Chapter 233: Conflict (3)
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“What did you say?”
Murong Jun was genuinely surprised.
“Yang Cheon asked to see me?”
“Th- That is so.”
It was an unimaginable development.
No matter how things were, Yang Cheon directly asked to meet him? Furthermore, wasn’t he the master of the Black Dragon Manor, which hadn’t been revealed to the world yet?
Even if an elder of the clan came instead of himself, he should be holding his breath, but he contacted him directly to meet?
“Was there no separate contact from the Operations Group Leader?”
“There wasn’t.”
“Ha!”
Murong Jun shook his head.
“I don’t know what on earth is going on.”
This was clearly a bad move for Yang Cheon.
Judging by their movements so far, and the Murim Alliance’s information, it wasn’t time for the Black Dragon Manor to step out into the world yet.
But he asked to see him, the top leadership and Honored Guest of the Murim Alliance? How should he interpret this?
‘Yang Cheon doesn’t know. That their existence has already been found out by us. No, it’s correct that he’s moving thinking he doesn’t know.’
Murong Jun’s index finger, which was tapping the table, was trembling minutely.
‘Why go out of his way? With what intention? Surely someone of Yang Cheon’s caliber couldn’t possibly not know what his actions mean?’
Moreover, there must be a strategist beside him.
To create an organization the size of the Black Dragon Manor, countless talented people to manage the organization are needed as well as financial power. No matter how much soaring and crawling talent one had, one couldn’t build such an organization alone.
Suddenly, Murong Jun’s eyes flashed.
‘Could it be that bastard Yeon Ho-jeong?’
Doubting for a moment, he soon shook his head.
‘The possibility is small. This is a bad move for that guy too. Unless he sincerely intended to throw himself into the Black Dragon Manor, he has no reason to plot such a scheme.’
Yeon Ho-jeong was a scary guy, but at least he knew his stage well.
He might cross the line, and he might fluster him with unimaginable tricks. But that guy knew the dignity of a fight.
A clean fight that didn’t roll around in the mud. That was that guy’s line and limit, and that was why he was a scarier guy.
‘Could it be, he holds a grudge against me because of this incident?’
Murong Jun shook his head.
‘No. No matter how I think about it, it’s not him.’
Because of the matter with the Guizhou Merchant Association’s merchant group?
That was absolutely impossible. He might be angry because of that incident, but there was no need to respond like this at all.
If the one who plotted this incident was really Yeon Ho-jeong, it was an incredibly disappointing matter. The reason was, doing this brought no benefit to him at all.
Just being captivated by personal vengeance and putting the Operations Group as well as the mission in danger, there was no way that Yeon Ho-jeong would do such a thing.
“……For now.”
Murong Jun opened his mouth carefully.
“For now, I will wait. It won’t be too late to make a judgment after receiving contact from the Operations Group Leader.”
Half a day later.
“Clan Head! A letter has arrived from the Operations Group Leader!”
“Give it here.”
Murong Jun’s eyes, who hurriedly opened the letter, widened.
‘I will get straight to the point. I have not figured out what Yang Cheon is plotting. However, I expect he intends to look into the internal affairs of the main alliance through you, but this is also difficult to be certain of.’
‘The basic information snatching is finished, but there are top secret matters inside the Information Department. The estimated time required to classify them is at least half a month, at most a month. Please stall for time somehow until then.’
‘Lastly, I will give you one piece of advice. If possible, do not meet Yang Cheon. He is a more outstanding person than we think. You will have a headache in many ways if you fall into a trap, so keep your place.’
“Hmm.”
Murong Jun’s eyes sparkled.
‘Top secret information.’
His lower belly heated up.
‘As expected, this wasn’t Yeon Ho-jeong’s doing.’
Right now, this guy was focusing on the mission. If he mentioned ‘top secret’, it meant he would take responsibility for those words, and he would have written it in the letter because he was certain it was information worth that much.
‘So that’s why the contact was late.’
