Chapter 373. You Don't Need to Know That.
While holding dumplings, I walked slowly with First Brother, taking in the sights of Baek Eungji, and spoke.
“First Brother, let’s walk today.”
“Why? It’ll take a long time.”
“We’ll still arrive before the sun sets.”
I took in the scenery of an ordinary day where nothing was happening, as much as I could. When I thought about spending the day with selectivity and focus, I felt that doing nothing today was the correct answer.
The truth is, I’m used to this kind of daily life.
But First Brother is not.
Today was a day when First Brother, for the first time in a while, talked to me about this and that. There was no need to use qinggong again right after eating and feel the hardships of life.
I deliberately headed back slowly, walking with First Brother.
Even after leaving Baek Eungji, I didn’t increase my walking speed. First Brother was originally a man of few words, so I didn’t particularly need to chatter either.
First Brother mostly walked with his hands behind his back.
I walked around waving the dumplings in my hand. Only after quite some time did First Brother open his mouth, as if he had something he was curious about.
“The Murim Alliance and Jecheon Alliance will invest somehow, but do you think those scholar bastards will participate too?”
“I don’t know. Second Brother doesn’t usually make slips of the tongue, so he’ll explain properly, but he’s not exactly persuasive. Who knows?”
“Come to think of it, you didn’t contact the Beggar’s Sect.”
I nodded.
“Can’t squeeze money out of beggars.”
“Then did you deliberately exclude Singae from this fight?”
“When I saw him last time, he was the oldest among the Samjae. And Beggar Senior’s disposition was the type to think nothing of mutual destruction. It’s better to exclude him if possible. It wouldn’t be bad if, after we’re pushed back, Beggar Senior leads the Alliance Chiefs on both flanks and counterattacks.”
First Brother, who had stopped walking midway, looked at me.
“Third Brother.”
“Hmm?”
First Brother looked at me fixedly and said.
“Do you have no intention of running away at all?”
“Why would I run? Unless the Cult Leader appears, we won’t be pushed back. And where would I go now? Another bastard like Usa might appear. Honestly, it’s not bad even if no one comes to support us. In fact, that’s actually the best. For now, we have to fight. Because we must observe propriety toward those that First Brother and I killed.”
First Brother smiled faintly.
“That’s right. It isn’t courtesy toward those we killed.”
We walked the road again.
I looked at the wildflowers blooming by the roadside and said.
“Mostly guys weaker than me came and rushed at us and died. Of course, the specters and some experts weren’t like that. Anyway, we too should experience that kind of treatment.”
I met eyes with First Brother and smiled without much meaning.
After walking for a long time, we…….
Looked at the main base of Haomun, where expansion construction hadn’t even begun yet. The appearance of the inn, with no guests and no waiter visible, looked like an abandoned hall.
Anyway, I intended to wait for enemies here, and moreover, wait for allies as well.
…Saekma left the Murim Alliance and, on the way back, sat alone at an inn and ordered food. Beside the table stood a flag rolled in cloth and in transport. He was in the process of moving the flag to Haomun personally.
…Gwima, after receiving a promise of investment in Haomun from the Unhyang Sect Leader, borrowed a horse and was galloping fiercely. Of course, the destination was Cheonak’s mountain lodge. Because while conversing with the Unhyang Sect Leader, he had realized that this was not a matter that could be delivered through a letter or by sending someone else. It was the proper thing to go directly as a messenger and make a courteous request.
Gwima spurred the horse.
…On Im Sobaek’s desk lay a large map marked with the vicinity of the Murim Alliance. He placed a flag made of carved wood below Baek Eungji and looked at Gongson Wol. Gongson Wol tilted her head and asked.
“Will the Jecheon Alliance really participate as well?”
Im Sobaek nodded.
…I demolished and dismantled the old inn together with First Brother, then moved the filthy debris to the pit created by Ilwol Gwangcheon and buried it. Since I couldn’t just train, I prepared the foundation for the site where Jaha Guesthouse would be built before the sun rose. First, I planted the Murim Alliance’s flag, which had arrived with Saekma, in the center, and started again from nothing.
I know well that starting from nothing, what has started that way can fail again.
But this is what Haomun originally is.
…Gwangmyeong Usa, who had occupied Simwongok, was dining alone in the great hall, and those serving him were all women. While enjoying a feast that would make even a nation’s king envious, he looked at the closed doors of the great hall. Someone knocked on the great hall doors, then appeared with a sigh and looked at Gwangmyeong Usa.
