Chapter 346
Chapter 346
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 346
Chapter Title: No Time for That (2)
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My Eon brothers and I were disguised as escort warriors protecting the Yang family's noble daughters.
When I suggested we go grab some food, Cheon Jang-ho smirked, his lips stretching to his ears, and teased Namgung Yun.
"Hey, even Yong-gu hyung says let's go. Brother Nam, you really don't know how to enjoy life. Don't you know the saying 'Mount Oak after a meal'?"
"……."
In the meantime, Master sent a mental message.
- Yong-un, you're not suggesting food just because of that 'Mount Oak after a meal' saying... Thinking about eating at a site where Demonic Cult bastards might be? What a peculiar situation.
'They say a crafty fox has three dens.'
- A sly rabbit digs three burrows... You're worried the Demonic Cult bastards will slip away.
'Yes. They've probably set up their safe houses that way from the start. There'll be a central hub and lookout posts acting as sentries.'
If we strike the central hub first, the lookout posts would naturally crumble.
But if we did the opposite, everything would fall apart completely.
'Well, we have some time.'
Now that Eung Yong had returned, the Blood Cult would surely start moving.
But considering their compartmentalized structure, we still had two or three days of leeway.
'I'll use that time to tighten the net and strike.'
It would be ideal to catch that Gil Jun bastard, but at minimum, we needed evidence that the Lian King's Hall had joined the Lesser King's Hall in the raid.
'Combining our analysis with on-site intel and opinions will complete the net.'
Having sorted my thoughts, I knocked on the window of the carriage we were escorting.
Knock knock-
The carriage door cracked open slightly, revealing the faces of Yin Xia Lian and Dang Ok-gi, disguised as the Yang noble daughter and her maid.
"Miss. We brought meals into the carriage en route, but our timing's off, so we skipped lunch. May we drop you at the inn and then take turns at a restaurant?"
Staying in character, I conveyed the message to them.
Dang Ok-gi, who had been teasing me nonstop the whole way, spoke up.
"Chief Steward Yong. The miss spoils you rotten, and now you're full of yourself. Just grab scraps—why a restaurant?"
"...Dang Dan. Butt in when you should, stay out when you shouldn't."
After bickering with Dang Ok-gi for a bit.
Yin Xia Lian, grasping my intent, sent a mental message.
[You're going to meet the Hao Gate, right?]
I grinned to affirm it, and she nodded before speaking.
"Dang Dan, why are you giving our hardworking escorts such a hard time?"
"...Ah, Miss."
"Come with me. That way, no need to split shifts and bother."
"We're grateful."
"To the Noble Pearl House. It's known for being clean with neat dishes. I've been wanting to try it."
"As you command."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We headed to a restaurant believed to be run by Chu Yeop, one of the Hao Gate's deputy leaders, Autumn Leaf.
"Welcome! Noble Pearl House, Gui Ju's finest restaurant! How many?"
"Eight. Got a quiet spot?"
"As you see, it's packed, so noise everywhere. But we have a secluded room partitioned off. You'd need to order generously, though..."
"That one."
"Yes, sir. Follow me."
The waiter guided us smoothly to a private room with his affable chatter.
"Here, have some tea first. Top-grade black tea from Yun Nam. Now, what dishes?"
"Bring everything you're confident in."
"Price no object?"
"Price doesn't matter... Come here a sec."
I beckoned the waiter closer.
"Yes!"
I sipped the tea he'd given earlier and wrote characters on the table with the dregs.
Scribble scribble-
First, the "dirty" o for Hao Gate business. Then mu for Mok, chung for Spring, dong for Winter.
The waiter's face changed as he asked back.
"...Pass it on just like this?"
"Yeah."
"Got it."
I nodded, and he bowed before leaving the room.
Master messaged again.
- The 'dirty' o makes sense. But Mu Chung Dong? What’s that mean?
'Mu is Sect Leader Mok Geuk-yeom's surname. Mentioned with Hao Gate, it means summon the top brass.'
- Then Chung and Dong are aliases of other deputy leaders you've met.
'Yes. Pinpointing Spring Swallow and Winter Plum. Any Hao Gate executive will know who's coming.'
As I answered.
Cheon Jang-ho grumbled.
"When I heard Noble Pearl House, I had hopes. But no food after all... Should've known. My fault for trusting Yong-un hyung..."
His genuinely disappointed tone made me speak.
"We'll eat. Didn't you hear me say bring everything they're proud of?"
"You also signaled you want to talk to Hao Gate. No food then, right?"
"I'll handle the talk. We revealed who we are, so they'll serve even more lavishly. You guys just eat."
"...As expected of Yong-un hyung. Such depth. I misunderstood. Heh heh heh!"
Laughter spread among me and my Eon brothers at his instant pivot.
We sipped tea for a moment.
Clack.
Clack.
The waiter returned, carrying large covered trays in both hands.
He placed them in the center of our table, uncovered them, and left.
"Nothing beats stir-fried pork with peppers as a restaurant staple! Dig in!"
Stir-fried pork with peppers—Qingchao pork.
The tray he left bore a message in red and green peppers.
'One hour later, fourth floor.'
