Chapter 231: Conflict (1)
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Yeon Ho-jeong, who entered his residence within the Black Dragon Manor, sat on the bed for a moment.
“…….”
A completely desolate face. His two eyes were dry and cold like a desert at night.
“……It was as expected.”
He tried not to jump to conclusions. He had his suspicions, but he tried never to be absolutely certain until clear evidence appeared.
Now, it seemed he could be certain.
Because it was Yang Cheon himself, and no one else, who had said it directly.
‘Evil Lust Cult.’
Three Cults of Fanaticism.
Unidentified religious groups coiled up somewhere in the Outer-territorial Region.
They were respectively called the Evil Lust Cult, the Mad Blood Cult, and the Divine Fire Cult, and although they worshipped the same god, their methods of worship were different.
Since their methods of worship were different, their scriptures and doctrines were also different. Although they shared numerous martial arts, the temperament and personality of the cultists were also diverse.
However, apart from worshipping the same god, they had one thing in common among themselves.
It was power.
‘It was as expected. The fact that those bastards rose up all at once and turned the Central Plains into a sea of blood in a single breath was possible because, in addition to their outstanding combat power, there had been decades of preliminary work.’
The Green Mountain Yeon Clan was strong.
However, in the past, the Yeon Clan was exterminated so easily that it felt empty. The reason was that there was someone inside delivering information.
That spy was Tae-gyeong, and if it hadn’t been for him, the Yeon Clan would have been able to fight much more efficiently.
This matter was no different.
If the Myeong Clan collaborated with the Murong Clan to plant a spy in the Yeon Clan, the Three Cults of Fanaticism tried to tune the political situation by observing various parts of the Central Plains through the Black Dragon Manor. Then, when they judged that it was sufficiently worth attacking, they would strike in like lightning and turn the Central Plains into a sea of blood.
A wise and dark, bold and vicious scheme.
‘I won’t blame your methods. After all, the world is about eating or being eaten. Before morality and ethics, there is no glory for losers.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s cheeks constantly twitched.
He was suppressing his surging killing intent. As a handful of doubts was cleared up in one shot, he felt refreshed inside, but a killing intent greater than that was burning up.
‘So I hope you don’t feel too wronged either. Even if this side causes a more venomous mess.’
He still hadn’t figured out how to respond.
However, he vowed. He would defeat those bastards even if he had to bear any criticism and condemnation. No, he would completely burn down even their foundation so that they wouldn’t have a place to set foot on at all.
Oooooong.
The killing intent he hadn’t yet suppressed touched the Vermilion Bird Qi.
Fwooosh.
It felt like his heart caught fire.
The redly swaying Vermilion Bird Qi rapidly raised his heart rate. As his body temperature rose, the Fire Qi traversed various blood points like an overflowing river.
“Hoo.”
With a light deep breath, Yeon Ho-jeong drew up the Black Tortoise Qi.
Sizzle.
The Vermilion Bird Qi complained. It let out a mournful cry, asking if he wasn’t angry too, and urging him to go kill those bastards right away.
‘Calm down.’
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled. He controlled his emotions with a smile.
‘Getting angry now has no meaning. It won’t be too late to pour out this anger and resentment when those guys reveal themselves.’
Suddenly, the warriors with black sheep masks came to mind.
‘Come to think of it, that bastard.’
Among the numerous leadership gathered in the Black Dragon Manor, his eyes went to one person in particular.
He was Black Sheep. He was an expert in a special position acting under Yang Cheon, one of the Twelve Earthly Branches, and an expert holding a unique temperament.
‘Those bastards I encountered back then were a unit under Black Sheep. They used the Cleaving Severance Strike, a close-quarters combat art of the Three Cults, and the unique wheel battle tactic that pushed Gang-ryang to the corner was originally an improved version of the Evil Lust Cult’s formation technique…….’
A chilly aura lingered in Yeon Ho-jeong’s smile.
The face of Black Sheep, who was blunt from beginning to end, came to mind.
