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Chapter 80: Choosing Allies Wisely is Crucial
However, the man with the red dot, Lee Chun, did not back down.
"The masters of the Yoomyung Cult were known for their atrocities. Have you ever seen those guys do anything good?"
To this, Wang Jincheng, the bearded man, could not refute. After all, it was true that the members of the Yoomyung Cult had a terrifying past.
"That's true, but... Anyway, the Cheongun Military Academy is in trouble. They have been betrayed by the Namyang Chamber of Commerce. After Waryong Manor, it seems that the Cheongun Military Academy might also close."
At that moment, Yeon Jeokha, who seemed to be sleeping, opened his eyes.
Lee Chun continued confidently.
"Don't worry. The warriors of Luoyang have decided to help the Cheongun Military Academy, so they have a chance."
"Do you think they can face the Sky Shaker Swordsman?"
"The Sky Shaker Swordsman won't actively get involved in this. Do you really think a secular disciple of the Mount Hua Sect would support Hongbang, which is aligned with the Yoomyung Cult? He's only there because he has no other choice."
"So, are we going to join the Cheongun Military Academy?"
"I don't need to repeat it. Only the ignorant align with the Namyang Chamber of Commerce. You'll see, most of those coming from Luoyang are on the side of the Cheongun Military Academy."
"You're right. The Yoomyung Cult won't get directly involved in these minor matters..."
"Trust me. Although Hongbang is aligned with the Yoomyung Cult, it is not part of the core of the Yoomyung Cult. Hongbang alone can't face the Cheongun Military Academy and the warriors of Luoyang."
Convinced by Lee Chun's confident words, Wang Jincheng nodded.
Wanderers need to choose their allies wisely.
If the Sky Shaker Swordsman didn't get involved, the Namyang Chamber of Commerce and Hongbang couldn't face the Cheongun Military Academy.
For Yeon Jeokha, Waryong Manor was a place of mixed feelings. Though he shuddered at the thought of Baek Miju and his half-siblings, he still had some memories of his father. Although Yeon Muryong did not care for him diligently, at least he did not abuse him like the others.
Therefore, upon hearing that Waryong Manor had closed, Yeon Jeokha was fully awake.
He approached the two wanderers.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, what do you mean that Waryong Manor has closed?"
Lee Chun glanced sideways at the young man who had suddenly approached.
The young man wore clean clothes and had an imposing sword at his waist, indicating that he was not an ordinary person.
Instead of showing annoyance, Lee Chun decided to respond to the young man's curiosity.
"Recently, Lunar Fairy took control of Waryong Manor. She killed the members of the Yeon Family who resisted and established a temple/church there."
"All the members of the Yeon Family who lived there were killed?"
"Only some Elders died. The lady of the house fled to the Baek Family mansion, and her children escaped to the Yang Family mansion."
"Oh..."
Seeing Yeon Jeokha's somber expression, Lee Chun commented sympathetically.
"You seem to have some connection with Waryong Manor."
"Not at all."
The young man's immediate denial did not surprise Lee Chun.
Nowadays, having connections with Waryong Manor was not something to boast about but rather a disgrace.
Since Yeon Muryong's bones were thrown into a latrine, martial artists of Murim saw Waryong Manor as a shame.
"Have you come here to join the fight too?"
"No, I'm just passing through."
Lee Chun, looking around, whispered.
"Hey, if you have time, consider joining the Cheongun Military Academy. They have the advantage and offer good conditions."
Hearing about the good conditions, Yeon Jeokha remembered Chu Gong, who mentioned that the Namyang Chamber of Commerce paid a silver coin for ten days of work.
"How much do they pay?"
"I heard they offer five hundred coins more than the Namyang Chamber of Commerce. Since the Chamber of Commerce pays a silver coin, you would receive a silver coin and five hundred additional copper coins."
"Thanks for the information."
Yeon Jeokha thanked the man with the red dot and returned to the counter.
Shim Yanggak, observing the situation, cautiously commented.
"In the end, Lunar Fairy attacked Waryong Manor."
"Yes, after being quiet for a long time."
Rumors said that after the fall of the Namgung Family, Waryong Manor would be next. And so it was.
Although it was something they expected, when it actually happened, they felt strange.
At that moment, the waiter approached.
"Gentlemen, a table is now available. Please follow me."
Yeon Jeokha and Shim Yanggak followed the waiter and sat down, ordering simple dishes.
When the food arrived, they ate in silence.
Shim Yanggak constantly watched Yeon Jeokha's face as they ate.
After hearing about Waryong Manor, it seemed that Yeon Jeokha was not enjoying the food.
Shim Yanggak knew, although vaguely, Yeon Jeokha's feelings towards Waryong Manor. He had heard stories while living as a disabled man in Five Peaks Mountain.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Shim Yanggak suggested.
"Young Master, if you feel uncomfortable, why not help the Cheongun Military Academy?"
"Do you want me to attack Hongbang?"
"Maybe it will make you feel better."
"No, I won't. Hongbang hasn't done anything to me."
Seeing Yeon Jeokha's magnanimous attitude, Shim Yanggak fell silent.
However, the problem arose unexpectedly.
Manggamhong was filled with various types of wanderers.
Some, like Lee Chun and Wang Jincheng, planned to join the Cheongun Military Academy, while others were on Namyang's side. Seo Gap and Hong Mungwan were among the latter.
Seo Gap, observing the sword at Yeon Jeokha's waist, whispered to his companion.
"Hong, doesn't that sword sheath look familiar to you?"
Following Seo Gap's gaze, Hong Mungwan saw the sword at the young man's waist nearby.
The dragon engraving on the sheath was not unfamiliar to him.
'Hmm? That is...'
