Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Chapter: 127 Baekdo Martial Alliance

“Master, Baek Pung’s leader is here with a mid-report.”

“Proceed.”

“Currently, the leaders of Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, Zhongnan, Qingcheng, Emei, and Kongtong among the Nine Great Clans have gathered. Among the Six Great Families, our family, the Zhuge family, and the Paeng family are present, while the Yeon family and Namgung family are nearby. The Tang family is expected to take some time.”

“Understood.”

“And…”

“I’ll hear the rest of the report in half a day. You’ve done well.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

The presence of Baek Pung’s leader disappeared from outside the door.

Moyong Gun, who had been quietly watching his counterpart, soon smiled.

“Do you enjoy drinking?”

“I have a drink occasionally.”

“Haha, I see. You’ve grown into a man while I wasn’t looking.”

Moyong Gun gazed out the window.

“Though it’s still midday, it wouldn’t be right to drink bland tea when brothers meet after a long time. Would you like a drink?”

“That sounds good.”

“Very well.”

Moyong Gun called a servant to bring some alcohol.

The Martial Alliance was vast. Its scale was so immense that the Nine Great Clans and the Six Great Families each managed an area within the inner city.

They were treated well and also tasked with security roles. Given the current political and emotional state of the martial world, it was a reasonable arrangement.

Perhaps because of this, the shadow of Moyong Gun already loomed large over Tanlang Pavilion, where the Moyong family was based.

“There’s something I need to discuss before the drink arrives.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“I heard you embarrassed Yeonhwa?”

The person sitting across from Moyong Gun nodded.

“Yes, I did.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

She was the daughter of the family head and the niece of his older brother. To Moyong Woo, she was his niece.

It would be normal to feel intimidated, but Moyong Woo remained very composed.

“Why did you do that? Yeonhwa is more delicate than she appears. She seemed deeply hurt.”

“If she was hurt by that level of verbal abuse, it means Yeonhwa still has a lot of growing up to do.”

Look at this guy!

A curious interest appeared on Moyong Gun’s face.

The Moyong Woo he knew wasn’t like this. He had a pure and delicate soul, quite unlike himself.

Yet, looking at him now, he seemed very different from the younger brother Moyong Gun remembered.

“Haha, I’m seeing a new side of you today.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, you have a point. I didn’t raise Yeonhwa to be weak. Though her heart is tender, I trained her thoroughly to not show it. However, as you said, it seems she still has some growing to do.”

“Yes. Yeonhwa needs more time to reorganize herself and make further efforts.”

“Hahaha!”

Moyong Gun burst into laughter.

Why? He couldn’t help but laugh.

Zhejiang is a beautiful region. Anyone born and raised in the Central Plains dreams of settling there.

But considering the Moyong family headquarters, Moyong Woo had effectively been banished to the frontier.

The younger brother, who had been driven out, was now criticizing his daughter for being weak and saying she needed to learn more.

That fact was oddly amusing.

“It’s amusing. Truly amusing. Many things have happened recently, but I never imagined that I would have a conversation like this with you.”

“……”

“When I received the letter saying you would double the Zhejiang business, I expected a significant change in your heart. But seeing you come here, it seems you’ve made a great decision that I am unaware of.”

“I have made a firm decision. One that will never waver.”

Moyong Gun smiled.

At that moment, a servant brought in a tray of liquor.

“It’s Dukang wine. Have you ever tried it?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“I find it quite to my taste. Despite its short fermentation period, it has a decent flavor. I wonder what you’ll think of it.”

As Moyong Gun lifted the bottle, Moyong Woo politely held out a cup.

“Come to think of it, this is the first time. Pouring you a drink.”

The room was quickly filled with the sharp aroma of the liquor.

“Come, let’s accept this drink from our youngest.”

Moyong Woo filled Moyong Gun’s cup.

“Let’s have a drink.”

“Before that, there’s something I need to say.”

“Hmm?”

Moyong Gun set his cup down.

“I wanted to start with a drink.”

“Although we are brothers, in some ways, our relationship has been worse than that of strangers. And I do not casually share a drink with someone I am not familiar with.”

“…Haha.”

“I came to change that relationship. I will only drink this cup after I finish speaking.”

Moyong Gun nodded.

“Alright. Speak.”

“I will speak bluntly.”

Moyong Woo’s eyes sparkled.

His eyes, shining with intense determination, made Moyong Gun’s heart pound.

“I want to see if the path you’re walking is right.”

“Hmm?”

“You defeated our eldest brother and became the head of our family. Two of our brothers died, and except for me, the rest sided with you.”

“Indeed.”

“I will say it clearly. I think your path is wrong.”

“I know.”

“Your methods are excessively dangerous. Moreover, they are not the righteous path. That’s why I believe your path is wrong. Many innocent people have died because of it.”

Moyong Gun merely smiled.

Moyong Woo continued speaking.

“But you did not kill me.”

“Because you did not challenge me.”

