Chapter 383: A Tiger and a Lion Are Different (3)
Flash!
Yang Cheon’s eyes instantly became sharp.
“You’re saying you’ll help me escape the poisoning of the Yin Desolate Divine Palm?”
“That’s right.”
Yang Cheon didn’t ask how that was possible, nor how he knew the method.
“Was that it? Your lifeline?”
“It’s just one of many countermeasures.”
“Countermeasures.”
“As you said, I didn’t come without any preparations. I have a lot of things to do.”
Yang Cheon asked aggressively.
“Is that ‘thing to do’ beating up the bastards from the Three Cults?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, was deceiving me and infiltrating as the intelligence department head of the headquarters also to attack the Three Cults?”
Yang Cheon was in a situation where he wasn’t even sure if the palm print of the Yin Desolate Divine Palm was a real poisoning. In other words, it meant this was the moment he first found out he was definitely poisoned.
Yet, he asked about Yeon Ho-jeong’s goal first. He seemed to consider solving this poisoning as a trivial matter.
A surprisingly bold character. Yang Cheon, who had fallen into the sweetness of power and forgotten his original natural disposition, was finally recovering his original appearance through his meeting with Yeon Ho-jeong after coming to his senses from Murong Jun’s sharp rebuke.
‘Tsk.’
Yeon Ho-jeong started to feel burdened by Yang Cheon.
The person he thought he could easily handle before coming here seemed to be dealing with him while pointing several cannons at him.
‘He is truly a difficult person. I don’t know how I caught such a guy in the past. However…’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s smile deepened.
“…You look good.”
“What?”
“No. I was just talking to myself.”
“Stop spouting unfunny nonsense and answer the question properly.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression changed.
“Right. My final goal is the Three Cults.”
“Was it really so?”
“I know what words Manor Lord Yang wants to hear. Therefore, I will speak simply.”
“I’ll open my ears and listen.”
“Infiltrating the Black Dragon Manor wasn’t just because of the Three Cults. At that time, we received intelligence that Manor Lord Yang was building a force, and for the future situation of the Murim, we needed to control the Black Dragon Manor’s confidential information and military strength…”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s explanation was neat without any redundancies.
Gang Ryang was secretly surprised while listening to Yeon Ho-jeong’s words.
‘Brother is outstanding not only as a warrior or the head of a force but also in his diplomatic abilities.’
He knew well what Yeon Ho-jeong’s usual way of speaking was like. And he knew his personality well too.
However, right now, considering Yang Cheon’s personality, Yeon Ho-jeong’s explanation was brief and packaged nicely to be pleasing to the ear.
Words have a way of changing the listener’s mood depending on how they are conveyed, even if they are the same truth. From that perspective, the fact that Yeon Ho-jeong, who was a good judge of character, was even equipped with such eloquence could be said to be a powerful advantage as a diplomat.
Yang Cheon nodded.
“I understand. Why the Murim Alliance dispatched you, and what they wanted to obtain from our headquarters.”
“…”
“The more I hear, the more dumbfounded I become. In the end, we were dancing in the palm of the Murim Alliance’s hand.”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“Think of it as a tie since the Black Dragon Manor struck first before that.”
“Struck first? What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you take away a significant number of the merchant groups under contract south of the Yangtze River without the Murim Alliance knowing? Whether you received help from the Evil Lust Cult or not, establishing the Black Dragon Manor was up to you, but since you raked in money from unseen places, our side hurt quite a bit too.”
“Saying ‘taken away’ is a bit much. A merchant group is just a merchant group. They are people who change partners without hesitation if there is a better client, so how can you say we took them away?”
“Let’s think about it conversely. If you consider that our side took a few of the Black Dragon Manor’s major businesses, don’t you think your side would feel wronged?”
“…”
“The difference between fair competition and strategic seizure is just a piece of paper. And what makes that difference is intent. In that aspect, you have inflicted astronomical damage to our alliance.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.
“That habit of calculating very strangely hasn’t gone anywhere.”
“Because it’s a fact.”
“But… Yeah, you’re not wrong.”
Yang Cheon nodded.
“Good. I will consider it a tie with this regarding the fact that you infiltrated and threw our headquarters into chaos.”
It was a refreshing acknowledgment. He wasn’t pretending; he really intended to think of it as something that never happened.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“The conversation is flowing very smoothly.”
“Don’t be mistaken. Because that won’t become a reason to send you back alive.”
Yang Cheon wore a sneer.
“I considered it a tie in the struggle between forces; I didn’t say I would forgive your sin of deceiving me. That calculation must be made differently, right?”
“You’re strict. Just admit it. That the person who was tricked is the fool.”
“Since the fool was even tricked, he should at least hold the hilt of a sword to vent his anger. Isn’t that right?”
It was an incredibly brutal conversation.
Yeon Ho-jeong smacked his lips.
“That Yin Desolate Divine Palm, I’ll definitely have to detoxify it for you.”
Yang Cheon corrected his posture again.
“Before I hear that, let me ask one thing.”
“What is it?”
“If you help me escape from this poisoning, what do you want from me?”
“Didn’t I say it’s the price of my life?”
“Speak the truth.”
“…”
“You know. It’s just that I’ve become tricky to deal with, but no matter how the situation turns out, I won’t kill you. At least for now.”
“…You’re sharp.”
“I faintly expected that the palm print was a symptom of poisoning. But I couldn’t be certain. Because after losing consciousness once, there was no damage at all.”
“Do you think so?”
“I think so.”
Yang Cheon asked seriously.
