Chapter 210: The False King (4)
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“Manor Lord.”
Yang Cheon opened his closed eyes.
They were eyes that seemed somewhat blurry. Those eyes contained deep fatigue and confusion.
However, the old man could tell. His lord’s eyes were full of fatigue and confusion, but the desire dwelling within them was burning much hotter than half a day ago.
It seemed as if the blazing flames of ambition would swallow his whole body.
Even this Black Dragon Manor.
“What is it, White Rat.”
White Rat. The leader of the Twelve Earthly Branches, who were Yang Cheon’s best loyal subjects.
The old man, White Rat, bowed his head.
“The honored guests requested an external residence to stay in for the time being. Since the Manor Lord gave permission, I am guiding them to a decent manor, but…”
He was asking if it was really okay to do so.
Yang Cheon’s answer was shocking.
“If there is anything they want, grant it all.”
“…!”
A strange light flashed in White Rat’s eyes.
Grant everything they want? To that extent?
“He is a guy who wouldn’t make unreasonable requests in the first place, and if he does make an unreasonable request, there must be a valid reason. So, grant any ordinary request immediately.”
“…I receive the Manor Lord’s order.”
White Rat, who bowed his head again, rose from his seat and politely backed away.
At that moment, Yang Cheon asked.
“Are you not going to ask?”
“…?”
“Are you not going to ask why I treat the descendant of the Martial Ancestor Sect, more precisely the guy named Jeong, so preferentially?”
White Rat, who turned his body again, politely bent his waist.
“Manor Lord, you are my lord. A subordinate does not question the lord’s judgment.”
“Is that so?”
“That is correct.”
Yang Cheon smiled.
It was a smile far from satisfaction. A smile with an inexplicable bitterness, but the fundamental favorable feeling towards White Rat was clearly evident.
“White Rat.”
“Yes, Manor Lord.”
“The justice cried out by the powerless is merely empty. Isn’t that so?”
“I think so.”
“Then, what kind of person is someone captivated by the ambition cried out by the powerless?”
“…”
“Is the powerful person whose heart fluttered at those words a fool?”
“Manor Lord.”
White Rat raised his head and looked straight at Yang Cheon.
It was another kind of seriousness that the usual White Rat did not show. Was it because of that? Rather than being rude, that appearance looked rather dignified.
“Whichever path the Manor Lord takes, I believe that the Manor Lord is a person capable of grasping the world.”
“…”
“Do as you please. I, along with the Twelve Earthly Branches and furthermore the sects of the Unorthodox, did not simply bow our heads just looking at the Manor Lord’s martial arts.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes shone.
“It’s not because of martial arts?”
“The survival instinct of the Unorthodox is, in a sense, like that of the common people living in chaotic times. They may lack power, but that doesn’t mean they lack wisdom.”
“Are you saying you are hoping for something from me?”
“That is correct. We think that the Manor Lord is a person qualified to rise to a higher place. Also, because we serve such a Manor Lord, we believe our lives will also get better.”
“…”
“The path the Manor Lord walks is exactly the world, and the hope of all of us who follow the Manor Lord is also on that path.”
Yang Cheon nodded his head.
“I understood what you meant.”
“I have disturbed the Manor Lord’s state of mind with unnecessary words. I apologize.”
“It’s okay. You may leave now.”
“Yes.”
Thus, White Rat stepped down.
A sneer momentarily appeared on Yang Cheon’s face as he looked at the Black Rock Gate.
“Everyone’s wish hangs on these shoulders? It sounds good to hear.”
He recalled his conversation with Yeon Ho-jeong.
‘You really speak words that are hard to bear.’
‘If you think it’s hard to bear, I don’t think there’s any need to talk further.’
‘What kind of confidence is that? Didn’t you also come to find me because you didn’t have the power to grasp the world alone? If you had such ability, you wouldn’t have deliberately caused such a mess and waited for our approach.’
‘That is correct.’
‘Your talent and boldness are extremely outstanding. However, in the vast world, are there only one or two people like you? In the end, you too were an arrogant guy who was intoxicated by your slightly outstanding ability and turned your eyes to the world.’
‘Ability and ambition are separate.’
