Chapter 423

Stagger.

When Jin Ja-gang stood up, everyone’s attention was drawn to him.

Woon-jeong shouted.

“Oh? Poison Dragon friend!”

Bian Bu, Taoist Master Bok-cheon, and So-so also watched Jin Ja-gang. They were curious whether Jin Ja-gang, who had awakened from deep meditation, had gained enlightenment, and if so, how much he had changed.

Yeong-gwi ran over in one breath to support Jin Ja-gang. Then she saw Jin Ja-gang’s face and was startled, withdrawing her hand.

Jin Ja-gang came down from the pavilion without a word.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon, Bian Bu, Woon-jeong, and So-so were all the same. They had tried to happily congratulate Jin Ja-gang on his enlightenment, but quickly made strange expressions.

No one could utter a word until Jin Ja-gang left the garden.

Only after Jin Ja-gang had completely disappeared did Bian Bu mutter with a bewildered expression.

“Cry… what? Poison Dragon was crying?”

* * *

Jin Ja-gang passed through the maze-like paths of the Tang Family Main House with an expression like someone half out of their mind. His steps naturally headed toward Tang Ha-ran.

When Jin Ja-gang opened the door and entered, Tang Ha-ran was knitting.

Seeing that, Jin Ja-gang’s tears burst forth again.

Tang Ha-ran was startled, then put down her knitting and spread her arms. Jin Ja-gang collapsed and knelt in front of Tang Ha-ran, embracing her.

“Uh… sob…”

Uncontrollable sobs burst from Jin Ja-gang’s mouth.

“Sob! Sob!”

What could have made him so sorrowful?

Jin Ja-gang cried to the point that Tang Ha-ran was flustered. Once the tears started, they wouldn’t easily subside.

Tang Ha-ran didn’t ask why he was crying.

Instead, she shed tears with a joyful, satisfied expression, then became sad-faced and shed tears.

Tang Ha-ran held Jin Ja-gang’s head buried against her belly and slowly stroked it.

Jin Ja-gang raised his head without hiding his tears.

As he raised his head, tears poured out again.

Tang Ha-ran held Jin Ja-gang’s cheek, lifted his chin, and licked Jin Ja-gang’s tears with the tip of her tongue.

Slowly, Jin Ja-gang’s tears were washed away.

After Tang Ha-ran had wiped away all traces of Jin Ja-gang’s tears, she called Jin Ja-gang’s name with a sad smile.

“Hey, Jin Ja-gang. Where are you trying to go leaving me behind again?”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Ha-ran. Tang Ha-ran spoke as if making him promise.

“You’re mine.”

But Tang Ha-ran’s voice also mixed with tears.

“Your place is always here. So…”

Tang Ha-ran placed Jin Ja-gang’s hand on her belly.

“Our Ah-gang should greet daddy too. Tell him to go and come back.”

Jin Ja-gang’s tears poured out again. With great difficulty, he forced out words.

“Ah-gang is the name?”

“Pet name. I chose it myself.”

“It’s good.”

Soon Tang Ha-ran embraced Jin Ja-gang and said.

“Go and come back…”

The daily life that Jin Ja-gang had lacked was fulfilled.

Daily life. A haven where he could receive comfort when sad and struggling.

Wife and child.

Family.

Jin Ja-gang realized that he now had all of that.

And that made Tang Ha-ran realize that she could no longer hold Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang was ready to advance into the wider world.

He wasn’t afraid. He was just regretful.

But if he didn’t advance now, he wouldn’t be able to protect anything.

Jin Ja-gang always had moments of choice, and now was exactly that time.

* * *

Though there were considerable casualties among the masters, only one transport ship carrying salt was damaged.

In fact, the damage could be considered almost negligible.

Flags fluttered.

Sailors on hundreds of ships began simultaneously placing yellowish bags on the salt in the holds. The contents of the bags were crystals of Five Path Fatal Pills that looked almost identical to salt. When the bags were cut with knives, they would pour out instantly and mix seamlessly with the salt.

