Chapter 239: Confession
Chapter 239: Confession
It was the moment Hae Cheong-yeon began to circulate her energy.
As she had anticipated, the Blood Demon Jeon Mu-gwang was away from his lair.
Shiiiiik!
His body was now racing above the dense jungle, a single streak of crimson light.
He moved so swiftly that even the birds in flight could not perceive his presence.
Shuhaaaaak!
He was heading at full speed toward Kunming in Yunnan Province. It had once been the provincial capital, but because of its proximity to Aenoesan Mountain, where demonic beings were once produced, it was now a completely ruined city.
Soon, the collapsed stone remnants of the city wall came into the Blood Demon's sight.
Untouched by human hands for ten years, the wall was now nearly swallowed by the lush, encroaching vegetation.
The Blood Demon slowed his speed, leaped over the crumbled wall, and entered Kunming.
He soon found what he was looking for.
A lavish tent, utterly incongruous in these ruins, and about a hundred warriors standing guard around it, radiating a sharp, fierce momentum.
Even at a glance, the tent and its defenders suggested the presence of a person of immense authority within.
Yet the Blood Demon merely scoffed at the sight.
It seemed they had tried to project a certain dignity, but to the Blood Demon, it only revealed their wretched, current state.
Tadak!
As the Blood Demon landed on the ground, the hundred warriors all drew their swords in unison.
Chang!
The sound of blades being drawn as if by a single person.
A sharp, piercing aura emanated from the swords that were now pointed at him.
It was clear they were elite troops, meticulously trained and raised.
But the Blood Demon paid them no attention whatsoever.
He simply walked toward them, step by deliberate step.
And just as he reached the tips of their drawn swords, he released a surge of his energy.
Hwaaak!
An overwhelming wave of momentum burst forth as if a storm had erupted, crashing over the warriors.
Struck by the terrifying force, the hundred warriors groaned in unison and could do nothing but stumble backward.
"Heo-eok!"
"Keuk!"
And with that, the confrontation was over.
A single emission of his momentum was enough to make the warriors retreat as though collapsing, clearing a path. The Blood Demon strolled leisurely through that path.
As he entered the tent, he spoke.
"If this was a joke, it wasn't amusing. If you were serious, it's pathetic, Advisor Jegal."
Inside, Jegal Ji-gang sat on a chair, his face twisted as he struggled to maintain an appearance of composure.
Jegal Ji-gang gritted his teeth.
He was doing his best not to look afraid, but his entire body was trembling from that single flash of the Blood Demon's momentum.
He couldn't even bring himself to meet the man's eyes.
The Blood Demon, as if seeing right through him, smiled faintly and spoke.
"You haven't been feeling well lately, it seems. That being the case, you could have simply sent the secret manual separately. Why insist on meeting in person?"
The reason for their meeting today was for the Blood Demon to receive the secret manual Jegal Ji-gang had promised him as payment for killing the Sword Saint.
The very manual needed to call the Reverse Heaven Blood Demon, Gwayeom, back into Hae Cheong-yeon's body.
If it were purely a matter of keeping the promise, Jegal Ji-gang had no real need to meet the Blood Demon face-to-face.
Simply delivering the manual would have sufficed.
But Jegal Ji-gang had absolutely no intention of doing that.
There was something he needed to receive from the Blood Demon today, and for that, this meeting was necessary.
He gulped and forced himself to glare at the Blood Demon as he spoke.
"I did not bring the secret manual today."
In an instant, the smile vanished from the Blood Demon's face.
His expression turning blank, the Blood Demon stared fixedly at him and asked.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Jegal Ji-gang bit his lip firmly and said.
"The demons are disappearing from the frontlines! There is even talk among the soldiers that the frontline is no longer a dangerous place! I demand an explanation first!"
The frontlines had been turned into a land of death by mutual agreement between the two sides.
The Blood Demon naturally needed to produce test-subject demons to create his Blood Demon warriors, and on the Murim Alliance's side, Mo Yong-geom and Jegal Ji-gang, who lacked the popularity of the previous alliance leader and military advisor, needed to strengthen their own power.
In other words, Jegal Ji-gang had used the fear and hostility toward the Blood Cult to solidify his authority.
