Chapter 19
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Reason for Escape (4)
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"Welcome back."
"Bring me some tea."
"Ah, yes."
A moment later, a cup of gulsong tea was placed before Hong Wi-mun. When he was mentally exhausted, he drank this tea instead of alcohol.
Shin-hwe, looking at Hong Wi-mun, was quite surprised.
‘Is it that serious?’
Hong Wi-mun's face, which never lost its leisurely smile no matter the situation, was now considerably stiff.
How much time had passed?
Only when the tea had completely cooled did Hong Wi-mun lift his cup.
"Shin-hwe."
"Yes, Young Master."
"I told you what kind of place the Solitary Bamboo Forest is, didn't I?"
"Yes. You said it was a demonic forest that existed even before our cult settled on the great mountain, and that strange spiritual beasts live there. You also mentioned that the spiritual bamboo growing there is harvested to make the cult's elixirs."
"Indeed. The Solitary Bamboo Forest is exactly that kind of place."
Hong Wi-mun leaned back in his chair.
A smile had appeared on his lips at some point, but his eyes remained as cold as ever.
"Do you know the most difficult place to infiltrate within the cult?"
It was too broad a question. Moreover, it wasn't something that should have come up so suddenly in the middle of a discussion about the Solitary Bamboo Forest.
"Are you referring to the Solitary Bamboo Forest?"
"The Solitary Bamboo Forest is excluded. Not even the high command can enter without the Master's permission. My question isn't about physical entry, but about whether we can plant our eyes there."
"In that case, wouldn't it be the Office of the Grand Marshal? I've heard the Grand Marshal's control over the organization is so formidable that not even the Demonic Lords dare to interfere."
"Wrong. The Office of the Grand Marshal is a surprisingly easy organization to infiltrate."
"Pardon?"
"The Grand Marshal is a once-in-a-generation genius. He's the type to turn spies against their masters to grasp the flow of power struggles within the cult. So, it's not hard to infiltrate. It's just that no one *chooses* to do so. Because it's obvious my movements would be exposed."
"...Then?"
"The Hall of Protectors."
Sizzle.
Steam rose from the teacup Hong Wi-mun held. The gulsong tea, which had grown cold, was boiling again.
"The Hall of Protectors is a completely separate organization. It exists solely to protect the Cult Leader and the cult. It's entirely different from other groups that decide their course based on power."
"…!"
"Naturally, it's composed only of the most loyal members of the cult. That's why no one pays them any mind. There's no need to, and it's not possible. Trying to sway them is the same as trying to shake the Cult Leader's authority."
"I... see."
"So I didn't pay attention. No, I *couldn't* pay attention. That was my mistake."
"What do you mean?"
Hong Wi-mun took a sip of tea.
The smile vanished from his face again.
"That bastard was alive."
"...Pardon?"
"Seo Ryang, that bastard is still alive."
Shin-hwe's face hardened.
"Even now, after eight months?"
"I heard they sent an experienced and skilled man with him. A squad leader from the Hall of Protectors, was it?"
"No, but even so…"
Before entering the Solitary Bamboo Forest, the Third Young Master's physical condition had improved greatly.
But even so, he was at the level of a commoner who hadn't learned martial arts. To think he survived for eight months in a region so dangerous that even Demonic Lord-level figures would be tense, with a body of that caliber? Does that even make sense?
"I could understand one month. I might even accept three. But surviving for eight months with that body is impossible."
Even as he said this, Hong Wi-mun himself had never entered the Solitary Bamboo Forest. In this generation, aside from the Protectors, only a few of the highest-ranking officials had ever set foot there.
But there was a level of danger one could surmise. These words had come from none other than the Master, the Cult Leader himself.
- Unless one has reached the pinnacle of the demonic path, no one could last three months.
If the Master said it, it was so. His words carried that much weight and credibility.
Of course, Seo Ryang had not reached the pinnacle of the demonic path. So how could he have survived until now?
Hong Wi-mun recalled his conversation with the Master from a short while ago.
- It seems the third is holding up well.
- …!
- I plan to summon him back soon.
- ….
- You said you were targeting the youngest now?
- …Yes.
- Understood.
The conversation with the Master ended there. That was truly all there was to it.
