Chapter 59. Justification for War (3)
Gadeuksang stopped in his tracks. He stared at Yeon Hojeong's back with weary eyes.
“Huff. Huff.”
His breathing was ragged. His upper body heaved repeatedly.
But that lasted only a moment.
“Hooo.”
He regulated his breath with astonishing speed. His exposed neck and forearms burned bright red. He'd pushed his entire body to the brink with extreme exertion, overheating every muscle.
Wooong.
A subtle dark blue energy enveloped Yeon Hojeong's body and circulated around him. It was Bi-ra Jin-gyeol.
Gadeuksang asked with a stiff expression. “Did you kill her?”
Crack! Yeon Hojeong yanked his axe free and slung it over his shoulder.
“As if.”
His face, having already reined in his killing intent, was utterly expressionless.
Gadeuksang hurried over to Myeong Onji.
“Gasp... Gasp...”
Myeong Onji's condition was beyond horrific. Her entire upper body was riddled with axe wounds. The gashes were so deep that at least five or six ribs had to be shattered. Her right arm was gone from the elbow down, and her face bore cuts from the axe's fierce wind pressure. And that face was frozen in utter, soul-shattering terror.
Ruthless.
Better to have killed her than leave her like this. Myeong Onji might heal physically, but her mind was broken beyond repair.
The one mercy was the minimal blood loss. She must have cultivated some special martial art.
“You turned her into a rag doll,” Yeon Hojeong said indifferently. “What about the rest?”
“Got 'em all.”
“Good.”
“Damn good. For now.”
Gadeuksang, who had been glaring at Yeon Hojeong with hardened eyes, let out a sigh.
“I get you're pissed, but cool it a bit. You nearly killed her, y'know?”
“But I didn't.”
Isn't that enough?
Gadeuksang was speechless.
...Well, par for the course, I guess.
Both the Moyong family and the Myeong family were hell-bent on smashing his clan to pieces. Clear-cut enemies from Yeon Hojeong's view. For a guy with his temper, not killing her was a miracle.
“One was unavoidable.”
“Huh? What're you on about?”
“One died.”
“...!”
He'd gone and stirred up trouble after all.
Gadeuksang dropped any thought of pressing him. What was done was done. Now they needed to wrap up the rest as fast as possible.
“Let's move her first. Damn! Called a doc just in case, and now it's gonna cost a fortune.”
Gadeuksang had set up a temporary small manor. He had all the captured spies bound there.
After watching them carry Myeong Onji away, Yeon Hojeong trudged to the forest entrance near the manor and flopped down carelessly.
Thump thump.
His racing heart showed no sign of slowing. Nor did the fury that had ignited at the sight of her martial art.
But his mind was ice-cold.
It's getting serious.
Myeong Onji headed the Myeong family's intelligence network. But intelligence was just that—intel. Even as Myeong blood, they wouldn't send direct lineage into spying.
She wasn't the family head's child. Yet she knew that martial art.
What did that mean?
They said they were raising a Death Sword. Him or her, both disposable pawns in the end. So they had her learn it as an experiment first.
Spot-on judgment. Not from white path knowledge, but from understanding power-hungry tyrants.
Their greed knew no black or white.
In other words...
They're preparing.
The Myeong family would attack the Yeon family. That much was certain. But unlike his past life, he'd rooted out every Moyong spy this time. So the Moyong side would try to bury Yeon before the world caught wind.
With Jiangsu's info locked down, him showing up in Henan, and now capturing an entire Myeong intel cell...
“Gotta gather more.”
Yeon Hojeong looked up. Gadeuksang was strolling over at a leisurely pace. Looked like wrapping up one big job had eased his tension.
“You did good, but we can't stop here. One rumor won't rein in the Myeong family—they're too damn strong.”
“What about Huigae?”
Gadeuksang's face grew serious.
“Eh, they'll sniff it out in five days tops. Three if you figure their home turf.”
“Yeah.”
“Just got word—the Yeon patriarch asked the Beggar Sect to probe for Myeong-linked groups in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.”
Sound judgment. They wouldn't topple Yeon without a base there. Establishing one was just as crucial.
There had to be Myeong sympathizers in Jiangsu.
“But too late.”
“Yup. Minimum a month just to investigate.”
Gadeuksang pondered briefly before asking, “How 'bout this instead?”
