My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 144

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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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144.

When Dang Gongmun issued his dismissal with the words “Don’t go far,” Seol Mujin spoke.

“May I step forward in this matter?”

Dang Gongmun, who had been about to turn around, looked at Seol Mujin.

“Are you saying this because of pride?”

“Compared to the life of a sixteen-year-old young clan leader, my pride is worth less than dust.”

“Are you truly saying you want to step forward in this matter because you’re worried about my child?”

“What else could there be?”

“There seems to be something else. What one must be most wary of in the martial world is kindness that appears to want nothing in return. They speak of pure goodwill in front of you, but later they always demand something greater than what they’ve done.”

Wrinkles formed between Seol Mujin’s brows.

“Is there anything greater than the young clan leader to the clan leader?”

Jegal Jaeryeong spoke.

“The Mancheonhwau.”

Even though it was the Sichuan Dang Clan’s long-cherished wish, it seemed like criticism of Dang Gongmun for trying to abandon his child for a divine object.

“Even if I were to save the young clan leader, I would never demand the Mancheonhwau.”

“Won’t you also demand that the Sichuan Dang Clan become subordinates of His Highness the Third Prince?”

“You seem to have some misunderstanding – the martial world’s noble families are not subordinates of His Highness the Third Prince, but collaborators. I am the same.”

“A collaborator means someone who can leave anytime they’re displeased. Can Seol Podoo truly do that?”

“Of course.”

Dang Gongmun showed a surprised expression at Seol Mujin’s immediate answer.

Seol Mujin said.

“If His Highness the Third Prince is not someone who will become a wise ruler, I can leave anytime.”

Dang Gongmun could not understand Seol Mujin.

Those who try to support an emperor are blinded by power and volunteer to be subordinates of the imperial family.

They compete to pledge loyalty to the imperial family member they serve, trying to reserve future power.

In that sense, Seol Mujin’s words deviated from common sense.

“Could you say those words to His Highness the Third Prince as well?”

“I already have.”

“And yet he keeps you by his side?”

“His Highness the Third Prince is someone who knows how to listen even to words that are unpleasant to hear. If he weren’t that kind of person, he could never keep someone like me by his side.”

“Listening to Seol Podoo’s words, he seems decent for a member of the imperial family.”

“He’s decent for a member of the imperial family.”

Dang Gongmun let out a slight laugh.

“Enough of the character assessment of His Highness the Third Prince – can you really solve the kidnapping case?”

“All I know is that the kidnapped person is the young clan leader and the culprit is Podallap Palace. In such a situation, I cannot promise a resolution.”

“Podallap Palace wants to exchange Cheonwoo and the Mancheonhwau in Changdo, Western Sichuan, three days from now.”

“I don’t know much about Podallap Palace, but I heard it’s located in a place called Lapsil. Why do they want to exchange in a place called Changdo instead of Podallap Palace?”

“We don’t know that either.”

“Are you certain the culprit is Podallap Palace?”

“A monk from Podallap Palace came directly to the Dang Clan.”

If it was said by a monk from Podallap Palace who came in person, it would be natural to consider it Podallap Palace’s doing.

However, through solving countless cases so far, Seol Mujin had realized that what appears on the surface is not always the entire truth.

Sometimes small things that don’t conform to common sense become important clues that penetrate to the essence.

In this case, it was the fact that the exchange location was not Podallap Palace.

Common sense would be to exchange the hostage and Mancheonhwau in the location most advantageous to them.

But the culprit had deliberately requested an exchange in a location far from Podallap Palace, abandoning the safest place.

“It could be a plot to sow discord between Podallap Palace and the Sichuan Dang Clan.”

Seol Mujin shared the strange point he had noticed.

“But the monk who came to our main house was definitely a person from Podallap Palace.”

If Dang Gongmun was so certain, then it must have been a monk from Podallap Palace.

But that didn’t resolve Seol Mujin’s doubts.

“Do you have absolutely no intention of exchanging the young clan leader for the Mancheonhwau?”

“The Sichuan Dang Clan will never yield to enemy threats.”

Dang Gongmun’s will was so firm that he could say nothing more.

“I understand. Let’s move together on the promised date for now.”

“The Sichuan Dang Clan intends to attack Podallap Palace that day.”

Dang Gongmun’s plan was tantamount to declaring complete abandonment of Dang Cheonwoo.

“You know what that means, don’t you?”

At Seol Mujin’s question, Dang Gongmun nodded heavily.

“You may point fingers at me as a heartless father. This is our Sichuan Dang Clan.”

“I’ll respect the Sichuan Dang Clan’s family tradition, but could you delay that attack a bit?”

Following Seol Mujin, Jegal Jaeryeong also added her words.

“We should at least give a minimal chance to save Cheonwoo.”

After pondering for a while, Dang Gongmun asked.

“How much time do you need?”

“Three days.”

At Seol Mujin’s short answer, Dang Gongmun also nodded briefly.

“Very well.”

Seol Mujin stood up.

“I’ll depart for Changdo, the promised location.”

***

Even excluding the children rescued from the Kunlun Sect, the children kidnapped by the Demonic Cult numbered three hundred.

The children were assigned thirty each to ten tents pitched in a wide clearing.

The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains were exceptionally cold, but the tent cloth was thin and the children’s clothes were also thin.

Long beds were placed against the tent walls, with only one blanket given to each.

At least there was a small stove in the center of each tent that weakly pushed away the cold.

The thirty children were crowded together near the stove to escape the cold.

The triplets had taken a position in a corner far from the other children.

“Was it like this when we were here too? It’s been so long I can’t remember.”

At Seol Mantong’s words, Seol Changho replied.

“It wouldn’t have been different back then. So those kids will survive too.”

“How many?”

“About thirty percent?”

That was the highest number he could estimate.

Seol Ryeoseon muttered.

“I didn’t know when we were part of it, but the Demonic Cult is… cruel.”

“I used to get angry when the martial world called the Bright Cult the Demonic Cult, but now that name feels natural.”

Seol Ryeoseon, sitting with her knees hugged to her chest, asked Seol Changho.

“Did we have no conscience back then?”

“We must have had some. We didn’t do bad things in the past either, right?”

Seol Ryeoseon, thinking of the past, spoke with an uncertain voice.

“I don’t remember well. What’s certain is that the current Demonic Cult is definitely a bad organization.”

Just kidnapping those children proved its true nature.

Seol Changho asked Seol Ryeoseon.

“Do you want to eliminate the Demonic Cult?”

Seol Mantong answered that question.

“Rather than eliminating it, we should change it. To eliminate it, we’d have to kill everyone.”

“How are you going to change it?”

“We just need to put a proper person as the Cult Leader, right? That’s why we need to create the Bright and Righteous Cult.”

“Are you thinking of our brother?”

“Doesn’t it suit him? Mingjiao Cult Leader Seol Mujin.”

Seol Changho and Seol Ryeoseon imagined Seol Mujin becoming the Cult Leader of Mingjiao.

The two nodded simultaneously.

“Not bad.”

“The problem is whether brother would want to become a Demonic Cult Leader. He’d definitely be shocked.”

“We have plenty of time to persuade him. And if brother masters the complete Heavenly Demon Divine Art, we’ll have sufficient justification. With thirty thousand lives at stake, it won’t be easy for brother to refuse either.”

“We can’t make brother do something he doesn’t want to do just because of our greed.”

“It’s not bad for brother either, he just doesn’t know it. We’d be eliminating the threat of the Demonic Cult from the martial world. Ruling here like a king would be better than growing old as a Podoo in Jinan, wouldn’t it?”

“Brother wouldn’t grow old as some insignificant Podoo even if he doesn’t become the Demonic Cult Leader.”

“That’s true. Brother’s abilities are too outstanding for that.”

