Mi-a made one wide circuit around Wi So-baek, then stopped in front of him and looked up.
To, gether?
“Together.”
After hearing his answer, Mi-a lowered her head deeply.
Then, a moment passed.
She slowly raised her gaze to Wi So-baek.
Even, if, the, sun, is, up?
Wi So-baek read her lips and fell silent for a moment.
He looked steadily into the eyes of the woman who barely reached his chest even with her face tilted all the way up, then spoke.
“Even if the sun is up, even if the moon takes its place and the sun rises again. Mi-a, if that is what you wish, then so it shall be.”
Mi-a stared blankly, circled Wi So-baek twice, then returned to her place.
Her lips moved.
I, want, to, go.
I, want, to, come, with, you.
“All right. Let us do that.”
Wi So-baek answered with an open smile.
Once their conversation ended, Yeo-hwa, who had been waiting, announced that the meal was ready.
“Is it that late already?”
Murmuring to himself, Wi So-baek invited Mi-a and Yeo-hwa to eat with him, then walked toward Demon Venerable Pavilion.
***
The Demon Alliance envoy delegation left the Martial Alliance as soon as negotiations over the Grand Martial Conference ended.
“The Alliance will finally be quiet again.”
Those displeased by the recent commotion breathed sighs of relief.
But once change occurred, it could not help leaving traces behind.
Especially when the object of their absolute hostility had left such a deep impression by revealing an unexpected side.
“This is bad.”
When Namgung Min spoke worriedly, Dang Eok flared up and shouted.
“Really, Deputy Captain. Why should we have to worry about that? They strutted about as if they were so impressive, yet the ones who greedily chased profit even more shamelessly than the Demon Alliance's demonic fiends and ground the Alliance's dignity into the dirt were others!”
Naturally, given their positions, the Martial Alliance leadership must have intended to observe at least the bare minimum of propriety.
Yet when Oh Chi-yeong, the Demon Alliance representative who had seemed anything but easy to deal with, accepted everything they said as potentially reasonable, greed began to seize them one by one.
In the end, the Martial Alliance leaders raised their voices to have the Grand Martial Conference held at a place—or under circumstances—even slightly connected to their own clans and sects.
“It is understandable. This is the first meeting in history where the righteous and demonic paths will face each other without spilling blood.”
If they could involve themselves even slightly, leave their names behind, or claim the achievement of having acted for the benefit of the righteous path......
They could enjoy glory recounted for generations!
“Even so, does it make any sense that matters went so far that even Shaolin's Blood Monk stepped forward and said that, as Shaolin is the leader of the martial world, holding the conference at Mount Song would be acceptable?”
Oh Chi-yeong of the Demon Alliance silently watched the Martial Alliance leaders scramble over one another.
Only at the very end did he present the most appropriate proposal, one so impartial that it was difficult to fault.
The Martial Alliance leaders, who had fought among themselves while trying to narrow down their opinions, could only stare at him in stupefaction.......
Oh Chi-yeong proudly squared his shoulders and met the Martial Alliance leaders' gazes.
Namgung Min had not participated in the negotiations directly, but he had watched from behind while guarding the Alliance Leader, and even he was dumbfounded.
Soon, he grew worried.
“I am telling you, is this something we can simply mock? What if the leaders vent their anger on the Alliance Leader for failing to step in while matters unfolded that way?”
Ah.
They had already experienced something similar, so it was entirely possible.
“At this rate, those Demon Alliance bastards almost look more like righteous sects.”
Dang Eok frowned and turned toward Jang Se-jin.
“You think so too, do you not, Alliance Leader?”
He asked his lord, who was not usually talkative but listened and responded well no matter what they said. His lord only smiled.
He gave no particular answer.
Well.
The Captain and Deputy Captain had said that their lord generally avoided voicing anything negative.
“It is all right. You do not have to answer. I understand everything.”
Jang Se-jin stared at Dang Eok as the young man pounded his chest in frustration as if it were his own problem, then clearly shook his head this time.
“I did not think that. The envoy merely acted according to what he considered right. I wondered why that made his behavior unlike the Demon Alliance, or why it seemed so like a righteous sect that it made the other side a laughingstock.”
Only then did Dang Eok realize that his lord's gaze was exceptionally stern, and he flinched.
But Jang Se-jin felt particularly sorry for the relatively young Dang Eok, who unlike the other members of the personal guard had not severed his lingering attachment to his family and remained constantly anxious. His expression quickly softened, and he patted Dang Eok's shoulder.
Namgung Min smacked Dang Eok, who immediately regained his spirit and was about to run his mouth again, then spoke.
“...Honestly, I thought the Demon Alliance's demonic fiends would all be the dregs of humanity....... But after seeing this envoy delegation, I did begin to think that perhaps not all of them are.”
A few people in the Alliance had gone further, showing admiration as they called the Demon Alliance envoy delegation's actions refreshing and impressive.
Of course.
“That must be why he sent such a man.”
The world was something Elder Brother could take at any time, if only he wished.
He would not have selected a man merely to gain an advantage in negotiations that must seem trivial to him.
“Pardon? What did you just say?”
When Namgung Min asked, Jang Se-jin said it was nothing and changed the subject.
“We should also begin preparing for our journey to Hubei next month.”
“...Yes.”
Namgung Min's expression darkened.
Shared supplies for the entire traveling party were one matter.
But to receive goods reserved for the personal guard or the Alliance Leader, they would have to wage another battle with the Office of General Affairs.
Jang Se-jin, well aware of that fact, scratched his cheek and cautiously stepped forward.
“Should I go speak with them myself? Would it not be somewhat better if I went?”
