Chapter 327 |
Chapter 327
Who is the Fool?
Having identified Shinchun as the hidden force, Jeongmumaeng was established amidst the chaos, closing the gates of sects like the Hwasan sect and Jeomchang, and even bringing down Wi Ji-hak, the leader of Murim Alliance.
Back when the civil war among the orthodox factions was raging, he was a man merely spectating from the sidelines. Now, he dared to covet the leader's position.
Mu-jin was about to speak up against the absurd actions of Hwang-bo Ak when Jegal Muhwan’s voice transmission reached him.
- Let’s observe for now.
While Mu-jin frowned at the unexpected voice transmission,
“Hahaha! It’s delightful that Peng Family and Kunlun share the same intentions as us.”
It seemed either Hwang-bo Ak was oblivious to Mu-jin’s expression or he simply didn’t care. Hwang-bo Ak continued to lead the conversation loudly.
“Ahem. You must be weary from your long journey. Let me show you to your accommodations.”
As it seemed Hwang-bo Ak's nonsense wouldn't end, Hyun-cheon intervened to mediate.
“Hwang-bo, I wish to receive a clear answer. Leader, by deflecting the conversation, are you perhaps ignoring our opinions?”
Acting as if Peng Family and Kunlun were on his side, Hwang-bo Ak responded with his characteristic warm smile.
“I’ve already given an answer to that issue, so there’s no need to discuss it further.”
“Hahaha! It seems the leader is a more generous man than he appears!”
Believing that Hyun-cheon agreed to the proposal of electing a new leader, Hwang-bo Ak laughed heartily and stood up.
“Since we’re together by fate, why not enjoy dinner together?”
“Given the new state of the alliance, there are many matters to handle, so it would be difficult.”
When Hyun-cheon and Jegal Muhwan expressed their refusal, Hwang-bo Ak turned to Heo-yoon of Kunlun and Peng Gun-young of the Peng Family.
Heo-yoon declined Hwang-bo Ak's invitation, citing fatigue, and left separately. Peng Gun-young left with Hwang-bo Ak, both laughing.
After Heo-yoon, Hwang-bo Ak, and Peng Gun-young left, Mu-jin, wearing a deeply furrowed expression, asked Jegal Muhwan.
“Now, could you explain? General Commander.”
However, Jegal Muhwan asked a rather unexpected question in return.
“Have you ever met Hwang-bo Ak?”
“...No, but why do you ask?”
“I met him several times while working as the military strategist for Murim Alliance, and Hwang-bo Ak is not an intelligent person.”
“...He didn’t seem particularly smart from his obvious scheming.”
“What I mean is, he’s not smart enough to come up with such schemes on his own.”
How much of a fool could he be?
‘Indeed, the Hwangbo family is famous for their innate divine strength, but also infamous for their lack of intelligence.’
However, regardless of that reputation, a head of a family wouldn’t be that foolish.
Moreover, to master martial arts to that extent, one needs at least a basic level of intelligence.
Especially considering his aura earlier, Hwang-bo Ak was at a level that even Mu-jin could acknowledge as a ‘master.’
“Perhaps he became slightly smarter while leading the family?”
“That possibility can’t be ruled out, but I think of another possibility first.”
“What possibility?”
“One of the pieces of information you discovered earlier: that the Third Leader of Shinchun is based in Shandong Province.”
“Are you suggesting Hwang-bo Ak might be being used by Shinchun?”
Jegal Muhwan nodded.
“When there were conflicts among the Tang Clan, Emei, and Qingcheng in Sichuan, it was revealed that the leader of Wunhyangwon was a grandmaster of Shinchun. Also, Guangxi Jin Family, part of the Seven Evils, had ties with the Nasha Witch, and in Nanzhao, they captured Hwang Gon, another grandmaster. Thus, it’s possible Shinchun has also reached out to the Hwangbo family.”
It was a highly plausible theory, but Mu-jin found it increasingly suspicious.
“In that case, shouldn’t we drive them out more aggressively?”
“Hahaha. If the enemies are using a fool to deceive us, how can we simply let it go? We must also use the fool to deceive them.”
