Chapter 65
"Then I will carry out the mission and return."
"Good. Take care on your journey."
Jegal Gil bowed and left the Murim Alliance Leader's Hall. Alliance Leader Song Il-do looked worried as he watched him go.
"Will that fellow be alright? I've heard he's an extremely strict and meticulous person."
"That's precisely why we're sending him," replied Chief Strategist Jegal Mun. "And I say this not because he's my brother, but because I believe there's no one better suited for this kind of task."
Jegal Mun continued with a puzzled expression, "Besides, this incident has far too many strange aspects to it."
"Hmm. I see. But still, I wonder if that fellow will be able to keep his cool."
Song Il-do made a sour face as he recalled Peng Mugang, the head of the Hebei Peng Family. That terrifying face that looked like a great tiger in human form. And his fiery temper on top of that.
But most concerning of all was the fact that Peng Mugang's feelings towards the Murim Alliance were not particularly positive. That's what worried Song Il-do the most.
Jegal Mun smiled slightly at Song Il-do's words and replied, "Don't worry. Peng Mugang may seem that way, but he's not the type to act rashly."
"That's right. Alliance Leader, you're worrying too much. Haha!"
The others in the hall chimed in to ease Song Il-do's concerns.
However, one of the elders had a strange look in his eyes as he stared in the direction where Jegal Gil had just departed.
"What more is there to investigate that they've come all this way?"
In the Hebei Peng Family's Family Head's Hall, Peng Mugang looked at the group that had just bowed to him with an displeased expression.
They were the investigation team sent by the Murim Alliance.
"Does the Murim Alliance not trust the word of our Peng Family?"
"Of course not," replied Jegal Gil, the lead investigator, bowing his head with his characteristically stoic expression.
"It's just that given the gravity of the matter, we want to investigate more thoroughly and in detail to avoid any misunderstandings."
"Misunderstandings? What misunderstandings are you talking about?"
Peng Mugang's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not referring to anything regarding the Peng Family, so please don't misunderstand. I'm simply talking about the Demonic Cult."
At the mention of the Demonic Cult, Peng Mugang's face twitched.
The Demonic Cult had always been a threat to the Central Plains martial world.
The investigator's stoic voice echoed quietly through the hall:
"Wouldn't it be beneficial for everyone if we could learn more about what the Demonic Cult is planning or what their intentions were by investigating the scene? That's all there is to it."
"Your words flow like a mountain stream."
"Thank you."
"Tch. That wasn't a compliment."
He had thought the man was just stoic, but it seemed he was shameless as well.
Peng Mugang looked at him with displeasure, but the investigator paid no mind. As if this sort of thing was nothing new to him.
"Fine. Go and do your job."
"Thank you. Then, if you'll excuse me."
The investigator bowed and left.
"Well, it seems a rather tiresome fellow has arrived," Peng Mugang clicked his tongue as he watched the investigator's retreating back.
'Murim Alliance investigator, Jegal Gil.'
Peng Mugang had heard that name before.
He was quite famous for various reasons.
There were quite a few well-known cases that had been solved by his hand.
A man who would stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
But for that very reason, there were also many who didn't think highly of him.
Since such a person had come, the true cause of this incident would surely be uncovered.
But still...
'Those rotten bastards. They caused such a commotion and left as they pleased, and now this nonsense about mutual destruction with the Demonic Cult.'
Peng Mugang recalled the Scholar Forest Group.
They were an unpleasant bunch with arrogance plastered all over their faces.
It was unexpected that such people would meet such an end.
And to think it happened fighting the Demonic Cult right here in Hebei, the Peng Family's front yard.
Well, it was unfortunate, but setting that aside, there was something Peng Mugang couldn't understand.
The fact that those who died fighting the Scholar Forest Group were the Demonic Cult's Black Kill Squad.
Peng Mugang had also heard of the Black Kill Squad's reputation.
They were wolves who hunted big game.
For such a group to fight to mutual destruction against mere Scholar Forest Group members?
It didn't make any sense.
'There's clearly something more to this.'
Surely others besides himself had the same thoughts.
That's probably why the Murim Alliance had sent an investigator.
"Hmm. This is giving me a headache."
To be honest, he was quite angry as well.
How lightly must those damned Demonic Cult bastards view the Peng Family to pull such a stunt right here in Hebei?
But it's not like he could just storm into the Demonic Cult's territory right away.
Besides, the Demonic Cult must be quite bewildered right now as well.
They had lost one of their main forces so pointlessly while trying to eliminate a few young upstarts.
"Heh."
Peng Mugang shook his head as if even thinking about it was tiring.
Still, he decided to place a bit of hope that perhaps that meticulous investigator might uncover something.
"You've arrived?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"Of course, he was quite displeased."
The Murim Alliance warriors approached Jegal Gil as he exited the Family Head's Hall.
"Well, it's understandable that he'd be upset."
Jegal Gil replied with his characteristic stoic expression, as if he understood.
"We're coming to reinvestigate something they've already looked into themselves."
