Chapter 38
Chapter 38
38.
Twelve Divine Generals Strategy Guide
While staying in the Black Cat Clan, I relentlessly trained my subordinates day after day. I didn't expect their skills to improve immediately. I only hoped that their mental state would become that of Rakshasa, Demons, Asuras, Elites, and Tenacious ones.
Their misconception was that I might show them some leniency.
I had no intention of showing any leniency from the start.
Having earned the name Heukdo meant that I had committed abnormal acts. In the spirit of atonement, I trained, the officers trained, and the subordinates repeated training that felt like their bodies would break.
The same went for me.
External Energy training is inherently painful.
Just as life is inherently painful.
I often trained my body hard alongside my subordinates. With the Leader personally training his physical strength, which subordinate would dare to complain?
In this way, I thoroughly integrated myself into Heukdo.
I became so immersed in training that I couldn't even remember if my true identity was the Low Filth Sect Leader, the Black Cat Clan Leader, a Shop Assistant, or a training instructor.
To kill the Daenachal forces and those crazy monkeys of the Black Fan Stronghold, we were just trash who spent our days eating, shitting, and training in Martial arts.
That was us.
After finishing the morning training, I was resting in the main hall when Byeok Chief Manager, whom I hadn't seen for a while, approached me with a pile of documents.
"Leader, I have something to report."
I looked at the pile of documents in Byeok Chief Manager's hands and replied,
"What's with all the paperwork?"
"I'll explain."
Byeok Chief Manager sat down and explained the documents. In summary, they were neatly organized documents detailing the financial ledger, personnel status, and business status, but I wasn't really interested.
When would I ever look into these?
However, to commend Byeok Chief Manager's hard work, I showered him with praise.
"Truly amazing. Our Byeok Chief Manager is the Black Cat Clan's Zhuge Liang, the Black Cat Clan's strategist, the Black Cat Clan's administrator, a talent so outstanding that he could handle supplies in the Black Cat Clan's army. I should add another title, like supply officer. It's a waste of your talent to just be a Chief Manager."
I rambled on as I pleased.
I had only given a few words of praise, but Byeok Chief Manager's face was beaming with smiles.
Even I was taken aback by my own praise.
"Thank you, Leader. I was able to organize everything with a happy heart because you excused me from physical training."
I nodded.
'Oh, so that's why...'
But what Byeok Chief Manager wanted to report was something else.
"Please take a look at this as well. I summarized it into one volume with all my heart."
I opened the book that Byeok Chief Manager handed me, and this time I was truly surprised. The title itself was extraordinary.
"Twelve Divine Generals Strategy Guide (Assault Collection)"
"……!"The character "集" (jip) usually refers to a collection of poems, writings, etc. Therefore, the title meant that it contained useful information, methods, and recommended strategies for attacking the Twelve Divine Generals. I looked at the strategy guide with a serious expression and repeatedly marveled at it. It wasn't just text; it even had illustrations. It was a masterpiece comparable to the secret manuals of prestigious orthodox sects.
"Byeok Chief Manager, your drawing skills are truly outstanding."
Byeok Chief Manager explained the strategy guide briefly with a pleased expression.
"I thought you might be curious about the Twelve Divine Generals' physiques, the appearance of their masks, and the characteristics of their Martial arts and Weaponry, so I compiled everything I knew with illustrations. Writing only would have taken a long time, but drawing is my hobby, so it wasn't difficult to organize."
As I listened to Byeok Chief Manager's words, I devoured the strategy guide.
The appearances of the Twelve Divine Generals were drawn like generals from the Water Margin or the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and their Weaponry, Martial arts, and even personalities were explained.
I also had a lot of information, but I didn't know quite a bit of what was in there, especially since the Twelve Divine Generals weren't exactly closely related in their past lives. In particular, I didn't know that Hongsin (Red Monkey) was a woman.
"Hongsin was a woman?"
"Yes, as I've written, she hasn't been able to break her habit of stealing, so she's probably still stealing somewhere. Hongsin is a somewhat special disciple, a woman who stole an item requested by Daenachal and used the commission to learn Martial arts. Hongsin is a Divine General who trains only in lightness skill, and you should be careful, Leader. Although she is lower in rank than you, no Divine General takes Hongsin lightly because of her lightness skill."
