Chapter 89: When the Crane Moves
At the appearance of the existence that pronounced death, Teacher Emerald Bamboo closed his eyes tightly.
‘It is the worst…’
Teacher Emerald Bamboo could easily guess what the target of these forces, whom Mu-ae referred to as the crane, was.
‘These secret forces have not yet revealed their existence on the surface. That means if I die, there is no way they will be pointed out as suspects.’
Recently, Teacher Emerald Bamboo had taken the lead in soothing the boiling atmosphere by going back and forth between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions.
It was also possible because Teacher Emerald Bamboo was a figure of the government.
If such a Teacher Emerald Bamboo were assassinated here, the focal point that connected the Orthodox faction, Unorthodox faction, and the government would disappear.
At the same time, the Unorthodox faction, which had shown violent movements so far, would rise to the suspect list.
The Unorthodox faction would protest in their own way, and they might even drag in the existence of the Demonic Cult, which seemed to be behind this situation.
No, considering the position of the Unorthodox faction, they would definitely react that way.
If it became like that, while only the secret forces slipped out completely, a turmoil mixing the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and even the Demonic Cult would arise, and at the same time, the government would also move.
Sichuan would literally become a mess.
The exact situation that Mu-ae worried about would end up being created.
‘I should have thought they would target me around this point…’
Picturing in his mind the worst situation created by the losing move of moving while only thinking of the mission in front of him and failing to consider his own safety, Teacher Emerald Bamboo closed his eyes tightly.
Kaang!
“That’s enough.”
A single voice heard along with the crying of metal.
Opening his eyes as he felt the eerie sensation created by the bursting sound and wave that occurred nearby, Teacher Emerald Bamboo could see a shadow blocking his front.
His back was that of a person Teacher Emerald Bamboo knew.
“Heo-do?”
“Let’s talk later.”
An elderly Taoist. An impression of broken composure appeared on the face of the martial artist of the secret forces in front of his existence.
The energy rising from the body of the opponent, who had cast aside his composure, violently shook the room.
The weight of heaven rested on the old Taoist’s sword, which seemed to swing lightly in response.
Kwaaang!
A loud explosion occurred, and the shapes of the surroundings disappeared.
In Teacher Emerald Bamboo’s eyes, everything around looked as if it lost its form and collapsed.
While collapsing as if heaven and earth were turning upside down, the only thing clearly visible was the figure of the single person standing in front of him.
“Heo…”
Witnessing the single clash of the two experts at close range, a sound of breathing that was difficult to distinguish between admiration and the sigh of a dazed person escaped Teacher Emerald Bamboo’s mouth.
Although he knew that the martial arts of supreme experts were so great that they did not look like human actions in the eyes of ordinary people, it was the first time he had felt it so closely that it touched his skin.
However, what was clear was that Teacher Emerald Bamboo was now looking at his surroundings alive.
“…It has all blown away.”
Teacher Emerald Bamboo raised his head and looked up at the sky where the moon was shining brightly.
Just by exchanging power once, an entire building had blown away.
The sight seen along with that outcome was quite mysterious.
Circles of various sizes surrounded all sides.
A single elegant line was drawn inside the largest and widest circle in the very front.
The shape of a giant Taiji.
The owner of that power stood proudly, holding a hand-worn pine-pattern ancient sword lowered diagonally.
“Quite a sight. Is that the Great Circular Taiji Sword that the Taiji Sword Immortal boasts of?”
“Where do you come from? Reveal your origin.”
“To think you don’t know even after seeing it. How disappointing.”
At the snorting reply of the opponent, the eyebrows of the old Taoist, Heo-do, twitched slightly.
“…I just have to capture you and ask.”
“Kik!”
The opponent drew a clear sneer on his lips that anyone could see.
“It is not something possible with your capability.”
“Hmph!”
No sooner had the mocking opponent finished speaking than Heo-do’s toes lifted from the ground.
Unfolding the Cloud Ladder Stride, which was said to contain the air of an immortal, he closed the distance with the opponent.
The sword strike, containing the weight of heaven in a light sword movement, extended softly but rapidly, and heavily.