‘I already know you’re a running dog of the Evil Lust, so no matter how important the mission is, how could I go without catching you.’
Srrrng.
The Black Tortoise Qi completely put the Vermilion Bird Qi to sleep.
Taking another deep breath, Yeon Ho-jeong stood up from his seat. Since he had controlled his emotions, it was now time to do what he had to do.
At that time, someone’s voice was heard from outside.
“Department Head of Information.”
It was a strange voice.
A voice that seemed quite old yet somehow felt younger than expected.
“Who are you?”
“I am Illusion Snake of the Twelve Earthly Branches.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled.
Kugugugung!
The door opened and Illusion Snake entered.
Illusion Snake bowed his head.
“I greet the Department Head of Information.”
Yeon Ho-jeong also greeted him briefly.
“I am Jeong, who became the Department Head of Information as of today. I greet Senior Illusion Snake.”
Illusion Snake bowed his head even deeper.
“Please do not say that. We, the Twelve Earthly Branches, are lower in rank than the heads of the Four Great Organizations under the Black Dragon Manor.”
The Four Great Organizations of the Black Dragon Manor literally meant four major organizations.
The Information Department that handled information, the Inspection Department that grasped the political situation of the Unorthodox Murim and planned practical responses as well as internal inspections, the Dragon Fang Courtyard that oversaw all military organizations within the Manor, and the Dragon Horn Courtyard that was in charge of managing the Black Dragon Manor’s funds.
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“It might be different if it were a public setting, but you can’t be like that in a private setting. However, I have my own position, so I will not bow my head any further.”
He came out quite straightforwardly.
Since the other party came out like this first, there was no reason for Illusion Snake to refuse.
“I understand.”
“So, what brings you here?”
Illusion Snake’s eyes sparkled.
“The Manor Lord directly ordered me to help the Department Head with your work. You can leave all the trivial errands to me.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled.
“Can I really do that?”
“Of course. As it is an order from none other than the Manor Lord, I will serve you with all my heart and sincerity.”
That meant he absolutely wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t Yang Cheon’s order.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.
“I understand. For the time being, I need time to organize things on my own. I will call you when the time comes later, so go back and rest for now.”
“Are you resting today?”
“No. I plan to stop by the Information Department and grasp the internal affairs of the Manor and the circumstances up until now.”
“Then let’s go together. I will assist you.”
“Then let’s do that.”
He needed to turn his attention elsewhere anyway. At times like this, focusing on work was the best.
Thus, the two left the residence and headed for the Information Department.
Was it hard to bear the silence? Illusion Snake opened his mouth.
“I heard you had a dispute with Fire Ape.”
“You mean that monkey?”
“……Yes.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“I think it’s nothing much, but people around me keep asking.”
“Since we’ve become one family, we can’t help but pay attention.”
“Don’t worry. I have a personality that brushes off things once they’ve passed.”
It was a lie. If it really seemed like there would be no problem, he would quickly erase it from his memory, but if not, the person who would never forget was Yeon Ho-jeong.
Because if he made a slight mistake, he could get hit in the back of the head.
“I separately told Fire Ape. Not to cause any more trouble.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“You did something useless.”
“What do you mean?”
“Seeing her personality, it seemed like she wouldn’t even listen to others’ words with the back of her ears. Rather, because of Senior’s warning, she will probably have fire in her eyes, wondering when to bite me once.”
Illusion Snake’s eyes sparkled.
‘He’s quick-witted.’
It is extremely difficult to objectively grasp the personality of an opponent one has clashed with.
However, this extraordinary young man seemed capable of doing so.
‘Does this mean the Manor Lord didn’t pay attention to him for nothing.’
Illusion Snake said.
“If Fire Ape really holds a grudge, that is merely an act that shortens her own life.”
“I suppose so.”
“As a member of the Twelve Earthly Branches, I apologize on her behalf.”
“It doesn’t seem like something Senior should apologize for on her behalf. Besides, hasn’t that matter been settled? It’s not a topic we need to bring up again.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
He was extremely straightforward from the beginning too.
