Chapter 109
The Martial Alliance’s Military Strategy Meeting

After being lost in deep thought for quite some time, Jegal Jigang suddenly slammed his fist down on the table with a loud thud and shouted,
“It wasn’t Sama Ga! It was Cheong-yeon! It was that child all along!”

His clenched fists trembled uncontrollably. At last, all the mysteries began to unravel.

No matter how much he pondered the recent incidents involving Jeonghyeopbang and the Mountain Sword Sect, something felt off. The Sword Saint’s unpredictable moves, the sudden reports about Georyeokma and Jeonghyeopbang from the Shadow Unit’s Paljo—only to be wiped out—and the tale of the Five Eagle Siblings who appeared out of nowhere in Zhejiang Province, performed unbelievable feats, and then vanished—all of it didn’t add up.

Jegal Jigang had even suspected that the fallen Sama Clan members he had destroyed were somehow reactivating. Yet, under strict surveillance, no movement was detected within the Sama Clan.

Then, unexpectedly, a clue emerged when he heard the names of the Five Eagle Siblings.
“Cheolsin Yuseong Bae Jong-gwan, Swift Blade Mysterious Wolf Cheon Ju-eun… I’ve definitely heard those names somewhere before…”

Though he remembered the names, he couldn’t recall where. They must have been insignificant, fleeting mentions.

It wasn’t until he heard that the Sword Saint had begun compiling and managing a roster of discharged warriors that the memory clicked. If the Sword Saint was now keeping track of former outlaws and mercenaries, assassinating them wouldn’t be so easy anymore.

That’s when the leader of the Thirteenth Generation’s Seven Clans, Seol Poong, came to mind.
“Seol Poong, that’s right. I never even tried to recruit someone that skilled, and now I can’t even eliminate him.”

As these thoughts crossed his mind, the names suddenly resurfaced in his memory.
“Bae Jong-gwan! Cheon Ju-eun?! Of course! It was them!”

He finally recalled that they were members of the Thirteenth Generation’s Seven Clans. When the leader of the Shadow Unit’s Fifth Clan, Sak Mu-heun, had reported on them, he had only glanced at their names and dismissed them as second-rate. But Jegal Jigang’s exceptional memory brought those names back vividly.

From there, he pieced everything together.
“If two of the Five Eagle Siblings are Bae Jong-gwan and Cheon Ju-eun, then Chang-hyuk, the Reborn Dragon, must be Seol Poong. And if the female deputy leader is Na Seo-yu, then the heavenly beauty, Cheon Sang-mi-hee, has to be…”

There was no doubt she was none other than Ha Cheong-yeon.

The only girl Jegal Jigang had ever thought more beautiful than his own daughter, Jegal Seo-yul, was the third daughter of the Sword Saint, Ha Un-baek.

Granted, Ha Cheong-yeon’s one blue eye was a distinctive feature, but disguising eye color wouldn’t be difficult. Assuming she was alive explained everything.

From the moment the order was given to kill her, the Sword Saint’s behavior had become completely unpredictable.

“More precisely, it probably started with that letter.”

The letter the Sword Saint had asked to be delivered to him during the Jeonghyeol meeting—it was likely a test to gauge him.

And the place the Sword Saint was supposedly secluded in? Probably not where everyone thought.

Jegal Jigang muttered with a baffled expression,
“I was completely played… by that child.”

He felt utterly hollow.

He had heard countless times from the Sword Saint that the girl’s talent surpassed her beauty, but he had dismissed it as a proud father’s boast.

To be so thoroughly deceived—it was infuriating.

But that was all in the past.

Now that he understood the cause, he could find a solution.

Jegal Jigang smiled bitterly and murmured,
“If everything hinges on that child, then removing her must be the first priority.”

Of course, the current control of the front lines was entirely in the Sword Saint’s hands, so it wouldn’t be easy.

Moreover, he could no longer rely on or even move the Shadow Unit.

But there was always a way.

After all, the place she was in was the front line—a place where dying at the hands of the Blood Cult was only natural.

“I’ll have to bring in the Blood Demon. And first, I need to deal with the Sword Saint.”

Jegal Jigang realized he could no longer leave the Sword Saint unchecked.

Where before he had thought, “I’ll eliminate him when the opportunity arises,” now it had shifted to, “No matter what, I must eliminate him.”

