Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Where Else Would It Be
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Where else would it be?
Swish—
I let go of the Evil Ghost Cloak I’d been draped in.
It turned into a hazy mirage and vanished.
“Phew—not easy at all.”
My first battle using both martial arts and sorcery… and a life-or-death duel at that, so I’d even pulled out the Evil Ghost Cloak to fight without any openings.
Real combat was definitely far different from what I’d imagined.
Inner energy rising from my lower dantian and sorcery power descending from my upper dantian.
Handling those two forces at once hadn’t been easy at all.
Good thing my innate consciousness was vast enough, or the clash between those energies would’ve caused a disaster ages ago.
Of course, I was a genius among geniuses—one that appears once every few centuries in sorcery—a super-genius surpassing all other geniuses, none other than the Little Heavenly Demon, Yeon Un-hwi. So this was a piece of cake, like cold porridge.
「Looks like he’s delusional again—」
「Self-absorbed as ever. Best to just ignore it.」
I swallowed a Spirit Pill to calm my bubbling dantian, then turned my gaze to the four-eyed sorcerer with his head smashed in.
Hovering over the corpse was the sorcerer’s spirit, wearing a dazed expression.
「Wh-what happened? No way, am I dead—」
Like all lost souls, he clearly hadn’t accepted his own death yet.
Clank, clank!
Having been killed by me directly, he had the golden shackles locked around his neck and wrists as a bonus.
「Hey, new guy incoming!」
「Kekekeke! Normally, a puny little demon like you wouldn’t even share a table with us, but since you’re a fellow slave now, I’ll specially take pity on you and grind you down however I please!」
The spirits swarmed around the four-eyed sorcerer, mocking him relentlessly.
One trait of souls unable to pass on was how they took great delight in seeing someone end up in the same pitiful state as them.
Sheesh, no wonder they’re stuck as mere spirits with attitudes like that. People should have hearts as pure and kind as mine.
I planned to personally demonstrate a model of “pure-heartedness” for them starting now.
“Head to the ground, execute.”
「Wh-what—」
“Too slow, execute.”
「What are you even talking about—」
「You worm! Can’t you hear the Young Leader’s sacred command?!」
「A mere spirit like you! Get your head down now!」
The other spirits’ clubs rained down on the sorcerer’s head, who was still blanking out and not grasping the situation.
Thwack! Thud thud!
「Aaaagh! Aaaaagh!」
The four-eyed sorcerer covered his head with both hands, but what good did that do? Plenty of other spots to hit.
He tried to flee, too.
Clang!
「What the hell are these chains from?!」
He didn’t get far before tumbling to the ground with the golden shackles.
「A criminal daring to flee before the Young Leader!!」
「You’ll never reincarnate now, you scum!」
Naturally, that only fueled the spirits’ clubbing frenzy even more.
They were all trying so hard to catch my eye.
「St-stop! Please stooop!」
Thud! Thwack thwack!
「O-okay! I’ll do it, just—ow!」
Finally, the four-eyed sorcerer flattened himself on the ground and slammed his head down, escaping the clubbing hell.
The spirits smacked their lips in disappointment but stayed poised, waiting for the next chance if the sorcerer spaced out again.
Their persistence was like predators eyeing a stray from the herd.
Tremble tremble…
The four-eyed sorcerer shuddered, his face drained white.
“Name.”
「Why do you need my na—aaagh!」
「This guy still! Answer properly, now!」
Thwack thwack thwack!
「I’ll answer! I’ll answer! Please spare me!」
After another round of clubbing, discipline had fully sunk into the four-eyed sorcerer’s face.
Nothing beats a good clubbing for making someone obedient.
I squatted down beside his head and glared.
“Won’t ask twice. Name.”
「M-Mok Ga-il—」
“No. You’re not Mok Ga-il.”
「…Pardon?」
“Didn’t understand?”
A nearby spirit raised its club again.
「N-no! You’re right! I’m not Mok Ga-il!」
“Good. From now on, you’re just ‘Spirit Number Fifteen.’ Got it?”
