Episode 233
“Before the story, let me lay down one premise.”
“Premise?”
“The Joint Sect will follow the same path as the Kunlun Sect in the near future.”
“······!”
A heavy silence fell.
Akyeoryeongdo, Baekri Seondo, Yuhwa Kendo, and Seonhye Dojangdo.
Everyone stared at my mouth with a stern expression.
“You may think this is overly pessimistic, but at least I am confident. “The martial arts people gathered in Gansuk alone cannot stop the advance of the Demonic Cult.”
It was not a topic that could be easily talked about.
If there were disciples of the communal sect here, they would have pointed a point at me and swore at me.
I continued my explanation with a calm expression.
“This is why we need to join hands with Namhak Sword.”
Although he didn’t show it on the outside, Namhakgeom was probably feeling like he was on fire.
The foundation that supported his status and power was none other than the communal faction.
But what if that communal faction collapses?
In the worst case, I could have lost my business card as a senior.
What Namhakgeom said to me not long ago flashed through my mind.
[I hope you know that this is a decision that will cost me a lot of money. Because I have to deal with the owner of Geumryong Trading Company, who was a strong supporter.]
Namhakgeom said that he was proposing reconciliation even at the cost of his own loss, but I did not believe that at all.
He must have known.
If the communal faction collapses, the Golden Dragon Sangdan will no longer support him.
“He probably also feels the need to prepare for any eventuality.”
In fact, Ho Jeong-gwon (豪正拳), an elder from the Kunlun faction, was currently confined to his residence in the Senate and did not leave the house.
As the Kunlun faction collapsed, most of the sponsors who had supported his power turned their backs on him, making his external activities difficult.
I could tell.
If this side extended its hand first, Namhakgeom would never reject it.
‘The current Namhakgeom will have no time to choose between means and methods.’
An absolute master who holds the first place in the Ten Heavenly Emperors, a sound ghost.
The strategic value of her presence was truly infinite.
Enough to make up for Namhakgeom’s insufficient power base.
“You don’t understand. “What is the reason for joining hands with an elder who is destined for downfall?”
“Because we can negotiate better terms.”
“······!”
“There is nothing more difficult than negotiating with someone you have nothing to regret. On the contrary, the more desperate a person is, the more he or she gives up and compromises to get what he or she needs.”
“In that sense, Namhakgeom is the optimal person.”
“That’s right.”
As an evil woman, it was good to be able to quickly increase her position with the elder Maeng on her back.
As a Namhakgeom, it would be good because he could obtain a powerful card to maintain his status and power.
I could guarantee that it would be a mutually beneficial transaction.
“As I said a little while ago, there are limits to increasing your standing within the alliance through ordinary methods. “It would be even more so if Hwang Bose were to be checked by his former followers.”
“······.”
“We can solve that problem by joining hands with Meng’s powerful people. “If it’s Namhakgeom, he will definitely support the Taesang family lord.”
There was a reason why I recommended Namhakgeom over the elders who had favor with me, such as Sohyeongeom and Unseonggeom.
Other elders would have taken a passive attitude considering his relationship with Hwang Bo-sega, but Nam Hak-geom, who had no time to spare, would have actively tried to strengthen his position by utilizing Ak Yeo-ryeong.
“I know what you mean.”
Ak Yeo-ryeong, who was thinking while tapping the table with her index finger, nodded slowly.
She was fiddling with her glass with a complex expression on her face, then leaned against the back of the chair and said.
“But it will be difficult to make a decision right away. “I’ll give you the answer after I think about it slowly.”
“I look forward to a positive response.”
* * *
Paang!
A subtle piercing sound rang out.
I stared at Su-yeon Lee practicing the boxing technique with a slightly surprised expression.
It was last year that I treated her while she was lying in a hospital bed and suffering.
‘Even though less than a year has passed.’
An amazing achievement was achieved without anyone seeing him.
It was to the point where I doubted whether it was the same person.
It seemed that if I increased my total internal strength and gained practical combat experience, I would be able to compete with top-class warriors.
Dokgo-seong’s face, which was growing at an incredible speed, was instantly visible overlapping with hers.
Lee Kang-hak, who was watching from the side, asked with a happy expression.
“How about it?”
“That’s amazing.”
“I’m not saying this because she’s my granddaughter, she’s truly a smart child. The expression, “If you teach one thing, you will know ten,” probably exists for that child.”
Although there was a bit of exaggeration typical of Palbulchul, it was an undeniable fact that Lee Su-yeon’s martial arts skills were outstanding.
Depending on how I grew up, I didn’t know if it would be possible to surpass my grandfather.
“Anyway, didn’t God’s Hall send someone to you?”
“You mean at the Shinui Party? “That didn’t happen, but…”
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“That’s such a strange thing. “Last time, he said he was going on a visit to another place, but he wouldn’t have been away now.”
“······?”
