Chapter 127: Aftermath (2)
Chapter 127: Aftermath (2)
"Young Master Peng! Please, accept a drink from me as well!"
"Hahaha! Of course, of course! Bring it here!"
Peng Hyeon-cheon was enjoying the greatest days of his life.
The tavern was packed with warriors from the Black Path, and every single one of them looked up to him.
To those who rarely had the chance to interact with the Peng Family, Peng Hyeon-cheon was a brilliant young talent—the one leading the warriors of the Sima Alliance who had been mobilized as Black Arrows despite his youth.
They had heard he had two older brothers, but what did that matter?
The fact that he stood as the representative in such a massive event was proof enough of Peng Hyeon-cheon’s status.
Furthermore, the typical stalwart physique of a Peng Family warrior, combined with Hyeon-cheon’s boisterous and easygoing attitude, was the perfect recipe for winning the favor of the prideful Black Path warriors.
"Hahahaha!! Drink to your heart's content! Why shouldn't I, Peng, treat the brave heroes of Hebei to a round!"
Clearly, he had risen to a position that was arguably the most prominent among the younger generation of the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance.
Even masters stronger than him were walking on eggshells around him, knowing he was destined for a high-ranking position within the Peng Family.
It was no wonder he had spent the last two days shouting for the tavern keeper to lock the doors and keep the booze flowing.
And then.
Amidst the rowdy, drunken clamor of the warriors packed into the tavern...
Step.
The sound of a low footfall echoed from the tavern stairs.
Step, step. It was an ordinary gait—neither fast nor forceful.
Because the person didn't let a single shred of momentum leak out, it was a mundane sound that failed to draw anyone's gaze.
Step.
No one paid any attention to the stairs. The warriors were too busy sharing drinks with their companions.
However, the mouths of those closest to those footsteps soon fell silent.
Step.
Conversations died out. The drunken ruckus of clinking glasses and clattering plates was quelled. In that growing silence...
Step, step. The footsteps continued. Quietly, without emitting any aura.
"Hmm?"
Peng Hyeon-cheon looked around, flustered by the sudden silence. Those who had been laughing and chatting with him just a moment ago were now staring behind him.
He turned his head. A young man was looking at him with a crooked smile.
"…Hwi. You’re awake."
"Yeah. Give me a drink too."
"Ah, right. Of course."
Before Peng Hyeon-cheon could even reach for the bottle, someone else grabbed it.
It didn't look like a snatch; it seemed like an instinctive, unconscious action.
The warrior holding the bottle quickly pulled out a fresh cup, poured the liquor, and handed it to Peng Hyeon-hwi with a remarkably respectful attitude.
"Thanks."
After leisurely draining the cup, Peng Hyeon-hwi tossed the empty vessel onto the table with a thud. Only then did the surrounding warriors sit back down.
Watching this, Peng Hyeon-cheon realized something.
These people certainly followed him. As long as he had the Great Hebei Peng Family at his back within the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance, he was no different from royalty in a grand palace to them.
It was also true that they considered him the most outstanding among the younger generation of Hebei.
It was certain that he would rise to a high position in the Peng Family in the near future.
However.
His brother, three years his junior, had already reached a different level.
"I didn't ruin the mood, did I?"
Even while appearing so ordinary, without leaning on any outward display of power.
It wasn't because he had the Peng Family behind him; he received reverence for who he was.
He was no longer being categorized as part of the younger generation. He was being respected as a master who stood alone in the Martial World.
Indeed, these people weren't treating his brother as a 'future elder of the Peng Family'…
It would be more accurate to say they were treating him as the de facto next Family Head.
Realizing this, Peng Hyeon-cheon bit his lip unconsciously, but then...
"Well, brother, enjoy your time. Your tactless little brother will see himself out."
He realized that, deep down, even he had accepted this reality.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know, networking? Oh, does anyone know where our friends from the Orthodox Faction are staying?"
"I—I know, sir!"
"I know as well, Young Master!"
The young warriors who had been flattering him and filling his cup just moments ago all raised their hands at once, clamoring for attention.
They weren't offering flattery now; they were looking at him with eyes full of pure admiration.
"Then, you, the one who raised your hand first—can you lead the way?"
"It... it would be an honor!"
"No need to go that far. What's your name?"
"I am Won Hyeong-deok of the Blue Shirt Fort!"
"The Blue Shirt Fort. You've come from quite far. Is Great Hero Jang of the Green Spirit Leg doing well?"
"You... you know our Fort Leader?"
"I had to memorize every single martial sect in the Dragon Slaying Alliance across all of Hebei..."
"As expected...!!"
The two of them left the tavern, chatting amiably.
It seemed it would take some time before the usual rowdiness returned to the tavern.
Sitting in the middle of the silent room, Peng Hyeon-cheon tilted his cup and downed the liquor in one gulp.
The high-quality Baijiu tasted exceptionally bitter.
*
"It is here!"
"They're staying in a nice place."
I patted the back of my new friend from the Blue Shirt Fort, who had been shouting excitedly next to me.
"Thanks for the guide. Go back and get some drinks from my brother before you sleep. We'll probably be in Jinju for a while, so charge all your expenses to the Dragon Slaying Alliance."
