Episode 137. Shut Up!
“Strategist Gongsun, explain.”
When a woman stood up at Leader Im’s words, the great hall fell silent for a moment. The young men couldn’t tear their eyes away from her, as if they had come here to see this very woman in the first place.
The young men here were the young lords of the three great clans, including Saekma.
Even that Saekma bastard who had been glaring at me turned his head of his own accord, showing no sign of looking back.
If one were to name a man in the Martial Alliance as famous as Leader Im, there is Chief Strategist Gongsun Xin. The reason he is not present here is that Gongsun Xin often serves as the Leader’s proxy.
And the female strategist who just stood up is Gongsun Yue, Gongsun Xin’s only disciple and adopted daughter—the woman who would later earn the epithet “Iron-blooded Strategist.”
“……If we head down to Nanyue to strike at the Nanyue Green Forest Alliance, Mokryeong Stronghold will attack this Hyeongsan branch. The opposite is also true. If we go north to strike Mokryeong Stronghold first, the Nanyue Green Forest Alliance will attack the Hyeongsan branch, will it not? They consistently have no intention of engaging us head-on. They will fight in Nanyue where it is advantageous to them, fight on the water where the waterway strongholds lie, and pillage the places where we are absent, hoping that the Martial Alliance’s forces will be scattered or retreat. This is the obvious countermeasure the Green Forest can take, as they always seek to wage a war of attrition.”
Every man with eyes in his head was staring intently at Gongsun Yue.
“…….”
I was no different.
Now she was Gongsun Yue in her fledgling days, but the few times I saw her, that young face had sword scars.
I had heard that because the Demonic Cult had made numerous attempts to kidnap and assassinate her, she had often drawn her sword and fought them herself. Seeing the woman who would be called the Iron-blooded Strategist appear with the face of her prime, I felt a strange sensation.
The thought that everyone had their heyday…….
Gongsun Yue’s words continued.
“Therefore, it is only natural to divide our forces. The problem is that in order to cleanly eradicate the water bandits and mountain bandits this time, we must win in Nanyue, on the water, and here at the Hyeongsan branch as well. We did not set out to miss the remnants and hear news of defeat from here and there. I propose that we simultaneously suppress the water bandits and mountain bandits on all fronts. The commanders of each unit are the Martial Alliance’s great lords. The supporting forces must not overstep the tactics or authority of the great lords. If you would cooperate with just this one thing, the remaining detailed operations will all be led by the great lords. You there, are you asleep, my Lord of Haomun?”
“…….”
The moment I opened my eyes, which had been closing on their own, I glared at the young Strategist Gongsun in her novice days.
“As if I would be.”
Gongsun Yue asked me.
“What did I say?”
“You said win on three fronts. And not to disobey the great lords.”
She had taken such a long time to explain a simple point that I was overcome with drowsiness.
Gongsun Yue glared at me before continuing.
“We will divide the forces into three. The Northbound Unit and Southbound Unit will carry out suppression; the Hyeongsan Unit will take charge of defense and support here.”
The young lord of the Zhuge Clan asked.
“How will the forces be divided?”
Leader Im answered this.
“Those who fight best in the mountains will join the Southbound Unit; those familiar with water will join the Northbound Unit; the rest will form the Hyeongsan Unit. I will be in the Southbound Unit, so stand if you will follow me now.”
“…….”
When the foul-tempered Leader Im declared he would join the Southbound Unit, the commanders of the supporting forces all clamped their mouths shut. I found it amusing to observe people, so I deliberately checked Sima Xue’s expression.
When no one volunteered to follow the Leader, Sima Xue wore a smile that clearly showed he was in a splendid mood.
Leader Im stood with a stiff expression and spoke to Gongsun Yue.
“I will depart first. Divide the supporting forces properly to defend the Hyeongsan branch and attack Mokryeong Stronghold.”
Gongsun Yue composed herself with a flustered expression.
“Yes, Leader.”
Leader Im stood in the great hall and looked around at the experts of the Righteous Path.
“This shall serve as the temporary main encampment. Strategist Gongsun will take charge of the detailed tactics and command, so do not underestimate her for her youth. Treat her courteously as the Martial Alliance’s strategist.”
“Understood, Leader.”
Gongsun Yue spoke.
“With the Leader in the Southbound Unit, our forces will not be pushed back. Is there anyone else who will join? If not, I shall…….”
I raised my hand.
“I shall join the Southbound Unit.”
People’s gazes pierced me like arrows.
“…….”
I also decided Saekma’s fate.
“It seems Young Lord Meng of the Fengyun Meng Clan here also wishes to join the Southbound Unit.”
Saekma looked at me and opened his mouth.
