Episode 149:


    Reconstruction of Wolhwajang. Revenge on Ma Gyo-e.


    It was an issue that neither side was very interested in.


    I feel sorry for Joo Hwa-baek for passing things off as he pleases, but I am not a survivor of Wolhwajang or anything.


    Of course, it was not that there was no personal grudge.


    However, the bad feelings were directed towards the Sosalma Army and not towards the group called Demon Cult.


    If I were to simply say whether I liked it or not, it was true that I disliked the Demonic Cult, but my honest feelings were that I did not want to spend my life trying to take down that huge group.


    “I am not hoping for Wolhwajang to be rebuilt.”


    “Then are you seeking revenge on the Demonic Cult?”


    “……yes.”


    I nodded slowly and answered Joohwabaek’s question.


    Pretending to have a very perplexed expression.


    There was no reason to refuse when the other person said they would misunderstand it on their own.


    I thought it might be a good thing.


    ‘There is nothing wrong with leaving the impression to those around you that you are motivated by revenge. It would be good to use it as a cause that does not belong to a specific faction, and it would also be easy to use it as a smokescreen to cover the eyes of Ju Hua Baek and Zhuge Huan.’


    It could also add legitimacy to future actions.


    After fiddling with the teacup for a while and pretending to think about it, I looked straight into Joo Hwa-baek’s eyes and said,


    “Thank you for your concern, but I will take revenge with my own hands.”


    “I don’t know exactly how far your dream of revenge goes, but wouldn’t it be better to do it with people who have the same intentions rather than alone?”


    “Are you included among those who have the same intention?”


    “Of course. Although it’s not as much as you, I also have quite a bit of resentment toward the Demonic Cult. “Many of therades I was with in my youth lost their lives at the hands of the demonic cult.”


    “…….”


    When he was young, Hwabaek Joo worked at the Cheonghae branch.


    Cheonghae is an area adjacent to Xinjiang, the area of influence of the Demonic Cult.


    Now and then, it was a fierce battlefield where all kinds of incidents and idents never ceased.


    Painter Joo must have heard countless stories about the deaths of his acquaintances at the time.


    It would not be strange to say that in the process, hostility toward the Demonic Cult grew.


    “I understand what the Lord wants to say.”


    “If you do…”


    “But my intention remains the same. “I will not ept your help.”


    “Can you tell me why?”


    “I don’t think there is any favor without reason in the world.”


    “That’s not necessarily true. There are a small number of people who give generous and benevolent advice to those around them withoutpensation, but it definitely exists. “Didn’t you just act as a member of the Humen Association and save the suffering residents of Zhejiang?”


    “He gained great fame for his activities.”


    The reason I worked as a member of the Humen Association and saved the residents of Zhejiang was for the sake of Ilshin’s glory.


    Honestly, it didn’t matter to me whether the residents of Zhejiang were exploited or killed.


    I am not an emotional person enough to shed tears in sympathy with the misfortune of someone I have never met.


    There is cause and effect in everything in the world.


    The same was true for rtionships between people.


    There could be no such thing as unconditional favor.


    Damun Dangseoyeon Seohoseon Bangcheoksam, etc.


    The people around me were not friendly to me from the beginning.


    There was an opportunity and a process.


    “Lord. I am not a good person without measures, as you think. Rather, I have a tough personality that considers profit and loss first when dealing with others.”


    “…….”


    “I don’t have the eyes to see through other people’s psychology like General Commander, but I can at least recognize that Lord Maeng’s question is not motivated by pure kindness.”


    Of course, the reason why Joo Hwa-baek reached out to me was not simply to help me.


    I won’t put any burdensome pressure or rmendations on you?


    It could also be interpreted as an attempt to appease with sweet words.


    Artist Joo said it was just a ce for conversation, but I didn’t believe him.


    ‘It must be the groundwork to attract me to their side in the future.’


    Of course, even if the offer had been made purely out of goodwill, I would have rejected it as I have no interest in revenge.


    What good would there be for someone who wants to be an elder in the future to be close to a leader?


    “When you say that, doesn’t it seem like I had a dark n? “I think it’s a mutually beneficial proposition.”


    “It won’t be a proposal that only benefits. I n to use everything avable to achieve my goals. “There are reasons for not belonging to a faction.”


    “…….”


    “I am taking steps slowly but steadily. “I don’t want to limit myself for immediate gain.”


    “If that is what you mean, there is nothing we can do. “I don’t rmend it anymore.”


    “Thank you for your understanding.”


    I politely shook my hand and immediately emptied the tea in the cup.


    The atmosphere became heavy.


    Avoid having meaningless conversations with awkward expressions.


    “okay. It’s okay to go back now. “I’m sorry for calling you out sote.”


    “no. “It was an honor to be able to talk with Lord Maeng.”


    Finally, Hwabaek Joo’s order to congratte the guests was given.


    I got up and left the office as if I had been waiting.


    ‘I’m tired.’


    I was already tired, but the unexpected confrontation with the Murim Lord had drained a lot of my mental power.


