Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 256
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Chapter 256: Peace and Revenge
Suddenly, Shim Tong, the Old Dao of the Nine Heavens, asked:
“Do you think the Yeon clan won’t come tonight?”
“It seems so. It’s quite late, and we haven’t heard anything. We asked them to come, but perhaps they couldn’t coordinate the time?”
“Even so, they should have sent a message if they couldn’t make it. Young Master Yeon offered to teach them.”
“Let it go. They’ll come tomorrow.”
Just then, footsteps echoed in the courtyard.
“Jeokha.”
It was the voice of Yeon Seolju.
“Young Master, I’m going to have a drink.”
Shim Tong quickly stood up, lit a lantern, and went outside.
He thought the Yeon clan needed a moment alone to talk.
Shortly after, Yeon Mubaek, Yeon Seungbaek, and Yeon Seolju entered the room.
Yeon Mubaek, with an embarrassed expression, spoke first.
“Thank you. I heard everything from Seolju and was greatly surprised. I was away for a while, so I came as soon as I could.”
Yeon Seolju added:
“My sister-in-law came all the way to Zhengzhou to meet us. At least we came, even if it’s late. By the way, Jeokha, have you ever met my sister-in-law? Elder brother, you should introduce your wife sometime.”
“Uh? Oh…”
Yeon Mubaek felt uncomfortable. Since Jeokha was an enemy of the Yang Family, introducing his wife was not an easy task.
Yeon Mubaek and Yeon Seolju tried to appease Yeon Jeokha, while Yeon Seungbaek, the second brother, remained silent with a pale expression.
To Jeokha, Yeon Seungbaek’s sincerity seemed more genuine.
“Are you done talking? When shall we start?”
Yeon Jeokha’s indifferent attitude toward personal matters made Yeon Mubaek sigh slightly.
Yeon Mubaek looked at his brothers and answered on their behalf.
“Let’s do it now.”
“What the ancestors of the Yeon clan lost was the True Classic of the Nine Heavens as One, an internal training method. It has nine hundred characters, so memorize as much as you can. Don’t even think about writing it down.”
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
“……”
The Yeon clan held their breath and focused.
Even the usually dim eyes of Yeon Seungbaek glowed brightly at that moment.
“Remember, you cannot memorize this method with greed. You’ll understand soon. And don’t even think about writing it down when you return. If anything written is discovered, your internal energy will be destroyed. Don’t think it’s unfair. I also only memorized it, never wrote it down.”
The Yeon clan nodded.
There were things that were only passed down orally, so if they were told not to write it down, they wouldn’t.
The next morning.
After a quick meal, Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong sat on the porch.
“Young Master, how much did the Yeon clan manage to memorize?”
“Ah, well…”
Just as Yeon Jeokha was about to respond, someone approached with calm steps.
“Is anyone here?”
Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong looked up at the same time.
The Great Strategist and General Commander of the Heaven and Earth Alliance, Jegal Seun, stood there with an uncomfortable expression.
Shim Tong abruptly asked:
“What brings the Great Strategist here so early in the morning?”
“I came to talk with the master and Young Master Yeon. May I come in?”
“Do as you please.”
“Thank you, excuse the intrusion.”
Jegal Seun pushed the door open and entered, trying to appear friendly.
“Oh! I didn’t expect to find the Grand Inspector of Nokrim in a place like this. Why didn’t you request accommodation? Even though it’s late, I can arrange something at the Alliance.”
Of course, that was a lie. There was no place available at the Alliance.
To accommodate Yeon Jeokha at the Alliance, some members of the Alliance’s clans would have to be evicted, which was nearly impossible.
Moreover, those residing at the Alliance were from prestigious sects and clans. Having Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong among them could be seen as a risk.
Shim Tong, in a sarcastic tone, replied:
“Stop talking nonsense and get to the point. Why did you come?”
“I came because of what happened yesterday. The patrol chiefs made a mistake. I’ve already given them a severe warning. And to Young Master Yeon…”
“Wait.”
Yeon Jeokha interrupted Jegal Seun.
“Yes?”
“So basically, you came to apologize, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. What the patrol chiefs did was…”
“Wait.”
Every time Jegal Seun tried to get to the point, Yeon Jeokha interrupted him.
Jegal Seun looked at Yeon Jeokha in confusion.
He couldn’t understand why, after being told to apologize, he was being stopped every time he tried to do so.
“Old Shim.”
“Yes?”
“Go call all the bosses. The Great Strategist has come to apologize to Nokrim, so everyone should come to see it.”
“Yes.”
Shim Tong smiled as he passed by Jegal Seun.
Jegal Seun’s face tightened.
He wanted to resolve this quietly, but now his reputation would be severely damaged.
“Young Master Yeon, the ones who made the mistake were the patrol chiefs. I only came as the responsible party to apologize and calm the situation…”
‘Why are you doing this to me?’ He couldn’t say those words, as they were too humiliating.
Yeon Jeokha stared at Jegal Seun and spoke.
“So, you don’t want to apologize? Fine. When the bosses arrive, I’ll tell them to start packing.”
“No, it’s not that. I came to apologize to you and Senior Shim. I just wanted to resolve it between us. Please consider my position as the Great Strategist of the Heaven and Earth Alliance.”
“What’s wrong with the Great Strategist of the Alliance acknowledging his mistake and correcting it? What those old men did was not only disrespectful to me and Old Shim but also to Nokrim. So the bosses need to see the mistake being corrected.”
