Chung Myung looked at Jegal Jain with eyes that seemed to ask, "Why is that guy acting like that?"
"Why are you getting upset? Did I say something wrong?"
Jegal Jain lowered his voice and confronted Chung Myung.
"I'm curious now. Is this really how the military leader perceives reality?"
"Huh?"
"Do you really consider it no big deal even if there is a traitor within the righteous sect?"
Jegal Jain scanned not only Chung Myung but also everyone sitting beside him.
"It's truly unbelievable. Or perhaps... do you not believe what I said?"
"Lord Zhuge."
Moyong tried to intervene, but Jegal Jain didn't back down.
"Which is it?"
It was unclear whether he was deliberately probing or determined not to miss his opponent's mistake.
But Chung Myung's response was unsettling.
"I don't care either way."
"What?"
"I said I don't care."
Jegal Jain looked at Chung Myung with bewildered eyes, wondering what nonsense this was.
"Why, aren't you interested in..."
"Then let me ask."
Chung Myung turned his head and looked at everyone sitting here before asking.
"Is there anyone here who has betrayed us?"
Naturally, silence fell. No one even considered hiding their astonishment at such an absurd question.
"Is there?"
"No. Tang Family is not involved."
"Neither are we."
"How could there be? Betrayal?"
The leaders of the sects all shook their heads incredulously. Observing each of their reactions, Chung Myung then looked at Jong Ligok.
"Maybe?"
Jong Ligok's eyebrows twitched with anger.
"...This joke has gone too far. The day Southern Edge aligns with an evil sect will never come, even if the Central Plains are destroyed."
Chung Myung elicited a response of denial from everyone's lips. However, Jegal Jain's face momentarily slackened. Uncomfortable expressions appeared on the faces of those looking at him.
Even if there were a traitor here, Jegal Jain couldn't casually mention it given his current position. Realizing this anew, Jegal Jain found himself at a loss for words.
Then, Chung Myung's eyes widened.
"Oh. Come to think of it, it's not Southern Edge, right? Then, perhaps Southern Edge is suspected..."
"W-What are you talking about! That's absolutely not the case!"
"Is that so?"
Chung Myung chuckled lightly.
"Then what's left? You don't suspect Zhuge Family or Moyong Family, do you?"
"What nonsense is this! We..."
"Really? Then there's no traitor here, right? Problem solved?"
Chung Myung stared through Jegal Jain as if to say, "What's the problem?" Seeing that expression, Jegal Jain was at a loss for words. He didn't even know where to begin to make his point.
"Um, you see, military leader..."
Perhaps that's why his voice lacked its usual vigor.
"There's a betrayer within our own ranks, isn't that the real issue? Within the righteous sect..."
"Wow, you really don't get it. How did such a fucker end up becoming the family lord of the Zhuge Family?"
Chung Myung muttered as if listening, then his face twisted in frustration as he shouted, "Hey, you fucker! Are we talking about the fact that there's a betrayer or are we trying to figure out who that betrayer is?"
Although his words were rude and uncalled for, Jegal Jain didn't even have the luxury of pointing out that fact.
"Well..."
"What's the difference between having a betrayer from Wudang, Kunlun, or someone unknown? It's all the same when powerful enemies are attacking us anyway."
Jegal Jain's mouth hung open.
"Would exposing the betrayer lead those who betrayed to change their minds and come back to our side? If there's a betrayer, we can just acknowledge it and plan our strategy accordingly."
It was a moment when Jeok Galsin's patience was running thin and he was about to strike back.
"That's right."
"...R-really?"
Jegal Jain turned his head in disbelief. It was Tang Gunak who had made such an outrageous statement.
"It's not that big of a deal. I overcomplicated things for no reason. If there's no betrayer within, whoever betrayed us is ultimately just a new force for the evil sect to use against us."
"Indeed."
Im Sobyeong nodded in agreement.
"Why they betrayed us, what their motives are, those are all secondary issues. The fact remains that the evil sect has gained a new strength. That's all we need to focus on."
"Well, indeed."
"Listening to this, it does make sense."
The atmosphere began to settle rapidly. Jegal Jain's feelings as he watched this process unfold were beyond words.
"Are these people all insane?"
There's a betrayer. It's unheard of in the Martial Arts World for a grandmaster of the righteous sect to turn against their own and attack them, yet they were dismissing it like this?
Okay, let's even give them that. A few radical greetings could come up with such logic. But then, shouldn't those in the middle correct that logic and mediate?
But instead of correcting it, they're all just going along with it?
"What's going on here..."
"Sit down."
Chung Myung gestured towards the seat. There was no way Jeok Galsin would obey that now.
"I still..."
"Sit down."
At that moment, a chilling voice brushed past Jegal Jain's ears. He involuntarily shut his mouth.
Chung Myung's eyes, fixed on Jeok Galsin, were like razor blades.
"It seems you're mistaken. We don't need to listen to your words one by one. You're not even part of the Heavenly Friendship Alliance. What I've let you speak up until now is out of respect for your position and authority thus far."
Jegal Jain swallowed dryly. Chung Myung added coldly.
"If you're a guest, act like one. Don't pretend to be the master. There's not a single person here who will be swayed by your pathetic schemes. This is the Heavenly Friendship Alliance."
