Absolute Warrior V3C2: The Evil Coalition Leader Neung Pungbi
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TL: FoodieMonster007 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
Crimson Tiger jogged along a mountain trail. A chorus of birdsong rang through the air, carried by the cool morning breeze.
It had been five days since he returned to the Association. During that time, he had focused on his recovery. His qi was fully restored by the tuber fleeceflower, and circulating his qi alongside wound healing medicine helped both his external and internal wounds heal quickly.
As of yesterday, he had already begun light exercise.
SWOOSH!
He vaulted over a hill in a single leap. Although an ordinary martial artist would have dropped their jaws at the sight, this was nothing more than a simple warm-up for him.
Still, even though the mountain was seldom visited by people, he could not freely practice the Asura's Eight Narakas or the Thirteen Shadowless Maneuvers.
He had considered visiting the underground training hall at his warehouse manager lodgings, but ultimately, he decided against it. It had not yet been discovered, so if there was ever a time when he needed to hide within the Association, it could serve as an important emergency shelter.
Before long, Crimson Tiger reached the top of the mountain, panting for breath but feeling refreshed. No one could ever truly know what it felt like to run at dawn unless they experienced it for themselves.
If someone thought that a martial artist's fights depended only on the internal and external arts, they were dead wrong. Many other factors came into play during a real battle. Training, combat experience, perception, focus, and above all, the will to win were also crucial.
A long time ago, after a grueling training session, he had once asked his master this:
"I think I'm pretty strong now. Can't I slack off a little?"
"Sure, why not? You'll have plenty of time to regret it when the jianghu grabs you by the collar. You'll be covered in dust, rolling on the ground, bleeding, crying. Let's see if you can survive then, shall we? Now stop whining and keep training."
He had let his master's nagging go in one ear and out the other back then, but now, he always kept those words of advice in his heart.
Master was right. The jianghu is a terrifying place.
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For a martial arts novice, the jianghu appeared straightforward. However, as one got stronger, the jianghu became more intimidating.
Seven years ago, the naive boy named Kwon Kangho had come to realize that not everything he saw was the entire story, that the jianghu wasn't simply divided into black and white.
When he had finally caught his breath, Crimson Tiger straightened up.
POW! POW! POW!
Starting with some light kicks, he began to warm up. Even though the exercises were simple, however, he performed each one with care and attention to proper form.
So far, he had refrained from using the very domineering extreme yang martial art known as the Asura's Eight Narakas, as it could have been recognized by an old martial master if they saw it. In comparison, however, the Thirteen Shadowless Maneuvers was a relatively unknown martial art, so he hadn't hesitated to reveal it in a pinch.
Thanks to that, he had achieved a small revelation during the mission. Right now, he felt a ticklish sensation as if fleas or lice were crawling all over his skin, hinting that with a little more practice, he could advance to the next level.
Because of this itchy sensation, he could not sit still. He wanted to keep practicing the martial art.
I have to be careful.
If he allowed his mind to get ahead of him and became greedy, the next stage would drift further away from him. If he gave in to temptation, he could regress more than his original level, and if he was really unlucky, he might fall to a lower level. Of course, at his stage of martial mastery, this almost never happened, but it wasn't zero.
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At the same time, the risks did not mean he should ignore that phenomenon either. Ignoring it was just as bad as being greedy.
I only need to relax and focus a bit more than usual. If I normally use 100% of effort, then I should put in 120% now.
POW! BANG! POW POW POW POW SLAM!
Crimson Tiger forcefully struck the empty air with his fists and body.
Be patient. When there's a will, there's always a way. If I let go of my greed and broaden my mind, the path forward will surely become clear…
Suddenly, he stopped training, turned his head, and smiled. Far below, at the foot of the hill, Yeon was slowly making her way up.
"Hey there," he greeted.
"Hello."
Their gazes met, softer than ever before.
"How are your injuries?"
"I've almost fully recovered."
"That's a relief."
"What about you? Did you manage to get some rest?"
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Yeon nodded, smiling.
Crimson Tiger sighed inwardly. The two of them shared the same fate now. When the time came to escape the Association, he had to come up with some plan for her as well. Either they escaped together, or if that was too difficult, he needed to leave proof that she was never involved in his matters.
