Chapter 212: The False King (6)
Read more at Nineheavens.org
“I greet the Manor Lord.”
“Are you here.”
Looking at Black Sheep bowing flat, Yang Cheon asked.
“I heard the story. You blew away the Ghost Iron Sword Sect?”
“That is correct. However…”
“I heard you missed one successor and a few small fries.”
Black Sheep bowed his head.
“I have no face.”
The corners of Yang Cheon’s mouth went up.
‘He’s definitely a decent guy.’
He even received a report on why Black Sheep missed the successor of the Ghost Iron Sword Sect.
It was inevitable in the first place. On the day Black Sheep and his subordinates attacked the Ghost Iron Sword Sect, the successor of the Sword Gate was in the state of training deep in the mountains.
That was a fact that even the traitor on the Sword Sect’s side didn’t know. In this case, it was a matter of punishing the traitor, not a matter of blaming Black Sheep.
In other words, even though he could sufficiently make excuses, Black Sheep merely bowed his head with the words that he was sorry.
It wasn’t a bad disposition. If Black Sheep hadn’t been loyal to the Cult, he truly would have used him greatly. Perhaps he might have seated him in the position of his right hand along with White Rat.
“We have currently organized a pursuit team and are chasing the successor.”
“I heard that the martial arts of the Ghost Iron Sword Sect’s successor is quite something.”
It was not easy for an expert of Yang Cheon’s level to know the martial arts level of a rising star who was far younger. It was a statement that bluntly revealed how much information and knowledge he had acquired to unite the Unorthodox.
“According to the pursuit team’s report, it is no exaggeration to say that he is capable of forming a school of his own.”
“Ho-o?”
If one missed a target, it was generally common to report by downgrading the target’s ability. Because one has to reassure their superiors.
Looking at it from that aspect, Black Sheep was truly an extraordinary person. It was never easy to report the coldly and objectively revealed facts as they were.
The corners of Yang Cheon’s mouth drew an arc once again.
“Can you catch him?”
Black Sheep immediately answered.
“I can catch him.”
The answer came out immediately.
Since the objective report was preceded, that confident answer alone was trustworthy.
Yang Cheon nodded his head.
“The Ghost Iron Sword Sect was a sect that was called the Number One Sword Gate of the Unorthodox. It would have been good if the job was finished at once, but I know it was a situation where that wasn’t easy.”
“I apologize.”
“That successor guy, what did you say his name was?”
“He is called Gang-ryang.”
“Yes, Gang-ryang. From what I heard, his disposition is as bold as his martial arts. He could become an unexpected variable, so make sure to catch him without fail.”
“I receive the Manor Lord’s order.”
Normally, it was normal to be told to step down when the conversation had progressed to this point.
However, Yang Cheon was silent, and thanks to that, Black Sheep had no choice but to continuously stay in that posture. He couldn’t leave because he wasn’t told to step down.
After such a short silence flowed.
“Black Sheep.”
“Yes, Manor Lord.”
“Do you remember? Not long after I established the Black Dragon Manor, when you came to me with countless treasures sent from the Outer-territorial Region.”
Black Sheep’s eyes shone.
“I remember.”
“It was truly surprising. I heard you would provide help, but I couldn’t have imagined that you would support me with that much funds and talent.”
“…”
“Do you perhaps know? That among the countless riches and information you brought at that time, there was also advice on the organizational system of the Black Dragon Manor.”
“…I did not know that.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
A cold energy swirled in Yang Cheon’s eyes. It was a very cold and venomous gaze that Black Sheep, who had his head bowed, could not see.
“Continue to work hard in the future.”
“Of course.”
“You may leave now.”
“Yes.”
Black Sheep, who bowed once, left the Black Dragon Manor.
A cold smile formed on Yang Cheon’s lips.
“To obtain the world, it is hard to beat those who even use cunning tricks, even if their appearance is somewhat bad.”
Yang Cheon liked talents who crossed the line, but speaking conversely, that meant he himself could not easily cross the line.
