Chapter 675: It’s Been a While! (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 675: It’s Been a While! (3)
I made my way to the designated drawing room in my residence, where a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of the Murim Alliance’s swordsmen stood to greet me.
“It has been some time.”
It was Beomdong, the man I had encountered before.
“Yes, it has.”
Beomdong let out a soft chuckle as I returned his greeting with a blatant scowl.
“My apologies for the sudden visit.”
He doesn’t look sorry at all.
“You can say that again. You showed up right at dinnertime, just as I was getting hungry.”
I didn’t bother with the empty pleasantry of telling him it was fine. Because it really wasn’t.
“I came because I felt I didn’t introduce myself properly during our last meeting.”
“Then you should have come later. Why now, of all times…?”
“I am Beomdong, Captain of the Sky Dragon Army of the Alliance, Young Master Lesser King of Hell.”
“...”
I was about to let my irritation flare, but my expression shifted instantly. He had used a title I hadn’t heard in a very long time.
Well, well.
I had wondered why Beomdong had come back, and it seemed he’d managed to dig up some information on me.
He found out who I am. Is that it?
Then again, seven days and nights was more than enough time for the Alliance. Considering the capabilities of their intelligence department...
I doubt my identity is the only thing they uncovered.
A flicker of genuine interest sparked within me. I wanted to know what he was really after.
Screech.
I pulled out a chair and sat down, fixing my gaze on him.
“I am Gu Yangcheon of the Gu Clan.”
“So I finally hear your real name. It took some effort to track you down, seeing as you first introduced yourself as Pajeolyeop.”
Hearing that, I let out a small, dry smirk.
This guy isn't even trying to hide it.
Pajeolyeop was the alias I’d used when Bihyeonhwa first approached me. For Beomdong to mention it so casually meant he had no intention of hiding the fact that he’d been digging into my background.
“I was surprised. To think that you were the Lesser King of Hell.”
I remained silent, simply watching him as he continued.
“They said you were a rising star who once shook the Central Plains... To be honest, I didn't really believe the rumors.”
“Why not? Were they too absurd for you?”
“Indeed. The youngest to ever reach the Fusion Realm... Defeating a Great Demonic Leader single-handedly. Those are difficult things to believe, are they not?”
Half of that was right, and half was wrong.
“But seeing you in person, you seem even more remarkable than the stories suggest.”
“Why do you keep spouting such grating, empty compliments?”
“From what I've gathered, you've only just passed the age of twenty...”
To have been overwhelmed by someone that young... Beomdong seemed to swallow the rest of his words.
“This is purely out of curiosity, but... are you perhaps a senior who has undergone eternal youth?”
“...”
I nearly spat out the tea I was drinking.
“No matter how I look at it, I simply can't comprehend someone of your age reaching that level of cultivation.”
“I'm sure you're aware of the side effects of eternal youth, Captain?”
“I am.”
Eternal youth was a technique that physically de-aged a martial artist's body, but the cost was steep: their acupoints weakened and their vessel for Qi shrank. Unless one underwent Rebirth several times, it was impossible to ever regain one's original strength.
“Knowing full well about those side effects, what kind of moron would do such a thing?”
“That is true.”
“Unless they were a complete and utter idiot. A brainless jellyfish of a human...”
“Ah, I understand. You can stop now.”
“If such a person did exist, they'd probably be as incompetent as they are stupid.”
“...”
At my relentless insults, Beomdong let out a slight, dry cough. Watching him, I finally cut to the chase.
“Why are you here?”
Clink.
I set down my teacup and stared him down.
“If you've gathered your information, you should have just continued your background check. What is your intention in coming here now?”
“Haha.”
Beomdong laughed, but the sound felt like it was scratching at my insides.
“Oh, I'm still looking into things. You and the White Flower Merchant Association, of course... and since there are several other matters intertwined, the investigation is ongoing.”
“Then why are you here?”
“It's just that something came up that required me to see you in person.”
He openly admitted to investigating me, yet claimed there was something else he needed to verify separately. As I stared at him, wondering what his game was, he spoke again.
“Recently, a few strange things have happened around you. Do you happen to know anything about them?”
“How interesting. I'm all ears.”
Around me?
“The first... concerns the woman who approached you.”
“Hmm.”
I widened my eyes slightly. I was genuinely surprised.
“I didn't think you'd mention that so openly.”
He’s talking about Bihyeonhwa. I can't believe he's being so blunt.
“I was certain you already knew. The information I gathered suggested as much. It's quite remarkable, really. Most young men your age would not have been able to resist her.”
Bihyeonhwa was certainly beautiful. Just as Beomdong said, she was stunning enough to make any young man lose his mind. It’s just that...
The girls around me are overwhelmingly prettier.
