My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 158

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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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158.

“Justice will be served when your daughter dies! You too shall feel the agony of sending your child ahead of you!”

Wang Baekgang let out a crazed shout at Jang Homyeong, who was turning away while gritting his teeth.

“I tried to form a marriage alliance with the Commandant to destroy Jongnampa, but that didn’t work out! But now heaven is helping me in this way! This is proof that heaven is on my side! Proof! Uhahahaha—!”

As Jang Homyeong was leaving through the door, Gwak Susang asked him.

“Teacher, are we returning like this?”

“If my daughter’s lifespan ends here, I have no choice but to accept it.”

Jang Homyeong returned to Jongnampa with a heart-wrenching feeling.

Though he tried to appear composed in front of his disciples, he felt as if the world was collapsing.

He couldn’t even attempt to steal the Hwayangcho from Wang Baekgang due to concerns for Jongnampa’s safety.

Standing before Jang Taeyeon, Jang Homyeong burst into silent, tearless sobs.

“If only I could die and save you…”

He even resented his position as sect leader, which forced him to prioritize Jongnampa first.

Then suddenly, the thought ‘What if I weren’t the sect leader?’ occurred to him.

No, if he weren’t a member of Jongnampa, any wrongdoing would be his personal fault and have nothing to do with Jongnampa.

Jang Homyeong’s contemplation didn’t last long.

If he could save his daughter, he was willing to abandon not just Jongnampa, but even his position as Jongnampa’s sect leader.

He just needed to obtain the Hwayangcho as a single martial artist without affiliation.

If he weren’t a member of Jongnampa, neither Wang Baekgang nor the Commandant could hold Jongnampa responsible.

As he made up his mind and was about to turn around, he heard his disciple Gwak Susang’s voice from outside.

“Teacher. Guests have arrived.”

Since this wasn’t the time to receive guests, Jang Homyeong left the room and said.

“I’m busy, tell them to come another time.”

He didn’t even ask who the visitors were.

But Gwak Susang delivered surprising news.

“They say they want to discuss the Hwayangcho matter.”

“What? Hwayangcho? Who are these people?”

“Young masters from the Hwangbo Family, Namgung Family, and Jegal Family, along with a head from Jinan.”

Young masters from three families and a head from Jinan?

“How do they know about the Hwayangcho?”

“We didn’t spread rumors, but wouldn’t those who could know that you need Hwayangcho already know?”

True, since it wasn’t a secret, it wouldn’t be strange for the visitors to know.

Since Hwayangcho was mentioned, he couldn’t refuse to meet them.

“Where are they?”

“I’ve escorted them to the guest hall for now.”

Jang Homyeong hurried toward the guest hall.

When he opened the door to the guest hall, four people who had been sitting stood up.

The young masters from the three families competed to greet him with cupped fists.

Jang Homyeong also returned the greeting with the attitude of addressing late-stage masters.

“I am Seol Mujin, a head from Jinan.”

“I’m curious why young masters from martial families are traveling with a head.”

That statement revealed that Jongnampa’s intelligence network wasn’t very good.

That was understandable, as Jang Homyeong currently couldn’t properly attend to Jongnampa affairs due to Jang Taeyeon’s condition.

Seol Mujin said.

“That doesn’t seem to be a particularly important matter.”

“Of course not. I heard you mentioned Hwayangcho.”

“It’s an herb to cure your daughter’s Taeeum Jeolmaek, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“And someone named Wang Baekgang has it?”

“That’s also correct.”

“But Wang Baekgang won’t give up the Hwayangcho?”

“Where did you obtain this information?”

Jegal Jaeryeong answered Jang Homyeong’s question.

“We heard it from a Jongnampa disciple after arriving here.”

He had no intention of blaming his disciple.

Since they were from Odaesega, they weren’t on bad terms with Gudaemunpa, and the disciple probably shared various details hoping it might help.

“Then did you also hear that Wang Baekgang is our Jongnampa’s enemy?”

“Things have become quite complicated.”

“Since his in-law is the Commandant, we can’t act rashly.”

“That would be the case. Touching Wang Baekgang means making an enemy of the Commandant. But Seol Podoo here might be able to help with that problem.”