There were exactly fourteen spirits left.
「Y-yes! I’m Number Fifteen now—」
“Keep answers short. Simple summaries only.”
「Y-yes, sir!」
See? That’s what comes from a pure heart. My sincerity gets through just like that. Perfect posture for interrogation.
I nodded in approval of my own hard work, and the club-wielding spirits beamed with joy.
So simple. Who’d ever believe those were former Heavenly Demon Divine Cult elders?
“As you can see, you’re in deep shit right now. If you even want a shot at reincarnation, you’d better listen to me very carefully.”
I shook the iron chain looped around his neck like a dog collar, and his expression was a sight to behold.
「I-I’ll keep it in mind!」
“You—from Black Bone Ghost Valley, right?”
「Y-yes! But—」
“Tsk.”
「N-no! Yes! Absolutely!」
“No more stuttering.”
「Yes, sir!!」
“Rank’s about third-class, roughly.”
「Correct!」
“Sent at Namgung San-yeong’s request, looks like. So there’s a Black Bone Ghost Valley branch around here?”
「Yes!」
“Forces? Layout?”
Fearing another clubbing, Number Fifteen eagerly spilled everything, even stuff I hadn’t asked.
.
.
I gleaned quite a bit of interesting info.
“Hmm! Key sorcerers dispatched from Ghost Valley: five total. Leader’s White Bone Forget-Death, that old geezer, right?”
「Yes, sir!」
“Puhahaha! Kept whining about being bored stuck in the outer lands, wanted to rampage in the Central Plains—looks like he finally got his wish!”
White Bone Forget-Death was one of the Twelve Black Ghosts, the guardian luminaries representing Black Bone Ghost Valley in his era.
He was an expert in jiangshi arts, and I’d even learned sorcery directly from him once.
We parted ways in under a month once I’d drained him of everything he had to teach.
Plus, White Bone Forget-Death was a madman who loved torturing the living and running twisted experiments.
I’d brushed him off early partly because he creeped me out.
But that brief month still counted as a master-disciple bond.
Never dreamed my old teacher was this close by.
“And even Blue Bone Mourning Fiend, Red Bone Evil Melody, Green Bone Non-Return? Four of the Twelve Black Ghosts? That means they’re plotting something big.”
No matter how prestigious the Nine Dragons Branch was—even as a Tang Clan offshoot—it wasn’t worth this much effort from Black Bone Ghost Valley.
They were after something bigger.
「Th-that’s—」
But Number Fifteen, who’d been answering smoothly, hesitated for the first time, eyes darting.
I grabbed the chain wordlessly, and he immediately slammed his head down again.
「I-I’m not refusing to tell! Just one thing I want to ask—」
“Better not be useless. I’m not known for patience.”
「A-are you… really… the Young Leader…?」
“Then what do I look like?”
「Y-you clearly—」
“Yeah. Clearly dead. Thanks to some damn bastards.”
The spirits hurriedly averted their gazes, avoiding my eyes.
“And your Black Bone Ghost Valley had a big hand in it too, right?”
「……」
Bingo. Just a hunch.
The sorcerer’s head burrowed deeper into the dirt.
I could practically see the whirlwind of worries in his head.
He must be terrified. The long-cherished dream of all sorcerers—reviving a lion—had come true. How could he not fear me?
Fear of me, envy over the revival’s success, terror of eternal unrest, loyalty to his sect… his mind must be a mess.
But I knew guys like him inside out.
Worrying meant hesitation.
True loyalists wouldn’t agonize like this.
Sure enough.
「……Ghost Valley is plotting to assassinate the Dark Lord.」
As expected.
「What? Assassinate the Dark Lord?」
「Insane fools! What makes Black Bone Ghost Valley think they can take down one of the Ten Supremes?!」
The elder spirits openly sneered.
They dismissed it as nonsense from a group not even in the Nine Great Demonic Sects.
Even if the Twelve Black Ghosts were impressive, four of them taking down an absolute master was absurd.
But I had a hunch.
“Reinforcements arriving soon, I take it?”