Yeon Jeokha’s smooth words left Jegal Seun speechless for a moment.
Jegal Seun, after some thought, made a desperate request.
“Young Master Yeon, please, allow me to maintain my dignity. If you do, I’ll reward you appropriately.”
“Reward? How do you plan to reward me?”
Jegal Seun looked at Yeon Jeokha in frustration.
In times of war, it was obvious what the Great Strategist could offer.
‘Idiot! I’m telling you I’ll have your back!’
That was something Yeon Jeokha should have understood on his own, but it seemed the young man had no idea.
Jegal Seun, suffering internally, tried to explain it in the most indirect way possible.
“I’ll offer you various conveniences.”
“No need. You’re not the owner of an inn to offer conveniences. Just apologize in front of the bosses and leave.”
“Young Master Yeon.”
“What?”
“I’m asking you, please, do I really need to apologize in front of others?”
“Are you arguing? If you don’t want to do it, leave. I’m tired of this miserable life too, and I want to leave soon. After all, I have an inn in Kaifeng, so why am I going through these hardships here? I’ll tell Old Shim to pack our things as soon as he returns.”
With those words, Yeon Jeokha took off his shoes and climbed onto the porch.
Jegal Seun, biting his lips, said in a low voice:
“I’ll do it.”
Only then did Yeon Jeokha turn around and sit down.
Shim Tong, who had gone out to call the bosses, did not return immediately.
Yeon Jeokha, who had been sitting in a meditation position, began to relax.
About fifteen minutes passed.
“Ugh! Why does my back hurt so much?”
Yeon Jeokha lay down on his side.
Jegal Seun, feeling humiliated, clenched his teeth.
‘Damn brat! The Great Strategist of the Heaven and Earth Alliance is standing here while you lie down!’
The anger made it hard for him to breathe.
Observing his reaction, Yeon Jeokha spoke nonchalantly.
“Great Strategist, why don’t you sit down? Your legs must be tired.”
“…I’m fine.”
Jegal Seun’s voice was as gloomy as his feelings.
Suddenly, Yeon Jeokha’s relaxed posture and tone suggested that he was the master and Jegal Seun the servant.
But the Great Strategist couldn’t just lie down on the porch.
‘How can I get out of this humiliating situation?’
But before he could find a solution, Shim Tong and the bandits entered through the gate.
“Our Grand Inspector is the best!”
“The Great Strategist respects him as if he were a servant!”
“This is Nokrim! Damn it!”
“Let everyone come!”
The Nokrim bosses, excited, made a great commotion.
Jegal Seun remained silent, not listening to anything.
There was no one at that gathering who was on his side, so he had no choice but to endure.
When the bandits gathered, Yeon Jeokha slowly stood up.
“Silence!”
In an instant, the bandits, who were acting like wild beasts, quieted down and slowly approached.
“The Great Strategist of the Alliance has something to say, so listen up.”
Jegal Seun, observing Yeon Jeokha’s authority, realized the meaning of Guiyeong Jagun’s words.
Yeon Jeokha was not just the Grand Inspector in title, but also the second most powerful person in Nokrim.
‘Damn it, I’ve been gathering information about Nokrim all this time…’
Missing such an important change was a serious mistake on his part.
Jegal Seun decided to give up and move on.
“Yesterday, the patrol chiefs of the Justice Alliance made a grave mistake towards the Grand Inspector and Senior Shim. They tried to handle the situation without verifying the facts. As the Great Strategist and General Commander of the Alliance, I take full responsibility. Please forgive them. I’ll take steps to ensure no one is judged with prejudice just because they’re from Nokrim.”
The bandits looked at Yeon Jeokha.
“Did you hear that? If the patrol chiefs despise someone just because they’re from Nokrim, respond firmly. We didn’t come here to be looked down upon, right?”
“Exactly!”
“You’re absolutely right!”
“Brothers! Don’t let the sectarians trample on us!”
While the bandits made a fuss, Yeon Jeokha stood up.
“Great Strategist, well done. See you next time.”
With a bright smile, he waved and entered the room.
Jegal Seun, after being stunned for a moment, quickly left the courtyard that resembled a marketplace.
—————–
Heaven and Earth Alliance
Hyeoncheon Hall.
Back in his office, Jegal Seun stared into the void with fiery eyes.
Thinking about what had happened made his face burn with shame.
But now, stabilizing Chilliha was more important than taking revenge on Yeon Jeokha.
“The chaos is due to the lack of combat.”
The Righteous Faction and the orthodox clans were causing trouble because there were no battles.
Jegal Seun turned his gaze to the map on the wall.
Advancing toward Baekmasa, also known as White Horse Temple, in Luoyang was suicide.
“We must attack another place.”
One point caught his attention.
The Yoomyung Cult did not have a fixed settlement like the Heaven and Earth Alliance.
Baekmasa was full, so some members of the Yoomyung Cult had moved to other places.
Tiger’s Head Mountain, also known as Hodoo Mountain.
A mountain approximately two hours away from Baekmasa.
Recently, a Grand Demon General and about ten Demon Warriors had moved there.
As he pondered, a smile appeared on Jegal Seun’s face.
“Yeon Jeokha, I’ll bury your bones in Tiger’s Head Mountain.”
Resolving both “the stability of Chilliha” and “revenge” at once made him feel a great sense of relief.
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