Sword God Reborn

Chapter 88 : The Beauty of a Surprise Attack

The information from the Beggars' Sect included the following phrase.

-Red Dragon Faction Master in seclusion.

Although one might ask what kind of seclusion a black-way would do, it was different for a scale like the Red Dragon Faction.

The Red Dragon Faction was a force that had divided Chongqing with Gwak Yong's Flying Sword Sect, a hero of the righteous-demonic war.

The Red Dragon Faction, which had been investigated in various ways, was larger in scale than the Black Heart Gang in Henan, which Cheon Mubaeck had taken control of.

"Because it's the younger brother of the Great Dragon Gang, the big brother of the black-way."

A sense of hostility was in Gwak Cheon-hu's voice.

"In fact, there is a rumor that the Great Dragon Gang Master and the Red Dragon Faction Master call each other brothers."

Neung-heo frowned and tapped the report.

"Hmm. It's estimated here that the Red Dragon Faction Master's martial power is at least at the highest level of the peak."

"Hmph. Even so, he's no match for my father."

Gwak Cheon-hu said, crossing his arms.

But if the master of a black-way faction had this much martial power, he could not be disregarded. This was the level of a leader of a considerable large sect. In particular, when he recalled that Master Muso, the head of the Arhat Hall of the weakened Shaolin, had remained at the highest level of the peak, he was not to be taken lightly.

"With this kind of martial prowess, he must have gone through repeated seclusions."

A realm that was not easy to reach without seclusion training.

But the next information from the Hao Faction had a rather heterogeneous content.

-Red Dragon Faction Master holding a banquet at the Nakwha-ru.

"A guy who is in seclusion held a drinking party at a gisaeng house?"

The conflicting content of the Hao Faction and the Beggars' Sect.

"Well, one of them must be wrong. The Beggars' Sect, and the Hao Faction, not all of their kids are accurate."

Neung-heo said nonchalantly.

That's right.

Even if the information power of the Beggars' Sect and the Hao Faction was considerable, it was not something that could be completely trusted.

There were plenty of times when they had given out wrong information.

There were also occasional times when they had had a big friction with the martial artists who had bought the information.

But Cheon Mubaeck believed that the information of both groups was not wrong.

"The fact that the Red Dragon Faction Master has entered seclusion is certain information."

"Then is the Hao Faction wrong?"

"No."

"What do you mean?"

"The Beggars' Sect missed the Red Dragon Faction Master's movement."

The Nakwha-ru was a gisaeng house.

And the Hao Faction was close to the gisaeng houses.

"It must have been a secret movement."

The Beggars' Sect still believed and was convinced that the Red Dragon Faction Master had entered seclusion training.

"Then does that mean that even though he was in seclusion, he secretly visited a gisaeng house?"

"Right. If it was the movement of the Red Dragon Faction Master, the Beggars' Sect would have noticed."

"To think that he moved without even the Beggars' Sect noticing..."

"The Hao Faction must have known that the Red Dragon Faction Master had moved through the gisaeng house."

"If so, it means that the Red Dragon Faction Master secretly broke his seclusion and moved without it being known to the outside..."

"The date here."

Cheon Mubaeck pointed to the relevant phrase with his finger.

The date of the banquet was written. Gwak Cheon-hu's eyebrows twitched.

"It was two days before the tragedy occurred."

"Isn't it cunning?"

"Eum..."

"And here."

-Red Dragon Faction black-way members witnessed at the Nakseong-mun, the Yuk Family Villa, the Chuga-jang, etc.

-The secret martial arts of the relevant sects are lost

-It is presumed that they were stolen by the Red Dragon Faction.

-The Sacred Fire Sect and the Seopjin-mun's pavilions and warehouses where the secret manuals were stored were destroyed by fire at the time of the bloodbath. The Red Dragon Faction did not approach.

"Eum..."

Gwak Cheon-hu let out a groan.

"Isn't it too fast?"

As if they had expected it, the Red Dragon Faction had moved quickly.

What was the biggest weakness of the black-way?

"They lack depth in their martial arts. They just learn various martial arts that are rolling around in the martial world."

"Although it's a small and medium-sized sect, if it's the secret martial art of a sect with a history of dozens of years, it's worth coveting."

"That's true, but..."

Gwak Cheon-hu trailed off.

"The Flying Sword Sect also suspected the Red Dragon Faction because of this movement of the Red Dragon Faction. In fact, my father took up his sword in his old age, saying that he would destroy the Red Dragon Faction on this occasion."

"But?"

"But it was revealed that the Fox Immortal was among the perpetrators. The Fox Immortal, a famous master of the orthodox sects, became a subordinate of the black-way? It's strange. So he sent me to Shaanxi right away."

Well, from the Flying Sword Sect's point of view, it would be confusing.

They had thought it was the work of the black-way, but it was revealed that the perpetrator was a famous master of the orthodox sects.

Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head.

"But it's better to strike this side first."

Cheon Mubaeck said that and looked at Neung-heo.

"The guy I beat up, right?"

"Yes."

"Wake him up and beat him to death."