Jegal Jaeryeong wouldn’t speak nonsense when it came to his daughter’s life.

“Is that really true?”

Receiving Jang Homyeong’s hope-filled gaze, Seol Mujin said.

“The problem is the Commandant, isn’t it?”

“Wang Baekgang acts so arrogantly with the Hwayangcho because he has the Commandant behind him.”

“Are you certain that Wang Baekgang still has the Hwayangcho?”

“He wouldn’t have disposed of something that could be used for revenge against Jongnampa.”

“Then there’s hope.”

Having said that, Seol Mujin stood up.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I need to put some pressure on Wang Baekgang’s backing.”

***

Seol Mujin went alone to Xian, where the Shaanxi Provincial Command was located.

The three others remained at Jongnampa to investigate whether there was any connection to Sa Hwangja.

The Commandant, who headed the Provincial Command that was the military organization of a province, was a high-ranking official of the second rank.

In terms of the central government, it was equivalent to a minister’s rank, so it was absolutely not a position to be ignored.

Nevertheless, Seol Mujin trusted his position as Geumeuiwi Deputy Commander and his own reputation.

The somewhat embarrassing nickname “Spear of National Salvation” was a name that worked well in military and government circles.

On top of that, he had the solid backing of the Third Prince.

The fact that Seol Mujin was the Third Prince’s man would be known to all high-ranking military and government officials.

Naturally, the Commandant would also know, so he wouldn’t be able to treat Seol Mujin poorly.

The Provincial Command was surrounded by walls one jang high.

Being a military facility, soldiers maintained strict vigilance around the perimeter.

He was inspected before even reaching the Provincial Command located at the end of the long official road.

Four soldiers stopped Seol Mujin’s steps.

“What brings you here?”

Seol Mujin showed his Geumeuiwi identification badge.

As always, the soldiers who had stopped Seol Mujin showed surprised expressions.

“We, we greet the Geumeuiwi Deputy Commander!”

“Is the Commandant present?”

“Yes! Please come this way!”

A soldier full of military discipline guided Seol Mujin.

He kept glancing at Seol Mujin with an expression that suggested he had something to ask.

“Do you have something to say?”

The mild-looking soldier who appeared to be in his mid-twenties gathered his courage.

“By, by any chance, are you Deputy Commander Seol Mujin, the Spear of National Salvation?”

There were four Deputy Commanders in Geumeuiwi, and Seol Mujin was the only young one among them.

“How did you know?”

The soldier’s face lit up with delight.

“You really do look as brilliant as the rumors say! It’s an honor to meet you!”

Seol Mujin simply responded to the soldier’s words with a smile.

The soldier who had run ahead of Seol Mujin to the city gate shouted out.

“Geumeuiwi Ch’ŏmsa, Guardian Spear of the Nation, Lord Seol Mujin has arrived!”

The startled soldiers hurriedly opened the gates for him.

It was a scene that truly demonstrated the saying that a person is their reputation.

Seol Mujin slowly entered the Provincial Command Headquarters.

Soldiers who heard news of Seol Mujin’s arrival gathered at the training ground.

Soldiers in training, the instructors teaching them, and even fairly high-ranking officials all flocked to get a look at Seol Mujin.

Though he thought ‘Should I wave at them or something?’, Seol Mujin simply looked straight ahead and walked slowly.

“Make way! The Guardian Spear of the Nation is passing through!”

The soldier guiding Seol Mujin proudly cleared the path.

Only after entering deep into the Provincial Command Headquarters was Seol Mujin able to meet the Commandant.

While a high-ranking official of the second rank could have received a Ch’ŏmsa in his office, the Commandant personally came out to welcome Seol Mujin.

The man in his fifties with two adjutants was clearly recognizable as the Commandant at first glance.

Seol Mujin greeted him politely.

“I am Geumeuiwi Ch’ŏmsa Seol Mujin.”

“Hahaha! An honored guest has come to our Shaanxi Provincial Command. I am Commandant Jeong Chansong.”

Seol Mujin went to the reception room with Jeong Chansong.

The reception room, filled with expensive paintings and porcelain, showed that Jeong Chansong was not a man of simple tastes.

Well, someone at the Commandant level would have bribes flying in from all directions, and refusing them wouldn’t be an easy task.

“I’d only heard rumors, but meeting you in person, you’re even more of a distinguished gentleman than I heard. Hahaha!”

Jeong Chansong immediately began flattering Seol Mujin upon meeting him.

“You’re too kind.”

“But what brings you here?”

“I was passing through Shaanxi Province and wanted to see the Commandant’s face, so I stopped by. I hope I haven’t become an unwelcome guest.”

“Not at all.”

Jeong Chansong was someone who had no connections with other imperial relatives.

In times like these, he must have received contacts from various sides, but the fact that he hadn’t sided with anyone yet meant he had a cautious personality.

Being cautious by nature, he had no choice but to treat Seol Mujin, who enjoyed the Third Prince’s favor, with utmost care.

“Are all the elders in Beijing doing well these days?”

For a high-ranking official of the second rank, the only people he would call “elders” were imperial relatives.

He probably wanted to ask specifically about the Third Prince’s well-being, but with his cautious nature, Jeong Chansong asked in such a roundabout way.

“I don’t know about the others, but Samhwangja Jeonha is doing well.”

“Ah, I see.”

“However, he suffers greatly from the cold in winter, which is concerning. He’s a young man who worries about his mouth getting crooked from even a little cold. I heard there’s a good medicinal herb for people who are sensitive to cold, but the name was…”

Jeong Chansong quickly said the name Seol Mujin wanted to hear.

“Could it be Hwayangcho?”

“Ah! That sounds like the name. You know quite a lot, Commandant.”

“Not long ago, my in-law mentioned he had purchased that herb. I heard it’s an extremely precious medicinal herb.”

“It does seem to be precious. Samhwangja Jeonha has been trying to obtain it, but he’s been coming up empty for years now. It would have been good if I had known before your in-law’s relative consumed it.”

There was no way Jeong Chansong would miss an opportunity to curry favor with the Third Prince.

“I think he still has it for some other purpose. Shall I look into it?”

“Would you be able to do that?”

“If my in-law still has it, I should probably be able to obtain it.”

“But I heard it’s a precious medicinal herb.”

“Since it’s for Samhwangja Jeonha, I must do my best. I’ll step out for a moment.”

After Jeong Chansong left, Seol Mujin leisurely drank his tea.

From here to Bupung County where Wang Baekgang lived was only about an hour’s distance if one rode diligently on horseback.

Jeong Chansong, who returned after a quarter-hour, informed him that he had sent a letter to Wang Baekgang.

“I sent the fastest horse, so if all goes well, we should be able to receive the Hwayangcho in two hours.”

“I don’t know how to express my gratitude. I will definitely convey the Commandant’s sincerity to Samhwangja Jeonha.”

“If I can be of help to Samhwangja Jeonha, that alone would be a great honor.”

Seol Mujin and Jeong Chansong engaged in friendly conversation.

During their talk, he probed Jeong Chansong’s feelings, and his inner desire to form a connection with the Third Prince was revealed.

Jeong Chansong also knew that this chaotic period was both a crisis and an opportunity.

One wrong step could lead to a cliff, but achieving merit could earn him treatment as a founding contributor.

His long-cherished dream of advancing to the central government wasn’t just a pipe dream anymore.

Though he held the second rank in name, a local high-ranking official was inferior to even a fifth-rank official in the central government.

And he no longer wanted to go to the battlefield either.

It was while harboring such ambitions that Seol Mujin had come.

Of course, various proposals had come not only from the princes but also from other imperial relatives.

But the reason he couldn’t readily grasp the extended hands was because he lacked certainty.

The struggle for the throne was a brutal battlefield where one misstep could cost you your head.

So he had no choice but to exercise extreme caution.

But now, what was bound to come had finally arrived.

If he continued like this and someone ascended to the emperor’s throne, Jeong Chansong would become a kite with a broken string.

Those who had achieved merit would be everywhere, and positions would have to be distributed among them, naturally including the Shaanxi Provincial Commandant position.

Naturally, he would have to give up his position, and a powerless former power holder could become prey for the wolves that had been lying low.

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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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