Chapter 306: The Answer is One (6)
Yeon Ho-jeong, who emerged from Murong Jun’s residence, let out a low sigh.
Gang Ryang asked.
“Are you alright?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“What kind of conversation did you have so passionately? With the shouting and the sound of things being struck, it was quite an uproar.”
“Could it be heard from outside as well?”
“It was heard quite clearly and menacingly.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“It wasn’t anything special. I just provoked that old fox a bit.”
Gang Ryang spoke with a dubious expression.
“I don’t know what it was about, but you really have a heart of iron, brother. Even so, the opponent is an Honored Guest of the Murim Alliance; is it really alright to infuriate him so much?”
“The current Murong Jun can never move recklessly.”
“Why is that?”
“Because right now, nothing but the Alliance Leader Seat is visible in that man’s eyes.”
The reason Yeon Ho-jeong provoked Murong Jun more than necessary was, of course, to observe his reaction.
And he was more sensible and indifferent than expected. It wasn’t that he was being lenient with Yeon Ho-jeong, but rather that he was cultivating his own image that much.
He would never be able to act out. At least not in front of him or the Honored Guests of the Alliance.
‘This is also quite a difficult thing to do.’
Every time he clashed with Murong Jun in the past, there was a reason for it.
But that was not the case now.
For the past few months, Murong Jun had been far too quiet. This meant he hadn’t done anything that could lead to his tail being caught.
This was also the reason why the two had not met. If something had happened, either Yeon Ho-jeong or Murong Jun would have certainly moved.
In other words, Yeon Ho-jeong was now in the position of having slapped Murong Jun’s cheek in an open field and run away.
‘He must be quite furious. But even so, he cannot move hastily. He will never be able to act out.’
However.
‘The talk about capturing an informant from the Black Dragon Manor is something he can never simply ignore. The moment the informant is sent to the prison, he will exert immense effort to kill them.’
Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be easy to kill them. If he moved too hastily, all the attention directed at the informant would turn toward Murong Jun.
It was clear that he would either use someone who could never be associated with him or approach cautiously.
‘If.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
‘If there is no reaction even though I said it was an informant, how should I understand that?’
Yeon Ho-jeong was certain that Murong Jun had joined hands with Yang Cheon.
However, there was no physical evidence. In the worst-case scenario, all of this could be Yeon Ho-jeong’s delusion.
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
‘Let’s not waver. Intentions are bound to be revealed through a person’s actions. After reading those intentions and eliminating illogical situations one by one, only one natural fact remains in the end.’
That natural fact is the truth and the answer.
One should not blindly believe in a single assumption, but one must proceed with enough faith to serve as a guide. Only then will one not be shaken by miscellaneous reactions while carrying out the work.
‘The answer will come out if I wait anyway.’
The reason he deliberately informed Murong Jun about the attempt to work on Master Kong-kong was that he wanted Murong Jun to move cautiously instead.
If he moved cautiously, the Black Dragon Manor would certainly approach him in the future. If he could only read that moment, he could cast Murong Jun into the abyss.
‘Now, this matter can be handed over to the Strategist. I must turn my eyes elsewhere.’
Yeon Ho-jeong looked back at Murong Jun’s residence.
‘One of Murong Jun’s two sponsors must belong to the same faction.’
He wouldn’t use both. It was a problem similar to Tang Kwan choosing the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions as one of his sponsors.
Yet, he couldn’t fail to register a party member who would help him anyway as a sponsor. He had to be mindful of public perception.
‘One of Murong Jun’s sponsors must be connected to the Black Dragon Manor.’
Of course, he didn’t know who that was yet.
If so, for now, he had to shake Murong Jun’s faction first.
It was while Yeon Ho-jeong was continuing his thoughts for a while.
“Brother.”
“Huh?”
Gang Ryang scratched his head.
