Chapter 203: Awl in a Pouch (3)
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“What did you just say?”
Tang Kwan’s two eyes scattered a threatening radiance.
Murong Jun thought. This person was someone who showed various appearances more than thought.
After Tang Sang-ah entered the practical operations group, Tang Kwan’s mood was close to the worst.
Whether it was because of his worry for his daughter, or because of his clear political enemy, Yeon Ho-jeong, which he did not admit himself, even Murong Jun didn’t know.
‘It could be both.’
Murong Jun said after moistening his throat with tea.
“I said that the reason Yeon Ho-jeong took the Clan Head’s daughter was precisely because of the Tang Clan’s hidden weapon techniques.”
Kwang!
The table shook at the fist roughly struck down.
Tang Kwan spoke with a terrifying voice.
“In other words, he intended to draw Yang Cheon’s interest by using our clan’s martial arts?”
“That’s right.”
“Because the Unorthodox bastards will need substantial combat power until they stockpile their power?”
“That’s right.”
“…!”
“Of course, even if I were Yang Cheon, I would have approached it like that.”
Puseuseuseu.
Tang Kwan’s fist pierced through the table. The fierce poison qi emitted from his fist had melted the wood.
Murong Jun clicked his tongue.
“It was a table I paid a high price to prepare.”
Tang Kwan’s mouth opened.
“That damn bastard, he dares to look down on our clan’s hidden weapon techniques?”
Hidden weapons are, in a sense, a martial art more difficult to learn than not only fist and palm combat but also weapon techniques.
There is no device to fix it with a bow like an arrow. When it comes to handling hidden weapons, the caster’s delicate senses and concentration are absolutely necessary.
In other words, unlike the perception of ordinary people, hidden weapons are a martial art difficult to learn. Even within the Tang Clan, at least over ten blood relatives lost their lives every year while learning hidden weapon techniques.
He uses such an extreme peak martial art merely as a means to draw the enemy’s interest?
As for Tang Kwan, it could not help but be a truly pride-hurting matter.
Murong Jun smiled bitterly.
“Surely even that guy wouldn’t have looked down on the Tang Clan’s hidden weapon techniques?”
“What if Sang-ah falls for his coaxing and even teaches him the Tang Clan’s secret arts?!”
“That won’t happen.”
“Are you confident?”
“I am confident.”
Tang Kwan’s eyes deepened.
“Did your ill feelings towards him subside a lot just because you joined hands for a moment?”
In an instant, Murong Jun’s eyes emitted a terrifyingly blue light.
Flash!
It seemed like a flash of lightning.
It was a coercive gaze he had never shown in front of Tang Kwan until now. Naturally, Tang Kwan also couldn’t help but be inwardly surprised.
“Clan Head.”
“…”
“Between us, I hate to talk about this every time in the future, so I will clearly state it today.”
Murong Jun smiled coldly.
“To me, not only Yeon Ho-jeong but also the Yeon Clan Head and Zhuge Clan Head are all enemies.”
“…”
“We can join hands depending on the time? Of course that’s right. Because I can’t make a mess of even the world I will grasp in the future just to kill an enemy.”
Pa-jik! Pa-ji-jik!
Sparks of lightning bounced in the air.
Murong Jun’s lightning qi instantly burned away the poison qi flowing in the room. It was because it was a toxic energy that could poison another person and make them suffer from a deep-rooted disease, although Murong Jun himself would be fine.
And at that momentary emission of internal energy, Tang Kwan was greatly surprised.
‘Tremendous energy!’
The density of the true qi exceeded imagination.
It was the true body’s true power of Murong Jun, who had never shown his proper skills until now. If it was this much with just momentarily emitted power, it was questionable how powerful a force he could display if he emitted it with determination.
“However, to test me with words saying my will has weakened or if I’ve forgotten my dreams due to that is a quite unpleasant act.”
“…”
Tang Kwan looked at Murong Jun without a word.
Murong Jun, who had maintained a cold expression, momentarily smiled.
“I tried to reach out my hand to the Clan Head, and the Clan Head was looking for a person to be with. We two are intertwined due to necessity, and furthermore, haven’t we seen a lot of benefits? We have a tighter relationship than any political alliance.”
