“Looks like things are more or less cleaned up.”

“They are.”

Mo Yong-woo looked around.

The battle at the Sea Dragon Merchant Group had been brutal and vicious. Countless buildings had collapsed, and walls had been smashed to pieces here and there until the place looked like ruins.

A merchant compound that had been such a wreck even ghosts would’ve been afraid to linger now looked fairly put together, as if the worst of it had been cleared away.

Yeon Hojeong glanced toward the Demon-Sweeping Corps.

They were scattered out, resting wherever they’d dropped. Maybe they still hadn’t shaken off the shock of their comrades’ deaths—the atmosphere was heavy and dark.

“Come to think of it, where’s that person?”

“Who?”

“The one who’s going to become your Clan Lord’s wife soon.”

Mo Yong-woo panicked.

“B-brother Yeon!”

“Lots of eyes. Watch what you call me.”

“Ah....”

He’d been so startled he’d forgotten there were people everywhere.

“She didn’t get swept up in the battle and die, did she?”

“Ahem! No, not that.”

Mo Yong-woo pointed. When Yeon Hojeong followed his finger, he saw Tang Sang-a resting together with the women of Demon-Sweeping Corps Third Squad.

A question rose on Yeon Hojeong’s face.

“Hold on. She joined as a regular squad member?”

“She did.”

“Why? With that level, she could take a squad leader seat and nobody would complain.”

“In mass combat, poison and hidden weapons can be terrifyingly effective, in their own way.”

“Exactly.”

“But if the one wielding poison and hidden weapons doesn’t have a poisonous temperament, then even if she becomes a squad leader, all she’ll do is throw the people under her into confusion.”

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“I thought she was the type who acts when it matters.”

“She is. But the poisonous temperament I’m talking about is different—it’s the hardness you need as a leader.”

“Hardness as a leader.”

“My creed is that someone above should treat those under him like family. But for the sake of the mission, there are times you have to be able to turn your head away, coldly.”

Yeon Hojeong agreed.

Turning your head away didn’t mean abandoning them. It meant you had to be able to send your people into dangerous operations—and you couldn’t neglect the mission because you were worried about them.

That was what Tang Sang-a lacked. Unlike a Tang Clan person, she had too much affection.

“Still, she made it out alive.”

“Because she’s strong.”

Yeon Hojeong snorted.

“So you’re proud, since she’s your person?”

“B-brother— I mean, Deputy Commander Yeon!”

“What’s the problem? If you think she’s a decent person, I don’t see why you can’t get closer without overthinking what comes after.”

Mo Yong-woo coughed.

“I’ll handle that myself.”

Fair enough. You couldn’t shove someone’s heart around by force.

In the end, what mattered was how the two of them felt. Yeon Hojeong could create conditions, but after that, it was their problem to solve.

If the feelings weren’t there, then it ended there.

But if they were? Then that was when you approached it seriously.

“Right. You’ll handle it.”

Mo Yong-woo changed the subject.

“If things are mostly wrapped up, I was thinking we should start moving soon. What do you think?”

“That’s for you to decide. You’re the Grand Commander. Did the Alliance send anything?”

“Not yet.”

“Figures. It hasn’t been long since the fight ended. If nothing comes in, we’ll just Return to the Alliance as-is.”

“Let’s do that.”

Mo Yong-woo started to head back toward the Demon-Sweeping Corps, then something nagged at him.

“Deputy Commander Yeon.”

“What.”

“Did something happen?”

“What do you mean, something happened?”

He wondered if he was bringing up something he shouldn’t, but Mo Yong-woo made up his mind. No matter what, they were sworn brothers—there was no reason he couldn’t ask even this.

“It’s just... your mood feels a little different since you went to see Basarek.”

Yeon Hojeong gave a faint smile.

“Does it.”

“It does.”

“It’s nothing. That bastard’s trash. Just seeing his face made me feel filthy.” 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

A rough answer.

