When I thought about my mother, honestly, I didn’t have that many memories.

Just a vague impression that she was pretty, and that she’d been gentle.

I don’t remember her well. I don’t know her well. That was all I had.

I’d only found out not long ago that my mother’s surname had been Jegal—and not just some offshoot line, but direct blood.

I knew nothing. When it came to my mother, ignorance was all I had in the end.

So.

“......”

The same would be true of the man standing in front of me.

‘...Jegal Hyeongyeon.’

I looked at the middle-aged man. He resembled Jegal Jin, but his face was softer—more forgiving.

There was a faint sense of kindness in his nature, and the upright posture carried a dignity that—

[Aha. So it’s that snot-nosed brat. You grew up well. Keh-heh-heh.]

...would’ve been easier to feel if that old man hadn’t just warped the impression I was trying to form.

Anyway.

‘...The young clan head of the Jegal Clan.’

The current young clan head of the Jegal Clan was that man.

Jegal Jin was still serving as the Martial Alliance’s strategist even in his old age, so he hadn’t stepped down from the Jegal Clan Head position.

Because of that, Jegal Hyeongyeon was stuck as “young clan head,” not the actual clan head.

And also—

‘A famous formation master.’

The Jegal Clan, to begin with, was a place that excelled more in formations and tactics than martial arts.

And even among them, Jegal Hyeongyeon was known as an outstanding formation master.

Back during the Orthodox-Demonic War, when Jegal Jin had made his name and earned the title God of War—

They said Jegal Hyeongyeon, still young at the time, had deployed formations and fought demonic warriors.

‘From my perspective, he was just a great formation master.’

So the fact that a guy like that was my maternal uncle felt... strangely unreal.

‘...Of course, it’s not like he necessarily sees it the same way.’

In terms of relationship, sure, he was my maternal uncle—but it was just a formal connection.

A label.

While I was thinking that—

“...Definitely...”

Jegal Hyeongyeon spoke to me with a subtle look in his eyes.

“...You resemble her.”

A quiet line, heavy with lingering emotion.

Hearing it, I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Resemble who. The tone and cadence made it obvious what he meant.

“Is that so? Do I resemble my mother that much?”

“......”

The moment I mentioned my mother directly, Jegal Hyeongyeon’s expression shifted.

“My. I suppose I made it too obvious.”

“Just obvious enough. I’m the type who picks up on things.”

“Ha ha ha...”

Jegal Hyeongyeon let out a laugh.

And the laugh felt... dry.

“So.”

I looked at him and asked.

“What business do you have with me?”

Why had Jegal Hyeongyeon come looking for me?

When I voiced the question—

“I came because I have something I’d like to ask you, Moon Knight.”

“You can speak comfortably.”

“Oh? I can?”

“Yes.”

He was my maternal uncle in name, and far older than me. There was no reason for him to keep doing this.

“First, I’m Yeonghyeon, the young clan head of the Jegal Clan. This is our first time properly greeting one another.”

“I’m Bang Sungyeon of the Blue Moon Sect.”

A man who, despite being well past forty, still remained “young clan head.”

A formation master who’d reached mastery—and though he was only “young clan head,” he’d proven his ability to act in the clan head’s stead.

‘His nickname was probably...’

Stock-Line Earth-Heaven.

A formation that twisted common perception, creating deception and unnatural phenomena.

A master so capable he could deal with martial artists without a hitch using that formation.

That was Stock-Line Earth-Heaven Jegal Hyeongyeon.

“I came because there are a few things I want to ask you.”

“Yes.”

A man like that sought me out. Why?

I narrowed my brow slightly, watching him.

“...First, even though I understood the situation, my greeting is late, so I should apologize first. I’m sorry. I didn’t know my younger sister had borne a child.”

“...No. There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”

He didn’t know. I didn’t know if that was true, but if it was—

‘The only ones who know...’

Jegal Jin, Poison Sovereign, and my father.

Those three.

That was my immediate conclusion.

But—

‘Is that really true?’

I didn’t believe him.

‘The odds he didn’t know are too low.’

He wasn’t just anyone—he was the young clan head. Even Poison Sovereign, who wasn’t even part of their clan, had grasped the facts to some extent.