"Here, a reply came," she said, holding out a letter.
"Ah!" Crimson Tiger brightened up and took the letter. As expected, it was from his master, and just like the one he sent, his master had used a code as well.
As he read the letter, though, various emotions flickered across his face.
"What does it say?" Yeon asked carefully when he finished reading and put the letter away.
"Hyeon cannot be moved until the end of this year, when the final treatment will be held."
He had expected this, but still, seeing it confirmed firsthand weighed on his heart.
"So, we have to hold out until then somehow," Yeon sighed.
Crimson Tiger nodded. Fortunately, there was good news as well. According to the letter, the Primordial Four Symbols Formation had finally been completed. If an emergency arose, his master would be able to use the formation to buy time, time that could completely turn the tide of battle for a one of his master's caliber.
Master, thank you.
After giving thanks in his heart, Crimson Tiger asked, "When is the First Young Lord's wedding?"
"It will be held in about two months."
"Two months, huh."
That was the first hurdle. During these two months, the power struggle between the two sides would reach its peak. He had to plan his next move carefully.
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"When do you think the Third Young Lady will make a move?"
"I doubt she'll do anything right away. She'll probably wait for a critical moment to reveal it, so that she can get the most out of it."
"A critical moment, you say?"
"Yes. After all, the moment the truth is revealed is the moment the First Young Lord suffers the greatest blow," Yeon said nervously. Having helped Crimson Tiger, she had already crossed a bridge she could not return from. "Meanwhile, I'll keep watch on Soeun discreetly."
Crimson Tiger fell silent. He felt uneasy about leaving Soeun alone, but rescuing her wasn't an option either. She was too important to both sides.
They had to deal with the problem right in front of them first.
"Don't overdo it, and be careful. It's better to remain undetected than risk your safety over information."
"Yes, don't worry. Also, do you think the Evil Coalition will give up?"
Crimson Tiger shook his head. "Of course not."
Yeon sighed heavily, worry written all over her face. The First Young Lord, the Third Young Lady, and the Evil Coalition. Enemies were everywhere. They could neither evade them nor turn back.
Crimson Tiger said reassuringly, "Yeon, seven years ago, I assigned myself a mission, the most important mission of my life."
That mission was to survive until the end of this year while protecting everyone he loved.
He smiled confidently. "And you know me, right? Since when have I ever failed a mission?"
The atmosphere within the hall was solemn. Even though it was a gathering of martial masters, none dared to make a loud noise or even breathe loudly.
The reason was the old man sitting atop the highest seat of honor. His aura overwhelmed everyone else, to the point where simply looking at him made breathing difficult.
He was the Evil Coalition Leader, Neung Pungbi.
The Head Strategist Jongri Mun and the Seven Great Elders stood at his flanks. Below them, the captains and senior officers of the Evil Coalition gathered, including Giyeong, the commander of the Ten Evils.
In the middle of the hall, a middle-aged man who had been assigned to investigate the incident stood and delivered his report. He was Jwa Cheonsu, one of the Seven Great Elders, renowned for his levelheadedness and composure.
"…In the end, the Ironblood Commander lost his life, and three hundred fifty martial artists sent to pursue the assassin were killed or wounded," Jwa Cheonsu explained the situation emotionlessly, as if the deaths were simply numbers. "Ultimately, the assassin broke through the perimeter and escaped."
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The elders let out low sighs, and a brief, somber silence followed.
Neung Pungbi showed no reaction, but the chilly atmosphere in the hall clearly revealed his displeasure.
Jwa Cheonsu concluded, "Judging from his abilities, we believe the assassin might be one of the Association's Twelve Phantoms."
At the mention of the Twelve Phantoms, Jongri Mun broke the silence on Neung Pungbi's behalf, asking, "How did he infiltrate Headquarters?"
"He disguised himself as one of the Ironblood Nines' newest recruits."
"How could this happen? Didn't we raise our hiring standards and incoporate more stringent background checks to prevent incidents like this?"
"We are investigating that right now."
"There is no perfect defense against infiltration," the Suicide Squad Commander interjected. Since his group formed the core of the Evil Coalition's defenses and was tasked with checking for human skin masks and disguise techniques at the main entrance, he could not avoid taking the blame for the assassin's infiltration.
