**Chapter 408: The Idler Investigates (3)**

«Look.»

Wei Yanho looked at Tang Jin with a serious expression:

«Why are you making me look at someone who is dead? You have strange tastes.»

«He’s not dead.»

«He’s almost dead.»

Wei Yanho frowned as he looked at Tang Jin, who was as thin as a skeleton.

«His life force is destroyed, how can he live? He’s like a burnt-out candle. He’s alive thanks to his great martial skill, but there’s no way to cure him.»

Wei Jeonghan grimaced:

«Is it that serious?»

«If there were a way, we would have cured him already. This is the Tang family’s territory. Although I don’t know much about the martial world, I know that the Tang family’s medicine is as famous as their poison. But this man is beyond help. Not even Jin Soah could cure him.»

«Hmm…»

Wei Jeonghan sighed.

He thought Wei Yanho might have a solution, but it was just wishful thinking.

“…Damn it.”

He had two reasons for bringing Wei Yanho here.

One was the hope of saving someone who was dying, and the other was the urgency to restore Tang Jin’s consciousness to obtain his testimony.

But both hopes had vanished.

“…Demonic possession is terrifying.”

«Demonic possession?»

«Yes, demonic possession by martial arts.»

Wei Yanho frowned:

«This isn’t demonic possession.»

«Huh?»

Wei Yanho said calmly:

«It is not demonic possession.»

Wei Jeonghan’s eyes trembled.

He and Tang Cheongun also thought the same, but they weren’t as sure as Wei Yanho.

«Why do you say that?»

«Demonic possession is, in short, taking the wrong path. The energy doesn’t flow correctly and takes another route.»

«True.»

«Then, the aimless energy hits various places and tries to return to its path. But the energy keeps flowing. In the end, the energy that tries to return and the energy that flows collide. That’s demonic possession.»

«Hmm, that’s a very fresh description.»

«Depending on the degree of collision, the stagnant energy can flow again, become blocked, or even explode, causing disabilities.»

Wei Jeonghan nodded:

«Yes. What does that have to do with this?»

«There’s no energy.»

«…Huh?»

«Don’t you see? They are completely dried up. It’s not that their bodies are damaged by the collision of energy, but that all the energy in their bodies is gone. Even if they survive, they won’t regain their former internal power.»

Wei Jeonghan’s expression hardened:

‘As I thought.’

He found the cause of his discomfort, or rather, the feeling of déjà vu.

He had heard that before.

No, he had seen it several times.

A body dried up like a skeleton, without vitality, and martial arts that cannot be recovered, slowly dying…

«Father?»

«Hmm…»

Wei Jeonghan shook his head:

«No, nothing.»

«Are they all like this?»

«…It seems so.»

Wei Yanho’s expression hardened:

«It’s strange. It doesn’t seem natural. There are many cases of problems when practicing martial arts, but it’s rare for the energy in the body to be completely depleted. And many people have the same symptoms.»

«I think so too. This isn’t just a problem with practicing martial arts. There is… although it sounds strange, it seems like a conspiracy.»

«Conspiracy…»

Wei Yanho scratched his head:

«Is there someone who benefits from the destruction of the Tang family of Sichuan?»

«Oh, you… you can think like that? You’re smart. I thought you were just an idler.»

«You have to be smart to be lazy.»

«…Damn it.»

Wei Jeonghan shook his head and said:

«The problem is that there are too many who would benefit.»

«Huh?»

«Although the Tang family of Sichuan has lost some power recently, it is still feared in Sichuan. Their influence in Sichuan and the martial world is enormous.»

«Influence?»

«Yes, influence. And their economic power is not insignificant. The economic power of the Tang family of Sichuan in Sichuan must be immense.»

«Hmm.»

Wei Yanho scratched his cheek.

So, it wasn’t strange that someone would want to destroy the Tang family of Sichuan.

«Do all noble families have that much power?»

«Yes. Operating rights for inns, rents… some even operate war businesses.»

«Wow, they do a lot of things.»

«It’s natural. Martial arts clans like Gupa can live off the students, but families don’t accept external students, so they need other sources of income.»

«Why doesn’t our family do that?»

«…….»

«We only have land. Why didn’t we do it before?»

«We did.»

«Huh?»

«…We ruined it.»

«…….»

Wei Yanho silently wiped his eyes.

The Wei Family of Guangdong…

The Wei Family of Guangdong was truly pitiful.

«Anyway, it seems we can’t do anything anymore.»

«What will you do?»

«We must report. We already have the information, so we must ask the official what we should do.»

