Chapter 74: Finding a Way

When I first saw them, I wondered if I had misseen. I had worried so much that I even wondered if I was seeing things.

But it was reality.

They were indeed Lee Do-cheon, Lee Cheong-ryeo, and Sagong Pae, the three rising stars of the Qingcheng Sect whom I had formed a connection with when coming to Sichuan.

And it was said that the old man, who went into the government office saying he would greet Teacher Emerald Bamboo first as if they had a connection in the past, was none other than Elder Cheongpung of the Qingcheng Sect.

Whether orthodox or unorthodox, from the perspective of Martial World sects, the existence of an official who communicated with martial artists with an open mind was precious, so they tried not to make an enemy of them if possible.

Since Teacher Emerald Bamboo had a similar disposition to grandfather, it was not strange for him to have close relations with Martial World figures.

The problem was that this place was unorthodox territory.

‘No, in a situation where even I, who am not well known in Sichuan, am anxious being here right now, why is a gentleman who is an elder of the Qingcheng Sect coming here?’

When I heard the identity of Elder Cheongpung, my stomach turned at the appearance of a big shot I had really never expected.

Since it was a situation where I was worrying about how to suppress this circumstance which could lead to a great war between orthodox and unorthodox, it was even to the extent of being regarded as a high-level scheme by someone to screw with me.

Still, I couldn’t criticise them openly, so I decided to do it indirectly.

“Weren’t you scared coming here?”

“Well, at first? But I took courage. After all, isn’t it a place where Young Hero Cheong-un also came? I thought there was no reason we couldn’t come if we hid well and moved.”

“……”

It seemed like a grave I dug myself.

What was this rising sense of guilt? Since they said the source of their courage was me, I felt like I had made a mistake.

“Honestly, I was surprised coming here. I had imagined it would be a mess because it’s unorthodox territory. A place like a den of evil. A place where the law of the jungle is applied nonchalantly. But having come here directly, I realized it. This is also a place where people live.”

Lee Cheong-ryeo looked around with eyes that somehow seemed more mature than some time ago.

“There probably are places like that, though.”

“I know. I’m saying I realized unorthodox factions aren’t unconditionally bad, not that I forgot the bad points I originally knew. But that’s why I was more surprised. Because I realized my common sense was skewed narrower than I thought.”

Lee Cheong-ryeo had indeed grown a step further.

It was visible that her vision had cleared and her thoughts had widened.

Lee Do-cheon was also smiling warmly, watching his younger sister’s growth.

‘Hmm?’

In the midst of that, there was suddenly something tickling.

A feeling that I had unconsciously obtained something, but my consciousness had failed to discover it.

Was there a part where I should feel such a thing in the conversation with Lee Cheong-ryeo just now?

“You must have been surprised by our sudden visit.”

While tracing my memory, feeling like I had missed something, Lee Do-cheon offered a greeting full of politeness and common sense.

Fortunately, it seemed I could still communicate well with this side.

“There must be a reason.”

“Correct. That’s why we took such an unconventional step.”

“What on earth is it?”

“They say the Clan Leader of the Tang Clan has been poisoned and is hovering between life and death.”

The Sichuan Tang Clan, which shook the world with poison and hidden weapons. The Clan Leader of that Tang Clan is hovering between life and death due to poison?

To my ears, it sounded like a story of a carp turning its belly up and drowning while laughing.

“……Yes? Really?”

“Although it’s top-secret and not known to the outside, they even requested the Daela Divine Pill from our sect, saying they need to buy time until they find a way to detoxify.”

“Oh boy…”

If revealed publicly, it was an event that would be remembered as a disgrace in the history of the Tang Clan. Nevertheless, having requested external help, I could feel how urgent the Tang Clan was.

And one more thing.

‘If they were isolating themselves from the outside to that extent, the Tang Clan’s reaction or response would have been sluggish, wouldn’t it?’

The Tang Clan discussed the world’s best regarding poison. Naturally, they should have known about the existence of the poison that was widely spreading in Sichuan lately.

I felt like I knew the reason why this situation had been neglected until now.

‘The stories fit together. Then is this also the Demonic Cult’s doing?’

Looking at the case of Sang Woo-kyung, who had been planted as a mole of the Demonic Cult within the Mount Hua Sect, the Demonic Cult’s influence was wider and more meticulous than thought.

No matter how great the Demonic Cult was, I wondered if this was truly ‘an execution possible by a single force’.

‘Really, if they had prepared for a really long time, it wouldn’t be strange if a trump card that could land a blow even on the Tang Clan Leader, who was expert in poison, had been prepared.’

“……So we came to find you. To the young hero who inherited the legacy of Hua Tuo.”

