The hegemon of the Western Regions, the Demonic Cult. The hegemon of the North Sea, the Ice Palace.
This was a perception that had taken root in people's minds to the extent that it could be said to be a common sense.
Then who could be said to be the hegemon of the Central Plains?
Compared to other regions, the population of the Central Plains was very dense, and because of that, nurous martial arts sects existed in that region.
The martial world, which was commonly spoken of in the world, was what referred to the Central Plains, and as such, becoming the hegemon of that place could be said to be a considerably difficult task.
In fact, even at the point when the Western Regions and the North Sea had already been stabilized, a hegemon had not appeared in the Central Plains.
"..."
The one that appeared at that point was the Martial Alliance.
As its na suggests, rather than a single force, it was a coalition created by the various forces existing in the martial world joining their strength.
In other words, the place created by the martial artists who claid to be the orthodox faction gathering together could be said to be the Martial Alliance.
'The establishnt of the Martial Alliance can be said to have a very close relationship with this cult.'
The purpose of the establishnt of the Martial Alliance is as follows.
An organization to stand against the forces that disturb the justice of the martial world.
Although at first glance, it could be said to be very plausible and the Martial Alliance itself felt like a great good, if you look at the reality, it could not be said to be so.
'The Martial Alliance... those guys call themselves good and just dismiss the rest as evil.'
It was Cheon Myeong's view that there was no absolute good or evil in this world.
In fact, although most people consider murder as evil, depending on the situation or perspective, murder may not be evil.
For example, if soone were to try to kill you first, and you killed that person to live... would that be evil?
However, such words do not work in the logic of the Martial Alliance.
That side calls themselves the absolute good and calls the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult the Demonic Cult.
In other words, it was to dismiss all those who were not on their side as evil.
Cheon Myeong did not like that dichotomous thinking.
"..."
The purpose of its establishnt was also like that.
Did they establish the Martial Alliance to stand against the forces that disturb the justice of the martial world?
Let's be honest.
Because a new force called the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had suddenly appeared from the Western Regions and its montum had grown to the extent that they could not handle it, they had created a place called the Martial Alliance.
If not, then why would they have established the Martial Alliance only after the power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had grown, and not from the beginning?
To be honest, justice was just a good-looking shield for the Martial Alliance.
Because people just think that if it's justice, it's good.
'The guy who used the Jeonsu family from behind, or the Martial Alliance that moves according to their own tastes, putting up the shield of justice... they are both the sa.'
A coward.
Nothing more, nothing less.
"It seems you know where this letter ca from."
At that mont, Cheon Jin's voice, which was heard in his ear.
Cheon Myeong was finally able to co out of his thoughts and co to his senses.
'...Because of my old mories, I was lost in thought for a mont without realizing it.'
Seeing that pattern, the mories of when he was Jang Cheon ca to his mind without him realizing it.
Yes... the mory of just before this cult was almost destroyed.
Since it was not a very pleasant mory, Cheon Myeong decided to forget about it.
"Yes, I know."
"Unexpected."
"When I was living away from the main headquarters for a while, I heard a little about the Martial Alliance."
Indeed, Cheon Myeong had lived in the Central Plains for more than two years.
Since it would be geographically close to the Martial Alliance, wouldn't he have heard about the pattern by word of mouth?
Although in reality, it was an excuse that Cheon Myeong had made up appropriately, Cheon Jin was already convinced by those words without any suspicion.
"Then the story will be faster."
"..."
"The letter I am holding now is from the Martial Alliance. To be precise, it was placed in my hand around yesterday evening."
A letter from the Martial Alliance.
The Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance could not be said to have a good relationship, to the extent that they would exchange letters.
But for a letter to suddenly fly in from the Martial Alliance at this ti.
Since that much had happened inside the Demonic Cult just a few days ago, Cheon Myeong's eyes were drawn more to that letter.
"Did you read it?"
Nod-
At Cheon Myeong's question, Cheon Jin nodded his head without a word.
Thinking about it, it was a rather foolish question.
Hadn't Cheon Jin said earlier that that letter was also included in the reason why he had called him?
