[Chapter 59]
Gadeuksang halted in his tracks.
With a sickened gaze, he watched Yeon Hojeong's back.
"Heave. Heave."
His breath was ragged, and his upper body was heaving repeatedly.
But that was only for a moment.
"Hoo-hoo."
He regulated his breathing at an incredibly fast pace.
His exposed neck and forearms were flushed red, overheating from pushing his martial arts to the limit.
A soft azure aura wrapped around Yeon Hojeong's body. It was the Wall of Azure Resolve.
With a hardened face, Gadeuksang asked,
"Did you kill them?"
Crack!
Yeon Hojeong unsheathed his axe and slung it over his shoulder.
"Hardly."
His face, now devoid of murderous intent, was expressionless.
Gadeuksang hurried over to Myeong Onji.
"Gasping… Gasping…"
Myeong Onji's condition was beyond horrific.
Her upper body was riddled with axe wounds. Judging by the depth, at least half a dozen ribs were likely broken.
Her right arm was severed from the elbow, and her face bore cuts from the axe's fierce wind.
And her face was drained of life, frozen in sheer terror.
'How cruel.'
It would have been kinder to kill her. Myeong Onji might recover physically, but mentally, she was likely beyond repair.
Fortunately, there wasn't much bleeding. She must have mastered some special martial art.
"You've reduced her to tatters," Yeon Hojeong remarked indifferently.
"Where are they?"
"Caught them all."
"That's fortunate."
"Fortunate, for now."
Gadeuksang, glaring at Yeon Hojeong with steely eyes, soon let out a sigh.
"I understand your anger, but you need to cool down. You almost killed her, didn't you?"
"I didn't, did I?"
That's all that matters.
Gadeuksang was at a loss for words.
'…Is that how it should be?'
Both the Moyong Clan and the Myeong Clan sought to destroy his family. From Yeon Hojeong's perspective, they were clear enemies.
Indeed, given his temperament, it was remarkable that he hadn't killed them.
"One had to die."
"What do you mean?"
"One is dead."
"…!"
He had caused a disaster after all.
Gadeuksang decided not to argue. What's done was done. The priority was to handle the rest of the matter swiftly.
"Let's move her for now. Damn it! I even called a doctor, thinking we might need one, but this is going to cost a fortune."
Gadeuksang had set up a temporary estate and bound all the captured assassins there.
Seeing Myeong Onji being moved, Yeon Hojeong went to the edge of the forest near the estate and slumped down carelessly.
Thump-thump.
His heart was still racing, and the anger from witnessing Myeong Onji's martial arts hadn't subsided either.
But aside from the anger, his mind had cooled.
'This is serious.'
Myeong Onji was the head of the Myeong Clan's intelligence organization.
But no matter how high-ranking, intelligence was just that. She might carry the Myeong name and bloodline, but they wouldn't send direct lineage to an intelligence organization.
In other words, Myeong Onji wasn't the head of the household's child. Yet, she was practicing 'that martial art.'
What did that mean?
'They said they were raising a Death Sword. Both the Death Sword and she are merely pawns to be discarded after use. So, they must have allowed her to practice it as a test.'
It was an accurate judgment.
Not because he understood the ways of the martial world, but because he knew the nature of power-hungry rulers. Their greed knows no bounds, black or white.
Which means…
'They're preparing.'
The Myeong Clan will attack the Yeon Clan. That much is certain.
But unlike the past, in this life, he had rooted out all the spies from the Moyong Clan. Therefore, the Moyong Clan would try to bury the Yeon Clan before the world caught on.
With the information in Jiangsu Province under control, and his appearance in Henan,
And having captured an entire Myeong Clan intelligence unit.
"We need to gather more."
Yeon Hojeong lifted his head.
Gadeuksang was approaching leisurely. It seemed he had gained some composure after dealing with a significant issue.
"You've worked hard, but we can't stop here. A single rumor isn't enough to hold back the Myeong Clan; they're too strong."
"What do you think, Huogai?"
Gadeuksang's expression turned serious.
"Well, they'll notice at the latest within five days. Considering it's their backyard, we have about three days."
"That sounds about right."
"I've already received word. The Yeon Clan leader has asked the Open Sect to investigate whether there are any organizations related to the Myeong Clan in Jiangsu and Zhejiang."
A sound judgment.
They wouldn't try to topple the Yeon Clan without a base in the region. It's not just about taking down; it's also about establishing a foothold.
There must be forces in Jiangsu loyal to the Myeong Clan.
"But it's too late."
"Yes. The investigation alone will take at least a month. And that's a conservative estimate."
After a moment of contemplation, Gadeuksang asked,
"What if we do this instead?"
"What's that?"
"The master is aware of this situation. Perhaps it's worth asking for the master's help."
Yeon Hojeong's eyes sparkled.
If Gadeuksang referred to his master, he meant the current leader of the Dragon Head Sect.
"After all, we weren't planning to blow this up immediately, were we? The Myeong Clan won't dare provoke us rashly, so let's quietly investigate their misdeeds and expose them when we're ready."
"That was the plan."
"Indeed, since the day I arrived in Shanggu, I've been shaking down businesses and intelligence networks related to the Myeong Clan, but so far, no useful information has come up."
"How long do you think it will take?"
