Episode 371 I’ll keep it a secret.
As Saekma put down his drink, he looked at Maengju’s expression.
“….”
For some reason, I thought it was an expression I had seen somewhere before, so I searched my memory and realized that the master’s expression was often like that. I had a feeling that a round of nagging would follow.
Saekma filled his drink first and then sat down opposite Maengju.
“I…”
“Mong Lang.”
“Yes, Lord Maeng.”
“Let’s drink first.”
After drinking, the two glared at each other. At a time like this, the memory of being hit on the head by the master for speaking out carelessly came back to me, so I kept my mouth shut.
Lim So-baek said.
“Can I speak now?”
“sure. Lord Maeng.”
Lim So-baek said while fiddling with his glass.
“Moonju asked for some money?”
“yes.”
“I have to give it to you.”
“yes?”
“I’ll give it to you.” Moonju is not a man who will spend money on useless things.”
“hmm.”
This time, Lim Sobaek spoke while pouring drinks.
“As you know, Munju gave up most of the wealth obtained from the Namak Nokrim Alliance to the Murim Alliance. If he was greedy for money, he wouldn’t have done that then. Moreover, at that time, as soon as I cleared out Namak, I went north and attacked Mongnyeongchae. So, Moonju had enough time to steal the money. However, it is said that he led the bandits to gather all the wealth there and brought it to the Hyeongsan branch.”
“Yes, I heard about it.”
“Mongrang, what happened to the money Munju brought back then?”
The devil scratched his forehead and then answered.
“I do not know.”
“Most of it is still there. Oh, it was a little bitter. “Mr. Wen seriously injured the head of the Sima Hak family at the Hyeongsan branch.”
Lim So-baek spoke in a lowered tone, as if telling a secret.
“He’s a guy I always disliked, so how did Munju know that he attacked me like that? Anyway, it’s a personal feeling. Since the head of the alliance’s family was seriously injured, we provided generous medical expenses. Of course, with the money of the Namak Green Forest Alliance.”
“yes.”
“It was an agreed upon meeting, so there was also the intention that Hao Wen and Sima Shiga should not fight in the future.”
“okay.”
“So anyway, if Moonju asks me for some money, it’s right to give it to him. From what I have seen, it is because he is a man who is not greedy for money. “Why do you think I’m saying this?”
“well.”
“It’s not just money given. Moonju has the right to ask me for money. What I’m saying is that I have a good reason to give money. Now let’s hear why we need money.”
Only then did Saekma calm down a bit.
“yes. There was a guesthouse in an empty place south of Baekeungji, and Munju was attacked there. To Gwangmyeong Woosa and his party. “First of all, we killed most of the troops, but Usa was missed.”
After seeing Lim So-baek listening seriously, Saek Ma continued speaking.
“On the way back, Moonju said he would occupy the guesthouse. At first, are you just trying to get revenge? “I felt like this.”
“however?”
Saekma looked at the paper and brush on the edge of the desk.
“Can I use that?”
“Write it.”
After soaking a thin brush with ink, Saek Ma brought out a piece of paper and placed it in front of Lim Sobaek. He said after drawing a circle in the center with a brush.
“This is the guesthouse location.”
Saekma continued his explanation while moving his brush.
“Up to the northeast of Baekeungji, to the southeast of the Murim Alliance, and to the east and south near this side of the Jecheon Alliance, the Seosaeng faction and the Sega Baekdo faction are scattered. “Munju called this guesthouse the gateway.”
“Gateway?”
“Yes, if you look to the west, there is Maqiao to the southwest and the old head temple to the northwest. Munju knows that he is the Demon Cult’s number one enemy. I also know that since my master now has the Light Sword, I will continue to be a target. “It looks like it won’t move from Jaha Gaekjan, which is being rebuilt this time.”
“Is your name Jaha Gaekjan?”
“yes.”
Lim Sobaek thought deeply and said.
“So this is Haomun’s headquarters?”
The demon nodded.
“That’s right. First of all, it appears that I told the Lord of Jecheon to invest.”
“To Zhou Geuk? “He said yes?”
“yes. Munju’s thoughts are also hoping for investment from the Jecheon Alliance, investment from the Murim Alliance, and investment from the Seosaeng side. We will also involve large and small Bangpa belonging to Haomun. I told them to make sure to get the flag of the place they are investing in. So actually, the amount of money doesn’t matter. This is the headquarters of Haomun, invested by the Jecheon Alliance and the Murim Alliance. “It seems like they want to show off with a colorful flag that numerous sects helped establish Haomun.”
