My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 152

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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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152.

Seol Changho said.

“Then the problem becomes complicated. The Cult Leader must have some intention.”

“Intention…?”

“If the Cult Leader isn’t suffering from qi deviation, he must have heard the rumors about himself, so why wouldn’t he try to suppress those rumors?”

For Hwang Dugong, no matter how much he racked his brain, it was an answer he couldn’t find.

“I don’t know.”

“Right. He has some scheme, but we can’t know what the Cult Leader’s scheme is. That’s why it’s complicated.”

“Anyway, you three are just going to check the Cult Leader’s condition and return?”

Ryeoseon, who exchanged glances with Seol Changho, said.

“There’s something to take from here.”

“What?”

“The Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”

“What? The Heavenly Demon Divine Art that only the Cult Leader can learn?”

“We’ve also learned half of it.”

“That’s because Samtaesang received the grace of the Previous Sect Leader. Only the Cult Leader can learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. And even if you wanted the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, how would you get your hands on it?”

“It might be possible if you help us.”

Hwang Dugong chuckled.

“I’m a kite with a broken string. It’s been over five years since I last entered Ilwolgung.”

“If you take first place in the hundred-day training at the Valley of Death, you can meet the Cult Leader. One of us three will definitely take first place, so you can take us in then.”

“Would that be up to me?”

“Making it happen is your ability.”

Seol Mantong said.

“While we’re at it, it would be better if you let all three of us in instead of just one.”

Hwang Dugong hurriedly came to his senses.

“I never said I would help you.”

“You will help us.”

“Why?”

“Because you want to return to the old Bright Cult as much as we do.”

***

‘Should I report Samtaesang?’

It would be a lie if Hwang Dugong said he hadn’t thought about it.

He repeatedly changed his mind twelve times a day.

Samtaesang had escaped from the Bright Cult, and that alone could be considered treason.

But what prevented Hwang Dugong from reporting Samtaesang was that they shared the same thoughts about the corrupted Bright Cult.

While he agonized like this, ten days passed and more than a month went by.

During that time, forty kids died passing through the Valley of Death.

That was despite Hwang Dugong telling the instructors to go easy on them.

Hwang Dugong’s heart ached watching the cold corpses being carelessly buried in the ground.

This was something he experienced every harvest day, so why did his heart ache so much now?

Right, it’s because I’m old.

And he thought he would just grow old and die like this.

Until Samtaesang appeared as children.

‘Rather than dying so meaninglessly, it would be better to do something for the Bright Cult before dying.’

That thought came to him as soon as he woke up in the morning, so Hwang Dugong knocked on the door of Ilwolgung.

“What brings Third Elder to see me?”

Won Baesong, who became an elder last, was nevertheless standing at the pinnacle of power.

Unlike Hwang Dugong, it was thanks to his skill at picking the right side.

“It’s been a while.”

After thinking for a moment, Won Baesong said, ‘It’s been four years.’

Seeing how he remembered the exact number of years, was he paying attention after all?

“Do you perhaps have some business here?”

“Does a Third Elder need special business to come to Ilwolgung?”

“But you haven’t come for the past five years.”

“Because there was no one to welcome me.”

“And now there is?”

“I’ll have to create one.”

“How do you plan to create one?”

“You need something from me.”

“Me?”

Won Baesong, who had been making a thoughtful expression, let out an ‘Ah!’ exclamation.

It was definitely an exclamation he made while already knowing.

“About seven years ago, you said this to me. ‘I can never give it to you until dirt gets in my eyes!’ you said.”

Hwang Dugong rubbed his eyes with a sly expression.

“Yesterday, dirt suddenly got in my eyes.”

Won Baesong looked bewildered.

This kind of joke didn’t suit Hwang Dugong, who was extremely upright.

“What’s the real reason you suddenly came?”

Hwang Dugong looked at the tent visible in the distance.

The shabby building where he now lived also came into view.

“The wind has been quite cold lately.”

“Do you want to move into Ilwolgung?”

Hwang Dugong let out a pitiful sigh.