“I miss brother.”

At Seol Ryeoseon’s words, Seol Mantong and Seol Changho murmured, “Me too.”

The tent flap opened and someone entered.

It was a man whose entire face was covered with hair, making him look more like a monkey than a human.

“Everyone return to your positions!”

At the man’s sharp command, the children were startled and climbed onto their beds.

The triplets also slowly went to their beds and sat cross-legged.

The man walked through the passage between the beds and spoke.

“We will now select squad leaders, so everyone go outside!”

As soon as the order was given, the children rushed outside in a crowd.

South of the clearing where ten tents were positioned was a village, and to the north, the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains stood like a folding screen.

The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains with their sharp peaks looked like dozens of swords stuck upside down.

Seol Changho, who was the last to leave the tent, said.

“Come to think of it, I think I was a squad leader before?”

“Me too.”

“Me too, I think?”

The triplets had no memories of each other from their childhood.

“I think there were benefits to being a squad leader. Do you remember by any chance?”

At Seol Changho’s question, the other two shook their heads.

Too many years had passed to remember such details.

The Monkey Man shouted at the children who poured out of the tents.

“Line up properly! You idiots!”

Twenty instructors kicked the slow children’s buttocks, creating an atmosphere of terror.

The thoroughly frightened children began forming lines in confusion.

When several children hit by the rough instructors bled from their noses, the children’s fear reached its peak.

The triplets mixed appropriately among the children and stood in line.

When ten lines of thirty children each were formed, the Monkey Man positioned himself in front of the children.

“From now on, you will make a round trip to Cheonwoong Mountain behind you.”

Since there were so many mountains, the children didn’t know which was Cheonwoong Mountain, but it was a familiar name to the triplets.

It was quite high, so it would take at least three hours at the children’s pace.

“The first thirty to return will become squad leaders commanding nine squad members, but the last thirty won’t be able to drink even a sip of water for three days!”

Nothing was more frightening to the children than starvation.

The Monkey Man’s voice fell over the heads of the restless children.

“Use any means necessary to get back quickly! Those who fall behind in competition can never survive! Are you all ready?”

Only a few children answered with weak voices, “Yes!”

“Look at these bastards’ answers! Are you ready?”

Finally, a resounding answer burst from the children.

The Monkey Man pointed to Cheonwoong Mountain behind them.

“That’s Cheonwoong Mountain! When you reach the summit, we’ll mark your hand! So tricks like turning back halfway won’t work! There’s no one to help you if you get injured! If you fall from injury, you’ll freeze to death on the mountain, so keep that in mind!”

It seemed like a threat that wouldn’t end as empty words.

The triplets had also undergone this training called the Valley of Death, but it remained only as fragments of broken memories.

Things like climbing hundred-zhang cliffs, enduring terrible cold in ice water, or not sleeping for days.

Seol Ryeoseon whispered to Seol Mantong and Seol Changho.

“We should become squad leaders, right?”

“Of course.”

Seol Changho said to Seol Mantong.

“You absolutely can’t use martial arts.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?”

Seol Ryeoseon and Seol Changho nodded.

“These bastards…!”

Just then, the Monkey Man’s starting signal was given.

The children began running at full speed toward Cheonwoong Mountain.

The triplets also ran at the very back, matching their pace to the children.

There was no need to get much ahead of the other children.

They just needed to pace themselves appropriately and finish within the top thirty.

The children who had given their all from the start soon became exhausted and began panting.

The children climbed the mountain wheezing and sweating profusely despite the winter’s bitter wind.

If they collapsed from exhaustion like that, the harsh winter wind could quickly steal their body heat and they could freeze to death.

The smart or physically strong children stubbornly climbed Cheonwoong Mountain.

The triplets had started at the very back, but by the time they reached the middle slope, they were somehow in the lead.

When they turned their heads back, they could see children panting as they climbed the narrow mountain path.

“Shouldn’t we slow down our pace a bit?”

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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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