Jegal Muhwan’s sly grin as he said this made him look like a seasoned gambler.
But since Mu-jin agreed with Jegal Muhwan’s words, he too grinned slyly and asked,
“So, do you have a plan?”
“I’ve already sent someone to Shandong.”
“Is this person reliable?”
“Hahaha. Baek Ga-ryeong offered to handle it personally. Since she hasn’t joined the alliance, very few know she’s our strategist.”
Mu-jin nodded, thinking ‘Indeed.’
He had been curious why Ryu Seol-hwa joined the alliance without Baek Ga-ryeong.
“She already judged that if the grandmaster in Shandong moves, he would likely contact the Hwangbo family, so she’s probably gathered some information. However, due to the distance from Shandong to here, we haven’t received her report yet.”
“Given that Hwang-bo Ak is causing a ruckus here, it seems likely that there was recent contact from the grandmaster or Shinchun to the Hwangbo family.”
“Yes. If Hwang-bo Ak thought of this on his own, there would be no issue. But if someone approached and instigated him, Baek Ga-ryeong wouldn’t have missed it.”
“Then, did you tolerate Hwang-bo Ak’s antics to await Baek Ga-ryeong’s report?”
“Hahaha. How could we merely wait for information with a fool right in front of us?”
“Indeed, it seems you have something in mind?”
“Hahaha. Soon, I plan to contact Hwang-bo Ak personally. I intend to flatter him by offering to make him the leader.”
“!!!”
Surprised by the unexpected approach, Mu-jin listened as Jegal Muhwan spoke confidently.
“Having transitioned from the military strategist of Murim Alliance to Jeongmumaeng, I am seen as a symbol of betrayal from the outside. Hwang-bo Ak is unlikely to doubt my flattery.”
It was a commendable self-awareness.
Honestly, Mu-jin was internally worried, ‘Is he really planning to switch sides to Hwang-bo?’
Mu-jin, instead of voicing his suspicions, asked another question.
“What will you do if Hwang-bo Ak rejects your hospitality?”
“Hahaha. That’s highly likely. If they’re using a fool like Hwang-bo Ak without placing someone to support him, it would mean their side is truly stupid. Surely, there’s a strategist next to Hwang-bo Ak who will instruct him to get rid of me.”
“Oh, so you’re actually counting on that to find the strategist?”
“Precisely. I plan to identify the strategist next to Hwang-bo Ak and cross-reference it with the letter that Baek Ga-ryeong will send, to pinpoint and deal with the leader or their agent of Shinchun.”
Jegal Muhwan spoke with a relaxed expression, as if manipulating such a fool with his silver tongue was no big deal.
Mu-jin, observing Jegal Muhwan, seemed to have thought of something and asked,
“Then, while you’re identifying the strategist, may I take out some of my frustrations?”
“Take out frustrations… What do you have in mind?”
“Since we can’t expel Hwang-bo Ak, I plan to provoke him a bit. As I’m from the same Shaolin background as the leader, from his perspective, it will look like the leader and I are in cahoots. The more territorial I act, the more Hwang-bo Ak will appreciate your flattery.”
“Hahaha. Not a bad idea.”
The two exchanged sly looks as they plotted to exploit Hwang-bo Ak.
Caught between them, the leader, Abbot Hyun-cheon, thought to himself with a blank expression.
‘Amitabha... I can’t tell if this is Jeongmumaeng or a demon’s lair.’
* * *
The next morning, the external training session of the New Star Unit began as usual.
However, the number of participants had significantly increased compared to the previous day.
This was because the Kunlun, Peng Family, and Hwangbo Family had joined.
Kunlun hadn’t sent many people to Jeongmumaeng, but Peng Family had sent a number comparable to other families or sects.
‘They’ve clearly decided to take over Jeongmumaeng.’
The Hwangbo Family alone had sent two hundred members to Jeongmumaeng.
Of course, not all of them joined Mu-jin’s New Star Unit.
The New Star Unit was a unit composed of young martial artists, true to its name.
However, due to the large number of members from the Hwangbo Family, over fifty young martial artists from their family joined the unit.
