Silence flowed in the room.
As the energy flickered like a flame in front of their eyes, Min Yeongyeong and the man swallowed their dry saliva without realizing it.
'In what time...'
Neither of them had seen Cheon Myeong's movements accurately.
Nevertheless, the reason why they had stopped their movements was because of the instinct that the two had.
They had instinctively felt the danger that would befall them if they were to approach any further than now and had stopped.
"..."
The danger that the two had felt was accurate.
Because if they had shown their intention to continue fighting without stopping, Cheon Myeong would have suppressed them with force.
Cheon Myeong had enough power to do so, and it seemed that the two parties involved had already realized this fact.
'It's creaking from the start.'
In fact, Cheon Myeong had expected to some extent that the situation would flow in this direction.
Because it was true that if you forcibly gathered different forces in one place, there was a high possibility of discord.
And now, in this place, only people who were too different were gathered.
'The Martial Arts of the Outer World.'
Simply put, all the martial arts forces of the outer regions that were outside the Central Plains were included here.
Typically, the Ice Palace of the North Sea, the Beast Palace of the Southern Barbarians, and the Sea King Family of the East Sea.
If you just look at the broad category, the Demonic Cult was also included here.
Because the Xinjiang region, which could be said to be the power of the Demonic Cult, was also a considerable distance from the Central Plains.
In other words, it could be said that the representatives of each of the outer martial arts forces had all gathered in this place now.
"..."
The four forces that had thoroughly protected their respective territories and had not interfered with each other until now.
Therefore, it was difficult for the four places to gather, leaving aside the distance.
Since they did not interfere with each other, would there be a need to gather?
Unless someone were to gather them like this, and unless the Martial Alliance, which could be said to be the hegemon of the Central Plains, were to gather them, a place like now could never have been created.
'At this point, I'm getting more curious about the Martial Alliance's true intentions.'
Until now, the Central Plains and the outer martial arts had been maintaining an invisible balance quite well.
But for the Martial Alliance to create a place that could break that balance.
Cheon Myeong thought that this place now had enough influence.
Swish-
At that moment, Cheon Myeong's gaze turned to Min Yeongyeong.
Then, Min Yeongyeong, who flinched and stepped back.
Seeing that she had even lowered her raised hand, it seemed that she had no more intention of fighting.
"Put it away."
This time, Cheon Myeong said that, looking at the man.
Then, the man's shoulders also flinched slightly, just like Min Yeongyeong's, but he soon said with a fierce face.
"Are you threatening me now?"
"..."
"Do you know who I am to dare to do this..."
"The Sea King Family."
Cheon Myeong cut off the man's words in the middle.
"Seeing your age, are you about the young master of that place?"
Hearing those words, the man's face was greatly distorted.
The man's name was Wang Hyeon.
As Cheon Myeong had said, he was the young master who would become the next head of the Sea King Family.
But knowing that fact, what on earth was that attitude?
Since it felt as if he were looking down not only on him but also on the Sea King Family itself, Wang Hyeon put strength into his hand again and was about to draw his sword.
"...!"
However, Wang Hyeon had no choice but to stop his movements again.
The coldness felt from the vicinity of his neck.
The moment he was about to draw his sword, Cheon Myeong's left hand was already completely wrapped around Wang Hyeon's neck.
"Young Master!"
Watching him, the people behind Wang Hyeon were about to approach.
However, as Cheon Myeong raised his head without a word, their steps, which had stopped.
Since he was warning with his two eyes that he would twist Wang Hyeon's neck if they were to approach any closer, the people could not move any further.
"Yes, stay still like that."
"..."
"The same goes for you. It would be better to put away what's in your hand and put it on the table."
Cheon Myeong said that again, looking at Wang Hyeon.
However,
Wang Hyeon showed a bitter smile and opened his mouth.
"Are you going to kill me now?"
"If you try to draw your sword from there, I might."
"That's funny. You must be saying that, knowing what will happen if you dare to kill me, the young master of the Sea King Family, right?"
"..."
"The Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea, which follow the Sea King Family, will move to take your head."
The Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea.
In fact, the name of the Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea was more famous there than the name of the Sea King Family.
Because the Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea was what was united by the seventy-two islands under the leadership of the family called the Sea King Family.
Therefore, it could be said that there was no place in the East Sea where the influence of the Sea King Family did not reach, and it was fair to say that a maritime kingdom had been established there.
"It's not just you."
"..."
"Your family, relatives, and all those related to you will be found and killed."
What Wang Hyeon was saying now was by no means an empty threat.
The Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea had built a powerful force there, and the Sea King Family was at the center of that force.
Therefore, if he just put his mind to it, he could move everything according to his will, but Wang Hyeon was now overlooking one fact.
"Do it."
"...What?"
"Do it if you can."
As Cheon Myeong said immediately, Wang Hyeon's face hardened in an instant.
Why on earth could he maintain that attitude even after hearing the name of the Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea?
In the place where he lived, everyone would tremble just at the first letter of that name, so Wang Hyeon could not understand that attitude of Cheon Myeong now.
'Is it... a bluff?'
No, it was too confident for that.
No matter how much he bluffed, he would not be able to be so calm in front of the Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea.
Then was that guy really okay now?
