Chapter 137:

Chapter 137:

If You’re Scared, Just Die

Amidst the unexpected series of defeats, the Emei Sect and Qingcheng Sect were bewildered.

“I will go next!”

“What nonsense! I will step forward first!”

Suddenly, a few warriors among the spectators began to step forward.

They believed that their opportunity was over due to Mu-jin’s declaration of “next,” assuming that it was the end for Emei and Qingcheng.

Of course, Emei and Qingcheng found it hard to accept this situation.

The problem was:

‘Even Feng Yun lost, and so did Qingcheng’s Gye-ryun. To defeat that Choi Kang-hyuk or whatever his name is, at least a first-class disciple must step forward...’

The two who had fought in the competition were the highest-ranking second-class disciples present here.

Moreover, both of them had lost to an unheard-of novice, resulting in a complete disgrace.

Naturally, Emei and Qingcheng were in a dilemma.

– What is your plan? Amitabha.

– We can’t just leave like this.

– Then, do you intend to send out a first-class disciple? If so, all the martial artists in Sichuan will laugh at us.

– We’ve already been disgraced! Rather than return empty-handed after being shamed, it’s better to retrieve something even if we suffer greater disgrace.

– ...So, who do you plan to send out? If we lose again, there will be no choice but to go to full-scale war. Amitabha.

– ...Having already prepared for disgrace, I will step forward myself this time. Infinite Life Buddha.

Cheongpung Sword, who was exchanging words with Master Myeoljeol, decided to discard his dignity as an elder of the Qingcheng Sect and stepped forward.

“Our Qingcheng has not given up yet.”

“Does that mean you, Elder Cheongpung Sword of the Qingcheng Sect, will personally step forward?”

Mu-jin exclaimed as if he had heard an astonishing story.

In response to Mu-jin’s shout, a commotion arose among the surrounding spectators.

It was scandalous for an elder of the Nine Great Sects to step forward against a seemingly young late-stage disciple.

It was a disgraceful act even if he won, and if by any chance he lost, it would greatly tarnish the Qingcheng Sect’s reputation.

However, Cheongpung Sword, who had already prepared to be criticized, didn’t care.

“It is because I recognize your skill. It seems defeating Feng Yun was not a coincidence.”

Mu-jin pondered for a moment as he looked at Cheongpung Sword, who had shamelessly stepped forward.

‘Can I win without revealing my martial arts?’

The opponent was an elder of the Nine Great Sects. While not all elders had the same skill level, the abilities of Shaolin elders and first-class disciples varied widely.

Nevertheless, anyone who had trained in a prestigious sect for nearly fifty years would have a minimum standard of skill.

While it might be possible if he went all out, it would be challenging for Mu-jin to fight while hiding his most powerful techniques, the Golden Turtle Technique and Fast Ascent Step.

And then, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

“Keuheuheu. Monks and Taoists are amusing themselves quite well.”

A strange voice was heard from somewhere. Although the voice was faint, it pierced through the ears of everyone present.

It was a high-level skill that went beyond simply amplifying one’s voice with internal energy.

‘An incredible master!’

Realizing this, everyone’s gaze naturally turned towards the direction the voice came from.

Mu-jin also turned his gaze towards the wall of the Tang family’s fortress where the voice had come from, and there, an old man was sitting on the wall with a smoking pipe.

While Mu-jin did not recognize the old man, fortunately, Cheongpung Sword, who was standing in front, identified him.

“The Dark King!”

The old man was one of the Ten Greatest Masters under Heaven and one of the Seven Kings, known as the Dark King and the Supreme Elder of the Tang family, Tang Gak.

“I heard he had retired...”

Cheongpung Sword murmured, but Tang Gak didn’t miss his words despite the distance.

“Keuheuheu. You’re not in a position to talk about making a fuss loud enough for an old man’s ears.”

Tang Gak leisurely responded, mocking Cheongpung Sword.

“More importantly, kid, you’re having an interesting bet. Can I join in on that bet? Anyway, Emei and Qingcheng’s turn is over, so shouldn’t it be our Tang family’s turn?”

“It is unseemly for the Supreme Elder of a family to join a bet with a young late-stage disciple. How about maintaining some decorum?”

Cheongpung Sword sternly rebutted Tang Gak’s words on behalf of Mu-jin, but what he got in return was Tang Gak’s blatant ridicule.

“Keuheuheu. That’s the funniest nonsense I’ve heard today! If an elder of the Nine Great Sects can step forward, why can’t the Supreme Elder?”

Despite Cheongpung Sword’s face turning red with embarrassment, he couldn’t utter a word in rebuttal.

It was not just about logic; he was also flustered because he had not expected Tang Gak to interfere.

They knew that if a war broke out with the Tang family, that old recluse would emerge.