It was the Demonic Cult Leader’s second son.
As soon as Gwangmyeong Usa saw the Second Son, he smiled.
“……Did you find him?”
The Second Son answered.
“I haven’t found him yet.”
Gwangmyeong Usa spoke, tearing off a large leg bone with his hand.
“You failed to find him, so what nerve brings you here?”
“…….”
Gwangmyeong Usa looked around at the female attendants and said.
“Could it be that among you, there is the Second Son’s lover (情人) or half-sister? That such a fellow is the Demonic Cult Leader’s second son—what do you all think?”
Though his tone was casual, the attending women started in fright and prostrated themselves as a group.
“Please spare us, Cult Leader.”
Gwangmyeong Usa stopped eating and laughed.
“Why are you all like this during mealtime? My children.”
“Speak.”
“Lord Yang wouldn’t have returned to the cult. He’s very cautious and guards against the Cult Leader’s whims. He wouldn’t have walked into a tiger’s den of his own accord. He’s definitely hiding in the An residence.”
“I searched every inch of the An residence I know of.”
“It seems there’s an An residence you don’t know of. Or he might gather some experts and make plans to reclaim Simwongok. Of course, if that happens, the children here will all die. What do you think?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? You know nothing. You know nothing. Worthless wretch. You probably thought you were someone great just because you’re the Demonic Cult Leader’s son. In truth, you’re nothing but worthless trash. Praised highly, at best you’re nothing but a half-penny fellow with slightly decent martial arts. What can you do? Did you inform your father?”
“I did not inform him.”
“Why?”
“Because if he finds out, he’ll order everyone killed regardless of what becomes of Simwongok.”
Gwangmyeong Usa burst into laughter.
“That is the difference between you and your father. Whether the second wife’s family exists or not, whether the second son exists or not, he doesn’t care. What are the movements of the Haomun Leader?”
“There are rumors he remains below Baek Eungji.”
“What is he doing there?”
“They say he is building an inn.”
“An inn?”
“It seems he is rebuilding the inn we once occupied.”
Gwangmyeong Usa looked at the Second Son.
“Ah, is that so? He truly seems to have been an innkeeper by origin. Doing strange things indeed.”
The second son said in a cautious tone.
“Right Envoy, it is still not too late. Rather than capturing Grand Duke Yang, why not regroup with us first and then kill the Hao Sect Leader? Then everything will be resolved…… If you do that, I do not mind spending all of Simwon Valley’s wealth. As you know, there is quite a fortune amassed here as well.”
The Gwangmyeong Right Envoy replied with a smile.
“Let’s do this. From now on, if you call me Right Envoy even once, a maidservant dies in your place.”
The second son looked at the maidservants lying face-down on the floor.
Since the Gwangmyeong Right Envoy had taken all the women of Simwon Valley hostage, running away was meaningless. Moreover, he sent people on errands whenever he pleased, and each time he set a strict return deadline. If they were late, another maidservant died.
Exhausted in both body and mind, the second son looked at the Gwangmyeong Right Envoy.
“Just kill me.”
The Gwangmyeong Right Envoy, who had been eating, struck the table once with his hand and then pointed at him.
“You aren’t even worth killing. You worthless piece of trash. The son of the Demonic Cult Leader, and yet you can’t do a single thing properly. I’ll give you fourteen days. Find out in detail what the Hao Sect Leader is thinking, rebuilding an inn beneath Baekeungji. And spend money to locate the safe house where Grand Duke Yang is hiding. Starting on the morning of the fifteenth day, I will reduce the number of people in this household one by one. Withdraw.”
As the second son turned away, the Gwangmyeong Right Envoy spoke.
“Is that the courtesy of one who has received an order? You should answer before leaving. Is that how your father taught you in the cult?”
The second son looked at the Gwangmyeong Right Envoy, then lowered his head slightly.
“Understood.”
“Understood?”
“I understand.”
“I understand?”
The second son wore an expression as though he were about to lose his mind, then answered the Gwangmyeong Right Envoy again.
“I understand. Cult Leader.”
“You fool. Withdraw.”
Once the second son disappeared, the Gwangmyeong Right Envoy said to the maidservants.
“Get up.”
“Yes.”
“There is no need to be afraid. If the second son conducts himself properly, I have no intention of laying a hand on you.”
“Thank you, Cult Leader.”
“Eat, and today we shall go play in the water down in the valley. We will all go together, so fill your stomachs and prepare yourselves.”
