Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: How Amusing
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< How Amusing >
Jeok Gyeolmyeong strode forward, his face a mask of fury.
He was on his way to meet Jin Sahong.
Their meeting place was a small, nameless tavern in the back alleys of Wuhan.
They had ruled out any of the larger, well-known courtesan houses or taverns in Wuhan, as most were under the influence of the Underworld Sect.
In the distance, he saw a rundown tavern.
Nearby were shabby inns and buildings that looked ready to collapse at any moment, but he paid them no mind.
Jeok Gyeolmyeong quickly entered the tavern and looked for Jin Sahong.
A waiter scurried over and bowed his head.
"He is waiting for you on the second floor."
Jeok Gyeolmyeong glanced at the waiter before practically flying up the stairs.
At a table in the center of the second floor, Jin Sahong sat, sipping from his cup.
Jeok Gyeolmyeong strode over and plopped down in the seat opposite Jin Sahong.
He glared at him with fierce eyes.
"How am I supposed to interpret this situation? I'm about to report to my superiors that the Martial Alliance has declared war. Is that acceptable to you?"
Hearing this, Jin Sahong looked at Jeok Gyeolmyeong with cold eyes.
"Seeing you this worked up, you seem to be serious... but I just can't understand. Are you truly acting this way because you don't know?"
Jin Sahong's tone seethed with unconcealable anger and hostility.
"The audacity. Did you think I wouldn't know that the Martial Alliance sent the Heavenly Sword Group to Wuhan?"
"It was only one squad, just thirteen men. What do you think we could possibly do with that? So, did capturing them improve your fortunes?"
"What kind of bullshit is this?"
"I've already investigated enough. The underworld bastards made so much noise that there isn't a soul in Wuhan who doesn't know they were on the move. Did you really not know?"
"Ha! Look who's talking. Did you think I wouldn't know the Martial Alliance was scheming behind the scenes to absorb Wuhan's underworld? Moving so openly, too?"
Jeok Gyeolmyeong glared at Jin Sahong with menacing eyes.
"Stop this nonsense and release the thirty of my men you captured, every last one of them. If you killed them, give me the bodies. And don't you dare forget about compensation."
"Ha! Compensation? You've got some nerve... The men the Black Alliance captured belong to the Heavenly Sword Group. I'm sure you know what happens when the Heavenly Sword Group gets involved, don't you?"
"Are you trying to threaten me? Doesn't it occur to you that the Heavenly Sword Group coming to Wuhan was the problem in the first place? And as if that wasn't enough, you stirred up the underworld and took my men? If your Heavenly Sword Group makes a move, who do you think we will send next?"
In any case, neither side was willing to back down an inch.
It seemed as if sparks would fly between the two men.
After arguing heatedly for some time, they grew tired and both fell silent.
A brief silence hung in the air.
As they rested and thought, something seemed off. They had been too agitated earlier, lashing out wildly, but now that they had cooled down, they could think more rationally.
It was Jin Sahong who broke the silence first.
"Let's not escalate this. It's not just the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance in Wuhan; we also have to keep the Namgung and Jegal families in check, don't we? So let's patch things up here."
"Ahem. Well... I'm aware that nothing good will come of us fighting. Let's put the matter of compensation aside for now and resolve the issue with our men first."
"Good. I'm grateful you said that. So, when will you be returning the members of the Heavenly Sword Group you've captured?"
Jeok Gyeolmyeong's eyebrow twitched.
"What are you talking about now? Return members of the Heavenly Sword Group? How can I return what I don't have? You should be the one returning my thirty men, every last one of them."
"Still on about that?"
Jin Sahong looked incredulous. But with a cooler head, his reaction was bound to be different this time.
"Don't tell me... were your men really captured?"
Jeok Gyeolmyeong, sensing the strange turn of events, also stiffened.
"Then... were your Heavenly Sword Group members truly captured as well?"
Their eyes scanned each other, searching for the truth.
The first priority was to confirm that the other wasn't lying.
If the other was deceiving them, it would feel truly foul later.
"If... if we're both telling the truth... can you guess where they might have gone?"
