Chapter 193 – To the Hometown (5)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Combat King Yang Cheon.”

“That is so.”

Silence fell in the meeting room.

Abbess Bok-ho cautiously opened her mouth.

“I have heard that his disciples have stepped out into the world. It is certainly a situation to be sufficiently wary of, but I understand that while those many disciples were moving, the Combat King has never revealed his appearance once.”

Zhuge Wen-hu nodded his head.

“That was so, but recently, intelligence has come in that Yang Cheon is uniting the Black Path and taking control of the regional commercial rights at a frightening speed.”

“Heo!”

“I wanted to tell you about this part in advance, but because it was such sudden information, additional confirmation was necessary. I ask for your understanding regarding informing you belatedly.”

Immortal Yong-hwa said with an uncomfortable face.

“No matter how sudden the information was, it is information related to none other than a Gods, Immortals, Emperors, and Kings. I think you should have told us in advance.”

It sounded like picking a fault, but Immortal Yong-hwa’s argument was valid.

Information is power. And the intelligence power of the Murim Alliance, where the power of the Orthodox Path is gathered, is great enough to be counted among the top under heaven.

The people handling that power at the forefront were exactly Zhuge Wen-hu and Ga Deuk-sang. Whatever else, not immediately talking about an important matter could easily become a bad precedent.

Of course, Immortal Yong-hwa wasn’t doing that because of the precedent. He was worried that Zhuge Wen-hu alone might monopolize the powerful strength called information.

Master Kong-kong raised his hand.

“Strategist Zhuge is the general manager of the Military Strategy Department whom we all unanimously chose. Not informing us immediately can certainly be seen as a fault, but I do not think he did it without a reason.”

Immortal Yong-hwa cleared his throat. Since the abbot of the Shaolin Temple stepped forward to defend him, he couldn’t say anything more.

Zhuge Wen-hu said with a smile.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“However, Immortal Yong-hwa’s words also have a point. Besides the reason of reconfirming the information, I think there must have been another reason.”

“That is so.”

The light in Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes changed.

“When the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Army went on an expedition to annihilate the Gray Wolf Squad, there was a certain group that secretly approached this Alliance’s intelligence department.”

In an instant, the atmosphere inside the meeting room became cold.

Master Kong-kong asked.

“Approaching the intelligence department means…?”

“It means there were those who cunningly tried to disrupt our Orthodox Path’s intelligence network spread throughout the entire Murim.”

“…!”

“Their movements were secret to a terrible degree. It was to the point that if it weren’t for Advisor Ga Deuk-sang-sang, we wouldn’t have even noticed the suspiciousness.”

“Disrupting the Orthodox Path’s intelligence network? If that happens, exactly what kind of problem occurs?”

“You can make falsehoods be mistaken as truth, or you can disguise truth as falsehoods. With just one piece of information.”

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the faces of the Honored Guests stiffened.

Zhuge Wen-hu pointed at the dizzyingly intertwined blue solid lines on the map spread out on the round table. The complex lines crossing the entire Central Plains represented the flow of information heading toward the Murim Alliance.

“Out of these countless blue lines, if even just one changes into a red line, confusion in information occurs. Originally, the more complex a structure is, the more fatal results come from a small problem; the intelligence network is also like that.”

“Heo.”

The Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, Deung Cheon-gyo, said.

“It hasn’t even been a year since the Murim Alliance was founded. However, the Orthodox Path’s intelligence network is the crystallization of solidity built up over hundreds of years. Even if it’s complex, does it mean such a fatal result comes out from just one simple error?”

Zhuge Wen-hu shook his head.

“Of course, our intelligence network is formed complexly yet solidly. We are thoroughly preparing for enemy infiltration, and there are alternative intelligence networks to cope with a situation where one network is destroyed.”

“Then?”

“Seventy-two.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“The number of fake intelligence networks the mysterious group infiltrated and disturbed to cause confusion in this Alliance’s intelligence network was seventy-two.”

Deung Cheon-gyo’s eyes shook.

Although he was a layman regarding intelligence, he wasn’t to the extent of not knowing the seriousness the number seventy-two gave.

“In other words, the mysterious enemy made up their mind and intended to shake this Alliance’s intelligence department. If we hadn’t discovered this in a timely manner, an astronomical amount of money would have gone into building a new intelligence network, not to mention a tremendous human resource would have been consumed.”

“…”

“Of course, in the meantime, the mysterious group that touched this Alliance’s intelligence network would have absolutely planted spies who wouldn’t be caught.”

Zhuge Wen-hu sighed.

“Could an intelligence network that has been robbed once not be robbed twice? Perhaps such attempts would have steadily arisen, and from that time, a terrible intelligence war with no end in sight would have broken out.”

The atmosphere that had sunk coldly became even colder.

Namgung In frowned.

“Could it be, that mysterious group is the Black Path?”

“That is so. Accurately, it is the intelligence department moving under the Combat King Yang Cheon.”

“It makes no sense. How could the incompetent Black Path group execute such a high-dimensional attack…?”

“As expected, you are thinking like that.”

“What do you mean?”

Zhuge Wen-hu looked around the Honored Guests.

“From ancient times, the Black Path has always been below the Orthodox Path. Occasionally, peerless geniuses would unite the Black Path and cause great harm to the Central Plains, but in the end, evil is only temporary. In other words, the Orthodox Path was always above the Black Path.”

“That’s why I’m saying it. To think those Black Path bastards would have such ability…”

“However, the Black Path has never disappeared. Even up to this moment. Where do you think their underlying strength, tenacious like weeds, comes from?”

Master Kong-kong closed his eyes.

“Information. It is information.”

“That is so.”

Zhuge Wen-hu pointed toward the south of the Yangtze River, the intelligence network of the southern Central Plains.

