Chapter 245 : Sichuan (2)
Chapter 245: Sichuan (2)
"The Orthodox Faction is backing the Black Path? What the hell are you talking about?"
Il-mok's question was met with an answer from the Branch Leader of Guangyuan County.
"I suspect it is due to money. As the conflict between the three major forces intensifies, everyone's scrambling to rake in cash for whatever might come next. The problem, however, lies in the fact that they claim to represent the Orthodox Faction."
Hearing that much was enough for Il-mok to piece together what was going on.
"So they can't just squeeze money out of ordinary people directly because that'd wreck their righteous reputation, huh? That's why they're propping up Black Path gangs to collect the money, then swooping in to 'confiscate' it from those same gangs. Pretty fucking smart of them."
"That is correct. In particular, the Sichuan Tang Family primarily uses poisons and hidden weapons, meaning they require substantial funds to wage large-scale battles. Thus, the Tang Family began raising capital this way, and it seems the Emei and Qingcheng are also engaging in similar schemes behind the scenes to keep the Tang Family in check."
"So, who's backing the Black Island Gang?"
"...We suspect it's the Sichuan Tang Family."
When the Branch Leader answered cautiously, Il-mok could only swallow a sigh.
'I was expecting the Hao Clan, but the Tang Family? Seriously?'
If what the Branch Leader said is true, attacking the Black Island Gang would likely drag them into conflict with the Sichuan Tang Family.
Of course, that wasn't an immediate crisis. According to the Branch Leader, the Tang Family was too busy keeping Emei and Qingcheng in check to spare full attention here.
But it wasn't like the Maitreya Luminous Cult had time to spare either. They were short-staffed just trying to run Gansu, and they were already fighting the Hao Clan. If they got into a war with the Tang Family on top of that, there was a huge risk that their cover would blow, and everyone would find out they were actually the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
As his thoughts reached that point, anger naturally surged within Il-mok.
'Goddamn Orthodox Faction hypocrites. How the fuck can they call themselves righteous while pulling this kind of shit?'
He'd heard they were hypocrites, sure, but this was beyond anything he'd imagined.
He knew they were hypocrites, but this was a whole new level. He was stuck at a crossroads: should he say "fuck the Tang Family" and attack, or just go home?
While Il-mok stood at this crossroads, weighing his options...
Click.
The hall's door suddenly opened, and a middle-aged man walked in.
The man flinched at the sight of Il-mok and his group, but after the Branch Leader's quick introduction, he hurriedly dropped into a deep bow.
"The Heavenly Demon Descends! Ten Thousand Demons Obeys!! I am honored to meet the Eighth Disciple of the Supreme One!"
After Il-mok casually accepted his greeting, the Branch Leader asked him.
"What's so urgent that you're barging in here?"
"I spotted a very noticeable woman in a group that just entered Guangyuan County."
"A noticeable woman? You interrupted us just because you saw a pretty girl?"
When the Branch Leader looked at him like he was an idiot, the man shook his head in a panic.
"N-no, not a beauty! She's a giant of a woman six feet in height! Based on her age and appearance, I believe she might be the Fist Phoenix, Hwangbo Yeon."
"...Why is someone from the Hwangbo Family all the way out here?"
While the Branch Leader reacted with obvious surprise, a smile had already crept onto Il-mok's face. He knew about Hwangbo Yeon and her group.
"Finally, that piece of dog shit's gonna be useful for something."
At Il-mok's muttering, everyone looked at him like he was speaking a foreign language.
***
The marketplace of Guangyuan County.
A mismatched group of six young people was walking through the crowd. One guy with a saber at his waist couldn't stop talking, glancing every few seconds at the veiled woman next to him.
"Hahaha! I can't wait to get to Chengdu and have some proper duels. My hands are itching for a fight since I haven't sparred in a while."
Peng Ji-gwang acted tough and boasted loudly. Seems like his poor brain has completely erased the memory of getting his ass thoroughly kicked in Pingliang County just a few days ago.
Just then, a middle-aged man suddenly stepped in front of them.
"E-excuse me. I'm sorry, but... are you by any chance martial artists?"
Annoyed that someone was blocking his way, Peng Ji-gwang frowned.
"Who the hell are you to block our path?"
Peng Ji-gwang looked at him like he was a bug, and the man dropped to his knees in a panic.
"F-forgive me! Please, you have to help me!"
Before Peng Ji-gwang could begin another retarded antics, Hwangbo Yeon stepped forward. "Help you? What exactly do you need help with?"
"The B-Black Island Gang forced a loan on me, and now instead of money, they're trying to t-take my daughter! Please, I'm begging you, help me!"
Hearing the man’s sob story, the group erupted in righteous fury.
"How could they use such despicable methods..."
"I can't believe there are scumbags like that even in Sichuan."
Hwangbo Yeon maintained her composure and asked. "But why are you asking us for help?"
"I-I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard you talking and realized you were martial artists. So I just... took a chance."
When the middle-aged man said this and glanced at Peng Ji-gwang, Hwangbo Yeon nodded in understanding.
That idiot had been loudly spitting out pointless garbage since earlier, trying to catch Hwangbo Sehui's attention.
Hwangbo Yeon fell into thought.
'What should I do about this?'
She felt bad for the man, but she wasn't sure if they should get involved.
The grudges and debts of the martial world were incredibly complex; getting involved carelessly could lead to who knows what kind of trouble, just like what happened in Pingliang County last time.
While she was thinking, the kneeling man swallowed hard, trying not to look nervous inside.
'Please, this has to work.'
