Chapter 228

Chapter 228
I had been mistaken to assume the words left by Gun Yu-hyeon were just the incoherent rambling of a gambling addict.

‘I. Am. Done. For.’

Those words occupied my mind entirely.

That crazed Ideological Inquisitor had finally triggered a catastrophe.

‘Then there is nothing we can do,’ he had declared?

Seriously? We really have no options left?

Not only me, but Il-myeong also stared at Ak Byeong-bi with wide, shocked eyes.

Watching his lips, it appeared he was attempting a Sound Transmission, but Ak Byeong-bi only showed minor, involuntary twitches. His facial expression remained completely frozen.

From nearby, a grating, metallic voice drifted over.

“Hee-hee-hee…… I knew it. The shallow perspectives of those sanctimonious Orthodox Path fools are transparent, aren’t they?”

Was that the Sect Leader of the Yellow Sand Sect? The man who had been sneering since we arrived spoke with open mockery.

“They surely arrived under the guise of an Envoy Delegation just to gauge our military strength.”

At his comment, Ak Byeong-bi’s gaze sharpened noticeably.

“Do you genuinely believe our Murim Alliance would resort to such underhanded tactics?”

In response to Ak Byeong-bi, the man’s grin widened as he said,

“Isn’t it the Murim Alliance’s specialty to manufacture charges against blameless individuals and then execute them?”

Triggered by this, Ak Byeong-bi uncharacteristically lost his temper.

Grind.

“……You dare speak with such an unwashed tongue.”

No, sir, we are currently surrounded by enemies!

This was no longer a matter of potential alliances or reaching a consensus.

We had practically reached the point where the declaration of war would be served either via parchment or by the heads of our Envoy Delegation.

Honestly, since there was no more definitive way to announce war than severing the heads of an Envoy Delegation, our survival was hanging by a thread.

At that critical moment.

“Enough. Why speak in such a manner after inviting visitors here? This is precisely why those in the Black Path are labeled as uncouth.”

A man stationed across from the Yellow Sand Sect rebuked him.

Gang Chief Kang Maeng-ji of the Black Serpent Gang.

He was a prominent figure of the Black Path with whom I had forged a bond at the Demon Spirit Plateau.

He turned his gaze toward Cha Seok-du and stated,

“Alliance Leader. Our Black Thought Alliance is an entity that has only just begun to solidify. I do not see the necessity to commence with hostility immediately. If we attempt to launch a war before the celebration of the Founding Ceremony has even faded, how will the world perceive us?”

As the people positioned around Kang Maeng-ji began to nod in agreement, the Sect Leader of the Yellow Sand Sect scoffed.

“Are you trying to play at being powerful now that we have an organization?”

He ostentatiously caressed his weapon and goaded Kang Maeng-ji.

“But what does it matter? It seems there will never be a day in your existence when you ascend to the position of Alliance Leader.”

“……It would be prudent for you to hold your tongue.”

“Heh-heh-heh, your true colors are surfacing quite rapidly.”

As anticipated from a gathering of the Black Path, they appeared ready to come to blows at any second even inside a diplomatic chamber, so the Black Thought Alliance Leader intervened to ease the tension.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

“Enough! Cease this display of humiliation.”

“…….”

“……Ahem.”

The atmosphere within the hall plummeted into a freezing chill, as if a sudden downpour had struck.

When I glanced at the Black Thought Alliance Leader Cha Seok-du, he was also observing me.

He offered a subtle nod, then addressed the room.

“I do not believe this matter can be resolved instantly, so we shall revisit the discussion once the Founding Ceremony concludes.”

I was so relieved that we weren’t being paraded out as decapitated trophies that I bowed deeply and exited the grand hall with my companions.

BOOM.

Being the last to enter the private chamber, I slammed the door with enough force to nearly shatter it and moved toward Ak Byeong-bi.

The moment he stepped into the room, he had already begun reaching for his wine cup again.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I am attempting to consume some wine.”

“…….”

Do you think I care about that?!

I suppressed my rising frustration as much as possible and stated,

“Do you intend to leave your remains here?”

“…….”

He glanced between the wine cup and my face, eventually deciding to drain the vessel in one rapid motion.

“Kuh…… What is it that you find so objectionable?”

“What do I find objectionable?”

If we instigated a war with the Black Thought Alliance, the loss of life would far exceed the carnage from the conflict against the Blood Cult in the original timeline.