Though he seemed like an honorable senior of the martial world, Mu-jin noticed.

The son’s eyes showed he didn’t believe his father at all. And more than anything, it was obvious that the old man was the same type as Hye-geol.

“I refuse.”

Mu-jin’s experience of being beaten countless times by Hye-geol in the guise of a match told him so.

If he fought with that old man, he’d end up a pincushion for hidden weapons.

His opponent was one of the Seven Kings. No matter how much he hid his skills, he’d be risking his life even if he fought with all his might.

“Hey now. I thought you were a rare, bold young man, but you’re just a coward.”

“Hahaha. Instead of a match, how about a bold drink, senior?”

“Kekekeke. A drink, huh? That doesn’t sound too bad.”

Mu-jin was convinced by Tang-gak’s sudden change in attitude.

The way he was obsessed with alcohol reminded him of someone he knew well.

* * *

In the Tang family’s main hall.

There were three men seated there: an old man, a middle-aged man, and a young man.

Tang-gak, Tang Pae-jin, and Mu-jin.

Before the sudden situation occurred, Mu-jin had requested a private meeting with Tang Pae-jin. And though Tang Pae-jin was preparing for a private meeting with Mu-jin...

“If it’s just a drink, I’ll join too.”

Tang-gak, in his boorish manner, barged into the private meeting.

Knowing his father would not listen to anything once he made up his mind, Tang Pae-jin had no choice but to seek Mu-jin’s understanding and included Tang-gak.

“Ahem. My father is a bit peculiar, but don’t worry, Kang Sohyeop. Our Tang family always repays our debts, no matter what.”

“It’s fine, Gaju-nim.”

Mu-jin had dealt with madmen often enough that it wasn’t particularly difficult.

“So, what was it you wanted to ask by requesting a private meeting, Kang Sohyeop?”

Ignoring his father, who was drinking alone, Tang Pae-jin asked gravely.

At Tang Pae-jin’s question, Mu-jin took a sip of the exquisite wine the Tang family had provided and began to speak.

“Did you not find the recent Divine Thief Cave incident, and the attitudes of the Emei and Qingcheng Sects, somewhat contrived?”

“Hmm.”

Instead of answering immediately, Tang Pae-jin also took a sip of his drink, making a curious sound.

He liked Mu-jin’s straightforwardness but assumed he wanted a realistic reward since he was a young martial artist.

He thought Mu-jin requested a private meeting because he was embarrassed to bring it up in front of others.

‘To think he’d bring up such a topic.’

Tang Pae-jin swallowed the liquor he held in his mouth and answered with a serious face.

“I did feel something was off, but why bring it up now?”

“Because I noticed some suspicious circumstances in the process of obtaining the treasure from the Divine Thief Cave.”

“Suspicious circumstances? Can you tell me now?”

Mu-jin recounted how they had raided the Taeeulmun and how, despite burning Zhang Bodo to the ground, martial artists flocked to the Divine Thief Cave shortly after.

He skimmed over how they found out Zhang Bodo was at Taeeulmun, but that wasn’t the crucial part.

“So, you’re saying the Divine Thief Cave itself was a trap targeting the martial artists of Sichuan?”

“To be precise, I believe it was someone’s scheme to incite a war between the Tang family, Emei, and Qingcheng.”

“Even without knowing the details, I felt it was contrived. How could our Tang family, Emei, and Qingcheng easily fall into such an obvious trap?”

“It may seem so since we avoided disaster, but what if Lady Tang So-mi had died there? What if Elder Tang Taeryeong had poisoned the disciples of Emei and Qingcheng while rescuing Lady Tang So-mi?”

“......”

Tang Pae-jin fell silent. As Mu-jin said, if such events had occurred, a war would have erupted in Sichuan’s martial world.

Even knowing it was a trap, they would have suspected the other party set it.

“So, who do you suspect is behind this trap, Kang Sohyeop?”

“I don’t know the mastermind. However, I have found a suspicious individual.”

“A suspicious individual?”

“Yes. We burned Zhang Bodo around the middle of the Inshi (3-5 AM), yet Lady Tang So-mi acquired it around the end of Myoshi (5-7 AM). Furthermore, she mentioned having information that Emei and Qingcheng had already set out. She got this information through her bodyguard, Tang Hyeok-soo.”

The first to react to Mu-jin’s words was not Tang Pae-jin but Tang-gak.

Even amid the serious discussion, Tang-gak, who had seemed indifferent and was just drinking, burst into loud laughter.

“Kuhuhuhuhuhu. Are you saying that within the heart of the Tang family, you’re suspecting a member of the Tang family in front of the head of the Tang family? Kuhuhuhuhu. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a mad young man.”

Mu-jin frowned at Tang-gak’s laughter. It wasn’t because of the unpleasant sound of his laughter.

It was because a madman called him mad.