Chapter 290
Chapter 290
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 290
Chapter Title: It's a Festival, Huh? (5)
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A performer playing the role of the monster dragon, with white skin, thick drawn eyebrows, and a gold-foiled dragon horn affixed to his forehead, giving off an immortal-like aura.
He wore a blue robe and sang with elegant steps.
"The man-eating ghost named Manwu, having sold his soul to the wicked ghosts of the Western Heavens and learned the taste of human flesh, is now targeting the people of this land..."
The performer playing Manwu, with a blackened face, red paint around his eyes, and a large horned hat, snorted like a raging beast and scraped at the ground.
"Snort. Snort."
Then, leading with his horn, he charged at the monster dragon.
Swoosh—
The monster dragon, as if unintentionally, muttered to himself and dodged the charging Manwu with the slightest movement.
"Hmm. I must catch this fiend before he torments the people... but what am I to do?"
His movements were so precarious that the audience seemed completely immersed, watching the scene intently.
"This won't do. I must consult the Heavenly Sovereign in the heavens to find out where this vile creature is now."
With that, as the monster dragon closed his eyes, placing both hands on his temples as if awaiting a message from the heavens, leaving himself defenseless...
"Snort. Snnnooort."
The children in the audience shouted urgently.
"Monster Dragon! Watch out!"
"Behind you!"
The moment those cries burst out...
Manwu kicked off the ground.
Whoosh—
The monster dragon once again narrowly dodged the horn and turned toward the source of the shouts with a grin.
Then he began pummeling Manwu—slapping his cheeks and kicking his rear.
The audience erupted in laughter and cheers at the sight.
"Hahaha!"
"Punish him more!"
"Monster Dragon is the best!"
"Manwu, you idiot!"
"Monster Dragon! Monster Dragon!! Monster Dragon!!!"
The performance itself seemed to be going exactly as planned.
However, since it was a puppet show designed to humiliate Manwu, it inevitably painted my side in a very flattering light.
'This is a bit embarrassing.'
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of shame.
Ye Hae-su sunbae, who was watching the performance with me, snorted and spoke up.
"I was worried we didn't have enough time to polish the script, but everyone's loving it! Once the festival and Sacheon matters wrap up and things quiet down, how about refining it further and performing in other provinces too?!"
"Pardon?"
"If we stage 'Dragon Subdues Manwu' in other provinces, your fame as a junior will skyrocket even more. The gazette's popularity will rise with it. Sounds good, right?"
"...I'll consider it positively."
It was then that Dang Ok-gi poked my side and spoke.
"Having fun?"
"...With what."
"You get to look all cool and heroic."
"...Can't you see I'm embarrassed?"
"You wrote the script for that puppet show yourself."
"Strictly speaking, Ye Hae-su sunbae wrote it. I just did some editing."
"Anyway! Me, Jeong-hyeon, and Namgung Yun nearly died fighting the Black Immortal Demon Army, and you get to be the star. Namgung Yun, Jeong-hyeon, isn't that right?"
Dang Ok-gi pointed alternately at the two who'd fought the Black Immortal Demon Army alongside her.
Namgung Yun nodded in agreement.
"Since it's a play, it makes sense they'd portray it that way... but even so, since the monster dragon is depicted like an immortal, we could've at least been his attendant boy servants or something."
Jeong-hyeon chuckled and soothed them both.
"Plays are meant to be easy to understand by nature. Especially this one, with the clear goal of venting the Moon King's Household's frustration. By the way, Eon gongja. The performers' acting is top-notch."
"Tell me about it. Worth every coin we spent. It'll leave a stronger impression than I expected."
Eun Ha-seong, who'd been listening, nodded vigorously.
"Man, Yong-un hyung is incredible. How does he come up with stuff like this? If Manwu's master, that Dao Wolma guy, sees this play, it'll twist his guts inside out. You're a master at pissing people off."
"...Was that a compliment?"
"...Well, sort of?"
It was then that U So-reung, who'd been quietly watching the play, spoke up.
"Eon hyung. But... is it okay for us to be doing this?"
"If it were okay, we'd be doing it."
"Now that you mention it, if Dao Wolma sees this play, he won't just sit still, right?"
I answered U So-reung's question.
"We're moving venues starting tomorrow. Today is the premiere, so it's fine."
"I see."
"Yeah. Dao Wolma wouldn't patiently stay holed up in Sacheon alone... He'll have Nangjung Demon Army Song Gil-joon with him, and that cautious bastard won't be in the capital right now. Probably hunkered down in some nearby small town or fortress."
"Ah, so no one's rushing in immediately."
"Right. If any Demonic Cult guys are watching this, it'd be some low-level scrub at best. The real demon heavies haven't even heard about the play yet."
Eun Ha-seong tilted his head curiously.
"But hyung, then doesn't this play fail at that 'fury-boiling scheme'?"
"The incitement ploy?"
"Yeah. Dao Wolma has to see this play to get his insides churning, right?"
"For now, yes."
As I nodded, Jeong-hyeon, who'd been listening quietly, furrowed his brow.
"And in the future? Even if Nangjung Demon Army reports it, he'd probably hide it from Dao Wolma."
"You're right, Jeong-hyeon. Song Gil-joon will try to bury it. If Dao Wolma hears about this play, he won't be able to control himself."
"Then shouldn't we take some measures?"
"Exactly. We need to make sure the play's content reaches Dao Wolma's ears somehow. That way, the fight starts on our terms."
At my words, Master asked telepathically.
- You have some scheme in mind?
'Nothing that grand. Just doing everything we can. We've confirmed the play's content and the audience's reaction. Time to move.'
I spoke to my younger brothers.
"With that in mind, So-reung and Namgung Yun, you two stay here. Come with me, you two. Ok-gi, you're in charge of the street stall today."
"Namgung Yun I get, but So-reung is so quick on his feet, we'll notice he's gone."
"...Ahem."
As Dang Ok-gi spoke and Namgung Yun cleared his throat awkwardly...
I gazed at a group of beggars and gisaeng among the audience watching the play and spoke again.
"It probably won't take long. We'll handle it within the capital."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ An old saying goes: even a thousand jewels are worthless unless strung together.
If the play was the jewels, spreading it to reach Dao Wolma's ears was the stringing.
To entrust that task, I first needed to meet the Beggars' Sect Sacheon Branch Leader.
The Sacheon Branch Leader was a six-pocket beggar named Jeong Ryuk.
Since he was also watching the 'Dragon Subdues Manwu' performance, the meeting happened immediately.
"Murim Prodigy Eon Yong-un greets Senior Jeong."
"Murim Prodigy U So..."
"Murim Prodigy Namgung..."
"Why bow so formally to a beggar scum? Skip the pleasantries. You have business—let's head to the branch."
We moved to the Sacheon Branch.
Jeong Ryuk briefly asked after No Sam and Cheon Jang-ho.
"How are No Sam senior and that Jang-ho punk?"
"The professor is well. Jang-ho's been working hard lately too."
"Makes sense. With you and Cheongjuk shaking the world with your fame, No Sam's probably grinning ear to ear. Jang-ho that lazy donkey working hard? That's a surprise."
Then he got straight to the point.
"So, you came to ask me to spread the word about today's play?"
"Haven't even brought it up, and you already guessed."
"It's been a while since I ate scraps, but I still know the score. A play to turn the Demonic Cult's stomachs inside out. Want me to shout it from the rooftops?"
However, I shook my head.
"No. I have another way to spread the content."
"Then? What do you need from us?"
"With the Dang Family festival drawing beggars to the capital, I know. Just heighten vigilance and reporting around the other big and small towns outside here, and for rumors, keep it to 'a fun play in the capital festival' for now."
"...Hmm. Got it. But that 'other way' you mentioned... is it this?"
Jeong Ryuk wrote a dirty 'o' character on the floor as he spoke.
As I nodded, he stroked his beard briefly and spoke again.
"Then head to Soksul Noodle Shop. Find someone named Dongmae there."
On the way out of the branch toward Soksul Noodle Shop...
Namgung Yun spoke to me.
"I thought you'd use the Beggars' Sect to spread the play."
"If beggars go blabbing the content, it's too obvious. His rage needs to fill his head—no room for reason."
"But isn't Haomen part of the Unorthodox Alliance?"
"Namgung Yun, don't see the world in black and white. The gisaeng sisters cheering your hawking, the errand boys handing water—the weak and lowly banding together is Haomen."
"...I'll keep that in mind. What I meant was, even if it's unorthodox, will Cheon Dok Valley, fellow Unorthodox Alliance members involved this time, cooperate?"