Murong Jun read down the letter once again.
‘Stall for time?’
The reason he told him not to meet Yang Cheon must also be there.
‘Hmm…….’
The corners of Murong Jun’s mouth rose.
‘It’s all good. It’s good but…… Yang Cheon is that outstanding?’
Keep your place, he said.
Really, if it wasn’t Yeon Ho-jeong, it was a remark that would have made him run right over and pull out his tongue.
Murong Jun, who had been pondering, smiled for a moment.
“Is there a need to avoid him, Ho-jeong? If Yang Cheon is such an outstanding person, it wouldn’t be bad to meet him this time and figure out his caliber.”
Of course, he had no intention of dealing with him using martial arts. He wasn’t someone he could compete with using martial arts in the first place.
‘Yang Cheon is also the head of an organization. Unless we are going to wage war right away, there is no way he will use his hands during a talk.’
That was the basic of basics. Furthermore, since Yeon Ho-jeong said he was more outstanding than expected, he must be someone who knows his own dignity.
‘Of course, I must prepare thoroughly in case of an unexpected situation.’
Murong Jun opened his mouth.
“Did you trace the contact that came from Yang Cheon?”
“Of course.”
“The result?”
“The initial origin point was unknown. It seems they are hiding it thoroughly.”
“Hmm, as expected.”
Murong Jun’s eyes became chilly.
“Send a reply as is. That I will decide the time and place.”
* * *
“A reply came from the Murong Clan Head.”
Admiration arose on Yang Cheon’s face.
“He said he will decide the place and date himself.”
“Did he?”
“That is so.”
“Honestly, I didn’t think he would succeed in one shot but…… that person, he’s not ordinary.”
“Tell me about it. I heard the current Murong Clan Head is a genius in both literary and martial arts, but I didn’t know he would show such a hot-blooded boldness.”
Yang Cheon seemed to greatly admire Murong Jun’s decision.
It was understandable. Murong Jun was an Honored Guest of the Murim Alliance and the head of the Murong Clan. He had no need to risk meeting a suspicious person who sent a letter through a communication network that couldn’t even be traced back.
Even the sender was the Combat King Yang Cheon. He wasn’t an opponent to send a reply right away like this.
“As expected, they say he is called the Conqueror of Hunan, and that reputation wasn’t false.”
Although not right now, Yang Cheon was also a figure who proudly claimed to be of the Unorthodox. He was a person who mocked and clicked his tongue at the Orthodox Murim people, calling them scholars, so he couldn’t help but feel a favorable impression towards Murong Jun, who showed this level of straightforwardness.
‘As expected.’
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled coldly.
‘I knew you would do that, Murong Jun.’
Just as Murong Jun had grasped Yeon Ho-jeong, Yeon Ho-jeong had also grasped Murong Jun.
‘I knew you would pop right out if I provoked you.’
Currently, Murong Jun was psychologically superior.
It meant that even a thorough person was bound to let their guard down at this time. Moreover, the position of a commander controlling the Operations Group would have encouraged Murong Jun’s carelessness.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s choice was exactly ‘provocation’.
‘You will have a headache in many ways if you fall into a trap, so keep your place.’
If Murong Jun had been completely on edge, he wouldn’t have easily reacted even after reading that phrase.
But not now.
‘Don’t worry, Murong Jun. We can get out well on our own. Because of you.’
Yeon Ho-jeong opened his mouth.
“Certainly, the Murong Clan Head’s choice was straightforward, but he must also be a meticulous person. If they set the location on their side, they will probably prepare assuming the worst case.”
“Worst case?”
“The case where the Manor Lord acts directly.”
Yang Cheon smirked.
“It’s a meeting between heads who have many burdens on their shoulders. Using hands in such a setting? That’s nonsense.”
This was exactly the dignity of a master.
Not because they were martial arts masters, but the person themselves was a master. Yang Cheon was like that, and Murong Jun was like that too.
