The Culprit's Identity
“Over here.”
Jeong Geum-sik led the group away from the escort agents, choosing a secluded spot where their voices would not carry. Anyone with high internal energy could hear them clearly, so it was best to avoid drawing attention.
“Allow me to address the matter that has been troubling you, young master. I tracked down the escort agents here because the ghost girl incident overlapped with the Xi'an Escort Agency's route.”
“Oh ho. How convenient of you. So, Master Jeong has been investigating the escort agents.”
Jeong Geum-sik nodded.
“While I was coming here, I saw the women who had been drained of their yin qi. There was one common thread among the corpses.”
Sang Ryo, who had been silently observing, could not help but ask out of curiosity.
“What was it?”
He spoke, then cleared his throat, suddenly feeling awkward.
“The women had lost all their yin qi. Most of the bodies were shriveled and dried out. Even the older corpses were completely desiccated. The younger the women, the more pronounced it was.”
Sang Ryo continued.
“That means they absorbed pure yin qi.”
“Exactly. Ordinary people might think ghosts drained the blood, but we martial artists can recognize the technique of yin absorption to nourish yang.”
“The culprit might have cultivated a powerful yang qi method. That is why Master Jeong used the cat to roam among them and investigate the escort agents.”
Jang Hyeon-nam finally understood Jeong Geum-sik’s actions.
“Precisely.”
Ham Cheon-yeong interjected.
“Even if someone has mastered the Phoenix Controlling Dragon Saber, they cannot perform yin absorption to nourish yang. There are many ways to absorb yin qi even without that.”
“Quite right. But if it is a demonic art from the Demonic Ice Palace, the situation changes. Demonic yang qi methods seek quick paths, so they might choose yin absorption to nourish yang.”
“That is a slight stretch. The Xi'an Escort Agency has a long history in Shaanxi, and its chief is a disciple of Mount Hua Sect. This heavenly elixir competition was triggered because they tried to transport the elixir to Mount Hua. I cannot believe they would commit such a crime.”
Jang Hyeon-nam nodded vigorously, letting Ham Cheon-yeong voice what he wanted to say.
“Exactly. Exactly.”
After a heated discussion, the group fell into a thoughtful silence.
As the heat began to cool slightly, Seo Joo-cheon spoke up.
“Master Jeong, you believe this heavenly elixir incident is connected to the current case.”
“Indeed!”
Jeong Geum-sik’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he looked at Seo Joo-cheon, who had accurately captured his thoughts.
“Precisely observed, Big Brother Po.”
Seo Joo-cheon had reached the same conclusion.
Everyone present was involved in the heavenly elixir competition, so they pondered Jeong Geum-sik’s words.
“I was also staying in the area where the heavenly elixir competition took place. And I had a growing sense of certainty.”
“Hmm!”
If Jeong Geum-sik had conducted such thorough investigation, it meant he had reached a certain level of conviction.
Jang Hyeon-nam asked cautiously.
“So, among the escort agents, was there anyone who had mastered yang qi?”
“There was none.”
“Can you be certain of that?”
Jang Hyeon-nam knew this was no ordinary matter and asked with a serious expression.
“If it were a demonic art from the Demonic Ice Palace, I could easily identify it.”
“Then who?”
“The sect head and the elders are staying at the inn. You will know once you go inside. Wait here for a moment. I will go in and check.”
After Jeong Geum-sik entered the inn, Jang Hyeon-nam turned to the group.
“Was Master Jeong’s statement true?”
Jang Hyeon-nam still could not believe that the culprit of the ghost girl murder spree at the Xi'an Escort Agency existed.
Seo Joo-cheon replied.
“It is quite possible. Moreover, he has been investigating from the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission border, so there should be evidence.”
“If it is true, what should we do?”
Ham Cheon-yeong answered.
“We should capture the culprit and hand him over to the authorities. No matter how righteous the orthodox sects are, they cannot overlook such a heinous crime.”
Ham Cheon-yeong spoke with anger.
Sang Ryo agreed.
