Chapter 75
Mok Wipyong looked at the Flame Pond and then flinched and trembled. Then he lowered his voice and said.
"This is something I was told not to tell anyone else..."
He looked around once more, swallowed his saliva, and then said.
"A human-faced spider."
A human-faced spider. A giant spider with a human face. That was what was guarding the gorge. Mok Wigun asked for a little more detail.
"How big is it?"
"It seems to be about five times the size of a person. They said its legs are bigger than a person."
Mok Wipyong spilled everything, even things he wasn't asked. That there was a person who was dragged away alive. That its legs were so hard that even a sword couldn't leave a scratch. That they had tried attacking it with fire, but it could withstand a considerable amount of fire.
"To be able to withstand fire, it must be a considerable creature..."
Mok Wigun had felt that there was something in the gorge. And Baek Seokhu had given him many clues during their conversation. And also from the corpses of the martial artists who had died in the gorge. So he had guessed that it was something with a deadly poison. He just didn't know exactly what it was.
But if it was a human-faced spider, although it was a terrifying monster, it wasn't that there was no way to break through. And probably the leaders of both sides also knew that. That's why they weren't greatly agitated.
'If there was no way, they wouldn't have even cared that I came. Because they would have been focusing everything on finding a way to the Flame Pond.'
But they were completely mistaken. And that would make them face a very serious situation.
"Alright. I've told you everything. So what's the way to go down?"
Mok Wipyong asked urgently. It seemed he wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.
"Listen carefully."
Mok Wigun told him the plan.
"Do you know who the ones who attacked you when you came here were?"
"Isn't it Seomun Daecheol?"
"When the Folding Snow Valley side attacked, butterflies always appeared. Was it the same this time?"
"Huh?"
Mok Wipyong was surprised, as if he hadn't thought of that. Because butterflies had not been seen during the recent attack.
"The ones who attacked were the martial artists sent by the Chang'an magistrate. They were in cahoots with the Baek family."
"That can't be. The Baek family's side also suffered damage."
"That's so they wouldn't be suspected."
Mok Wigun mixed truth and lies moderately and said.
"In a little while, the Divine Physician Valley will say they are going down. That's all to make them feel at ease."
The escort warriors of the Divine Physician Valley were not to be ignored. Their numbers were large, and their skills were considerable. Of course, compared to the Huashan Sect or the Mok family, they were inferior.
But to leave only the Baek family and the Huashan Sect and have the Divine Physician Valley withdraw? A considerable amount of power is leaving.
"After making them let their guard down like that, they will attack, combined with the martial artists sent by the Chang'an magistrate that I mentioned earlier."
"Oh? Then it's really dangerous, isn't it? I have to get out quickly too..."
Mok Wipyong was anxious. Had he ever seen a proper fight? This would be the first time he had experienced so many people dying. So it was understandable that his heart had become so weak.
"So when the Divine Physician Valley says they are going down, tell them what you've heard now."
"But will father believe my words? If he asks where I got the information..."
"Don't say you heard it from me, put forward the Red Tiger Squad captain or some smart person."
If he talked about the butterflies, he would be able to convince them that the attack was not from the Folding Snow Valley. On top of that, the martial arts of the government office are a little different from those of the martial art world. If he said that, he would be able to persuade them without much difficulty.
"Say that it's strange that the Divine Physician Valley is withdrawing now, and that you will follow the Divine Physician Valley with the Red Tiger Squad."
And he would also look around. And so, he would play the role of monitoring the Divine Physician Valley and also defending against the attack of the government office. That was Mok Wigun's story.
"Hmm. That seems good. Father would probably approve of that much."
"Since he can't take out the core power, the only one who can do that is the Red Tiger Squad."
But it was a bit burdensome for the Red Tiger Squad alone to deal with the Divine Physician Valley and the government office warriors. So he said to take some of the martial artists who had come with them.
"There will be those who are close to the Red Tiger Squad captain. You can say you'll take them, centered on those people."
"I see."
Mok Wipyong's face became much better. He was a little relieved at the thought that he could get out of a dangerous place.
"Thank you."
"Instead, you'll have to make a concession regarding the Eastern Heaven Merchant Group or my property. That's a good deal, right?"
"Of course. I'll talk to my mother about it."
He didn't expect that. However, if the Red Tiger Squad withdraws, the power of the Mok family will also be weakened. That was enough.
* * *
The next day, Mok Wigun gathered the people from both sides in one place. He had prepared a place in the middle of both sides, and he had called the key figures. Both sides were paying attention to Mok Wigun's party, so all the people he had called came.
On the Mok family's side, there were about ten people, including the family head, Mok Sonkwang, the protector, Jin Jaryun, the eldest son, Mok Wicheon, the Mupungdae master, and the Biryongdae master. On the Baek family's side, the family head, Baek Seokhu, Protector Bang So-eung, the eldest son, Baek Jongmun, and the Iron Sword Squad master were called, and the Cold Sword Taeseokgwan and Sa Hongmyeong of the Huashan Sect came.
Looking at them gathered like this, it was amazing. Because it was as if all the strongest masters on Mount Xiaohua had gathered. Mok Wigun notified those people.
"We've decided to move on our own."
The expressions of the people on both sides changed for the worse. No, to gather all these people and then say they would move on their own. This was making fun of both sides.
In particular, Mok Sonkwang did not hide his anger. To come to a place where other powers were and then be rejected by his son. He was so angry that his face turned red and his breathing became rough. It looked as if he would use his hands at any moment.
"You should reconsider. It's dangerous. It's better to move in a group, even if it's not our side."
Baek Jongmun, perhaps thinking of easing the atmosphere, spoke slyly. Emphasizing the danger and telling him to choose one of the two. Mok Wigun answered with a smile.
"So we're not going to go in in a hurry. We'll investigate thoroughly and go in slowly, so you all go first."
At Mok Wigun's words, everyone tilted their heads. An expression of not understanding why he was coming out like this when the thousand-year-old fire carp was right in front of them.
"So you gathered all of us here just to say that?"
Mok Sonkwang spat out angry words.
"That's right. I didn't know you would all come like this, but it seems I'm popular."
At those words, everyone was dumbfounded. Most of them looked at Mok Wigun unfavorably. In particular, Mok Sonkwang was so angry that he was about to run out. If Jin Jaryun hadn't stopped him, a fight between father and son would have broken out in front of everyone.
"Your arrogant personality will be your downfall."
Mok Sonkwang spat out, holding back his anger. At that, Mok Wigun answered immediately, as if it was a ridiculous statement.
"If you have a good personality, you won't suffer disaster?"
Mok Wigun looked at the people around him and said. An arrogant personality brings disaster? Nonsense. You just get hit if you look weak.
"Aren't you all thinking of everyone as an enemy anyway?"
After saying that, Mok Wigun snorted and left first. Everyone had a dumbfounded expression. A very strange atmosphere was created because of that.
Usually, you don't just say that and leave. You talk more and finish. But the conversation was cut off at a very ambiguous point. Besides, two groups that treated each other like enemies were left. A strange atmosphere where it was awkward and hostile feelings were flowing.
Whatever the situation on that side, Mok Wigun strode away. Dan Bulseok followed Mok Wigun and asked.
"Wouldn't it be dangerous to openly say they are enemies?"
"What?"
"If both sides think there is an enemy behind them, they will be uncomfortable."
Of course. Although Mok Wigun's group is small in number, their skills are considerable. That's why everyone is paying attention. But since he openly said they were enemies, the back of their heads will be tingling.
Then what kind of reaction will both sides show at a time like that? It's dangerous to leave Mok Wigun's party and go into the Flame Pond. Because it's always most dangerous to be attacked from behind. Then wouldn't they try to solve that problem first?
Mok Wigun instructed Dan Bulseok.
"Captain Dan, spread a rumor on both sides. That we are moving to another place tomorrow."
"Pardon?"
Dan Bulseok asked with a puzzled look.
"Are you really planning to move to another place?"
"That's right. Although it will be for a very short time."
"Shouldn't we move quickly to aim for the thousand-year-old fire carp?"
Mok Wigun shook his head.
"That place is not that easy. It's not for nothing that they say treasures all have owners."
Mok Wigun said as he looked at the Flame Pond.
"Just wait a little. A hellscape will soon unfold."
Dan Bulseok had an expression of not understanding what he was saying. But Mok Wigun's command was absolute. He immediately moved to meet the people he knew on both sides.
Mok Wigun said that and then headed to where the party was. But a welcome person had arrived.
"So spiritual creatures also talk to people?"
"The book I read had a few cases like that."
Pyon Juksu was talking with Hwangbo Ryeong. He stood up from his seat when Mok Wigun came. The two of them went out of the tent and talked while walking.
"What happened?"
"The government office kids are over there. Over there."
Pyon Juksu pointed to a place east of the Flame Pond with his finger.
"They're hiding well, so it won't be easy for people to find them."
"What about the White Butterfly Fairy?"
"She's inside the barrier."
Pyon Juksu excitedly told the story of meeting the White Butterfly Fairy.
"At first, she acted like she was going to kill me, but after looking closely, she told me to follow her."
"It's because you're not human."
"That's right. She was also curious about how the butterflies had avoided me then. She asked me what kind of being I was."
"So?"
Pyon Juksu said he couldn't tell him everything, so he had made up a story moderately.
"You wouldn't know even if I told you. You can just know that I'm a being similar to an immortal. I said something like that. And she nodded her head."
Since he's a vampire lord, he would be similar to a being in the immortal realm in this world.
"But why is she doing this?"
"Originally, the entire Flame Pond was inside the barrier, but the barrier was a bit broken."
The inside of the barrier is a place where the energy of nature is very abundant. So strange flowers and plants are in full bloom, and there are many things that are hard to see in the human world.
But as the barrier broke, the vicinity of the Flame Pond was revealed, and so a rumor spread that there was a spiritual creature there.
"A barrier. You know that field well. Can't you fix it somehow?"
"I looked at it, and I think I can fix it. But I haven't told them yet."
If it's Pyon Juksu, it will be possible. He's a guy who researched and analyzed a dimensional transfer magic circle and installed it, so a barrier is nothing. On top of that, hasn't he studied a lot about barriers in the meantime? So it's done. Everything has been put together.
"Now it's really the end. All that's left is for everything to be sorted out."
Someone will be ruined, and someone will laugh. Mok Wigun was convinced. That he would be the one laughing in the end.
(End of Chapter)