Chapter 21: The Second Dispatch

Chief Administrator Zhuge Don meticulously gathered and categorized the information relayed by the carrier pigeons.

Among the reports were urgent matters requiring the Four Divine Units’ immediate dispatch and others that needed observation over time.

‘This is quite serious.’

Information from Yichang indicated that assassins had murdered government officials.

Furthermore, several martial artists from the established martial arts families in Yichang had also been killed.

While assassins would k*ll anyone for silver, their recent rampage was excessive.

‘This time, I need to make up my mind and eliminate the White Moon Spirit（白月靈）.’

The assassin group closest to Yichang was the White Moon Spirit.

The White Moon Spirit was among the top assassin guilds.

“Who should we send this time?”

The Black Tortoise Unit had suffered significant losses, making immediate dispatch difficult.

Sending the White Tiger Unit was also problematic due to their Unit Leader’s simple-mindedness.

While the Vice Unit Leader was coordinating with the simple-minded Unit Leader, facing the White Moon Spirit would likely result in substantial casualties.

‘That leaves the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird Units.’

“Summon the Unit Leaders of the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird Units.”

Yeon Ja-ryong and Ak Mun-yeong, summoned by Chief Administrator Zhuge Don, took their seats.

Just as Zhuge Don was about to speak, an urgent message arrived from outside.

“The magistrate of Yichang has arrived.”

The magistrate was an official responsible for practical affairs.

“Bring him in.”

Zhuge Don rose from his seat and personally went out to greet the magistrate.

Although the magistrate was a lower-ranking official, it was beneficial for both parties to show respect.

Shortly after, the officials, guided by the guards, met with Zhuge Don and exchanged greetings.

“Welcome.”

“It is an honor to meet you.”

“Please come in.”

Chief Administrator Zhuge Don entered the room with the officials.

Yeon Ja-ryong and Ak Mun-yeong, who were seated, rose to leave.

However, Zhuge Don raised his hand to stop them.

“Please remain seated. Bring us some tea.”

He guided the officials to the seats where Yeon Ja-ryong and Ak Mun-yeong had been sitting and ordered tea.

“Thank you, but we must decline the tea. Our situation is urgent, so we must finish our business and return as soon as possible.”

Chief Administrator Zhuge Don, noticing the officials’ anxiety, sat facing them.

“Please tell me what brings you here.”

The eldest among the officials spoke up.

“Actually, we have come to seek the help of the Martial Alliance.”

“Help…… What kind of help can we offer?”

Chief Administrator Zhuge Don responded calmly.

He had already guessed the reason for their visit.

Officials had sought assistance on several occasions in the past.

“The truth is, the individuals we serve have been tragically killed by assassins. We should deploy troops to capture the perpetrators, but the assassins are so cunning that it seems it will take a long time. That is why we have come to ask the Martial Alliance for help.”

“Oh my……”

Chief Administrator Zhuge Don feigned surprise.

“Such a thing has happened. However, as you know, Magistrate, we are currently busy exterminating bandits from the Green Forest and water bandits. We would like to help, but we are short-handed, so I am not sure what to do.”

As Zhuge Don subtly hinted at refusal, the magistrate took out a thick leather box and placed it on the table.

“We implore you, please help us.”

“What is this?”

Chief Administrator Zhuge Don already knew what was inside the leather box.

But he pretended not to know and asked.

“These are bank notes. It’s equivalent to twenty thousand silver taels. Please accept this and eliminate the assassins.”

“Oh my……”

“This is difficult……”

As Zhuge Don trailed off, the magistrate pleaded further.

“The pressure from above is intense, so I beg you. If you eliminate the assassins, we will provide an additional twenty thousand silver taels.”

“Sigh……”

Chief Administrator Zhuge Don let out a deep sigh on purpose.

“Given the circumstances, we will help you. If it’s an assassin group near Yichang, it must be the White Moon Spirit.”

“Yes, we are also certain that it is their doing.”

“Alright. We will eradicate the White Moon Spirit this time.”

