“The tea tastes good.”

“I brew it rather well, do I not?”

“I am surprised. I thought you kept your distance from the way of tea.” 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Mo Yong Yeonhwa smiled.

“I learned it while I was there. They said immersing oneself in tea could help control the heart, so I tried learning it. I do not think it was very effective.”

Mo Yonggun laughed heartily.

“Controlling the heart depends on how one sets one’s own mind, does it not?”

“That is true. Still, it was good at first. I was quite tense.”

“That is understandable.”

“Yes. It helped quite a bit with easing that tension.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa had staked her life when she went to Ink Dragon Manor.

She had not gone there as Yangcheon’s hostage. With that one resolve, Mo Yong Yeonhwa had been able to grow further, and in time, she gained Yangcheon’s recognition and was able to come this far.

Mo Yonggun spoke calmly.

“So, seeing as you have only now come to this father of yours, have you made up your mind?”

After Mo Yong-woo proved his own worth with an overwhelming presence, Mo Yonggun had summoned Mo Yong Yeonhwa and scolded her quite harshly. If they were in the same boat, then she should have forgotten old ill feelings and tried to learn even a little more, yet Mo Yong Yeonhwa had still been trapped by the past.

Of course, Mo Yonggun had not felt at ease after scolding his daughter. In the end, he bore some responsibility for the way she had grown. He was the one who had taught her that if a person was capable enough, such things were no more than trivial problems.

Even so, he wanted her to change now. He wanted her to stand beside him with Mo Yong-woo and accomplish great things at his left and right.

After Mo Yonggun scolded her, Mo Yong Yeonhwa had said she would remain in her quarters and reflect until her heart settled.

And now, his daughter had come to him in person and brewed him tea.

“I will speak honestly.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s face was exceedingly serious.

Her gaze did not waver in the slightest, and the arrogance had vanished from her expression. That alone satisfied Mo Yonggun.

“My feelings toward Uncle have not yet settled. I tried in my own way, but it was not easy.”

“That is how a person’s heart works. Making up one’s mind is easy enough, but untying the heart is not so simple.”

“Yes. But I cannot stay like this forever. As you said, Father, looking down on someone because of an old ill fate when we are in the same boat is something only a petty person would do.”

“Hm.”

“I will try. I cannot forget the old ill fate cleanly, but I will try to ignore it. At the very least, I will make sure I do not slight Uncle because of it.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa was still a talent with many shortcomings.

But the reason Mo Yonggun acknowledged his daughter was that, at the very least, she knew how to take responsibility in her own way for the words she spoke aloud. And that was also proof that Mo Yong Yeonhwa was that honest.

Mo Yonggun smiled and nodded.

“You have thought well. Since you have made up your mind that way, this father’s heart feels considerably lighter.”

“I am sorry for making you worry.”

“No. You have returned more mature than before. The worries I had until now are nothing.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa smiled.

“Something like this may happen again in the future. Please scold me from time to time.”

“Ha ha ha! Very well. I certainly will.”

Father and daughter smiled at each other.

Whether Mo Yong Yeonhwa could truly change remained to be seen, but had she not at least taken one step forward? That alone was enough to satisfy Mo Yonggun.

“Since you have come, let us discuss the things we could not speak of until now.”

“Yes.”

Mo Yonggun’s smiling face turned cold in an instant.

“Manor Lord Yang told you to bring him the Martial Alliance’s information?”

“Yes. He clearly said so.”

“Hm.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa sighed.

“He is not someone who fails to understand how unreasonable that is. And even though the matter is already over, he is still demanding information. That means......”

“Insurance, I suppose.”

The corners of Mo Yonggun’s mouth rose.

His smile was cold.

“He promised firm support so that I could become Martial Alliance Leader, but if I fail to become the leader, would that not mean he spent money for nothing? Manor Lord Yang is doing his own profit-and-loss calculation.”

“I was somewhat disappointed in that part. I thought he was not the kind of person who says two things with one mouth.”

“He is testing us.”

“Yes?”

“He wants to see whether our side will truly provide the Martial Alliance’s information or not. Even if we do not provide information, our relationship will continue.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s eyes flashed.

“He gave me that order to gain the upper hand in the relationship.”

“There is no such thing as an equal relationship. If one gains the upper hand, many things become easier.”

“Then what do you intend to do?”

“Who knows.”

Mo Yonggun propped his chin on his hand.

“If either Manor Lord Yang or I begin crossing the line, we will both perish together. Leaving aside relationships and superiority, giving him a small pat on the backside at an appropriate line should be fine.”

Tension appeared on Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s face.

“Do you intend to leak Martial Alliance information?”

“I do.”

“......!”

“Of course, I cannot hand over top-secret information. But I will need to throw him a piece of meat that is suitably large and appetizing.”

Mo Yonggun smiled.

“And if possible, information that benefits me as well would be best.”

“Information that benefits you......”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s gaze changed for an instant.

“Are you trying to remove a political enemy?”

She still had many shortcomings, but blood was blood. Mo Yonggun smiled with satisfaction at Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s sharp eye.

“It would be good for me because a political enemy disappears, and good for Manor Lord Yang because he can remove an Orthodox Path master who is a thorn in his eye. Is that not killing two birds with one stone?”

“It could be dangerous, Father.”

“It is dangerous. But we are always walking on thin ice. It is certainly dangerous, but it will also bring me great benefit.”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes shone.

“Of course, before that, it would be best to prepare a decent shield.”

“A shield?”

Mo Yonggun took a sip of tea, gathered his thoughts, and closed his eyes.

