Chapter 43

Chapter 43
## Chapter 43: Different Thoughts in the Same Bed (1)

“My Liege.”

“Enter.”

Having received the signal to come in, Hyung Mu-gang—the newly commissioned tactical advisor—straightened his attire and crossed the threshold.

Gwan Ung, the current master of Infinite Sky Pavilion—the residence that once belonged to Gwan Hyo—sat reclined in an armchair upholstered with the skin of a white tiger and gestured for him to approach.

“Take a seat.”

Once Hyung Mu-gang was settled, Gwan Ung grasped a jug of spirits.

“Would you like a glass?”

“I shall decline.”

“Good grief. A man of status ought to handle his liquor. You can’t even stomach a single serving.”

Hyung Mu-gang offered a faint, awkward smile and slid the parchment in his hand across the table.

“What have we here?”

“A formal response from the Murim Alliance.”

“And their verdict?”

Gwan Ung placed the jug down and gently rubbed his jawline as he inquired.

“They have conceded to our terms.”

“Naturally. After the way we lowered ourselves and pleaded.”

“They claim they cannot prevent skirmishes with the various sects and families spread throughout the provinces. They have urged us to steer clear of conflict whenever possible and offered to act as go-between, though they stated plainly they lack the power to force them into submission.”

“Standard double-talkers. Always painting a pretty picture with words, those pests. But what choice is there? We are the ones in a corner. Inform them that we will concede where we must, but warn them to safeguard our dignity.”

“As you command.”

“On another note, what is their current position?”

“They are moving toward the Gyeyang region.”

“Gyeyang?”

Gwan Ung’s features betrayed a hint of shock at the mention of a place so far removed.

“We are keeping pace for the moment, but in a matter of days, we will be crossing into their zone of influence.”

“We have to intercept them before that happens.”

Hyung Mu-gang’s expression turned heavy at Gwan Ung’s quiet remark.

The person escaping with the Heavenly Demon Pill was Noejeon, a man who possessed unrivaled speed even within the ranks of the Divine Demon Division. Furthermore, his ability to track was equal to his swiftness, making him an incredibly elusive target.

“Any word on the location of the Divine Demon Division Leader?”

Hyung Mu-gang’s face clouded over even more at the inquiry.

“We squeezed the survivors of the Divine Demon Division for information, but none possessed any knowledge.”

“Diamond Yaksha was traveling with him. Does even Yaksha not know the man’s place of birth?”

“The rumors suggest it is somewhere within Shandong Province, but there is nothing concrete. Moreover, being a creature of the wilderness, it is doubtful he would return to his roots while accompanying the Division Leader.”

“Blast it!”

Gwan Ung snatched his cup of liquor with force.

“So, in the end, we are forced to hunt down that wretch Noejeon.”

“That is the only path left to us for now.”

“Find him at any cost. We must get the Heavenly Demon Pill back.”

Gwan Ung delivered the command with a freezing stare.

The cup in his grasp shattered into fine powder and drifted from his palm.

—

“He is nothing but a meat-cutter.”

Gwa Yu’s face twisted with a sense of letdown as he scanned the missive with a tight expression.

“Was there nothing else out of the ordinary? Perhaps he is masking his true self?”

Heukam, a premier shadow from Saheulim—the most prestigious assassination collective in the Murim—could not suppress a smirk at Gwa Yu’s annoyance.

“No distinguishing characteristics were noted. The same applies to his kinsmen.”

Heukam tilted his head, the amusement leaving his face.

“Hm. For a contract requested by those who want the Eight-Armed Sword and his pupils eliminated, this feels somewhat hollow.”

“There is surely a hidden layer to this.”

Jang Sal, a top-tier killer accompanying Heukam on this uncommon excursion, watched Gwa Yu with a sense of concern.

The high council, after confirming the details on Sima Geon, had given the order to terminate the butcher Sima Geon. The complication was that Gwa Yu—one of the successors of Saheulim—had only just finished his training and had never been tested on a live target.

*It makes sense why they gave him this. To blood him.*

Jang Sal understood perfectly why the council had selected Gwa Yu for this task.

The mark seemed remarkably mundane for a job they would normally take on.

At merely sixteen years old, despite having endured brutal training since his youth, Gwa Yu was devoid of practical experience—making this an ideal starting point.

Still, a sense of wrongness lingered.

The further he delved into the intelligence, the more a thick, dark intuition began to settle over him.

“Is something troubling you?”

Heukam inquired.

“I just have an ill premonition.”

“There is nothing remarkable in the data. Why the worry?”

“I cannot put words to it. It is just…”

Even Jang Sal could not articulate his gut feeling. However, Heukam, who valued such instincts, did not brush it off.

“A bad feeling, is it? Let us proceed this way.”

Jang Sal turned toward Gwa Yu and gave his head a soft pat.

“Normally we would operate separately, but for this mission, we will stay close to you. With the three of us together, what could possibly go wrong?”

“That works for me. So, do we deal with Soheung first?”

“No. We target the Eight-Armed Sword first. My blood is up after so much time away—I cannot wait. we will deal with the butcher on our way back.”

Locking eyes with Heukam’s chilling stare, Jang Sal pushed down a sudden shiver and gave a nod.

“Understood. I will make the arrangements.”

—

The high-ranking members of the Namgung Clan assembled in Cheongmyeong Pavilion—the chamber reserved for vital matters—just after the hour of the rabbit.

The Great Elder, Namgung Dan, who was leading the session from the primary seat, turned to his left.

“Has the Patriarch been appraised?”

Namgung Seon, the strategic mind and intelligence expert of the family as the head of Cheongun Pavilion, gave a nod.

“Yes. I reached out to him in the early hours. I gave him the report on the Murim Alliance and a brief on our family’s current state. He is likely with Madam at this moment.”

