Chapter 188
"...Myo-seon! Is that really true?"
"Hah!! I can hardly believe my ears!"
"My goodness... to think that such a thing happened!"
"Amitabha... the Buddha has helped us!"
"It is truly amazing!"
All the core members of the allied forces expressed their astonishment with surprised faces.
It was inevitable.
Because they had heard in detail from Myo-seon about the life-and-death battle with the Ghost Demon Jiangshi that had unfolded in the Emei Sect of Sichuan.
What kind of zombie was a Ghost Demon Jiangshi?
It was a demonic beast with a terrible killing power that was on a different level from the blood zombies they had faced.
It was said that each one surpassed a master of the first-rate, and there were about 100 of them. Seeing Myo-seon's group, who had defeated such terrible demonic beasts and had appeared proudly, they were surprised and at the same time, deeply moved.
But above all...
—So-ah defeated the Rain and Heaven Demonic Sword, No Yeong-myeong, Master!
The outcome of the battle between So-ah and the Rain and Heaven Demonic Sword, No Yeong-myeong, made their hearts boil with a hot sense of elation.
"You are truly admirable!"
"Hohoho! I had no doubt that So-ah would reach his master's level, but to think that he defeated No Yeong-myeong at an age where he has not even reached his thirties!"
"Kehkehkeh!"
Abbess Hongryeon, Hong In-geol, and Baek In-hwa trembled as they heard So-ah's heroic tale.
They were not the only ones who were surprised.
So-ah's friends,
"G-Great Senior Brother defeated the Rain and Heaven Demonic Sword, No Yeong-myeong?"
"Great Senior Brother... you finally did it."
"Wow! Brother Jin, you really caused a big incident this time, didn't you? The Rain and Heaven Demonic Sword, No Yeong-myeong. It's crazy, so crazy."
"I think he has become the supreme master of the Orthodox Path, not just one of the ten great masters of the Orthodox Path."
"Is this now the era of Jin So-ah's unrivaled dominance..."
...their eyes widened like lanterns, and they were busy stuttering.
'How happy will Dad be when he hears this news...'
Moyong Hwa thought of her father, Moyong Baek.
If he were to find out that So-ah had defeated No Yeong-myeong, Moyong Baek would probably be so happy that he would not be able to sleep properly.
"This is truly a great thing. From the fact that the disciples of the Emei Sect and the elders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult joined forces to defeat the Ghost Demon Jiangshis, to the fact that Young Hero Jin defeated No Yeong-myeong... it is a very gratifying thing in a symbolic sense, and since No Yeong-myeong and the Ghost Demon Jiangshis are the forces of the White Lotus Cult, it will also affect the outcome of the subjugation in a macroscopic sense. The heavens are helping us!"
The military strategist, Zhuge Hyuk, even in this situation, showed his meticulousness by gathering the information and circumstances he had heard from Myo-seon and calculating the grand plan.
"That is certainly true. Isn't No Yeong-myeong the Vice-Leader of the White Lotus Cult? The matter will become much easier."
"Hah! What should we do with Young Hero Jin? Since he has achieved a great feat that goes beyond the Orthodox Path and the entire martial world, the Alliance Leader should praise Young Hero Jin's achievement. As a senior of the martial world, I feel indebted to Young Hero Jin, so my heart is heavy."
"Hoho! Alliance Leader. Please do so. We must not forget Young Hero Jin's achievement."
The core masters of the Orthodox Path all agreed that they should not spare any reward for So-ah.
'So-ah. This is great!'
But their plea was a useless act.
Who was Abbess Hongryeon?
Wasn't she like a grandmother to So-ah?
Even without their request, Abbess Hongryeon was planning to give So-ah a sufficient reward as soon as the subjugation was over.
"Hohoho! Everyone. Don't worry. After the subjugation is over, even if So-ah wants the position of the Alliance Leader, I'm thinking of giving it to him without a fuss."
Abbess Hongryeon let out a hearty laugh and uttered a joke.
Of course, only she herself would know if it was a joke or a serious statement.
Just then.
"Alliance Leader! Even if you give Senior Brother So-ah the position of the Martial Alliance Leader, he probably won't even bat an eye."
Moyong Hwa smiled brightly and said to Abbess Hongryeon.
"Hohohot. Hwa-ah. Then what should I do for your senior brother to be satisfied?"
