Chapter 226: Return of the Sovereign (1)
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Murong Jun, who had secretly gone up to the northernmost part of Hunan, openly revealed himself at a quite famous tavern.
It was truly free and leisurely.
Occupying the top floor of the tavern, an ultra-luxurious special room, he tilted a wine cup alone and suddenly looked out the window.
“The scenery is quite nice.”
Indeed, befitting a place that costs twenty taels of silver just to get a seat, Dongting Lake was visible at a glance.
The sight of sunlight hitting the surface of the vast lake like a sea and breaking radiantly was truly ecstatic, to the point of even feeling overwhelmed.
The names Hubei Province and Hunan Province themselves came from that Dongting Lake. North of Dongting Lake is Hubei, the southern region bordering Dongting Lake is Hunan.
So to speak, it meant it was one of the most famous lakes even in the inland regions. Looking at it like this, indeed there was a reason people praised it with one mouth.
“Even though I established a base in Hunan Province, I think this is my first time sightseeing this leisurely. Heo! It seems I also live quite a dry and hard life.”
The lake was wide and the land was fertile. Far away under the city, children were singing joyfully.
There was no other Peach Blossom Spring.
Chillness had already colored Murong Jun’s face as he looked at the lake as if possessed.
‘I wonder if it’s roughly over by now.’
It was a time past the middle of the Wei hour. With Yeon Ho-jeong’s skill, it would have ended an hour ago.
‘I’m sorry for making you take on the cleaning for nothing. But what can I do? It was too fascinating a moment to just pass by.’
He killed the actual merchant group of the Guizhou Merchant Association entirely.
And those disguised as that merchant group were precisely the shadow warriors who had ruined surrounding sects and merchant groups under the command of the Murong Clan.
‘I was agonizing over when to take care of them anyway.’
Shadow warriors.
They were called shadow warriors in name, but to speak openly, they were closer to just fixers. Human butchers who do things instead that Orthodox people wearing the mask of the Orthodox Faction could never do, so to speak.
Murong Jun personally raised those butchers. It was because he thought that if he borrowed outside hands, his tail would definitely be caught later.
Even worrying that the bastards would betray him in the middle, he went as far as selecting only those who had families from the beginning. Because a dog with something to protect never bites its master.
And now, their usefulness was exhausted.
Murong Jun smiled coldly.
‘To someone who will become the next Alliance Leader, their existence is too dangerous. The affected area is slowly starting to stink. If they are bastards who will sicken my body at any time, it is better to cut them out at this opportunity.’
Kill all the merchants of the actual merchant group to blur the eyes of the Guizhou Merchant Association side.
Afterward, disguise the shadow warriors as merchants and have them killed by the hands of the operations group, then induce the operations group to accomplish the mission.
In the meantime, make his existence known to the Unorthodox to turn their eyes away, then induce Yeon Ho-jeong to come catch him, plotting the death of the entire operations group.
If that happens, the operations group will be able to return safely to the alliance. Furthermore, externally they become dead talents, so Yang Cheon would also not try to search for the operations group anymore.
This was precisely the picture drawn by the commander of this mission, Murong Jun.
‘There is not much left of this year. When next year comes, the election will slowly begin.’
Murong Jun tilted his wine cup.
It was cheap baijiu unbefitting the highest-class floor. Even after drinking that strong alcohol, he had no particular inspiration.
‘Not only the power of the factions, but also as the commander of a mission that can shake the Murim power dynamic, I even succeed in this matter. It is insufficient to be called a merit worthy of grabbing the next supreme power, but anyway, among the Honored Guests, there is not a single one who has established a merit equal to mine.’
The important thing in an election is popularity.
However, what was just as important as popularity was precisely ability.
‘Perfect. Yang Cheon is stepping forward at exactly the right time. Very good.’
The ability to turn a crisis into an opportunity is essential for a politician.
At first, he sincerely worried about Yang Cheon’s existence. Of course, it is no different now.
However, receiving the request from Zhuge Wen-hu and Yeon Wi, he intuited that his existence could be beneficial to him.
‘Things they cannot solve themselves, they do not refuse to request even to a competitor. In other words, the more difficult problems there are to solve, they look at ability rather than popularity.’
In times of peace, a person with good popularity grasps supreme power, and in turbulent times, a person with good ability does.
It is still lacking to be called turbulent times, but since the Unorthodox rose due to the establishment of the Murim Alliance, it cannot be called an era of peace either.
‘When the appropriate time comes, I should slowly start fanning the flames.’
He came to Hunan personally for that preparation. Fortunately, the groundwork was proceeding smoothly so far.
“Isn’t life like the old man of the frontier losing his horse. As expected, a person must open their mind and learn. Strategist Zhuge, thanks to you, I realized something big.”
He could not help but be a truly thankful existence.
If he had not requested this matter from him, he had planned to wage this second battle in a more primal method.
However, things flowed like this, and instead of rolling in the mud, he grasped the opportunity to flap his wings elegantly.
‘This is why life is fun.’
Murong Jun, who filled his empty cup, smirked at a thought that suddenly came to mind.
“Look here, Ho-jeong. In fact, I hate you to death, but at the same time, I still haven’t been able to throw away my lingering attachment. You probably wouldn’t know how much I want to bring you under me.”
This was sincere.
As he also told Tang Kwan, Yeon Ho-jeong was not a talent to be undervalued just because he was young. Rather, he deserved to be evaluated higher for the fact that he could wage this level of political strife at that age.
If Yeon Ho-jeong joined hands with him.
If that really happened, it would be worth aiming for the world beyond the Orthodox Murim.
“But I also know. That you will absolutely never join hands with me. That might be why I covet you even more.”
Murong Jun, who emptied his cup again, gazed at Dongting Lake.
