Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 157
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 157. The Source of Echoes (2)
As he went out to the back garden of Juru, a laborer approached him.
“Please follow me.”
Moyong Bi silently followed the laborer.
After a while, the two people who had exited through a secret side door in the back garden entered a small abandoned house on a mountain path.
“If you wait, someone will come.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
“Then.”
Moyong Bi, having sent the laborer away, leaned against the wall and sat down.
Habitually stroking his spear shaft, he became lost in thought.
‘I should get myself a good spear.’
The spear he was currently carrying was a nameless spear he had brought from the Hubei safe house.
From the shaft to the spearhead, it was cast entirely from iron, and while it looked ordinary on the outside, it was a masterpiece with appropriate elasticity and excellent strength.
It was an item kept at the safe house in case he needed to carry a masterpiece disguised as an ordinary spear rather than a divine weapon.
‘It does fit perfectly in my hands though.’
The weapons brought from the safe house were all remarkable, but there wasn’t anything that felt just right.
‘I don’t know what kind of fights will break out in the future. I need to obtain my own weapon, or if that doesn’t work, I’ll have to make one.’
Divine weapons display tremendous power no matter whose hands they’re held in. To put it bluntly, there were countless cases where the weapon’s own power made martial arts implementation more natural and increased their might.
However, Moyong Bi preferred a weapon that fit only him perfectly over the finest masterpiece under heaven.
This was because he valued himself growing together with that weapon more than the power the weapon possessed.
‘There’s no need to rush, but there’s no need to be leisurely either.’
Not just spears, but swords were needed too.
Was that all? To grow the family in the future, various weapons would be needed. It wasn’t just his own that mattered.
‘At least several iron workshops are gathering though.’
On the day he entered as the great grand nephew, they said a place called Great Dragon Iron Workshop had broken their contract and sided with Ten Swords Gate.
What about now?
Great Dragon Iron Workshop had tearfully begged to renew their contract, but Su Jeong had coldly severed relations with them. Unless there were unavoidable circumstances, she couldn’t deal again with an organization that didn’t even honor the contract period and betrayed their trust.
Eventually, when this situation became known, Great Dragon Iron Workshop closed up shop and left for another region. They had determined they could no longer do blacksmith work in Wuhan.
Afterward, two iron workshops competing for the lead in Wuhan had made contact.
Life’s affairs are like Sae-ong’s horse. One cannot know what lies ahead in a person’s future.
‘It’s good, but…’
Moyong Bi felt uneasy.
‘No matter what, things are going too smoothly.’
Every person and every organization has times when they ride momentum.
The Moyong Family was certainly developing properly, but from his perspective, they hadn’t caught their momentum yet.
It was a part that couldn’t be explained logically. It was more like the intuition of a former Martial Alliance Leader.
‘It might just pass without incident. Let’s not overthink it.’
How long had he been lost in solitary contemplation?
Creak.
The abandoned house door opened and a man appeared.
“Did you call for me?”
Moyong Bi stood up and said.
“That’s right.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Moyong Bi of the Moyong Family in Hubei Wuhan.”
The man’s eyes instantly changed.
“Twin-Headed Tiger Moyong Bi.”
Moyong Bi openly shrank his neck at the goosebumps rising all over.
“Twin-Headed Tiger?”
“The Grand Young Master of Wuhan’s Moyong Family, correct?”
“That’s right, but.”
“Then you’re the Twin-Headed Tiger. The top late-stage expert of Hubei who displayed overwhelming skill with two weapons, spear and sword, at the late-stage expert martial arts tournament.”
Twin-Headed Tiger…
“A nickname meaning a tiger with two heads got attached to me?”
“You didn’t know? Well, it’s a nickname that spread from rumors after the tournament ended, so that’s understandable.”
They gave him the nickname Twin-Headed Tiger because he wielded two weapons, spear and sword.
Truly, the naming sense of Jianghu murim warriors couldn’t be called excellent even as empty words.
The man cupped his fists.
“It’s an honor to meet someone so famous. I am Jang Chun from the intelligence department of the Martial Alliance Hubei Branch.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“My superiors have heard stories about the Twin-Headed Tiger. I never expected to meet you in Yangyang County though.”
“Moyong Bi.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t call me by that creepy nickname, just use my name.”
“Ah, understood.”
Moyong Bi crossed his arms and said.
“I’ll ask directly. Is there any particular movement from the Jegal Clan side currently?”
“…!”
“There is.”
Jang Chun, who momentarily failed to manage his expression, shook his head vigorously and composed himself.
“Since I was ordered to provide full support to Moyong Dae Gong Ja, I’ll answer honestly. However, I have a personal curiosity – may I ask?”
“You’re asking how I knew something was happening with the Jegal Clan, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“Did you hear about Wuhan?”
“I heard four days ago. That the Hong Clan Sword Family suffered annihilation, and it’s very likely the work of demons.”
“The one who killed Bang Hyo, whom the Hubei Branch was holding, is likely from the same group.”
Jang Chun’s expression changed once again.
Reading that expression, Moyong Bi was certain he was someone who knew well what Sama Jin Gung was currently doing.
Jang Chun spoke with a deliberately calm face.
“The organization that killed Bang Hyo is the Blue Demon Society.”
“The Alliance Leader handled it well, it seems.”
“…”
“The organization called Blue Demon Society – it’s gone?”
“…That’s right.”
“The conclusion was that Mu Dang Faction swept them away claiming to eliminate evidence.”
Jang Chun’s face became awkward.
“Moyong Dae Gong Ja seems certain. Alliance Leader Sama Jin Gung said you’re someone who will secretly proceed with big matters with the Hubei Branch in the future.”
“If you know that much, it means you’re also the Alliance Leader’s person. Not just a direct subordinate, but someone close enough to be his hands and feet, right?”
“That’s right.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Four days ago.”
“The Alliance Leader sent you directly. That man also sensed that something unusual was happening with the Jegal Clan.”
Jang Chun felt goosebumps before admiration.
The words of the Alliance Leader, no, his lord came to mind.
‘It happened in our front yard, not somewhere else. He might be busy with personal matters, but if Moyong Sohyeop comes by any chance, we need someone to maintain close contact. You take charge of Yangyang County.’
‘Will Moyong Dae Gong Ja really come?’
‘It’s fifty-fifty. Even if he doesn’t come, he would have anticipated that something would happen to the Jegal Clan due to the Hong Clan Sword Family incident.’
‘Is he that smart a person?’
‘Let me be clear: if by any chance you meet him, don’t needlessly go against his mood or waste time. Open everything up immediately after the verification process.’
‘E-everything?’
‘What I know, he knows as well. This isn’t a guess but certainty. You don’t need to bow your head more than necessary, but don’t doubt his abilities.’
Honestly, he had been uncertain.
While he trusted his lord’s judgment, it seemed impossible for a twenty-year-old young man, still wet behind the ears, to possess such outstanding intellect and insight.
But after exchanging a few words, he understood.
‘My lord’s words were true.’
Moyong Bi opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“The Alliance Leader said he would use the Jegal Clan in the fight against the Wudang Sect. I think the reason rumors about the Wudang Sect haven’t spread so far is because the Jegal Clan has been helping to maintain a tense tug-of-war in the middle.”
“You’ve seen it accurately.”
“If the Jegal Clan wavers, the Wudang Sect’s immediate public opinion attack will begin.”
“It may not be immediate, but they’ll be ready to draw their sword at any time.”
“Now answer me. What happened in the Jegal Clan?”
Jang Chun, as his lord had said, no longer tried to probe or test his opponent.
“Actually, to explain this incident, we need to go back three years.”
Jang Chun’s explanation was as follows.
Three years ago, Jeogal Myeong, the second younger brother of the Jeogal Family Head, had eliminated some demonic leaders called the Three Heavenly Thieves.
The Three Heavenly Thieves were masters with notorious reputations in Gui Zhou City, vicious outlaws who committed murder, rape, and arson as if it were their daily bread.
But no one could easily catch them, naturally because they were strong.
There were rumors that the three of them could even face a supreme master, and indeed, the three Heavenly Thieves had once devastated the prestigious Gok Clan of Guizhou, which had 150 years of history.
It was surprising that such masters appeared in Hubei Province, but it was even more astonishing that Jeogal Myeong eliminated them all.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but Jeogal Myeong is someone particularly lacking in martial talent within the Jegal Clan. Frankly speaking, it wouldn’t have been strange if he was called a dullard.”
Those who didn’t know were amazed by Jeogal Myeong, but those who knew couldn’t help but be puzzled. How could someone who was evaluated as weaker than even the Grand Young Master eliminate the Three Heavenly Thieves?
“It was from that time. From then on, the flow of power within the Jegal Clan began to change subtly.”
Then and now, the master of the Jegal Clan was the family head, and the legitimate bloodline would inherit the position of family head for the next generation.
However, now three years later, both Shin An Dan, the clan’s top intelligence organization, and San Geum Gak, which handled financial management, had come under Jeogal Myeong’s command.
Of course, he was someone who received orders from the family head, and even if he oversaw Shin An Dan or San Geum Gak, he couldn’t handle them as he pleased.
However, there had never been a case where even a brother of the family head had been in charge of both of the most important organizations.
Moreover, Jeogal Myeong was someone who was evaluated as lacking not only in martial talent but also in intelligence.
“The real problem erupted about three months ago.”
“Around when the tournament ended.”
“The Madam, who had been ill, suddenly lost consciousness, and several figures within the clan went missing. And none of the missing people have been found yet.”
“You mean they vanished?”
“That’s right. They literally disappeared like ghosts.”
“Hmm.”
“What’s even stranger is that all the people connected to Shin An Dan and San Geum Gak are perfectly fine.”
Moyong Bi’s eyes flashed.
“That’s definitely strange.”
“Do you understand why I started by telling you about Jeogal Myeong from three years ago?”
“The Hubei Branch intelligence department suspects him?”
“That’s correct.”
They couldn’t help but suspect him.
“Naturally, there must be factions within the Jegal Clan that suspect him as well?”
They would have known faster and more certainly than the Hubei Branch.
The Hubei Branch heard the story from Jegal Clan people, but the clan members directly saw and experienced it.
“Certainly. The atmosphere is gloomy all around.”
“Yet no internal investigation has been conducted?”
“It hasn’t been conducted.”
“Why?”
“The Jeogal Family Head said that suspecting blood relatives goes against the heavenly way, and ordered that finding the missing people should be the priority.”
It was a strange command.
“Contrary to appearances, is he perhaps losing in the power struggle…”
“We consider that the most likely reason.”
Jang Chun sighed.
“Anyway, with the Jegal Clan’s situation being what it is, our lord also…”
That was when it happened.
“Duck!”
Moyong Bi shouted loudly and quickly grabbed Jang Chun’s collar, pulling him close while swinging his spear.
Crash!
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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