"I see. Is she very fast?"
"There are often geniuses who are born with a talent in one area, and Hongsin seems to have a natural talent for lightness skill."
At that moment, So Gun-pyeong peeked into the main hall, and I immediately said,
"Pavilion Lord So, you take over the afternoon training. I'm going to be hearing groans of agony from here."
So Gun-pyeong replied,
"Understood."
As So Gun-pyeong closed the door to the main hall and left, Byeok Chief Manager said,
"Leader, I'd like to say something presumptuous."
"Speak."
"It seems like I'm finally seeing a Heukdo that is worthy of the name Heukdo. I've been working with a happy heart lately."
I chuckled inwardly and replied,
"By the way, our Byeok Chief Manager is also excellent. Today, I will perfectly master this strategy guide. Is there also a compilation of Daenachal's information like this?"
Byeok Chief Manager replied with a proud expression,
"The leader is usually organized at the end. It's at the end."
"So, the leader is at the final stage, is what you're saying. Good. I will grant the Chief Manager a bonus. Twice the amount that So Gun-pyeong received."
"Thank you, Leader. It's not that I organized this to receive money, but I will use it to help with the household expenses."
As soon as he finished speaking, Byeok Chief Manager and I laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha……."
To think that there would be such a talent in the Black Cat Clan. Such talents should be actively utilized. After finishing the document review, I gave Byeok Chief Manager, who would surely be grinning to himself if left alone, his next assignment.
Of course, because it was a very important matter, my voice naturally became serious.
"Byeok Chief Manager, I have something to entrust to you."
"I'm listening."
"I am a man with great ambition. Byeok Chief Manager is like, what should I say, Zhuge Liang beside Liu Bei, Guo Jia beside Cao Cao, Lu Su of Wu, that's how outstanding you are."
Byeok Chief Manager cupped his fist in salute and replied,
"You flatter me."
"It doesn't matter if there are expenses. Hire more people to gather information, then compile a report on the current status of the forces surrounding our Black Cat Clan, a map of the forces, a list of key experts, their characteristics, and furthermore, a grand strategy for me to become the overlord of the region. The key here is to organize it freely. There's no need to rigidly adhere to any format or structure; draw and write as you please. I will make the judgment. I am not a man who blindly believes in a lot of information. But with Byeok Chief Manager's skills, it will be a great help."
Even though I had finished speaking, Byeok Chief Manager did not reply immediately, but instead smiled.
"Why are you grinning again?"
At my question, Byeok Chief Manager finally replied with a proud expression.
"I'm already, already preparing it."
I exclaimed as if I had taken a sip of alcohol without realizing it, then clapped and said,
"Good. That's all for today. Ah, when hiring people."
"Yes."
"Hire them from Ilyang Prefecture. There are a lot of idle people there."
This is why the local connection is always a problem.
"I have that much flexibility. I will do so. I will report again soon."
Only after Byeok Chief Manager had left did Madam Son, who had been waiting nearby, open her mouth in a nervous tone.
"Leader, this is Madam Son."
"Yes, yes. Our Head Maid Son So-so, what is it? Madam Son, who always speaks so beautifully, why?"
"A masked person has come outside. They are looking for the Leader."
"What kind of mask?"
At that moment, the door to the main hall opened, and So Gun-pyeong, who had come to make the same report, announced,
"Leader, Hongsin (Red Monkey) has come to see you."
"Understood. I will be out soon."
Before leaving the main hall, I quickly skimmed through the Hongsin section of the strategy guide.
― Obsessed with lightness skill.
― Known to have a pathological habit of stealing. Estimated wealth is also expected to be considerable.
― Became a disciple later than others, rapidly rising in rank by defeating some Divine Generals.
― Possesses the audacity to claim a draw by running away with lightness skill when at a disadvantage.
― Rumors abound that she eats Elixirs to increase the speed of Inner energy accumulation.
