Chapter 337
Chapter 337
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 337
Chapter Title: The Alliance in Peril
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“...The Blood Shadow Squad and Ghost Shadow Squad that were sent to the Ami Sect were either annihilated or taken prisoner. Only a tiny number managed to escape...”
In the quiet grand hall, the Four Brains Mad Dragon's dry report echoed hollowly.
“...And just moments ago, urgent news arrived that Pungri and the Black Ghost Squad Leader are dead, with some of the Black Ghost Squad deserting the unit entirely and fleeing.”
As the Four Brains Mad Dragon recited the latest urgent reports, an even chillier atmosphere settled over the already somber hall.
Smooth—
White Cloud twitched his eyebrows, lowered his two feet from the table, and opened his mouth.
“What? Pungri's dead right now?”
“Yes.”
Hearing the Four Brains Mad Dragon's reply, White Cloud drummed the table and let out a hearty laugh.
“Ha! The world's ending, I tell you, the end times. For that tenacious bastard with nine lives to finally kick the bucket.”
White Cloud, who had been laughing, suddenly grabbed the wine flask at his waist and poured it straight into his mouth.
Gulp, gulp.
Having downed the entire flask in one go, he flung the empty bottle backward with a flick and spoke.
“Ahh! So, who killed that bastard? Some Murim Alliance expert? It can't be that Plum Blossom Sword Saint again, right?”
“We still haven't identified the culprit.”
“What, you haven't figured it out?”
White Cloud clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk, what a mess. Even gathering intel's this slow in the middle of a war. No wonder we're losing ground to the Murim Alliance...”
As White Cloud spoke sharply, as if drunk on liquor,
“Interesting.”
A voice laced with amusement cut in.
It was the voice of the Evil-Black Alliance Leader, who had been silently propping his chin while listening to the Four Brains Mad Dragon's report.
“The Evil-Black Alliance, which once dominated the world through terror, has fallen into such a pathetic state.”
“...”
As White Cloud shut his mouth with a displeased expression, a deep silence blanketed the hall.
Yet despite their clearly tense reactions, the Evil-Black Alliance Leader continued to wear a smile.
One corner of his mouth twisted upward.
It was a sneer.
“It seems like about the last three years or so. In that time, the mighty Six Phantom Gates became the Five Phantom Gates, the Seven Witches became the Five Witches. Who in the world could have foreseen that even the Immortal Heaven Cult Leader, who seemed like he'd live forever, would meet his end.”
At the Evil-Black Alliance Leader's words, the faces of the six others, excluding the Four Brains Mad Dragon, twisted in grimaces.
But not one of them dared to speak.
Because the speaker was none other than the Evil-Black Alliance Leader.
“In this war, our losses outweigh our gains.”
The Evil-Black Alliance Leader glanced with his eyes.
Toward the Four Brains Mad Dragon standing right beside him. Meeting that glance, the Four Brains Mad Dragon nodded slightly in affirmation.
As the Evil-Black Alliance Leader said, in this war, what they had lost far exceeded what they had gained.
“You mentioned before that the Nangong Clan was making a move. What happened with them?”
“They attacked the Mansu Gate to settle a grudge. Even with nearby unorthodox factions helping, they'll likely be defeated.”
The Four Brains Mad Dragon's voice was indifferent as he spoke of defeat.
It was only natural.
The Nangong Clan was one of the top prestigious families among the Eight Great Clans.
No matter how much the Mansu Gate and nearby unorthodox groups assisted, the gap was too vast.
“It looks like the Low Heaven Society is joining the fray as well.”
“Yes.”
“Intriguing. With all three of the Nine Provinces Hegemon Clans moving to tip the balance...”
The Evil-Black Alliance Leader smiled faintly.
“What does the strategist think?”
The Evil-Black Alliance Leader asked, still smiling, his gaze fixed solely on the Four Brains Mad Dragon.
Treating the six other experts seated around him as if they weren't even there.
“How do you see this war turning out?”
“Our alliance's odds of victory are six out of ten.”
The Four Brains Mad Dragon answered firmly.
“That's unexpected. Aren't we currently being pushed back by the Murim Alliance?”
“Yes. However...”
The Four Brains Mad Dragon stared at the Evil-Black Alliance Leader.
His eyes gleaming brilliantly.
“You are here, Leader.”
The Evil-Black Alliance Leader twisted his lips.
“You're overpraising this seat.”
“It's simply the truth.”
The Four Brains Mad Dragon spoke calmly.
“But if the Low Heaven Society intervenes, our odds drop below one in ten.”
“Hah, that's an exaggeration.”
“Isn't that too low?”
