Chapter 128: Empty-handed Come, Empty-handed Go (2)
Chapter 127 – Empty-handed Come, Empty-handed Go (2)
Pa-gak’s face, completely drained of blood, turned as white as rice paper.
His gaze frantically darted back and forth between Namgung Cheon and Goe-bul-ja’s severed head.
Namgung Cheon’s youthful face.
He looked to be at an age that had not even reached twenty yet.
If so, he should not have much experience in the Jianghu, yet he was perfectly calm even after slicing off a person’s head.
Like someone who had experienced such situations countless times.
What kind of bastard was this?
He was said to be the child of the Great Killing Star, so could it be that this guy was also born with the Heavenly Killing Star?
Indeed. If that were the case, the Martial Alliance would not have left him alone long ago.
However, those two eyes silently staring at him now were as fierce and cold as the eyes of a grim reaper.
Were these truly the eyes of a child who had not even reached twenty?
Namgung Cheon crossed his arms and nodded.
“Yes, yes. Take a good look. Only by seeing examples repeatedly can you make up your mind quickly. If you dream of rolling around next to that head, I have no intention of stopping you. Are you prepared?”
Gulp…!
Pa-gak stammered and spoke.
“If I answer that question, this poor monk is as good as dead.”
“Is that so? You die even if you don’t answer my question. Then is it a matter of choosing how you die?”
Was that even something to say, you bastard?
He felt terribly resentful toward Namgung Cheon, who did not show even a speck of mercy, but he could not argue with him.
Yet he could not just wait for death like this either.
Shouldn’t he struggle as much as possible before the question burst from Namgung Cheon’s mouth?
“As one who has cultivated the Buddhist path, how could I betray trust?”
“You’re pretending to be a monk when you’re just a depraved one.”
“Although I failed to keep the precepts and became a depraved monk, having Buddha in my heart remains the same…”
“Don’t drag out the time with bullshit. Now, here comes the question. Who is the mastermind?”
“……!”
Pa-gak’s expression stiffened with a start.
The moment he opened his mouth, life and death would be divided.
Hesitation would only hasten death.
Namgung Cheon’s left thumb pushed up the sword guard.
In that instant, Pa-gak put on the most gentle smile of a Buddha in the world.
“As one who has cultivated the Buddhist path, how could I tell a lie? I will reveal the mastermind.”
“That’s more like it. You have cultivated yourself well.”
“The mastermind is the Darkness Society.”
“The Darkness Society? What kind of place is it?”
“I really do not know that either.”
Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes and examined Pa-gak.
Now that his First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes had entered the stage of Color Eyes, he could distinguish whether the opponent was lying or telling the truth just by the flow of their internal energy.
Of course, if the opponent were a grand master, even that would be difficult, but in the case of someone like Pa-gak, lying would naturally show a flow of internal energy different from usual.
However, seeing that the flow of his internal energy was calm, it was highly likely to be the truth.
The Darkness Society.
What kind of place was it?
There was no way Namgung Cheon would not know most of the unorthodox factions.
Was he not once the Public Enemy Number One of the Martial World?
Most unorthodox factions had some connection to him.
Yet he was hearing of the Darkness Society for the first time.
Was it a new organization?
Namgung Cheon smacked the back of Pa-gak’s head.
Smack!
‘Oho?’
The sensation felt by his hand was unique.
Normally, hitting the back of a head would make a thud or a crack sound, but a crisp, sticky sound rang from the back of Pa-gak’s head, just like when slapping a cheek.
Was this the effect of a bald head?
‘It’s a head that feels good.’
Namgung Cheon concealed his inner thoughts and asked.
“You acted upon receiving orders, yet you don’t even know what the Darkness Society is?”
“I apologize. This poor monk did not pay attention to that extent…”
It was not that he did not pay attention, but rather that he should not have.
Normally, security is tight when operating in such a cell-like structure.
They cut their tails like lizards and hide their bodies.
In that sense, Pa-gak was mistaken about one thing.
They knew that Pa-gak knew almost nothing.
Therefore, even if Pa-gak mentioned the name ‘Darkness Society,’ they had no reason to go out of their way to kill him since he knew nothing more.
