Chapter 466

Golden Pearl is Taoist Haewol’s unique insight that distinguishes truth from falsehood. It even sees through opponents’ hidden intentions.

Previously, he had even uncovered through Golden Pearl that Mang Ryo was trying to assassinate him.

Tang Qing focused on Jin Ja-gang’s words even more than before.

“How is that related?”

“You must have met Taoist Haewol.”

“That’s right.”

Tang Qing’s forehead wrinkled.

Taoist Haewol had come to find Tang Qing. Tang Qing held a banquet and welcomed him warmly, but Taoist Haewol saw through Tang Qing’s intentions. Instead, he knelt and begged for help for the martial world.

Tang Qing was so shocked that his mind had been read that he threw sewage water on Taoist Haewol and chased him out. It was such an embarrassing past that he couldn’t forget it and occasionally grumbled about it to his sister Tang Gwi-ok.

The moment he recalled that time.

“Hm?”

Tang Qing realized the meaning of Golden Pearl that Jin Ja-gang threw out.

“…!”

Tang Qing was so shocked that even the down hair that had turned completely white stood on end. It felt like cold ice was placed on his spine and shoulders.

“That’s it!”

Tang Qing opened his eyes wide and looked at Jin Ja-gang.

His mouth naturally fell open.

How could he think of such a thing?

Jin Ja-gang’s thoughts were so remarkable that he felt shabby in comparison. No, rather than feeling shabby and intimidated, it felt natural that he had been fooled.

“Truly remarkable. I can’t help but admire it.”

Tang Qing stretched his mouth long and wore a broad smile.

“I wondered what made you certain I’m not the Hungry Ghost King, so that was it. You cunning bastard.”

“That’s right.”

If the Hungry Ghost King had been King of Hell Tang Qing, Taoist Haewol would have realized it then, at that time, in that place.

“Damn…”

Though he spat curses, Tang Qing’s mouth was smiling.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“So it’s the same for others. If they had different thoughts inside, they couldn’t avoid Taoist Haewol’s Golden Pearl.”

“You’re right.”

“Taoist Haewol said he traveled the martial world even before becoming Alliance Leader. I was somewhat curious why he would travel the martial world even embracing his disciples’ sacrifices, but now I have the answer.”

Jin Ja-gang immediately continued.

“Taoist Haewol was searching for the Hungry Ghost King with Golden Pearl.”

Tang Qing slowly nodded.

“Taoist Haewol didn’t want to become Alliance Leader, he needed to become one. The Alliance Leader can obtain most information depending on their will, and can meet anyone they want. To find the Hungry Ghost King, he absolutely had to become Alliance Leader.”

Tang Qing finally understood Taoist Haewol.

However, after understanding, an even more chilling truth followed.

“Taoist Haewol searched for the Hungry Ghost King his whole life. Yet the fact that the Hungry Ghost King didn’t get caught by Taoist Haewol’s Golden Pearl means…”

“It’s one of two things.”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“Either someone the Taoist hasn’t met yet.”

Tang Qing continued with a serious face.

“Or someone more excellent than Taoist Haewol, whom even the Taoist’s Golden Pearl cannot discern.”

Strength entered Tang Qing’s eyes.

Taoist Haewol was wise enough to know of the Hungry Ghost King’s existence and act before others. He had the strong will and bold action to become Alliance Leader. Above all, his martial arts were counted as the very best in contemporary martial world.

Yet someone more excellent than such a Taoist Haewol.

“A disaster.”

“The martial world is already in the middle of disaster. If we don’t stop it, next is hell. And the last fifth clue is…”

Jin Ja-gang said.

“The An Family of Physicians.”

Tang Qing squinted his eyes.

“Not Shaolin Temple?”

“That’s right.”

“Shaolin Temple has produced the most lay disciples in the martial world. It’s commonly said that the government’s thousand martial instructors, hundred escort agencies, and three hundred thousand lay disciples are all Shaolin Temple’s eyes, ears, hands and feet. They’ve been looking at the bottom of the martial world for a period dozens of times longer than the years Taoist Haewol gathered information. So if Shaolin Temple is the clue, maybe.”

