Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Does Even the Executioner Have Such a Mission?
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The Vampire Demon arrived quietly that night.
Slither!
“Greetings to the Young Cult Leader.”
His eyes were deeply sunken.
He must have suffered quite a bit lately.
But he couldn’t erase the smile lingering at the corners of his mouth.
“There are too many eyes here. Change the way you address me first.”
“I’ll be careful from next time.”
“You seem to have made some progress?”
“I’ve scouted the interior of the Radiant Star Mausoleum.”
My eyes flashed for a moment.
“Did you find it?”
He was talking about my master’s traces.
The Vampire Demon nodded gravely.
“Yes. I can’t say for certain, but it seems I did. I found a divine mark.”
“!!”
I clenched my fist tight.
Finally.
Finally…!
But in moments like this, I had to stay calm.
“What do you mean you can’t be certain?”
“I confirmed the divine mark, but I couldn’t tell if it was one left by the Cult Leader himself.”
“…….”
“Whether he was in a dire situation at the time, or if it was left by another follower hiding in Kongsang Mountain—I couldn’t determine it. As you know—”
“The Leader has his own unique mark.”
“That’s right.”
“…….”
“That’s why I phrased it that way.”
The Vampire Demon bowed his head even deeper.
“I wanted to investigate more closely, but the surveillance from the Gong Clan and South Palace was too tight, so I couldn’t stay longer.”
“…….”
“So it seems you’ll need to check it personally, my lor—er, Young Lord.”
It was a suggestion because with the death arts I possessed, I could precisely identify the mark’s owner.
“…So in the end, it means I have to go to the Radiant Star Mausoleum myself.”
I fell deep into thought.
It was a quiet night.
* * *
If the divine mark truly remained in the Radiant Star Mausoleum, sneaking in covertly would have its limits.
I needed to examine it quietly, without any interference from the surroundings.
That meant we had even more reason to secure the Radiant Star Mausoleum for ourselves.
In a gathering with me, the Lion Blade King, and the Three Assassins all present.
Gong Son-beom unfurled a map of Kongsang Mountain wide open.
It detailed not only the terrain and mountains but also the enemy positions and forces.
The Lion Blade King looked astonished.
He’d probably never seen a map this precise before.
Just imagining the Tang Clan’s intelligence directed toward Guizhou would send chills down his spine.
On the other hand, he was likely pleased that the Tang Clan was now allies.
Gong Son-beom spoke in a solemn voice.
“The situation seems to be growing urgent. As you can see, most of Suri’s forces are now concentrated in front of White Snow Ravine. It’s not just posturing—it’s the atmosphere for a real push.”
The Lion Blade King’s eyes deepened.
“They plan to commit their full strength all at once?”
“That’s right.”
“‘Right’?”
One of the Lion Blade King’s eyebrows twitched.
Gong Son-beom flinched.
“…That’s our current assessment. It seems the Doctrine Scholar has been under considerable pressure from the ongoing loss in the war of words lately.”
“That makes sense. Not a single faction is siding with them.”
The Lion Blade King nodded.
Whether he was satisfied that the impudent Gong Son-beom had backed down, or he simply agreed the situation around the Doctrine Scholar was inevitable, he looked content either way.
“Hasn’t the Tang Clan been working behind the scenes all this time to tarnish the Gong Clan’s reputation? The results are finally showing.”
As he said this, the Lion Blade King winked at me.
As expected, he had noticed the unnatural shift in public opinion early on.
Even that I was at the center of it.
In truth, the atmosphere of the Gong Clan being public enemy stemmed from a collaboration between me and Lord Gijegal.
At my direction, Lord Gijegal had mobilized the Feng Hua Court to wage a long public opinion campaign.
From the statements by the Qingcheng and Emei sects to the sentiments in Gansu’s martial world. Somehow, he’d even gotten Mount Hua and Jongnam to ride the wave.
His methods were nothing short of miraculous.
This had put immense pressure on the Gong Clan.
The Doctrine Scholar must have judged that if the civil war dragged on like this, external intervention would begin in earnest.
That would spell the end for the Gong Clan’s prestige.
No—precisely, for the Doctrine Scholar.
So even though they held the advantage, they were resorting to this reckless move.
「If we judge solely by these traits, he truly is a petty villain like no other.」
「I wonder what possession allowed them to hold the line this long.」
Gong Son-beom’s explanation continued.
“Because of this, Suri will likely commence battle by late today at the latest. And… in tandem, the Dark Thunder Division and White Thunder Sword Division have taken positions in the outer areas.”
The Three Assassins’ eyes sharpened instantly.
I asked.
“Are they stepping in directly too?”
Gong Son-beom nodded.
“It seems likely. The interior of White Snow Ravine won’t be visible from outside.”
Unlike before, when they had to stay hidden, it meant the Dark Thunder Division and White Thunder Sword Division could move freely now.
Tang Guijin spoke urgently.
“But we can’t let that happen, can we? With the White Thunder Sword Division’s strength—”
Gong Son-beom nodded.
“Even White Snow Ravine would be breached.”
“!”
“!”
“…Wasn’t White Snow Ravine the fortress that once repelled the invasion of the Might Demon Beast Clan? Does that mean the White Thunder Sword Division is that powerful?”
At Sima Seon-ui’s question, the Lion Blade King answered instead.