Neung-heo's expression became surprised.

"You're not telling me to find something out, but to beat him up?"

"The black-way only gives an answer when they're beaten."

"Well, you know that the person listening is also a black-way member, right?"

"Yes. You also listen when you're beaten."

"Well. I understand. You mean to beat him to a pulp and then to get all the words out of him, right?"

Neung-heo grinned as if it were a good thing.

* * *

Cheon Mubaeck sent Gwak Cheon-hu to the Beggars' Sect to keep an eye on the movements of the Red Dragon Faction.

And Neung-heo, as per Cheon Mubaeck's orders, dragged Deok-jong to a secluded place.

Although Deok-jong was Deok-jong, Neung-heo, who had rolled around like a dog in the black-way for dozens of years, was also not an easy person.

On the contrary, Neung-heo, who was also a black-way member, would be able to handle and to get information out of Deok-jong more easily.

Cheon Mubaeck came to the inn right after.

Perhaps because of the tragedy of the Sacred Fire Sect, the nearby inns were closed.

There was one inn that was still operating, and when Cheon Mubaeck ordered a meal, Chae Ga-ryeong and Yeon So-un came down from the second floor.

Chae Ga-ryeong was startled to see Cheon Mubaeck sitting in a corner of the inn.

"..."

"Hello..."

Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head instead of greeting.

Perhaps because she had bathed and had rested well, Chae Ga-ryeong did not look as tired as she had the day before.

Chae Ga-ryeong glanced at Cheon Mubaeck and sat down in a corner with Yeon So-un, fidgeting.

Cheon Mubaeck said suddenly.

"Let's talk for a moment."

Chae Ga-ryeong glanced at Yeon So-un and came to Cheon Mubaeck's table and sat down.

Cheon Mubaeck called the waiter and ordered more food.

"Ah, thank you."

Cheon Mubaeck stared at Chae Ga-ryeong's somewhat dejected face.

"Let's eat first. You must have gone to bed without eating properly yesterday."

"This favor..."

"It's fine."

Cheon Mubaeck waved his hand as if he were disgusted.

What favor.

"Have you seen your great-grandfather?"

"Pardon? No. He passed away before I was born."

"Right."

Cheon Mubae-ck was lost in thought for a moment. Although they were not completely alike, the corners of her eyes, which were strangely droopy, and her lips, which naturally had a slight smile, were exactly like his friend in his memory.

Was it because of that?

Cheon Mubaeck felt a slight sense of guilt at the sight of Chae Ga-ryeong, whose Sacred Fire Sect had collapsed and who was being abused by the black-way.

'Come to think of it, besides that guy, there were one or two more guys who had established a sect...'

Most of the people he had known in the righteous-demonic war had died. But there were quite a few people who had survived. There was a friend who was strong in martial arts, and there was also a friend who, although lacking, had an ambition as great as a great river. Of course, it was absurd for Cheon Mubaeck to take responsibility for all of them.

But he suddenly thought that he should have at least checked on how they were doing.

Or even now, how their descendants were doing, whether they were lacking anything...

That was the camaraderie and the loyalty that Cheon Mubaeck could at least show.

'Hmm... then.'

Cheon Mubaeck had felt something as he looked around the current martial world.

Although the righteous-demonic war had caused enormous damage, in the end, it had ended with the victory of the orthodox sects.

So the current martial world had a strong tendency to not just commemorate the victims and heroes of the righteous-demonic war, but to sanctify them.

At least for the people of the orthodox sects.

Their descendants, the sects they had belonged to.

'If I tie them together?'

Cheon Mubaeck's head spun.

Even the Sacred Fire Sect, which was now annihilated, had a decent secret martial art called the Chae Family Sword.

'The current orthodox sects are relatively lacking.'

40 years ago, even the orthodox sects of that fierce era had been evaluated as the weakest among the hundred white-way martial arts in history. So they had collapsed helplessly at the attack of the Demonic Sect.

Now, the level was even lower because they had not fully recovered from the damage of that time.

'At least if I gather the power of the descendants who have inherited the legacy left by those who survived and fought in the righteous-demonic war in one place.'

Then the probability of being attacked by an unexpected enemy like the Sacred Fire Sect would be lower, and even if they were attacked, they could retaliate.

Cheon Mubaeck did not stop his thoughts there.

There was definitely a martial arts alliance in the hundred white-way martial arts that had become nominal after the righteous-demonic war.

But what if a sect alliance made up of the veterans of the righteous-demonic war and their descendants was created?

And if Cheon Mubaeck declared himself a descendant of the Azure Sky Sword God and became their spiritual pillar?

Cheon Mubaeck recalled the Zhongnan Sect.

Although he had put their ambitions on hold for a while by showing them the Shaolin Exemption Plaque, would there be only Zhongnan like that? There were plenty, regardless of orthodox, unorthodox, or demonic.

'A force.'

In his previous life, Cheon Mubae-ck had been the Azure Sky Sword God.

He had stood firm alone and no one could approach him.

But now?

'I have to admit it. I'm not at that level yet.'