If his suspicions were correct, the Sword Saint already knew too much.

“And to kill him…”

Jegal Jigang left the military strategy meeting.

His bodyguards immediately followed.
“Commander, where are you headed?”
“To the Alliance Leader’s chamber.”
“Yes, sir!”

The current Martial Alliance Leader, Hyeopwang Moyong Geom, was practically bound to Jegal Jigang by fate.

Still, Jegal Jigang didn’t particularly enjoy visiting him.

That was because, as they approached the leader’s chamber, voices began to drift out.

“Oh my, Leader, it’s broad daylight now…”
“Hahaha! So what if it’s daytime? Who dares question what I, Hyeopwang Moyong Geom, do?”
“Oh my, Leader, haah!”

The sultry voices of a woman and the leader, along with moans, leaked from inside.

Jegal Jigang stopped in front of the chamber and called out loudly to his guards,
“Tell the Leader that Commander Jegal Jigang has urgent business to discuss!”

Instantly, the room fell silent.

A moment later, the leader’s voice came through.
“Come in, Commander!”

As Jegal Jigang entered, the first thing he saw was Moyong Geom, his clothes disheveled and his appearance unmistakably revealing what had just transpired.

Jegal Jigang sighed inwardly, unsure whether to pity him or be relieved that the woman had at least left through the back door.

Moyong Geom greeted him with a bright smile.
“Welcome, Commander Jegal! You’ve been busy lately, haven’t you?”

Probably because it had been so long since his last visit.

Though not always busy, Jegal Jigang rarely saw him even when nearby, so the comment was understandable.

Still, Jegal Jigang chose not to correct the misconception.
“Yes, as usual, there have been many trivial matters.”

Moyong Geom nodded happily.
“Oh, we can’t keep a busy commander for too long. So, what brings you here?”

Clearly, he wanted to get to the point and send him on his way.

Jegal Jigang fought back another sigh and lowered his voice to speak confidentially.
“There is a matter that requires your urgent approval, Leader.”

Moyong Geom’s expression stiffened, sensing the gravity.
“What matter?”

Jegal Jigang took a deep breath to set the tone. Convincing the leader to eliminate the Sword Saint—the pillar of the righteous faction—would take time and care.

Finally, with a heavy expression, he said,
“Leader, I believe we must kill the Sword Saint.”

Moyong Geom’s eyes widened in surprise.
“The Sword Saint?”

“Yes.”

Jegal Jigang nodded and was about to explain further,
“But the Sword Saint is—”

Moyong Geom cut him off, replying as if it were obvious.
“Then so be it.”

Jegal Jigang was the one taken aback.
“Excuse me?”

Moyong Geom nodded regretfully but resolutely.
“Kill the Sword Saint. If you, Commander Jegal, whom I trust completely, have made that decision, there must be a good reason. I grant you full authority in my name. Do as you see fit.”

“…”

“Well, if that’s all, you may leave. We shouldn’t keep a busy commander any longer. Thank you for your efforts.”

Jegal Jigang stared at him, unsure how to react.

Though he had been tactful, it was clear he was being dismissed.

To Moyong Geom now, the Sword Saint’s life was less important than dalliance with women.

After a moment of silence, Jegal Jigang bowed deeply and turned to leave.
“Understood. I will take my leave.”

Everything had gone according to his plan, yet he couldn’t decide whether to feel pleased or saddened.

To see Moyong Geom, once a proud warrior and the previous Sword Saint, fall so low—it was disheartening and bitter.

But Jegal Jigang quickly shook off his feelings.

If the leader was in such a state, then the true power of the Martial Alliance would inevitably fall to him.

There was no need to refuse.

Stepping outside the chamber, Jegal Jigang headed straight to the outer hall and issued orders.
“By the Leader’s command! Find the whereabouts of the Strange Sword, Seo Il, and make contact!”

Seo Il, the Lone Eye Strange Sword, one of the world’s five greatest oddities.

He was the blade Jegal Jigang had chosen.

A beast obsessed only with winning—such a man would not hesitate to tear into the wounded Sword Saint.

Jegal Jigang gazed toward the southern sky where the Sword Saint would be and smiled faintly.

The sunset stained the heavens red, as if watching over his old friend.

Meanwhile, Mengzhu Moyong Jian, who seemed eager to send Jegal Zhigang away quickly and summon the women back, sat quietly with a faint smile even after Jegal Zhigang had left.

