Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 270
Chapter Title: Return
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A month ago, a letter from the Lord of Nine Dragons arrived at the Prajna Bastion.
[Go and meet my disciple.]
Of course, he didn't have to obey the Lord's words.
His great-grandfather had been a vassal of the Bukgung family, and his grandfather had pledged loyalty, but now they were merely in a relationship of mutual assistance.
Nevertheless, Bukgung Ri came all the way to Dongting Lake to meet Mujeon.
‘It wouldn't hurt to see his face. If I instill some fear in him, it will be much easier for the Prajna Bastion to establish itself in the future.’
For this very reason, Bukgung Ri attacked Mujeon under the pretext of a test.
It was to prepare for the revival of the Bukgung family, which was proceeding under the name of the War King Gate.
‘Even if he's one of the Seven Hegemons, he's just a brat with little experience. He won't be able to overcome the traps of our Prajna Bastion.’
It was an act born from the confidence that he could easily handle a brat like Jin Mujeon.
However, not only was his helper, the Hegemon of Eastern Wu, formidable, but Jin Mujeon's own martial arts were extraordinary.
Flash! Craaack...
He had fired a strange crescent moon, splitting the Prajna Bastion's secret ultimate technique, the Labyrinthine Soul Illusion Formation, in two.
The moment he saw it, Bukgung Ri knew.
‘That... the War King Arts...!’
The successor to the long-lost War King Arts had appeared.
This was also the reason he had revealed himself.
‘The branch families will be in an uproar.’
Now that the Bukgung family had reclaimed its orthodoxy with the War King Arts, his wish to sever ties could not be fulfilled.
It was best to remain as a branch family to the main house without being looked down upon.
‘A pleasure. I am Bukgung Ri, Lord of the Prajna Bastion.’
And so, he stepped before Mujeon.
‘Senior Son, could you take off your shin guards for a moment?’
Shortly after, he was met with a barrage of clubbing.
‘Th-this son of a bitch!’
The assault was merciless.
Even the club itself was utterly humiliating.
To be beaten with something someone else wore on their feet.
And the head of a branch family, no less.
Even if the Bukgung family were still at its peak, this was something that should never have happened.
But an even more astonishing event followed.
‘I could teach you if you become a disciple of the War King Gate. What do you say?’
To think that this bastard, of all people, held the key to his family's long-held ambition.
‘What kind of damn luck is this...’
Such were Bukgung Ri's thoughts.
It was a situation so humiliating he wanted to die, but he calmed himself by thinking of his late father.
‘I must find the Seven Senses Saber and the Flying Heavenly Wind. Only with those two can the Prajna Bastion's killing arts be perfected into a righteous art.’
The Prajna Bastion's long-held desire: to emerge into the light.
Wasn't it for that very reason that the warriors of the Prajna Bastion had scoured the entire Central Plains for decades, as if picking out lice?
If he gave up here, he would be forsaking not only his own life but also the Prajna Bastion's ambition.
Above all.
“What will you do? Oh, I'm not forcing you, of course. On second thought, dying a glorious death doesn't seem so bad.”
He was scared.
In the end, he chose to surrender.
“I have lost.”
Of course, offering up the Prajna Bastion to fulfill his ambition would be absurd.
Freed from Mujeon's grasp, Bukgung Ri began to negotiate and soon heard something unexpected.
“...All I have to do is add my name to the register?”
Wasn't he saying he would give him the secret manual just for adding his name to the disciple register?
“That's right, just add your name and I'll hand over the manual. If you need instruction, I can even teach you myself.”
“If you're proposing this with an eye on the Prajna Bastion...”
“The Prajna Bastion is valuable to you, but it's useless to me.”
“...”
“Why? Can't believe it?”
“If you were me, would you believe it?”
“True, it is pretty funny for a guy who was just trying to kill you to suddenly act like this.”
“I will pay any price. If you want wealth, I will give you a thousand gold pieces. If you want someone's life, I will go and take their head myself.”
“Even the Lion League's leader?”
“...There's a 99.9% chance of failure, but if you pay the price first, I will attempt it.”
Bukgung Ri said calmly, his eyes firm, and Mujeon laughed as if amused.
Pfft.
“What's so funny?”
“Just wondering why you'd risk your life over some martial arts like these.”
