Chapter 478

Chapter 478
## Chapter 478. Each Other’s Purposes (2)

—

When a person faces denial regarding something they considered completely natural, it throws them off balance. The greater the assurance displayed by the denying party, the more the other side begins to second-guess their own assumptions. This was the exact wisdom the grifter Seo Un-chang shared when the So-jeong-dae inquired how he managed to sidestep the combat trials that every lower-tier fighter in the Murim Alliance was required to undergo.

His logic proved remarkably potent. I had to grant him that. The instant Song Ye-seol finished speaking, the thought crossed my mind, ‘Could the inspection actually be optional?’

And yet, this excursion by the Yong-bong Association was hardly a social call. Its core objective was the eradication of the Blood Cult’s dark sorcery and banned practices that had been spreading throughout the *Kangho*. There was simply no reality where the Murim Alliance would grant an inspection target the luxury of a choice in such critical matters.

“….”

Silent glances passed between Il-gak, Yong So-a, and myself. Without uttering a syllable, a profound wave of distrust hung in the air. Sensing the heavy quiet, did she realize her misstep? Song Ye-seol instantly shifted her demeanor.

“Ah! It appears my wording choice was poor and invited misunderstanding. To put it accurately, our current internal affairs are highly unstable, which is why we are requesting a postponement of your visit.”

Unstable internal affairs. Whatever the others made of it, a instinct flared within me. The justification was weak. Seo Un-chang always maintained: to counter a swindler like himself, one must abandon shame and push forward relentlessly. Any guilt over breaching social pleasantries could be dealt with at a later date.

“Are your difficulties truly that severe?”

An expression of deep anxiety settled onto Song Ye-seol’s features.

“Even given our straits, we are doing everything in our power to honor our obligations as allies of the Murim Alliance.”

Seo Un-chang had also observed that women possess a far greater talent for deception than men.

“Understood. Precisely how critical is the crisis?”

“…Excuse me?”

Prying into the domestic troubles of an independent organization violated basic *Kangho* decorum, but it was far preferable to walking blindly into a trap for the sake of manners.

“….”

I maintained a silent gaze on Song Ye-seol. She stared back at me, her eyes questioning my identity and motives. Unable to endure the tension any longer, Il-gak finally intervened.

“Jin *Siju*… embedding ourselves so deeply in another faction’s private matters is a breach of protocol…”

Monk, just remain quiet for once.

“Our presence here as representatives of the Murim Alliance is to fortify our bond with our partner, Hwa-pung-jang. We did not travel all this way merely to receive hospitality.”

When an opponent scrambles to find an exit strategy, blocking that very escape route is the swiftest method to shatter a deceiver’s ploy.

“To push me away on the pretext of your own misfortune is not how true companions behave. The Murim Alliance stands as a committed partner and ally to Hwa-pung-jang. The Alliance will not simply walk away by using Hwa-pung-jang’s perils as an escape clause.”

As my speech concluded, Song Ye-seol looked utterly bewildered. With every exit point thoroughly sealed, she was left with no option but to proffer a completely absurd justification or reveal the unvarnished truth.

“Will you enlighten me as to what is happening?”

A melancholy smirk broke across Song Ye-seol’s stunned face.

“It was a mere matter of days ago that the local Murim Alliance office dismissed us coldly, claiming they were powerless to assist.”

“….”

“Now, hearing your steadfast offer of aid, it would be wrong of me to withhold the truth.”

A subtle, murderous glint flickered within her pupils.

“As we speak, Hwa-pung-jang stands on the precipice of open conflict with Hyeol-cheon-bo.”

“What?”

“I wished to avoid dragging outsiders into our ruin. The benevolence you are showing to Hwa-pung-jang today will be returned a hundredfold, a thousandfold by us in the days to come.”

Song Ye-seol inclined her upper body significantly and offered a formal martial salute.

“What?”

Without warning, we had been pulled directly into an external war.

“Seriously, is this a wise course of action?”

We were en route to Hwa-pung-jang. Voices murmured from a position slightly detached from Song Ye-seol.

