Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 261

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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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261
Episode
“Deputy Strategist.”
In that instant, a sharp voice cut through the air.
Cheon Su Ong, the Director of the Law Enforcement Hall who administered the Murim Alliance’s laws, fixed the Deputy Strategist with a cold gaze and spoke in an icy tone.
“Are you saying the Strategist has betrayed the Alliance and means to return to his clan?”
“……It is true that such suspicion arose in my mind.”
The moment Seol Geom answered.
“That’s absurd.”
“Amitabha Buddha. The Deputy Strategist now oversteps his bounds.”
“Utter nonsense.”
Censuring voices came in succession, and the atmosphere in the great hall grew hostile.
How could it not turn ugly—the notion that the Murim Alliance’s Strategist was scheming to lend strength to the Bi Cheon Society.
Both those who agreed with this proposal and those opposed fixed their eyes on Seol Geom.
Some were openly showing their displeasure.
Just as all gazes converged upon Seol Geom, the Strategist, who had been silent until then, opened his mouth.
“Do you have reason for thinking so?”
Even though Seol Geom had launched what amounted to an attack upon him, the Strategist’s expression and voice remained remarkably composed.
‘Does nothing shake him at this level?’
Seol Geom watched the Strategist gazing at him without a flicker of emotion, then delivered the words he had prepared.
“I had no suspicions at first. But recently, whether by chance or not, we detected something extraordinary in the movements of the Strategist’s clan.”
Seol Geom met the Strategist’s unwavering gaze and paused, drawing breath carefully.
Then he set his eyes with intensity and spoke.
“I speak of the incident where the Patriarch of the Je Gal Clan appears to have broken his seclusion.”
“What?!”
“He… he broke his seclusion?”
“You mention this now?”
Gasps erupted from every corner of the chamber.
Who was the Patriarch of the Je Gal Clan?
Je Gal Go Cheon, the Defeated General.
One of the Pal Mu Sin and a supreme master who had attained the Cheonwoecheon realm.
Buoyed by their shocked reactions, Seol Geom pressed ahead with what he had prepared to say.
“Is it not too much of a coincidence? No sooner did that man—who seemed to be in seclusion for all those long years—stir himself than the Murim Alliance began preparing for war against Sa Hyuk Ryeon. It appears almost as though this day was being orchestrated all along.”
The Strategist looked at Seol Geom and spoke.
“By all means, continue.”
“Are you not deliberately instigating this war for the revival of the Je Gal Clan?”
In that moment, the air in the great hall grew heavy.
Even those who had been defending the Strategist until moments before held their tongues.
If the Defeated General truly returned to Kangho, this was no matter to be dismissed lightly.
All eyes fixed upon the Strategist’s lips.
After a brief silence, the Strategist’s tightly closed mouth opened.
“For the sake of the Je Gal Clan……”
The Strategist’s gaze lowered as he spoke.
“In other words, you are now telling me that I have buried my bones in the Alliance for decades, laboring for the sake of the Je Gal Clan?”
The Strategist continued in a tone of displeasure.
“If that were my intention, I would never have remained in the Murim Alliance in the first place. How much do you suppose my role to have been in building this stable Murim Alliance?”
“……”
“At minimum, at least thirty percent.”
It was arrogant speech.
Yet no one dared to refute it.
When the Murim Alliance had descended into chaos following the defection of the Eight Great Clans in times past, it was none other than the Strategist who had made the greatest contribution to restoring order.
He reorganized the institutions, concluded contracts with various merchant houses to replenish finances, and brought about the present system through brilliant work.
His intellect was so keen that the tasks he had accomplished were far more than one or two.
Just as the Strategist fixed Seol Geom with his stare, as if demanding a response.
“Tsk tsk—we haven’t the time. How long do you mean to squander on this ridiculous dispute?”
Yong Ju Gae muttered in exasperation.
“The most pressing matter now is whether we wage war against Sa Hyuk Ryeon, not whether the Defeated General broke his seclusion.”
