Chapter 260

Chapter 260
## Chapter 260. Parading in Brocade at Night

The Department Head belonging to the Alliance Leader’s Hall scrutinized the written intelligence once more as he walked toward the Alliance Leader’s private quarters.

The envoys had officially crossed into Wuhan.

Typically, the paperwork filtering upward through Mantongbu highlighted only the most critical or time-sensitive affairs.

Routine occurrences, such as a basic diplomatic party entering Wuhan, were usually managed and sorted by the Heavenly Eye Pavilion long before they could ever reach the desks of Mantongbu.

Yet, the sole reason this particular update had ascended all the way to the Alliance Leader’s Hall was due to the explicit, personal directives of Hyeok Mu-gang, the reigning Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance.

“Alliance Leader, word has arrived that the envoys will be here shortly.”

The moment his announcement echoed from outside the chamber, the heavy doors swung open with sudden force, catching the Department Head completely off guard.

And then.

“Is that the truth?”

He shrank back slightly upon seeing the Alliance Leader’s face, which appeared unusually bright and animated with anticipation.

If an old man who had never had a grandson suddenly found himself introduced to a future granddaughter-in-law, his expression might look very much like that.

Reclaiming his composure after that brief, absurd thought, the Department Head quickly spoke up.

“Indeed. The Heavenly Eye Pavilion has just forwarded the confirmation.”

“Very well.”

Without wasting a single second, Hyeok Mu-gang finished his preparations to step out.

The Department Head tilted his head in confusion.

“Are you planning to receive them in person?”

Given that this was merely a returning delegation, having them welcomed by someone of the Mantongbu Department Head’s rank would already represent an immense display of respect.

Yet the grand leader of the entire coalition was choosing to walk out himself?

Hyeok Mu-gang merely let out a sharp huff and declared with absolute certainty:

“They are champions who have achieved a monumental triumph in this endeavor. We cannot allow them to walk through the dark disguised in plain clothes, uncelebrated.”

“…….”

Leaving the bewildered Department Head standing in silence, Hyeok Mu-gang darted toward Mantongbu with the speed of an arrow.

*Clack.*

The moment Hyeok Mu-gang burst through the suddenly thrown-open doors, the startled personnel of Mantongbu froze in place before hurriedly snapping into formation.

“Tsk……”

Observing this spectacle, Jegal So-myeong pinched the bridge of his nose and frowned.

“Did I not explicitly state that I would escort them to your quarters myself?”

He was well aware that Hyeok Mu-gang held the envoys in high regard and was eager to greet them, but there were countless eyes watching their every move.

Naturally, the respect and gravity demanded by the position of Alliance Leader would erode if the man carrying the title acted so impulsively.

However, Hyeok Mu-gang’s expression made it perfectly clear that he currently cared nothing for superficial dignity or protocol.

“They are extraordinary individuals who pulled off a miracle. If we fail to accord them the grand reception they earned, who else will willingly pledge their life and loyalty to the Murim Alliance?”

Faced with such stubbornness, Jegal So-myeong could only sigh and concede.

“At the very least, please step inside first. Waiting until we receive confirmation that the party has actually entered the premises will not delay us.”

“But—”

“Sit!”

Yielding to the sharp command of the Grand Strategist, Hyeok Mu-gang took a seat, looking rather sheepish.

While an aide quickly served tea to Hyeok Mu-gang, Jegal So-myeong returned to tackling the massive stack of paperwork looming over his desk.

“Do you truly still have that immense amount of work left to—”

*CRUMPLE.*

Before the Alliance Leader could even finish his question, the document gripped in Jegal So-myeong’s fingers warped into a crumpled ball, and his features twisted in an alarmingly hostile glare.

“What did you just utter……?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you genuinely asking me that right now?”

“No, well, what I meant was……”

Jegal So-myeong hoisted the mangled papers into the air, tossing one aside only to lift another.

An seemingly endless cascade of administrative records stretched out before them.

Faced with the sheer, unhinged intensity burning in Jegal So-myeong’s eyes as he paraded the documents one by one, Hyeok Mu-gang instinctively leaned back in his chair.

“I-Is that how it is?”

Realizing he had stepped onto a landmine, the leader attempted to placate the Grand Strategist, but now that Jegal So-myeong had started, he had no intention of holding back.

“Deactivating the myriad of lethal Ultimate Formations and hidden snares left behind by those vile dogs of the Blood Cult!”

“Managing the safe return of our deployed combatants while sorting out their massive provisioning crises!”

“Calculating the dimensions and logistics of the brand-new regional Branches we are forced to establish across Shanxi Province following the rise of the Black Thought Alliance!”

