Chapter 517

Tang Qing snapped to attention.

“Then… if we let Baek Li-jung become martial alliance leader?”

“Nothing will be different from now. What happened under Taoist Haewol will be recreated exactly as it was. Unbreakable Heavenly Sword doesn’t have the epochal mission that Taoist Haewol embraced. Rather, the situation will become worse than in Taoist Haewol’s time.”

Tang Qing realized why Jin Ja-gang said he couldn’t escape the net.

Whether acting this way or that way, ultimately the same result would occur.

Then wouldn’t dealing with the Hungry Ghost King rather be a slightly better decision for the future among the current choices?

Jin Ja-gang spoke slowly.

“Perhaps… I’ve come to think the Hungry Ghost King may not want jianghu unification or martial world conquest as we believe.”

Tang Qing’s expression grew even heavier.

“You’re saying he went through all that trouble and caused these dog-like affairs not to seize jianghu?”

“There are too many things that can’t be explained by that alone.”

“What on earth does the Hungry Ghost King gain by making jianghu like that, to commit such acts!”

“So…”

Jin Ja-gang nodded.

“Ultimately, there’s no choice but to meet the Hungry Ghost King.”

Tang Qing could now understand Jin Ja-gang’s course of action.

If Jin Ja-gang’s words were true, Baek Li-jung wasn’t the problem.

If they couldn’t grasp the Hungry Ghost King’s true intentions, they ultimately couldn’t know the Hungry Ghost King’s purpose either, and couldn’t even stop the Hungry Ghost King’s plans.

Tang Qing suddenly shouted.

“Even so, it’s still dangerous, you bastard! Going alone into the tiger’s den!”

Fuming, Tang Qing said.

“I’ll go with you instead.”

“No.”

Jin Ja-gang refused outright.

“Whatever happens, the Hungry Ghost King won’t appear outwardly. However, if Unbreakable Heavenly Sword becomes martial alliance leader, he’ll certainly make Sichuan his enemy. When that time comes, even one more hand will be needed.”

“So… you’re telling me to just watch? Me?”

Tang Qing ground his teeth. Strength entered his hand, cracking his teacup. Tea water dripped out.

“This time, being alone is more convenient.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! How can you alone face the Hungry Ghost King…!”

“Didn’t you just fail to notice me leaving the Tang Family Great Estate a moment ago?”

“That’s…”

Tang Qing became speechless.

Tang Qing glared at Jin Ja-gang then sighed deeply. Who in the world could stop Jin Ja-gang!

Tang Qing spoke as if giving up.

“Did you tell Ha-ran?”

“I didn’t. But she’ll know what I’m trying to do.”

Tang Qing held his head.

Jin Ja-gang rose from his seat.

“I enjoyed the tea.”

Tang Qing asked more weakly than before.

“What should I do? So is there nothing I can do now?”

“If I don’t return…”

Jin Ja-gang stood and thought for a moment then answered.

“I hope you’ll choose a good husband for Poison Heaven.”

Tang Qing got angry.

“With Poison Dragon as her father, would you want to marry Poison Heaven if you were in that position!”

Jin Ja-gang retorted without backing down.

“Isn’t it better than having the King of Hell as her great-great-grandfather?”

“Is that good or bad? Are you saying I’m Poison Heaven’s great-grandfather or not? Wait, I feel like we’ve had this conversation before.”

However, Jin Ja-gang didn’t answer that and smiled. Then he bowed silently and departed just like that. Yeong-hwi immediately followed behind Jin Ja-gang.

“That bad guy.”

Tang Qing smirked then soon closed his mouth.

Grumbling from behind wouldn’t bring Jin Ja-gang back.

Watching Jin Ja-gang’s retreating figure silently, Tang Qing felt his chest tighten for no reason and muttered.

“You bastard, you know what?”

Tang Qing talked to himself while looking at Jin Ja-gang who had already gone too far to hear his voice.

