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Although they were surprised by Jecheondaesung’s appearance, no one managed to respond to his cringy line.
Hwangho and Cheongryong were both expressionless.
Gullinbursti’s face dimmed, wondering if he heard the name correctly.
At the not-so-good response, Jecheondaesung’s main body in the middle looked sullen for a second.
Hwangho sighed at it, but he was surprised that Jecheondaesung really came.
‘Jo Euishin’s prediction really came true…!’
Jecheondaesung wasn’t the traitor, and the possibility of him betraying them in the future was close to zero.
If Jecheondaesung betrays the 12-point alliance, the seal of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva will be released and the Gingoju will come into Hwangho’s hands.
When Jecheondaesung handed him the seal of a talisman containing the gingoju…
— I am not the traitor who broke the non-aggression pact of the alliance. If I and the Monkey Clan betray the alliance, the Gingoju will fall into Hwangho’s hands.
Jecheondaesung was well aware of how wary Hwangho was of other royal lineages, especially after the incident with the Bear Clan.
That’s why he put such collateral on the line to seek his cooperation to find the whereabouts of his sister, Wu Zhiqi.
As a result, Wu Zhiqi was successfully found with the help of the Tiger Clan and Jo Euishin.
And Jecheondaesung also said this when he asked the Tiger Clan for help.
— If things go well, I’ll help you catch that traitor later on.
The possibility of Jecheondaesung betraying the alliance is close to zero, and he even promised to help catch the traitor.
However, Hwangho had no intention of calling Jecheondaesung.
‘Possibility of betrayal is low, but there’s no guarantee that he’d cooperate just because he’s in debt.’
Hwangho thought that Jecheondaesung would try to maintain neutrality last second after he saw Jogangryeob on the side of the traitors.
Such a choice wouldn’t constitute a betrayal to the alliance.
Therefore, Hwangho thought that it would be better to devise a plan that doesn’t depend on Jecheondaesung.
If there was no choice but to mobilize him for this operation, it would be better to deploy him where he wouldn’t encounter Jogangryeob.
However, Jo Euishin seemed to have a different idea.
— I’ll ask Jecheondaesung to deal with Jogangryeob.
Jo Euishin wanted Jecheondaesung to take care of Jogangryeob.
From his words, he wasn’t asking Hwangho to talk to Jecheondaesung, and instead sounded like he’d negotiate with the clan head himself.
Hwangho wasn’t the only one who thought so.
— It sounds like Euishin hyung will meet Jecheondaesung in person.
Eunho spoke in a soft voice, but his words had a thorn hidden in them.
He seemed to be indirectly asking whether Jo Euishin was in his right mind.
Strictly speaking, Jo Euishin isn’t a part of the 12-point alliance, so if Jecheondaesung does something to him, it wouldn’t be a betrayal.
But Jo Euishin refuted it, stating something that Eunho didn’t know about.
— Hwang Jiho and Jecheondaesung talked before.
Jo Euishin brought up the conversation of the two clan heads over Do Sihoo in the past.
His light skill was forcefully invoked, but Do Sihoo’s power sealed Wu Zhiqi, and her grudge was directed at the young cadet.
Hwangho, concerned about the possibility of Jecheondaesung attacking Do Sihoo later on, asked him.
— This is the man I tried to protect. You’re not going to hurt him when I’m not looking, are you?
Then, Jecheondaesung responded with very heavy words.
— Hahaha! If I do that, then I’d be betraying you.
In other words, attacking Do Sihoo is tantamount to betraying Hwangho.
Based on that conversation, Jo Euishin was confident that he’d be safe.
— There won’t be any problem meeting Jecheondaesung one-on-one if I tell him that I’m protected by the Tiger Clan.
Hwangho pondered when he heard that.
‘So Jo Euishin knows that he’s protected by the Tiger Clan.’
He thought Jo Euishin didn’t think so because he was cold to him every time.
Hwangho thanked himself for calling Jo Euishin his benefactor often.
And he wasn’t the only one who felt sentimental.
— I see. Of course, Euishin hyung is our benefactor, so he’s protected by us.
— Jo Euishin is right. The Tiger Clan owes a great favor to him, so of course, he is under our protection,
Jo Euishin seemed to regret saying such a thing right away when even Jeokho added to the conversation.
Hwangho laughed excitedly when Jo Euishin desperately tried to change the conversation, nervously took a sip of his tea, and stroked Shinsoo to find stability.
— Alright, then I guess your safety is guaranteed. But why do you have to meet Jecheondaesung in person?
— To settle something that I thought was strange. Perhaps the answer to that question will determine whether Jecheondaesung will cooperate or not.
— Tell us about it.
Then, Jo Euishin put down his teacup.
— I have two questions.
— What are they?
— First is that it seems like Jecheondaesung doesn’t know that Jogangryeob is among the traitors of the 12-point alliance.
Jecheondaesung participated in the talks and knew that there was a traitor among them, but he didn’t seem to know that it was Jogangryeob.
So he handed Hwangho the seal containing the Gingoju and stepped up to find the traitor.
— If I were the Black Screen, I would’ve tried to contact Jecheondaesung the moment Jogangryeob joined my cause. The two of them formed a relationship from their Journey to the West after all. But Jecheondaesung doesn’t seem to know anything about the traitor.
