Chapter 220 : The Proposal
Namgung Hui, even performing a Body Flicker, brought Dam Gihae down to the base of a secluded wall.
“Hey. If you suddenly drag me here like this, how is Senior Sister supposed to follow?”
“That’s why I used the Body Flicker. Dam Gihae. Have you found anything while watching Senior Sister all this time?”
“I haven’t found much. Senior Sister is perfectly normal, except for her obsession with the First Senior Brother. There was nothing suspicious.”
“That’s a relief. And from now on, keep an eye on Senior Sister from time to time. If you get caught, just make up an excuse that I sent you on an errand. Got it?”
“Yeah. That’s not a difficult task for me. Now that I have the secret manual of the Empty Gate Sect, I won’t get caught in the future.”
“She commands animals. Keep that in mind.”
“I will. It’s not difficult if I use a scent that animals dislike. But did you drag me all the way here just to say this?”
Namgung Hui shrugged his shoulders and continued.
“It seemed the Moon Maiden Palace Lady wouldn’t let Senior Sister go, so I brought you out like this. If she has any sense, she’ll send Senior Sister here soon. She’s not someone with dull senses.”
As Namgung Hui had guaranteed, a moment later, On Yuha was walking down to the wall, looking around.
“Youngest Junior Brother! Where do you think you’re going, leaving me behind like that? To abandon a woman, of all things.”
“For someone who says that, you seemed to get along well with the Palace Lady.”
“Well. It’s just that I’m good at pleasing people because of my job. But why is the Moon Maiden Palace Lady staying at the Namgung family?”
That was something Namgung Hui was also curious about.
He could somewhat understand the other Moon Maiden Palace disciples staying to help the Chang Gung Merchant Guild.
But for the Vice Palace Lady, and even the Palace Lady, to be staying at the Namgung family like this was quite puzzling.
Were they perhaps waiting to take Beak Seolhwa back?
‘But Seolhwa said they couldn’t take her if she won the martial arts tournament. Well, I’ll have to ask the Palace Lady directly about this later.’
If he were to vaguely talk about Beak Seolhwa’s news, he would inevitably have to face the Palace Lady again.
Deciding to put aside the matter of the Moon Maiden Palace for now, Namgung Hui looked at Dam Gihae and On Yuha and got to the main point.
“Now. First of all, the reason I brought you two to my house is nothing special. Senior Sister, you just need to advise me on how to operate the information organization in the new group I’ve created. And Dam Gihae, you can be my messenger and do some stealing.”
“I understand the messenger role, but stealing? If I get caught, you’ll be in danger too.”
“Is the successor of the great Empty Gate Sect going to get caught so easily? And I won’t ask you to do anything that dangerous.”
“Hmm… If that’s the case, it’s not impossible. Alright. Just make sure to feed me well.”
Because Namgung Hui was using him as a servant, he was already worried about going hungry.
Perhaps because the bluff of the prohibition had worked well, Dam Gihae did not doubt the Gu poison at all.
Rather, he was in a state of fear that he would be used like a slave.
“But Youngest Junior Brother. Is the new organization you’ve formed perhaps the Chang Gung Merchant Guild? Does a merchant guild really need an information organization that requires my advice?”
“It’s because it’s not that, that it’s necessary. The Iron Blood Alliance was formed recently, right? Like them, I’m also thinking of creating an alliance. I haven’t decided on a name yet, but if you think of a good one, let me know.”
When Namgung Hui said he was creating an alliance, On Yuha, as well as Dam Gihae, opened their eyes wide and said.
“What? You’re creating an alliance?”
“Do you think an alliance is the name of a neighborhood dog? The money involved will be no joke.”
The reason Namgung Hui hadn’t disposed of the Night-Luminous Pearl was all for the sake of creating an organization called an alliance.
He had realized from the beginning that there was a limit to what he could do with his own martial power alone.
The enemy also had a huge force called the Association, and no matter how much of a flying and crawling master Namgung Hui was, he could not face them alone.
The Association was divided into three heavens, so it had to be seen as at least three times larger than a normal organization.
