling the correspondence with their side in the Central Plains all this time? I ask that you permit me to accompany you.”

“Mmh… If that is truly what my junior brother desires, I will not stand in your way.”

Concluding their brief conversation, the two men exited the grand chamber under the guidance of the Silver Wing Pavilion Master and proceeded toward their destination.

They arrived at a local tavern situated within the bustling marketplace of Xining. Upon ascending to the highest floor, they found four individuals awaiting their arrival.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Wi Jin-hak, the grand leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

Rather than offering a polite hand gesture or lowering his head in courtesy, Wi Jin-hak delivered his self-introduction in a flat, straightforward manner, prompting a brief, awkward stillness to descend upon the room.

Hwangbo Ak, known as the Iron Beggar King, along with the others, showed conflicted expressions.

Though their thoughts were focused on establishing a united front, the habits ingrained over decades of living their lives caused them to pause instinctively.

However, not everyone present displayed such hesitation.

“It is an honor. I am Zhuge Mun, the patriarch of the Zhuge family.”

Zhuge Mun offered a greeting to Wi Jin-hak with a gentle expression and an entirely relaxed demeanor.

This response softened the tense environment slightly, prompting the remaining individuals to introduce themselves to Wi Jin-hak one after another.

“Ahem. I am Jeong Gu, who holds the title of Dragon Head Hall Master within the Beggars’ Clan.”

“I am Muheo-ja, representing the Wudang Sect.”

“And I am Hwangbo Ak, the patriarch of the Hwangbo family.”

Following their declarations, Il-mok, who had entered alongside Wi Jin-hak, stepped forward to introduce himself as well.

He felt it necessary because there was an individual in the room with whom he had not yet properly crossed paths or exchanged identities.

“I am Il-mok, the youngest junior brother to Leader Wi Jin-hak.”

The moment Il-mok finished speaking, Wi Jin-hak let out a boisterous laugh and remarked,

“Hahaha. To think that in a setting like this, I am sharing a room with the very people I once assumed I would trade blows with on a bloody battlefield—the world is truly unpredictable. It is poor manners for us to remain standing like this, so let us take our seats first, shall we?”

Finishing his statement, Wi Jin-hak claimed a seat first, appearing completely relaxed and defenseless. Zhuge Mun and Il-mok followed suit without a moment’s pause, while the remaining three individuals awkwardly sat down after them.

Wi Jin-hak let his eyes wander across the assembled leaders of the righteous path before speaking again.

“A significant contingent of our cult’s fighters has entered Xining, but you need not concern yourselves with that. I am fully aware that they provided aid to our youngest brother. Even if our discussions today do not reach a favorable conclusion, no harm will come to any of you within this territory. I give you my word on this, backed by my title as cult leader.”

Though they had only just crossed paths and exchanged a few brief sentences, the orthodox masters could already form a rough assessment of Wi Jin-hak’s character.

‘He is an incredibly audacious man.’

‘I had heard tales that he was once notorious for a volatile disposition and went by the moniker of Mad Demon, but it seems the rumors floating around the jianghu are truly unreliable. Tsk.’

While the Taiji Sword Immortal and the Iron Beggar King harbored these silent observations, Zhuge Mun maintained his gentle smile and spoke up.

“Hahaha. Your generosity is immense. Since the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult has offered such a guarantee, our ongoing discussion can proceed with much greater ease.”

Detecting how smoothly Zhuge Mun was attempting to guide the course of the meeting, Il-mok decided to intervene.

“Before we delve into the main topic, there is an inquiry I would like to direct toward the patriarch of the Zhuge family.”

Zhuge Mun kept his pleasant expression intact as he asked for permission, subtly shifting his gaze toward Wi Jin-hak.

Wi Jin-hak gave a firm nod and asserted,

“Il-mok is my junior brother, but more importantly, he is the companion in whom I place my absolute trust. Provided he does not overstep the bounds of basic respect, I would ask that you provide him with an answer.”

Acknowledging Wi Jin-hak’s remark with a nod, Zhuge Mun shifted his focus back to Il-mok and spoke.

