Heavenly Inquisition Sword

Chapter 316: The Weight of Crime Varies by Its Value

Immediately after the meeting, Jegal Seun, the Grand Strategist and Commander General of the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance, formed a negotiation team.

First, he recruited those he considered his allies. These included Gong Son-il, leader of the Gong Family, and Peng Manho, leader of the Peng Family.

Then, he unexpectedly added Han Baek-sang, leader of the small Byeokgeom Sect, and Ma Gon, leader of the Seungcheon Sect. Curiously, both sects were from the Namjikrye Province.

For Han Baek-sang and Ma Gon, this was practically a meteoric rise. However, this decision sparked murmurs among the people. Excluding Namgung Yeon, the Incomparable Among Ten, and adding two sects from Namjikrye was, by all accounts, strange.

At noon, a man and a woman walked together on the outskirts of Chiliha Village. Under the blossoming trees, Yeon Jeokha and Namgung Yeon walked amiably. They were not alone; many others strolled in the area. The peaceful atmosphere reflected the progress of the peace negotiations.

“Nunim (elder sister),” said Yeon Jeokha.

“Yes?” Namgung Yeon replied.

“Have you heard the rumors?”

“What rumors?”

“They say that the Namgung Family was excluded from the negotiation team and that sects from Namjikrye were included.”

“Ah.”

Namgung Yeon smiled wryly. Jegal Seun, even after the fall of the Jegal Family, continued to monitor the Namgung Family. When the Jegal Family was at its peak, he was more subtle, but now he was blatant, as if it were the most reasonable decision in the world.

“Why do you think he did that?” Yeon Jeokha asked.

“He doesn’t want the Namgung Family to take over the territories of the Mugeuk and Moyong Sects.”

“And why include Byeokgeom and Seungcheon?”

“He wants to grant them merits during the negotiations and reward them before dissolving the alliance. There might be some resistance, but the joy of the war’s end will outweigh it.”

“Wow! Why is Jegal Seun so obsessed with the Namgung Family?”

“Because he coveted what we possess. He wanted to take the Namgung Family’s place among the Great Families of the Murim, but he failed. Now, the Namgung Family is his thorn. He is taking his frustration out on us for the fall of the Jegal Family.”

Perhaps the true reason was his envy of her, the Incomparable Among Ten. But she didn’t mention that, as she was tired of hearing comments about it.

“Maybe he envies you too, nunim,” Yeon Jeokha added.

Namgung Yeon just smiled without saying more.

“And are we just going to let him do as he pleases?”

“It’s not the right time.”

“Why not?”

“Anything I say will be questioned. People will think that the Namgung Family and I are at war with Jegal Seun. I don’t want us to be seen that way.”

A fight at that moment would be an empty victory. While Jegal Seun had nothing to lose, the Namgung Family did. As the leading family of the Murim, they couldn’t lower themselves to fight in the mud with Jegal Seun.

“Nunim, sometimes you have to act without thinking too much, like we do in Nokrim.”

“My father dislikes that even more.”

In reality, it was her father, Namgung Byeok, who avoided attacking Jegal Seun. He always used the saying, “a protruding nail gets hammered,” to dissuade her. Although Jegal Seun did anything, the Namgung Family would still be dominant in Namjikrye. Namgung Yeon also agreed that fighting with the fallen Jegal Family would bring no benefit.

“I don’t understand.”

“Those who hate Jegal Seun will call it an ‘evil act,’ but his followers will say it’s normal. My father doesn’t want the Namgung Family to get involved in such insignificant fights.”

“So, he prefers to avoid the issue?”

“Maybe.”

“Still, it’s a shame.”

“Did you know that the value of sacred artifacts is dropping?”

“Yes.”

The prices of sacred artifacts, which had reached astronomical heights, were plummeting due to the condition that the alliance of righteous sects must not antagonize the Yoomyung Cult for a hundred years. People interpreted this as guaranteed peace for a hundred years. Artifacts that once cost a thousand taels of gold were now selling for a hundred without buyers.

“People are no longer as interested in them as they once were. Even if Jegal Seun bought one as contraband, it wouldn’t cause much of a stir. As the value of sacred artifacts falls, so does the gravity of the crimes involving them.”

“It’s curious. Very curious.”

“The weight of a crime varies by its value. When sacred artifacts were treasures of the Murim, everyone was alarmed. But now that they can be easily bought, who cares?”

“So it’s easier to let it go.”

“Exactly. My father doesn’t want the Namgung Family to get entangled in a trivial fight.”

“The Lady of the Black Lotus is saving a lot of bad types. So, you’re not going to let this go, right?”

Yeon Jeokha glanced sideways at Namgung Yeon. As she had said, Jegal Seun had bought contraband and killed two bandits. But why did he feel so uneasy?

“No. We can’t let this go. Buying contraband and killing two bandits is trivial separately. But if you combine both actions, it becomes serious. He killed to hide his secret.”

