Fox Borrows the Tiger’s Might
Following Mu-yul and Ling-ling, Mu-gyeong, Mu-gung, Dao Yuetian, and the members of the Jegal family began entering the guesthouse one by one.
“!!!”
Some of those who entered the guesthouse widened their eyes upon spotting Yunheo Zhenren.
Having met him in person before, they recognized him instantly.
“We greet the Taiji Sword Immortal.”
“We greet the Taiji Sword Immortal.”
As they cupped their fists and bowed, Yunheo Zhenren waved his hand to stop them.
“Now is not the time for formalities. We can observe them after the task at hand is completed.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Shall we depart immediately, then?”
“Let’s do so.”
Yunheo Zhenren’s leisurely response, as if suggesting a casual stroll, made the people in the guesthouse look at him in admiration.
The combination of the Jegal family’s warriors and Mu-jin’s group had already succeeded in breaking the siege at the Eunshi Grand Canyon.
And now, with the addition of the Taiji Sword Immortal, one of the Three Swords of the World, there was no need to worry.
Of course, the Jegal family was renowned not just for their martial prowess but for the formidable formations that surrounded them like an impregnable fortress.
‘With us here, there’s no need to worry about those formations.’
After all, they were the rightful owners of the family. Now, it was just a matter of driving out the bandits occupying their home.
* * *
Deep within the Jegal family’s residence.
A heavy atmosphere lingered.
“The siege at the Eunshi Grand Canyon has been broken?”
“...Yes, Master.”
The elderly head of the family, Jegal Gi-hwan, asked, and Jegal-hyeon bowed his head in response.
Jegal-hyeon, who played a key role in the rebellion, now had to acknowledge that the final execution of his plans had been flawed.
“They couldn’t have broken the siege with their strength alone. Do you know what happened?”
“According to reports from our hidden observers, they discovered the Shaolin Dragon along with Shaolin monks, Cheongsu Dojang members, and a young unidentified swordsman.”
Jegal-hyeon’s report made the expressions of those present turn complex.
All but one. The middle-aged man, leader of the warriors sent by Shinchun, had already been briefed on the situation through Shinchun.
“If they have saved Jegal Gung, they likely took him to Shaolin. Should we seek help from our allies?”
The man, Yeom Do-cheol, asked the head of the Jegal family.
“Do you mean Emei, Qingcheng, and Hwasan?”
“Yes. Since they are interfering with the Jegal family’s internal affairs, we should unite with our allies to drive out Shaolin’s interference.”
They hadn’t yet involved Shaolin, but it was the only choice left.
The strategists of the Jegal family were aware of this as well.
Yet, none of them easily spoke up for a simple reason.
‘We’ve only recently borrowed power from them, and now we need to seek external help again.’
Relying on them meant inviting more interference from Emei, Qingcheng, and Hwasan.
As the head of the family and the new core members of the Jegal family pondered in silence.
‘Heh heh heh. The foolish Shaolin Dragon is helping us.’
Yeom Do-cheol sneered internally.
Thanks to the cunning of the First Daeju, the orthodox factions had split into three.
And now, the Shaolin Dragon had caused such a commotion.
If the orthodox factions waged war against each other, it would indeed be a windfall for them.
As they were lost in their thoughts, a sudden report shattered the silence in the hall.
“Urgent news!”
“What is it?”
“A group of about twenty, including Jegal Gung, is approaching the family!”
“What?!”
As if rehearsed, those in the hall exclaimed in unison.
Even Yeom Do-cheol, who had been mocking the Shaolin Dragon’s foolishness, was surprised.
* * *
Leaving behind Jegal Gung’s wife, Jamihwa, and a few others lacking martial skills at the Mukyang Guesthouse in Yangfan County, Mu-jin’s group headed straight for Yongjung Mountain.
Utilizing their qinggong, they reached Yongjung Mountain, and after ascending a bit, they spotted a huge building in the distance.
“From here on, follow our movements carefully.”
Jegal Gung instructed Yunheo Zhenren and Mu-jin’s group, then started walking in a peculiar manner along with the Jegal family’s warriors.
“This manual was obtained by the martial artists over there and given to Jin-hee under the guise of new divine techniques.”
