My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 80

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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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80.

Yeon Gok, who had spoken incomprehensible words, gestured toward Hwangbo Ryeoseon.

“Lady Hwangbo has become my regular customer.”

Yeon Gok treated Hwangbo Ryeoseon and Sang Chiyeon’s injuries in half a shichen.

“You two won’t even need acupuncture. Just take some medicine for a few days and rest well.”

Yeon Gok muttered, “Of all times to pass through there during a landslide. What terrible luck.”

Though he spoke as if it were coincidence, Seol Mujin knew it wasn’t.

After repeatedly confirming that Namgung Hyemin’s life wasn’t in danger, Seol Mujin went to the inn where Ju Cheonmyeong was staying.

But Ju Cheonmyeong wasn’t there.

‘Surely not in broad daylight?’

With that thought, he went to Yeonji-ru and found Ju Cheonmyeong there.

Ju Cheonmyeong, playing ball with Hwanggeum-i, looked happy.

“You should kick the ball with the inside of your foot to send it straight! Like this!”

Kind Mr. Cheonmyeong even taught Hwanggeum-i how to kick the ball.

From a distance, Jang Jangsim watched the two with a worried expression.

Seol Mujin avoided Ju Cheonmyeong’s eyes and went to Jang Jangsim.

The two bodyguards protecting Ju Cheonmyeong saw Seol Mujin but didn’t particularly speak up.

“Mujin-ah…”

Jang Jangsim’s voice calling him was anxious.

“You didn’t talk about Hwanggeum-i, did you?”

Jang Jangsim shook her head.

“No. He suddenly appeared and started playing with Hwanggeum-i like that. Do you think he noticed something?”

Seol Mujin found it hard to guess as well.

Ju Cheonmyeong, who belatedly noticed Seol Mujin, waved his hand.

“Oh! Seol Podoo is here?”

Though he had given him the position of Geumeuiwi deputy commander, he still called him Podoo.

Seol Mujin greeted him respectfully.

“You’re out early today.”

“When I have worries I can’t solve, drinking is the best way to forget. I didn’t have a drinking companion, but you came at just the right time.”

“I don’t drink during the day.”

Whether drunk during the day or night, the Seolbaekju tasted good.

Setting down his cup, Seol Mujin asked.

“The landslide at Nakparo was aimed at Your Highness’s army.”

“Not only martial artists were coming to the Sando Hoedong. Besides the troops that were annihilated at Nakparo, the commanding general from Anhui Province was also traveling by boat with 2,800 men when they drowned. The commanding general and seventy percent of the soldiers lost their lives.”

Though he spoke of desperate matters, his face wasn’t particularly dark.

“I understand the plan to seize Hubei Province and gain the upper hand in one stroke, but shouldn’t you have at least given me a hint?”

“Are you saying I need your permission for what I do?”

A blade shot out from Ju Cheonmyeong’s voice.

But Seol Mujin didn’t dodge that blade.

“I’m not yet Your Highness’s collaborator, much less your subordinate. I haven’t even determined what kind of person Your Highness is or whether you have a chance of winning. The other martial arts sects won’t be much different from me. In such circumstances, launching such a large operation can only be called premature.”

Yeon Daebang warned Seol Mujin.

“Watch your words and actions.”

Seol Mujin didn’t particularly apologize, and Ju Cheonmyeong didn’t seem to mind much either.

“Are you saying I was too hasty?”

“I don’t yet have the eyes to survey the whole picture. So I can’t judge whether Your Highness’s strategy is right or wrong. However, I can speak with certainty about people. Right now, neither I nor the martial artists would move like Your Highness’s army. Our actions would be based on trust, not military command and obedience.”

“It sounds like you don’t trust me.”

“Your Highness hasn’t yet given us something we can trust.”

Ju Cheonmyeong asked.

“You and the martial artists—no, let’s be specific about you. What should I do to earn your trust?”

“How about starting with honesty?”