“Even considering the mandate of the Yong-bong Association, shouldn’t we steer clear of a direct clash with Hyeol-cheon-bo?”

Accusing glares locked onto me. I mentally replayed Seo Un-chang’s teachings to keep my composure steady. Then, I twisted my face into a severe scowl.

“Can you honestly turn your backs on a group that attempts to reject even modest assistance to ensure their guests’ well-being, even while their own clan is being driven off a precipice?”

I adopted the air of someone facing the most unprincipled person alive. This wasn’t a petty retaliation for being denied pastries. This was the pure disdain of a martial artist witnessing others abandon righteousness and chivalric duty.

“To the Murim Alliance, aren’t the Jeong-do-hoe, the Baek-do-hoe, the Twelve Peak Fortresses, the One Hundred and Eight Peaks, and all the rest supposed to be united comrades?”

“….”

“I am asking you, is the *Kangho* not a realm where anyone who bleeds for justice becomes a brother-in-arms, regardless of status?”

The dissatisfied murmurs among the ranks died down instantly. I pressed the advantage.

“If you fail to comprehend how deeply offensive your inherited privilege and security appear to those stripped of everything, then turn around and leave. I shall proceed to Hwa-pung-jang accompanied solely by those who possess the will.”

With those words, the dissenting members were crushed under a profound weight of shame, turning their disapproval inward.

‘That ought to teach you.’

I strode forward, intentionally ignoring the group as if giving them total freedom to desert. Yet, through the sensory awareness extending behind me, not a single person made a move to retreat back to Kaifeng.

“My thanks.”

Song Ye-seol had slipped beside me unnoticed, her voice dropping to a soft murmur.

“I attempted to look unbothered… but I caught every word.”

Though she fought to maintain a detached exterior, her eyes shone with unshed tears.

“Allow me to express my deepest gratitude once more.”

Song Ye-seol bowed her head with profound sincerity.

“Did the local office offer no assistance whatsoever?”

“As you are aware, Kaifeng is effectively under the heel of Hyeol-cheon-bo. The Kaifeng office claimed that their intervention would ignite an all-out war between the Murim Alliance and the Sa-heuk-ryeon.”

A bitter, freezing smirk crossed her features—a manifestation of her disgust for their transparent moral posturing and her own agonizing lack of strength. A person who discovers the brutal apathy of the world during their darkest hour inevitably becomes deeply jaded. The reason she remained unimpressed even before the prestigious Yong-bong Association was that she had already been thoroughly discarded by the systems she once trusted. She was a perfect mirror of my own self when my former sect faced devastation in my previous lifetime.

“That is nothing but a cowardly excuse.”

“…What did you say?”

“If the core pillars of the Murim Alliance were the ones in jeopardy, would they have folded so easily under such a narrative?”

“….”

Song Ye-seol’s gaze shifted, reflecting a highly turbulent internal state.

“This isn’t my first day witnessing it, but every time I am forced to watch the sanctimonious double standards of the Murim Alliance, it makes my stomach turn.”

Once again, Song Ye-seol looked utterly taken aback. She truly was a person incapable of masking her genuine reactions.

“…You deviate significantly from the tales I heard.”

Oh?

“What exactly do the rumors say?”

At this completely unexpected inquiry, Song Ye-seol lost her composure entirely, beads of nervous sweat breaking out on her brow. What was this? Why such an intense reaction?

“Was my reputation that terrible?”

“Uh… no, it wasn’t that, rather they described you as a far more lighthearted individual… indeed.”

“Huh… would you mind elaborating on those details for me?”

“Ah! Apologies, I must briefly step into the undergrowth for a moment. Please continue ahead without me.”

With that, Song Ye-seol vanished into the thickets. As I walked forward, slightly bewildered by the exchange, Yong So-a closed the distance between us.

“You two seem familiar. Did you share a past acquaintance?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Is that so…”

Yong So-a, who normally projected an aura of complete indifference to his surroundings, kept his eyes fixed firmly on the brush where Song Ye-seol had retreated.

“Never mind that. Relate to me what your visions showed.”

I shifted the conversation to matters of substance with Yong So-a.

“To what are you referring?”