It was a time-honored, traditional method: create an external enemy to unite the internal factions, and use a grand cause to suppress the opposition.
Yet recently, the threat from the demons had noticeably and sharply declined.
It hadn't been long enough for any major reaction yet, but if this situation persisted, the perception might arise that the frontlines were neither particularly dangerous nor important.
That would be an extremely troublesome development for both the alliance leader Mo Yong-geom and Jegal Ji-gang.
A bitter smirk twisted the Blood Demon's lips.
Chuckling, he said to Jegal Ji-gang.
"An explanation... Very well, I shall give you one."
He then extended a hand forward, and Jegal Ji-gang was sucked into his grip by a monstrous suction force.
Hwaak!
"Keok!"
The Blood Demon slowly tightened his fingers around Jegal Ji-gang's neck and spoke.
"Some time ago, soldiers from the frontlines infiltrated Yunnan and destroyed the demon production facilities. So now, we can no longer produce demons. Now, I ask you. Whose fault is this?"
Jegal Ji-gang, no longer able to hide the terror in his eyes, choked out his words.
"Th-that! Soldiers from the frontlines? Who on earth...?!"
At the question, the Blood Demon spat out their names as if grinding them between his teeth.
"They were called Seol Pung of the Flying Dragon Thirteen Squads and a bastard named Seonwoo Jin. You wouldn't dare tell me you don't know them, would you?"
Upon hearing those names, Jegal Ji-gang's eyes filled with shock.
He had never imagined he would hear the names of men he believed to be dead here, of all places.
And to think they had invaded the Blood Cult and destroyed the demon production facilities...
He could not, by any stretch, accept that they possessed such martial might.
"Th-they are merely in their twenties...!"
The Blood Demon erupted with killing intent as he spoke.
Hwaak!
"Whether they are in their twenties or their teens is of no importance. What matters is that those Flying Dragon Corps members you failed to control destroyed my production facilities. And now what? You didn't bring the secret manual? You demand an explanation from me?"
The Blood Demon's hand around Jegal Ji-gang's neck tightened with increasing force.
Jegal Ji-gang cried out in desperation.
"Keo-keok! If you kill me, you will never get the secret...!"
But the Blood Demon snorted in derision.
"Hmph! If not in this tent, then it must be at the Flying Dragon Corps main base. A man like you, who loves to control everything within his own grasp, would never have left it at the Murim Alliance. Am I wrong?"
Jegal Ji-gang could only shut his eyes tight.
Because the Blood Demon was exactly right.
The Blood Demon continued.
"I will kill you and immediately sweep away the Flying Dragon Corps main base. Your daughter was said to be there too, wasn't she? Watch from hell what kind of fate befalls her."
Jegal Ji-gang had no choice but to accept the truth.
He had no cards left with which to control the Blood Demon.
And now, to survive, he could do nothing but kneel before him.
He shouted desperately.
"Keok! I brought it! Over there! It's over there! So please...!"
A cruel smile spread across the Blood Demon's face.
Then, his demeanor shifting in an instant, he slowly released Jegal Ji-gang's neck, as if his earlier fury had never happened.
"As expected, Advisor Jegal is a man of honor who knows how to keep a promise."
He smoothed the rumpled fabric of Jegal Ji-gang's clothes and spoke as if soothing a child.
"My apologies. This uncultured brute failed to grasp Advisor Jegal's jest and ultimately showed you an unseemly display."
Jegal Ji-gang felt his entire body tremble.
But even he could not tell if the shaking was from a profound sense of defeat and humiliation, or from sheer terror toward the Blood Demon.
He could feel it in his very bones.
He was no longer even an equal existence to the Blood Demon.
Moreover, now that he had lost his real power, he was perceived as a being whose life and death the Blood Demon could decide at any moment.
Despite this, however, Jegal Ji-gang could not give up his ambition.
To him, ambition was now akin to his reason for living.
Jegal Ji-gang spoke in a voice drained of strength.
"I will give you the secret manual. In return... could you not grant me one favor?"
The Blood Demon replied with a mocking grin.
"The word 'return' seems inappropriate. The price for the manual was already paid long ago. But... if it were a new transaction, I might consider it. First, let me hear what this favor entails."