“Hmm.”
“Life is too short even to live while smiling. Let’s make sure we don’t doubt each other, at least among ourselves.”
Tang Kwan, who was gazing at Murong Jun, nodded his head.
“I apologize.”
It was a plain apology.
Tang Kwan’s personality was completely revealed in that one word. Murong Jun burst into a hearty laugh.
“In a way, this person also overreacted. I am the one who feels ashamed for seemingly ruining the mood pointlessly.”
“You said the necessary words. My mind has also been complicated recently, so I hope you understand.”
“Of course. Aren’t we going to be one both publicly and privately?”
It was words referring to the marriage of Murong Yu and Tang Sang-ah.
Tang Kwan’s complexion became much more comfortable. When family and family are intertwined through marriage, they must walk the same path even if they hate it. Murong Jun’s words were entirely right.
Murong Jun continued his words.
“Returning to the original story, even Yeon Ho-jeong cannot urge the Clan Head’s daughter to hand over the Tang Clan’s secret arts.”
“I need an explanation.”
“Because there is no need to cut off and offer an ally’s arm just to examine an opponent bumped into during a territory fight.”
Tang Kwan’s eyes sparkled.
“Ally.”
“That’s right. Right now, we shouldn’t fight as political enemies but must move as a single ally. I probably explained the reason to you before.”
“Because even if we become the most powerful people in the Orthodox, Yang Cheon is a bothersome existence.”
“Exactly.”
Tang Kwan shone his eyes.
“Are you of the same thought?”
Murong Jun smiled.
“I am of the same thought. But right now, that bastard Yeon Ho-jeong is not in the Murim Alliance.”
It meant that they were proceeding with their own preparations steadily.
Tang Kwan smirked.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“It’s not because I couldn’t trust the Clan Head, so I hope you don’t feel displeased.”
“I don’t get displeased over something like that.”
“I know. It’s words I’m saying just in case.”
“Huu.”
Tang Kwan sighed.
His tangled mood was calmed down quite a bit. However, his mind was still complicated.
Murong Jun asked.
“I have one thing I’m curious about.”
“Please speak.”
“This is a question I’m asking because I’m a layman in hidden weapons. I know that hidden weapon techniques also each have unique characteristics, but do traces of each sect also rub off on the basic techniques?”
Tang Kwan nodded.
“Hidden weapons are exactly the same as sword techniques. You just throw and hit? The basic principles of swords are also the same: stabbing and cutting, aren’t they.”
“Right.”
“Whether it’s a minute change in the wrist, movement of the fingers, eye techniques, the angle of swinging the arm, or the elasticity of the waist, traces of the sect are bound to be revealed anywhere.”
Murong Jun stroked his chin.
“Even when teaching basic martial arts, such characteristics rub off…”
“That’s right. It even differs depending on regional characteristics and the type of hidden weapon. The world of hidden weapons is that complicated.”
“Ultimately, for the practical operations group, the best result is this. Penetrating without teaching the enemy anything and only extracting information.”
“Would that be possible?”
“Well. That’s the operation group’s share, and it’s a matter with so many variables that predicting it isn’t easy.”
Murong Jun looked out the window.
“And Yeon Ho-jeong probably also wouldn’t be unaware of this fact.”
* * *
Pae-yul’s eyes flashed.
‘He’s strong.’
The person standing in the center among the seven masters and looking here with cool eyes.
That person’s martial arts were strong enough to surprise even Pae-yul, an elder of Diancang.
Wuuung.
Even though he wasn’t intentionally emitting internal energy or casting killing intent, the air trembled.
He didn’t know if it was an innate atmosphere or because of the martial arts he learned and practiced. Whatever it was, the rough aura felt even while staying still was quite impressive.
‘There was also a figure in the Unorthodox.’
A competitive spirit momentarily soared. He was a strong expert who didn’t fall behind at all even compared to himself.
Ga Deuk-sang asked in a cold voice.
“Who are you?”
It was a voice that fully exuded an uncomfortable feeling.