Of course, if he hadn't already read it, he would not have spoken in that way.
"...What was the content?"
Cheon Myeong asked cautiously.
Then, this ti too, Cheon Jin, who held out the letter he was holding without a word.
Since it seed to an that he should read it himself, Cheon Myeong walked close to the grand master's chair and received the letter that Cheon Jin was holding out with both hands.
"..."
After receiving the letter, Cheon Myeong returned to his original spot.
At the sa ti, his two eyes, which were quickly reading the unfolded letter.
Every ti he read the letter, Cheon Myeong's expression changed subtly.
"Have you finished reading?"
At that mont, Cheon Jin asked.
Then, Cheon Myeong gently folded the unfolded letter and raised his head.
"...Yes, I have read it."
"What do you think?"
"..."
"A place of harmony... that side has never brought up such words, not only in my generation, but also in all the previous generations."
A place of harmony.
It was certainly written like that in the letter he had just read.
'The Martial Alliance... what on earth is their intention?'
It was not unreasonable for Cheon Jin to ask him that.
Because even he, who had just read the letter, could not know the intention of the Martial Alliance.
Unless the word 'harmony' had changed from the aning he originally knew, he would not be able to take these words at face value.
"..."
As he had said earlier, the Martial Alliance was a place with a dichotomous thinking.
And the place where the Martial Alliance's hostility was the most severe could be said to be this cult.
How much so that the Martial Alliance would call this cult the Demonic Cult?
Because of that action of the Martial Alliance, in the world, most people ca to call this cult by the na of the Demonic Cult rather than the na of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
But now they were inviting them to a place of harmony?
Of course, he could not know the aning.
"...There is clearly so hidden intention."
At the end of his silence, Cheon Myeong answered.
As if Cheon Jin also agreed with that opinion, he nodded his head lightly and said.
"I also think so."
"..."
"In a place that has never sent such a letter for several hundred years, if they suddenly co out like this, we can't help but be suspicious."
"...Leader, what are you going to do with that letter?"
Whether to ignore the letter, or to accept the invitation.
The decision would be solely up to Cheon Jin.
As Cheon Myeong asked about that, Cheon Jin opened his mouth again at the end of a brief silence.
"...To be honest, I don't know."
"...?"
"So I want to ask for your opinion. What do you think I should do?"
Cheon Jin had not yet decided on the disposal of this letter.
Although the situation was that unusual, more than anything, he wanted to hear Cheon Myeong's opinion.
Recalling his past appearance, it could be said to be a truly surprising thing.
That much, it was to prove that Cheon Jin's trust in Cheon Myeong was now considerably high.
"My opinion... you say?"
"Yes, what choice do you think I should make for the future of this cult?"
"..."
To be honest, Cheon Myeong was quite surprised now.
To think that the words 'for the future of this cult' would co out of that Cheon Jin's mouth.
Looking back at his past appearance, since he had only shown an appearance as if it had nothing to do with him, no matter what happened to the Demonic Cult, not only Cheon Myeong but also any other mber of the cult would be surprised.
'He's really changed a lot.'
Cheon Myeong realized that fact once more.
At that mont, the corners of his mouth, which were slightly raised.
Although he had thought that he was the only one fighting to change the future of this cult until now, hearing those words, he could see that that was not the case.
Cheon Jin was also fighting with him now.
Realizing that fact, he returned to a serious face and Cheon Myeong said.
"I think we should accept the invitation."
"...Even knowing that that side has so hidden intention?"
"That's why."
The fact that the Martial Alliance had sent such a letter after several hundred years would an that there was sothing.
Although it might or might not be an important matter for the Demonic Cult, if it were an important matter, no one would know in what form it would return later if they just ignored it.
In order to prevent such a danger in advance, it would be necessary to at least grasp what it was.
"If we ignore the invitation, we will never know what it is."
"..."
"At the very least, we need to grasp whether it is a threat to this cult or not."
Hearing Cheon Myeong's answer, Cheon Jin smiled quietly.
To think that he would decide what he had been worrying about so simply, and that there was a clear reason for that decision.