As his thoughts turned to that, Wang Hyeon asked Cheon Myeong, as if he couldn't believe it.
"Do you think what I'm saying now is absurd?"
"That's not it."
"...?"
"No matter how much the Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea hold the East Sea in their grasp, you should know who the opponent you are talking to now is."
At the same time as those words, a bitter smile came out of Cheon Myeong's lips.
"You are now trying to pick a fight with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
"..."
"Your side's Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea. And this cult's hundred thousand members."
At that moment, the red energy that was flickering more intensely from Cheon Myeong's hand.
Wang Hyeon could no longer even lift a finger.
Watching him, Cheon Myeong, whose face had soon become expressionless, continued to speak.
"If those two were to clash, which side do you think would survive?"
"..."
"I wonder if you will be able to speak to me in that way even then."
Gulp-
Wang Hyeon swallowed his dry saliva.
The same went for the other people in the room.
Whether those words of Cheon Myeong were sincere or not, all the words and actions performed in this place now were not a part that could just be passed over.
Because the people here had all come as representatives of each force.
If they just put their minds to it, they had the ability to carry out everything they had said until now.
"Are you going to continue?"
"..."
"If not, put it away."
Cheon Myeong said that, breaking the silence.
In fact, if he were to think about his own or the Sea King Family's pride, retreating like this was by no means acceptable... but as he came to know the opponent's identity, Wang Hyeon could no longer think of that as a priority.
'The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult...'
Although it was located on the complete opposite side of the East Sea, Wang Hyeon knew its reputation well.
No, it would be more fitting to say its notoriety.
A being like a goblin from an old story, that was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult that Wang Hyeon knew.
'He said that there were only crazy guys there. He said that if things went wrong, parents and children would kill each other.'
Looking at Cheon Myeong, who was strangling his neck in front of his eyes, it seemed that the rumor he had heard was becoming more credible.
If not, then how could he dare to act in this way to him?
A den of madmen.
As he came to know that Cheon Myeong was a person from that place, it was seen that Wang Hyeon's momentum was also clearly weakening compared to before.
"..."
In the end, Wang Hyeon had no choice but to cautiously put away his sword.
And the moment he placed the put-away sword on the table, Cheon Myeong also removed his hand from the vicinity of Wang Hyeon's neck.
Woong-
At the same time, the energy was disappearing from both hands.
Cheon Myeong had not committed this act with the intention of fighting.
However, since Wang Hyeon had not obediently followed his words, he had been trying to use some force, and if he had just listened well, he would have already removed his hand.
'Well, it's a good thing it ended well.'
In fact, Cheon Myeong also did not want to cause a dispute with the Sea King Family.
Since the situation was already complicated internally, was there a need to increase the number of enemies on the outside?
Nevertheless, the reason why he had acted in that way was because he had come here as a representative of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
If he were to be intimidated by Wang Hyeon, then wouldn't it feel as if the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were being pushed back by the Sea King Family?
Of course, although it could be said to be a childish pride fight, this was quite important in the martial world.
Especially in a place like this.
"Military Strategist."
At that moment, Cheon Myeong came down from the table and called Jegal Jeong.
Accordingly, the gaze was directed at Cheon Myeong.
As his eyes met Jegal Jeong's, a cold voice came out of Cheon Myeong's mouth.
"Why have you been standing still until now?"
"..."
"Isn't it the job of the host to step forward and mediate the dispute in a situation like this?"
But the one who had actually done that was Cheon Myeong.
All Jegal Jeong had done was just watch.
That attitude, as if he were watching a fire across the river, was not to Cheon Myeong's liking.
"...It happened so quickly that I could not react."
After a brief silence, Jegal Jeong said that.
Was he saying that as an excuse now?
For Jegal Jeong, it was a rather poor excuse, so Cheon Myeong immediately said, as if to shoot at Jegal Jeong.
"Then wasn't there plenty of opportunity to intervene in the middle?"
"..."
"Your attitude, Military Strategist, felt as if you were condoning the dispute."
Yes, it was an attitude that did not fit at all with the words 'a place of harmony' written in the letter.
Cheon Myeong was trying to make that part clear in this place now.
"A place of harmony... is that the only reason why the Martial Alliance has gathered the people here?"
"..."
"Now that everyone has gathered, let's get to the main point."
At Cheon Myeong's words, Jegal Jeong maintained his silence.
The tension that had flowed in the room again.
This time, everyone's gaze was directed at Jegal Jeong.
"A young person is in a hurry."
It was then.
A voice that suddenly came from somewhere.
At the appearance of a new person, everyone's gaze turned to that side.
Thump- thump-
An old man showed his appearance through the open door, with his hands behind his back.
At the appearance of that old man, Jegal Jeong, who bowed his head to that side without a word.
Although it was an old man he was seeing for the first time, Cheon Myeong could guess who that person was.
'...It's certain.'
That white hair and beard.
Although it seemed that a long time was felt from that appearance, his physique was so great that it made the years seem insignificant.
Crucially, there would be only one person in the Martial Alliance to whom Jegal Jeong would bow his head like that.
'Howonjae.'
Another name was the Central Plains Taishan.
The Martial Alliance, which could be said to be the hegemon of the Central Plains. At the appearance of its number one, the atmosphere inside seemed to change in an instant.
(End of Chapter)