“You want me to reveal all my strategies.”

“I’m not a sword Your Highness wields. Unlike a sword, I have a head that can think and a mouth that can give advice.”

Ju Cheonmyeong, who had been staring at Seol Mujin, drank his wine in one gulp and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“You say you’re not a sword, yet you stab at my heart like one.”

“I apologize if I offended you.”

“No, I actually feel better hearing you say such things.”

“Pardon?”

“If you thought I was worthless, you wouldn’t have said such things.”

“When you put it that way, I feel sorry.”

“My plan is completely ruined, so what should I do now?”

“We may have lost the cow, but shouldn’t we still fix the barn?”

“Fix the barn?”

“This was surely conducted in secret, but if the secret leaked out, there must be a culprit.”

“You’re saying to catch the rat first.”

After saying that, Ju Cheonmyeong glanced at Yeon Daebang.

Startled, Yeon Daebang waved his hands.

“I’m not a rat.”

Ju Cheonmyeong’s eyes narrowed.

“I didn’t say anything, yet you’re denying it first. Isn’t that a case of the thief’s feet getting cold?”

“Your Highness…”

“Hehehe… How could I suspect the minister? Do you have anyone in mind?”

“First, we should narrow down who knew about this plan.”

“And who destroyed my army.”

Seol Mujin said.

“Actually, I found a clue about who caused the landslide.”

Ju Cheonmyeong was startled.

“Already?”

“A man named Bae Cheonman who runs quite a large business in Hubei Province…”

Seol Mujin told the story of how Bae Cheonman and the Hwangbo family were connected.

“They say Bae Cheonman bought large quantities of gunpowder. We thought it was for the mines he owns, but nine times out of ten, he used that gunpowder to cause the landslide.”

“A mere merchant dared to help destroy my army?”

“He’s not a small merchant. They say he’s one of the three wealthiest men in Hubei Province.”

“He’s still just a merchant. We should capture him immediately and find out who the culprit is.”

Yeon Daebang said.

“If we rashly disturb the grass, the snake might escape.”

Seol Mujin also nodded.

“Bae Cheonman isn’t an easy snake to catch either. A wealthy man of that level would be under the protection of officials, whether central or local.”

“You’re saying we can’t arrest him even though we know?”

“I’m saying let’s not rush.”

Yeon Daebang, who had spoken, turned his gaze toward Seol Mujin.

Seol Mujin, who was about to grab his wine cup, felt uneasy at that gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“His Highness just happened to give you the position of deputy commander.”

Seol Mujin said with a bewildered expression.

“You want me to handle this case?”

“You solved the Eastern Military Inspector case brilliantly, didn’t you? Since we already know the culprit for this one, it should be much easier to solve.”

“Easy? It’s much harder! Catching murderers is what I always do, but this…!”

Ju Cheonmyeong cut off Seol Mujin’s words.

“Since you found out about Bae Cheonman, you should be the one to take charge of the case.”

“I didn’t find out about him…”

This time Yeon Daebang cut him off.

“Whether in terms of investigative ability or martial prowess, there’s no one like you. His Majesty’s talent for recognizing people is truly remarkable.”

“Praising me while simultaneously flattering His Majesty. You seem even more remarkable, sir.”

“Hmph! Reaching the rank of Jeongibu isn’t that difficult.”

Just because Ju Cheonmyeong said it didn’t mean he could take on the job immediately.

“Please give me some time to think. I need to consider whether I should take on this case, and if so, how to solve it.”

Ju Cheonmyeong clicked his tongue.

“This fellow never gives in easily.”

Seol Mujin changed the subject.

“More importantly, what will you do about the Shandong Branch?”

“Things got a bit twisted, but we still have to proceed. After hearing what you said, I should have a serious talk with the martial artists too. Oh right! Did I mention the Jegal Family?”

***

Zhuge Sangun said to his subordinates at the main headquarters.