Red lines and white solid lines were entangled like a spider web. That complexity was more than double that of the Murim Alliance.

“The survival method of those without strength. That is information. Since they are pushed back in strength, they have no choice but to survive with tact. The Black Path has survived like that until now.”

“…”

“I dare say, in terms of intelligence power, we are clearly one step below the Black Path.”

Among the Orthodox Path martial artists living in the current era, those who pay attention to the Black Path almost do not exist.

It was inevitable. Because the Black Path was weak.

In other words, a fight didn’t establish. They were certainly dangerous, but if they made up their minds to bring them down, there was nothing they couldn’t do.

It was an extremely natural flow that interest in them decreased.

“Those people are gathering under the absolute strongman named Yang Cheon.”

Someone swallowed their saliva.

Strong tension cast over Zhuge Wen-hu’s face.

“Before the strength of the faction, it means a strongman who has no lack even discussing being the best in the Central Plains has come to wield the Murim’s best intelligence power. Their existence will become a terrible threat in the future.”

A momentary silence arose.

There were quite a few words, but in the end, it was this.

The Orthodox Path hadn’t not eliminated the Black Path. They couldn’t eliminate them.

Because they had eyes to escape a crisis anytime, anywhere.

And a monster named Yang Cheon stole those eyes.

“Just hearing your words, I know it’s a serious situation.”

Everyone’s eyes gathered on Immortal Seung-hyeon.

Immortal Seung-hyeon said with a somewhat dark face.

“Now please tell us. Why the military strategist didn’t immediately inform us of this information and problem.”

“…You are guessing.”

“I hope it is not such a reason.”

“It is as Immortal Seung-hyeon guesses.”

Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes instantly became chilling.

“Because I was suspecting the top executives of the Murim Alliance.”

The reaction was fierce.

“Wh-What did you say?!”

“What kind of nonsensical words are those!”

“Could it mean there is a spy among us!”

Master Kong-kong raised his hand again.

The atmosphere that had heated up with excitement faltered.

“This poor monk does not want to cause cracks in our trust with provocative speech. However, I must say one word right now.”

“…?”

“With our Honored Guests alternating between joy and sorrow like this, wouldn’t the military strategist have no choice but to be careful opening his mouth?”

The Honored Guests who were getting angry cleared their throats.

Master Kong-kong sighed.

“Strategist Zhuge’s remark can certainly become controversial. However, let’s listen first. Make an effort to listen and understand, and if you still think it’s a problem, it won’t be late to raise heat then.”

It was words right a hundred times over.

Zhuge Wen-hu opened his mouth.

“Thank you for your words. Since the words came out, to add, the position of military strategist cannot hand over ten-tenths of trust even to the number one chivalrous hero under heaven. Because the moment you completely trust someone, you can reveal an opening to the enemy.”

“…”

“You may think of it as needless suspicion, but in the future too, I will not completely trust the Honored Guests, not to mention even the Murim Alliance Leader who will be elected later.”

Zhuge Wen-hu bowed his head.

“I ask for your understanding regarding that point.”

The Honored Guests continuously cleared their throats.

If Master Kong-kong hadn’t stepped forward, someone would have also brought out words like ‘The person to be suspected the most is you.’

Naturally, it was a remark obvious to only arouse useless suspicion. Master Kong-kong had prevented a needless fight from occurring with just a few words.

Zhuge Wen-hu continued his words.

“At any rate, there were no suspicious circumstances. Not to mention the Honored Guests here, no one among the top executives of the Alliance was communicating secretly with the enemy. At least with the investigation results up to now.”

“…”

“From the point we knew the enemy’s aim, Advisor Ga Deuk-sang responded immediately. The enemies retreated, and at least for the time being, they won’t be able to target us.”

Zhuge Wen-hu’s eyes flashed.

“So I think now is the right time.”

Immortal Seung-hyeon asked as if puzzled.

“What do you mean by the right time?”

“Combat King Yang Cheon. It means I think it’s the right time to investigate him thoroughly.”

“Heo.”

Namgung In cautiously asked.

“Will it be okay? From what I heard, Yang Cheon’s viciousness and ferocity are said to be beyond words. Being quick-witted, I think there’s a high probability he will hide deeper the moment we try to execute an investigation from this side.”

Zhuge Wen-hu smiled.

“Clan Head Namgung’s words are correct. So I had many worries. We cannot stay still, yet he is an excessively dangerous figure to touch hastily, and if we make a mistake, we might commit the foolishness of beating the grass to scare the snake.”

“My thoughts are also the same.”

“So we need the best.”

“The best?”

“That is so.”

Zhuge Wen-hu looked at Murong Jun.

Murong Jun, who had been listening attentively to the conversation with his eyes closed until now, slowly opened his eyes.

“An expert who can skillfully pull off agent infiltration, intelligence disturbance, and depending on the time, even assassination of key figures. And we need a commander who can show flexible strategy together with such an expert.”

Namgung In tilted his head.

“I won’t say if we absolutely have to do that much. Then, have you thought of a person fit to take on that important mission?”

“That is so.”

Zhuge Wen-hu shouted toward the outside of the meeting room.

“Please come in.”

Rattle! Creeeeak.

The door opened, and a young man revealed his appearance.

Seeing that young man, the eyes of the Honored Guests grew larger.

“A person who possesses not only powerful martial arts and high-level discernment, but also the boldness to use any trick if necessary and the wit of adaptation.”

Zhuge Wen-hu smiled while looking at the young man.

“He is the leader of the practical team I chose.”

The young man, Yeon Ho-jeong, bowed his head.

“I greet the Honored Guests. I am the Commander of the Evil-Annihilating Army, Yeon Ho-jeong.”