Jin Sahong gritted his teeth.
"First... the underworld bastards are the most suspicious. It seems we'll have to start by crushing them."
"I agree."
The two men stood up at the same time.
And strode out of the tavern.
***
Jin Sahong set out, leading all the warriors he had brought from the Martial Alliance.
Since the ones taken were from the Heavenly Sword Group, the Martial Alliance still had a considerable number of warriors left.
He mobilized a total of fifty warriors and headed for the place where the Heavenly Sword Group members had been attacked.
The underworld thugs there were said to operate under the name of the Black Axe Sect.
If they crushed the Black Axe Sect, surely something would turn up.
The location of the Black Axe Sect was in a rather secluded part of Wuhan.
Though old and shabby, it had everything: courtesan houses, taverns, and inns.
Arriving there, Jin Sahong met Jeok Gyeolmyeong and the warriors of the Black Alliance, who had arrived around the same time.
Jeok Gyeolmyeong had also gathered all his remaining men and come here.
The Black Alliance had lost thirty men this time, but true to their nature of moving in large numbers, they still had sixty warriors left.
Jin Sahong and Jeok Gyeolmyeong glanced at each other, then turned to glare at the street where the underworld thugs were supposed to be.
"Let's go."
Pouring into the street with imposing might, the warriors of the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance scanned their surroundings, radiating fighting spirit and killing intent.
From all around, fearful eyes watched them.
They were the people who lived here.
But no matter how much they looked, they couldn't see any underworld thugs.
The expressions on Jin Sahong's and Jeok Gyeolmyeong's faces grew serious.
"Could it be...!"
"Everyone, spread out and search! Subdue anyone who looks like they're from the underworld! Also, find out if anyone knows anything!"
The warriors of the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance scattered in all directions.
Jin Sahong and Jeok Gyeolmyeong did not move separately; they stayed together.
They still didn't fully trust each other, so staying together was the best way to minimize secrecy between them.
The two men calmly watched their warriors moving busily in all directions.
They went around to the nearby people one by one, asking where the underworld thugs had gone.
But the people's reactions were somewhat lukewarm. If the underworld thugs had been causing trouble here, there should have been some resentment, but they saw little of that.
No, it was more that they didn't seem to know much at all.
It was certain that the underworld group that had controlled this area was the Black Axe Sect. The people living here had testified to that.
The problem was that they had only appeared here recently.
They even said that they hadn't known the men were from the underworld.
Their relationship with the nearby residents was also very good.
In fact, the residents' feelings were worse toward the warriors of the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance, who had suddenly appeared and started causing a commotion.
"We've become the bad guys."
At Jin Sahong's words, Jeok Gyeolmyeong shrugged.
"I'm already a bad guy, so it doesn't matter to me. Well... I suppose it's the same for you?"
"Are you trying to pick a fight, even now?"
"A fight? Don't be like that. I'm just speaking the truth. The truth always hurts."
Jin Sahong frowned. Still, he didn't retort and start another argument.
Right now, solving the problem at hand was more urgent.
After a short wait, the scattered warriors returned.
Their faces were all grim. They had found no information, nor had they discovered anyone who even resembled an underworld thug.
"Hoo. The underworld isn't just here. For now... let's check on the other underworld groups."
"Let's."
The Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance gathered and moved toward the bustling streets of Wuhan. There were several sizable underworld factions there, and they planned to check on all of them.
And to ask about the Black Axe Sect.
***
Byeok Taesan frowned at Hwaok's report.
"Something like that happened, and you're only just finding out?"
Hwaok lowered her head.
"My apologies. They seem to be highly organized and skilled at information control. They struck at the perfect moment and vanished."
The corners of Byeok Taesan's mouth lifted slightly.
"How amusing."
These guys from the Black Axe Sect had evaded the eyes of the Underworld Sect like ghosts.
And they had revealed themselves only to the warriors of the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance.
Then, just as the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance made their move, they moved with precision, captured them all, and disappeared.
Now, the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance were tearing the city apart, trying to catch the vanished underworld thugs.