Unable to meet his eyes, Jegal Ji-gang said.
"Please... deal with the Flying Dragon Thirteen Squads. Eliminating them will not only remove future nuisances but also restore tension to the lax frontlines."
At this, the Blood Demon frowned slightly and retorted.
"Is that all? Could you not use those warriors outside, or simply hire an assassin elsewhere? Are you asking me to dispose of mere children?"
Jegal Ji-gang hastily added.
"Th-the White Crane Old Sword Yang Mun-heon is there! One of the Thirty-Six Stars of the World is staying there, I tell you! My available forces are insufficient to eliminate him!"
The Blood Demon's expression shifted to one of interest.
"Ho-oh! The White Crane Old Sword, you say?"
He stroked his chin in thought for a moment before a fierce grin spread across his face and he opened his mouth.
"Very well. But this time, you fulfill my conditions first. If Advisor Jegal meets my demands, then I, too, shall grant that request."
"Y-your conditions...?"
"I need a few things. First, I require a hundred virgin girls under the age of ten. Also..."
The things the Blood Demon was listing were the materials needed to perform the possession ritual of the Reverse Heaven Blood Demon on Hae Cheong-yeon.
As the horrifying list of materials spilled from his lips, Jegal Ji-gang's face grew steadily paler.
"That is the extent of it. What do you say? Can you procure them? Ah, of course, I could procure them myself. However, I mention this because, given Advisor Jegal's capabilities, you could likely obtain them more easily and swiftly than I. What say you? Shall we make a deal?"
Jegal Ji-gang closed his eyes tightly.
Obtaining the materials the Blood Demon had just listed would truly be a deed of unforgivable, heaven-condemned wickedness.
But even so, he could not refuse.
As the Blood Demon had just said, this was also something the Blood Demon could do himself.
Without this, Jegal Ji-gang would have nothing left of value to trade.
Jegal Ji-gang answered in a weary voice.
"...Very well. I shall... procure those materials for you."
At his answer, the Blood Demon laughed brightly.
It was a laugh brimming with fascination, as if confirming whether a dog starved for days would leap into fire for food or not.
***
After Seonwoo Jin defeated the assassins of the Blood Rain Lotus and acquired the Six Harmony Swordsman Pasan Squad.
Son Dae-su, Son I-rang, and Jin So-eun could now see Seol Pung and Jeung Chil, who had shed their concealment.
And for some reason, the figure of Hawondalgi Yeon Tae-jin, pressed right against Seol Pung's side, was also visible....
Seonwoo Jin let out a sigh.
He felt that the time had come to reveal the truth to them as well.
It was no longer a situation where he could hide it, and having confirmed they were trustworthy, he needed to share the truth for the sake of what lay ahead.
Seonwoo Jin finally declared before them.
"I am not, in fact, Inparang."
It was an exceedingly abrupt confession.
At Seonwoo Jin's sudden confession, his companions Son Dae-su, Son I-rang, and Jin So-eun could only blink their eyes.
Rather than taking the words at face value, they seemed to be pondering what hidden meaning might lie behind them.
They were already in a state of great bewilderment as it was.
The Six Harmony Swordsmen of the Hengshan Sect, who had suddenly begun trailing Seonwoo Jin, were one reason, and the abrupt appearance of Jeung Chil and Seol Pung, claiming to be Inparang's companions, was another.
And on top of that, for Inparang to suddenly say he was not actually Inparang—it could not help but be a fact difficult for them to accept.
But as Seonwoo Jin's story continued and they learned of the circumstances thus far, a light of shock gradually began to dawn on their faces.
Son Dae-su stammered as he asked.
"S-so, you mean to say that Young Master Yin is not actually Young Master Yin, and that you have been orchestrating this entire scheme to avenge the original Young Master Yin...."
"I have deceived you, revered Son, all this time. I apologize."
"Huh-huh!"
Son Dae-su's granddaughter, Son I-rang, was likewise shocked.
With a wounded expression, eyes brimming with tears, she cried out.
"That is too much, Gongja! How could you deceive us so perfectly?! Isn't that right, eonni?!"
At that, Jin So-eun, who was beside her, scratched her head and replied.