“The Master of Gae Bang speaks true.”
Hyeon Do joined in from beside him, nodding in agreement.
His face was grave, but inwardly he was marveling greatly at what had just transpired.
‘The Military Strategist was right.’
The Military Strategist had come to him directly, and now events were unfolding exactly as he had predicted.
‘And now, at this moment…….’
Hyeon Do pressed forward with added weight to his words.
“Now is the time when the Alliance must stand united. Yet if we continue to suspect one another, what hope have we?”
Several of the assembled flinched at Hyeon Do’s words.
The Huashan Sect had thus far received no aid from the Murim Alliance, forced to endure all trials alone.
Had they found themselves in such a position, they would have raged like fire against it.
Yet here was Hyeon Do himself, the very one bearing this burden, neither lodging a complaint nor nursing grievance—only calling for unity. Their faces flushed with shame.
‘There is reason he is called the Great Hero.’
‘They say the Huashan Sect toppled both Baek Gwi Seong and Nok Lim—now I begin to see where such strength comes from.’
‘Huashan, always Huashan…….’
Those who had been turning various thoughts over in their minds now spoke.
“Amitabha Buddha. This humble monk shares the True One’s thinking.”
“Immeasurable Buddha.”
“As the True One says, what good comes from mutual suspicion? It seems we should attend first to the matter at hand.”
Voices of agreement echoed from all sides.
“Forgive me. I spoke from needless anxiety and clouded the atmosphere.”
Seol Geom bowed his head, accepting his fault, and withdrew with good grace.
“See that you take care henceforth.”
“It is fortunate that you understand.”
All spoke as though the matter were settled, moving past it with a wave.
And in that fleeting moment, as Seol Geom’s head remained lowered, the faintest of smiles played at the corner of his mouth—then vanished. No one saw it.
‘It has gone according to plan.’
In truth, it was a preposterous argument.
Je Gal Goong had served as the Military Strategist of the Murim Alliance for decades, far more than a few.
And now, betrayal? Suddenly?
It was absurd.
Yet Seol Geom pressed the point deliberately, knowing full well its weakness.
For a single, precious outcome.
‘Still, this will plant seeds of doubt about the Military Strategist in the minds of those gathered here.’
Seol Geom wiped the smile from his face and straightened in his seat.
This was the true purpose.
To leave behind suspicion of the Military Strategist—and it had clearly worked.
The glances several of them cast toward the Military Strategist had shifted from what they were before.
‘I will draw him down, piece by piece.’
Meanwhile, the Military Strategist was watching Seol Geom intently.
‘Moving exactly as expected.’
Seol Geom’s scheme lay transparent before his eyes.
This was so because the Military Strategist knew well just how voracious Seol Geom’s ambitions truly were.
Which is why he had deliberately leaked word of the intelligence Gae Bang had obtained regarding the defeated army—creating precisely this situation, had he not?
‘Thanks to this, I have identified several.’
The Military Strategist, surveying the room, smiled inwardly.
Thanks to Seol Geom’s performance, he had been able to identify with certainty those among them who harbored no intrigue.
‘When war breaks out, those with hidden agendas will have no choice but to expose themselves.’
As the Military Strategist’s gaze grew cold and still.
“Then I shall support our war against Sa Hyuk Ryeon.”
Seol Geom spoke.
All turned to him with bewildered eyes, startled by his sudden reversal.
“Deputy Military Strategist?”
“Why do you suddenly change your stance?”
Cheol Su Bi Geom, the elder of Cheonjung Sword School who had opposed war with Sa Hyuk Ryeon, and Geumwi Dan Ju, one of the three senior commanders, narrowed their brows and spoke.
“My concern was whether the Military Strategist harbored connection to Bi Cheon Society. But if the two have no relation, then surely there is no need to fear Bi Cheon Society.”
“Bi Cheon Society is Bi Cheon Society.”
“Amitabha Buddha. Deputy Military Strategist, do you now belittle Bi Cheon Society?”
