Chapter 215: Cooperation Is A Mess (2)
Chapter 214 – Cooperation Is A Mess (2)
Mok Cheon-ak clenched his fists tightly and grit his teeth.
A feeling of wanting to smash something right now surged up.
Every single time things went wrong, it was Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon! Namgung Cheon! Namgung Cheon!
Even when his father was alive, he had caused such a headache, and now that son of his was holding him back at every turn?
At least Jin Cheon-rang had been useful for the alliance’s cohesion!
This one had gained the title of Jianghu Divine Dragon and was being revered by the people, making him truly difficult to deal with, was he not?
But this time, he even took the elixirs of Demonic Pill Valley?
‘This damn brat…!’
Grit.
Gritting his teeth, Mok Cheon-ak stared intently into the darkness outside the window.
The reason he had wanted to interrogate the Thieving Ghost to find out the exact location of Demonic Pill Valley this time was because he had joined hands with the remnants of the Demonic Cult.
It was because they had agreed to share the benefits using the mechanism map in their possession and the map of Demonic Pill Valley acquired by the Martial Alliance.
The agreement was that the Martial Alliance would take all the elixirs made by the orthodox faction, while the Demonic Cult would take the rest.
That was why they had escorted the Thieving Ghost…
‘And he just gobbled it up?’
Mok Cheon-ak narrowed his eyes and turned back to White Cat.
“Is it certain?”
“According to our cult’s investigation, it is ten to one.”
“Then what about the other one or two possibilities?”
White Cat gave Mok Cheon-ak a look that seemed to ask if he really did not know.
Reading her underlying meaning, Mok Cheon-ak furrowed his brow deeply.
“Are you saying you suspect our alliance!”
“Actually, we did. There was an opinion within the cult that you might have played a trick, Alliance Leader.”
“How could that be!”
“They thought you were intentionally showing contempt for the Namgung Clan while utilizing that atmosphere behind the scenes.”
“Talk sense.”
Mok Cheon-ak spoke in a low but firm tone.
Anger was completely evident in his voice.
White Cat narrowed her eyes and smiled faintly.
Your snake-like mind must have a million thoughts coiled up inside.
Swallowing her true thoughts, White Cat shook her head.
“But it seems that is not the case.”
“As I said before, the Thieving Ghost is suffering from qi deviation and is not in his right mind. Even now, we are in a state where we cannot interrogate him. However… combining your words, I can guess the general circumstances.”
“You said the one who first discovered the Thieving Ghost that day was Namgung Cheon, right?”
“Indeed.”
At that time, he had passed it over as nothing major.
He did not think a mere cadet could have thrown the Thieving Ghost into qi deviation.
He only thought that the unorthodox martial artists must have turned the Thieving Ghost into a fool after extracting the information.
But if the elixirs of Demonic Pill Valley went to the Namgung Clan…
‘Damn it!’
Mok Cheon-ak shut his mouth tightly, walked over to his office desk, and sat down.
White Cat stepped off the window frame and walked over.
“If there really was no discussion of any kind with the Namgung Clan…”
As she trailed off, Mok Cheon-ak narrowed his brow slightly and raised his head.
White Cat smiled faintly.
“If our cult attacks the Namgung Clan, can you turn a blind eye?”
“Attack the Namgung Clan?”
Mok Cheon-ak’s eyes trembled slightly.
A strange tension flowed in the room.
No matter how awkward the relationship between the Namgung Clan and the Martial Alliance was, they were still a family belonging to the Martial Alliance.
Although they were currently ruined, they were once called the family of the sovereign, and currently, the Jianghu Divine Dragon belonged to them.
But if the Demonic Cult attacked the Namgung Clan, the world would have no choice but to pay attention.
“You won’t be able to just take the elixirs of Demonic Pill Valley.”
“There will be resistance, of course. But if you turn a blind eye, Alliance Leader, there won’t be any great difficulty.”
“The Namgung Clan Leader is not an easy person. He was once the captain of the Red Wave Corps.”
“That’s why the Blood Shadow Divine Demon from our cult will step forward.”
“The Blood Shadow Divine Demon!”
“Because, as you said, the Namgung Clan Leader could be quite troublesome.”
“Blood Shadow Divine Demon.”
