Chapter 229: Did You Come to Collect a Life Debt?
Chapter 229: Did You Come to Collect a Life Debt?
A man stepped down from the carriage.
He possessed a lean, sharp build and a frigid countenance. The expression "not a drop of blood would bleed from him even if he were pricked" seemed to exist solely for him; his expressionless face suited him perfectly. He was both eerie and impeccably refined.
Having disembarked, the man entered the wide-open manor. A plaque hanging at the entrance read: Daeya Guild.
As he stepped inside, a gruesome sight unfolded.
Over a hundred corpses lay scattered everywhere. It was a total massacre of the Daeya Guild’s members. Between the bodies, warriors clad in uniform red martial robes were searching for survivors to finish them off.
It was a horrific scene reminiscent of a battlefield, but the man didn't even blink as he walked through it.
Blood pooled across the ground, splashing against his shoes and trousers, but he didn't care. If anything, the sight of him walking through a sea of blood suited him far too well. A terrifying aura radiated from his every step—a presence that suggested no one could block his path unless he chose to stop of his own accord.
The man was none other than the second-in-command of the Unorthodox Path Alliance, Ya Yul-han.
The warriors in red who had slaughtered everyone here were the members of the Extreme Blade Corps. They were the most elite organization within the Unorthodox Path Alliance, led by Ya Yul-han himself.
The warriors of the Extreme Blade Corps bowed their heads respectfully whenever Ya Yul-han passed. The momentum radiating from each of them was extraordinary.
Ya Yul-han entered the main hall.
Sitting slumped in the large central chair was the Daeya Guild Master, Jongsim. Gravely injured and drenched in blood, he was surrounded by the corpses of several Extreme Blade Corps warriors he had taken down with him.
"You... you bastard!" the Daeya Guild Master bellowed, but the internal shock caused him to cough up a sudden spray of blood. "How! How could you do such a thing!"
In contrast to the agitated Guild Master, Ya Yul-han was preternaturally calm.
He walked toward a corner of the room. A warrior of the Extreme Blade Corps was still clinging to life there, breathing painfully. His injuries were too severe; he was already beyond saving.
Without hesitation, Ya Yul-han placed his palm on the man's chest.
Soon, the warrior stopped breathing, as if falling into a deep sleep. Behind him, the Daeya Guild Master’s voice rang out.
"I'll say it now... looking at your face always gave me the creeps. It made me sick."
Ya Yul-han showed no sign of emotional disturbance.
"You always hid your feelings."
The Daeya Guild Master had never once sensed any emotion from Ya Yul-han. He had never seen him happy, sad, or angry.
"Does that body of yours even contain human emotions?"
At that, Ya Yul-han stood up and replied calmly.
"Must it?"
His deep, pleasant voice echoed through the main hall.
"What?"
"Those 'human emotions' you mentioned—is it absolutely necessary to have them?"
Because he asked so matter-of-factly, the Daeya Guild Master found himself at a loss for words.
"It's a bit perplexing to hear such words from you. You haven't exactly lived a very 'human' life yourself."
"Shut up!" the old man shouted, only to vomit blood once more. Dark red blood soaked his clothes. "Even so, I never lived a life where I framed others to massacre an entire sect!"
The Daeya Guild had been annihilated today on charges of plotting a rebellion in collusion with the Murim Alliance. The evidence was undeniable. A letter had been found that the Guild Master himself had never written, yet the handwriting was identical to his own. A massive sum of money from the Murim Alliance, which he knew nothing about, had been stored in his accounts. There were circumstances suggesting he had leaked secrets of the Unorthodox Path Alliance, along with testimonies and witnesses who claimed to have seen him in secret meetings with people from the Murim Alliance.
Even to his own eyes, he looked like a blatant traitor.
"At least let me know why. Why did you do it?" The Daeya Guild Master was certain that the one who had trapped him was Ya Yul-han.
"You've forgotten."
The Daeya Guild Master flinched at Ya Yul-han's words. It was said as if he had made a grave mistake.
"Forgotten what?"
"A long time ago, you said this to me: that if a person acts like that, it can make the other party feel quite unpleasant."
The Daeya Guild Master had no memory of saying such a thing. Did I? It was a faint, blurry memory.
"You simply couldn't hold back the things you wanted to say. To live in the Murim and be unable to control your emotions? I loathe people like that."
"So?"
Ya Yul-han said no more. In that moment, the Daeya Guild Master was struck with shock.
"Are you saying... that's the only reason?"
"To kill someone I loathe—do I need a more definitive reason than that?"
The Daeya Guild Master screamed. "You madman!"
Compared to the hysterical old man, Ya Yul-han remained composed.
