Chapter 175: Chapter 175

“What? They were just simple thieves?”

Jia Zhongping, the chief manager of the Hunan Merchant Alliance, scowled.

He had expected that the Hunan Dan Family would surely make a move.

They had skilled experts, and it was a massive merchant caravan to begin with, so they must have also thought that the stolen goods might be loaded there.

And yet they did not touch it?

Or did flies swarm before they could even touch it?

Jia Zhongping put more weight on the latter.

“They were lucky.”

He swallowed a groan.

He did not know whether to call this luck or simply a complicated twist of events, but from Jia Zhongping’s perspective, it was not a very good situation.

It was because he had blown the chance to catch them all at once.

This was quite troublesome.

They had exposed their hand to them, and as a result, a situation was created where they could even face a counterattack.

Jia Zhongping let out a soft sigh.

‘Although I dislike following the will of that pig…’

The Hunan Merchant Alliance was practically run by Jia Zhongping’s hands.

Ma Chongxian was busy spending money, and Jia Zhongping took charge of all the remaining work.

Since Ma Chongxian only handled the transactions with the Qiu Family, which could be considered the most important task, Jia Zhongping could line his own pockets as much as he wanted through other affairs.

But it was not enough.

Human greed knew no bounds, and it was human nature to do anything for its sake.

Jia Zhongping was also a person who absolutely had to get what he wanted.

To climb higher than he was now, he absolutely had to eliminate the Hunan Dan Family.

Jia Zhongping still could not forget when Du Eaqi secretly visited him last time.

He had laughed heartily while conversing with Ma Chongxian, and whispered in Jia Zhongping’s ear as he left.

-If you eliminate the Dan Family, our Family Head said he would prepare a stepping stone for you to climb higher.

The moment he heard Du Eaqi’s words and saw that smile, Jia Zhongping realized one fact.

For a long time, Ma Chongxian had shown such extreme devotion that he unconditionally took action himself whenever it concerned the Qiu Family.

Frankly, considering his position and public reputation, it was something that could never happen.

But what if the Qiu Family was actually superior to the Hunan Merchant Alliance?

And what if it was the Qiu Family that made Ma Chongxian who he was today?

‘It means I could take the Hunan Merchant Alliance for myself.’

Jia Zhongping smirked.

If his thoughts were correct, he could guess to some extent why Du Eaqi brought up such words.

They were going to discard him now.

Ma Chongxian, whose usefulness had run out.

Therefore, they were trying to test whether he was the right person for that position.

Jia Zhongping would pass this test perfectly.

To do that, he had to destroy the Hunan Dan Family.

Tap, tap, tap.

He tapped the table with his finger, lost in deep thought.

Information from the Haomen was blocked. The Beggar Sect also kept their gates firmly shut for some reason and refused to open them.

Even so, he could not perfectly obtain information on the Hunan Dan Family with only the merchants’ information.

“Mmm, what should I do?”

A groan escaped his mouth.

For now, it seemed he should watch how they moved before making a decision.

* * *

“What? In the end, you gained nothing?”

Si Duohak burst into laughter as if it were absurd.

He had been so confident, telling him to just watch the kid, but he returned empty-handed without retrieving anything. He realized anew that Dan Wuhyun was not omnipotent.

At the words that seemed to tease Dan Wuhyun, Gwon Mu-jin and Namgung So-hye were busy reading his countenance. Although Dan Wuhyun sat quietly without saying a word, they could already guess that his mood was twisted.

The two kept their mouths tightly shut, only stealing glances at him.

“Usually, you act like you’re the smart one handling everything alone, but you got completely swindled, completely swindled!”

“Be quiet.”

“Hahaha, this means you are still human. With that much power, if you were smart too, how could you be human? You need to have a lacking corner somewhere to seem like a human.”

At Si Duohak’s remark teasing him to the end, Dan Wuhyun sighed.

He looked at Si Duohak with a fierce gaze and spoke.

“Like your head?”

“Haha, right, right, a head like mine… what?!”

Si Duohak shouted in anger.

Even a true statement felt offensive when heard directly.

Of course, he did not seem to care that he had provoked him first. Although he scowled deeply, he let out a small groan and turned his head, as if he did not dare to challenge him.

He seemed to be slightly sulking.

“Mmm, but he is a formidable person. To think he completely deceived you…”

Namgung Cheon swallowed a groan.

Dan Wuhyun was by no means foolish.

Although he had a tendency to solve things with force, there were times when he moved meticulously.

At those times, Dan Wuhyun’s appearance was as cruel as a venomous snake and as cunning as a fox.

He was also so quick-witted that he never stretched his foot into what he thought was a trap.

Such a Dan Wuhyun was completely deceived this time.

The move of the Hunan Merchant Alliance was that exquisite.

If those thieves had not appeared and they had attacked the merchant caravan, a troublesome situation would have unfolded.

“Perhaps he is a person comparable to Zhuge Yun.”

“Is he that much?”

“If you fell for it, doesn’t it mean he is at least that much? Haha.”

At Namgung Cheon’s words, Dan Wuhyun scowled.

He knew it was a statement praising him, but hearing it in this situation did not make him feel very good.

“But that doesn’t mean I can just let it slide.”

Dan Wuhyun caressed the sword case placed beside him.