“Ah…”

It was certainly a reason to come in person.

‘It was for me.’

It was in the same context as grandfather purposely using my hand to deliver the letter to Teacher Emerald Bamboo.

Although it would be easy and simple if passing through a third party, there was no telling how the information might leak.

And in this case, the one who would suffer trouble due to that issue was me. My location and information would be exposed nakedly. If that happened, it could become really dangerous.

“This makes my face hot.”

“Haha. Not at all. Hearing the rumors floating here in Go County, it seems we have found the exact right person. If you have no urgent business, let us go together. The Tang Clan has been famous since ancient times for being cruel to those they harbor grudges against, but they are also known for repaying received favors generously. If you can recover the Tang Clan Leader, it will definitely be a good thing for you as well.”

“The Tang Clan…”

‘Huh?’

What should I say, the sensation I felt in the conversation with Lee Cheong-ryeo was felt once again this time.

A sensation as if my subconscious was swearing at me, saying, ‘Notice it already, you idiot.’

“Ah!”

And I recalled.

A way to prevent the war in Sichuan that could lead to a great war between orthodox and unorthodox.

“Whenever you made that kind of expression, something extremely tiring happened…”

Baek Mu-ho, who was quietly watching me from the side, grumbled, but I lightly ignored him.

I immediately ran into the government residence where Teacher Emerald Bamboo and Elder Cheongpung of the Qingcheng Sect were.

***

“By any chance, Teacher, do you also have connections with high-ranking figures of Black Abyss Heavenless Faction?”

Teacher Emerald Bamboo, who was facing Cheongpung, looked slightly flustered at my words, having entered suddenly and asked point-blank.

On the other hand, Elder Cheongpung looked at me with a slightly strange gaze, seeming quite intrigued.

Since it was content somewhat awkward to speak of in front of a Qingcheng Sect elder, Teacher Emerald Bamboo hesitated for a moment before nodding his head.

“If I say I do?”

“Please ask if they have any intention to actively respond if there is a way to prevent the war that will occur in Sichuan.”

He must have thought it was something that could rarely be avoided. Hearing my words, Teacher Emerald Bamboo’s eyes flashed.

“There is… a way? Speak.”

“Even after the orthodox and unorthodox made a truce, minor disputes have continuously existed. However, the truce has not been broken until now. Various reasons are entangled in that, but the main reason is indeed because there are those on both sides, orthodox and unorthodox, who judge that war is not beneficial.”

War is the act of unilaterally forcing the will of one force onto another force.

If it happens between individuals, it is a fight, but if the scale grows, it becomes a war.

The fundamental reason why something like a truce can exist between orthodox and unorthodox is because there are those on both sides who do not want to exceed the scale of the fight beyond a certain line.

This was the part I felt unconsciously in the conversation with Lee Cheong-ryeo.

‘The leadership of the unorthodox factions also has common sense and are people who know how to calculate gains and losses.’

Even I had a prejudice. A prejudice that there would be more people trying to resolve things more violently if they were unorthodox.

The logic of the unorthodox is the way of life they chose, not that they themselves are ignorant.

“One of the main factors that has made the current war unavoidable is largely due to the fact that it has become difficult to expect patience from the orthodox factions anymore.”

Within the orthodox factions, a current of not enduring anymore is flowing. That was why the Qingcheng Sect was also cleaning up their surroundings.

In such a situation, if the unorthodox lit a fire, it was highly likely to lead to an extreme situation, namely, war.

“But?”

“However, if we can convince the Sichuan Tang Clan, the story changes. The Sichuan Tang Clan is one of the three pillars of the orthodox factions in Sichuan. Their decision will have a great influence. In other words, when the unorthodox light a fire, the opinion of the Sichuan Tang Clan can create a situation where the orthodox factions can endure once again. And if the elder of the Qingcheng Sect here exerts his strength, the possibility will grow even larger.”

“It is a temporary fix. It’s meaningless if the unorthodox don’t stop.”

“We must turn their eyes. We just need to present the real culprit.”

“The real culprit?”

“I mean the Demonic Cult.”

Mentioning the Demonic Cult, I first explained the events that had occurred in Go County.

Although I couldn’t say that the Demonic Cult’s situation was a mess since Master Heavenly Demon had told me, what I had grasped and experienced in Go County was enough to gain sufficient persuasiveness.

Although I had intended to use the Demonic Cult previously, that was merely a temporary fix to cover up what we did.

Now, let’s grow the board itself grandly. To the extent that there is no one in Sichuan who doesn’t know in a short period.

‘Anyway, it’s all stuff those bastards started, isn’t it?’

So there is nothing to hold back.

We demand a bit more patience from the orthodox.

