Chapter 224

Baek Li-jung spent an extremely long time alone in his room.

This had been the case ever since receiving Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s salted arm from Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol some time ago.

He hadn’t stepped even one foot outside his room.

Complete seclusion.

The only person who could meet Baek Li-jung was Sim Hak. All business was conducted through Sim Hak.

Sim Hak opened the door and entered Baek Li-jung’s room.

There was no need to knock on the door, clear his throat, or notify through a maid.

Baek Li-jung would have known Sim Hak was coming long before he arrived.

The current Baek Li-jung was more sensitive than ever. He was extremely on edge, to the point where he could vividly hear even the sound of breathing outside the door.

Sim Hak carefully walked on his tiptoes to the center of the room.

Baek Li-jung sat in meditation position with his back to the window, eyes closed.

The room was a mess. Furniture was shattered and scattered everywhere, and the walls and ceiling were full of torn marks as if a demon had clawed them with its nails.

However, Baek Li-jung hadn’t gotten drunk or engaged in self-harm and destructive behavior. Though he had skipped most meals, he hadn’t become a cripple either. Since going into seclusion, he had never once changed from that meditation posture and had been sitting like that the entire time.

Sim Hak carefully walked to avoid stepping on the broken or cracked floor and waited in the middle of the room.

Baek Li-jung had become much thinner than a month ago. His cheeks were hollow and his beard was unkempt. He looked similar to someone undergoing fasting meditation for a long time.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed, Baek Li-jung opened his eyes.

Instantly, eye-light blazed out madly and engulfed the entire room.

The eye-light disappeared quickly, but Sim Hak couldn’t easily calm his startled heart. His saliva had dried up completely, and even when he licked his lips with his tongue, they remained stiff.

The gaze was so sharp that just being in front of it was intimidating.

“Mang Ryo has come.”

Though no one had told Baek Li-jung, he already knew.

“Yes. He’s insisting on meeting you and waiting.”

“Meet with him. He’s probably brought some bait that would be appealing. Handle it yourself.”

“Oh my, how could I… I’ll come back to report and receive approval.”

“No.”

Baek Li-jung’s gaze became cold.

“The sword blade hasn’t settled yet. If I hear unpleasant talk, I won’t be able to control myself.”

Sim Hak smiled obsequiously.

“If it’s appealing talk, wouldn’t it not be unpleasant to hear?”

Unlike usual, Baek Li-jung neither smiled nor answered. He openly showed that he was extremely on edge.

“Then… how long should we wait? Since I’ve been handling the head’s affairs alone, my heart has been trembling…”

“Soon.”

It wasn’t a clear answer. But there was no way to refuse what Baek Li-jung ordered anyway. Sim Hak bowed and accepted Baek Li-jung’s command.

* * *

Mang Ryo spoke with Sim Hak in front of him.

“Soon, several Evil Sect members will visit Qingcheng Mountain.”

Sim Hak listened to Mang Ryo’s words with a dull expression.

“So what’s that supposed to mean? Since Shandong Enchantress is hiding there, naturally they’re going to rescue her.”

“That’s right. Evil Sect members also have loyalty.”

“Ah, I don’t want to hear unnecessary talk, so just tell me the conclusion. I’ve completely lost my taste for Advisor Mang since last time, so even talking in front of you is quite an ordeal.”

“Heh heh heh, then let me tell you one important secret.”

“What is that? Hurry up and speak.”

“I’m the one who used the Evil Sect’s communication network to call the Shandong Evil Sect to Qingcheng.”

“Ah, whoever calls them, what does that mat…”

Sim Hak’s eyes widened as he was listening halfheartedly.

“What, what?”

Sim Hak asked in disbelief.

“What meaning does that have? You incited them to attack Qingcheng?”

“Hey, how could those scraps attack Qingcheng? They’ll just demonstrate in front at most.”

Sim Hak asked again.

