Chapter 121
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Realization (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When people witness something that defies comprehension, their bodies freeze in shock.
Everyone here was experiencing just that. Seo Ryang felling the House Lord was already beyond common sense, but the appearance of an unknown beast at his side plunged them all into a state of panic.
*Swish. Swish.*
A massive tail swayed from side to side.
The tail, with its luxuriant golden fur, was taller than Seo Ryang himself. Its long, slender legs were nearly as long as Seo Ryang’s, who was quite tall.
Compared to its legs and tail, its torso wasn't quite as large. Still, it was bigger than any leopard and only slightly smaller than a tiger.
And its face.
One could only wonder if the most sacred beast in the world looked like this. Its sleekly drawn snout and nose, mystical blue eyes, and large, swept-back ears exuded an air of nobility.
While its size was intimidating, its overall appearance was remarkably dignified. At a glance, it resembled a fox; from another angle, it looked like a wolf. Its appearance was unique.
However, everyone would agree that it possessed a captivating aura that was impossible to resist upon first sight.
Even if a person’s severed head was dangling from its jaws.
*Rustle.*
Seo Ryang stroked the fox’s head.
The fox closed its eyes and nuzzled its head against his arm. It was a sign of affection.
“……!”
The faces of the people, still reeling from shock, were now etched with terror.
A giant fox, holding a human head in its mouth, was showing affection. The sight filled the onlookers with extreme dread.
How cruel a spectacle would this beast, beautiful enough to inspire awe beyond admiration, create if it were to harbor killing intent?
Even if it was a surprise attack, how terrifying was the power of this beast that had killed the Second Lord, Hong Sangho, in a single bite?
“Geumho.”
*Grrrrr.*
Geumho let out a low growl.
Hong Sangho’s head dropped with a thud and rolled across the ground, but no one paid it any mind.
“Welcome.”
Geumho no longer yapped adorably as it once had. It simply stared at Seo Ryang with its abyss-like eyes, quietly showing its affection.
‘How strange.’
It was astounding. He couldn't understand how this curious creature—no, this spiritual beast—which had been no bigger than a man’s forearm, had grown so large in an instant.
But it felt comfortable. So much so that he could naturally accept this unbelievable change he was witnessing with his own eyes.
*Swoosh.*
Geumho sat down, folding its hind legs. Its tail, larger than its body, still soared toward the sky, swaying gently.
Even while sitting, its height reached Seo Ryang’s chest. Its mystical form brought the words ‘guardian spirit’ to mind.
Seo Ryang turned his gaze to Jang U-hwi.
Jang U-hwi unknowingly swallowed hard. Despite his rough life and vast experience, he had never imagined such a variable would emerge.
No, anyone would have felt the same. Even now, looking at the giant fox, he couldn't tell if he was dreaming or awake.
“Say that again.”
*Swoooosh!*
A faint, hazy shimmer rose from Seo Ryang’s body.
With Geumho’s appearance, the impurities in his body were being expelled at a frightening speed. His head, which had been dizzy from excessive blood loss, cleared, and the Nine Hells Demonic Art, which had been roiling like lava, calmed down.
Even the poisonous energy Hong Gwan had injected didn't dare to run rampant.
“What did you say you would do to us? What? Order us to pass the inspection?”
“……”
“Has your mind still not changed?”
All eyes turned to Jang U-hwi.
*Tremble.*
His tightly clenched fist shook. Never in his life had he felt the gazes of others to be so terrifying.
“Your very way of thinking is flawed. The House Lord, too. It seems you think you have the upper hand in our relationship. Is it because this is your territory?”
“……”
“Just like those who work under the House Lord, but your proposal was wrong from the start. You were never in a position to make proposals. A request, perhaps.”
“……!”
*Drip. Drip.*
Drops of purplish blood fell, one by one, from the tip of Seo Ryang’s index finger.
The poisonous energy Hong Gwan had injected was being expelled, mixed with his blood. Seo Ryang’s body, now synchronized with Geumho’s spiritual energy, was like an impregnable fortress.
*Crackle!*
Red lightning, emanating in concentric circles from his solar plexus, enveloped his entire body. The Nine Hells Demonic Art had finally regained its original power.
*Woooooong!!*
His solar plexus, the middle dantian, pulsed violently.
As his body recovered, his demonic art rapidly returned to normal. A certain energy, firmly embedded in his middle dantian, had become a wellspring of inexhaustible spiritual water, reviving the martial art itself.
Seo Ryang finally understood.
He realized just how fearsome the energy latent within his body was. He understood why this spiritual beast, something that seemed to belong only in myths and legends, could communicate with him through an intangible form of energy.
‘The Spirit Bamboo!’
In the deepest part of the Solitary Bamboo Forest.
The energy of that small bamboo shoot he had tripped over when he first saw the young Geumho was lodged squarely in his middle dantian.
It wasn't an energy he could digest right now, though perhaps he might with another future enlightenment.
But even if he attained such enlightenment, there was no need to digest it. The supremely pure spiritual energy was protecting his middle dantian, transforming his physical body into its optimal state, and continuously increasing the density of his true energy.
Seo Ryang looked back at Geumho.
Geumho was still watching Seo Ryang with its mystical gaze.
‘So that was it.’
This bamboo shoot was essentially the core of the Solitary Bamboo Forest.
Though small in quantity, it was the nexus that supported the entire forest. And thanks to this shoot, Geumho had been able to act as the master of the Solitary Bamboo Forest.
‘And I was the one who took it.’
