Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Qinghua Branch Leader Mo Ik-sang
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51
Qinghua Branch Leader Mo Ik-sang.
He was someone Jinmu already knew well.
One of the top experts of the Zhuge branch family in the Dan River District, strong enough that even Jingung couldn't predict the outcome of a fight against him.
Why had he shown up leading so many martial artists?
Moreover, their formation looked exactly like they were surrounding the Ilhae Merchant Group.
Anyone could see their intentions clearly.
A show of force.
Intimidation through numbers.
"Ha, would you look at these guys?"
As Jinmu narrowed his eyes into triangles, Mo Ik-sang glanced over with a smirk.
"Hm, and who might this be?"
"A First Generation Disciple of our sect, Jinmu."
At Jingung's answer, Mo Ik-sang grinned widely.
"Ah, I've heard so much about you. You drove out that Gong Sa-cheok gang last time, then stabbed the Qingyang Merchant Group in the back right after forging ties with them, framing them for smuggling, right? And recently, you even subdued a pathetic bandit crew. Impressive."
"......"
What? Stabbed in the back?
Pathetic bandit subjugation?
This little brat with his squinted eyes and flapping mouth.
If Jingung weren't there, Jinmu would've ripped open that giggling mouth and those sly, curved eyes.
As Jinmu clenched his fist to step forward, Jingung grabbed his hand.
"Let go."
Jingung shook his head sternly at the irritated outburst.
"Wait."
Wait?
When the opponent was openly provoking them, he wanted to go through procedures again?
Fine. Procedures it was.
Did Jinmu, who had lived twice as long as Mo Ik-sang or Jingung, not know their importance?
But even back in his days as the Lord of Evil Hegemony Heaven, he never let anyone who provoked him off the hook.
Procedures be damned—what gave these powerless fools the right to pressure him just because they had numbers? He wanted to snap Mo Ik-sang's neck right then and storm the Zhuge family.
"It's been a while, Qinghua Branch Leader. Might I ask what this action of yours means?"
Unlike Jinmu's sharp glare, Jingung asked with calm composure.
"What it means?"
"To my eyes, it looks like you're preparing a show of force against our Wudang."
"A show of force? Why speak so harshly?"
"Harshly?"
"We've merely come out of concern that our family warriors might suffer unduly."
At the absurd claim, Jingung's gaze turned icy.
"Who knows? You shut the doors and refused to hand over the prisoners, so who can say what Wudang might do behind closed doors."
"How dare you speak of our Wudang like that. Wasn't it your Zhuge family who struck first?"
"Listen here, Azure Cloud Sword Dragon."
"......"
"The details of the incident haven't been made clear yet, as far as I know."
This bastard really.
Jinmu could barely contain his rising fury; his head felt like it might explode.
At this point, it was time to throw down.
As Jinmu's murderous intent exploded outward, the Zhuge family warriors gripped their swords and unleashed their own fierce auras.
A powder keg ready to blow.
Should he start by tearing Mo Ik-sang's mouth?
But then.
"Jinmu."
"What?"
"Leave this to your senior brother. Trust me."
"......"
For once, he wasn't angry—his tone was gentle and sincere.
"You've more than fulfilled your role as Wudang's sword. But now it's become an issue between sects, so leave it to me, the one handling affairs for Encounter Truth Hall. Your senior brother isn't that unreliable."
"......"
At Jingung's subtle urging, Jinmu shot Mo Ik-sang one last glare before relaxing and stepping back.
He didn't like it, but he couldn't stubbornly push when Jingung had put it that way.
You squinted-eyed punk. Just you wait.
Jinmu knew it too. The opponent was slyly twisting words to make it seem like they were hiding the prisoners and plotting something.
Typical Zhuge family—warriors slinging venom like snakes.
Unlike the unorthodox sects who drew blades outright, the orthodox cared deeply about justification.
Who drew first?
That was crucial.
Drawing now would gain them nothing. The moment swords cleared sheaths, it stopped being a standoff and became a fight.
Even if Wudang was in the right, it'd hand the high ground to the enemy.
And then they'd truly look like the schemers.
"Young Daoist Jinmu must be hot-tempered due to his youth."
"......"
Mo Ik-sang clung on, trying to stoke Jinmu's anger.
But having handed it to Jingung, Jinmu's cooled heart no longer ignited.
"Yeah, hot-tempered for a Daoist. But I don't come alone like some coward scared of getting beaten, dragging a train of kids for backup."
Even retreating, he had to fire back at the provocation.
And it hit home immediately.
Mo Ik-sang's eyes sharpened, his face flushing slightly.
Whatever, you short little squinter whose eyes barely show.
"Qinghua Branch Leader."
"What?"
Mo Ik-sang's tone matched his sharpened face.
"I am a disciple of Wudang. I won't fabricate what isn't true."
"Of course the famed Azure Cloud Sword Dragon wouldn't make things up."
"......"
"But understand our family's position—we can't ignore our warriors."
Jingung stared steadily at the slyly smiling Mo Ik-sang.
Encounter Truth Hall.
Jingung handled external affairs for Wudang.
Unlike the scheming Zhuges, he'd always stuck to the righteous path, but he knew well how to steer conversations favorably.
Stay calm.
Don't fall for the bait. The situation still favored them heavily.
"You're right. The incident's details aren't clear yet."
"......"
"However, it seems you and your branch family head haven't grasped the full picture?"
"What?"
