Chapter 275
Chapter 275
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 275
Chapter Title: Return (1)
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When I stepped into the Moyong Family Head's quarters.
“Rat... rat poison?”
Moyong Sang showed a momentary flinch of panic.
But he quickly composed himself and spoke up.
“...I have no idea what you're talking about. Did you have a nightmare last night and you're still not fully awake?”
“Does it look that way to you?”
“You should be the one to know. You barge in first thing in the morning, neutralize my guards without permission, enter the Family Head's quarters uninvited, and spout nonsense about rat poison that no one understands.”
It wasn't that he couldn't comprehend.
Even Silver Elder, who had heard every rumor under heaven, said he'd never heard of a spell like the 'Third Eye' I used.
Moyong Sang wouldn't be any different.
'He must have noticed the coffin moving early this morning. But there's no way he knows I was watching everything that happened in this room.'
Plus, I'd compared accepting the Demonic Cult's offer to rat poison.
It wasn't unreasonable for him to twist my words to suit his convenience and deny it.
Of course, from my perspective, it was like watching someone cover their eyes and shout that the mountain wasn't there.
“Kkh.”
A chuckle escaped me.
“You find my words amusing?! I'm only lecturing you verbally because I thought well of you, but this is way beyond acceptable behavior!”
Moyong Sang seized the opportunity, slamming the desk and issuing an expulsion order.
“Leave now! Considering the greater cause we discussed yesterday—the day when the Moyong Family and Pearl Eon Family join hands to reshape the murim order—I'll overlook your rudeness today.”
Of course, I didn't comply.
Instead, I crossed my legs and turned to Peng So-jin, who had come with me to the front of the quarters.
“Sister So-jin. It looks like I need to have a long talk with Family Head Moyong. Please guard us tightly.”
“Got it.”
At my actions, Moyong Sang furrowed his brow and fired off two questions in succession.
“Didn't you hear me tell you to leave? What do you think you're doing? And why did you bring a Peng Family girl? Is this your answer to my proposal?!”
Rather than answering, I recounted the scene I'd heard and seen through the spell engraved on the coffin.
“About an incense stick's time ago, didn't the Acrobatic Troupe's leader visit these quarters?”
“......”
“What did he say to you, Family Head?”
“...Wh-what would performers coming for the Eightieth Birthday Banquet have to say to me? They just wanted a generous performance fee.”
“Hmm. That's not what I think. I bet he said he was from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
“......?”
Moyong Sang flinched at my words.
“And he probably promised to provide people, wealth, and spirit elixirs. All while saying the Moyong Clan once founded a nation in the past.”
He rolled his eyes for a moment.
Then he pointed at me accusingly and spoke again.
“It's a trap! You're trying to tie our Moyong Family to the Demonic Cult and take us down?! Do you think this Moyong Sang will fall for your shallow scheme?!”
At Moyong Sang's behavior, my master was puzzled.
- ...Why is that Moyong bastard suddenly spouting such nonsense? Is he trying to pin his meeting with the Demonic Cult on you, Yong-un?
'It's not scheming so much as he genuinely believes that.'
The situation where I knew the secret conversation in the Family Head's quarters exactly.
'Moyong Sang figures it's more plausible that I sent the Acrobatic Troupe's leader than me spying on that moment. Well, it doesn't hurt us.'
- Doesn't hurt?
The more implausible it seemed, the greater the unknown fear and pressure he'd feel from me.
'Yes. That mindset will have him raising the white flag and offering up the Moyong Family by the end of this conversation.'
I deliberately stroked my chin and spoke.
“You think I sent the Acrobatic Troupe's leader, don't you, Family Head?”
“You're saying you didn't. Then how do you know the contents of that conversation?”
Moyong Sang snorted and retorted, but that was exactly the response I wanted.
I grinned and brought up an anecdote from a classic novel no one in the Central Plains could be unaware of.
“Haven't you read Journey to the West, Family Head?”
