Chapter 183 – The Thread Was Not Cut (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Yang Cheon.”

Ga Deuk-sang scratched his head vigorously.

“I’ve heard a lot about him, but in fact, I know almost nothing about him. Our old man…….”

“…….”

“No, my master did try this and that a lot to investigate Yang Cheon, you know? But, we haven’t properly found out a single thing so far.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Alias Combat King. His name is Yang Cheon, and his age is estimated to be sixty-three this year. He’s past his sixtieth birthday, but his vigor is so good that even now he’s at the level of being discussed as the best in the Central Plains when it comes to hand-to-hand combat skills.”

“Because his alias is already the Combat King. I heard his fighting is so refreshing and exquisite that anyone from both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths would admire it.”

“Yes. But his nature is venomous and cruel, so it is said that once he bears a grudge, he will chase you even to the end of the Central Plains and smash you to pieces.”

“He is similar to the Tang Clan.”

“Actually, in some aspects, he’s more meticulous. Such an expert chases you alone and beats you up until you die, doesn’t he.”

“Hmm? Why is that more meticulous?”

“Because it’s not easy to do that at that age.”

Zhuge Wen-hu laughed softly without realizing it.

The Successor of the Beggars’ Gang, Ga Deuk-sang, was a smart person. He didn’t know about his martial arts, but at least in terms of brains, he had no shortcomings as the successor of the Beggars’ Gang.

But whenever such a coarse joke flew in once in a while, it was also bewildering.

Of course, there was a bone in that joke. It was the reason why Ga Deuk-sang’s words could not be dismissed in vain.

“Anyway, this is all the information about him. Where his sect is, what the reason he put his body in the Black Path is, where his home is, whether he has siblings, not a single thing is known.”

“Aren’t the things regarding his disciples known? The name of his martial arts too.”

“Ah! That is true. However, it seems he didn’t even pass down his martial arts completely to his disciples either, right?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s said that the disciples who revealed their figures in the Central Plains each employed different martial arts.”

Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes sparkled.

“In other words, he either didn’t pass down his martial arts or he dismantled his martial arts and passed them down separately?”

“You are exactly right. I do think it’s closer to the latter, but even that is not certain.”

Zhuge Wen-hu stroked his beard.

“The one with the least known about him among the Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats…….”

“Thinking about it, it is strange. To a Murim person, fame is like their life, but that human is reluctant to step forward in the Central Plains even with such great martial arts, isn’t he.”

“One could see it as him having that much of a thorough and meticulous personality. Because the more well-known things are about yourself, the more your weaknesses increase.”

“Of course that’s true, but he’s already someone who received the title of Combat King.”

“That’s why I think he might spare his body even more.”

“Hmm, thinking about it, it could be seen that way.”

Ga Deuk-sang let out a sigh.

“Such a Combat King has now not only revealed his figure ostentatiously but also unleashed his disciples.”

“He must have something he’s aiming for.”

“Just what could he be aiming for? Since we don’t know his intention, it’s ambiguous to dispatch union members.”

“The best expert of the Black Path proudly revealed his figure of all times at the point when it hasn’t been long since the Murim Alliance was founded. It doesn’t just smell a little, it smells ordinarily foul.”

“What should we do? Shall we dig into it properly?”

Zhuge Wen-hu agonized.

‘The Black Path.’

In reality, the Black Path walked the path of downfall after the Blood Cult Rebellion three hundred years ago.

It couldn’t be helped. It’s just words that they are the Black Path and Unorthodox Sects; in the end, their survival principle is money and betrayal. It is a world of the law of the jungle where only those who survive are acknowledged as the strong.

They are different from the roots compared to the Orthodox Sects of the White Path, which pursue righteousness and chivalry, morals and ethics, ideals and goodness.

In a way, they could be said to be those who live in a place where the most primal survival principles of the human world have taken root nakedly.

“Whatever it is, we shouldn’t just stay still. The Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats are a legend from their name. Most of them are experts of the previous generation, and those actually active are merely a minority.”

