Chapter 404
Chapter 404
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 404
Chapter Title: The Poison Toad Sect
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The banquet hall of the Nakyeong Inn, Gongchang Prefecture.
Bu Eun-seol, Tae Mu-ryong, and Jeong Jong-do were seated at a large table.
“You were right, Commander.”
Tae Mu-ryong spoke first.
“On the surface, it appeared that the disciples were clashing because the sect leaders didn't get along… but upon investigation, the situation was entirely different.”
He was reporting his findings to Bu Eun-seol.
“The heirs of the Gogeom Sect and the Nagyeong Sect had fallen for each other and were meeting in secret. As a result, the relationship between the two sects had improved to the point where there was talk of a merger.”
For two sects, each with entirely different histories and martial arts, to merge was, in fact, nonsensical.
But it was possible for the Gogeom Sect and the Nagyeong Sect because they shared the same roots.
“They are both new sects with less than two hundred years of history, and their martial arts stem from the same origin… If the two were to be betrothed, it would only be a matter of time before the sects merged.”
Tae Mu-ryong calmly continued his explanation.
“However, due to some incident, the two lovers had a major falling out and became enemies. In their anger, they ended up attacking each other, and both were severely injured. This is what caused the Gogeom and Nagyeong sects to turn into sworn enemies.”
“I see. Did you investigate the cause of the dispute?”
“From what we’ve gathered, it seems an external force was involved.”
This time, Tae Mu-ryong answered Bu Eun-seol’s question.
“Near Angang, adjacent to the Gogeom and Nagyeong sects, there is a demonic faction called the Poison Toad Sect. They have been covetously looking to expand their influence toward Gongchang Prefecture.”
“Hmm.”
“But the presence of the Gogeom and Nagyeong sects has prevented them from easily extending their reach. If the two sects were to merge… not only would they be unable to ever look toward Gongchang Prefecture again, but a powerful, untouchable sect would be born.”
Tae Mu-ryong said with a grave expression.
“From the Poison Toad Sect’s perspective, they would have wanted to prevent the merger at all costs, even if it meant their own demise. Therefore, there is a high probability that the Poison Toad Sect was involved in causing the dispute between the two sects.”
“Are you certain?”
At Bu Eun-seol’s question, Tae Mu-ryong shook his head with a regretful look.
“We haven’t had enough time to find clear evidence of the Poison Toad Sect’s involvement. But if you give us a little more time, we will definitely find it.”
After hearing the full explanation, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
In truth, he had also secretly mobilized the Soul-Severing Brigade’s intelligence network to investigate the reason why the Gogeom and Nagyeong sects were fighting to the death.
However, Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do had gathered their information by running around and conducting inquiries themselves. Despite that, they had obtained and analyzed the information with remarkable speed and accuracy.
Aside from failing to secure evidence on the Poison Toad Sect due to a lack of manpower and time…
Their ability to handle information and predict situations was truly on par with that of a commander of any secret intelligence unit.
‘It means their insight and strategic thinking are outstanding.’
“You’ve worked hard.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded and said.
“But there is no need to investigate further.”
He then took out two scrolls and handed one to Tae Mu-ryong and the other to Jeong Jong-do.
“What is this?”
“It is evidence that the Poison Toad Sect was involved in the dispute between the two heirs.”
Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do were greatly surprised and unrolled the scrolls.
Written within was a detailed account of how the Poison Toad Sect had cunningly schemed to drive a wedge between the two heirs, leading their relationship to ruin.
“They framed one of them, making it seem like they had deliberately approached the other to steal their sect’s unique martial arts.”
Tae Mu-ryong’s mouth fell open as he read the scroll.
“With this evidence, we can persuade the two heirs and immediately stop the fighting between the sects.”
Jeong Jong-do asked, his mouth agape.
“But how did you obtain this information?”
“Merchants are the most sensitive to information.”
A faint smile touched Bu Eun-seol’s lips.
“As soon as I received the mission, I borrowed the strength of an intelligence organization that assists our merchant guild.”
Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do looked at each other, dumbfounded.
If he had already obtained this evidence, he could have just summoned the two heirs, presented the facts, and had them reconcile. That would have ended the matter.
By doing so, he could have quickly passed the Martial Alliance’s test and become a commander… so why did he go through the trouble and expense of assigning the investigation to them?
“You were training us.”
Tae Mu-ryong nodded as if he had realized something.
“That to solve any case, one must first verify the right information. And how to obtain that information and how to process it.”
Bu Eun-seol smiled warmly.
