Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Sichuan, Conclusion (1)
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Time passed in the Murim Alliance.
On the night when the moon had waxed full, waned, and become a new crescent once more.
In the dining hall of the Dragon-Phoenix Squad's quarters somewhere in the alliance, a heated debate was underway.
For a reason that, as always, was anything but amusing.
"So, what you're saying, Brother Jegal, is that spears are stronger than swords?"
"If they possess equal skill, yes, I believe so. Spears are longer to begin with, making it easier to attack the opponent, aren't they?"
"What kind of nonsense is that!"
Today's debate topic: which weapon is superior.
Mok Ri-won exclaimed in shock at Jegal San's words.
"That's ridiculous! Swords are obviously superior! Swords have long blades and perfect balance between offense and defense—they're the ultimate weapon!"
"If their skill is equal, I still say spears win. Think about it. No matter how excellent the offense and defense, if you can't decisively strike the opponent, what's the point?"
"That's not true! The sword's profundity is so deep it's beyond words—a crude spear that can only thrust straight ahead can be effortlessly deflected!"
"A 'crude spear,' you say... Brother Mok, do you perhaps see the Alliance Leader as some idle good-for-nothing wielding a mere 'spear'?"
"Th-that's not what I meant! Why are you twisting my words like that!"
Mok Ri-won felt like he was about to explode from frustration.
Even amid this, Jegal San chuckled heartily.
Truth be told, whether spears or swords were superior wasn't a particularly important issue to Jegal San.
He was simply enjoying teasing Mok Ri-won and stoking his rage.
"But why call it a 'crude spear'?"
Mok Ri-won turned to Namgung Jincheon with a flushed face, pleading for help.
"Brother Sword Dragon! Don't you have any pride as a sword master?! Say something, quick!"
"It's a pointless argument. Crush them with your aura, and it doesn't matter what weapon they use—they're all the same."
"Argh! We're assuming equal skill! It's about the inherent superiority of the weapons themselves!"
"In reality, the odds of meeting someone with exactly equal skill are minuscule. There's always a disparity in strength between foes, great or small."
"You're impossible to reason with!"
Mok Ri-won pounded his chest in exasperation.
His gaze next turned to Il-un.
Il-un cleared his throat with a 'hem, ahem,' preparing to speak, but Mok Ri-won whipped his head away.
"It's not something to ask the Fist Master Il-un Monk about anyway. Sigh...!"
Il-un looked crestfallen.
In truth, when it came to weapons, Il-un had the most to say out of all of them.
Why not?
Though he mainly used fists, Il-un was Shaolin's senior disciple this time around.
Naturally, he was proficient in all eighteen Shaolin martial arts.
Yet they wouldn't even give him a chance to speak, leaving him utterly dejected.
Jegal San burst into even greater laughter at the sight.
Then, midway through.
Clack!
Dang Hwa-seo entered the dining hall, her face weary.
Mok Ri-won's expression lit up as he shouted.
"Little Sister!"
He scampered over to greet her, just like a puppy reuniting with its master.
"Perfect timing! I was debating with the squad members which is superior—swords or spears..."
"Young Hero Mok."
Mok Ri-won flinched.
"And you lot over there."
The other squad members froze at being addressed as a group.
Dang Hwa-seo smiled brightly.
"I came because of the late-night racket, and this is what you're discussing?"
She was smiling, yet it didn't feel like a smile.
No, it definitely wasn't.
The vein bulging on her forehead proved it.
Jegal San instinctively shrank back, his body remembering the unease, but Dang Hwa-seo was faster.
"Are you all going to bed or not!!!"
Her roar echoed like a tiger's bellow.
The nighttime debate ended once again without resolution, scattered by Dang Hwa-seo's shout.
The Dragon-Phoenix Squad returned to peace.
*
The next morning, Dang Hwa-seo rubbed her puffy under-eyes as she walked the alliance corridors.
She was already swamped with work and short on sleep, but every night the squad's men gathered in the dining hall to make a racket, leaving no time for rest.
Dang Hwa-seo sighed.
'They're not kids anymore...'
She wondered when they'd finally grow up—the mere thought made the back of her neck throb.
Trembling with headache, she continued walking when—
"Dragon-Phoenix Squad Leader."
A man approaching from afar called out to her.
A mild-mannered warrior.
Go Jeol, the aide to Strategist Jegal Mu-yeon.
"I was just about to seek you out. Glad I found you here."
"Uh, me?"
"Yes. The Strategist wishes to see you."
Dang Hwa-seo tilted her head.
What business could the Strategist have with her?
She pondered but found no answer.
If she had to guess one cause—
'...Trouble from the squad members?'
Her squad members, who caused incidents daily, might have finally stirred up something big enough to move the Strategist.
The thought drained the color from her face.
Go Jeol smiled faintly at her reaction.
"It's not about the squad members. Well, not entirely unrelated, perhaps."
"Wh-what do you mean...?"
As Dang Hwa-seo asked with a strained smile, Go Jeol shook his head.
"You'll have to go see. I don't know the details myself."
"Hoo..."
Dang Hwa-seo took a deep breath.
She steeled herself.
'Apologize first. Hear the rest after.'
Convinced the reason was her squad members, she marched onward, calming her pounding heart.
*
The Strategist Jegal Mu-yeon's office was as ever.
One wall's bookshelf overflowed messily with neatly sorted letters; another bore a map of the Central Plains.