“If they’re just scraps, couldn’t Qingcheng just sweep them all away?”

“Normally that might be the case. But Qingcheng is also in the position of protecting the enchantress right now. It’s hard to use lethal force. Conversely, the Evil Sect bastards will risk their lives to rescue the enchantress.”

“I don’t really understand… So what benefit is there for us?”

“Whether voluntary or involuntary, in the end there’s only one method Qingcheng can take. Give up Shandong Enchantress. Or the enchantress might walk out on her own feet.”

“Whether they just give her up or Shandong Enchantress leaves, that would be fine.”

“But that won’t work. She can’t leave.”

Mang Ryo giggled and laughed.

“She needs treatment for the Tang family’s terrible poison. She can’t move for two weeks. The Evil Sect members demand her release, but Qingcheng can’t give her up. It becomes a desperate situation.”

“So what meaning does that have?”

“It has no meaning right now. But we can create meaning. Like Qingcheng colluded with Shandong Enchantress, or Qingcheng succumbed to Evil Sect demonstrations… something like that?”

“Hey, who would believe that even so? And what would change if they believed it?”

“Qingcheng’s prestige would fall.”

“Oh my, you did all this troublesome work just for that?”

“It was work done with just a few brush strokes, so it wasn’t difficult.”

“Looking at you sometimes, Advisor Mang really lacks practicality. No, why do such useless things?”

Sim Hak was dying to get away from Mang Ryo anyway. He was internally restless, worried he might do something wrong and get scolded by Baek Li-jung. But did he have to listen to such nonsensical talk?

Mang Ryo said with a smile.

“If the timing is right, we’ll have to devour Qingcheng.”

“Right. So you should have said the conclusion from the start that we’re devouring Qingcheng…”

Sim Hak thought he had heard something wrong. He tilted his head wondering if he had heard correctly or if there was another meaning, then only after a long while did he scream.

“What, what did you say!”

Sim Hak opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Mang Ryo beckoned with his finger for Sim Hak to come closer. Then he leaned close to Sim Hak’s ear and spoke in a small voice.

“Qingcheng is also a thorn in the Martial Alliance’s side, isn’t it? They haven’t even joined the Martial Alliance and have colluded with the Evil Sect, so it’s sufficient justification to devour them.”

“Qing, Qing, Qingcheng…”

Sim Hak’s hands trembled. He couldn’t handle the tremendous talk of attacking Qingcheng, one of the ten great sects of the martial world.

“It’s an opportunity to catch the Evil Sect bastards and Shandong Enchantress all at once while completely annihilating Qingcheng. How could we miss such an opportunity?”

Sim Hak drank tea gulp by gulp with trembling hands and said.

“But, but if the Martial Alliance mobilizes troops, won’t the other two of Sichuan’s Three Rivers stay still?”

“Well, Mount Emei has already finished talking with the nun, and the Tang family will actively step forward if only to clear up misunderstandings.”

“Wh-what’s that about? Misunderstandings?”

“Such a thing happened. They tried to take Poison Dragon as a son-in-law.”

Sim Hak’s mouth fell open.

“Poison Dragon as a son-in-law! The Tang family knows Poison Dragon is enemies with our head’s grand disciple, yet they would take an Evil Sect person as an adopted son-in-law?”

“Ah, don’t get too excited. That’s why I said they’ll step forward more to clear up misunderstandings. It’s not like Poison Dragon was originally Evil Sect either… For the Tang family, it was a big decision to settle past grudges with the Medicine Sect and move forward.”

Sim Hak took off his hat and scratched his head vigorously.

“Lady Dan might be one thing, but Qingcheng…”

Sim Hak, too shocked, didn’t even notice his slip of the tongue. The Lady Dan he mentioned would be referring to Jade Fairy, Shandong Enchantress Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

“Oh my.”

Sim Hak wiped his sweat and put his hat back on.

Then he shook his head back and forth.