“That’s right. In the future, you will be handling many tasks on my behalf. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to practice in advance through this opportunity.”
Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do’s eyes widened.
Only now did they realize that the man before them was not just the heir to a merchant guild… but a man of outstanding experience and strategic intellect, capable of outwitting the leader of any ordinary sect.
“However, even with this evidence, it won’t be easy to meet and persuade the two of them.”
Bu Eun-seol looked at the two men and spoke calmly.
“From now on, you will each go to the Gogeom Sect and the Nagyeong Sect and make secret contact with the heirs. And if you can arrange a meeting for them to clear up their misunderstanding…”
Bu Eun-seol smiled.
“This mission will end in success.”
***
The Martial Alliance, Grand Council Hall.
This place was originally where the supreme leaders under the Martial Alliance Lord gathered to discuss important matters.
But now, the Grand Council Hall was occupied only by the leaders involved in the establishment of the new brigade, such as Brigade Commander Yuk Jang-cheon and Gu Jeong-in, an elder from the Mount Hua Sect.
“I hear the provisional brigade led by Seon Wu-jin, the heir of the Seonhwa Merchants, has cleanly mediated the dispute between the Gogeom and Nagyeong sects.”
Yuk Jang-cheon said, looking at Gu Jeong-in.
“It turns out the Poison Toad Sect was involved in the conflict between the two sects. They sowed discord between the heirs, who were lovers, and turned them into mortal enemies.”
Gu Jeong-in showed no reaction to the subsequent words.
“It seems that Seon Wu-jin is the right person to be the commander of the Pinnacle Brigade we are establishing.”
As Yuk Jang-cheon pressed the point, Gu Jeong-in finally spoke.
“But was it his ability that resolved this matter?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Didn’t Hwa-in summon the two sect leaders and have them publicly reconcile? When their fighting continued despite that, Seon Wu-jin simply reaped the benefits and obtained the information.”
Gu Jeong-in was spouting nonsense again.
“What if Hwa-in hadn’t stepped forward first to reveal that their fight was not a simple matter? The point is, Seon Wu-jin would never have been able to resolve this so easily.”
Yuk Jang-cheon barely suppressed a scoff and opened his mouth.
“Elder Gu. Let me be frank with you.”
“About what?”
“I acknowledge that you put the most effort into the establishment of the Pinnacle Brigade. As a result, it was placed directly under the Council of Elders.”
“…”
“But isn’t the reason for creating the Pinnacle Brigade to handle the various miscellaneous tasks that the Martial Alliance’s sword brigades cannot? This means we need someone who is not only skilled in martial arts but also resourceful and quick-witted.”
Yuk Jang-cheon sighed and said.
“I am well aware that you had Cheon Hwa-in in mind for the commander of the Pinnacle Brigade from the beginning. I, too, agreed that he, as a former Grandmaster of Justice, has the potential to lead the Pinnacle Brigade well.”
He continued with an utterly serious expression.
“But if a more capable person has appeared, shouldn’t the position of commander naturally go to him?”
Gu Jeong-in was silent for a moment before nodding.
“Of course. If he is a person of superior ability who surpasses Hwa-in, then he should naturally become the commander.”
“In that case…”
“However, this incident did not clearly show that he is a more capable person than Hwa-in.”
Gu Jeong-in avoided his gaze as he spoke, as if he himself knew he wasn’t being entirely forthright.
“The mission from the start was to end the conflict between the Gogeom and Nagyeong sects, was it not?”
He paused for a moment before continuing.
“Ultimately, if the Poison Toad Sect is the culprit, it means that unless they are dealt with properly, the conflict could arise again.”
Understanding Gu Jeong-in’s meaning, Yuk Jang-cheon furrowed his thick brows and shook his head.
“Elder Gu. This is a provisional brigade whose members have not even been properly assembled yet. How can they possibly defeat them?”
“Even if they can’t defeat them, couldn’t they push back the influence that has extended to Gongchang Prefecture? Handling various matters without using force is also the job of the Pinnacle Brigade.”
Gu Jeong-in said with a shameless expression.
“To make the Poison Toad Sect withdraw its forces from Gongchang Prefecture and receive a written oath that they will not invade this side. Let’s make it so that the one who accomplishes this becomes the commander of the Pinnacle Brigade.”
Yuk Jang-cheon remained silent for a moment.
It was an unreasonable demand not worth considering, but he hesitated for only one reason.
The mission Gu Jeong-in proposed was an excellent way to verify the abilities of a commander for the Pinnacle Brigade.
