Chapter 95: Negotiation (2)

“Hmm.”

Singija, lost in thought, stroked his chin with a serious expression.

It was due to the information he had just received, which was hard to believe.

-He says he has discovered the Garden of Joy.

-What?

The Garden of Joy.

A secret place where spirit herbs were clustered.

Its value, both financially and strategically, could be said to be immense.

This was especially true from the perspective of Singija, who was monitoring the situation in the Central Plains Murim and the outer regions in anticipation of the rise of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

This was because there would be nothing better than spirit herbs to raise the capabilities of the Alliance members in a short period of time.

In fact, considering that a large quantity of spirit herbs could not be obtained even with money, it was right to see its value as immeasurable.

Rumors of discovering the Garden of Joy or knowing its location would circulate five or six times a year.

But in the long history of the Central Plains Murim, the Garden of Joy had only been actually discovered twice.

This was because the Central Plains Murim was such a place in the first place.

Singija, who knew this better than anyone, considered various possibilities and after long deliberation, the conclusion he reached was…….

“……Is it true.”

This was it.

If an insignificant person had mentioned the Garden of Joy, he would have scolded them for talking nonsense and sent them away, but he couldn’t.

This was because the originator of the information was Myeong, the second son of the Dancheon Clan, and the messenger of that information was a Special Operations Unit agent that Singija had personally raised.

-……The Garden of Joy, you say?

-Yes.

-Was it true?

-Yes, it was. I could not find any signs of falsehood.

If the Special Operations Unit agent couldn’t find any signs of falsehood, then Singija himself wouldn’t have been able to find any either.

This was because Singija trusted the abilities of the Special Operations Unit agents he had raised with all his capabilities.

It meant that at the very least, there was no falsehood in Dancheon Myeong’s words.

Myeong, the second son of the Dancheon Clan.

He would be described as a mysterious figure.

He had invested effort to obtain a lot of information about his birth and upbringing, but there was a strange discrepancy that did not match his current appearance.

It would be one of two things.

He was either a person with a meticulous mind and the ability to execute plans to the point of hiding even his upbringing, or a person born with the heavenly luck to easily overcome many obstacles.

Singija had inwardly concluded that it was likely the latter.

This was because a meticulous mind and the ability to execute plans to the point of fabricating one’s upbringing was a realm that was impossible even for himself, who had lived the life of a self-proclaimed genius.

Since the Jianghu Murim was a world where serendipitous encounters were rampant, Dancheon Myeong’s heavenly luck was special, but at the same time, not so special.

At the same time, there was a reason why he did not bother to dig deeper into the questionable points about Dancheon Myeong.

It was because he was convinced that he was a person who looked at the same place as Singija himself.

-There must not be a Great War of Righteousness and Evil.

In all the signs from Dancheon Myeong, who said so, Singija saw sincerity.

There was also the fact that he was a person acknowledged by the Alliance Leader Yeom Gi-ha, whose eye for people was stricter and more accurate than anyone else, unlike his characteristic magnanimous nature.

“The Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, is it.”

The reason why Singija judged Dancheon Myeong to be a person born with heavenly luck also included the point that Dancheon Myeong had learned the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art and achieved proficiency in it.

In Singija’s judgment, the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art was a martial art that one could not continue to achieve proficiency in unless one was followed by, literally, heavenly luck.

He didn’t know the exact mechanism, but the Healing Sage had said that he had the ability to find peerless spirit herbs.

As the Healing Sage mentioned, he could see Spirituality because he had spiritual eyes.

-Alliance Leader, what is Spirituality?

-Fame?

-No. Spirituality.

-What is that?

-Didn’t you also read the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, Alliance Leader?

-I read it.

-Then why don’t you know?

-I only read the parts related to martial arts.

-Tsk.

-Gija, did you just click your tongue?

-No.

-It sounded like you did.

-Phew.

Anyway, since the Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha didn’t know it, it was clear that it was not related to martial arts.

-What is Spirituality? Can I find spirit herbs if I know it?

-Shoo! Don’t say such wicked things and go away!

Even the spiritually powerful shamans couldn’t give him an answer.

They only chased Singija away, telling him not to provoke divine punishment.

He couldn’t even press them, as their complexions and behavior had changed in an instant, after they had bowed their heads saying, ‘Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance has arrived’.

Therefore, Singija, who was called the greatest strategist in Jianghu, did not know about Spirituality.

