Chapter 186 – The Thread is Not Broken (4)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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A fortnight later.
“Seventy, huh.”
Murong Jun let out a sigh.
“You lost quite a lot.”
“I have no face to show you.”
“It’s nothing. As you must have felt this time, individual martial prowess and tactics are bound to be powerless in front of the power of a group. It is the Jianghu where even an expert under heaven dies to a single dagger thrown by a third-rate martial artist. It is a natural result, if you can call it natural.”
Murong Yu bowed his head.
“It is all my negligence. I will not show you such a sight in the future.”
“Heoheo, I already know your abilities and boldness. The important thing is not to repeat the mistakes of the past. You will be able to do well.”
Of course, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t disappointed. Because Murong Yu had said he would minimize the power loss of the Demon-Sweeping Army and handle everything with the Evil-Annihilating Army.
However, even for a genius under heaven, it is extremely difficult to wield others to one’s will.
Moreover, this was Murong Yu’s first time operating a combat unit of five hundred. Considering the infamy, combat power, and numbers of Gray Wolf Squad, it was actually more amazing that only seventy people died.
“Let us first hear how you attacked the Gray Wolf Squad.”
Murong Yu explained in detail the encounter with the Gray Wolf Squad and how they fought them.
Surprise colored Murong Jun’s face.
“Huh! Hostages?”
“That is correct.”
“Then did you anticipate that those bastards would commit such a petty act and bypassed the Evil-Annihilating Army?”
“I could not foresee that far. I just sent them because a village was being invaded, and furthermore, there was an advantage in making a surprise attack.”
A small admiration arose on Murong Jun’s face.
“Amazing. Even if one memorizes the Seven Military Classics fluently, it is difficult to show even ten percent of it when actually entering real combat.”
“It was because I trusted Commander Yeon’s abilities. If not for that, I would have sought other methods.”
“He’s a bastard with thousands of cunning snakes in his stomach. But just as you said, his abilities are certain. And it is also your discernment that you were able to see and trust those abilities.”
Murong Jun nodded as if satisfied.
“You acted thoroughly as a commander. That is enough.”
It was a different result from what he had confidently proclaimed, but hearing the details, wasn’t this rather something worthy of praise?
Furthermore, most of the merit for sweeping away the Gray Wolf Squad this time went to the Demon-Sweeping Army Commander, Murong Yu. The name of the Evil-Annihilating Army was there, but Yeon Ho-jeong’s name was not.
‘Good.’
It was a truly satisfying result. At this level, even if it wasn’t the absolute best, it was safe to say he caught a big fish.
“Whatever the case, I specifically grasped what my problems were in this operation. It was a meaningful mission in many ways.”
“Heoheoheo! It is fine if you think so.”
Murong Jun burst into hearty laughter as if truly delighted.
But it was not the same for Murong Yu.
‘Elder Brother. People died.’
A meaningful mission?
Correct. This battle with the Gray Wolf Squad was certainly a meaningful mission for Murong Yu.
But that was not something to say out loud. Because his people had died.
Suppressing his surging sorrow and speaking like this was all to deceive Murong Jun.
Murong Yu anew felt resentment at his own situation. Thinking of his dead subordinates, he felt sad about the current situation where he had to say words that should never be spoken.
‘I’m sorry.’
Briefly controlling his mind, Murong Yu spoke.
“Elder Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“I am planning to hold a separate memorial service for the dead soldiers. I plan to do it simply among the Demon-Sweeping Army without announcing it widely, so I might not be able to see you for three days.”
Murong Jun’s eyes sparkled.
“A memorial service?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, that is good too. Anyway, since they were all your subordinates, I think it is not bad to have a time of mourning for them.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Heoheo, what is there to understand or not? You are the Demon-Sweeping Army Commander. It is not strange at all for the commander to hold a memorial service for his dead soldiers.”
Rather, it was a good thing.
‘This kind of thing isn’t bad.’
Murong Jun thought. If it were him, would he have held a memorial service for the dead soldiers?
The answer was ‘no’.
In that time, he would be devising ways to replenish the lost troops, and he would have moved quickly to gain more dense power.
Because Murong Jun was such a person, Murong Yu’s statement that he would hold a memorial service sounded refreshing.
At the same time, this was also an opportunity.
‘That action of yours will greatly move the members of the Murim Alliance.’
The Demon-Sweeping Army Commander considers his dead soldiers as his own body. He is a Great Hero with a sense of responsibility.
Such rumors would spread widely throughout the entire Alliance.
Naturally, the Alliance members would pay attention to Murong Yu, and Murong Yu’s presence would grow even more.
And all that power would return to him.
Murong Jun smiled and spoke.
“This older brother will personally fill in the missing troops. Do not worry about that part.”
* * *
“Have you been well all this time?”
“Yeah.”
A rare smile hovered on the blunt Yeon Wi’s face.
“Are there any places you got hurt?”
“Not at all.”
“I wasn’t asking you, I was asking Bi-ah.”
“Ah…”
“What reason would a tough iron-bone like you have to get hurt?”
“This is hurtful.”
“Be quiet.”
Yeon Ho-jeong made an awkward expression.
Although he spoke like that, Yeon Wi prayed for Yeon Ho-jeong’s safety day by day. Since the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Army went on their expedition, there hadn’t been a single day he slept peacefully.
Muk Bi spoke politely.
“I am fine, Father.”
“Right. You came back safely without getting hurt, so that is enough.”
Yeon Wi was completely different from Murong Jun.
He was just happy that his son, and the child he considered like a daughter, returned safely. The mission? Of course that was important too, but what was more important was human life.
Thank heavens, he heard there were no casualties in the Evil-Annihilating Army. That was enough.
