"Over a hundred?"
Tang Gunak muttered disbelievingly.
"More than a hundred experts..."
He refrained from hastily objecting or expressing doubt. The atmosphere in the room had barely stabilized.
"Could you elaborate?"
Chung Myung spoke pointedly. Then Moyong Weigyeong swallowed dryly before speaking up.
"There's nothing more to say. That's all there is to it. They suddenly appeared in front of us, blocked our path, and after delaying for a while, they retreated without any further action, as if they had achieved their goal."
Im Sobyeong's gaze turned slightly colder.
"And? You just watched them escape even though their intentions were clear?"
"What else could we have done?"
It was Jegal Jain, not Moyong Weigyeong, who responded to that sharp question.
"Rushing in blindly without knowing the enemy's identity or strength is not a martial art. Especially when our mission was not to defeat them, but to rescue the main force!"
Im Sobyeong hesitated for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.
It wasn't pleasant, but Jegal Jain's words made sense. Even if Zhuge Family and Moyong Family had fought with all their might, the outcome wouldn't have changed.
If the enemy forces they faced were indeed as they described, then it raised questions.
"Two noble families like Zhuge and Moyong being able to delay the enemy's advance... it's..."
Someone muttered quietly, causing both family lords to blush slightly. It was a shameful remark, but at the same time, it was a fact, so there was no room for rebuttal.
A brief silence fell over the conference room. While maintaining the silence and assessing the situation, Baek Cheon spoke up.
"You said they were wearing masks?"
All eyes turned to him.
"That's correct."
"It's a bit strange, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
Jegal Jain asked somewhat sharply. Despite being Mount Hua's deputy sect leader, he had just gained a foothold. It wasn't pleasant to be questioned in this manner.
"Wearing masks usually means they're trying to conceal their identity, right?"
"Yes, sir Family Lord is correct. But isn't it unnecessary? Even if they fully revealed their faces, we wouldn't recognize them, as they're from an evil sect, right?"
Jegal Jain was taken aback by those words.
"...Some individuals in evil sects wear masks regardless."
"Yes, what Sir Family Lord says is true. However, isn't it too strange that nearly a hundred experts all wore masks?"
Jegal Jain fell silent.
At the time, he didn't have the experience to notice, but even upon reflection, it was definitely strange.
Usually, skilled individuals don't fear revealing their identities. Yet, all the people he faced tried to conceal their identities.
"Military Advisor."
Baek Cheon turned to Im Sobyeong. Since Im Sobyeong knew the physiology of evil sects the best, it was appropriate to ask him.
Receiving that gaze, Im Sobyeong seemed to ponder for a moment before lightly tapping the end of his fan against his neck.
"Well, usually, assassination groups tasked with eliminating internal enemies might conceal their identities to prevent retaliation. If that had become a habit, it wouldn't be so unreasonable, but..."
However, he shook his head shortly after.
"No, it doesn't seem right. If they could utilize such power solely for internal surveillance, the Four Tyrants Alliance would have eaten up the under heaven long ago. And besides, the Four Tyrants Alliance wouldn't have needed to resort to such methods to settle disputes of authority in the first place."
Baek Cheon continued with a stern face.
"So, the conclusion is clear. They were individuals who needed to conceal their identity from us."
For a moment, a chilly air seemed to spread through the conference room.
Each person might have felt different emotions, but the meaning behind those words was clear.
"What do you mean by that?"
Jegal Jain asked with a somewhat flustered expression, a hint of embarrassment evident.
Baek Cheon continued calmly.
"Before that, let me ask one more thing. Were there any distinctive features in the martial arts they used?"
"...Not really."
Since Jegal Jain was asked so nonchalantly, he answered without thinking.
"What about the weapons they used?"
"The same. Swords, knives, spears, and even fists. All sorts of weapons were mixed in. I tried to identify them, but it was impossible to pinpoint any distinctive features based on the weapons alone."
Im Sobyeong asked, as if grasping onto something.
"They had all sorts of weapons?"
"Yes."
"Did they seem to be part of a group that operated under a specific command?"
At that moment, Jegal Jain seemed to lose his words. He understood what Im Sobyeong was pointing at.
Blocking the path of Zhuge Family and Moyong Family was a crucial operation that could determine the outcome of the massive battlefield.
In that case, the individuals assigned such a task by the Four Tyrants Alliance would have been carefully selected.
Even if they combined several armed forces, they would have tried to maintain a similar appearance to avoid conflicting with each other. However...
"It felt unnatural... There was an excessive variety of weapons mixed in. It seemed like... they were deliberately disguised with unfamiliar weapons."
Jegal Jain began to mumble as if he understood something.
"There weren't any distinctive features in the martial arts they used either. It was difficult to pinpoint any characteristics in their internal qi. They were simply strong in internal strength and skilled in martial arts, but there was no clear distinction..."
Jegal Jain's face gradually stiffened.
His trembling eyes turned towards Baek Cheon. Then, almost instinctively, everyone's gaze fixed on Baek Cheon.
In the brief silence, most of them simply waited for Baek Cheon to speak next. Moyong Weigyeong found this situation perplexing amidst it all.
"Mount Hua's first generation disciple, who is barely thirty years old..."
People of such status are present here, discussing matters. Where else in the world could such a scene be witnessed?
Finally, Baek Cheon's next words flowed out.
"...So, in the end, there is only one conclusion."
"No, wait a moment!"
Jegal Jain exclaimed, startled.
"Do you know what you're about to say, Deputy Sect Leader?"
"I don't want to think about it, but if that's the only conclusion, then it's something we need to consider."
"No!"
Jegal Jain's hand trembled slightly.
