Heavenly Inquisition Sword

Chapter 318: A Flower in Cow Dung

Namgung Yeon, known as the Incomparable Among Ten, stood up with an indifferent expression. Ever since the conversation about bamboo began, she had stopped having any expectations, so she wasn’t surprised.

She only knew that she would no longer act on behalf of the Great Swordmaster Mu Geuk. She didn’t want to get entangled with rotten roots.

She left without saying a word.

The Sage of Heaven and Earth, Mu Geuk, watched her leave with melancholic eyes and let out a sigh.

“Haa!”

He, too, had that fervor in his youth. But now things were different. There were so many things to protect and so many achievements to accomplish.

Mu Geuk murmured as if making an excuse.

“Mount Tai does not despise even a handful of dirt; that’s why it is so tall. The river and the sea do not choose their tributaries; that’s why they are so deep.”

This quote from the biography of Li Si in the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian reflected his thinking. Although he understood the passion of the young, he couldn’t agree with their approach towards Jegal Seun.

The Heaven and Earth Alliance desperately needed Jegal Seun’s strategy and experience. The same would apply to the future alliance of the righteous sects.

After a while, Mu Geuk pulled the documents out of the envelope and reviewed them. Although he was already familiar with most of the information, there were some new things for him.

“Impressive.”

He had discovered many things using the power of the Secret Department since the days of the Justice Alliance. But without that help, Namgung Yeon had gone far in her investigation of Jegal Seun. Even so, this wouldn’t change things.

Mu Geuk put the documents back in the envelope and stood up. The longer he delayed, the greater the misunderstandings would be, so it was better to resolve it soon.

He left his office and headed to the Eternal Pavilion, also known as Cheonchu Pavilion, where the Sword Emperor, Namgung Byeok was located.

———————–

“Ha, ha! What brings you here?”

Namgung Byeok smiled as he saw Mu Geuk. They had maintained a close relationship since the days of the Justice Alliance, although they had distanced a bit after the great damage suffered by the Namgung Family.

“I came seeking your counsel, senior.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be of much help, but tell me. I’ll do what I can.”

“In fact, your daughter came to inform me about the misdeeds of Jegal Seun. Do you know anything about it?”

“Ah!”

Namgung Byeok sighed briefly. Despite his warnings, his daughter had spoken to the leader about Jegal Seun. He couldn’t understand why his daughter, who knew people so well, had decided to challenge his warnings.

‘She must have trusted that Mu Geuk, being a man of principle, would not tolerate injustice.’

But Mu Geuk was also the Leader of the Heaven and Earth Alliance. In that position, he couldn’t act solely according to his personal beliefs.

He had to prioritize the interests of the Heaven and Earth Alliance and the Five Peaks Mountain Sect. People from those sects also expected that from him. Once involved in politics, one strayed from absolute righteousness. Collective interests became justice and a great cause.

He, too, was affected by this. If he had to kill Mu Geuk for the sake of the Namgung Family, he would.

Namgung Byeok nodded.

“I’d like to hear your opinion on this matter.”

“I told my daughter to bury it. It’s not because Jegal Seun’s misdeeds are insignificant. If the Namgung Family points it out, many will think it’s out of revenge. We don’t need to endure such humiliation. What significance does the Jegal Family have?”

“You’re absolutely right. I completely agree with you. Although Jegal Seun has been oppressing the Namgung Family, he’s already at the bottom. There’s nothing but malice in him. Confronting him won’t benefit us.”

The Namgung Family was a renowned family in the Murim. Facing a ruined man like Jegal Seun would only tarnish their honor.

“I see it the same way.”

“Then, can we put it aside for now and bring it to light when necessary?”

“That’s your decision. Just make sure it’s not known that the information came from the Namgung Family. I don’t want us to be seen as involved with Jegal Seun.”

Mu Geuk, as the Leader of the Five Peaks Mountain Sect, understood Namgung Byeok’s feelings.

“So it shall be. I’ll say the Secret Department discovered it.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you for your understanding. I understand your difficulties.”

“By the way, I have a personal question. If it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer.”

“Go ahead.”

“I saw that the Namjikrye Sects were included in the negotiation team. It’s rumored it might be to redistribute the territories of the Mugeuk Sect and Moyong Sect. Is that true?”

“In part, yes.”

Mu Geuk didn’t deny it. It was something that would eventually be known, and he didn’t want to deceive the Sword Emperor.

“Was it Jegal Seun’s idea?”

“Yes.”

“Ha, ha, that’s typical of bureaucrats. I understand.”

Mu Geuk also smiled. The Sword Emperor didn’t oppose or question Jegal Seun’s plan. This showed the confidence in the Namgung Family.

“Please don’t push him too hard.”

“Ha, ha, no rush for now.”

The word “for now” made Mu Geuk shake his head.