Mok Cheon-ak muttered the title like a groan.
The title of Blood Shadow Divine Demon was somewhat special.
In the current Demonic Cult, there were titles that were passed down, and the Blood Shadow Divine Demon was one of them.
Among the demonic practitioners, the one who stained his hands with the most blood was called the Blood Shadow Divine Demon.
In a sense, it also meant the most cruel person among the demonic practitioners of the current generation.
The successive Blood Shadow Divine Demons were all cruel in their methods and possessed significant martial prowess.
Furthermore, the person who received the title of Blood Shadow Divine Demon could command elite subordinates called the Blood Shadow Squad and the Blood Rain Squad, numbering up to two hundred.
White Cat added.
“Just in case, the Black Heaven Demonic Guest will also go.”
“Black Heaven Demonic Guest? Is he still alive?”
“Yes, he is hale and hearty, thanks to you.”
White Cat smiled brightly, emphasizing the words ‘thanks to you’ in particular.
Mok Cheon-ak coughed dryly.
Black Heaven Demonic Guest.
He was one of the demonic practitioners he had spared when wiping out the remnants of the Demonic Cult in the past.
At that time, he already possessed quite high martial prowess, but he had been pushed to the brink of death by the Martial Alliance’s elite organization.
‘At that time, he suffered a severe internal injury from Namgung Geom.’
While Mok Cheon-ak was tracing his memory, White Cat smiled softly and continued.
“Since the Black Heaven Squad led by the Black Heaven Demonic Guest is a hundred strong, that should be enough to attack the Namgung Clan without difficulty.”
“Certainly, if it is the current Namgung Clan…”
Mok Cheon-ak nodded faintly.
They were no longer the Namgung Clan of the past.
He had heard that the retainers remaining at the main estate numbered less than a hundred.
Even if they gathered them in a hurry, wouldn’t it be around two hundred at most?
“Moreover, the Black Heaven Demonic Guest is currently grinding his teeth to repay his debt to Clan Leader Namgung Geom.”
Mok Cheon-ak nodded silently.
That was not surprising.
“Can you finish it cleanly if I turn a blind eye?”
“No plan can be perfect. But we are executing it because we believe we can do it.”
“A cunning answer.”
“Could it compare to yours, Alliance Leader?”
“Impudent.”
“Oh, don’t get too worked up. Please think of it as me learning properly.”
“If things go wrong, our alliance…”
“You can just make it look like the work of unorthodox forces. Although we will disguise ourselves that way from the beginning anyway. There will also be some deliberate exposure.”
“Unorthodox forces?”
“Isn’t it a perfect time right now? I heard that unorthodox martial artists have risen in Hebei. Black Mist Valley, is it? Furthermore, didn’t they attack the Yellow Crane Tower a while ago?”
“I see. You’ll use those unorthodox bastards? Clever.”
“It’s thanks to your teachings, Alliance Leader.”
When White Cat bowed lightly with a soft voice, Mok Cheon-ak burst into laughter.
“You’ve learned well. It certainly makes sense.”
“Whether it succeeds or fails, it’s the method you want, Alliance Leader. It will serve as a stepping stone for internal cohesion. Besides, even if it succeeds, the Jianghu Divine Dragon will survive.”
“Then the internal cohesion will be strengthened even further.”
“It will also be easier to eliminate the isolated Namgung Cheon later.”
“Indeed. Not bad.”
“Shall we proceed then?”
“No, that alone is not enough.”
“…?”
“Hand over the elixirs manufactured by the orthodox faction to the alliance.”
“Hoho. You are greedy.”
“As I grow older, my greed grows as well.”
“That is an ugly sight.”
“Cheeky thing. So? Do you dislike it?”
Mok Cheon-ak stared blankly at White Cat with eyes that had sunk low.
White Cat, who calmly endured that gaze for a while, chuckled.
“Very well, let’s do that. How could our cult face your alliance at this point anyway?”
“I’m glad you know your place.”
“Of course. After all, the only reason our cult has maintained its existence until now is thanks to your consideration, Alliance Leader.”
“If you know, behave yourself. It means don’t run wild too much. Do as you please whether you grow your strength or expand your influence, but stay quiet until I die.”
“And if you pass away?”
