Chapter 237: Conflict (7)
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Paaak!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s movement technique as he ran along the official road was truly like a bird.
An incredibly light body movement, even though he held a spear in his hand, he looked as free as if he were holding nothing.
‘Amazing.’
Water Dragon, who followed behind him, inwardly clicked his tongue at Yeon Ho-jeong’s movement technique.
‘I heard he is an age that hasn’t even reached thirty yet…… to think his martial arts are that outstanding?’
It wasn’t difficult to infer the opponent’s realm just by looking at the movement of his toes executing the lightness art.
Although he had heard it, it seemed he really had broken through the Wall of the Martial Arts’ End at that young age.
‘This is what they call a genius.’
Water Dragon had a bitter taste in his mouth for no reason.
‘They say there are many monsters in the world.’
Martial arts if it’s martial arts, strategy if it’s strategy.
He was literally a genius of both literary and martial arts. Since he was at that level at an age just past twenty, he might really reach a realm where he could discuss the world ten years from now.
‘It’s no fun.’
They even said his rank was higher than the Twelve Earthly Branches within the Manor.
All the Twelve Earthly Branches considered themselves trusted subordinates of Yang Cheon, and they were fully satisfied with that. Even so, it couldn’t be helped that he had a bitter taste in his mouth.
At that time, Yeon Ho-jeong opened his mouth.
“We will stay at the Heavenly Star Pavilion about three hundred zhang away. You all worked hard running. We will depart early the next morning, so if possible, refrain from drinking.”
Fire Ape, who was following behind, sneered for no reason.
“Are we not even allowed to drink? I can’t sleep well if I don’t drink.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s answer was the highlight.
“When this mission is over, get examined by a physician. Your liver must be completely rotten by now.”
Fire Ape’s face turned red.
“This……!”
At that time, Illusion Snake stepped forward.
“Fire Ape.”
“…….”
“It’s the Department Head of Information. Show respect.”
Fire Ape snorted.
“Why is the great Illusion Snake coming out so submissively? Why? Did that gentleman buy you good liquor?”
“Fire Ape!”
“Shut up! It doesn’t matter what I say!”
Mad Dog, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth.
“Whatever you blabber is up to you, but if you plan to whine that you don’t like the result, it would be better to shut your mouth even now.”
Fire Ape’s face distorted heavily.
Did they say dogs and monkeys don’t get along? Actually, the two people hated each other terribly.
“Do you want to die?”
“Do you have the skill to kill me?”
“This son of a bitch!”
Kung!
A powerful wave of internal energy shook the entire official road.
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke calmly.
“We are not going on a trip.”
“…….”
“If you cause unnecessary commotion one more time, regardless of the reason, I will execute you on the spot.”
He turned his head.
An incredibly chilly gaze headed towards Fire Ape.
“You had better be especially careful. Let me say this in advance, missing one of you won’t hinder the mission.”
Fire Ape’s face heated up bright red.
She felt like her eyes would roll back with anger, but she couldn’t dare open her mouth. Because she knew that madman could really kill her.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who sorted out the situation in a single breath, started running from the front again.
Mad Dog glanced at Illusion Snake.
‘He’s a quite bloody gentleman, isn’t he?’
Illusion Snake merely nodded slightly, but there was no answer in return.
Mad Dog shrugged and quietly followed behind.
Thus the party arrived at the Heavenly Star Pavilion.
Bang!
Fire Ape, who was guided by the waiter, went straight into her residence.
Mad Dog clicked his tongue.
“That bitch over there, living like that, she won’t die a natural death.”
Azure Tiger spoke.
“It is a message from the Department Head of Information. Rest in your respective residences today. Gather at the tavern entrance by the middle of the Yin hour (3 AM – 5 AM) tomorrow dawn.”
“Got it.”
“You should think that the mission has started from now on. Don’t make any unnecessary causes for dispute and stay quiet.”
There was no separate rank within the Twelve Earthly Branches, but usually when a mission dropped, the four people, Rat, Ox, Tiger, and Rabbit often took the lead in the situation.