Jwa Cheonsu turned back to Neung Pungbi. "Three of the four new Ironblood recruits disappeared right after the incident. Their names are Yang Hyeon, Soh Bung, and Bang Soso. We believe that the assassin is one of them.
Yang Hyeon was Crimson Tiger's alias, while Soh Bung's corpse, which had been buried in the warehouse courtyard, had already been disposed of by Giyeong. In addition, Crimson Tiger had disguised Soh Bung's corpse as Soeun, making it difficult to identify her.
Despite knowing the truth, Jongri Mun quietly asked, "Could they also be the assassin's victims?"
"It's possible. Still, I doubt that someone who is not a member of the Ironblood Nines could have killed the Ironblood Commander in his own office. That narrows our suspects to only those three."
The elders nodded in agreement.
Since Jongri Mun was secretly trying to interfere with the investigation, he refrained from further argument. If it was revealed that he knew about Crimson Tiger's infiltration but failed to warn the Ironblood Commander, he would be in big trouble.
Fortunately, the evidence linking the Ten Evils to the incident had already been completely erased. As long as Crimson Tiger was not captured later, the fact that Jongri Mun knew yet remained silent would remain undiscovered.
Jwa Cheonsu calmly continued reporting to Neung Pungbi. "There were other casualties besides the three missing recruits, all of them belonging to the Seventh Squad. Because they were the ones involved in the Hong Family Estate operation, and I believe it is related to this incident as well. On the same day that the Ironblood Commander died, we also found Seventh Six dead. The body was badly disfigured, but we managed to identify her based on the gender and personal possessions."
That corpse was actually Snakeflower (Bang Soso), but Jongri Mun wasn't going to reveal that. Thanks to Crimson Tiger, who had left Soeun's necklace on her, he could cover up the Evil's participation effortlessly.
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"Considering that the Seventh Squad suffered the most fatalities, I think we can safely assume that the assassin infiltrated the Seventh Squad. That makes Yang Hyeon the most likely suspect."
"Isn't there a possibility that all three of them were working together?" Jongri Mun suggested.
"That is also true," Jwa Cheonsu agreed, leaving all possibilities open.
Jongri Mun asked again, "I heard that four new recruits were accepted. If three of them went missing, who is the last one remaining?"
"Yong Hajin."
"The son of Commander Yong of the Bloody Asura Corps?"
"Yes, exactly."
All eyes turned to Yong Cheonse, who did his best to hide his discomfort and remain calm.
Jwa Cheonsu addressed him, "Commander Yong, may I ask you a question regarding this matter, if you do not mind?
"Certainly," Yong Cheonse replied, acting confident as if he had nothing to hide.
"On the day of the incident, your son visited your office, correct?"
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"Yes."
"Why?"
"That… he requested my assistance in transferring him to another squad." Yong Cheonse hesitated for a moment, but answered honestly in the end. He knew very well that lying here unnecessarily could prove disastrous.
The audience blinked in confusion, not understanding the meaning of Yong Cheonse's words.
"So he asked you to request the Ironblood Commander for a squad transfer, correct?" Jwa Cheonsu clarified.
Finally understanding, the Coalition leaders clicked their tongues in disapproval.
Yong Cheonse felt humiliated, but he held back his anger. Neung Pungbi was watching him closely.
"And did you grant that request?"
"No."
"Did your son return after that?"
"He did not."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
Jwa Cheonsu's expression darkened, and he tilted his head in puzzlement. "That's odd."
"What do you mean?"
"On that day, Yong Hajin returned to the inner compound barely two hours after visiting you, Commander Yong."
"Impossible."
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"There was more than one eyewitness."
Yong Cheonse's face hardened. This was no trivial matter. Of course, he did not believe that his son had killed the Ironblood Commander, and the boy lacked the ability to do so anyway. However, if he was implicated as an accomplice, it would become a huge problem for both him and his son.
"Your son is currently being investigated over this matter."
Yong Cheonse tensed up.
Seeing the look on Yong Cheonse's face, Jwa Cheonsu added, "But don't worry too much. For now, he doesn't seem to be connected to the assassin."
For now? Hmph! If you fools dare drag my son into this, I will not stand idly by!