He wasn't belittling the Seven Senses Saber and the Flying Heavenly Wind. It was Mujeon's usual philosophy; he inherently couldn't understand the martial artists who risked their lives for their craft.
Misunderstanding this, Bukgung Ri frowned and spoke.
“They are not low-class techniques deserving of such a dismissive term. I repeat, the Seven Senses Saber and the Flying Heavenly Wind were created by the second ancestor of the Prajna Bastion, the Flying Heavenly Fox Lord...”
“I get it, so just write down your name and take it. You said it was your life's ambition, right?”
His suspicions not yet eased, Bukgung Ri shot Mujeon a sharp glance.
“If you're thinking of mocking me...”
“Let's try to trust each other. I'm the Red Dragon Hall Master, you know. And the official heir of the Bukgung family. What would I gain from deceiving you?”
He was wrong.
In truth, Mujeon was deceiving Bukgung Ri right now.
It was just that the prize seemed so great that Bukgung Ri hadn't noticed.
Mujeon planned to use the Hao Gate to spread rumors throughout the martial world once he added his name to the register.
That the Lord of the Prajna Bastion had become a disciple of the War King Gate.
Once that happened, it would be impossible not to be conscious of it.
With their own lord having signed another sect's register, how could he possibly demand loyalty from the Prajna Bastion's disciples?
In the end, even if they didn't receive direct orders like a branch family to the main house, it would inevitably become an alliance where the Prajna Bastion would have to defer to them.
‘If you keep someone who doesn't want to be here, you'll just get stabbed in the back. A vassal-like relationship is the most convenient.’
This was Mujeon's thinking.
However, blinded by his ambition, Bukgung Ri failed to see through this scheme.
“If you still think of our Prajna Bastion as vassals of the Bukgung family...”
“I know. You betrayed them and set up your own shop.”
“...Then why?”
“Because you struggled. To survive.”
“...”
Mujeon said with a knowing smile.
Seeing this, Bukgung Ri felt a surge of emotion.
For over a hundred and several score years, they had been abandoned in the vast sea of the martial world.
They had endured and overcome countless crises to build the Prajna Bastion of today.
It's often the case that a single act of kindness from someone who was never kind before leaves a deeper impression.
Moreover, because Mujeon, the heir of the Bukgung family, had acknowledged their hardships, it struck him even more deeply.
All without knowing what Mujeon was truly thinking.
“I have no intention of tying you down now. Just live well and prosper. Well, if you help us out from time to time, that'd be nice too.”
At Mujeon's suggestion, Bukgung Ri slowly nodded.
“...That much is fine. No, thank you.”
“Good that you understand. So, should I recite the incantations for you now?”
“No. How could I receive my ancestor's legacy on the side of a road? I will travel to Sichuan to receive it. No, I will pay you a visit to receive it.”
“Suit yourself.”
Mujeon smiled with satisfaction at the newly formal tone and held out a piece of paper.
It was a contract of sorts, stating that Bukgung Ri would join the War King Gate.
“If you understand, put your seal here.”
Shhhk.
As Bukgung Ri finished signing, Mujeon grinned broadly and took the contract.
“By the way, where do you guys live?”
“We are based in Ningxia.”
“In that barren land? Must have been hard to make a living.”
Bukgung Ri nodded. Just as Mujeon said, there was truly nothing in Ningxia.
Nevertheless, his ancestors had settled there because there were no competitors around.
Recently, however, that nothingness had become a problem.
The number of disciples had grown, leading to severe financial pressure.
“We were already thinking of relocating.”
“Hmm... Then there's the problem of making a living again, huh?”
“We have money for now, so we plan to look into it slowly.”
Mujeon, who had been deep in thought for a moment, asked with a sparkle in his eyes.
“Then how about I introduce you to a job?”
* * *
Three days later.
“I hope we can meet again.”
“Please be sure to visit again. By then, we will show you the completed Hoyeon Association.”
Having finished all preparations to leave for home, I bid farewell to Son Baek, Baek Il-hak, and the other members of the Hoyeon Association and the Hunan Alliance.
To think that those who had tried to kill each other had now become semi-allies.
As I nodded, thinking how true the old saying was that you never know how human connections will turn out, Baek Il-hak offered me a small silver plaque.
“This is the advisor plaque for the Hoyeon Association, not the Akyang Association. Since we've grown, we had it made with a more luxurious material.”