“How much longer do I have to live anyway?”

Won Baesong didn’t even offer the customary words like ‘You should live long.’

“Ilwolgung is like home to me. Even if I die, I want to die here.”

The slight twitch at Won Baesong’s lips was a sneer.

He was definitely thinking, ‘Even someone as upright as bamboo can’t help it when they get old.’

Hwang Dugong subtly threw out bait, saying, ‘I should at least say my final farewell to the Cult Leader before going to the afterlife.’

“The Cult Leader probably wouldn’t particularly want to meet Elder Hwang.”

Or he can’t meet him.

That could only be revealed by entering Ilwolgung.

“How could I meet the Cult Leader at my own will? It’s just this old man’s hope. Still, letting me into Ilwolgung is something you can do at your discretion, isn’t it?”

“That’s possible, but…”

Won Baesong left room by trailing off his words.

Not missing that opportunity, Hwang Dugong took out a small wooden box from his chest.

“You know what this is, don’t you?”

“Surely… it can’t be, right?”

“Why can’t it be?”

“You still have that?”

“If I was going to take it, I should have taken it long ago, but as time passed, now I’m too old and wonder what’s the point of taking it. But you still need it, don’t you?”

Hwang Dugong slightly opened the box lid.

What gave off a clear fragrance was the Lotus Empress Attack Pill that Black-Robed Yeon Gok had made in the past.

Yeon Gok had made this Lotus Empress Attack Pill only for the Cult Leader, Samtaesang, and Hwang Dugong.

It was repayment for Hwang Dugong’s grace in saving Yeon Gok’s life.

Hwang Dugong still hadn’t taken it.

Won Baesong’s greedy eyes couldn’t leave the Lotus Empress Attack Pill.

Hwang Dugong asked as he closed the lid.

“Is my room still there as it was?”

“Who in Mingjiao would dare occupy Elder Hwang’s room? It’s probably exactly as you left it when you departed.”

“When can I enter?”

“Whenever Elder Hwang and I wish, it’s possible anytime.”

Hwang Dugong held out the box to Won Baesong.

“When can I enter?”

Won Baesong snatched the box as he spoke.

“If you wish, it’s possible right now.”

***

The wine cup that Hyeon-ya had drunk from was soon filled by Seol Mujin.

Though there were no courtesans since they had important matters to discuss, it was still a pleasantly enjoyable drinking session.

“Thanks to Hyeon-ya cleanly handling the Gaksananjoong problem, things became easier for me.”

“I merely added my spoon to the table that Lord Seol had set. But is it alright to just leave the Magistrate be? He was so rude to Lord Seol.”

“There’s no guarantee that if I dismiss the current Magistrate and a new one takes office, they’ll do well. It’s more convenient to have the current Magistrate who knows me.”

“That’s true as well.”

“So, have you confirmed all the people who sided with His Highness the First Prince?”

“Yes. His Highness the Third Prince is currently working on them. Since we’ve grasped their weaknesses, it seems they’ll be sorted out soon.”

“They’ll be absorbed into His Highness the Third Prince’s side, right?”

“They weren’t united by loyalty to His Highness the First Prince anyway. It was just a coalition formed by lust for power. Such people wouldn’t risk their lives in loyalty to His Highness the First Prince. They’ll come over to our side soon.”

“There will be resistance from the Minister of the Left’s side, won’t there?”

“His Highness the Third Prince will easily crush that much.”

Hyeon-ya continued speaking as he filled Seol Mujin’s cup with alcohol.

“Now the contest has narrowed down to His Highness the Second Prince and His Highness the Third Prince.”

“There’s also His Highness the Fourth Prince, isn’t there?”

“I’ve roughly assessed His Highness the Fourth Prince’s forces, and they’re not particularly worrying. The Provincial Naval Commands and Provincial Command Headquarters of two fortresses are backing him. In the central government, about the Minister of Rites is supporting him.”

“Are there no Murim forces?”