“If the culprit is being protected, I will not stand by idly either.”
All of them exuded the righteous spirit typical of unorthodox martial artists.
That was why they had gathered around Jang Hyeon-nam.
After a short while, Jeong Geum-sik emerged from the inn.
“There was no one with yang qi even inside the inn.”
“Forgive me for doubting, but if that is the case, have we been chasing a false trail?”
Jang Hyeon-nam asked.
Jeong Geum-sik shook his head.
“No. On the contrary, my conviction has grown even stronger.”
“Why is that?”
“During this journey, only one person was missing.”
“Who was it?”
“The sect head’s son.”
Seo Joo-cheon murmured without realizing it.
“Pyo Seon.”
Jeong Geum-sik’s eyes flashed as he glared at Seo Joo-cheon.
Pyo Seon, the sect head’s son, was not particularly famous despite his name being known.
A mere unorthodox martial artist knowing the name of the Xi'an Escort Agency’s sect head’s son was suspicious.
Seo Joo-cheon felt Jeong Geum-sik’s gaze and smiled faintly.
“We are the ones who overcame life-and-death trials in the heavenly elixir competition. Of course we know where the elixir came from. We know that the Xi'an Escort Agency obtained the Gongcheong Seokyu from Dunhuang, and that some of the elixir was consumed by their young master. Since we encountered the thief, we obtained that information. It was only natural that we learned the young master’s name was Pyo Seon.”
Seo Joo-cheon had sold the Black Snake Sword.
Jang Hyeon-nam nodded in admiration.
“As expected, Big Brother Po has a different approach. I would have charged in blindly without knowing such things.”
“Hahaha. It is only because I have spent many years in the Jianghu that I have become cunning. Do not blame yourself too much, young master Jang.”
When Seo Joo-cheon praised him, Jang Hyeon-nam’s face brightened.
“Since Hyung-nim says so, I feel a little more at ease.”
Jang Hyeon-nam calling him Hyung-nim was adorable, so Seo Joo-cheon smiled.
He then addressed Jeong Geum-sik, whose suspicion had faded.
“Master Jeong believes the heavenly elixir was deliberately leaked by them to escalate the situation and cover their own sins.”
“Precisely! Big Brother Po can infer from one fact alone.”
Seo Joo-cheon replied.
“It was because there was no way an unparalleled heavenly elixir would be exposed so easily that I did not understand at first.”
Jang Hyeon-nam looked around the inn and spoke.
“Then where is the sect head’s son, Pyo Seon? Is he planning to commit another atrocity?”
Jeong Geum-sik spoke with a sigh.
“An escort agency that takes on missions wants to finish the journey as quickly as possible to maximize profit. But the Xi'an Escort Agency did not do that. They deliberately delayed by a full day in the very place where the ghost girl murder incident occurred.”
Having conducted that level of investigation, they were certain it was the Xi'an Escort Agency’s doing and had been tracking them.
“Upon investigation, they plan to stay here for another day. Moreover, the sect head’s son, Pyo Seon, is nowhere to be seen. What does that mean?”
Jeong Geum-sik’s words made their expressions darken as they exchanged glances.
“Then we must find Pyo Seon. Before he commits another evil deed.”
Jang Hyeon-nam said.
Sang Ryo answered.
“In such a vast area, how can we find him?”
“We cannot just stand by and watch. Shall we split up and search?”
Jang Hyeon-nam was full of enthusiasm.
“Do you know his face?”
Seo Joo-cheon’s question made Jang Hyeon-nam’s face fall.
He realized that searching for Pyo Seon without knowing his face was impossible.
Seo Joo-cheon thought about what countermeasures Jeong Geum-sik, who had such certainty and evidence, would have prepared.
“Speak your thoughts, Master Jeong. I am sure Master Jeong has thought of some means.”
Jeong Geum-sik felt a sense of wariness toward Seo Joo-cheon, who seemed to see through him for the first time.
The eldest of the Shaanxi Four Chivalrous Heroes, who appeared ordinary yet had sharp insight, was no ordinary person.
