Chapter 245: The Time of Resurrection (1)
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“Currently, two troops of the Dead Soul Group are chasing the masters presumed to be the special forces of the Murong Clan. One group to the north, one group to the east, they are entering while blocking the retreat routes.”
Yang Cheon’s expression listening to White Rat’s report was as cold as a sheet of ice.
Listening to White Rat’s report with his ears, he was glaring at Illusion Snake who was lying face down with his eyes.
White Rat continued his words.
“Currently, five troops of the Twelve Earthly Branches are engaging in battle with the Murong Clan’s troops, and Azure Tiger, Water Dragon, and Mad Dog are in battle with the Murong Clan Head. According to the report, since the Murong Clan Head’s martial arts are exceptional, difficulties in the fight are expected…….”
“Do you know your crime?”
White Rat stopped his report.
Yang Cheon’s words were aimed at Illusion Snake, not White Rat.
Illusion Snake spoke with a trembling voice.
“Please kill me.”
Yang Cheon’s face contorted.
“The reason White Rat sent you guys with the Department Head of Information wasn’t simply to assist him. It meant that even if the worst situation broke out, you must save him no matter what.”
“…….”
“Yet, far from saving him, you pass out and are carried back on a subordinate’s back?”
Illusion Snake bit his lip.
“……Please kill me.”
For him, he had nothing to say other than asking to be killed.
Yang Cheon, who had been glaring at Illusion Snake with a contorted face, soon let out a sigh.
“Report in detail.”
Illusion Snake reported the situation in the calmest tone possible.
His reports were always clear. Delivering incidents from an objective perspective excluding subjectivity was Illusion Snake’s greatest advantage.
Yang Cheon, who heard all of Illusion Snake’s report, let out a low sigh.
“This guy…….”
The appearance of Department Head of Information Jeong came to mind.
A confident tone, a somewhat tense face, but eyes flashing with passion and wisdom.
He was a guy who stepped forward saying he would take responsibility for almost everything. Even with that rough nature, since the Manor’s leadership might feel a sense of incongruity, he was also a guy who knew how to take a step back, saying he would bring his fellow sect members later.
It was a short connection, but he really thought he had gained a talent he would never find again in his lifetime.
“I thought heaven was gifting this Yang Cheon a Hidden Dragon, but an unexpectedly gathered dark cloud took the dragon away before it could even sprout.”
Yang Cheon closed his eyes.
“It is truly resentful. Is it that the time is not yet.”
At first, for a very brief moment, he even suspected whether the guy was a spy from another organization.
But what organization in the world would send such a genius as a spy, and furthermore, try to tear down and fix the problems of the infiltrated organization from the roots.
Rather, if he wanted to flatter him to gain his trust, he would have done that, but there’s no way he would rob the organization restructuring chart and the funds of the merchant group heading to the Murim Alliance and offer them up.
Such a commendable talent got swept up in a fight and died before he could even sprout. It was truly an absurd situation.
“Murong Jun.”
Pssssssh.
The armrest touched by Yang Cheon’s hand turned into powder and scattered.
“You dared to touch the headquarters.”
In the midst of this, the part that made him angrier was something else.
‘That I cannot touch the Murong Clan recklessly.’
If they were going to be uniquely pure and solitary alone, he wouldn’t have left Murong or Shaolin alone. He would have smashed them no matter what means he used.
But as the head leading an organization, he couldn’t rashly touch one of the pillars of the Murim Alliance.
If the Black Dragon Manor’s power wasn’t lacking to wage a battle against the Murim Alliance, he would have sent his forces immediately right now and swept away the Murong Clan.
‘Whatever the reason, Murong Jun touched the headquarters. That means those bastards knew about our existence.’
At that time, Illusion Snake said.
“Manor Lord.”
“What is it.”
“Please dispatch me…… to the Murong Clan.”
“What did you say?”
“The person who originally should have died is not the Department Head of Information but me. But the Department Head of Information died, and rather I survived.”
Illusion Snake lifted his head.
The two eyes of Illusion Snake, who was usually famous for being cold-headed, were heavily bloodshot.