“No matter how much it’s a sect not joined to our alliance… to attack a huge sect like Qingcheng requires the Alliance Leader’s permission. It’s not something that just happens because our head or I say so.”

“Then get permission. I came to consult about that matter anyway. The Martial Alliance Leader personally wanted to see me.”

“But actually, recently the relationship between our head and the Alliance Leader has become quite awkward…”

“Oh dear, that’s unfortunate. Our Military Advisor Sim must have suffered a lot in the middle.”

“I did suffer a bit.”

Mang Ryo went to sit beside Sim Hak and put his arm around his shoulder.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“Military Advisor Sim. Come to think of it, we haven’t met in a long time but I’ve only talked about work. Let’s take a break and go to a scenic place to listen to cute children’s dancing and singing while having a drink.”

“Cute… children?”

Sim Hak, whose eyes had been spinning for a moment, became serious.

“Hey! This person is trying to trap me in some snare again! I’m currently acting as the head’s deputy, deputy!”

“A snare? That’s hurtful. From now on we need to have very important discussions, so let’s go to a quiet place to do it.”

Sim Hak swallowed his saliva.

“But I’m conducting official business as the head’s deputy, so if I leave my post…”

“The work day is over anyway, so put off the rest until tomorrow. If it was that urgent, they would have come yesterday.”

“Ah, is that so? Come to think of it, they don’t look for me after work hours…”

“I know well how you suffer daily under business while working under the head. On days like this you should receive comfort with a drink, when else would you get it?”

Sim Hak was half-won over by Mang Ryo’s subtle words. Mang Ryo grinned.

“I’ll attach three or four of the cutest children for you. I recently called in some kids from outside, and I hear their appearances are quite unique and their way of speaking is amusing. Also, these ones are so excellent at being charming that when you have them beside you, alcohol goes down naturally.”

“Heh heh, this is really something.”

“If you just keep the subordinates’ mouths shut, there shouldn’t be big worries. The head will also overlook it on a day like today.”

Come to think of it, hadn’t Baek Li-jung told Sim Hak to handle things himself without receiving re-reports?

Since there was justification, even if he got scolded, it didn’t seem like he’d be scolded too severely.

Sim Hak subtly grasped Mang Ryo’s hand.

“The advisor is really a person who’s hard to hate. Heh heh heh.”

* * *

Jin Ja-gang searched for a suitable place to spend the night.

Tang Ha-ran thought they should go up to caves where they could hide or hills where they could scout. There would definitely be pursuers or watchers following them, even if they wouldn’t cause immediate harm.

However, Jin Ja-gang casually suggested under a large tree on the mountainside again today.

He even lit a campfire.

Tang Ha-ran, who had endured for several days but couldn’t stand it anymore, asked.

“I know you have thick skin, but… isn’t this a bit too conspicuous? You’re openly advertising that we’re here. Thanks to this, our entire route is exposed.”

“That’s correct.”

“Correct?”

“There are three meanings. To prevent rash approaches, to provide reassurance, and finally to deceive at the crucial moment.”

Tang Ha-ran had to think for a moment to understand Jin Ja-gang’s words.

“Of course they can’t come close because the fire is bright.”

“They’ll think it’s a trap.”

“Just from lighting a campfire?”

“We’ve been lighting campfires for several days. When I put out the fire in the morning, I’ve been simply spreading Clear Blood Gland Snake poison.”

“When on earth?”

Tang Ha-ran hadn’t noticed at all. Even though she was a much higher master than Jin Ja-gang in terms of martial arts.

“I should reflect. I’ve been too lax.”

“It’s fine.”

“Anyway, after we left, they must have realized they were poisoned when checking the campfire…”

“Now they won’t be able to approach rashly when we have a fire lit.”

“Ah.”

It was truly a method that struck at the unexpected. He had done the complete opposite of what was commonly considered natural and penetrated through the gap.

And this was also a reflection of the life Jin Ja-gang had lived until now.