“Journey to the West?”
“Sun Wukong wagers with the Buddha on who can reach the end of the world first, flies to the edge, marks five pillars, and returns. But it turns out they were the Buddha's fingers.”
“So you're saying I'm in the palm of your hand right now...”
As I trailed off, just as Moyong Sang's face was turning red and pale by turns,
I recited what Moyong Sang had muttered to himself alone before the Acrobatic Troupe's leader entered the quarters.
“You've been troubled lately because things aren't going well for the family.”
“......?”
“You went all out for the Eightieth Birthday Banquet, but Uncle Peng sent a decorative sword as a gift, which hurt your pride. But dragging Sister So-jin into your backtalk? If you're going to gripe, do it to her face or don't mumble to yourself like that.”
Then, Moyong Sang's face, which had been flushed with anger moments ago, turned ashen, like he'd seen a ghost.
“...H-how do you know that?”
“Is how I know really the important part?”
I didn't miss the moment, pulling out a paper listing several major transactions between the Moyong Family and Lienwang Mansion.
“You seem confused by the situation, so let me summarize for you, Family Head.”
“......”
“The Moyong Family is now on the brink of destruction.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ While Eon Yong-un was coaxing Moyong Sang,
Yin Ha-yeon, Jeong-hyeon, and Namgung Yun were atop a pavilion overlooking the inn used by the Acrobatic Troupe.
Jeong-hyeon and Namgung Yun scanned the surroundings carefully, while Yin Ha-yeon reassessed the enemy's scale.
“Twenty dancers. Two lions, so four. Add the strongmen, leader, and so on... roughly two opera troupes' worth.”
Wu So-rung arrived silently from somewhere, landing on the pavilion with a tense expression.
“The elders have taken their positions. They said to signal when the beggars are ready. They'll charge right in.”
Soon after, Cheon Jang-ho arrived running.
“Sister Ha-yeon. I finished placing a few men in spots they might use as escape routes.”
“Good work.”
“...But is it okay to start without Yong-un hyung?”
“While Eon gongzi is convincing the Family Head, we finished discussing that the Alliance Leader and we would sweep the demons hiding here, right?”
“No, I mean... what if this place has corpse puppets planted like in the North Sea Ice Palace?”
At Cheon Jang-ho's concern, Wu So-rung shivered and spoke.
“Like in the North Sea Ice Palace? Th-that's a bit scary.”
To their worries, Yin Ha-yeon shook her head and replied.
“It's unlikely. As Eon gongzi said last night, there's no sign the Demonic Cult has infiltrated the Moyong Family. Corpse puppets can't be moved or made overnight.”
“Right. I heard the same from the Mosan Sect disciples at Hyangran Hall.”
As Namgung Yun agreed, Yin Ha-yeon nodded and continued.
“With the name of the Horse Defense Banquet known across the land and no place to lean on. In this situation, with so many famed orthodox murim figures gathered in one of the Five Great Families' territory, no high-ranking Demonic Cult heavyweights would come. Probably just disposable contacts...”
“Meaning they sent people who could be abandoned at any time. Origin Sky Lord. How well you understand the value of human life...”
“Let's talk about that after this is over and Eon gongzi arrives. We'll watch and chase anyone who slips away. Shall I signal the Alliance Leader?”
Finishing her words, Yin Ha-yeon raised a blue flag made from a strip of her Qingzhu Hall uniform hem.
BAM!!!!!!
Immediately, Gong Son Mu-gyeol and the strike team members posing as congratulatory envoys kicked open the inn's front gate.
“Pardon the intrusion. I am Gong Son Mu-gyeol, the Murim Alliance Leader. We received a tip about suspicious individuals, so we'll conduct a brief investigation. Your cooperation is requested!”
As Gong Son Mu-gyeol's voice boomed,
Peng Mu-hyeok and the Peng Family warriors burst through the back gate.