Lim So-baek, who had been quietly listening to the story of the demon, turned his gaze to the map. The sight of a circle drawn in an empty place felt very dangerous and lonely.
‘But a gateway?’
Lin Xiaobai raised his head and looked at the color demon.
“…Did you say that Moonju was thinking about ruining himself?”
The demon nodded.
“yes.”
“Is this a scheme where all sorts of forces are encouraged to invest and then Jaha Gaekjan is destroyed by the Demonic Cult?”
The devil let out a brief sigh.
“Yes, you saw it correctly.”
I thought he understood very quickly, perhaps because he was the Murim lord. The color demon looked at the leader’s expression. I was lost in thought with my mouth closed, but this time I couldn’t speak at all.
Only then did he realize that Lim So-baek had more gray hair than he had seen before.
Lim Sobaek sat down in a chair and touched his chin with one hand.
“Then does that mean that Joo-geuk also knows Mun-joo’s intentions?”
“You probably know.”
“The plan that Munju is making is too big and dangerous. Giving up the flag and investing is secondary. Moonju is becoming too dangerous. “I vaguely understand what kind of emotion was behind the strategy, but why am I so angry all of a sudden?”
“yes?”
“Why is Moonju so angry?”
“Why do you think you’re angry?”
“The person I know likes to make trouble for others, so I thought he would harass the Demonic Cult all the time with bullying and hit-and-run strategies. That’s Moon-ju’s tendency. “He is excellent at improvising, so even if he goes on a rampage alone, he can drag around and annihilate some of the Demon Cult’s troops.”
“hmm.”
“Think about it. Even if Munju was an enemy of the Murim Alliance, it would not be easy to catch him. Unless I sharpen the knife myself, it will be very difficult to hold it. He would have told them to stop halfway because it would only increase the damage to his subordinates. The same goes for demons. Of course, the cult leader’s tendencies will be different from mine.”
“That’s right.”
“Anyway, the strategy that Moonju is talking about now is that he will take the lead. It means that you will give up the strategy you are best at, that is, the strategy that causes trouble. How can you give up your inclinations without getting angry to the top of your head?”
“Hmm, I see.”
“The war has not even started, but Hao Wen’s flag has been planted in the middle of the central plain. Isn’t this like asking for life or death from the Demonic Cult? “With the mindset of not running away.”
The expression on the third man’s face as he plunged his dagger into the table came to mind.
“….”
“In the end, they decided that Hao Mun alone would not be able to stop the Demon Cult, so they gathered the flags of those who were willing to fight the Demon Cult in advance. “If the Jaha Gaekjan collapses, the flags that participated will be engulfed in flames along with it.”
“That’s right.”
“Mong Lang.”
“yes.”
“The cause and cause are clear, so I have no choice but to participate in Moonju’s strategy regardless of my personal feelings. But the problem is that the people in Jaha’s guesthouse are in danger… Was there any other information about that?”
“yes. doesn’t exist. And thirdly, I will tell you about what made Munju angry.”
“Let’s listen.”
“While chasing Gwangmyeong Woosa, he took hostages at Tongcheonmun Gate. “He killed the men, took the woman and child hostage, called Munju, and told him to explain the season called Ilwolgwangcheon.”
“…Sun and Moon Light Spring.”
“At that time, Moonju explained the Ilwolgwangcheon River differently than I expected, and then continued to insist and sent Usa. “It was a conversation and persuasion that was difficult to explain in words, but that was the result anyway.”
“What about the women and children?”
“Fortunately, they all survived. At this time, together with the Jecheon lord who came to help Tongcheonbang, he promised to jointly invest in the reconstruction of Tongcheonbang. This is the strategy I came up with after thinking about it for a long time. As you said, it looks like you were very angry. “There were a lot of times when I was smiling, so I couldn’t understand my emotions.”
Saekma filled Maengju’s glass with alcohol.
Lim So-baek muttered while looking at his glass of wine.
“You shouldn’t drink this much during work hours.”
However, contrary to what he said, Lim So-baek drank again. Lim Sobaek put down his drink and said to Saekma.
“We will proceed with the investment and hand over the flag.”
“yes.”
At this time, the guard knocked on the door from outside.
“I am speaking to you because I have asked you to see the Lord Gongseon.”