Confirming it, I mixed the dish with chopsticks and offered to my brothers.
"Eat up."
As Dang Ok-gi checked for poison.
Jeong Hyeon spoke.
"You said we should eat without you earlier. Planning to meet that Chu Yeop alone?"
"That was to cheer up Jang-ho. Hmm... Still deciding."
Yin Xia Lian furrowed her brows and said,
"You know this, but Chu Yeop, who handles 'Autumn' in Hao Gate's Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter, is said to have a temperament just like yours, Young Master Eon."
"...Like me? Not even personality, but temperament? Lady Yin. That sounds pretty negative."
"Just your imagination."
Dodging my question briefly, she continued.
"Deputy Leader Chu Yeop is very suspicious. There's a difference, though. Young Master Eon actively resolves suspicions, but Chu Yeop won't move until they're cleared."
"...I know the story."
"Yes. With Sect Leader Mok valuing his connection to you, they're unlikely to cause trouble, but just in case..."
"I'll bring a few. Better for contingencies."
"Yes."
"Then Ha-seong and So-rung come with me."
"Yes!"
"Okay!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ An hour later as promised.
I took Yin Ha-seong and U So-rung up the stairs to the fourth floor.
"Follow me."
Reaching the top of Noble Pearl House, we entered the innermost private room on the fourth floor.
Knock knock-
A handsome young man in fine robes, surrounded by escorts with impressive auras, came into view.
Our eyes met, and he cupped his hands in greeting.
"I'm Chu Yeop. I rarely show myself unless it's serious, so forgive me for receiving a guest here."
"Understood. As you know, Eon Yong-un. This face is in disguise."
"An honor to meet Hao Gate's benefactor. But the famed Dragon of the Yellow River—I expected you alone... With companions?"
"I'm suspicious too. You call me benefactor, but your escorts look ready to kill. This room seems rigged with traps too."
"Hahaha. I'm a bit suspicious myself."
"Hahaha."
Watching us, Yin Ha-seong whispered to U So-rung.
"...Heroes recognize heroes, huh? They're so alike."
"Is that the right expression?"
As U So-rung retorted.
Chu Yeop explained why he had to be suspicious.
"Frankly, I'm shocked. Thought you were in Guangxi, but suddenly here in Gui Yang seeking me. What's the matter?"
Behind his cautious demeanor and eloquence, he was probing for info first.
I chuckled dryly.
"If even Hao Gate missed our movements, it's not info to share lightly. Testing me?"
"...Apologies. Lifelong info broker—it's my natural tone. But to help, I need to know what the Dragon seeks."
Not wrong.
Even if Hao Gate refused, they wouldn't leak what I shared.
I got straight to it.
"One of Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's core bases is planted here in Gui Yang territory. Mobilize your Gui Ju branch to pinpoint its exact location. Without leaks, of course."
Chu Yeop pondered, then spoke reluctantly.
"I was grateful for aiding the beggars at Tai Lake. Blocking Demonic unrest in Sichuan protected our brothers too."
"……."
"Mother advised treating the Dragon as benefactor, but it's guidance, not mandate. Protecting branch disciples is Hao Gate's top priority."
"...Refusing?"
"Yes. If we dig up what you want... Heavenly Demon Divine Cult will retaliate. You can't stay and protect us. Our disciples are mostly ordinary folk who can't withstand demonic reprisals. If permitted, I'll pretend I heard nothing."
At that.
I decided to offer more info.
'That the Blood Cult will bite the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.'
No need to hide what the world would know in days.
"No time for that."
"...How can you be so sure?"
"Among Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's great demonic heads is the Heaven-Shaking Blood Demon. His faction will split off."
"What?!"
"Exactly as said. Internal strife in Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Gui Yang branch won't spare a thought amid the chaos."
"Sounds imminent. Did I understand right?"
"Not just imminent—two days at most, five at latest."
"!"
"Few in the world know. Huge intel."
"...Seems so."
"If Gui Ju branch cooperates and gets me what I want, we'll hand over all Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's local shops to you."
"……!"
"You wanted to pretend you heard nothing. I'll pretend I didn't hear that refusal. Answer again. Care to work with me?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After deliberation, Chu Yeop accepted.
The Beggar Clan cooperated smoothly as expected.
"Can't defy the Clan Leader or Third Elder unless we want a beating. What first?"
I tasked Beggar Clan with external news and people traffic.
Hao Gate to find base-identifying documents.
As intel piled up, lookout-like shops were confirmed one by one.
Chu Yeop brought three maps and spread them.
"Hard-won. All Gui Yang city maps. Leftmost over a century old. Middle about sixty years. This one's recent."
"Go on."
"Yes. Comparing districts. This area's like a hidden fortress in the city center, right?"
Jeong Hyeon narrowed his eyes.
"...Sixty years ago—right after Demonic-Righteous War loss. They did this then?"
"I've said it before. They never gave up on the Central Plains, past or present. Tenacious bastards. Orthodox Murim overlooked post-victory. Anyway, narrows the central base."
I pointed to the circled central zone on the map.
"Strike and seize here, lookouts become isolated."
Song Gil-jun's face flashed; I grinned.
"Gotcha."