Just as one does not burn down a whole house to catch a bedbug, they would not risk revealing their main body just to kill Pa-gak.
‘By now, they probably know that the Mad Monk Association has been ruined, and they must have already cut off Pa-gak and Hye-gwang.’
Did this mean there was ultimately nothing to gain?
It was a situation where he could not even know if the name Darkness Society was the exact name of the organization.
The important thing was why that Darkness Society wanted to seize the business rights of Yixian.
Was it for the complete downfall of the Namgung Clan?
Or was it to observe the movements of the Namgung Clan?
Or was it because there was something to gain in Yixian?
‘Ah! I don’t know!’
Namgung Cheon scratched his head roughly and smacked the back of Pa-gak’s head again.
Smack!
“Keugh! Why, why…?”
“Just because. It feels good. Think of it as a sort of mood changer.”
“Ah…”
When Pa-gak foolishly accepted it, Namgung Cheon rested his chin on his hand and stared at Jang Won-sik for a moment.
‘He probably knows even less.’
Well, does it matter anyway?
Since even this much would be enough to prove his qualification as the Young Patriarch.
The Darkness Society would reveal itself when the time came anyway.
If not…
‘For now, I should assign some people to keep watch on Pa-gak and the lecher.’
Having finished his thoughts, Namgung Cheon smacked the back of Pa-gak’s head once more.
Smack!
“Ugh!”
“Take that lecher sprawling over there and get lost. Don’t ever show your face in front of me again.”
“T-Thank you!”
Pa-gak, like someone who had barely escaped hell with his life, bowed repeatedly and ran off with Hye-gwang on his back.
Watching his retreating figure, Namgung Cheon spoke toward the empty air.
“Captain Son.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Son U-gon’s voice was heard from the darkness.
“Attach a tail with some members who are good at stealth.”
“As you command.”
Having taken all measures, Namgung Cheon now turned around with a cold smile.
“Heugh!”
Jang Won-sik gasped and shrank back step by step.
Namgung Cheon cracked his neck.
“I believe we have some things to talk about?”
“W-Wait a minute. Look here! I am still a family elder… Ugh, aaargh!”
At the foot of Mount Huang, Jang Won-sik’s miserable screams soared up.
* * *
“You woke up early, Sister.”
Namgung Pyo, who visited as soon as dawn broke, greeted Namgung Seol-hui.
Namgung Seol-hui slightly knitted her brows.
“Do you come here at the crack of dawn before breakfast?”
“I came to have breakfast with you, Sister.”
“Since when did you care for me so much?”
“Haha, why do you speak so coldly? I am always thinking of you, Sister.”
“At least wet your lips before lying.”
Namgung Seol-hui sneered and shook her head.
She knew all too well the reason why Namgung Pyo was acting like this.
It was bound to be because of the Young Patriarch issue.
It must mean that if Namgung Cheon failed this mission, he wanted her to actively support his son.
Namgung Pyo did not particularly try to hide his intentions either.
“Now only eight days remain.”
“If you count the days one by one, time flows even slower.”
“Indeed. There are mountains of things to do, yet being tied down here is frustrating. He is stubbornly insisting on accomplishing something that won’t work out anyway. Sigh.”
“We will have to wait and see whether it is something that won’t work out or something that will.”
“Could it be that you think that child can accomplish that task, Sister?”
“He is the child who won the Joint Conference. The Joint Conference is not a trivial neighborhood spar.”
“That is true, but luck could have played a part. In fact, the child who took second place is also from an obscure sect.”
“He could not have rallied the Azure Eagle Squad with mere luck.”
“They must be cooperating temporarily. The Azure Eagle Squad’s hands must have been itching lately too. However, they will soon see his limits and turn away.”
“Why are you so confident?”
“Because reclaiming Yixian’s business rights is something that luck won’t work on, and it’s not something that can be resolved temporarily.”
“The Mad Monk Association is not that great of a group. If Elder Brother had stepped in personally, they would have been taught a lesson long ago. It was just that since our clan directly handed over the business rights, it was awkward to take them back, which is why it remained unresolved. So if it is Namgung Cheon, he might resolve it.”