"Uh, w-well, is that so? But just because Young Master Yin is not actually Young Master Yin, the grace we received from Gongja doesn't disappear, does it? Then wouldn't it not matter whether he is Young Master Yin or not?"
Hearing this, Hawondalgi Yeon Tae-jin, who had been standing next to Seol Pung and listening, burst into a hearty, manly laugh and said.
"Hahahaha! What a wise person this little sister is! That is the correct answer. To me, the important thing is that he fought the Blood Sea Demon Blade Yun Sak, not what his name is!"
And then, glancing sideways at Seol Pung, she murmured in a slightly cautious tone.
"Though now, even that doesn't matter...."
Seonwoo Jin smiled gently at them, then looked back at Son Dae-su.
It was a gaze that carried the question of his stance.
At this, Son Dae-su could realize something as well.
The reason he had been shocked by the fact that he was not Inparang was clearly because he had harbored intentions of using Inparang's existence for the Anti-Heng Association's fight.
Once he acknowledged that, Son Dae-su could only let out a deflated laugh.
"Huh-huh-huh! This old man must also apologize to you, Gongja. As you have likely noticed, this old man was, in truth, trying to use you in the Anti-Heng Association's fight. I am ashamed. Were it not for such intentions, what would it matter whether you were Inparang or not?"
At his clean admission, Seonwoo Jin smiled with satisfaction.
He had intended to decide whether to continue working with him based on his reaction, and as he had judged all along, the man was indeed trustworthy.
Only Son I-rang beside him pouted her lips, still showing signs of a wounded heart, but even she seemed to feel only a slight sense of betrayal.
Once his companions' reactions were roughly sorted, Seonwoo Jin began to speak again.
"First, I should properly introduce my name. My name is Seonwoo Jin. And those individuals over there are my sworn elder brothers, Jeung Chil and Elder Brother Seol Pung."
At those words, Son Dae-su cried out with a surprised expression.
"Jeung Chil? You don't mean the Hong Hae-ah Jeung Chil Daehyeop, who vanished over ten years ago?!"
When Son Dae-su instantly recognized his alias, Jeung Chil shrugged his shoulders once and looked at his younger brothers with a self-satisfied grin.
Just from his expression, one could almost hear the voice saying, 'See that? Your hyung is this kind of person.'
Seonwoo Jin gave a wry smile at that expression.
But Seol Pung could not see his expression.
That was because, the moment he heard Seol Pung's name, he had been staring at the distant sky to avoid Yeon Taejin's sparkling gaze fixed upon him.
Son Dae-su asked Seonwoo Jin.
"And Seonwoo Jin, Seol Pung.... Could it be that you two are the Flying Sky Black Wolf and the Gale Flying Dragon who brought down the Heuksangbang?"
"As expected, revered Son, your breadth of knowledge is remarkable. We are indeed called by those names."
"Huh-huh!"
Son Dae-su sighed.
But that sigh was not because of their fame.
Rather, it was the opposite.
"That the reputations of such tremendous masters are not even properly known to the world like this is utterly lamentable."
Son Dae-su sighed for a moment, then asked again.
"However, Seonu Gongja, there must be a reason you suddenly revealed your true name. Am I wrong?"
Nodding at his words, Seonwoo Jin began to speak.
"You are correct. The reason I shared the truth with you all is that I believed we needed to place greater trust in one another for the circumstances ahead. It seems we will have to act somewhat differently from now on."
"You said, differently from now?"
"Yes, above all, you saw the might of the Hengshan Sect's Six Harmony Swordsmen firsthand this time, so you will understand well."
At those words, everyone's gaze turned to the Six Harmony Swordsmen standing lined up behind Seonwoo Jin like a folding screen.
Their figures stood with emotionless faces like dolls, but the might their Six Harmony Sword Formation had displayed was vividly etched in the party's minds.
Seonwoo Jin continued to speak.
"According to the information you provided, revered Son, three squads of that Pasan Squad moved to deal with the Anti-Heng Association. The Pacheon Squad, even more formidable than them, is aiming for the Fujian Yong Family. Allow me to ask you, revered sir. Could you handle them with the Anti-Heng Association's strength alone?"
At his question, Son Dae-su let out a groan.