"I'm not sure. Something has happened recently; it's different from the last time I checked. They're suppressing information like a fortress."
Gadeuksang licked his lips.
"That's why I'm thinking of asking the master to step in. The master is halfway retired from the martial world and preparing to pass on the leadership, but if we ask him to get involved in this matter, he won't refuse."
That would be the case. The Open Sect's cooperation is as renowned as the Shaolin Temple's compassion.
'But is that really okay?'
Gadeuksang had no information about his master. He only remembered him as a respected leader.
"That's the problem."
Yeon Hojeong pondered, the term 'excellent' nagging in his mind. In the martial world of Baekdo, being called 'excellent' often meant not being aggressive enough.
This matter couldn't be handled with such restraint.
It demanded an aggressive approach, one that would ensure the adversary could never rise again.
Lost in thought, Yeon Hojeong suddenly asked,
"What's your take on this?"
"Huh? On what?"
"Between the Goojumyeong Clan and the Moyong Clan, which do you think would be harder to topple?"
Gadeuksang scowled.
"Why such a sudden question?"
"Just answer."
"Hmm, choosing between a tiger and a lion… it's…"
"Then consider which of the two lives in a more precarious environment."
"Really now."
Despite his grumbling, Gadeuksang fell into deep thought. Yeon Hojeong wasn't one to ask pointless questions.
'Which is harder to topple?'
After much deliberation, Gadeuksang responded.
"In my opinion…"
"And what is that?"
"Well, it would probably be the Moyong Clan."
It was an unexpected answer. Despite the Goojumyeong Clan's larger influence, he believed the Moyong Clan was tougher to defeat.
"Why?"
"History, and public opinion."
"I share that view."
The Goojumyeong Clan made significant contributions during the Blood Sect Rebellion three hundred years ago.
But such contributions didn't necessarily lead to the clan's growth. They had built their power through relentless effort, and their martial arts prowess had also improved dramatically.
That was the story for two hundred years. Afterward, the Goojumyeong Clan rose to fame as a leading martial family in the central plains.
That history spanned a hundred years.
"Compared to the other five great clans, both Yeon and Myeong have a shorter history. History is the foundation. No matter how large, a clan with a brief history is relatively more vulnerable to threats."
"True."
"In that regard, the Goojumyeong Clan is easier to deal with. Besides, their reputation isn't exactly stellar."
The Goojumyeong Clan was constantly seeking to expand its influence.
While it's natural for a martial faction to grow, they had crossed the line. Moreover, they were part of Baekdo, not Heukdo.
To the Baekdo martial world, the Myeong Clan's expansion seemed excessively worldly.
Despite having a force nearly as strong as the Shaolin Temple, the Myeong Clan received the worst reviews among the seven great clans.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.
'Toppling both the Myeong and Moyong clans at once is impractical.'
Of course. Even regaining his former might as the Black Flame Emperor would be challenging. Unless he had the foundation of the Black Emperor Fortress.
'Furthermore…'
Even if there were a way, for the future's sake, burying both clans at once would be a misstep.
'The Three Sects!'
Indeed.
The Fanatical Three Sects would one day invade the central plains. And to counter them, a distinguished ruler like Moyong Woo was necessary.
Of course, there were no plans to spare the Moyong Clan, even after joining forces with Moyong Woo.
But for now, without having met Moyong Woo, eliminating the Moyong Clan, even if possible, would be a mistake.
'Just the power of the Saeum Sect alone turned half the central plains into a bloodbath. To stop the remaining two, the existence of Moyong Woo is desperately needed.'
Immediate revenge is important, but so is the looming calamity of the future.
'So then…'
A murderous intent filled Yeon Hojeong's face.
'The Myeong Clan must be destroyed first.'
It was rather fortunate.
The Moyong Clan might have sent spies to the Yeon Clan, but it was the Myeong Clan that truly shattered his family. Even among those deserving death, the Myeong Clan was the primary enemy for Yeon Hojeong, who had witnessed his family's murder.
Whether driven by personal rage or considering the future, this was the right course.
So?
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say."
"Huh? What's that all of a sudden?"
Yeon Hojeong looked at Gadeuksang with a chilling gaze.
Gadeuksang flinched involuntarily.
'Those eyes of his are truly…'
More terrifying than any overt display of murderous intent, his eyes seemed to peer into one's very soul.
"I will bring down the Myeong Clan."
"I'm aware. Though, I'm not sure if it's possible."
"With your help, it can be done."
"What, what do you mean?"
"It won't harm you. It's a just cause, and it will enhance the reputation of the Open Sect."
Gadeuksang's face flushed with anger.
"Do you see me as such a man? Obsessed with reputation?"
"Is it wrong to care about reputation?"
"…?"
"People are naturally greedy. Is it a sin to covet reputation, unless one is a hermit in the mountains?"
"Well… no, but… I'm not that kind of person."
"I know."
"Yet you say such things!"
"I know, but for the future, reputation is necessary. Even to catch more vile villains."
"…!"
A serious look settled on Gadeuksang's face.
"What exactly are you planning?"
"Let's start by sending a letter."
"A letter? To whom?"
"To Moyong Jun."
"…!!"
"It must be sent immediately."
Let's make use of everything that can be used.