“Shaolin Temple may or may not have the necessary information. But the An Family of Physicians has it.”

“How are you so certain?”

“The flag written with Shaanxi I mentioned earlier was originally split in half. But the An Family of Physicians’ Young Phoenix An Ling recognized the flag’s meaning at a glance.”

“Hmm.”

“The Divine Doctor of Langzhong seems to have at least noticed that trading companies were related to the poison sect and medicine sect’s bloodshed. And the An Family of Physicians also knew that.”

“The An Family of Physicians is a family that has survived until now by obtaining information necessary for survival faster than others. They learned it from palace power struggles. They measure this way and that and attach to the advantageous side, so they don’t have great reputation in the martial world, but…”

“As soon as the Divine Doctor heard that dehydration was severe despite drinking enough water during the plague, he immediately left the Tang Family Main Estate.”

“Hah. Quick bastard. He realized the route of the Five Fatal Pill was salt.”

“I can’t guarantee how much they know about the Hungry Ghost King, but there’s a high possibility they hold the next clue.”

“Then…”

Waaah! Waaah!

Poison Heaven began crying at the heavy atmosphere.

Tang Qing soothed Poison Heaven while feeding her poison.

“Oh my, this one. I’m your grandfather. You’re as skilled at sucking others’ bone marrow as your father.”

“Isn’t she pretty?”

“She’s pretty. How could she not be pretty? So I scrape my bone marrow to feed her poison.”

Looking down at Poison Heaven, Tang Qing said.

“I believed that for the family’s sake, even blood relations must be sacrificed. But in the end, my sister’s words were right. A family is made of individual people; it’s not the object itself to be protected.”

Tang Qing looked at Jin Ja-gang.

“If the Hungry Ghost King is more excellent than Taoist Haewol, even using all my capabilities it would be difficult to face him. However, Heaven sent the Poison Dragon along with the Hungry Ghost King.”

When Poison Heaven whined without eating more poison, Tang Qing returned Poison Heaven to Jin Ja-gang.

“I thought I could do anything after leaving the Tang Family. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t find a clue about the Hungry Ghost King. I thought he was so thorough that he left nothing. But it turns out he didn’t leave no clues, I just couldn’t find them.”

“More people suspected the Hungry Ghost King than expected. Even without knowing the entity, everyone unknowingly felt there was someone behind what was happening in the martial world. Emei Sect, the Divine Doctor of Langzhong, Northern Heaven, the Zoroastrian Cult, the An Family of Physicians… and Grandfather also knew of the Hungry Ghost King’s existence from long ago.”

“Right, I didn’t think of a great being called the Hungry Ghost King, but simply someone trying to use me.”

Jin Ja-gang said forcefully.

“It’s not that you didn’t know, you didn’t recognize it. The clues they suspected are scattered everywhere. If we gather those clues in one place, we can definitely find the Hungry Ghost King.”

“So you mean.”

Tang Qing frowned.

“You’re telling me not to interfere by stepping forward unnecessarily and just stay still? I’m someone who’s lived doing as I please my whole life. This time will be the same.”

“No, the opposite. Do as you please. That’s why I told you.”

“Huh?”

After all, Jin Ja-gang wouldn’t specifically tell him knowing Tang Qing would run wild.

“Can I really run wild as I please?”

Jin Ja-gang smiled.

Tang Qing frowned even more.

“This bastard, look at him smiling like he knows something alone? Don’t do that and hurry up and tell me. Our kids are all dying.”

Uuuuuu!

The scholars were still making noise. Though their voices weren’t hoarse from containing internal energy, the warriors in front were gripping their swords tight, creating an atmosphere like bloodshed could happen any moment.

“Go ahead and stir things up everywhere. That’s what I want.”

“Even if the Hungry Ghost King erases traces so he can’t be tracked?”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t hide his confidence and smiled even more deeply.