Watching this scene, Mang Ryo made an admiring sound.

“Well well. They made a lot of Five Path Fatal Pills. Impressive. It was worth catching the old dragon. Nothing particularly lost either.”

At Mang Ryo’s words that nothing was lost, the eyes of nearby Northern Heaven unorthodox sect and Demon Cult warriors flickered.

How was nothing lost!

From Demon Cult, the giant Earth Store Master and the veiled woman Vanishing Master had died. The old man Complete Radiance Master was internally injured, and Fire Flame Master with the iron flag had injured shoulders making movement difficult.

Northern Heaven unorthodox sect also lost Go Lu-bon and several masters, Su Su-jin had a broken wrist, and Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru had broken ribs.

Ga Mu-ru spoke with heavy eyes.

“Only Indestructible Heavenly Sword gained benefit.”

Everyone had seen him consumed by demonic energy. And immediately after, Baek Li-jung dragged Master Haewol’s corpse to another boat and stayed there without any intention of coming out, leaving all aftermath to Sim Hak.

Sim Hak had been on another boat but came over to greet the Northern Heaven unorthodox sect and Demon Cult masters.

“Everyone worked hard. Now we’ll handle the rest, so please return…”

Su Su-jin glared.

“Since we dealt with Master Haewol, we have no more business?”

Sim Hak rolled his eyes with an anxious face among the many masters.

“No no, that’s not it. We’re supposed to obtain salt through trading companies and distribute it to the Central Plains. But if everyone’s presence is seen in that process, it would be a bit… we’d face criticism and you’d also be uncomfortable…”

Mang Ryo clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk tsk. We dealt with the alliance leader but the Tang family still remains. We have to pass through Sichuan where they’re coiled up, but you’re already telling us to leave?”

Sim Hak rolled his eyes and asked back.

“No, what can the Tang family do…? We said we’re distributing this salt to poor people, so surely they won’t do anything in the middle?”

Mang Ryo put his finger to his chin.

“Rather than having the family destroyed when the salt spreads and King of Hell’s plan is exposed, wouldn’t it be better to steal the salt and face criticism?”

Sim Hak’s face reddened as he realized his mistake.

“Then what do we do?”

“Well…”

Mang Ryo looked around at those nearby and said.

“I’ll handle the Tang family. First, both Northern Heaven and Demon Cult folks should come with me down the Min River through Sichuan.”

Though Northern Heaven unorthodox sect and Demon Cult had joined forces, they didn’t like being together. But if the Tang family blocking the route interfered with the salt, all current damage would become meaningless.

Both sides agreed to follow Mang Ryo’s opinion.

Sim Hak carefully asked.

“But… even if Advisor Mang steps forward, the Tang family won’t easily back down. What are you planning to do?”

“Oh my, this person. I’m the one who stabbed Master Haewol’s sole and belly to death. If you can’t trust me, who can you trust?”

At the words that he had stabbed Master Haewol to death, Sim Hak swallowed dryly.

“You know it’s incredibly close from here to the Tang family, right? To prevent the Tang family from moving recklessly, spread rumors that Master Haewol died trying to steal. Right now. Preferably very exaggerated.”

Sim Hak used all channels to spread rumors.

First, he had people spread rumors starting from Sichuan.

Master Haewol joined hands with Demon Cult to steal salt and devour the martial world, but his dirty ambition was crushed when blocked by the great hero Indestructible Heavenly Sword Baek Li-jung of the Righteous Alliance!

It was an unbelievable story. However, thanks to Mang Ryo’s Cherry Blossom Corps spreading stories that Master Haewol had joined hands with Demon Cult, believers emerged one after another. Even those who didn’t believe took the position that it was possible. Most importantly, the fact that he tried to steal and monopolize salt, which was like a lifeline for people, aroused great public anger.

