Chapter 194 – To the Hometown (6)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Half a day later.
“Hehe, isn’t it been a long time since you came to this person’s residence?”
“Is that so?”
“We have been estranged lately. I think the last time was right before the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Army went on an expedition.”
“I’m the type to quickly forget trivial things.”
Still abrasive, I see.
Murong Jun smiled faintly. Tang Kwan’s prickly personality was rather a vitality to Murong Jun. Because Tang Kwan certainly had considerable wisdom and coping ability in his own right, yet he didn’t try to hide himself unnecessarily.
For Murong Jun, who had hidden his whole life, struck from behind, and made traps to lure enemies, the existence of Tang Kwan, who had reached the peak of a clan with an honest and arrogant disposition, was a quite mysterious human figure.
“Now, please have a cup. It’s Longjing.”
Tang Kwan asked while receiving the cup.
“I heard there wasn’t much left.”
“Hehe, it’s tea I only serve to precious guests. I don’t personally enjoy it.”
“If it’s a precious guest, are you talking about Zhuge Wen-hu?”
Zhuge Wen-hu.
Not Clan Head Zhuge, not Strategist Zhuge, but Zhuge Wen-hu. Tang Kwan’s arrogance remained the same.
Murong Jun nodded his head.
“Of course, Clan Head Zhuge is also a precious guest.”
He admits it honestly. Tang Kwan, who had been quietly observing Murong Jun, took a sip of tea.
“Was it discussed in advance?”
It was an unexpected question, but Murong Jun understood his words at once.
“You mean regarding Yang Cheon this time?”
“That is so.”
“A while ago, Clan Head Zhuge and Clan Head Yeon came looking for this person. They said they wanted to investigate Yang Cheon, and asked to borrow my tricks on how to approach him without getting caught.”
“So did you let them know?”
“That is so.”
“Why? Did you feel the thought of wanting to reconcile with them now?”
It is definitely unexpected.
Is it because their personalities are different? Or is it because the Asuras’ fields they fought through are different?
He never thought he would react so sharply in this part. He was truly a person who gave vitality in many ways.
“Reconciliation… What if we do reconcile? After making them careless, I think hitting the back of their heads splendidly is also a decent method.”
Murong Jun smacked his lips and continued his words.
“Actually, I don’t know if they will really be careless seeing this appearance of mine. If anything, they would doubt me even more.”
Tang Kwan’s eyes, which had been as venomous as Red-Crowned Crane Poison and as sharp as Torrential Pear Blossom Needles, softened little by little.
“You didn’t intend to hold hands with them?”
“They are not the kind of people who would hold my hand even if I extended it.”
“I have sufficiently understood your words, but I hope you give an intuitive answer for smoother conversation.”
Murong Jun smiled.
“I did not hold hands. They are targets I must bring down or sacrificial lambs for my lust for power, nothing more, nothing less.”
Tang Kwan nodded his head.
“I will understand it as a period of temporarily holding hands.”
“Exactly.”
Tang Kwan drank tea again. The heavy yet refreshing scent comfortably relaxed his mind and body.
“But is he that dangerous?”
“You mean Yang Cheon?”
“That is so.”
“How could a person who knows enough say such words? The Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats are all monsters who broke the limits of humanity. And Yang Cheon is the strongest fighter who occupies one seat among those Thirteen Seats.”
“It’s not that I don’t know that. However, military force and strategy are separate issues, aren’t they.”
Murong Jun said in a bitter voice.
“In reality, I too thought of Yang Cheon as a hooligan who is only good at fighting. Until I received a report about him.”
“Then you mean he is a person with a brain?”
“I don’t know if he is a monster, but at least he doesn’t seem to be a figure who can be dealt with half-heartedly.”
Tang Kwan’s eyes sank deeply.
He is not a person who can be dealt with half-heartedly? For such words to come out of Murong Jun’s mouth, it meant the opponent was truly extraordinary.
Until now, there were only two people Murong Jun had evaluated as monsters. However, those two were just youths overflowing with potential, not completed Great Vessels. It didn’t mean they were truly unmanageable disasters.
