Chapter 194
Jang Cheong, who was tending to his orchids, slightly raised an eyebrow.
“Starting with the Evil Love Palace, they cut off the heads of the Demonic Leaders gathered there?”
“Yes. It seems it’s only a matter of time before the rumors spread throughout Murim.”
Jang Cheong’s subordinate nodded.
Here in the Murim Alliance, there were quite a few who pledged their loyalty solely to Jang Cheong.
No, it was more accurate to say that anyone who wielded any sort of power was his.
This Murim Alliance was already operating, knowingly or unknowingly, like its own private organization.
His subordinate continued the report.
“Furthermore, it is said that on their way to the Murim Alliance, they have been taking care of the local Demonic Leaders wherever they go.”
“Hoho. I see. Is that so?”
Soon, Jang Cheong’s hands, which had paused, calmly resumed tending to the orchids.
Should he say it was exactly what one would expect from the Peng Family?
However, from Jang Cheong’s perspective, this was also just amusing news.
He wasn’t surprised in the least.
He always enjoyed predicting and making plans as if looking into the future.
No, to be more precise, he derived great pleasure from watching those who couldn’t deviate even slightly from the plans and predictions he had established early on.
It gave him the joy of watching mere ants squabbling and struggling in the palm of his hand.
Receiving this report right now was the same.
There was no problem at all. After all, this too was just one of the things within the scope of his anticipation.
Excluding a Calamity-like existence such as the Heavenly Demon, it had always been like this.
“Hmm. Interesting. It’s as if they’re broadcasting to the whole neighborhood that the Peng Family is coming to the Murim Alliance. Yes. If they’ve caused this much of a stir, it seems the Family Head of the Peng Family is coming in person.”
Suddenly, Jang Cheong recalled the face of Peng Mugang, the Family Head of the Peng Family.
Right. If it were he, he would be more than capable of doing something like this.
He had thought they might just send someone, but it seemed they couldn’t tolerate the provocation from the Murim Alliance.
A smile spread across Jang Cheong’s lips.
Would that tiger-like man know?
He was currently dancing in the palm of his hand.
However,
“It is not the Family Head, Peng Mugang. It has been confirmed that he currently remains in Hebei.”
“Hm? Then who is it that is coming to the Murim Alliance right now? Is it the Young Master?”
“That is…”
To Jang Cheong, who momentarily wore a puzzled expression, Jang Cheong received his subordinate’s answer.
At that answer, Jang Cheong’s face stiffened rigidly.
“What?”
It was from then on.
His predictions began to go awry.
Rumors travel faster than feet.
The rumor that the White Wolf Unit had wiped out the Evil Love Palace quickly spread throughout Murim.
And that the Rakshasa Demonic Woman, the Lustful Dream Young Master, the Black-faced Asura, and various other Villains who had gathered there for some reason were all killed by the White Wolf Unit.
That news was met with great shock and praise from the people.
It was inevitable, considering how many people had suffered because of those Demonic Leaders.
They weren’t called Villains and Demonic Leaders for nothing.
There were even quite a few who had taken their own lives, unable to endure the hellish lives they were forced into because of them.
Because it contrasted so sharply with the behavior of the Murim Alliance, which had turned a blind eye to such suffering and had sat on its hands the entire time, the prestige of the Peng Family rose greatly from this incident.
Conversely, the Murim Alliance was made to look utterly ridiculous.
But the White Wolf Unit’s exploits did not end there.
On every path leading to the Murim Alliance, they did not stand idly by when encountering Villains who were causing trouble in the area.
The heads of numerous Demonic Leaders, including the Moon-gazing Blade, the Snake-hearted Buddha, and the Poisonous Bald Mountain Man, flew by their swords.
The suspicious glances cast at them due to rumors of associating with the Demonic Alliance were brief; many people began to cheer wildly once again at the White Wolf Unit’s unstoppable march.
Clatter! Clatter!
The White Wolf Unit and Yeo Un-hwi were riding their horses vigorously.
Right now, the faces of the White Wolf squad members are filled with pride.
Even though they should have been tired from the rather long journey, they were instead overflowing with vitality.
It was because they were feeling the reward of their long, grueling training more strongly than ever before.
Just then,
“We have returned.”
Gi-su, Gi-sang, and Do-gyeong had just rejoined the White Wolf Unit.
They were on their way back just as they were about to leave the Evil Love Palace after carrying out a separate mission under Yeo Un-hwi’s orders.
“We found the place you instructed and took care of it.”
“Good work.”
“It took longer than expected. That damn bastard put quite a lot of effort into hiding it.”
“But it was nothing to us. Back in the day, we were experts at finding things like that.”
“Being a pickpocket is such a thing to brag about, really.”
“Whoa! Sister. You have to get your facts straight. We used to rob the bastards who did bad things like pickpocketing, remember?”
At Do-gyeong’s nagging, Gi-su and Gi-sang grumbled as if they were wronged.
They were currently on their way back from finding where Palace Lord Gong Cheol-san of Four Linked Palace had hidden his wealth.
Since they already had some information about the location, Do-gyeong and the twin brothers were expected to find the hidden place with just that information.
Fortunately, they had found the location and taken proper measures, so all that was left was to collect it on their way back, or send someone from the Peng Family later to retrieve it.
Not a single coin of such money could be left carelessly.
Of course, Yeo Un-hwi already had an overflowing amount of money.
Along with the money taken from the Golden Manor Lord, who committed all sorts of evil deeds, there were also the immense gold and silver treasures in the treasury of the Demonic Heavenly Cult.
But even so, Yeo Un-hwi had ordered them to find the hidden wealth of the Palace Lord.