「Yes, sir!」
The elder spirits’ eyes widened.
「The four Black Ghosts are just the vanguard. The main force joins at the secret branch at midnight in half a month.」
My eyes darkened.
“Who’s coming?”
「I don’t know that mu—」
Clank!
「B-but I heard someone’s descending from Heavenly Mountain!」
“Heavenly Mountain.”
Not something to brush off lightly.
“Isn’t the Divine Cult in civil war?”
「It’s been ages since I left Heavenly Mountain, so I don’t know details. But I heard the civil war’s nearly over, freeing them to turn eyes to the Central Plains.」
“Makes sense.”
「Th-that’s why Elders Blue Bone Mourning Fiend, Red Bone Evil Melody, and Green Bone Non-Return have stepped out temporarily—to greet the guest from Heavenly Mountain.」
“They’re fully committed, then.”
I nodded.
If the Assembly was backing them, ending internal strife would be a breeze.
That confirmed it.
The Dark Lord’s assassination was tied to the Assembly somehow.
Whether direct involvement or mere connection, I’d pry it out slowly.
But if the Assembly was involved, a bloodbath was coming to Nine Dragons Branch soon. They’d be fully prepared.
Namgung San-yeong was getting used without a clue.
“After killing the Dark Lord, pin all the blame on Namgung San-yeong? Stir up conflict between Tang Clan and South Palace Clan.”
「H-how did you—」
“Hm? Just what I’d do in your shoes.”
「……」
「……」
「……」
“What? Something to say?”
I narrowed my eyes to slits, and the spirits shook their heads in unison.
「N-no!」
「As expected of the Young Leader—truly impressive!」
「Indeed! What insight! Nothing like us old fogeys—we can’t compare to your brilliant mind!」
I could tell they were inwardly mocking my character again, but I let it slide.
Too busy sorting how to exploit this intel.
Rushing to Tang Hosan and tattling was an option, but not even on my radar.
No way to prove what I’d learned, and doubtful anyone would believe me.
Claim Namgung San-yeong was in league with demonic cultists—would they grill the Lady or me?
Telling the Dark Lord directly was also a bad move.
He might vanish, and I’d lose this lead.
Only one best path.
—Strike back before they realize I caught their assassin.
Find proof linking Namgung San-yeong, then drag out the Assembly connection.
Problem: with my current forces, attacking would just get my head lopped off.
White Bone Forget-Death and the Black Ghosts weren’t pushovers.
How to crush them so thoroughly the rumors spread far and wide?
Mulling options, I picked up the black sword Number Fifteen had dropped. Spoils were always welcome.
Black Bone Ghost Valley’s magic tools were all from Iron Demon Forge, famed for superior demon weapon refining.
Perfect timing too, with sword training about to start—nice to have a solid blade.
“Hm?”
Just as I reached for the black sword.
I suddenly felt eyes watching me from somewhere, so I whipped my head the other way.
「What’s wrong, Young Leader?」
“Nah, nothing.”
I let out a hollow chuckle.
“Just feels like things are unfolding more ridiculously than expected.”
Over there.
Far off, a master’s gaze lingered.
* * *
“Un-hwi, that child… even revived, he seems thoroughly changed.”
“Yes. He said his goal is to succeed Stormwind Squad.”
Tang Gon bowed low. He’d just finished reporting to his lord on his recent meeting with Tang Un-hwi and all prior events.
No clue why his lord was suddenly taking interest in Un-hwi.
Maybe the spar, but didn’t seem that simple.
Checking heirs before the Dark Lord’s visit? Or prepping succession?
His lord’s intentions remained inscrutable as ever.
“I see. Stormwind Squad, eh—”
His lord’s gaze stayed fixed out the window. Hiding something there?
“Come to think of it, things were too hectic during the day to talk deeply with Second Young Master. Now should be a good time for a proper chat.”
His lord turned away.
“Lead the way.”
“Pardon? Where to—”
“Where else would it be.”
The Nine Dragons Branch head, Tang Hosan, replied with his usual inscrutable blank expression.
“The White Fortress.”