A slight tremor appeared at the corner of Yong Cheonse's eyes, but he hid his true feelings and nodded silently. "If you have to investigate him, please do it thoroughly."
"Of course. That's only natural."
Yong Cheonse gritted his teeth at Jwa Cheonsu's irritating reply.
Damn it!
The son who always caused trouble had finally made a serious mess.
Jwa Cheonsu addressed the masters again, "There is another curious detail."
"What is it?"
Jwa Cheonsu replied quietly, "We discovered traces of a fight in the document warehouse."
Everyone blinked in surprise.
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"The document warehouse? Are you saying that Coalition secrets might have been leaked?"
"Fortunately, it was not the top secret vault, but the ordinary warehouse."
The elders breathed a sigh of relief. If the top secret vault had been breached, their personal information would have been compromised.
"Although it's even stranger that the ordinary warehouse was targeted instead."
From the perspective of those familiar with the inside story, it made sense, but to others, it was incomprehensible.
That was the end of the report.
Having heard it all, Neung Pungbi did not pass judgment. Instead, he simply announced, "We will stop here for today. You're dismissed."
At his grave tone, everyone quietly left, leaving only Neung Pungbi and Jwa Cheonsu in the main hall.
As Jwa Cheonsu prepared to leave, Neung Pungbi said, "I feel stifled. Shall we take a walk?"
"Yes, Coalition Leader."
They headed to the rear garden, a flower garden of such remarkable beauty that no one in the jianghu would dispute its supremacy. Rare, exotic flowers rarely seen in a lifetime adorned the garden, making it second to none.
Jwa Cheonsu walked carefully behind Neung Pungbi, making sure not to step on his shadow. Such was the depth of his respect for the man.
Suddenly, Neung Pungbi asked, "What do you think really happened?"
So far, Jwa Cheonsu had given the official account, but Neung Pungbi wanted his personal view, something more definitive.
"It is difficult to find a clear reason or motive for the Association to assassinate the Ironblood Commander."
"So, there's another reason?"
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"That seems likely. And if it is…" Jwa Cheonsu paused. "I doubt that Head Strategist Jongri Mun was unaware of it."
Neung Pungbi's eyes narrowed. "He knew? Interesting. Do you have any proof?"
Jwa Cheonsu said cautiously, "…He may have delayed the deployment of the Ten Evils during the pursuit."
"You think it was deliberate?"
"Yes, but all I have is circumstantial evidence."
A subtle smile appeared on Neung Pungbi's lips. "Well, if Jongri Mun was involved, he wouldn't have left any real evidence."
"……" Jwa Cheonsu understood that Jongri Mun was undoubtedly the one Neung Pungbi trusted the most.
"I once asked Jongri how I compared to the Association Chairman. He said that I was one step below him. Although he called it one step, he made no mention of the height of that step." Neung Pungbi stopped walking. Placing his hands behind his back, he gazed up at the sky. "Intelligent people are fine, but they lack a stubborn edge. Their minds are sharp, so they don't need stubbornness. However, that boy has a stubborn side."
Calmly, Jwa Cheonsu said, "If Jongri Mun knew in advance, then he cannot avoid taking responsibility for this incident. Besides, deceiving you, Coalition Leader, is a serious
The smile on Neung Pungbi's lips deepened. "That's quite reassuring."
"What do you mean?"
"Being caught off guard without any knowledge would be an even bigger problem, wouldn't it?"
"……" Jwa Cheonsu sighed inwardly. Seeing how much Neung Pungbi trusted Jongri Mun, he realized that it was still too early to shake that trust.
"Look into it further," Neung Pungbi ordered.
"Yes, Coalition Leader," Jwa Cheonsu replied sincerely. No matter how deep the trust was, he would not let this go so easily. He did not envy Jongri Mun, nor was this a struggle for the Coalition Leader's favor.
It was simply too dangerous for one person to monopolize the highest authority's good graces. After all, even the greatest dam could collapse from a small crack.
Jwa Cheonsu believed that the Coalition Leader had assigned him to this investigation precisely because he understood this mindset.
With a final respectful bow, he withdrew.
Neung Pungbi looked up at the clear sky and let out a lazy yawn. "Haa… Is it spring already?"
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