“Hyeol-cheon-bo and Hwa-pung-jang—what is the ultimate resolution?”

Yong So-a’s empty, unreadable stare drifted across my face.

“I am unaware.”

He cast his eyes forward again, completely unfazed.

“You were already aware that Hwa-pung-jang was facing ruin, correct?”

Had Yong So-a been truly ignorant, he would have registered at least a flicker of surprise when Hwa-pung-jang initially dismissed our inspection.

“And you anticipated Lady Song’s arrival as well, didn’t you?”

Yong So-a turned his head in a deliberate motion. Unpleasantly, the midday sun aligned perfectly behind him, casting a brilliant, almost celestial radiance around his silhouette.

“My sight does not encompass all things. Were that the case, I would be paralyzed, unable to take action at any given crossroads.”

I narrowed my eyes to read his expression, but the brilliant sunlight flooded my vision directly.

‘Confound it.’

By the time I squeezed my eyes shut and blinked them open, Yong So-a had already blended back into the ranks of the Yong-bong Association.

‘He is absolutely concealing something.’

Hwa-pung-jang sat situated on the rural fringes of Kaifeng, comprising an estate roughly the size of a minor homestead. Taking note of the unpretentious interior furnishings and the faded, weathered training garbs, it was obvious their treasury was running dangerously low. The moment the Yong-bong Association crossed the threshold, the residents of Hwa-pung-jang froze with stunned expressions. More precisely, they looked utterly panicked to host visitors during a crisis that left them entirely unequipped for hospitality.

“I notice a complete absence of the younger students.”

The total lack of youthful disciples—the very demographic that would typically celebrate an appearance by the Yong-bong Association—only heightened the oppressive, uncomfortable quiet.

“Though they are dedicated to the sect, we cannot permit children to bleed for the mistakes and pride of the elders.”

“Does that mean they have been relocated to a secure area?”

Song Ye-seol shook her head side to side.

“The vast majority are merely youths from the adjacent settlements. Frequently, these are children for whom a single daily meal is a hardship, who enlist simply to secure an extra bowl of food.”

“….”

Beholding Song Ye-seol’s pained, fragile smile, a sudden pang of sharp sorrow struck the left side of my chest.

“I shall escort you to the Manor Lord immediately.”

As we made our way toward the primary residence, which served as the Manor Lord’s Pavilion, a crowd of mature men and women came pouring out of the entry doors. It was clear they had been locked in emergency council regarding Hyeol-cheon-bo until our arrival. As they dipped their heads upon noticing our group, their expressions remained entirely devoid of hope.

“Greetings.”

Stepping into the hall, we were met by Gongson Myeong, the leader of Hwa-pung-jang. Even under the crushing weight of impending doom, Gongson Myeong forced a polite expression onto his face.

“I must beg your indulgence for our inability to properly host esteemed dignitaries after requesting your presence.”

Gwak Su-san stepped forward, offering a formal fist-in-palm salute.

“Your sentiments alone are appreciated. We were apprised of the situation during our journey. We understand you are mobilizing for an imminent clash with Hyeol-cheon-bo.”

When Gongson Myeong cast an inquiring glance toward Song Ye-seol, she gave a firm nod of confirmation.

“It appears our senior disciple let her tongue wag needlessly to our guests,” Gongson Myeong remarked.

“Regrettably, the truth is out,” Gwak Su-san countered. “May we inquire as to what spark caused this conflict to escalate to such a volatile degree?”

“The catalyst?”

“Indeed. Candidly speaking, Hwa-pung-jang’s defiance against Hyeol-cheon-bo… I fear it can only culminate in the needless slaughter of your people.”

Offering such blunt counsel to an elder positioned multiple tiers higher in the *Kangho* hierarchy bordered closely on disrespect rather than a helpful observation, yet Gongson Myeong displayed no anger.

“It is natural to view it in that light. At least for those who remain blind to the underlying reality.”

His demeanor reflected a soul who had learned through decades of human interaction that true understanding between individuals is a rare commodity, rather than someone wounded by Gwak Su-san’s critique.