It was then U So-reung spoke up.
"Namgung hyung, don't worry. You were with Eon hyung in Ankyung last summer vacation, so you might not know, but Haomen and Eon hyung's ties run deep."
"Really?"
As Namgung Yun showed interest...
U So-reung recounted how I'd given herbs to the beggar kids.
Namgung Yun then muttered something inscrutable at me.
"Even unjustly exiled from your clan, realizing heart-and-heaven... What are you, really..."
By then, we'd arrived at Soksul Noodle Shop.
I reined in the two.
"Alright, my connections are in Habuk and Namjikye branches. As Namgung Yun said, Haomen is under the Unorthodox Alliance. Stay sharp."
"...Ah. Yes, Eon hyung."
"Got it."
"Right. If things go south, Namgung Yun guards my back, So-reung runs to the adults."
With that, we entered Soksul Noodle Shop.
"Anyone here?"
"We're closed for the festival. We set up on the main street, so..." Huh? Aren't you the Monster Dragon?"
"You know me?"
"The stalls run by Righteous Martial Academy cadets are the talk of the town. I watched from afar. What brings you to our humble shop?"
"Dongmae. I seek an audience with the son of the Haomen Lord."
"...He's out on business right now. Must it be today?"
"Yes."
"Then please wait in the back room. I'll fetch him."
We sat in the back room briefly.
"I'm Dongmae, acting head of the Sacheon Branch."
A middle-aged man in chef's garb, hands dusted with flour, arrived and spoke.
He was the one selling thin noodles near our street stall.
"......"
"......"
U So-reung and Namgung Yun gaped.
I got straight to business.
"I have a request for you, Acting Head."
"Hahaha. Namgung gongja and U gongja are shocked, but not Eon gongja. They say you didn't blink before Dongjeong Chongho, the Unorthodox Alliance Leader. As rumored, nerves of steel."
"You're too kind. Anyway, I need Haomen's help."
"Sacheon's been chaotic lately—our disciples dropping like flies. But this festival has everyone smiling."
However, as Dongmae deflected, our conversation danced around.
I caught his intent and spoke.
"You're refusing."
"Hahaha."
"Chun-aeng from Taeho Branch once said Haomen owes me. Help with this, and we'll call it even."
"The debt from Taeho is the thread binding Dragon and Haomen. Erasing it isn't what the Lord desires."
"Then help us. If not this, not that, I'll have to spread that Haomen lacks honor."
"Ha ha. I'd love to befriend the Dragon. But Sacheon's situation is tricky for us. As you know, we're Unorthodox Alliance with Cheon Dok Valley. Betraying the alliance endangers all Haomen under heaven."
"I'm not asking you to betray the Unorthodox Alliance for the Sacheon Dang Family."
"Then?"
"We staged a puppet show called 'Dragon Subdues Manwu' at today's festival street stage. Just spread the word about its content."
"...Hmm."
"People buzzing about a hit play—how is that betraying the Unorthodox Alliance?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In So-hwa lands, where the Demonic Cult's leadership plotting the Sacheon invasion had coiled up.
This area was a waypoint for capital folk heading elsewhere by land.
Thus, trends from the Sacheon heartland capital spread here fastest.
"Saw the festival posters, thought it'd be some big bash. Never seen anything like it in my life."
In a noodle shop at So-hwa fortress center, people back from the capital festival chattered.
"More than sightseeing—it was educational. Sacheon Dang taught poison countermeasures. First time I learned boiling dogweed helps against sores."
The errand boy serving food slyly asked.
"What was it? Yongho Sangbak or something? That play was hilarious?"
"Idiot, Yongho Sangbak's an idiom. The play's Dragon Subdues Manwu!"
"Ah! Right, Dragon Subdues Manwu!"
"Yeah, that was the best. Maybe 'cause I'd heard of the Monster Dragon in the gazette?"
"True. The lyrics the performer sang are still ringing in my ears."
"Sing a bit?"
"Shall I? Calf, oh foolish calf! You stuck your head in not knowing the Blue Heaven Monster Dragon—don't blame anyone when your head rolls."
That snippet became a hit tune, spilling from children racing neighborhood to neighborhood.
And drunks belting it out.
"Calf, oh foolish calf..."
"What melody assaults this Lord's ears right now?"
It was the moment Yang Gyu—revered as Dao Wolma in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—flipped his eyes in rage.