“No matter how great Namgung Cheon is, resolution will be impossible unless he wins a wager spar against the leader of the Mad Monk Association. If he blindly attacks using the power of the Azure Eagle Squad to reclaim the business rights, it will only lower our clan’s reputation further, so we would just refuse to acknowledge it.”
“That would have to be the case.”
Namgung Seol-hui did not refute this time either.
The Mad Monk Association had received the transfer of the business rights through legitimate procedures.
If they had tried to reclaim this through force, it might have been possible long ago.
However, now that the Namgung Clan’s reputation had hit rock bottom, doing such a thing could truly lead to them being completely ostracized from the orthodox Martial World.
And there was absolutely no way it could be negotiated with words.
As expected, the only way would be to hold a wager spar.
What reason would the leader of the Mad Monk Association have to engage in a wager spar with Namgung Cheon?
There had to be something to gain for it to be a wager.
Well, if he wagered the very survival of the family, they would accept it.
However, if he did that, even winning the spar would be a problem.
For it was unacceptable for someone who intended to become the Patriarch in the future to so easily wager the family’s survival.
“To be honest, rallying the Azure Eagle Squad was somewhat unexpected. I do not know what words that clever fellow used to coax them, but reclaiming the business rights is a completely different matter. Once eight days pass, that child will bitterly realize what he has done. He might even kneel and beg us not to kick him out. Hahaha!”
Namgung Pyo burst into a hearty laugh.
However, his laughter did not last very long.
“Sister! Ah, Brother is here too! Something big has happened!”
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Namgung Won rushed into the room.
“What is it with you this time?”
As Namgung Seol-hui asked back coldly, Namgung Won caught his breath for a moment and poured out unbelievable words.
“Nam-Namgung Cheon… that child! That child has reclaimed the business rights of Yixian!”
“What?”
“What?”
Namgung Seol-hui and Namgung Pyo jumped up from their seats at the same time.
Namgung Pyo was the first to speak.
“What do you mean by that? Did he really reclaim the business rights?”
“Yes. Currently, only the Captain of the Azure Eagle Squad has returned and is reporting to the Patriarch.”
“What about Namgung Cheon?”
“They say that child is currently staying in Yixian, cleaning up the manor of the Mad Monk Association.”
“The manor of the Mad Monk Association? What on earth does that mean?”
“That is… they say the depraved monks of the Mad Monk Association have all left Yixian. They declared that they would give up all their assets and practice non-possession according to the teachings of Buddha!”
“No, how could such a…!”
Namgung Pyo muttered with a dazed expression.
The Mad Monk Association, which was boiling with greed, was suddenly practicing non-possession? What? The teachings of Buddha?
What kind of ridiculous situation was this?
“Then the manor of the Mad Monk Association…”
“They said they would transfer all of it to our clan.”
“Why did they suddenly do such a thing?”
“They say Hye-gwang, the leader of the Mad Monk Association, attained enlightenment after losing the wager spar. What on earth is going on, Brother?”
“How should I know!”
Namgung Pyo shouted sharply and gnashed his teeth.
Not only did he reclaim Yixian’s business rights, but he even took possession of the Mad Monk Association’s manor?
Wasn’t this handling the matter too neatly?
While Namgung Pyo blinked, Namgung Won spat out even more astonishing words.
“However, this is not the end. It is said that our brother-in-law was secretly colluding with the Mad Monk Association all this time! Apparently, Namgung Cheon found out.”
“What?”
“Currently, the Azure Eagle Squad is holding that bastard, Jang Won-sik.”
“No, how could there be such a situation? This won’t do! I must personally go see Elder Brother and…”
“He is not here right now, though?”
“What? Then where is he?”
“He has just departed for Yixian.”
“Heh! Sister, let’s go to Yixian immediately. What on earth is going on!”
Namgung Seol-hui narrowed her eyes and nodded.
“Yes, let’s go to Yixian. Things are turning out to be quite interesting.”
“Do you find this interesting, Sister?”
As Namgung Pyo spoke in a grumpy voice, Namgung Seol-hui showed a faint smile.
“Of course. It has been a while since we had such an interesting moment.”