Chapter 185 – The Thread Was Not Cut (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“It seems the cleanup is roughly finished.”

“That’s right.”

Murong Yu looked around.

The battle that took place at the Sea Dragon Merchant Group was quite rough and severe. Countless pavilions had collapsed, and walls were broken everywhere, turning it into ruins.

The merchant group, which had become such a mess that even ghosts would be scared to come near, now looked fairly organized.

Yeon Ho-jeong looked toward the Demon-Sweeping Army.

The Demon-Sweeping Army was scattered here and there, resting. Perhaps they still hadn’t escaped from the shock caused by the deaths of their comrades, but a dark atmosphere was full.

“Come to think of it, what about that person?”

“Who?”

“The person who will soon become the wife of Commander Murong.”

Murong Yu was bewildered.

“B-Brother Yeon!”

“There are many eyes watching. Be careful of your title.”

“Ah…….”

He was so bewildered that he had even forgotten there were many people.

“Don’t tell me she got swept up in the battle and died?”

“Ahem! That’s not it.”

Murong Yu pointed to one side. Turning his gaze to the tip of that finger, he saw Tang Sang-ah resting with the female group members of the Demon-Sweeping Army’s Third Unit.

A question floated up on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.

“By the way, did that lady join as a group member?”

“That’s right.”

“Why? With that level of skill, she wouldn’t be lacking even if she took the group leader position, right?”

“In a group battle, poisons and hidden weapons can exert tremendous might in a way.”

“That’s what I mean.”

“But if the nature of the one handling poisons and hidden weapons is not venomous, even if they become a unit leader, it would only confuse the subordinate unit members.”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“I thought she was a person who acts when it’s time to act.”

“She is a person who acts when it’s time to act. However, the venomous nature I’m talking about means the venom as a leader.”

“Venom as a leader.”

“It is my creed that a superior must treat their subordinates like their own family. However, for the sake of the mission, one must also know how to coldly turn their head at times.”

Yeon Ho-jeong agreed with Murong Yu’s words.

Turning one’s head doesn’t mean abandoning them. It means one must also know how to send subordinates out on dangerous operations, and it also means one shouldn’t neglect the mission out of worry for subordinates.

That was what Tang Sang-ah lacked. She had a lot of affection, unlike a person of the Tang Clan.

“Still, she survived roughly well.”

“Because she’s strong.”

Yeon Ho-jeong laughed softly.

“Still, you must be proud because she’s your person?”

“C-Commander Yeon!”

“What does it matter? If you think she’s a decent person, I think it’s fine to get closer without thinking about the aftermath.”

Murong Yu spat out a dry cough.

“I will take care of that on my own.”

Indeed, a person’s heart isn’t something that moves just because you forcibly push it in.

In the end, the important thing is each other’s feelings. Yeon Ho-jeong had created an environment in his own way, but from then on, it was a problem the two had to solve.

They really can’t find it in their hearts? Then they can just end it there.

But what if their hearts are drawn to each other? From then on, they can just approach it seriously.

“Right, surely you will do well on your own.”

Murong Yu changed the subject.

“If things are roughly wrapped up, I’m thinking of slowly moving, what do you think?”

“That’s for you, the Grand Commander, to judge. Has no separate contact come from the Alliance?”

“Not yet.”

“It makes sense since it hasn’t been long since the fight ended. If no separate contact comes, we can just return to the Alliance like this.”

“Let’s do that.”

Murong Yu, who was about to return to the Demon-Sweeping Army, suddenly had something that bothered him and asked.

“Commander Yeon.”

“What?”

“Is something wrong?”

“What do you mean, something wrong?”

He wondered if he was bringing up pointless words, but Murong Yu soon made up his mind. Because whatever the case, they were sworn brothers, and he thought there was no reason he couldn’t ask this much.

“It seems your atmosphere has changed a little after you came back from meeting Pa Sa-reuk.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled faintly.

“Is that so.”

“It is.”

“It’s nothing much. That guy is such a trash-like bastard, you know. I feel dirty just from facing his mug.”

