The morning at Jingjeongwon was unlike any other. Normally, the sounds of quarrels, the clacking of Go stones, and the wind drifting in through the windows would create a peaceful atmosphere.
But today, something was amiss. There were no elders comfortably sinking into their chairs. Everyone stood, quietly speaking with someone.
“An emergency summons.”
“It’s almost the first time we’ve been summoned like this.”
An emergency summons could only be issued by an elder of Jingjeongwon, at least of Dangju rank or higher, and everyone within the noble family who had voting rights was required to attend unless there were exceptional circumstances.
Given that Kang Je-seong was involved, it was not a matter to be taken lightly, and the procedures were strict. Except for the elders of Jingjeongwon, no one else had ever issued an emergency summons.
The elders of Jingjeongwon were accustomed to emergency summonses, usually convened to pass motions like salary increases for the elders.
“Is it the Youngest Master again?”
“Yes.”
“Then I guess we roughly know the reason.”
As everyone expected, the Youngest Master’s target was Elder Lee Cheongmyeong. All the elders’ gazes fixed on him. Lee Cheongmyeong glanced around quietly before exiting the room.
“You damn thunder fool!”
As soon as Lee Cheongmyeong left, he growled in frustration. Exactly what had happened was unclear.
The Seong Gajang was still out of contact, and the Naegong who had gone to see the Seong Gajang had disappeared. Cheonju Fortress also had no communication.
For some reason, the children of the Hwanggeum Family had entered together with the Outer General, and Gold-necked Hwan had only returned alone this morning. Rather than having his nose and ears cut off, he had come back in a dazed state, proposed a disciplinary motion, and then gone back to Okmyogak.
Everything was baffling. From Lee Cheongmyeong’s perspective, all of this seemed rushed and unnatural.
He couldn’t believe the warriors of Seong Gajang had been defeated by the direct descendants of the family who had never even properly learned martial arts.
“Outer General, that useless bastard.”
That was Lee Cheongmyeong’s reluctant conclusion. He thought something was off from the beginning.
Could the Youngest Master, who had seemed so simple-minded, really have changed so drastically? Everyone knew the Outer General moved for the good of the family.
The only logical explanation was that the Outer General was using Gold-necked Hwan as his pawn. Lee Cheongmyeong clenched his teeth.
“It’s not the Cheonryuyuseong Sword but the Cheonryu Fox; I should change his nickname.”
The Gwak Jindo Lee Cheongmyeong knew was straightforward to the point of foolishness but not a schemer. Yet all appearances had been a sham.
No matter how much martial artists were told not to believe everything they saw, how could one defend against such meticulous plotting and deception?
“I didn’t want it to come to this.”
He did not know what had become of the Seong Gajang, but it was possible the Outer General had swept him away. That was not the issue.
He was cornered now, but he still had an escape route.
When the Outer General and the direct descendants entered yesterday, Lee Cheongmyeong immediately sent a secret message through Cheonju Fortress, signaling that the support of a master was needed.
He himself was the spearhead of Cheonju Fortress’s operations and fully believed they would send reinforcements.
If the Jangrohoeui’s decision resulted in his dismissal or punishment without cause, he was even prepared to remove both the Youngest Master and the Outer General. Of course, the family’s military law would be broken, and they would be closely watched, but Cheonju Fortress was not an organization to be feared.
“Elder Lee Cheongmyeong! There you are. Let’s go. The meeting is about to start.”
At that moment, two figures who had been lingering at the end of the corridor spotted Lee Cheongmyeong and waved.
Lee Cheongmyeong’s face darkened as soon as he recognized them.
Yeosangwoo and Yang Cheolmok. He didn’t know which faction they belonged to, but they had openly mentioned Cheonju Fortress, acting outrageously.
Even going as far as to search the building just to find him meant they expected his compliance—but that would not happen.
“Let’s go.”
Lee Cheongmyeong glared at them fiercely and followed.
Before even entering the meeting room, he could hear the murmur of voices. He entered with as composed a face as he could muster.
At the center, as expected, sat Gold-necked Hwan. The unexpected guests were other direct descendants of the Hwanggeum Family. Except for Geumhwacheong, Geumwolsang and Geumsurin were seated on either side.
But Lee Cheongmyeong only saw Gold-necked Hwan. His eyes were sunken and weary, and his sleeves and shoulders were stained with dirt.
“Gongja, you sit in the sacred meeting hall even though you’re unwell?”
Lee Cheongmyeong sneered, but Gold-necked Hwan said nothing. Instead, he looked at Gwak Jindo sitting right beside him, who immediately stood upon catching that gaze.
“I couldn’t find Naegong, so I will conduct this meeting.”
“Is there a rule that says the Outer General can conduct the meeting if the Naegong isn’t here?”
“Any elder can do it. But not Elder Lee Cheongmyeong. The emergency summons was because of him.”
