Chapter 446
Chapter 446
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 446
Chapter Title: Lingering Attachment (5)
Evil Musician Wang Seon-nam.
As he revealed his real name, Jang Son-rip's faction, who had been showing their anger, faltered.
"...Wang Seon-nam? The name sounds oddly familiar."
"Indeed. I've definitely heard it before. Where was it?"
Among them, the eldest, Jang Son-rip, finally clearly recalled who Wang Seon-nam was.
"Noisy Market Musician... the former Beggars' Sect Lord Wang Seon-nam? Are you claiming to be that gentleman?"
In response to the question, Wang Seon-nam chuckled.
"It's not a claim. I am the old man who was called the Noisy Market Musician in my youth."
And he threw back the words he had just heard.
"Well, now do you know what kind of stray dog bone this old man is?"
Jang Son-rip instinctively sensed that things were taking a strange turn and made an 'oh no' face.
However, unlike his instinct, his mind couldn't comprehend the situation.
He began questioning Wang Seon-nam.
"...But the Noisy Market Musician is known to have died at the hands of the current Beggars' Sect Lord, Night Moon Lord."
"Hahaha. What a foolish question. Don't all things in the world have their circumstances? Just as you who claim to be the 'Righteous Faction' are scheming in these times. We have our own circumstances too."
"Circumstances be damned! If you truly are the Noisy Market Musician, that means you faked your death and left the martial world... Why would a figure like you step forward for something unrelated to the Beggars' Sect, like Murim Alliance affairs?!"
Wang Seon-nam clicked his tongue pityingly at Jang Son-rip's reddening face.
"Tsk. You speak as if it's absurd. Think the other way around. Why would I, from the unorthodox path, come all the way to the Murim Alliance to lie? If you doubt, let's go to the nearest Beggars' Sect branch."
It was at this moment that Master sent a transmission.
- That Jang family fool's face turning red is quite amusing. But didn't we say to keep the Evil Musician's return to the martial world a secret? Going to a Beggars' Sect branch might not be wise.
'...Yes. Especially not with these White Bone Society folks trailing along.'
I was about to speak up to change the mood when...
Grand Duke Yeo Chi-su opened his mouth.
"No need for the trouble. I will vouch for this man's identity."
At Yeo Chi-su's words, the White Bone Society members' faces filled with puzzlement.
"And who might you be to say such a thing?"
To them, Yeo Chi-su was also an enigmatic figure of unknown origin.
So his vouching for Wang Seon-nam seemed suspicious.
Yeo Chi-su gave a dry laugh and spoke again.
"I had intended to lend a hand as a nameless wanderer and leave like the wind. But seeing your foolish actions threaten promising young sprouts, I can't just stand by."
He presented the Great Command Plaque of Eupwa Kingdom shown to us earlier and the jade plaque received from the emperor.
"I am Yeo Chi-su, an old man who defected to the court about thirty years ago. In my youth, I served as a general in a small southern kingdom. This is the identity plaque given by His Majesty upon my defection and the plaque used in my homeland. Is this verification enough?"
At Yeo Chi-su's words, the White Bone Society members who had rushed out were stunned.
It couldn't be helped.
No matter how untouchable the martial world was, the weight of the word 'emperor' was never light.
While the White Bone Society elders awkwardly checked the identity plaques Yeo Chi-su presented...
Yeo Chi-su himself turned to Gong Son Mu-gyeol.
"Listen, Alliance Leader."
"Yes, sir."
"I offered presumptuous advice at your request. But now I realize I omitted the most important piece."
"...What is it?"
"Purge those kinds first. No matter how sturdy a thousand-year-old tree, it will fall if white ants gnaw at it from within."
At Yeo Chi-su's words, Jang Son-rip's face turned red-hot like molten iron.
"W-White ants?!"
His faction standing nearby became mute as clams.
"......"
Gong Son Mu-gyeol opened his mouth with a soft exhale.
"Hoo. First, know that the measures I take from now are solely by the judgment and authority of the Murim Alliance Leader, independent of these gentlemen's words."
Thus beginning, Gong Son Mu-gyeol continued.
"As I've repeated many times before. The Righteous Martial World currently faces the threat of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
He scanned the faces of the gathered elders one by one and pressed on.
"In this situation, your rash and reckless actions raise serious doubts about whether you can keep the top-secret matters just revealed. Therefore, by the authority of the Murim Alliance Leader, I hereby order the detention of Vice Leader and various elders effective immediately."
At Gong Son Mu-gyeol's declaration, Jang Son-rip's faction raised their voices in competition.
"Absurd! You can't imprison us over a conflict in Qinghai, thousands of li away?!"
"Alliance Leader, are you in your right mind?!"
But Gong Son Mu-gyeol didn't blink and commanded the standing Guk Do-jin.
"Yes, I am. Shadow Agent Chief!"
"Your orders."
"Execute my command at once. Deploy one unit of the Direct Strike Force for guard."
"Yes!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's detachment that departed from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains had secretly crossed Qinghai Province and entered the western foothills of the Great Pa Mountains.
Leading them was Hyeok Ryeon-so, the youngest son of Hyeok Ryeon-gang.
Surveying the natural fortress where treacherous valleys unfolded like folding screens and a dark abyss lay below, he soon turned to one of the inner spies beside him.
"A mountain range with a completely different feel from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. So, Yang Beom. Once we pass through here, it's the Central Plains?"