I wasn't just immune to such charms; I had built up a total resistance.
“How did you know? That she was a member of the Alliance, I mean.”
“I didn't necessarily think she was from the Alliance. I just kept my distance because she was suspicious.”
Of course, the fact that I knew exactly who she was and was just playing along remained a secret.
“But was there some kind of problem with her?”
She had left as if she were fleeing, so I hadn't bothered stopping her. Was something wrong?
Hearing my question, Beomdong stared at me in silence. Then…
“...So that's how you're going to play it.”
He suddenly started muttering nonsense to himself.
“It doesn't matter.”
“What are you talking about? Why are you talking to yourself? Let me in on the joke.”
Has he gone mad?
“The second... is that members of the Alliance have been going missing, one by one.”
This was the first I'd heard of it.
“Missing?”
“That's right. Especially…”
Beomdong narrowed his eyes at me. The look in his gaze was becoming increasingly unpleasant.
Watching him, I let out a dry laugh. “Are you, by any chance, suspecting me?”
“Not suspecting, exactly. More like keeping a close eye on you.”
“That's called suspicion.”
How absurd. I could understand being suspected for something I'd actually done, but being blamed for something I'd never even heard of was ridiculous.
Besides, I haven't received any reports about this.
I wondered if someone else might have been responsible, but there had been no word of it so far.
“So you came here because you suspect me. Is that what you're saying?”
“Not exactly. This visit was also intended as a greeting... Besides, even if I didn't come today, the Alliance will be issuing an investigation warrant soon enough.”
An investigation warrant?
My brow twitched.
“Along with the circumstantial evidence that has been found.”
Circumstantial evidence? There's evidence? What the hell is he talking about?
Just as that question crossed my mind…
“The attitude you showed me earlier will also likely be a problem, Lesser King of Hell.”
My eyebrows shot up at his follow-up.
So that's what this is about.
I had gone out of my way to let him live last time, and now it seemed he was nursing a grudge.
“As such, before the warrant is issued... how about you come to the Alliance yourself to be investigated, Lesser King of Hell?”
“I didn't do anything. But because I'm under 'suspicion,' I'm supposed to just walk into the Alliance and quietly submit to an investigation?”
“It will be a hassle for both of us if a warrant is issued. Wouldn't it be better to do this the easy way?”
“Wow…”
I let out a breath of mock admiration. It wasn't admiration for his methods, though.
This bastard hasn't changed a bit.
First, he acts like he knows everything about me, then he brings up the Alliance's authority and "evidence" to flaunt his position. In short, it was a battle of wills.
No matter how strong an individual martial artist was, the Orthodox Faction was bound by the collective known as the Murim Alliance. Even if someone acted recklessly, if the Alliance got involved, things became complicated very quickly.
In my past life, Beomdong used to apply pressure in this exact way. It was his method of breaking an opponent's spirit before getting down to business.
What a load of bullshit.
But it went without saying that such tactics would never work on me.
“I'm not going.”
Screech—!
I stood up abruptly.
“If you're going to come after me, at least find some actual evidence first. Your work is pathetic. I couldn't even eat because I heard a 'guest' had arrived. Maybe I should just throw some salt on you on your way out.”
A Captain visiting in person was a rare event, but there was no need to waste any more energy on such a pathetic meeting. If he had just waited, I would have gone to him eventually. Why did he keep trying to shorten his own lifespan?
I still have a use for him, so I can't strike yet.
It was testing my patience, but I had to endure it. Like I said, I had to leave him be for now. Beomdong needed to be used at a crucial moment—
“You seem to have many women around you.”
Thud.
I froze. I didn't turn my head, but I kept my ears open.
“I see a total of four. Three are daughters of noble clans... no, one of them isn't anymore, so let's exclude her.”
His voice was making my skin crawl.
Should I turn around now? No, endure it.
I tried to muster my patience, but…
“It seems even the descendant of the former Alliance Leader is by your side.”
“...Haha.”
At those final words, I had no choice but to turn around.
“And?”
“Oh, it's nothing much... It's just that you seem to be quite close with the young ladies.”
“No, I mean.”
Screeeech.
I dragged the chair I'd just stood up from, slammed my hands onto the table, and leaned in close to Beomdong’s face.
“What the fuck are you getting at?”
“Hahaha.”
Beomdong laughed as our eyes met.
“No, I don't mean anything by it. It's just that you seem to be under a bit of a misunderstanding, Lesser King of Hell.”
“What misunderstanding is that?”
“Do you believe that since the Murim Alliance upholds justice, it wouldn't do anything ridiculous?”
I tilted my head.
“If so, you are correct. The Alliance upholds justice and does not act contrary to it.”