"Do you think those captured by the Ilhae Merchant Group are only from the Zhuge family?"
Mo Ik-sang's face stiffened at Jingung's words.
"Right here, we also have Iron Bone Beggar, one of the Five Leaders of the Beggars' Sect Dan River Branch."
"Iron Bone? Beggars' Sect?"
Mo Ik-sang's stiffened face twisted as he shouted.
Iron Bone Beggar represented the Beggars' Sect Dan River Branch.
A position right below the branch leader. Why was he here?
Seeing Mo Ik-sang's reaction, Jinmu smirked inwardly beside Jingung.
Jingung, not bad.
I thought he was just a stuffy Daoist, but he knew how to leverage the situation.
Without yelling or threatening, just calmly laying out facts—he'd seized the advantage in an instant.
Hm, not an Encounter Truth Hall handler for nothing.
Jinmu felt smug watching Mo Ik-sang fail to hide his expressions.
Meanwhile, Jingung didn't let the opening slip.
"Yeo Wi-gang has already confessed, and it wasn't just Wudang who heard—it was Iron Bone Beggar too."
Of course, that never happened.
Only suspicions, no hard evidence.
But Jingung wasn't lying exactly.
He said confessed, but not to what.
He'd merely acknowledged they were from the Zhuge family.
'Th-this.'
Caught off-guard by the unexpected twist, Mo Ik-sang panicked.
"Go ahead and try your show of force. While we're at it, we should look into how the Yi Seong Merchant Group snatched the river rights last time."
The knockout blow.
In this situation, the guilty party threatening with force lost even the justification.
"As a Wudang disciple, I'll make it clear to everyone that the Zhuge family oppressed us."
Mo Ik-sang's expression was priceless.
His squinted eyes widened, but with the lids still half-cut, his face looked even weirder.
"See you later then."
Jingung turned coolly first, and Jinmu followed with a mocking sneer at Mo Ik-sang.
Bam!
The Ilhae Merchant Group's doors slammed shut fiercely.
"Heh, Senior Brother, that was pretty good."
At Jinmu's words, Jingung smiled and ruffled his hair with a large hand.
"Enough, kid. Head inside."
"......"
This jerk—praise him once and he acts like he owns your head.
Still, it didn't feel half bad.
Two days had passed since the show of force began.
The Ilhae Merchant Group's doors swung wide, and the leaders from each faction gathered.
The atmosphere was worlds apart from before.
With Encounter Truth Hall Leader Myeongchung taking charge after rushing over upon hearing the news, Wudang's disciples fully embodied their Daoist demeanor, while the Zhuge family warriors, led by their branch head, exuded sharp hostility.
Only Dragon Whisker Beggar, the Beggars' Sect Dan River Branch Leader, fidgeted like a dog desperate to relieve itself.
"Well then, shall we hear what you have to say?"
In the tense, suffocating air, Myeongchung spoke while eyeing Iron Bone Beggar and Yeo Wi-gang, who knelt on their knees.
"Why so silent? Branch Leader, speak first."
"Th-that's......"
Dragon Whisker Beggar couldn't bring himself to explain why they'd been surveilling the Ilhae Merchant Group.
"Do you admit the Beggars' Sect targeted our Jinmu?"
"N-no, that's not it."
"Then why attack while masked?"
"......"
Dragon Whisker Beggar sighed deeply again.
He couldn't reveal it was due to Night Fox's orders requiring secrecy.
"Goodness, then what about you, Zhuge Branch Head? Why did your Dark Heaven Squad target Jinmu?"
"We didn't target him. If anything, your disciples oppressed ours."
"Oppressed?"
"Yes."
Unlike Dragon Whisker Beggar, Zhuge Mulin answered without a flicker in his expression.
How was he so brazen?
Jinmu stared at Zhuge Mulin in disbelief from behind.
Turning victim when they were the perpetrators?
"Zhuge Branch Head."
Myeongchung narrowed his eyes at him, but.
"What? Am I wrong?"
"What?"
"Then let's ask around."
"......"
Zhuge Mulin turned to Yeo Wi-gang.
"Did you climb the Ilhae Merchant Group's walls?"
"No, Branch Head."
"You didn't?"
"Yes."
Of course not—they'd fought the Beggars' Sect before even getting that far.
"Then did you attack Daoist Jinmu first?"
"No."
"Then who were you fighting?"
"The Beggars' Sect. We only learned that later."
"Daoist Jinmu intervened in your fight?"
"......Yeah, something like that."
"No lies in that?"
"Yes."
As Yeo Wi-gang finished, Zhuge Mulin turned to Iron Bone Beggar.
"What about you, Iron Bone Beggar? Any lies in Wi-gang's words?"
"Well...... no."
At Iron Bone Beggar's reply, Zhuge Mulin impassively turned back.
"See? Our family warriors were simply patrolling Dan River District when they spotted the Beggars' Sect lurking around the Ilhae Merchant Group. Suspicious, they clashed. Attacking our warriors makes Daoist Jinmu the wrongdoer."
"Quite the tale. Patrolling at night in masks? Near our Wudang lodging, no less?"
"Yes. Dan River District is Zhuge territory—patrolling is natural."
He openly claimed Dan River as their domain. And furthermore.
"And to clear up a misunderstanding, I'm not here to apologize."
"What?"
"I'm here to receive an apology from Daoist Jinmu for attacking our patrolling warriors."
The room's atmosphere turned frigid in an instant.