Chapter 112
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: The Shell Shatters (2)
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The interior of the swiftly moving carriage was silent.
Unlike his usual self, Seo Ryang rested his chin on his hand, his gaze fixed on the window, utterly indifferent.
But Seo Ryang wasn't the only reason for the silence of Ma Dongpil and Wi Hongryeon, who rode with him. Ma Dongpil had his eyes closed in meditation, while Wi Hongryeon was reviewing a set of orders with a serious expression.
While this was expected of Ma Dongpil, seeing Wi Hongryeon like this was surprising.
She usually acted like a spitfire, full of venom, but she was still the commander of a combat unit. It was only natural for her to be serious when on a mission to ensure it didn't fail.
Some time passed like this.
Wi Hongryeon looked at Seo Ryang and spoke.
“Inspector. At the carriage's current speed, we'll arrive at the Red Snake House in about five days. If we take a more leisurely pace, it might take a day or two longer.”
“…”
“What are your orders?”
“What do you think is best?”
“I recommend we take our time.”
Seo Ryang nodded.
“Do that.”
“Understood.”
As she went back to reviewing the documents, Wi Hongryeon asked again.
“There's a secret branch of our cult in Yeonju. Would you like to stop there for a while?”
“Is it a good place to regroup?”
“Yes. I believe taking our time will be beneficial in many ways.”
“I see.”
“However, that's a matter for the troops. We are merely an escort and an emergency force. If a break would interfere with the inspection mission, I believe it would be right to forgo it.”
“Then let's not stop.”
“Understood.”
No one asked for reasons or offered further explanations. Though each had their own thoughts, the conversation itself was clean and efficient.
More time passed.
Ma Dongpil opened his eyes.
“Young Master.”
“Hm.”
“The sun is up. Shall we have a meal…”
Just then, Geumho poked its head out from inside Seo Ryang's robes.
A look of dismay crossed Ma Dongpil's face. Seo Ryang's robes were voluminous, but he hadn't realized Geumho was tucked inside.
“You brought Geumho.”
“Well, it wanted to come.”
Seo Ryang habitually scratched under Geumho's chin. Geumho purred, nuzzling him affectionately.
“Don't worry. It won't get in the way, and it won't get hurt.”
“Ah, yes.”
Ma Dongpil licked his lips. Was it because the Young Master's mood was different from usual? He wanted to break the awkwardness with a joke, but the words wouldn't come easily.
He had never been one for jokes or pranks. Spending time with Seo Ryang had softened him considerably, but that didn't mean he had become jovial.
After a moment's hesitation, Ma Dongpil took a warm rice ball from the carriage floor. *Right, I shouldn't try to be someone I'm not.*
“Please, eat.”
“I'm not hungry. You have it.”
*Huh…?*
Ma Dongpil was taken aback by Seo Ryang's lukewarm response. Hadn't he always been the type to never refuse food, even outside of mealtimes?
Wi Hongryeon, also quite surprised, kept glancing at Seo Ryang.
“Young… no, Inspector.”
“Hm?”
“Wouldn't it be best to eat at the proper time?”
“I have no appetite.”
“Hmm, that is a very big problem indeed.”
She had said it simply because she couldn't think of anything else to say.
Wi Hongryeon discreetly whispered to Ma Dongpil.
‘I've been wanting to ask, what's wrong with him?’
‘I don't know.’
‘Did someone sock him one?’
‘Watch your mouth…’
Seo Ryang said listlessly.
“I didn't get socked.”
“…Hehe, you heard that?”
“I just have a lot on my mind. Don't worry about it and eat.”
“Ah, well, if you say so.”
The two of them diligently chewed on their rice balls.
Looking out the window, Seo Ryang sighed inwardly.
‘Damn it.’
Why am I so restless?
‘This is the freedom you've longed for, isn't it? So why are you like this? Don't you need freedom anymore?’
He seriously reflected on himself.
And the conclusion he reached was.
‘Of course not.’
The thought of building a large house in a scenic spot and living like an immortal already made his heart pound.
It wasn't that he desired such a life because he'd never lived a proper one. A carefree life was the dream his very nature, his disposition, yearned for.
Dreams and goals are different. But they share the common trait of constantly changing.
Once he achieved that dream, he would probably dream another. He didn't think it likely, but perhaps he might even miss the martial world again.
But that was something for after he had achieved his current dream.
‘Just thinking about it makes my heart race. I want to achieve that dream, even if I have to risk my life.’
So why did he feel so uneasy?
‘Is it because of Aeng-hwa, who I'm leaving behind?’
