Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 215

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 215. The True Enemy Was Different (5)
“So you’re asking me to formally join the Martial Alliance.”
“That is correct.”
Jung Hui responded with considerable courtesy.
Yet he refrained from sharing unnecessary information—his own thoughts or the current state of the Martial Alliance. He was simply fulfilling his role as a messenger with precision.
Moyong Su Jeong’s sharp gaze, which had been ice-cold, returned to its usual indifference.
“I have heard your words clearly.”
“Pardon?”
“Is this a matter requiring an immediate decision?”
Jung Hui was taken aback.
“I… I was not given any such instruction.”
“I understand. I will provide you with an answer after giving it sufficient consideration.”
“Well… Family Head.”
“Of course, the Alliance Leader need not wait for us to reach a decision. Once we have decided, I will send someone to deliver our response. Please rest and recover before departing.”
It was not a cold dismissal. Rather, it was a courteous suggestion—there was no need to keep a busy man waiting, so he should take his ease before leaving.
Jung Hui asked again, carefully.
“Family Head, might I ask a question?”
“Of course.”
“It is… the Martial Alliance rarely extends its hand first in such a manner.”
He wished to speak in a way that would not wound the other’s pride, but given the Martial Alliance’s prestige, it was not easy to do so.
Moyong Su Jeong tilted her head and asked.
“In other words, because such a great organization as the Martial Alliance has extended its hand first, I should recognize this honor and agree immediately?”
“That is… not quite what I meant.”
Yet his words belied his true thoughts.
Of course, it was difficult to fault Jung Hui’s attitude. Though diminished from its former glory, the Martial Alliance remained the representative confederation of the Orthodox Martial World, and it was the sole entity capable of reshaping the entire Martial World if given sufficient justification.
“Though I lack experience and am young in years, I understand that worldly affairs can present entirely different faces depending on necessity.”
“Pardon?”
“Was it not because of the relationship between the Main Family and the Ho Yeon Clan that the Martial Alliance cast out the Main Family?”
Jung Hui’s expression grew even more uncomfortable.
Moyong Su Jeong continued as though nothing were amiss.
“The Main Family, which had been declining steadily, has recently begun to show signs of recovery because of my Younger Brother. I cannot say precisely what the Martial Alliance desires, but I can certainly infer that the Main Family has now become necessary to you.”
“That is…”
“Regrettably, the members of the Main Family, contrary to public opinion, regard the past events as petty villainy orchestrated by the Ho Yeon Clan. Resentment has accumulated inevitably. Yet now the Martial Alliance suddenly proposes we work together again.”
“…”
“Though my heart wishes to disregard this, as Family Head I cannot afford to do so. I must first examine whether the Martial Alliance is truly necessary for the Main Family before providing my answer.”
I had thought she was no ordinary person, but I could never have imagined someone so resolute and sharp-minded.
Jung Hui was greatly startled, and he could not deny that he felt a slight displeasure at Moyong Su Jeong’s words.
“Family Head. Of course, I fully understand the feelings of you and the members of the Moyong Family…”
“No one can understand us. Just as I cannot understand the Alliance Leader.”
“…”
“The Main Family’s situation is quite unique. My younger brothers and I have no desire to force others to understand our circumstances, but I believe anyone can comprehend that we have no choice but to grapple with these difficulties.”
Jung Hui’s expression hardened.
“Setting aside all pretense, I’ll speak plainly. I may be merely an Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance organization, but the Martial Alliance is a colossal federation established for chivalrous justice and righteousness. We are not the sort of organization that would exploit the Moyong Family for nefarious purposes.”
As Jung Hui spoke, he realized something. Why he felt so displeased.
Moyong Su Jeong did not acknowledge the Martial Alliance as a righteous organization. She hadn’t stated it directly, but that sentiment permeated her words.
A person who viewed the Martial Alliance—his lifelong source of pride—as a disreputable faction. Jung Hui’s displeasure stemmed from an intensely personal reason.
Moyong Su Jeong shook her head.
“The Martial Alliance made its proposal, and the decision rests with us. Did your superiors perhaps instruct you to persuade us on this matter?”
“That is not the case.”
“Then there is nothing more to discuss regarding this matter.”
“That, well, but….”
It was then.
“Elder Sister, I’m coming in.”
“Very well.”
The door to the Family Head’s Office opened, and Moyong Bi entered.
Jung Hui, who had awkwardly risen to his feet upon seeing Moyong Bi, suddenly widened his eyes.
“Ah.”
A cold smile played across Moyong Bi’s face.
“You’ve sent quite a capable warrior. The Alliance seems to have taken some care with this.”
It was a remark that could be considered provocative, yet Jung Hui found himself unable to respond in any way.
The reason was simple.
‘A master!’
Whoosh.
The wind seeping through the open doorway seemed to move in tandem with Moyong Bi’s gaze.
Eyes that swept from top to bottom in an instant.
The wind coiled within that gaze brushed past Jung Hui’s hair, ears, and neck, descended to bind his limbs tightly, then dispersed.
‘…!’
Jung Hui swallowed hard without realizing it.
In a flash, his back grew damp with sweat and his fingers began to convulse.
The look in his opponent’s eyes was not merely that of a strong warrior. The displeasure directed at an unwelcome guest had transformed into oppression, delivering a terrifying pressure.
He nearly drew his sword in instinctive response to that pressure.
‘This, this can’t be…!’
Moyong Bi, having glanced at Jung Hui swallowing repeatedly, casually dragged over an empty chair with a scraping sound and dropped into it.
“So, what were you discussing?”
“Before that.”
Moyong Su Jeong regarded Jung Hui with a puzzled expression.
