Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Things Are Getting Interesting
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"As far as the Yangtze is concerned, that kid Geon thinks the river pirates are the best escorts on the water. On land, it's the ten thousand Green Forest bandits. Truth be told, whether bandits or pirates, the key has always been whether they have brains enough to move according to our will. Geon figured that if we showed them enough money and enough force, it'd be enough. It worked exactly like that with the Green Forest bandits. The river pirates were a bit different, though."
"But it ended up that way in the end, didn't it?"
"Yeah, it did. But we got lucky. It was just a play on words, but the situation lined up so cleverly that any river pirate would have no choice but to nod along."
It was definitely just a play on words. But the situation had aligned so perfectly that any river pirate would have to concede.
"What are you trying to say?"
"That Geon's plan isn't perfect."
"No one's perfect, right?"
"I know that. Still, I thought there was no way his plan could go seriously off track."
"...!"
"He mentioned the Golden Emperor Clan might buy up all the ships. So we planned to block the Yangtze's waterways, meaning I'd need at least that level of force. But it went sideways anyway. The Golden Emperor Clan says they're not selling their ships. So we need to tweak our plans a bit too."
"You don't mean...?"
"I'm dead serious. No joke. If the situation unfolds right, we'll hit the Golden Emperor Clan directly."
"...!"
Do Cheon said it with a smile.
It was terrifying. Breathlessly so. Not because it was reckless. Not because it was bold. Strangely, it was because she feared she and her junior brothers and sisters might not be able to keep up with him.
"Geon said something like that once. That he might end up in real danger. If that happens, he told us not to rush in blindly—think it through. Isn't there a way to turn that danger back on them? What a bizarre guy."
Do Cheon smiled, thinking of Yoo Geon.
Byeon Ryeo-gun stared straight at his face.
"Eldest senior brother."
"Something you want to say?"
"What if we juniors don't live up to your expectations?"
"...!"
Do Cheon blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question. But soon he smiled faintly.
"That's the wrong way to put it."
"...?"
"What if my junior sister and brothers don't grow this much? I've never thought that, never worried about it. And I won't in the future."
"Why not?"
"Because there's only one thing I worry about."
"...?"
"What if one of my juniors isn't satisfied? What if, after I've strutted around as the eldest senior brother leading the way, some junior sister or brother can't smile about it? What if Mountain calls me out, asking if that's why he pushed himself so hard? What if Flame turns back, saying the old days were better? What if Little Sparrow, or Wall junior sister, stops having fun? What if Ability junior brother or Young Ki...!"
"Eldest senior brother!"
"...?"
"None of us are omnipotent. Not you, not us."
"...!"
"You, who hold nine out of ten, just do your best with that nine. We, who have only two or three, do our best with that. Even if the result is only six or seven out of ten, as long as you don't disappoint in us—as long as we did it together, achieved it together—that's enough. You said it yourself: juniors have to do it themselves to stand tall. You're right. Even if the results aren't perfect, if we did it together, we'll all stand tall and laugh together."
"You think so?"
"Yes. I know so."
"Then I'm relieved."
"Yeah."
Byeon Ryeo-gun smiled.
Only her eyes were visible above the cotton veil, but it was clear she was beaming.
"Good. Anyway, what do you think Wall junior sister would do?"
"About what?"
"If Wall junior sister were the Iron Rod Emperor."
"Oh, if it were me...?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun pondered for a moment. But she answered quickly, as if it didn't need much thought.
"I'd move the righteous and evil factions."
"Use someone else's hands to strike?"
"Yes."
"Hm. Could be. Maybe even mobilize the Golden Emperor Clan's power on top of that."
"You think they'd find righteous and evil factions not enough?"
"Not that. They'd want to show off their own power, the Golden Emperor Clan's might."
"That'd complicate things."
"Nah. That's when it gets fun."
Do Cheon grinned again, just like before.
Byeon Ryeo-gun watched him and had an odd thought.
'That smile... I need to get used to it.'
On the road back to the Iron Lion Sect.