The mystery of the lake covered in sunlight. Inside it, conflicts of ugly human affairs did not exist.
Bitterness was glimpsed momentarily on Murong Jun’s face.
“…What can I do? If born as a beast, one has no choice but to follow the way of the beast. Since you are also a beast born with fangs like me, I believe you will understand.”
It was then.
“Clan Head.”
It was Mu-yeon’s voice.
Murong Jun asked while filling his cup.
“How did it go?”
“The operations group annihilated the merchant group.”
“As expected.”
He didn’t even think the operations group would be defeated from the beginning. If he had, he wouldn’t have plotted such a thing.
Yeon Ho-jeong had to live. At least until this mission.
Yeon Ho-jeong must not die. At least in the land of the Unorthodox.
“They must have been quite surprised since it was a matter not discussed in advance, so I should soothem a bit. Tell him. That I will always keep the door open. To come whenever he wants to come.”
* * *
“Euhahaha!”
Yang Cheon burst into mad laughter.
“I knew it would be so. I’m saying I knew you would succeed.”
Yeon Ho-jeong bowed his head.
“It is thanks to the Manor Lord believing in me. I will exert effort to meet your expectations in the future as well.”
“You will naturally do well on your own. If I had not believed in you in the first place, I would not have even called you to this seat.”
Yang Cheon spoke with a satisfied face.
“So, how should I handle the aftermath of this matter for you? Would it be enough just to block the information?”
“I decorated the traces to make it look like mysterious masters attacked. Even if the Guizhou Merchant Association’s main branch sends people, it would be difficult to figure out who did it.”
“Heoheoheo.”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke affably.
“However, if the Manor Lord takes action, I will not bother refusing. It is good if work is neat.”
“Keuhaha! You, you have a more pleasant side than I thought.”
Yang Cheon banged the armrest.
“Good, I will handle the information at the Black Dragon Manor level. This matter, the Guizhou Merchant Association will never know.”
“…Thank you.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes, bowing his head and expressing gratitude, were surging fiercely beyond measure.
‘This was it.’
The corners of Yeon Ho-jeong’s mouth went up.
If he didn’t smile, his killing intent felt like it would explode.
‘He’ll handle it on his own… Right, even if you bastards kill them, this side will handle it on its own, so you can slip away without any problems, is this it?’
He was a human whose brain rolled in a truly astonishing way.
This time was truly amazing. He admired it so much that he wanted to tear him to shreds and kill him.
“You probably also know. The transported goods you brought have immense value, but in truth, considering this manor’s financial power, it is hard to see it as that amazing at the Black Dragon Manor level.”
“I know.”
“In other words, its value as funds is not large. However, it can be a token that you have proven your ability.”
“That is so.”
Yang Cheon nodded.
“The dowry you brought, you use it.”
Yeon Ho-jeong raised his head without realizing it.
Unlike a little while ago when he was dotted with anger, it was a purely surprised expression.
“What are you saying?”
Yang Cheon burst into a hearty laugh.
“You, you knew how to make such a face too? I get to see many appearances.”
“…?!”
“Aren’t you a person who will do big things in the future. I was agonizing over what I should do for you, having received a big gift anyway.”
“But…”
“You are a person of the Black Dragon Manor from now on. Even if I can’t give proper treatment to a talent working for the manor, it wouldn’t do to just eat and receive.”
Yang Cheon leaned his upper body forward.
“I cherish talents. If I cherish them, I must give them treatment appropriate for that. As long as you do not make a mistake, there will be no casting you out by me.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was staring fixedly at Yang Cheon, bowed his head again.
“I thank the Manor Lord for his generosity.”
“It is done. Man really, you were so fierce until you came under me.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“Because I did not know you would really accept me.”
“Hahaha!”
He really seemed to be in a good mood. Overflowing joy could be glimpsed in the appearance of Yang Cheon bursting into laughter.
“Now, private talk is enough with this much, so let’s talk about work now.”
“Let’s do that.”
“You have proven your ability. With that much ability and merit, there won’t be many who oppose even if I give you a high position.”
Not many. In other words, it meant there would be some.
“I must bear that much.”
“Of course you should.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes sparkled.
“Right, what is the position you want?”
Yeon Ho-jeong answered immediately.
“Information Department Head, or Inspection Department Senior Inspector level or higher.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes sparkled.
“If not the Information Department Head, you want the position of the highest real power in the Inspection Department?”
“That is so.”
“I did think you would want a hot seat, but to think it would be the Information Department or Inspection Department.”
“Is it strange?”
“It is not strange, but I thought you would sit in a position overseeing combat units. With your level of martial arts and personality, that side suits you more too.”
Even though there was a problem with his true qi and internal energy operation, the discerning eye he polished while achieving that state didn’t seem to go anywhere.
Because if he had sincerely tried to throw himself into the Black Dragon Manor, he would have wanted the position of real power in a combat unit.
“We must obtain Hunan Province first. To do that, I think an internal management position is much better than going out to the front lines.”
“Hmm, that could certainly be so.”
Yang Cheon smacked his lips.
“As you guessed, it is hard to make a position for you in the Inspection Department. I can sufficiently suppress the opposition, but due to the characteristics of inspection, the atmosphere will become too threatening if an outsider comes in.”
Yeon Ho-jeong feigned ignorance.
“Is that so?”
“It is. If it were you, wouldn’t you do the same?”
“Then?”
Yang Cheon quietly examined Yeon Ho-jeong’s gaze, then soon nodded readily.
“I shouldn’t become a monarch who disappoints a subordinate with two words from one mouth, right?”
“…!”
“Three days later, I will begin the organization restructuring.”
Yang Cheon smiled.
“Try working hard, Information Department Head.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
“…I will not disappoint you.”