Chapter 229: Countering a Scheme with a Scheme (3)
Chapter 228 – Countering a Scheme with a Scheme (3)
The Eon Clan Estate, which had been swept by a storm, was indeed to the point of resembling a ruin.
Pavilions and walls were broken and collapsed in various places, a few areas were completely burned down, and there was an abundance of injured and dead.
Caring for the groaning people here and there, even the healthy people felt like groaning.
Yet, the expressions of those who survived looked proud.
A pride that they had somehow held out in that adverse condition seemed to be subtly embedded in their chests.
The Paeng Clan and Eon Clan martial artists became so close that their clan affiliations became meaningless. If there was an injured person, they willingly treated and helped them regardless of their origin, looking like martial artists belonging to a single clan.
Watching these sights, Paeng Jeok-ho wore a faint smile and muttered.
“To bring these two clans, which had been sharply confronting each other over Hebei, so close together. Namgung Cheon, you guy are really…”
While he was shaking his head, Eon Yang-geol approached his side.
“Thanks to the active help of the Paeng Clan, we were able to minimize the damage. Thank you.”
“Do not mention it. If it were not for the help of the Eon Clan, our clan would not have escaped extermination.”
“Patriarch Paeng. Although we have lived in opposition to each other in the past, we have harmonized and become a source of strength through this event, so I think this is a truly meaningful day. Although we have lost a lot, I am extremely glad to have gained a relationship with the Paeng Clan.”
At Eon Yang-geol’s words, Paeng Jeok-ho felt one side of his chest grow hot.
In fact, the Paeng Clan was also not a clan that actively interacted among martial artists. Because it was common among prestigious orthodox sects that valued scholarship and refinement to disparage the Paeng Clan as ignorant and simple.
But at this moment, the Eon Clan was looking at the Paeng Clan like brothers in all sincerity.
And seeing the sincerity flowing desperately from Eon Yang-geol’s eyes, he was naturally filled with deep emotion.
Paeng Jeok-ho impulsively grabbed Eon Yang-geol’s hand firmly and said.
“Our clan will share life and death with the Eon Clan in the future. I am also extremely glad to have formed a relationship with the Eon Clan.”
“Patriarch Paeng…”
“Eon Clan Leader…”
As the two looked at each other with hot gazes, Namgung Cheon’s voice suddenly came from behind.
“You two look good.”
“Namgung Cheon.”
“Welcome.”
Paeng Jeok-ho and Eon Yang-geol turned around with awkward smiles.
Isn’t it a funny thing?
The Paeng Clan and the Eon Clan are clans that show off strong power and bodies. It is also similar that both clans emphasize real combat.
Consequently, they naturally tend to subtly look down on younger people.
Since real combat, above all, values experience.
Yet, this cadet in front of them feels reliable even though he has not even reached twenty.
An entity that the leaders of the two clans could trust and rely on simultaneously.
Paeng Jeok-ho chuckled.
‘I regarded him as a thorn in the eye because he was the enemy’s child. But to look at a person with such a different gaze. This guy is really an extraordinary fellow.’
Eon Yang-geol also looked at Namgung Cheon with a gratified gaze.
‘Not only is his martial arts strong, but his talent for reading the general trend is also outstanding. If it were not for this child, could our clan have released the Jiangshi with a peace of mind? Thank you, Namgung Cheon.’
Indeed, one has to experience a person in detail to know them.
To think Namgung Cheon was this thankful…
“Did you clearly deliver the words?”
“Hmm? What?”
“Handing over the branch to the Eon Clan.”
“Ah…”
The atmosphere that had been flowing warmly turned awkward in an instant.
Eon Yang-geol wiped his cold sweat.
‘No, speak after reading the room!’
However, Paeng Jeok-ho chuckled and unexpectedly brought up the words readily.
“I have no intention of taking back words once spoken. Eon Clan Leader. I will tell you formally. Although I do not decide it, I will unconditionally push the Eon Clan for the next Hebei Branch Leader!”
“Thank you. Patriarch Paeng.”
Eon Yang-geol replied in all sincerity.
Seeing the two leaders smiling brightly and patting each other, Namgung Cheon leaned against the railing of the broken pavilion and said.
“The real fight might start from now.”
For a moment, the two leaders flinched and looked back at Namgung Cheon.
“Do you think the unorthodox martial artists will strike again?”
“If so, we will not be easily defeated this time. Especially since we have deployed Jiangshi and the Beggars’ Sect will join soon…”
“No. If they have brains, they won’t strike the Eon Clan again.”