It was the reason why the Twelve Earthly Branches with strong pride and individuality silently listened to Azure Tiger’s words.
Illusion Snake spoke.
“I will speak to Fire Ape separately. Because she seems the most unstable.”
“Do that.”
“By the way, what about the Department Head of Information?”
“He went up to the top floor. It seems he will stay up all night.”
“Understood. Let’s slowly scatter now.”
Thus five of the Twelve Earthly Branches entered their respective residences.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who went up to the top floor alone, ordered simple dishes and a cup of tea.
‘Hmm.’
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was eating leisurely, suddenly felt a presence approaching secretly.
‘He’s here.’
A moment later, he heard telepathy in his ear.
[It is the Beggars’ Gang.]
[Tomorrow early in the You hour (5 PM – 7 PM), I will meet with the Murong Clan Head. Convey that exactly to the Successor.]
[Understood. And there was a message from Successor of the Beggar Gang.]
[Speak.]
[He told me to ask if you need reinforcements.]
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.
‘Reinforcements, huh.’
If everything went according to plan, he wouldn’t need reinforcements.
But world affairs are something one cannot be certain of even an inch ahead. In the first place, he didn’t even know Yang Cheon would collapse like this, and before that, didn’t he not know Black Sheep would approach him either?
There was nothing bad about being thoroughly prepared.
[I approve the request for reinforcements. The unit requested for reinforcement will be the Evil-Annihilating Army.]
[Understood.]
Thus the presence of the Beggars’ Gang disciple disappeared.
It seemed the Beggars’ Gang was also being quite careful. Yeon Ho-jeong also knew he was approaching because he had set his senses to be extremely sharp; otherwise, he would have missed him.
It was truly rare to find a person who uses this level of stealth technique.
‘Reinforcements.’
A faint light lingered on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
‘I wonder if those guys are doing well.’
Evil-Annihilating Army.
Although it hadn’t been that long since they were together, he had crossed the line of death with those guys countless times during that time.
Before the line of death, he suffered a lot while making the Evil-Annihilating Army into elites. Fearing that they would unconditionally rebel if he approached them recklessly in the Unorthodox way, he taught them one by one with patience and devotion.
And the real combat that followed.
The Evil-Annihilating Army, which fought countless real battles, surprisingly hadn’t had a single person die so far. There were many times they almost died, but fortunately, everyone overcame it well.
‘I wonder if they trained hard during this time.’
In fact, not a lot of time had passed since they left the alliance.
But was it because life here was so eventful? The time of a little over two months felt almost like two years.
‘Muk Bi must have trained them well.’
Although he looks shy on the outside, Muk Bi was a person who showed a more resolute appearance than anyone else when needed.
He was like that before returning to the past, and it was the same after returning.
Furthermore, the current Muk Bi had one great weapon he failed to cultivate during the time he was called the Divine Archer in the past.
It was popularity.
‘He must have been very busy, but my father probably helped Muk Bi whenever he had time. He must be a completely different master by now.’
His heart pounded.
How much must Muk Bi, Ok-cheong, Peng Man-ho, and even all the soldiers of the Evil-Annihilating Army have improved during this time.
‘If you guys haven’t improved much, it’s hell training as soon as I return, you bastards.’
It was when Yeon Ho-jeong was smiling happily without realizing it.
“Hmph!”
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his head.
Not far away, Fire Ape was walking over.
“I thought you were a cold-blooded person of the world, but you know how to make such an expression too?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“Because I am also a person with proper flesh and blood.”
Fire Ape frowned. She didn’t like Yeon Ho-jeong’s composure at all.
Yeon Ho-jeong sipped his tea.
“So, what brings you all the way here?”
“To drink a cup of liquor.”
Yeon Ho-jeong picked up a piece of meat with an indifferent expression and said.
“Do you want to die that much?”
Fire Ape grumbled.
“That’s why I came to get permission.”
“…….”
“It’s not a lie. I can’t sleep if I don’t drink.”