“No, I…….”
In a place crowded with experts of the Righteous Path, I roared at Saekma.
“Shut up!”
The assembly fell silent.
“…….”
After cutting off Saekma’s words, I looked at Gongsun Yue.
“Strategist Gongsun.”
“Y-yes?”
“Did you not hear? Lord Meng and I are in the Southbound Unit.”
“Understood.”
Gongsun Yue spoke.
“Then, as you and Young Lord Meng belong to the Southbound Unit, depart at once. The Leader will personally command the Southbound Unit.”
Even amidst this, I spoke to Saekma, who was still trying to steal one more glance at Gongsun Yue’s face.
“This bastard can’t even hold his sh—”
Saekma approached me as if using lightness skill, hastily covered my mouth, and dragged me outside.
Saekma muttered.
“You son of a bitch. Keep it down, will you? I’m begging you.”
“…….”
Saekma whispered.
“Stop talking about shit. Please.”
I pushed Saekma’s hand away and replied.
“Behave.”
“Got it.”
I grabbed Saekma’s shoulder and pushed him out of the great hall first, then looked around at the experts of the Righteous Path.
“……I wish you all good fortune. With this level of force, Mokryeong Stronghold will be utterly demolished.”
Perhaps displeased by my brazen tone, Sima Xue replied.
“You should mind your tone…….”
I glared at Sima Xue.
“Shut your mouth.”
“Why, you little—!”
While Sima Xue sprang to his feet and was spewing obscenities, I deliberately slammed the great hall door shut.
KWAAANG!
I turned around and clasped my hands behind my back.
“What’s he babbling about…… That fucking moron.”
From inside, Gongsun Yue suddenly barked.
“Patriarch Sima!”
Gongsun Yue had a pretty face but a foul temper. While she and Sima Xue were arguing inside, I slowly walked toward where the Leader was, sightseeing around the Hyeongsan branch. I scratched my head and muttered.
“Wow, I’m holding myself back several times today.”
It seemed my patience was slowly improving, just like my martial arts.
‘The orthodox forces really are a ridiculous bunch.’
The main hall remained noisy even after the Alliance Leader had left. The orthodox faction argued first, for the time being. That was both their strength and their weakness.
* * *
Alliance Leader Im, who had been looking up at the darkening sky, turned around and smiled as he looked at me and the Pervert.
“Ah, are you two the entirety of the southern expedition group?”
The Pervert answered politely.
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
Alliance Leader Im stared at the main hall for a moment with a somewhat dumbfounded expression.
“Well, I suppose I should be grateful you came to support us at all. The Namak Alliance will likely have the largest force. Will the two of you be all right?”
I answered Alliance Leader Im, who looked especially lonely today.
“Don’t worry, since I’m here. Let’s go.”
Alliance Leader Im replied.
“Ah, did you bring many from the Hao Sect?”
Since that pricked me slightly, I deliberately answered in a brazen tone.
“I came alone.”
For a moment, I engaged in a sparking staring contest with the Murim Alliance Leader.
“…….”
The staring contest went on for quite some time, but I absolutely did not blink first. In the end, Im Sobaek turned his head first and said,
“Let’s go… Ah, Young Master Mong, how many did you bring?”
That Pervert bastard answered calmly.
“I also came alone.”
Im Sobaek cleared his throat, then spoke to the troops waiting nearby.
“Good. We are joined by young experts worth a hundred men each. Let us go.”
Looking around, I saw that the people escorting the Alliance Leader were dressed in various ways.
There seemed to be some troops from the Escort Hall in matching uniforms, and I also saw veteran elders with white hair.
I had no idea what sort of composition this was supposed to be.
One man was wearing an extremely old-fashioned martial uniform, with the character “Seven” written on his back. The entire uniform had lost its color after being exposed to sunlight for a long time. Yet that in itself made it rather stylish. Not only his clothes, but even his aura and expression made him look like an expert who had been through every hardship imaginable.
Just then, Im Sobaek said to the man,
“Captain Seven.”
“Yes.”
“We have two people supporting us.”
“Ah, is that so?”
The man called Captain Seven looked at me and the Pervert, then grinned.
“Thank you for helping us.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Captain Seven.”
The Pervert said to Alliance Leader Im,
“But Alliance Leader, are you truly attacking the Namak Alliance with these numbers?”
As the Pervert said, when I looked around, there were not even a hundred of us.
Im Sobaek explained the composition of the force.
