Son Muk muttered to himself, thinking that figuring out the Namcheonhoe's military strength was the priority.
"We need to properly investigate what kind of place the Namcheonhoe is."
Gung Tae-yeong's voice echoed once more. Namgung Wi showed a smile and shook his head.
"What a timid thing to say. If we all combine our strength, we can take care of all those trash bastards from the Namcheonhoe or whatever it's called."
Namgung Wi's face was full of confidence.
However, Son Muk did not acknowledge his intentions.
"Jin Sa-wol has given our Alliance a lot of financial help. If the leader of the Namcheonhoe is Jin Sa-wol, we must get the Alliance Leader's permission."
"Are you suggesting we just let the Demonic Cult bastards settle down in Guryeon Mountain?"
As Namgung Wi's voice grew louder, Son Muk's expression turned cold. Even if Namgung Wi was the son of the Martial Alliance Leader, it was not acceptable for him to be ignored.
"Does the Young Master see the Baekgeomun's Blue Dragon Hall as an easy opponent? Or do you look down on the Alliance Leader?"
When Namgung Min was mentioned, Namgung Wi showed a stiff expression before smiling softly.
"How could I look down on my father? I just spoke out of haste."
Namgung Wi, showing a quick change in attitude, glanced at Son Muk's expression and turned his head.
The Blue Dragon Division Master bowed his head.
"I will follow Master Son's will."
"I understand."
"Then I will take my leave now."
"Good work."
As the Blue Dragon Division Master stood up first, Son Muk nodded. When the Blue Dragon Division Master left, Namgung Wi and the branch masters also stood up and left.
Everyone had left, but Gung Tae-yeong was still sitting.
Son Muk, waiting for Gung Tae-yeong to speak, stood up from his seat holding the dispatches.
"Do you have something to say?"
At Son Muk's words, Gung Tae-yeong opened his mouth.
"The man named Jin Sa-wol is someone who has hidden his martial arts until now and confused the eyes of our Alliance. He also took all of the Thousand Gold Vault that was at the inn. Why are you defending such a person?"
"Don't be mistaken. The Thousand Gold Vault does not belong to the Alliance. Those who know about the Thousand Gold Vault seem to think it's theirs, but that's not the case at all. Rather, the Thousand Gold Vault can be called the rotten part of the Martial Alliance. And Jin Sa-wol has helped the Alliance, he has never been hostile. Even if the Demonic Cult bastards are with Jin Sa-wol at the Namcheonhoe, we must not forget what we have received from Jin Sa-wol until now. We are people of the Orthodox Faction."
Son Muk said with a cold face.
Although he felt bad and angry, it was true that he had received help from Jin Sa-wol.
Gung Tae-yeong asked with a dissatisfied face.
"What happens if he is the God of Death?"
"Do you have proof?"
"I do not."
Hearing Gung Tae-yeong's answer, Son Muk laughed as if in disbelief.
"You call him the God of Death based on your suspicion alone, without any proof? So you're going to frame an innocent person as the God of Death and kill him?"
"There are a few suspicious things..."
"The Alliance Leader greatly dislikes those who draw conclusions and handle matters without solid evidence."
At Son Muk's words, Gung Tae-yeong fell silent. Son Muk showed Gung Tae-yeong the same expression the Alliance Leader had shown him and waved his hand.
"Get out."
"Yes."
As Gung Tae-yeong disappeared with his reply, Son Muk clicked his tongue and let out a sigh.
"This matter is not that simple."
Son Muk muttered and closed his eyes with a tired face.
Gung Tae-yeong was heading to his quarters when he ran into Namgung Wi, who was waiting for him. Namgung Wi was leaning against a wall and raised his hand to the approaching Gung Tae-yeong.
"Brother Gung."
Namgung Wi had a face full of smiles, as if he knew Gung Tae-yeong well.
"When I heard the name Jin Sa-wol, it sounded familiar, and it turns out he was a hunter who was active in Nanchang Fortress. Did you know?"
"Is that so? Tell me."