At Chung Myung's words, Jegal Jain looked around, bewildered.
Suddenly, unfriendly gazes were directed at him. Even Jong Ligok and Moyong Wiyeong avoided making eye contact.
'Why all of a sudden...'
Until the last meeting, it wasn't like this. Why has it suddenly turned out like this?
"Sit down."
Once again, Chung Myung spoke, and finally, a resigned Jeok Galsin weakly took his seat. As Chung Myung was about to speak again, Baek Cheon raised his hand leisurely.
Chung Myung asked gruffly, "What now?"
"Are you saying that the guests shouldn't speak?"
"Hmm."
Chung Myung nodded approvingly as if Baek Cheon made a good point.
"The host should show discretion, and the guests should observe courtesy. If you have something to say, say it properly with courtesy. That's what the Nine Sects always valued, courtesy."
"..."
"Understood?"
Baek Cheon chuckled satisfactorily. Satisfied with this, Im Sobyeong finally spoke up.
"Now that the situation seems to have been somewhat sorted out, let's continue the meeting. First, military leader, I'd like to ask what your thoughts are now?"
"What can we do?"
Chung Myung said indifferently.
"Reorganize the plan."
"…Reorganize it?"
When someone questioned, Chung Myung looked around, seeing a disheartened Jegaljain.
"Well, it's not entirely nonsense."
Jegaljain's clenched fist trembled slightly as Chung Myung asked.
"Do you know the best way to deal with attacks that could come at any time?"
"It's about finding out when and where the attack will come."
Someone confidently replied, rising to their feet.
"What does that mean?"
Jong Ligok's eyes sharpened as he looked at Chung Myung. All eyes turned to Chung Myung.
"Inside the righteous sect, if there is a traitor, any plan we devise would be meaningless. Hence, we couldn't continue the meeting. If there's a spy, our strategy could be exposed, and if there's a traitor, they could stab us in the back. Even so, by urgently calling everyone together like this, you must have discovered the identity of the traitor, haven't you?"
Various emotions flickered in the crowd's eyes—curiosity, anger, concern, and a strange unease.
Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders as if to say it was exactly so, but his expression only wounded Hong Daegwang even more.
"Continue, then? What's the best course of action to deal with the attack?"
"It's not about whether there's a traitor. What really matters is…"
"What a nonsensical statement! How can the existence of a traitor not be important!"
At that moment, Jegaljain abruptly stood up, cutting off Chung Myung and staring fiercely.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Ugh."
Chung Myung clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Why does it matter if there's a traitor or not?"
"…What?"
Jong Ligok was taken aback by Jegaljain's unexpected reaction.
"Do you understand what you're saying? Are you saying you don't know the identity of the traitor or you don't care?"
"No, how would I know? Do you think I'm some kind of fortune teller just because I'm a Taoist?"
Chung Myung grumbled irritably.
"If I had that talent, why would I bother wielding a sword and fighting hard? I could just stick a flag somewhere and make money!"
Jong Ligok was left speechless, unable to maintain his composure.
"If you're going to excuse incompetence and being a beggar, that's one thing, but you shouldn't use the word 'bastard.'"
"A useless beggar!"
"Right. That degree suits you perfectly."
Hyeon Jong silently covered his face with his hands.
"It tastes familiar. That's why it's so bitter. Why is it like this when the fate of the Martial Arts World is twisting and turning?"
Hong Daegwang stumbled.
"Ah… That… Isn't that our fault? Didn't you tell me to mobilize the beggars to chase down the Four Tyrants Alliance in the first place?"
"No need for excuses! Are you going to do your job properly just because you're told to?"
"Am I a beggar for doing my job properly?"
"…Ah. Now that you mention it."
"Don't try to justify it!"
Chung Myung shook his head as if to say it was pointless, but his expression only wounded Hong Daegwang even more.
"Just stop there. So? What's the best course of action to deal with the attack?"
Im Sobyeong asked, organizing the conversation. Chung Myung shrugged.
"Let's consider the same situation."
"…Huh?"
"Unknown figures appeared in front of Jegal and Moyong. Ultimately, this situation arose because they couldn't guarantee victory against them."
"That's right."
Jegaljain and Moyong slightly flinched, but it seemed that Chung Myung wasn't blaming them.
"In that case, what if Southern Edge was there too?"
"It's an assumed situation, isn't it? If they were there to block, they couldn't stop Southern Edge. I didn't make them like that."
Chung Myung laughed, and Jin Geumryong responded instead of Jong Ligok.
"I agree. If Southern Edge were there, it would have been different."
Jin Geumryong's eyes narrowed suspiciously. He didn't think Chung Myung would easily nod his head like that.
"But that's not just because Southern Edge was there. Once there are three sects, they alone cannot create any more variables."
Tang Gunak's expression hardened slightly.
"Military leader, what about you?"
"Yes, that's right."
Chung Myung nodded.
"Heavenly Friendship Alliance is a coalition. It depends on many minds."
"...military leader, are you sure about this?"
Chung Myung's eyes gleamed coldly.
"That's why we need to break down our boundaries. That's the only way."
His severe and ruthless words fell upon everyone.