The more money, the better.
Although money wasn’t everything, there were an abundance of good things that could be done with it.
Yeo Un-hwi thought that once he finished his current business and returned, he would have to sit down and discuss how to spend that money step by step.
“Anyway, we’re here.”
A faint smile appeared on Yeo Un-hwi’s lips.
In the distance, the large buildings symbolizing the Murim Alliance came into view.
They had finally arrived at the Murim Alliance.
“Greetings. I am Yeo Un-hwi, Commander of the White Wolf Unit belonging to the Peng Family.”
Upon arriving at the Murim Alliance, the White Wolf Unit was guided to the Alliance Leader’s Hall.
However, despite the greeting he had just offered, the atmosphere in the Alliance Leader’s Hall was icy.
“Welcome.”
The only one who welcomed him was Chief Strategist Jegal Mun; the Elders, including Alliance Leader Song Il-do, openly showed their discomfort.
After a brief silence, Song Il-do spoke first.
“Right. Since you’ve just arrived, go and rest for today. We will talk later.”
“Yes. Understood. Well then.”
In the incredibly cold atmosphere of the Alliance Leader’s Hall, the faces of the White Wolf squad members slightly stiffened.
However, Yeo Un-hwi, who couldn’t possibly have failed to notice the atmosphere, looked completely unbothered.
As he turned around, Yeo Un-hwi’s gaze briefly swept over Murim Alliance Leader Song Il-do, Chief Strategist Jegal Mun, and Chief Elder Jang Cheong in turn, but no one found it particularly strange.
And so, the White Wolf Unit and Yeo Un-hwi left the Alliance Leader’s Hall, and…
“This is truly absurd.”
Soon, everyone inside the Alliance Leader’s Hall began to fly into a rage, starting with Alliance Leader Song Il-do.
To think that the person who came representing the Peng Family was merely the Peng Family’s son-in-law.
“No matter if he is the Commander of the White Wolf Unit that has recently been making a name for itself in Murim, how can that man be someone who represents the Peng Family?”
“Exactly. This clearly shows how lightly the Peng Family takes our Murim Alliance.”
“I think so too. There is a limit to being arrogant and presumptuous. I believe we absolutely must not let this slide.”
Everyone raised their voices as if they had been personally insulted.
Even Chief Strategist Jegal Mun, who always maintained neutrality, couldn’t bring himself to say anything this time.
Even he hadn’t expected the Peng Family to act like this.
Just what were they thinking, doing this…
At the very least, the Young Family Head, Peng Seo-jin, should have come.
If he had, things wouldn’t have become this noisy.
Even Jegal Mun thought that it wasn’t right for merely the Peng Family’s son-in-law to come like this.
“If they think so lightly of the Murim Alliance, it can’t be helped.”
At that moment, Jang Cheong, who had kept his mouth shut the entire time, spoke up.
“Even so, it would be ridiculous to press them immediately. Just treat them accordingly.”
“Accordingly, you mean?”
At Alliance Leader Song Il-do’s question, Jang Cheong smiled coldly.
“Hah… This is so childish. Truly childish.”
The White Wolf Unit had already been neglected for several days.
They had said they would call them soon, but there was no news at all.
Of course, it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Rather, Yeo Un-hwi and the White Wolf Unit were eating, resting, and sleeping very comfortably.
They hadn’t expected to get a rare break in this manner.
But even so, it wasn’t as if they weren’t angry at this ridiculous treatment.
However, unlike the angry White Wolf Unit, Yeo Un-hwi looked very relaxed for some reason.
He had a face that seemed to say times like this weren’t bad either.
“You all worked hard running wild here and there, so take this opportunity to rest well. We never know when we’ll get busy again.”
“Should we?”
“Of course, if you still feel you are lacking, it would be right to train.”
At Yeo Un-hwi’s words, all the White Wolf squad members, who had been lying on their beds trying to slack off a bit, stood up.
That was no different from saying, “Is this the time for you to rest? Aren’t you going to go out and train right now?'
Scratching their heads, everyone came out to the training ground right next to their quarters.
“Anyway, I really can’t figure out what the Commander is thinking.”
“About what?”
“It’s only natural to be angry at such poor treatment, isn’t it?”
“Right. If it were me, I would have flipped everything upside down already.”
“Do you even have the strength to flip it?”
“No, I mean I would have if I had strength like the Commander’s.”
“Phew. How could you possibly know what’s inside his head?”
“That’s right. Isn’t there an old saying that a common man cannot fathom the mind of a great one?”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
At the words of Munho, who had casually slipped into the conversation, Gi-su and Gi-sang glared.
But even so, Munho didn’t care at all.
Even though he had lived alone with his master in the mountains for a long time, he was adapting well to group life without any awkwardness.
It was as natural as if he had been a member of the White Wolf Unit from the beginning.
And although they seemed to look down on him the most on the outside, Gi-su and Gi-sang actually took care of Munho the best, so Munho spoke to them more often.
Despite Do-gyeong’s worry that stupidity was contagious if you got too close to an idiot, Munho just liked everyone, whether it was Gi-su, Gi-sang, or any of the White Wolf squad members.
Although Commander Yeo Un-hwi was still endlessly difficult to approach.
Well, that was the same for everyone.
And so, the White Wolf Unit’s hell training continued even in the Murim Alliance.
Just then,
“You all are still the same. Are you training even after coming here? Haha.”
Someone had just come looking for them.
It was a very familiar figure to the White Wolf Unit.
“Is the Commander inside?”
It was none other than the Murim Alliance’s proudest top investigator, Jegal Gil.