Shake the Board (3)
The group that had returned to the manor gathered together.
“Damn, this actually worked.”
Gadeuksang stuck out his tongue in admiration.
“Honestly, I didn’t think we’d earn Yang Cheon’s trust this easily.”
Dang Sang-a shook her head gravely.
“It wasn’t easy. It just felt that way.”
She had been reminded of the mission’s difficulty anew from her recent conversation with Yeon Hojeong.
The whole process had flowed smoothly like water, but looking at it coldly, none of it would have been possible without Yeon Hojeong confronting Yang Cheon directly.
“True enough. Young Master Yeon must have worked hard.”
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
“No. Huigae’s right. It was easier than expected. Especially considering the opponent is Yang Cheon.”
And one more thing.
Yang Cheon’s current state is highly unstable.
He could tell just by reading Yang Cheon’s energy.
The higher one’s mastery of inner energy, the more deeply their qi permeated their mind and body. Heart, qi, and body were one with essence, qi, and spirit—if the qi was disrupted, harmony of mind and body inevitably shattered.
Of course, a mere fracture in true energy rarely shook one’s hard-earned realm or broke their spirit.
But Yeon Hojeong was certain Yang Cheon fell into that rare category.
Even with unstable true energy, he wouldn’t handle Empty Air Grasping that sloppily.
Empty Air Grasping itself was a feat only supreme masters could perform. Yang Cheon deserved respect just for wielding it as naturally as breathing.
Yet the flow of inner energy during the technique was far too erratic. It was baffling that he hadn’t noticed his own sloppy control.
Was he like this before? I can’t remember.
Yeon Hojeong could assess Yang Cheon’s state because he had already surpassed that level in the past.
But when he killed Yang Cheon before, he hadn’t reached that height yet. So he didn’t know Yang Cheon’s condition at the time.
Not that he’d had the time or leisure to analyze it back then.
“So, what’s next?”
Paeryul frowned.
“We build up merit by infiltrating, right? But can we really trust the stage Moyong Ga-ju set up for us?”
Jegal A-yeon smacked her lips.
“It’s not bad, at least. We were short on time, and I think it was the best option under the circumstances.”
“Wipe out the Guiju Merchant Group’s merchant procession lingering in Honam Hyeongsan... That procession—was switched out by Moyong Gun with someone else, right?”
“Obviously.”
Jegal A-yeon scratched her head.
“The Moyong family must’ve done business with the Guiju Merchant Group before. It’s not strange since they’re in neighboring regions, and Moyong Ga-ju wouldn’t sabotage this mission anyway. We have no choice but to trust it. Right?”
Jegal A-yeon looked to Yeon Hojeong.
He nodded.
“We have to. And frankly, even if we’re suspicious, what can we do about it?”
“Fair point.”
Gadeuksang’s eyes narrowed to slits.
“You really think that?”
“Hm?”
“Let’s be straight. Among us—or even in the entire Murim Alliance—the one who knows Moyong Gun best is you.”
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
“Misunderstanding. Strategist Jegal probably knows him far better.”
“I don’t think so. If Strategist Jegal is a hawk soaring the skies, you and Moyong Gun are tiger and lion. Only a rival truly knows their competitor.”
“Let’s say that’s true. So what’s the problem?”
Gadeuksang’s eyes gleamed.
“Bit late to say this, but... can we really trust this intel manipulation?”
“Hm.”
Yeon Hojeong stroked his chin.
“The stage is trustworthy.”
“Meaning?”
“No matter what schemes they cook up backstage, the play will end properly.”
The group’s eyes sharpened.
That meant Yeon Hojeong didn’t fully trust the stage Moyong Gun had set either.
Dang Sang-a asked cautiously.
“Then shouldn’t we prepare some countermeasures?”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“We can’t prepare countermeasures without knowing what he’s scheming.”
Paeryul clicked his tongue.
“Whatever plot Moyong Ga-ju’s cooking, we just do our job. If something fishy shows up, we smash it then.”
A very Paeryul-like response.
Yeon Hojeong smiled and picked up his words.
“Elder Brother’s right. Until we know Moyong Gun’s scheme, we just do what we must. And there’s no proof he’s scheming at all.”
Paeryul jutted his chin smugly, as if to say I told you.
“Let’s summarize.”
Yeon Hojeong’s face turned serious.
“From now on, we raid the Guiju Merchant Group’s merchant procession. It’s a fake switched out by Moyong Gun, the mission commander, while the real one slips away secretly.”
Everyone nodded.
Yeon Hojeong continued.
“Their route leads to the White Path Murim Alliance, carrying treasures worth a fortune. We take out the procession and seize all the cargo.”
“One thing I’m curious about.”
Paeryul asked.
“What exactly is this cargo? Why does stealing it alone count as such huge merit?”