“Exactly! We can’t just let this slide.”

Yeon Jeokha finally understood why he felt so uneasy. A leader of a righteous sect had committed acts worthy of a Nokrim bandit.

“What do you plan to do?”

“My father doesn’t want people talking about me. I’ll send the evidence to the alliance leader.”

“To the leader?”

“The Great Swordmaster Mu Geuk of the Five Peaks Mountain Sect won’t tolerate injustice. When he discovers what Jegal Seun has done, he won’t stand idly by.”

“What do they do in the Justice Alliance in these cases?”

“In the old Justice Alliance, they would expel the culprits.”

“And that was it?”

Yeon Jeokha was incredulous, so Namgung Yeon explained:

“It’s like banishing someone to the desert without water. If you’re expelled from the Alliance, you lose its protection. The evil sects won’t leave you alone. You’ll disappear quickly.”

“Ah. So he’ll be expelled?”

“The Leader of the Jegal Family has done something so grave that he’ll be expelled without much noise.”

“I hope it’s soon. When he’s expelled, I’ll go after him and crush him.”

Yeon Jeokha smiled happily just thinking about it. But Namgung Yeon didn’t share his enthusiasm.

His concern wasn’t Jegal Seun.

‘When the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance dissolves, Jeokha will return to Nokrim…’

She would have to tell her father about her relationship with Jeokha. But he was clumsy in those matters, and she would have to guide him. She didn’t know how to broach the subject.

“We…” Namgung Yeon began.

“Yes?”

“Ah, nothing.”

“What is it?”

“Nothing important. The weather is nice.”

Namgung Yeon looked at the sky. Despite her heavy heart, the sky was blue with cotton-like clouds floating above.

Henan Province.

Zhengzhou City.

Gong County.

Gong County lies between Zhengzhou and Luoyang. In the luxurious Fengwollu restaurant, martial artists from the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance and the Yoomyung Cult gathered.

To the left of the main entrance of Fengwollu were the members of the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance; to the right, those of the Yoomyung Cult.

Inside the restaurant, the negotiation teams of both factions sat across a large table.

Jegal Seun was the first to bow and greet.

“Greetings. I am Jegal Seun of the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance. It is an honor to be here. I hope both sides achieve beneficial results.”

Yang Soran of the Yoomyung Cult laughed mockingly.

“Ha! Beneficial for both sides? What does the Yoomyung Cult gain from this?”

“Haha, ceasing to fight is already beneficial for both sides. Even a blind sword can kill.”

Despite feeling irritated, Jegal Seun forced a smile. Yang Soran was right; the end of the war was more beneficial for the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance.

‘Then why do they want to end the war?’

Although he didn’t show it, he was genuinely curious.

Yang Soran continued arrogantly:

“There’s not much to discuss. We have two conditions. If you accept them, we’ll end the war.”

“The Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance will dissolve.”

“One condition remains.”

“You must not antagonize the Yoomyung Cult for a hundred years.”

“Yes. Do you agree?”

“Ah! How can one person promise something for a hundred years?”

“Without that condition, there’s nothing to discuss.”

Yang Soran stood up abruptly, and the five leaders of the Yoomyung Cult followed suit.

“Wait. How much time has passed since we sat down? Let’s talk a bit more.”

Desperate, Jegal Seun stammered.

Yang Soran looked at Jegal Seun with disdain.

“I won’t repeat myself. For a hundred years, the alliance of righteous sects must not antagonize the Yoomyung Cult. Do you accept?”

“Lady Yang, there is no alliance of righteous sects in the Jianghu. How can we promise something that doesn’t exist?”

Jegal Seun addressed Yang Soran as “Lady” out of respect for her age and lack of a suitable title for a senior demon.

Yang Soran, seeing through his excuse, shook her head.

“As expected of a strategist. But don’t be mistaken. When the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance dissolves, won’t they form a new alliance?”

“Sects gather and dissolve according to circumstances.”

“Bah! I’m not interested in small sects. As long as the Seven Great Sects and the Five Noble Families don’t form an alliance against us for a hundred years, I’m satisfied. What do you say?”

Jegal Seun sighed. Yang Soran was determined to prevent any future alliance of righteous sects against the Yoomyung Cult.

‘Something doesn’t add up.’

Although she seemed ready to leave, Yang Soran still stared at him intently. Clearly, she didn’t want to break off the negotiations.

‘What problem do they have?’

A government warning?

Or perhaps the leader of the Yoomyung Cult had a setback?

He was flooded with thoughts.

“It seems you need time to think. Remember that a late decision can be a mistake. What is your answer?”

Jegal Seun smiled awkwardly.

“Please, have a seat.”

He wanted to talk more and avoid a hasty decision.

Yang Soran pressed her lips together. She wanted to resolve this quickly, but it seemed the meeting would be long.