In facing such a force, an organization called an alliance was an indispensable existence.
“Money. I have plenty. If it’s not enough, Dam Gihae here can get it. Information too, if Senior Sister helps, it will be easier to steal money.”
“Wait. The plan is plausible, but what you’re doing is exactly what a Black-Path Faction would do. How are you really going to handle the aftermath?”
If this was exposed, it would not be just Namgung Hui’s problem.
The entire alliance, as well as the reputation that the Namgung family had built up, would be tarnished.
No. It would be a relief if it was just tarnished.
It wouldn’t be strange if it was completely shattered.
Since the Uicheon family had stolen other people’s money.
“I won’t get caught, and I’ll handle it so that it doesn’t matter if I do.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to make me take the fall and die.”
“I won’t do that. Don’t worry. If you die, the progress of the Empty Gate Sect will also be cut off, and that’s a huge loss for the martial world. I have something to show you later regarding this. After that, Dam Gihae, you’ll do even better for me.”
Of course, if he found out that Namgung Hui had taken the legacy of the Empty Gate Sect Leader, his stomach might hurt a little.
But what could he do? Since it was Namgung Hui who had found the secret cave first, there was nothing Dam Gihae could do.
Perhaps Namgung Hui, who had found the secret cave, was the true successor of the Empty Gate Sect?
Since he had learned the Wind God Steps and even the Phantom Shadow Steps left by the Empty Gate Sect Leader, it was difficult to see him as a complete stranger.
‘And since I got the diary of the first Cult Leader there, even if I don’t know the martial arts, I can be seen as having inherited the true meaning.’
If he hadn’t really obtained the diary of the first Cult Leader, Namgung Hui might have just been wandering the martial world looking for a marriage partner all this time.
But the more he learned about the truth of the martial world, the harder it was to live just for himself.
No. He had realized that even for his own sake, this martial world had to be peaceful to enjoy such a life.
To live happily while the Hoicheon Association was plotting like that?
That would probably be an unattainable illusion.
‘And I can’t leave the Dugu and Ouyang families alone either. The Hoicheon Association is huge, but the Blood Cult is also a place that can’t be ignored.’
For Namgung Hui, who was just starting, even one of their armed forces could be overwhelming.
But they did not know of the existence of the alliance that Namgung Hui would establish.
And Namgung Hui had grasped their underlying strength to some extent.
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles.
If you know the enemy and know yourself, there was nothing you couldn’t win.
“Alright. The youngest junior brother is creating an organization. I welcome it too. It means there’s one more place to lean on and rely on. But I need to know what your intentions are for creating it. No matter how humble our Hao Faction’s origins are, we can’t cooperate in bad deeds.”
“Do I look like that kind of person? Senior Sister. I’m very disappointed.”
“Hmph! You’re even asking me to steal. That’s a bit of a problem from the start.”
“Didn’t Senior Sister also ask me to steal? I stole that flute too. Why didn’t you ask Dam Gihae to do that?”
“Ha. This isn’t stealing. Didn’t you pay a fair price and bring it? In the first place, it would have been difficult to escape from the Black Market at the level of the third junior brother. Anyway. Just tell me the purpose of establishing the organization.”
Since Namgung Hui was going to tell the two of them anyway.
And since he was not creating it with bad intentions, he opened his mouth with a triumphant expression.
“I’m going to create an organization to fight the Hoicheon Association and the Blood Cult. The information organization will also be used as a means to monitor the Hoicheon Association and the Blood Cult. The funds will be the same. And the source of those funds will be stolen from the financial sources of the Blood Cult or the Hoicheon Association. At this point, it can be seen as the activities of a righteous thief, right?”
“!!? What?”
As if she couldn’t believe Namgung Hui’s bombshell statement, On Yuha opened her eyes wide and pinched Dam Gihae’s cheek next to her.
“Ouch! Senior Sister. Why are you pinching my cheek!”
“I was just trying to see if this was real or not. It seems I’m not seeing things. Are you really going to fight them? It would be better to go to the Martial Alliance… Ah, I can’t trust that place. Then you’re going to create a new board centered around you.”
