Chapter 260: The Discovery of Fire (4)
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“It’s been a while since we faced each other like this, right?”
“It has.”
Yeon Ho-jeong said with a smile.
“You’ve suffered a lot all this time.”
Zhuge Wen-hu waved his hand dismissively.
“You’re the one who suffered a lot. To deceive the Combat King of the world and extract that much information, who else but you could have done such a thing?”
Zhuge Ah-yeon spoke with a sullen face.
“I suffered together too, you know?”
“It’s obvious even without looking, you brat. It would be fortunate if you went and didn’t hold Army Commander Yeon’s ankles.”
“Father!”
Zhuge Wen-hu burst into hearty laughter.
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“If Ah-yeon wasn’t there, it would have been really difficult.”
“Haha, I know. There wouldn’t be anyone who didn’t suffer.”
“That’s right.”
“By the way, the Evil-Annihilating Army is truly amazing.”
“Pardon?”
Zhuge Wen-hu looked out the window with an admiring face.
The soldiers were huddled together taking a rest. Seeing that each of their expressions was serious, it seemed they were sharing a conversation about the spar from a little while ago.
“I heard that while you were away, Vice-Commander Muk put them through quite practical training. But I didn’t know everyone would participate that seriously.”
“Haha.”
“No matter how much it’s a match like actual combat, to exchange such lethal moves, I was truly surprised. What would you do if someone got seriously hurt while doing that?”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“It might be a hasty remark, but when it comes to the attitude of facing a match, I think there is no group in the entire Murim Alliance that can match the Evil-Annihilating Army.”
“Hoh!”
“Make one slight mistake and it’s an instant for your life to fly away. All of them know that, so doing it moderately is rather an insult to the soldiers.”
Zhuge Wen-hu smiled.
“Like commander, like soldiers. I am impressed.”
“Not at all.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who moistened his throat with a sip of tea, asked with a questioning face.
“So, for what reason have you come all the way here?”
“Aren’t you already guessing?”
“…Hmm.”
The corners of Yeon Ho-jeong’s mouth rose.
“As expected, is it because of Murong Jun?”
“That’s right. Of course, that’s not the only reason.”
“Please speak.”
“I will ask straightforwardly.”
Zhuge Wen-hu spoke with a calm face.
“The information extracted from the Black Dragon Manor, is this all?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
“Do you think I hid a portion of the information?”
“I haven’t particularly had such a thought. It’s just that, as a result of analyzing the information, the quality of the information is so jumbled.”
Zhuge Wen-hu held up both his hands as if telling him not to misunderstand.
“Of course, it’s not that there was only low-quality information. There was an abundance of information that we wouldn’t have known for a good few years if you hadn’t infiltrated directly and extracted it. You clearly completed the mission successfully.”
“Then why did you think there would be information other than that?”
“Well…”
Zhuge Wen-hu tilted his head.
“I also don’t know why I had such a thought. It’s just that I felt like if it was you, you could have brought back a bigger haul than this.”
“You have overestimated me too much.”
“Hoho, that could be true.”
Zhuge Wen-hu sighed.
“I am not doubting you. I just suddenly had that thought and asked. If I made you anxious for no reason, I apologize.”
“Not at all.”
Of course, there was information he hadn’t delivered to the Murim Alliance.
It was information related to the Three Cults of Fanaticism, and among them, the Evil Lust Cult in particular.
‘Sooner or later, I will have to tell my father about this part as well.’
Yeon Ho-jeong focused on Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes.
The eyes of a scholar filled with knowledge and wisdom. Inside them resided worry toward the future of the Jianghu and a strong passion that did not reveal itself outwardly.
‘I must tell the Strategist as well. It would be one thing if it were just me, but the moment I shared this information, there would be no meaning in only us knowing it.’
Yeon Ho-jeong continued speaking with a smile.
“I’m sorry for disappointing you.”
“No. If you say it like that, it makes me feel even more sorry.”
