SERIES: Return Of The Divine Thief
CHAPTER: 24
Nannyeong, known as the heart of Guangxi Province, was overflowing with endless vitality today.
Boats ceaselessly plied the river, merchants from all corners shouted their wares, and a massive crowd filled the streets.
Behind this splendid prosperity, minor disturbances like turf wars between thugs and the occasional pickpocketing occurred, but on the surface, it was the very picture of peace.
But beneath that peaceful surface, a great storm was quietly biding its time.
In the annex of an inn, tucked away in an alley off Nannyeong's main thoroughfare.
Three men, who seemed out of place in the city's peaceful atmosphere, were seated.
They were Baekun, Jo Yangtae, and Heuk Cheolsan.
“……It should be about time.”
Jo Yangtae said, impatiently tapping his fingers on the table.
Following Muryang's orders, they had led their respective elite forces and infiltrated Nannyeong ten days ago.
Of course, a force of several hundred couldn't move all at once. As Muryang had instructed, they disguised themselves with various identities—ronin, merchants, porters—and scattered to hide in inns and slums throughout the city.
And through a secret communication network established by Baekun, they were ready to gather in one place at a moment's notice.
“The Lodge Leader… what on earth is he doing in Heumju…?”
Jo Yangtae said in a worried voice.
Heuk Cheolsan responded to his words.
“The Lodge Leader will be fine.”
This was the same Muryang who had single-handedly brought down the great Daewoong Faction.
He believed Muryang could easily take control of a group like the Heumju Merchant Guild.
But he couldn't hide the worry on his face.
In contrast to them, Baekun calmly tilted his teacup.
“Don't worry so much.”
He fiddled with the white jade mask Muryang had given him a few days prior.
Muryang had given it to him, reasoning that the Yu Clan might already know his face.
“The Heumju Merchant Guild may be a subordinate organization of the Yu Clan, but they're the real power in Heumju Port, aren't they? If those bastards decided to lay a trap, the Lodge Leader alone……”
“That's right. Shouldn't we send reinforcements to Heumju right now, Commander?”
No matter if they were a subordinate group, they were still connected to the Demonic Cult.
Although they had never encountered the Demonic Cult firsthand, as members of the martial world, they were all too aware of its infamy.
That was why they were worried about Muryang going in alone.
They wanted nothing more than to help Muryang, but the final decision rested with Baekun.
Baekun looked steadily at the two of them.
‘They still don't know what kind of person that brat is.’
He recalled Muryang's bizarre and cunning schemes that had made a complete fool of him.
That man wasn't one to avoid a trap; he was the type to use the trap to catch the hunter.
“A group on the level of the mere Heumjin Merchant Guild won't be able to do a thing to my junior brother.”
In Baekun's mind, if Muryang truly set his mind to it, he could probably take on not just the Heumjin Merchant Guild, but the entire Yu Clan by himself.
An all-out war would be impossible, of course, but he was more than capable of whittling away their strength from the shadows.
“I'm not doubting the Lodge Leader's skill. But there's always a 'what if,' so we should at least confirm—”
Jo Yangtae's words were cut off by a sound from the window.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The signal of their predetermined code came from the window.
The expressions of all three men changed at once.
* * *
Muryang returned looking as carefree as when he had left.
Jo Yangtae, unable to hold back, was the first to speak.
“How did it go?”
Heuk Cheolsan also watched Muryang’s lips, his expression tense.
Baekun said nothing, but he too seemed curious.
As if enjoying their anxious gazes, Muryang plopped down onto a chair in the room.
“What else? It's finished.”
“Finished? You mean you… attacked the Heumjin Merchant Guild?”
Baekun cut to the heart of the matter. But Muryang shook his head at him.
“No.”
His signature cunning smile played on his lips.
“I didn't attack the Heumjin Merchant Guild. I used them.”
“……?”
“……?”
Jo Yangtae and Heuk Cheolsan had no idea what Muryang was talking about.
Muryang continued as if explaining a simple prank.
“I disguised myself as the master of the Heumjin Merchant Guild and requisitioned all their money and forces. And then,”
He tapped a finger on the map, on the medicinal herb workshop in Nannyeong.
“I led those forces and just got back from taking over their main base, that fake medicine factory.”
“……!”
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Jo Yangtae and Heuk Cheolsan needed a moment to process what they had just heard.
He borrowed the enemy's money and forces to strike at their heart?
The silence was broken by Heuk Cheolsan's booming laughter.
“Hahaha! What did I tell you! Didn't I say there would be no problem if it was the Lodge Master, Lodge Leader Jo!”
At his triumphant attitude, Jo Yangtae shot back at him, incredulous.
“Who was it that was just fretting and worrying about whether we should send reinforcements?”
“Hmph. Hmph.”
Unbefitting his massive frame, Heuk Cheolsan's face flushed with embarrassment.
