Chapter 247
Chapter 247
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 247
Chapter Title: Woman Trouble
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Not long after the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament ended, a rumor began to circulate.
The rumor was that the Lord of the Mountain King Society had been killed, having fallen for a scheme devised by me, the disciple of the Lord of Nine Dragons.
Even to me, it seemed somewhat credible.
After all, I was the person he met most often when he came to the Nine Dragons Fortress, I was the one who saw him off on his return journey, and I was the one who organized the tournament.
Naturally, the Lion Alliance was in an uproar.
They sent an envoy to deliver a personal letter from their leader.
[If it is proven that the Fighting Hegemon was responsible, the Lion Alliance and the Nine Dragons Fortress will have crossed a line from which there is no return.]
A simple but incredibly weighty message.
It was practically a declaration of war, but my master’s reaction was utterly indifferent.
Rip.
“Let them try.”
As if tearing the letter in front of the envoy wasn't enough.
“That man's gaze is disrespectful. Go and pluck out his eyes.”
He picked a fight for no reason and ordered the man's perfectly good eyes to be gouged out.
It was a level of cruelty that would have made the Lord of the Ten Demon Alliance, now in hell, sling an arm around his shoulder and ask to be friends.
I suspect it was due to his rivalry with the Lion Palace Family.
“What are you doing? Go and take them.”
“...Me?”
“This happened because of you.”
“...”
‘Hey, shouldn't they show some respect for my rank?’
I am a Hall Master, after all.
In any case, after we gouged out the envoy's eyes and sent him back, the Lion Alliance acted decisively.
They began to gather their forces.
As the clouds of war gathered, the Master of the Water Dragon Gate sent a secret letter.
[...I do not know how the rumor started, but I only did as I was told, so I hope there are no misunderstandings... Therefore, I think it might be best to observe the situation and move slowly... I will see you at the Nine Dragons Fortress later.]
I understood why the Master of the Water Dragon Gate was being so cautious. After all, defecting during a war is like transferring from Arsenal to Tottenham during the Champions League.
Well, it has nothing to do with me, though.
‘By the way, when is that bald bastard going to make his move?’
To be honest, I was starting to get nervous.
I never expected things to blow up this much.
From the Lion Alliance Leader's perspective, the Lord of the Mountain King Society was just a rival for power, so I thought his anger would flare up and then die down.
But a war?
Thanks to that, I was getting chewed out by the Grand Chancellor almost every single day.
In that bleak situation, the news I had been waiting for finally arrived.
[The Ultimate Killing Great Demon, thought to be dead, has reportedly returned to the Mountain King Society.]
A rumor intentionally spread by the Beggars' Union.
That's right.
This was the final move we planned while fishing on Nine Dragons Lake.
‘Wouldn't it be better to just kill him? If you lack the manpower, I can help.’
‘Master Jin and the War King Gate must not make a move.’
‘I can do it without getting caught. And so what if I do? What are they going to do to the one and only disciple of the Lord of Nine Dragons?’
‘The blades of the Lion Alliance do not distinguish between martial artists and common folk. That means the people close to you, Master Jin, could suffer terribly.’
‘...They're insane.’
‘There's no need to take such a risk, is there? I'll handle it, so just buy me some time, Master Jin.’
‘...Will you be okay?’
‘I am Yong Ma-san. You have nothing to worry about.’
‘That's why I'm asking.’
‘...’
The plan was to drive a wedge between the Mountain King Society and the Water Dragon Gate, making them turn their blades on each other.
Of course, as long as the Ultimate Killing Great Demon was around, the Water Dragon Gate was no match for the Mountain King Society.
Furthermore, given the pathetic nature of the Water Dragon Gate's Master, Ju Geum-san, he would likely grovel the moment the Ultimate Killing Great Demon returned alive.
That was why Yong Ma-san made an incredibly bold decision.
To cripple Im Jeong.