It was causing quite a commotion.
"Those guys aren't from the Golden Moon Trading Company, are they?"
"They could be, or they could not be. But they have had no contact with anyone from the Golden Moon Trading Company in Wuhan."
"Is that so..."
"We are currently searching for the missing men, but it's proving more difficult than expected."
"What about the Namgung and Jegal families?"
"They are currently monitoring the situation. It does not seem that those two families are involved."
Hwaok finished her report and cautiously added her opinion.
"If the current situation is not resolved properly, it is clear that the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance will begin to intervene in earnest."
"Then things will get even noisier."
Hwaok wore a troubled expression.
It wasn't just about the noise. It was possible the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance could clash in Wuhan.
The two groups were fundamentally incompatible. They had only held an unspoken truce because of the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
Now that the Heavenly Demonic Cult was trapped as if severed from the world, the Martial Alliance, the Black Alliance, and the Five Great Families would slowly start to make their moves.
Perhaps the beginning of it all would be here in Wuhan.
"Who do you think they are?"
At Byeok Taesan's question, Hwaok took a moment to organize her thoughts.
"The most likely candidate... is Nameless."
The exact nature of that organization had yet to be revealed.
Considering the men and the Half-Jiangshi they had mobilized in Yichang recently, they were no ordinary group.
A group that could revive and command masters who died decades ago—how formidable must they be?
And to do so, how much power must they possess, and how long must they have prepared?
"Indeed... that's highly possible. By the way, it seems they didn't use any Half-Jiangshi this time."
Byeok Taesan looked slightly disappointed.
He could absorb spiritual energy from the physicians of the Heavenly Medicine Hall as if they were elixirs, but it was nothing compared to a Half-Jiangshi.
Except for Cho Seoran.
"In any case, find them. Mobilize everything you can. Use the underworld, the rogue warriors, everyone. Don't just tell them to move on their own; you command them directly."
Hwaok bowed her head slightly.
"I will do so."
The ones who controlled the underworld and the market for rogue warriors were Yuk Taegu and Jang Gagu. Both were members of the Secret Heaven Group.
The Secret Heaven Group was an organization that collected and managed information from all over the world.
Yet, entrusting their command to Hwaok meant that she was that exceptional, and his expectations for her were that high.
"Good. I'll be expecting results."
At those words, Hwaok beamed a bright smile at Byeok Taesan.
"I will be sure to live up to your expectations, Young Master."
As Hwaok departed with a happy expression, Byeok Taesan rose from his seat and walked to the window.
The view of the Golden Jade Manor spread out below.
The sun was beginning to set.
"It's been a while... Shall I go for a walk?"
***
As Byeok Taesan left the pavilion, Soso, who was nearby, scurried over and looked up at him.
"Young Master, are you going out?"
"Yes."
Byeok Taesan nodded and continued walking.
Soso quickly followed and asked.
"Shall I bring the warriors?"
"No need. I'm just planning to take a light stroll around the area."
"Yes. I understand. Please have a safe trip."
Soso bowed deeply.
Byeok Taesan stopped and turned to stare at Soso.
"W-Why are you looking at me like that?"
"What are you plotting?"
Soso jumped in surprise at his words.
"Huh? P-Plotting? I'm n-not plotting anything."
Byeok Taesan chuckled and turned away again.
What did it matter if she was plotting something or not?
"Never mind. I'm leaving."
As he started walking again, Soso bowed deeply once more.
"Yes, Young Master. Have a safe trip!"
Then she scurried off somewhere.
Byeok Taesan didn't even glance in her direction and kept walking.
And when he reached the main gate, he saw someone waiting for him, slightly out of breath.
It was Yeon Harin.
She smiled brightly at Byeok Taesan.
"Young Master, I heard you were going out. May I go with you?"
Byeok Taesan chuckled. So this was Soso's plot.
"Sure, whatever."
Yeon Harin's smile grew even brighter.
She quickly moved to stand close beside Byeok Taesan.
The two of them walked out of the Golden Jade Manor's main gate together.
< How Amusing > End