The middle-aged man did not get excited. His unique rough aura remained the same, but he seemed to have a much colder personality than thought.
“I am Azure Tiger.”
Azure Tiger.
It was a very common name, but surprisingly, it was also a name he had never heard of. Even the Ga Deuk-sang of the world.
“I am working under Elder Yang, the strongest person in the Unorthodox Murim, who will conquer the Murim of the world in the future.”
“…!”
“It means I came receiving the order of Elder Yang, that is, the Black Dragon Manor Lord.”
Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes shone.
‘He’s letting us know?’
He proudly mentioned Yang Cheon. Furthermore, he was even letting them know the name of the group he established before they even asked.
‘He is not as cautious as I thought. But that side also shouldn’t be without brains. I should interpret it not as him being not cautious, but meaning there is no need to be cautious.’
The reason for that?
“Are you planning to inform the world soon?”
Ga Deuk-sang looked to the side.
Before they knew it, Yeon Ho-jeong was walking out.
“Black Dragon Manor? It’s a name I haven’t heard of until now.”
“…”
“You seemed to have moved quite cautiously, but you’re letting us know too easily.”
Azure Tiger opened his mouth.
“You cannot escape from two paths.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled.
“Die, or live?”
“That’s right.”
It meant that since they would kill them if things went wrong, letting them know the name of their allied group didn’t matter. It was incredible confidence.
Yeon Ho-jeong asked Ga Deuk-sang.
“Eldest Senior Martial Brother. What will you do?”
Although there was a conflict two days ago, Ga Deuk-sang received the words perfectly.
“Well? We also came to see that person called Elder Yang anyway, right? I don’t want to die, so I should look for a way to live?”
“As expected, that’s right.”
“Of course. I don’t want to die.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
He asked Azure Tiger.
“So, what do you want?”
“Proof.”
“What proof?”
Azure Tiger’s eyes became cool.
“If you prove that you are truly from the Martial Ancestor Sect, I will take you to the Black Dragon Manor.”
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
“Do you know what kind of faction the Martial Ancestor Sect is?”
“I know.”
“You say such bullshit while knowing?”
Mungkeul-mungkeul.
In an instant, a brutal killing intent bloomed from the bodies of the six masters standing behind Azure Tiger.
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s face, looking at them from a distance, hardened.
‘They’re strong.’
Yeon Ho-jeong, Pae-yul, Ga Deuk-sang, Tang Sang-ah.
There is not a single person among them who is not a master. Especially Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts had long achieved the level of a master, and looking at his skills alone, it was at a level where it wouldn’t matter even if he established a faction.
But Yeon Ho-jeong should be seen as a special case. Furthermore, Pae-yul was also the youngest elder of the Diancang Sect, and Ga Deuk-sang and Tang Sang-ah were the best rising stars of their affiliated factions.
So to speak, it was a group where talents counted on one’s fingers even in the Orthodox had gathered, but they were not like that.
‘They are probably not the strongest masters under Yang Cheon. I’m almost certain. Even so, to be strong experts of that level, it’s not normal.’
Tension surfaced on Zhuge Ah-yeon’s face.
‘It’s a much stronger group than I thought.’
What was even more amazing was the response of Azure Tiger, the leader of that group.
“Find such common sense somewhere else.”
“…”
“If you cannot prove that you are from the Martial Ancestor Sect, the only path placed before you is death.”
Ga Deuk-sang glanced at Yeon Ho-jeong.
They are coming out strong…?
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
“There is indeed one method.”
“If so, prove it.”
“Will it be okay? It might be a little dangerous.”
“I don’t speak twice with one mouth.”
“I like those words.”
Yeon Ho-jeong picked up the long spear set up to one side.
In an instant, Ga Deuk-sang opened his mouth wide. Not to mention Pae-yul, even Tang Sang-ah and Zhuge Ah-yeon-yeon stared at him in surprise.
‘That human, surely?’
Buuuung.
The true qi flowing from the spear shaft cutting through the air pushed the air heavily.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes spewed fire.
“Now, I will prove it.”
Teo-eo-eong!
Azure Tiger’s eyes shook.
Before he knew it, the spear blade was flying in, aiming at his uvula.