I am sorry.

To whom was that apology directed?

Your «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» choice to stand with me was a good one. But you are far too extreme. Because of you, everyone in our party has often been put in difficult positions.

Mo Yonggun opened his eyes again.

Having made some kind of decision, a faint Killing Intent settled in his gaze.

I will not make excuses about sacrifice for the great work. Resent me.

He opened his mouth.

“I hear the sect leader of the Kongtong Sect will leave the Martial Alliance in a month.”

“Are you speaking of Sect Leader Deung Cheongyo?”

“Yes.”

Mo Yonggun gazed steadily at Mo Yong Yeonhwa.

Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s face gradually turned pale.

“Father, surely......?”

“If one intends to take the enemy’s bones, one must carve away one’s own flesh as well.”

“......!!”

“Sect Leader Deung possesses astonishing martial arts. However, he is also a man who is excessively extreme and frequently causes trouble. In a sense, he is more troublesome precisely because he is an ally.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa swallowed.

To eliminate an enemy by any means necessary—that was the aesthetics of battle.

But sacrificing an ally in order to take an opponent’s piece was something one should almost never do. Leaving aside effectiveness, if this truth were exposed, who would ever want to stand with him?

After briefly organizing her thoughts, Mo Yong Yeonhwa lowered her head.

“The reason you intend to sacrifice Sect Leader Deung cannot be only to avoid suspicion, Father. It must also be because Sect Leader Deung has caused several incidents until now.”

Mo Yonggun chuckled.

“Of course. But I do not intend to use that as an excuse. Whatever else may be true, he is my person. Even if he is the greatest troublemaker under heaven, once he has come under my wing, it is my duty to protect him somehow.”

“......!”

“I am now saying I will not keep that obvious duty. It is unlike me.”

“Father.”

“But you see, I feel no hesitation.”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes turned bleak.

Mo Yong Yeonhwa had never seen such a poisonous look in her father’s eyes before. While she had been absent from the Martial Alliance, Mo Yonggun too had undergone a significant change in his own way.

“You said you were disappointed because Manor Lord Yang said two things with one mouth, did you not?”

“......Yes.”

“I understand him. Principles and rules, if they are not flexible, slow development. This is not an excuse. It is fact.”

“......”

“Until I truly become the greatest, if necessary, I will throw even my own people in as sacrifices. I will scheme, and if I must become a fool, I will live like a fool.”

Mo Yonggun looked at Mo Yong Yeonhwa.

“Will you trust and follow such a father?”

The surprise filling Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s face soon gave way to a small smile.

“The reason you ask me such a question is because there is a possibility that I, too, may become a sacrifice, is it not?”

“There may be. No, I have already used you as a sacrifice once.”

The man who had sent his daughter to Ink Dragon Manor for the sake of his own future was none other than Mo Yonggun. Now that very man was saying he would live even more ruthlessly.

Mo Yong Yeonhwa lowered her head.

“The fact that you told me that itself is a great gift to me. Even blood kin may be cast aside at any time if their ability is lacking and they are of no help. Knowing that alone will allow me to reduce a mistake I might make twice down to once.”

Mo Yonggun smiled.

His daughter had indeed inherited the blood of the Mo Yong Clan. Very deeply, at that.

“Then let us begin.”

“Yes. Ah! Before that.”

“Hm?”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa tilted her head.

“If you intend to use Sect Leader Deung as a shield, which political enemy are you trying to remove?”

Mo Yonggun’s smile faded.

He opened his mouth and spoke. When Mo Yong Yeonhwa heard the name, thick tension fell over her face.

“......It will not be easy.”

“Manor Lord Yang will know that as well. He will handle it properly on his own. It would be best if the person dies, but even if not, that is fine. This will be a chance to see Manor Lord Yang’s ability as well.”

“I see.”

“I will find out Sect Leader Deung’s route. You are to convey it to Manor Lord Yang tomorrow.”

“......Yes!”

*****

The two men walked down the road at a fairly quick pace.

How long had they gone?

“Clan Lord.”

“What?”

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“What exactly is this about?”

Since he had already agreed to follow, there was no real need for such a question.

He knew that, but it was hard to suppress his curiosity. It would have been one thing if Tang Gwan had asked his father for help, but considering Tang Gwan’s personality, how many matters could there be for which he would go out of his way to bring Yeon Hojeong?

SHHK.

Tang Gwan stopped walking for a moment. Naturally, Yeon Hojeong, who had been following behind him, also stopped.

“Rude bastard.”

“My name is Yeon Hojeong. Please call me by my name.”

“I understand you were the one who put Sang-a into the Demon-Sweeping Corps. Mo Yong-woo merely approved it.”

“That is true.”

“I will ask one thing.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes deepened.

“You. Are you on close terms with Mo Yong-woo?”

It was a sudden, fairly sharp question.

Of course, Yeon Hojeong’s expression did not waver. His eyes merely held puzzlement.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Just answer me, rude bastard.”

It was not an easy answer to give. His deep friendship with Mo Yong-woo was something he had not yet told even his father. Of course, Yeon Wi had likely noticed to some degree.

In other words, saying this meant revealing everything about himself to Tang Gwan.

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“I am.”

“......”

“I trust you will not speak of this elsewhere.”

Tang Gwan’s gaze deepened. He, too, knew the weight of that honest answer.

But only for a moment.

“Then pull her out.”

“Who?”

“Sang-a.”

“......All of a sudden?”

Tang Gwan’s expression turned complicated.

“There is a reason.”