“But by the way, why did you bring me? You didn’t even let me inside.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“To use you a bit. Only if Murong Jun reads your Qi will the probability of my lie working increase.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Why? Are you in a bad mood because it feels like you were used as an expendable, after I brought you along telling you to broaden your horizons?”
Gang Ryang chuckled.
“Am I some kind of object? I’m not a child, so I don’t feel bad about things like that.”
“Then?”
“I’m just curious.”
“About what?”
“Using others to eliminate political enemies… so to speak, it’s close to killing someone with a borrowed knife.”
“Isn’t it? Though it’s a bit much since he’s a monster that’s not easily killed.”
“If you’re going to do that, why didn’t you use me properly?”
“Huh?”
Yeon Ho-jeong blinked his eyes.
At that appearance, which looked quite innocent and unlike him, Gang Ryang burst into laughter without realizing it.
“Use you properly? What does that mean?”
“In any case, am I not a swordsman from the Unorthodox Path?”
“Right?”
“If you intended for him to feel my Qi, can I assume that Clan Head Murong also knew about my background?”
“Yeah. I revealed everything.”
“Then this rumor will soon be known to the entire leadership.”
“It might be known not only to the leadership but even to the outer castle. So, what is it that you want to say?”
“Regardless of whether they actually know or not, if it’s the successor of the Ghost Iron Sword Sect, they will think I’m somewhat well-versed in the Unorthodox Murim.”
“And?”
“Couldn’t you just say that you’re sending me as a spy to the Black Dragon Manor? Under the pretext of checking if there’s anyone who has joined hands with the personnel of the Murim Alliance.”
“……!”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s face stiffened.
‘A spy…’
He hadn’t even thought of such a method.
Gang Ryang licked his lips.
“Of course, I know. That I’m not trustworthy. Actually, even I don’t know if I can do the job of a spy properly. My nature isn’t good at deceiving anyone.”
“…….”
“But the important thing isn’t actually sending me, but making the leadership recognize the’belief’ that you can send someone to find out, right? And checking Murong Jun’s movements at the same time.”
Surprise appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
“How did you come up with such a thought?”
Gang Ryang shook his head.
“Didn’t you say Clan Head Murong is an old fox? An old fox is a mystical creature, so it won’t come out of its den if a pack of wolves is surrounding it.”
“…….”
“To get him out of the den, you have to make him think that the outside is safer than the inside.”
“This brat, he’s a genius.”
“Whoa.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Gang Ryang with eyes full of admiration.
“You know how to use your brain too?”
“Hehe.”
“But that won’t do.”
“……Why?”
Just when he thought he had finally earned his keep, the proposal was rejected. A look of puzzlement appeared on Gang Ryang’s face.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled and shook his head.
“Certainly, that method is very attractive considering the headaches we’ll have to deal with in the future. It might even be the easiest and most certain way to test Murong Jun in the current situation.”
“That’s right. So……”
“But you’ll be in danger.”
“Pardon?”
“Even though there are other safer methods, I have no intention of sending my person to a place of death.”
Gang Ryang’s face stiffened.
“Brother. I don’t know what you think of me, but I’m also someone who stakes his life on a single blade.”
“I know. I know, but there’s nothing more ridiculous than risking one’s life on something that doesn’t necessarily require it.”
“…….”
“Of course, if your martial arts and situational judgment were not inferior to mine, I might have at least considered it. Even then, I wouldn’t have used that method.”
“Why is that? Is it simply because of my friendship with you?”
“That’s true, but it’s also because that is the line I’ve drawn.”
“A line?”
Yeon Ho-jeong wore a bitter smile.
Since meeting Yeon Ho-jeong, Gang Ryang had never seen him look so bitter.
“From your perspective, do you think the political strife I’ve engaged in so far was a fair fight?”
“…….”
“Most of what I’ve done so far was chicanery… deceiving opponents, striking at weaknesses, and making even the truth appear as a lie.”
“Brother.”