“The tone you just spoke with… resembled the Taoist from long ago too much. His appearance rushing forward worrying only about jianghu’s future…”

Tang Qing threw and shattered the cracked teacup he was holding. When a scholar brought a new teacup, he poured freshly heated tea.

“If I hadn’t been swept up in vain ambition and had followed the Taoist’s words then, our descendants now wouldn’t have to fight the Hungry Ghost King. We wouldn’t have to worry about our Poison Heaven living without a father…”

Tang Qing scattered tea three times on the ground in a voice regretting past errors, missing him.

“I’m sorry, Taoist. If we meet again, I’ll buy you a drink. And… please don’t forgive me.”

* * *

Not all jianghu sects welcomed the invitation Baek Li-jung sent.

Nevertheless, they weren’t without expectations for the Martial Arts Grand Alliance to be rebuilt.

A path existed for everyone to walk in a single line. Though the top ranks were decided from the start, at least being attached to the end of that line was better than being completely excluded. Wasn’t that the wisdom of living in the world?

Even if it was something Baek Li-jung himself arranged to seize the best parts, they had no choice but to join that path to not fall behind others.

Particularly, Baek Li-jung intentionally excluded several sects from vested interests from the start.

Qingcheng Sect, which had opposed the Martial Arts Grand Alliance from the beginning.

Namgung Family, where the Sword King had become nominal.

Zhuge Family, which suffered devastating damage to Shaolin Temple for helping Poison Dragon and found it difficult to function as a martial family.

And… the Sichuan Tang Family where Jin Ja-gang was.

They were notably absent from the Ten Great Sects and Eight Great Families that Baek Li-jung designated. Nevertheless, invitations weren’t unsent.

If you want to enter the new system, either start from the same starting line as others or surrender to maintain vested interests.

If positions originally held by sects with vested interests became vacant, someone had to fill those positions.

It was a situation where several mid-sized sects could be greedy.

Even becoming a regional hegemon requires connections, personnel, and funds to expand throughout the Central Plains. Using the Martial Arts Grand Alliance solves those all at once. From regional to national, being reborn with the size of a major sect in one moment isn’t a dream.

However.

News came that poured cold water on that.

Poison Dragon announced he would participate in the martial arts tournament.

The system of One Temple, Two Buddhist Sects, Three Sword Sects, Two Kings had long been broken.

Whether major or small-to-medium sects, most sects suffered considerable damage from internal strife and fighting and lost the highest level masters.

It wouldn’t be strange if Baek Li-jung became martial alliance leader through skill.

However, if Poison Dragon, Jin Ja-gang, got involved, the story changed.

Jin Ja-gang had already defeated numerous masters, two of the Three Venerated Ones, and even the Great Buddha.

On the other hand, Baek Li-jung had suffered defeats at Jin Ja-gang’s hands several times. If the two clashed, the outcome was almost as predicted.

If the non-mainstream Jin Ja-gang defeated the mainstream Baek Li-jung and became martial alliance leader, should they acknowledge it?

Jin Ja-gang’s original reputation as a killer and Baek Li-jung’s reputation as a great warrior. Though faded now, they couldn’t ignore that.

It was truly a troublesome problem.

Nevertheless, some judged that Baek Li-jung intended that far and sent invitations to the Tang Family.

The calculation became complicated.

And accordingly, the hearts of those participating in the martial arts tournament would be just as complicated.

* * *

Baek Li-jung was dressed formally.

Strategist Wen Shu stood behind Baek Li-jung.

“I think we need to establish countermeasures. Many sects are inquiring with concern whether there are countermeasures for Poison Dragon.”

Baek Li-jung smiled and turned his body. His broad forehead was smooth and vitality flowed from his eyes. From his relaxed expression, a naturally oppressive presence emanated.

If there was an appearance of a master commonly imagined, that was exactly Baek Li-jung.

“Strategist.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

Baek Li-jung asked with a heroic smile.

“Whose side is the strategist on?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Hungry Ghost King’s side or my side?”