“Hahaha! Before coming here, I pretended to bump into the sect head, the elders, and Pyo Seon on the street and buried the Thousand-Mile Tracking Fragrance.”
“Really?”
“I thought one of them might be the culprit.”
“Master Jeong truly possesses amazing insight.”
Jang Hyeon-nam praised Jeong Geum-sik with pure admiration.
“How do we find the Thousand-Mile Tracking Fragrance? Does the scent linger here?”
Jang Hyeon-nam, who did not know the details as a newcomer to the Jianghu, asked innocently.
Jeong Geum-sik did not answer immediately, as if enjoying their surprise.
That made him somewhat frustrating, so Seo Joo-cheon answered quickly.
“The answer likely lies with that cat.”
“Really?”
Jang Hyeon-nam readily accepted Seo Joo-cheon’s words again.
“That cat is a wild cat. It is fierce and does not listen to human speech. Yet it only ran toward the target. That is something only possible if one cannot control the cat. And climbing onto the roof to catch it quickly must have been possible because of the ability to communicate with animals.”
“Huh? Now that I think about it, that is true.”
Jang Hyeon-nam believed Seo Joo-cheon’s words without question.
It seemed there was much to teach Jang Hyeon-nam.
“Truly, Big Brother Po possesses unparalleled insight. You saw through it immediately. It was not mere luck that defeated Bul-sama.”
In fact, when Jeong Geum-sik heard that Po Un, the eldest of the Shaanxi Four Chivalrous Heroes, had defeated Bul-sama, he snorted.
He knew that the difference in martial prowess between masters was as vast as the height of a mountain.
It was already a stroke of luck for a mere First-Rate martial artist to defeat one of the Twelve Demon Lords who had surpassed the First-Class Peak.
And from what he had seen himself, it did not seem possible.
‘I thought I could only last thirty or so exchanges against Bul-sama.’
Jeong Geum-sik had evaluated Seo Joo-cheon as someone of similar level to himself.
But hearing his words so far, he realized that Seo Joo-cheon had accurately grasped parts that others overlooked.
That meant he was no ordinary martial artist but possessed exceptional insight.
‘He is probably concealing his true strength.’
Moreover, even though Sang Ryo, an unorthodox martial artist of skill, treated Seo Joo-cheon as his senior, and the elderly Huang Clan master, who was considered his equal, treated him as a peer, Jeong Geum-sik’s confidence grew.
The strong would not bow their heads in exaggerated praise.
Jeong Geum-sik, a master who had surpassed the First-Class Peak, could immediately read the relationships among the group.
‘Moreover, I saw the young master of First-Rate level trying to form a sworn brotherhood with him. He is not someone to judge by appearances.’
Jeong Geum-sik had been tracking the Xi'an Escort Agency for a long time and was amazed by Seo Joo-cheon’s ability to discern recent insights from mere information.
“Hahaha. In front of Big Brother Po, I cannot even put on airs. Correct. I have studied the martial art of communicating with animals.”
“Oh. Like the Soul-Captivating Technique, you know many unusual martial arts.”
“I am a wanderer, so I know many techniques. Young master.”
“How can such things be called techniques? Precious martial arts.”
Seo Joo-cheon thought inwardly.
‘After ten years roaming the Jianghu, he has learned many miscellaneous martial arts besides those from the Demonic Ice Palace.’
This was information he had not known because it was not part of Seo Joo-cheon’s setting.
And he had revealed his abilities while guarding against Jeong Geum-sik to make Jeong Geum-sik, who would later become the consecrated elder of Yongcheon Sect, recognize him as a useful presence.
Seeing his expression, Seo Joo-cheon felt his intentions had been conveyed and was satisfied.
“From now on, we will track using the cat. It seems it will run at high speed, so prepare yourselves.”
Jeong Geum-sik took a small bottle from his pocket, opened it, and let the cat smell the scent before releasing it.
The cat immediately dashed off at great speed.
“Let us follow.”
As Jeong Geum-sik ran, the group followed behind.