Chapter 228: Return of the Sovereign (3)
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Murong Jun’s face hardened.
At this point in time, it was a name he never thought would come out of the mouth of Pae-yul, the elder of Diancang of all people.
‘You bastard, could it be?’
He was sincerely panicked.
Mong Ui was a master of Diancang whom Murong Jun had sent to Yeon Ho-jeong along with assassins previously.
Of course, he was only from Diancang and was a person no different from being excommunicated. He was a rare immoral child who killed the sect leader and fled after stealing the Sun-Piercing Sword, the greatest secret art of Diancang.
The problem was that before he entered under Murong Jun, he worked in the shadows belonging to the Myeong Clan.
The Myeong Clan was declared a public enemy of the Murim, and all related persons were punished. Even now, the alliance’s prison was swarming with warriors of the Myeong Clan.
In other words, Murong Jun secretly spirited away a person who deserved to be punished and made him his subordinate.
It was not only Murong Jun who committed such an act. However, this was something that must never be rumored, and if it became known externally, it was a problem where not only Murong Jun but all related persons could be punished.
‘Are you saying you’ll come out like this?’
The reason he had no worries about Mong Ui.
That was because he had concluded that matter through a deal with Yeon Ho-jeong. Both Yeon Ho-jeong and himself would commit any act to screw over the opponent, but they never brought up a matter that had once passed again.
So to speak, that was an implicit rule. The moment that rule is broken, from then on, it inevitably turns into a real mud fight.
“Mong Ui…”
“That is so, Mong Ui.”
Murong Jun saw Pae-yul’s gaze.
It was blazing as if it would explode at any moment, but he was maintaining that brilliant flame with reason as cold as ice.
‘It is unexpected.’
Not in detail, but he had already investigated Pae-yul as well. Since he was a member of this mission, it was natural.
‘A typical battle maniac. I heard he was a hot-blooded hero who hates using his head.’
So to speak, it meant he was similar to Zhang Fei (Yide) appearing in the Romance of Three Kingdoms. He clearly heard it like that through reports.
‘Then again, considering what kind of bastard Yeon Ho-jeong is, would he put just anyone under his command.’
Murong Jun nodded.
“I know.”
Pae-yul’s eyebrows wriggled.
Murong Jun spoke with an indifferent face.
“So, what about it?”
“That bastard Mong Ui, do you know he is an excommunicated disciple from our sect?”
“I also know that.”
“That bastard, not only did he steal the greatest secret art of our sect, he even killed the sect leader and fled.”
“So, what is it that you want to say?”
He is endlessly shameless.
Pae-yul painstakingly suppressed his surging killing intent.
“The Nine Sects One Gang and the Six Great Clans are prestigious families walking the Orthodox. If you knew about him, you should have at least informed our sect.”
Murong Jun smiled coldly.
“I am sorry, but at the time I did not know he was excommunicated. I only heard the circumstances belatedly.”
“What?”
“Even if I knew, what do you want me to do when that bastard came finding me first?”
Pae-yul’s neck heated up red.
“Are you really saying you will come out like that?”
“I only stated the facts.”
“You ordered Mong Ui to…!”
“And I will say one thing.”
Pajik!
The air instantly became hot under Murong Jun’s lightning-like eye light.
“I have no reason to be interrogated by you. Furthermore, this seat is an official seat. My patience is quite deep, but do not think that I will continue to just watch a mere operations group member crawling up.”
Don’t get on my nerves with useless words and bring out the main point first.
Pae-yul, who was quietly glaring at Murong Jun, spoke as if chewing and spitting out.
“Leader Yeon’s inauguration as the Information Department Head is two days later. The time for seizing information is ten days to half a month. It is a message telling you to heat up the Black Dragon Manor well within that time.”
“Is that all?”
“…”
“I understand. You may leave now.”
Pae-yul, who stood up from his seat, opened his mouth.
“This is all for the official message. And he also asked me to convey these words.”
“Speak.”
“I will convey it exactly. ‘It was you who crossed the line first, so this is like a declaration of war. I have taken a good look at your audacity of turning a crisis into an opportunity, so now watch closely what I will commit.'”
“…”
“The message ends with this.”
Pae-yul left the room with those words as the end. Because if he stayed longer, it seemed he would really draw his sword.
Murong Jun, who was left alone like that, looked towards the window.
“Crossed the line?”
The corners of Murong Jun’s mouth wriggled.
“You, aren’t you living too softly? You shouldn’t say I crossed the line with just this much.”
The act of annihilating the merchant group of the Guizhou Merchant Association and erasing his own shameful parts from the world.
If it were fools who talk about morals and ethics but do not know even a speck about the principles of how the world turns, they might throw a tantrum asking shouldn’t they rise up immediately over that.
However, Yeon Ho-jeong was not. He thought he would be angry, but he didn’t know he would talk about crossing the line or not over a matter like this.
“Do not wear a mask that does not suit you, Ho-jeong. Aren’t you a person who can become a hundred times more terrible than this.”
That was exactly the reason Murong Jun evaluated Yeon Ho-jeong highly.
That bastard had enough flexibility to set aside morals and ethics for a moment if necessary.
Therefore, that bastard is amazing, and also dangerous. Because people who can choose an immoral option at a truly important moment are not even a handful in the vast world.
“However…”
Murong Jun smiled bitterly.
“Your wits are truly fast. It seems you have seen through why I moved like this just by looking at the series of processes.”
Turned a crisis into an opportunity?
This meant he guessed the reason why he personally came to Hunan.
‘He probably doesn’t know the things I am planning. However, since he knew why I committed such a deed, he will respond in some way.’
In an instant, Murong Jun’s face was dyed with intense killing intent.