But it was not that Singija knew nothing.

Singija knew that Dancheon Myeong was the successor of the Healing Sage.

‘Does the successor of the Healing Sage have the ability to find spirit herbs like the Healing Sage?’

Looking at it now, he had no choice but to affirm the above proposition. Didn’t that successor discover the Garden of Joy, of all things?

Through the reports of the Special Operations Unit agents, Singija, who had known for a long time that Dancheon Myeong was acting as a Ginseng Digger with Lee Chun-baek, might have affirmed it more easily.

Looking at it this far, there was no problem.

On the contrary, it would be right to call it a great fortune for the Murim Alliance.

The fact that the one who found the Garden of Joy was a descendant of a prestigious Righteous Faction family was one, and the fact that one of the first places he contacted was the Murim Alliance was another.

The biggest problem was…….

“Why now of all times.”

The problem was that Singija could not leave his post right now.

But if he were to postpone it, he couldn’t just let a big issue like the Garden of Joy sit.

The conclusion was…….

“Is that man the only one.”

That man.

The reality that there was no one other than the Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha whom he could trust with this matter was the biggest problem at hand.

“Hmm.”

Singija knew that not all worldly affairs could be solved with strategy.

No matter how much he pondered, there was no alternative other than the Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha.

“Phew.”

Even as he walked to find the Alliance Leader Yeom Gi-ha, Singija’s worries did not stop.

“The Shanxi Branch Chief.”

Unrestrained Saber Peng Ga-heon.

Dancheon Myeong had requested Peng Ga-heon and the martial arts forces of Shanxi in addition.

It was indeed an appropriate response and an appropriate choice of personnel.

The Unrestrained Saber was a martial artist without personal greed and was fair and just, so he would not cause any problems.

However, there was a problem.

-Alliance Leader, let’s have a match after a long time!

-Alright. You Peng clan brat, have you been training your martial arts diligently?

-Of course!

It was the fact that the Unrestrained Saber Peng Ga-heon was as much of a martial arts fool as Yeom Gi-ha.

He knew that he was a clever person, enough to have the nickname Fox Bear, but his essence was clearly that of a martial arts fool. As befitting a young master of the Peng Clan.

“……Was the Alliance this devoid of talent.”

With that lament as his last, Singija’s steps reached the Alliance Leader’s Chamber.

“Alliance Leader, I’m here.”

“Gija, what is it?”

“There is something the Alliance Leader must do.”

“Hmph.”

“…….”

Trying to send the Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha on such a crucial matter, an ominous premonition automatically crept up on him, but he decided to try to ignore it.

This too was a surrender possible only because he was a wise strategist.

***

The Clan Leader of the Beggar’s Gang.

The leader of a hundred thousand beggars, the Dragon Head Clan Leader Musan-gae.

In all my lives, this was the first time I had met him.

In fact, that was a given.

What reason would Myeong-gae, who was merely a Three-Knot Beggar, have to meet the Clan Leader?

Anyway, his visit was truly unexpected. This was because what I had requested from Wonpyeong-gae was Chwipung-gae and the Medicine Hall Lord.

“Hmm.”

The words that Musan-gae said upon first meeting me were…….

“Are you the one?”

This was it.

It was a straightforward way of speaking befitting the legendary leader of the beggars.

“Dancheon Myeong, a junior of Jianghu, greets the Clan Leader.”

Musan-gae’s gaze, which gave a nod at my greeting, meticulously scanned me.

The wise eyes of the old beggar delved into me, but it was not uncomfortable.

This too might be due to Musan-gae’s age and experience.

“You look like a pretty boy.”

“Thank you.”

I, who was once Myeong-gae, know.

The fact that the word ‘pretty boy’ is the highest form of praise that beggars use when complimenting someone’s appearance. He must be pleased with me.

As if exchanging trivial greetings, Musan-gae continued.

“You, did you discover the Garden of Joy?”

“……!”

Words with the power to cause a stir among the crowd.

Now I understood why the Clan Leader of the Beggar’s Gang had come all this way.

I organized my thoughts without answering.

This was because I clearly remembered that I had only informed the Special Operations Unit of the existence of the Garden of Joy.

Indeed, my memory was not wrong, as the three beggars who were silently standing next to the Clan Leader—Wonpyeong-gae, Chwipung-gae, and the Medicine Hall Lord—were looking at their Clan Leader as if asking what kind of beggar-like nonsense he was spouting.

