My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 143

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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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143.

“Podoo? Why did you travel with a government office podoo?”

The Sichuan Dang Clan excelled in martial arts, hidden weapons, and poison, but in contrast, their intelligence network was at a pitiful level.

Since they rarely ventured outside Sichuan Province to begin with, they thought there was no need to know about the Central Plains.

That’s why they had no information about Seol Mujin either.

Jegal Jaeryeong asked.

“Do you happen to know why I came here?”

“I did receive a message from the head of the Jegal Family some time ago. It was about unity among the Odaesega, but I haven’t heard the detailed circumstances.”

“Even if the Sichuan Dang Clan’s intelligence network is lacking, you must have some grasp of the current political situation in the Central Plains, right?”

“Murim or imperial power?”

“Precisely imperial power, but Murim cannot escape its influence either.”

Deep wrinkles formed on Dang Gongseong’s brow.

“You should know that Murim forces must keep their distance from imperial power, shouldn’t you?”

“If it were a normal situation, I would think so too. However, this isn’t a time of peace and prosperity. If we’re not careful, the chaos of the Spring and Autumn Warring States period could engulf the Central Plains. No matter how far Sichuan Province is from the center, it won’t be able to avoid those massive waves.”

Even in Sichuan Province, several civil uprisings had occurred, and chaos continued as the government failed to suppress rampaging bandits.

Dang Gongseong glanced at Seol Mujin and asked.

“What is your reason for traveling with Seol Podoo?”

“Before that, I’d like to ask you something, Uncle. Is the Sichuan Dang Clan involved in the struggle for the throne?”

“Us?”

Dang Gongseong shook his head.

“There are no imperial family members in Sichuan Province, and even if there were, we have no intention of getting involved in succession disputes.”

“Even if that’s what the Sichuan Dang Clan thinks, it won’t be easy to maintain that resolve. If this crisis isn’t resolved quickly, the entire country will be swept up in warfare. How could the Sichuan Dang Clan possibly avoid such warfare?”

“We’ll have to think about that when the time comes.”

“Wouldn’t it be wiser to fight for a wise ruler in advance rather than being forced to fight defensively?”

“Are you saying we should join hands with the imperial family?”

“The Jegal Family, Namgung Family, and Hwangbo Family have decided to unite their intentions.”

Surprise appeared on Dang Gongseong’s face.

“All three families?”

“The Habuk Paengga will probably join soon as well. Among the Odaesega, only the Sichuan Dang Clan remains.”

“Which member of the imperial family did they join hands with?”

Seol Mujin answered.

“Samhwangja Jeonha.”

“Surely you, Seol Podoo, didn’t come here representing the Third Prince, did you?”

“I am indeed here representing him.”

“A mere podoo? I don’t mean to disrespect Seol Podoo, but to call yourself the Third Prince’s confidant, the position of podoo is somewhat…”

Seol Mujin took out his Geumeuiwi deputy commander identification badge from his chest and placed it on the table.

“Would this position be sufficient?”

Dang Gongseong asked in surprise.

“Didn’t you say you were a podoo?”

“I use two identities as needed.”

“Ha ha! What troublesome guests have arrived.”

Jegal Jaeryeong said.

“You may not know this at the Sichuan Dang Clan, but currently countless sects in Murim are forming alliances with imperial family members. How could they want to be associated with the government? But if they go against the tide, they might face retaliation, so they have no choice but to make a selection.”

“That sounds like a threat.”

“How could I dare threaten the Sichuan Dang Clan? Please consider it sincere advice.”

Dang Gongseong, who had been wearing a troubled expression, said.

“I understand your purpose in coming, but the Dang Clan’s current situation isn’t good enough to give an immediate answer.”

“What happened to the Dang Clan?”

“It’s not a good matter.”

It was a polite way of saying he wouldn’t answer.

However, Jegal Jaeryeong didn’t back down.

“We might be able to help, you know?”

“The Dang Clan’s affairs must be resolved by the Dang Clan.”

The proud Sichuan Dang Clan had never once asked for outside help.

“It’s a difficult matter to resolve, isn’t it?”

When Dang Gongseong didn’t answer, Jegal Jaeryeong asked again.

“Is it about a family member of the Dang Clan?”

Jegal Jaeryeong continued her questions while reading Dang Gongseong’s expression.

“It’s a life-threatening situation, isn’t it?”

“What did you hear from outside?”

Dang Gongseong had no idea about Jegal Jaeryeong’s ability to read minds.

“Among the direct family members, it’s a very important person, but not the family head… surely not the young master? Is Dang Cheonwu’s life really in danger?”

“Who gave you such information?”

“What happened? Did he fall ill? If not that, then poison? Did he get injured during sparring? Or is it disappearance or kidnapping? Huh? Was Dang Cheonwu really kidnapped?”

Dang Gongseong shot up from his seat.

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

“Who kidnapped Dang Cheonwu?”

“This is not something for you to get involved in!”

“Are you planning to let the young master die just because of pride?”

“You speak as if you could save Cheonwoo!”

“Not me, but Mujin here would definitely be of help!”

Seol Mujin looked at Jegal Jaeryeong with a ‘huh?’ expression.

He couldn’t promise help without knowing the details of the situation.

“Mujin has never failed to solve a case so far. Right?”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Throughout both government and Murim, as far as I know, Mujin is the most capable person.”

Dang Gongseong made an incredulous expression.

“You’re gilding someone’s face too much right in front of them.”

“I guarantee that if Mujin can’t solve it, no one else can either.”

Jegal Jaeryeong’s voice was so full of conviction that even Seol Mujin felt embarrassed listening to it.

Dang Gongseong, who had been looking back and forth between Seol Mujin and Jegal Jaeryeong, stood up from his seat.

“I’ll be back shortly.”

After Dang Gongseong left the reception room, Jegal Jaeryeong said.

“He’s probably going to the family head.”

“That’s likely. But you spoke too exaggeratedly about me. What if I’m embarrassed later?”

“What exaggeration? I was stating facts.”

Seol Mujin changed the subject.

“But who in Sichuan Province would dare kidnap the young master of the Sichuan Dang Clan?”

“In Sichuan Province, besides the Sichuan Dang Clan, there are the Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect as major sects. But those two orthodox sects wouldn’t have kidnapped the Sichuan Dang Clan’s young master.”

“It’s not something minor sects would dare to do either.”

Jegal Jaeryeong, who had been thinking about something, snapped her fingers.

“There is a place nearby that could rival the Sichuan Dang Clan.”

“Where is that?”

“Podallap Palace.”

It was a name Seol Mujin had never heard before.

“Podallap Palace?”

“It’s the largest sect in Western Sichuan, which borders Sichuan Province. You can think of it as the Shaolin Temple of Western Sichuan. However, it can’t be considered orthodox like Shaolin Temple. Podallap Palace shifts between orthodox and unorthodox depending on the palace master’s disposition.”

“If it’s comparable to Shaolin Temple, their martial arts must be high too?”

“It would be difficult for them to have martial arts on the level of Shaolin Temple. But their martial arts are quite different from those of the Central Plains, making them troublesome to deal with.”

While they were talking, Dang Gongseong returned.

And Dang Gongmun, the family head of the Sichuan Dang Clan, came with Dang Gongseong.

Dang Gongmun had a scar that looked like a burn mark on his left cheek.

Jegal Jaeryeong stood up and greeted him respectfully.

“I greet Uncle Dang.”

Dang Gongmun only nodded his head, his gaze turning toward Seol Mujin.

Seol Mujin also greeted him and introduced himself.

“You’re from Podoo and a Geumeuiwi Ch’ŏmsa?”

“That’s correct.”

“And you’re Samhwangja Jeonha’s confidant?”

The nuance of ‘confidant’ wasn’t pleasant, but Seol Mujin answered, “That’s correct.”

“I heard you were confident you could solve my son’s kidnapping case. Is that right?”

Seol Mujin hadn’t exactly guaranteed it, but he couldn’t back down here.

“If I can solve it, I will do my best.”

Dang Gongmun sat down and habitually rubbed the scar on his cheek with his finger.

“This is an extremely sensitive and dangerous case…”

Jegal Jaeryeong spoke.

“Uncle, the fact that you came here means you intend to tell us about it, doesn’t it?”

“You were smart even as a child, and you still are.”

“I’ve gotten even smarter since then.”

“Family Head Song Seon would be pleased.”

“He’s a daughter fool.”

Dang Gongmun smiled faintly and opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Have you ever heard of Mancheonhwau?”

Jegal Jaeryeong was startled.

“If Sword as Extension of Body is the ultimate technique of swordsmanship, isn’t Mancheonhwau the ultimate technique of projectile arts?”

“That answer is half correct.”

“What about the other half?”

“It’s a projectile device containing two hundred years of effort from the Sichuan Dang Clan.”

“A projectile device – you mean a machine that fires projectiles?”

“That’s right.”

“If it’s a machine that the Sichuan Dang Clan, unrivaled in projectile creation, put two hundred years of effort into, its power must be tremendous.”

“You can easily guess from the name Mancheonhwau.”

“But why suddenly bring up Mancheonhwau…?”

Jegal Jaeryeong, who was asking, showed a shocked expression.

“You succeeded in creating Mancheonhwau?”

When Dang Gongmun nodded, Jegal Jaeryeong’s questions continued.

“Are the kidnappers demanding an exchange of Cheonwoo for Mancheonhwau?”

That was the only reason Dang Gongmun would bring up Mancheonhwau in Dang Cheonwu’s kidnapping case.

“Your guess is correct.”

“Do you know who the culprit is?”

“Podallap Palace.”

Indeed, Jegal Jaeryeong’s prediction was right.

Seol Mujin was once again amazed by Jegal Jaeryeong’s intelligence.

“No matter how great Mancheonhwau is as a projectile device, for Podallap Palace to dare commit such an act. I can’t readily understand it.”

“There are rumors that the Podallap Palace master has contracted Madness Syndrome, and perhaps those rumors might be true.”

“Looking at how they kidnapped Cheonwoo to get Mancheonhwau, they don’t seem like complete madmen though?”

“How could they do such a thing without being mad? This incident has made the Sichuan Dang Clan and Podallap Palace mortal enemies. The whole world knows how the Sichuan Dang Clan deals with enemies.”

There are various sayings that circulate in Murim like proverbs.

Among them, there are quite a few stories related to the Sichuan Dang Clan, and there’s one that everyone must keep in mind.

Do not form grudges with the Sichuan Dang Clan.

The Sichuan Dang Clan never forgets grudges even after a hundred years, and they never stop until those grudges are resolved.

The Dang Clan were people who would gladly throw away their lives to cut off even one finger of their enemy.

“The fact that Podallap Palace committed such an act means they desperately need Mancheonhwau.”

“Or the palace master is just a madman.”

That could be possible, but what’s important now is how to solve the kidnapping case.

“When and how are you supposed to exchange Cheonwoo and Mancheonhwau?”

“The Sichuan Dang Clan will not give up Mancheonhwau.”

“What? You’re going to let Cheonwoo, who’s only fifteen years old, die?”

“We’ll do our best to save Cheonwoo, but that best doesn’t include a solution of giving up Mancheonhwau.”

“Then what about other solutions?”

Dang Gongmun’s silence meant there was no clear method.

“Uncle. No matter how important Mancheonhwau is, Cheonwoo is the young master of the Sichuan Dang Clan. You can make another Mancheonhwau, but Cheonwoo… Haah—!”

Unable to speak of death, Jegal Jaeryeong ended her words with a sigh.

“Mancheonhwau cannot be made again.”

“You made it once, so why can’t you make it twice?”

“There are circumstances that make it so.”

“Even so, you’re going to leave Cheonwoo to die?”

“Before you came, that was the only option.”

“Now you’re telling us to solve it?”

“The person who talked as if she could solve any case was you.”

Jegal Jaeryeong’s eyes widened like someone who had chopped their own foot with an axe.

“You’re really dumping this kidnapping case on us like this?”

Dang Gongmun let out a short sigh and stood up.

“That’s why you shouldn’t make such guarantees carelessly. You must not tell anyone about what was discussed today.”

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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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