Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 282
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Chapter 282: Old Shim Seems to Rejuvenate
Heaven and Earth Alliance
Uicheon Pavilion
“What do you think?”
The Apprentice of the Supreme Tao, Jang Mudeok, directed his gaze toward Namgung Yeon, after feeling disappointed by Yeon Jeokha’s ordinary response.
“If you sensed that the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors has already reached the level of the Heavenly Demon King, then you’re probably right.”
“Hmm.”
Jang Mudeok nodded.
“The rumors about Pungji Mountain are just vague fears due to the disappearances, and they don’t have much significance. They are probably not directly related to what the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors is doing in Pungji Mountain. It’s likely that the Eight Emperors are not openly discussing what their leader is up to.”
“Ah, that makes sense!”
Jang Mudeok exclaimed with admiration.
Namgung Yeon’s explanations made the complex issues begin to clear up in his mind.
“As for why the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors remains in Pungji Mountain… We don’t have enough information about the Yoomyung Cult and the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors to even guess. If I could see it with my own eyes, I might know, but right now, I have nothing more to say.”
“What you say is true. With so little information, it’s natural to be unable to make predictions. Sometimes it’s necessary to admit when you don’t know something, just like you did. Tch.”
Jang Mudeok thought of the Great Strategist, Jegal Seun, and clicked his tongue.
He always acted as if he knew everything, and that was a problem.
The Blue Cloud Swordsman, Namgung Cheon, asked curiously.
“So, what plans does the Heaven and Earth Alliance have now?”
“There’s no clear plan. If we move the headquarters of the Heaven and Earth Alliance to Pungji Mountain, the Yoomyung Cult will surely follow, and then we’d have enemies both in front and behind us.”
Jang Mudeok shook his head.
Anyone with even a little knowledge of military strategy would know that it wasn’t wise to move first in such a situation.
“Then, there’s nothing we can do?”
“Exactly. That’s why the recent meeting of the orthodox sects ended without results.”
“Master, if the Yoomyung Cult is so strong, can the Heaven and Earth Alliance really carry out the war?”
“It won’t be easy.”
“Then, what do you think will happen?”
“Soon, some people will start suggesting negotiating with the Yoomyung Cult. They might already be working on it in secret. Especially in Nokrim.”
Jang Mudeok glanced sideways at Yeon Jeokha.
His gaze seemed to ask if he had heard anything.
Yeon Jeokha replied.
“In Nokrim?”
“You should know better than I do. You’re the Grand Inspector of Nokrim.”
“I don’t know anything.”
“They call you the power figure in Nokrim, but it seems you don’t know anything.”
“Am I really a power figure?”
Yeon Jeokha seemed surprised, and Jang Mudeok looked at him skeptically.
He didn’t seem like someone who could be in command of everything.
A Grand Inspector should understand the undercurrents, but this young man seemed like a third-rate wanderer.
“Isn’t there anyone in Nokrim who provides you with information?”
“No.”
“And how have you managed Nokrim until now without it?”
“Is it necessary?”
“Of course. You need to know what they’re plotting to be able to act.”
“Oh, in that case, there’s no problem.”
“No problem?”
“As long as they don’t do anything foolish in front of me, it’s fine.”
“And what will you do if they conspire against you and you reach a point of no return?”
“Then I’ll leave. The world is big, and there are many things to do. Did you know I have an inn in Hwasang Village? It’s much more profitable than Nokrim.”
“And if Nokrim blames you for something bad and you can’t do anything else? What will you do then?”
“They won’t.”
Namgung Cheon asked curiously.
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll destroy them if they get in my way.”
“Haha!”
Namgung Cheon burst into laughter.
Although it seemed childish, somehow, he believed Yeon Jeokha would really do it.
Jang Mudeok, with a complex expression, said.
“Your determination is admirable, but it’s difficult to face many with just one hand. Don’t underestimate the 72 Strongholds of Nokrim. They’ve been fighting against the Justice Alliance for hundreds of years.”
“What I learned in the Strongholds is that if you bow down, they’ll attack you more. If you fight with all your strength, the side that suffers the most damage will yield. Who do you think will suffer more if I fight against Nokrim? It’s always a victory for me.”
Jang Mudeok, seeing there was no way to reason with him, weakly nodded.
Yeon Jeokha saw the confrontation with Nokrim as a childish fight, and there was nothing more to say.
‘Tch. I tried to give him advice about Nokrim, but he went off on a tangent.’
Jang Mudeok clicked his tongue and concluded.
“Well, you know more about Nokrim, so I won’t repeat myself.”
“Yes, sir!”
Yeon Jeokha, thinking he had finally been acknowledged, nodded vigorously.
That night.
Shim Tong, the Old Dao of Nine Heavens, returned home early and hovered around Yeon Jeokha.
“What’s up? Do you have something to say?”
“Hehe. It’s not that I have anything specific to say.”
“It seems like you have something on your mind. Tell me, what mischief have you been up to this time?”
After hesitating for a moment, Shim Tong confessed what had happened at the courtesan house during the day.
“…And before leaving, Guiyeong Jagun said that the fox pretending to be the tiger won’t last long. It seems like he’s plotting something, don’t you think?”
