Chapter 151: A New Variable
“Mmm…”
As if it was hard to answer, or perhaps because explaining it at once was too complicated, the Beggars’ Sect two-knot disciple slurred his words for a moment.
However, as if having made up his mind soon, he nodded.
“Since it is information that will be revealed soon anyway, and since it is also an affair in which Great Hero Namgung Jo and Young Hero Namgung Han here are involved, it would be proper to speak.”
It seemed the young man was Namgung Han, and the middle-aged man was Namgung Jo.
It could be a name he had not heard of due to his shallow knowledge, but looking at it differently, it also meant that the Namgung Clan’s foundation was deep enough that even experts of this level had not made their names known.
Indeed, they were worthy of calling themselves the head of the Five Great Clans.
However, even that surprise washed away cleanly at the Beggars’ Sect two-knot disciple’s subsequent shocking words.
“The Green Forest is moving. All seventy-two forts of the Green Forest!”
“…All of them?!”
“Yes, Young Hero. All of them. The one who traded blows with you just now is Fort Leader Ak Gun-pae of the Georok Fort, which is in charge of a part of the seventy-two forts of the Green Forest.”
To think that the martial power of a single fort leader was at that level.
It was a moment to realize with one’s own skin how great the martial power of those who dominated the martial world, those who stood near the peak, actually was.
To put it another way, even if they only picked the fort leaders, it meant there were seventy-two experts of that level.
Who could guarantee that there was no expert stronger than the man named Ak Gun-pae among them?
Furthermore, they said there are no weak soldiers under a brave commander. If an expert of that caliber had raised them with determination, his subordinates would surely not be easy either.
In fact, the movements of the person who had calmed Georok Fort Leader Ak Gun-pae and made him retreat were unusual.
‘This, the more I think about it, there is no answer…’
Even if they only counted four or five experts per mountain fort, the number would exceed three digits.
A typical sect could not handle it.
At this time when the confrontation between the Orthodox and Unorthodox was continuing, the movement of the Green Forest would cause a great ripple.
“It is impossible.”
Listening to the story, the young man of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Han, shook his head.
“The seventy-two forts of the Green Forest seem to be bound by the name of the Green Forest, but in reality, they are no different from different sects. It is not for nothing that the Green Forest failed to enter the ranks of the Six Heavens. Even if some of them gather, the possibility of an integration into a single power occurring is virtually non-existent…”
“Young Hero! I am sorry for cutting you off, but they have said since ancient times that the best way to unite the inside is to create an enemy on the outside. Although there are few powers capable of instilling a sense of crisis in all seventy-two forts of the Green Forest, a very big enemy has appeared in the Green Forest recently.”
“…The Nine Sects!”
Realizing it late, Namgung Han muttered with a face as if he had been hit hard on the head.
‘Certainly…’
It was a story he had heard when he went to Sichuan as well.
It was said that the Nine Sects were driving out the nearby unorthodox organizations, especially the bandits settled in the mountains.
He had also heard that the Mount Hua Sect had been running wild in Suzhou recently.
What if that had stimulated the Green Forest?
The large-scale movement of the Green Forest was also understandable.
“H-However, even if that were the case, it is obvious that integrating the seventy-two forts of the Green Forest would not be easy. In the first place, the sheer number of heads makes no sense. How could the Green Forest handle such a large force? If that many gather, they can no longer live by robbing in the mountains. If that happens…”
Namgung Han poured it out as if protesting, still unable to accept it.
Yet the more he spoke, the wider Namgung Han’s eyes grew.
“If that happens… the Green Forest will no longer be bandits… and they will no longer be a force… that can only stay in the mountains…”
“They will descend from the mountains. Just as a tiger whose prey has disappeared from the mountain comes down the mountain in search of prey. As a new dominant power of the martial world!”
What escort agency would run merchant operations through the territory of the Green Forest, which had built such a force?
They would naturally avoid it.
If that happened, only one path remained for the Green Forest to choose.
“…If the Great Harmony succeeds, that is.”