“It’s the act of cutting off supplies to the Murim Alliance that matters, not the cargo’s value.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“But your question is valid. Their cargo is worth five years’ budget for a major sect on the level of the Nine Great Clans or Eight Great Gangs—north of the Yangtze, in monetary terms.”
“Gasp!”
Paeryul, Dang Sang-a, and even Jegal A-yeon were stunned.
Five years’ budget for a major sect was an astronomical sum.
Major sects renowned across murim had branches everywhere in the Central Plains. A single branch’s annual budget exceeded that of most mid-to-small sects.
For such a sect with countless branches, five years’ worth was an amount even the massive Murim Alliance couldn’t ignore.
“That much? Even for the mission, is this really okay?”
Even battle-maniac Paeryul hesitated.
Gadeuksang said.
“It’s fine. Moyong Gun gets the Guiju Merchant Group connected to the Murim Alliance in exchange for investing this funding.”
“What’s that mean? Wasn’t the procession heading to the Murim Alliance anyway?”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“The Guiju Merchant Group was bound for Sichuan Province, not the Murim Alliance. The info saying otherwise was fabricated.”
Gadeuksang grinned smugly.
“And we fabricated that info.”
Jegal A-yeon said incredulously.
“Then Moyong Ga-ju used it to set the stage?”
“They started it, but who cares about order.”
“Whoa!”
The three shook their heads in disbelief.
The board had been set perfectly without their knowledge.
Dang Sang-a asked.
“The Guiju Merchant Group isn’t ordinary either. Even if the Murim Alliance is huge, risking that much gold just to trade with them...?”
“That underestimates the Alliance’s influence. It’s the core of Central Plains murim—at least for now. The Guiju Merchant Group wouldn’t want to miss this chance.”
“I-is that so?”
Yeon Hojeong said.
“That’s the rough situation. Honestly, I wondered if I should even tell you this much, but I figured everyone needs to know how things stand.”
Everyone nodded.
They seemed calm on the surface, but inwardly they were shocked.
This mission is on an enormous scale.
A fact they’d overlooked because things had gone too smoothly.
The opponent was Yang Cheon—and by extension, the entire Black Path murim.
Exaggerating a bit, this one mission could upend the entire murim world.
The Guiju Merchant Group’s payout alone proved it.
Spitting out five years’ worth of a major sect’s budget so casually—it drove home the mission’s gravity.
“Now, mission assignments.”
Yeon Hojeong looked at Gadeuksang.
“Huigae, you’ll be the bridge for this operation. Stay here at the manor, analyze surrounding intel in real-time, and relay to us and command.”
“Got it.”
“We’ve scared everyone off under the pretext of no Muk Ryong Bu ties, but stay vigilant. No slacking.”
“Understood.”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes turned to Jegal A-yeon.
She blinked.
“Something for me?”
“This.”
Yeon Hojeong pulled a small letter from his bosom.
“A nearby wild mountain. I’ve already told him, so just bring him here secretly.”
“Huh? Who?”
“Heir of Guicheol Sword Sect.”
“Eek?!”
The group stared at Yeon Hojeong in disbelief.
“What? That monkey was telling the truth?”
“Yeah.”
“Why, why?!”
“I’ll explain later. Key point: don’t reveal we’re from the Murim Alliance yet.”
“...Got it, but why me?”
“You know basic Illusion Formations, right?”
“Of course. What do you take my clan for?”
“He’s a target Black Path informants are hunting with fire in their eyes. Young, hot-blooded, revenge-obsessed, inexperienced—couldn’t make it here alone.”
Jegal A-yeon nodded heavily.
“I get it. Bring him without getting caught by Black Path informants, even if it takes time?”
“Exactly.”
“Fine, but you owe me a full explanation later.”
“Of course.”
Yeon Hojeong looked at Paeryul and Dang Sang-a.
Paeryul spoke first.
“Sorry, but my only skill is swinging a sword.”
He preempted to avoid a soft assignment like the others.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“I know. Never planned to bench you for raiding the procession.”
“Hmph, good.”
“Just one thing: no revealing Jeomcheong Pa techniques in combat. Use purely practical martial arts.”
He turned to Dang Sang-a.
“Same for you. No Tang clan hidden weapons. Even a hint of trace, and we’ll be suspected.”
“Don’t worry.”
Paeryul asked.
“Wait, combat? You said it’s a switcheroo. Even with the stage set, we might actually fight?”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes deepened.
“Possibly.”
Paeryul’s gaze flashed.
“Worried Moyong Gun might pull something.”
“Less a scheme and more... anyway, yes. In case it happens, remember this.”
“Got it.”
Yeon Hojeong stood.
“You’ve all worked hard. This mission ends it—we dive into Muk Ryong Bu’s depths, extract what we want, and head home.”
“...”
“Our roles mean no outside help. Stay sharp.”
Resolve filled their eyes.
Folding his sleeves slowly, Yeon Hojeong said.
“Alright, let’s shake the board.”