The magistrates, desperate, bowed repeatedly.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“You are most welcome. We should help each other in times like these, shouldn’t we?”

“Of course. But you must ensure that the task is handled effectively.”

The magistrates tried to secure Zhuge Don’s promise.

Zhuge Don then turned his head and introduced Yeon Ja-ryong and Ak Mun-yeong to them.

“These are the Unit Leaders of the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird Units. We will dispatch them all.”

The magistrates were startled and widened their eyes.

The Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird Units were the most renowned among the Four Divine Units.

The Unit Leaders were the children of the Four Martial Heavenly Kings who saved the martial world.

Like father, like son, as they say.

How surprising and grateful it was that these two would handle this matter.

“If you would do that, there would be nothing more to say.”

The officials rose from their seats and bowed to Yeon Ja-ryong and Ak Mun-yeong.

“It is an honor to meet you.”

After the officials left, Zhuge Don sat facing the Unit Leaders.

“It’s a task we had to do anyway, and we even earned silver.”

Yeon Ja-ryong immediately grasped the situation.

Zhuge Don, despite the potential for anger due to the substantial silver earned, responded calmly.

“Let’s pretend we don’t know.”

“Indeed. Are we dispatching to the Three Gorges this time?”

“That’s right. Wipe out the White Moon Spirit completely.”

The White Moon Spirit had a hideout in the Three Gorges of Yichang.

“Yes.”

Ak Mun-yeong’s reply was concise.

However, Yeon Ja-ryong remained silent.

He paused for a moment before speaking.

“The White Moon Spirit is among the top assassin groups. We will eradicate them, but there will be casualties.”

“So? What’s your point?”

“Lend me one person.”

“Who?”

“Kang Dong-jae.”

Chief Administrator Zhuge Don was so dumbfounded that he just stared at Yeon Ja-ryong’s face.

And his face slowly started to turn red.

Why Kang Dong-jae of all people?

A few days ago, Elder Shangguan had visited and thrown a tantrum.

He had unleashed a torrent of insults, claiming there was no one as ill-mannered as Kang Dong-jae.

Listening to the story, it seemed the fault lay with the elder, but Zhuge Don couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Elder Shangguan had continued his tirade for a whole period of time before leaving.

Recalling the incident, Zhuge Don’s anger flared up even more.

“How have you been eliminating assassins without Kang Dong-jae all this time?”

As Zhuge Don’s voice rose, Yeon Ja-ryong’s voice also rose in response.

“No, I’m saying let’s minimize casualties, casualties. Kang Dong-jae shoots arrows like a ghost, so he’s perfect for taking out hidden assassins.”

His words made sense.

But Zhuge Don, whose anger had erupted, couldn’t stop.

“How are you going to pull a member from the Black Tortoise Unit? Do you think Unit Leader Yang will just stand by?”

“What’s the problem? It’s not like he’s joining the Azure Dragon or Vermilion Bird Unit, it’s just a temporary loan. Besides, Unit Leader Yang should be proud that I’m borrowing him because I lack the skills, shouldn’t he?”

This also made sense.

Chief Administrator Zhuge Don suddenly lowered his voice.

“Is Kang Dong-jae that good with a bow?”

“Yes, I’ve never seen anyone s*oot like him.”

“Sigh……”

“Well, that’s……”

I sat quietly, observing Uncle.

Uncle was standing next to a statue crafted in his likeness, receiving greetings from the unit members.

He had been doing this for over an hour.

“Aren’t you tired of it, Uncle?”

At my question, Uncle adopted a solemn expression.

“A deity becomes truly efficacious when they receive many greetings.”

“Deity, my foot. Well, I guess a ghost is a deity too.”

“What did you just say?”

“I didn’t say anything, Uncle.”

As I was conversing with Uncle, Unit Leader Yang approached.

“There you are.”

“Ah…… yes.”

I rose from my seat and faced him.

“Prepare for dispatch.”

“Understood. Where are we going this time?”