“If this were a mere political dispute over mercantile boundaries or financial dividends, we would have gladly yielded to terms.”

He maintained a flat, steady tone.

“What they demand is the sacred burial mountain of Hwa-pung-jang, and the total surrender of this very estate.”

“….”

“Their true objective is our total erasure from existence. Given that reality, what possible compromise could appease their hunger?”

Gwak Su-san’s lips pressed into a tight line. The gravity of the situation was far too immense for him to comprehend.

“I am aware that the Yong-bong Association’s arrival on this day extends beyond basic diplomacy.”

“….”

“Under ordinary circumstances, we would have provided our full compliance with your investigation. However, our current timeline is hostile. It is entirely possible that Hwa-pung-jang’s official plaque will be shattered by sunrise tomorrow.”

He spoke of their demise with chilling detachment.

“While I recognize your intent to assist, we cannot allow the lifeblood of the next generation’s elite to spill on our account. Your noble intentions are more than enough. I must ask you to depart immediately.”

As a panicked Gwak Su-san floundered, casting an explicit, desperate look for intervention toward me, I moved to the forefront.

“I am Jin So-un of the Tae-ul Sect.”

“…!”

A brief tremor of shock rippled across Gongson Myeong’s features. When he offered no further comment, I maintained my deliberate, even delivery.

“By chance, are you truly cognizant of the staggering disparity in raw numbers between Hyeol-cheon-bo and Hwa-pung-jang?”

“The standing forces under Hyeol-cheon-bo number roughly one thousand. That places them at triple the capacity of this estate.”

I tilted my head in disagreement. Kaifeng was the absolute epicenter for unconventional and unorthodox syndicates within Henan. Hyeol-cheon-bo, as the undisputed titan of Kaifeng, maintained deep alliances with surrounding unorthodox factions.

“Man-pa-jang, Jin-pyeong-hoe, and Gwi-gol-mun are poised to reinforce Hyeol-cheon-bo. When they mobilize, the actual disparity in combatants will surge to roughly six to one.”

“….”

There was zero possibility that Gongson Myeong was blind to data that I, someone who had never stepped foot in Kaifeng during my prior existence, knew by heart. In practical terms, short of a defensive siege operation, those metrics were insurmountable. Furthermore, inspecting the grounds revealed that Hwa-pung-jang had neglected to erect even a rudimentary defensive *Gimun* array.

“Knowing this, do you still resolve to defend Hwa-pung-jang to your final breath?”

Gongson Myeong drew a long, heavy breath before answering.

“That is my absolute resolve.”

“Understood.”

“Is that not the fundamental meaning behind preserving the honor of one’s lineage?”

Gongson Myeong’s bearing showed no trace of a man staring down his own execution.

“It brings me sorrow, but I must insist you take your leave. The hour has arrived for us to designate who must be evacuated and who must stay to fight.”

And a part of me believed it would be a genuinely clean resolution if the matter concluded on those terms.

“Our contingent shall remain as well.”

“What?”

“What did you say?!”

“Pardon?!”

A chorus of startled exclamations erupted simultaneously from the hosts in front of me and my comrades behind. Gongson Myeong stared back, his expression entirely uncomprehending.

“For what conceivable reason would you choose to stay?”

“Since you grasp the situation, I shall speak plainly. Our mandate is to execute an inspection, but if Hwa-pung-jang is wiped off the map, our objective ends in absolute failure. For our mission to succeed, Hwa-pung-jang must endure.”

“What sort of preposterous logic…”

Faced with his total bewilderment, my hand rose automatically, gesturing directly toward Yong So-a.

“Furthermore, do we not have Yong So-a in our ranks? The heralded prodigy of the Wudang Sect, the shining beacon of the Jeong-do-hoe, and the divine dragon of the Murim Alliance itself. Should Yong So-a perish here, Wudang will deploy its full might in retribution, a reality that will give Hyeol-cheon-bo significant pause.”

The moment my declaration hung in the air, every single gaze from the residents of Hwa-pung-jang and the entire roster of the Yong-bong Association locked onto me.

“….”
“….”
“….”

The collective scrutiny felt sharp enough to pierce skin.