Looking at the current situation, it might be simpler to run over right now and massacre the entire Hunan Merchant Alliance.

But Dan Wuhyun was not foolish enough to actually do such a thing.

Si Duohak and Namgung Cheon smirked.

“Isn’t it an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?”

“Indeed. That is why we tried to rob the merchant caravan…”

“If he anticipated that, he is not an easy opponent… Based on my long experience in the martial world, relying on someone at a time like this is also a way.”

“Relying?”

Dan Wuhyun scowled.

From his birth until now, he had lived as the sole supreme being without relying on anyone.

For the Martial God of the world, Dan Wuhyun, to rely on another person was absolutely impossible.

“Unless you are going to barge in alone and smash everything.”

“Mmm…”

Dan Wuhyun’s brow twitched.

He did not like it, but it was not wrong. Dan Wuhyun had also experienced many things and overcome many dangers during his long life in the martial world.

Thus, making a plan was easy enough, but because it was not perfectly meticulous, it often ended in situations that had to be resolved with force.

It should not be so now.

It was partly because of Dan So-mi, but his pride would not allow it.

Force against force, brain against brain.

Until now, he did not feel any value in the things that happened at the manor, but this time, he would definitely crush the opponent with his brain.

This was a matter of pride.

“But who is there to fit that description?”

No one came to mind immediately.

Dan Wuhyun scanned the people remaining in the room. But he soon turned his head and let out a long sigh.

“What was that just now?!”

“That was a very unpleasant look, Young Master Dan! It doesn’t mean what I think it means, right? Right?”

“…”

“Ahem!”

At the uncomfortable voices and gazes coming from all around, Dan Wuhyun smirked.

“Is there not Zhuge Yun?”

Namgung Cheon spoke.

His eyes were still filled with trust for Zhuge Yun. He was the one who had ascended to the position of the leader of the Martial Alliance and assisted him for over ten years, sacrificing himself.

He was also one of those who still missed Namgung Cheon.

“Do you mean the man we saw last time?”

“Yes.”

“Mmm… do you trust him?”

“Haha, there is no one more trustworthy than him.”

Dan Wuhyun fell into thought.

The Zhuge Family was famous as a family of wise men.

In terms of brains, there was no one to match them in the Central Plains.

Although he did not like borrowing someone else’s brain, a person of that caliber would be of sufficient help.

“If you dislike it, it cannot be helped. But if you do not want to experience this kind of thing anymore… you must have someone to be your brain.”

“That’s true! Rather than Zhuge Yun, why not that fellow Dongfang Gu…”

“Hasn’t that man not even retired yet!”

At Namgung Cheon’s fierce opposition, Si Duohak flinched and shrugged his shoulders.

Come to think of it, Dongfang Gu was in a state where he could not even contact him properly because of cleaning up after Si Duohak. If he were called out, the Demonic Cult would be torn to pieces.

‘Well… it doesn’t really matter though…’

Since this side was already more fun than the Demonic Cult.

With that thought, he directed his gaze to Dan Wuhyun.

“But isn’t the Zhuge Family a bit far?”

“It is none other than Zhuge Yun. As long as he knows you, whom he has been searching for, are here, he wouldn’t have gone far. Perhaps he is watching from nearby…”

“I see…”

“If you decide to find him, I shall look for him.”

Namgung Cheon was certain.

Zhuge Yun was the type to persist to the end if there was someone he wanted.

Long ago, just because he was personally charmed by Namgung Cheon, he had followed him around for over a year.

He did not even return home and hovered around Namgung Cheon.

Sometimes it was scary enough to give him goosebumps, but he was also a remarkably outstanding talent.

“But, the position of the Family Head of Zhuge…”

“If it’s him, he won’t care much.”

Probably the Heavenly Sword Society and the Martial Alliance were also putting pressure on Zhuge Yun.

It meant Zhuge Yun’s ability was that outstanding, and it was proof that they feared his intellect.

The reason he thought Zhuge Yun would remain nearby without returning to the family was also because he knew he was in such a position.

“I do not trust people.”

At that moment, Dan Wuhyun spoke.

His gaze looking at Namgung Cheon was quite sharp.

Namgung Cheon momentarily felt goosebumps as if a blade had grazed his entire body. He also immediately realized what he was trying to say.

“Because I know that humans are worse than beasts.”

“I suppose so… I might feel the same way now.”

Namgung Cheon smiled bitterly.

He was betrayed by none other than his closest friend. Every time his severed arm throbbed, he felt like going mad as that detestable face came to mind.

If he had cut him down himself, his anger might have subsided.

But he realized how weak of a human he was for not doing so, and if he were in the same situation now, he would do the same.

The faces of the deceased lingered, but Namgung Cheon was not cold-hearted enough to swing his sword at someone who had already lost everything.

That was also a weakness Namgung Cheon possessed.

“But Zhuge Yun is trustworthy. If he betrays you… you may cut me down.”

At that single sentence, the heavy atmosphere that pressured the surroundings vanished as if washed away.

Breath burst out from the mouths of those who had been sweating cold sweat.

Dan Wuhyun opened his mouth.

“Bring him, that man named Zhuge Yun.”

The brain that would place the Hunan Dan Family upon a firm rock, the name of Zhuge Yun flowed from Dan Wuhyun’s mouth.

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