Chapter 283: Shadow War (3)
Even after Murong Jun left, Zhuge Wen-hu was lost in thought for a long time.
His eyes looking down at the fallen liquor bottle were deeper than ever, and at the same time, they looked confused.
Suddenly, Zhuge Wen-hu spat out a sigh.
“The reason is clear…….”
It was not a wrong statement. No, going beyond the level of not being a wrong statement, it was a too obvious story.
Although the reason Murong Jun was angry was because of the Murim Alliance’s status that he himself saw and his younger brother, the words that came out of his mouth contained the perfectly clear Righteous Path.
What is the Righteous Path? Is protecting the weak and executing wicked people the only Righteous Path?
It is not so.
The natural rights of a group, the natural principles of action also belong to the Righteous Path.
They were martial artists. They were those who wielded powerful strength that ordinary commoners could not obtain even in their dreams, and because of that, they had to aim the direction their power headed even more cautiously.
Those who aimed it rightly were called the Orthodox, the Orthodox Faction, and those who aimed it as they pleased were called the Unorthodox, the Unorthodox Faction.
However, whether Orthodox or Unorthodox, they were ultimately martial artists.
And martial artists were those who, due to the characteristics of that system, morbidly hated being looked down upon.
Of course, controlling such shame and anger and keeping chivalry and righteousness until the end is more important.
However, the Murim Alliance must not be looked down upon. Leaving aside the distinction between Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions, that was an appearance a group possessing power must naturally be equipped with.
It is the same logic as my country must not be looked down upon by foreign enemies. Up to respecting the opponent is good, but one must possess the coercive feeling that if touched, they will suffer disaster.
That is exactly power.
And the Murim Alliance must be able to embrace not only good common people but also martial artists.
“Right, his words are correct.”
Zhuge Wen-hu sighed.
“Regardless of how severe a person he is, if I knew his words were correct, I must walk that path.”
Zhuge Wen-hu keeping Murong Jun in check and distrusting him more than necessary.
In truth, that was not Zhuge Wen-hu’s fault but Murong Jun’s fault. He had committed too many sins under the pretext of being for his dream.
However, Zhuge Wen-hu was the Strategist.
Even if the opponent was the most vicious criminal under heaven, he should strive to see through the opponent, and should not distrust from the start.
Zhuge Wen-hu, who had been lost in deep thought, soon shouted toward the door.
“Is anyone there?”
“Yes, Strategist.”
“Please call Advisor Ga Deuk-sang. Relay to him that I must see him in a hurry.”
“I will obey the order.”
Zhuge Wen-hu sighed.
“……Medical God Society.”
His eyes flashed.
‘Leaving Clan Head Murong’s words aside, I truly did not know such an organization would exist.’
Gathering privately to make a small meeting, or at most forming a massive medical clinic in a specific region.
Zhuge Wen-hu thought of exactly that degree. In reality, that was normal.
‘I too was stuck in common sense. By any chance, I could not have even thought that physicians would make such an organization in the dark and secretly exercise power.’
This part could also not be seen as Zhuge Wen-hu’s fault. If this was his fault, not knowing the Three Fanatical Cults should also be called his fault.
Not knowing cannot be helped. The important thing was in what way to handle the matter when finding out.
‘Those who handle people’s lives are blinded by money and power, exclude others, and keep using bribes.’
Sharp murderous intent flashed in Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes.
‘They are truly foolish people.’
A moment later, Ga Deuk-sang opened the door and entered.
“Did you call, Strategist?”
“Please sit here.”
Ga Deuk-sang could feel an unusual atmosphere as soon as he entered the room. Zhuge Wen-hu’s expression was one thing, but the liquor bottle and cups rolling on the floor made him nervous.
“What is the matter?”
“Do you know of an organization called the Medical God Society?”
“Medical God Society? Hmm…….”
Ga Deuk-sang, who furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought, snapped his fingers in an instant.
“Ah! I have heard of it. I know it as something similar to a gathering made by fairly renowned physicians gathering together?”