We make the unorthodox point their blades elsewhere.

Nevertheless, the war advocates and hardliners who would light fires will still run wild, but we can just weed them out as they are.

We treat it as the minor fights and small-scale disputes that have always existed.

“In the end, war is an affair between people. An extension of politics. It begins by necessity, and ends by necessity.”

If the higher-ups can align their stories.

If so.

“Then there is no war. There is merely a fight. Just as has always and commonly existed until now.”

As much as my agony had been deep, the words that had only piled up in my head burst out like a flood.

When my words ended, Teacher Emerald Bamboo and Cheongpung, the two elders with deep years and experience, gazed at me intently.

The first to open his mouth was Teacher Emerald Bamboo.

“The leap in logic is large. Above all, you highlighted only the overly rational aspect. It is not difficult to imagine how disorderly it will become in the parts you simply mentioned and passed over.”

Teacher Emerald Bamboo’s judgment was negative.

“However, it must be the best for now.”

At the same time, he acknowledged that there was no other way.

He really keeps me on my toes.

On the other hand,

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Elder Cheongpung did not look for truth or falsehood in my words. He felt like he was merely looking at the positive parts.

Although it was a simple reaction, if there were many people who accepted it like that, wouldn’t my thoughts work quite well?

“It is good. Although one might call it foolishness in old age, listening to it makes me feel like my blood is boiling. Preventing a war that could lead to a great war. Haha! Excellent! Excellent!”

His cheeks flushed red, his expression was as if he had returned to his sweet sixteen. The wrinkles settled on his face had not disappeared, but at least the energy exuded from his entire body was so.

“I will take responsibility and convince Qingcheng. Yes! I will definitely make it happen!”

There was the heat of someone whose blood had become hot.

However, Cheongpung clearly pointed out one thing.

“However, this must have the premise that you must treat the Tang Clan Leader. Can you do it? The detoxification of a poison that even the world-famous Sichuan Tang Clan is struggling with?”

The Qingcheng Sect alone cannot calm the orthodox factions in Sichuan. No, in the first place, it was highly likely that strong war advocates existed even within the Qingcheng Sect. Only when the Sichuan Tang Clan stepped forward could the hardliners be put to rest.

Just as Elder Cheongpung said, it was no exaggeration to say that all these premises depended on whether I could treat the Tang Clan Leader.

I answered confidently.

“I can do it.”

‘Since Teacher Hua Tuo exists, it means Teacher Bian Que must exist too, right? If Teacher Hua Tuo alone is insufficient, I can just request help from Teacher Bian Que. If it’s those two legends, they would bring him back even if he had crossed the threshold of the underworld.’

Although it might look like overconfidence, the people backing me up were too grand to consider things like just in case.

***

A certain residence.

At a place where a gloomy darkness was settled, the voices of two people went back and forth.

“They say Cheongpung entered Go County, unorthodox territory.”

“In this day and age?”

“He seems to have heard the rumor that a divine physician appeared in Go County. He must have moved considering the Tang Clan Leader.”

“Indeed, he was a hot-blooded fellow since the old days. It seems that blood still remains even though he has aged.”

“And for us, it is a good opportunity.”

The person speaking in the darkness smirked.

The smile of a strategist plotting work.

That smile went well with the surrounding darkness.

To a disgusting extent.

“Does coming to find me mean you will move directly?”

“Because the unorthodox fellows are not fools, either. There is a high risk of us being exposed if we are careless. Besides, it’s unorthodox territory anyway. It is surer to lay hands directly.”

“Indeed. If Cheongpung dies in unorthodox territory…”

“The orthodox will interrogate the unorthodox. But the unorthodox will deny it. Because it really isn’t what they did. However, to those who harbor doubts, a strong denial rather sounds like a strong affirmation. Then, the resisting unorthodox will bring up the story of the poison spreading in their territory recently…”

“The situation will spread uncontrollably.”

“Yes. Then our tracks will be buried just like that.”

“Good.”

A satisfied smile was drawn on their mouths.

The smiles melting into the darkness resembled each other.

“Of course, all this is a story possible when we can kill Cheongpung, though.”

Meanwhile, words that touched his pride came out.

Nevertheless, he chuckled and brushed it off.

“Cheongpung is indeed not an easy fellow.”

The man did not ignore Cheongpung.

“However, this seat can break him.”

He merely knew where his own strength lay.

From his body, which spoke of him being above Cheongpung, an energy like frost burst out.

Ururung!

Simply by revealing his energy, the surroundings trembled and cried as if an earthquake had occurred.

Seeing his majesty revealing a power that had no choice but to be trusted, the smile of the strategist who plotted the work deepened.

“For the Great Demon.”