“With your sister-in-law? Excellent. We sent word ahead, so she will help mitigate his temper.”

Namgung Dan and the majority of those present looked on with hope, but Namgung Seon was unable to provide the reassurance they sought.

“Well… I am not entirely certain about that.”

Namgung Seon let his voice trail off with a pained smile.

*Tsk tsk. If you had only heeded my words when I cautioned you. You were so pig-headed, and now comes the shame.*

Namgung Seon mocked the elders in his mind—the ones who had disregarded him to interfere with the Ha Hu Clan’s celebration.

Everyone except for Namgung Gyeong—who had been incensed since his late return from a trip—looked miserable.

“The Patriarch has arrived.”

A powerful shout echoed, and the doors of Cheongmyeong Pavilion swung open wide.

A man in his middle years, dressed in flawless azure silk robes, walked in with a steady stride.

His mild features, lean frame, and light complexion gave him the look of a delicate academic; yet at fifty, he possessed neither a wrinkle nor a gray hair.

The piercing intensity in those calm eyes dominated the entire hall.

He was Namgung Hu, the Sword Saint who reigned over the Murim with a single blade.

“Welcome back.”

Namgung Dan stepped aside from the main seat.

“Have you been well?”

Namgung Hu offered a brief greeting in return and sat in the chair without hesitation.

“Everyone, please be seated.”

As they all settled, Namgung Dan wasted no time speaking.

“I had no wish to break your meditation, but the situation with the Alliance was too significant to ignore.”

“It is quite alright. I was finishing my session regardless. Even if I weren’t, this is a matter that shakes the foundations of the Murim—you were right to summon me.”

“Did you make any breakthroughs?”

“I am not entirely satisfied, but I achieved the goal I set out for.”

“That is wonderful. My congratulations, Patriarch.”

“I appreciate it, Uncle.”

Well-wishes poured in from every corner of the room after Namgung Dan’s lead.

Namgung Hu accepted them with composure, took a sip of tea from the table, and spoke again.

“I have heard that some quite interesting events took place while I was away.”

The mood in the room vanished instantly. It was starting.

“That is true. If the Ha Hu Clan had not interfered, there would have been no cause for resentment.”

“Regarding the choice of the Alliance Lord?”

“Indeed.”

“I was told he was supported by the Nine Great Sects and One Temple.”

“That is precisely the issue. The previous leaders were their choices as well. It was high time for a shift in power.”

“In principle, I agree.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room as Namgung Hu voiced his agreement, and the stress left the faces of Namgung Dan and the others.

“The Nine Sects certainly overstepped their bounds.”

“It makes the whole thing quite bitter. Had Ha Hu given us their backing, their nominee would never have succeeded.”

Namgung Dan delicately shifted the blame toward Ha Hu while masking their own blunder.

“Which member of the Nine did Ha Hu support?”

Namgung Hu directed his question to Namgung Seon.

“The Sage of Azure Mountain, the honorable Jwa Ik-seon.”

“Ah, I see. Senior Jwa has taken the mantle of Lord. He has always detested being restricted, and he is well past the age of retirement. The Nine must have had a difficult time convincing him.”

“I heard they had to make the ‘three humble visits to the hut’ to gain his consent.”

“That sounds like him.”

Namgung Hu laughed softly, thinking of Jwa’s legendary stubbornness.

“And who did the Five Great Clans put forward?”

“Hm, it was the former Patriarch of the Meteor Clan.”

Namgung Dan cleared his throat before answering.

“The previous head of the Meteor Clan…”

Namgung Hu nodded.

“The Senior known as the Jade Cloud Sword.”

“Yes. A master of martial prowess, integrity, and standing—all of which are beyond reproach.”

Namgung Dan still felt the sting of their candidate’s defeat, but Namgung Hu held a different perspective.

“He is a formidable man. I know him well. The Meteor Clan flourished in Henan under his guidance. However, he is not the right fit for the Alliance Lord.”

Namgung Dan’s face shifted at the blunt assessment.

“Not fit for the position?”

“Jade Cloud possesses the skill, the heart, and the status you mention, Uncle. However, he is far too narrow-minded.”

“Narrow-minded?”

Namgung Dan knit his brows in bewilderment.

“The Murim is comprised of all types: the virtuous, the corrupt, the demonic, and those who fit no category. They unite or battle based on their principles, often putting their lives on the line. But to brand others as foes simply because they walk a different path or hold different views is a mistake. When individuals with such a mindset take the reins of power, it leads to bloodshed. Regrettably, Jade Cloud is such a threat. His noble traits are reserved only for those he deems ‘righteous.’ He views those outside that circle as less than human—the Murim is well aware of this.”

His face remained calm, but his voice took on a sharper edge.

“Ha Hu threw their weight behind Senior Jwa—even if it meant damaging their bond with the Five Clans—for that exact reason.”

“The Patriarch has a point. He has his flaws. But for them to ignore our constant requests for cooperation only to side with the Nine’s candidate feels like a slap in the face, does it not?”

Namgung Dan tried to plead his case.

“We invited that treatment through our own behavior.”

“Patriarch!”

“Attempting to install someone unfit for the role just to increase our share of power—rather than acting out of genuine intent—is what earned us that scorn. Especially when a superior candidate was available. furthermore!”

Namgung Hu’s volume increased abruptly.

“I am let down by you, Uncle, and everyone in this room. It is not the petty bickering or the botched plan that bothers me—it is the fact that the Five Clans plotted to sabotage the Patriarch of Ha Hu’s seventieth birthday banquet because of it.”

Everyone recoiled at the word “plotted.”

A few scowled at the severity of the rebuke, but none had the courage to speak up against the overwhelming presence he radiated.