“…You, if you keep coming out like this, I might really bury you here.”
Perhaps he won’t provoke him more than this. He himself would also not provoke that bastard further.
However, since he talked about a declaration of war and said that he himself would also try running wild brilliantly, he was definitely intending to sharpen a sharp dagger.
‘He won’t be able to touch the Guizhou Merchant Association.’
That bastard knows that the merchant group of the Guizhou Merchant Association is all dead.
However, Murong Jun was certain. That Yeon Ho-jeong would not bring out that part and shake him.
The truth is a piece of work touched by the commander without the operations group knowing, but anyway, the ones swept up in that matter are all members of the operations group. Whether for the Murim Alliance or for the Yeon Clan, Yeon Ho-jeong can never bring that matter out.
‘If so?’
Murong Jun’s eyes sparkled.
“Mu-yeon.”
“Yes, Clan Head.”
“Tell Pavilion Master Yan. That the Information Department of the Black Dragon Manor might stir up the main family. Convey to him to prepare in advance.”
“I receive the command.”
* * *
It felt like his whole throat was blazing from one cup of strong baijiu.
‘Murong Jun.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s face glaring at the cup with cold eyes was more bloody than ever.
Ga Deuk-sang and Tang Sang-ah needlessly read his mood. It was their first time seeing Yeon Ho-jeong making such a chilling face to this extent.
Filling the cup again and emptying it as it was, his nape turned red. He was not suppressing the alcohol qi with his internal energy.
‘I know you are anxious, but you went a little overboard this time.’
Not enough with erasing his own shame with this one move, he might be intending to stand in an advantageous position in the trade with the Guizhou Merchant Association.
Is it an excessive speculation? Not at all. Murong Jun was a human who was sufficiently capable of doing so and more.
‘I won’t stop you from expanding your power, but you shouldn’t play around like this.’
Is it a matter unrelated to him?
That is right. Thinking about it in a way, it is a matter that can be ended just by cursing him out a lot. It is the same as being used by Murong Jun, but there was absolutely no actual damage suffered by this side due to that.
It is fine to just bury it as it is. Even so, people would not know.
However, the reason Yeon Ho-jeong was so angry to this extent was because he was certain that the deed Murong Jun committed this time was merely the beginning.
The Guizhou Merchant Association? It is just that much at first, but later, crossing the Murim Alliance, he will even drag in commoners unrelated to this fight.
No, it is no different from already dragging them in. The shadow warriors disguised as the execution team definitely had families, and it was clear that those families were held as hostages by the Murong Clan.
It is not a fight risking the fate of the entire Central Plains, and on top of killing people merely for his own private interest, he even touched commoners.
Yeon Ho-jeong could not forgive such a Murong Jun.
‘Even beasts hunt, but they do not trample on flowers. You have turned over even a flower garden that has nothing to do with this right now.’
Should he rather say it turned out well.
Since focusing on the Evil-Annihilating Army, he felt his tension toward Murong Jun had loosened somewhat.
With this one move, Murong Jun reminded him anew of what a dangerous human he could become.
‘I will show you the fight of the Sovereign of the Unorthodox, the Dark Emperor, not the human Yeon Ho-jeong.’
Now he would no longer treat him softly. Yeon Ho-jeong promised and promised again.
At that time, Ga Deuk-sang filled his cup.
“Keoheoheom! Man really, without even snacks.”
“…”
“Unwrinkle your expression a bit. It is so bloody I cannot live. I keep feeling like I am going to pee.”
Yeon Ho-jeong sighed quietly.
“I am sorry.”
“No. Nothing to be sorry about.”
Ga Deuk-sang smacked his lips.
“That fucking bird was a bit harsh this time.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked without realizing it. Perhaps the only person in the world who would speak like that about Murong Jun was Ga Deuk-sang.
“But it is not like you can catch and kill him right away. The deed that bastard committed deserves criticism, but unfortunately, we are in the middle of a mission. Even if you want to smack the back of his head, it will be hard right now.”
Do not forget your duty.
Ga Deuk-sang’s words contained such a meaning. And Yeon Ho-jeong also sympathized with that.
“I am sorry. I made you care for no reason.”
“I said it’s fine. To put it bluntly, I also thought I was going to flip my lid when I first heard that story. I am rather thankful that you expressed all the anger I would have expressed.”
Bitterness lingered on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
“It is my fault. I knew that human would play a trick, but since we could be called a community of destiny this time, I thought he wouldn’t cross the line.”
“You wanted to believe that he wouldn’t cross the line.”
“Right, those words are correct.”
Ga Deuk-sang sighed.
“It is unfortunate, but what can we do? I do not want to say this, but even if you had known in advance, it would have been hard to stop it.”
It was correct words. From the beginning, it was not an issue that this side could handle.
“The only thing we can do is to break his legs so that crazy bastard cannot commit such a deed again.”
“I see.”
“Cheer up. The mission is not over yet. As it is the last, let’s be more tense.”
“The Successor’s words are right.”
It was then.
“Uaaaaa! We finally arrived!”
It was a familiar voice.
Puseuseuseu.
Intense scent of alcohol suddenly wafted out from Yeon Ho-jeong’s body. He had evaporated all the alcohol poison with the Azure Dragon Qi.
The party left the room and headed to the yard.
There were two men and women who opened the gate and came in. One was Zhuge Ah-yeon, and the other was a robust young man who had covered even his face with a cloak.
Srrrk.
Soon the young man revealed his face.
A somewhat devastated face. His expression was full of confusion.
“Gang-ryang.”
“…I greet my benefactor.”
Yeon Ho-jeong pointed at the guest hall with his chin.
“Inside.”