Jegal So-myeong roared out his endless list of responsibilities so fiercely that the walls of Mantongbu practically vibrated.

But he was far from finished.

“And those are just the burning emergencies requiring our instantaneous intervention! Do you have any inkling of what lies beneath?”

As Hyeok Mu-gang sat paralyzed by the sudden interrogation, the frantic light in Jegal So-myeong’s eyes grew even more terrifying.

“The second we clear these out, we must dive into the massive mountain of delayed administrative tasks we deliberately pushed back, which is easily ten times the size of this pile!! And yet you casually ask if I have a heavy workload???? Well?? Do you still think I have too much work????”

“I-I deeply apologize, Grand Strategist…… I have placed an unforgivable weight upon your shoulders……”

“Do not just offer me hollow apologies! Provide me with tangible assistance! Actual manpower!”

Jegal So-myeong’s eyes were completely bloodshot, and he leaned in so close that Hyeok Mu-gang felt utterly overwhelmed by the proximity.

The leader managed to force out a shaky response.

“I-I understand completely. I shall immediately consult with the Elder Hall to ensure your operational budget is vastly expanded.”

“Money is not the issue! I need capable figures! No, scratch that, they do not even need to be exceptionally gifted! Just basic human bodies! We are desperately short-staffed!”

“Th-That is largely because your entry requirements are absurdly restrictive, Grand Strategist……”

“What did you just mutter under your breath?”

“…….”

Swept over by the sudden, freezing aura emanating from Jegal So-myeong, Hyeok Mu-gang shut his mouth tight and swallowed hard.

In truth, was there any shortage of talented martial artists begging to join the ranks of Mantongbu?

The sole individual who had ruthlessly turned every single one of them away was none other than Jegal So-myeong himself.

Nonetheless, pointing out that hypocrisy right now would undoubtedly trigger a catastrophic explosion.

Exhaling a heavy, defeated breath, Hyeok Mu-gang relented.

“I-I will personally see to it.”

“I. Shall. Hold. You. To. That.”

The dark circles bruising the skin beneath the Grand Strategist’s eyes looked more profound than they ever had before.

It was undeniable that a shift in their environment was fast approaching.

For the time being, they maintained a fragile truce with the Black Thought Alliance solely because they shared a mutual foe in the Blood Cult, but there was no telling when hostilities with the Black Thought Alliance might break out anew.

Furthermore, there remained ‘those entities’ that truly imperiled the safety of the Jianghu.

While the orthodox factions had managed to live alongside the Black Path for centuries despite endless skirmishes, ‘those entities’ were aberrations with whom any form of peaceful coexistence was entirely out of the question.

Judging by the brief, terrifying glimpses of their presence in the Jianghu so far, it was glaringly obvious that their morals and logic existed on a plane completely alien to normal martial artists.

When reflecting on that looming shadow, it became clear that it wasn’t just Mantongbu, but the entire Murim Alliance that suffered from a severe deficit of true power.

‘Perhaps I should pay a visit to one of the prominent martial institutions and simply conscript some students by force?’

While the literal leader of the Murim Alliance was mentally drifting into these highly inappropriate, desperate fantasies,

A low-ranking officer of Mantongbu hurried toward the pair to deliver an update.

“The diplomatic envoy has officially crossed the threshold of the Murim Alliance.”

It was the precise announcement Hyeok Mu-gang had been waiting for with bated breath.

—

“Come again?”

I dug a pinky into my ear, clearing it out as I asked for clarification.

Observing the deeply unimpressed look on the guard’s face, it was clear he took my casual demeanor as an act of blatant disrespect.

Hey, that wasn’t my intention at all. I genuinely thought my ears were playing tricks on me, which is why I checked while giving them a quick scratch. Sheesh.

The Murim Alliance member repeated himself, his tone noticeably icier this time.

“The order states that every single member of your group must present themselves.”

“…….”

I shifted my gaze toward Ak Byeong-bi.

No matter how one looked at it, our group was a covert diplomatic unit assembled in total secrecy.

In normal circumstances, a debriefing of this nature would be handled exclusively by the Delegation Leader acting as our spokesperson, while the rest of the unit received their directives afterward through him, right?

To make matters worse, we were currently dealing with a highly awkward complication.

“So…… incredibly sleepy. Mnya, mnya.”

Dang Seo-hui was currently dead to the world, draped over my back while leaving a growing patch of saliva on my clothes.

……And we were expected to march straight into Mantongbu looking like this.

Gesticulating toward the sleeping girl on my shoulders, I pressed the issue once more.