“That’s right.”

“The alias of the Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats is War God. The power of each of them is so mighty that they can single-handedly take charge of a sect on the level of the Nine Sects One Gang or the Six Great Clans.”

Deep tension dwelled in Zhuge Wen-hu’s eye light.

“Yang Cheon is exactly one of those monsters. If he rallies the Black Path, the world will once again fall into a swamp full of chaos.”

“In the end, we have no choice but to find out.”

“We do.”

Ga Deuk-sang frowned.

“There is a problem there too.”

“The lives of the informants.”

“That’s a given.”

“Hmm?”

“Whether we send our union kids or send them hanging the signboard of belonging to the Murim Alliance, once they get caught, they can never survive. Because that gentleman’s personality is so damn nasty.”

“That is correct.”

“Anyway, since we are also guys working putting our lives on the line, we can bear that, but the problem is Yang Cheon’s reaction.”

Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes sparkled.

“Do you mean if we send them as members of the Murim Alliance, Yang Cheon might move more carefully?”

“That’s right.”

Ga Deuk-sang tapped the map that was spread out on the table.

“They too wouldn’t not know the fact that we are paying attention. They will be sufficiently careful. However, we shouldn’t give the impression that our side has gone into full-scale checking, and that he should be careful.”

Zhuge Wen-hu also agreed with Ga Deuk-sang’s words.

The opponent was none other than the Combat King, Yang Cheon. If he made up his mind and hid, there was no one who could find him, and conversely, even if he made up his mind and moved, there were few who could block him. He was a person hard to touch in many ways.

There was a good reason for the fairly bold Ga Deuk-sang to be this careful.

Zhuge Wen-hu sighed.

“It is a truly frustrating situation. It’s a problem when an individual’s power is too outstanding.”

“Right. Still, we can’t just stay still and watch, it has become quite a headache.”

It was then.

Yeon Wi, who had been staying still until now, opened his mouth.

“In the end, it’s a problem where an answer doesn’t come out right away.”

Zhuge Wen-hu nodded his head.

“That is so.”

“Hmm.”

A subtle sense of anticipation appeared on Zhuge Wen-hu’s face.

Yeon Wi, holding his chin and agonizing. A strange light floated up on his blunt face for an instant.

Zhuge Wen-hu asked carefully.

“Do you have any other thoughts?”

Yeon Wi was a wise person. He was not as adept at looking at the whole larger situation like himself or Ga Deuk-sang, but he was a person with a track record of having broken through difficult situations several times with his flashing wit.

With extreme good fortune, this time too, Yeon Wi did not betray Zhuge Wen-hu’s expectations.

It was a problem that it was excessively unconventional, though.

“There is no need to mention the wisdom of Clan Head Zhuge, and the Successor of the Beggars’ Gang is also a very smart person. But even when such two agonize over it, an answer does not come out.”

“I am ashamed.”

“If so, shouldn’t we try gathering more heads?”

Doubt arose on the faces of Zhuge Wen-hu and Ga Deuk-sang.

“What do you mean by we need to gather more heads……?”

“Someone who can solve such a troublesome matter with an unconventional approach. A person who is well-versed in the affairs of the Murim, and in a way, can be said to be the most dangerous person in the Murim Alliance currently.”

It would be a completely different person, but Zhuge Wen-hu suddenly recalled Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong was a person who conformed to Yeon Wi’s words. Even before martial arts, he was adept at politics and quick-witted, and was a person with the capability to change the board to his taste with unconventional tricks.

It was just baffling that the one possessing such amazing abilities was a young man who had just reached his twenties. Such an ability could be said to be a more terrifying power than martial arts in a way.

‘Hmm.’

Zhuge Wen-hu’s and Ga Deuk-sang’s gazes collided.

The two people realized that they had both recalled the same person. It must have been because Yeon Ho-jeong’s active role was that surprising.

Of course, the person Yeon Wi was talking about was not Yeon Ho-jeong.