“The White Thunder Sword Division? They’re strong. Especially the Ten Elders at their head… It pains my pride to say it, but most of them are opponents even I can’t take lightly.”
“…….”
Sima Seon-ui pressed her lips tight.
It was hard to believe seeing the usually boastful Lion Blade King admit it so readily.
But this was a battlefield.
The Lion Blade King never exaggerated here.
“Of course, White Snow Ravine’s defenses are formidable too. The Demon-Subduing Heavenly Image Formation around it will play a big role in defense. So purely by numbers, the Sunhak True Man’s side might hold. But… what if the Doctrine Scholar goes mad and keeps throwing in his disciples?”
“But… he’s still an elder of the Gong Clan—would he go that far—”
Yoo Su-min muttered in confusion, but the Lion Blade King scoffed lightly.
“Do you think a man who’s already psychologically cornered will care about that? If his disciples were precious, he wouldn’t have started this mess to begin with.”
“…….”
“Nothing’s more dangerous than a man blinded by greed. With the South Palace egging him on from the side, he’ll shove them in, claiming it’s not his fault. Then what of Sunhak True Man? Can he hold out to the end?”
“…….”
“He can’t. And then it’s all over.”
“…….”
“And if the Demonic Cult, hiding like rats somewhere, joins in… haha. Could it get any worse? It’d be total chaos then.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The Three Assassins all pressed their lips shut.
The Lion Blade King’s gaze turned to me.
“So they aim to cripple the Dark Thunder Division before full combat begins?”
I smiled and nodded.
“That’s right, Hori.”
Gong Son-beom quietly drew a letter from his bosom and placed it on the table.
“This is a letter sent to Hori from the Dark Thunder Division just half a shichen ago.”
The Three Assassins’ eyes gleamed coldly.
The Lion Blade King laughed coldly too.
I continued the explanation.
“In one shichen, Hori will meet the Dark Thunder Division’s Dark Palace Unit here with the goods. We’ll disguise ourselves as his attendants, then strike their leadership when the moment comes.”
“!!”
“!!”
“But with just the Half Evil Executioners’ current strength, handling them all will be tough. Even with the Blade King’s help, it’d be overwhelming.”
“A valid question.”
At Sima Seon-ui’s query, I nodded and laid out the plan.
After hearing everything, tension etched across the Three Assassins’ faces.
“…Certainly, Young Lord, if it goes according to your plan, we have a solid chance of victory.”
“If not all-in, then all-out… Truly a plan worthy of the Cloudwhirl Young Master. No desperate gamble could be this desperate. Anyway, looks like we’re in for another soaking.”
Tang Guijin smiled wryly, Yoo Su-min sighed with a look of resignation, and Sima Seon-ui clenched her fists tight.
The Lion Blade King grinned.
“It’ll be a long day.”
* * *
Gong Son-beom moved swiftly toward the rendezvous point.
There wasn’t a trace of tension on his face.
Even though he was heading to lure the enemy into a trap.
It was as casual as if he were going for a stroll.
I was curious about what lay in his heart.
『Aren’t you disappointed?』
So as we ran while keeping a suitable distance from Gong Son-beom, I asked.
『Disappointed? About what?』
『You’re being curt.』
『…As expected of the Blade King’s sworn brother—nitpicking just like him.』
I could hear Gong Son-beom grinding his teeth.
Yes. That’s the Bicheon Hori I know. Heh heh heh.
『It took nearly a decade to establish your triple-agent identity. And this mission wipes it all away.』
『Is that what this is about?』
『‘This’?』
『…Young Lord.』
Crunch!
Now I heard his molars grinding.
Then Gong Son-beom let out a long sigh and spoke in a serious tone.
『Not disappointed at all. This is the mission given to me from the start.』
『!』
An utterly unexpected response.
My eyes widened involuntarily.
『I’m a spy. A job where dying any day wouldn’t be strange. From the moment I received this mission—no, this calling—I was prepared for it.』
『…….』
『On the contrary, if my sacrifice can prevent greater losses. And if it helps even a little toward the dream of the lord I serve. I can accept it gladly.』
『…….』
『But the place we’re heading to now isn’t a death sentence, is it? Quite the opposite—I’m going to toy with them.』
『…….』
『So no disappointment at all. In fact, I’m thrilled at the chance. I get to witness the completion of the mission I’ve prepared for over a decade myself! And carry it out with my own hands!』
Laughter crept into Gong Son-beom’s voice bit by bit.
He was genuinely delighted.
『How many spies out of the countless get to claim such an honor? So I’m satisfied. It’s the reward for my ten years.』
『…….』
『And if another mission comes, I’ll start anew from scratch. With experience, I’ll do even better than now. Truth be told, there were many things even I found lacking during this one.』
『…….』
『Does that answer your question?』
『Of course. Thoroughly.』
I nodded.
He was right.
Mission.
What it implied was enormous.
Gong Son-beom would keep living like this.
As someone’s shadow, or someone’s wind.
Silently pursuing the justice he held in his heart, running toward another completion.
Somehow, I felt like I’d glimpsed a corner of Gong Son-beom’s soul, leaving me with a strange sensation.
『Since you asked, I have a question too. Does even the Executioner have such a mission?』
Then, at his sudden question, various faces flashed through my mind in an instant.
I nodded heavily.
『I do. Mine too.』