Chapter 156

While resting for healing, Jin Ja-gang thought about many things.

Most of those thoughts were about Mang Ryo.

But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t guess Mang Ryo’s purpose. It was certain that he had tried to use him, but he didn’t know why.

If it were someone who didn’t know him, that would be understandable. But Mang Ryo knew about him. He knew better than anyone that Jin Ja-gang was at most a half-wit who couldn’t even use internal energy properly due to blocked qi and blood channels.

Yet was there value in using him?

Rather, Mang Ryo had become much stronger than before. Jin Ja-gang felt a similar aura from him as he had received from Zhuge Ming.

In fact, he was very surprised. A martial artist who had been active in the frontier of Yunnan had gained an aura comparable to a Zhuge family master in less than ten years!

When Jin Ja-gang was chiseling with picks in the mine shafts and memorizing formulas and prescriptions he barely understood, Mang Ryo had become that strong.

So it made him think even more strangely. Why would Mang Ryo, who had become so strong, try to use him?

“Do I have such value?”

Jin Ja-gang asked Bian Bu, who had come to visit his room. Bian Bu knew the general situation from what he had heard from Jin Ja-gang.

Bian Bu looked at Jin Ja-gang with an incredulous expression. Jin Ja-gang had naturally expected the answer to be no, but Bian Bu’s thoughts seemed somewhat different.

“You destroyed the Extreme Poison Sect when you were ten years old.”

“I did.”

“Even our Lord couldn’t have done that at that age. Who destroys an entire sect at age ten?”

“It wasn’t done through martial arts.”

“That’s why it’s scarier. A ten-year-old brat with no martial arts used poison to massacre hundreds of warriors.”

Bian Bu particularly emphasized the words “unlucky brat.”

“That’s one way to think about it.”

“I honestly can’t agree with what the Lord said. That you’ve been overrated compared to your abilities.”

“Isn’t that wrong?”

“Martial artists sometimes have the habit of evaluating only by martial arts, but you’re someone who escaped the Nine Palace Eight Trigram Formation without anyone’s help.”

“But what the Zhuge family says is…”

Bian Bu answered clearly.

“The Zhuge family disparaged the vassal family’s Nine Palace Eight Trigram Formation as weak? That’s fucking bullshit. If it was weak, they shouldn’t have brought them. They brought them thinking they were sufficient, then when they got beaten, they spout nonsense.”

However, after thinking for a moment, Bian Bu added more words.

“But of course, there are rumors that the Nine Palace Eight Trigram Formation deployed by those with the Zhuge surname is more frightening.”

“Haha…”

“Anyway, don’t lose heart. You don’t need to take the Lord’s words too seriously…”

At that moment, Dan Ryeong-gyeong entered the room from behind Bian Bu.

“I’m sorry for interrupting while you were talking about me.”

Bian Bu froze mid-sentence.

“Uh, hahaha, how could that be? I was just saying that the Lord’s beauty and martial arts reach the heavens…”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong didn’t particularly care and said what she had to say.

“The Zhuge family’s dogs have caught the scent and are prowling around near here. We’ll probably have to move hideouts. Can you move?”

Jin Ja-gang sat up from the bed. Then he got down from the bed and stood.

If not for the bandages wrapped tightly around his entire body, he would have looked like someone who wasn’t hurt at all. Of course, he couldn’t not be in pain. There would be pain with every step. But Jin Ja-gang showed no sign of it.

“I can walk. What you’ve done for me so far is sufficient. From now on, I’ll manage alone…”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong said briefly.

“Words that deserve a spanking.”

Jin Ja-gang’s face turned red.

“…”

Rather, it was Bian Bu who grumbled. Bian Bu pointed to his own leg.

“The young man might not know, but this old servant’s flesh hasn’t even attached yet?”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong nodded.

“I understand. We’ll get a palanquin to avoid pursuit and go to a large town. We’ll depart as soon as we obtain one.”

Jin Ja-gang was quite surprised by Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s words.

“Dayi…”

Bian Bu answered.

“It’s a place two hundred li southwest of Sichuan’s capital.”

Sichuan Province was home to the famous Emei Sect and Qingcheng Sect among the Nine Great Sects of the orthodox faction, as well as the martial family Sichuan Tang Clan. Particularly, Dayi was located roughly midway between Qingcheng Sect and Sichuan Tang Clan.