That man was a cultist belonging to the Guangyuan Branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
He was acting on Il-mok's orders to start a war between the Black Island Gang and these Orthodox kids.
Right at that moment, Peng Ji-gwang suddenly stepped forward and bellowed.
"Wahahahaha! You've come to the right person! I am none other than the famous Third Son of the Hebei Peng Family, Peng Ji-gwang! Filthy Black Path trash like that won't even last three moves against me!"
It was a completely different attitude from how he'd been looking down at the middle-aged man like a bug just moments ago.
The reason was simple.
When she heard the man's story, Hwangbo Sehui let out a sympathetic sigh from behind her veil.
Peng Ji-gwang figured if he helped this man, he could score some points with Hwangbo Sehui.
'Just as the Young Master predicted!'
As things unfolded exactly according to Il-mok's script, the middle-aged man acting out his role cheered internally.
But of course, things couldn't go completely smoothly.
"Young Master Peng, we can't just charge in without knowing the full details."
Hwangbo Yeon stepped in to stop him, and the Taoist priest in Wudang robes nodded in agreement.
'Should I push a bit harder? The Young Master said to target that idiot from the Peng Family.'
Just as the middle-aged man was gauging the situation and about to say something more...
"I-is it true you're from the Hebei Peng Family? Please, help us!"
"Please help us! Beat the crap out of those Black Island Gang bastards!"
Suddenly, people from all over the marketplace dropped to their knees and begged for help.
This was the accumulated karma that the Black Island Gang had built up over time.
With people crying out for help from all directions, Peng Ji-gwang looked triumphantly at Hwangbo Yeon and Taoist Priest Un-baek.
"Everyone here is begging us to punish those bastards. If we ignore this, how can we call ourselves 'Orthodox heroes' without being embarrassed?"
Hwangbo Yeon had to physically restrain herself from punching retard Peng in the face with her legendary fist. She turned away and sighed.
—I think we have to step in this time, Miss Hwangbo.
Following Taoist Priest Un-baek's telepathic message, Hwangbo Yeon had no choice but to make a decision.
"Fine. We're going to the Black Island Gang. Right now."
***
A manor located on one side of Guangyuan County, Peng Ji-gwang marched up to the building with the [Black Island Gang] sign and bellowed, "Black Island Gang Leader, get your ass out here!!"
The gatekeeper scowled at the crazy guy making a scene.
"You got a death wish or something, kid? Huh?"
"How dare a piece of trash talk to me like that!"
Before anyone could stop him, Peng Ji-gwang drew his saber and swung it at the gatekeeper without hesitation.
"!?"
The draw was so fast the guard didn't even see it coming.
"AHHHHHHH! My ear! My eeeaaaar!!"
As the gatekeeper rolled on the ground screaming, the group frowned at Peng Ji-gwang.
"Young Master Peng, that was too much."
"Why should we show mercy to Black Path scum?"
Peng Ji-gwang raised one corner of his mouth and sneakily glanced at the veiled woman.
Though they might face a fierce battle soon, Hwangbo Yeon had decided to keep her sister with them rather than send her away separately. She reasoned that it would be safer for Sehui to remain close to herself or Taoist Un-baek.
For that reason, Peng Ji-gwang, who was now looking at Hwangbo Sehui standing with them, acted even more brazenly.
Slash!
CRASH!
"Black Island Gang Leader, get out here right now!!"
Since he’d already taken out the guard, he decided to slice the front gate in half while screaming like a retard the whole time.
High on his own drama, Peng Ji-gwang marched through the broken gate. The rest of the group followed, looking embarrassed to be with him.
Drawn by the commotion at the entrance, vicious-looking Black Path thugs began pouring out from all corners of the manor.
"Who the hell are you bastards!"
"You reckless fools must be dying to meet your end!"
The Black Path thugs tried their best to create a menacing atmosphere, but such tactics didn't work on rising stars from prestigious Orthodox Factions.
"I am Peng Ji-gwang, Third Son of the Hebei Peng Family! I know all about the evil deeds you've committed, so accept your punishment from me obediently!"
Hearing the retard playing the hero, the Black Path thugs who'd gathered showed troubled expressions.
It wasn't that they feared this Peng Ji-gwang kid or whatever.
The Hebei Peng Family is impressive indeed and his martial arts are decent for his age, but if dozens of them ganged on him at once, the kid would get a new home six feet underground.
The problem was his friends standing behind him. And more importantly, the name "Hebei Peng Family."
If they killed this bastard here and even one of his companions escaped back to the Hebei Peng Family to report what happened, they'd all be as good as dead.
While the thugs stood there panicking, someone shouted from the back.
"What brings a noble son of the Hebei Peng Family all the way down here to Sichuan?"
The thugs parted and a rugged middle-aged man with dark skin stepped forward.
"Who the hell are you!"
"I am Mun Chang, Gang Leader of the Black Island Gang."
He planned to placate them with words and send them on their way. Of course, he doubted whether that brat would listen to the words of a Black Path gang leader.
'He should get the hint if I drop the Tang Family elder's name.'
He had an excellent backer after all.
A goddamn backer who forced him to take a lethal poison and used him like a puppet.
But he couldn't reveal that fact in front of his subordinates.
"There must be a misunderstanding. We haven't hurt anyone. We just lent money legally and collected the interest."
While stalling with these lame excuses, the Gang Leader tried to send a secret telepathic message to the Orthodox Faction’s young warriors.
—We don't want to be here either. We're just working for the Sichuan...
But before he could finish his sentence—
WHOOOOSH!
An arrow came flying from behind, aimed precisely at Peng Ji-gwang.