When Do Cheon and Byeon Ryeo-gun stopped at an inn for a late lunch, a Hao Sect disciple appeared.
"Information on the Golden Emperor Clan, as requested."
The middle-aged Hao Sect disciple set down a single booklet and vanished. Do Cheon picked it up and flipped to the first page. The name Golden Emperor Geum Jeok-san jumped out.
Geum Jeok-san. Piling up mountains of gold— a name fitting for the Golden Emperor, truly grandiose. But seeing it made Do Cheon chuckle.
By his own name's logic—grasping the heavens—his was even grander.
So names meant nothing.
Under the name Golden Emperor Geum Jeok-san was a diagram of the Golden Emperor Clan's organization.
Do Cheon skimmed it quickly.
It was vast and impressive enough to be called the Demonic Cult of the merchant world. He flipped straight to the last page and handed the booklet to Byeon Ryeo-gun.
Byeon Ryeo-gun took it and read meticulously from the first page. A stark contrast to Do Cheon. It took her the time of one meal plus another hour to close the final page.
"What do you think?"
Do Cheon asked. Byeon Ryeo-gun handed it back as she replied.
"Impressive."
"Feels like this isn't everything."
"Probably not. Even the Hao Sect has limits."
"No wonder the Iron Rod Emperor's arrogant."
"He said, 'If I reveal my power even to the unknown corners of the world, you lot are truly nothing.'"
"Yeah, he did."
Do Cheon recalled the Iron Rod Emperor's arrogance. But a smile played on his lips.
Hyun Cheon Great Master.
Senior brother to Hyun Gak Great Master, he had been leader of the previous generation's Four Great Diamond Guardians.
The Seven Great Sects and Five Great Families, pillars of the Great Righteous Alliance, had elected Shaolin's Hyun Cheon Great Master as interim alliance leader and dispatched their sects' elites.
Shaolin sent the previous generation's Four Great Diamond Guardians. Wudang gathered five of the previous Wudang Seven Swords. The other Seven Great Sects, excluding Huashan, sent large numbers of elder experts. Not to be outdone, the Five Great Families excluding the Hundred Li Family sent comparable previous-generation masters. As a result, the Great Righteous Alliance assembled its strongest force since its founding.
"The Iron Lions must have combined the strengths of their signature arts to create a new one. No doubt."
"Agreed. Impressive as the Iron Lion King and his Iron Lions are, they couldn't handle True Man Unyang and Great Master Hyun Gak at once."
"Before dealing with the Iron Lion Sect, we must first clarify how to handle Huashan and the Hundred Li Family."
"Exactly. Why is the Volcanic Divine Sword still lingering at the Iron Lion Sect?"
"They say it's because the Iron Divine Dragon's prowess is astonishing, so to prevent clashes with the righteous factions."
"Absurd! Things reaching this point is all because of the Volcanic Divine Sword!"
"There's something worth considering. Turns out the Iron Divine Dragon has killed only one person so far."
"That's what makes it so vile! Deception and trickery—that's the demons' specialty, isn't it?"
"Maybe he didn't need to kill?"
"What are you implying?"
"What if he's strong enough that killing wasn't necessary?"
"Heavens! Do you not realize how insulting that is to Junior Unyang and Great Master Hyun Gak?"
"I'm not trying to insult anyone. Just saying it's worth looking into."
"I get what you're saying, but look around. With everyone gathered here, even the Heavenly Demon himself couldn't stand tall against us. Right?"
"Yes. So let's clarify Huashan and Hundred Li Family's positions, then swiftly punish that vile Iron Lion Sect!"
The experts gathered at the Great Righteous Alliance roared thunderously.
Most viewed the humiliation of True Man Unyang and Great Master Hyun Gak as the shame of the entire alliance.
Guangdong Province, Mount Bul, Supreme Sun Heaven.
Five elders arrived at Supreme Sun Heaven, the foremost evil sect. They were the heads of Ghost Cliff Forest, Yin-Yang Sect, Street Hanger Gang, and others known as the Twelve Evil Heavens.
"The Lord has arrived!"