"I saw that fellow a few times."
Namgung Wi told him about Jin Sa-wol, who had been active as a hunter in Nanchang Fortress. Gung Tae-yeong listened carefully to Namgung Wi's story and nodded. However, his expression did not change much.
It was because he already knew all of it. What he wanted was Jin Sa-wol's true identity.
"A wanderer leading the Namcheonhoe? And he recruited the Demonic Cult? Do you think that makes sense?"
"He is not a wanderer. You must discard that thought to face him properly."
At Gung Tae-yeong's advice, Namgung Wi frowned. It was because it did not sound good.
'Even if his martial arts are high, isn't he just a wanderer with no roots? You don't believe everything just because he gained a reputation in the Demonic Cult, do you?'
Gung Tae-yeong, who instinctively sensed that Namgung Wi's expression was not good, carefully spoke again.
"If you are thinking of attacking Guryeon Mountain on your own without the Hall Master's permission, you should stop. There will be no good result."
"I appreciate the advice."
Namgung Wi gave a bitter smile and turned away.
"A mere dog..."
Namgung Wi's low voice dug into Gung Tae-yeong's ears. But Gung Tae-yeong said nothing.
He just clenched his fists and his shoulders trembled.
'If you weren't the Alliance Leader's son, you would already be dead.'
Gung Tae-yeong gritted his teeth.
The Nanchang branch master approached him. Chae Mong, the Nanchang branch master who appeared to be in his late thirties, patted Gung Tae-yeong's shoulder.
"What did Namgung Wi say?"
"He cursed at me."
"I understand. He's always been like that."
Chae Mong knew the Namgung family well. He had entered the Chunggeomun as a disciple when he was young and had been a guard for the Namgung family. He and Gung Tae-yeong had trained together at the Chunggeomun since they were young.
Chae Mong was recognized for his outstanding martial arts skills and had taken the seat of the Nanchang branch master after the previous one died.
Gung Tae-yeong sighed at Chae Mong's words. It was because he also knew the Namgung family well.
It was said that Namgung Min's first son, Namgung Yu, was such a scoundrel that when news of his death came, there were more people who were happy than sad.
The second son, Namgung Wi, was also famous for being as dogmatic as the first.
He was a person who believed his own thoughts were right and only listened to words and ate food that suited his taste.
"Even if his personality is rotten, he is the Alliance Leader's son. Don't forget the fact that he is the young master who will lead the Namgung family."
"Even so, why doesn't he know that it's the end if he falls out of favor with the Alliance Leader? He knows too little about the Alliance Leader."
At Gung Tae-yeong's words, Chae Mong showed a smile.
"Would it change anything if he knew?"
At Chae Mong's words, Gung Tae-yeong shook his head.
At that time, a boy ran to the entrance of the Nanchang branch and handed over a letter. It was a letter with the words 'Namcheonhoe' written on it.
Son Muk, who was organizing a report to send to the Alliance, raised his head at the sound of footsteps. As his gaze turned to the door, a young warrior opened the door, came in, and held out a letter.
"This just arrived. It said Namcheonhoe, so I brought it like this."
"Namcheonhoe?"
At the word Namcheonhoe, Son Muk showed a firm expression and took the letter.
"Who brought it?"
"A boy who works at the tavern in front brought it. He said a woman gave it to him, telling him to deliver it to the Hall Master."
"A woman?"
Son Muk frowned at the word 'woman'. Among the women he knew, there was only one woman who would deliver a letter like this: Seo Mun-ryeon.
Son Muk unfolded the letter and read it.
Let's meet at the Palgyeongru in Ganzhou Fortress in half a month.
-Namcheonhoe Leader, Jin Sa-wol
Ganzhou Fortress was a large fortress in the southernmost part of Jiangxi Province and a place with good scenery. It was the border with Guangdong, and one had to pass through it to go to Guryeon Mountain.
The Martial Alliance had planned to build a branch there, but they couldn't because of the past Blood Killing Faction.
Now, it was the area where the vanguard of the Blue Dragon Division was staying.
