Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 226
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Episode 226. I’m Not Sure If I Should Accept It
When the Leader of the Jeonjin Sect, Jin Muhwa, also known as the Golden Sage, asked, “How can we achieve it?”, the Great Strategist Jegal Seun did not respond immediately.
Only when he had the complete attention of the warriors did he begin to speak cautiously.
—We can defeat the Yoomyung Cult if we join forces with the Evil Faction.
There was a moment of silence, not only from Jin Muhwa but also from the leaders of the Sects and Families.
The Evil Faction had been an enemy of the righteous sects for a long time. Even the ritual of the “Journey through the Murim,” which the sects perform as a rite of passage, is primarily aimed at eradicating the Evil Faction.
Proposing an alliance with a mortal enemy to defeat the Yoomyung Cult was incredible.
Jin Muhwa asked for confirmation:
—You said the Evil Faction, to whom are you specifically referring?
—I’m referring to the Nokrim. If we ally with them, the rest of the Evil Faction will follow.
—The Nokrim…!
Jin Muhwa couldn’t finish his sentence, overwhelmed by surprise.
The Nokrim are public enemy number one, the most hated bandits. Suggesting that the honorable sects and prestigious families ally with them was an affront.
However, no one objected to Jegal Seun’s statement. The enmity with the Yoomyung Cult was stronger than any old grudge. Moreover, they might have thought that the Nokrim would be easier to manage than the Yoomyung Cult.
From the Alliance’s perspective, the Nokrim, though large, was nothing more than prey. If the Yoomyung Cult was a tiger that had tasted blood, the Nokrim was a hungry wolf. It wasn’t difficult to accept the help of a wolf to hunt a tiger.
The leaders nodded slightly. Lee Yeonik, the Virtue Master of the Uicheon Sect, frowned and spoke:
—Great Strategist, I understand that in war, yesterday’s enemy can be today’s ally. But will the Nokrim want to ally with us? What do they lack to accept?
The Leader of the Gongdong Sect, Pyeon-woon, also shook his head.
—That’s true. They probably want to take advantage of the situation for their own benefit.
Jegal Seun responded calmly:
—Of course, they won’t do it voluntarily. We must make an offer that is irresistible to the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord. For example, releasing the demons we’ve captured during our expeditions.
The Alliance and the sects had captured many demons on their journeys. Those who were not useful were executed on the spot.
The Leader of the Shaolin Temple, the Lawless Master Wu Beop, frowned. The reason was that they had not yet obtained what they wanted from the Blood Sea Demon captured in the temple.
The Blood Sea Demon was a great demon who terrorized the southern region thirty years ago. More than a hundred masters of the Shaolin Temple were sent to capture him. The intention of the Shaolin Temple in keeping him alive was to recover the “Immortal Sea Grand Manual,” which had been stolen during the previous dynasty.
Thirty years ago, the rebels Hong Gun attacked and looted the Shaolin Temple, taking many treasures with them. One of the stolen items was the “Immortal Sea Grand Manual.” The Blood Sea Demon boasted of having learned it while drunk, leading to his pursuit and capture by the Shaolin Temple.
If it weren’t for the “Immortal Sea Grand Manual,” the Blood Sea Demon would have been executed long ago due to his cruelty. Jegal Seun pretended not to notice the reaction of the Lawless Master. The Blood Sea Demon was the sworn brother of the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord, so he couldn’t be excluded from the offer.
The other sect leaders were also not pleased. Each sect had at least one captured demon with similar stories. The Leader of the Wudang Sect spoke with a bitter expression:
—We must carefully consider the release of these demons. Since the formation of the Alliance, this is unprecedented.
The leader of the Cheongseong Sect, Wonyang Jin-in, added:
—He’s right. We might be paving the way for a new era of demons. If we defeat the Yoomyung Cult, the Nokrim will thrive, and if the demons of the past join them…
Wonjang Jin-in shook his head, as if the mere thought was horrendous.
But Jegal Seun did not yield.
—Without such a significant offer, we won’t be able to move the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord. He doesn’t need anything. This is the only proposal that will tempt him.
The Leader of the Wudang Sect frowned, not fully understanding.
—Why would someone so eccentric be interested in such an offer?
—It’s an opportunity to prove that he is the true leader of the Evil Faction. If he accomplishes what no one else has, he will become a legend in the Evil Faction. Does he really want to miss that opportunity?
—And if he refuses?
—It’s an offer he cannot refuse. If he does, the Evil Faction will stop following him.
—Oh!
—That makes sense!
The leaders exclaimed in recognition. Jegal Seun deserved his nickname of Great Strategist. Though painful for the sects, the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord could not reject it. It was a strategy that sacrificed the flesh to obtain the bones. And those bones would be the Nokrim.
A meaningful smile appeared on Jegal Seun’s lips.
—To prevent the Nokrim from benefiting from the conflict, we must drag them into this fight. They will bleed as much as we do.
Finally, the sect leaders nodded. There was no other way to move the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord, so they had no choice but to follow this strategy.
Zhengzhou.
