Chapter 415

The Tang Family Main House was thrown into chaos.

Along with the proclamation, an official inquiry from the Righteous Alliance arrived.

It was an inquiry about why they were blocking the salt well warehouses at Dujiangyan, hindering the proper distribution of salt.

The proclamation alone was enough to cause an uproar, but the inquiry was even more serious.

For the Tang family, it was utterly bewildering.

All the leaders gathered in the family head’s room and caused a commotion.

“Baek Li-jung must have gone mad!”

“Perhaps he’s in league with the unorthodox sect bastards.”

“How does he know the location of salt well warehouses that even we don’t know about?”

The Tang family leaders even began to think they might have been wrong about something… whether their thought about poisoning salt was a misunderstanding.

Tang Gwi-ok stopped the excited Tang family leaders.

“Please calm down. First, we need to understand the situation.”

As soon as Tang Gwi-ok saw Baek Li-jung’s proclamation, she realized something and had them investigate public sentiment.

Warriors immediately brought news collected from various parts of the Central Plains.

“The people are greatly welcoming the Righteous Alliance’s activities.”

“Most are denouncing the nation for not providing proper relief and praising the Righteous Alliance.”

“The situation is so bad that they hope the Righteous Alliance’s relief work begins as soon as possible.”

It was natural. When relief is offered during difficult times, how could there be people who dislike it? They are saviors and life benefactors at the same time. In people’s eyes, it was truly an action worthy of praising Baek Li-jung as a great hero without any inadequacy.

But the reality is different.

The salt Baek Li-jung mentioned contains poison. That is the Tang family’s shame caused by Tang Qing. It’s something that must not be known to the martial world.

Yet Baek Li-jung intends to release that salt not even to the martial world, but to the general public!

The leaders were utterly bewildered. They realized they faced a great crisis.

If poisoned salt spreads to the people, when the Tang family is revealed as the culprit someday, it would be unmanageable, but if they recklessly block the salt distribution, they would face public condemnation.

“If we make even a small mistake, we could be in great danger ourselves, but why…”

At someone’s lament, another elder said.

“Indestructible Heavenly Sword is ambitious. He’s trying to use this opportunity to aim for Master Haewol’s vacant position and seize the alliance leadership.”

“Like before, if he purges the opposition, there will be no one left to oppose him.”

One elder suggested.

“How about we advance rapidly to Dujiangyan right now and eliminate the unorthodox sect remnants before they poison the salt?”

Another elder opposed.

“If we move rashly and Northern Heaven unorthodox sect desperately tampers with salt going to the people, all the blame will fall on us.”

“But if we lift the blockade of Dujiangyan…”

The salt would immediately be released and spread throughout the martial world…

The leaders bit their lips.

They were completely trapped.

Whether they blocked Baek Li-jung’s relief work or not, the Tang family could not escape from this matter. Quietly handling Tang Qing’s aftermath and burying the incident became almost impossible.

Even Jin Ja-gang found it difficult to come up with a sharp solution this time.

Baek Li-jung’s move was that fatal.

But then, Jin Ja-gang turned his head toward outside the meeting room.

Something very sharp and keen touched Jin Ja-gang’s senses.

Jin Ja-gang looked around the meeting room again and made eye contact with Tang Gwi-ok.

In this meeting room where all Tang family leaders were gathered, only Tang Gwi-ok and Jin Ja-gang noticed the presence.

“It seems son-in-law’s guest has arrived.”

Tang Gwi-ok nodded while looking at Jin Ja-gang.

* * *

When Jin Ja-gang came out of the family head’s room, Yeong-gwi was waiting. Her wounds were deep, making her complexion pale and breathing rough.

“The head of Leper Mound saw the Righteous Alliance’s proclamation and contacted us. He says this situation is serious. What has the Tang family decided to do?”

Jin Ja-gang shook his head.

Yeong-gwi’s expression darkened.

“As expected… it wasn’t something that could be decided easily.”

“Please tell the head I’m grateful for his concern.”

“He also said Leper Mound is always waiting, so please call anytime.”

“Thank you. I’ll ask for help when the time comes.”

When Jin Ja-gang finished speaking and moved, Yeong-gwi followed.

“I’ll escort you.”

“You don’t need to come. He’s someone with a difficult personality.”

“That person… is it him?”

“That’s right.”

Yeong-gwi was even more puzzled.

“Why would that person suddenly…”

“I’ll have to meet him first. Then I’ll be back.”

This time he had to meet alone.

That feeling was being conveyed very sharply.

He wasn’t someone who would move for simple matters, but it definitely didn’t seem like he came for simple talk either.

* * *

Jin Ja-gang came out of the Tang Family Main House alone.

Sharp sensations flew at him moment by moment, guiding Jin Ja-gang to where he needed to go.

A small river. Waterside flowing in jade-green color.

Master Haewol stood wearing a bamboo hat on his small frame, looking at the sun just setting over the western mountains.

Jin Ja-gang went and stood beside Master Haewol.

Master Haewol looked at the river and spoke.

“Go…”

Jin Ja-gang spoke first.

“You’ve come to tell me not to go again this time, haven’t you?”

“Oh. You know well.”

“But it doesn’t seem like you came just to say that.”

Master Haewol looked up at Jin Ja-gang with a displeased tone.

“Did you lay out a mat?”

“Someone asked if I was a fortune teller. It’s not fortune-telling, but that’s how the current atmosphere looks.”

“Hmm. Still quick to catch on.”