“Then?”
Namgung Cheon stiffened his expression and corrected his posture.
Staring straight at the two leaders, he said.
“The problem is the Martial Alliance.”
“Martial Alliance?”
“Yes, for your information, the Black Mist Coalition Leader seemed to have guessed that there were Jiangshi in the Eon Clan.”
“Hmm.”
Eon Yang-geol groaned and merely nodded.
That could be.
Hadn’t Namgung Cheon also guessed?
‘Come to think of it, how did Namgung Cheon guess?’
Reading Eon Yang-geol’s gaze, Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and said.
“The Eon Clan is a clan that has passed down the Jiangshi Art for generations. Nevertheless, because you did not use the Jiangshi maliciously, you were in an intermediate position between orthodox and unorthodox. Then, later, you abolished the Jiangshi Art and entered the orthodox Martial World.”
Staring intently at Eon Yang-geol, Namgung Cheon continued.
“But it would have been difficult to completely discard the Jiangshi Art that allowed the clan’s lineage to continue overnight. You would have prepared it for a critical moment. I thought that was the reason the Eon Clan moved its site below the cliff.”
“You truly have an amazing eye.”
Namgung Cheon smiled faintly and continued.
“Probably for that reason, the Black Mist Coalition Leader also guessed the existence of the Jiangshi. From his perspective, if there were no Jiangshi, he could wipe out the Eon Clan, but even if there were Jiangshi, he thought there was nothing to lose. He might have even wished for the Jiangshi to appear.”
“Hmm? Why is that?”
This time, Paeng Jeok-ho and Eon Yang-geol asked simultaneously.
They were barely able to repel them because of the Jiangshi, but to think he was actually wishing for it.
Namgung Cheon replied with a cool expression.
“He targeted division.”
“……!”
Paeng Jeok-ho and Eon Yang-geol understood immediately.
The orthodox Martial World thoroughly rejects the Jiangshi Art. Therefore, a lot of noise will follow in the future. Some will praise them for defeating the unorthodox martial artists, while others will pour fierce criticism for using Jiangshi.
The more heated the debate, the deeper the conflict will grow.
“Indeed. That is why you said the Martial Alliance is the problem.”
“Right. In the worst case, the Martial Alliance might turn its back on the Eon Clan. And they might treat the Paeng Clan in the same way. Of course, the same goes for me.”
Where would it end with that?
If it was the character of that old geezer, the Alliance Leader, he might try to bury even the Namgung Clan by grouping them together on this occasion. No, perhaps that was the goal.
Because he would be extremely displeased that the Namgung Clan, which was completely trampled, was regaining recognition with the appearance of the Jianghu Divine Dragon.
Furthermore, isn’t it a clan related to the Great Killing Star?
After condemning the three clans in that manner, he would promote a sense of crisis to seek unity.
Because that was exactly the method of that wicked old geezer, the Alliance Leader.
“Gosh! Then are you saying we should have just quietly died in this situation!”
Paeng Jeok-ho shouted loudly with a displeased expression.
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and said.
“Originally, people do not think deeply about other people’s circumstances anyway.”
“Certainly, hearing it, it is no ordinary problem.”
Eon Yang-geol muttered with a dark face and looked at the Jiangshi lined up below the wall in the distance.
Dozens of Jiangshi stood in an orderly manner.
Entities that exuded a chilling atmosphere at night seemed to somehow evoke a sense of familiarity during the day.
Eon Yang-geol suddenly turned his head as if a bright idea had occurred to him.
“What if we destroy all the Jiangshi even now?”
Paeng Jeok-ho slapped his knee.
“That is a good idea! Since there is no evidence, even if rumors leak out, people will dismiss it as a groundless rumor.”
“Right, right. Although it is a bit of a waste, it seems better than us having Jiangshi.”
Just then, Namgung Cheon subtly curled his lips and asked.
“Who says those Jiangshi are ours?”
“Hmm? What does that mean?”
“I do have a clever plan to keep the Jiangshi and prevent the division.”
“Really? What is it?”
“Hurry and tell us!”
Before they knew it, Eon Yang-geol and Paeng Jeok-ho looked at Namgung Cheon with shining eyes.
By now, the two of them felt that if it was Namgung Cheon, he could punch a hole even in a collapsed sky.
“You just have to use the Beggars’ Sect.”
“The Beggars’ Sect?”
“Yes. The Beggars’ Sect is an information organization well-versed in the Jianghu, but conversely, they are also the source of rumors. They are a place that exerts great power in shaping public opinion.”