Because it was not a field he was good at, because he had qualms in his heart, he rather desired such talents.
However, Yang Cheon only realized that fact now.
‘Since it’s a world where it’s hard to properly obtain anything without dirtying my hands.’
Evil Lust, Black Sheep, Treasures.
The intense malice hidden behind those things called gifts.
“Jeong.”
Yang Cheon smiled.
“If by any chance you are also a poisoned dagger sent from some organization, you will not even be able to imagine how I will come out then.”
* * *
“Heo-eo.”
Murong Jun clicked his tongue.
“Such a reckless method worked?”
“That’s right.”
Murong Jun, who heard the story so far from Yeon Ho-jeong, couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
‘He really moved simply and entered.’
The new Unorthodox alliance led by the Combat King Yang Cheon.
If one asked what method must be used to infiltrate that place, one would inevitably be at a loss to immediately think of an effective method.
However, Murong Jun was different. He liked shifting his perspective, and he saw that they only needed to somehow dig into the heart of the enemy camp and hide their affiliation with the Murim Alliance.
It was a simple but effective move. The problem was the difficulty.
In a situation where nothing is known… where the enemy camp’s location is, how many experts are encamped, how strict the vigilance is, and so on… dispatching spies has the possibility of committing the folly of ‘beating the grass to scare the snake’.
However, if only enough time was given, a method to safely dispatch them would emerge. Murong Jun believed that without a doubt.
At that time, Yeon Ho-jeong stepped forward.
And the result was revealed like this.
“After drawing the enemy’s interest and imprinting your presence, you immediately opened a path to enter the upper echelons…”
It was simple. It was so simple that it was dumbfounding.
But that simple move worked incredibly well.
“You always bring me surprises.”
“Anyone could do it if they set their mind to it. It’s just a difference of whether they set their mind to it or not.”
“Of course, that’s true too. But there’s one more thing.”
Murong Jun’s eyes shone.
“It’s also a method that one wouldn’t dare attempt easily without knowing well about the Unorthodox.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled.
“Since when was it? That you turned your eyes to the Unorthodox.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Are you feigning ignorance? Looking at the report delivered to the Alliance and the series of situations I just heard, it seems you know extremely well about the Unorthodox.”
“Living as a human is all the same everywhere. Rather, Beggars’ Successor probably knows better than me regarding the Unorthodox.”
“There is a clear difference between knowing and actually experiencing.”
Yeon Ho-jeong laughed.
“Don’t exhaust your mental energy on needless suspicion. I merely looked into the essence of people, it’s not like I know particularly well about the Unorthodox.”
The corners of Murong Jun’s mouth went up.
“Is that so.”
For this time at least, even Murong Jun found it hard to read Yeon Ho-jeong’s inner thoughts. Just as Yeon Ho-jeong said, Ga Deuk-sang probably knew better regarding the Unorthodox, and considering Yeon Ho-jeong’s abilities seen so far, this infiltration battle was not particularly strange either.
The problem was.
‘I understand with my head, but I simply can’t just let it go.’
There was definitely something. This guy proceeded with the work while being confident with something he didn’t tell him.
And that was probably something even the operations group party didn’t know either.
“I’ll ask just one more thing.”
“I didn’t come here to be interrogated.”
“Regarding the Unorthodox, well, let’s say that’s the case.”
Murong Jun’s eyes emitted a threatening gleam.
“Could it be that you also know about Yang Cheon?”
“Is there any martial artist who doesn’t know Yang Cheon?”
“You shouldn’t not know the meaning of my words.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“That too is a useless suspicion. I know my value well. It is obvious that a newly established Unorthodox alliance will suffer from a shortage of talent, and if a talent of my level rolls in, it is natural for them to take an interest while being vigilant.”
Murong Jun laughed.
“I never said it was suspicion though?”
“Are you covering your eyes and feigning ignorance?”
“Heoheoheo.”
Murong Jun, who eventually burst into laughter, nodded his head continuously and said.
