Chronicles of the Demon Faction

Episode 149 Abandoning the name of King Salsuji (3) Neither

the raindrops falling steadily nor the sound of the wind coming through the open pillars of the pavilion were clearer than Seoryang’s voice.

“Let’s do this together?”

“That’s right.”

“hmm.”

Zhong Lishan showed no signs of surprise. He just filled his own cup.

Xu Liang asked as if he was surprised.

“Were you guessing?”

“Would you like a drink?”

It wasn’t an answer to the question. Seo-ryang nodded and held out a glass.

Zhong Lishan said as he poured the drink.

“I thought before meeting the Three Dukes again.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you trying to go back to Jeoksa Temple after the inspection? “Take me with you, too.”

“….”

“If you want to go, it doesn’t matter if you go right away, so why bother stopping by after the inspection of the Seven Houses is over?”

Zhonglisan did not just fill Xi Liang’s cup. He also slowly filled Ma Dong-pil’s glass.

“As a special inspector of the Protestant Church, I may have received another secret order from the religious leader. “But I thought that couldn’t be possible.”

“Why did you think that?”

“Because I didn’t feel a sense of obligation.”

“A sense of duty?”

“exactly. A sense of duty.”

widely.

Zhong Lishan put down the bottle and raised his glass.

“It wasn’t a sense of duty, it was a desire. A strong desire was blooming in the eyes of the Three Dukes. “A desire only for yourself, not for anyone else.”

“….”

“That desire could be seen as a sense of purpose in other words.”

Xu Liang smiled.

“Were my eyes that harsh?”

“exactly.”

Zhonglisan emptied his glass. This time, Ma Dong-pil poured alcohol into his glass.

Zhong Lishan looked down at the slowly filling cup and opened his mouth.

“Are they trying to erase Jeoksaga? Nonsense. Even if that were possible, it would have been something that had been pushed aside during the inspection.

“There was no need to go through the trouble of coming back.”

“I guess you guessed it from there.”

“I couldn’t guess.”

Zhong Lishan glanced at Xu Liang’s shoulder.

“Until I saw the inspector’s epaulettes removed from the three princes’ shoulders.”

“….”

“The three princes we met again were not inspectors. “It was completely personal.”

“I did.”

“The religious leader’s candidate is visiting the Mado Chilga, which he has no connection to? “A family that was completely turned over by a single inspection?”

Zhong Lishan emptied his glass again.

“It is not a secret order from the leader, nor is it to push out Jeoksaga. Nevertheless, I and Geogyeongga’s troops accompanied me and headed toward Jeoksa Temple.”

“….”

“The reason he went with the main family’s troops was a deception to put pressure on the opponent. “For me, I couldn’t find any reason other than ‘appeasement’ and ‘training.’”

Xu Liang said as he refilled his glass.

“You have a good feeling.”

Seo-ryang filled Jong-lisan’s cup and emptied his own cup.

He picked up a bottle of alcohol. But I didn’t fill the glass right away.

“So have you made a decision?”

Like I said, I don’t talk for a long time.

It’s surprising that Zhong Lishan guessed, but that’s it.

What was important to him was not how the other person guessed whether or not he would accept his proposal or how he felt about it.

Zhong Lishan opened his mouth.

“I just want to ask you two questions.”

“As much as you want.”

“What do you plan to do if you reject the three princes’ offer?”

“What do you plan to do?”

“Those who receive the offer can choose to accept or reject it.

But I also have to bear the consequences of my choices. “I wonder how the Three Dukes would turn out if I refused.”

Xu Liang smiled.

“Normally, we would ask about compensation after acceptance, but the head of the family is curious about the consequences of the option of refusal.”

“It has to be that way.”

The snow on Zhonglisan Mountain has deepened.

“I am a person who has personally witnessed the abilities of the Three Dukes. “I know how cruel the Three Dukes can be when they become hostile towards someone.”

“….”

“That’s why I’m asking.”

“It doesn’t do anything.”

“…?”

“There was only one question, but I’ll give you two answers.”

Xi Liang put down the bottle of alcohol. He still hasn’t filled his cup.

“If you accept my offer, I will ask you for a lot.

If you need anything, you can ask me for many things. But the relationship is by no means master-servant.”

“Are we in a relationship where we use each other as needed?”

“To put it bluntly, yes.”

Zhong Lishan nodded.

“What if I refuse?”

“That’s it. “We can rest well here at the Yeonju branch and then go our separate ways.”

“…Is that really the end?”

“Did you know that I would do harm to the head of the family?”

“exactly.”

Xiliang pouted his mouth.

“You are too firm.”

“The Three Dukes I saw were not people who schemed behind the scenes. In that case, I prefer to meet in person and break it down.”

“That is correct.”

“There is no middle ground in turf wars. Either you are an enemy or you are an ally. From the moment I rejected the offer of the Three Dukes, I…”

“You are still the same Lord Geogyeong.”

“…?”

“Even if you refuse, you are still the head of the family. “He is not my enemy.”

“Why do you think that? “What if the moment comes when I have to train with someone else and attack the Three Dukes?”

“Then you can face the enemy then.”

Zhong Lishan’s eyebrows furrowed.

“If that is true, you may be said to have a refreshing personality, but you will not be evaluated as being very wise. At least here in the Demonic Forest.”

“It’s actually closer to the opposite.”

“What do you mean?”

There was a serious look on Seo-ryang’s face.

“In attacking Uicheon Alliance and Sanghyeolseong Fortress, the power of the Seven Witches is an essential element.

But what if I hit one of them with my own hand? “You may hear that it’s refreshing, but you won’t hear that it’s wise.”

“…!”

Zhong Lishan looked surprised.

“We’re targeting Uicheonmaeng and Sanghyeolseong Fortress?”

“Is there a problem?”

“Are you really planning on going to war between those two groups?”

“well. “I haven’t even considered war, but I’m willing to do even worse if it means getting rid of them.”

Zhong Li-san, who had been staring blankly at Seo-ryang, turned his gaze to Ma Dong-pil. Ma Dong-pil still had a calm face.

“Did you know that too?”

“of course.”

They wondered if it was natural.

Since he is a guard warrior with a strong bond, you may have heard about him in advance. But Zhonglisan couldn’t understand.

“Before you are a bodyguard of the Three Dukes, you are a demon of Shingyo. “This is such a big issue….”

“You saw it wrong.”

“what?”

“Before I am a demon of Shingyo, I am a bodyguard of the Three Princes.”

“…!”

“No matter what you do in the future, I will always be by your side and protect you.

That’s my job. “No matter what Confucius thinks, I just believe and follow him.”

Zhong Lishan burst out laughing. Ma Dong-pil’s calm voice did not waver even an inch.

‘We’re targeting Uicheonmaeng and Sanghyeolseong Fortress?’

How on earth?

Maengseonggyo (盟城敎) These three groups are the super powers of martial arts called the Kanghosamse (江湖三勢). If just one of them collapses, Gangho will be in shambles.

That was precisely the reason why the three groups had not yet been able to wage an all-out war.

Even if two groups go to war and the outcome is decided, it is certain that more than half of the troops on the winning side will also be lost.

Then it’s over. The last group standing idly by will attack the weak side and tear it down in one fell swoop.

Then, only one force will remain among the Ganghosamse. Even if it is impossible to unify the rivers and lakes, we will become the best force in the world and dominate the rivers and lakes.

“Are you anxious?”

Zhong Lishan was startled and looked at Xi Liang.

Seoryang’s smiling eyes. There was a subtle coolness in those eyes.

“Since you reacted that way, I also have a question.”

“….”

“What is your dream, matriarch? “No, what is your goal?”

“…?!”

“Are you going to expand your family and become the head of the Magical Seven Houses and live off the land? Do you want to maintain your current power and end your life comfortably?”

“…!!”

“If the Protestants say they want to start a war, do you plan to shout that you can’t do it and then hide?”

Zhong Lishan gritted his teeth.

“That wasn’t the point. If a war breaks out, my family will stand at the forefront and annihilate the enemies. However, if you force a war, it will be….”

“There is no middle ground in a war of power.”

“….”

“That’s what the head of the family said a little while ago.”

There was a hint of seriousness in Seo-ryang’s eyes as well.

“great. Forget the pun. Even if the head of the family rejects my offer, I will not cause any harm to the Geogyeong family.

The reason is because the Geogyeong family is still a necessary force.”

“….”

“If you accept, you will have to overcome incalculable adversity with me. “If you refuse, you can rest in peace and then go back.”

“….”

“That’s all the answer to the question. Are you satisfied?”

Zhong Lishan was speechless.

Xu Liang nodded.

“I think you understand. I think it lightened the burden. “I will wait for the next question.”

“….”

“How can you not say anything? “Didn’t you say you had two questions?”

“…You already answered.”

“Eh?”

“Another question. The answer to that question was given by the Three Dukes.”

“What was the question?”

“target.”

“…Ohh.”

Zhong Lishan touched the glass.

“Whether I accept or reject something, I feel the need to find out what kind of person the other person is.

“Of course, I thought we needed to know what the other person ultimately wants.”

“So did you like the answer?”

Zhong Lishan was silent again.

It was after half a hour had passed that he touched his glass several times and opened his mouth again.

“I think the Three Dukes will have to walk a pretty rough path to achieve that goal.”

“of course. “I’m already getting cramps in my head.”

“And I should be the successor as well.”

Seo-ryang’s eyes sparkled.

Zhong Lishan looked directly into Xu Liang’s eyes.

“You will have to shed quite a bit of blood to become the heir.”

“….”

“Isn’t that so?”

“I don’t think you necessarily need to be the successor. But once you become the successor, many things will become easier.”

“Ultimately, you are saying that you will become the successor.”

“That’s right.”

“To sum it up, the Three Dukes are now telling the Six Dukes’ father to be on his side.”

“At the same time, you are receiving a training offer from someone who is the most driven and quite strong among the succession candidates.”

Seo-ryang winked his eyes playfully.

“Plus, he’s quite likable.”

Zhong Lishan chuckled.

“If the other person had been of the opposite sex, it would have been a factor that was not easy to ignore.”

“So what’s the answer?”

Zhong Lishan emptied his drink.

“Please follow me.”

“Cancer.”

Grrr.

A glass that fills slowly.

Before the cup was even filled, Zhong Lishan spoke.

“My son is not a religious leader. “I think it will be difficult to defeat the Grand Duke or the Second Duke before the Three Dukes.”

“Is that so?”

“exactly.”

A full glass.

Zhong Lishan held out his cup and spoke calmly.

“If there are traces of my son’s blood on the stepping stone to becoming the heir, I will do whatever it takes to kill you.”

The calm voice contained a terrifying murderous spirit.

Xu Liang held out the glass with a serious face.

“That will never happen.”

Jjaeng!

The two people who made a toast emptied their glasses.

After emptying his glass, Zhong Lishan stood up and bowed politely.

“Shin (臣), Geogyeonggaju Jonglisan, from this moment on, I will serve Confucius as my lord.”

Seo-ryang did not get up. This was because he realized that greeting someone face-to-face as a polite gesture that was difficult to handle would actually lower the other person’s dignity.

He said calmly.

“Please take care of me in the future.”