“Yes.”
Only then did the maidservants scurry out of the main hall. The Gwangmyeong Right Envoy called them back again.
“Girls.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
“If any of you happen to know Grand Duke Yang’s safe house, I intend to give a great reward. And what is that great reward? I shall grant you freedom. The freedom to leave Simwon Valley. Those of you who cannot think of anything should ponder it deeply as well. This matter will only end when Grand Duke Yang dies.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
The Gwangmyeong Right Envoy waved his hand as though shooing away bothersome flies.
...“Cult Leader, the Golden Tiger Unit Leader requests an audience.”
“Let him in.”
The Golden Tiger Unit Leader climbed the stairs and entered the Cult Leader’s Hall, then knelt at a distance.
“What is it?”
The moment the Golden Tiger Unit Leader saw the patriarch of the Myeongcheon Wi Clan standing beside the Cult Leader, he clenched his molars slightly. It was because he felt he had knelt for nothing.
The Golden Tiger Unit Leader continued his report.
“Cult Leader, from what I have learned, the Gwangmyeong Right Envoy, Grand Duke Yi, and Grand Duke Yang failed and scattered. Afterward, the Gwangmyeong Right Envoy is said to have massacred sects in the black-path region for no reason before vanishing. There are many witnesses. It seems the troops the three of them led out are all dead as well.”
The Cult Leader replied, sitting askew in a grand preceptor’s chair.
“Understood. It seems the Right Envoy has gone independent. Contact the families belonging to the Outer Hall and tell them to put forward candidates for Right Envoy.”
“Yes.”
“Once a representative from the Inner Hall is chosen, I will decide the next Right Envoy with a single life-and-death duel. Before that, the representative from the Outer Hall side is for you lot to decide among yourselves.”
“Understood.”
“Any other reports?”
“The apostate Sword Demon and the Hao Sect Leader, who is marked for death, have not moved from beneath Baekeungji. The number of construction workers is steadily increasing, and it seems they are building something.”
“What sort of building?”
“It appears to be an inn.”
“An inn?”
“Yes, and on one side of the construction site, flags have been planted. In order, they bear the words Maeng, Jecheon, Heukmyo, Nammyeong, and Unhyang.”
“What does that mean?”
“They seem to be the flags of the forces participating in the construction of the inn.”
“Not forces participating in the Hao Sect?”
“Ah, it seems to mean the same thing.”
“Understood. If there are no other reports, withdraw.”
“Yes.”
As the Golden Tiger Unit Leader rose, the Cult Leader introduced Left Envoy Wi as though he had just remembered.
“Ah, you two have met before, haven’t you? Greet each other.”
Left Envoy Wi looked at the Golden Tiger Unit Leader and spoke briefly.
“Golden Tiger Unit Leader, it has been a long time.”
The Golden Tiger Unit Leader replied with a slightly startled expression.
“I greet Left Envoy Wi. Belated congratulations.”
“I will be in your care as well.”
“Yes.”
The Cult Leader and Left Envoy Wi silently watched as the Golden Tiger Unit Leader withdrew. When the Cult Leader laughed, Left Envoy Wi asked.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It is far too obvious that the Golden Tiger Unit Leader dislikes you.”
“Indeed. Ah, did you anticipate the Right Envoy’s departure?”
The Cult Leader shook his head.
“I did not. Since the Sword Demon has left as well, it is not especially strange.”
“Why would he leave so suddenly?”
“It seems the Hao Sect Leader mocked him.”
“Would he really desert for such a trivial reason? I do not understand.”
The Cult Leader looked at Left Envoy Wi.
“Have you ever been ridiculed since becoming an adult?”
“I have not.”
“The Right Envoy would be the same. The man who found the Four Heavenly Kings so pathetic when they failed seems to have lost his senses now that he has failed himself. When perfectionists taste failure, they often become imbeciles. The second son and Grand Duke Yang are in danger, and something may happen in Simwon Valley as well, so Left Envoy, send some men and look into it in detail.”
“Understood.”
“Anything else you are curious about?”
Left Envoy Wi pondered for a moment, then asked in a cautious tone.
“Ah, what was the object the Eldest Young Master had tucked under his arm the other day?”
The Cult Leader stared intently into Left Envoy Wi’s eyes and said.
“That is not something you need to know.”
“Yes.”
Left Envoy Wi bowed his head, then withdrew from the Cult Leader’s Hall. The Cult Leader kept staring at Left Envoy Wi’s retreating back.