Chapter 150 - The Ones Wearing Black Masks (9)

With the matter settled for now, we decided to spend our vacation as promised.

The Geum-eun-dong brothers dressed up in the clothes they had tailored on the first day.

Perhaps because it was their first time wearing such luxurious attire, the boys felt awkward, keeping their backs stiff and their chests forcefully puffed out as they moved, which drew laughter from the people around them.

Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, and Hong Saryeon strolled through the streets, looking as gorgeous and beautiful as they had the other day.

Their outfits, even more vibrant than Yueyang's flashy night streets, made them the object of admiration for many men.

A few dandies even approached the three with smiles.

"If it is alright, may I escort you ladies tonight?"

"I am the eldest son of Namga Manor. I am not a suspicious person, so you need not worry."

"Come now, isn't it better to enjoy good things together? Let us go together."

All of them, having some level of influence, tried to forcefully take the women away by flaunting their status or martial arts.

However, before Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran could reveal their backgrounds or personally take action, the Geum-eun-dong brothers stepped in to block them.

"You little brats, step aside!"

"How dare you rootless punks."

"Do you not know who I am?!"

The three Geum-eun-dong brothers looked at me simultaneously.

Their gazes asked what they should do.

I spoke firmly.

"Since when did I ever pick and choose my opponents?"

It did not take long.

Struck by the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist that the three launched simultaneously, the opponents failed to react properly and were sent flying three *jang* away to crash into a stall.

Once we shooed away those annoying flies, no more dandies swarmed around them.

"Yueyang is unusually noisy today."

As Seong Moran said, Yueyang's atmosphere was a little different from usual.

Even though the moon had risen high, warriors dressed in martial attire were moving in groups, and fires or screams could be heard from places far away from the entertainment district.

"Now that the tiger in the mountain has disappeared, all that is left is to fight over the owner's seat."

With the revelation that the Yuwol Sect was the culprit behind the recent kidnapping incidents in Yueyang, the Mount Cangshan Sect's prestige shrank in an instant.

The Mount Cangshan Sect declared they would not forgive anyone trying to fill their own greedy pockets using this incident, but in reality, no one listened to them, as they had lost all justification to rule Yueyang.

Following this, the Underworld Murim sects and gangs rose up, led by the Black Axe Palace and the Dark Blood Gang. Naturally, their primary target was the Yuwol Sect.

Having amassed enormous wealth under the Mount Cangshan Sect's protection and effectively acting as their Yueyang branch, they were a prey the Underworld factions could never ignore.

However, the Mount Cangshan Sect was not one to let others steal the food from their spoons.

Not even a day after the incident occurred, the Mount Cangshan Sect ambushed the Yuwol Sect, and the Yuwol Sect vanished into history.

Having missed the delicious prey known as the Yuwol Sect, the Underworld factions subsequently began searching for other prey.

With the Wudang Sect driven out and the Mount Cangshan Sect backing down, Yueyang was effectively an ownerless land.

No Underworld faction wanted to miss this golden opportunity.

"It is still a shame, though. Not just the wealth the Yuwol Sect hoarded, but this is a chance to become the master of the massive commercial district of Yueyang."

"How about the Iron Sword Sect expanding into Yueyang this time?"

"Eh? What nonsense."

Exactly.

You should not carelessly put prey you cannot swallow into your mouth.

Without caring whether a commotion was breaking out around us, we headed for the docks.

And there, we ran into some unexpected figures.

"Eh?"

"Oh?"

The other party also looked over at us with a flustered expression, as if running into us here was quite awkward.

I opened my mouth first.

"This is not a fitting place for a monk to be."

"..."

Ilgak of the Shaolin Sect.

He was waiting for a boat at the docks alongside the Orthodox Council members of the Murim Alliance.

* * *

If I were to pick the moments I enjoyed the most in my past life, it would be when an opponent was flustered after their shameful secrets were exposed.

When such a moment arrived, no matter how much I jeered and mocked them, the opponent could do nothing but clench their fists.

If they threw a punch in that moment, it would reveal their narrow-mindedness, and if they ignored it, it would be no different from admitting their shameful deeds.

It was the only chance for me, who lacked power, to make fun of my opponents.

And this joy did not change even after I grew stronger.

"Ho, do monks spread sermons in entertainment districts these days?"

"..."

"Well, since there is no place the Buddha's grace does not reach, it is not as if you cannot come to a place like this. I apologize."

"... We merely visited for a regular meeting."

