Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Reverse Scale (3)
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"Impressive. To wipe out seven-tenths of the slave traders who gathered in Sungmyeong Province with just that handful of people."
The face of Silver World Chief, as he showed the messenger pigeon slip that had arrived via hawk to the leadership, was etched with fear.
"The slave traders, I can understand, but I never imagined they'd smash the Blood Squad too."
Mong Yang's resentful gaze turned toward Pyeon Gwang, who could be called the root cause of all this.
"We've earned the enmity of those kinds. How on earth are we supposed to handle this?"
"My brother is unharmed. Since we rescued him safely, nothing too worrisome should arise."
"That's just what the Grand Supreme Law Protector hopes. Have you forgotten where they came from? The Heavenly Demon Cult. The Heavenly Demon Cult. We can't think of this in ordinary terms."
Elder Joe Hwa raised his voice, but Pyeon Gwang maintained his calm demeanor.
"Even without us, there are plenty who'll have to face their wrath. It'll be a while before it reaches us."
"What do you mean?"
"Hongik Hall."
Pyeon Gwang tossed the slip as he continued.
"Taking advantage of the slave traders getting hit, the culprits behind it all—the Hongik Hall bastards—managed to escape. What would you do if you were an elder? Let the main perpetrators go and take out your anger on us, who were forced to assist?"
"Well..."
As Joe Hwa trailed off, Pyeon Gwang's gaze shifted to Mong Yang.
"Behind Hongik Hall is the Yangtze Waterway Alliance, tied by blood relations. Do you think the Yangtze Waterway Alliance would just sit by and watch Hongik Hall fall?"
Mong Yang shook his head, recalling the temperament of the alliance leader, Army Mountain Light Dragon Yoo Ak.
"No way they would."
"If we help them when they move for revenge, their anger might cool a bit. Of course, no need for decisive aid. Dragging it out as long as possible is best for us too. If the Yangtze Waterway Alliance isn't enough, what about the bandits? According to the report from the Hangzhou branch, they've figured out we pulled Hongik Hall in on someone's orders. Considering the bad blood already between us, conflict is inevitable. If we help then too, we can more than make up for our past mistakes. What do you think?"
No one raised any real objections to Pyeon Gwang's opinion. Everyone clearly looked displeased, but anyone could see there was no better alternative.
"But ending it there feels like a waste."
Sensing the mood fully on his side, a murderous tone leaked from Pyeon Gwang's mouth.
"What do you mean, Grand Supreme Law Protector?"
Silver World Chief furrowed his brow as he asked.
"Shouldn't we get revenge?"
"Didn't we agree to just pass their information to the Heavenly Demon Cult side? I thought getting more involved than that would be unwise."
"In the same vein, let's properly leak their info to the bandits and the Yangtze Waterway Alliance too. Once they realize they could be next, won't they take measures? Especially those bandit scum who just stood by—they need to sweat a little."
Silver World Chief nodded in satisfaction after pondering briefly.
"Hm, that much we can allow. Since it's come up, the Grand Supreme Law Protector should take responsibility and handle it properly."
Silver World Chief put extra emphasis on "responsibility," but Pyeon Gwang didn't mind.
"I shall obey."
Pyeon Gwang bowed politely. But unlike his courteous appearance, his eyes were ice-cold.
"Did you find out? How did it go?"
Yoo Wol bombarded Lee Ja-gon with questions before he could even sit. Having scurried around busily to check on Sungmyeong Province, Lee Ja-gon caught his breath and spoke.
"It's chaos like you've never seen."
"That bad?"
"Not just bad—it's completely smashed. Of the slave traders gathered in Sungmyeong Province, less than three-tenths made it back intact."
"The Blood Squad? No, what about Red Dragon Hall?"
"Wiped out. A few from the Blood Squad seem to have escaped, but barely any."
"Heh!"
Yoo Wol let out a sigh. Knowing the caliber of Red Dragon Hall's experts he'd faced made the shock hit harder.
'No, maybe it's only natural.'
For that brief moment, the pressure from Cheol Woo and Sima Geon was unlike anything he'd felt before. He couldn't even imagine their power.
"Escaping quickly was a stroke of luck. A bit regrettable leaving the gold bars, but we didn't take a real loss. This is enough."
Though they'd fled Sungmyeong Province in haste and lost the gold bars, Yoo Wol had retreated safely and knew Lee Ja-gon had secured the bills of exchange, so he rated it a half-success.
"Doesn't seem that way."
"Why? Why the dark face again? Oh, the gold bars? Let go of your greed. It couldn't be helped in that situation."
Yoo Wol assumed Lee Ja-gon couldn't let go of his greed for the gold.
"It's not the gold—it's that wench that's the problem."
"The wench...?"
An ominous feeling hit instantly.
"The ones who raided Sungmyeong Province—they were targeting that girl. She's family."
Yoo Wol's face hardened. He immediately understood why Lee Ja-gon said that.
"Damn it!"
"Yes. Damn it indeed."