Since there was no reason for them to act, it was right to assume that they also did not know what he was talking about.

Clan Leader Musan-gae continued, ignoring the gazes of the three beggars.

“My guess is correct.”

The voice of the Clan Leader, who said so with a grin, was filled with conviction.

“I have never said such a thing.”

“So, am I wrong?”

Musan-gae grinned.

This old man is not to be trifled with.

The fortunate thing was that this old man was an ally I could fully trust.

Of course, as I said before, this was the first time I had seen the Clan Leader.

But I know that Chwipung-gae trusts Clan Leader Musan-gae more than anyone else.

That was enough.

“May I know the reason for your deduction?”

I asked Musan-gae.

It was to check if there had been any shortcomings on my part in the process.

“Ahem. Listen well.”

As if taking that as a declaration of defeat, Musan-gae spoke with a smug tone.

“First, you told this fellow Chwipung-gae that you would get the ingredients for the Emerald Rescue Pill.”

“That’s right. I need the Emerald Rescue Pill.”

Musan-gae’s second finger unfolded.

“Second, you have been acting as a Ginseng Digger all this time.”

Musan-gae spoke proudly, as if he had no intention of hiding the fact that he had been monitoring me.

On the contrary, Wonpyeong-gae showed a flinching expression.

“There was no other way to obtain the missing ingredients.”

In truth, it was a matter I had overlooked despite knowing of Wonpyeong-gae’s existence, so there was no problem.

“Third, after returning from Mount Heng, you urgently sought out Chwipung-gae and the Medicine Hall Lord.”

“That is also correct.”

I answered so and waited for Musan-gae’s next words.

But Musan-gae only snorted through his nose and did not continue.

It was as if he was asking, ‘How about that?’

“……Is that all?”

“Then what more is needed?”

“Where in that logic is the sign of the Garden of Joy?”

“Ahem. That is precisely the Clan Leader’s intuition.”

I swallowed the thought, ‘Is he crazy?’ This was because I could not commit the sin of deceiving my master and destroying my ancestors.

“……I see.”

It is said that one does not understand eccentrics, one simply accepts them.

“Now it’s your turn.”

“What do you mean?”

“How did you discover the Garden of Joy?”

“I discovered it by chance.”

There was no reason to deny the existence of the Garden of Joy now. It was a fact that would be revealed anyway.

As if my answer was not to his liking, Musan-gae narrowed his eyes and observed me.

“It doesn’t seem like a coincidence. Tell me in detail.”

“Hmm.”

Originally, a competent intelligence agent is a skilled liar. It meant that I too had a knack for lying.

But I could not easily lie in front of Musan-gae.

It was because of a strange feeling that my lies would be read through and through.

Fortunately, a savior appeared just in time.

“Who is bothering my successor!”

His identity was the Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha, who appeared out of nowhere.

Since Yeom Gi-ha was unhindered by seniority or position, his appearance was fitting to be described as a descent.

But…….

“Troublemaker, is it you this time?”

Musan-gae clicked his tongue and berated Yeom Gi-ha to his face.

The Evil Faction Alliance Leader, Peerless Power Emperor, called him a rude person, and the Clan Leader of the Beggar’s Gang, Musan-gae, called him a troublemaker.

At this point, a reassessment of the prestige of the Murim Alliance Leader might be necessary.

Upon discovering Musan-gae, the shoulders of the majestic Yeom Gi-ha, who had barged in, seemed to shrink slightly.

“Old man, why are you here?”

“What do you mean, why?”

“An old man should just be scratching his belly in Kaifeng.”

“You brat, are you telling this old man to just go into his coffin? A troublemaker since childhood, you haven’t changed a bit even after growing up.”

Although Yeom Gi-ha seemed slightly intimidated by Musan-gae’s scolding, he did not succumb and continued.

“No, Clan Leader. I am already sixty. What do you mean troublemaker?”

But Yeom Gi-ha’s resistance did not bear fruit.

“Gi-ha, do you really wish for my mouth to flap like blotting paper? In the past, you……”

“Please spare me.”

At the Clan Leader’s words, the great Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha knelt.

It was the moment that confirmed that the position below the number one under the heavens, Singija, was not occupied by the Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha, but by Musan-gae.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep