Chapter 1611: So, We Have To Break It Ourselves (Part 1)

Chung Myung cast a questioning gaze at Jaegal Jain, as if asking, 'Why is this guy behaving like that?'

"Why are you getting all worked up? Did I say something offensive?"

In response, Jaegal Jain lowered his voice and confronted Chung Myung.

"As we reach this point, I'm curious. Is the Chief's perception of reality really like that?"

"Huh?"

"Even if there truly is a traitor within the righteous sects, are you considering it to be no big issue at all?"

Jaegal Jain scanned not only Chung Myung but everyone sitting nearby.

"That is truly an unbelievable situation. Or perhaps... is it that you can't even entertain the notion that there might not have been a traitor from the beginning? Because you can't trust what I've said?"

"Ja, Jaegal Gaju."

Although Moyong Wigyung tried to dissuade him, Jaegal Jain didn't back down.

"Which is it?"

It was unclear if he was deliberately making the point clear or whether he was determined not to miss the other's mistake. However, Chung Myung's reaction was anything but straightforward.

"Whether it's one way or the other, I'm not interested."

"What?"

"I said I'm not interested."

Jaegal Jain stared at Chung Myung with wide-eyed confusion.

"What do you mean you're not interested..."

"Then let me ask."

Chung Myung turned his head, scanning everyone seated in the area before asking.

"Has anyone here betrayed us?"

Naturally, a hush fell over. Faced with such an absurd question, the leaders couldn't even hide their bewildered expressions.

"Is there?"

"Uh, Chung Myung... no, Chief. There should be something more appropriate to ask..."

Hyun Jong tried to salvage the situation, but Chung Myung just chuckled.

"Come on. It's better to be sure. So, who among us has turned traitor?"

Under normal circumstances, a barrage of curses would have been unleashed, but everyone knew this wasn't the time for that. In the end, Tang Gunak sighed first.

"It's not the Tang Family."

"Nor from ours either."

"Is that even possible? Betrayal, you say."

The sect leaders all shook their heads with faces filled with disbelief. Watching each reaction closely, Chung Myung then turned to Jong Rigok.

"Perhaps?"

Jong Rigok's eyebrows twitched in anger.

"...Excessive nonsense. The day the the Southern Edge Sect joins the Evil Sect is the day the Central Plains will perish."

Chung Myung, who elicited denials from everyone, looked at Jaegal Jain.

"Heard that? There's no traitor within, right?"

"...What, what naive words! How can one believe such a thing? Obviously...."

"Well, well. You might want to be careful with your words. The people I just asked are all from the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, right? Are you implying there's a traitor within the Heavenly Comrade Alliance? Someone as remarkable as a head of one of the Five Great Families?"

Jaegal Jain's face momentarily paled. Uncomfortable expressions appeared on the faces of those looking at him. Even if there was a traitor here, he couldn't casually bring up such words considering his current position. Realizing this, Jaegal Jain struggled to find words.

Then, Chung Myung widened his eyes.

"Oh. Come to think of it, you're not from Southern Edge Sect, right? So, could it be that you suspect the Southern Edge Sect betrayed us?"

"What absurd nonsense! I...."

"Is that so?"

Chung Myung chuckled.

"Well, then, there are only two factions left, right? I don't suspect them, but could it be that the Jaegal Family or Moyong Family betrayed us?"

"What absurd nonsense! We..."

"Is that so? Then there's no traitor here. Problem solved, right?"

Chung Myung pierced Jaegal Jain with a face that seemed to ask, 'What's the problem?' In front of that gaze, Jaegal Jain lost his words. He couldn't figure out where to start pointing out the flaws.

"Look here, Chief."

Perhaps that's why his voice lacked the strength it had earlier.

"The problem isn't just that there's no traitor within. It's in the righteous sect..."

"Wow, you really don't understand. How did a guy like you become the Jaegal Family's head?"

Chung Myung, as if hearing something, scowled and then let out a shout.

"Hey, you! Is the important thing right now whether there's a traitor or revealing who that traitor is?"

It was an incredibly impolite remark, but Jaegal Zain didn't even have time to point out that fact.

"Well..."

"What's the difference between a traitor who is Wudang, Kunlun, or just a bunch of unknown individuals? In the end, strong individuals will attack us, isn't it the same?"

Jaegal Jain's mouth hung open.

"If we find out who they are, do you think those traitors would change their minds and come back to our side? If there is a traitor, take them into account, devise a strategy, and fight."

It was a moment when Jaegal Jain's patience was running out, and he was about to retort sharply.

"That's a valid point."

"...R-Really?"

Jaegal Jain turned around in disbelief. Surprisingly, it was Tang Gunak who uttered this absurdity.

"It's not such a big deal; we made it unnecessarily complicated. If there isn't a traitor within us, whether someone betrayed us or not, in the end, it's the same as if a new force was brought to the Evil Sect."

"That's right."

Im Sobyeong also nodded.

"The reasons they betrayed us, their motives, all those are peripheral issues. The crucial point is that the Evil Sect has brought in new forces and become stronger. Just focus on that plain fact."

"Hmm, indeed."

"Listening to it, it sounds right."

The atmosphere began to settle rapidly. Watching this process, Jaegal Jain's feelings were beyond words.

'Are they all mad?'

There was a traitor. A righteous sect joining forces with the Evil Sect to attack the righteous sects was an unprecedented major event in the history of Kangho. However, could such an enormous incident be dismissed in this way?

Well, let one generously assume it could be justified. A few radical individuals could unfold such logic. Then, shouldn't the so-called senior members correct such reasoning and meditate?

But instead of correcting, weren't they agreeing with such reasoning?