“Although it was a short connection, the Department Head of Information’s abilities and character were sufficiently not lacking to become a pillar of the headquarters. Such a talent died without even being able to bloom, so how can I just sit and watch.”
“…….”
“I will not let him go alone on the road to the netherworld. Please give the order.”
Yang Cheon, who had been glaring at Illusion Snake silently, suddenly shouted.
“Shut up!”
“…….”
“Your crime deserves death! However, the Department Head of Information saved you, not himself! That means the Department Head of Information’s life is also resting on your shoulders!”
Illusion Snake bit his lip.
Yang Cheon waved his hand.
“Return to your residence and self-reflect. I will specially not hold you accountable for the crime of this incident, so deeply contemplate on what is the path truly for the sake of the headquarters.”
“……I receive the Manor Lord’s command.”
It was an exceptional measure.
And this measure was also showing that Yang Cheon’s vessel was by no means small. No matter how favored a subordinate was, making them self-reflect without holding them accountable for any crime was usually not an easy task.
As Illusion Snake left, Yang Cheon asked White Rat.
“Murong Jun knew of the headquarters’ existence.”
“That is correct.”
He deliberately didn’t talk about the Department Head of Information. Right now, there was a more important matter than that.
Yang Cheon’s eyes became chilly.
“The fact that Murong Jun knows means it wouldn’t be unreasonable to interpret it as the Murim Alliance also knowing of the headquarters’ existence.”
White Rat carefully opened his mouth.
“Perhaps, that might not be the case.”
“Why do you think so?”
“If they knew of our existence, they wouldn’t have gone out of their way to extract Murong Clan troops separately to only blow up the entrance.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes flashed.
“If they were going to touch us, they would have touched us with determination, and if they intended to just watch, they wouldn’t have touched us at all?”
“I think so.”
Yang Cheon nodded.
“Your thought is correct.”
He tried hard to find his coldness, but it was a situation where he even lost the Department Head of Information not long after regaining his senses. Even Yang Cheon couldn’t show the same discernment as usual.
“But you see, I don’t think we can be certain.”
“…….”
Yang Cheon stood up from his seat.
Two eyes burning with anger. While serving Yang Cheon for over ten years, White Rat had never seen him get this angry.
“So, where did you say Murong Jun is right now?”
* * *
“Hoo, hoo.”
The party breathed heavily.
Gang-ryang said.
“Is everyone alright?”
Although he was from the Unorthodox, Gang-ryang was extremely polite. Anyway, since they would be together in the future, it probably meant he would treat those older than him with that much respect.
Gang-ryang’s eyes shook.
“But where is that person right now? And the explosions heard from over there are……?”
“Beggar.”
Pae-yul asked Ga Deuk-sang.
“You said we just have to cross Mount Tianzi, right?”
“Heokheok, that is correct.”
Ga Deuk-sang caught his breath and asked.
“But Senior, are you really going to go on like this?”
“Of course.”
“The Operations Group Leader stayed behind and is engaging the enemies!”
“So, are you saying we should go help?”
Ga Deuk-sang bit his lip.
“We can’t just leave Young Master Yeon and go.”
At that time, Zhuge Ah-yeon said.
“Distinguish between public and private properly, Successor of the Beggar´ Gang.”
Everyone looked at Zhuge Ah-yeon in surprise.
Zhuge Ah-yeon-yeon’s breathing was also quite rough. But unlike her rough breathing, her expression was colder than anyone else here.
“The Operations Group Leader stayed behind because he was capable of staying. If we were of help, he wouldn’t even have thought of dropping off alone in the first place.”
“B- But…….”
“Going to help the Operations Group Leader now is rather disobeying a superior’s order. Furthermore, it is also an act that hinders this mission.”
“It’s safe to say the mission is already over! Going away leaving an ally behind in this situation is rather……!”
“Look here!”
Ga Deuk-sang flinched at the chillingly blue voice.
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s two eyes blazed with anger.
“Do you think we don’t want to help the Operations Group Leader? Stop making a fuss. Rather, there are people here more desperate than you Successor .”
“…….”