Seo Gap and Hong Mungwan, from Luoyang, planned to join the Namyang Chamber of Commerce. It was an unexpected choice considering that most from Luoyang supported the Cheongun Military Academy.
Without the recent information that Seo Gap had obtained, they too would have chosen the Cheongun Military Academy.
The corner of Hong Mungwan's mouth curved slightly.
In Luoyang, he had encountered warriors from Waryong Manor while lurking around the Chamber of Commerce.
That sword clearly belonged to the members of the Yeon Family from Waryong Manor.
Since he had already decided to join the Namyang Chamber of Commerce, he knew who his friends and enemies were.
"Hehe, Seo Hyung, think carefully. It's not hard to guess which clan that sword with the dragon engraving belongs to."
At his mocking comment, Seo Gap, who had been thinking for a moment, lightly tapped the table.
"Ah! Waryong Manor! Those idiots who fled at the sight of Lunar Fairy after boasting of their strength."
Seo Gap's voice rose a bit, attracting the attention of those around him.
For a wanderer, raising their value is simple: becoming famous or performing a great feat.
The promised pay of a silver coin for ten days at the Chamber of Commerce was at least a guarantee. In reality, the pay varied according to the wanderer's fame.
For unknown wanderers like Seo Gap and Hong Mungwan, they were at the bottom of the scale.
So, seeing someone from Waryong Manor was an opportunity.
Seo Gap stared boldly at the young man and the old man.
A young man with a sword that clearly belonged to a disciple of Waryong Manor and an old man with a dao.
'This young man must be a member of the Yeon Family who fled from Waryong Manor.'
The fact that a Waryong Manor disciple was in Namyang meant that they were probably there to help the Cheongun Military Academy.
Seo Gap and Hong Mungwan were not the only ones to notice this. Several wanderers conversing with their companions also started looking at them with intent.
Now more confident, Seo Gap continued.
"Did you know that Lunar Fairy unearthed Yeon Muryong's bones and threw them into a latrine? Despite that, the Yeon Family is incredibly brazen. How much must they have looted while boasting the name of the Moon-Splitting Swordsman? Those from Waryong Manor shouldn't even dare use the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship... Ah!"
Seo Gap suddenly stopped, clutching his mouth. When he opened his hands, he saw a fragment of a pork bone and a broken tooth in his palm.
With blood dripping from his mouth, Seo Gap jumped up and shouted.
"Who was the son of...?"
Yeon Jeokha raised a hand and called the waiter.
"Bring me another pork rib. They are delicious, I like them a lot."
"Yes, yes..."
The waiter, overwhelmed by the atmosphere, took the order and hurried away.
Hearing about pork ribs, Seo Gap looked towards the next table.
There it was!
On the plate on the table were bones identical to the one that had broken his tooth.
"You, damn...!"
At that moment, Yeon Jeokha picked up another bone and threw it lightly.
With a scream, Seo Gap clutched his mouth and collapsed.
Hong Mungwan, realizing the situation, drew his sword.
Yeon Jeokha, with a bored expression, threw another bone.
Thud. Crash.
Hit on the forehead, Hong Mungwan fell backward, unconscious.
With the continuous bone attacks, Seo Gap's fighting spirit vanished.
He realized that the young man was a formidable martial artist and slowly approached Hong Mungwan, thinking of taking him and fleeing.
But that was just his wish.
"Hey, come here."
The young man's voice made Seo Gap turn around weakly.
Looking around, he saw that the other wanderers continued eating as if nothing had happened.
'Damn. They were waiting to see if they could take advantage of the situation.'
With his shoulders slumped, Seo Gap approached the young man.
As he touched his broken tooth with his tongue, the young man asked him.
"What did Lunar Fairy do in Waryong Manor?"
Seo Gap looked at the young man incredulously.
He should know more about Waryong Manor than he did, why was he asking?
"No, I'm not from Waryong Manor. So answer."
"But that sword..."
"I beat someone from Waryong Manor and took it."
Thinking that the young man was also an enemy of Waryong Manor, Seo Gap breathed a sigh of relief and answered.
"I heard that Lunar Fairy unearthed Yeon Muryong's tomb for a post-mortem punishment. But since there were only bones, she threw them all into a latrine."
"..."
Yeon Jeokha, speechless, looked at the man with an astonished expression.
He did not feel much affection for his father. Even so, something pressed on his chest as if he had choked.
After a while, Seo Gap spoke cautiously.
"Sir, can we leave now?"
"You are rude. Are you leaving after so many insults?"
"Please, forgive me!"
Seo Gap quickly bowed.
Yeon Jeokha, looking at his bowed head, spoke in a dispirited voice.
"I'm so full of your insults that I can't eat anymore. Since I'm going to waste the food, leave a silver coin and go."
"What? Yes, yes. Thank you."
Fearing that the young man would change his mind, Seo Gap left a silver coin and quickly turned around.
For a wanderer, a silver coin was a low price for offending an expert.
If he had been the young man, he would have at least cut off an arm.
Seo Gap picked up the unconscious Hong Mungwan and hurried away.
After about fifteen minutes, the waiter brought the additional ribs.
Yeon Jeokha, really without appetite, just played with the chopsticks.
Shim Yanggak, unable to bear it any longer, spoke.
"Young Master, if you allow me, I will go right now to cut off that Lunar Bitch's head..."
"Leave it."
"...Yes."
"Go and find out where the Cheongun Military Academy members are gathering. Since we're here, we might as well earn some money."
"Hehe. Yes."
Shim Yanggak quickly got up and approached Lee Chun and Wang Jincheng.
"Do you know where the Cheongun Military Academy members are gathering?"
Lee Chun, who had been watching, quickly responded.
"They are gathering at the Yangil Inn."
"You're lucky. If you want to live long, choose your allies wisely."