"You know too, Alliance Leader. What your senior brother likes the most in the world."
Yes.
She knew.
How could she not know?
Because from So-ah's friends to now even the core members of the martial world, they had perfectly grasped So-ah's disposition.
"Don't tell me... you're talking about money?"
"Yes."
"Hohohohohot! Yes. I had forgotten. That brat So-ah can't get enough of money."
At that,
"Hahahaha!"
"Hohohohoho!"
"Kehkehkehkehkeh!"
...everyone recalled that aspect of So-ah and burst into a loud laugh.
Thanks to So-ah's money-loving disposition, the tense atmosphere in the room had become much brighter.
***
'Wow! His martial arts are at a fraudulent level, but how can his face be so handsome?'
'I've never seen a person more handsome than Brother Namgung in my life...'
'The world is so unfair, so unfair. On top of the status of the young leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and his earth-shattering martial arts, he has that face? Aww!'
The late-stage masters of the Orthodox Path, who were watching Wi-ji Chan, who was wearing a fine black robe and was gathering the forces of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and was muttering something diligently, each felt a complex feeling of jealousy, awe, and envy.
It was only natural.
Because at a glance, Wi-ji Chan was so handsome that the title of the number one handsome man in the world was no exaggeration, and his status was also the young leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the strongest martial force in the martial world.
Moreover, So-ah's friends had always had a strong curiosity about Wi-ji Chan.
Because they had been training while constantly hearing from So-ah that Wi-ji Chan was a master of the younger generation who was stronger than him.
In the midst of that,
...the gaze of Wi-ji Chan, who had been talking with the people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, suddenly turned and was directed at So-ah's friends.
'Heok...!'
Han Baek, who had been exploding with a volcano-like jealousy while looking at Wi-ji Chan with a frown, was startled and covered his mouth with his hand.
At that,
...wasn't Wi-ji Chan striding towards them?
'W-What?!'
Han Baek flinched for no real reason.
Was he going to reprimand him for staring at him? Or was he trying to pick a fight?
In that short moment, Han Baek had all sorts of fantasies...
"Lady Myo-seon. Are these the former cadets of the In unit that you mentioned?"
Fortunately, Wi-ji Chan's question was directed at Myo-seon, who was in the same group as Han Baek.
"Yes, Young Leader Wi-ji. These are the people who are on close terms with So-ah."
In that moment.
...a surprising thing unfolded.
"I am deeply moved to meet So-ah's friends. I am a person named Wi-ji Chan, the young leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and I have been on close terms with So-ah since we were young. Since I received the art of bone-setting and acupressure from the God of War, Moyong Cheon, who is So-ah's master, we can be said to be like brothers. Since we will be together for a long journey, let's introduce ourselves."
Wi-ji Chan was cupping his fists to So-ah's friends with an extremely polite posture.
Moreover, he even added a light nod while bowing his head.
'H-Heok!'
'The young leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is bowing his head first and greeting us?'
'His personality is amazing!'
They could not help but be surprised.
A person's behavior comes from their status and position.
Frankly, the young leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had a far greater influence in the martial world than the leader of the Nine Great Sects.
Therefore, it was natural for them to bow their heads first and greet him...
"I-I am Namgung Mun of the Namgung family."
"I am Tang Il-gi of the Sichuan Tang family."
"I am Tang Hwa-rin of the Tang family."
"I am Moyong Hwa of the Moyong family."
"I am Moyong Su of the Moyong family."
"Of the Hebei Paeng family..."
"Of the Seok family..."
...thus the introductions continued...
Finally, Han Baek awkwardly cupped his fists to Wi-ji Chan.
"Ah... hello. I am Han Baek."
At that,
"Young Hero Han. A little while ago, the way you looked at me seemed to be displeased. Did a person from our cult perhaps make a mistake during the journey? If so, please tell me without reservation. I will apologize on their behalf."
Wi-ji Chan asked, perhaps because Han Baek's gaze had been bothering him.
Han Baek's face turned even redder, as if it would burst at any moment.
'Kekekek. You crazy bastard. So you should have glared when you should have glared. How dare a brat like you glare at the young leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?'
'Kekekeke. The situation is getting interesting.'
'Han Baek is shitting blood, right? Kehaha!'
Seeing how the situation was going, they knew.