It was a quite rough answer.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s speech being rough was not a matter of yesterday or today, but it seemed exceptionally sharp-edged.

“What did he say? No, what did you interrogate him about?”

In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes wavered.

‘Will it be okay.’

It will be okay.

It doesn’t matter if he tells all this to Murong Yu.

Of course. Because Murong Yu is not a person who will betray someone he has given trust to once.

However, the reason hesitation pointlessly arose must be because it was a matter that needed to be approached that carefully.

‘There’s also that.’

Yeon Ho-jeong obediently admitted it. The fact that, apart from his anger towards the Three Cults, he was tense because their power was too massive.

‘In fact, by now, it wouldn’t be a big problem even if I told Father.’

The reason he hadn’t told his father was clear.

His father was someone who was not lacking as the head of a clan. However, he was someone who considered prudence a virtue rather than boldness, and crucially, his attitude towards dealing with incidents was different from his own.

No matter how outstanding a person is, they are bound to be bewildered when encountering an unknown enemy. And once bewildered, rather than trusting others, they would break through the incident in a way familiar to themselves.

That was why Yeon Ho-jeong had not revealed everything to Yeon Wi yet. In Murong Jun’s case, he tried to attack this side first, so they could naturally form an antagonistic relationship, though.

‘If I tell everything, I might be able to get help. Since it’s a common enemy. But if the room for problems to occur is also big, there is no need to necessarily tell.’

Whatever happens, they must not stand out. The Murim Alliance, and furthermore the entire Central Plains Murim.

Yeon Ho-jeong trusted his own judgment. That it was not yet the time to speak hastily regarding this part.

However.

“I think it would be okay to tell you.”

“Hmm?”

“Because you are different from my father.”

It was not a difference in trust and ability, but a difference in propensity.

Murong Yu is good-natured, but he has a part that is awake enough to hide his true feelings and enter under Murong Jun. Furthermore, his degree of relying on Yeon Ho-jeong was also greater than Yeon Wi’s.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.

Yes, it is a situation where the bastards’ movements have been certainly captured. If so, let’s tell Murong Yu.

Furthermore, to Ga Deuk-sang as well.

“From now on, you must not tell anyone what I say. Consider it a top-secret matter known only among ourselves.”

* * *

“Heoheoheo.”

Murong Jun continuously burst into hearty laughter.

“Living life, there is a day like this again. To think the widely renowned Judge Sword Great Hero and the Murim Alliance Strategist would personally visit my residence.”

Whatever was so amusing, sincere pleasantness was contained in his hearty laugh.

Murong Jun smiled and asked.

“How about it, the day is still bright, but would you like a drink of alcohol? I am equipped with quite good quality alcohol.”

Zhuge Wen-hu shook his head.

“It is fine. Because it’s not a conversation to share while drinking alcohol.”

Murong Jun’s eyes shone.

It’s not a conversation to share while drinking alcohol. Those words meant that there was absolutely no intention of shaking this side.

“Is that so. Then let’s share a cup of tea and talk.”

“Let’s do that.”

Murong Jun glanced at Yeon Wi.

“Does Clan Head Yeon like Longjing tea?”

Yeon Wi answered in a stiff voice.

“I have never drunk it even once.”

“Heoheo, you must have accumulated formidable wealth through maritime trade, yet you haven’t even tried Longjing? You are truly unpretentious.”

It was a remark with its own bone, but Yeon Wi did not react.

Murong Jun’s smile deepened.

‘As expected, he is not ordinary.’

If it had been the Yeon Wi of the past, he definitely would have reacted to this remark just now.

Yeon Wi did not know how to hide himself. He didn’t express it, but he was the type whose thoughts were revealed to some extent in his expression and eye light.

Now it was different.

There was no wavering in his eye light, and absolutely no disarray in his posture. It meant he didn’t alternate between joy and sorrow at the opponent’s remarks.

‘Is it because his martial arts developed?’

No.

Such a change is not something that can be gained just because martial arts develop.

‘Right, it’s because of Yeon Ho-jeong.’

That was right.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s growth was truly explosive. But what was even more terrifying than that was that at his age, he showed a political power that slapped the cheeks of old veterans who flew and crawled in the Murim.