“Do you really need to sleep at that level of realm? It shouldn’t be a realm where staying up a day prevents you from displaying your true skills.”
“Are you serious about that?”
“…….”
“I’ll say it clearly. I hate you. Just the fact that you have a higher rank than me, one of the Twelve Earthly Branches, makes me sick.”
“I can tell that just by looking at your face.”
“But a mission is a mission. Don’t I have to put my body in the best condition? I don’t know what might happen there.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“In a way, that’s also true.”
Fire Ape uncrossed her arms from her back. A liquor bottle was already in her hand.
“Can I sit opposite you?”
“Do as you please.”
Fire Ape quickly sat down, popped the cork, and gulped down the liquor.
Gulp gulp, she drinks well. As if it wasn’t a lie indeed, her face, which had swallowed several gulps of liquor in one breath, was already overflowing with composure.
Yeon Ho-jeong focused on eating the dishes without even looking at her. Since he skipped lunch, he was very hungry.
“Hmm.”
Fire Ape quietly crossed her arms and looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong calmly asked.
“What are you looking at like that?”
“Because it’s amazing.”
“What is?”
“How on earth did you become such a monster at that age?”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Fire Ape.
Fire Ape’s face was flushed red. She had deliberately dispersed her internal energy so the alcohol qi wouldn’t scatter.
“There are too many geniuses in the world to call me a monster.”
“That’s a really unlucky thing to say.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“If you’ve drank appropriately, go back now.”
“I’m going to empty this all before I go.”
“It wasn’t just a few cups.”
“I use a bowl as a cup. I don’t lie.”
Fire Ape’s eyes became wicked.
“Unlike you.”
The corners of Yeon Ho-jeong’s mouth rose.
“Are you still suspecting me?”
“There is no material evidence. But because I’m a bitch with a twisted personality. Until the crystal-clear truth is revealed, I suspect a person I once suspected until the end.”
“You have a quite tiring personality.”
“It’s something I hear a lot. Especially Mad Dog, that son of a bitch lives with it in his mouth.”
Yeon Ho-jeong manipulated his chopsticks again without answering.
Fire Ape, who was quietly watching him, smiled.
“Have a sip.”
“……?”
“Don’t you crave liquor while eating something that greasy?”
“Well?”
“If you’re worried about losing face in front of others, you can relax. Despite how I look, my mouth is quite heavy.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was looking at Fire Ape with unknown eyes, soon smirked.
“I’ll believe those words.”
Yeon Ho-jeong snatched the liquor bottle from Fire Ape’s hand and gulped it down.
Fire Ape frowned.
“Keu, it’s strong.”
“There’s half left, what if you drink it all?”
“Since you’re out of liquor too, go in and sleep now. That’s enough.”
“Tch.”
Fire Ape stood up grumbling.
“We’re free from tomorrow, right? After the mission ends.”
“Yes. After completing the mission, scatter on your own. The mission I undertook ends there.”
“Good. No saying otherwise.”
“Go.”
“Hmph!”
Fire Ape, who turned her body and headed for the stairs, stopped walking as if she suddenly remembered something.
“Do you know this, Department Head of Information?”
“…….”
“Unlike the other Twelve Earthly Branches, I am an authentic person of the Unorthodox.”
“So?”
“It means I have a somewhat hearty side. Unlike the morons who forget grace but always repay grudges, I also know how to repay grace.”
“What do you want to say?”
Fire Ape smiled bashfully.
“Allowing me to drink liquor, I will repay you later.”
“That won’t happen.”
“We’ll know when we see.”
“Go.”
Fire Ape smiled and turned her head.
Her face, as she turned her back, was contorted like a vicious demon.
‘Son of a bitch. You’re a dead man now.’
Thus Fire Ape went down the stairs.
Yeon Ho-jeong rested his chin on his hand.
“……The damn bitch is struggling, asking me to kill her herself.”
Pssssssh.
Pitch-black smoke rose over the back of his hand.
It was Poison Qi.