Moreover, Cheon Mubaeck had things to protect, like the Azure Star Escort Agency and his family.

'A force... I'll have to think about it more.'

When he had finished his thoughts, the additional food he had ordered arrived.

"Has the Red Dragon Faction ever directly targeted the Sacred Fire Sect, or has there been any sign of that?"

"...We've clashed a few times over business matters."

"Just simple friction and disputes?"

"Yes."

"It has never escalated beyond that?"

Chae Ga-ryeong, who had been staring at Cheon Mubaeck for a moment, nodded her head.

"Yes. We've never had a large-scale fight."

"With the scale of the Red Dragon Faction, they could have swallowed the Sacred Fire Sect."

"That's right. But they couldn't. You may not know, but, no, you would know. My great-grandfather was active in the righteous-demonic war. And in Chongqing, the Flying Sword Sect represents the white path. I heard that the Fighting God, the sect leader of the Flying Sword Sect, had called my great-grandfather his older brother during the righteous-demonic war."

"That's right."

Cheon Mubaeck smirked. He vaguely recalled the two of them bickering.

"Of course, that doesn't mean that the sect leader of the Flying Sword Sect specially took care of the Sacred Fire Sect. But the Red Dragon Faction had no choice but to be wary."

After answering that far, Chae Ga-ryeong asked with a serious expression.

"Is the perpetrator the Red Dragon Faction?"

"I don't know yet. I'm investigating whether there are any peculiarities among the attacked sects."

Although there were disputes and friction with the Red Dragon Faction, they were guys who were wary of the Flying Sword Sect.

It was not the work of the Red Dragon Faction alone.

There was no particularly bad blood to the point of annihilating them. No matter how much he thought about it, there was no peculiarity. Why on earth did they annihilate the Sacred Fire Sect? The answer to that did not come out.

'In the end, I have to catch the perpetrator myself and beat him up.'

This was also not an easy thing.

The shortcut was to strike the Red Dragon Faction, which at least had a connection.

Just then, Neung-heo, who had beaten up Deok-jong, entered the inn.

"Were you having a meal?"

"Did you get anything out of that guy?"

"He said there were guys who had visited the sect leader."

"Detailed identity?"

"Not only him, but the vice-leader also doesn't know. It seems there are separate factions that follow the sect leader and the vice-leader. The guy I beat up is from the vice-leader's faction."

"Is that so, Neung-heo?"

"Yes, please speak."

"Eat."

"Huh?"

Neung-heo looked at him with a 'what's with this guy' expression.

"Why are you being so kind, unlike yourself?"

"You have to eat well before you fight."

Neung-heo's eyes widened.

"With the Red Dragon Faction?"

"What choice do we have? We've looked everywhere, but there's no answer. We have to beat up the sure one."

He had gone through the Beggars' Sect and the Hao Faction. And he had also heard the story from Chae Ga-ryeong, the victim and the survivor.

But he could not go any further.

The answer would only come out when he caught the Red Dragon Faction Master himself. So Cheon Mubaeck had made a decision right away.

Neung-heo, who had seen Cheon Mubaeck's expression, sighed and put the meat on the table into his mouth.

"When are we going?"

"After you finish eating, and after we get Gwak Cheon-hu."

"We're taking Cheon-hu too?"

We're taking Gwak Cheon-hu too. This means it's a full-scale operation. Not just doing it roughly, but it means that he's really going to turn the Red Dragon Faction upside down.

Neung-heo, for a moment, felt a strange emotion at the fact that he was talking about such a thing as if it were natural, sitting at an inn table.

'Neung-heo, a low-ranking executive of the Black Heart Gang, is now talking about attacking the younger brother of the Great Dragon Gang. I've also made it.'

Neung-heo laughed and looked at Cheon Mubaeck.

"Then we're going as soon as we finish eating and Cheon-hu comes, so are we striking so quickly? Without any preparation?"

"What preparation is needed?"

At that, Chae Ga-ryeong, who had been quietly listening to the story, carefully interrupted.

"There are many white-way sects in the vicinity that have a grudge against the Red Dragon Faction."

"Eum?"

"Then we can get support from the warriors. I know a few elders."

Neung-heo clapped his hands as if he had found the right thing.

"Right. Our forces are too outnumbered. Is the Red Dragon Faction some dog's name?"

"Then, uh, Miss Chae?"

"Yes!"

"First, ask the nearby white-way sects for some people. Eum, it should be fine if you use Gwak Cheon-hu's name."

Chae Ga-ryeong nodded her head, as if she were happy that she could also be of some help.

And she answered firmly with a determined face.

"Yes. I'll move right away."

"Neung-heo, then let's go find Cheon-hu right away."

"Huh? Aren't we going to wait until we gather people?"

"If you attack after all the preparations are made, is that a surprise attack?"

"It seems we're moving too hastily."

Cheon Mubaeck grinned.

"That's the beauty of a surprise attack."

To drive the opponent to the point where even the attacking side is flustered.

That was Cheon Mubaeck's surprise attack.

(End of Chapter)