But this also caused unintended consequences.

Unexpectedly, Mang Ryo was newly highlighted.

Previously, Mang Ryo had tried to assassinate Master Haewol.

Words came out that Mang Ryo had done that because he already knew Master Haewol had joined hands with Demon Cult. Back then, no one could oppose Master Haewol.

But though he failed, the fact that Mang Ryo had opposed Master Haewol and done that was enough to earn praise from many heroes!

Following this, as it became known that he had received respect from numerous young people as an advisor to the Inspector General’s Office during the Martial Alliance period, Mang Ryo received completely opposite evaluations.

Patriotic hero Mang Ryo.

If there had been someone who knew Mang Ryo’s conduct before the Martial Alliance, they would have laughed…

Fortunately or unfortunately, no one remained in Yunnan who could testify about Mang Ryo’s past.

Even if they remained, at this time when everyone praised Mang Ryo, they would usually be treated as someone spouting nonsense.

* * *

Mang Ryo decided to lead the large fleet very slowly down the Min River. Then he stopped when they reached the vicinity of the Tang Family Main House’s surveillance network. He waited briefly for rumors about Master Haewol to reach the Tang Family Main House.

He wasn’t just waiting blankly.

For some reason, he suddenly brought women from nearby pleasure houses. Not courtesans, but servants who helped dress up the courtesans.

Sim Hak watched anxiously, wondering what Mang Ryo was trying to do.

But Mang Ryo put hot water in a wooden tub and had the servants wash his body.

“No, no, no, what are you doing now! Is this the time to enjoy pleasures? The Tang family is right in front of us!”

Sim Hak jumped up and down.

Mang Ryo answered while even smiling pleasantly.

“Since I’m facing very important business, I must bathe and groom myself. There’s a saying that the more urgent you are, the more you should take the roundabout way, all for times like this.”

“The roundabout way is too extreme!”

It wasn’t simple bathing. Flowers floated in the fragrant water.

He arrogantly spread his arms to both sides, and two servants attached to him cut and trimmed his nails, even shaving hair on his fingers and back of hands.

“If I had feet, I would have shaved the hair on my feet and trimmed my toenails!”

Unable to watch anymore, Sim Hak made a comment then quickly covered his mouth.

But Mang Ryo didn’t get angry.

He just laughed heartily, pleased about something.

“That’s exactly why I called someone to carve a new prosthetic leg in the next room. Can’t go with one covered in blood.”

“Anyone watching would think you’re going to meet a hidden lover!”

“Lover? Ah yes, a lover. In a way, it’s a lover indeed.”

“Hehehehehe?”

After the bath ended, the servants more seriously groomed Mang Ryo’s body.

They cut messy hair from his eyebrows to make them neat, and likewise organized his sideburns and beard by plucking and cutting protruding hairs.

On his blackened, scarred face, they rubbed white powder mixed with oil to make it white like a scholar.

They applied fragrant oil to his hair, combed it back, and used a razor to widen his forehead so it wouldn’t look too narrow.

That wasn’t the end. Mang Ryo’s actions became increasingly spectacular.

When grooming was completely finished, errand boys came in one after another. From underwear to outer clothes, including the aforementioned prosthetic leg, everything was completely new.

The silk brocade woven as beautifully as embroidery was the highest grade from Nanjing. The long slit on the side of the silk robe was folded and hemmed with loops and buttons, where the buttons were ivory.

He put musk pouches in his sleeves, and as accessories, he wore a jade pendant hanging from his waist.

He even had shoes bought to fit the prosthetic leg. No, he had the prosthetic leg carved to fit the shoes.

No matter how you looked at it, it was absurd, but as the grooming progressed, Mang Ryo’s face even became increasingly solemn.

This useless decoration was so serious that even Sim Hak couldn’t say what he wanted to say out of consideration.

It was like a sacred ritual that couldn’t tolerate even a hair’s worth of flaw.