“Is it absolutely mandatory for everyone to go inside?”

The guard offered zero sympathy or flexibility.

“……Rouse her immediately. What do you think you are doing?”

Tsk. As I always suspected, the higher-ups of the Murim Alliance were completely devoid of human warmth and rigidly obsessed with rules.

I gave a firm nudge to the arms locking Dang Seo-hui to my back.

“Senior, open your eyes. They are demanding our presence in Mantongbu this very instant.”

“Mnya, mnya, zzz…… Too exhausted. I pushed myself to the limit.”

……You didn’t do a single shred of work! All you did the entire trip was stuff your face and sleep!

The ones who actually fought off the mountain bandits we encountered along the road and rescued the starving mountain villagers were me and Senior Il-myeong.

“Haa……”

As I let out a weary sigh, Ak Byeong-bi spoke up, treating the situation with complete indifference.

“Let us simply proceed. It is best that the Grand Strategist observes the reality of Dang Seo-hui with his own eyes anyway.”

Fine by me. I wasn’t the one who was going to catch hell for her improper behavior regardless.

This would serve as an excellent opportunity for Dang Seo-hui to get a harsh taste of how ‘the real world’ operated.

‘But seriously, can someone do something about this non-stop drool?’

I trailed closely behind Ak Byeong-bi, doing everything in my power to block out the uncomfortably warm, damp sensation spreading across the back of my neck.

The personal Escorts who were originally scheduled to part ways with us at the entrance ended up accompanying us inside to manage the heavy crates of baggage.

“The halls feel remarkably deserted.”

The grand compound of the Murim Alliance, which typically bustled with a chaotic swarm of martial artists, felt strangely hollow today.

It was undoubtedly a side effect of the massive troop deployment sent away to Sichuan……

Yet, looking closely at the faces of the remaining staff, the underlying anxiety didn’t seem particularly severe.

That subtle detail alone gave me the comforting assurance that the crisis in Sichuan had concluded on a highly favorable note.

‘Yet another major divergence from my past life.’

In my previous existence, the bloody affair in Sichuan had concluded more than a year prior to this point.

Now, the core military might of the Murim Alliance remained entirely intact, and none of the great clans or sects rooted in the Sichuan region had sustained devastating casualties.

The young disciples of the Academy had been spared from shedding their lifeblood, and most importantly, no corrupt factions were currently exploiting the tragedy as ammunition for internal political warfare.

While I felt a deep sense of relief knowing that everything had shifted for the better, a fresh, deeply unsettling variable had taken root in this new timeline.

‘The Yin-Yang Twin Demons.’

I had never anticipated that the monstrous Yin-Yang Twin Demons would already be making waves throughout the Jianghu at this stage.

On one hand, uncovering critical information I had been completely blind to before was a massive advantage. On the other hand, it proved that because the timeline had drifted, terrifying entities that had originally remained dormant were now spurred into premature motion.

Such deviations cut both ways, offering both opportunities and immense danger.

If the dreaded Demonic Cult managed to surge into prominence ahead of schedule, the Murim Alliance would be systematically torn apart once more, plunging the entire Jianghu into an absolute living nightmare.

‘We need a far more explosive catalyst for change.’

An unprecedented transformation powerful enough to completely tear up and rewrite the script of the past.

Even if it meant that blood had to be spilled in entirely different valleys, a massive restructuring of the world was paramount.

While I was deeply lost in these dark calculations, our guide came to a halt outside a prominent pavilion and shot a pointed look in my direction.

“Get her awake immediately. We cannot tolerate an act of blatant disrespect before our superiors.”

“…….”

Look, buddy, it’s not like I’m keeping her asleep out of spite.

If I had to choose between getting a black mark on my record from an annoyed staff member or getting hit point-blank by a lethal dose of venom thrown by a half-conscious, irritated Dang Seo-hui waking up in a blind rage……

I would gladly take the black mark any day of the week.

Choosing to meet his gaze with total silence, I remained perfectly still. Huffing in irritation, the guard finally pushed the double doors wide open.

“The covert envoys dispatched to the Black Thought Alliance have safely returned.”

Accompanying the formal declaration, our small group filed into the room.

Within the modest chamber stood a lone wooden table, with two formidable figures seated on opposite sides of it.

Well, I fully expected to see the Grand Strategist waiting for us here, but the man seated right next to him was……

‘Hyeok Mu-gang?!’

Knowing that Jegal So-myeong was the mastermind behind our secret mission, I figured he would be eagerly awaiting our debriefing, but I hadn’t dreamed that the supreme Alliance Leader himself would be sitting here in person.