Only two hundred li away. If masters with excellent lightness skills moved, they could travel from their main mountains to the large town in a single day.

A place incomparably more dangerous than here in Yunnan. Yet they were going directly into such a tiger’s den, so he couldn’t help but be surprised.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong said.

“The young hero would want to remain in Yunnan. But the young hero can no longer stay in remote, isolated places where few people come and go.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong spoke again to Jin Ja-gang, who didn’t understand.

“Think about what happened to the villagers where Stone Forest Gang and Shadow Bureau were located. Lan Family Village would have met the same fate if it hadn’t been the young hero’s base.”

“Ah…!”

Jin Ja-gang felt chilled by those words. Innocent people had been completely massacred for whatever reason related to Jin Ja-gang’s involvement.

Even with Lan Family Village, Jin Ja-gang had naively felt relieved that such things wouldn’t happen because the Zhuge family were orthodox faction people. But hadn’t Bian Bu been different? Unlike Jin Ja-gang, he had been worried that slaughter would occur.

“Yunnan is too remote. It’s full of layered mountains, so even if something happens to a small village, there are no eyes to see. It’s convenient for those with malicious thoughts to run wild as they please. Whatever happens will directly result in damage to the villagers.”

Jin Ja-gang quietly listened to Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s words.

“Unfortunately, this is a place where my power doesn’t reach. And the young hero’s power is far too weak to protect those people. That’s why the young hero shouldn’t remain here.”

Jin Ja-gang agreed with Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s words. If he had already become a big shot in rumors, more people would come looking for him.

Then he would inevitably cause much more damage to the surroundings.

But even so, he still couldn’t understand why they had to go to a place near Sichuan’s capital.

“I understand.”

* * *

Baek Li-jung arrived belatedly at Lan Family Village, where Jin Ja-gang and Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s group had departed.

He had rushed at the highest speed possible, but he couldn’t do anything about the physical time required.

Baek Li-jung looked at Lan Family Village, which had been completely burned and only ruins remained.

Warriors from the Martial Arts Alliance mobilized from the branch were searching through the ruins and collecting evidence.

Baek Li-jung was keeping his mouth tightly shut and forcibly suppressing his anger.

Moreover, the Zhuge family, who should explain this incident to Baek Li-jung, had withdrawn after leaving a few warriors and a letter containing the full story. It was an action that indirectly meant they didn’t want to take responsibility for Baek Li-gwon’s matter.

Baek Li-jung tore up the letter as soon as he read it.

It contained nothing special, just the predictable story… The Silent Dragon had intruded into the Nine Palace Eight Trigram Formation deployed by our family’s vassal family, and Snake Scorpion Poison King, cornered, had escaped the formation. Our family lost many warriors and the formation collapsed, creating a difficult situation.

Afterward, Silent Dragon appears to have been defeated by Snake Scorpion Poison King. Due to the flames, this person arrived late and was blocked by someone called Mang Ryo in alliance with Shandong Enchanting Flower.

This Mang Ryo captured Silent Dragon and departed, threatening to cause harm if pursued, while Shandong Enchanting Flower took Snake Scorpion Poison King and fled.

Our family is currently doing everything possible to investigate Mang Ryo’s whereabouts while pursuing Shandong Enchanting Flower.

This person cannot help but feel regret about this series of events, and will gladly travel a thousand li to lend assistance whenever the Sword Pavilion Master requests it.

Baek Li-jung’s eyebrows trembled with anger as he recalled the nickname Silent Dragon. Silent Dragon was the nickname among the Three Dragons and Four Phoenix for Baek Li-gwon, who had a quiet personality and was calm.

“How dare they shift all their responsibility to this side?”

Baek Li-jung was angry but had no immediate recourse. Baek Li-gwon was talented in martial arts and was particularly the son and disciple he cherished. He had even cast out his cousin brother, who was Baek Li-gwon’s biological father, in order to properly adopt Baek Li-gwon as his son.

That son he had obtained was now in the hands of some nobody called Mang Ryo!

“If even a fingertip’s worth of harm comes to my son, you will all die. Even if I have to overturn half the martial world, I will definitely find him.”

Grind grind grind.

Baek Li-jung ground his teeth.

* * *

A small underground room filled with medicinal fragrance.

Baek Li-gwon lay naked and straight on a stone slab embedded with cold jade everywhere, emanating a chilly cold energy.

