Chapter 183. The Unbroken Thread (1)
“Yang Cheon, huh.”
Gadeuksang scratched his head vigorously.
“I’ve heard a lot about him, but honestly, I know next to nothing. Our old man…”
“……”
“No, I mean my master… he tried all sorts of things to dig into Yang Cheon. But up to now, we haven’t uncovered a single solid fact.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Nickname: Fighting King. Name: Yang Cheon. Age: estimated sixty-three this year. He’s past sixty, but his vitality is so insane that he’s still considered the top in bare-handed combat in the Central Plains.”
“His nickname says it all. I’ve heard his fighting style is so bold and exquisite that it draws admiration from both the righteous and demonic paths.”
“Right. But his personality is vicious and cruel. Once he holds a grudge, he chases you to the ends of the Central Plains and tears you apart.”
“Sounds a lot like the Tang family.”
“In some ways, he’s even more ruthless. A master like that hunts you down alone and beats you to death.”
“Hm? And that makes him more ruthless?”
“Cuz it ain’t easy getting that old and fat.”
Jegal Munho couldn’t help but chuckle despite himself. Huigae Gadeuksang was a sharp one. His martial arts might be questionable, but his brains were more than worthy of the Beggar Sect’s successor. Still, these rough jokes threw him off sometimes.
Of course, there was always truth in those jokes. That’s why he couldn’t dismiss Gadeuksang’s words lightly.
“Anyway, that’s everything we’ve got on him. No one knows his sect, why he’s in the black path, where he lives, if he has siblings—nothing.”
“But we do know about his disciples and their martial arts names.”
“Ah, right! But from what I see, he hasn’t fully transmitted his arts to them.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah. The disciples who’ve shown up in the Central Plains all use different martial arts.”
Jegal Munho’s eyes gleamed.
“So, either he hasn’t passed on his own arts, or he broke them down and taught pieces separately?”
“Spot on. I lean toward the latter, but even that’s not certain.”
Jegal Munho stroked his goatee.
“The one with the least known among the Thirteen Seats of the Heavenly Star…”
“It’s weird when you think about it. Reputation is lifeblood to martial artists, but this guy hides away despite his incredible skills.”
“Could be he’s that thorough. The more known you are, the more weaknesses you expose.”
“Sure, but he’s already got the Fighting King title.”
“That’s exactly why he might hide even more.”
“Hm, yeah, that makes sense.”
Gadeuksang sighed.
“And now the Fighting King’s not just showing his face—he’s unleashing his disciples too.”
“He’s got something in mind.”
“What the hell could it be? Without knowing his intent, it’s tricky even sending out scouts.”
“The black path’s top master reveals himself right after the Martial Alliance forms. The stench is foul—way beyond ordinary.”
“What do we do? Dig deeper?”
Jegal Munho pondered.
The black path.
Truth be told, the black path had been on a decline since the Blood Cult War three hundred years ago. It had no choice. Black path or unorthodox factions—they survived on money and betrayal. A dog-eat-dog world where only the survivors were deemed strong.
They were the polar opposite of the righteous path’s pursuit of justice, chivalry, morality, ethics, ideals, and goodness.
In a way, they embodied the rawest survival instincts of humanity laid bare.
“Whatever the case, we can’t sit idle. The Thirteen Seats of the Heavenly Star are legends by name alone. Most are from past generations, with only a few still active.”
“True.”
“Their collective moniker is Martial Gods. Each one’s power could single-handedly handle a Nine Great Sects or Six Great Families faction.”
A heavy tension settled in Jegal Munho’s eyes.
“Yang Cheon is one such monster. If he unites the black path, the world plunges back into chaotic hell.”
“We have to look into it, then.”
“Indeed.”
Gadeuksang grimaced.
“There’s a problem with that.”
“Our informants’ lives.”
“That’s a given.”
“Hm?”
“Whether we send our Beggar Sect kids or fly the Martial Alliance flag, if they get caught, they’re dead. That bastard’s temper is a real bitch.”
“Fair point.”
“We’re all in the line-of-fire business, so we can stomach the losses. The issue is Yang Cheon’s reaction.”
Jegal Munho’s eyes sharpened.
“You mean if we send Martial Alliance members, he might move more cautiously?”
“Exactly.”
Gadeuksang tapped the map on the table.
“He knows we’re watching. He’s being careful. But we can’t make it seem like we’re cracking down hard—‘Watch your step’ vibes.”
Jegal Munho agreed. The opponent was none other than Fighting King Yang Cheon. If he really hid, no one could find him. If he moved seriously, few could stop him.