“You two can do your comedy routine later.”
Just as Heuk Cheolsan was about to make an excuse, Muryang's cold voice cut through the air.
The leisurely smile from moments before had vanished from his face.
“It's not over yet. This is just the beginning.”
He looked at the three men and said.
“We've secured their source of funds and the evidence of their evil deeds. Now it's time to strike the snake's head.”
At Muryang's murderous declaration, Jo Yangtae swallowed dryly and asked.
“The main family… you mean to attack the Yu family's main residence head-on?”
“Yes.”
At Muryang's unhesitating answer, this time Baekun stepped forward.
His expression was serious.
“Junior Brother. You should reconsider. From what I've seen of Nannyeong these past few days, the Yu family's power is greater than I thought. Attacking them head-on is too great a risk.”
It was a cool-headed judgment made as a disciple of the Divine Thief.
“It would be better to take more time, for you and I to infiltrate first and chip away at their strength, and then launch an all-out attack—”
Muryang cut Baekun off.
“If they were an ordinary underworld faction, I would. But these bastards, even if they're just a seed, are the Demonic Cult.”
“That's all the more reason to approach with caution.”
Muryang took a short breath and continued.
“If the Yu family bastards realize that we know their true identity—that they're the 'Demonic Cult'—and are coming after them for it, what do you think they'll do?”
“……”
“They'll abandon their family and everything else, scatter, and flee. If we let even one of them escape, he'll put down roots somewhere else and create a second Yu family.”
Muryang's eyes gleamed like a demon's.
“This fight must look to them like a 'dispute between merchant guilds over business interests' or a 'turf war among underworld factions.' While they're off guard, we will storm their headquarters and rip them out, root and stem.”
After Muryang's explanation, the three men could no longer object.
He looked at Baekun and offered an answer to his concerns.
“I know what you're worried about, Senior Brother. It's true their power seems formidable. But,”
He tapped his finger on the Yu family's headquarters on the map.
“The entire Yu family aren't fanatics.”
“Not fanatics?”
“The Demonic Cult follows the law of the jungle, where the strong are the law. Do you think they would carelessly pass on their demonic arts just because someone is a fellow believer? If someone stronger than them emerged, they could lose the entire family.”
“That's true…”
A chilling smile touched Muryang's lips.
“I predict that the Yu family's true demonic arts are passed down only to the family head and his heir, the young master. In other words, our only real enemy right now is the family head, Yu Geon.”
Of course, not all 'seeds' were like this.
But the fact that those in important positions, like the heads of the merchant guild and the factory, hadn't learned any demonic arts at all…
Meant there was a high probability it was passed down only to the family head.
Muryang looked around at the three men in the room.
“The family head, Yu Geon, will be handled by my senior brother and me. Lodge Leader Jo and Lodge Leader Heuk. While we strike at their head, you two will deal with all the remaining forces of the Yu family. That should be manageable enough, don't you think?”
At Muryang's words, Jo Yangtae and Heuk Cheolsan looked at each other.
He said that he and his brother would shoulder the heaviest burden, the family head Yu Geon.
That meant they only had to deal with the remaining remnants.
Confidence once again filled the eyes of the two Lodge Leaders.
“If that's all it is, no problem.”
“We will trust and follow you, Lodge Master.”
Baekun, too, no longer had any objections to Muryang's meticulous analysis and bold plan.
“Good. How long will it take to gather the scattered forces?”
“We've established a communication network for our members scattered here in Nannyeong. If you give the signal, we can have them all assembled at the designated location within four hours.”
“The same goes for the Red Bridge Faction.”
Muryang nodded in satisfaction and then turned to Baekun.
“Senior Brother. Are any of the Yu family's direct bloodline currently away from the residence?”
This was the most crucial question, aimed at wiping out their entire line.
Baekun answered calmly, as if he had expected the question.
“The young master went out recently but has returned. The second and third sons have remained inside.”
“The heavens are on our side. They've all crawled into their graves for us.”
Muryang placed his hand on the map, over the Yu family's headquarters.
“In that case, we move at sunrise tomorrow. You two Lodge Leaders, send the signal to assemble all scattered forces immediately.”
“Understood.”
“Understood.”
With grim expressions, Jo Yangtae and Heuk Cheolsan immediately left the room.
It was to send the signal to mobilize hundreds of troops.
Once again, only Muryang and Baekun remained in the room.
Outside the window, it was still dark, but the eastern sky was beginning to brighten ever so faintly.
Muryang silently gazed down at the map where the Yu family's headquarters was marked.
In his eyes burned not simple hostility, but a vicious hatred and thirst for revenge that carried over from his past life.
‘We finally meet.’
Muryang didn't know what kind of person Yu Geon, the leader of the Yu family, was.
But he had undoubtedly contributed to the Demonic Cult's reign.
He was determined to eliminate him.
0 Comments