Lee Ja-gon chimed in, roughly grabbing the liquor bottle on the table. He downed it in one go, wiped the liquor dripping from his mouth, and said,
"We need a plan. If they back off, fine, but if they rampage for revenge, this is no small issue."
"True enough."
Yoo Wol's head nodded heavily as he grasped the gravity.
"Deputy Hall Leader, if the main hall fought them with full force, what do you think would happen?"
Lee Ja-gon asked in a subtle tone. Worried he was still hung up on the gold, Yoo Wol shook his head as if to say don't even think it.
"What would happen? We'd lose for sure."
"I figured as much. What if the entire Yangtze Waterway Alliance?"
"That's..."
Yoo Wol hesitated, unable to answer easily.
He hadn't crossed blades directly, but the power of Sima Geon and Cheol Woo he'd seen in Sungmyeong Province was immeasurable. Yet the Yangtze Waterway Alliance's foundation was no joke either. As a massive force embracing the Yangtze, it had countless heroes, including peak experts who could dominate the world.
Still, no one came to mind who could definitely beat those monsters from Sungmyeong.
"At least we wouldn't lose."
Yoo Wol muttered with firm conviction.
After all, a faction's power surpassing an individual's was a universal truth.
"That strong?"
Lee Ja-gon gaped, having expected something like "Of course we'd win."
"I'm not underestimating the Yangtze Waterway Alliance's strength, but I can't picture an easy victory."
"There we have it."
"Have what?"
"If even you say that, Deputy Hall Leader, mere support won't cut it. To survive, we have to get under the Yangtze Waterway Alliance's wing—no choice."
"Not easy. Have you forgotten what kind of man the Hall Leader is? He clashed with the Alliance Leader over differing views and went independent. Flee from a few enemies right in front of us? Ridiculous."
"Then we die."
"..."
"You have to convince him. All our lives depend on you, Deputy Hall Leader."
Yoo Wol let out a hollow laugh at Lee Ja-gon's desperate eyes. It was obvious he was racking his brain on how to persuade the Hall Leader, even as he spoke of leaving it to the heavens.
The drinking session that started in early evening dragged past midnight without end. Old Drinking Freaks Joo Yoo Geol-goe and Ha Hu Gok, reunited after ages, had so much to say they downed over five jars back and forth.
"So, what're the Ha Hu Clan planning?"
Joo Yoo Geol-goe lightly patted his flushed cheeks, catching his breath as he asked.
"Dunno. They'll handle it themselves. They seemed pretty pissed, though."
Ha Hu Gok spun his cup disinterestedly.
"Unless they're idiots, they won't sit still after that treatment. Problem is, the opponent's Hao Clan."
Joo Yoo Geol-goe glanced at Ha Hu Gok.
"Prestigious Ha Hu Clan scrapping with Hao Clan? Bad look."
"Cut the nonsense and spit it out. What's your point? Looks like Beggar's Sect got played too."
"Not played—circumstances led there. Plus, we got apologies. And their position's somewhat understandable."
"Understandable my ass. We got solid compensation."
Ha Hu Gok scoffed derisively.
"Heh heh! Not that solid—just enough to brush over."
Joo Yoo Geol-goe smirked slyly, thinking of the interests Hao Clan would provide. His disciples clashing with Sima Geon and getting injured was outrageous, but the gains offset it nicely.
"So, go easy on 'em?"
"Poor things getting squeezed everywhere. Forced into it by bandit threats."
"Clan's got it handled. Wrong direction anyway. Should beg forgiveness from Sima Geon first, not us or Beggar's Sect."
"True. But since your brother’s safe, maybe moderately..."
"Moderately? Tsk tsk, you still don't get it. Leisurely thinking like that could get us all killed. He's not cruel or narrow-minded, but not forgiving enough to let those who harmed his family slide."
Joo Yoo Geol-goe nodded gravely, recalling Sima Geon's resolute demeanor at Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch.
"The Hao Clan branch incident, and wiping out even old allies Red Dragon Hall—yeah, seems like it."
"Allies? Those scum tried using your sister as medicine. I'd grind 'em to dust and drink it!"
Learning via Beggar's Sect why Red Dragon Hall targeted Sima Jin, Ha Hu Gok couldn't hold back his rage.
"Hey, easy—no need to get mad. Here, drink."
Joo Yoo Geol-goe filled Ha Hu Gok's empty cup.
"Anyway, shut up with the nonsense and stay put. Don't complicate things."
"Got it. Actually, thinking about it, maybe no need to worry."
"Huh?"
"If I were him, I'd target Hongik Hall, or better, the bandit scum behind it—not Hao Clan. Right?"
Ha Hu Gok nodded in agreement after a moment's thought.
"Yeah, plausible. Gonna be noisy for a while."
"Noisy? That's the least of it."
"What?"
"Clashed with Heavenly Demon Cult before. Now bandits and Yangtze Waterway Alliance too. Bad feeling. World's too quiet—blood wind's coming."
Joo Yoo Geol-goe's eyes sank heavily as he slowly raised his cup. Ha Hu Gok's expression, clinking glasses silently, was no different.