“However, I shared a friendship with a person from whom we might be able to obtain other information regarding the Unorthodox.”
“Hmm?”
Zhuge Wen-hu looked at Zhuge Ah-yeon.
Zhuge Ah-yeon scratched her head.
“This is. Well, um… Anyway, I’m also a member of the Evil-Annihilating Army.”
“…?”
“I thought I should just keep my mouth shut until Jeong-yi spoke… I’m sorry. Then again, I didn’t even have a chance to say it because I was collapsed for a few days.”
“What are you talking about?”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke calmly.
“I believe you have heard the news that the Ghost Iron Sword Sect was destroyed.”
“Ah, of course I heard. It’s been quite a while, probably?”
“Yes.”
“But why the Ghost Iron Sword Sect?”
“The Sword Sect was destroyed, but there is one survivor.”
Surprise spread across Zhuge Wen-hu’s face.
“If it’s a survivor, are you perhaps talking about the successor of the Sword Sect?”
“Did you know?”
“Of course. Since dispatching the Operations Group, I have been continuously keeping an eye on the movements in Hunan. Before Clan Head Murong left, the two of us discussed that part.”
“Is that so.”
“That’s not the important part. Could you perhaps…?”
“That is correct.”
Yeon Ho-jeong pointed out the window with his thumb.
“I brought the successor of the Ghost Iron Sword Sect, Gang Ryang, with me.”
“…!”
Zhuge Wen-hu’s expression suddenly changed.
Zhuge Wen-hu, who had been quietly observing Yeon Ho-jeong, spoke in a much deeper voice.
“You, surely you don’t not know how dangerous of an act that is, do you?”
“I am aware.”
“You brought him even though you knew?”
“That is correct.”
“For what reason?”
“Because we have a common enemy called the Black Dragon Manor.”
Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes flashed.
“I heard the Ghost Iron Sword Sect was destroyed by mysterious masters. We couldn’t figure out their exact identities, but we were certain it was Yang Cheon’s doing.”
“You are truly amazing.”
“Right, as the surviving successor of the Sword Sect, he must have wanted to take revenge on the Black Dragon Manor more than anyone else. But to him, isn’t our Murim Alliance also an enemy?”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“Bringing Gang Ryang into the Alliance is certainly a dangerous act, but at the same time, if I had judged that he would turn us into enemies, I wouldn’t have brought him in.”
“I don’t need to say this anew, but I know that your discernment is more outstanding than anyone else’s. Also, as the Strategist of the Murim Alliance, I trust the abilities and track record of the Evil-Annihilating Army Commander.”
“Thank you.”
“However, this is not a matter of whether to trust or not trust.”
Tension surfaced on Zhuge Wen-hu’s face.
“If that side finds out about that fact, not only you, but Clan Head Yeon will also suffer a fatal blow.”
Putting aside whether Gang Ryang was a trustworthy person, it meant that just him being from the Unorthodox alone would carry a political burden.
“You know it too, don’t you? How much Clan Head Murong…”
“I apologize for interrupting, but you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Hmm?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled coldly.
“If he touches this side, we also have a bomb to present to him on this side.”
“…!”
“We don’t have physical evidence, but we can just make physical evidence, can’t we? Just by slowly leaking out that this side knows, he won’t dare to do anything useless.”
“What does that…?”
“Of course, I generally won’t let him know this fact. Because I plan to leave this to ferment as my final move.”
The final move.
It was a phrase that was quite chilling and would make one’s heart pound. Honest curiosity arose on Zhuge Wen-hu’s face.
“What on earth is that bomb?”
“Hmm.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was lost in thought for a moment, opened his mouth.
“Three or four days from now, if I contact you, could you come to our residence? It will probably be in the middle of the night, though.”
“…?”
“There is also a part I need to separately tell my father. At that time, I will let you know everything I know.”
There must be a reason why Yeon Ho-jeong was saying this much.
Zhuge Wen-hu, who had been examining Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression with deep eyes, soon nodded.