As Mu-jin surveyed the gathered young martial artists of the Hwangbo Family, he announced the start of the training.
“Today, we’ll focus on strengthening the muscles of the arms and shoulders, including the biceps and triceps.”
Mu-jin demonstrated bodyweight exercises using sandbags from the front, and soon, strange yells echoed throughout the training ground.
Observing the young martial artists of the Hwangbo Family, Mu-jin spoke up.
“It seems the intensity of this training is too weak for the members of the Hwangbo Family. Each of you should add two more sandbags.”
One of the young martial artists of the Hwangbo Family, who had been training leisurely, stepped forward.
He was Hwang-bo Tae, the son of Hwang-bo Ak and the young lord of the Hwangbo Family.
“Why are you singling us out for more strenuous training?”
In a displeased tone, Mu-jin replied,
“External training is only effective when the body is pushed to its limits. The Hwangbo Family is known for their innate divine strength, so this level of training wouldn’t even register with your muscles.”
Of course, this was just an excuse.
Since his father had caused trouble, Mu-jin intended to show his son and his cousins what real trouble looked like.
“Look around you. Everyone is lifting weights suited to their strength. Or is it that the renowned Hwangbo Family, famous for their strength, can’t handle a mere two extra sandbags?”
Mu-jin’s sarcastic remark made Hwang-bo Tae’s face flush with anger.
“Are you mocking the great Hwangbo Family?”
“If you can lift it, just lift it. There’s no mockery involved. If you don’t like my training, you’re free to leave Jeongmumaeng. I won’t stop anyone who wants to go.”
Hwang-bo Tae’s face turned even redder, and veins bulged on his body as if they were about to burst, but he couldn’t bring himself to say he would leave.
He needed to stay in Jeongmumaeng to support his father in becoming the leader in the future.
At that moment, one of the young men next to Hwang-bo Tae, seemingly having thought of a clever idea, spoke up.
“It’s unfair to give us this special training. If you insist, then shouldn’t you, Grandmaster Kwonje, also lift the same weight to be fair?”
Suppressing a laugh, Mu-jin thought that this was precisely the outcome he had been aiming for by provoking them.
“That’s a great idea. Henceforth, the Hwangbo Family will train with the same weight as me.”
“Agreed.”
“Don’t regret it.”
The young martial artists of the Hwangbo Family shouted confidently.
They had heard of Mu-jin’s prowess.
But this was about external training.
The Hwangbo Family was known for their lineage of physically strong members.
Being used to overcoming their intellectual shortcomings with physical abilities, they didn’t consider the possibility of losing in a strength competition.
Watching the confident young members of the Hwangbo Family, Mu-jin turned away to hide his amusement and gave an order.
“Bring the iron weights from my private training ground.”
As Mu-jin looked away, the young members of the Hwangbo Family became more arrogant. But their expressions turned sour as they saw the iron weights being brought in.
Boom!!
The heavy noise of the iron weights hitting the ground and the cracks on the floor under their weight clearly indicated their substantial mass.
Ignoring their reactions, Mu-jin picked up one of the iron weights and demonstrated the bicep curl, the most common exercise for biceps.
The bicep curl involved holding a dumbbell in each hand, keeping the elbows close to the body, extending the arms downward, then lifting the dumbbells by bending the arms upwards, and repeating the motion.
There were various forms of this exercise, whether alternating arms, using both arms simultaneously, standing, sitting, or the grip and angle of the dumbbells.
After demonstrating the basic bicep curl, the competitive young members of the Hwangbo Family stepped forward, each picking up an iron weight and mimicking Mu-jin’s movements.
Although they only did fifteen repetitions, their arm muscles felt as if they were about to burst. Yet, they couldn’t show any signs of struggle.
“Hmph.”
Instead, they scoffed, acting as if this simple task was a trivial challenge.
Seeing this, Mu-jin chuckled and picked up a new iron weight.
This one was visibly larger and heavier than the previous one.
“What’s with the excitement over a warm-up exercise?”
Lifting the heavier weight with ease, Mu-jin thought about whether those guys had ever heard of pyramid sets.