Sure enough, as soon as the first piece of news broke, several more rumors began to circulate.
[Not only were both of the Ultimate Killing Great Demon's arms cut off, but his dantian was completely shattered, leaving him unable to use martial arts ever again.]
[The one who did this to the Ultimate Killing Great Demon was his sworn brother, Master Ju Geum-san of the Water Dragon Gate.]
[It was a plot hatched by the Water Dragon Gate in their desire to take over the Mountain King Society's territory.]
Utterly shocking news.
However, these were not just rumors.
Im Jeong's escort captain, who had returned with him, testified about the circumstances of Ju Geum-san's betrayal.
Soon after, Im Jeong regained consciousness and, unable to contain his rage, summoned all the warriors of the Mountain King Society.
In that situation, Yong Ma-san pressed the switch that would be the grand finale of his plan.
He had the members of the Beggars' Union disguise themselves as warriors of the Water Dragon Gate and seize a large amount of the Mountain King Society's cargo.
With things having come this far, the Mountain King Society could no longer stand it.
The Ultimate Killing Great Demon entrusted his forces to his eldest legitimate son, the Decapitating Saber Im San, and had him set up camp right at the Water Dragon Gate's doorstep.
An all-out war between the two sects had begun.
Just as you'd expect from former mountain bandits and river pirates, they tenaciously and cruelly took each other's lives.
As the blood debt between the two sects deepened, the Lion Alliance stepped in to mediate, but it was no use.
This was an incident involving the head of a sect, no less.
This was a matter that couldn't be mediated even if the Lion Alliance's grandfather showed up, let alone the Alliance itself.
Seven days and nights passed. Having lost countless warriors, the Mountain King Society and the Water Dragon Gate were shattered beyond recognition, a shadow of their former power.
Now, their future was obvious.
In the world of the Unorthodox Factions, to become weak meant to go from predator to prey.
Especially for the Mountain King Society, once an apex predator, and the Water Dragon Gate, which had acted as its right hand, the karma they had accumulated was substantial. It was clear they would soon face a crisis of survival.
‘Or perhaps the Lion Palace Family will devour them.’
Just as I was enjoying the show from across the river.
“Huh? When did you get here?”
“I arrived a short while ago.”
“How was your work as the escort captain?”
“The mask was so stuffy I nearly died.”
“Where's my present?”
“Hm? What present?”
“If you went all the way to Jiangxi, you should have at least brought back a local specialty. Did your common sense fall out along with your hair?”
“...”
My friend had returned.
* * *
“Since things worked out in the end, I won't hold you responsible any longer.”
“Yes, well. Let's do that.”
Hearing his answer, the Grand Chancellor's eyebrow twitched.
“You seem to have some complaints.”
“How could I not? I've been chewed out in this very spot so many times.”
“Isn't that because you pulled such a crazy stunt? Did you think I wouldn't know that you and the Beggars' Union were behind this?”
“I'm staying quiet because I am guilty. However, since I also contributed, I should at least be allowed to voice some complaints.”
Considering the money spent by thousands of travelers and the resolution of our manpower shortage by hiring many outstanding tournament participants, the benefits the Nine Dragons Fortress gained from the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament were greater than expected.
Knowing this, the Grand Chancellor was merely nagging and letting it slide.
“You have a silver tongue.”
“Isn't that my greatest strength?”
Hearing this, the Grand Chancellor sighed and spoke.
“Do you have any idea why the Fortress Lord tore up the Lion Alliance Leader's letter?”
“Because he couldn't control his foul temper...”
“It was because he was worried that if a war were to break out, the arrows of blame would be aimed at his only disciple.”
“Ah...”
I hadn't imagined that at all.
“I, too, suspected the Lord's intentions, which is why I took a hard line with the Lion Alliance.”
“...I'm sorry.”
“If you're sorry, how about you start acting in a manner befitting your station?”
“Befitting my station? What do you mean by that...?”