    I felt like I could sleep well tonight.


    I nced back and muttered in my mind.


    ‘I hope you don’t bother me anymore.’


    * * *


    After Yeonsun left the office.


    Hwabaek Joo opened his mouth, pouring tea into an empty cup.


    “What do you think?”


    “He is a scary young man.”


    “scary? “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you use such expressions when evaluating others.”


    “Let alone martial arts, the heart is not usually deep. Honestly, I can’t tell how much of the conversation we just had was sincere and how much was a lie.”


    Zhuge Huan answered with a somber expression.


    His eyes were filled with wariness as he stared at the closed door of his office.


    Hwabaek Joo tipped his teacup and nced sideways at him.


    “Are you nning on giving up on him?”


    “Is that possible? “There is no more wood in the current Murim Alliance.”


    “It’s risky, but he’s a talent worth risking.”


    “That’s right.”


    “If you do, I will leave this matter to you from now on.”


    “yes?”


    “Didn’t you see it too? If I take action myself, it will only have the opposite effect. “To begin with, this kind of work is not my area of expertise.”


    “You’re increasing my workload again.”


    “Originally, the work of an organization must be entrusted to the right person.”


    “I think the choice of words was wrong. “It would be a matter of taking over rather than leaving it to others.”


    “Why are you saying such sad things? Between us.”


    “I said it before, but I will never work with you in my next life.”


    A wry smile appeared on Zhuge Huan’s face.


    Joo Hwa-baek, who wasughing, stretched and said.


    “If there really is a next life, then I want to live in peace while plowing the fields.”


    * * *


    Late afternoon hours.


    I gathered my group at my dorm to finish the backlog of work.


    Damun Dangseoyeon, Seo Ho-seon, Bangcheoksam, and Dang Sang-jin sat around with arge bundle in the middle.


    When I opened the bag, the items and elixirs that Seo Ho-seon had stolen from the treasure trove in the artificial ruins poured out.


    Although they were all valuable items, it was difficult to say that they were the best.


    In the first ce, except for the martial arts books, the remaining treasures were merely brought for the purpose of assortment.


    It could be said that it was natural for the quality to be a bit poor.


    ‘The elixir has five yawns that can improve one’s inner energy for only five to ten years. All of the items are too vague for me to use myself.’


    I hoped I could find a recement for Cheonjamboui, but unfortunately, there wasn’t anything that caught my eye.


    The Yongrin-gap (龍鱗甲) that the assassin soldiers often wore seemed useful, but the chain armor was far from my taste.


    Above all, it was impossible to wear it because it did not fit my body type.


    “It would be better for you to have the dragon ring.”


    “Do you mean me?”


    “It looks like the size won’t fit everyone else.”


    In the end, Seo Ho-seon, who had the perfect physique, ended up taking the Yongrin Gap.


    Tang Seo-yeon and Dang Sang-jin took all their memorized weapons, including daggers and daggers.


    Neither grandfather nor granddaughter paid any attention to the elixir.


    This was because ordinary elixirs were meaningless to Germans.


    Bangcheoksam took a sword to use as an auxiliary weapon, and Damun took the blood poison wine he had longed for.


    Of the five elixirs, I took the two with the most spiritual energy.


    One was mine and the other was Dokgo Woojin’s.


    After dividing up the remaining items, the sun was already setting in the evening.


    I got up from my seat, looked around at the group, and said.


    “Thank you all for your hard work. From subjugation operations to escorting military officers to the Maeng headquarters. Thanks to all of you, we were able to finish it safely. It’s hard to call it repayment, but I’ll buy you dinner tonight. “I know a good base running ce, so go there.”


    My group and I rushed out of the dorm and entered the street while chatting.


    Although it was not as crowded as when the Yongbong Branch was held, there were many people walking around on the street.


    The conversations between passers-by reached my ears.


    “Did you hear that story?”


    “What story?”


    “They say the vampire and iron blood demon army have been subdued.”


    “omg! “Aren’t they each disciples of the Eight Demon Lords and the Demon Cult Master?”


    “But they said the ce where they were subjugated was Gwiju, not Cheonghae.”


    “Guizhou? “Why are the demon cultists in Gwiju?”


    There was already a story going around about what happened in Gwiju.


    Although Honam is adjacent to Gwiju, even taking that into ount, the speed at which the rumor spread was quite fast.


    Since the issue was such a serious issue, I thought that soon the whole of the Central ins would be noisy about the same topic.


    ‘Good.’


    I drew a satisfied smile on my face.


    The work of increasing reputation and reputation was progressing smoothly.


    How far did you walk like that?


    Suddenly, there was a sound that prated my ears.


    -After you finish drinking, can you set aside some time for me? I’d like to talk to you a little bit.


    It was Dang Sang-jin’s voice.


    A puzzled mind raised its head.


    It’s not difficult to give your time, but is there a reason you secretly rmend it?


    -What do you mean by story?


    -I have something to say about my granddaughter. I also have something to say.


    -……?