Song Baek, the elder of Jeom Chang School, and Won Jong, the elder of Sorim, spoke with measured restraint.
Seol Geom, who had been subtly trying to entangle the Je Gal Clan and the Military Strategist once more, narrowed his eyes and pressed on with his reasoning.
“Having maintained this stance for so long, it seems all have forgotten—Bi Cheon Society is not a heterodox faction but an Orthodox Sect. To strike without just cause would invite condemnation we cannot escape.”
“…….”
Those who had opposed fell silent.
“I believe the Bi Cheon Society can be excluded from this war.”
“But what happens once it’s over?”
Cheol Su Bi Geom spoke with urgency.
His concern was understandable—the Cheonjung Sword School was the closest sect to the Bi Cheon Society.
If they launched an attack, his clan would be the first to suffer.
It was then that the Military Strategist opened his mouth.
“The Alliance will provide assistance.”
“Assistance?”
“Once the war concludes, we will dispatch the Cooperation Guard Unit to the Cheonjung Sword School.”
The Military Strategist glanced sideways, his gaze moving toward Chu Gye Gwang, commander of the Cooperation Guard Unit.
Meeting his eyes, Chu Gye Gwang nodded silently in affirmation.
“Hmm, I see.”
Cheol Su Bi Geom nodded as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders.
“Then I consent as well.”
“The Great Master has changed his mind?!”
Geumwi Dan Ju’s eyes narrowed as he watched Cheol Su Bi Geom flip his position entirely.
“Not only the Cheonjung Sword School. Whenever the Huashan Sect requires the Alliance’s aid, simply say the word, and we will provide every convenience we can offer.”
The sects positioned near the Bi Cheon Society stirred with unease.
Yet none of the opposition followed Cheol Su Bi Geom’s example and changed their stance.
The Military Strategist observed them carefully.
‘The Ami School with allies in Sorim and Sichuan, the Jeom Chang School, the Cheongseong School……’
The expected sects were indeed opposing.
Their sects were positioned close to Sa Hyuk Ryeon territory. Thus, should war break out, they would be the most vulnerable.
Sensing that the vote was tilting toward approval, Song Baek, an elder of the Jeom Chang School, spoke hastily.
“The Nok Rim attack has already ended in their retreat. Why stir up trouble where there is none?”
“Amitabha Buddha. This humble monk agrees.”
“Song Baek’s words ring true.”
The Ami School and Cheongseong School immediately sided with him.
Nor were they alone.
Sorim, aligned with the Ami School, and Konlun, allied with the Cheongseong School, quickly added their voices in agreement.
“I too share this view. There is no merit in reopening a settled matter and waging war anew.”
“Amitabha Buddha. War only brings bloodshed.”
“Though the Bi Cheon Society is not easily defeated from behind, if we exhaust ourselves, we only create an opportunity for them.”
The opposition’s reasoning had merit.
But the proponents were equally formidable.
“Are you suggesting we simply let this pass? Sa Hyuk Ryeon attacked first, and you would let it go—do you have no pride?”
“How can you counsel standing idle and accepting this assault?”
“Do you give no thought to the Huashan Sect’s position? We suffered a massive attack by Nok Rim, and you would have us bury it and move on? How could fellow Alliance members speak such words?”
The two positions clashed sharply.
As the atmosphere grew heated, several delegates wielded a keen edge in their words as they pressed their arguments.
And then.
“Baek Gwi Seong and Nok Rim. Twice.”
Hyeon Do spoke in a frigid tone.
“Though our sect has belonged to the Murim Alliance, we have received not a single measure of aid, and have alone cast down our enemies.”
Both those who supported and those who opposed fell silent at his words.
“Those days were truly arduous. We nearly fell to ruin because of them.”
Though he spoke without emotion, his voice struck deep into their hearts.
Especially those who had sought to disregard the Huashan Sect in the past.
“Consider this carefully. If our sect falls, do you truly believe they will stop?”
Hyeon Do shook his head.