The clouds of war were already looming. Could the Byeokgeom Sect and Seungcheon Sect protect their territories from the Namgung Family?

Impossible. Jegal Seun’s hatred towards the Namgung Family had dragged Byeokgeom and Seungcheon into it. Namgung Byeok knew this, but he let it slide. Maybe that was the fate of warriors. He himself would rather fight Byeokgeom and Seungcheon than face Jegal Seun.

But neither the Sword Emperor nor Mu Geuk knew that there was someone willing to face Jegal Seun without caring about public opinion.

———————–

“What did the leader say?”

Yeon Jeokha asked as he strolled with Namgung Yeon after lunch.

Namgung Yeon responded with a slightly disappointed expression.

“He said he would speak with my father.”

“What? Why does he need to consult your father when he’s the leader?”

“Who knows. He should make decisions for himself, but he says he’ll consult with my father. What a strange person.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. I just said it.”

“Then, what do you think your father will do? I suppose he’ll tell him to crush him, right?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Really?”

Yeon Jeokha opened his eyes in surprise. After all the trouble Jegal Seun had caused the Namgung Family, would they let him go?

“It’s not just about public perception. If we point out Jegal Seun’s issues, people will see it as a political fight. As the Namgung Family rebuilds, we’ll gain enemies. Some might turn Jegal Seun into a scapegoat. My father wants to avoid staining our name.”

“So they’ll let him go? That evil man?”

“When you have a lot to protect, you must be prudent. Jegal Seun only has his life. Maybe that’s why he acts so extreme, trying to leave his mark. Look at how he risks his life in negotiations. Even if he wins, his name will be tarnished. He’s not someone who will admit his mistakes and quietly step down.”

“Wow, he really is a despicable guy.”

It was impossible not to agree with Namgung Yeon’s description.

“Yes, you’re right. He’s like human excrement. But what kind of world is this where we use such people?”

“A shitty world?”

“Correct. Should we forgive everyone if they have skills and are useful?”

Yeon Jeokha looked at Namgung Yeon and cautiously replied.

“To some extent, yes. Even in the Heaven and Earth Alliance, the righteous sects and the Nokrim joined forces. Although it seems they’re separating now.”

“That’s true. Why did I forget that the world is like this? Maybe that’s why I shouldn’t underestimate experience.”

Namgung Yeon laughed bitterly. Yeon Jeokha protested vehemently.

“No, sister! It’s not that you’re wrong. It’s the world that’s wrong. It’s not experience; it’s being covered in shit after rolling around in it.”

“Do you really think that?”

“Yes. I like you because you’re just. When I’m with you, I feel like I become better.”

“You’ve always been good.”

“Nobody believes that. Everyone calls me ‘the little demon’.”

“What? Who says that?”

“Heh, heh, you can hear it if you sit in a corner of the restaurants.”

It was true. When his schedule didn’t match Shim Tong’s, he often ate alone in a corner of the restaurants, listening to those murmurs. They called him ‘the little demon’. The Nokrim and warriors of the Yoomyung Cult said that if the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord was ‘the great demon’, he was ‘the little demon’.

“Why?”

Namgung Yeon couldn’t understand why people spoke ill of Yeon Jeokha. His actions in the Jianghu weren’t those of a bandit. In fact, they were more like those of the Heroes of the Prestigious Sects and Families. He had never harmed the innocent or the righteous warriors. The only conflict was with Jegal Seun.

“They said I destroyed my own family and that I recently dragged the Boss of the Haksan Stronghold, Hyeok Muchun, forcing him to die. They said Guiyeong Ja lost an arm also because of me. If someone displeases me, their family is destroyed, and they either die or are crippled.”

“…”

Namgung Yeon couldn’t deny that. Yeon Jeokha had dragged Guiyeong Ja and Hyeok Muchun, even though they didn’t want to. One was devoured by ghosts, and the other was left one-armed.

Seeing Namgung Yeon become serious, Yeon Jeokha laughed.

“Ha, ha, ha! It’s okay. In this shitty world, it doesn’t matter if they call me the little demon. It’s enough for me that you think well of me. I don’t care what others say.”

“To me, you’re a great hero and the kindest thief in the world.”

“Heh, heh.”

Yeon Jeokha smiled broadly.

As they strolled together, their steps halted. In the distance, they saw the negotiation team. With a hundred guards from the Heaven and Earth Alliance, Jegal Seun, known as the Great Strategist, led them. As he looked, Jegal Seun stroked his beard and quietly remarked,

“A beautiful flower in cow dung.”

Those accompanying him, Gong Son-il and Peng Manho, didn’t understand at first and looked around, then laughed when they saw the flowers among the dung in the distance. But Jegal Seun was speaking metaphorically. Among the crowd, he saw the flower of the righteous sects, Namgung Yeon, with a leader of the Nokrim, Yeon Jeokha.

They thought they wouldn’t understand the metaphor from that distance.