Yeon Hojeong’s mouth had never been gentle, but right now it felt especially sharp.

“What did he say? No—what did you press him on?”

For an instant, Yeon Hojeong’s eyes wavered.

Is it okay?

It was.

Mo Yong-woo could be told everything.

Of course. Mo Yong-woo wasn’t the type to betray someone once he’d given trust.

Still, the reason hesitation rose anyway was because this was something that required careful handling.

And besides that....

Yeon Hojeong admitted it cleanly. Beyond his rage toward the Three Teachings, he was also tense because their power was simply too enormous.

Honestly, by now, even telling Father wouldn’t cause a huge problem.

The reason he hadn’t told Yeon Wi was obvious.

Yeon Wi was more than enough as the head of a clan. But he valued caution more than boldness—and more importantly, the way he faced an incident was different from Yeon Hojeong’s.

No matter how outstanding someone was, when they ran into an unknown enemy, they were bound to be flustered. And once they were flustered, they’d rely on methods familiar to them, rather than trusting others.

That was why Yeon Hojeong still hadn’t revealed everything to Yeon Wi.

With Mo Yonggun, at least, the man had tried to break into their side first, so a hostile relationship could form naturally.

If I tell everything, I might get help. A common enemy. But if it’s just as likely to cause problems, then there’s no need to say it yet.

Whatever happened, they couldn’t stand out. Not the Alliance of the Martial World—nor the entire martial world of the Central Plains.

Yeon Hojeong trusted his own judgment. It still wasn’t time to talk about this recklessly.

But—

“I think I can tell you.”

“Hm?”

“You’re not like my father.”

It wasn’t a difference of trust or capability. It was a difference of temperament.

Mo Yong-woo was good, but he was awake enough to hide his true heart and stay under Mo Yonggun. And he relied on ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Yeon Hojeong more than Yeon Wi did.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes shone.

Right. The enemy’s movement had been captured clearly now. If so, he should tell Mo Yong-woo.

And Ga Deoksang, too.

“From here on, what I say—you can’t tell anyone. Think of it as top secret. Only us.”

*****

“Heh heh heh.”

Mo Yonggun kept letting loose booming laughter.

“To think I’d see a day like this. The famed Judge’s Sword hero and the Alliance’s Strategist coming all the way to my quarters in person.”

Whatever he found so funny, there was genuine delight in his hearty laughter.

Mo Yonggun smiled and asked,

“Well, it’s still daylight, but how about a drink? I’ve got some fairly decent liquor stocked.”

Je Gal Munho shook his head.

“No, thank you. This isn’t something to discuss over alcohol.”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes gleamed.

Not something to discuss over alcohol. That meant there was no intention to shake his side with tricks.

“I see. Then let’s talk over tea.”

“Let’s.”

Mo Yonggun flicked his gaze at Yeon Wi.

“Clan Lord Yeon—do you enjoy Dragon Well tea?”

Yeon Wi answered in a stiff voice.

“I’ve never had it even once.”

“Heh heh. You must’ve accumulated no small fortune through maritime trade, yet you’ve never even tried Dragon Well? How plain you are.”

It had a barb, but Yeon Wi didn’t react.

Mo Yonggun’s smile deepened.

As expected, he’s not ordinary.

The Yeon Wi of the past would’ve reacted to that comment.

Yeon Wi hadn’t known how to hide himself. He wouldn’t show it outright, but his thoughts would leak into his expression and eyes.

Not now.

No wavering in his gaze. Not a single disturbance in his posture. He didn’t rise and fall with the other man’s words.

Is it because his martial arts advanced?

No.

That kind of change wasn’t something you gained just because your martial arts advanced.

Right. It’s because of Yeon Hojeong.

Yes.

Yeon Hojeong’s growth had been explosive. But even more frightening was that at that age, he displayed political skill on par with old veterans who were said to be the best of the best in the martial world.