In other words, Murong Jun’s evaluation of Yang Cheon could be considered a tremendous overestimation.
“Is that why you stepped forward?”
“Hmm?”
“Is that why you negotiated with them to let you sit as the commander of this operation?”
Murong Jun smirked.
“It’s not that I didn’t have thoughts of negotiating, but rather, the side that proposed it first was them.”
Tang Kwan frowned.
“From Zhuge Wen-hu’s side?”
“That is so.”
“Because that fox-like fellow has some scheme?”
“There is no scheme. This time at least.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because he is not a person bold enough to play tricks with such a serious matter.”
“Hmm, if so, conversely, Zhuge Wen-hu’s side could suspect you to some extent.”
Because Murong Jun, as seen by Tang Kwan, was a person who could become sufficiently bold if necessary.
Murong Jun shook his head.
“They wouldn’t withdraw their gaze of suspicion, but this time at least, they too will be trusting this person. Therefore they must have come to me directly.”
“Why?”
“Clan Head Zhuge, because that person has grasped about me to some extent.”
“Is Yang Cheon such a fearful person.”
Frost fell on Murong Jun’s face.
It was a rare expression. Murong Jun was sincerely nervous.
“Originally, appeasing and coaxing quick-witted cats is a hundred times more difficult than seizing control of a herd of proud lions. Yet Yang Cheon has accomplished that.”
“Uniting the Black Path.”
“As Clan Head Zhuge said during the meeting earlier, we are one step below the Black Path in the intelligence power sector. However, there is only one reason we haven’t cared about it until now.”
“Because those bastards weren’t united into one?”
“Exactly.”
Murong Jun’s eyes sparkled.
“Whether Yang Cheon did it alone or received someone’s help, that is not important. What is important lies in the very fact that a fatal knife casting eyes all over the Central Plains has been grasped in Yang Cheon’s hand.”
“Hmm.”
“Although it’s said that hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once, I do not trust the fellow named Yang Cheon. Speaking openly, he is not a figure worthy of holding hands with either. In other words, to me, it means he is a person like a bomb who cannot become an ally.”
The corners of Tang Kwan’s mouth went up.
“It means you have no choice but to form a joint front.”
“I think so.”
Murong Jun smirked.
“Power is a demonic creature. If you feed it and pat it from time to time, you can raise power like a dog, but if you make it beg for food here and there, from then on, it views even its master as prey.”
“…”
“Even if Yang Cheon is a useful human, I have no intention of holding hands with him. Why? Because the moment I hold hands with him, the son of a bitch called power that I want to raise will surely run wild like crazy.”
“Power, you say…”
“I want to become a person who governs even power, I do not want to become a slave to power and remain an ugly greedy person.”
Like the numerous powerful people in history did?
Tang Kwan did not bother to spit out the words that rose to his throat. Now was not the time to be sarcastic like a habit.
Tang Kwan, who had been quietly looking at Murong Jun, threw his gaze out the window and said.
“He seemed pleased.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m talking about Master Kong-kong. Seeing you and Yeon Ho-jeong, that brat, smiling and talking, he looked so pleased.”
Murong Jun smirked.
“Did you know?”
“Master Kong-kong is essentially the leader of the Honored Guest Meeting. To a human acting as the boss in an ownerless seat, how hateful the demons fighting over power must have looked.”
He is a sharp person. Much more than thought.
Murong Jun shook his head.
“Someday he came to me and gave me a word of warning before leaving. I answered I would do so and sent him back.”
“He is a half-baked bald monk who acts up trusting only in the prestige of the Mount Tai and North Dipper. It didn’t seem like there would be anything good from dealing with him for long.”
“Your words are correct. Master Kong-kong is a treasured sword without a hilt. There is no one to grip it, nor is there anyone to attach a hilt to it.”
“Because it’s Shaolin?”
“Because it’s Shaolin.”
Murong Jun drank his tea.