“Absolutely not!”
From Namgung Min to Moyong U, they were firmly opposed.
“It might take time, but we will receive those things eventually. Is there any reason for you to lower yourself and ask subordinates for favors, Alliance Leader?”
“What is wrong with that? No one will be hurt. I only need to go and do it.”
That was his answer, but when the faces of the personal guards remained grim, Jang Se-jin quickly tried to calm them.
“All right, all right. I will not do it, so please relax.”
“Never say such a thing again. You are our dream and our pride, Alliance Leader. Please do not forget that if you lower yourself, we cannot help but be lowered with you.”
When Moyong U firmly secured that promise, the sharpness in the air eased.
But Jang Se-jin's eyes darkened as he looked over those who followed him.
***
In Hunan, a group of martial artists appeared on the road into Changsha.
It was the envoy delegation, which had marched hard with scarcely a proper rest after leaving the Martial Alliance.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
Had they not already sent all the important reports by carrier pigeon?
Cheol Myeong-hwan asked his superior without concealing his exhaustion.
Oh Chi-yeong flinched and averted his gaze.
“Captain......?”
“It is good to get home quickly. Do you not agree, Deputy Captain?”
You do not want to go home?
Bad Deputy Captain.
“That is not what I meant?!”
As the two middle-aged men bickered using words alone, Ga Jeong-hak frowned and cut in.
“The Wood Banner Deputy Captain is slow on the uptake. Why do you think the Wood Banner Captain hurried? Obviously, he wants to hear our lord praise him.”
Praise?
Cheol Myeong-hwan turned to Oh Chi-yeong as if asking whether that was true, and his superior gave an awkward look.
Yet he could not bring himself to deny it.
“...It is the first time, is it not? The first time I have done something worthy of the Alliance Leader's praise.”
More than anything, he could not help feeling that way because he thought he had done rather well.
“Urgh......!”
Understanding his superior's feelings, Cheol Myeong-hwan nodded in fervent agreement.
He clenched both fists, determined that from then on they would race home while saving even the time they spent eating and shitting.
“What is wrong with him?”
Faced with a reaction more excessive than expected.......
Ga Jeong-hak, who had received an abundance of affection from the Alliance Leader and was now showered with adoration by the Alliance Leader's sworn younger brother as well, looked bewildered.
Still, it seemed too cruel to tell them how pitiful and desperate they looked.
“Then let us go faster. We will get home and receive our praise at once.”
Ga Jeong-hak vaguely played along and increased their pace.
But that was what awaited them after all their effort to reach the Demon Alliance.
“What did you say?”
“Why?!”
Oh Chi-yeong and Cheol Myeong-hwan's cries of shock rang out.
It seemed they would have to wait longer for their wish to come true.
***
Cho Myeong, the Martial Alliance's Outer Hall Master, had been keeping quite busy lately.
He had earned great merit by successfully completing his last assignment and had also sought out work with considerable enthusiasm.
At first, quite a few people had watched his actions warily, but by now they no longer felt much need.
To everyone else, the things Cho Myeong did appeared to be useless busywork.
Whatever others said, however, Cho Myeong was serious and focused on what he needed to do.
“Is it truly this difficult to find chefs from Sichuan?”
He had brought in two or three, yet the restaurant still struggled to serve the dishes properly.
Cho Myeong raked his fingers through his hair.
The Demon Alliance Leader must have spoken in jest!
But how could a subordinate dismiss the words of someone so far above him as a mere joke?
To those lofty figures, these were small matters they might forget, then suddenly recall and casually ask about later.
But for men like Cho Myeong, they could become major events that brought an unexpected reward—or, if luck turned against them, cost them their lives.
“I have to be diligent. In dangerous times like these, an ambiguous spy who switched sides late like me can survive no other way.”
As Cho Myeong repeated that resolution to himself, he soon sensed someone approaching his office as Outer Hall Master and tilted his head.
“What is it? There should be nothing to report right now.”
As he wondered, the person outside knocked and called through the door.
“Hall Master! A guest has arrived at the Martial Alliance's main gate!”
“A guest?”
“Yes. They say an honored guest has arrived!”
At his Outer Hall subordinate's answer, Cho Myeong rose from his seat.
“Who is this ‘honored guest’?”
“...That was not our description after recognizing the guest. The guest personally said so.......”
“Huh.”
Cho Myeong was somewhat dumbfounded.
His parents were dead, and there was no possibility the people of the martial school with whom he had long since lost contact would suddenly visit him here.
“I will see what bastard calls himself my honored guest to my own face!”
Muttering coldly, Cho Myeong went to the Martial Alliance's main gate.
Then, as he scanned the area for the person waiting for him.......
“Gasp!”
Cho Myeong practically tumbled to a stop before a man.
“H-how?”
He was not merely an honored guest.......
How had a guest so exalted that he was downright demonic come to stand before the Martial Alliance?!
When Cho Myeong could do nothing but gape without producing another sound, the man hiding his face behind an open folding fan spoke.
“Why are you making that face? Have I come somewhere I should not?”
...Of course you have!
The Martial Alliance had erupted into chaos merely trying to arrange one meeting with the Demon Alliance Leader before finally managing to settle on a date and place.
How could the very man responsible for all of that be standing here now?!
But Cho Myeong valued his life too much to say so.
“I-I was merely surprised.”
“If you are finished being surprised, guide me inside.”
“Pardon?”
Surely not?
Cho Myeong turned and looked up at the Martial Alliance's magnificent signboard.
...In there?
When he even pointed at it with his index finger, the other man nodded as if the answer were obvious.
Cho Myeong's complexion went beyond pallor and turned blue.