“What?”
“Master knows about this too. Might be worth asking him.”
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed. Gadeuksang's master meant the current Beggar Sect leader.
“We weren't plannin' to blow it up right away anyway. Told the Myeong side they can't just provoke us lightly, so we'd quietly dig into their dirt first.”
“Right.”
“Been combing businesses and intel outfits linked to Myeong since we hit Shanggu, but no solid dirt yet.”
“How long?”
“Dunno. Things changed since last check—recent events. They're clamping info down iron-tight.”
Gadeuksang smacked his lips.
“So I'm thinkin' of askin' master to step in. He's half-retired, preppin' succession, but he won't say no to this.”
Makes sense. The Beggar Sect's aid was as renowned as Shaolin's mercy.
But is that okay?
No details on the master—just vague memories of an “excellent” leader.
That's the problem.
In the white path Murim, “excellent” often meant not too radical.
This needed aggression—thorough, utter annihilation so they never rose again.
Deep in thought, Yeon Hojeong blurted, “What do you think?”
“Huh? 'Bout what?”
“Nine Provinces Myeong versus Moyong family. Which harder to topple?”
Gadeuksang scowled. “Why the sudden question?”
“Just say it.”
“Hm, like askin' if tiger or lion's tougher...”
“Then think which one's in a more precarious spot.”
“Sheesh.”
Grumbling but pondering. Yeon Hojeong didn't waste words on nonsense.
Which harder to topple?
After mulling it over, Gadeuksang answered. “Just my take...”
“Huigae's take?”
“Mm, gotta be Moyong.”
Unexpected. Myeong outpowered them, yet Moyong was tougher?
“Why?”
“History. And public opinion.”
“Same here.”
The Nine Provinces Myeong earned big merit in the Blood Cult War three centuries back. But merit doesn't guarantee growth. They built power through grit, skyrocketing their martial arts. That took two hundred years.
Then, as a central Murim powerhouse, they shone for another century.
“Yeon and Myeong have shorter histories than other great families. History means foundation. Big power with shallow roots is always more vulnerable.”
“Exactly.”
“So Myeong's easier prey. Plus, their rep's in the gutter.”
The Myeong family chased endless expansion. Fine for sects, but they crossed lines. And as white path, not black. To white Murim, it reeked of worldly greed.
Despite near-Shaolin might, worst-rated among the Seven Great Families: Myeong.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.
Can't smash both at once.
Obvious. Even at Black Emperor peak, tough without a base like Heukje-seong.
Plus...
Even if possible, for the future, double burial was a bad move.
Three Sects!
Yes. The Mad Faith Three Sects would invade someday. To stop them, needed an exceptional ruler like Moyong Woo.
No mercy post-alliance, but right now, pre-meeting, nuking Moyong was foolish.
Saneumgyo alone turned half Murim to a blood sea. Need Woo for the rest.
Immediate revenge mattered, but looming catastrophe too.
Then...
Killing intent settled on Yeon Hojeong's face.
Smash Myeong first.
Perfect. Moyong sent spies, but Myeong actually toppled the family. He'd seen the killers—Myeong took priority.
Personal rage, future calculus: both aligned.
So?
“Enemy of my enemy is friend.”
“Huh? What's that mean outta nowhere?”
Yeon Hojeong fixed Gadeuksang with chilling eyes.
Gadeuksang flinched involuntarily.
This guy's gaze is no joke...
Scarier than blatant killing intent. Like it peeled back your soul layer by layer.
“I'm toppling Myeong.”
“Know. If you can pull it off.”
“With your help, I can.”
“Wha—huh?”
“Won't hurt you. Rock-solid justification. Boosts Beggar Sect's fame too.”
Gadeuksang flushed red with anger.
“You see me as some fame-whore?”
“Chasing fame a sin?”
“...?”
“Everyone's got greed. We're no mountain ascetics—is wanting fame a crime?”
“Uh... no, but... anyway, that's not me.”
“I know.”
“You know and still—!”
“Know. But for the future, you need fame. To nail worse scum.”
“...!”
Seriousness dawned on Gadeuksang's face.
“What the hell you plannin'?”
“Send a pigeon first.”
“Pigeon? To who?”
“Moyong Gun.”
“...!!”
“Right now.”
I'll use every tool available.