And the Murim Alliance would encounter the Demonic Cult in a much more vulnerable state than it had before.

……I had no intention of standing by and letting that come to pass.

“Does it not matter to you even if rivers of blood are spilled across the land?”

“…….”

“Among the piles of casualties, there will undoubtedly be members of the Ak Family as well.”

I steadied my breathing for a moment, then looked directly into Ak Byeong-bi’s eyes.

“Are you truly prepared to witness that with your own eyes?”

Bang.

Ak Byeong-bi slammed the wine cup down.

Amidst the tension, as if we were navigating thin ice, Il-myeong, who had been watching from the sidelines, stood between us.

“Benefactor Jin…… I believe it would be wise to refrain.”

I pushed aside Il-myeong’s arm.

“Senior Il-myeong, do you also desire a war with the Black Thought Alliance? Is such bloodshed what Shaolin defines as ‘justice’?”

“Benefactor Jin…….”

“The Delegation Leader’s actions and choices may result in the deaths of many innocent people. Are you really planning to just stand by and watch that happen?”

“…….”

Ak Byeong-bi, who had been staring at me with murderous intent, lifted the wine jug to his lips instead.

“What is it you expect me to do?”

“Did you not receive instructions from Mantongbu regarding what the Delegation Leader should be doing?”

“……You are demanding the impossible.”

In that heartbeat, rage flared to the peak of my head.

“What do you mean, impossible?! The Black Thought Alliance itself is likely already debating the possibility of a treaty!”

Ak Byeong-bi, who had been fiddling with his wine cup, finished another drink in one go.

“……If this causes you so much aggravation, then why don’t you do it?”

“What did you just say?”

“I told you to handle it yourself!”

Even though he viewed me as a spy for the Black Path and utilized the Execution Pavilion for his own gain, I had assumed he at least possessed some sense of duty.

The Ak Byeong-bi I remembered from my past life had not been this pathetic.

I looked down with cold detachment at Ak Byeong-bi, who had slumped his head.

“To think a man of such caliber is someone who upholds ‘justice’ accurately…… The Execution Pavilion is effectively finished as well.”

“…….”

Even at my mocking words heavy with scorn, Ak Byeong-bi did not look up.

“Benefactor Jin…… Let’s step outside for some fresh air.”

Il-myeong fidgeted nervously and pulled me away.

As he led me out, I remarked,

“Fine. I’ll deal with it from here on out. Delegation Leader, just sit there and continue drowning in your bottle.”

Until I was guided out of the room by Il-myeong and Dang Seo-hui, Ak Byeong-bi remained motionless.

As I struggled to collect my thoughts, Il-myeong approached me with hesitation.

“Benefactor Jin…… Please attempt to understand the Delegation Leader just a little.”

I tilted my head.

Il-myeong had never been this oblivious before…….

This situation was unequivocally the Delegation Leader’s responsibility.

Our Envoy Delegation had not come merely to offer congratulations.

The mission entrusted to us was to assist the Murim Alliance warriors bleeding in Sichuan to fight safely.

Therefore.

This was not the moment to indulge in useless pride, damn it.

“Did I say something incorrect?”

Since my mood was sour, my tone naturally turned icy.

However, I had no interest in considering Il-myeong’s perspective right now.

Il-myeong shook his head slowly.

“……That isn’t it.”

“Then what exactly am I expected to understand?”

“…….”

Il-myeong wavered and looked at Dang Seo-hui.

Perhaps she held some knowledge, because she murmured softly,

“……I also believe Jin So-un went a bit too far.”

“…….”

Noticing that my expression was hardening, Dang Seo-hui and Il-myeong exchanged uneasy glances.

At last, Il-myeong seemed to resolve himself and tightened his fist.

“Benefactor Jin…… What you are about to hear must remain between us.”

“What are you implying?”

After stalling for a moment, Il-myeong finally spoke.

“Gu Gye-ak, the Sect Leader of the Yellow Sand Sect. He is the primary culprit behind the Qingzhou Incident.”

The Qingzhou Incident was an event where several hundred Black Path warriors assaulted a caravan belonging to the Ak Family.

As a result of that tragedy, thirty members of the Ak Family and nearly two hundred Black Path assailants perished.

I stared at the two of them and tilted my head.

“……And what does that have to do with anything?”

“…….”