“That’s right. New wine must be put into new wineskins. And with the list I give you, let’s do a clean-up this time.”
Namgung Hui recalled the list he had received from the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.
On it were written the names of those who were caught by the Hoicheon Association and could do nothing.
Of course, since the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader had secretly taken it beforehand, the Hoicheon Association still did not know what their weaknesses were.
It was information that the courtesan Yewol had found out by sacrificing her own body.
‘Now that Yewol has finished her treatment, she will join our side. It means this information will not leak out in the future.’
He didn't want to leave alone the orthodox faction members who had committed acts that could be used as weaknesses.
Although he wouldn't use them as harshly as the Hoicheon Association, he resolved to make them pay for their sins.
“You should have said so from the beginning. Then there’s nothing I can’t cooperate with. Why did you say it in such a roundabout way?”
“That’s because I didn’t know what kind of reaction Senior Sister would show. If Senior Sister had shown a skeptical attitude instead of the current reaction, it could have been a very difficult situation.”
“Ah… You didn’t trust me.”
“And Senior Sister didn’t trust me either. We’re even. So you’re saying you’ll actively help me with my work?”
“Yes. How can I just stand by when you’re doing such a good thing? Then my share will be quite large, right?”
“Is this it? Well, as much as you help, there’s no reason I can’t give you a share. Dam Gihae. If you do well in the future, I’ll set you free.”
When Namgung Hui made a sweet proposal, Dam Gihae’s head nodded without hesitation.
“Alright! No take-backs later.”
“Yes, yes. If you do well, there’s no reason I can’t set you free. Now that you all understand my intentions, I’ll give you your missions from now on. Here, take this.”
Namgung Hui handed them each a letter with instructions.
“Cheon Yeohwa? Ah. You mean the girl I met in Hangzhou before? I should pass on my secret techniques to her?”
“It’s not a secret technique, is it? It’s just a knack. Anyway. Don’t be stingy and just teach her moderately. The place she’s staying is a detached house in the east. It won’t be difficult to find. And since there are only women there, you won’t be turned away at the door.”
“That’s good news. The unity of women. Shall I see how well they get along?”
As Namgung Hui waved his hand, On Yuha stepped lightly towards the east.
It seemed she had been worried about what Namgung Hui would ask her to do, but perhaps because the work was heading in a righteous direction, she seemed somewhat relieved.
Of course, in the process, they might have to do some dirty and despicable things like demons.
And Namgung Hui did not think of himself as a righteous person.
He just thought that this whole process was a necessary step to have a peaceful daily life and a happy family.
“Dam Gihae, you rob the merchant guilds written there. They are guys who have been secretly joining the Hoicheon Association and have been acting like a fox borrowing the tiger's might. Since they are small and medium-sized merchant guilds, you won't get caught.”
“Oho. Where did you find this out? It seems to be information that even our Hao Faction doesn't have.”
“Do you think only you get information? There's the Beggars' Sect, and the Martial Alliance could also tell me.”
The information Namgung Hui had given was actually information that Cheon Yeohwa had gathered over time.
It was the resentment she had gathered while dreaming of revenge, along with the innocent people who had been sold as slaves with her.
Since he had also cross-verified it to some extent through Hu Gai before, he thought it was unlikely that they were innocent.
“Alright. Stealing is the easiest thing for me, so that’s good. It’s also a good thing to practice in a real situation after a long time. So when should I go?”
“Strike while the iron is hot. Tonight would be good. There are some good places in the Lake Chao area, right?”
“Ah. The places related to the Lake Chao Sect. Alright. I’ll prepare from now on and go.”
“Yes. Be careful. And keep your tail well hidden.”
“Who do you think I am to be tailed? I’m now the current sect leader of the Empty Gate Sect.”
“Alright. Then come to my residence when you’re done.”
This time too, as Namgung Hui waved his hand, Dam Gihae nodded and then immediately performed a lightness skill and disappeared.
Then, as if they had been waiting, the figures who had been hiding behind the wall began to pop out one by one.
(End of Chapter)