“Understood. This question I am harboring today, I will believe that you will completely resolve it on that day.”
“Thank you.”
“However, the successor of the Ghost Iron Sword Sect, please manage him well for the time being. Although I’m sure you’ll take care of it yourself.”
“I’m actually thinking of bringing that guy into the Evil-Annihilating Army as well.”
“Into the Evil-Annihilating Army?”
“That’s right.”
“…Hmm, yes. That’s not bad either.”
Zhuge Wen-hu nodded.
“Understood. I will not speak any further on that part.”
“Thank you.”
At this level, it could be said that it passed quite smoothly. Rather, from the perspective of the Murim Alliance’s Strategist, smoothing over Yeon Ho-jeong’s sudden unexpected action like this was an exception in itself.
“My words became long for no reason. Now let us get to the real main topic.”
“Please speak.”
“Before that, I want to ask one thing.”
“What is it?”
Zhuge Wen-hu asked seriously.
“Who do you think should become the Alliance Leader?”
Out of nowhere, an incredibly heavy topic popped out.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s face also turned serious.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“It’s a personal curiosity.”
“It is a difficult question to answer. Even if there is someone I have in mind, it is not something I can speak carelessly out of my mouth.”
It was a topic far more dangerous than Gang Ryang entering the Murim Alliance. Yeon Ho-jeong wasn’t tense for no reason.
“I see. Right, I understand. Then let me ask just one more thing.”
“…?”
“What do you think about your father, Clan Head Yeon, becoming the Alliance Leader?”
Yeon Ho-jeong firmly shook his head.
“My father has no such intention.”
“I know that too.”
“Furthermore, I don’t know if it’s okay for me to say this as a son, but my father is not Alliance Leader material.”
Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes flashed.
His father is not Alliance Leader material? It was a statement hard to come out of a father-son relationship that got along well.
“Why do you think so?”
“Putting abilities aside, it’s because I think he is a person who doesn’t fit the clothes called the Alliance Leader.”
“Hmm.”
“There are various other reasons besides that, but in any case, that is my thought. Unless it is a special case, I think it is best for my father to remain as an Honored Guest.”
Zhuge Wen-hu nodded.
“I’ve listened well to your honest answer.”
“But why that question?”
“Then what about another person?”
“Pardon?”
“For instance, Master Kong-kong.”
Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.
“If it is Master Kong-kong, public opinion wouldn’t boil over even if he becomes the Alliance Leader. But, what meaning is there in such a question?”
“Because it seems Clan Head Murong has begun his groundwork.”
“Pardon?”
“Someone brought up in a private setting that Master Kong-kong is suitable for the Murim Alliance Leader.”
“…!”
“The problem is…”
“Only the rumor that Master Kong-kong is Alliance Leader material remains, but no one knows who actually said those words, I see.”
“As expected, it is comfortable to converse with you.”
Zhuge Wen-hu moistened his throat with tea.
“After that statement came out, the gazes within the Alliance started focusing on Master Kong-kong. When I first heard the rumor, I thought it was understandable, but the speed at which the rumor was spreading was faster than I thought.”
“Inciting public opinion, huh.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
“Is it Murong Jun?”
“No matter how much I searched for the source of the rumor, I couldn’t find out whose mouth that statement came from.”
“…”
“That’s why I think it’s Murong Jun.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“The Murim Alliance suffered quite a bit of measles because of Murong Jun. However, I think it’s not good to conclude it’s his doing without solid evidence.”
“I also think so.”
Zhuge Wen-hu smiled brightly.
“So, do you think it’s not Murong Jun?”
“Of course not.”
Yeon Ho-jeong also grinned.
“Isn’t the timing quite early? The probability that it is Murong Jun is high.”
“But I can’t be certain.”
“Then we’ll have to poke and see.”
“That’s why I came to you.”
“You did well.”
“What will you do?”
Yeon Ho-jeong stood up, leaving the Crazy Dragon Axe behind.
“A direct attack is a bit much, so I’ll go around and poke at him.”