“But how can we use the Beggars’ Sect?”
“Fortunately, isn’t the Beggars’ Sect the one coming to support the Eon Clan right now? I hear they will arrive today?”
“That is true.”
“You just have to let them experience it directly. Rather than persuading them with words, experiencing it directly is the best. Well, we will have to lose a few Jiangshi, but isn’t that better than destroying them all?”
Eon Yang-geol and Paeng Jeok-ho looked at each other and tilted their heads.
“What does that mean? What are you going to let them experience?”
Namgung Cheon grinned and continued his words detail by detail. While listening to him, the expressions of the two leaders changed moment by moment.
Finally, Paeng Jeok-ho let out a great exclamation.
“Ohhh! Such a cunning… no, excellent strategy. As expected, you have a plan for everything!”
* * *
A group of beggars appeared on the hill.
From a distance, they saw the Eon Clan Estate emitting black smoke.
Faintly, the sound of clashing weapons and shouts could also be heard.
Hong An-gae, who led the beggars, colored his already red face even redder and shouted.
“Beggars! The destination is right in front of us! Fortunately, the Eon Clan is still holding out. Let us show the power of the damn beggars!”
“Yes, Elder!”
The beggars replied in unison.
Just when they were about to unfold lightfoot techniques and run,
“Sp-Spare us! Help us!”
A group of youths, covered in wounds, ran toward them.
They were Yu Hyeon, Jin So-hong, and Yun Jong-seung.
Hong An-gae flew in front of them in a single bound and asked.
“What is the matter? Who are you?”
“Ah! Are you by chance Beggars’ Sect disciples?”
When Yun Jong-seung asked, panting for breath, Hong An-gae nodded and replied.
“Yes, I am the Beggars’ Sect Elder Hong An-gae! I was currently leading the Beggars’ Sect disciples to support the Eon Clan. Did you guys come from the Eon Clan?”
“Ye-Yes! Please help the Eon Clan! Currently, the damage to the Eon Clan and the Paeng Clan is too great! The unorthodox martial artists used something evil…!”
“Something evil? I understand for now. You guys rest for a moment. Beggars! Run to the Eon Clan!”
“Yes, Elder!”
Hong An-gae left the cadets behind and quickly unfolded lightfoot techniques to run.
Just as Hong An-gae, who reached the Eon Clan Estate in an instant, entered the broken main gate,
Swishhh!
Suddenly, a ferocious force struck from the side.
“Where do you think you are going!”
Hong An-gae flipped his body and spun like a top.
Thud thud!
After kicking the shoulder of the attacking man, he immediately drew his Dog-Beating Staff and swung it.
Crack!
The Dog-Beating Staff that flew without delay struck the crown of the head.
Naturally, the head should split and bleed, but the opponent did not care.
In the next moment, Hong An-gae opened his eyes wide.
‘This is a Jiangshi…!’
Amazingly, wasn’t the one who attacked him a Jiangshi with no blood at all?
Just as the red-eyed Jiangshi was about to charge at Hong An-gae again,
Thwack!
At some point, Eon Yang-geol flew in and struck the Jiangshi’s flank with the Eon Family Fist. Simultaneously, the Jiangshi, which flew like a cannonball, crashed into the wall and was crumpled like a piece of paper.
“Eon Clan Leader!”
“Ah! Aren’t you Senior Hong An-gae of the Beggars’ Sect? You have finally arrived!”
“Wh-What on earth is going on here?”
Hong An-gae asked with a flustered face, looking around.
Weren’t martial artists fighting Jiangshi all over the estate?
Eon Yang-geol recited the prepared lines just as he had heard from Namgung Cheon.
“Those despicable unorthodox bastards used Jiangshi! Knowing that our clan is skilled in the Jiangshi Art!”
“No, knowing that, they instead used Jiangshi? What on earth is the reason?”
“It seems they coveted our clan’s secret manual because their Jiangshi Art is not perfect!”
“Gosh! It seems they thought the Eon Clan would search for that secret manual to control the Jiangshi!”
Hong An-gae took the bait on his own.
Meanwhile, the beggars swarmed into the courtyard. Consequently, the attention of the Jiangshi was focused, and a chaotic battle began to unfold again.
“Oh no!”
“This is a big problem. Those guys are monsters that do not even die… of course, if we make talismans in the manner written in our clan’s secret manual, control seems possible, but…”
For a moment, Hong An-gae’s ears perked up.
“Did you say control is possible now?”