“I deliberately did not assign many. The Seven Swords Unit, the Escort Hall, a few elders, and you two are all. We are not many, but they are elites who have been with me for a long time, so there is no need to worry. Since I am here, I sent more troops elsewhere. From what I hear, the bandit horde of Namak still numbers over a thousand. We too are each worth a hundred, so there should be no problem. Surely you, said to be the strongest among the young experts of Baekeungji, are not frightened?”
The Pervert lifted one corner of his mouth.
“Of course not. If it were just you and me, Alliance Leader, we could still wipe out the entire Namak Alliance.”
Im Sobaek burst into laughter.
“Hahaha.”
I looked at the Pervert, a man whose eloquence could even gently coax the Alliance Leader with words.
‘…This bastard was a public enemy of murim in his past life.’
Of course, so was I.
In any case, we headed south from Hengshan to Namak in order to strike the thousand-strong forces of the Namak Alliance.
Even in the middle of that, the fellow called Alliance Leader seemed worried about the Hengshan branch, for he kept looking back as we walked.
When we also stopped for a moment and looked back, only the lights lit by the Hengshan branch illuminated the surroundings beneath the dark night sky.
Somehow, that sight looked lonely, like Alliance Leader Im.
Captain Seven said,
“Nothing will happen. Alliance Leader, the sect leader of the Hengshan Sect is there as well…”
Im Sobaek replied.
“Who will face the Ghost Blade? If he defeated the Baekhak Sect Leader, his skill must be quite good.”
“Isn’t the pompous head of the Sima Clan still there?”
“If the head of the Sima Clan remains at the Hengshan branch…”
“Trust the First Captain, Alliance Leader. The First Captain is not someone the likes of the Ghost Blade can handle.”
Together with the Pervert, I listened in from the rear to the conversations between the Alliance Leader and the members of the alliance. They discussed strategy, exchanged idle chatter, and also passed around evaluations of the people who had come as reinforcements.
Only now did I realize that this fellow, the Alliance Leader, was the type to worry a great deal.
This time, the Alliance Leader worried about the young Strategist Gongsun.
“Everyone was only staring at Gongsun Wol’s face.”
“Indeed. But what can be done? The alliance members are like that too.”
“I seated her in the position of Strategist because she is intelligent, not because I chose her for her face.”
“I know, Alliance Leader. Please understand that men cannot help themselves. Even the sect leaders of other sects stare at her openly, so what can the younger ones do?”
I let out a snicker, then looked at the Pervert.
For some reason, it sounded like they were talking about him.
No matter how I thought about it, I had the feeling this Pervert bastard had not been dispatched by the Pungun Mong Clan, but had volunteered on his own.
It did not feel like he had come to strike bandits, but rather that he had come to get a look at a beauty whose rumors had spread quite a bit through the jianghu.
After chatting with the alliance members for quite some time, Im Sobaek called for me and the Pervert.
“Hao Sect Leader, Young Master Mong. Come forward.”
We passed by the alliance members and walked side by side with Im Sobaek at the front. The Pervert asked,
“Alliance Leader, why are we advancing so leisurely? Wouldn’t it be better to ride horses or use lightness skill?”
Im Sobaek replied.
“There is no need to go quickly, since the enemy is already prepared.”
“Yes.”
“By the way, you two were together last time as well, and you are moving together again this time. You must be close.”
The Pervert answered.
“We are not.”
After saying it, the Pervert watched my reaction.
Shit was that frightening.
When the words “we are not close” came out of the Pervert’s mouth, Im Sobaek looked at me.
“You are not close?”
I nodded, then answered in a solemn tone.
“He is a worthless fellow, so there is much to teach him.”
“I see.”
As we walked in silence for a while, Im Sobaek spoke to the Lecherous Demon.
“Is your master well?”
“Yes.”
“Serve him with all your heart.”
“Yes.”
“Cutting free from the delusion that one can grow stronger through a Demon Sword is no ordinary task. It must be something people like us can hardly imagine.”
The Lecherous Demon held his breath for a moment and looked at the Alliance Leader.
Im Sobaek continued.
“Each day must feel like being in hell. Only with help from those around him will he be able to escape that hell. You may be his disciple, but know that your role is also a very great one.”
The Lecherous Demon kept his eyes fixed ahead and replied calmly.
“I will keep that in mind.”
Im Sobaek spoke to the alliance members, to me, and to the Lecherous Demon.
“As for the result of that spar back then, I only told those present here to some extent. To set down the Demon Sword and face me with a wooden sword……”
Im Sobaek looked at the Lecherous Demon and smiled.
“Your master is a strong man.”
The Lecherous Demon nodded.
“He is.”
Since the conversation left no particular opening for me to butt in……
Every time my mouth was about to open, I told myself inwardly.
Let’s just shut up for now.
.
.
.
A man who shuts himself up—that is me.