“Anyway, setting aside my problem, how about you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I am talking about Yeon Ho-jeong. The ability of the Tang Clan artisan that that guy asked of you.”
Tang Kwan said with a reluctant face.
“It came yesterday.”
“Hmm?”
“The goods sent from the main family arrived. The gift to hand over to that damn bastard and the Evil-Annihilating Army.”
* * *
Several wagons entered the Army-Destroying Pavilion.
“Hmm.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was examining the goods piled on the wagons, smiled as if pleased.
“Good. It’s top-quality as expected.”
Yeon Wi asked.
“Are they goods that came from the Tang Clan?”
“That is so.”
“Let’s see, let me take a look too.”
Surprise appeared in the eyes of Yeon Wi, who picked up a round steel plate the color of black ink.
“It is incredible.”
“Isn’t it?”
“To think they could process Ten Thousand Years Black Steel this smoothly. They said the skills of the Tang Clan artisans are the best under heaven, and there was no exaggeration in those words.”
“Moreover, look at this weight. They maximized weight reduction while maintaining strength.”
“Is it an alloy?”
“It probably is.”
Yeon Wi clicked his tongue.
“To think it is light armor that the entire Evil-Annihilating Army can wear.”
It is natural logic that light armor requires much less iron than heavy armor. Moreover, normally, light armor suits often had metal padded over layered leather or cloth.
However, the light armor suits loaded on the wagons were different. The breastplate, arm guards, shoulder guards, and gaiters were all made of the Tang Clan’s secret alloy centered around Ten Thousand Years Black Steel.
It is light armor equipment exclusively for martial artists, which maintained extreme strength and only reduced weight. It didn’t restrict movement and the weight was light, so it was perfect for agile martial artists to use.
Muk Bi’s eyes sparkled.
“I think I only need the breastplate and shoulder guards?”
“No. Wear them all.”
“Do I absolutely have to?”
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded his head.
“I think it’s unconditionally good to wear them as long as the weight is not heavily burdensome.”
“Why?”
“The reason for mass-producing uniforms or identical weaponry for not only the military but also by sect is because of the sense of belonging. Furthermore, if training is sufficiently done well and morale rises, group cohesiveness also goes up.”
“Group cohesiveness…”
Yeon Wi nodded his head.
“Ho-jeong’s words are right. The Evil-Annihilating Army is a military force group where the children of the Nine Great Sects and Six Great Clans have gathered. Even though they follow Commander Ho-jeong’s words well, there must still be quite a few people who think their affiliation is their own sect, not the Evil-Annihilating Army.”
“That is so. And from now on, I think we will have to pay a little more attention to titles as well. Exclusive armor and titles for the Evil-Annihilating Army. They can become stronger with just those small changes.”
“It’s a good idea.”
Muk Bi tilted her head. It was still a difficult story to understand.
Yeon Ho-jeong said to Muk Bi.
“You have to do it.”
“Yes?”
“When I am not here, you have to train the guys.”
Muk Bi’s eyes grew larger.
“M-Me?”
“I will let you know the training schedule or intensity. However, you will have to adjust the gradual upward adjustment of intensity or proper rest on your own.”
“I am… I’m not good at that kind of thing…”
“Do it even if you don’t have confidence. You are the Vice Commander of the Evil-Annihilating Army. When I am not here, you are the head of the Evil-Annihilating Army.”
“Ugh.”
“I will tell you one thing. A head should know how to fathom the hearts of subordinates, but must not try to walk on eggshells.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“The you I know has sufficient ability. Believe in yourself and try leading boldly.”
“Kollok.”
Yeon Wi asked.
“Anyway, there are about five days left until the expedition, but is there anything to prepare in the meantime? Tell me if there is. Father will help you.”
“It’s fine. I think it will be enough if I just manage my body well.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. However…”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked far away to the west.
The Murim Alliance inner castle where countless pavilions were lined up beyond the wall.
Among them, the place his consciousness was heading to was exactly the Tang Clan.
“I’m thinking of taking just one more person.”