“I mean you should live with more gravity.”
“Ah, gravity. Yes, yes, gravity is good. From now on, I'll strive to be a heavier Mujeon.”
Should I gain some weight?
“Shall I tell you a good way to do that?”
“I will engrave it deep in my heart.”
“You should get married. A man tends to gain some gravity after starting a family. You don't plan on being a bachelor your whole life, do you?”
“Ha-ha. Marriage is for after I've settled down...”
“You settle down by getting married!”
“What.”
Is this an unblockable attack?
* * *
An hour later.
“Hoo... That was exhausting.”
Having finished his discussion with Mujeon, the Grand Chancellor sighed as he drank his tea.
‘I know he has a lover named Myo Hyang...’
‘Ahem, I'm just not ready yet.’
‘Ready? What kind of preparations are you talking about?’
‘Well, there are many things. A house, money...’
‘As far as I know, the War Dragon Hall's wealth is second only to the Gold Dragon Hall.’
‘Umm... My heart. I'm not mentally prepared yet.’
‘That sort of thing will come naturally once you start sharing a blanket.’
‘To be honest, I'm just not thinking about marriage yet...’
‘Then! Do you think it makes sense to sleep with a perfectly fine maiden and not marry her! Confucius himself would lament this if he knew!’
A complete victory.
Having won the debate, the Grand Chancellor let out a small smile.
“If he marries, he should at least develop some sense of responsibility...”
In truth, the Grand Chancellor was not someone qualified to advise Mujeon on marriage.
If one had to say, his master, Bukgung Baek, or perhaps the Black Dragon Hall Master who looked after Mujeon as a child, or even the Great Pure Adept in the Hermit's Forest would be qualified.
Nevertheless, the reason he stepped in was simple.
Responsibility.
‘He doesn't move a muscle unless he feels like it. At most, he might train for about two hours every ten days.’
He had only recommended marriage with the thought that even a lazy genius might start putting in some effort if he felt a sense of responsibility.
Brrrr.
Imagining such a future, the Grand Chancellor trembled.
“Perhaps the strongest martial artist in the history of the Nine Dragons Fortress might be born...”
* * *
After being utterly defeated in a debate with the Grand Chancellor that felt like it lasted a thousand minutes, I trudged out of the Lord's Hall.
“Marriage, all of a sudden? What nonsense...”
“Marriage?”
“Ugh!”
Jeok Hwa-ran, who had been hiding somewhere, peeked her head out.
“Where did you pop out from?”
“Where else? I popped out from your heart, my love.”
My heart, my ass.
She should worry about her own heart, flat as it is.
Anyway, her stealth skills seem extraordinary.
For someone of my caliber not to notice her, even while distracted, is saying something.
“But what's this about marriage? Is someone getting married?”
“Ah, that. The Grand Chancellor...”
“Oh my? The Grand Chancellor is remarrying? That's wonderful news.”
“What? How is remarrying wonderful news?”
“Of course it is. He's been alone ever since his wife passed away.”
“Passed away?”
Hearing this for the first time, I asked again, and Jeok Hwa-ran launched into an explanation as if she were a TMI character.
“You didn't know, my love? The Grand Chancellor's wife passed away when he was serving as the Secretary-General of the Military Affairs Department. It's truly a sad story.”
“...You go around digging into people's private lives like that?”
“Digging? It's a story that almost everyone knows.”
“But why?”
“Because their love story is just so poignant.”
Jeok Hwa-ran, blushing, explained the Grand Chancellor's love story.
“Well, they say he just ran to her and told her he loved her!”
“...That's it?”
“What more needs to be there?”
“...”
Well, in a martial world with a rule that men and women over the age of seven shouldn't be together, it was only natural that a 'love story' would be laughably tame.
Anyway, seeing as he hasn't remarried all this time, he must have loved his late wife a great deal.
“I have to take responsibility anyway...”
I wonder if I'd really settle down if I got married?