After declaring Baek Cheon-Sang as the martial arts tournament’s winner, the patriarchs proceeded to vote that evening with the two overseers attending. The voting was done by show of hands, so they could immediately determine who was in favor and who was against the candidate. Great Monk Gong Seon, the overseer in charge of the votes, spoke to the leaders of the Ten Clans.

“We will now proceed with the voting to elect an alliance leader. As overseers, I and the Putuo Sword Sect’s matriarch will confirm and attest to the outcome of this election. Now then, if you are in favor of electing Patriarch Baek Cheon-Sang, the martial art tournament winner, as the leader of the Zhejiang Martial Alliance, please raise your hand.”

At Great Monk Gong Seon’s instructions, several patriarchs immediately raised their hands, starting with Cheon-Sang and followed by Jeong Won-Hyo, Jo Jin-Myeong, Tae Gong-Pyo, Kang Won-Hee, and Yong Gun-Seong. Excluding the Byeok Sword Manor’s patriarch, the other clan leaders became wary of the situation and quickly showed their hands when the votes exceeded the majority. As a result, Cheon-Sang was successfully elected as the alliance leader.

With Cheon-Sang now confirmed to be the alliance leader, the center of power would shift toward the Baek Sword Sect. There was no need to vote against him, which could lead to them falling out of his favor, just to maintain loyalty to the Byeok Sword Manor. Their votes would not have affected the result of Cheon-Sang’s election anyway, so it could still be seen as a show of loyalty to Byeok Cheol-Gun. Only Cheol-Gun,...