‘The Poison Toad Sect is definitely the culprit behind the clash between the Gogeom and Nagyeong sects…’
After a moment of thought, Yuk Jang-cheon nodded.
“Very well. This is the absolute last time.”
He then opened his mouth with an extremely serious expression.
“At our next meeting, we should not be discussing the selection of the commander, but rather deciding the direction in which to lead the Pinnacle Brigade.”
Gu Jeong-in nodded as if it were a matter of course.
“Of course.”
***
—The Poison Toad Sect’s scheme was behind the fight between the Gogeom and Nagyeong sects.
—Make the Poison Toad Sect withdraw its forces from Gongchang Prefecture and receive a written oath that they will never invade again.
The one who accomplishes this will be considered to have completed the mission.
Another directive came down from the Martial Alliance.
The culprit behind the incident between the Gogeom and Nagyeong sects was none other than the Poison Toad Sect.
Therefore, the Martial Alliance stated that the completion of the mission was to obtain a written oath from the Poison Toad Sect that they would never extend their influence toward Gongchang Prefecture.
“It’s starting again.”
Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do, who had received the directive from the Martial Alliance, bit their lips.
“Elder Gu is deliberately playing tricks.”
No matter how insignificant a demonic sect the Poison Toad Sect was, it had over three hundred disciples.
With just the three of them, there was no way to threaten or persuade the Poison Toad Sect.
But Cheon Hwa-in had been assigned twenty martial artists from the Martial Alliance, all skilled and experienced in the martial world. And most importantly, didn't he have the Mount Hua Sect behind him?
“Wasn’t this mission designed with the backing of the Mount Hua Sect in mind from the start?”
Jeong Jong-do said as if spitting out the words.
“On the surface, a brigade of twenty will go to the Poison Toad Sect, but behind them, it’s as if the Mount Hua Sect itself is there. The leader of the Poison Toad Sect will never be able to defy Cheon Hwa-in’s words.”
Tae Mu-ryong also spoke with a grave expression.
“That’s right. It seems the Martial Alliance is determined to appoint Cheon Hwa-in as the commander of the Pinnacle Brigade.”
After they finished speaking, the expressions of the two men were dark.
Seon Wu-jin was skilled in both martial arts and strategy.
But no matter how outstanding a person was, he alone could not defy the pressure of those with immense power.
“How about we report this injustice to the other leaders of the Martial Alliance?”
Tae Mu-ryong said, clinging to a sliver of hope.
“The Martial Alliance has the Hall of Justice and the Inspection Hall. If we tell them about the absurdities that have happened so far…”
“Impossible.”
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“For something like this to be possible, it couldn't have been Elder Gu Jeong-in’s decision alone. The leadership must have discussed and agreed upon it.”
At his firm words, Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do lowered their heads.
They knew it too.
That there was no way, no matter how hard they tried. That all their efforts so far had been nothing but a meaningless struggle.
But they had held onto the thought that perhaps, with Seon Wu-jin, a miracle might happen.
Now, even that hope had been shattered.
“Is it really necessary to join such a dirty and petty Martial Alliance?”
Jeong Jong-do said, as if to console Bu Eun-seol.
“Why don’t you establish a Seonhwa Sect instead? With your abilities and funds, Commander, you could make it one of the leading factions in the martial world within ten years.”
“That’s right. Then we could also follow and serve you for the rest of our lives, Commander, couldn’t we?”
When even Tae Mu-ryong agreed, Bu Eun-seol smiled warmly.
What if these had been the commanders of the Four Shadow Brigades?
Even if it meant their mutual downfall, they would have somehow devised a scheme to strike a blow against the leadership.
But perhaps because these men were from the orthodox faction, their thinking was very upright.
Moreover, despite having worked together for barely a fortnight, they possessed a deep sense of loyalty, enough to pledge their allegiance to Bu Eun-seol.
“Don’t worry.”
Bu Eun-seol said as he rose from his seat.
“That won’t happen.”
“Pardon?”
“Because I will solve this mission and become the official commander.”
“How do you mean?”
Averting Jeong Jong-do’s gaze, Bu Eun-seol looked out the window and said.
“If the enemy wields power to perpetrate an injustice, shouldn’t we resolve the matter by matching them?”
“In that case…”
Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do looked at each other, their eyes wide.
They thought Bu Eun-seol would use the connections of the Seonhwa Merchants to solve this matter.
—Can he do that with the merchant guild’s connections?
Though they had their doubts, they weren’t particularly worried.
Because of the results Bu Eun-seol had shown them so far.
