Chapter 304: Youngest Candidate for Alliance Leader (2)

Inside the Martial Arts Alliance castle.

Just like outside the castle, inside was bustling and noisy as well.

"Did you hear?"

"They say So Geomseon appeared?"

"At this time?"

"Wow... this is..."

The news that So Geomseon, So Unhwi—the Eighth Great Master—had appeared spread rapidly throughout the departments and halls of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Especially, each faction was in an uproar.

Tomorrow was the day of the election for the Grand Alliance Leader.

And on the day before that, So Unhwi—who had been missing for nearly seven months—showed up.

For the five candidates running for the position of Grand Alliance Leader, this news was anything but welcome.

Understandably so, because someone with overwhelming fame had appeared.

This Grand Alliance Leader position was the fourth highest rank after the Alliance Leader, Deputy Alliance Leader, and Commander General, representing the young martial artists in their twenties or thirties.

As such, those running for the position had no choice but to be extremely vigilant.

At Nokhyeon Hall's office.

Men wearing green uniforms spoke seriously to a mustachioed young man.

"Lord! Won't this cause us to lose all attention?"

"Exactly. He was nowhere to be seen for a while, then shows up right on the day of the Grand Alliance Leader election. This is obviously a ploy."

"Appearing on the election day instead of the application day is clearly unfair. We must send a delegation to protest at the military hall immediately."

They all voiced the same opinion unanimously.

The mustachioed young man was Peng Woojin, the leader of Nokhyeon Hall and head of the Hebei Peng family.

Though trying to hide it, he was inwardly troubled as well.

"This is maddening."

Even without this, the competition was fierce among the previous Alliance Leader's disciples—the Blue Dragon Hall's Lee Junggyeom, the Yellow Dragon Hall's Moyongsoo, and the most likely next Alliance Leader, Jin Yong of the Fierce Tiger Hall, grandson of Jin Gyun.

Now with So Geomseon appearing, it was almost unfair.

The difference in skill level was too great.

"To think the Eighth Great Master would aim for the Grand Alliance Leader."

Of course, it wasn't hard to understand.

So Unhwi was still only in his early twenties, and it was natural that he lacked the seniority to become Deputy Alliance Leader or Alliance Leader in the conservative Martial Arts Alliance.

Even he thought the Grand Alliance Leader position suited him.

But he didn't want to openly show that pride.

"Enough."

"Lord?"

"I am willing to give up the Grand Alliance Leader position if a more suitable candidate emerges."

He wanted to show a noble spirit this way.

How dignified he appeared.

At that, Peng Woochan, the Deputy Lord of Nokhyeon Hall and his younger brother, said,

"Don't say things you don't mean, brother. Pretending to be calm won't work."

"...Does stirring things up make you feel better?"

"This is no time to be proud."

"..."

Eventually, Nokhyeon Hall decided to send members to protest at the military hall.

There was too much at stake with the Grand Alliance Leader position to just give up.

Meanwhile, at the main hall of the Martial Arts Alliance, the Deputy Alliance Leader's office.

The Deputy Alliance Leader, Yeol Wangpaedo Jin Gyun, didn't look pleased.

He looked at his military officer, Sima Junghyun, seated to his right, and spoke.

"So Geomseon came after all."

"..."

"Say something."

"...It's my fault. I didn't expect so many variables."

Sima Junghyun couldn't bring himself to say that the biggest variable was Jin Gyun himself.

If they hadn't fallen for Commander General Bang Deokhyun's trick, they might have suppressed some of the negative opinions and raised the Deputy Alliance Leader to Alliance Leader.

But now it had turned into a three-way battle.

"Fault, huh... May I ask why?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you meet with the previous Alliance Leader that night?"

"...That's..."

"Did he have something urgent to say that you had to meet him without reporting to me?"

Jin Gyun's eyes were filled with suspicion.

Sima Junghyun felt awkward.

He had not reported or met the former leader because Jin Gyun's hostility was so high that he dared not.

"What am I to do?"

To Jin Gyun, the former Alliance Leader, Baek Hyangmook, was no different than an enemy now.

They were no longer comrades.

"Did I misjudge him?"

He thought someone so devoted solely to martial arts would be different.

But since Jin Gyun had stepped fully into politics, he was completely changed.

They say the position shapes the person.

He was increasingly craving higher power.

Although Jin Gyun might not realize it yet, Sima Junghyun felt it growing stronger firsthand.

He recalled the conversation with the former Alliance Leader last night.

[Leave it be.]

[What? Why? Would it not be better if the great hero himself met and persuaded the Deputy Alliance Leader...?]

[It's already too late.]

[But if things continue, Commander Bang Deokhyun's schemes might cause the alliance to splinter.]

[I came to prevent that.]

The former Alliance Leader, the strongest swordsman in the world, Baek Hyangmook, told him to trust him.

Though Sima Junghyun tried to discern his meaning, their brief talk revealed nothing.

He wanted to ask more, but the former leader thought of him as the Deputy Alliance Leader's man, so he said no more.

Now, they could only hope the former Alliance Leader had a good plan.