“Delegation Leader Ak Byeong-bi reports our successful return to headquarters as of today.”

The moment Ak Byeong-bi raised his clasped hands in a formal martial greeting, Il-myeong along with the Personal Guards and Escorts mirrored the salute perfectly. Bound by the heavy burden on my back, I contented myself with a respectful nod of my head.

“You have all endured great hardships for the cause. Relax your postures.”

As Jegal So-myeong gestured for us to ease up, the Escorts who had completed their duties carefully set down the heavy transport containers onto the wooden floorboards and quietly backed out of the room.

Once the guide followed them out and the heavy doors clicked shut, isolating us completely, Jegal So-myeong began to speak.

“The internal affairs of the Alliance are currently in a highly delicate state, which is why I deliberately kept your journey entirely off the official record. I trust you understand why we could not organize a grand public celebration to honor your arrival.”

The official diplomatic stance between the Black Thought Alliance and the Murim Alliance remained highly ambiguous and unresolved.

They would need to consult extensively with the Elder Hall, debrief every individual Pavilion, and gather consensus from the various righteous sects backing the coalition before making any binding declarations.

While preserving an amicable peace was clearly the most logical path forward right now, the bureaucratic machinery of the Murim Alliance demanded they follow proper channels.

Ak Byeong-bi bowed his head with deep humility.

“We did not set out across the land in pursuit of superficial accolades or material compensation. Please do not let such matters weigh on your mind.”

Jegal So-myeong offered a thin smile of genuine approval, his sharp eyes scanning each of our faces in turn.

After his gaze swept past Il-myeong, skipped over the ranks of the Personal Guards, and locked directly onto me,

……I found myself genuinely debating whether I should violently shake Dang Seo-hui awake right then and there.

Mercifully,

“……The journey must have pushed her to her absolute limits.”

Jegal So-myeong noted the sleeping girl on my back and let the glaring breach of etiquette slide without uttering a word of reprimand.

He was seriously just going to look past this?

Was it solely due to her prestigious bloodline within the Tang Clan?

Realizing that truth made me feel an acute wave of self-pity.

“The monumental feat you have pulled off on this trip is tantamount to delivering the Murim Alliance from the brink of total devastation. Though the public cannot know of your deeds, we have no intention of letting your sacrifices go unrewarded, so rest easy on that front.”

“We are deeply grateful.”

“Mmm. That being said, the primary reason I convened this highly restricted gathering was to hear a firsthand account of the events that transpired during your stay.”

For a split second, the Grand Strategist’s brow knit together in clear frustration.

“……Throughout the duration of your stay within the territory of the Black Thought Alliance, our communication networks were completely compromised, and intelligence ceased to flow entirely.”

Jegal So-myeong cast a brief, sharp glare toward the gathered Personal Guards before smoothing over his expression and resuming his measured tone.

“According to the fragmented rumors salvaged by the Heavenly Eye Pavilion, a powerful faction within the Black Thought Alliance was aggressively pushing to launch a devastating backstab against the Murim Alliance while we were distracted. How on earth did you manage to talk them down?”

Faced with the Grand Strategist’s direct inquiry, Ak Byeong-bi delivered an instantaneous, unfiltered response.

“We didn’t talk them down.”

“Hmm?”

“Far from engaging in peaceful diplomacy, our group was framed for an assassination plot and we barely escaped with our lives.”

“You were framed?”

Considering that all reliable lines of communication surrounding Shanxi Province had been violently severed, it made perfect sense that accurate intelligence had ceased to breach their borders around that exact time.

Ak Byeong-bi gave a grim, resolute nod.

“Precisely.”

“Then wait, how did you survive, let alone succeed?”

Jegal So-myeong tilted his head, looking entirely flummoxed by the contradiction.

The exact same bewilderment was written across the face of Hyeok Mu-gang, who had remained silently observant up until now.

“Every bit of this success belongs entirely to Jin So-un.”

“……Jin So-un?”

“…….”

In an instant, the piercing gazes of both Jegal So-myeong and Hyeok Mu-gang snapped across the room, locking dead onto me.

Ah, I had this grand vision of executing a flawlessly elegant martial salute, looking incredibly cool and unfazed by the attention.

……But the dead weight of Dang Seo-hui, who was still snoring softly against my spine, shattered any hope of looking dignified.

Completely oblivious to the excruciating social awkwardness she was subjecting me to,

“Mnya, mnya, bow down to your captain……”

……Dang Seo-hui was currently deeply invested in playing the grand commander of her own little dream world.

Please, by the gods, just open your eyes already, and cut it out with the bizarre sleep-talking!