“If one keeps repeating such things, everyone eventually thinks this at least once.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked up at the sky.
“Just how many levels into the abyss will I fall?”
Gang Ryang’s eyes sharpened.
“It’s for the sake of the Murim Alliance and the world that you’re eliminating political enemies. There’s no need to set limits on that……”
“And after those political enemies are eliminated? Will the stale smell disappear completely just because I wash my hands, which are covered in mud and blood, in a cleaned world?”
“…….”
“I don’t know what you think, but if possible, I want to eliminate enemies to the extent that my people do not see blood. If I eliminate enemies by using up even my own people just because the method is easy, then in the future, I will become a real monster that even I cannot control.”
“…….”
“This is the home I returned to with great difficulty. I don’t want to disappoint my precious people.”
Yeon Ho-jeong patted Gang Ryang’s shoulder.
“Anyway, thank you for even thinking of risking your life for us. I will gratefully accept that friendship.”
“Brother.”
“Even if things go wrong in the future, I won’t regret not using this method. Because that was my choice.”
Gang Ryang sighed.
“But the situation is too complicated, isn’t it? If Clan Head Murong has joined hands with the Black Dragon Manor, then even if he doesn’t become the Alliance Leader, the entire Murim Alliance will be shaken.”
Yeon Ho-jeong burst out laughing loudly without realizing it.
“It’s really funny when you say it like that. Hey, is the Young Master of the Ghost Iron Sword Sect worrying about the Murim Alliance?”
“I’m serious.”
“I know, man. Actually, it’s as you say. The situation is complicated, and nothing has been properly resolved. Rather than the twisted matters being unraveled even a little, I feel like we’re sinking deeper and deeper into a quagmire.”
“Exactly.”
“However.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked toward the south. It was where Gi Wu-hui’s residence was located.
“An answer is bound to emerge at some point. To strive so that the answer doesn’t become multiple, but rather results in only one complete outcome. Just for that, this dirty chicanery has its own charm.”
“…….”
“I’ve roughly gathered the firewood, so now let’s throw a spark. Who knows? Maybe that spark will go beyond heating the furnace and even cause a forest fire.”
* * *
“Clan Head.”
Murong Jun opened his eyes.
“An urgent Honored Guest Meeting has been called. An invitation has arrived stating that all Honored Guests must attend immediately.”
“…….”
“……Clan Head?”
“Interesting.”
“Pardon?”
A cold smile appeared on the corners of Murong Jun’s mouth.
‘An informant from the Black Dragon Manor? Nonsense. If he were to send an informant, Yang Cheon would have contacted me first. Sending an informant without coordinating beforehand… a man like the Combat King would never make such a bad move.’
In other words, there was a high probability that Yeon Ho-jeong’s words were a lie.
Yet, seeing that an Honored Guest Meeting was scheduled, it seemed he had sent someone who could be mistaken for an informant of the Black Dragon Manor.
‘It’s probably an enemy of his that I don’t know about.’
The problem was what kind of appearance he should show at the meeting.
‘I should push back strongly. So that Yeon Ho-jeong’s name will come up instead.’
Just because the other side acted strongly, there was no need for this side to bow its head.
Thus, Murong Jun attended the Honored Guest Meeting.
But the situation was flowing in a direction he had never imagined.
“G-great trouble!”
Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyebrows twitched.
“This is the meeting hall where all the Honored Guests are gathered. What is the matter that you are raising your voice so much?”
The Prison Warden, who suddenly barged into the meeting hall, swallowed hard.
“T-the prisoner has been assassinated!”
“What?!”
All the Honored Guests rose from their seats in surprise.
“Currently, the inner castle unit members are moving to track the assassin! According to the results of the tracking, the assassin is currently estimated to be fleeing toward the south!”
For a moment, Murong Jun felt his vision go dark.
It was as if Yeon Ho-jeong was whispering into his ear from an unseen place.
“You can never escape from my hands.”