Chapter 224: Shake Up (4)
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“They said they have departed.”
“I see.”
Looking at Murong Jun leisurely drinking tea, Yan Ja-bang asked.
“May I ask one more thing?”
“As much as you want.”
“I understand that you purposely did so because it benefits you.”
“Hmm? What does that mean?”
Yan Ja-bang’s eyebrows wriggled.
“I am talking about the merchant group. Didn’t you originally tell me to kill all the merchant group?”
“Ah, that?”
Murong Jun asked as if he found it strange.
“But why does that matter?”
A scary person.
Yan Ja-bang almost said so without realizing it.
The dead members of the merchant group were already no longer in Murong Jun’s head. No, he hadn’t even cared from the beginning.
He killed merchants with no sins at all for the sole reason that they caught his eye. Of course, the Murong Clan would gain immense benefits from that, but wouldn’t expressing the minimum condolences be normal?
Yan Ja-bang did not bother hiding the emotions he felt.
“Do you have no sense of guilt?”
“What guilt are you talking about? Ah, the merchant group?”
“Yes.”
Murong Jun spoke firmly.
“They are merely casualties of war. If I pour my heart into every single one of those things, rising to eminence in the Murim is a dream I cannot even dream of.”
“…”
“You should also know. While driving a large carriage, bugs are bound to be crushed to death under its wheels.”
A shadow fell on Yan Ja-bang’s face.
He made a deal with Murong Jun. However, it was a deal in name only, and in truth, it was a relationship no different from between a liege and a vassal.
In other words, no matter what Murong Jun did, he had no choice but to follow him. Whether he did righteous deeds or low and base acts.
‘Scary.’
He knew he was a person who could become more cold-hearted than anyone else if necessary, but to think it was to this extent.
Murong Jun smiled bitterly.
“I thought it was time for you to know that much by now.”
“What I am curious about is not that.”
“Hmm?”
“What I mean is, was there a need to go out of your way to kill them? It is not like there was no method at all to press down on the Guizhou Merchant Association while keeping them alive, right?”
“Is there such a method?”
“I do not know. But if it was you, you definitely would have been able to find such a method.”
Murong Jun smirked.
“I will not deny it.”
Yan Ja-bang’s eyes became thin like threads.
“Are you saying you killed them even though you could have sufficiently done so?”
“I could have sufficiently done so, but it is also unacceptable for this mission to have a setback due to that.”
“…?!”
“Right, as you said, there were many methods. However, the most certain thing is to erase the traces. Why do you think the saying ‘dead men tell no tales’ came out?”
“…”
“I want to accomplish the mission, and I also want to take my share of the money? Do you think I can select and obtain only what I want while looking after other people’s circumstances one by one?”
Blazing lightning colored Murong Jun’s two eyes.
“When trying to catch two rabbits, the most important things are a cold-hearted decision and speed. Bringing up human compassion or circumstances there will only increase things to care about.”
Yan Ja-bang closed his eyes.
Perhaps he had also expected such an answer. However, he also had a thought that he wished the person he served was a person who knew a little bit of reason.
He was wrong. Murong Jun was not a liege who met his expectations.
Murong Jun was a fierce hero who used any means and methods to seize power. To such a him, worldly reasons and ethics were no different from ceremonial dress that only looked plausible on the outside but had no practicality at all.
Murong Jun shrugged his shoulders.
“Looking at it broadly, aren’t you also similar to me?”
“What do you mean?”
“You, to restore the lost Jiangshi technique of the Yan Clan, how many people did you kill?”
In an instant, the corners of Yan Ja-bang’s eyes trembled violently.
Murong Jun smirked.
“I didn’t bring this up to startle you. I am rather on the side that applauds such passion and decisiveness.”
“…Stop.”
“In the end, it is all the same. Whether for the clan or for power. Trampling over others and rising up to achieve one’s own goal, that is precisely the essence of the race called humans.”
Murong Jun’s face became cold in an instant.
“Those who do not set foot in the mud will eventually just be eliminated along with defeat. I merely want to remain as the victor of my life, and I do not want to become a defeated dog and live wretchedly.”
It was a voice that even showed madness.
It was not an excuse for the deeds he committed. Murong Jun truly believed so.
Murong Jun, who emptied his teacup entirely, stood up from his seat.
“Now, let’s slowly get moving as well.”
“…Where are you going?”
“Where else? Since the operations group moved, I must also do the work I have to do.”
Murong Jun’s eyes sparkled.
“When this mission is successfully concluded, the operations group will immediately enter the deep core of the Black Dragon Manor. They will obtain all the desired information there and return.”
“…?”
“I think I need to prepare another board so that the operations group can slip out safely.”
* * *
Paaang!
The movement techniques of the three men and women breaking through the dense forest path were as fast as the wind.
Yeon Ho-jeong, leading the group at the front, was lost in thought.
‘Murong Jun.’
Ga Deuk-sang’s words came to mind.
‘It’s a bit much to say this now, but… this information manipulation, can we really trust it?’
Of course he couldn’t trust it.
If Murong Jun had issued orders from the Murim Alliance’s main branch, he would not have doubted it to this extent.
The human who waved his hands in refusal when asked to go together, dug into the enemy camp as if waiting once the operations group successfully broke through Hunan.
He couldn’t know what his ulterior motive was. This time around, even Yeon Ho-jeong couldn’t read Murong Jun’s moves.
So he decided to look at only one thing.
That Murong Jun also did not wish for this mission to fail. That he would not spare definite support until the operations group safely returned after seizing satisfying information.
However.
‘There is definitely something.’