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Stop shouting."
"Yes...!!"
This simple-hearted fellow bowed repeatedly in a fuss before retreating.
I suppose I should say that the Black Path isn't just a collection of crazed serial killers with bloodshot eyes.
Of course, that calf-eyed fellow will probably go back to his village and rob commoners' pockets with the might of a Hegemon-King, but well... I can't exactly stop legitimate business activities, can I?
"Time to go build some rapport."
I walked toward the entrance of the inn. I felt a bit bad for stealing my brother's spotlight, and since I'm such a righteous and upright hero who easily wins the favor of the Orthodox Faction, this side suits my taste better.
In fact, the warrior at the entrance, who had been watching me with burning eyes from a distance, even gave a slight nod as I approached.
"Blade Earl."
He acknowledged me and pulled back the bead curtain. This place has great service.
As I stepped through the doorway, the White Path warriors all stopped what they were doing.
The warriors, who had been enjoying a late-night banquet with cups in hand, all turned to look at me.
Their gazes were so sharp they made my skin prickle.
"Welcome, Blade Earl."
"It is good to see you unharmed."
The warriors of the Shandong Martial World each gave a slight nod in greeting.
As I walked among them, the warriors nearby even scrambled to clear a path.
It didn't feel bad, but it was a bit much.
"I express my gratitude to the heroes of Shandong for traveling such a long distance to be here."
"Nonsense. If anything, we should be the ones thanking you. For protecting the commoners of Jinju. There wasn't a single person here who wasn't present that day, yet there was no one who could do what you did. It is quite shameful."
An old man smiled warmly and gestured toward an empty seat.
"Come, sit."
"My knowledge is lacking, so I have not had the chance to hear your great name beforehand. That is my failing."
"Haha, I am Seo Geon of the Mount Tai Sect. I suppose it is my fault for not spreading my name far enough."
"So you are the Righteous Heart Sword, Great Hero Seo. Your reputation for chivalry is well-known even in Hebei, and I have long admired you. It is a great honor to meet you like this."
"Hahaha! Look at this lad. He's practically gilding this old man's face with his words!"
If you've lived in the Central Plains for nearly eighteen years, this level of small talk comes as standard equipment.
The process of building rapport in the Central Plains begins with pouring out blessings and compliments.
And I've always gotten along better with the elderly than with people my own age anyway.
Like the grandfathers in our Council of Elders, the Hao Clan Leader, the Alliance Leader...
Come to think of it, that's true. I suppose it's because my study of the bright Daoist arts has ingrained the virtue of respecting one's elders into my very being.
"…Is he really the same guy who absolutely trashed Zhuge Yeon-sin's face during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering…?"
"I reached an amicable settlement with the party involved regarding that incident."
"How loathsome."
I ignored the grumbling of Jeong Wol-seon and Ak Seo-jin.
If you want to be at a level where you can butt into an adult conversation, you should at least reach the Peak Realm first.
Seo Geon of the Mount Tai Sect ignored the youngsters chirping around us, gripped my hand firmly, and said, "I thank you once again. I mean this sincerely. I say this as a warrior of the Alliance, and as a man who has studied his whole life under the empty name of the Orthodox Faction. We owe you a great debt for the other day."
"Ah, if you truly feel that way, would it be alright if I asked for one favor?"
"Anything. Speak freely."
I scanned the clear-eyed elder and the surrounding warriors.
The Shandong Martial World is influenced by the Jiangnan White Forest Association, but it's in a somewhat ambiguous position to be called part of Southern Zhili.
They receive support from the Martial Alliance, but whether they feel a deep sense of belonging to the Alliance is also a bit questionable.
They're like a small business association that would be immediately subjected to a hostile M&A if the Dragon Slaying Alliance threw a fit.
It's easier to understand if you view them as subcontractors for the Jiangnan White Forest Association, which would be classified as a traditional conglomerate.
In other words, they're in a position where they get pushed around from both sides.
Even the great sects like the Huangfu Family, the Mount Tai Sect, and the Shandong Yue Family—known as the Three Stars of Shandong—pale in comparison to the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Clans.
There is no single sect in Shandong that can be said to represent the entire region. Nor is there a master of that caliber.
Therefore.
"We will be heading toward Jiangnan, and it would be enough if you did not take offense to that."
"…Jiangnan? All the warriors of the Dragon Slaying Alliance?"
"Yes. It seems it will turn out that way. The details will be decided by the seniors of the clan, but that is what is being discussed."
Right now, they have no choice but to rely on me, Blade Earl Peng Hyeon-hwi—the only contact they have who can provide internal information about the Dragon Slaying Alliance forces gathered in Jinju.
If this entire force decided to gobble up Shandong while they were at it, there isn't a single master in Shandong right now who could stop even my grandfather, Peng Ik-cheon.
In the depths of winter, would they even have time to receive reinforcements from Jiangnan or Wuchang?
Speed is the essence of war. If we set our minds to it, it wouldn't take long to steamroll through Shandong.
"Could it be… the Dragon Slaying Alliance is not satisfied with the Jinju Eon Family and plans to march all the way to Jiangnan…?"