“I can’t believe that that hairless old man hasn’t made any movement until now. Even after hearing the news that Cheonryong visited Maeng’s headquarters, he is not the kind of person who will stay quiet…”
“Who are you talking about, a hairless old man?”
“Who would it be? “I’m talking about the God of medicine of the time.”
“Do you mean that God cares about me?”
“Didn’t you say that before? “There was a time when he stormed into Sinidang with determination to save Sooyeon.”
“ah······.”
“When it was announced that Su-yeon had fully recovered, the author showed interest. “It made me so angry that the quack, who had been shaking his head and saying there was no hope, came to see me belatedly saying he wanted to check on the patient’s condition.”
A laugh escaped me.
The greatest lawmaker of the time, who can even raise the dead, is a quack.
If good faith is a quack, it should be said that there is no lawmaker in the world who is not a quack.
‘Well, it’s not like I don’t understand Lee Kang-hak’s feelings.’
In the first place, Lee Soo-yeon was not sick.
Due to the arrangements of the Demonic Cult, I fell into a mental demon.
No matter how skilled the doctor was, there was no way he could treat the heart disease.
From God’s point of view, it could be said that it was a situation where he was unfairly criticized.
“Anyway, if that rat-looking old man hangs around you, be careful. “For an old monster with that eccentric disposition, it’s not surprising no matter what he does.”
“All right.”
* * *
After finishing my errands at Igajang and returning to my lodgings, a man who I presumed to be a mature worker working at Igujang was snooping around in front of my room.
I narrowed my eyes and approached the man and asked.
“Do you have something to do with me?”
“······omg!”
Is it because they occupied the back without any sign?
The man turned to me with a startled expression and took a step back.
After some time had passed, he regained his composure and handed me a note with trembling hands.
“······?”
While I was staring at the back of the man who was running away, I opened the note and looked at its contents.
『Tonight, at the Suning House located on the western outskirts of Changsha.』
The only thing written on the note was some text indicating the time and place.
There was no visible seal or signature symbolizing the sender.
‘That’s right.’
I laughed and said, ‘Pick,’ and I created a samadhi fire and burned the note.
I felt a sense of déjà vu.
I have received similar types of letters before.
‘Is it Haomun?’
It felt like it had finally come.
A conversation I had with Hao Wen’s branch manager not long ago came to mind.
[Munju said he would visit the branch manager soon.]
[······What does that mean?]
[This is the literal meaning.]
[So, Hao Wen-ju said he would meet with me in person?]
[That’s right.]
The time has come to face Hao Wen-ju, the hidden king of the weak.
* * *
A small inn located on the western outskirts of Jangsa.
Guided by Jeomsoi, I entered the guest room on the third floor.
“······.”
A heavy energy was weighing down the area.
I quietly closed the door and cleared my throat.
The man who was standing at the window looking at the moon turned to me and said hello.
“This is my first time meeting you face to face.”
“This is Yeon-woon, the head of the Sacheon branch of the Murim League. “It is an honor to meet Hao Wen-ju, who is renowned throughout the entire Central Plains.”
“Come and sit down.”
A neutral voice that makes it difficult to tell whether it is a man or a woman.
His sturdy physique and protruding uvula suggested his gender.
Although he was wearing a simple yellow robe, his spirit was not inferior in any way to that of the absolute masters he had met so far.
The red eyes visible behind the half-black and half-white mask gave off an eerie feeling.
‘The air membrane surrounds the entire room.’
I sat down at the table and looked around, narrowing my eyes.
Judging by the lack of signs of presence, it seemed that no separate escort had been brought along.
‘Is it such an important matter, or is it the confidence of an absolute expert?’
At least there seemed to be no worry about the stories shared here being leaked out.
Hao Wen-ju and I observed each other for a while as if exploring.
Let the time of silence pass.
“It’s a calmer reaction than I expected.”
Finally, Hao Wen-ju broke the standoff and opened his mouth.
“Didn’t you tell us in advance? “There is no reason to look embarrassed.”
“I’m not talking about that part.”
“······?”
“It means not being shaken even after confirming my state.”
“······To be honest, I was a little surprised. “I had some expectations.”
I don’t know why, but Hao Wen-ju seemed to have no intention of hiding his state.
If I wanted to, I could fool my senses by hoarding my energy.
‘I don’t know what you’re thinking.’
Hao Wen-ju was a character who concealed more than what was revealed.
Since he rarely appears in front of the public, his age, gender, and level of martial arts are not known to the outside world.
Nevertheless, the reason I have approximate information about Hao Wen-ju is because I had only seen him from afar once in my previous life.
At that time, he did not wear a mask like he does now.
“I was expecting it… “Didn’t I say something wrong?”
“what do you mean?”
“The fifth disciple of the Demonic Cult. Yongjamgun (龍潛君) Yeonseon.”
“······!”
I opened my eyes and jumped out of the chair.
I was momentarily speechless due to shock.
How does Hao Wenzhu know my star name from my past life?
martial arts,