He was a tough nut to crack. Even bold Gadeuksang was cautious for good reason.
Jegal Munho sighed.
“What a frustrating mess. Even one man’s overwhelming power is a problem.”
“Yeah. Can’t just watch, though. Real headache.”
That was when Yeon Wi, who’d been silent, spoke up.
“So, no immediate answer.”
Jegal Munho nodded.
“Correct.”
“Hm.”
A subtle anticipation flickered across Jegal Munho’s face. Yeon Wi, chin in hand, lost in thought. A strange light briefly crossed his stern features.
Jegal Munho asked carefully.
“Do you have another idea?”
Yeon Wi was wise. Not as grand-scale as him or Gadeuksang, but his flashes of insight had broken many impasses.
Thankfully, Yeon Wi didn’t disappoint this time either.
Though it was outrageously unconventional.
“No need to praise Jegal family head’s wisdom or Huigae’s smarts. Even you two can’t crack it.”
“I’m humbled.”
“Then why not pool more heads?”
Confusion crossed Jegal Munho and Gadeuksang’s faces.
“Pool more heads…?”
“Someone who can tackle this headache with a radical approach. Knows the martial world well, and in a way, the most dangerous figure in the current Martial Alliance.”
Not the same person, but Yeon Hojeong sprang to Jegal Munho’s mind. He fit the bill. Skilled in politics over martial arts, quick-witted, able to twist the board to his liking with bold schemes.
Astonishing that such talent was in a youth barely twenty.
In a sense, it was scarier than martial prowess.
Hm.
Jegal Munho and Gadeuksang’s eyes met. They’d both thought of the same person. Yeon Hojeong’s feats were that impressive.
Of course, Yeon Wi meant someone else.
“He’s a Martial Alliance Elder too, walking the righteous path in his way. No harm sharing this headache.”
“Which Elder…?”
Yeon Wi’s gaze turned icy.
“Moyong family head.”
Surprise flashed across Jegal Munho’s face. Gadeuksang blurted urgently.
“L-Lord, that won’t work!”
“Why not?”
“He’s ambitious. Insanely so. He’ll do anything for power—straight-up villain.”
“You’re right.”
“So how can we ask that son of a… Sorry. Ask Moyong family head for help?”
“Because he’s capable.”
“Pardon?”
Yeon Wi’s eyes grew colder with time.
“He has the ability. I’d never beg such a man otherwise. But the foe is a Thirteen Seats monster who could plunge the world into chaos.”
“……!”
“No clichés about fighting evil with evil. But hearing him out and adopting sound ideas isn’t bad.”
Gadeuksang glanced at Jegal Munho.
“Strategist. What do you think?”
“Hm.”
A grave shadow fell over Jegal Munho’s face.
“Frankly, I oppose Family Head Yeon’s proposal.”
“Oh?”
“Emotionally, yes.”
“And?”
Jegal Munho sighed.
“Too many cooks spoil the broth. But more opinions are better if they’re worth hearing.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“I think the same.”
“Ha.”
Jegal Munho let out a hollow laugh. Moyong Gun was an enemy. Same Six Great Families and Elder or not, he’d never seen him as an ally.
He’d drawn lines subconsciously. Excluding usable tools due to bias.
I’m sorely lacking too.
Jegal Munho nodded with resolve.
“A gleaming sword or a butcher’s knife—proper prep raises the dish’s quality.”
He stood.
“Understood. While we’re at it, let’s borrow Moyong family head’s bag of tricks. Shall we go together?”
“Good.”
Gadeuksang spoke then.
“But…”
“Hm?”
Gadeuksang licked his lips uneasily.
“Why not just call an Elders’ meeting and discuss openly?”
Yeon Wi and Jegal Munho spoke in unison.
“No.”
“Impossible.”
The refusal was ironclad. Gadeuksang shrank back instinctively.
But he pressed on.
“Why?”
Yeon Wi said, “Factions are divided.”
“Pardon?”
Jegal Munho added, “An Elders’ meeting, and Moyong Gun’s allies push support, turning it into faction warfare.”
“Ah…”
“He’ll leverage Tang faction strength for favorable proposals.”
Gadeuksang sighed. It made sense.
Jegal Munho said coldly, “This can’t become faction infighting. It’d waste time and sour relations.”
“Right.”
“Exactly. At least for this.”
Jegal Munho turned to Yeon Wi.
“Shall we?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Wi’s gaze sharpened like a blade.
“Stay sharp. He’ll exploit any gap with cunning schemes.”