Jegal Mu-yeon, seated at the desk in the center, spotted Dang Hwa-seo.
"...Ah, you've arrived."
"Greetings, Strategist."
Dang Hwa-seo clasped her hands in salute; Jegal Mu-yeon returned the gesture.
At that moment, Dang Hwa-seo bowed deeply and spoke.
"I'm sorry."
"Hm? For wha—"
"Our squad members are so full of youthful vigor they can't be reined in. As leader, I should have disciplined them properly, but I've been negligent due to being busy. I promise it won't happen again, so please, just this once, show mercy..."
"S-squad Leader. Calm down."
Jegal Mu-yeon, uncharacteristically flustered, tried to soothe her.
Dang Hwa-seo barreled on with her apology, deaf to his words.
She only stopped when he patted her shoulders and told her to quit.
"...That's not why I summoned you."
Her shoulders jolted.
Her face flushed crimson.
It was mortification.
"...I'm sorry. I jumped to conclusions."
"You must be overworked."
Jegal Mu-yeon smiled faintly.
"How's my nephew faring? I'm always worried he'll cause trouble."
Surprisingly, there were things causing even bigger incidents than his nephew, making the boy seem relatively well-behaved by comparison.
Dang Hwa-seo swallowed her rising words.
She forced an awkward smile.
"...He's been a great help."
"I'm grateful even if it's empty words."
Jegal Mu-yeon said so and took a sip of tea.
The real topic came right after.
"A new mission."
"Oh, is that it?"
Dang Hwa-seo finally relaxed.
But a question bubbled up.
"Normally, missions come via letter through your aide."
That was standard.
Missions were relayed by aides via letters.
Any additional queries or details were handled by them.
Thus, summoning her in person for a mission was unusual.
Jegal Mu-yeon smiled wryly.
"It's a mission I needed to discuss face-to-face."
"What kind of mission requires that?"
Jegal Mu-yeon stroked his teacup.
He began in a low voice.
"...The intelligence from your last mission has been invaluable. The alliance's other squads and divisions are using it to root out demons right now."
Dang Hwa-seo nodded.
As he said, the alliance's squads and divisions were so buried in missions they spent more time away than in.
Even division leaders were out on tasks, dropping meeting attendance below fifty percent.
"We've captured four large groups, seven mid-sized, and dozens of small demon bands."
"Quite a number infiltrated."
"Yes, but as demons, interrogating them hasn't been easy. Ah, that Flame Demon O Gang-ak you captured was especially tight-lipped."
Dang Hwa-seo started in surprise.
"He's still alive?"
"He's already a broken shell, his mind gone."
"Huh..."
Sighing, Dang Hwa-seo pressed on.
"So, did you learn anything...?"
"The Demonic Cult has established its own funding network in the Central Plains."
Dang Hwa-seo's eyes narrowed.
"Funding network...?"
"We haven't pinpointed it exactly. They operate so clandestinely it's hard to trace the source. But one thing is clear."
Jegal Mu-yeon spoke gravely.
"The reason they've infiltrated so deeply is money. We suspect their funding comes through merchant groups."
"That makes sense."
"Anyway, that's the preamble. Now the main point."
Dang Hwa-seo straightened up.
"We initially predicted demons hiding in Black Dao territory. Half were correct."
"Half?"
"Not just Black Dao lands."
Dang Hwa-seo's eyes widened.
Jegal Mu-yeon stepped to the Central Plains map and pointed to regions.
"From their Xinjiang base amid the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, through Xizang, Qinghai, Gansu—that's the initial entry path. They likely didn't linger there. Too obvious, too easy to detect."
His finger moved.
"Down from Xizang to Yunnan, and Guizhou to the right. Alliance reach is weak there, making it a logical route. Indeed, two of the Six Demons were in Guizhou."
"...Correct."
"Same above. Gansu borders Shaanxi and Sichuan. The Flame Demon O Gang-ak was in Shaanxi."
Dang Hwa-seo's fingertips twitched.
Only then did realization dawn.
Jegal Mu-yeon's finger was on Shaanxi.
The unmentioned region: Sichuan.
He was about to discuss Sichuan.
He'd summoned her personally, and that wry smile before speaking lingered in her mind.
Dang Hwa-seo's heart sank.
Jegal Mu-yeon noticed and looked apologetic.
"...We originally planned to assign this to other squads and divisions."
His finger pointed to Sichuan.
"But as you know, Sichuan is vast. Even with Qingcheng, Emei, and Dian Cang sects, investigations face obstacles."
How could she not know?
How could she claim ignorance?
She knew the reason all too well.
Dang Hwa-seo murmured lowly.
"...The Tang Clan blocks outsiders from entering their land."
Her fists clenched tight.
Seeing this, Jegal Mu-yeon spoke apologetically.
"Yes. We've requested cooperation several times, but the Tang Clan gave no response. Even when the Alliance Leader sent a letter personally. The Poison King remained silent for so long, then—just yesterday—made one demand."
His hand had dropped to his side.
Dang Hwa-seo bowed her head.
She voiced the expected question.
"...Bring me to them?"
"Yes."
Regret thickened in Jegal Mu-yeon's voice.
"Please go to Sichuan. Visit the Tang Clan and secure their cooperation."
As if fully understanding her feelings, he issued the order as a 'request.'
It was an ironic twist.