Chapter 345
Chapter 345
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 345
Chapter Title: No Time for That (1)
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Thanks to Yin Ha-seong, we turned our attention to Guiyang, the provincial capital of Guizhou Province.
'On the map, it's quite a distance from our current location in the Chu Commandery... but factoring in the well-maintained official roads and the distinctive calm waterways connecting them, it falls well within range.'
I went over Guiyang's information in detail alongside Yin Xia Lian.
"Miss Yin. Looking at the data passed on from the Beggar Clan here."
"Yes, Young Master Eon."
"Even considering it's a provincial capital, the population seems excessively high, doesn't it?"
"It's a transportation hub where four provinces meet from all four directions—east, west, south, and north."
"So, lots of transient traffic from merchant groups and escort agencies?"
"Yes. Plus, it maintains spring-like temperatures year-round, so the resident population is high to begin with. Not hot in summer, not cold in winter. And their baijiu white liquor is renowned across the land, so there's plenty of work too."
"Hm. The ironclad rule for hiding something is to pick either a completely desolate backwater or, conversely, a bustling hotspot..."
"Guiyang is a noisy metropolis, so it fits the latter. The places we scouted in Guangdong would be the former."
I stroked my chin as I spoke.
"That rat Gil-jun is inherently shady by nature, so he'd definitely try to hide his lair right under a bright lantern like Guiyang..."
"Tricky. I think the spots we narrowed down in Guangdong have merit too."
"What's tricky about it? We check both sides."
"Ah? How do we split the manpower?"
"Both his methods and my gut say the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's central base is in Guiyang. We'll handle that. Leave Guangdong to Yang Jin-mu."
At my words, Yin Xia Lian furrowed her brows in response.
"...Deputy Leader Yang. He's trustworthy as a person, but the opponent is a demonic cult. Is that alright?"
"He's been reflecting nonstop on nearly botching things back at the ancestral shrine out of excitement. Should be fine. My instincts are screaming that the core base is in Guiyang beyond a doubt, but just in case, we're assigning him there. Give him the lay of the land on demonic habits, and have Ong Yong-i join him when he returns."
"Mm. If that's the case, then yes."
"Any other locations besides Guiyang that could fit this profile?"
"We already narrowed Guangdong, Yunnan is too far, Hunan has limited passes so it would have tripped our checks... Other cities in Guizhou are too small. None."
"Double-check just to be sure."
As I finished speaking and stood, Yin Xia Lian followed up.
"Where are you going?"
"Gonna chat with Ha-seong. My take leans on gut, so go over it meticulously with the others one more time and organize it."
I answered as I gazed toward Yin Ha-seong.
"Ha-seong, come here a sec."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I strolled through the inn's rear garden for a bit with Yin Ha-seong tagging along leisurely.
Master posed a question.
-What do you want to talk about?
'Wondering what to do with this guy.'
-Suddenly? Didn't you praise him for doing well today?
I was about to reply to that.
'Not just about today...'
Perhaps frustrated by the silent walk, Yin Ha-seong swallowed dryly and spoke up.
"...Uh, Brother Yong-un? Did I do something wrong in the meantime? I don't think I did anything."
This wasn't something I could decide alone anyway.
It was an issue that required hearing from the person himself, Yin Ha-seong.
Instead of answering Master, I directed a question at Yin Ha-seong.
"Ha-seong, why do you keep following me around like this?"
"...Pardon? Who's the only one following you around, brother? Shout 'Anyone who wants to meet Eon Yong-un' outside Wang City and you'd get ten thousand easily. And you're asking me, who's served you the longest?"
"True, you've stuck with me the longest... Good point. Let's think back to the very beginning. You weren't like this originally, were you?"
"...?"
"Weren't you a wastrel on par with me? Thought money bought everything, lived lavishly and wildly. Hui Province's top playboy, even treating your sister Miss Yin like a joke..."
"Argh. Why bring up those days out of nowhere? I was happy thinking I'd been helpful somehow, but guess I screwed up without knowing. Sorry, brother."
I continued toward the bewildered Yin Ha-seong.
"No particular screw-ups. Just purely curious. Purely."
"Purely?"
"Yeah. That initial resolve to enter the Righteous Martial Academy—wasn't that more your parents' will than yours?"
"...Pretty much, yeah?"
"Exactly. You got in safely. Swallowing the Silver Radiance Merchant Group whole would be tough with Miss Yin around, but graduate halfway decently and you could live cushy in Hui Province. So why chase after me like this?"
"..."
"Ha-seong."
"...Yes?"
"The battles ahead won't be easy at all."
"Nothing so far has been easy, has it?"
At Yin Ha-seong's retort, I gazed northwest toward Guiyang and the Ten Myriad Great Mountains as I replied.
"This will be even tougher. Cheol's joined our fold, but you think seizing the Blood Cult will be easy?"
"...No."
"The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? We've foiled several of their plans, but that'll have them out for blood. Their reserves in the Ten Myriad Great Mountains are still no joke. If the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult moves as one, a third of the world turns to ash."
"...Yeah."
"You really get it? Of the nine coming with us to Guangxi this time—including you—three might die. Real skill-based odds, and you're definitely in that three."
As I spoke, I briefly recalled the original protagonist's generation.
'Those closest to me were all originally people staking their lives against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.'
Among them, the original Woo So-ryeong wasn't even Jeong-hyeon's close friend. But he harbored righteousness in his heart.
Thus, he died opposing the cult with his specialty.
The others went without saying.
But Yin Ha-seong was someone I'd essentially dragged into this game myself.
'If I'd let him fail the Righteous Martial Academy entrance exam... this wouldn't have happened.'
I hadn't agonized much over the choice that led here.