"Still, since a monk is included, they should have been more considerate... Does the Orthodox Council not care about the Shaolin Sect at all?"

Once I said this much, the faces of the other Orthodox Council members began to stiffen one by one.

I found this moment truly delightful.

Seeing those expressions of them debating whether or not they should take action was always new and thrilling.

"Seeing the Orthodox Council holding meetings in a place like this to worry about the future of the Murim, it seems the Orthodox Council is quite a lively gathering. If I had known, I would have joined the Orthodox Council long ago."

"..."

Ilgak's face turned dark. At this rate, he might really end up going to hell.

"Monk, there is one thing I am truly curious about, so I will ask."

At my one-sided question, the gazes of the Orthodox Council members began to gather one by one.

"How do you hold back when you go to the Red Pavilion for a meeting?"

"... I kept listening to you, you little brat, but now you..."

One of the Orthodox Council members standing next to Ilgak flared up in anger and stepped forward.

Ilgak stopped him with a stiff face and forced a change of subject.

"What brings the academy representative here?"

"Unlike the Orthodox Council, we came here to enjoy a vacation."

"... I see."

Ilgak tried to subtly turn his head away.

He probably thought he could escape like this, but I had no intention of letting him go.

"You are not answering the question I asked earlier. Do you consider having a meeting at the Red Pavilion as part of your training?"

"..."

As if they could no longer endure it, the Orthodox Council members raised their killing intent.

Our group also flared up their fighting spirit in response, and the atmosphere near the docks grew so fierce that a battle could break out at any moment.

"You are a child with a truly wicked tongue."

Along with a profound voice, the Orthodox Council members withdrew their killing intent and stepped back in unison.

Ilgak, who had been standing at the very front with a stiff expression, also stepped aside and bowed his head respectfully.

"Are the rumors true that you are the Ascending Divine Star raised by the Underworld Murim?"

A middle-aged man with a shaved head, wearing the same attire as Ilgak.

Although it was my first time seeing him in this life, his appearance was not much different from what I had seen in my past life.

"Are you swayed by such wicked rumors, monk?"

"Are you saying that while knowing who I am?"

Golden Buddha Hyeseong.

The Junior Brother of the current Abbot and the leader who commanded the Vajra Squad.

His influence within the Murim Alliance was immense, making him one of the key figures leading the Orthodox Council.

"Could I even be called a martial artist if I did not know Grandmaster Hyeseong?"

"You are a kid with eyes as sharp as your tongue."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"But you still have not answered my question. They say you are deeply connected to the Underworld Murim. Are those words true?"

"For the past five hundred years, the Taiyi Sect has been a blood ally of the Murim Alliance and has never once stepped away from the 108 Peaks."

"That is exactly why it is suspicious. If one were to raise a spy, where could be a better place than the Taiyi Sect? Furthermore, haven't the Taiyi Sect's martial arts grown remarkably strong recently?"

Hyeseong spoke while even showing a faint smile.

With an unmoving heart trained over long years, combined with the political acumen gained from life in the Murim Alliance, he displayed such a formidable mind that ordinary politicians could not even hold a candle to him.

'Still, he's weak compared to the Minor Orthodox Unit.'

Those guys were truly closer to criminals than warriors. Did I clash with them for only a year or two?

I asked with a serious expression.

"Did you just insult Elder Breaking Sword?"

"... Huh?"

"Elder Breaking Sword clearly acknowledged that these are the true martial arts of the Taiyi Sword Emperor... but to call them the martial arts of an Underworld sect... The Moyong Noble Clan will not sit still."

"..."

Hyeseong's smile twisted slightly.

"I should send a message right away. I wonder if Elder Breaking Sword will really tolerate this and let it pass."

"... Do you think the Shaolin Sect would fear the Moyong Noble Clan?"

"Would the great Shaolin Sect of the world do so? However, you, Grandmaster Hyeseong, must find Elder Breaking Sword terrifying. Isn't that right?"

At my words, a laugh leaked out from among my group. It was the kind of laughter that could not be held back no matter how hard one tried.

Hyeseong controlled his expression and said.

"You are a very audacious brat."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Hyeseong, who had barely controlled his expression, fiercely scrunched his face.

"So, did you come here to board a boat?"

"I promised my group that I would let them have the best vacation."

"If so, how about you board our boat as we just discussed? There are many seats left on the boat the Orthodox Council rented."

Hyeseong pointed to the boat waiting for them.