"But this incident is far from a trivial matter."
"That's right. One of the Murim Alliance's precious martial units was completely wiped out. By those rotten Demonic Cult bastards."
"And they all died as well."
That was the most puzzling part.
Not to belittle the Scholar Forest Group's sacrifice or how hard they must have fought, but objectively speaking, it was hard not to question how such a thing was possible.
If it was a miracle born from squeezing out their last ounce of strength in their final moments, there would be nothing more to say. But an investigator had to start by thoroughly ruling out such factors.
So from now on, he planned to properly begin the investigation with all possibilities open.
Just then,
"Hello. Welcome to the Peng Family."
Someone approached them with a friendly greeting.
He was a handsome man who clearly seemed extraordinary at first glance.
"My father instructed me to assist you. My name is Peng Seo-jin."
As Peng Seo-jin introduced himself, Jegal Gil and his group's eyes widened.
Peng Seo-jin, the Eldest Young Master of the Hebei Peng Family.
One of the greatest prodigies in Peng Family history, also known for his excellent character.
Jegal Gil and the other Murim Alliance warriors had all heard that name before.
After all, it was the most famous name in the current Peng Family after Peng Mugang himself.
After briefly exchanging greetings, Peng Seo-jin said:
"Then let me first show you to your rooms. And you must be hungry after your long journey, so let's have a meal as well."
"No need."
Jegal Gil shook his head with his stoic expression.
"We'll just unpack our things and start the investigation right away. We had a light meal on the way here."
"Is that so? I understand. Then please let me know if you need anything."
Despite Jegal Gil's brusque attitude, which might have embarrassed or offended a normal person, Peng Seo-jin nodded without showing any such reaction.
"Very well. We'll do that."
Jegal Gil nodded very formally.
He immediately asked Peng Seo-jin a question:
"Then could you first tell us what happened from the moment the Scholar Forest Group arrived here until they left?"
"Yes. Well, about that..."
Peng Seo-jin then proceeded to recount everything he knew, exactly as it had happened.
He detailed all of the Scholar Forest Group's actions and everything that had occurred from their arrival to their departure.
Except for one thing.
"...My goodness."
The Murim Alliance warriors listening to Peng Seo-jin's story soon wore embarrassed expressions.
It was truly an unbelievable tale.
They had beaten a servant nearly to death for accidentally spilling water on them, and even tried to hit Peng Seo-jin's young niece when she tried to stop them.
"Is all of this true?"
"Yes, it is."
"Hmm."
Even the usually stoic Jegal Gil was momentarily at a loss for words.
The Scholar Forest Group's actions had been uniformly rude and excessive.
"I had heard rumors that there were issues with their behavior, but I didn't realize it was to this extent."
And to think they had acted this way at the Hebei Peng Family, one of the Five Great Families representing the martial world.
It was hard to even imagine how they must have behaved elsewhere.
To dare do such things while carrying the name of the Murim Alliance...
Everyone was truly appalled.
Soon, Jegal Gil bowed his head to Peng Seo-jin.
"Though I'm not in a position to represent the Murim Alliance, as someone affiliated with it, I'd like to apologize on their behalf."
"Ah, no, it's all in the past now."
"No, that's not right. There's no doubt that their actions have damaged the Murim Alliance's reputation. I will report this to the Alliance later, and before we leave, I will formally apologize to the Family Head as well."
Seeing Jegal Gil's extremely polite attitude, Peng Seo-jin nodded.
He thought that this man wasn't just stoic, but very clear and proper when it came to such matters.
Peng Seo-jin found he didn't dislike Jegal Gil.
"By the way, you said the Scholar Forest Group had a sparring match with the White Wolf Unit?"
"Yes. I heard they initially refused, but the Scholar Forest Group kept insisting, so it eventually happened."
"I see."
Jegal Gil nodded.
The White Wolf Unit...
He had heard that name before as well.
They were one of the Hebei Peng Family's representative martial units, known for causing quite a bit of trouble here and there.
Recently, they had made a name for themselves throughout the martial world by beheading the 'Extreme Evil Laughing Demon', one of the Absolute Great Evils.
He could understand why the Scholar Forest Group had so insistently demanded to spar with them.
Meeting such a group when they were at the height of their fighting spirit, it was natural they would want to challenge them.
Especially given their usual behavior.
"How did the sparring match end?"
"Well, it ended rather abruptly midway through."
"Oh? Why is that?"
Peng Seo-jin replied with an awkward expression.
A Scholar Forest Group member had gotten too excited during the match and used an assassination technique, seriously injuring a White Wolf Unit member.
"Oh my."
Jegal Gil felt like the more he asked, the more there was to apologize for.
He almost felt like he should save up all the apologies and do them all at once later.
Swallowing a wry laugh, Jegal Gil said to Peng Seo-jin:
"In any case, then the last people to meet the Scholar Forest Group at the Peng Family would have been the White Wolf Unit, correct?"
It seemed he would need to meet with them first.