As if Jogangryeob hadn’t even tried to reach out to Jecheondaesung, the latter seemed clueless.
There was a possibility that Jecheondaesung was just keeping neutral and pretending to be oblivious to Jogangryeob’s case.
And there was another question.
— And Wu Zhiqi was in the hands of the Black Screen. The Black Screen could’ve used her to control Jecheondaesung, but they didn’t.
Hwangho’s head nodded automatically when he heard Jo Euishin’s words.
It was strange that Jecheondaesung wasn’t part of the Black Screen.
— Jogangryeob is like Jecheondaesung’s brother, and Wu Zhiqi is his real sister. Even with those two, the Black Screen didn’t mess with Jecheondaesung. The first question I have is if Jecheondaesung is ignorant of this situation.
Jo Euishin spoke thoughtfully as if he hadn’t yet reached a conclusion.
— It’s still speculation, but couldn’t there be something going on between Jecheondaesung and Jogangryeob? That’s why he couldn’t propose to him to join the Black Screen? I want to clarify by talking directly with him.
Jo Euishin sounded like a knight chess piece, trying to find gaps.
Jeokho was convinced, but he had his doubts.
— But Jecheondaesung and Jo Euishin only met once. Won’t it be difficult to talk about something deep like that? He’s indebted to Jo Euishin, but would that monkey really talk right away?
Hwangho agreed.
Even he measured and tried Jo Euishin at first.
The world was too harsh to trust one person in only one sitting.
Hwangho once stood up to his benefactor, something that was dizzying to think about now.
Jecheondaesung wouldn’t have trusted Jo Euishin right away.
— There’s no problem about that.
However, Jo Euishin spoke confidently.
Fwat!
As if it was magic, Jo Euishin took out an item card.
Judging from the color of the card’s border, the item’s rarity is UR-rank.
Looking at the surface of the card, the tigers found that it was the Sangbosimgeunpa.
The weapon painted on the surface of the card was black, the color of Jo Euishin’s energy waves.
This meant that the weapon completely recognized Jo Euishin as its owner.
— The Sangbosimgeumpa has an ego and chooses its owner. Since it chose me over Jogangryeob, its previous owner, Jecheondaesung will listen.
Jo Euishin’s words were plausible.
Certainly, if someone who’s protected by the Tiger Clan and owns the Sangbosimgeumpa requests a conversation, Jecheondaesung will faithfully respond.
But something was still missing.
Eunho seemed to feel the same way.
— Even if he listens to you, it will be hard to conclude it. It’s not enough that you’re the owner of the weapon of someone he considered a brother. Jecheondaesung looks sloppy and friendly, but he’s not ordinary.
There was a change in Jo Eushin’s expression.
In a word, he looked suspicious.
Eunho was sure when he saw the expression.
— Euishin hyung’s second question must be related to that then.
Jo Euishin nodded.
From their conversation, Jecheondaesung showed up today.
After a spectacular appearance, Jecheondaesung talked to Jogangryeob.
“Why did you leave the Sangbosimgeumpa and go with these dregs, Bajie-ah?”
When Jecheondaesung pointed to the fully armed troops, one of the 800 shouted indignantly.
“Dregs you say! Even if you’re Jecheondaesung, you’re — heub!”
“Shut up! If that gold rod heads here, I’m going to use your face as a shield!”
“Shush!”
Those who were immature and shallow didn’t know, but the high-level troops knew and feared Jecheondaesung.
Not to mention Jecheondaesung’s fiery nature, but considering how many heroes his golden staff beat, it made them feel numb.
One of the alter egos of Jecheondaesung turned his head and stared at the troop who had just spoken.
The monkey fiddled with the staff, remembering the man that he’d be smashing later.
For now, Jecheondaesung’s main body was busy talking with Jogangyreob.
“Well, I’ve met the owner who uses the Sangbosimgeumpa well.
“…! You know where that damned crow is?”
“Yes. Roughly. But I won’t tell you.”
“Son hyung!”
Jogangryeob trembled at Jecheondaesung’s words.
After making Jogangryeob’s concentration falter, Jecheondaesung asked.
“Bajie, did you know where Wu Zhiqi was all this time?”
“You mean your sister?”
“Yes. When we met once after the otherworld collision, I remember asking you to look for my sister’s whereabouts.”
Everyone was puzzled by Jecheondaesung’s sudden question.
It was an important question for the monkey, but it sounded like the answer would cause misfortune to others.
However, no one threw up recklessly.
Jogangryeob crumpled his face under his helmet and grumbled back.
“How would I know if even you can’t find her, Son hyung? You know I’m not good at that, hyung! You always treat me like a porter, and you only collect information when you’re sad and…”
“You really don’t know? Or are you pretending not to know?”
Jecheondaesung stared right at Jogangryeob.
Was Jogangryeob putting on a high-level performance, or does he really not know?
Jecheondaesung decided to use the most effective means that he had.
He flew through the wind and flew toward the pig, not letting him have a chance to say anything.
Even before the 800 troops followed the afterimage left by Jecheondaesung’s quick movements, the sound of tearing the wind rang out.
“I’ll give you a hundred hits of this staff first, Bajie-ah. Ninety-nine left.”
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