‘They are separate. However, among the countless people harboring ambitions, those who truly achieve their dreams are merely a handful.’
It would have been normal for him to shrink back at the cold shout, but instead, the face of the guy laughing coldly seemed to be drawn before his eyes.
‘You are changing the subject. My question was whether Manor Lord Yang’s dream is confined to the Central Plains, or whether it extends to the Outer-territorial Region.’
‘It is not worth answering. The reason is that it is not a matter worth discussing right now. How can a person who hasn’t even governed his own front yard cultivate a village?’
‘You are wrong.’
‘What?’
‘Manor Lord Yang is excessively reducing the reality you are facing, and you are looking away from the place you should actually look at, claiming it is out of reach.’
He truly hadn’t known he would hear such words from a greenhorn kid.
To him, who demanded an explanation with a stiff face, Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t even blink an eye and said this.
‘The Central Plains is not a front yard that can be made mine just by making up my mind. It is like an impregnable fortress where even the Gods, Immortals, Emperors, and Kings would find it hard to obtain even a tenth of it without risking their lives.’
‘…!’
‘However, putting not only the Central Plains but also the Outer-territorial Region into the basket of ambition is a matter of boldness, a matter of attitude. Manor Lord Yang was only busy thinking about swallowing the Central Plains, and couldn’t turn his eyes beyond that.’
‘You don’t know.’
As if the feelings of that time were reviving, Yang Cheon’s mouth felt bitter for no reason.
‘You truly wouldn’t know. What kind of place the Outer-territorial Region is.’
‘…!’
‘You have a surprised face. Why? Do you doubt my words?’
‘…No.’
‘The world embraces far more diverse sides than you think. A person called a saint could be a villain who secretly commits evil deeds, and there are many cases where a person known as the world’s demon was actually just falsely accused.’
‘…’
‘Getting attacked even when knowing it is the Jianghu, and the world, yet you would covet the Outer-territorial Region? That is arrogance. It is merely the greed of a greenhorn who is captivated by desire and cannot see reality.’
‘The Central Plains is the same.’
‘What?’
‘I said the Central Plains is exactly the same. I dare assert, no matter how much funds Manor Lord Yang has or how much you grow the power of the Unorthodox, it will be hard to devour the Orthodox factions.’
‘…Why do you think so?’
‘When a cat gains power, it doesn’t think to use its wits, but hastily tries to raise its claws first. The Unorthodox is the same. Regardless of Manor Lord Yang’s ability, the martial artists of the Unorthodox will definitely act like that. Do you know why?’
‘…?!’
‘Because Manor Lord Yang gave the Unorthodox people clumsy hope.’
‘…!!’
‘Before turning your eyes to the world, you should have grasped the essence of the weapon you would make yours first. That is why I asked. Where the end of the ambition the Manor Lord harbors is.’
‘…’
‘It is a pity. The Manor Lord failed to prove your value as a lord to me.’
‘Failed to prove… Heoheo, are you saying that I am not suitable to be your lord?’
‘However.’
‘…?’
‘Since the relationship between lord and subject is not formed solely by the proof of ability and ambition, I will tell you my honest feelings. It is merely a first impression, but I like Manor Lord Yang.’
‘…!’
‘In five days, I will complete a report for the structural reorganization of the Black Dragon Manor. Let us see each other again then.’
‘A structural reorganization… Are you saying you have something in mind?’
‘I am not a fool who heads to the battlefield without preparation.’
‘What if I just swallow that report and throw you away?’
‘I will consider it the price of my life.’
‘Heoheoheo!’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s voice vividly echoed in his ears.
Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.
“Clumsy hope.”
Hope cost nothing. That was the reason why the act of giving hope to others should not be clumsy.
Because if you hastily overuse it, it will definitely end in rupture.
“Heoheo.”
Yang Cheon burst into laughter without realizing it.
“To think that I, Yang Cheon, would learn the attitude of a person of the world from a blood-clot who hasn’t even reached his thirties.”
Before leaving the Black Dragon Manor, he recalled Yeon Ho-jeong’s last words.
‘There might be this and that needed to complete the report. If there is anything I need, I will request it immediately, so please explain it well to your subordinates.’
Wasn’t he a truly bold guy?