Lee Cheongmyeong chuckled—a knowing smile. The murmuring elders quieted, watching the situation with interest.
“Because of me? What did I do to trouble the busy elders to gather like this?”
He shrugged, but it was Gold-necked Hwan, not Gwak Jindo, who answered.
“It’s about disciplinary action.”
“Disciplinary action against me?”
“Yes.”
Gold-necked Hwan answered firmly. Lee Cheongmyeong’s expression was one of complete ignorance.
“The charges are as follows: treason, assassination of the Dangju, violation of dignity, establishing a private organization, and embezzlement of funds.”
Gold-necked Hwan finished his brief declaration. Though simple, the contents were dreadful.
The elders, who had been watching with amusement, cautiously dropped their smiles and began murmuring again. Lee Cheongmyeong’s expression was completely crushed.
“Ridiculous slander. This disciplinary motion was brought by the Youngest Master, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“Baseless defamation. Is this also something paid for by the Outer General?”
Suddenly, anger flared toward the Outer General. Gwak Jindo standing between them motioned with his fingers, silencing Lee Cheongmyeong.
“I paid for it?”
“Does it make sense that that brat would slander an elder with such accusations on his own?”
Lee Cheongmyeong’s veins bulged. Several elders nodded at his words.
Indeed, it was more natural to think the Outer General was behind this rather than that the Youngest Master had suddenly changed so drastically.
“Elder Lee Cheongmyeong.”
Until Gold-necked Hwan finally spoke, the atmosphere had seemed dominated by such debate.
“If this motion is considered lacking in evidence and rejected, I will take full responsibility.”
“What responsibility do you claim? Don’t speak recklessly with that immature tongue.”
“In most laws, those who fabricate slanders receive corresponding punishment.”
Gold-necked Hwan continued without changing his tone.
“And for the charges leveled at you, Elder, I believe the ultimate punishment would be death.”
“Hah!”
Lee Cheongmyeong scoffed. Although the voice was heavy, the contents were absurd.
Of course, many martial artists died under the family’s law. Even noble families like the Odaesega often executed for violation of dignity alone. But for a direct descendant of the Hwanggeum Family to accuse an elder of a capital crime? That was absurd.
“Among those, considering bodily integrity, corpse and separation punishments, I judged that beheading is appropriate as the least severe form.”
Lee Cheongmyeong’s face reddened. Corpse and separation executions, though both capital punishments, had a massive difference. Damaging the body was a grave insult to the person’s dignity.
Gold-necked Hwan was essentially declaring that he intended to treat Lee Cheongmyeong as less than human.
“He’s gone mad. The Youngest Master is mad.”
“If the elder proves innocence, I will accept the beheading and will not ascend to Deungryeong Shrine either.”
Gold-necked Hwan’s resolute words stirred the Jangrohoeui. Those who showed such absolute determination, regardless of age, were formidable.
With that single statement, Gold-necked Hwan proved he was not simply the Outer General’s pawn.
Lee Cheongmyeong was momentarily at a loss for words. Taking advantage of that, Gold-necked Hwan dragged a large bundle of documents from the floor and placed it on the table.
“Let’s begin the meeting.”
Gwak Jindo nodded at Gold-necked Hwan’s words.
“I will now begin the disciplinary session for Elder Lee Cheongmyeong. First, I will give Elder Lee the opportunity to speak.”
Lee Cheongmyeong looked between Gwak Jindo and Gold-necked Hwan. At this point, it was impossible to tell who was leading whom.
He only knew that he was now trapped and that he had to pull back, even if only temporarily.
He maintained his composure as much as possible. He was more familiar with such slanders than anyone else.
“I am innocent. I worry seriously that the Youngest Master has gone insane.”
He spoke. Gwak Jindo nodded.
“What do the other elders think?”
The elders exchanged glances. Several elders who had moved alongside Lee Cheongmyeong raised their hands.
“I think executing an elder is too rash. There’s no evidence.”
Others gradually joined in, speaking out. Regardless of their relations with Lee Cheongmyeong, most elders opposed his execution.
Gold-necked Hwan quietly covered his mouth and observed each elder speaking.
They were people afraid of the collapse of balance. None were prepared for upheaval yet. But Gold-necked Hwan was not willing to wait.
“Every time Elder Lee went on a Yeogang mission, he took Gumwonbo funds, officially listed as for Sangro’s stabilization. But those funds flowed into the hands of the Seong Gajang, who was a member of the Black Dao faction.”
“Do you have proof?”
Lee Cheongmyeong snapped, clearly agitated.
Gold-necked Hwan dumped the bundle of documents onto the desk. Scrolls and bamboo slips spilled out.
Before anyone could speak, Gold-necked Hwan picked them up one by one and began explaining.