“The Three Gorges. However, you will not be accompanying the Black Tortoise Unit but joining the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird Units.”

His words were puzzling.

Seeing my confused expression, Unit Leader Yang explained.

“The enemies we face this time are assassins. I don’t know how great your archery skills are, but I hope you will be of help.”

“Ah…… I understand.”

“Good luck.”

Unit Leader Yang delivered his message and left immediately.

I looked back at Uncle, who was still standing next to the statue.

“Let’s go together, Uncle.”

But Uncle shook his head firmly.

“Go alone this time.”

“Why? If you find the assassins and I s*oot them with my bow, we can handle it easily.”

“That’s why you can’t. The assassins’ concealment is difficult to detect unless you’re a master. So take this opportunity to sense the assassins’ presence. Be careful, if you don’t sense their presence but have a bad feeling, immediately leave that place.”

Since Uncle spoke so seriously, I couldn’t insist any further.

“Alright, Uncle. I’ll be back.”

“It’s Chief Administrator Zhuge Don.”

“Come in.”

Zhuge Don carefully opened the door and entered the room, bowing deeply before taking a seat.

There was only one person in the world he treated with such caution.

“Bring us some drinks.”

As soon as the middle-aged man in the room finished speaking, an elderly woman brought in a table with drinks.

After the woman set the table and left, the man picked up the bottle and filled Zhuge Don’s cup.

“I called you because I was lonely. Who else can drink with me besides you, Chief Administrator?”

Zhuge Don felt sorry for the middle-aged man who spoke these words.

This middle-aged man was one of the Four Martial Heavenly Kings who saved the martial world.

He was also the best martial artist under heaven and the Alliance Leader who founded the Martial Alliance.

While martial artists revered him like a g*d, Zhuge Don knew that he was a man with a soft heart.

Outwardly, he appeared unshakeable, as if the sky could fall without him flinching, but his inner self was different.

“What should we do about the Northern Heavenly Black Tortoise Unit?”

The Northern Heavenly Black Tortoise Unit had suffered too many casualties this time.

As soon as they replenished their ranks, they lost as many new members as they had gained.

It would take another year for young martial artists to join, and until then, they would have to operate with fewer members than the other Divine Units.

“We have already dispatched Elder Jang and Elder Gam to the martial world to recruit new members.”

“The tradition of the Hundred Martial Arts Plaque will be broken.”

Originally, the elders would travel the martial world once a year to distribute the Hundred Martial Arts Plaques.

However, this time, they had lost so many members at once that they had no choice but to recruit new members immediately.

“There was no other way but to adapt flexibly, even if it meant breaking tradition.”

“I know there is no other way.”

The somber conversation paused briefly, and the two men simply raised their cups.

“I heard the newcomer is quite talented. Was his name Kang Dong-jae?”

As the Alliance Leader uttered that name, Zhuge Don subtly frowned.

Noticing his expression, the Alliance Leader chuckled.

“It seems he’s causing you trouble, Chief Administrator.”

“He’s worse than Ja-ryong.”

“Hahahaha……!”

The Alliance Leader laughed heartily.

Zhuge Don, taken aback, asked.

“Does it amuse you, Alliance Leader, that I am criticizing your son?”

“It does. Feel free to scold him whenever he makes a mistake.”

“I have been doing that.”

The heavy atmosphere in the room lightened somewhat.

“What about his physiognomy? You are good at reading faces, aren’t you, Chief Administrator?”

“It wasn’t bad. In fact, it was quite good. But it wasn’t particularly exceptional, yet strangely, things seem to work out whenever he gets involved.”

“How are his martial arts skills?”

“I don’t know about the rest, but I hear he’s a phenomenal archer. I haven’t confirmed it myself, but Ja-ryong told me so.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the lightened atmosphere turned heavy again.

Zhuge Don realized his mistake.

The Alliance Leader, whose face had been bright, spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

“My…… eldest brother was a Divine Archer.”

As always, the end of the drinking session returned to the topic of the Four Martial Heavenly Kings.