“Just because the Ak Family’s enemy is present here, does that excuse the Delegation Leader’s conduct?”

Even at this moment, endless minor and major conflicts were occurring throughout the martial world.

So many people died because of them that they couldn’t even be tallied.

The Qingzhou Incident?

It had undoubtedly carved a scar into Ak Byeong-bi’s soul.

But so what?

There were countless individuals in the martial world who had endured the same agony as Ak Byeong-bi, or perhaps even greater suffering.

Even I, at this very moment…….

‘Damn it…….’

Because of this, I could not sit by and let a vital mission be destroyed by personal vengeance.

Under my firm gaze, Il-myeong exhaled a long breath.

He carefully chose his next words.

“At that time, the Delegation Leader’s pregnant beloved was killed.”

“…….”

In that instant, I felt my head, which had been boiling with heat, suddenly grow cold.

So vividly that the faces of my father, my Junior Brothers, and the members of the Sojeong Squad, who had perished agonizingly in my previous life, flashed before my eyes.

The story was clearly not over, as Il-myeong continued.

“The individual who murdered the woman who had been the Delegation Leader’s beloved was none other than…… that very man, Gu Gye-ak.”

Perhaps because my head had cooled, my jaw felt locked.

“At the time, the Delegation Leader traveled to every corner of the world to track down that man, Gu Gye-ak. After fifteen years passed in that state…… Gu Gye-ak, who had disappeared without a trace, resurfaced before the Delegation Leader as the Sect Leader of the Yellow Sand Sect.”

“Damn it…….”

At the curse that escaped my lips instinctively, Dang Seo-hui frowned.

“Cursing is unbecoming.”

Do you think I cursed by choice? I cursed because I had no other way to cope.

What on earth was Jegal So-myeong thinking?

If he knew Ak Byeong-bi carried such a history, should he not have avoided including him in the Envoy Delegation?

……Could it be that Jegal So-myeong was unaware?

“The Grand Strategist is aware of it. That is why…… I cannot fathom why he chose him as the leader of the Envoy Delegation. He must have had a profound intention.”

Regardless of how profound that intention might be, was this not a mistake one should never make?

Who in the world could conduct discussions on peace and stability with the enemy who slaughtered his wife and unborn child before his eyes?

“Why did you not disclose this sooner?”

“……It is not a tale one can easily share, is it?”

“Haa…….”

Somehow, I could also understand why Ak Byeong-bi had reacted so aggressively during the Ak Ju-pyeong incident.

Human beings are unable to easily erase deep emotional traumas etched into their minds.

As I rubbed my head, which simply refused to process everything, Il-myeong’s voice drifted toward me.

“Perhaps…… the Delegation Leader’s words were sincere.”

“What do you mean?”

“I refer to his statement that he would leave the rest to Benefactor Jin.”

To be precise, it had been, “If it frustrates you that much, then you do it.”

“He must have felt crushed by his own limitations.”

Now that I knew the circumstances, I had no idea how to resolve this mess.

Still, the nemesis of the Envoy Delegation Leader was advocating for war right in front of him.

If I ignored that and negotiated a treaty, it was clear that Ak Byeong-bi’s spirit would be shattered. Yet, if I remained silent, the vision of countless corpses appeared before my eyes.

Amid my chaotic thoughts, Il-myeong’s voice intervened.

“The Delegation Leader would also desire a peaceful agreement.”

“……Why would you assume that?”

“Because otherwise, someone who never touches alcohol would not be consuming it like that.”

“…….”

Was the one enduring the most profound agony none other than Ak Byeong-bi?

“……Even so, I do not intend to justify the Delegation Leader’s actions.”

I intentionally tried to sound indifferent, but Il-myeong looked at me and offered a gentle smile.

“He likely doesn’t want that either. For now, I think it would be prudent to focus on fulfilling our objective.”

“…….”

Regardless of whether we acknowledged the Delegation Leader’s background, a peace treaty, let alone an alliance, seemed incredibly improbable.

When the Sect Leader of the Yellow Sand Sect, Gu Gye-ak, had been speaking, those who appeared to support his stance already seemed to be in the majority.

Even if we enlisted the help of Cha Seok-du, Kang Maeng-ji of the Black Serpent Gang, and all our contacts from the Demon Spirit Plateau, securing an agreement would not be easy.

Furthermore, the significant challenge was that we were stationed in the very heart of enemy territory and were unable to maneuver effectively.