It was slow yet fast, and it seemed visible yet was invisible.
It was reflected that way in Teacher Emerald Bamboo’s eyes.
A martial art filled with profound mystery that could not be defined in a single word.
The circles of Taiji extending in all directions followed it, fluctuating.
The sight of each and every energy drawing a circle moving in coordination with the old Taoist was truly worthy of being called a grand spectacle.
Literally overwhelming!
The opponent’s movement to counter such an offensive was simple.
Kwang!
He collided recklessly.
As if having become a thunderbolt for an instant, he explosively burst blue power and clashed with the flow of the grand circle.
The dust settled on the floor rose up and danced, and a gust of wild wind raged in all directions.
For Teacher Emerald Bamboo, who was an ordinary person, it was a feast of power that made it difficult to even open his eyes.
In the midst of that, the old Taoist, Heo-do, frowned like someone who had suffered some loss.
“How insolent!”
“What cannot be done cannot be done. Have you not realized it even at that age?”
The opponent smirked at Taoist Master Heodo.
He was not talking about the difference in capability.
He was talking about the situation itself.
Teacher Emerald Bamboo suddenly recalled the direction of the power he had seen.
In which direction the opponent’s recklessly linear offensive was aimed.
“Let’s consider it a draw. At any rate, Taoist Master Heodo, I have realized that it is difficult for me to kill that person as long as you are here.”
It was Teacher Emerald Bamboo.
The opponent was saying:
That if Heodo wanted to catch him, he must abandon Teacher Emerald Bamboo. That was why such words had come from Taoist Master Heodo’s mouth.
Having made his intention clear in that way, the opponent stepped back a full step.
Watching the opponent retreat as if he had no interest in a meaningless war of attrition, Taoist Master Heodo asked.
“Are you the crane?”
“If that were so, there would have been hope for you guys too.”
Along with the opponent’s physical form fading and blurring, the words left behind in that spot remained like a lingering echo.
“To think the capability of a mere minion is at this level… There was a reason why we couldn’t even catch a tail despite struggling for several years.”
At the weight left by that lingering echo, Taoist Master Heodo frowned once more.
“Heodo, I didn’t know you would be here.”
“There was a request from Mu-ae.”
“Indeed.”
Teacher Emerald Bamboo let out a bitter smile at Yeon Ja-yeom’s arrangement, which had even considered the parts he had overlooked.
“It seems I held you back in many ways.”
Even though it was a tail caught after struggling for several years, he could not pursue it because of himself.
The fact that an expert of this level was a mere minion was proof that their power was not small. No one could guarantee that such an opportunity would arise again.
“Don’t say such things. You have fully done your share. Even my friend Ja-yeom would acknowledge this.”
Since it was not words spoken as consolation but with true sincerity, Teacher Emerald Bamboo was able to erase at least a part of the bitter look he had shown on his lips.
“However, I think I must admit that my thoughts were too naive. I was relieved because Taoist Cheongpung accompanied me, but if fellows like this are moving, it is difficult with Taoist Cheongpung.”
“Mu-ae’s grandson…”
When Mu-ae moved a person of Taoist Master Heodo’s caliber, it must have surely included a request for Yeon Cheong-un’s safety.
As if trying to change the subject for the head-tilting Teacher Emerald Bamboo, Taoist Master Heodo immediately continued speaking.
“Since I do not know where the fellow might target you again, we cannot move separately. I am sorry, but you must also accompany me.”
“If it’s that… it cannot be helped.”
Considering the tasks he had taken on, it was a situation where it was difficult to leave his post blindly, but since the situation was what it was, Teacher Emerald Bamboo agreed to Taoist Master Heodo’s proposal.
The outside was noisy as if government officials and soldiers were flocking in during this disturbance, but since there was no time to explain one by one, he finished his preparations to leave by preparing rough instructions in a letter.
“Let’s hurry.”
“I was just about to do so.”
Taoist Master Heodo approached Teacher Emerald Bamboo, who had finished his preparations.
“To the Sichuan Tang Clan… If we hurry, will we arrive around sunset tomorrow?”
“What?”