“...”
It seems I need to leave Akyang as soon as possible.
I shifted my gaze to Bukgung Ri, who was standing in a corner.
Nod, nod.
Meeting my gaze, he gave a small nod.
That was right.
I had connected the Hoyeon Association, which desperately needed information, with the Prajna Bastion, which needed a stable source of income.
Of course, it wasn't easy.
The Hoyeon Association had not yet secured its finances, and the Prajna Bastion had to prepare for a move spanning thousands of li.
But who was I?
Wasn't I Jin Mujeon, the negotiation specialist, the greatest negotiator produced by Nine Dragons Fortress, the Negotiation King?
I lent the Hoyeon Association ten thousand silver taels to secure a long-term contract with the Prajna Bastion, and at the same time, I sent a Gugutalk to Yu So-pyeong, ordering him to help the Prajna Bastion with their move.
Though it wasn't interest-free, I lent it at the ultra-low annual interest rate of 25%, so you could call me a living Bodhisattva.
Of course, I secured solid collateral. If the Hoyeon Association went bankrupt without repaying the debt, Son Baek and his warriors would have to perform five years of free service at the War King Gate.
Honestly, I didn't want to do this, but it was an unavoidable decision to prevent any bad blood over money matters.
And through this series of events, the War King Gate gained a significant advantage.
‘Master will be pleased.’
It was that they could increase their influence in Hunan province and, at the same time, increase their check on the Lion League.
Once the Hoyeon Association, equipped with finances and information, gained real power, it would be like holding a blade to the Lion League's throat.
Having brokered a deal that satisfied both sides, smiles never left anyone's faces.
Hahahaha-
Truly a joyous day.
* * *
Seven days later. The heart of Hunan.
Hee-hee-hing-!
Since I'd made a bet with the Yukro squad, it had been a while since I'd galloped, and Huidungi let out a cheerful cry as it moved its legs.
Thudududu.
“My lord! Please slow down a little!”
Myo Hyang clung to me tightly, the speed was so great.
But that wouldn't satisfy Huidungi's desire to sprint, would it?
“Hahaha, enjoy the speed a little more!”
A soft pressure met my back.
The real deal.
After riding like that for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, we arrived at today's campsite, a tributary of the Coldwater River.
“Hoo-ah.”
Myo Hyang dismounted and washed her face with the cool water, a refreshed smile on her face.
Hee-hee-hing-
Huidungi also seemed to like it, burying its nose in the water and starting to drink.
Hiyah! Hiyah!
Following behind, the members of the Yukro squad arrived one by one, looking slightly exhausted.
“Hoo. The more I see it, the more I'm amazed. To think a mere beast is faster than the footwork of a decent master.”
Woo Je-jun looked at Huidungi with wonder.
“Hehehe, is that all? If it really wanted to, it could run a thousand li in a single breath.”
“They say the medical arts of the Blue Flower Divine Maiden are godlike, and her reputation is well-deserved.”
“Hey, how is that her doing?”
“Pardon?”
“It's because my Huidungi is amazing. Honestly, don't you know Huidungi almost died that day because she didn't have the Seoreumdan? Divine Maiden my ass, she's a total quack.”
“...”
Hearing my sharp rebuke, Woo Je-jun fell silent, as if agreeing with me.
Just as everyone was leisurely starting to set up camp.
Dududu.
“Enemies approaching!”
The scout team returned, announcing the appearance of enemies.
“Why can't there be a single quiet day...”
This damn martial world, I need to leave it as soon as possible.
“Formation!”
At Woo Je-jun's shout, the members of the Yukro squad mounted their horses and formed a line.
“We push through them on sight! Understood!”
Red Dragon-!
Of course, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
As I mounted Huidungi and stood before them, Woo Je-jun urgently advised.
“Hall Master, it would be better if you stayed back...”
“I'm stronger than you guys.”
“...”
Well, it's not like I was wrong.
About three minutes later.
Clomp, clomp, clomp.
A hundred warriors appeared on the open hilltop.
A warrior in a blue robe stood before them.
“It's been a while, Jin Mujeon.”
“Jeez, if you were coming, you could have been quiet about it. You scared my guys.”
An ambiguous guest, neither welcome nor unwelcome, by the name of Dan Un had arrived.