Dokmaeuiseon - Chapter 136

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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 136

 

Jungho Stockade, which had taken the vacant position of the Nanha Sect.

 

The Jungho Stockade Leader who dreamed of commanding the Jusan Archipelago.

 

The moment he saw the old man before him, he realized his dream had crumbled.

 

“It’s been a long time.”

 

“Why are you….”

 

“Are you curious why I’ve returned?”

 

“….”

 

At the old man’s words, the stockade leader squeezed his eyes shut.

 

In truth, though he had named it Jungho Stockade, more fitting for bandits than water bandits.

 

Even that name contained his aspiration to command the Jusan Archipelago and enter Hangzhou.

 

The one who made him dream that dream was the old man before his eyes.

 

The old man was a survivor from the bloody battle of the Jusan Archipelago long ago.

 

He was the master of the Nanha Sect, and once one of those he had served.

 

‘He said if he went to foreign lands, he would never return… Tsk. To think he’d come back like this.’

 

With the arrival of his former master whom he never wanted to see again, the stockade leader didn’t know what to do.

 

‘That old geezer who’s gotten completely aged has returned alive without dying….’

 

If his strength had weakened, he might have attacked.

 

Right up until the stockade leader’s appearance, dozens of men had already died at the old man’s hands.

 

All without even knowing how they died.

 

In fact, while others didn’t know, he knew.

 

‘Have his finger techniques developed further with the years he’s lived?’

 

The old man. He was a master of finger techniques.

 

His unique martial art was the Blood Killing Finger Art.

 

It was so dozens of years ago, and it was so now.

 

The moment anyone allowed him distance, they all met their death.

 

The one called Ma Jung Ji-sal in the Jusan Archipelago.

 

Furthermore, outside Hangzhou in foreign lands, he was called by an even more fearsome name, and he had returned.

 

‘In truth, I don’t even know if Ma Jung Ji-sal is his real name. That crazy old man was already living as an old man when I was young….’

 

There was no other choice.

 

The old man who was his former master was still stronger than him.

 

He didn’t even dare think of rebelling.

 

“Right now, how is more important than why, isn’t it?”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

He could only agree with the Old Man’s question.

 

The speaking Chaeju realized he was bound again by shackles he thought had been released.

 

The one who bound those shackles was throwing down luggage.

 

“Hehe… Yes. How will you give me the Jusan Archipelago?”

 

Hand over the Jusan Archipelago.

 

* * *

 

Gyeom Gwang-ja entered somewhere.

 

For some reason, he took his seat while openly displaying his complicated inner thoughts without hiding them.

 

Trickle-

 

Seeing him unusually even serving tea, Jung Myeong thought he’d see what this man had to say.

 

On one hand, he was also curious whether Ju In-hye’s Divine Power truly pointed to this man.

 

The setting thus created.

 

The words Gyeom Gwang-ja suddenly threw out were truly shocking.

 

“Please accept me.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

Suddenly asking to be accepted.

 

Wasn’t this completely out of nowhere?

 

No, before that, who would have thought Gyeom Gwang-ja would say such a thing.

 

It would be strange if Jung Myeong wasn’t surprised.

 

“Why are you surprised?”

 

“Isn’t it natural to be surprised when hearing something I never expected?”

 

When he expressed surprise, Gyeom Gwang-ja countered instead.

 

“Is that so? Hmm… I thought you somewhat expected this last time?”

 

“When do you mean?”

 

“Don’t you remember? When you returned from the Jusan Archipelago!”

 

“!!!!”

 

The day he went to see Ju Tae-gong and brought Ju In-hye.

 

He had mentioned a third force that was neither the Four Blood Alliance nor the Martial Alliance. At that time, he had considered the response of “I’ll think about it” as half a rejection.

 

‘Did he think it was a proposal? Well, I suppose that could be the case.’

 

It was certainly reasonable enough.

 

“Come to think of it, this isn’t the first time you’ve brought this up.”

 

“That’s right. Did you forget what you said yourself?”

 

“I thought I had been rejected.”

 

“Ah… That’s understandable. Back then, it was a rejection.”

 

“It was a rejection then, but not now?”

 

“That’s how it turned out.”

 

Gyeom Gwang-ja spoke of himself as if talking about someone else.

 

Jung Myeong read this like taking a pulse.

 

“It seems as if it was decided by external forces.”

 

“External forces? That’s right. External forces indeed. Hehe.”

 

He readily admitted it.

 

Along with a lament that was unlike him.

 

“This damn life. Nothing goes according to my thoughts. I struggled and fought my way up here, and with just one final hurdle remaining, I’m in this state!”

 

This is Gyeom Gwang-ja, a super peak level master.

 

Though his nickname contains the character for madness .

 

He is not truly insane.

 

He merely pretends to be mad.

 

‘Because it benefits him.’

 

The one hurdle that such a person couldn’t overcome.

 

His goal that had targeted the Four Blood Alliance.

 

It meant there were external factors preventing him from securing a significant position.

 

“What compensation do I receive for accepting?”

 

“Compensation? Ha… Both you and I will have trouble keeping our lives. Staying alive will be the compensation.”

 

“I don’t understand?”

 

“There will be chaos in Hangzhou too. Lyeon will move as well. Who knows. If Lyeon moves, Maeng-do might move too.”

 

Chaos inside Hangzhou.

 

Ryeon would be the Four Blood Alliance. And the Alliance would be the Martial Alliance.

 

This means the Four Blood Alliance and the Alliance could move simultaneously.

 

‘It seems like there’s a lot I don’t know.’

 

Jung Myeong asked about this.

 

Perhaps because he had made his decision, Gyeom Gwang-ja spoke without asking for much in return.

 

“Besides Jeokgye County, there are nine other places where blood temples occurred. If we add the places I haven’t identified, it might reach twenty.”

 

“…Twenty blood temples. How coincidental.”

 

“Right. It’s coincidental. Even in the Murim where incidents overflow, doesn’t it smell suspicious?”

 

“There’s no way the Alliance wouldn’t smell that.”

 

“Of course they smell it! That’s why even the heavy-bottomed Namgung Family is here, isn’t it? Under the excuse of finding their bloodline!”

 

“No wonder Baekyang has been busy.”

 

“They’re probably turning their heads in complicated ways too. Wouldn’t it be better to roll the dice in Hangzhou rather than in Anhui where they’re located? That would cause less damage.”

 

“I understand. They want to use it as a battlefield.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

As expected. Even Heon-ang Sword wasn’t moving purely out of righteousness.

 

It might have been righteousness at first.

 

But now it’s clearly not.

 

Either way.

 

‘I can’t help but feel bitter about this.’

 

Not being able to have pure relationships was a bitter thing.

 

It would be nice if it ended with just bitterness.

 

But reality is even more ruthless.

 

“Ah. Ryeon might be the same. They wouldn’t want to roll around on their own turf either.”

 

“No one wants their own territory to become a muddy mess. Is that it?”

 

“Exactly that!”

 

Various factions are moving to intervene here. Since Hangzhou is practically ownerless territory, it would be perfect as a playing field.

 

Destroying one’s own territory is something anyone would dislike.

 

Rationally, he understood their behavior.

 

But his heart couldn’t understand it.

 

Because he was now a resident of Hangzhou too.

 

“Someone from Ryeon came to see me.”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

“I don’t know if he’s completely affiliated with Lyeon, but… someone who’s been called a master since the previous generation has come. What do you think that means?”

 

“It means Lyeon is targeting Hangzhou.”

 

“Exactly!”

 

“Did you come to find me just because of that?”

 

“Would I do such a thing? If it were just Lyeon alone, I would have seen this as an opportunity!”

 

“You’re shamelessly honest?”

 

“Hehe. Right now, I have to be.”

 

Gyeom Gwang-ja’s words were evidence enough.

 

He was clear when it came to his own interests.

 

“The problem isn’t just one Lyeon, but two. Since you say the Namgung Family represents the Alliance, you must think the Alliance is already moving. Already.”

 

“…That’s exactly what’s making me move this way.”

 

“Haha. I understand everything.”

 

It was bitter, but what could he do?

 

Whether he wanted it or not, the game was already in motion.

 

‘So dealing with just the Gosan Sect wouldn’t have been the end of it.’

 

The overall picture was still hazy like fog.

 

What mattered was that things would happen in Hangzhou where he was.

 

So his scope was clear.

 

‘I need to make sure no one can shake Hangzhou.’

 

From beginning to end, it was Hangzhou.

 

It was already a path he had started down anyway.

 

He had been aiming for a Third Force that was neither Ryeon-do nor Maeng-do.

 

The pace had just accelerated.

 

‘When have things ever happened at the time I wanted?’

 

On the same timeline, as much as he moved, others moved too.

 

Since everyone’s thoughts and actions were different, it was natural for conflicts to arise among them.

 

Coincidentally, those conflicts had overlapped and overlapped again in Hangzhou.

 

He had clarified his scope.

 

‘Distant matters come later. First, the close ones.’

 

Next, he established priorities.

 

By making Hangzhou his own.

 

‘Since we’re at it, I shouldn’t just keep taking hits.’

 

For that, he would need to put in quite a lot of effort.

 

Should he call it fortunate timing?

 

Gyeom Gwang-ja, who acts mad but isn’t truly insane, had come under his feet.

 

“Things are taking an interesting turn.”

 

“Is that so? Hehe. Aren’t you trembling? I’m trembling.”

 

Perhaps because the consequences of their actions couldn’t be predicted.

 

“That’s not like you?”

 

“You’re quite right. I don’t know if this is excitement or chills, but I keep trembling. Continuously.”

 

Gyeom Gwang-ja held up his hands.

 

As he said, there was a visible trembling that could have been either ecstasy or fear.

 

“If that continues for more than three days, please come see me.”

 

“What?”

 

“Early treatment is important for hand tremors.”

 

Jung Myeong dispelled that trembling with his own unique humor.

 

An untimely joke.

 

“Puhaha. Puhahahaha.”

 

At that, Gyeom Gwang-ja burst into hearty laughter.

—————
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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