"Yes, Young Master."
"How long if we hurry?"
"First to Xi'an, we must continue through treacherous paths, so even without combat, it would take ten days."
"Murim Alliance is in Luoyang, right?"
"Five days from there. However, I do not recommend rushing. Since they're surely luring us, you need to continuously receive reports on enemy movements from spies. Especially from Xi'an onward..."
"It's no different from the Righteous Martial World's den. So we must be even more cautious?"
"Yes, Young Master."
"I know. Just asking. No intention to rush unnecessarily. Anyway, after we raid the Murim Alliance, all safehouses used will be closed off. We should use what we can properly while we can."
Having heard Hyeok Ryeon-so's reply, Inner Spy Yang Beom spoke again in an impressed voice.
"As expected of your wisdom. Additionally, you must make another decision. Related to the safehouses you mentioned: whether to advance while establishing bases at intervals. Bases would secure the retreat route. However..."
"But the manpower deployable to Luoyang would decrease."
"That is so."
Rubbing his chin briefly at Yang Beom's words, Hyeok Ryeon-so soon made his decision.
"No bases. It would only make people's minds complacent. If we fail this, we'll die by Big Brother's hand anyway, right?"
"......"
"No need for words. Everyone to Luoyang! But divide into three groups to prepare for ambushes in the valleys. If we produce results to please Father, the Ten Thousand Demons Hall will secure our retreat without us worrying."
At Hyeok Ryeon-so's judgment, the detachment members following him were all moved.
And unlike the gloomy Great Young Master Hyeok Ryeon-il, they were convinced Hyeok Ryeon-so was the vessel to inherit the next Cult Leader position.
"Divine Cult Invincible! Ten Thousand Demons Triumphant!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Alliance Leader! You're making a grave mistake!"
Despite their loud protests, Jang Son-rip's faction obediently moved to the quarters assigned by Gong Son Mu-gyeol.
Once they disappeared under the Strike Force's escort, Yeo Chi-su looked at Gong Son Mu-gyeol with an awkward expression.
"My advice to purge those kinds first was actually to rebuke those fools... I didn't expect the Alliance Leader to execute it immediately. I meant to help, but I wonder if I made things harder."
"It wasn't because of your words, sir. It was a measure I planned before the demons arrive."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. We can't fight demons with enemies inside. Fortunately, both sirs made the call, so I did too. Nothing has changed."
At Yeo Chi-su's question, Gong Son Mu-gyeol answered straightforwardly.
Only then did Wang Seon-nam relax his expression and speak.
"I lived thinking my youthful tales as Grand Duke would be useless forever, but they're good for shutting up dung-headed fools."
To that, Yeo Chi-su furrowed his brow and spoke again.
"The Alliance Leader's firm response eases my mind. But don't take it lightly. What if the demons don't come? The Leader will be in quite a predicament."
And he spoke of the Eupwa Kingdom circumstances he hadn't mentioned before.
"That's what happened in my homeland. Those who fell for the enemy nation's scheme saw me as a thorn and drove me out. Not long after defecting to the Central Plains, I heard Eupwa had fallen."
Even after thirty-some years, Yeo Chi-su's face showed a trace of lingering attachment as he spoke.
To that, I cautiously opened my mouth.
"...I see you had such circumstances. But our situation is different."
"You are certain the demons will come here?"
"Yes. And we can roughly predict who."
"...Is that so?"
"The gazette I spread must have badly wounded their pride. If the Cult Leader moves just because rumors spread, it would make the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult a joke."
"...True."
"Without the Cult Leader, the sons vying for Little Cult Leader would... The stable-positioned Great Young Master has no need for risks. Likely the youngest will come... They can't stop of their own will. If they fail to restore the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's dignity, they lose everything."
As I finished speaking.
Zhuge Seol-ji added a word.
"Slightly different angle from Young Master Yong-un's words, but it might be for the best. They won't charge blindly. They'll watch trends steadily. With the Alliance seeming chaotic from this, wouldn't it make the enemy let their guard down?"
At that moment.
The Evil Musician and Grand Duke exchanged glances.
And took a stance as if turning to leave.
Immediately, Cheon Jang-ho and Eun Ha-seong spoke up.
"Sirs, what is this? You can't run away!"
"Right! Where to? You've stirred up a mess!"
Wang Seon-nam flicked their foreheads and replied.
"You brats! Run away? As you said, we've stirred things up. With the Alliance Leader so decisive, we must do all we can. I'm heading to the Beggars' Sect."
I asked Wang Seon-nam in return.
"Beggars' Sect... Is that alright?"
"I'll make it so."
As I rubbed my chin at his reply, Yeo Chi-su said to Cheon Jang-ho.
"While I'm at it, come with me, Young Hero Cheon."
"Me? Why?"
"To meet the Golden Army instructors I connected with during court visits. But they've likely retired by now, and I don't know where or what they're doing. The Beggars' Sect will be chaotic with that friend appearing... Borrow the Beggars' Sect's intelligence network."
As Yeo Chi-su finished.
I politely cupped my fists toward the two enigmatic elders.
"Please return safely. We are most reassured."
Following me, Gong Son Mu-gyeol and the other Eon siblings also cupped fists.
The two enigmatic elders faced each other and smiled faintly.
"Let's show we're still useful old men."
"Indeed."