"I apologize for not reporting to the Deputy Alliance Leader. But it wasn't for any secret reason that I met with the former Alliance Leader."

"Well?"

"I advised the former Alliance Leader not to fall for Commander General Bang Deokhyun's schemes and to give up."

That was true.

It was what he said immediately upon meeting the former leader.

At this, Deputy Alliance Leader Jin Gyun's tone softened a bit.

"What did he say?"

"...He said he would compete with you, Deputy Alliance Leader."

Jin Gyun's face veins bulged.

His fighting spirit seeped out, almost suffocating.

Lately, he had been so enthusiastic he only stayed in his personal training hall.

"Both of them want to settle this."

Sigh There was no way to stop this three-way battle.

At the same time, in the military hall building.

The Commander General's office on the top floor.

Through the window, Commander General Bang Deokhyun stared outside with a serious face.

A sharp-featured middle-aged man asked him,

"So, he finally appeared."

"The only variable."

Bang Deokhyun clicked his tongue and snorted.

They had tried to find the man's location through Gwak Hyeongjik of Bukyeong Do Castle.

But ultimately failed.

This meant their opponent was prepared for this situation.

"He met his match in his twilight years."

For the first time in a while, he felt his blood boil.

He could say with no exaggeration that he was unmatched in tactics, strategy, and schemes, but this guy had foiled him multiple times.

He looked like his protégé, former Commander General Jegal Wonmyeong.

This was no ordinary strategist.

"What could he be?"

They couldn't confirm the man's identity.

Though some guessed he was a descendant of Geomseon, his birth and identity were too clear.

Many had seen his childhood.

Hmm.

Despite his clear identity, his actions overlapped too much with "that person."

That meant, in any case, he was an obstacle to "that person's" great plan.

This time, they had to cut the bud decisively.

At that, the middle-aged man asked,

"If it turns into a three-way battle, will that be okay?"

Bang Deokhyun turned from the window and said,

"We must stop it from coming to that."

"Do you have a plan?"

"That's what this old man is for. Do you think I'd just sit idle?"

"You foresaw this already. Truly a mastermind."

A military man must look several steps ahead.

Of course, he had a contingency plan prepared.

Whether their opponent can escape this time, time will tell.

---

What should I do?

I'm really at a loss.

Looking at Yeong-yeong's expression, you can tell she's tense.

She was reacting this way because she knew I had a fiancé.

I suspected there was some kind of scheme going on, but I never expected it to come out like this.

I glared at Seol-baek, who was wearing an innocent and pure expression, then sighed deeply.

I need to set the boundary clearly right here.

"I think you've misunderstood something. There's nothing going on between us."

At my words, Yeong-yeong gave me a suspicious look and said,

"...Really?"

"Would I lie to you about something like this?"

"Well, you wouldn't be looking at other women when you have a fiancé, right?"

As she said this, Yeong-yeong was looking at Seol-baek, not me.

As if saying, "She already belongs to someone, so don't mess with her."

After she found out Sama Yeong was a woman, she was even on the verge of tears, clearly disappointed. I wonder when they became so close to support each other like this.

At that moment, Seol-baek smiled broadly and said,

"That's why I'm actively seducing your brother. Engagement is just an engagement."

'!?'

For a moment, silence fell around us.

My head wasn't starting to hurt—it actually was hurting.

Looking at Seol-baek's smiling eyes, she was clearly enjoying this situation.

Yeong-yeong, who was dumbfounded and speechless, seemed to get angry and raised her voice at Seol-baek with a flushed face.

"You shameless... ugh!"

But Namgung Ga-hee covered Yeong-yeong's mouth.

Yeong-yeong struggled to break free, but Namgung Ga-hee whispered a warning.

"Hey, Yeong. There are many eyes watching."

Yeong-yeong's eyes darted left and right.

As Namgung Ga-hee said, all the people around were staring at us.

Maybe conscious of that, Yeong-yeong nodded.

I sent a silent message to Seol-baek.

[If you don't stop, you'll pay the price.]

Seol-baek shrugged her shoulders and sent back a message.

[Isn't it cute?]

[Cute?]

[It's fun to tease her... A cute sister-in-law like that is always welcome.]

She winked at me as she said that.

'...'

Welcome, my foot.

She acts like we're already married every time she speaks.

This woman stubbornly refuses to give up.

Can you handle a fox that's three hundred years old?

Yeah, as Sodamgeom said, she's no ordinary woman.

Maybe because of her experience.

Anyway, there are too many eyes here, so I should get away quickly.

If rumors start spreading, it will only cause unnecessary trouble.

"Let's head inside the castle first."

I hurriedly took Yeong-yeong along, rushing toward the Martial Alliance castle gate, when I saw a group—actually two groups—approaching.

One of the groups consisted of women, and Namgung Ga-hee raised one eyebrow and muttered,

"Maehyangdang."

Maehyangdang?

I've heard of it.

Before my reincarnation, there were five female-only factions in the Martial Alliance.

Among them, the most prominent were Bonghwangdang and Maehyangdang, and their relationship was not very friendly to anyone who knew the truth.

That was because the faction leaders were daughters of the Namgung and Moyong clans, who were mortal rivals among the Five Great Families.