Teacher Emerald Bamboo was able to experience firsthand what it was like to fly through the sky.
***
The disturbance that had troubled the Sichuan Tang Clan was settled in an instant.
The traitors who participated in the rebellion all died.
The Myriad Poison Divine Lord personally stepped forward and melted them all.
‘This is not even a goblin club.’
Once again, I could see how outstanding a martial art poison arts were for mass slaughter.
I also understood why the Sichuan Tang Clan reigned as a feared existence in Martial World.
And the very person who had melted dozens of people with a single gesture of his hand was right in front of my eyes.
“I was lucky. Because they were gathered just perfectly to be swept away. Regarding that part, I suppose I should thank that fellow Mun-hyeok.”
Although he was full of freshness as if delivering a morning greeting, the contents contained within were bloodcurdling.
If I hadn’t personally seen him melt and kill people, I would have thought he was talking about a friend who had helped him greatly.
‘How should I treat this kind of person?’
Facing a type of person for whom it was difficult to set a standard within the bounds of common sense, some wires in my head went back and forth.
[He’ll get along well with that fellow, the Heavenly Demon.]
‘Ah!’
Perhaps because the subject of comparison was not very pleasing, at the mention of Master Zhang Sanfeng who spoke in a somewhat dissatisfied tone, I could judge who to think of to set a benchmark.
‘Master Heavenly Demon is in front of my eyes.’
Thinking of it that way,
‘…Is it arrhythmia?’
I didn’t know why my heart suddenly twitched strangely and my throat went dry.
No, I knew, but I didn’t particularly want to understand it.
‘I don’t think this is it, Master.’
“You’re a bit different from what I heard?”
My expression must have been quite bad.
The Myriad Poison Divine Lord, who was looking at me with a sway, chuckled and poked his head close.
“Don’t be so nervous. I won’t eat you. I’ve met a fellow I like after a long time, so why would I do that?”
“Is that so.”
He said he liked me.
‘Should I think of it positively?’
It would be positive, right?
“Actually, when I heard briefly about your tracks from the Chief Seneschal, I wondered how there could be such an unlucky bastard.”
‘…Should I think of it negatively?’
He is a man with an incredibly bad personality.
He seems to know it himself and secretly enjoys it.
Master Zhang Sanfeng’s comment that he would get along well with Master Heavenly Demon touched my skin very much.
“The things you have done for our family are very great. If there is anything you want, talk about it.”
“Ah…”
In that way, the words I had hoped for flowed out of the Myriad Poison Divine Lord’s mouth casually.
Considering the reason why I came to this Sichuan Tang Clan, those words were indeed the compensation that could reward all the efforts so far.
“The craftsmen of the Sichuan Tang Clan are world-renowned experts who are fully accustomed to making detailed items. They can make any divine weapon. If not that… a beautiful woman is also fine. There are as many young and beautiful girls in the family as you want.”
Perhaps he had something in mind as a reward, as tempting proposals flowed out smoothly.
However, it was far from what I desired.
“Sichuan’s situation is not good. I wish the Tang Clan would take the lead in preventing conflict in Sichuan.”
“Hmm?”
Whether my proposal was unexpected, the Myriad Poison Divine Lord stared at me silently for a moment.
“You have no greed.”
“…”
“And I want to gift a divine weapon and a beautiful woman to that good child who has no greed.”
‘Are you the mountain spirit of some spring?’
The words surged up to my throat before going back down.
Above all,
‘They are good words, but somehow…’
Somewhere in the tone was cold.
“Do you dislike my request?”
“Don’t you think a man is someone who pays back what he suffered?”
What he suffered.
Favor is repaid twofold, and resentment tenfold.
A characteristic that could be called the tendency of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
The Myriad Poison Divine Lord was also the same.
‘This gentleman…’
But I cannot back down.
“A man does not speak twice with one mouth.”
“Hahaha!”
At my words snapped back at him, the Myriad Poison Divine Lord burst into laughter.
There was a chill in that laughter.
“I am starting to dislike you a little now.”
Finally having a face that matched his voice, the Myriad Poison Divine Lord stared at me intently.