“I, and you too, are weak. The weak presumptuously go to save the strong? Do you want to die that much?”
“…….”
“If you want to die that much, bite a knife and fall over on this spot. Don’t use others as a reason for going to die.”
It was a bloody remark if one could call it bloody.
But people knew. That Zhuge Ah-yeon too, no, rather she was the most desperate. That she was somehow soothing a pain that felt like her heart was tearing apart.
Ga Deuk-sang, who looked at Zhuge Ah-yeon with shaking eyes, bowed his head.
“……I disturbed your mind with useless words. I apologize.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon let out a sigh.
“I know. How angry Beggars´ Successor is. But at times like this, we have to be cold.”
“Your words are right.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon looked at Pae-yul and asked.
“Looking at the time of the reinforcement request and the time of the last contact from the reinforcement troops, it seems we can meet them if we go about one more shichen. It would be better to depart without resting even if it’s a bit hard.”
Pae-yul nodded.
“Let’s do that.”
“Yes.”
Paaaak!
Thus the party unfolded their movement techniques.
In the quiet forest, the sound of rough breathing echoed everywhere.
Gang-ryang, who was carefully observing the party’s mood, asked Pae-yul.
“What has happened in the meantime?”
He asked him because he was the most fine person among them. Pae-yul’s breathing was also not normal, but he was the most stable among them.
Pae-yul said.
“It’s complicated to explain. Hear the story from that guy later.”
Gang-ryang scratched his head.
“Understood.”
It must be frustrating for him too. He waited on the mountain peak for a full day and a half, but the most important person is nowhere to be seen, and only the party came and is moving together.
Once he trusts, he trusts to the end. But he couldn’t help being curious.
‘By the way.’
Gang-ryang looked around at the party with surprised eyes.
‘To think these people would be exhausted to this extent.’
Even the weakest among them, Zhuge Ah-yeon, was at a level where it was hard to determine victory or defeat at a glance. Especially the wits and formations she showed when taking him to the manor were truly tremendous.
In a sense, that was an even greater power than martial arts. That is, everyone here was an extraordinarily uncommon talent.
For such people to become this exhausted.
‘Black Dragon Manor…….’
Gang-ryang’s face clouded over.
‘Was the Black Dragon Manor such a strong organization.’
He thought he knew why Yeon Ho-jeong confidently asserted that he wouldn’t last a month and would die. Really, if he hadn’t experienced this situation, he still wouldn’t have realized it.
‘It’s fine. Since I know even now.’
Gang-ryang bit his lip.
‘I need strength. Until I become stronger than anyone else, I will absolutely never move rashly.’
How long had they run like that.
It was a time when not even half a shichen had passed since they started moving again.
‘……?’
Gang-ryang’s eyes flashed.
“Someone is coming.”
“I know.”
Pae-yul looked back at Zhuge Ah-yeon.
Surprise was cast on Zhuge Ah-yeon’s face as well.
“You said it would take a shichen, why are they so fast?”
Dudududududu.
The mountains and streams were trembling.
Surprisingly, loud horse hooves and vibrations shaking the earth approached at a terrifying speed. It was a speed almost matching the movement techniques of peak masters.
And a moment later.
Kwaaaang!
A huge rock blocking the front shattered into pieces and scattered.
Gang-ryang’s mouth dropped open.
Heeheeheeheehing!
Dozens of warhorses spat out dragon roars and narrowed the distance at a tremendous speed.
“Wh- What’s that?!”
Emotion dwelled in Zhuge Ah-yeon’s eyes.
“Evil-Annihilating Army!”
It was then.
Paaaaaak!
Someone with a bow on their back grabbed Zhuge Ah-yeon’s collar and pulled her up as it was.
“Vice Commander Muk!”
“Giddy up!”
Kwareureureung!
The fifty cavalrymen passed through the party as they were.
None of the martial artists riding the horses opened their mouths. They merely drove the horses roughly with quietly sunken eyes.
The road to go save their superior, the Evil-Annihilating Army Commander.
Their terrifyingly heated killing intent became a fierce storm and was shaking Mount Tianzi.