That was it.
‘Is it the thought of parting with Dongpil?’
That was also true.
‘…’
Seo Ryang's expression clouded over.
‘It's not just that.’
It was time to admit it. He wasn't some rare saint, but he was certainly a man weak to affection, just like any ordinary person.
However, this discomfort wasn't simply due to parting with people he had grown fond of.
It was something more fundamental. An unknown darkness that would surely cast a shadow over a corner of his heart, even after he achieved his dream.
‘What in the world is it?’
Seo Ryang glanced at the two of them. They were enjoying their rice balls.
To be blunt, he could just disappear without a trace right now. He couldn't perfectly execute the Dark Spirit Phantom Body technique with the Nine Hells Demonic Art, but he could certainly deceive the eyes of his escorts.
By the time they realized, it would be too late. If he went at full speed, he could reach the safe house in Honam within three days.
Then it would be over. The safe house in Honam was stocked with enough emergency rations and elixirs to last two years. He could spend those two years honing his skills even further, then leave the Central Plains without anyone knowing.
In reality, he could disappear easily without having to orchestrate his death by clashing with the Red Snake House.
So why not just do it?
‘Alright, no need to drag this out. I'll make my move tonight…!’
In that instant, Seo Ryang's eyes became bloodshot.
*Zing! Zing!*
A vibration more intense than ever before.
It was a far more severe vibration than when he was trapped in the inescapable net of the Righteous Heaven Alliance and the Iron Blood Fortress, or even when he faced Lee Cheonsang. His extrasensory perception was screaming wildly.
‘I can't escape like this?’
Why the hell not?!
‘Has a plague broken out in Honam? Is there some reason I can't go there?’
Extrasensory perception was, simply put, a sixth sense. A sixth sense was a feeling that couldn't be explained by logic, and naturally, it couldn't be interpreted immediately.
It was an incredibly divine ability, but even extrasensory perception couldn't tell him what might be happening in a distant province.
“…-spector.”
“…”
“Inspector!”
Startled by the voice calling him, Seo Ryang looked at Wi Hongryeon.
Beneath her indifferent expression lay an unseen worry.
“Are you alright? Why are you sweating so much?”
“Huh?”
He wiped his forehead. Just as Wi Hongryeon said, it was drenched in cold sweat.
“No, I'm fine.”
Ma Dongpil asked.
“If you're perhaps feeling unwell…”
“How could I be?”
Indeed, it was unlikely that a monster who had broken through the limits of the peak realm at his age would break out in a cold sweat just from feeling a little unwell.
“I was just lost in thought. Don't worry. Nothing's wrong.”
“…Yes.”
Ma Dongpil's expression turned serious.
He had answered as such, but he couldn't help but worry. Hadn't the Young Master been acting very differently from his usual self since yesterday?
At first, he thought it was just the pressure of the mission. Although he was monstrously strong, it was a direct order from the Cult Leader, so he figured the Young Master must have a lot on his mind.
But there was a limit to pressure. Besides, given the Young Master's personality, it was unlikely he would feel this burdened, right?
Seo Ryang sighed and leaned back in his seat.
“Don't worry about me, just get some rest. I need to get some sleep too.”
“Understood.”
He forced his eyes shut. He could feel their gazes on him but ignored them.
*To hell with escaping. For now, let's just clear my head and rest.*
* * *
Six days later.
“There's a forest five *li* ahead. We'll make camp there for the night.”
“Alright.”
“We should enter the Red Snake House's territory before noon tomorrow. We'll likely arrive at the house itself around the middle of the Hour of the Ram.”
“Got it.”
“Will you be sleeping in the carriage?”
“Yes.”
A short while later, the group arrived at the forest and found a suitable spot to set up camp. As they had done until now, the thirty members of the Berserk Demon Unit would take turns standing watch.
Wi Hongryeon, who was building a campfire and poking at the logs, turned her head at the sudden sense of a presence.
Ma Dongpil was approaching.
“Why are you out here instead of resting inside?”
“It seemed the Young Master wished to be alone, so I came out.”
Wi Hongryeon nodded.
“How is he?”
“You've seen him yourself, Commander Wi.”
“You're much closer to him than I am.”
“I don't know either. The only fortunate thing is that he seems to be regaining his composure as time passes.”
“Composure? Really?”
“…As I just said, you've seen him yourself, haven't you, Commander Wi?”
“Damn it, I'm too dense to notice things like that. And I've been receiving reports constantly, so I haven't been able to watch his expression like you have.”
Ma Dongpil nodded vigorously.