In other words, Geumho hadn't been following him. It had only been following the core of the bamboo shoot, resting peacefully inside his body.
A look of apology crossed Seo Ryang’s face.
‘I don’t know when it will be, but if I can find a way, I will return this energy to you then.’
As if it had read his thoughts without a word being spoken.
Geumho rubbed its head against Seo Ryang’s shoulder. It seemed to say that it wasn't following him just because of the bamboo shoot.
A smile touched Seo Ryang’s lips as he turned his head back to Jang U-hwi.
“It seems you’re the one in charge now. Isn’t it time you made a decision?”
“……”
“Clear the way. As the Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit said, a direct conflict will only bring you the worst possible outcome.”
“But what about the main house’s ledgers……”
“Bring them again. Right now.”
“……”
“Don’t try to hide what happened here. I simply want a transparent accounting of cause and effect, just as it is. The same goes for the inspection. I will report exactly what I have seen here today.”
Confusion clouded Jang U-hwi’s face. He wondered if that was truly acceptable.
‘Perhaps the Second Lord’s reckless actions might have led to a better outcome? If only, here…’
It was then.
*Grrrrrr.*
Startled, Jang U-hwi looked at Geumho.
Wrinkles had formed on Geumho’s snout. When it was calm, its nobility seemed to pierce the heavens, but with its face contorted, it looked more ferocious than any beast in the world.
Swallowing, Jang U-hwi opened his mouth.
“……Understood.”
There was no other choice now. The House Lord was hovering between life and death, and the Second Lord had been decapitated by some unknown beast.
It would be a different story if their opponents were enemies, but they weren't. As the inspector had said, in the grand scheme of things, the Red Snake House was just another organization under the Divine Cult.
If they tried to cling to their pride… they would truly walk the path of annihilation.
“Heads of each department, bring the last three years’ worth of ledgers again.”
Seo Ryang smiled.
Although his Nine Hells Demonic Art had returned to normal, his internal and external injuries were severe, and he was still fatigued. But his mind was calmer than ever before, and at the same time, it burned with a quiet fire.
Because he had finally realized what it was he truly wanted.
Because only now could he clearly see what kind of person he was, and what his true state was.
A short while later, every department within the Red Snake House brought their respective ledgers.
Reviewing the ledgers would surely take a very long time. Verifying the records of just one department would consume at least half a day, to say nothing of the fact that there were over a dozen departments.
But surprisingly, Seo Ryang didn't spend more than a few moments reviewing three years of ledgers for any single department. He was already skilled at speed-reading, and his upper dantian had grown significantly, allowing for rapid comprehension.
On top of that, he activated the Heavenly Net Six Arts, Transcendent Observation, drastically shortening the time required.
“Commander Wi.”
“Yes, Inspector.”
“Are you ready to write?”
“I have prepared a fine brush in advance.”
“Take this down. After reviewing the ledgers, while there are some minor discrepancies, most departments do not appear to be involved in corruption with Hong Wi-mun. However…”
Seo Ryang looked at Hong Yeorin, who was standing far away.
Hong Yeorin subconsciously lowered her head.
Her face, having escaped the short and chaotic turmoil early on, was stained with the same terror as Jang U-hwi’s. She couldn't even meet Seo Ryang’s eyes.
“There are major discrepancies in the ledgers of the Inner Court's Finance Department from three years ago and two years ago. The flow of funds suggests someone has been embezzling from the middle.”
Hong Yeorin’s face turned pale.
“A proper investigation is impossible under the current circumstances. I recommend a return visit in the near future for a detailed investigation.”
“I’ve written it down.”
“Send it to the main sect as is.”
“Yes.”
She shook the letter to dry the ink and rolled the paper into a small cylinder. Not just her, but several other members of the Berserk Demon Unit wrote down the same message and placed it in tubes.
Now, these cylinders would be delivered to a nearby branch, and from there, a carrier pigeon would immediately fly to the Divine Cult’s main headquarters. The carrier pigeons bred by the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon were faster than any other bird.
Seo Ryang stretched out his hands.
*Woooooong!*
The Dragon Scale Saber and the Seven Nights Saber, which lay at a distance, flew into his hands.
He strapped the Twin Meteor Sabers to his back, hung the Seven Nights Saber on the right side of his belt, and slung the Dragon Scale Saber over his shoulder.
Seo Ryang, who had been quietly watching Jang U-hwi, swung the Dragon Scale Saber.
His target was Hong Gwan.
*Splaaash!*
Blood spurted from Hong Gwan’s mouth.
Jang U-hwi’s face turned deathly pale.
“Wh-what are you doing!!”
“Don’t worry. His life isn’t in danger.”
Seo Ryang smiled coldly.
“But if he is not treated immediately, the demonic energy I’ve infused will attack the House Lord’s dantian. If you act quickly, he might get away with losing a little bit of his internal energy, but if you’re late, he will lose more than half of the power he has built up his entire life.”
“……!”
“In other words, you have no time to chase after us. Focus all your efforts on treating your House Lord.”
Seo Ryang slung the Dragon Scale Saber onto his back.
“Think of it as a safety measure for both our sakes.”
He seemed utterly convinced that they couldn't touch him. Seo Ryang coolly turned his back.
Jang U-hwi watched Seo Ryang’s back, grinding his teeth.
Finally, he spoke as if letting out a sigh.
“Clear the way.”
And so, the group left the Red Snake House leisurely in their carriage.
Having laid waste to one of the Seven Houses within half a day of their arrival.