Suddenly, Yin Ha-seong grinned.
"Ahem."
"What? Why the grin?"
"Well, the great Yong-un of the world is worrying about me right now, isn't he?"
Hearing him, it really was that kind of talk.
"Hmph."
"..."
Seeing his smirking face irritated me into a curt reply.
"...Don't care if you die, just worried about the student council exec spot suddenly going vacant."
"Heh. Got it. Yes, that must be it."
"...I'll just kill you now."
It was then that Yin Ha-seong, uncharacteristically serious, spoke up.
"...There was a time I was utterly shameless. Didn't even know the word shame. Back in Hui Province, seeing you, brother, I thought that."
"What?"
"That you were a total bastard off the family registry, yet only strict with me."
"And?"
"But the more I saw you, the more ashamed I felt of everything about myself. Wondered how to live to shed that shame. Nothing came to mind. Still don't really get it. So I gave up thinking."
"...Boastful."
"Your fault, Brother Yong-un."
"How's wandering brainless my fault?"
"Just... Following you made me think I wouldn't live like that. So I quit thinking. Thus, you gotta take responsibility?"
"...Bullshit."
"You'll always charge ahead. I won't think of running alongside. No impatience either. But diligently following from behind... in those grueling battles you mentioned, couldn't I contribute somehow? Like today."
His calm words made me realize Yin Ha-seong wasn't just envious or impatient of the others.
I spoke as we walked back toward the inn.
"Alright, got it. Called you out 'cause you seemed antsy lately. Mindset's not bad. You can absorb the Black Forest Earth Dragon's neidan too."
"Gasp! Counting the Guizhou idea as merit?!"
"Said it was your share from the start. Just checking your resolve."
"Not testing if I'd balk so you could hog it...?"
Smack!
"Ow!"
"Always one extra word!"
"Aaaack!"
"The rod!"
"Aaaack!!!"
"As punishment! Back to your room, strip the top, sit cross-legged. I'll tell Dang Ok-gi to hand over the neidan."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ong Yong-i flew diligently, delivering Eon Yong-un's note to Dokgo Cheol.
"!"
Dokgo Cheol hurriedly reported upward.
Dokgo Cheol had recently gained considerable special status within the Blood Cult.
Thus, his report skipped numerous layers of clerks, reaching the hands of Serpent King, Blood Demon's closest aide, in just a few steps.
And finally, Blood Demon's ears.
"Serpent King. Is it certain? That brat Nangjung Demon Lord—barely dry behind the ears—dares target this seat?"
"...Yes. Dokgo Cheol obtained the report Eon Yong-un sent to the academy side."
"That Song Gil-jun. Hearing he was under confinement, I had him off my mind entirely, but Demon Brain that old coot had this scheme? Should've seen it when he meekly accepted his disciple's punishment..."
Gnashing his teeth at Demon Brain, Blood Demon suddenly chuckled thinking of the reporter, Dokgo Cheol.
"By the way, Dokgo Cheol's the real deal. Didn't expect much at first."
"Yes. Thanks to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's church lackeys stirring things up, he piggybacked into Eon Yong-un's side and's playing his role to perfection."
"If this intel's legit, it's a huge contribution."
"Reporting like this instantly shows even deep in orthodox later-gen hearts, he remains unswayed with loyalty to our cult. Truly our cult's fortune."
"Watch him more, and when we openly declare war on the world, give him a heavier role."
"Yes. But how should we handle Song Gil-jun?"
"Handle what?"
"This subordinate is obtuse..."
To Serpent King bowing for orders.
Blood Demon gnashed his teeth again as he spoke.
"Show them the consequences. Make it crystal clear messing with us brings nothing good. If they underestimate us... when we go independent, both Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and orthodox and unorthodox will pile on."
"Yes."
"Earlier than planned, but we need to show intent to split."
"Then, assault and sabotage all Heavenly Demon Divine Cult dens across the land?"
"That'd draw not just Left and Right Seats but even the Cult Leader from training. They'd abandon everything to come at me—no."
"Then?"
"Chu Commandery's in uproar, so Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's hand for sure. Jiangnan. Especially Guangdong and Guangxi. Ransack all confirmed bases around Yang Province."
"Understood."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having fully analyzed the demonic cult bases, we split into three groups.
"Deputy Leader Yang. Count on you."
"Don't worry. I'll coordinate with Beggar Clan regional reps, focus on intel without rash moves."
"Good. Ong Yong-i, stick close, no sulking."
Slurp!
Yang Jin-mu's group and Ong Yong-i headed to Guangdong.
"Senior, take care. Not a small role."
"Yes. I don't see it as minor or light. Worry not, junior."
Senior Ye Ha-su stayed in Chu Commandery as comms hub.
The rest—my brothers and I—disguised ourselves and set off.
Crossing mountains and rivers northward toward Guizhou for quite some time.
We arrived at Guizhou City, uniquely fortified with five straight-connected main gates.
"Step aside everyone! Caravan coming through!"
"Hungry folks, head to Gui Jinju Tavern!"
As we stepped into the ceaselessly bustling city.
Cheon Jang-ho drooled as he spoke.
"You saw the five gates earlier. This Guiyang blends five regions' cultures, so food scene's truly exotic... Slurp."
Namgung Yun scowled and scolded.
"Got any sense? Thinking food now?"
"Argh, wasn't me, so I stopped, didn't I?"
Cheon Jang-ho grumbled lowly.
'Can't just roar 'Song Gil-jun, come out!' like a lion.'
To find demonic bases in this vast city, needed Haomen and Beggar Clan aid.
'Haomen first.'
Beggar Clan just needed to show creds.
I chuckled as I spoke.
"Nah. Let's eat."