“Good. I think we’ve talked enough about the past, so let’s discuss the future now.”
“What is the information the upper echelons want?”
“Hmm? You already know that, don’t you? You wouldn’t have come all this way without knowing that?”
“Yang Cheon’s hidden agenda, the presence or absence of his helpers, the actual fighting power of the Black Dragon Manor, etc., I have to look into everything.”
“Right, you know well.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.
“Is that really all?”
Murong Jun shrugged his shoulders.
“If we could obtain other information besides that, that would be good too.”
“Hmm.”
“Just as you said, the Alliance wants all information regarding Yang Cheon. Of course, I am the same. If there are areas that need to be looked into more meticulously, I will tell you then.”
“I got it.”
“So, what do you plan to do in the future?”
“What do you mean what. I have to become his confidant.”
Murong Jun’s eyes shone.
“I did expect you to choose that path.”
“I figured you would.”
“Won’t it be dangerous?”
A serious light appeared on Murong Jun’s face.
“Whatever the reason, you are ultimately the Evil-Annahilating Army Commander belonging to the Murim Alliance. I’m saying being a spy is not your main job.”
“I know.”
“Unless Yang Cheon is a fool, he wouldn’t make the bad move of immediately keeping a newcomer as his confidant. He will continue to observe you and entrust you with tasks one by one.”
“He probably would.”
“In other words, it will take at least a year or two for you to become Yang Cheon’s true confidant.”
Murong Jun’s eyes shone.
“That is absolutely impossible. Even though I engage in a political struggle with you, it still can’t be done.”
A plan to send a political opponent to an external force to die?
It’s not a bad method. However, if that person is of Yang Cheon’s caliber, the story is different.
Furthermore, Yang Cheon is uniting the Unorthodox. The enemy of the Orthodox is the Unorthodox, and the Unorthodox is also looking forward to surpassing the Orthodox. Sending a figure from the Orthodox side to die by the opponent’s hands in such a situation? This was a matter of pride.
Going one step further.
‘This guy is someone who you don’t know what he’ll do in a crisis situation.’
It’s highly unlikely, but what if Yeon Ho-jeong resolves to grasp and shake the Unorthodox?
‘If that happens, it won’t just be an ordinary headache.’
Is it an excessive leap in logic? Never.
The Yeon Ho-jeong that Murong Jun saw was a guy without limits. He didn’t know if his nature was like that or if it was because he was young, but if this guy set his mind to it, he would truly become a monster running wild without lines.
He couldn’t let such a guy die in the opposing camp. Even if he dies, he has to die within the Orthodox Murim.
That was Murong Jun’s thought.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded his head.
“I also have no resolution to rot under him for several years. Of course. It’s not like I’m trying to swallow the Unorthodox, and rotting for several years just to get some information is a preposterous proposition.”
At the words ‘swallowing the Unorthodox’, Murong Jun flinched without realizing it.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“I said confidant, but rather than that, I should call it a partner relationship.”
“A partner?”
“That’s right.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“I don’t intend to lay out my cards saying I have what he wants, but I think we also have to endure a certain amount of sacrifice to extract it as quickly as possible.”
“I agree with that too.”
“So, I plan to tinker with this and that based on the information from our side.”
Murong Jun’s face hardened.
“Are you saying you’ll leak the Alliance’s information?”
Yeon Ho-jeong shrugged his shoulders.
“That could happen if the Commander gives permission, but I really don’t intend to do that.”
“Then?”
“I want fabricated information.”
“Fabricated?”
Murong Jun, who quietly looked at him, said with a heavy voice.
“Let’s hear it first.”
Yeon Ho-jeong told him his plan.
And when his words finished, Murong Jun couldn’t help but nod his head.
“Will it work?”
“I have to make it work. Whether this works or not depends on your capability as the commander before my efforts.”
“…”
“Can you do it?”
Murong Jun gave a chilling smile.
“Interesting. Let’s try it once.”