Hong Wi-mun couldn't understand why the Master had told him such things. He couldn't fathom whether he'd been summoned just to see his face, or if the Master had discerned something from their brief exchange.
‘He was always like this.’
The Demonic God of the Heaven beyond Heavens. An existence incomprehensible to human common sense.
‘A being who reigns, but does not rule.’
He doesn't interfere at all, even when his disciples point blades at each other. I don't know if it means one must overcome such things to seize the next throne, or if he has some other intention.
What kind of world does the Master see? To a god, is this world so worthless?
If only I could also see what the Master sees.
‘If I could soar to that realm…!’
Gazing down at his teacup, Hong Wi-mun spoke.
"Shin-hwe."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Plant some of our boys at his residence."
Shin-hwe's eyes lit up.
Hong Wi-mun sipped his tea. The heavy aroma left his mouth feeling dry, but his mind felt much clearer.
"Neither qi deviation, nor poison, nor the demonic forest could kill him. I thought that would be enough, you know?"
"…Are you planning to take matters into your own hands?"
"Directly? I can't do that. I don't think this fight should turn into a dogfight. But well…"
"…"
"I have no intention of stopping a murder born of a grudge."
Shin-hwe's eyes widened.
"Then the boys you told me to gather…?"
"We're just putting the sword in their hands. Whether they swing it or not is entirely up to them."
Hong Wi-mun smiled brightly. Seeing a smile more radiant than any before, Shin-hwe felt a chill run down his spine.
"Isn't that how the Master deals with us? Tossing us into hell and telling us to figure it out ourselves. I think that's quite fine."
* * *
"Young Master!"
"What is it now, you punk."
"Please, calm down. You need to be more cautious."
"To hell with caution. I'm sick and tired of overthinking and missing my chance."
"But you're being too hasty! You don't even know what kind of demonic beasts are near the inner depths of the forest, do you?"
"And what would change if I did?"
For a moment, Ma Dongpil was at a loss for words.
Seo Ryang said as he tucked the jetakcho and tea leaves into his clothes.
"Whatever threats lie there, the fact that I'm out of time doesn't change. And I have no intention of giving up on the spiritual bamboo. So in my opinion, there's no time to waste."
"I will go to the Lord Protector. I'll go and ask. I'll find out what demonic beasts are in there and how we should prepare. We need at least some basic information…"
"I'll say it again, knowing won't change anything."
Shing.
Seo Ryang drew his sword.
It was a hwando that Ma Dongpil had brought along with the jetakcho and tea leaves. The sleek, subtly curved blade was three cheok long.
He flicked his finger against the flat of the blade.
Ting.
A clear ring. Unlike the weapons he had used until now, this was a sword worthy of being called a treasured blade.
"Why would the Cult Leader send only the high command to retrieve the spiritual bamboo? If preparation were possible, he could have just sent his subordinates."
"…"
"For security? Unlikely."
"…Are you saying that unless one is that strong, it's meaningless to send anyone?"
"Yes."
"Then that's all the more reason not to go!"
They had grown close over the past eight months, but this was the first time he, who had always maintained a certain distance, had reacted so vehemently.
"You have grown incredibly strong, Young Master. But you still fall short of the Demonic Lord level of the Council of Elders…!"
As he spoke, Ma Dongpil realized his mistake. He thought his words might sound disrespectful to the Young Master.
Seo Ryang didn't mind at all.
"You're right. I can't compare to the Nine Great Demonic Lords of the Council of Elders, the strongest in the cult."
"…Young Master."
"But I have something they don't."
"Pardon?"
Tug.
Tightening his belt, Seo Ryang thought.
‘Dark Shadow Arts, Formless Shadow Body.’
Until now, he had never once used a concealment technique in the Solitary Bamboo Forest.
He felt there was no need, no possibility, and that he shouldn't.
To Seo Ryang, this place was a training ground, not a battlefield. Even if he could have, there was no reason to use concealment techniques to avoid threats.
But from now on, it's different.
The inner depths of the Solitary Bamboo Forest are an unknown territory. And the time he has is roughly three months.
The Solitary Bamboo Forest is no longer a training ground.
It has become a battlefield of life and death, a place to be conquered, where he must achieve his goal by any means necessary.