“In that case, please speak your mind.”

“What is the reason for your presence here, patriarch of the Zhuge family? What sort of assurance do you possess that gave you the confidence to attend?”

Unlike the others in the room, Il-mok and Zhuge Mun shared no past history or connection.

Consequently, it was difficult to comprehend why he had chosen to stand alongside this particular group.

Faced with Il-mok’s direct inquiry, Zhuge Mun offered a look of mild bewilderment as he responded.

“Is it not simply because I place my trust in the testimonies of yourself, Senior Iron Beggar King, and Senior Taiji Sword Immortal?”

He acted as though the answer should have been completely obvious, yet Il-mok remained skeptical.

“I raised the question out of genuine wonder, because you accepted a narrative so easily that others found incredibly difficult to swallow.”

Even for figures like the Iron Beggar King, the Taiji Sword Immortal, and Hwangbo Ak, who already possessed a foundation of mutual trust, that particular account had been incredibly tough to accept initially.

Furthermore, Buljon and Geomjon, who had been present to hear the exact same explanation, had refused to believe it and chose to depart.

“Hahaha. So that is what puzzled you. Naturally, it is because the current state of affairs makes your version of events far more credible, does it not?”

After giving his reply, Zhuge Mun offered a deeper clarification as the remaining members watched him with curious expressions.

“Within the ranks of our Zhuge family, we had already developed suspicions regarding the actions of both the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist on multiple fronts.”

“You had already suspected that they were undercover agents working for the Shadow Squad?”

The Iron Beggar King questioned in astonishment, his face betraying his confusion as to why such a critical detail had never been brought up previously, but Zhuge Mun shook his head in denial.

“I had no knowledge regarding any connections to the Shadow Squad. My suspicions were purely aimed at the sudden transformation in their behavior. Both the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist were merely figureheads chosen to serve as neutral parties—they held immense respect but claimed no allegiance to the Nine Great Sects or the Seven Great Families. If an individual hailing from a specific sect or family had assumed control as Alliance Leader or Chief Strategist, it would have shattered the equilibrium of power, meaning they had no choice but to install a neutral proxy.”

Because Zhuge Mun spoke with such unvarnished honesty, the other three orthodox members shifted uncomfortably or cleared their throats to mask their embarrassment. He pressed on with his explanation.

“Up until that point, those two individuals conducted themselves precisely as expected, remaining within their bounds and focusing entirely on their duties as arbiters. However, following the rebellion instigated by the Blood Cult, did their conduct not take a radical turn?”

Responding to a look from Hwangbo Ak, Zhuge Mun gave an affirmative nod.

“Indeed. And then, during the conflict that transpired two days ago, after listening to the accounts provided by Senior Iron Beggar King, Senior Taiji Sword Immortal, and Young Master Il-mok, every missing piece fell into position. Most of all, the concept of the imperial family utilizing a strategy of mutual annihilation struck me as highly plausible.”

Saying this, Zhuge Mun cracked a wide smile and delivered his concluding thought.

“It is a frequent blunder committed by individuals who deem themselves exceptionally brilliant: they assume that no one else is capable of discerning their logic. Yet in this instance, the moment the theory was presented, I realized, ‘I would pursue the exact same path if I occupied their position. What monarch in existence would willingly divide their sovereignty?'”

Hearing Zhuge Mun’s rationale, the Iron Beggar King, who had been deep in contemplation, raised a counterpoint.

“However, up to this very moment, the imperial court has never displayed any overt resentment toward the long-standing tradition of non-interference in state affairs, have they?”

“That is solely because the previous rulers were rare exceptions to the rule. Furthermore, until just a few decades ago, the martial world of the Central Plains had not expanded to such an overwhelming scale. While disorganized and isolated factions might be tolerable, an entire region united under the singular direction of the Martial Alliance is viewed as nothing less than a perilous internal threat to the throne.”

In the past, the Central Plains housed numerous unorthodox organizations that rivaled the strength of any single group among the Nine Great Sects or Seven Great Families, but whenever a massive unorthodox threat emerged, the righteous factions would pool their strength under the banner of the Martial Alliance to eradicate them completely.