Though an unexpected question, Wen Shu answered without much surprise.

“I am a strategist serving the Alliance Leader.”

“That’s fine. This matter too, I’ve received much help thanks to you. How many people in all of Central Plains could finance such funds?”

The funds the Baek Li Family gathered were amounts invested and contributed from major trading companies as well as dozens of small and medium trading companies. No matter how deep they dug into the source of funds, nothing would emerge beyond individual trading companies.

However, Baek Li-jung guessed in whose hands it was decided.

“Without those funds, taking over the Martial Arts Grand Alliance’s operations would have been very arduous and reconstruction difficult. Additionally, I’m grateful you attached a brilliant friend like yourself to me.”

Wen Shu bowed with his head lowered with an impassive face.

“However, I can’t keep calling my benefactor the Hungry Ghost King. What should I call that person?”

Wen Shu remained silent for a long while then opened his mouth.

“We call that person Lord Wang.”

Baek Li-jung smiled. Wang was the most common surname. Walking through a village, if you called out Wang, five out of ten would turn around.

“Lord Wang. I’d like to meet him sometime.”

“We also don’t know that person, so it would be difficult to arrange a meeting.”

“That’s troublesome…”

“Yes?”

“Then tell Lord Wang.”

“If you command.”

Baek Li-jung stroked his beard and said.

“Poison Dragon won’t come to the Baek Li Estate.”

“Does the Alliance Leader think Poison Dragon’s announcement to participate is a lie?”

“Poison Dragon could have killed me several times yet didn’t. Why was that?”

“That’s…”

“To draw out Lord Wang. He’s a cunning fellow.”

Baek Li-jung laughed.

“Probably soon he’ll seek Lord Wang. However, I still need Lord Wang. To escape Poison Dragon’s hands, Lord Wang also needs me. So tell him it would be good to consider arranging a meeting.”

Baek Li-jung added the last sentence in a strong tone.

“From the standpoint of partners joining hands and advancing together into the future.”

Seeing Baek Li-jung’s expression, Wen Shu’s eyes changed.

Intense greed. Greed ordinary people couldn’t even imagine coiled deep within.

Baek Li-jung wasn’t satisfied even with the tremendous money he’d received as investment. He wanted to share the enormous wealth that might be behind Lord Wang.

Baek Li-jung was being greedy…

Wen Shu showed emotion for the first time and answered coldly.

“The likes of Poison Dragon cannot harm Lord Wang.”

“Of course that should be so.”

Baek Li-jung didn’t get angry.

Instead, he clenched his fist tight then opened it. When he put strength in his arm, the forearm muscles bulged prominently.

Crack crack.

Then he spoke calmly.

“However, in jianghu, I’m the only one his poison doesn’t work on. It means there’s no need to suffer useless damage that needn’t be endured. I hope Lord Wang makes a decision before it’s too late.”

Wen Shu bowed and hid his expression.

“I will convey the Alliance Leader’s will without the slightest distortion.”

“Good.”

Baek Li-jung smiled with a pleased expression.

“Oh, and just in case, I’m saying this out of unnecessary concern.”

“Yes.”

Wen Shu stopped mid-step backward. Baek Li-jung spoke gently.

“Never raise your head with those eyes again. Lord Wang went to the trouble of sending a good strategist, and I don’t want to trouble him with having to select another person.”

Wen Shu politely bowed with a stiff expression and left the room.

* * *

Whoooosh!

With the sound of a gentle breeze blowing, a sound like crashing waves came and sand flowed. Waves of sand were rolling away. As the sandstorm swept past, the terrain constantly changed.

One of the merchants traveling laden with goods spoke to a newly joined escort martial artist.

“It’s fascinating since it’s your first time, right? You have to be careful. In the desert, if you get distracted for a moment and lift your head, the terrain changes. Traveling without a guide is reckless.”

The escort martial artist with a handsome face nodded quite fascinatedly.

“I see.”