Flashy when he revealed himself. Sinister when he hid.

Much of Yeon Hojeong’s political warfare would’ve been difficult for Yeon Wi to tolerate by temperament.

But Yeon Hojeong hadn’t changed. If anything, he’d grown harsher, and bolder.

And watching that course reshape the Alliance of the Martial World’s landscape, Yeon Wi must have realized something too.

A father growing while watching his son? Hah! They say learning doesn’t care about time, person, or circumstance, but still....

Mo Yonggun felt a private relish.

In every way, they’re an annoying father-and-son pair.

A moment later, three cups of Dragon Well tea were set on the tea table.

Je Gal Munho couldn’t help but admire it.

“The fragrance is truly excellent.”

“Heh heh. It’s top-grade Dragon Well. I brought out what little I had left, so you should drink every last drop.”

“I’ll enjoy it.”

After wetting his throat with a sip, Mo Yonggun asked,

“So. For what reason have the two Clan Lords come to see me?”

Yeon Wi spoke bluntly.

“We came because something troublesome came up.”

“Something troublesome? Heh—what could possibly trouble the Alliance’s Councilors?”

He spoke as if he weren’t a Councilor himself. He still seemed amused by the whole situation.

Je Gal Munho said,

“I’ll be direct. We came because of Fighting King Yangcheon.”

Mo Yonggun’s gaze changed instantly.

Fighting King Yangcheon. Even Mo Yonggun couldn’t treat that name as a joke.

“Yangcheon... I don’t know the exact details, but if someone like that is involved, I can see why you’d have a headache.”

“That’s correct.”

“Let’s hear it first.”

Je Gal Munho explained the present matters regarding Yangcheon, cleanly and in order.

When he finished, Mo Yonggun said,

“So you need to investigate him properly. But if you’re discovered, no matter how he reacts, it could become a major threat to your side going forward?”

“More precisely, we think it could become a problem for the entire martial world.”

Mo Yonggun smiled.

“Yangcheon is certainly a monster. And not only him. Everyone whose name sits among the Thirteen Seats of the Sacred Heavens could be called a monster.”

“That’s right. That’s why it’s a problem.”

“And his temperament is poisonous and cruel, and once he forms a grudge he’ll chase you until you die—vicious to that degree?”

“If he weren’t that sort of person, we wouldn’t be agonizing this much.”

“Heh heh. I suppose so.”

Yeon Wi, who’d been silent, cut in.

“In truth, there are many methods. But no matter which one we choose, casualties will be heavy—and if Yangcheon simply disappears, it will become even more troublesome.”

“I see.”

Mo Yonggun smiled.

“Why didn’t you convene a Councilors’ Meeting, then?”

“We couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

Yeon Wi answered in his stiff, characteristic tone.

“Because we judged it wasn’t a matter where Clan Lord Mo Yonggun’s bloc should be allowed to muddy the waters.”

Je Gal Munho stiffened and glanced at Yeon Wi.

Mo Yonggun, on the other hand, didn’t look flustered at all. He even accepted it readily.

“That would be the case. The two of you truly aren’t ordinary.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“So you came to borrow this man’s bag of tricks?”

“Yes. Even if Clan Lord Mo Yonggun gains great power someday, a trouble like Yangcheon won’t simply disappear.”

“Heh heh heh!”

Mo Yonggun laughed loudly.

“Just hearing that makes me feel good. Yes, it would. In other words, for us, Yangcheon becomes a common enemy.”

“Something like that.”

“Hm. Investigating Yangcheon....”

After sinking into thought for a moment, Mo Yonggun tilted his head.

“I don’t understand why you’re troubled.”

The two men were startled inwardly.

“If you dig into a figure that big, casualties are unavoidable. The important thing is not being discovered.”

Mo Yonggun smiled faintly.

“You just need to make him misidentify it—make him believe it wasn’t us, don’t you?”