“No. They will set their sights elsewhere. Whether on Jongnam, which lies near us, or Wudang, or Sorim. Or perhaps…….”
He paused, his gaze sweeping deliberately across all those who had opposed this measure.
“On you. No one can say for certain.”
……
“If you regret your choice only when that day comes, I shall say nothing.”
As they held his gaze in silence.
Tap.
The Military Strategist placed the Cheon Bo Pae upon the table.
“This discussion will not reach an end otherwise. Shall we decide by majority vote?”
The brows of the opposition faction narrowed.
It was plainly a disadvantageous position.
But with no grounds to object, they could only furrow their brows in silence.
The Military Strategist glanced at them and opened his mouth.
“Then those in favor, please raise your hands.”
Many hands rose into the air.
Even a rough count showed the numbers exceeded a majority, and the Military Strategist gave a quiet nod.
“It’s decided, then.”
As he spoke, his gaze swept across those whose expressions had twisted with displeasure, and he continued.
“Before we declare war, I propose to deploy a portion of the Alliance’s forces first to sects close to Sa Hyuk Ryeon. Would that be acceptable?”
The expressions of those who had opposed brightened at once.
“Ahem, well, if you’re prepared to do that…”
“Amitabha Buddha.”
But among those who had supported the motion, several now wore expressions of discontent.
“You speak of waging war, yet you’d send our forces outside? Do you mean to leave our rear guard hollow?”
“What if an ambush strikes from behind?”
The Military Strategist smiled at their words.
What they really meant, beneath their complaints, was a plea for aid to their own sects as well.
“When I speak of the Alliance’s forces, I don’t mean the existing Martial Force Units. I intend to create a new Separate Unit and dispatch it. Surely, to wage war against Sa Hyuk Ryeon, we’ll need greater strength than before, wouldn’t we?”
“…A Separate Unit?”
“A Separate Unit, you say?”
A wave of bewilderment rippled through the assembly.
Throughout all the years the Nine Region Three Powerhouse Clans had endured, the structure of the Murim Alliance had remained unchanged.
Yet now, a new Separate Unit? What could that mean?
“You intend to draw personnel from each sect, don’t you?”
In Hyeop Gong, one of the Three Great Servants, spoke in a toneless voice.
“Precisely.”
Complexity flickered in every eye.
Attractive and yet troubling.
If one entered the Separate Unit this time and built a reputation, nothing could be finer—but if one fell in battle…
The Military Strategist observed their turbulent thoughts written plain across their faces, and spoke softly.
“Participation is voluntary. However, I would have you understand that once we begin, it may become difficult to join later, even if you wish to.”
He made clear that one could not simply wait and watch, then slip in at the last moment to claim glory.
In the Murim, after all, reputation was a power surpassing all else.
Then Mok Yeong Ja spoke.
“How many Separate Units are you considering?”
“Two.”
Mok Yeong Ja’s eyes glinted with sudden interest.
“Then have you decided on the commanders?”
“I haven’t settled on them yet, since I must first ask the candidates whether they’re willing to participate. However, I do have certain individuals in mind for each.”
The Military Strategist added his words carefully.
“No matter how hastily assembled, these will be captains of the Alliance, so their ability must be beyond question, mustn’t it?”
Those listening nodded in agreement.
One couldn’t simply appoint anyone to lead a unit bearing the Murim Alliance’s name.
All eyes fixed on the Military Strategist’s lips.
Who could it be?
Just then, he began to speak.
“First, there is Ok Gi Rin. If the Wudang Sect does not object, I would like to appoint him as commander. How does that sit with you?”
All nodded in agreement.
With Ok Gi Rin’s skill, he had more than enough ability to earn remarkable fame in the current Kangho.
Then someone posed a question.
“Who is the other?”
The assembly’s curiosity turned toward the remaining name.
Who could stand alongside Ok Gi Rin, the Murim Alliance’s foremost Later Generation Master?
Receiving their gazes, the Military Strategist calmly revealed the man’s epithet.
“Maehwa Sin Hyeop.”

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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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