Perhaps because it was something he did not want to admit, Namgung Han still spoke of a negative outlook.
However, the Beggars’ Sect two-knot disciple’s thoughts were different.
“We are currently mobilizing our brothers on a large scale to investigate this movement of the Green Forest. And according to the information from other brothers, the Green Forest is currently contacting the eighteen forts of the Yangtze River Water Network.”
“The Green Forest with the Water Network?”
“Yes. And the Georok Fort Leader was a bodyguard to cut down our Beggars’ Sect brothers who were investigating the contact with the Water Network.”
For him, it was just an impression of a strange combination, but Namgung Han’s complexion hardened.
‘Ah! It must be quite troublesome from the Namgung Clan’s perspective.’
This was because they had accumulated grudges with the Yangtze River Water Network while stirring up the Yangtze River to expand their power.
“…Are they planning to form an alliance among bandits?”
“There is no reason why they couldn’t. At any rate, it means this movement of the Green Forest is that unusual.”
Listening to the conversation of the two, he organized the story in his own way.
‘The Green Forest and the Water Network joining hands to create an alliance… Their force will easily exceed ten thousand. Will they even look towards a hundred thousand? At that level, it wouldn’t be strange even if the army moved. No, are they planning to act as a dominant power of the martial world rather than bandits, putting forward the logic of non-interference between government and Martial World?’
It was pulling the wool over people’s eyes.
But depending on how one thought about it, it was not entirely impossible.
‘If they watch from the sidelines… is it possible?’
If the Green Forest and the Water Network integrated to form an alliance, they would need a foundation to maintain their force.
Like bandits, they would try to seize others’ forces, and a grand battle would break out with the existing sects.
From the imperial court’s perspective, wouldn’t they think that the tiresome pests were killing each other off on their own?
If so, there was a high probability that the army would at least not move.
They would aim for the fisherman’s profit.
If the army did not move, only one conclusion followed.
“The Great War of Orthodox and Unorthodox…”
‘Is some crazy bastard really instigating this from behind, by any chance?’
The story he thought he had barely stopped in Sichuan was popping up again.
“Mmm…”
“T-That…”
Whether they heard his muttering, the faces of the two hardened.
In particular, Namgung Han turned pale.
This was because it was an area that everyone could sufficiently deduce.
However, even they would not know this detail.
‘The Crane.’
A power that even the Emperor feared.
A mysterious power estimated to have influence not only in the imperial court but also in the martial world.
For some reason, he felt that they might be behind this affair.
‘I can’t afford to look away…’
The more he learned about the turning situation, the more his thought of quickly dealing with the Defeng Yin Clan solidified.
No matter what the inside was like, the Defeng Yin Clan belonged to the prestigious Orthodox path.
Once the movement of the Green Forest began to stand out, talk of uniting the Orthodox path would also emerge.
If that happened, striking the Defeng Yin Clan would carry a heavy burden.
It had to be dealt with before the movement of the Green Forest became full-fledged.
The Orthodox, the Unorthodox, the Green Forest, the Water Network, the Blood Cult, and the Defeng Yin Clan.
And the Crane.
It was enough to make his head ache.
‘Let’s solve them one by one.’
In the end, that was the only way.
“Han-ah…”
While he was organizing his thoughts in his own way, the middle-aged man spoke with difficulty.
“Hurry… hurry back to the family… and report this news.”
“Uncle!”
“It is a situation… where every moment is urgent. The family will also need… time to make a judgment.”
It was true. Currently, the most precious resource for the Namgung Clan would be time.
“What about you, Uncle?”
“Haha… you rascal. Even now, every time I speak a word… my shoulder throbs. I will go slowly, so do not worry. Is this the time to worry about me?”
Namgung Jo broke into a cold sweat but managed to show a smile.
“…It is time… to grow up, my dear nephew.”
Thack.
And with difficulty, he raised his hand and slapped the back of Namgung Han’s head.
He did not know if it was right to call that a slap, but at least in his eyes, it looked like that.
[Good eyes.]