“But Cheon Hwa-in would have rushed to Mount Weinan, where the Poison Toad Sect is located, as soon as he received the mission.”
Tae Mu-ryong said, as if remembering something.
“They will be faster than you can ask for help from other factions, Commander.”
“It’s fine.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes curved into crescents as he smiled.
“They will end up on a fool’s errand.”
Bu Eun-seol, who had risen from his seat, said.
“I will handle this matter alone. The two of you should return to the Martial Alliance immediately.”
He then took out three thin booklets from his robes and held them out.
“Go back and master these. And the remaining one, pass it on to the new members you will receive later.”
Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do were greatly surprised as they opened the booklets.
What Bu Eun-seol had given them were martial arts and movement techniques that would compensate for the shortcomings in their own skills.
And the martial arts to be taught to the brigade members were also far superior to the techniques practiced by ordinary Martial Alliance warriors.
“How on earth did you get such techniques?”
“Financial power can accomplish more than you think.”
Bu Eun-seol wore a faint smile.
“Return to the Alliance and train. I will take care of this.”
Only then did Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do realize one thing.
The superior they served was not only formidable in martial arts and strategy, but also possessed some kind of unknowable backing.
“We will obey your command.”
Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do unknowingly bowed deeply and clasped their hands.
***
The Poison Toad Sect.
A demonic sect located on Mount Weinan in Shaanxi.
From the name, one might think they primarily use poison, but in reality, they specialize in swift saber techniques.
They were a second-rate saber sect within the demonic faction.
Nevertheless, there were two reasons why it was named the Poison Toad Sect.
The first was because the Poison Toad Sect always coated its blades with a deadly poison.
The second was because they primarily used the Ground-Sweeping Saber Style, which involved dropping flat to the ground to execute their techniques.
Before they unleashed their Ground-Sweeping Saber Style, their prone posture resembled a poison-bearing toad, which is how they came to be called the Poison Toad Sect.
Having conquered the Mount Weinan area with their bizarre poisons and ever-changing saber style, the Poison Toad Sect constantly sought to expand its influence toward Gongchang Prefecture.
However, because two sects of similar scale, the Gogeom Sect and the Nagyeong Sect, stood in their way, their attempts had repeatedly failed.
The Poison Toad Sect, Hall of Lingering Shadows.
This was the residence of the Poison Toad Sect’s leader, the Poison Sword of the Striking Hand, Gwak Gu.
He was fond of women and had never spent a single night alone. Having just finished a vigorous session, Gwak Gu was in a deep sleep, embracing his favorite concubine.
*Ping.*
But something was strange.
A very faint sound of something cutting through the air was heard, and then the soft body of the concubine he was holding suddenly stiffened like a log.
“Who’s there!”
Feeling the strangeness, Gwak Gu sprang from the bed in a single motion.
Then, within the darkened bedroom, a black shadow stood tall, looking down at him.
“Who are you!”
Gwak Gu’s thunderous shout was imbued with internal energy, powerful enough to shake the entire Poison Toad Sect.
Normally, his subordinates should have heard the sound and come running. But strangely, the surroundings were as silent as a grave.
“Don’t hold out useless hope. No matter how loud you scream, the sound won’t travel outside.”
Only then did Gwak Gu feel the faint ripple of true energy surrounding his quarters.
The shadow had astonishingly created a wall of true energy to block the sound.
‘An opponent I cannot face.’
To surround a space with a wall of true energy to block sound required at least three cycles of sixty-year cultivation.
Gwak Gu bit his lip, realizing that the shadow before him was a peerless master he could never hope to touch.
But he was the leader of a sect and a seasoned veteran who had survived numerous near-death experiences.
Even knowing the shadow’s formidable power, he spoke in a dignified voice.
“A truly great master. What is it that you want?”
*Ssk.*
Instead of an answer, the shadow took a step forward from the darkness.
Then, the face of a young man, reflected in the moonlight streaming through the window, became visible.
His features were so beautiful that the moon goddess herself would have lowered her head in shame.
But his dignified eyes held a reddish glint, and his entire body emanated an aura powerful enough to prop up the heavens.
“The Martial Soul… Lord?”
Gwak Gu’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.
As the leader of a sect, he was naturally well-versed in the appearances and information of major figures in the demonic faction.
Especially the young, new-generation grandmaster, the Martial Soul Lord, who had completely overturned the existing system and atmosphere of the Demonic Cult and was forging his own new path.
Why would such a fearsome figure, whom no one in the demonic faction could now be unaware of, suddenly appear in his chambers?