'Interesting.'
Son Muk decided to go to Ganzhou Fortress and folded the letter.
***
Jin Sa-wol was seen sitting in a spacious tea room, drinking tea. Seo Mun-ryeon, who was standing next to him, leaned against the window.
"It should have arrived by now. But will the timid Son Muk come all the way down to Ganzhou Fortress?"
"He's not timid, he's cautious."
Jin Sa-wol shook his head.
"What are you going to do when you meet Son Muk?"
"I'll enjoy the scenery of Ganzhou Fortress. And I'll ask him how to get things back on track."
Seeing Jin Sa-wol, who intended to have a conversation, Seo Mun-ryeon shook her head. It was because it didn't seem like it would work.
Jin Sa-wol was thinking of asking for Son Muk's cooperation in finding the whereabouts of the Inggeumbo left by Jo Han-yu.
Of course, things might not go according to his intentions, but it didn't matter. In any case, the martial world belonged to the strong, and it was a place where yesterday's friend became today's enemy, and today's enemy became tomorrow's friend.
Seo Mun-ryeon asked with a worried face.
"What if they attack?"
"I'll have to cut off their heads."
Jin Sa-wol's answer was simple but clear. It meant that if things went wrong, he would kill Son Muk.
A short while later, Bi-sun and Jo-rim entered the tea room.
Jin Sa-wol spent the evening with them, chatting about the Baekgeomun.
***
Crash! Crash!
The bookshelves in the study were broken, and the door fell off. The large round table was split in half, and books poured out with a *clatter!*.
In the middle of it all stood Shin Woo-saeng of the Baekgeomun.
"Have you ever seen such stupid bastards!"
Shin Woo-saeng, who had shouted loudly, gasped for breath before composing himself. Getting excited would not bring the dead Blue Dragon Hall Master back to life.
Shin Woo-saeng looked around at the two middle-aged men sitting in chairs. The Xuanwu Hall Master and the White Tiger Hall Master were visible.
Seeing the calm faces of the two Hall Masters, his anger flared up again. He felt like he was about to die of anger, but the two Hall Masters looked as if they were watching a fire across the river.
Looking at the two, Shin Woo-saeng raised his voice.
"How... how could the Baekgeomun's Blue Dragon Hall be annihilated by a newly formed sect? Why! Do you think this makes sense right now?"
The two middle-aged men who received Shin Woo-saeng's gaze were silent. They seemed to be waiting for Shin Woo-saeng's excitement to subside.
"They say the Blue Dragon Hall has been annihilated! That rumor has now spread throughout the entire martial world. People are calling our Baekgeomun scarecrows that look like people. They say we die with a single poke! Bring me the head of that Namcheonhoe or whatever, that leader! The price of blood must be paid with blood!"
As a vein popped out on Shin Woo-saeng's neck, the White Tiger Hall Master, a middle-aged man with half-white hair, said in a calm voice.
"I am not unaware of the Young Master's anger. I was also very angry when I received the report that the Blue Dragon Hall was practically annihilated by the Namcheonhoe. However, we cannot think lightly of the Namcheonhoe that brought down the Blue Dragon Hall and rush in recklessly. I think it would be good to meet the Namcheonhoe leader first."
"Are you scared?"
"How could that be? I mean we should observe them a little more."
When Shin Woo-saeng asked, the White Tiger Hall Master shook his head. Although he showed a gentle smile, his pupils trembled as if his pride was hurt.
The Xuanwu Hall Master stood up.
"The Xuanwu Hall will take care of the Namcheonhoe. I heard that those who were kicked out of the Demonic Cult have gathered there. Their power is by no means at a level to be ignored, but it is no match for our faction. I will bring the head of the Namcheonhoe leader."
"I understand. I will trust the Xuanwu Hall Master. I have contacted the Alliance, so the Alliance will also make a move."
As the Xuanwu Hall Master stepped forward, Shin Woo-saeng changed his expression and showed a smile. It was because he had given the answer he wanted.
(End of Chapter)