And the young clan head of the Jegal Clan didn’t know? I didn’t buy it.

“Don’t worry about that. I only found out recently too. And besides...”

I lowered my voice and spoke quietly.

“We weren’t exactly close to begin with. And the strategist judged it that way as well.”

“......”

Even if my mother was of the Jegal Clan, I’m not entangled with you.

And Thousand-Mile True Sight thinks the same.

I drew the line without saying it outright.

Then—

“...The clan head thinks that too...? Do you really think so?”

Jegal Hyeongyeon spoke with a shallow smile. Hm?

‘What is that?’

That question—did it mean Jegal Jin’s thinking was different from mine?

“It’s nothing. Just my own reckless words. Don’t mind it.”

“......”

He makes it something I would mind, then tells me not to mind it. What a joke.

“Understood. Then... what is the reason you came looking for me, young clan head?”

“...Hm.”

At my question, Jegal Hyeongyeon fell silent. Like the words wouldn’t come easily.

And—

‘His gaze.’

He kept flicking his eyes toward the medical station behind me.

Seeing that, I decided.

‘So that’s it.’

The reason he came looking for me. I’d figured it out.

“Don’t worry.”

“...Hm?”

Jegal Hyeongyeon frowned at my sudden statement.

I looked at him and said—

“I’m only personally acquainted with young master Peng. I have no intention of throwing my weight behind the Peng Clan.”

“...!”

Jegal Hyeongyeon’s eyes went wide.

“...You...”

He started to speak, then shut his mouth.

“...How did you know?”

He asked me again, clearly this time.

I smiled slightly.

“There’s nothing to ‘how’ about it.”

The reason Jegal Hyeongyeon came looking for me—

It was simple.

“At this point, the only reason you’d move like this is the Peng Clan.”

Peng Clan Head. Blade Absolute.

That was the problem.

“...Could you explain your reasoning more deeply?”

Did he really need an explanation? I didn’t understand, but I could give him one.

“The Alliance Leader’s condition isn’t good. That was even mentioned during the conference.”

Exactly how bad it was would be classified, but by now, people would already be talking around it.

When they stirred public opinion about naming a new Alliance Leader, Divine Spear’s absence would’ve been the center of it.

The problem was—

“One of the strongest candidates right now is Blade Absolute.”

The people who might rise as Alliance Leader after Divine Spear.

If you picked the most powerful candidates among them, there were four.

The Sect Master of the Nine Great Sects—Plum Blossom Single Sword, who’d been discussed alongside Divine Spear, was one.

‘Moon-Thread Sword too.’

Moon-Thread Sword, the absolute master of the Blue Moon Sect, also looked more than qualified to be named a candidate for Alliance Leader.

Another group: the heads of the Five Great Clans. Among them, those with ties to the Martial Alliance—or exceptional fame.

That meant Sword King and Blade Absolute.

Poison Sovereign’s position had weakened somewhat because of the Sichuan assault.

And White King—if I had to guess, he’d rather die than take a job like Alliance Leader.

And Jegal Hyeongyeon wasn’t even clan head. And like Jegal Jin, he was a formation master more than anything—meaning he couldn’t become Alliance Leader.

So if the situation came down to Sword King and Blade Absolute as candidates...

‘Sword King is impossible.’

With rumors flying that the Namgung Clan was tangled up with the DEMON CULT, the Namgung Clan couldn’t rise to Alliance Leader anymore.

Which left—

‘Only Blade Absolute.’

From the Five Great Clans: Blade Absolute.

From the Blue Moon Sect: Moon-Thread Sword.

And then Plum Blossom Single Sword of the Heaven-Beyond-Heaven, and...

‘And, judging by circumstances...’

By my calculation—

‘The Sect Master of Wudang is also likely to step up.’

That was just a prediction, but I still counted it among the candidates.

So four.

If they were going to choose the next Alliance Leader, there were four names that would come up.

And—

‘Blade Absolute is the most likely.’

Among those four, Blade Absolute had the highest chance to become the next Alliance Leader.

It might change depending on how Moon-Thread Sword moved, but at least right now, that was how it looked.