"There are as many people in this world as there are grains of sand. Is there any need to walk the same path as someone I dislike?"
Fine. The Daeya Guild Master could understand that much. He didn't truly understand it, but he was willing to accept it for the sake of argument. However, there was one part he could not fathom.
"Then you should have only killed me!"
"My mood was far too foul for just that."
"Even so... you would kill all these innocent people for something so trivial?" The Daeya Guild Master let out a pained groan.
Tears streamed down his face. It would have been less bitter if he had suffered this due to some great grudge. He would have felt less guilty toward his family and the warriors of his guild. To have his entire clan annihilated because of a single sentence he couldn't even remember?
The Daeya Guild Master spoke in a self-mocking tone. "I suppose this is all fate."
"You might want to blame fate, but this is your fault. It's because of your insensitivity—attaching the word 'trivial' to someone else's feelings."
The Daeya Guild Master beckoned him to come closer. "I have something I must say to you before I die."
Perhaps sensing his end, the rage vanished from the Guild Master's face. Ya Yul-han approached him. Closer, a little closer. The Daeya Guild Master gestured feebly.
Ya Yul-han compliantly granted his final request. The distance between the two men closed.
Sshhhk!
The Daeya Guild Master mobilized every last drop of his remaining internal energy to unleash a palm strike. His feeble gesturing from moments ago had been an act for this single move.
Flash! Slash!
But Ya Yul-han's sword was faster. His blade was so quick and precise it was nearly invisible to the eye.
Thud, roll.
The severed head of the Daeya Guild Master rolled across the floor. Ya Yul-han looked down at the head and spoke coldly.
"You old fool. Do you really think I did all this for a reason like that?"
After leaving behind words that would keep the Daeya Guild Master's eyes from closing even in death, Ya Yul-han stepped outside.
As he emerged, rain began to fall.
Shaaaaaa.
Ya Yul-han stood under the eaves for a moment, looking up at the downpour.
A man ran through the rain toward him and handed him a wind-avoiding cloak. It was Cha Hwan, his body covered in dragon tattoos. He was the last surviving member of the Four-Man Group.
Though his body was covered in dragons, the animal he brought to mind was a black leopard. Dark skin, a lithe physique, and white eyes that stood out vividly against his complexion.
However, he was a man who wished to be a dragon rather than a leopard. He took pride in having the highest loyalty among the Four-Man Group. He believed the reason Ya Yul-han kept only him by his side was because he recognized that loyalty.
"It's fine. I'd like to be in the rain for the first time in a while."
Ya Yul-han walked into the rain, and Cha Hwan followed silently behind him. Behind them, the warriors of the Extreme Blade Corps lined up and followed suit.
*
Lord Smiling Demon and I arrived at the safe house. Go Wol was waiting for us with new information.
"Something unusual is happening within the Unorthodox Path Alliance."
"What is it?"
"The Daeya Guild was recently annihilated."
"By whom?"
"The Daeya Guild was charged with rebellion for colluding with the Murim Alliance. The evidence was clear, and they were wiped out by the Extreme Blade Corps led by Ya Yul-han during the arrest. I believe this was Ya Yul-han's doing."
Go Wol had a precise grasp of the situation.
In my past life, the Daeya Guild had also been destroyed by Ya Yul-han. However, the timing had changed. While certain events were destined to happen, the timing or the causes could shift subtly.
"What makes you think that?"
"First of all, from what I know of the Daeya Guild Master, he was never the type of person to betray the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader."
Go Wol had another decisive reason for his suspicion.
"The timing is too coincidental. Do you know when the Unorthodox Path Alliance received the tip-off and began investigating the Daeya Guild?"
"When?"
"Right after Aecha died."
It was indeed a suspicious coincidence. Go Wol shared his assessment.
"With two of his right-hand men from the Four-Man Group dead, it seems Ya Yul-han became convinced that someone was interfering."
"Could it be?"
"Yes. It seems he believes the Alliance Leader is the one behind it."
This was truly unexpected.
"So he struck the Daeya Guild in retaliation?"
"The Daeya Guild Master was famous for being a staunch supporter of the Alliance Leader. Ya Yul-han was sending a warning about what happens when someone touches his people."
It was a highly plausible deduction.
It was public knowledge that Ya Yul-han coveted the position of Alliance Leader. Currently, the Alliance Leader was too powerful for him to dare seize the seat, but once Bi Sa-in took over, the situation would change.
There were even rumors circulating that the Alliance Leader would have to kill Ya Yul-han if he wanted to successfully pass his position to Bi Sa-in.
In a situation where a tense power struggle was being maintained...
"It seems Ya Yul-han believes the Alliance Leader has started cutting off his hands and feet to secure Bi Sa-in as the successor."