Then answered.

“From now on, erasing it becomes evidence.”

“…”

Tang Qing ended up with an expression like he’d been hit.

But simultaneously he felt an indescribable exhilaration.

“This bastard is trying to use me outright as a stone to catch the Hungry Ghost King!”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t deny it.

“Are you displeased?”

“No!”

A vicious smile also hung on Tang Qing’s lips.

“I welcome it. Use me as a horse all you want! Ehihihihi hihihi!”

This is the first counterattack against the Hungry Ghost King. After continuously chasing the Hungry Ghost King’s tail, it’s like throwing a counterattack move for the first time.

How could Tang Qing refuse that!

Tang Qing got goosebumps at Jin Ja-gang’s calculation.

“The Hungry Ghost King…”

Tang Qing smiled, stretching his mouth without hiding his goosebumps.

“Should regret meeting you of all people in this era.”

Jin Ja-gang said with eerie eyes.

“Since he touched me, he’ll have to pay the price.”

Ehihihihihi!

Tang Qing also laughed.

“Like me!”

***

The scholars who had been enduring while getting hit and making noise suddenly closed their mouths. Then they immediately turned around and began flying away with lightness skill. They crossed three to four zhang at a time with each leap.

The warriors were shocked and froze, realizing the scholars who had been enduring while getting hit were actually tremendous experts.

“Ex-experts!”

“Th-they really were suspicious people!”

“B-but why did they just stay still despite being hit until now?”

Countless people breathed sighs of relief that they were glad they didn’t swing their swords.

But…

A handsome young man stood where the scholars had disappeared.

The warriors came to their senses and raised their swords straight again. However, having just seen the experts, their words got tangled in confusion.

“Who… are you?”

Jin Ja-gang looked back at the warriors and answered.

“I was having a conversation.”

“A conversation with suspicious people?”

“You’re suspicious too. What kind of talk could you have with such weird bastards while holding a baby…”

Jin Ja-gang glared at the warrior who just spoke, then tossed Poison Heaven into the air and waved his hand in between.

Ping!

The warrior who just cursed shouted “Ah, it stings!” and waved his hand making a fuss.

Jin Ja-gang caught Poison Heaven and said coldly.

“You’ll wake the child.”

The warrior apologized bewilderedly.

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

The warriors finally realized Jin Ja-gang’s appearance was strange. They’d heard that the Poison Dragon himself came from the Tang Family to mediate between two sects recently fighting. While holding a baby at that.

Wasn’t the current appearance exactly the Poison Dragon!

“By any chance… are you Poison Dragon Hero?”

“That’s right.”

The warriors were shocked.

“We’re, we’re sorry! We didn’t recognize you!”

“You’ll wake the child.”

“What? Y-yes…”

The warriors’ voices shrank to mosquito sounds.

“We came because we heard there were suspicious people, and those people earlier were…”

“Friends.”

“Ah, yes…”

Though they felt something didn’t make sense, there was no one who could question it. Even if they wanted to ask more, how could they when he was glaring while saying they’d wake the child?

If they went further, he might actually kill them to make them quiet.

“Well, if Poison Dragon Hero is here, nothing much could… We’ll be going then.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes…”

The warriors bowed repeatedly in greeting and quietly withdrew.

Jin Ja-gang let out a low sigh once the warriors disappeared.

Could it be that Tang Ha-ran knew he’d meet Tang Qing and sent Poison Heaven along?

She had surprisingly deep thoughts, so that might be possible.

And thanks to that, the conversation with Tang Qing became smoother.

Whether directly or indirectly, Tang Qing was the sect’s enemy. Without Poison Heaven, much harsher words would have been exchanged than now, and in the worst case, they might have even resorted to violence. Moreover, Jin Ja-gang probably wouldn’t have reached his current conclusions about the Hungry Ghost King.

In any case, it could only be seen as thanks to Poison Heaven playing a buffer role in between.

A smile appeared on Jin Ja-gang’s face as he looked at Poison Heaven sleeping soundly.