Master Zhang Sanfeng gave a favorable review.
Just a moment ago, Namgung Han was a child who looked like he would burst into tears at any moment.
But now, he had changed.
‘He grew up.’
One does not become an adult simply by aging.
To become an adult, experience is needed.
Whether it is a good experience or a bad experience.
What kind of result would be made, the time of the future would tell, but at any rate, Namgung Han became an adult in an instant.
“Benefactor.”
Namgung Han looked at him with a changed appearance.
“I wish to repay the favor. Do you have any intention of going to the Namgung Clan?”
Although he said it was to repay the favor, his desire to recruit him was clear.
“Regrettably, I also seem to have to move in a hurry.”
“I see.”
Was it because time was pressing?
Namgung Han did not cling persistently.
“In the name of Namgung, I will surely repay this favor.”
Bowing deeply with his hands cupped in salute, Namgung Han left words requesting the Beggars’ Sect two-knot disciple to take care of his uncle, and then moved.
There was not a single trace of hesitation in that movement.
He also knew it was time to withdraw.
“Good fortune in battle.”
Cupping his hands in salute to the lying Namgung Jo and the Beggars’ Sect disciple, he also began to move, pursuing his own path.
***
“The Little Heavenly Dragon… A grand figure indeed.”
Namgung Jo muttered, seemingly impressed.
At the same time, he quietly gazed in the direction Namgung Han had headed.
Even right after seeing his nephew’s growth, Namgung Jo’s face was filled with worry.
“Originally, big things do not change easily.”
It was a joyful thing that Namgung Han’s eye had opened.
However, what such a Namgung Han would see is the essence of the Namgung Clan.
Apart from Namgung Han’s growth, the Namgung Clan was still the Namgung Clan.
The family head evaluated justice as a monster, but in Namgung Jo’s judgment, the family head was the same.
The ones who followed such a family head were also the same.
It was because he hated that sight that he wandered outside like this.
“Whether he will become a monster eaten by monsters, or a hero who caught the monster…”
Namgung Jo hoped that the path his nephew Namgung Han would walk would flow into the latter.
“It would be good if a youth like that could accompany him…”
Therefore, he felt it was a pity that the talent named Little Heavenly Dragon Yeon Cheong-un had gone on a different path.
***
Although he bumped into numerous incidents while traveling to and from Suzhou, there were no particular problems after parting with the people of the Namgung Clan.
“We are almost there. Let’s endure just a little more.”
“…Yes!”
Though he did not know what method she used, Yi Hwa, who had kept up with his speed throughout the journey, looked quite exhausted.
Encouraging such an Yi Hwa, he set foot on the boundary of Samyang County.
At that moment.
Swoosh!
“Uh?”
A white flash of light brushed past his side.
The identity of what had accurately snatched Yi Hwa beside him was none other than this.
“Seol-ah Sister?”
“If you follow, I will be angry.”
Holding Yi Hwa as if grabbing a kitten, Sister Seol-ah gave a warning and flew away with a whoosh.
“What in the…”
It was the first time.
Sister Seol-ah’s attitude like that.
It was also the first time he had heard that she would be angry.
[Pfft!]
As if finding something very amusing, Master Zhang Sanfeng laughed slyly.
[The mistake that fools who are immature in romance make the most is that.]
“That?”
[Assuming that what they think is the best thing is the right thing.]
“If it’s a good thing, isn’t that right?”
[I thought you had some talent, but I guess not. No, is it because of that that your talent is good?]
He did not understand what Master Zhang Sanfeng meant.
He entered the village trudgingly, feeling as if he had taken on an unsolved homework.
In front of him, the most awkward fellow to deal with right now appeared.
It was Baek Mu-ho, who probably had suffered the most while he was away.
“Why are you so fine?”
“Huh?”
While he was wondering what kind of nonsense that was, the Divine Monk Elder and Senior Jang Mun-gyeong looked at him with squinted eyes and grumbled.
“He is fine, indeed.”
“So it seems.”
“…”
What on earth happened while he was gone?