A middle-aged man had inserted needles into acupoints all over Baek Li-gwon’s body. After making Baek Li-gwon look like a porcupine, he let out a small sigh and stood up.

The middle-aged man looked at Mang Ryo, who was standing behind him, with a reproachful expression.

“You’ve caused quite a big incident.”

“An incident? This was all within my plan without deviating even an inch.”

“Even so, how could you bring him here? They’re already suspicious of us.”

“Even if they’re suspicious, as long as there’s no evidence, it’s fine. I brought him here to eliminate that evidence. If the poison had worked properly, I wouldn’t have had to do such troublesome work. How many times is this now?”

The middle-aged man frowned.

“I suppose you’re talking about Young Phoenix from last time, but Young Phoenix and Silent Dragon are children who were carefully built up from the foundation by their respective families. With such solid foundations, poison doesn’t penetrate properly and effects don’t come easily.”

“Then don’t say from the beginning that the effects are so good. If it doesn’t work on such people, what about the countless masters?”

“Huh, if this reaches the elder’s ears, it’ll be cause for alarm… Each and every one of these becomes experimental samples that help improve effectiveness. Don’t forget that what we’re making isn’t poison for a few individuals but for mass production.”

“Then I did well to bring him. You can examine this fellow and do whatever experiments or samples you want.”

“Ugh. Let’s say that’s the case.”

The middle-aged man, thinking he couldn’t win against Mang Ryo with words, closed his mouth.

“By the way, how is his condition?”

“He’s been detoxified to some extent, and if he receives proper treatment, he should recover without major side effects.”

“It won’t do if there are no side effects.”

Mang Ryo thought for a moment and said.

“I think I should meet the elder. Don’t you think it’s about time I met him once?”

The middle-aged man chuckled.

“Do you think the elder meets just anyone who wants to see him? He’s someone even we find difficult to meet. Don’t say useless things and consult with the young master. He seems to want to see Advisor Mang already because of the Poison Valley incident.”

Mang Ryo made an expression like he was chewing a sour persimmon. If it was because of the Poison Valley incident, good things wouldn’t come of it. But he couldn’t avoid meeting because of what he needed in the future.

He had to become stronger.

With his current martial arts, it would be difficult to create the things he was thinking of. Even if he had to make embarrassing requests, he had to borrow the Tang Clan’s power to become stronger.

“I understand. I’ll do that.”

* * *

Sichuan has various climate changes due to winds blowing from different directions each season. Particularly, clear days throughout the year don’t reach even two months, with short daylight hours and very humid conditions.

Because of this, Sichuan people are famous for overcoming the humid climate with spicy food, and thanks to this, martial artists based in Sichuan had particularly sharp and fiery temperaments compared to other places.

Due to the characteristics of people living in basin terrain, they had strong self-reliance and exclusive attitudes toward outside forces. The saying that they would die rather than bend was representative of Sichuan martial artists’ nature.

The fact that the three sects – Tang Clan, Emei Sect, and Qingcheng Sect – dominated Sichuan, which was full of such martial artists, was also an aspect showing how powerful the three sects’ strength and influence were.

Jin Ja-gang heard stories about Sichuan from Bian Bu inside the palanquin.

“How else would Qingcheng Sect be the only Taoist sect among the Nine Great Sects that hasn’t joined the Martial Arts Alliance?”

“What?”

It was truly surprising that despite being one of the Nine Great Sects, they hadn’t joined the Martial Arts Alliance.

“They’re such stubborn Taoists. They stick to principles… Rather than such talk, how should I put it? They extremely hate others’ interference. If you’re affiliated with a faction, there are cases where you have to do things you don’t want to do.”

“What about Sichuan Tang Clan and Emei Sect?”

“Both are nominally affiliated with the Martial Arts Alliance. However, Tang Clan has built up an independent force called the Poison Gate, and Emei Sect is a Buddhist sect so they have little interest in affairs outside Sichuan. Of course, this also means both sects dislike others’ interference.”

“Ah.”

“The reason we can go to Sichuan’s Dayi is also because of such things. The three sects are like kings in Sichuan. Those kings don’t want to be interfered with by each other, and they also don’t want to intervene in each other’s affairs. Dayi is… precisely where all their power reaches. A place where the influence of all three kings overlaps.”