At the resounding call from the Supreme Sun Hall entrance, the five elders rose and turned. A red-robed elder strode into the grand hall. His hair was red to the roots, his presence overwhelming.
It was the Supreme Sun Heaven's Lord, the Solar King.
Behind the Solar King followed three men and women in their forties, his disciples vying for the next Lord's seat.
The Solar King crossed the hall.
The five elders waited, heads bowed.
Moments later, as the Solar King sat in the innermost seat of honor, the representative, Ghost Cliff Forest Lord, bowed deeply and spoke.
"Seeing Eldest Brother in fine health fills this youngest with boundless joy."
"That glib tongue of yours hasn't changed!"
"It's true I serve you to stay alive, Eldest Brother, but my respect is genuine."
"Cut the crap. If you're here about the Iron Lion Sect, say what you want."
"The Yangtze Waterway Eighteen Strongholds and Green Forest have knelt."
"Get to the point."
"We want to strike first, before the righteous factions. If we take down the ones who bested Unyang and Hyun Gak, those righteous fools' faces will burn red."
"Think I don't know you? That's not all."
"We want a stake in the Yangtze waterways. If you wish it, Eldest Brother, we'll offer half the profits."
"Money? If I need money, I tidy up one of you."
At the Solar King's words, Ghost Cliff Forest Lord bowed, and the other four elders stiffened.
"We don't cut off limbs after starving ten days. We use them to hunt food."
"Not my limbs."
"As long as the righteous hold firm and the Demonic Cult might invade anytime, we are your limbs, Eldest Brother."
"That silver tongue."
"Heaven-Rending Legion acknowledged him, so please make him kneel now—ensure no one questions who reigns supreme in the evil paths again."
"Supreme in the evil paths? Meaningless! With the Heavenly Demon not crawling out, I can't vie for supremacy of the world—that's my regret!"
The Solar King's voice boomed irritably through the hall. Ghost Cliff Forest Lord paused before speaking.
"To you, Eldest Brother, vying for world supremacy, our matters seem trivial. It's time to decide a successor anyway—why not entrust this to them?"
Ghost Cliff Forest Lord's gaze flicked to the Solar King's disciples.
Suddenly, the Solar King bellowed.
"Who wants it?"
The Solar King would watch. One failure could eliminate them from succession entirely—or this rare chance could be theirs.
Take it or not?
Lightning flashed in the three disciples' eyes.
"To the one who handles it like true Supreme Sun Heaven folk, I'll grant the Solar One Qi Art."
The Solar King declared.
Instantly, second disciple Hyeok Mu-rin responded reflexively.
"Entrust it to this disciple, Master, and I'll exalt your prestige."
"You, exalt my prestige? Enough talk—handle it like Supreme Sun Heaven. Heaven-Rending Legion wouldn't let that Iron Divine Dragon live with his foul temper without reason. Find out why. Do that, and the Solar One Qi Art is yours."
"Thank you."
Hyeok Mu-rin bowed.
'Jackpot! Kill the Iron Lion Sect whelp and claim the Solar One Qi Art!'
"With the veil, nothing's happening at all."
"Yeah. Nice not having any trouble."
"True, but it means we're passing up a chance to weed out guys who disrespect women."
"You were planning to use me like that?"
"As a side benefit. Truth is, it's a shame I can't see your face even sitting face-to-face."
"Faces aren't everything."
"They are."
"A face doesn't represent the person."
"It represents most of a first impression. A gorgeously beautiful face like yours says even more."
"I don't like being judged by my face alone."
"Can't help it. Who could be that beautiful?"
"You judge by face too, senior brother?"
"I look at the face. The pleasant voice. The caring heart."
"You're no ordinary guy."
"Huh?"
"That was my first impression when I came to the Iron Lion Sect. This guy's no ordinary man."
"Really?"
"Yeah. After that, I saw you as bold."
"And now?"
"Slick."
"Slick means two-faced. Like that guy over there."
Do Cheon nodded toward a spot. A dozen young men and women were visible, late teens to early twenties, brimming with youthful vigor. One youth kept glancing slyly at Byeon Ryeo-gun.
