Chapter 207: Conspiracy (2)

When Yong Hwarin was heading toward the Kirin River, this Young Master Lee Yung was meeting someone unexpected.

Lee Yung did not go to the manor where he had promised to meet Eum Sajeok, but instead met with others.

In a secret room devoid of any light, not even the candle flame flickered.

Due to Lee Yung’s affinity for secrecy, they had gathered in a room so airtight that even air could not pass through.

“This one shall never forget your assistance.”

As Lee Yung offered words of praise to those gathered, a middle-aged man spoke quietly from within the darkness.

“We are helping because there is benefit for us. You must not forget that point.”

“Of course.”

“Then, let us now hear what this Young Master desires.”

The middle-aged man leaned his upper body forward and looked at Lee Yung.

Surprisingly, the face of the man visible through the window as the sun was setting was a familiar one.

Bukri So looked at Lee Yung and continued.

“As I’ve said before, our clan must obtain the Seven Chapters from this affair.”

“I shall give them to you once the matter is settled, so do not worry.”

Bukri So had accepted Lee Yung’s deal in order to obtain the martial art.

The Bukri Clan belonged to the Namung Alliance and was one of the Twelve Great Martial Families.

They were one of the Two Generational Fist Clans, renowned in name, but in reality now only a hollow shell.

As time passed, martial arts continued to evolve and grow stronger, but fist arts remained stagnant.

Martial arts had developed in response to weapon techniques, but martial arts relying solely on bare-handed strikes had reached their limit.

As a result, the Jinju Family and Bukri Clan, which were considered the Two Generational Fist Clans, began to fall significantly behind weapon-based families in power and scale. Now, they were close to losing their place among the Twelve Great Martial Families to rising forces.

Because of this, the Jinju Family had long since transformed into a commercial clan operating a merchant union, while the Bukri Clan was pursuing martial arts in another direction.

In some sense, they were trying to preserve the Bukri Clan’s prosperity through martial arts bordering on demonic techniques.

Their effort to transform with new martial arts had begun ten years ago.

The Bukri Clan Head, Bukri Chang, had requested a favor from his old friend Lee Geuk, the Rain Sword of the Eight Martial Lords, to bring in Bukri Sogun, who had been prepared for that martial art.

Now, all that remained for Bukri Chang’s decade-long plan to be complete was to obtain the martial art.

“But regarding this matter, the Clan Head is suspicious of this Young Master.”

“Suspicious, you say?”

Bukri So muttered as he stared at Lee Yung.

“Didn’t you try to kidnap Bukri Sogun?”

Lee Yung tilted his head as if hearing it for the first time.

“That’s a strange thing to say. I’ve never even heard of someone named Bukri Sogun.”

“You don’t know Jeung Eungang either?”

“Jeung Eungang? Do you mean the monster from the Six Demonic Clans? I’ve certainly heard of his reputation.”

“Our clan suspects that you may have enticed Jeung Eungang to kill Lee Geuk. After all, you’re the only one who knows about our plans.”

“Hahaha, you overestimate this Young Master. I am not someone who can command a strong man like Jeung Eungang. Besides, do you really think I know the secret of the Bukri Clan’s operations? I’m barely keeping up with fighting my own senior brothers.”

Even Bukri So knew that this Young Master was preoccupied with the succession struggle.

But no matter how he thought about it, the incident where Lee Geuk, who had been bringing Bukri Sogun, was nearly kidnapped after committing mutual destruction with Jeung Eungang couldn’t have happened unless it was these people behind it.

Even so, he couldn’t openly accuse Lee Yung.

Pressuring him without evidence would only backfire.

‘I need the martial art for now, but once I obtain it, I won’t let you off.’

As Bukri So inwardly sharpened his killing intent and glared at him, Lee Yung smiled faintly.

“You’ve misunderstood something greatly. We’ve known each other for quite a while now, and yet you still don’t understand this Young Master? That’s disappointing.”

Bukri So sneered inwardly.

‘That’s exactly why I suspect you.’

Knowing the weakness of the Bukri Clan’s thirst for power, Lee Yung had approached Bukri Chang and offered to give him what he desired.

It was Azure Radiance Fist, one of the Seven Great Martial Arts of the Iron Blood Beehive.

Among fist arts, it was said to be capable of using strong qi along with Shaolin Temple’s Hundred Steps Divine Fist.