“I will ask straightforwardly. Is the reason you are telling me a way to escape this symptom to draw me in as an ally?”
He sees through it easily. Even up to there.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.
“That’s right. From what I heard, you said you would help’just this once,’ but there was no word about completely becoming the same side. At least, that’s what Murong Jun said.”
“…”
“You are the Combat King. Shouldn’t you land a hit on the bastard who left that beggar-like trace on your chest?”
“And that is helpful to you guys.”
“At the same time, it will be helpful to you and the subordinates who follow you. After all, their goal is not the Murim Alliance but the entire Central Plains.”
“…”
“It would have been nice if we met as friends. But we have already come too far to exchange wine glasses purely without any intentions.”
Yang Cheon chuckled.
“Friends at that age gap, it’s an absurd notion.”
“Whatever it may be.”
“In other words, the enemy of my enemy is my friend?”
“It’s something like that.”
Yang Cheon, who had been staring blankly at Yeon Ho-jeong, laughed coldly.
“It’s not just that.”
“…”
“There was something a bit incomprehensible in what you said earlier. Your words, your voice, were based on truth while simultaneously holding tremendous persuasive power. But whether it was conscious or unconscious, you were exceptionally sparing with your words regarding one person.”
“…”
“Murong Jun.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“Do you want to eliminate Murong Jun?”
“…I do.”
“Using a sword named me?”
“That’s not it.”
“No? Why?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“My father always told me. Not to cross the line.”
“…”
“Whether I use you or join hands with you, it is for a greater cause. I have no thought of drawing in Black Path forces to deal with an internal enemy.”
“I don’t see what’s different.”
“I didn’t either. And honestly, I still don’t know well even now. But I vaguely understand what intent my father had when he told me not to cross the line.”
“So, you don’t want me to deal with Murong Jun?”
“That’s right. I, we, will deal with that guy.”
“That’s not it.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes shone.
“Even if you deal with Murong Jun, the person who can shake his foundation is me, so you need to maintain a not-bad relationship with me at the very least.”
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.
“That’s correct. That is exactly the best outcome the strategist of our alliance desires.”
“There’s no need to practically strike the Murong Clan, but at the very least, there is a need to hint to Murong Jun that our relationship is not bad…”
Yang Cheon nodded.
“Good. All questions have been resolved.”
It was a neat acknowledgment.
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke.
“Then the Yin Desolate Divine Palm…”
“From now on, let’s try changing the leader of this conversational space.”
Swish.
Yang Cheon stood up from his seat.
Vwwooong.
The cold mountain wind heated up again.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“What does that mean?”
“In the Black Path.”
Sssss!
Whitish smoke spewed out from Yang Cheon’s two fists.
It was as if they caught fire. But there were no real flames on his two fists. He couldn’t even feel Fire Qi.
In spite of that, they felt hot. He felt a brutal sense of incongruity that if he was hit wrongly by those fists, it wouldn’t just be burns, but the struck area itself would be annihilated.
“Since ancient times, there was a rule. Not from when back-alley scoundrels fought, but a rule created back when there were nobles in the Black Path too. And those who consider themselves the true legitimate heirs of the Black Path still live while keeping that rule.”
Bzzzt! Bzzt!
Unusual radiance popped up like lightning all over the spewing smoke.
It was different from the flashing electric light in Murong Jun’s Thunder Arts, and different from the radiance seen in Yeon Wi’s Absolute One Sword. It looked like lightning but was like a flame, and it was like a flame but also like a blade.
“There are many rules, but there is only one you need to take to heart.”
Whoosh!
All of Yang Cheon’s hair surged up to the sky.
“Ugh!”
Bu Seon let out a groan and retreated a dozen zhang away. And that was the same for Gang Ryang as well.
Only Yeon Ho-jeong grabbed the shaft of the Crazy Dragon Axe embedded in the ground while looking at Yang Cheon with eyes as deep as a bottomless pit.
“Renegades are given a chance to plead. If that plea is deemed reasonable, all grudges are concluded by cutting off one of their limbs.”
“…”
“However, if the renegade refuses to plead, they are executed immediately. That is the rule of the Black Path.”
“…”
“Of course, there is an exception. When the renegade has their circumstances, and those circumstances are understood and accepted, it is decided to place the stale principles of the Jianghu upon the blade. That is…”
“Three moves.”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke calmly.
“If one receives three moves from the executioner, all grudges are concluded immediately.”
An unusual glint shone in Yang Cheon’s eyes.
“You know of such a thing too?”
“I do.”
“I don’t know where you picked it up, but your words are correct. If you withstand my three moves, I will bury all the grudges between us up till now by loading them onto the wind blowing in this place.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled bitterly.
“You’re saying I just have to withstand three moves… But if I can’t withstand it and die, I won’t be able to cure your poisoning, right?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
RUMBLEEEE!
The earth Yang Cheon stood on cracked like a spiderweb.
Yang Cheon, emitting dark red radiance all over his body; the intimidating air of an absolute master who had opened his full power for the first time in a truly long while transcended imagination.
“I am the head of the Black Path and the Combat King. Whether you resolve the grudge or have one of your limbs cut off, choose for yourself.”
Yang Cheon made a vicious smile.
“You aren’t the kind of guy who would quietly die for me, right?”
“…You could have just let it go easily, but you insist on making things this brutal.”
BAM!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who lifted the Crazy Dragon Axe with elastic hand movements, stretched out his hand with a thrilled face.
“The three moves of the Combat King, I will receive them.”