“I heard there are signs of Cheongseong and Jongnampa joining him. Murim is indeed difficult to investigate. Perhaps because of the iron rule that the government and Murim don’t interfere with each other, they don’t easily reveal their intentions. In that regard, the Odaesega that Lord Seol recruited is a special case.”

In the end, the Sichuan Dang Clan also decided to cooperate fully with Third Prince Ju Cheonmyeong.

Habuk Paengga had no choice in the matter.

Considering what they had done, they couldn’t complain even if they received a joint attack from three of the Odaesega.

They had to choose between two options: annihilation or cooperation with Ju Cheonmyeong, and choosing annihilation would be foolish.

Having gauged the Fourth Prince’s forces, Seol Mujin spoke.

“Still, His Highness the Fourth Prince’s forces aren’t weak. Isn’t it enough power to stage a rebellion?”

“That’s exactly the point His Highness the Third Prince is most worried about. His Highness the Fourth Prince has a tendency to act recklessly when things go wrong.”

“Then shouldn’t we weaken his power in advance? The times are already chaotic, and if His Highness the Fourth Prince were to start a war, it would be adding insult to injury.”

“We are moving behind the scenes, but the problem is we’re not the only ones moving.”

“You mean His Highness the Second Prince.”

“His Highness the Second Prince’s forces are still not easy to gauge. Many places in both central and local government agencies, as well as Dongchang and Geumeuiwi, have sided with His Highness the Second Prince. After all, he was the first to set out toward the Emperor’s position.”

“Then we should consider his current forces superior to His Highness the Third Prince’s?”

“If we absorb His Highness the First Prince’s forces without any trouble, we won’t fall too far behind.”

“Then the key is His Highness the Fourth Prince?”

“If we could absorb His Highness the Fourth Prince’s forces, it would be a very good fight.”

“Are there no Murim forces with His Highness the Second Prince?”

“There probably are, but we can’t even get a sense of them right now. That’s why I’m asking – could Lord Seol look into it for us?”

“Me?”

“Of course it’s not an easy task, but I feel like Lord Seol would somehow find a way.”

“I’ll think about it for now.”

Hyeon-ya drained his wine cup in one gulp and then spoke.

“The fighting is getting increasingly fierce. Just ten days ago, there was an assassination attempt on His Highness the Third Prince.”

“What? Is His Highness alright?”

“I heard the newly hired bodyguard’s skills are extraordinary. I’m told he’s a close friend of Lord Seol’s?”

“To call him a close friend is a bit… Anyway, he is someone I know.”

“It was heaven’s fortune that His Highness the Third Prince met Lord Seol. They say emperors are sent by heaven – perhaps heaven has chosen His Highness the Third Prince?”

“I’m grateful that you evaluate me so highly.”

As two bottles of alcohol were emptied, they had become somewhat intoxicated.

He could have dispelled it using internal energy, but since it was a pleasant intoxication, he let himself be carried by the alcohol.

“It’s regrettable, but it’s time to end this gathering.”

“If you find it regrettable, would you like to listen to a courtesan’s performance?”

Hyeon-ya waved his hand at Seol Mujin’s words.

“If I indulge too much, I’ll get bored when I go up to Beijing. Rather, there’s one last thing I’d like to ask of Lord Seol.”

“A request…?”

“Cheongseong and Jongnam. Could I entrust you with winning over those two sects? If we eliminate His Highness the Fourth Prince’s supporters in Murim, the rest should become easier.”

“Since I agreed to handle Murim affairs, I’ll find a way.”

It wasn’t an easy task, but he couldn’t not even attempt it.

After ending the drinking session with Hyeon-ya and returning home, Jegal Jaeryeong was waiting for him.

“It’s late at night, why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Sniff sniff!”

“Why are you smelling for alcohol?”

“You drank good alcohol? I don’t smell any woman’s scent though.”

“Of course, since I didn’t call for any courtesans.”

“Going to a pleasure house and drinking without courtesans. Brother, could you possibly…”

“Possibly what?”

“Possibly…”

Jegal Jaeryeong narrowed her eyes and looked at Seol Mujin.

“No! I don’t like men!”

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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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