Then, suddenly, he spoke.

“To think that even a sworn friend like the Sword Saint would be so easily discarded… It seems that strategists truly have no place for sentiment. Don’t you agree, Yeo-ryang?”

From somewhere, a voice replied.

“A true strategist is free of greed, and without greed, there’s no need to betray loyalty. It’s not because one is a strategist that they abandon others so easily—it’s because they’re consumed by greed.”

Moyong Jian countered with an amused expression.

“But didn’t you come to me out of desire as well? If that’s the case, how different is that from him?”

“Their greed is for personal wealth and glory, while mine is to realize a greater purpose in the world. So, they are fundamentally different.”

Unwilling to concede even an inch, the voice’s rebuttal made Moyong Jian chuckle softly and nod.

“Perhaps I don’t understand the difference, but if someone as wise as you says so, I’ll take your word for it. I’m curious to see how the strategist of the Sima family differs from Jegal’s.”

The voice answered firmly.

“You won’t be disappointed.”

Hearing that, Moyong Jian smiled with satisfaction.

Jegal Zhigang was a remarkable tool, but the moment a tool starts keeping secrets from its master, it loses its value as a tool.

Moyong Jian had long ago decided to dispose of Jegal Zhigang.

---

Mount Jiamang, Yunnan Province.

Seated in the study of the Jiamang Sect’s leader, Blood Demon Jeon Mu-kwang finished reading a letter from Jegal Zhigang and smiled faintly.

“Jegal Zhigang seems to be in quite a hurry. Not only the Sword Saint but even entrusting his daughter to us.”

A voice echoed from the void.

“According to the spies among the traitors, control of the front lines has completely shifted to the Sword Saint. Most of the shadow operatives active near the front have either been killed or have joined the Sword Saint’s ranks. So it’s only natural that he’s becoming desperate.”

Jeon Mu-kwang nodded as if understanding, then suddenly asked.

“By the way, how is Yu Sang’s activity within the Yun family? Is he planting seeds well? We need to secure our position before the Sword Saint’s power grows any stronger.”

The voice responded again.

“Yes, reports say the Yun family has been completely taken over. Although the Mountain Sword Sect, which has been causing trouble recently, remains untouched for now, it seems seeds have already been sown within the other Gui Prefecture Eight Families—the Sunwoo clan and the Yukgui faction.”

The Yun family was the very place where, during the recent Zhenghefang incident, the Eleven Great Lords, including the notorious Zheng’e Daoist Man Jong-im, were annihilated.

Man Jong-im had fallen into a trap set by Gu Yu-sang, known as the White Jade Dragon, and was wiped out along with his men after infiltrating what they thought was a forward base of the Blood Sect.

The Yun family, having exhausted their strength fighting Man Jong-im, was then ambushed from behind by Gu Yu-sang and ultimately devoured by the Blood Sect.

It had all been Gu Yu-sang’s scheme.

Pleased with the news, Jeon Mu-kwang smiled broadly.

“As expected of Yu Sang. Truly excellent. I heard he was even called the White Jade Dragon by the righteous sect?”

“Yes. He was said to be the most handsome young master in Sichuan, even called the ‘Number One Young Noble of Sichuan.’ Having been taught by the Supreme, it’s not surprising.”

“Hmm.”

Jeon Mu-kwang nodded with a satisfied smile, then suddenly spoke again.

“I’ve also heard the Sword Saint’s daughter is extraordinarily beautiful. Have you heard anything about her?”

The voice replied.

“Yes. According to intelligence gathered on the Sword Saint, his third daughter, Ha Cheong-yeon, is said to be a prodigy. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s rumored to possess remarkable intelligence and talent in martial arts. Interestingly, one of her eyes is blue.”

Jeon Mu-kwang paused, then repeated the words thoughtfully.

“Beauty, wisdom, martial talent… and one blue eye?”

“Yes, that’s what they say.”

At that moment, Jeon Mu-kwang’s eyes flashed sharply.

“I see.”

Then, with the expression of a predator spotting its prey, he gave an order.

“Find out everything you can about her—her current location and martial skill level.”

“Understood!”

As the presence of Gu Yu-eumma Jigi-eum vanished instantly upon Jeon Mu-kwang’s command, he stroked his chin and muttered once more.

“Perhaps… we’ve finally found the right vessel.”