“Did you know Northern Heaven entered Dujiangyan?”

“I learned recently. Thanks to you stirring things up so much.”

“What’s going on?”

“The merchant world requested help from Baek Li-jung. And Baek Li-jung responded to their request. As a result, the Tang family is now cornered like this.”

Master Haewol continued.

“You underestimated Ghost King too much. He’s not someone to be easily defeated.”

“Isn’t there a possibility that Ghost King belongs to Northern Heaven?”

“Can’t tell. Rather, if that were the case, it would be easier to deal with.”

“Then why did you come to stop me this time?”

“Because it’s not your turn.”

Jin Ja-gang looked down at Master Haewol as if asking what he meant.

“I’m thinking of stealing.”

Jin Ja-gang was quite surprised, understanding Master Haewol’s intention.

“You’re going to… become a villain yourself?”

The Tang family cannot move. But unexpectedly, Master Haewol was volunteering to play the villain role.

“If you plunder the salt, the people will be greatly enraged.”

“Would it just be rage? More people will continue to die from not being able to eat salt. Merchants will be pleased and raise salt prices even more.”

“Even knowing that…”

But while speaking, Jin Ja-gang suddenly realized the missing part.

“Wait. Even if you’re a master, it’s impossible alone. What are you planning to do?”

Plundering salt needed for public relief wouldn’t end with just a simple bounty. It would earn the hatred of the entire Central Plains. Such a thing couldn’t involve Wudang Sect either.

“I’ve brought in Demon Cult.”

Power entered Jin Ja-gang’s eyes.

“Master!”

“I told you. If you couldn’t stop King of Hell, I would have no choice but to do more vicious things than you think.”

A martial alliance leader who joined hands with Demon Cult and plundered civilian supplies! Master Haewol would truly be taking an irreversible path!

But Master Haewol was calm.

“I will be called the great villain of the world. But by doing so, Ghost King’s grand plan crumbles. Then they too won’t be able to endure without revealing their true nature.”

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes sank coldly.

“They still might not reveal themselves.”

“As I said, it doesn’t matter even if Ghost King doesn’t show himself to the end. If I become the villain, the contaminated ones will band together to attack me.”

Wouldn’t that eventually become the situation Master Haewol had spoken of?

“I will cut out and erase everything. Then the martial world will become somewhat cleaner. At least for the next several decades.”

Master Haewol lifted his bamboo hat and looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Even while walking into the abyss himself, Master Haewol had an unbelievably resolute yet calm look in his eyes. It was clearly shown in his gaze that he had already decided to sacrifice himself for the martial world.

“Do you understand? Then that’s when it’s your turn.”

Jin Ja-gang felt Master Haewol’s heavy sense of responsibility and became solemn. Even though it was a promise he had already answered once before, this time his shoulders felt so burdened that he couldn’t answer easily.

Seeing Jin Ja-gang’s stern expression, Master Haewol smiled and clicked his tongue.

“What’s with that expression from the world’s Poison Dragon who even laid King of Hell in bed? Tsk tsk.”

“Master.”

“Don’t worry, will you? Who’s going to die? I’m going to restore the martial world to normal. Tell the Tang family head that if they don’t want to get unluckily entangled by interfering in this matter, just maintain the siege. And please ask them to spread the rumor well that I’ve joined up with Demon Cult.”

Master Haewol laughed heartily.

Then he took out a thin booklet from his bosom and forcibly placed it in Jin Ja-gang’s chest.

Jin Ja-gang’s mouth wouldn’t open to ask what it was. As if knowing what Jin Ja-gang wanted to ask, Master Haewol answered.

“You like profitable deals, don’t you? I was worried you might think you’re losing out because things got bigger than expected, so I prepared this in advance.”

“…”

But that wasn’t the end. Master Haewol placed a fist-sized doll made of silk sewn with gold and silver thread into Jin Ja-gang’s hand.

“…What is this?”

“There’s one more reason you shouldn’t come, and this is it.”

“A doll?”

Jin Ja-gang turned it left and right to see if there were hidden weapons or poison devices. But it was an ordinary doll stuffed with cotton.

“I don’t understand the meaning.”

“At this age, sometimes you get feelings. There’s a good energy surrounding the Tang Family Main House.”

Master Haewol, who had subtly broached the topic, smiled at the corners of his mouth and chuckled.

“Congratulations.”

“What?”

“You’re going to become a father soon. It will definitely be a very pretty and clever child.”

Jin Ja-gang was dumbfounded.

Seeing Jin Ja-gang speechless, Master Haewol smiled broadly, then turned around.

Then he walked away casually like an ordinary villager, muttering as if reciting poetry.

Kill me and cross into the new era.

Let my death announce the end of the old era.

So that villains cannot act recklessly in the new era.

I will carry all the infamy with me.

I leave only a small debt to pioneer the future for future generations.

Don’t worry in advance that the burden is heavy.

Though it may seem nothing remains where wildfire has passed,

When years change and new spring comes, healthier and greener shoots will flourish more abundantly than ever.

Jin Ja-gang watched Master Haewol’s retreating figure for a long time until it disappeared.

If there were a true knight-errant in this era… that retreating figure would probably be the image of a knight-errant. Jin Ja-gang fingered the doll Master Haewol had left for quite a while.

The giant shadow created by the sun setting over the western mountains stretched long.

Master Haewol’s shadow, which seemed like it would never disappear, gradually shortened at some point and finally disappeared from sight.