Lee Yung had lured Bukri Chang by claiming that they were descendants of the Iron Blood Beehive and that he possessed the Azure Radiance Fist.

Seeing that the Bukri Clan might not even remain among the Twelve Great Martial Families in five years, Bukri Chang hastily accepted Lee Yung’s offer.

Since then, whenever Lee Yung needed something, he would demand it through Bukri So, and Bukri Chang would reluctantly comply.

That was because the Azure Radiance Fist had been divided into several chapters and given out bit by bit.

Each time he made a demand, he gave one chapter—up to now, six chapters had been obtained.

The Azure Radiance Fist was so powerful that even with only six out of twelve chapters, it had already overwhelmed the Bukri Clan’s other fist arts.

Lee Yung, through spies he had already planted within the Bukri Clan, knew its internal affairs thoroughly.

That was why he had tried to kidnap Bukri Sogun.

Even if they learned the Azure Radiance Fist in its entirety, without Bukri Sogun, it would amount to nothing more than a half-baked martial art.

Strong qi martial arts only revealed their true might when utilizing strong qi.

Lee Yung’s plan to manipulate the Bukri Clan by kidnapping Bukri Sogun had been foiled because of Yong Hwarin.

As soon as Yong Hwarin’s face came to mind, Lee Yung’s irritation surged, and he changed the subject.

“There are others present, so it would be better to speak of personal matters separately.”

Bukri So twitched his lips, then withdrew back into the shadows.

“Understood. But you should know that the main family is keeping that matter in mind.”

“I understand. Let me say again, please don’t misunderstand.”

After the two of them exchanged a brief back-and-forth and stepped back, a face hidden in the darkness revealed itself beneath the candlelight.

It was the face of a young man, with flawless, graceful features.

“Still, can we really pull this off on our own?”

“Hahaha, Young Master Cheong, in truth, this will be joined by the forces of the Demonic Path and the Evil Sects. I’ve already given them a heads-up. The rumors have spread rapidly, and groups from the Demonic Path and Evil Sects are gathering. All you need to do is pretend to block them and represent the orthodox sects. Isn’t that wonderful? With that excuse, we can attack the Sky Ocean Merchant Union without permission.”

At Lee Yung’s words, Cheong Geonmin nodded meaningfully.

Then, the young man standing next to Cheong Geonmin leaned forward.

“But is the Heaven Sea Divine Art really at the Sky Ocean Merchant Union? Is it just a rumor, or is it true? Would the groups from the Demonic Path and Evil Sects move just for a rumor?”

The one who spoke was none other than Jeok Gwang, the Young Master of Songcheongmun.

“They’re not idiots. You think they’d move just for a rumor? In truth, a portion of the Heaven Sea Divine Art was still left in our sect. We claimed it was leaked from the Sky Ocean Merchant Union and spread it to a few skilled talkers. By now, they’ll be swarming like bees after seeing it.”

Jeok Gwang spoke with eyes full of greed.

“Can I take a look at it too?”

“Hahaha, what’s so hard about that?”

Lee Yung pulled a few sheets of paper from his sleeve and handed them to Jeok Gwang.

In truth, the martial arts of Heaven Sea Sword Hoi Eulshin had only left behind a few techniques, witnessed during his battle with masters of the Heavenly Demon Sect. But those were merely superficial forms.

They were not enough to obtain the true Heaven Sea Divine Art.

Yet, speaking as if it were some great favor, Jeok Gwang was deeply moved.

“Hum! Hum!”

As Cheong Geonmin let out a cough in discomfort beside him, Lee Yung gave a sly smile.

“Hahaha, I still have copies left. Would you like to take a look too, Young Master Cheong?”

“How could I be more grateful?”

Cheong Geonmin, too, received the secret manual and was grinning from ear to ear.

“Shall I offer it to you as well, Chief Administrator?”

Bukri So flashed a sour smile, looked at the two youngsters as if belittling them, and waved it off.

“I’m good. I have no interest in sword arts.”

However, Bukri So did not trust Lee Yung, who handed out such an important martial art so freely.

‘These brats still can’t tell if it’s fermented bean paste or old dung. The man who demanded all sorts of things just to hand over the Azure Radiance Fist is now scattering the Heaven Sea Divine Art like scraps of toilet paper? That’s the kind of thing only a stray mutt would eat.’

Staring holes into the paper, Cheong Geonmin asked,

“When will the attack on the Sky Ocean Merchant Union take place?”

