Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: Scheming with the Jade Qilin
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Although he hadn't gained anything from the Twin Stones, Bang Jun had been spending his time in his own busy way.
He hadn't been officially named as the successor yet, but becoming the last direct disciple of the previous Sect Leader, the Strange Wanderer Beggar, had essentially locked in his future as the next Beggars' Sect Leader. Bang Jun, who despised anything bothersome, had zero desire to lead a massive organization like the Beggars' Sect—but that was just his personal wish.
He understood there was no choice in the matter, even if he absolutely didn't want it. In truth, even if he hadn't been designated as the next leader, Bang Jun was always diligent in fulfilling his duties as a Beggars' Sect disciple.
The Black Forest. It was a place no Righteous Faction martial artist could enter without an opportunity like this. Information about the Black Forest circulated among various intelligence sects, and the Beggars' Sect had some grasp of it as well.
But this was a chance to see and feel the Black Forest with his own eyes, beyond that superficial "some grasp." The reason Bang Jun chose the Jade Qilin wasn't solely because he seemed the easiest mark among the Black Tyrants.
Information, especially on scandals and weaknesses, had endless uses. The Jade Qilin ran lavish pleasure dens offering unrivaled debauchery in the Black Forest. Blinded by these exotic pleasures, seven students from the Heavenly Academy had allied with him—excluding Bang Jun.
'Trash.'
When he first chose the Jade Qilin, Bang Jun saw it as a golden opportunity. The guy seemed easier to handle than the other Black Tyrants, and Bang Jun wanted to witness the embarrassing, shameful falls of prestigious Righteous Faction prodigies succumbing to vice.
That goal had been achieved far too easily. In the Jade Qilin's Afang Palace, the Copulation Palace dedicated solely to intercourse was filthier and more revolting than an old beggar's asshole.
The students who came for exchanges with the Black Forest were all renowned Righteous Faction prodigies, even if not quite at the level of Dragon-Phoenixes. Bang Jun had watched them fall to indulgence with pathetic simplicity.
The son of a high-ranking Murim Alliance executive. The senior who put on airs at the academy, striving not to tarnish his father's name even if he couldn't enhance it, had frolicked with beastkin. A female senior, the pampered jewel of a prestigious clan, had tangled with two or three men. A senior from a Buddhist sect's lay branch—wearing prayer beads despite not shaving his head—had played vulgar games, the clacking of his beads echoing lewdly.
Knowing how they acted at the Heavenly Academy made it all the more repulsive to Bang Jun. He understood it wasn't something to condemn. Raised in environments of prestigious sects and clans that prized tradition and propriety, burdened by expectations, every gesture scrutinized. The Heavenly Academy gathered such prodigies.
Such settings repressed desires. This was just a spectacular eruption. The Afang Palace brimmed with sordid pleasures unavailable in the Righteous Faction, surrounded by peers sharing the same status and secrets. So they piled up filthy secrets carefree. Strangers at the academy, but in the Copulation Palace, they drank and rutted in every bizarre way imaginable.
'What Righteous Faction, what Evil Faction. Strip 'em bare, and they're just human.'
Liquor flowed like a river, cascading into a waterfall. Below, in the pool where it gathered, men and women writhed together. Outside the pool, some smoked thick rolls of toxic herbs, watching the rutting while eating.
Bang Jun turned his head away, thick disgust churning in his gut. Every visit to the Copulation Palace, filled with beasts' clamor, made him want to vomit. At the same time, he wondered if they were the weird ones—or if he was.
"Don't call me here anymore."
*Ptui.* Bang Jun spat a thick glob of phlegm and grumbled.
"Every time I see it, it's a marvel. Are you celibate, milord? Or impotent?"
"How many times do I have to tell you? I have zero interest in that crap."
"Hmm, hard to believe... Ah, don't glare like that. I just want to repay your kindness."
"If you really mean that, stop pissing me off."