"Hmmmm."
Within the Anti-Heng Association existed numerous talented individuals with various skills.
But he did not think any of them could handle their martial force.
And three whole squads at that....
If they were to encounter those squads, it was clear that many comrades would suffer harm.
Son Dae-su sighed and said.
"It is impossible. It seems there is no choice but to avoid confronting them head-on. I was already intending to quickly report their military strength as it was."
Seonwoo Jin nodded.
It was the answer he had already expected.
He now turned to look at Seol Pung and opened his mouth again.
"So, regarding that matter, I would like to request something of Elder Brother Seol Pung. Would it be possible for you to lend some aid to the Anti-Heng Association?"
At that suggestion, Seol Pung asked back with a puzzled expression.
"You mean me?"
At that, Son Dae-su's eyes also flew open.
A transcendent peak master, capable of single-handedly crushing a Pasan Squad, was offering to help the Anti-Heng Association—it was an offer he could not bring himself to ask for, but absolutely could not refuse.
As Son Dae-su looked at Seol Pung with earnest eyes, Seol Pung nodded and answered.
"No reason I couldn't. But... will you be alright without me by your side?"
At that, Seonwoo Jin smiled brightly and replied.
"Of course, I would feel more reassured with you here, hyung-nim. But... while I think I can endure on my own, that side likely will not be able to hold out at all unless someone helps them."
Then, he secretly conveyed words to Seol Pung via telepathic transmission.
Upon hearing it, Seol Pung nodded and answered.
"Understood. Then I shall go to the Anti-Heng Association and support them."
At Seol Pung's answer, Son Dae-su's face brightened radiantly.
It felt as if a single ray of salvific light had descended to save his comrades.
He hastily spoke.
"Th-then, how about coming with me, Seol Gongja? I shall guide you!"
But at those words, Seonwoo Jin shook his head.
"That will not do. I apologize, but if you move with revered Son, Elder Brother Seol Pung's speed will be slowed. Respected Son, you need only inform your comrades about my brother via messenger hawk. And... I believe there is a matter for which I will soon need to receive some help from you, revered sir. If you are worried about your comrades, I would prefer you move after that."
Son Dae-su wore a puzzled expression.
Truthfully, he had no idea what kind of help he could offer Seonwoo Jin.
Had he not, in fact, been so utterly helpless all this time that he could not even bring himself to ask for help regarding the Anti-Heng Association?
But whatever it was, it would not be bad to help him and create a debt.
As Seonwoo Jin had said, it would also be good for his comrades if Seol Pung could head their way as quickly as possible.
"Very well. If this old man can be of help to you, Gongja, I shall remain by your side as long as needed."
It was then.
Hawondalgi Yeon Tae-jin, who had been listening nearby, interjected.
"It wouldn't be a problem for me to go, would it? I am a transcendent peak, and I am confident I won't slow him down."
Hearing this, Seonwoo Jin suddenly let out a soft laugh and asked.
"Are you saying you will participate in saving the Anti-Heng Association against the Hengshan Sect, Seonbae Yeon?"
At that, the beautiful woman with skin white like jade and a delicately slender frame grinned like a man and answered.
"I've disliked those Hengshan Sect bastards from the start. And this time, I took a hit from that Six Harmony Sword Formation or whatever it is, didn't I? If there are good people opposing those bastards, shouldn't I, the successor of the Yeoryeong Saekma, naturally help them? And...."
Having spoken that far, she stealthily glanced at Seol Pung.
Her eyes sparkled as if beams of light were shooting from them.
Anyone who saw that gaze could guess that the reason she hadn't spoken was more important than the reason she had.
And that was also true for Seol Pung.
Under that burdensome gaze, Seol Pung looked at Seonwoo Jin with eyes pleading for rescue.
But Seonwoo Jin averted his eyes.
And inwardly, he apologized to Na Seo-yu once more.
'I'm sorry, Na So-jeo. Even I cannot refuse the support of someone so capable.'
After that, Seonwoo Jin also asked Jeung Chil for a task he needed done separately.
It was an important matter for the days ahead.
And so, the three sworn brothers split off to their separate paths.
Even Seonwoo Jin could not know exactly what awaited them ahead.