“So, you went to a courtesan house in broad daylight and had a dispute with Guiyeong Jagun? Wow, you’ve really done it all now! What? Wol-ah? Geum-ah? Ah, I don’t know what to say to you! It seems you’re rejuvenating, Old Shim.”
“Hehe. Maybe it’s a side effect of rejuvenation. With so much new energy, sometimes I don’t know what to do.”
“Bah! Crazy old man. Do you really want to hang around with young women?”
“Young Master, the important thing is not Wol-ah or Geum-ah. Think about what Guiyeong Jagun said. Doesn’t it seem suspicious to you?”
“The only smell I notice is the one coming from your mouth. What did you eat? You smell terrible.”
“I’m not joking. Guiyeong Jagun is plotting something.”
“Old Shim.”
“Yes.”
“Death doesn’t respect age, you know?”
Shim Tong tilted his head.
He knew that meant young people could die before the elderly.
“That seems disadvantageous for you, Young Master.”
“Let me finish. The same applies to martial power. It’s not measured by age. Even if Guiyeong Jagun and the Twelve Demons join forces, they won’t surpass me.”
“Don’t you think Guiyeong Jagun knows that? What if the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord is involved?”
“The Grand Chaeju? He’s not a person without honor…”
Yeon Jeokha was going to say, “he’s not like that,” but stopped since he didn’t know much about the affairs of Murim or the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord.
“Old Shim, what is the Grand Chaeju like?”
Shim Tong trembled slightly, as if recalling something dreadful.
“He’s a person without pity or compassion. Although he says he gets along well with his subordinates, many demons have died for joking with him. Even the previous Grand Inspector didn’t survive.”
“The previous Grand Inspector was killed by the Grand Chaeju?”
“Yes, he tried to flirt with the Lady of the Black Lotus while drunk and was decapitated instantly. It’s a famous story. Young Master, don’t get too close to the Lady of the Black Lotus.”
“It’s not that I get close to her. It’s that she appears wherever I go.”
“In any case, the Grand Chaeju is a person who acts without hesitation.”
“Does that mean he could kill me if necessary?”
“Definitely. Guiyeong Jagun must be plotting something because he knows that.”
“You know what? At such a sensitive time, why did you fight with Guiyeong Jagun over a courtesan? What? Wol-ah? Geum-ah? Wow, crazy old man, I don’t know what to say to you!”
“Hmph. I was just defending the rules of the place.”
“Rules? Is it really because of Wol-ah and Geum-ah? Crazy old man! Do you have two young ones following an old man?”
“Didn’t you say courtesans aren’t real women? Why are you getting jealous?”
“It’s not jealousy. It’s righteous indignation. Old Shim, you can’t do that.”
“Yes, yes. I’m a scoundrel, I know. But, what will we do about Guiyeong Jagun? Do you want me to discreetly investigate what he’s plotting?”
“Do you have connections for that?”
“Hehe. I haven’t just been lazing around in Chilriha Village. I have more than ten sworn brothers there.”
“Then, investigate discreetly. I don’t want us to be caught off guard.”
“Leave it to me. I’m still known as the Old Dao of Nine Heavens. No conspiracy will escape my hands. Mwahaha.”
“Ah, try to change that laugh. You sound like a real villain that way.”
“Hehehe!”
Shim Tong laughed even louder, as if rebelling.
The next day.
Word spread that Jang Mudeok had visited Namgung Yeon.
The news spread through the small sects around the Uicheon Pavilion.
Curious about the conversation, the representatives of the sects and prestigious families went to see Jang Mudeok, and Pungji Mountain once again became the center of attention.
—Although the Great Strategist said that the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors remains in Pungji Mountain to become the Heavenly Demon King, Namgung Yeon suggested there might be another reason.
At first, people agreed with the Great Strategist, but gradually they began to support Namgung Yeon.
Soon it was being said that “the Great Strategist has been wrong again.”
Finally, Jegal Seun convened an official meeting of the Heaven and Earth Alliance.
Celestial Communication Pavilion (Tongcheongak)
Jegal Seun looked at the representatives of the orthodox sects with contained rage.
‘It’s clear that the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors is not yet the Heavenly Demon King. If she were, she would already be leading the Yoomyung Cult in Baekmasa.’
If she were really the Heavenly Demon King, she wouldn’t have remained hidden.
Isn’t that logical?
He sighed at the simplicity of the warriors and cast a glance in Namgung Yeon’s direction.
All of this was the fault of that woman, known as the best strategist.
‘Very well. If you wish to die, I will grant you that wish.’
With his decision made, Jegal Seong addressed the warriors.
“Yesterday, we heard from Jang Mudeok about the events in Pungji Mountain. We discussed why the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors still remains there. Yesterday we concluded that she was trying to become the Heavenly Demon King, but today I heard something completely different. Why this confusion?”
Jegal Seun looked at the representatives of the sects and prestigious families.
They all seemed indifferent.
“It is said that the Incomparable Among Ten commented that we will only know the truth if we see it for ourselves. I admit my mistake. I’m ashamed, but I agree. We need to know exactly why the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors is in Pungji Mountain. Only then can we formulate an appropriate strategy.”
The orthodox members murmured at Jegal Seun’s change.
He had never praised Namgung Yeon so openly.
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