“I have a mountain of things I want to talk about, but your bodies and minds must be very exhausted from the journey. Rest first for today, and let’s talk in detail starting tomorrow.”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke to Muk Bi.
“If you’re tired, go and get some rest. Because I have something to talk about with Father.”
“Shall I?”
Muk Bi genuinely wanted to rest. No, even before resting, she wanted to wash. Because she hadn’t been able to take a bath once on her way back.
Bowing her head, Muk Bi hurriedly left the room. Her heart became the size of a pea, wondering if she had perhaps let off a smell to Yeon Wi.
Yeon Ho-jeong smacked his lips. Now, just by looking at Muk Bi’s eyes and actions, he could tell what she was thinking.
“Did I tease her for no reason.”
Since he teased her once before that she smelled, she had shown a morbid obsession with washing. In fact, she was cleaner than anyone else, but he felt her life had become tiring because of him.
Yeon Wi asked.
“Are you not tired?”
“I’m fine. It’s not like I ran with my own legs.”
“Riding a horse is also work.”
“I’m a tough iron-bone, aren’t I.”
Yeon Wi chuckled.
“Right, what is it that you want to say to this father?”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke cautiously.
“Are you not feeling upset?”
“Feeling upset about what?”
“My name was omitted from this mission report.”
Yeon Wi nodded his head.
“As expected, you knew too.”
“Yes.”
“Beyond just knowing, did you intentionally omit it?”
“That is correct.”
“Is there a reason? Of course, this father knows you are not a foolish person who covets fame, but there should be no reason to purposely remove your name.”
The report also contained quite detailed accounts of the Evil-Annihilating Army’s active role.
But that was all. The names of a few soldiers and stories about the strategist Zhuge Ah-yeon and Muk Bi’s sniping skills came up, but the three letters of Yeon Ho-jeong’s name could not be found.
‘…’
Yeon Ho-jeong was about to reveal his relationship with Murong Yu to his father, but soon gave up the thought. Because he thought the time was not right yet.
‘Then again, if I tell him when the time comes, it won’t end with just a switch.’
Yeon Ho-jeong smacked his lips and spoke.
“I’m planning to give them a push this time.”
“Are you planning to make the Murong Clan Head let his guard down?”
“If he were a person who would let his guard down at this level, it would have been much easier to deal with him.”
“Then?”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke cheerfully.
“Politics is about giving, but political strife is about giving and taking, isn’t it? He must be quite toxic since he’s suffered a lot so far, so I should boost his spirits once.”
Yeon Wi smiled bitterly.
“I think about it once in a while. How nice it would be if I could look into your head just as it is.”
“Ah, this is…”
“It’s fine. I know that if you could have explained, you would have explained it already. By nature, such problems are an area where reason and instinct mingle, so it must be difficult to easily explain.”
“Haha.”
That wasn’t everything, but anyway, he felt both thankful and guilty that he spoke like that.
‘One time.’
Yeon Ho-jeong inwardly sighed.
‘Let’s endure it just this one more time.’
Unlike before, he was gradually embracing and understanding many things about him.
It was painful to hide his inner thoughts from such a father.
‘I will tell you everything soon, Father.’
Yeon Wi asked.
“So, is that all you had to say to me?”
“For now, yes. And there’s also something I want to hear.”
“Something you want to hear?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes changed.
“I am curious about what happened in the meantime.”
Seriousness colored Yeon Wi’s face.
Now his son had truly become an adult. An adult who looked at the world from the same position and with the same eyes as himself.
It was just that their interpretation was different, but since he had already formed his own family, he no longer felt sorry to ponder even the most trivial things together.
“There were many miscellaneous things, but there is nothing worth specifically explaining to you. However…”
“…?”
“I suffered quite a headache over that Black Path-related matter.”
“Black Path-related matter?”
Yeon Wi told him about the matter regarding Yang Cheon. And also that he had visited Murong Jun.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
‘Father has changed too.’
If it were the father of the past, even if the world split in two, he would not have tried to obtain the cunning of a greedy, petty person.
Such a father had changed. He had realized that it was a board difficult to navigate with only the flawless fairness of the White Path.
“So, what did Murong Jun say?”
“He said this. It is a matter of making the opponent mistakenly believe it is not us.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
Seeing his son’s smile, Yeon Wi asked.
“Do you also agree with his thought?”
“I agree. The reality is that we cannot stay still, nor can we easily make a move. In that case, it means we have to move first, but to not hide like rats, the name of the Murim Alliance just shouldn’t come out.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. However…”
Yeon Ho-jeong stroked his chin.
“I do not know with what intention Murong Jun said that. Also, whatever happens, if it is about attacking Yang Cheon, there will be quite a few casualties.”
“Hmm.”
“When looking at it strategically, or when thinking of chivalry and righteousness, we must prevent casualties as much as possible.”
A faint smile hovered on Yeon Wi’s face.
‘Admirable fellow.’
As expected, his son was different from Murong Jun.
Their discernment and brains might be evenly matched, but they looked at different places than Murong Jun.
Murong Jun would endure a certain amount of sacrifice for a purpose. But his son said that before achieving the purpose, minimizing sacrifices on this side was important.
‘You have changed too.’
Yeon Ho-jeong was not originally like this either. Not as much as Murong Jun, but he was much rougher than he was now.
He had changed. Just like himself.
Yeon Wi was proud of his son’s change.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was lost in thought for a moment, asked.
“Is that attack in progress?”
“That is correct. They haven’t been sent to the Black Path yet, but orders are scheduled to come down from the superiors soon.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled and stood up from his seat.
Yeon Wi looked at him with questioning eyes.
“Why are you doing that?”
“I think I will also have business with that bag of tricks.”
“…You don’t mean?!”
An evil smile imbued Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
“Political strife is about giving and taking. Since I gave one, I will receive one back as well.”