“Then what exactly do you mean by 'ridiculous' or 'contrary' acts, Captain?”
“I mean illegal acts.”
“Oh, really? I see. Go on. So the Alliance doesn't commit such illegal and petty acts. And?”
“Under the name of the Alliance, that is certainly true... but with our members going missing recently, there have been cases where those uncooperative with the Alliance have met with unfortunate accidents.”
“Unfortunate accidents?”
“Things like their families coming to harm... or their loved ones getting hurt.”
As Beomdong continued, my gaze turned ice-cold.
How can these bastards never change? Then again, maybe that makes things easier.
“And?”
“So, I'm telling you this out of concern. Since you're being so uncooperative... I worry something bad might happen to the important people around you.”
“So what you're saying is...”
Click.
My hand moved, brushing against a teacup. At the same time, I felt a presence behind me. A presence that only I could feel.
“Stop acting up and bow your head. If you keep fucking around like this, I won't leave the people around you alone. Is that what you're saying?”
“Hoho, you seem to have misunderstood again... This isn't the Alliance's position. Truly…”
“Whatever. You're all fucking bastards.”
“...What?”
Beomdong's face crumpled at the curse I could no longer hold back.
“Lesser King of Hell, what did you just—”
“You heard me, so don't ask again, you motherfucker.”
I was well past the point of holding back.
“You bastards from the Orthodox Faction have no fucking decency. At least the Unorthodox Faction bastards are open about being scum. You guys just never seem to evolve, do you?”
At the harsh profanity, Beomdong began to rise. Or rather, he tried to.
Grab—! SLAM—!
“Keok—!!”
The moment he tried to move, I grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head into the table. The impact sent the tea in the cups spilling onto the floor. Fortunately, the table didn't break—I had reinforced it with Combat Qi beforehand.
“What is this—!”
Before Beomdong could finish his shout, my fist smashed into his face.
CRACK—!!
“Kuhyeok!”
The impact split Beomdong's lip, and a few of his teeth went flying.
“I was already pissed off enough. What? Meet with an unfortunate accident?”
“Kgh... How... how dare you... an Alliance officer…”
To shut him up, I lifted his head by the hair and slammed it down again.
SLAM—! SLAM-SLAM—!
As I repeated the motion, I whispered to the space behind me.
“Nahi.”
“Yes, Master.”
“...!!”
When Nahi appeared and answered, Beomdong's eyes widened like saucers.
“Close the doors.”
“As you command.”
The moment I spoke, the windows and doors began to shut one by one.
Wooooong—!
Once everything was sealed, a sound barrier expanded and filled the room, preventing a single noise from leaking outside.
SLAM—! SLAM—!
I continued smashing Beomdong's head against the table. Only after I'd done it more than ten times did I finally stop.
“Kghhhh...”
In the silent room, only Beomdong's pained groans remained.
Drip... drip...
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining the table.
“I was going to let this slide if I could,” I said, looking down at him. “Because it's not time yet.”
It was true. Beomdong's usefulness hadn't come yet. I needed to use him at least until after the tournament, but…
“Why do you keep being so annoying? It makes me want to kill you.”
“Kghhh...”
“Huh? I'm asking you. Why are you doing this?”
“Hngh... hngh...”
As he continued to groan, Beomdong spoke through trembling, bloody lips.
“...D-Do you think... you can get away with this...? After doing this to a Captain of the Alliance...!”
“Yes, yes. Captain. The great Captain of the Alliance.”
Tired of his bullshit, I grabbed his face with one hand. The flowing blood soaked my palm, but I didn't care.
“I know. I know very well that it'll be hard to get away with this.”
I knew exactly what kind of organization the Alliance was. Just as Beomdong said, they were thorough when it came to dealing with matters concerning their own. And for someone of a Captain's rank, the retaliation would be on an entirely different level.
“But you know what?” I said, looking him dead in the eye. “The fact that I'm doing this even though I know all that... doesn't it mean I either don't give a damn, or I have a way to get away with it?”
“...!”
For a moment, Beomdong's eyes trembled with genuine fear.
“So don't worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
Worry about yourself right now. That would be a better idea.
Thinking that, I gave him a bright, terrifying smile.
Clack.
At the same time, I grabbed the water cup next to me.
“Ugh-eok!?”
I gripped his cheeks, forced his mouth open, and shoved the cup inside. Beomdong tried to spit it out, but he didn't have the strength to break my hold.
“Keep your eyes wide open from now on. If you close them even once, you're dead. Got it?”
After giving him that short warning, I raised my fist and smashed it straight into his cheek.
CRACK—! CRUNCH!
“Kuaaaaaaaaargh!!”
The cup shattered into a thousand jagged pieces inside Beomdong's mouth.