«Didn’t you say you had an idea?»

Wei Yanho asked subtly. It seemed that Wei Jeonghan had noticed something.

«I’m not sure. And…»

Wei Jeonghan didn’t finish the sentence.

If what he thought was true, the consequences would be serious. So, it was better to be careful before being sure.

Even if it was his son.

Wei Yanho seemed to have noticed that Wei Jeonghan was hesitating:

«You don’t have to say it. But…»

«Hmm?»

Wei Jeonghan looked at Wei Yanho in surprise. Wei Yanho rarely hesitated. Especially with that serious expression.

«I hope your idea isn’t what I’m thinking.»

«What do you mean?»

Wei Yanho looked around him:

«There must be many people who want to destroy the Tang family of Sichuan, right? If it’s as you say.»

«Yes.»

«But they haven’t done it because they don’t have the ability.»

«True.»

«…In other words, someone with that ability has appeared.»

Wei Jeonghan fell silent.

Because he understood what Wei Yanho meant.

«If they can do it in the Tang family of Sichuan, they can do it in other places. If this was done on purpose…»

Wei Jeonghan raised his head and looked at the sky.

Wei Yanho was right. If this was done on purpose, not only the Tang family of Sichuan would be in danger.

«We must report to the Righteous Martial Alliance as soon as possible.»

At that moment, a low voice echoed behind them:

«I don’t object to that.»

Wei Yanho and Wei Jeonghan turned their heads.

«Have you come?»

Wei Jeonghan bowed.

Tang Yongmin looked at them with an uncomfortable expression:

«How is the investigation going?»

«Of course.»

Wei Jeonghan’s posture was respectful, but not humble. That annoyed Tang Yongmin.

‘A leader of a small clan relying on his son!’

There was no need to compare the status of the Wei Family of Guangdong and the Tang family of Sichuan. Although Wei Jeonghan was the leader of the Wei Family, he couldn’t compare to Tang Yongmin, an elder of the Tang family of Sichuan.

But Wei Jeonghan’s attitude wasn’t that of someone who respects his elders.

Tang Yongmin normally wouldn’t have tolerated it.

But now, Tang Yongmin was showing great patience. He couldn’t help it.

Behind Wei Jeonghan, who was being respectful, Wei Yanho was looking up with a «So what?» expression.

If he were a common young man, he would have shouted…

But…

‘If I shout, I’ll get punched in the mouth.’

That guy was incurable.

Wei Yanho was scary not because he was strong. Although Wei Yanho was strong, Tang Yongmin had faced many strong warriors due to his position. Many were as strong as Wei Yanho.

But they had pride.

People are cautious when they have something to lose. Even strong warriors can’t do whatever they want.

Thanks to that, the martial world is maintained…

‘That guy has no pride.’

And he seemed not to think.

If other strong warriors are like a river that flows constantly, Wei Yanho is like a sudden gust of wind. Unpredictable and uncontrollable.

If you try to control him, you’ll be caught in the gust of wind and be humiliated. Tang Yongmin didn’t want to end up like Tang Pyeong.

Tang Pyeong’s nose, who had been hit by Wei Yanho, hadn’t recovered yet.

«Khm.»

Tang Yongmin cleared his throat to ease the discomfort and looked at Wei Jeonghan, ignoring Wei Yanho:

«Reporting to the Righteous Martial Alliance is fine. The leader invited you for that. But we must see the content of the report first.»

«You want to censor it?»

Wei Jeonghan’s expression hardened. But it was natural from Tang Yongmin’s point of view.

«If the leader sent a research team to your clan, would you mind if all the information was leaked?»

«Hmm…»

Wei Jeonghan murmured.

They weren’t being demanding. He would also hesitate if he were in their position.

«I understand, but due to the nature of this investigation, we can’t show it to you.»

«Then it’s impossible.»

«But!»

Wei Jeonghan said with wide eyes:

«In the name of my clan and my name, I won’t write anything irrelevant. It will only contain the information from this investigation.»

«Master Wei.»

A slight smile appeared on Tang Yongmin’s face:

«Your title of Sword of the Righteous Hero and the name of the Wei Family of Guangdong may be important elsewhere, but this is the Tang family’s territory. Your title has no value here.»

Wei Jeonghan’s expression hardened.

That was a great lack of respect.

When Wei Jeonghan was about to speak, an indifferent voice echoed behind him:

«And my name?»

“…”

Wei Yanho asked again, seeing Tang Yongmin surprised:

«What will you do if I use my name?»

The troublemaker had started to cause trouble.