As the corners of his friends' lips rose slightly and showed a look of ridicule, Wi-ji Chan also seemed to know the situation.
Of course, he did not say anything to Han Baek.
Just then.
"A-A mistake, you say? Young Leader Wi-ji! It's not like that at all. On the contrary, the monks of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall protected us with their spells. Hahahat... and I have a naturally bad impression... I think you misunderstood me as looking at you with displeasure... I respect you, young leader? The second coming of the Heavenly Demon! The submission of all demons! Sometimes when I'm having a hard time, I even shout it to the sky, you know? Ha... hahat!"
"?"
"?"
"?"
A question came to the minds of everyone, including Wi-ji Chan.
Soon, that question became astonishment.
'Th-This crazy bastard! A late-stage master of the Orthodox Path! A brat who is an official of the Martial Alliance is shouting the second coming of the Heavenly Demon and the submission of all demons?!'
'Although he is not a descendant of a Buddhist or Taoist sect. This... what... I have nothing to say, nothing to say.'
'Phew! So embarrassing. That's a 30-man captain of the Martial Alliance! Senior Brother So-ah! Why did you raise such a brat so strong? What kind of martial artist is that? Even a street ruffian wouldn't do that.'
They were so dumbfounded that they were at a loss for words.
No matter how much Han Baek was a master of changing his attitude, to suddenly shout the second coming of the Heavenly Demon and the submission of all demons after glaring at Wi-ji Chan until just now?
If So-ah had been there, he would have performed the mountain peak flick on Han Baek's head.
Leaving everything aside.
Right now, the most dumbfounded person was Wi-ji Chan himself.
How funny was it that even the people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, who were waiting at a distance, were snorting?
"H-Young Hero Han... that's a bit... you don't have to go that far... ahem, ahem!"
Wi-ji Chan, with a look of embarrassment, coughed repeatedly and soothed Han Baek.
The second coming of the Heavenly Demon and the submission of all demons!
It was a slogan that was now so old-fashioned and grand that even the people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would not shout it unless they had to...
"Hehe... is that so? Respected Young Leader Wi-ji Chan?!"
Nevertheless, Han Baek was still smiling and rubbing his hands to Wi-ji Chan.
'That... isn't that what he does every time he gets hit by Brother Jin?'
'It's embarrassing, so embarrassing.'
'Please just die!'
Seeing Han Baek, who was endlessly tarnishing the honor of the late-stage masters of the Orthodox Path, his friends just closed their eyes tightly.
In that moment.
"Aww!"
Jang Byeong-il, who couldn't take it anymore, hit Han Baek on the back of the head with all his might.
"Good job."
"Good job!"
"That brat needs to be hit a little!"
But no one blamed Jang Byeong-il.
Seeing that sight, Wi-ji Chan smiled.
'So-ah's friends are also strange. Haha.'
***
「To the respected Lady Yuk Jeong-ran.
Lady Yuk. It's So-ah.
I am writing this letter because I have good news.
While carrying out a mission for the Martial Alliance, I happened to encounter the gangsters of the Sichuan region and got my hands on their businesses.
I am sending a total of 7 land and house documents, including brothels, inns, restaurants, and fields.
I have promised to give all the sales to the workers who were originally working in the businesses.
Perhaps because their efficiency will rise, the sales will increase significantly for a while.
I plan to sell the businesses and the land to the moneybags at a premium later, using that as a pretext, but if Lady Yuk's opinion is different, I will follow Lady Yuk's opinion.
I am currently subjugating the Gansu cult branch of the White Lotus Cult, so I will not be able to be contacted for a while.
I am entrusting all the authority to Lady Yuk, so please dispatch the capable managers of the Liaoning merchants to the businesses in Sichuan.
I will contact you again.
The great disciple of the Moyong family, Jin So-ah, seal—」
Yuk Jeong-ran's face, who had received the letter, bloomed with a flower of laughter.
"Anyway, you can't stop Young Master Jin! As soon as he went out, he brought another one. He even earns money while carrying out the affairs of the martial world, so this is, what! Hohohohot!"
Especially at the part where he had happened to encounter the gangsters of Sichuan and had gotten his hands on their businesses, a burst of laughter came out.
Frankly, did that make sense?
What on earth did encountering a gangster have to do with getting his hands on a business?
He must have beaten them to a pulp and taken it.