He had been keeping an eye on them thinking they were an interesting group, but it turned out they had been keeping an eye on him first.
He had intended to meet and judge their value, but conversely, his vessel was evaluated by the opponent.
He was truly an extraordinary guy. That guy not only proudly shouted that he would use him to grasp the world, but even scolded him to fix his mindset first if he wanted to be together.
Could there be another guy like this in the world?
‘The problem is.’
The corners of Yang Cheon’s mouth twitched.
‘That I ended up liking that borderline-arrogant confidence of his far too much.’
Could he cross the line?
That guy wasn’t just at that level. It wasn’t a matter of crossing the line; there was no such thing as a line at all.
To the point of considering even himself, an absolute expert who discusses being the best in the world, as a mere chess piece.
‘It’s the first time.’
It was the first time. Seeing a talent who knew how to ride alongside his lord, not a doll who only knew how to obey orders.
It was the first time. Meeting a talent who captivated him solely with his skill and ideals, not his age and experience.
Strength went into Yang Cheon’s fist.
“For me and for you, these will be five days we can never forget for the rest of our lives.”
* * *
Mount Yuelu, where the Black Dragon Manor was located, was very close to Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s group obtained a quite large manor in Changsha. Of course, all costs and overall living conveniences were covered by the Black Dragon Manor.
“Just how did you do it?”
To Ga Deuk-sang’s question, Yeon Ho-jeong answered like this.
“I just scammed him a little.”
It was an unbelievable answer. Zhuge Ah-yeon clicked her tongue and said.
“You scammed the Combat King? Is he the kind of person who would fall for that?”
“Isn’t that gentleman a person too?”
“Even so.”
“Originally, it is much easier to deceive someone who believes they will never be deceived. Once you remove the mental burden, deceiving someone of that caliber isn’t that hard.”
Pae-yul shook his head.
“A guy who would even sell the water of the Yangtze River.”
Tang Sang-ah said with a spaced-out face.
“What is it that the Third cannot do?”
Everyone blinked their eyes looking at Tang Sang-ah.
Tang Sang-ah scratched her head with an awkward expression.
“Ah, without realizing it… I guess I got too immersed.”
Yeon Ho-jeong laughed.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect such a good result. That gentleman Yang Cheon, it seems his shortage of talent was more serious than I thought.”
Ga Deuk-sang asked.
“Anyway, with this, have things become easier for us?”
“That is correct. Yang Cheon is focusing on me. He won’t even care how the rest of you move. He will think that if he handles me well, you will naturally follow.”
“That’s good.”
Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes sparkled.
He felt he knew why Yeon Ho-jeong went alone to negotiate. It was to completely focus Yang Cheon’s attention on himself, and for the remaining four to actively resolve the situation here.
Zhuge Ah-yeon patted Yeon Ho-jeong’s shoulder.
“You worked hard.”
“For just this.”
“Anyway, you’re saying it begins now?”
“You could say so.”
“But didn’t you find out anything? While talking privately with Yang Cheon.”
In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
‘The Outer-territorial Region.’
He intentionally mentioned the Outer-territorial Region. Because he was curious if the opponent was related to that side.
Yang Cheon said this.
‘You truly wouldn’t know. What kind of place the Outer-territorial Region is.’
It was a meaningful statement.
If he followed his heart, he wanted to bite into that part and find out more, but in the end, he had no choice but to stop there. Because provoking it hastily could ruin the entire mission.
Yang Cheon was not a fool either. Right now, he was mesmerized by his words and spaced out, but if he showed even a slightly strange sign, a gaze of suspicion would immediately fly towards him.
‘Let’s do it slowly. There is still a lot of time.’
Yeon Ho-jeong took a low, deep breath.
“I’ll have to look into it more. It’s difficult to say this or that yet.”
“Hmm.”
It was then.
Surprise appeared on Ga Deuk-sang’s face.
“What…?”
Everyone’s gaze turned to him.
Yeon Ho-jeong asked with a serious face.
“Is it a sound transmission from a Union member?”
“Th-that’s right.”
“What news is it that you are so surprised?”
Ga Deuk-sang said with an astounded face.
“…They say the Commander is nearby?”
“…!!”