“Below one in ten?”
Voices erupted from all sides.
Most bristling in disbelief at the Four Brains Mad Dragon's words.
“Why?”
The Evil-Black Alliance Leader ignored those reactions entirely.
He simply asked the Four Brains Mad Dragon.
“Though the Low Heaven Society has clashed with the Murim Alliance, they are still a righteous faction.”
That was all he said.
Everyone fell silent.
They understood instantly.
The conflict between righteous and unorthodox factions wasn't decades old—it spanned over a thousand years.
“Your thinking aligns with mine.”
The Evil-Black Alliance Leader said calmly.
“If the Low Heaven Society joins, they'll target us over the Murim Alliance. There's a long-buried grudge between them and us.”
Muttering to himself, the half-lidded-eyed Evil-Black Alliance Leader lightly tapped the table with his index finger.
Tap, tap.
The short, staccato sound echoed.
Soon, he spoke again.
“So, in the strategist's view, what should we do now?”
At the Evil-Black Alliance Leader's question, the Four Brains Mad Dragon slowly regulated his breathing, his eyes flashing.
“Even if it means taking immediate losses, we must end the war as quickly as possible—before the Low Heaven Society can intervene, even if it's just one moment sooner.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Ahh, this wine hits the spot.”
Juwolhyang watched the young man freely downing the liquor poured by Cheonghwa and Honghwa beside him, struggling to relax her furrowed brow.
The young man across from her wasn't just drinking the liquor poured by the courtesans without hesitation—he was savoring the meat in the dishes as well.
Naturally, as if it were the most obvious thing.
To the point where it looked utterly familiar.
And the youth was undoubtedly doing this to make others perceive him exactly as she was now.
'What a terrifying man.'
Juwolhyang shuddered.
Goosebumps had already risen on her skin.
A chill had overtaken her entire body.
The man before her was frighteningly meticulous.
There was no other way to describe him.
Who in the world would ever imagine it?
That the Mount Hua Sect Daoist, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint who had amassed renowned feats in the current era, would enter a brothel to drink liquor poured by courtesans and eat meat.
'Even if it's to hide his identity, for a Mount Hua Sect Daoist to act like he's enjoying liquor and meat...'
Her throat convulsed sharply.
From time immemorial, Daoists had abstained from liquor and meat.
It was the law and precept of the Daoist path.
Yet the Plum Blossom Sword Saint before her was utterly defying those Daoist precepts.
It was unprecedented.
Even she, who had already identified him as the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, momentarily doubted her own judgment at the sight.
'A man who would break even Daoist precepts for his goals...'
Sweat beaded on her palms.
This opponent was no ordinary man.
Hadn't she seen it with her own eyes?
The otherworldly prowess he displayed, effortlessly handling Pungri and the Black Ghost Squad, as if splitting heaven and earth.
Juwolhyang, who had been watching Cheonhwi, slowly closed her eyes once, then opened them.
Composing herself.
Perhaps because of that.
With her tension somewhat eased, she immediately knelt on her knees. Then, clasping her hands politely toward Cheonhwi across from her, she bowed her head.
It was a courteous gesture that flowed naturally from her body, honed over long years as a courtesan.
Watching her actions, Cheonghwa and Honghwa instantly sensed something amiss and retreated from the spot.
As the two women left the room.
“Thank you for answering this girl's summons, great hero.”
Juwolhyang said in a soft voice.
Cheonhwi, who had been enjoying his liquor and food, slowly turned his gaze toward Juwolhyang at her words.
With an impassive look in his eyes.
Cheonhwi had already sensed she had some ulterior motive when she summoned him.
It had only been three days, after all.
She could have called him anytime during that period, but doing so only now clearly meant she had uncovered something before summoning him.
'She already knows my identity.'
It was only natural.
The Hao Clan was an information sect rivaling the Beggars' Sect.
She had probably suspected something the moment he returned with the Jade Kirin and Cheonjeong Squad.
The three days must have been time to confirm it.
'But calling me now means she plans to do something...'
Cheonhwi stared at the back of Juwolhyang's bowed head and tossed out casually.
“So, what did you call me for?”
Juwolhyang flinched momentarily.
She had expected some polite exchange after her courteous greeting, but it was straight to the point.
“I requested your presence to repay a debt of gratitude.”
Juwolhyang said, striving for composure.
“Thanks to your subordinates' aid, the courtesans of our house were able to preserve their lives.”
“That's why you called me?”
“Yes...”
“But... no, it's really strange. If you wanted to repay the favor, why call only me and not the ones who actually saved them... It's odd.”
Cheonhwi lowered his eyes and continued.