This young Deputy Sect Leader of Mount Hua was behaving recklessly, bordering on absurdity. What repercussions could his words bring?
Eventually, torn between anger and fear, he shouted, "Please refrain from speaking recklessly, Deputy Sect Leader!"
Baek Cheon looked at Jegal Jain with calm eyes and spoke in a somewhat heavy voice.
"If the Four Tyrants Alliance had such power from the beginning, they wouldn't have fought the war in this manner."
Jegal Jain remained silent, unable to deny it.
"So, there are only two possibilities. One is that the situation described by Lord Zhuge and Lord Moyong is false."
"Be careful with your words..."
"But that's impossible, isn't it?"
Jegal Jain suppressed his anger and nodded.
"In that case, there's only one possibility left."
No one spoke up. Some guessed what he was about to say, while others couldn't.
Even Baek Cheon, who had initiated the conversation, couldn't easily continue.
In the end, the silence was broken, and the one who spoke up was inevitably the most straightforward person.
"So..."
All eyes turned to the one who had spoken, Chung Myung.
"...Elder Brother's message ultimately comes down to that."
Chung Myung's eyes met Baek Cheon's.
"There wouldn't suddenly be nonexistent forces. If Jang Ilso had such power hidden away to that extent, the situation wouldn't have been so favorable. So, those forces didn't come from within the Four Tyrants Alliance."
Baek Cheon nodded slightly.
"But if they were newcomers from the outside, there would be no need for them to conceal their identities from us. So, the conclusion is that they are individuals we know."
In the silence, Chung Myung spoke calmly.
"Therefore..."
Although the content contained within was oppressively heavy, his words flowed.
"...there must be traitors."
Chung Myung scanned the people seated here. As his chilling gaze swept over them, everyone involuntarily shrank back.
"There are."
"..."
"Is that so?"
At Chung Myung's solemn question, Baek Cheon nodded slowly.
Traitors.
Those three unexpected words plunged everyone into a shock too great to bear.
In that moment, Southern Edge Sect Leader Jong Ligok coldly interjected.
"Nonsense!"
His voice was like a growl.
"Your speculation is so absurd that it's beyond ridiculous. Betrayal? Are you suggesting that someone we know, someone from our sect, has betrayed us and become a dog of Jang Ilso?"
"It's more like they've lent their hands to..."
"It's essentially the same thing."
Jong Ligok cut off Baek Cheon's words impatiently.
"You keep going on and on. If you just look at the front and back and piece things together, anything can sound plausible."
"Sect Leader, but this is..."
"Enough."
As if there was nothing more to say, Jong Ligok interrupted Baek Cheon's statement.
"This isn't a place for children to present half-baked arguments. It's better for those with insufficient experience to step back. The Alliance Lord should also control such absurd and baseless remarks."
Chung Myung's eyes narrowed. Just as he was about to make a sharp retort, someone else intervened and received Jong Ligok's words.
"Of course, Sect Leader's words are absolutely correct, but I don't think we should just dismiss this as nonsense. Based on my experience, the judgment of Mount Hua's Deputy Sect Leader is quite reliable."
For a moment, Jong Ligok's eyes narrowed as if he doubted his own ears. No one dared to speak to him like this. Yet, despite everything, Jong Ligok didn't get angry...
"...Do you think that person's words hold any merit?"
"Yes."
It was Jin Geumryong who spoke.
Jin Geumryong nodded calmly and added, "Even if it's a bizarre speculation, if there's no other explanation for the current situation, we should consider it. Because it's most likely the truth. Despite being baseless... Mount Hua's Deputy Sect Leader's statement is clearly logical."
Jong Ligok's face hardened. He understood, but he couldn't accept it.
"Betrayal..."
"..."
"Who?"
Jong Ligok's voice grew louder bit by bit. It contained doubt, anger, and denial.
"Who... Who betrayed us? Who would do such a thing?"
Of course, no one dared to answer that question.
❀ ❀ ❀
*Step* *step* *step*
Under the bright midday sun, a man strode towards a grand hall. He wore a black mask that completely concealed his face.
Standing at the entrance of the magnificent hall, the man stared at the guards blocking the door. The guards eyed the masked figure warily.
"I wish to see the Lord of the Alliance."
When the deep voice echoed out, the guards remained impassive, shaking their heads.
"It's not possible at the moment. Leave."
But the masked figure didn't back down. Instead, he placed one hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist and stared coldly at the guards.
Tension hung in the air.
At that moment...
"Let him in."
A casual voice came from inside. Only then did the guards step back.
The door of the hall opened with a creak.
"Come in."
The masked figure briefly glanced at the open door before stepping inside. The smell of ink from the makeshift office wafted over him.
"What is it?"
Hu Jiaming continued to write on the documents without looking up.
"...I wish to meet the Alliance Lord."
"The Alliance Lord doesn't meet with anyone at the moment."
"Hu Jiaming."
Thud.
The brush that had been moving continuously in Hu Jiaming's hand finally stopped.
"Do we have a deal, or not?"
Hu Jiaming slowly raised his head. The masked figure and his gaze met in the air.
"Keep your promises. Before a blade is plunged into your neck."
Hu Jiaming, who had been staring at the masked figure for a moment, soon lost interest and lowered his gaze again, starting to play with the brush.
"I've delivered your message. Now leave."
The masked figure stared at Hu Jiaming's rigid profile for a moment before turning and leaving the office.
Casting a sidelong glance at the retreating figure, Hu Jiaming chuckled. The smirk on his lips was unmistakably mocking.
"A dog, huh..."
The chuckle soon turned into genuine laughter.
"At least dogs are loyal."
Putting down the brush, Hu Jiaming rose from his desk with a leisurely pace.