“He has definitely improved. It seemed he was troubled by something, but it looks like he's sorted it out now.”
“Really? Well, that's good then.”
“That's surprising.”
“What is?”
“I didn't realize you were so concerned about the Young Master, Commander Wi.”
Wi Hongryeon snorted.
“Right now, this isn't about the relationship between the Third Young Master of the cult and Wi Hongryeon. We're connected as the Special Inspector and the Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit. If the leader falters, the mission will too. How could I not be worried?”
“You have a point, Commander Wi.”
“Anyway, it's a relief if he's better…”
Just then, a sinister voice came from behind her.
“Such unparalleled kindness brings tears to my eyes.”
“Ack!”
The two of them, startled, spun around.
Seo Ryang was standing there with his arms crossed, having appeared from who knows where.
“Uh, when did you get here?”
“Just now.”
“You should've made a sound or something. But your concealment skills are terrifying.”
“Concealment skills my ass, you two are just dull.”
Grumbling, Seo Ryang plopped down in front of the campfire.
“I'm hungry. If you have any jerky, give me some.”
Ma Dongpil respectfully handed him some jerky.
Seo Ryang chewed on the jerky with gusto. Perhaps because he had barely eaten for the past few days, even the tough jerky tasted like honey.
Wi Hongryeon watched Seo Ryang with a strange look in her eyes.
“It's no wonder you're hungry.”
“*Chew, chew.* So what?”
“It's just that you're managing to chew that tough stuff so happily.”
“Should I chew it unhappily?”
“No, it's not that. It's just, you must be used to eating all sorts of delicacies, but you're enjoying that so much.”
“In my younger days, I survived on jerky ten thousand times more tasteless than this. This is practically a feast.”
It sounded strange, a young man not yet thirty talking about his "younger days."
Regardless, it was a relief that he seemed to be back to his usual self. Wi Hongryeon took out a small, flat, palm-sized flask from her robes.
“Care for a sip?”
“Oh, thanks. But why is this flask so damn small?”
As Seo Ryang put the flask to his lips, his eyes wavered.
“…You?”
“Hehe, it's to warm myself up when camping.”
“Seriously? You brought alcohol after all that talk about us being here as Inspector and Commander?”
“I brought it to sip after the mission is over. It's my favorite, so just have a little.”
Seo Ryang let out a small laugh. She was usually an incredibly annoying brat, but for some reason, he felt grateful today. It was because he knew Wi Hongryeon had been genuinely worried about him.
‘Right, let's just take it easy.’
*I've been assigned this inspection mission, so I'll see it through. If I bolt in the middle of it, Ma Dongpil and Wi Hongryeon will be disciplined too.*
*I'll escape after everything is done. Well, it's all the same in the end, but it's probably best to finish the job I was given.*
‘It's ridiculous to draw a line just because I've decided to leave. It's just selfishness, making myself feel better under the pretext of caring for others, isn't it?’
*If we were fated to part ways anyway, let's just be comfortable until the end. To hell with extrasensory perception and all that, for now, I'll just follow my heart.*
‘Yeah, that's what I'll do.’
The three of them laughed and chatted. It was the first real conversation they'd had in a long time.
*Alright! Let's start by shaking down the Red Snake House!*
Noon the next day.
Thanks to a vigorous ride, the group arrived at the Red Snake House one *shichen* earlier than expected, only to be blocked by a group of men.
“Are you from the Divine Cult?”
Wi Hongryeon, at the front, nodded arrogantly.
The leader of the group, the Second Lord of the Red Snake House, Hong Sang-ho, gave a sly smile.
“We're currently undergoing renovations. It will be difficult to accommodate everyone, so we will escort the guards to a different location.”
“…?”
“Only the inspection representative should follow me.”
Wi Hongryeon's face instantly turned cold.
She was on the verge of spewing a stream of curses.
*Clack.*
The door opened, and Seo Ryang and Ma Dongpil stepped out.
Seo Ryang looked Hong Sang-ho up and down.
Hong Sang-ho frowned. He didn't like the look in Seo Ryang's eyes.
Seo Ryang asked, as if tossing the words out.
“The Lord?”
“…I am Hong Sang-ho, the Second Lord.”
“The Second Lord? Not the Lord, but the Second Lord came out?”
“The Lord is currently…”
“Commander Wi.”
Wi Hongryeon bowed her head.
“Yes, Inspector.”
Seo Ryang turned around.
“These people have no manners. Write in the report that they look down on our cult, so there's nothing to inspect.”
“…!”
“It's a waste of time. Let's go to the Giant Whale House.”