'That woman must be Moyong Hye.'

She seems to be that damned younger sister.

She resembles my older brother Moyong Su, with sharp eyes and a fierce look.

Of course, compared to Baek Hye-hyang, she seemed like a child.

But what faction is that over there? They wore leopard-patterned clothes, which I had never seen before.

I recognized their leader, though.

That's not her, right? The granddaughter of that old geezer from Yeolwangpaedo?

Right.

It must be a newly established faction.

Before my reincarnation, Yeolwangpaedo and Jinyong were not part of the Martial Alliance.

Gradually, history I don't know is unfolding.

But why are those two groups approaching me like they have business with me?

Jinyong strode forward and said to me,

"What kind of face do you have coming here?"

He really hasn't changed.

It might only be seven months for him, but regardless of skill difference, his attitude towards me hasn't changed like Song Jaw-baek's.

"Lord Maengho! How dare you treat my brother like that!"

Yeong-yeong reprimanded him.

Seeing her like that, he frowned.

From his reaction, he seemed to know that Yeong-yeong is my younger sister.

Later, when he spotted Namgung Ga-hee, the leader of Bonghwangdang, and member Eon Yeong-in, he lightly greeted them and said,

"I didn't realize the Bonghwangdang folks were here too."

Namgung Ga-hee replied,

"I didn't know the Maengho leader had such close ties with this great hero."

"Close ties, my foot."

Jinyong snorted and denied it, then asked me,

"Did you come here aiming to become the Great Leader?"

I frowned at his words.

Does this guy really not know?

If that were the case, even Jin Gyun, the grandson of Yeolwangpaedo, didn't know.

Well, this guy's mouth doesn't seem very tight.

At that, Yeong-yeong sneered at him and said,

"Oh? Why? Are you worried your brother might apply as a Great Leader candidate?"

Anyone could tell from the tone that she was mocking if he was scared of my brother becoming Great Leader.

Jinyong's expression twisted fiercely.

Looks like he also registered as a candidate.

"Who said I'm worried? I don't care about your Bonghwangdang brother. That position..."

"Belongs to my brother or Lee Jeong-gyeom, leader of Cheongryongdang."

Someone interrupted.

It was Moyong Hye, leader of Maehyangdang.

As if she were family, she spoke highly of her brother Moyong Su.

Namgung Ga-hee replied sarcastically,

"For the Maehyangdang leader to come all the way here, you must really be worried about our Yeong-yeong's brother."

"Worried? Ha! I'm just here to see the face of the great hero who disappeared for seven months."

With those words, Moyong Hye greeted me formally.

If I were So Un-hwi, I would have greeted anyone in such a public place, but I couldn't here.

Looking at the fiery eyes of Namgung Ga-hee and Yeong-yeong, it's obvious.

They really don't get along well.

When I didn't return the greeting, Moyong Hye's face twisted as if slightly offended, and she said,

"But the great hero who disappeared silently during the vice leader election—surely you're not aiming for the Great Leader position?"

"Why so nervous?"

Yeong-yeong snapped at her.

Moyong Hye laughed quietly, then said loudly as if for everyone to hear,

"Isn't it hilarious that someone who refused the vice leader position would try to become the Great Leader, which is a lower rank? Isn't it?"

Now I understood Moyong Hye's goal.

She purposely came outside the castle to stir public opinion.

To prevent me from running for Great Leader, she was scheming.

"You!"

At her scheming, Yeong-yeong lost her temper, about to lash out.

Suddenly, Seol-baek burst out laughing, clutching her belly.

Moyong Hye looked displeased by that and glared fiercely.

"Who are you to laugh like that?"

Without looking at her, Seol-baek said to me,

"What are you doing, getting involved in these kids' fights?"

"Kids?"

At those words, Moyong Hye's face twisted fiercely.

Maybe feeling insulted with so many eyes watching, she even reached toward the sword sheath at her waist.

"That remark is not something I can just let slide."

Seol-baek coldly sneered at her,

"Hey. Take your hand off that sheath or you'll regret it."

Who could let that pass?

"How dare you!"

Just as Moyong Hye tried to draw her sword,

Seol-baek suddenly appeared behind her and pretended to grab her neck.

At that sight, Namgung Ga-hee, Eon Yeong-in, and Yeong-yeong were all shocked.

Jinyong was the same.

None of them could even sense Seol-baek's move with their skill.

"Leader!"

The Maehyangdang members were startled and tried to draw their weapons.

Seol-baek lightly glared at them.

There's no way they could handle the overwhelming presence of an absolute master like her.

The Maehyangdang members trembled and couldn't move.

Moyong Hye, very nervous, asked,

"W-Who... are you?"

Seol-baek leaned close to her ear and whispered,

"That's none of your business. You're not a man you should speak of lightly. Got it, kid?"

The overwhelming difference in skill.

And the strong pressure from her made Moyong Hye nod unconsciously.

Seol-baek neatly settled the situation.

Looking at that, Yeong-yeong whispered to me in awe,

"Where did you meet a sister like that?"

...Why did she suddenly call her 'sister'?