‘Inhaling the jetakcho will last for half a quarter-hour. Considering the size of the forest, that's more than enough time to enter the inner depths.’
He was known as the King of Assassins. His concealment techniques were also at the pinnacle of his time.
However, because he had converted his dark shadow energy into demonic arts, he couldn't use the Formless Shadow Body with the conventional method.
That's why he needed the jetakcho. He had to suppress his demonic energy to some extent to manifest the Formless Shadow Body.
It would consume a great deal of internal energy, but it would be sufficient for a simple snatch and escape.
‘With the Formless Shadow Body, I can deceive even the Ten Great Masters. Even if I'm discovered, escaping won't be a problem.’
And if, by some chance, escape is impossible?
Seo Ryang's eyes gleamed.
‘Then I'll have no choice but to raise hell.’
Ma Dongpil said hastily.
"I don't know what method you have in mind, Young Master. But I'm sure it's a convincing one."
"Of course. I don't want to die either."
Thud.
Ma Dongpil knelt on one knee.
"Young Master, I say this at the risk of my life."
"Why are you being so dramatic?"
"What do you say to giving up on the spiritual bamboo?"
"…"
"Even if it's thanks to the unique nature of this forest, you've grown at an incomprehensibly fast rate, Young Master. Even without the spiritual bamboo from the inner depths, you'll surely distinguish yourself in the near future…"
"Dongpil."
"Yes, Young Master."
Seo Ryang smiled.
"I'm not the type to enjoy danger. If it weren't necessary, I wouldn't have thought of risking my life to go in there."
"…"
"Don't worry. I've faced so much danger over the past eight months, and I'm still alive, aren't I?"
Ma Dongpil sighed inwardly. He realized that no matter what he said, the Young Master would not change his mind.
As Seo Ryang looked down at him, a flicker of coldness crossed his face.
He had intended to get it anyway, but now he had one more reason why he absolutely had to obtain the spiritual bamboo. That was why he had spent two days frantically researching the effects of the jetakcho and tea leaves.
‘They'll target me again once I leave the Solitary Bamboo Forest.’
He had heard from Ma Dongpil that the girl named Hong Yeorin was the Fourth Young Master's sister. Once he left the forest, those damn Hong siblings wouldn't leave him alone.
The question was, would it end there?
‘Is it a simple matter of a grudge? Or perhaps…’
Perhaps the disciples are engaged in a bloody, clandestine struggle.
The reason is unknown. The most likely explanation is a scheme to eliminate rivals for the next succession, but even that isn't certain.
Of course, it might not be a bloody struggle between the disciples. But Seo Ryang was confident his guess was correct.
If it had been an assassination attempt born of a grudge, his extrasensory perception would not have missed such blatant killing intent. Especially not for three whole months.
‘I need to become so strong that they won't even dare to touch me. And soon.’
He was prepared to rot in the Divine Cult for a year, or even several years, to find his freedom. The Cult Leader wouldn't let him go unless he demonstrated a certain level of stature.
But he had no intention of rotting away uncomfortably day after day.
If they still mess with me, even after realizing the difference in our levels…
‘Then, brothers-in-arms or not, I'll have no choice but to raise some serious hell.’
Seo Ryang slapped his stomach.
"Wait here. I'll be back in a flash."
"I cannot do that, Young Master."
"It's an order."
"I apologize, but it is an order I cannot follow. If you truly insist on going alone, you will have to cut off my head and go."
Seo Ryang shook his head.
"Only to the entrance of the inner depths. Don't come inside. I absolutely forbid it."
"…"
"Your answer?"
"…I obey your command."
And so, having completed their preparations, the two of them dashed toward the inner depths of the Solitary Bamboo Forest.
How far had they run?
"…?!"
Seo Ryang's jaw dropped. A rare look of surprise was etched onto Ma Dongpil's rock-like face.
On the way to the inner depths, they entered the territory of the Nokchok, which they had thought to be the final guardians. A scene unfolded before their eyes.
Ssssssk.
To their left and right, countless demonic beasts lay dead. The stench of rotting corpses filled the air, along with a white steam.
And at the entrance to the path leading into the inner depths. A damp wind blew from the path formed by the bamboo trees.
Whoooosh.
"…Huh?"