“If you're innocent citizens who've lived flawlessly like my brother Mu-gyeol's name, we'll hand you silver after a simple check, so stay calm and hold your positions!”
However, no Acrobatic Troupe members complied meekly.
“...There's no reason for Moyong Sang to make this choice? Ugh. I don't know what's going on, but block them! Buy time! When the Heavenly Demon descends again, blessings will rain upon your descendants for generations!”
“Heavenly Demon's Return!”
“Ten Thousand Demons' Prosperity!!”
They drew their weapons and charged at Gong Son Mu-gyeol and Peng Mu-hyeok.
Swaek! Swaek!!!
Swaaaaek!
Gripping the shields and curved swords from their dances, they menaced Gong Son Mu-gyeol and Peng Mu-hyeok with centipede-like wriggling movements.
Chwararak-
Chwarak-
But it was all futile struggling before the two.
As Gong Son Mu-gyeol's Azure Crimson Sword danced,
Chwak! Chwaaak!!
The ones acting as legs were sliced apart.
Every time Peng Mu-hyeok's black saber scattered dark saber light, the shields serving as backs splintered.
Ttakak!! Ttakak!!!!!!!
Of course, the demons had anticipated such a situation.
Whik!
Whiik!!
A few scattered left and right during the moment their feet were tied, attempting to scale the walls.
“My feelings toward the Moyong Family aren't kind, but you're just rats sneaking in on someone else's feast day.”
From the left, Eon Jeong-ung's fists poured in like lightning after ripping his sleeves.
“You knew who was attending, yet you act like this? Means you're begging to die. I'll grant your wish.”
Peok! Peok!
Peopeok! Peopeok!!!
From the right, Chang Ryang's sword bloomed plum blossoms, shattering the demons' plans.
Swaek! Swaek!!
Swaaaek!!!
The demons fell like autumn leaves in the wind.
Watching, Cheon Jang-ho swallowed dryly and spoke.
“I wondered if we could start without Yong-un hyung, but saying that now... I feel sorry for the Demonic Cult bastards for the first time.”
But Jeong-hyeon and Namgung Yun shook their heads firmly.
“Pitying demons? What are you saying?”
“Jeong-hyeon's right.”
“I'm just saying! I hold plenty of grudges! How many meals did I miss because of them? How many rough paths did I walk?!”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After checking the paper with the ledger, silence stretched between Moyong Sang and me for quite a while.
Peng So-jin sent word.
“Yong-un. So-rung is here.”
“Send her in.”
“Okay.”
Wu So-rung entered and briefly reported on the Acrobatic Troupe raid.
“Hyung Eon! We captured one, wiped out the rest!”
“Good work. No injuries?”
“None! With Professor Chang Ryang and the fathers flashing east and west, they all dropped!”
“The captured one? Those guys could make their blood vessels explode for self-destruction.”
“Oh, don't worry. We sealed the acupoints, bound the limbs, and gagged him.”
“Good job. Tell the Alliance Leader this conversation will take a bit longer.”
“Yes!”
After sending Wu So-rung back,
Moyong Sang bit his lip until it bled, then spoke to me.
“What do you want?”
I replied sternly.
“The question itself is wrong. If this ledger's contents are revealed, what will Lienwang Mansion and the Northern Guard Post think of the Moyong Family?”
“......”
“And you made contact with the Demonic Cult too? The Moyong Family has lost the trust of both court and murim now.”
At my words, Moyong Sang protested.
“I-I had no intention of joining hands with the Demonic Cult! They just came to me!”
“My palm says you looked intrigued when the Acrobatic Troupe's leader arrived.”
“......”
“Well, that's not the point. The Moyong Family has accumulated karma. How far do you think such excuses will get you?”
“......”
“So don't ask what I want. You need to tell me yourself how much you're willing to offer.”
Silence returned.
I smirked and continued.
“For starters, the chest of gold bills hidden under the desk. Hand it over.”