Splendidly when revealing, insidiously when hiding.

Many parts of Yeon Ho-jeong’s political strife ability would have been difficult to tolerate with Yeon Wi’s nature.

But Yeon Ho-jeong did not change. He rather became more venomous, and more bold.

And seeing such moves change the dynamics of the Murim Alliance, Yeon Wi too must have realized something.

‘A father growing by looking at his son? Huh! Although they say learning does not discriminate against time, people, or situations.’

Murong Jun smiled bitterly inwardly.

‘They are a troublesome father and son relationship in many ways.’

A moment later, three cups of Longjing tea were placed on the tea table.

Zhuge Wen-hu genuinely admired.

“The fragrance is truly good.”

“Heoheo, it is top-grade Longjing. I brought out what little is left, so you must drink it all without leaving a single drop.”

“I will drink it well.”

Murong Jun, who moistened his throat with a sip of tea, asked.

“Right, what matter brings the two Clan Heads to visit this person?”

Yeon Wi spoke straightforwardly.

“We came because a troublesome matter arose.”

“A troublesome matter? Heo-eo, what in the world could be a matter that the Murim Alliance’s Honored Guests would rot their heads over?”

He talks as if he himself is not an Honored Guest. He seemed to still be viewing this situation pleasantly.

Zhuge Wen-hu spoke.

“I will speak straightforwardly. We came regarding a problem concerning Combat King Yang Cheon.”

Murong Jun’s eye light changed suddenly.

Combat King Yang Cheon. It was a name that even the great Murong Jun of the world would find hard to pass over as a joke.

“Yang Cheon……. I don’t know the exact details, but if such a figure is entangled, it’s understandable that your heads would ache.”

“That is so.”

“Let’s hear it first.”

Zhuge Wen-hu logically explained the current matters regarding Yang Cheon.

Murong Jun, who heard all of his explanation, spoke.

“In other words, it is a situation where you need to properly investigate that person. But if you get caught, however he reacts, it could become a huge threat to this side in the future?”

“Accurately, I think it could become a problem for the entire Murim.”

Murong Jun smiled.

“Yang Cheon is certainly a monster. It’s not just him. Everyone who has put their names on the Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats can be called monsters.”

“That is so. That’s why it’s a problem.”

“Furthermore, that person’s nature is venomous and cruel, and he is vicious enough to chase you until death once a grudge is formed?”

“If it wasn’t for such a nature, we wouldn’t have agonized this much.”

“Heoheo, that must be so.”

Yeon Wi, who had been staying still, intervened.

“In fact, there are many this and that methods. But whatever method it is, there will be large casualties, and crucially, if Yang Cheon hides, it will be even more troublesome.”

“That is so.”

Murong Jun smiled.

“Why didn’t you rather convene an Honored Guest Meeting?”

“We couldn’t do that.”

“Why is that?”

Yeon Wi answered in his characteristic stiff tone.

“Because we think it is not an issue where Clan Head Murong’s faction members can be allowed to muddy the board.”

Zhuge Wen-hu was bewildered and looked at Yeon Wi.

On the other hand, Murong Jun had no sign of being bewildered at all. He rather readily acknowledged it.

“I’m sure you did. Truly, the two of you are also not ordinary.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“So, you came to borrow this person’s bag of tricks?”

“That’s right. Just in case Clan Head Murong obtains great power in the future, the headache called Yang Cheon will not disappear.”

“Heoheoheo!”

Murong Jun laughed loudly.

“I feel good just hearing it. Yes, it must be so. So to speak, to us, Yang Cheon becomes a common enemy.”

“It’s similar.”

“Hmm, investigating about Yang Cheon…….”

Murong Jun, who was lost in thought for a moment, tilted his head.

“I don’t know the reason for agonizing though?”

The two people were inwardly startled.

“Since you are digging into a big-shot figure of that level, it can’t be helped that there are casualties. The important thing is that you shouldn’t get caught.”

Murong Jun smiled broadly.

“Shouldn’t you just make the opponent mistakenly believe that it’s not our doing?”