And Yeon Ho-jeong was also like that until recently.
“I will send a reply right away.”
“Please do so.”
“Then I will take my leave.”
“Department Head of Information.”
“Yes, Manor Lord.”
Yang Cheon nodded.
“Good work. I couldn’t even think of this kind of approach.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“To tell you honestly, it is an equally dangerous method. I’m just sorry I couldn’t devise a safer method.”
“Hoho, my man. In order to win big money, there are times you have to gamble. If I didn’t like your method, I would have refused it.”
“I am only apologetic.”
“It’s a relief that you entered the headquarters. I’m truly thankful.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“I will receive that gratitude later when the Manor Lord conquers the world.”
“Kuahahaha! Good, good.”
Yang Cheon, who burst into laughter for a long while, suddenly asked as if he remembered.
“But about your martial brothers. When do you intend to bring them into the headquarters?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“I think it’s premature. The leadership inside the Manor is already agitated with just me, but if I bring my people in a hurry, the atmosphere will become even worse.”
“If that part concerns you, I will take care of it for you.”
“No. I think this problem is entirely something I must overcome.”
Yeon Ho-jeong bowed his head.
“I will grow while fighting together. Please leave it to me.”
Yang Cheon smiled with satisfaction.
“How can I stop your stubbornness? I understand. Do as you wish.”
“Thank you.”
“What gratitude.”
“Then I will go in now.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who left the Black Dragon Manor, went straight to his residence.
‘Information extraction is over. Now I just have to take this and return to the Alliance.’
Killing intent flashed in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.
‘Murong Jun. I need you to become bait.’
The time of half a month, and leaving the Operations Group outside, all had their reasons.
And even the existence of ‘them’.
“Your killing intent is strong.”
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his head.
In front of the residence, a man was waiting for him.
It was Black Sheep.
“I greet the Department Head of Information. I am Black Sheep.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who stared blankly at Black Sheep, soon bowed his head.
“I greet Senior Black Sheep.”
“Senior…….”
Black Sheep smiled. It was a smile whose meaning was hard to understand.
“Thank you for treating me well.”
“No. But what brings you here?”
“Nothing much. I just wanted to look good to the new Department Head of Information.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m a person who excludes personal feelings from official business.”
“Is that so?”
“That is so.”
Black Sheep nodded.
“Could I at least get a cup of tea?”
“…….”
“If you’re busy with work, I’ll come later.”
“No. Let’s go in.”
Yeon Ho-jeong opened the door with an expressionless face.
He couldn’t manage his expression properly.
‘Evil Lust Cult.’
Even without emitting internal energy, his senses naturally became sharp.
And those sharp senses read Black Sheep’s aura.
‘Evil Lust Cult!’
Kugugugung!
The door opened.
“Let’s go in.”
“Thank you.”
Thus, the two people entered Yeon Ho-jeong’s residence.
Yeon Ho-jeong sat on a chair.
“I’m sorry, but there’s no tea.”
“Is that so? That’s a shame.”
“It doesn’t seem like you came just to get a cup of tea anyway.”
Black Sheep smiled.
“Of course.”
“Right, what brings you to see me?”
Srrrrr.
Formless Black Tortoise Qi groped the entire office.
‘None.’
There were no watchers observing this place. It was a relief.
Black Sheep’s expression, who was smiling at Yeon Ho-jeong, slowly hardened coldly.
“Why did you do it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know everything.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“Are the Twelve Earthly Branches a tribe that likes to test people? The bitch named Fire Ape was like that, and you are the same.”
“…….”
“Don’t beat around the bush and speak clearly. What is the reason you came all the way here?”
Black Sheep’s eyes changed like a wildcat.
“It was you. The one who buried the Black Sheep Squad and the Black Leader.”
“…….”
“Is it not?”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was looking at Black Sheep with transparent eyes.
In an instant, he formed a twisted smile.
“Right, that’s correct.”
“……!!”
“I swept them all away. So what are you going to do about it?”