Consequently, they have no choice but to be extremely wary and terrified of every word I say.
And that means the environment is perfectly set up for me to exploit.
"Haha, of course not."
After all, trust is born from a gap in power.
"We plan to follow the canal toward Chongqing. Rest easy. We will merely pass through without causing any disturbance."
These friends will deliver the information they just heard to Jiangnan faster than we can walk there.
If this information leaks to the Jiangnan White Forest Association, the Zhuge Family will inevitably find out.
And the Zhuge Family is currently holding hands with the Ten Thousand Ghosts Alliance.
From the information flowing through the Orthodox Faction, the Dragon Slaying Alliance's movements will be known as 'heading toward Chongqing along the Yangtze River via Jiangnan.'
With this one sentence, I can tie down the Jongri Family's Black Ships.
"Chongqing… I see what you mean, young hero. As soon as I return to my sect tomorrow, I will inform the Sect Leader."
"It would be a great help if you did so."
If the Hao Clan disguises our movements as heading toward Shanxi, and the Jiangnan White Forest Association disguises our movements as heading toward the Yangtze River...
Well, I don't know the details because I was a liberal arts major, but I have heard of quantum mechanics.
Apparently, until information is observed passing through a slit, a quantum particle exists in a superposition of both wave and particle states.
What does this mean?
It means that until the Dragon Slaying Alliance pops up in Chongqing and says "Peek-a-boo!", the Ten Thousand Ghosts Alliance has to prepare to welcome guests in both the north and south of the Central Plains.
You might ask, wouldn't it have been easier to just bring my grandfather along from the start?
That's a sharp question.
But because my grandfather has his own work to do, I had to go around laying all this groundwork.
Let's assume the sects of the Dragon Slaying Alliance each contributed a portion of their forces to be dispatched to the Jinju Eon Family. And let's say they used that momentum to push all the way to Chongqing.
If that happened, their control over the Hebei region would inevitably weaken.
In the past, Zhuge Yun had calculated that the Peng Family's control would thin out just by having the Divine Spear Yang Family of Shandong reach a state of mutual destruction with only three of the Peng Family's combat units.
It's true. Hebei is too vast a territory for a single family to rule, and no matter how much power the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance enjoys, their influence cannot be infinite.
In other words, there is a very high possibility that someone will try to slip into this vacuum.
"Will you be alright?"
"Do you dare to worry about me?"
My grandfather, Peng Ik-jin, is a master who could be discussed as the strongest under heaven.
That is what the name 'Three Venerables of the World' implies. The reason such a man didn't take the lead in dealing with the Chongqing Ten Thousand Ghosts Alliance was...
"Even if the leader of those cultists appears in person—no, it would be better if they did."
Grandfather laughed quite fiercely.
Yes, if we send the Black Arrows to gather the Alliance warriors and march toward Chongqing, a gap will inevitably open in Hebei.
To those with sufficient motivation to target that gap, it will look incredibly appetizing.
Who would dare invade Hebei? The Shandong Martial World? The Shanxi Martial World? No, they don't have the capability.
If the Jinju Eon Family falls, the warriors of the Orthodox Faction will never cross into Hebei. If so...
Those who are neither Orthodox nor Unorthodox remain. It's simple elimination.
If you filter out the two groups of the Orthodox and Unorthodox within the Central Plains, isn't there exactly one group left?
The White Lotus Cult.
Those bastards won't want to miss an opportunity like this.
Weren't they the ones losing their grip on the Imperial Palace because of our influence?
As Sun Tzu said, a wise person, even when doing one thing, must consider the benefits. (The deliberations of the wise person are sure to be a blend of interest and danger. — Sun Tzu's Art of War: The Nine Variations)
By sending the Black Arrows to strike the Jinju Eon Family, we build a justification. Through this, we officially cut out the Chongqing Ten Thousand Ghosts Alliance.
On the way to Chongqing, we pass through Henan. Through this, we resolve the long-standing conflict between the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance and the Songshan Shaolin Temple.
By pulling out the Alliance's troops, we empty Hebei. Through this, we lure out the White Lotus Cult and the forces within Hebei that were dissatisfied with the Peng Family.
And at that moment.
The tiger waiting alone deep within the Peng Family will break free from its cage.
Through this, we can...
"I wish you luck in battle, Grandfather."
"You as well."
...demonstrate the Peng Family's continued strength.
Settle old blood debts.
And clean up the internal affairs of the Dragon Slaying Alliance.
We can finish it all at once.
This was the last of the three reasons I mentioned the Black Arrows to my grandfather.
And at that same hour, at the snowy port of Tianjin.
"He's late... my husband..."
Cheon Hwa-ryeong chuckled, her fingers twitching.
The ornate incense burner in front of her turned into fine powder and scattered in the wind.
"At this rate, I... might actually become the Heavenly Demon?"
The time remaining until she heard the news that Peng Hyeon-hwi—who had left saying, "I'll just stop by home for a bit!"—was in Henan Province.
And the time remaining until the precious daughter of the Jiangnan Heavenly Merchant Guild threw off her human skin mask.
Ten days.