Seokjang Village.
A day before the wedding, the village chief called his future in-law, Lee Wooseok, to his house.
While having tea, the village chief, Seok Ilham, wore a gentler expression than usual.
—How are the preparations going?
Faced with the out-of-context question, Lee Wooseok hesitated.
—Chief, as I mentioned before, we still…
Until fifteen days ago, he had been firm in his refusal, but now his tone was uncertain.
—I heard that tomorrow the hair ceremony, also known as the coming-of-age ceremony, will be held.
The mention of the ceremony made Lee Wooseok nervously glance at the chief.
To his surprise, the chief was smiling.
—Yes, that’s right. My nephew volunteered to prepare it.
—You did well. It was just mentioned that “a bride so young who hasn’t gone through the hair ceremony” could be a problem. She is already sixteen years old; it was time to hold the ceremony.
Lee Wooseok didn’t know how to respond to the chief’s praise. It wasn’t a ceremony for the wedding, but the chief seemed to see it that way.
—You had a good idea to hold the ceremony before the wedding. I’ll cover the expenses, so don’t worry about anything.
Seok Ilham spoke as if the hair ceremony was part of the wedding preparations. For him, moving forward with the wedding wasn’t a problem.
Lee Wooseok did not respond. He was resigned. His nephew opposed escaping and didn’t take responsibility for his debts. The chief insisted on holding the wedding at all costs. He was trapped in the middle, not knowing what to do.
At that moment, the door opened, and food was brought in. The succulent and delicious aroma made Lee Wooseok swallow. The chief’s house was filled with that aroma. Seok Ilham smiled kindly and offered him food.
—Eat. I’m not sure if you’ll like it, but this is the food that will be served at tomorrow’s wedding.
———————–
Lee Wooseok returned home late in the afternoon after the meal at the chief’s house.
When he opened the door and entered, he noticed something piled up on the small terrace. They were large boxes, neatly tied with cloth. He thought the chief had sent them as gifts and entered the house.
Although he was curious about the contents, he feared his nephew and wife would be upset, so he decided to ignore it.
In the small room, his wife and two daughters were chatting happily. It was unusual to see his wife relaxing with the girls in broad daylight.
—Was there no work today?
—Everyone went to work at the chief’s house. I couldn’t go there.
—Ah, that explains the commotion at the chief’s house when I was there.
—Why did you go there?
—What other reason could there be? I went to get in his good graces. How could I live in peace if I made an enemy of the chief?
—You haven’t changed your mind, have you?
—What are you talking about? Do you think I would backtrack with the girls here?
Lee Wooseok felt that his wife didn’t understand him. Women, with their emotions, sometimes seemed out of touch with reality.
—What’s on the terrace?
Even though he knew they were gifts from the chief, he asked to be sure.
To his surprise, his younger daughter, Lee Si-hwa, answered:
—Dosa… Dosi? Someone sent it, they said.
The unfamiliar name made Lee Wooseok look at his older daughter, Lee Yu-hwa. She shrugged.
—Mom and I just got back; we don’t know. Si-hwa received them this morning.
—Hmm? I don’t know any Dosa…
—Ah, yes! The guard… a guard also sent something.
—A Dosa and a guard? Who are they? Is there a temple here? The chief has many acquaintances. Could they be taking care of us because we’re the future in-laws?
—We are not his future in-laws!
Jang Sumi, his wife, shouted angrily. Lee Yu-hwa and Lee Si-hwa also looked displeased, making Lee Wooseok back off.
—I didn’t say we were his in-laws. I just assumed they sent things thinking we are.
—That upsets me! Don’t say it again!
Lee Wooseok shrank back, uncomfortable with his wife’s reaction. He felt that women were too emotional.
At that moment, a loud voice called out from outside.
—Is anyone home?!
Taking the opportunity, Lee Wooseok jumped up.
—It seems we have visitors. I’ll go see.
He quickly escaped from the room and looked outside from the terrace. Three strong men were standing with loads on their backs.
—Who are you?
—Is this the house of Master Lee?
The reference to “Master Lee” left Lee Wooseok perplexed. In Seokjang, he was the only Lee. But he wasn’t someone they would call “Master.”
—Yes, I’m the only Lee in this village, but I’m not a master…
—Are you Lee Wooseok?
—Yes, that’s right.
The chief had many important relatives, and the formality of the visitors confirmed it.
—The Magistrate of Hyangyang, Seok Gang-wol, has sent these gifts. Can we leave them here?
—Well, yes, but I’m not sure if I should accept them…
After all, he had proposed canceling the wedding, and now he was receiving gifts from the magistrate.
The situation was becoming overwhelming. He had previously seen it as a personal matter between his family and the chief. But receiving these gifts made it seem like the situation was getting more complicated.
The men left the gifts, filling the small terrace. But that was just the beginning.
Before night fell, more people, unknown to him, sent more gifts. From the Alliance Office in Zhengzhou to the Sakkpung Association of Zhengzhou.
The terrace filled up, then the house, and finally, they had to stack them under the eaves due to lack of space.
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