The World's Greatest Troublemaker

Chapter 16

Mok Wigun replied with a smile. It would actually be troublesome if he really kept his mouth shut. It was a signal to spread the rumor moderately.

"After talking this much, I think you know what my intention is."

"Hahaha. So there was a reason why the Third Young Master has been the talk of the town lately."

Magistrate Chu was genuinely delighted.

"I understand. I'll let a few of my talkative kids loose."

It's really convenient when someone understands you well. Mok Wigun asked about Magistrate Chu.

"What's your position in Hao Sect, Magistrate Chu?"

"It's a bit much for me to say this myself, but I'm quite recognized. Shall we say, a rising star?"

He didn't look embarrassed at all. Well, to do this kind of work, it's better to be a bit shameless.

"It's not always easy to set up a Hao Sect branch in a government office. It costs money, and you need connections."

He said flatteringly and then whispered cautiously.

"I might be moving up to the main branch this time."

"Oh ho. A promotion?"

"I'm telling you this specially, Young Master. For some reason, I feel like our connection will continue."

More than that, he probably valued Mok Wigun highly. What's important to Magistrate Chu is information. It seemed he thought the information he could extract from Mok Wigun in the future was that valuable.

It was then. Heo Seongon spoke up.

"The two places marked here seem to be the most suitable in my opinion as well."

One was the Three Thousand Merchant Guild of Shanxi Province, and the other was the World Merchant Guild of Anhui Province. Both were large merchant guilds whose names were widely known.

Magistrate Chu also nodded.

"There are many merchants in the world, but the power of the Jin merchants and Hui merchants can be said to be the greatest. It's a good choice."

Shanxi Province was the former territory of the Jin Dynasty, so the merchants there were called Jin merchants. Hui merchants also referred to the merchants of Huizhou in the southern part of Anhui Province. The Three Thousand Merchant Guild and the World Merchant Guild were the representative merchant guilds of the Jin and Hui merchants, respectively.

"Magistrate Chu. Can you build a bridge to these two places?"

At Mok Wigun's words, Magistrate Chu hesitated for a moment.

"It's possible, but will you be alright?"

The two places had close relationships not only with the merchant world but also with the government and the Martial World. The Mok family was the strongest power in this vicinity, but those two places were not to be taken lightly either.

So it would be fortunate if the talks went well, but if things went wrong, something difficult to handle could happen.

"We have to talk to them first to decide whether to sell the goods or not."

Mok Wigun answered clearly. To proceed. After confirming that he had made up his mind, Magistrate Chu answered.

"I understand. I will do my best."

* * *

The evening family dinner time is usually a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere. In the case of a normal family, that is. But the Mok family's case was not normal.

"How is the atmosphere in the Martial Alliance?"

"The Demonic Sect is a bit quiet, but it seems the Blood Cult is on the move again, so we are planning to form an investigation team."

A normal father would ask about his health or if he was adapting well to the new place. But the Mok Family Head demanded information, and the eldest son, Mok Wicheon, answered as if it were natural.

The second son, Mok Wipyong's face was bruised and blotchy. On top of that, it was very swollen and unsightly. A strange tension flowed in the room. But Mok Wigun seemed unaffected and was picking at his food.

"By the way, what's this about excluding Zhongnan from the Nine Sects One Alliance?"

"It's not confirmed yet."

At the mention of Zhongnan, Mok Wigun also showed a slight interest.

"As you know, hasn't Zhongnan's power weakened significantly?"

"That's right. It hasn't recovered since the bloody incident 10 years ago."

"Yes. It's not like a peak master can be made in a short time."

The power of a martial arts sect depends on the number of masters. In particular, they consider how many masters are at or above the peak master level to be important. But the Zhongnan sect's peak masters were wiped out 10 years ago.

"Until now, there were many opinions to give them time and watch, but the atmosphere has changed a bit recently."

Zhongnan is not qualified to be one of the Nine Sects One Alliance. So let's include a qualified sect and exclude Zhongnan. That kind of talk had suddenly emerged.

"But there is still considerable opposition, so it's not yet known what will happen."

"I guess so. With Zhongnan's situation like that, it doesn't look good to kick them out right away."

Mok Seonkwang ate a wide noodle and continued to talk.

"It will be difficult for now because there needs to be a justification, but it won't drag on for long. Because it's unlikely that this kind of talk came out of nowhere."

He said there must be a faction that planned this. And he threw a question to his eldest son.

"So. What do you think would be a good way to build such a justification?"

"In my opinion, this Blood Cult investigation team would be a good justification."

It was something that happened often, so Mok Wicheon answered immediately.

Forming an investigation team requires manpower and funds. That is divided among the various sects, and Zhongnan is lacking in both. But Mok Seonkwang was not satisfied with his eldest son's answer.

"An investigation team is too weak. A subjugation force would be a different story."

"Then what do you think they will use to build a justification?"

"I think a case like this Heavenly Martial Conference is more likely."

What is the Heavenly Martial Conference? It was a martial arts tournament, a kind of exchange match, hosted by the Heavenly Martial Academy.