“I’ve already instructed another organization to gather the rabble of the Demonic Path and Evil Sects. News should come soon.”

Both Cheong Geonmin and Jeok Gwang had fallen for Lee Yung’s lure, in which he promised to hand over one of the seven ultimate techniques of the Iron Blood Beehive.

In truth, Lee Yung had been recruiting them for a long time.

Cheong Geonmin had received Lee Yung’s message and detoured through the Jaegal Clan while on his way to Jeongju.

There was a reason why they followed Lee Yung's words so blindly.

Songcheongmun had been nothing more than a minor sect in Hubei, but after receiving the Daeryeokcheongwon Sword, it had transformed into one of the region’s outstanding sword sects.

And that, in just a few short years.

That was the power of Supreme Martial Arts.

The reason Jeok Gwang earned the alias Azure Cloud Wind Sword was also because of the Daeryeokcheongwon Sword handed down by Lee Yung.

Now that he was being offered something even stronger, there was no way he could go against Lee Yung’s will.

Martial artists were those who would enter even hell itself if it meant obtaining Supreme Martial Arts.

Lee Yung, well aware of that, had been using the discarded martial arts of the Heavenly Demon Sect as bait.

Such bait did not work on the great sects.

Their martial arts were on par with the Supreme Martial Arts of the Heavenly Demon Sect, so they had no interest in demonic arts.

But for the martial households that yearned for Supreme Martial Arts, the story was different.

Whenever a martial arts secret manual was rumored to appear, rivers of blood would flow—and it was all for that reason.

‘Now taking over the Sky Ocean Merchant Union is like picking it up for free. I can get rid of that bothersome Yong Hwarin too. I never understood why everyone tries to solve things only with brute force.’

“But may I ask the reason for carrying out this plan?”

When Bukri So asked, Lee Yung had no choice but to acknowledge that Bukri So truly was an old fox.

“Hahaha, it’s to bring the Sky Ocean Merchant Union under our sect’s control. Once our sect dominates it, I’ll be counting on your support again.”

Bukri So replied with a meaningful gaze.

“Understood.”

The Heavenly Demon Sect had two reasons for aiming to take control of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.

This plan was not something Lee Yung devised on his own; it was a mission given to him by his masters.

Even now, the Heavenly Demon Sect could not forget Heaven Sea Sword Hoi Eulshin, the supreme master who had thwarted their conquest of the murim a hundred years ago.

It was believed that his martial arts had been lost, but the Heavenly Demon Sect believed it still existed somewhere within the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.

Even if it did not, they wanted to completely erase any potential threat.

That was why they wished to seize the Sky Ocean Merchant Union—to annihilate the Heaven Sea Divine Art from the world.

There was also a hidden intention to use the Sky Ocean Merchant Union to secure massive financial resources.

If it had only been about funding, they would have targeted a larger merchant union, but because it was tied to the Heaven Sea Divine Art, the Sky Ocean Merchant Union had become the Heavenly Demon Sect’s prey.

Lee Yung sank deep into his chair as he watched the two youngsters still entranced by the papers he had handed over.

‘As long as the Third Young Master performs well, there’s nothing to worry about.’

Lee Yung smiled pleasantly, convinced that by now, Eum Sajeok had already taken Yong Hwarin’s head.

‘Even if he hasn’t caught Yong Hwarin, it doesn’t matter. Failing to capture him just means he’s failed his mission again, which benefits me.’

He had not kept his promise to Eum Sajeok, who was laying such a thorough trap that he needed no assistance.

In truth, Lee Yung had hoped he would fail, which was why he withheld the promised support.

The elite hundred-man unit of the Cheonma Demon King Unit, originally meant for Eum Sajeok, had instead been sent to Ma Jeung.

With the forces Ma Jeung commanded, it was more than enough to capture Namgung Yoo and the Division Leader of the East Evil Division, but Lee Yung, always cautious, had redirected the forces meant for Eum Sajeok to Ma Jeung.

He wanted to complete his own mission flawlessly and be recognized by his masters.

Besides, even if Yong Hwarin escaped Eum Sajeok’s trap, he would still head toward the Sky Ocean Merchant Union, and since that was already in his grasp, there was no way Yong Hwarin could escape his net.

‘Now this is what you call killing two birds with one stone.’

A glint of madness flickered in Lee Yung’s smiling eyes.

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