“What is the matter with you?”
“Eh? Ah…!”
Jung Hui hastily corrected his posture and slowly settled into his chair.
“Allow me to introduce myself first. I am Jung Hui, Alliance Leader of the Righteous Protection Squad of the Martial Alliance.”
Moyong Bi glanced at Jung Hui and gave a curt nod.
His displeasure was written plainly across his face, yet Jung Hui continued to sweat profusely.
“This is my younger brother, Bi.”
“Ah, I see.”
A peculiar silence settled between them for a moment.
It was Su Jeong who broke it.
“It seems the Martial Alliance has been keeping watch over the Main Family.”
Moyong Bi, having heard the situation, chuckled and scratched his ear with his pinky finger.
“An alliance pact? That’s quite a cunning proposal.”
“Cunning? What do you mean?”
“Well, the Martial Alliance isn’t what it used to be. Frankly, the Ancient Sects and Six Great Families merely pay lip service to the Alliance. They’ll never tolerate it wielding power over their interests or exerting influence, would they?”
He spoke provocatively even before a warrior affiliated with the Martial Alliance.
Jung Hui’s face went rigid, the tension mounting beneath Moyong Bi’s inexplicable presence.
Moyong Bi continued.
“The Alliance isn’t ignorant of this either. Moreover, various factions send monthly funds to maintain the Alliance. While the Alliance generates revenue through its own enterprises, given its scale, it needs support from the Great Sects to sustain itself.”
“….”
“In wartime, perhaps it would be different, but the current Martial Alliance is nothing but a bloated organization lacking substance. Naturally, those running it scramble for whatever additional power they can grasp, and reaching out to the Main Family with talk of alliance pacts is one such reason.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. The Main Family won’t be alone—they’re likely extending their hands to every sect and martial family with wealth and reputation.”
“But the Main Family doesn’t have much money.”
“Money doesn’t mean only tangible assets. The Main Family sits in the heart of Wuhan, teeming with business enterprises, has crushed both the Ten Swords Gate and the Hong Clan Sword Family, and I even won the Ranking Competition.”
“Ah!”
“There’s plenty of opportunity for wealth to flow in, isn’t there? The Martial Alliance saw the Main Family’s potential. I don’t know their exact assessment, but they clearly thought we’d be useful—why else would they send someone to propose joining forces?”
Su Jeong nodded in understanding, but Jung Hui’s face flushed crimson.
“Now see here, Young Master.”
“What is it?”
He spoke in outright casual speech.
That tone, paired with his indifferent expression, cut sharply at one’s pride.
“Isn’t your language rather excessive?”
“Excessive how?”
“The Martial Alliance is certainly not such an unrighteous organization!”
“Are you the Alliance Leader?”
“What, what did you say?!”
“Or do you have close ties with the Alliance’s leadership? Do you know even a fraction about how the Martial Alliance operates?”
“…!”
“Even if you did, what business is it of yours? We’re simply having a conversation about our own countermeasures. Why? Are you hoping to join the Moyong Family in the process?”
Jung Hui’s breathing grew increasingly ragged.
Of course that wasn’t his intention, but Moyong Bi’s remarks were far too excessive to simply let pass. There existed such a thing as propriety in this world, and for a Martial Alliance warrior who lived by pride alone, such language was grievously insulting.
“Whatever choice the Moyong Family makes, I have no right to comment on it. I lack the standing. But surely it’s problematic to insult the Martial Alliance directly before one of its affiliated warriors?”
“How is this an insult?”
“How is that not an insult?”
Moyong Bi chuckled and spoke.
“No organization in this world can function without money. Perhaps my word choice was a bit sharp, but I wasn’t stating falsehoods—aren’t you overreacting?”
“…!!”
“If you insist on bringing up insults, then let me speak plainly as well. Regardless of what happened in the past, the Main Family is a clan that has produced a Martial Alliance Leader. If you were sending someone, the very least would have been to bring along a member of the leadership—yet only the Alliance Leader of the Righteous Protection Squad came. Do you understand what that signifies?”
The title of Alliance Leader of the Righteous Protection Squad hardly warranted such dismissive language.
Yet in this conversation, such distinctions were irrelevant, and from Moyong Bi’s perspective, there was indeed reason enough to use such a term.
“I acknowledge your potential, but it means we harbor no great expectations.”
“….”
“Whether you join us or not is of little consequence. I’ve already discerned your intentions, so why should we bother maintaining unnecessary courtesies and caution?”
Jung Hui clenched his teeth and spoke.
“I cannot speak to the intentions of the main Alliance. Of course, I understand that you cannot view the Martial Alliance favorably. However, your tone—regardless of its truth—carries elements that could incite discord. You cannot deny that.”
“And so what?”
Jung Hui, who had been bristling with indignation, abruptly rose from his seat.
“I shall step outside for some fresh air, Family Head.”
With those words, he promptly left the Family Head’s Office.
As Jung Hui departed, Moyong Su Jeong asked with a peculiar expression.
“He wasn’t wrong.”
“Indeed.”
“You have your aggressive moments, but you’re not one to carelessly provoke others in a situation requiring such caution. Why did you do it?”
Moyong Bi stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I wanted to observe his reaction.”
“The Martial Alliance’s?”
“No—the reaction of an individual affiliated with the Martial Alliance.”
“Why?”
“One cannot judge an organization’s nature by observing a single evil person, but by observing a virtuous one, you can discern the organization’s potential.”
In other words, Jung Hui was a good man.
A subtle smile played across Moyong Bi’s face.
“…So someone this pure-hearted is the Alliance Leader of the Righteous Protection Squad?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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