"Haha! Understood. Still, how about a drink at least?"
"You think I'm an idiot who'd drink your booze? It's obviously laced with aphrodisiacs."
"Not full-blown aphrodisiacs—just liquor to lift the mood."
"Get lost."
"Sheesh, why reject such fine stuff every time."
"Did you call me here just to trade bullshit?"
Bang Jun glared daggers. The Jade Qilin scratched his chin and set down his cup nearby.
"Of course not. It's for a rather serious reason."
"Serious talk in a dump like this?"
"Talk can happen anywhere."
"You're something else. Fucked for two straight days, then whoring right after waking up. For three days straight, no less."
Bang Jun eyed the naked Jade Qilin up and down.
His right arm, severed clean just six days ago. Yet it had healed without a scar, as if cut off ages ago.
"Two days' rest means I gotta work twice as hard now."
The Jade Qilin grinned toothily. What Bang Jun couldn't fathom most wasn't the arm, but the balls. One had clearly been crushed... Bang Jun glanced down at the Jade Qilin's crotch and spat,
"Fuck."
An urge to gouge out his eyes surged. The Jade Qilin laughed proudly and thrust his hips forward.
"Heh heh! When the Hidden Dragon crushed one, it hurt like death. Now I owe him thanks. It's far superior thanks to that—endless spring now."
"What the fuck do you want?"
"Shall we get revenge?"
The Jade Qilin grinned. Bang Jun, face twisted, cocked his head.
"Revenge on who? The Hidden Dragon? Or..."
"He's no enemy. He's my benefactor."
The Jade Qilin slapped his crotch laughing. He'd wished for revival of his crushed nut over the severed arm, and Dawnlight had granted it. The restored goods were better than before—an unfailing fount.
So the Jade Qilin forgot his grudge against Wi Seongcheon. Without him, he'd have been killed that day in the forest by Gu Jeoksa, that bastard monk.
"Gu Jeoksa. Heard that fucker's missing an arm too."
"His left arm's busted. Not severed clean like yours, making him a total cripple."
"Then we cut it off proper. Since that fucker lopped off mine."
The Jade Qilin's eyes gleamed. His own left arm had broken too, but Dawnlight's treatment made it good as new.
"No, one arm's not enough. Rip off all four limbs."
"Then wouldn't killing him outright be better?"
"Haha! You don't get it, milord. Far more satisfying to leave him a living cripple than a clean death."
"So what? You want revenge, so team up and fight?"
"Mukgeol Duke. This affair has made me trust you even more."
The Jade Qilin said abruptly.
"I don't much like filthy, stinking types, but you carried me out of that forest on your back. That's plain truth, no lies. I'd share drinks and swear brotherhood with you."
"Not interested. You think I can't see through you?"
"Hmm, wouldn't hurt. I'll be next Origin Fragrance Sect Leader, you'll be next Beggars' Sect Leader. Brothers? Good for the Sect too. Play it right, we could swallow Haomen whole."
"Know why it's called the Dog-Beating Staff?"
"What're you on about?"
"'Cause it beats dog bastards. So what does it beat? Dog bastards."
At the blunt question, the Jade Qilin tilted his head.
"Can't say I follow. If it's for beating dog bastards, then it beats dog bastards, right?"
"Exactly. If we'd met in the martial world instead of here, you'd be under my Dog-Beating Staff. Meaning you're the dog bastard. How can a man and dog bastard be brothers?"
"Haha! That's what you meant."
The Jade Qilin bellowed a laugh and nodded.
"Didn't expect instant agreement. Just keep it in mind. I have a rough idea why you joined hands with me."
"Like what?"
"I can offer you much aid. Say, records of Righteous Faction notables obsessed with Origin Fragrance Sect's bedroom arts, coming to experience them personally..."
"Nothing new there."
"The Sect probably knows already anyway."
The Jade Qilin leaned in close.