Illusion Snake liked the other party, even if just a little.
‘Indeed, the Manor Lord couldn’t have entrusted such a heavy responsibility to a greenhorn who only had outstanding abilities. He entrusted it because he has that much boldness and an eye for things.’
Most of the Black Dragon Manor’s leadership was looking at the new Department Head of Information with a displeased gaze. Perhaps if the Manor Lord hadn’t added the words not to create conflict, three or four of them would have already picked a fight and come at him.
Illusion Snake was the same. He didn’t enthusiastically welcome the new Department Head of Information, but he didn’t look at him favorably either. Honestly, he also wondered if the Manor Lord was overly protecting him.
But now he understood.
‘I still need to watch him more but…… there must be a reason why he receives the Manor Lord’s favor.’
Yeon Ho-jeong noticed that Illusion Snake’s gaze looking at him had softened, even if just a little.
‘As expected, he’s not to be underestimated.’
The reason Yang Cheon sent Illusion Snake was clear.
It was an intention to empower him, who still had no foundation, while simultaneously announcing to the entire Black Dragon Manor that he was a person with enough influence to have the Twelve Earthly Branches, his trusted subordinates, attached to him.
Furthermore, it would also be an oversight role in preparation for a possible situation. Yang Cheon thoroughly believed in his own eye, but at the same time, he was an old ginger who also knew that there were many variables in the world’s affairs.
‘I’m sorry, but things won’t go your way.’
The fact that Illusion Snake’s gaze looking at him had changed meant that his wariness towards him had faded.
‘He gave me a good present.’
Yang Cheon used Illusion Snake, but Yeon Ho-jeong could also use Illusion Snake.
And the day he would use him to set off firecrackers was not far off.
“It is here.”
“It’s huge.”
The size of the rock door was truly massive. It was three times larger than the main gate of the Black Dragon Manor.
Kugugugung.
As the door opened, a cave so huge that one’s mouth would drop open appeared.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled.
‘Shall I slowly begin.’
* * *
“Clan Head!”
“What is it?”
“A letter has arrived from the Operations Group Leader.”
Murong Jun’s eyes sparkled.
“Give it here.”
Surprisingly, the letter was over twenty pages.
Furthermore, each page was densely packed with characters, and the size of the characters was smaller than a pinky fingernail.
Parararak.
As Murong Jun slowly read down the letter page by page, surprise arose on his face.
“Has he already smuggled out this much?”
The letters, which wouldn’t be strange even if called a bundle, were all top secret information within the Black Dragon Manor.
The fund management situation, the Information Department’s radius of activity, the troop deployment, as well as the personalities and martial arts realms of the major leadership were written in detail.
It was truly a treasure that was hard to obtain even if one gave a thousand gold. Just by safely receiving this letter, this mission was no different from a success.
‘Amazing.’
Murong Jun purely admired him.
‘I heard he was inaugurated as the Department Head of Information two days ago, so did he extract this much information in that short time?’
Since he was inherently a guy who worked well, he thought there wouldn’t be anything else to admire, but every time he faced such a moment, he couldn’t help but admire him anew.
Not only did he pick out only the core contents while pointing out numerous pieces of information, but he also had the boldness to deliver all those contents in two days.
One could say an outstanding person was truly an outstanding person.
“What about the Operations Group?”
“Currently, only the Operations Group Leader has entered the Black Dragon Manor. The rest are staying in the seperate manor, and it seems they will also enter the Manor within a few days.”
“That would happen.”
Murong Jun’s eyes sparkled.
“He’s not a guy who will be satisfied with this much. There will definitely be more information he will extract.”
Yeon Ho-jeong was someone who accomplished things more certainly than anyone else once he started working. He would definitely catch a bigger case than this.
“However, the fact that he sent this first means I should also slowly prepare.”
He stood up from his seat.
“I should start fanning the flames so that the bastard comes to catch me.”