“You know what I hate? People beating around the bush.”
Juwolhyang jolted.
The flat voice piercing straight to her brain from her ears was enough to drain the color from her face.
Then, feeling the stinging gaze on the back of her head belatedly, she spoke urgently.
“I'm sorry. The truth is, I wished to see you today to explain and prevent any possible misunderstanding, hence humbly requesting your valuable time.”
Having poured out her words in haste, she raised her head, met his eyes, and continued.
“As you know, our Hao Clan has always sold information to anyone who pays the proper price, without regard to whether they are righteous, unorthodox, or even from the wild tribes.”
The corner of Cheonhwi's mouth curved up slightly.
'So that's it.'
He had grasped the gist of what she intended to say.
“In other words, the Hao Clan only did business with Pungri, the Black Ghost Squad—no, the Evil-Black Alliance. That's what you're getting at, right?”
Juwolhyang nodded immediately.
“Exactly.”
It was the most important point for her.
The Hao Clan was a neutral sect.
But if the Murim Alliance got the wrong idea from this incident—that the Hao Clan was affiliated with the Evil-Black Alliance or allied with them—it would spell trouble.
Hence, it needed to be made crystal clear.
“Hmm, how am I supposed to believe that?”
Cheonhwi narrowed his eyes and asked.
“If we had joined hands with the Evil-Black Alliance, we wouldn't have informed you great hero in the first place that they visited every few days.”
Juwolhyang answered the question as if she had been waiting for it.
It was a question she had anticipated.
Cheonhwi chuckled.
“Fair point.”
Juwolhyang breathed a sigh of relief at his response.
The conversation was proceeding as she had planned.
'At least he listens to reason...'
As she thought it fortunate at Cheonhwi's affirmation,
“But that's exactly what you were aiming for.”
A cold voice suddenly rang out.
“Using Pungri and me.”
“...!”
Cheonhwi's voice carried a mocking edge. Juwolhyang, her eyes widening in shock, quickly composed her expression and opened her trembling lips.
“Wh-what do you mean...?”
As she tried to play dumb,
“An expert's senses are vast. This entire building is like putty in my hands.”
Cheonhwi half-lidded his eyes and murmured lowly.
“Gasp...!”
Meeting his gaze, Juwolhyang swallowed dryly.
His eyes were utterly cold and transparent.
Though the room's doors were firmly shut, facing those eyes made Juwolhyang feel as if a blizzard had assailed her.
'He overheard that entire conversation with Jeokyang back then...'
As she paled in horror,
“I'll let it slide, so prepare horses and carriages. With all the merchant groups around here, that much should be quick to arrange, right?”
Cheonhwi shrugged at the frozen Juwolhyang and said.
Juwolhyang's eyes trembled slightly.
As the Hao Clan branch leader, even in her agitated state, she instantly grasped the implication of Cheonhwi's words.
This was a deal.
“How much do you need?”
“Ten carriages and a hundred horses.”
“...!”
Juwolhyang's eyes bulged.
It was a considerable amount.
She could prepare it if she tried, but it would cost a fortune.
“Why? Is something lacking?”
“M-money...”
Seeing Juwolhyang hem and haw, Cheonhwi furrowed his brow and spoke.
“Short on funds?”
“I'm sorry. Repairing the damaged Hwacheon House has racked up expenses lately...”
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
“Just need money?”
“Y-yes.”
“Can you get it in one day?”
Juwolhyang nodded vigorously.
If she scoured the nearby merchants and villages, it was entirely feasible.
“Then sell my information.”
“...!”
Juwolhyang's eyes flashed wide.
“Ar-are you sure?”
“Doesn't matter.”
When she asked somewhat anxiously, Cheonhwi replied nonchalantly.
“Thank you.”
Juwolhyang bowed deeply once more.
The fact that the Plum Blossom Sword Saint had visited this place, and the prowess he displayed here, were still unknown intelligence in the current murim—information more valuable than gold.
More than enough to cover the horses and carriages, with plenty left over.
“I'll prepare everything by tonight.”
As she spoke and moved to rise, she hesitated, then turned to Cheonhwi.
“You've shown such consideration, great hero; our accounts won't balance yet. Please visit our sect later so we can properly settle the remainder.”
Cheonhwi chuckled.
Her intentions were plain as day.
She intended to forge some connection with him, by hook or by crook.
“If I need information later.”
Erasing the chill, Cheonhwi tossed the light words at her casually, then rose from his seat.
And vanished in an instant.
It felt like a dream.
Juwolhyang stared blankly at the spot where Cheonhwi had been, then jolted upright and raised her voice.
“Jeokyang! Time is of the essence!”