“Clean up roughly and those going in should go in. Send two more kids to Hwayon-ru. The guys who caused trouble last night might come again.”

Eight thugs answered ‘Yes sir!’ simultaneously.

“Gang Leader! Please go safely!”

Zhuge Sangun waved to the bowing thugs and left the headquarters.

Now he had completely established himself as the Wangho Gang Leader.

No thug looked down on him for having weak martial arts.

Using his good head, he expanded his influence and even absorbed three small nearby underworld organizations.

What was once just an ordinary underworld group had now grown into one of the top five in Jinan.

It was due to Zhuge Sangun’s own excellent abilities, and also because of Seol Mujin’s backing.

Among Jinan’s underworld, Zhuge Sangun was rumored to be the gang leader closest to Seol Mujin.

Since it was partly true, Zhuge Sangun didn’t deny it.

So other underworld groups tended to yield in minor conflicts.

“Hello. Business going well?”

“Gang Leader, looks like you’re heading home now.”

Fruit vendor Mr. Gwak brightened up.

“Gang Leader, wait a moment! The apples that came in today are absolutely amazing!”

He got along well with merchants, and some even looked out for him.

He believed that underworld organizations shouldn’t be parasites sucking the blood of common people, but should coexist, and Zhuge Sangun was practicing this himself.

Zhuge Sangun’s face hardened as he walked leisurely, greeting familiar faces.

A familiar face appeared.

But it was a face he shouldn’t meet in Jinan.

Why is someone who should be in Taesan here?

If it were nearby Taesan it would be one thing, but this is Jinan, quite far away.

He was so shocked and frozen that he was slow to turn around.

Zhuge Sangun’s heart beat rapidly like a mouse’s as he turned his body.

‘He didn’t see me, did he?’

He didn’t. He shouldn’t have.

Zhuge Sangun quickly retraced his steps.

He didn’t know why that person was here, but at least he probably hadn’t come looking for him.

It had been over eight years since he ran away from home, and even when they lived under the same roof, that person hadn’t shown interest.

No, he had shown interest.

He would sneer when they met, come bother him when bored, and use him as a target for venting when in a bad mood.

More than half the reason Zhuge Sangun ran away was because of that bastard.

Zhuge Sangun stopped abruptly as he walked quickly around the building.

Less than ten paces away, right in front of him, was that bastard.

That fishy smile, the smile he used to make when he was in a good mood.

“Right. Zhuge Sangun.”

“Hy… Hyung-nim…”

“Hyung-nim?”

The bastard’s smile deepened.

“Meeting after so long, seems you’ve forgotten who I am?”

The bastard suddenly got close and he felt burning pain on his face.

With a sharp slapping sound, Zhuge Sangun collapsed to his knees.

“Call me again.”

Tears welled up and anger surged, but his fear of that bastard was greater.

“Yo… Young Master.”

The bastard, Jegal Byeongsik, crouched down and patted Zhuge Sangun’s cheek with his palm.

“Bastard, you didn’t forget. How dare a bastard son try to play in the same courtyard as me.”

When Jegal Byeongsik stood up, Zhuge Sangun also got to his feet.

“But what are you doing here?”

“Just… just…”

He couldn’t reveal his identity as a gang leader.

But suddenly he heard someone calling him.

“Gang Leader!”

Turning his head left, he saw two thugs from the Wangho Gang.

“Greetings!”

Both bowed simultaneously in greeting.

Zhuge Sangun couldn’t say anything, and Jegal Byeongsik looked bewildered.

“Gang Leader? Don’t tell me you…”

“That… well…”

Jegal Byeongsik beckoned to the two thugs with his finger.

“You two come here.”

The two thugs approached with puzzled expressions.

Normally they would have thrown punches saying ‘What a rude bastard!’ but they obediently listened because of Zhuge Sangun.

Jegal Byeongsik put his hand on Zhuge Sangun’s shoulder and asked the thugs.

“Who is this kid?”

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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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