As soon as Jegal Gung finished speaking, Jegal Jin-hee stepped forward, holding two fans.
And then her fan dance began.
Her movements were ever-changing and elegant, and the soft fan energy flowed from her fans.
But contrary to her graceful movements, the energy felt sharp and sinister.
The martial arts she displayed were far superior to the Black and White Fan Technique she had been practicing.
It truly embodied the phrase ‘new divine techniques.’
“Ugh.”
Suddenly, she stopped her dance and coughed up blood.
With a pale face, she spoke.
“The mnemonics of this manual are theoretically correct, but there is a hidden trap. The more you master it, the more it strains the Baihui acupoint, leading to Qi Deviation!”
“And the martial arts you received from Jegal Gi-hwan must also have such traps! You might not have discovered them yet!”
Jegal Gi-hwan’s expression changed dramatically at the successive words from Jegal Jin-hee and Jegal Gung.
‘I couldn’t find the trap hidden in the manual? Something those bastards discovered in just a few days?’
Jegal Gi-hwan, who prided himself on his talent surpassing the direct line, could not tolerate a greater humiliation.
“Hmph! It’s only because you lacked the talent to master it properly. I know there is no flaw in those martial arts!”
Jegal Gi-hwan’s prideful response was met with a change in Jegal Gung’s expression, who now looked like a predator who had spotted its prey.
“Hahaha. How laughable! If you really created the techniques yourself and didn’t receive them from outsiders, you should have denied knowing anything about such techniques! How could you claim there are no flaws in these techniques!”
“!!!”
Jegal Gi-hwan realized he had made a grave mistake.
But even as this realization dawned on him, Jegal Gung continued speaking.
“Look! This is the true nature of Jegal Gi-hwan! He brought in external forces to incite rebellion and tried to turn borrowed martial arts into our family’s secret techniques! He couldn’t even find the hidden traps in those techniques! Do you really want to entrust the family to such an incompetent person?”
Jegal Gung’s words were like a signal flare, causing confusion among the Jegal family members.
On one side was the legitimate successor who had always practiced discrimination but was still the rightful heir.
On the other side was the rebel who promised to overturn this discrimination but might end up giving the entire family to external forces.
Mu-jin watched the Jegal family members, who were now confused about whom to support, with a peculiar feeling.
‘This feels like watching a presidential election.’
It was like watching the negative campaigns and framing tactics he often saw during election periods in South Korea.
‘Well, I did orchestrate this situation.’
As he thought this, he subtly sent a voice transmission to the pale-faced Jegal Jin-hee.
– Thank you for your hard work. Take a rest and treat your internal injuries for now.
The trap in the ‘Moonlight Fan Dance’ martial arts manual only activated if one mastered and frequently performed the technique.
Despite mastering the technique within a day and spitting blood, it was not due to the trap but was a ploy for the current situation.
It was not an internal injury caused by the trap but an injury from forcing herself to perform the incomplete technique.
This was all for a visual effect.
People are more shocked by what they see with their own eyes than by what they hear with their ears.
‘This is what they call “seeing is believing.”’
Thinking of an idiom that was somewhat correct but not quite, Mu-jin stepped forward.
Now that the collateral martial artists of the Jegal family were confused, it was time to quickly wrap up the situation!
As Jegal Gi-hwan, having quickly regained his composure, hurriedly tried to speak,
“Hmph! You too brought in external forces, didn’t you?”
“Shut up! We have no interest in the Jegal family! Our goal is to stop you, who are pretending to help and trying to take over the family!”
Jegal Gi-hwan looked at the young man who suddenly interrupted the conversation with a bewildered expression.
At that moment, Jegal-hyeon, who had been watching the situation, hastily sent a voice transmission to him.
– That man is the Shaolin Dragon, Patriarch.
‘...That guy is a monk?’
Jegal Gi-hwan was about to shout in disbelief.
“You must be the famous Shaolin Dragon! But how could a Shaolin...”
“Shut up!”
“!!!”
“You are a scum who committed the heinous crime of murdering your kin, a crime unimaginable for a human! You are a coward who borrowed the strength of others, using the guise of a cause! Such a lowlife deserves no courtesy!”
‘A monk... talking back?’
And with curses and personal attacks?
Jegal Gi-hwan was too stunned to regain his senses.