Then what is the Heavenly Martial Academy? It was an organization created by the Martial Alliance as the fight against evil factions like the Demonic Sect and the Blood Cult continued endlessly.

Under the pretext of jointly responding to the evil factions, they created a place for sects in the same region to interact and build friendships. While talking about that, the Mok Family Head suddenly threw a question to Mok Wipyong.

"What do you think the Heavenly Martial Conference is?"

Mok Wipyong hesitated and answered.

"It is a place where each sect competes with their skills..."

Before the answer was finished, the Mok Family Head clicked his tongue with a "tsk tsk". Then he asked Mok Wigun the same question.

"You? What do you think the Heavenly Martial Conference is?"

Mok Wigun answered immediately without even thinking.

"Isn't it a place to show off your sect's skills? While crushing the weak sects. And using that as an excuse to make some money."

"Show off? Why?"

"No matter how much you talk, who's going to acknowledge it? That's why you show them directly."

What you experience directly is much more strongly embedded in your mind. So look. We are this strong. It's to make people feel that directly. That's how proper authority is established and their right to speak becomes stronger.

"That's why they spend so much money to create a big stage and make a fuss every year, isn't it?"

The preliminaries held at the four academies are also a big spectacle, but the finals are on a different scale. A huge stage is set up, and numerous people come to watch.

"You know well."

The Mok Family Head's simple, not-so-great compliment. But at those words, the air of the dinner table changed. Envy, jealousy, and wary glances towards Mok Wigun.

In particular, Mok Wicheon had a look that said, 'how do you know even that?'. The youngest brother who had suddenly been rising up these past few days. He was now definitely starting to become a burden.

The strange atmosphere that had continued for a moment disappeared when the Family Head opened his mouth.

"That's right. But what if, in a place like that, one of the Nine Sects One Alliance is seen losing to a weak sect?"

There would be no better justification than that. The power of a martial arts sect is its martial strength. A sect that has lost that cannot be recognized in the Martial World.

"Perhaps the scale of this Heavenly Martial Conference will be even larger. And something will change."

"You mean to show people in a blatant way. I think so too."

The two of them seemed convinced that Zhongnan's performance would be at the bottom and that they would be greatly humiliated. But Mok Wigun had a different thought. Because many things would change if only Pung Oksan was cured.

Besides, he didn't feel good about them badmouthing a place he had a connection with so much. Just because they are weak doesn't mean they have to always be weak, does it? So he spoke.

"The results don't always come out as expected. Just look at yesterday's case."

At those words, the expression on Mok Wipyong's swollen face contorted.

"Do you have a different opinion?"

"There are always variables."

Mok Seonkwang looked at his third son. The Mok Wigun who would not have spoken his mind in a place like this in the past.

"Is there a special reason for you to judge so?"

"The West Academy is originally a place where unexpected results often occur."

The Heavenly Martial Academy is divided into four regions. The North Academy centered around Shaolin, and the South Academy centered around Wudang. In reality, these two academies are the core of the Martial Alliance.

And there is the West Academy centered around Huashan, and the Outer Academy which includes Kunlun, Emei, and the Sichuan Tang family. Zhongnan was affiliated with the West Academy.

'I can't talk about Pung Oksan.'

The fact that he could be cured was very important information. So Mok Wigun hid the information and gave a vague answer. When no special story came out, Mok Seonkwang turned his gaze back to his eldest son.

"Then who do you think will enter the Nine Sects One Alliance in place of Zhongnan?"

"There are several places being talked about right now."

He talked about the Hainan Sect and the Hengshan Sect, and also mentioned the Quanzhen Sect, the Putuo Sect, and the Changbai Sect. Mok Seonkwang nodded.

"That's about the level of a regional hegemon."

"I think it will be around the Hainan Sect or the Hengshan Sect."

"You saw well. The Putuo Sect and the Changbai Sect are too remote. The Quanzhen Sect has a tendency to be uncooperative in secular affairs."

The Hainan Sect is also in a remote place, but it has recently expanded its power and can be called the hegemon of the Guangdong and Guangxi regions. The Hengshan Sect also encompassed the Hunan region, so it was a sect that would have no objections even if it entered the Nine Sects One Alliance.

The Mok Family Head put down his chopsticks and asked the real question. He had been leading the conversation up to now to ask this question.

"So, is it to our advantage or disadvantage for Zhongnan to be out and another place to come in?"

At the sudden question, Mok Wicheon couldn't answer. It was because he had never been asked such a question before.

Of course, he had never even thought about whether it was to the Mok family's advantage or disadvantage for Zhongnan to be excluded from the Nine Sects One Alliance. As the eldest son hesitated, Mok Seonkwang's voice grew louder.

"If you're not going to use it for such judgments, why do you need to know the information?"

Mok Wigun was slightly surprised. Should I say, as expected of the leader who leads the Mok family.

Information in itself is not special. It gains value when you find out what it means to you and use it.

"What do you think?"

The spark flew to the second son, Mok Wipyong.

"Sir? I haven't had much time to organize my thoughts since I just heard the news..."

"Pathetic! How can you say you will lead the Mok family when you are like this?"

The Family Head's voice boomed. The Family Head's head turned.

"You?"

(End of Chapter)