“And perhaps because I was useful.”

“Haha, you see well.”

“While handling the Zhejiang business, I thought about it. Why is my brother walking such a tyrannical path? Why is he walking a dangerous path under the guise of righteousness?”

“……”

“Looking at the past and present of our family, I finally became certain of what you desire.”

“What do you think I desire?”

“To become the leader of the martial arts world and make the Moyong family the best in the world.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes flashed.

Moyong Woo continued in a calm voice.

“I know you are someone who wouldn’t hesitate to commit heinous acts to become the best. No, that’s all I thought. But I never considered that you had a specific goal.”

“Huh.”

“But now I understand. You want to become the leader of the martial arts world and reign as the emperor of all martial artists in Zhongyuan.”

“…Impressive.”

Moyong Gun spoke as if he was genuinely impressed.

“Until now, only one person had seen through my dream. Today, it has become two.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Aside from Yeonhwa and a few of my closest confidants, I’ve never shared my dream with anyone.”

Moyong Woo shook his head.

“Even without being told, it can be understood.”

“That’s not true at all. Without understanding my nature, the actions of the Moyong family, and the trends of the world, it would be hard to reach such a conclusion.”

Moyong Gun was truly impressed.

“I knew you were an unparalleled talent in the world, but I didn’t expect you to have such remarkable insight. Truly impressive.”

He had only praised one other person to this extent before. It showed how astonished Moyong Gun was.

“So, you know my goal is to become the leader of the martial arts world and to make the Moyong family the best. What change has that brought to your heart?”

Moyong Woo’s eyes deepened.

“I am prepared to step into the muddy water.”

“Hmm?”

“I despise sacrificing the small for the sake of the great. But I cannot stop you. Probably, no one can stop you.”

“Hahaha.”

“In that case, I have only one choice.”

A terrifying aura emanated from Moyong Woo’s body.

“To help you ascend to the throne as quickly as possible.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes widened.

He had expected Moyong Woo had come to join hands with him, but he hadn’t anticipated such words.

“You will help me ascend to the throne?”

“I will dedicate my life to helping you become the most powerful figure in the martial arts world and stand at its pinnacle.”

“Haha, hahaha!”

“Only if you promise me two things.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of promises?”

Moyong Woo clenched his fist.

“I believe that your ruthless actions are not only due to your desire for power but also because you have a master plan to bring peace to all people.”

“…!”

“When you become the leader of the martial arts world, then you must work for the world.”

Moyong Gun’s mouth slowly opened.

“You truly intend to surprise me.”

Moyong Woo shook his head.

“You must not go astray. You must become a ruler overflowing with benevolence and righteousness. If you cannot promise this, I will live my life in the wilderness.”

Moyong Gun, who had been looking at his brother with a surprised expression, suddenly became curious and asked.

“What is the other promise?”

“Give me the family.”

“What?”

“When you become the leader of the martial arts world, give me the Moyong family. I will lead the Moyong family to match the name of being the best in the world. I will meticulously sculpt it into an artwork that will be remembered for generations.”

Moyong Woo took a deep breath.

But the look in his eyes as he watched Moyong Gun showed no sign of wavering.

“If you promise me those two things, from today onwards, I will be your man.”

“……”

“No matter what harsh tasks you assign to me, I will follow without a word of complaint. If my heart wavers, I will cultivate it to ensure it doesn’t. I will consider that a part of my growth.”

“……Why?”

Moyong Gun asked seriously.

“Why do you hold such intentions? Is it because you understood my dream?”

“That is one of the reasons.”

“What is the decisive reason?”

“Because I am different from you.”

“What?”

“Unlike you, I cannot sever the bonds of family love until the moment I die. Therefore, after helping my blood relative’s dream, I have no choice but to follow my own path.”

Moyong Woo bowed his head.

“I endured for more than ten years, but victory was not in sight.”

“……”

“I lost.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes wavered greatly.

“Woo-ya.”

He grasped Moyong Woo’s hands.

Moyong Woo felt a lump in his throat. The hands of his brother, held for the first time in over twenty years, had grown rough during that time.

With an expression full of emotion, Moyong Gun said.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

“…Don’t say that. I am someone who harbors hatred for you.”

“You rascal, you rascal.”

Moyong Gun patted Moyong Woo’s shoulders.

The punches felt weak, but they were filled with a tumultuous heart.

“Thank you, truly, thank you.”

“Will you promise me?”

“I promise. I will certainly do so. How could I not keep a promise?”

Moyong Woo raised his cup.

“Let’s have a drink.”

“Yes, let’s drink. No, today let’s get thoroughly drunk. Hey! Bring the whole barrel of wine!”

The brothers emptied their cups.

The emotions in their eyes as they looked at each other were indescribable. At least at this moment, the emotions they showed to each other were sincere.

‘Brother.’

Moyong Woo closed his eyes.

‘I’m sorry, but I haven’t lost yet.’