“Keke. What do I care then?”
“You are indeed open-minded. Then, I will consider the deal closed.”
“Go.”
White Cat smiled softly and walked to the window.
The next moment, her figure slipped out of the window like a night wind.
Left alone, the Alliance Leader rested his clasped hands under his chin and fell into thought.
“This time, the Namgung Clan might truly face extermination.”
Of course, if he was lucky in Hebei, the Young Patriarch Namgung Cheon would survive, but what could he do alone?
Rather, it might be an opportunity that the troublemaker had gone to Hebei.
Mok Cheon-ak wore a faint smile.
“This is why even pests need to be raised sometimes.”
* * *
“Add a wooden fence over there.”
“Understood, Clan Leader!”
“Is there still no news from Shandong?”
“They say Clan Leader Yue sent reinforcements. They are expected to arrive shortly.”
“What about the Beggars’ Sect?”
“They are expected to arrive in about three days.”
“Understood. Everyone, strengthen your guard!”
“Accepting orders!”
Eon Yang-geol and the martial artists were busy installing wooden fences around the Eon Clan Estate.
Immediately after rescuing the Paeng Clan, they returned to Jinzhou and prepared for the intrusion of the unorthodox martial artists.
Fortunately, the Eon Clan Estate backed directly onto a cliff, so they only needed to prepare for the front and sides, meaning they did not have to worry about the rear.
“If only the Murong Clan were in Liaoning…”
Originally, the Murong Clan had their foundation in Liaoning, but they had relocated to Zhejiang long ago after the war between orthodox and demonic factions.
‘In any case, we cannot regret those who have already left. Devising a plan is the priority.’
Just then, Eon Ho-ryang approached his side and asked.
“Father, will we really be able to hold out?”
Eon Ho-ryang was actually quite surprised to see the unorthodox martial artists in the valley last time. It was his first time seeing such a large-scale real battle, and the enemy’s numbers were far too great.
If they had not been scared and fled, it was terrible just to think about.
But if the Black Mist Valley attacked the Eon Clan with determination, wouldn’t they push with even greater force?
Eon Yang-geol placed a hand on Eon Ho-ryang’s shoulder.
“We must hold out. We will hold out no matter what. Holding out even in death is the belief of our family.”
“I will keep that in mind, Father.”
“Fortunately, we are not the only ones.”
“That is true.”
Eon Ho-ryang’s gaze peeked at the Paeng Clan martial artists.
Currently, the Paeng Clan was also helping with the defense of the Eon Clan.
They were now in the same boat.
Had the Paeng Clan and Eon Clan ever gotten along this closely until now?
As expected, having an enemy on the outside made people band together tightly on the inside.
“Still… it looks good.”
When Eon Ho-ryang spoke with a faint smile, Eon Yang-geol also nodded.
“Indeed.”
Eon Yang-geol was deeply moved.
To think the day would come when the Paeng Clan and the Eon Clan joined forces.
He felt a lump in his throat as he felt they had finally been recognized as part of the orthodox faction.
‘Namgung Cheon. Perhaps you wanted to show me this sight.’
The Eon Clan’s long-cherished desire.
It was not simply the great success of the Jiangling Divine Art.
It was to be fully recognized as part of the orthodox faction.
Namgung Cheon had made even that happen naturally.
“Look, perhaps this is the ultimate message Namgung Cheon is delivering to us. To unite, join forces, and stand against the forces of evil. That before a common enemy, there are no foes or rivals. Only by gathering our intentions and joining forces…”
“Clan Leader! We have trouble! Namgung Cheon and Clan Leader Paeng are fighting right now!”
“Huh?”
Eon Yang-geol and Eon Ho-ryang turned around with wide eyes.
The martial artist, who had run all the way in front of them and was panting, finally took a deep breath and continued.
“It, it seems Namgung Cheon and Clan Leader Paeng are trying to have a duel in the training ground!”
“Who and who? What? No, why on earth? At a time like this?”
“That… I don’t know the detailed story, but they say they are enemies or something?”
“What nonsense in this situation? Lead the way!”
“Yes!”
Eon Yang-geol clicked his tongue as he followed behind.
‘Cooperation, my foot! As expected, he might just be a crazy colt!’