"I've proposed brotherhood because I trust you. Even if you don't like me, while you're in the Black Forest, we must move as one."
"And those seven playing down there?"
"They're not worthy of this Jade Qilin."
"So how do you plan revenge?"
"Honestly, our forces are too weak to take Gu Jeoksa."
Obvious. Unlike the Jade Qilin's ragtag crew, Gu Jeoksa's alliance was solid. He had Yuk Jinil, Dang Heeran the Poison Dart, and Yeong Jin.
"Among them, Poison Dart Miss seems quite close to you."
"I'll stuff your mouth with my staff if you spout nonsense."
"Haha! Just asking you to win her over. With just Poison Dart, it's doable. One-armed Gu Jeoksa's no match for me."
"You're one-armed too? And Senior Yeong Jin and Yuk Jinil are no pushovers."
"If you sway Poison Dart, we match their numbers."
"No plans to drag my friend to this cesspit."
Bang Jun showed no room for argument. The Jade Qilin clucked his tongue in regret and pondered.
"Then borrow strength elsewhere. How about tempting the Hidden Dragon?"
"...Better to lure the Black Dragon or Fighting Ghost."
"That works too."
The Jade Qilin nodded. Bang Jun understood why the Jade Qilin clung to him for this talk.
Setting aside martial talent, the Jade Qilin was dumb as rocks.
"...There's bad blood between Mad Dog and Fighting Ghost, but they're sworn brothers first. Contact the Black Dragon instead."
"Black Dragon doesn't like me."
"No shit. But sell out Fighting Ghost, and Black Dragon will cooperate even if he hates you."
"Why?"
The Jade Qilin tilted his head. That stupid? Bang Jun snorted. Or maybe all the blood that should've gone to his brain was pooling downstairs.
"While you were fucking for two days, Black Dragon escaped the forest. Fighting Ghost humiliated him badly, so prideful Black Dragon's gunning for revenge."
"So?"
"Fighting Ghost knows it full well. But he lacks confidence to take Black Dragon solo, so he's wary. That's where we step in."
The Jade Qilin eyed him eagerly. Bang Jun organized his thoughts and continued.
"Hwangbo Seongu with Fighting Ghost is cautious and sharp, looks aside. Fighting Ghost? Not so much. Pretends rational but ignites easy."
"True. That's why he challenged Black Heaven Prince so boldly and nearly died."
"So we need to provoke Fighting Ghost."
"How?"
"That's for you to figure."
"But Mukgeol milord, my revenge is on Mad Dog, not Fighting Ghost."
"You... fucking... idiot."
Bang Jun's fist trembled.
"...Prod Fighting Ghost, Mad Dog moves on his own."
"They're on bad terms?"
"Bad blood's real, but feelings differ. Fighting Ghost harbors rivalry—thinks his skills outstrip his sworn brother's—plus rage at Iron Blood Sect bullied by Mad Dog's Mad Sword Sect. Mad Dog feels some guilt toward his 'little brother' over sect issues and wants to mend ties."
"Oho, insightful."
"Mad Dog's cautious but greedy. If helping his brother lets him take out Black Dragon..."
"Black Dragon?"
"You thick-skulled moron."
Bang Jun couldn't hold back and bellowed.
"Use your wits to lure Fighting Ghost out! Have waiting Black Dragon pounce! Then Mad Dog jumps in to save him!"
"Calm down. But if so, what do I do?"
"Lay low and profit! While Mad Dog and Fighting Ghost face Black Dragon, sneak behind and stab Mad Dog's ass!"
"Sodomy?"
"Hey!"
"Kidding. Got it."
The Jade Qilin chuckled and nodded.
"Plot intrigue, in short. Heh heh! Riling Fighting Ghost is easy."
"Moving Black Dragon's key. Botch it, you face Mad Dog and Fighting Ghost's pincer."
"Don't worry."
Bang Jun eyed the Jade Qilin's face dubiously. Somehow, his eyes looked hazy.