“These are the correspondences and requests with the Seong Gajang written in Elder Lee’s handwriting, along with accounting ledgers. They specify the amounts and payments from three years ago. The funds delivered to the Seong Gajang and the amounts Elder Lee disbursed match perfectly.”
Gold-necked Hwan withdrew more documents from his bosom. These were Lee Cheongmyeong’s receipt budgets and release evidence taken from Sangmudang.
All the budget expenditures marked for Yeogang missions were recorded identically in Seong Gajang’s income ledgers.
Even the elders who had opposed were speechless, evidently surprised by such thorough preparation. In an instant, embezzlement and establishing a private organization were proven.
“This is Seong Gajang’s activity record. He accepted orders to carry out murder, kidnapping, and arson. Though these acts were carried out under mutual consent, by funding such a group, Elder Lee severely damaged our family’s dignity.”
Gold-necked Hwan spoke rapidly, leaving no breath between sentences. Lee Cheongmyeong could not respond to the overwhelming evidence.
“Furthermore, as all elders know, two days ago we went to Deungryeong Shrine for our mother’s ancestral rites. Seong Gajang’s men ambushed us there. Fortunately, the Outer General arrived, and we survived. However, the Shrine Keeper was already dead. We personally conducted his funeral.”
Gold-necked Hwan’s words were echoed by Geumwolsang and Geumsurin.
“This proves the Youngest Master’s words are true.”
“I agree.”
Even Gwak Jindo, presiding over the meeting, said so. Hearing this, those elders opposing the motion were at a loss.
At least, Gold-necked Hwan held the blade of the meeting. How to wield that blade was the question.
“Thus, the same family’s Dangju paid for murder and committed treason by attempting to kill direct descendants. This is the evidence Elder Lee Jeongmyeong submitted to support our ambush.”
“Wait, wait.”
Lee Cheongmyeong hastily spoke up. If he lost now, it would be irreparable.
“What if I claim this is all fabricated?”
It was a transparent excuse, but a difficult one to dismiss. The elders looked to Gold-necked Hwan.
“What meaning does that have? Your execution is already decided.”
Gold-necked Hwan stared at Lee Cheongmyeong. Gradually, a powerful aura flowed from Gwak Jindo behind him.
Though there were masters among the elders, no one dared ignore Gwak Jindo’s energy. Everyone watched the two tensely.
Lee Cheongmyeong bit his lip and forced out words.
“Do you know Cheonju Fortress stands behind me?”
That was his last desperate plea. Cheonju Fortress was still relatively unknown, but everyone present knew it was a dangerous organization.
“I know. I don’t know the details, but there must be others here besides Elder Lee who receive orders from Cheonju Fortress.”
“I am the person who contacts Cheonju Fortress directly. It’s difficult to compare me with others.”
“No. Mok Danhwa Dangju doesn’t think so.”
Gold-necked Hwan’s words abruptly changed the atmosphere. Not only did he know Cheonju Fortress’s true identity, but he claimed to know one of the Twelve Lords. Shocking revelations kept coming.
“Elder Lee Cheongmyeong, I personally investigated your actions in Gangho.”
Gold-necked Hwan pulled another document from his bosom and read aloud.
“You were known as the Seohyeong Sasu.”
The atmosphere fell silent. That alias was Lee Cheongmyeong’s past. His face flushed red, but Gold-necked Hwan remained unmoved.
“When you were the training captain of the Murim Alliance, training funds went missing. You pointed fingers at the deputy commander, who was sentenced to Danjon Rupture Punishment. But it was later revealed that you were behind it all. You were already called a rat long before.”
“Slanderous words, Youngest Master!”
Elder Lee Cheongmyeong growled. The sword at his waist clinked threateningly. Gold-necked Hwan continued.
“The slander is not important. What matters is that you were expelled from the Murim Alliance with Danjon Rupture Punishment.”
All the elders turned to Gold-necked Hwan. Though well-known among them, it was a secret how he had uncovered it since Lee Cheongmyeong had fiercely blocked that information.
“Old and weak, without inner strength, you couldn’t escape your misdeeds. This is what happens.”
Suddenly, a streak of light shot from Gold-necked Hwan’s waist. Only now did the elders notice the sword he wore.
From where Gold-necked Hwan sat, the afterimage of white energy extended all the way to Lee Cheongmyeong.
It was an eighteen-year-old’s spear kick—too fast and precise to follow.
Whoosh!
With the sharp slicing sound of air, Lee Cheongmyeong’s head flew through the void.
“The main family no longer needs rats.”
Boom.
Before he could even react, Lee Cheongmyeong’s severed head landed on the floor. Gold-necked Hwan spoke again.
The atmosphere in the Jangrohoeui chamber became suffocating.
The elders eyed each other cautiously. What they expected to be a lengthy debate and meeting ended before it even began.
This was clearly Gold-necked Hwan’s declaration of war.