Lim So-baek answered.
“Tell them to come back after the class visit.”
“All right.”
Lim So-baek said.
“Mongrang, your master will not leave Wenju’s side.”
“I know.”
“I think the reason you know and the reason I know are slightly different.”
“Is that so?”
Lim So-baek said while looking at the expression on the devil’s face.
“This is just my guess, but would you like to hear it?”
“yes.”
“A similar thing happened before you were born.”
Saekma heard something from Lim So-baek that he did not expect at all. Lim Sobaek continued.
“At that time, the place was Jade Flower Palace.”
“…Does that have anything to do with Master’s actions?”
“Why do you think it doesn’t matter? To be precise, it was the defeat of the Okhwabaekdo coalition. Baekdo went out to save those belonging to Okhwa Palace, but Okhwa Palace was also engulfed in fire and the palace owner died at that time. The Demonic Cult has returned after dealing with the apostates. Your master would not have been a left master at that time. Because he must have been young. “I don’t even know if I participated in the war or not.”
“….”
“As time passed, it must have become a left temple. Survivors of Jade Flower Palace are very rare. Although it is a record of only a few lines, those who witnessed the disaster at the time would have known why the Demon Cult was a Demon Cult. Many of the Baekdo masters who had gone to help died. Of course, the fathers and masters of those who are now called emperors were also mixed in. But anyway, I couldn’t save much. “The flow of time was a bit mixed up, but one day, while I was watching you fight, I saw you using an ice ball, which is rare in a powerhouse.”
The color demon looked at Lin Xiaobai.
“yes.”
“Also, going back in time, one day news came that Master Gwangmyeong of the Demonic Cult had deserted the Cult. Surprisingly, they said he was staying at Baekeungji. My subordinates were of the opinion that we should go catch him, but honestly, I was a little confused. “If he is an apostate, he must be someone who has escaped from the devil’s religion.”
“That’s right.”
“It looks like he has gained a disciple. I heard that he is the second son of the Wind Cloud Dreamer. “They said he was the child of another woman.”
The red horse looked at Lin Xiaobai without blinking.
“….”
Lim So-baek said.
“If the first thing a man who was a left monk did after leaving the Demonic Cult was to find the survivors of Jade Flower Palace, what was his intention? What is the intention of accepting the survivor’s child as a disciple? Is it atonement? Or is it a declaration that he will not walk the magic path? As I was wondering alone, I ordered the Murim Alliance not to touch the former master. Since we could be attacked by surprise, we also sent in a few special forces. “Nothing major happened, but as if there was nothing to report, several reports came in about my student’s behavior.”
“…yes.”
“Unexpectedly, the Sword Demon later asked me to dance. I knew it as soon as I saw your master. That he is not a foolish man. It seemed like he wasn’t trying to attack me because of his reputation or simple desire to win. Leave the magic sword behind and use a wooden sword? It was a cheeky suggestion. It seemed like he wanted to show you the dance. Of course, Moonju would have been watching along. On the one hand, his words were a bit strange, but he also seemed like someone who was newly learning the sword.”
Lim So-baek said while looking at the color demon.
“how is it? Aren’t the reasons you think and the reasons I think a bit different? If Munju planted a flag under Baek Eung-ji, your master would not avoid it either. “He must have always been dealing with the Demonic Cult and looking for a place to die.”
The demon looked to the side and muttered.
“So…”
The demon, speechless, suddenly dropped his forehead and hit the desk. Even though the Murim Lord was looking at him, the demon did not raise his head, holding his head with one hand. After a while, the color demon raised his head and looked at Lin Xiaobai.
“…sorry.”
Lim So-baek said while pouring drinks.
“Mongrang, actually, I know how strong a man you are. Martial arts. I believe that as time goes by, your heart will become as strong as that ice ball. Tell it to Moonju. You can lose as much of your investment as you want. I will support you in any way, but you just have to make your strategy successful and then run away. The house is on fire, there is no need for you to be engulfed in it as well. Let’s all come together and fight back. “This is an order.”
“All right. Lord Maeng.”
The two shared a drink and then took a deep breath. Lim So-baek said while looking at the red horse blankly.
“I’ll keep it a secret that the grown man shed a few tears.”
The color demon answered while wiping the area around his eyes with his thumb.
“Oh, I didn’t cry. There was quite a bit of dust in it.”
Only then did Lim So-baek smile for the first time.
“okay.”