As a consequence of those victories, the righteous factions managed to secure total dominance over the entirety of the Central Plains, leaving only insignificant, minor criminal elements scattered about.

By seizing control over the most prosperous territories of the Central Plains, the influence and numbers of the righteous path expanded exponentially with each passing year.

The remaining orthodox figures, mapping out the logic to its natural conclusion, could now fully comprehend the true gravity of their circumstances.

‘We became far too comfortable relying on the protection of that non-interference tradition.’

While they remained trapped in their own reflections, Il-mok was focusing on a slightly different matter.

“Tsk. It would have been immensely beneficial if the forces of Shaolin or Cheongsung had thrown in their lot with us as well.”

When it came to the Nangong family, they had already cemented their status as adversaries during the previous clash, meaning any hope of cooperation was virtually nonexistent from the start. A number of Nangong fighters had perished at the hands of the demonic cultists, just as a great deal of cultists had fallen before the blades of the Nangong warriors and Nangong Jin.

Still, the departure of Shaolin and Cheongsung felt like a major loss in several respects.

Because they were not stationed within Xining, they likely found it impossible to place their ultimate faith in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

As Il-mok weighed these thoughts, a sudden realization struck him, prompting him to ask a question.

“On another note, what became of the Chief Strategist?”

Il-mok, who had spent a significant period unconscious and remained ignorant of the full sequence of events, sought clarification. Though a momentary look of disappointment swept across the room, Il-mok kept his eyes fixed on Zhuge Mun.

“A fighter from our own family managed to successfully restrain him, but he ultimately lost his life as a consequence of the Blood Cult’s barrier technique.”

“Ah….”

The entire situation had devolved into absolute chaos.

Setting his disappointment aside, Il-mok pressed Zhuge Mun with another line of inquiry.

“So, when all is said and done, you are asserting that you cannot place your faith in the imperial palace, which is why you intend to align with our side? Does that imply you consider us to be trustworthy?”

Sovereigns, by their very nature, refuse to share their dominion. Based on his own reasoning, no governing power could truly be relied upon.

In response to Il-mok’s challenging question, Zhuge Mun offered a bright smile and gave his reply.

“Of course I do not trust you.”

An expression of utter confusion washed over everyone’s faces at his incredibly casual response, but he paid them no mind and directed a question back at Il-mok.

“Is it not also true that your side harbors a deep distrust toward our Zhuge family?”

“…As things stand currently, that is correct.”

Hearing Il-mok’s candid admission, Zhuge Mun nodded and let out a chuckle as if it were the most natural thing in the world before replying.

“That is precisely the reaction one would anticipate. What actual worth lies in a pact built on nothing but empty speech? Therefore, in order to encourage the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to place greater faith in our Zhuge family, and for us to do the same for you, we ought to establish an unbreakable connection first, should we not?”

“What sort of unbreakable connection do you propose we establish?”

Faced with Il-mok’s prompt, Zhuge Mun delivered his proposition without a single shred of doubt.

“An alliance through marriage.”

“!!!”

Every single orthodox member in the room stiffened in absolute astonishment. Among them, the one who looked the most distressed was Hwangbo Ak.

‘Curse it all! That incredibly cunning old fox has completely outmaneuvered me!’

Had this not been a formal diplomatic gathering, he likely would have blurted out an array of curses without a second thought.

‘No! The opportunity has not slipped away entirely. Even if they call upon the young women of the Zhuge family to travel to Xining this instant, our Se-hee has already arrived ahead of them, meaning the young master wedding her is… Hold on, did the young master not already have that complicated situation involving his personal maidservant?’

Hwangbo Ak shifted his gaze back and forth between Il-mok and Zhuge Mun, his facial expression twisting as if he were possessed by a spirit.

Yet, completely against everyone’s expectations, Zhuge Mun concluded his proposal and abruptly shifted his gaze toward a completely different individual in the room.

“It is my understanding that the grand cult leader has not yet taken a spouse. Therefore, would you be open to accepting a daughter of our Zhuge family to be your wedded wife?”