"What on earth is this..."

"Sit down."

Chung Myung gestured towards the seat. At this point, Jaegal Jain couldn't possibly follow that order so obediently.

"I still..."

"Sit."

At that moment, a chilly voice brushed Jaegal Jain's ear. Without even realizing it, he found himself closing his mouth.

Chung Myung's eyes, looking at Jaegal Jain, were like sharp blades.

"You seem to be misunderstanding. There's no need for us to listen to your words one by one. You are not even members of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. We've let you speak so far was merely respecting your positions and authority as much as possible."

Jaegal Jain swallowed dry saliva. Chung Myung coldly added.

"If you are a guest, behave like a guest. Don't pretend to be the host. No one here is going to submit to such a blatant ploy and yield the initiative. This is the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

Facing such words, Jaegal Jain unconsciously looked around.

Unpleasant gazes were pouring down, and even Jong Rigok and Moyong Wigyung avoided making eye contact.

'Why all of a sudden...?'

Until the last meeting, it wasn't like this, so why did it suddenly turn out this way?

"Please sit."

Chung Myung spoke again, and finally, theresigned Jaegal Jain sat down. Just when Chung Myung was about to open his mouth again, Baek Cheon calmly raised his hand.

Chung Myung asked gruffly.

"What is it?"

"Are you saying that the guests should not speak?"

"Hmm."

Chung Myung nodded as if acknowledging a good point.

"The host should show discretion, and guests should observe courtesy. If you have something to say, say it properly with courtesy. That courtesy that the Ten Great Sects liked so much."

"..."

"Is that okay?"

Baek Cheon smiled leisurely. He seemed satisfied.

Then, this time, Im Sobyeong spoke up.

"Since the situation seems to be roughly settled, we will continue the meeting. I have a question I'd like to ask Chief. What do you plan to do now?"

"Whatever."

Chung Myung spoke roughtly.

"We'll have to rearrange the board."

"....Rearrange?"

When someone asked, Chung Myung looked at the visibly weakened Jaegal Jain and said.

"Well, it's not entire nonsense."

Jaegal Jain's clenched fist trembled slightly. Chung Myung asked.

"Do you know the best way to deal with attacks that may come unexpectedly at any time?"

"It's figuring out when and where the attack will come."

Someone confidently answered, standing up.

"I understand what you're saying, Mount Hua's Divine Dragon! Ultimately, the solution to all these problems lies within our Beggar's Union. Entrusting such a crucial mission to us. We will never fail..."

Thud!

A shoe flew towards Hong Daekwang, who was shouting loudly. Exactly as the shoe hit, Hong Daekwang fell flat on his back.

"That useless beggar brat! Aside from unknown identities, there's something to say about not even being able to find where Jaegal and Moyong are right away!"

Pungyeong Shin Gae, who casually supported the fallen Hong Daekwang, said in a low voice.

"It's okay to tolerate 'useless' and 'beggar,' but still, he's still the sect leader of Beggar's Union. Leave out the 'brat.'"

"You useless beggar!"

"Right. That's just right."

Hyun Jong silently covered his face. It tasted familiar. That was why it was painful. Why was he like this again when the fate of the Kangho was writhing and turning?

Hong Daekwang struggled to stand up.

"Kuh... t-that wasn't our fault! From the beginning, it was you who told me to mobilize beggars to track down the Evil Tyrant Alliance!"

"No need for excuses! When good will you be at your job if you just do what you're told?"

"Why does a man who works well live as a beggar?"

"....Ah, listening to it now."

"Don't get convinced!"

Chung Myung nodded as if to acknowledge the point, but his face seemed to be a wound to Hong Daekwang.

"Alright, enough of that. So, what? What's the best way to deal with an attack?"

Im Sobyeong asked, familiarly organizing things.

Chung Myung shrugged.

"Let's assume the same situation happened."

"...Hmm?"

"Unknown individuals appeared in front of Jaegal and Moyong. Because they couldn't be certain of winning against them, this situation occurred."

"That's right."

Jaegal Jain and Moyong Wigyung twitched a bit, but listening further, it didn't seem like he was blaming them.

"Now, changing the situation a bit, what if Southern Edge was there with them?"

"It's a hypothetical situation with no need for consideration. No one can block the path of Soutehrn Edge, no matter who they are. I wouldn't have let it happen."

Jin Geumryong replied instead of Jong Rigok. Chung Myung smirked.

"I agree. If SOuthern Edge were there, it would have been different."

Jin Geumryong's eyes narrowed with suspicion. There's no way that guy would nod so easily.

"But it's not just because Southern Edge was there. It's because, the moment the factions become three, they can no longer create more variables on their own."

Tang Gunak tightened his expression slightly.

"...Chief, what about now?"

"Yes, that's right."

Chung Myung nodded.

"The Heavenly Comrade Alliance is a coalition. With numerous heads."

"..."

"So far, we've used various methods to overcome that. But in the end, they were all just temporary measures. It can't be like that anymore."

"Why not?"

"It's simple. It's already proven. That damn Jang Ilso understands and uses people's conscience and desires like no one else in the world."

Even Chung Myung couldn't completely predict Beopjeong's movements. But Jang Ilso perfectly read Beopjeong's movements.

It wasn't because Jang Ilso was a far superior person to Chung Myung. Rather, it was because he read and manipulated the desires of someone who prioritized himself and his sect.

"We can't go on like this."

It may look perfect now. But eventually, Jang Ilso would find it. The small gap among them. He would forcefully tear it apart and let blood flow.

Chung Myung's eyes gleamed coldly.

"So, we have to break it ourselves. The boundaries we have."

A solemn and ruthless statement fell on everyone.