Certainly, Ga Deuk-sang’s brain was also not ordinarily extraordinary. Looking at it, it seemed he had completely forgotten it from his memory, but to drag out a forgotten memory just by hearing the name was an impossible task for an ordinary person.
“That organization called the Medical God Society, it seems they are not ordinary.”
“Yes? What do you mean by that?”
Zhuge Wen-hu told him all the stories he had heard from Murong Jun.
Ga Deuk-sang opened his mouth wide.
“I, is that true?”
“I am seeing it as so. To be truly certain, we will have to investigate in more detail, but for now, I see it as reliable information.”
“……Wow, now living and living, even the physicians who fix people’s bodies are going crazy and running wild? Have you ever seen such dog-like sons of bitches!”
Ga Deuk-sang was also genuinely enraged.
Looking at Ga Deuk-sang’s face which flushed red, Zhuge Wen-hu thought that he himself must be a timid person who wore the mask of prudence just as Murong Jun said.
That’s right. This reaction of Ga Deuk-sang, that fierce anger was precisely what was honest and natural. A person who truly knew justice and the Righteous Path should rightly react like this.
“Has there been no separate contact from the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions’s side?”
“There is none. However, half a shichen ago, a report came up that the Commanders of the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating entered Jiangxi Province. It is expected that they have probably contacted the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions by now and are heading north.”
“I see.”
Zhuge Wen-hu spoke with a cold voice.
“Successor of the Beggars.”
He did not call him Strategist but Successor of the Beggars.
Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes deepened.
“Please speak, Clan Head.”
“You know Ha Gok, right? I mean the famous physician in Henan Province.”
“Of course I know him.”
“Can you have the Beggar’s Gang members escort not only Ha Gok but all the physicians who have an acquaintance with him to the Alliance?”
Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes flashed.
The word was escort, but what Zhuge Wen-hu wanted was a forced transfer. He could realize that meaning at once.
“Will it be okay?”
“It is okay. The justification is too sufficient.”
“If the Clan Head says so…… Understood. I will release the kids right away.”
“How long do you expect it to take?”
“If they did not hide in rat holes, I can bring them all within four days.”
“It is indeed fast. Please do so.”
“Understood.”
“And Advisor Ga.”
The title changed again. It meant to handle this matter publicly.
“Please speak, Strategist.”
“Please find out where the Divine Physician of Heavenly Communication is currently located.”
The reason Murong Jun went out of his way to mention the Divine Physician of Heavenly Communication meant precisely to use him.
And Zhuge Wen-hu did not pretend not to know the help Murong Jun indirectly handed over.
“Understood. I will move right away.”
“I ask of you.”
* * *
“Is it here?”
“That is so.”
“Good. Let’s go in.”
The group entered a fairly large tavern.
Surprisingly, even though it was a peak crowded time, there was not a single customer inside the tavern. That did not mean the exterior was dirty or the interior was unorganized either.
This tavern was a tavern secretly operated by the Beggar’s Gang. For the escort of the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions, the Beggar’s Gang was also actively helping.
“I give my greetings. I am called Divine Eye Beggar Yi Geol.”
A young beggar, who seemed to be in his mid-twenties now, greeted the group.
‘Oho?’
Gang Ryang’s eyes sparkled.
‘He is considerable?’
He was in his mid-twenties, but anyway, he was a three-knot disciple of the Beggar’s Gang. Even so, his possessed martial prowess did not seem to have any particular lack even compared to himself.
At the opponent’s unexpected martial arts, Gang Ryang’s gaze was fixed directly on Yi Geol.
Yi Geol felt Gang Ryang’s gaze, but he did not turn back to look at him.
“Are you Great Hero Murong Yu, Commander of the Demon-Sweeping Army, and Great Hero Yeon Ho-jeong, Commander of the Evil-Annihilating Army?”
“The title of Great Hero is difficult to accept. Just call us Commander Murong and Commander Yeon.”