“And here...”

This was where Jegal Hyeongyeon’s real concern came out.

“If Clan Head Peng becomes Alliance Leader, the Jegal Clan could suffer real damage. You know that, so you came looking for me. Isn’t that right?”

“......”

Jegal Hyeongyeon shut his mouth. It must’ve hit the mark.

If Blade Absolute became Alliance Leader, the Jegal Clan would take damage.

The reason was simple.

‘Because Blade Absolute hates formation masters.’

Not just Blade Absolute—the Peng Clan itself was famous for having a bad relationship with formation masters.

The story between the previous clan head, Blade God, and Jegal Jin was infamous.

And even aside from that, it was common knowledge that the Peng Clan, going back generations, rejected and disliked formation masters.

‘Not that formation masters have been treated well in the Central Plains for very long.’

The Central Plains worshiped martial arts and raw strength.

So martial artists used to look down on formation masters just for the fact that they studied formations and trained them.

Jegal Jin was the one who’d changed that discrimination.

But—

‘The Peng Clan is still stuck in that old mold.’

When it came to discriminating against formation masters, the Peng Clan still hadn’t escaped it.

‘Which means...’

If the Peng Clan became Alliance Leader in this state— 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

‘There’s a strong chance it impacts the Jegal Clan itself.’

The odds that a Peng Clan Head, reigning as Alliance Leader, would bring harmful influence to the Jegal Clan?

Very high.

“That’s what you’re worried about, isn’t it? There are rumors that Black-Grand Saber and I worked together... so you’re concerned I might raise my hand for the Peng Clan Head, and you came looking for me.”

“......”

Jegal Hyeongyeon turned into someone who’d swallowed honey and lost the ability to speak.

Because I was right.

He’d come because he was afraid I might take the Peng Clan’s side.

‘I get it.’

I understand the urgency.

The problem is my reputation.

‘Being called Moon Knight.’

I’d become the most famous junior generation in Henan.

As a result, everyone’s eyes were on me.

And my name carried weight now.

In this state—

‘With rumors that I’m close with Black-Grand Saber...’

If I took the Peng Clan’s side—

‘It would raise the odds of Blade Absolute becoming Alliance Leader.’

“The man backed by the hero of Henan.”

That would be the story, more or less.

But—

“If I raise my hand, it’ll be for our Sect Master.”

If Moon-Thread Sword stepped forward to become Alliance Leader, that would at least carry clearer legitimacy.

That was my judgment when I spoke, but—

“...No. Moon-Thread Sword probably won’t step up and say he’ll become Alliance Leader.”

Jegal Hyeongyeon responded negatively.

‘Does he know something?’

He sounded like he knew something about Moon-Thread Sword.

I filed it away. I didn’t show it.

“I answered because you came worried. I won’t take anyone’s side. And also...”

With narrowed eyes, I delivered the rest to Jegal Hyeongyeon.

“I have no intention of getting entangled with the Jegal Clan—no matter what you want.”

“...!”

Jegal Hyeongyeon flinched.

“...Ha ha.”

Then he let out a laugh.

The moment I mentioned what the young clan head wanted, that was probably ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) why he reacted like that.

“...Just from the fact that I came to you, you figured out this much?”

“There was a lot of information, but it wasn’t all because of that... I just gathered what was visible.”

What Jegal Hyeongyeon wanted—on that point, I applied the information from a letter I’d seen before in Jegal Jin’s quarters.

That problem.

‘The chronic weakness of the Jegal Clan that Jegal Jin was agonizing over.’

It would still be there.

Could I solve it?

‘It’s possible.’

It was possible, but I didn’t want to stick my hand into it.

And once I drew that line clearly—

“...I see.”

Jegal Hyeongyeon nodded as if he understood, then—

“It seems I said something foolish to you earlier.”

“Something foolish?”

“The part about you resembling my younger sister. I retract it.”

“...Ah.”

Was I too rude? Is that why?

But—

“You...”

With a different expression, Jegal Hyeongyeon spoke.

“You look far more like the clan head.”

“......”

I look like Jegal Jin.

My face twisted.

Because I felt absolutely terrible hearing it.