“He is also an Honored Guest of the Murim Alliance, and a person walking his own White Path. I thought it wouldn’t be bad to agonize over a troublesome external matter together.”

“By Honored Guest, do you mean……?”

Yeon Wi’s eyes became cool.

“It is Clan Head Murong.”

Surprise arose on Zhuge Wen-hu’s face.

Ga Deuk-sang hurriedly spoke.

“C-Clan Head. That cannot be!”

“What is the reason it cannot be?”

“He is an ambitious person. He even harbors an absurd ambition. He doesn’t care about the means and methods for the sake of power, to say it openly, he can be called a villain.”

“Your words are correct.”

“But how could you suggest asking Clan Head Murong for help?”

“Because he has the ability.”

“Yes?”

Yeon Wi’s eye light became cooler as time passed.

“He is a person with abilities. Of course, normally I too wouldn’t want to make this kind of request to such a character. But the opponent is a monster who occupies one seat of the Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats, and furthermore, a person with the power to plunge the world into chaos.”

“……!”

“I won’t say the cliché phrase of sweeping away evil with evil. I have no intention of doing so either. I just see that it wouldn’t be bad to hear his thoughts and, if valid, accept that opinion.”

Ga Deuk-sang looked at Zhuge Wen-hu.

“Strategist. What do you think, Strategist?”

“Umm.”

A serious light was cast over Zhuge Wen-hu’s face.

“I will speak honestly. I oppose Clan Head Yeon’s proposal this time.”

“Is that so?”

“Emotionally.”

“Then?”

Zhuge Wen-hu sighed.

“It is said that if there are too many boatmen, the ship goes to the mountain. But if there’s nothing bad about hearing it, I view that the more opinions there are, the better.”

Yeon Wi nodded his head.

“I think so too.”

“Heoheo.”

Zhuge Wen-hu let out a dejected laugh.

Murong Jun is an enemy. Even though he is a member of the same Six Great Clans and an Honored Guest, he had never once considered him an ally.

Because of such thoughts, it seemed he had drawn a line without realizing it.

To think he was excluding something he could use if he could use it, because of personal feelings.

‘I am also lacking a lot.’

Zhuge Wen-hu nodded his head with a determined eye light.

“Whether it’s a brilliantly shining treasured sword or a butcher’s knife, if you prep the ingredients well, the quality of the cooking is bound to rise.”

He stood up from his seat.

“I understand. Since the subject came up, we should borrow Clan Head Murong’s bag of tricks. Will you join us?”

“Good.”

At that time, Ga Deuk-sang opened his mouth.

“But you see.”

“Hmm?”

Ga Deuk-sang smacked his lips as if he was still anxious and spoke.

“If we’re going to do that, wouldn’t it be better to rather open an Honored Guest Meeting and discuss it all together?”

Yeon Wi and Zhuge Wen-hu spoke at the same time.

“That won’t do.”

“It is impossible.”

It was an incomparably resolute answer. Ga Deuk-sang shrank his neck without realizing it.

Of course, even if his spirit was dampened, he still spoke.

“Why is that so?”

Yeon Wi spoke.

“Because sides have been split.”

“Yes?”

Zhuge Wen-hu added an explanation.

“If we open an Honored Guest Meeting, those who have joined hands with Murong Jun will support him to the utmost and drive it into a factional fight.”

“Ah…….”

“And Murong Jun, receiving the power of his faction members, will bring out proposals advantageous to himself one by one.”

Ga Deuk-sang let out a sigh. Because it was a remark that made sense.

Zhuge Wen-hu spoke coldly.

“This matter is an issue where we shouldn’t muddy the waters with a fight among faction members. Pointless time will just be wasted, and furthermore, there will be people whose feelings get hurt.”

“That shouldn’t happen.”

“That’s right. At least for this matter, that is.”

Zhuge Wen-hu spoke to Yeon Wi.

“Shall we go.”

“Let’s do that.”

Yeon Wi’s eye light became as fierce as a blade edge.

“We must not let go of our tension. That person, it is certain he will use a subtle trick the moment we show an opening on this side.”