“Understood.”
Yi Geol bowed his head.
“We have emptied the entire tavern. The cook will be constantly stationed for three days, and five workers will see to your convenience. No one will be able to look down on this place, so do not worry about anything and rest well before going.”
“Thank you.”
“No. We are rather honored to be able to help.”
Yi Geol stepped back a few steps.
“If you need anything, please tell us immediately. Then, this is all.”
Seureureuk.
He slipped out of the first floor of the tavern like a ghost.
It was such a profound movement technique that even after seeing it with his eyes, he did not know where or how he slipped out. Gang Ryang clicked his tongue.
“I heard that the Beggar’s Gang’s martial arts are emptiness and fullness (deceptive), but looking at it now, it is unfathomably profound beyond compare.”
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded his head.
“Emptiness and fullness is close to the sarcasm of busybodies who only scanned the outward appearance. The Beggar’s Gang’s true martial arts are not lacking at all even to represent the Orthodox Murim.”
“As expected, there seem to be many strong people and many splendid martial arts in the world.”
“Right.”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke to the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions.
“You must be heavily injured, and also exhausted. They say returning to the Alliance is urgent, but I think moving unreasonably in this situation is a bad move. Please rest here for a few days and take care of your body first.”
“Ah…… yes, yes! Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
Yeon Ho-jeong said to Gang Ryang.
“I will wash and take care of my body a bit before coming. You must be tired, but I want you to stand guard in front of the Divine Maiden’s room for just two shichens.”
Gang Ryang smacked his lips.
“I haven’t even done anything properly, so of course I should do it. Don’t worry and treat your injuries first. I will stand guard until tomorrow morning.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Like that, the group scattered to their respective lodgings.
“Kkeueung.”
As soon as he entered the room, Yeon Ho-jeong leaned his back against the bed.
“Damn it, it’s been a long time since I’ve been hit this excitingly.”
Clang! Clang!
Taking off all the pauldrons, arm guards, greaves, and breastplate, he took off his top.
While moving up to here, he constantly restored his body with true qi, but perhaps because he originally received a severe shock, the wounds did not heal properly.
“I should wash first.”
Unless it was a truly urgent situation, wrapping bandages right away just because he received a wound was not a very good action. He knew that fact from experience.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who came out after finishing a water bath in just two kes, sat on the floor and picked up the white bandages.
At that time, a presence was heard from outside the door.
“Young Master Yeon. May I enter?”
“Come in.”
Deolkeong.
The door opened and Muk Bi entered.
Her eyes shook.
“You are really severely injured.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled bitterly.
“That’s what I’m saying. You came at a good time. Perhaps because my shoulder is injured too, wrapping bandages is completely difficult. Come and wrap them for me.”
“Okay.”
A moment later, Muk Bi sprinkled Golden Sore Medicine on various parts of Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.
Bugeulbugeul.
When the Golden Sore Medicine touched the wounds, white foam frothed up.
It was a sight where the stinging pain seemed to be transmitted just by looking at it. However, there was no change whatsoever in Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression.
Muk Bi silently wrapped the bandages.
Yeon Ho-jeong also just stared ahead without any words.
Like that, how much time had passed.
“Young Master Yeon.”
“Yeah.”
“Is there something bothering you?”
“…….”
“The Divine Maiden of the Western Regions, ever since meeting Divine Physician Gi, you look somewhat strange. It seems Commander Murong and Gang Ryang haven’t noticed.”
“Muk Bi.”
“Yes. Speak.”
“You believe me, right?”
It was not a word to pass off as a joke.
Muk Bi spoke with a calm voice.
“Young Master Yeon is one of the two people I trust the most in the world.”
“……Thanks.”
“But why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“It seems a bit wrong to make a person who believes in me do this kind of thing, but still, I have no choice but to ask you.”
“……?”
“Just in case, though it really shouldn’t be so.”
“Yes?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned cool.
“When I give the signal, shoot Gi Wu-hui.”