Wouldn't it be possible to say that it was the appearance of having the qualifications of a monarch?
As he had that thought, a smile ca out of Cheon Jin's mouth without him realizing it.
"Yes, it seems you are right."
"..."
"I've decided. I will accept the invitation."
"...Aren't you making a decision too quickly?"
"No, I was also leaning towards accepting the invitation."
Of course, what had confird that was after hearing Cheon Myeong's words.
And another thought that he had decided on in advance.
Cheon Jin said that to Cheon Myeong.
"Cheon Myeong."
"...?"
"You go. To the Martial Alliance."
Hearing those words, Cheon Myeong looked at Cheon Jin with a dumbfounded face.
Of course, since the letter did not directly ntion Cheon Jin but had written that a representative of the Demonic Cult should co, there was no particular problem with Cheon Myeong going.
"You are number one among the Young Leader candidates. So there will be no problem even if you go there as a representative of this cult."
"..."
"Of course, I had hoped that you would go as the Young Leader, not a candidate, but since that is already a finished story, I will not force it anymore."
Cheon Myeong could finally understand the words that Cheon Jin had said earlier.
So that was the reason why he had suddenly tried to appoint him as the Young Leader.
Although it seed that the story had beco completely unrelated to the Young Leader, well, it didn't matter.
"I understand."
Cheon Myeong answered imdiately.
In fact, for the leader, Cheon Jin, to go all the way to that distant place himself was not very good for his image.
If Cheon Jin were to move himself just because that side had called, people would probably think this.
If the Martial Alliance calls, the leader of the Demonic Cult cos himself.
That would be a factor that would implicitly decide the position of the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance.
Of course, although this could be said to be a really trivial matter, wasn't politics what started with trivial things?
No matter how trivial it was, it was good to be careful about this in advance. Especially against the Martial Alliance.
'And... in order to find the rest, it would be good to wander around as much as possible.'
The Heavenly Demon Tablet and the Heavenly Demon Mirror.
Those would also surely exist sowhere in the martial world.
Cheon Myeong was of course thinking of finding those two as well, and for that, it was necessary to wander around the entire martial world with Baekjo.
Although it was possible to grasp the position to so extent with Baekjo's ability, it seed that he had to get closer than a certain distance to the Three Sacred Treasures before that.
Until Baekjo felt sothing, he had to just wander around aimlessly.
"...Huh?"
It was then.
Cheon Myeong, who tilted his head as if he had suddenly rembered sothing.
Watching him, Cheon Jin asked with a puzzled voice.
"Is there a problem?"
"..."
He had suddenly rembered about the Three Sacred Treasures.
What would Baekjo be doing by now?
Don't tell he's still flying here and there for the jerky he can't eat?
'Nah, no matter how stupid...'
If he were still moving now and Baekjo were to collapse from exhaustion... he might lose Baekjo like this.
No matter how much it was him, finding Baekjo in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains was like picking a star from the sky.
Then at that mont, it would be a permanent farewell to the Three Sacred Treasures.
If Baekjo, which could be said to be the only clue, were to disappear, then by what ans would he find the Three Sacred Treasures?
For a mont, Cheon Myeong felt an unknown anxiety.
"...No, it's nothing."
His footsteps, which were already moving backward, unlike his words.
In the end, Cheon Myeong suddenly greeted Cheon Jin without any explanation.
"Leader, I have to go first because of an urgent matter."
"...?"
Before Cheon Jin could say anything, Cheon Myeong left the inner hall.
Cheon Jin, who was looking at him with a blank face.
To dare to withdraw in that way in front of the leader, it was to the extent that he would have nothing to say even if he were to be beheaded right away.
However.
"...Haha."
Rather, since Cheon Myeong was treating him like that, Cheon Jin was in a good mood.
Because it felt as if the distance with Cheon Myeong had beco closer.
Cheon Jin muttered with a light laugh and a cheerful voice.
"That guy, it seems he had to go to the bathroom urgently."
Yes, urgent poop is understandable.
Now, any appearance of Cheon Myeong looked heartwarming in Cheon Jin's eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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