Something that was bound to happen eventually had been triggered early because of our movements.
"This is a golden opportunity. If we can exploit this situation well, we won't have to worry about the aftermath of killing Ya Yul-han."
A completely unexpected situation was waiting for us.
"You're saying we should kill Ya Yul-han and make it look like Bi Sa-in was the one who did it?"
"Exactly. It's not a bad deal for Bi Sa-in either. He'll solidify his position as the successor, and we'll succeed in our mission."
I looked at Lord Smiling Demon, who had been listening. Without a word, his gaze told me he would follow my lead, no matter how the situation unfolded.
In that case, the next step was clear.
"First, I'll have to meet my friend. Though I don't know if he still considers me one."
*
Bi Sa-in was eating at a high-end inn he frequented.
His face was as hideous as ever—scarred, crushed, and distorted. It was a face that sent a chill down one's spine just by looking at it. However, he seemed a bit brighter than the dark, heavy aura he had carried before becoming the successor.
The 13 Wolves of the Unorthodox Path were eating around him, acting as his guards.
A strand of voice transmission reached Bi Sa-in.
— Have you been well?
Bi Sa-in's chopsticks paused for a moment before moving again.
— You truly are fearless. To come all the way to the Alliance headquarters.
His words were blunt, but his tone was soft. He owed me his life. If not for me, he wouldn't even be the successor.
— I have something to discuss with you in private.
— Say it here. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the successor of the Unorthodox Path Alliance to go out alone?
— Later in life, you'll live a life where your every word becomes reality. So for now, do something difficult. Let's meet at midnight on the summit of the mountain behind the Alliance headquarters.
Before leaving the inn, I saw it. A faint smile had formed on Bi Sa-in's lips. I wasn't sure if we were friends, but it was a smile that suggested we were at least not enemies.
*
I stood at the summit of the mountain overlooking the headquarters of the Unorthodox Path Alliance.
In my past life, while wandering in search of materials for the Great Regression Art, I had stood here and looked down at that very place. I had stood in this spot with the hope that everything would be resolved if only I could regress.
Then, I heard Bi Sa-in's voice from behind me.
"What's so important that you had to call a man out in the middle of the night? You could have just said it via voice transmission at the inn."
I spoke without turning around. "I was afraid you'd flip the table."
"Everyone knows I have a foul temper, so it would have been fine."
Bi Sa-in stood beside me. "Aren't you going to look back? What if I push you from behind?"
"Aren't we close enough that we don't have to worry about such things?"
When I looked at him, Bi Sa-in snorted. "That's not it. You're acting relaxed because you know you could land without a scratch even if you fell."
"That's also true."
As I looked at him with a smile, Bi Sa-in turned his gaze toward the distant buildings of the Unorthodox Path Alliance.
"Did you come to collect a life debt?"
"Is it just a life debt? I should collect on the 'successor debt' as well."
"What is it you want?"
"Will you grant me anything?"
"If it's within my power."
I looked at him. Bi Sa-in looked back at me.
"Let's kill Ya Yul-han."
He was visibly startled by my sudden words.
"I knew you were a strange person, but I didn't realize you were such a pathetic madman."
A moment of silence passed before he asked, "Are you trying to start a war with us?"
"If that were the case, I wouldn't be having this conversation with you. I came to kill Ya Yul-han."
"Why do you want to kill him?"
"The gratitude and grudges he cultivated with blood have come back around to me."
Knowing well what kind of man Ya Yul-han was, Bi Sa-in didn't ask further. How many people out there must hold a grudge against that man?
"Once you take the position of Alliance Leader, Ya Yul-han will undoubtedly target your seat. That's why the current Alliance Leader must be agonizing over when to get rid of him. And if he isn't thinking that?"
"If he isn't?"
"Then the Alliance Leader has already chosen Ya Yul-han as his true successor. It would mean he's handing over the position knowing full well that you will die."
"!"
He said nothing. His mind must be in turmoil. Ya Yul-han was an enemy who had to be killed to become the leader, but at the same time, he was the greatest strength supporting the Unorthodox Path Alliance.
"Striking the Daeya Guild this time was merely a prelude to striking you."
Bi Sa-in couldn't deny those words. The death of the Daeya Guild Master must have been a significant shock to both the Alliance Leader and himself.
"Do you remember? I once said that when I become the Heavenly Demon and you become the Alliance Leader, we should shake hands and reminisce about the past."
I stared into Bi Sa-in's eyes, which were clouded with conflict. I knew this wasn't an easy decision for him to make. But my success or failure also depended on this.
"I want to shake hands with you, not Ya Yul-han."