As he had said directly to him, Murong Jun was a person with the ability to handle two or more things at once.
‘He definitely struck a certain deal with the Guizhou Merchant Association.’
Or, he hadn’t struck a deal but was enduring to obtain something bigger.
‘Murong Jun is a person who can become more atrocious than a demon head depending on the case. Furthermore…’
This Hunan Province was the region where the Murong Clan was located.
Of course, the distance from Changsha, where the Black Dragon Manor was located, was incredibly far. Unless they made up their minds, it would be difficult to actually clash.
However, in terms of its influence, it was not inferior to the Black Dragon Manor, no, it could be even greater.
‘Murong Jun’s position within Hunan Province will be incredibly solid. If he wants to achieve something, he can receive support much easier and faster than when he was in the Murim Alliance.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sank darkly.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
Murong Jun’s face came to mind.
The terrible desire cast inside a face holding a wonderful smile like a good person.
‘This time around, I won’t care what you do. Whether it’s to gain greater power or to expand your clan’s influence, I can turn a blind eye to most things.’
However.
‘Do not cross the line.’
Murong Jun was a target that must definitely be defeated.
However, he had no intention of nitpicking everything he did. The opponent was the opponent, but it was because it was obvious that this side would also get tired.
However, if he crossed the minimum line in that process, then there was no choice but to restrain him.
‘I know neither common sense nor morality works on him, but at least since he was born with a human body, even if he becomes third-rate, he shouldn’t become a demon.’
At the thought that suddenly came to mind, Yeon Ho-jeong felt bitter anew.
‘Then again, I’m probably no different from a demon in other people’s eyes as well.’
His head seemed to become complicated.
Yeon Ho-jeong took a deep breath.
‘That’s enough. Let’s only think about the mission right now.’
At that time, Pae-yul asked from the side.
“Is that alright?”
“Yes?”
“I mean the spear. I asked if it was usable.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked down at the spear he was holding in his hand. It was the iron spear he bought when he first entered Hunan.
“It is alright.”
“The center of gravity is well balanced.”
“The blacksmith’s skill was very good.”
“Hmm.”
Pae-yul tilted his head.
“I wanted to ask since a while ago, but your spear arts have also achieved a great state.”
“To swing an axe the size of a person’s body, spear and staff arts are basic.”
“Then again, is that so?”
“But why do you ask?”
Pae-yul hesitated, unlike himself.
“That is…”
Tang Sang-ah as well as Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Pae-yul with wondering eyes.
Pae-yul cleared his throat.
“Our sect’s Sun-Piercing Sword… well, you know about that, right?”
It must mean that it was lost. Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.
“I know.”
“I want to create a martial art that, even if not superior to it, can be sufficiently compared to it. It is in progress though.”
“…?!”
“I somehow managed to make it, but no matter how I look at it, it seems to suit a spear more than a sword.”
Surprise colored Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
“You created a martial art?”
“Heoheoheom!”
“Could it be, what you showed me before?”
Pae-yul smacked his lips.
“It is still far off. After taking a close look at it after the spar with you, there wasn’t just one or two gaps. There is a lot of room for improvement.”
“You are amazing.”
Yeon Ho-jeong purely admired him.
Creating a martial art? This was not something to be judged simply by the level of skill.
Whether the level is high or low, creating new martial studies itself is an amazing feat. Since one must create not only the forms but also the internal energy operation method befitting those forms, it is no ordinary difficult task.
“So that’s why, later, please spar with me using spear arts a bit.”
“Of course.”
It must have been truly embarrassing to make such a request with his personality. It also meant that he was that serious about the martial art he was creating.
“But what is the name of that martial art?”
“What name for a martial art that isn’t even completed yet.”
“But it seems you have made one?”
Pae-yul cleared his throat again.
“Just well… I tried calling it the Sun-Piercing Sword to make it easy to call.”
“Sun-Piercing Sword.”
“I don’t know whether it will become the Sun-Piercing Sword or the Sun-Piercing Spear. Anyway, make sure to keep your promise.”
“I understand.”
An envious emotion faintly colored Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
‘Creating a new martial art… It is truly an amazing feat.’
Tearing apart and fixing existing martial arts to make them easier to use was something Yeon Ho-jeong was also as good at as anyone else.
However, he had never created a new martial art like Pae-yul. Pae-yul, whose state was lower than his, was actually far ahead in this aspect.
Yeon Ho-jeong looked ahead again.
‘Will such a time come for me in the future as well.’
It was an unknown matter. Since this wasn’t something he could do simply by making up his mind.
However, he did have a wish that such a fateful time would come for him as well.
The feeling of wanting to leave a footprint in the world through martial arts. Yeon Ho-jeong also had that level of desire as a Murim warrior.
After the party ran on the forest path for a while like that.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
“It is there.”
“I see. But…”
Pae-yul furrowed his brows.
“What is this?”
Tang Sang-ah also showed signs of slight panic.
“They are masters?”
Yeon Ho-jeong was also panicked.
The destination visible to the eye, nearly a hundred people wearing the same clothes were gathered there. They were precisely the merchant group proxies who had borrowed and worn the clothes of the merchant group.
But their auras were extremely strange.
‘They are strong, but…’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes became cold like ice.
‘What is this, this smell of blood?’
It was then.
Chachachachang!
All the members of the Guizhou Merchant Association drew their swords and blades and glared at this side.
In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shook.
‘Murong Jun… Could it be?!’
In the center of the merchant group, a middle-aged man with a sword scar near his eye spat out an outcry overflowing with killing intent.
“Kill them!”
Pabababak!
A hundred masters lunged towards the three people.