If we at least understood the internal political landscape of the Black Thought Alliance, we might be able to construct a strategy for conciliation. But currently, we were at the epicenter of the Black Thought Alliance, where even the operatives of the Hao Gate could not infiltrate.

Il-myeong lowered his head slightly.

“I apologize. It feels as though I have shifted a heavy burden onto your shoulders.”

I shook my head.

“It is fine. What is spilled cannot be retrieved.”

Like that, trapped without anywhere to go, we attempted to formulate various strategies around the pavilion, but no clear path revealed itself.

During that time, the sound of approaching footsteps reached us.

“If I am not being intrusive, may I join you for a moment?”

The source of the footsteps was none other than Gun Yu-hyeon of the Heavenly Crown Sect, the man who had caused Il-myeong such distress.

“What brings you here?”

“You have not visited the gambling hall even once since our last meeting, so I came to check if something had occurred.”

I shook my head and replied with politeness.

“I do not believe this is the moment to discuss such matters. Please excuse yourself.”

“Haha, I did not come to invite you to gamble, either.”

Gun Yu-hyeon continued with a friendly grin.

“I heard about it on my way here. That a problematic situation has emerged.”

“…….”

“I heard there might be complications with the treaty. Am I mistaken?”

Without betraying my emotions, I became alert.

“How did you come to know that?”

“Well, even though it is confidential, information has a way of finding those who keep their ears alert.”

“And so?”

Gun Yu-hyeon took another step toward me.

“I was wondering if I might be of assistance.”

I caught Il-myeong’s eyes.

After a moment, we exchanged a subtle nod.

We had to utilize every resource available to us. His proposition was worth listening to.

“Why are you offering your help?”

Gun Yu-hyeon scratched the back of his neck.

“Just because we belong to a Black Path sect does not mean everyone is hungry for bloodshed and war. There are many who were forced onto the Black Path due to their own circumstances. Furthermore, if our Heavenly Crown Sect enters a war with the Murim Alliance now, we have much to lose.”

War brings misery to all.

But among the participants, the powerless endure the most severe consequences.

With that brilliant mind of his, Gun Yu-hyeon had likely calculated that if a war erupted between the Black Thought Alliance and the Murim Alliance now, his own people would face the heaviest toll.

This time, Il-myeong stepped forward and asked,

“How can Benefactor Gun assist us?”

“I am unsure if you are aware, but in the current Black Thought Alliance, the influence of the major sects carries more weight than the personal opinions of the Alliance Leader.”

One could observe as much simply by surveying the atmosphere in the grand hall.

Cha Seok-du had assumed the role of Alliance Leader under the claim that he had formed the alliance, but his authority and position did not appear solidified.

As we contemplated this, Gun Yu-hyeon whispered clandestinely, as if sharing a secret.

“However, there is someone who can influence the greater consensus.”

“Are you suggesting someone who holds actual authority?”

He nodded.

“Yes. The current Alliance Leader provided the justification for creating the Black Path Alliance, but in reality, it was someone else who laid the groundwork.”

“Who is that?”

“You saw the man alongside the Alliance Leader, did you not?”

“Dam Ak…….”

As I spoke the man’s name, Gun Yu-hyeon nodded.

“That is the one.”

“Are you saying he possesses the power to sway the greater consensus?”

“Yes. The majority of the key personnel who manage the Black Thought Alliance follow Dam Ak. If his views and the Alliance Leader’s views align, then even if the other Sect Leaders protest, a treaty can surely be achieved.”

Crouching Dragon Dam Ak seemed to have had his exceptional capabilities acknowledged in this timeline, just as he had in my previous life.

“But would that man, Dam Ak, agree to meet with us? From what I saw earlier, he seemed extremely wary of the Murim Alliance.”

To my query, Gun Yu-hyeon offered a meaningful smile.

“It is not official, but there is a private opportunity for you to meet.”

“What kind of opportunity?”

“Those who are recognized as the rising stars of the Black Path Murim have decided to host a private banquet.”

A private event, organized by people of the Black Path.

I might endure humiliation so profound that the shame I suffered at the Iron Sword Sect would seem insignificant.

“And Grand Strategist Dam Ak has decided to attend as well.”

However, everything had already been ruined by conventional methods.

“Will you accompany me?”

We had no choice but to attempt an alternative approach.

“Very well. I will accept your assistance.”

Whatever the cost might be.