The Orthodox Council had rented out an entire large, two-story roofed boat.

"As expected, the prestige of the Orthodox Council is grand. Thank you for the offer, but I will decline. We have already rented a boat ourselves."

"Wouldn't this boat be better than a small rowboat?"

"It is not a small rowboat. Ah, it is coming right over there."

I pointed to the massive cruise ship approaching the docks.

It was a staggering four stories high.

"We paid so much to rent it that it would be a waste. If you don't mind, would the Orthodox Council like to board with us?"

Hyeseong's face contorted violently as if he had just tasted shit.

I felt truly refreshed.

* * *

After boarding the cruise ship, our group could not calm their excited hearts for a while.

On a boat that shone more brightly than any other on Dongting Lake, we were the only ones who could fully enjoy it.

"Are you okay with this, Young Master Jin?"

Seong Moran, who had been marveling at Dongting Lake's night view for a long time, asked as if it had suddenly crossed her mind.

"With what?"

"In the end, the Mount Cangshan Sect wasn't punished. The Orthodox Council is still operating openly like that, too."

"Ah... You mean that. Of course, it's fine."

"Yes?"

"Anyone who needs to know about this incident already knows. That the Mount Cangshan Sect was the one who committed this deed in the end."

"That's true."

"And at the same time, they must also know that the Yuwol Sect was sacrificed. From now on, the sects under the Mount Cangshan Sect will begin a fierce battle of wits. Whether they should stay with the Mount Cangshan Sect or leave."

"But they still have the name of the Mount Cangshan Sect..."

"Of course. Right now, it's more beneficial for them to feign ignorance and stay rather than leave. However, as a second and third incident breaks out, they won't find any reason to remain anymore."

"You're saying there will be another incident like this next time?"

"Why do you think there wouldn't be?"

I spoke while looking at the numerous boats floating like stars on Dongting Lake.

"A massive entity like the Mount Cangshan Sect will never collapse due to the immorality of just one or two people. Because the Mount Cangshan Sect itself is already a colossal living organism."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"It's simple. I'll crush them little by little, step by step, as if savoring it."

"The Mount Cangshan Sect?"

I turned my gaze to Seong Moran.

"Including the Mount Cangshan Sect, and anyone else."

"... I really don't understand you, Young Master Jin."

Seong Moran shook her head and said.

"Anyway, the wealth the Yuwol Sect hoarded must have been quite a fortune. Thinking about how the Mount Cangshan Sect swallowed it all makes it feel like a waste. Even though it was originally theirs."

Taking advantage of the conversation wrapping up, Namgung Seonhwa quickly chimed in.

She looked anxious, trembling as if she were somewhere she shouldn't be.

"Young Master Jin. Is this... really okay?"

Namgung Seonhwa pointed at the floor and said.

"It seems like we're the only ones on this boat."

"Didn't I tell you? Since we're going to play anyway, shouldn't we go all out?"

"Still... still, this is a bit much. Just us on this huge boat."

It seemed even the great Namgung Seonhwa had never squandered money to this extent before.

Just as she said, I had rented the largest boat on Dongting Lake. However, we were not the only ones here, unlike what she claimed.

"Oh my, I feel hurt. Did you forget about me?"

Haeryeong appeared along with those words.

The Geum-eun-dong Brothers, who had been ordering and eating food like crazy after hearing there was no limit to food orders, stopped dead in their tracks and stared at Haeryeong.

A gorgeous golden crown and fluttering silk robes.

It was an attire that suited this splendid boat better than anyone else here.

"Lady Haeryeong..."

"Pavilion Master of Manbin Pavilion..."

"..."

Not only Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa, but also Saryeon, who was seeing Haeryeong for the first time, stared at her in a daze.

"The preparations are finished, Young Master Jin."

"Excellent, as always."

"Then shall we enjoy the banquet after we finish our business?"

"Let's do that."

At my conversation with Haeryeong, the group tilted their heads as if they had no idea what was going on.

I looked at Seong Moran and said.

"You said it was a waste that the Mount Cangshan Sect swallowed up the Yuwol Sect's wealth, right?"

"Huh? Yes..."

"If you come with me right now, you won't be thinking like that anymore."

"Pardon?"

Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa looked at each other with questioning expressions.

We headed down to the lower deck of the boat.

Haeryeong guided us through the storage rooms where various goods were stacked, and we followed her.

And when we passed through the confusing path and arrived at a certain storage room.

The group's jaws dropped wide open.

"... Why is that person here?"