― Contractual relationship established with Daenachal Master, receiving desired Martial arts manuals and paying with stolen goods.
― Lightness skill is estimated to be on par with the Four Divine Generals.
I slowly closed the strategy guide and smirked.
"Strategy mastered."
As expected, there was no element of defeat for me.
* * *
I stood on the platform and looked at Hongsin, who had fearlessly come alone.
Hongsin was wearing a Martial uniform with reddish hues from top to bottom, with a thin outer garment. Of course, because she was wearing a monkey-shaped mask, I couldn't confirm whether her actual face was as ugly as a monkey.
However, she couldn't hide the fact that she was a woman because of the curves of her body and hips.
Hongsin said in a stiff tone from inside the mask,
"Myo Sahyung, are you well?"
Without much thought, I replied as written in the strategy guide,
"Hey Thief, long time no see."
"What? Thief? That's very unpleasant."
I guess that wasn't it. I briefly put my hand inside the mask and scratched my chin.
"I've been tired lately because of training, so I must have misspoke. Understand."
In any case, just from listening to Hongsin's sharp voice, it was easy to grasp that she was a woman who was greedy, had a strong competitive spirit, and didn't open her heart easily.
"Anyway, did you come to challenge me?"
"I just came to say hello. Why? Are you afraid that I might challenge you?"
I tilted my head.
"Afraid?"
Hongsin rambled on as she pleased.
"You'll have to fight that grumpy Baek-yu Sahyung soon, so you must be afraid. If you give me some generous pocket money like last time, I'll just retreat today."
I just realized that Hongsin's method of extorting money was very strategic. She probably knew that this wasn't the time for me to overexert myself before the showdown with Baek-yu.
"……."
To think that there would be a junior sister who extorted money from her senior brothers, it was an absurd situation. Heukdo was actually this messed up.
Hongsin said with her arms crossed,
"In the first place, Myo Sahyung and I have similar skills, don't we? You'll have to settle things with Baek-yu Sahyung soon, and if you get hurt fighting me, the Four Divine Generals will be a pipe dream again. Isn't that right?"
"Are you a beggar? Why are you talking so much about money?"
"You're being too harsh today. Ha, I guess I'll have to have a proper fight with Sahyung today."
Hongsin arrogantly clasped her hands together and said, making a cracking sound from her knuckles.
"Are you ready?"
"Junior Sister, how much did you come to find out?"
At my question, Hongsin's tone changed in an instant.
"Well, Myo Sahyung makes quite a bit of money, so……."
"Are you going around extorting money from your senior brothers like this?"
Hongsin tilted her head and said,
"Myo Sahyung, your tone is very unpleasant today. Your voice is also unfamiliar."
I rambled on as I pleased.
"Recently, I learned a Martial arts of the Extreme Yang lineage, but I couldn't control the Inner energy in my body, so my throat was damaged and I suffered from a high fever, so my voice became like this."
"Is that so?"
Indeed, this woman had a remarkable side. Because she was wearing a mask, only her eyes were visible, and those eyes were smiling. It seemed she was happy to hear that I had suffered an Internal Injury.
Hongsin suddenly changed her attitude.
"Still, since I came all the way here, I should challenge you. If you don't want to, I'll just take thirty silver coins. I won't bother you for a while. Anyway, even if you order those incompetent subordinates of yours, they won't be able to catch me. You know that."
I snorted and slowly loosened the muscles around my mouth.
"Monkey Junior Sister, how did you understand my words? I learned a Martial arts of the Extreme Yang."
"What does that matter? Master must have told you not to be picky about the means and methods to become stronger. Congratulations on learning a new Martial arts."
"The Extreme Yang Martial arts that I learned is literally fire. Everything it touches will be engulfed in flames. That includes your thin outer garment, of course, and that clinging red Martial uniform. If it burns, your naked body will be revealed. That will be eye candy for my subordinates. You dare to challenge me? Is that right?"
Threatened with having all her clothes burned off if she challenged me, Hongsin stared at me for a long time before saying,
"What are you trying to say?"
The subordinates nearby also looked at me with expectant eyes.
'What are you going to do? We'll support you.'