Chapter 55: The Five Venomous Siblings-1
Chapter 55: The Five Venomous Siblings-1
A grand hall lavishly adorned.
The Blood Cult's demon head who had slipped out of Yunnan Province, Georyeokma Jeo Woong-won, and the ten subordinates standing behind him prostrated themselves with rigid discipline.
"Jeo Ung-won greets the Small-faced Demon Lord, Elder Sa!"
On the massive dragon throne before them sat a singularly unimpressive, wizened old man.
He was an old man with a shriveled, ugly face and eyes torn sharp like a snake's.
With a smiling face, he acknowledged Jeo Ung-won's greeting.
"You've toiled to come all this way. Did the Supreme One have nothing special to say?"
"Yes, Elder! He simply bade us remember that the Blood Cult's dominion over the world is not far off, and to always act with caution!"
"Mm. Right, caution it must be."
The old man, who had nodded at Jeo Ung-won's words, asked again.
"Leaving that aside, you fellows didn't happen to engage in any actions that might have drawn the eyes of the world on your way here, now did you?"
At that question, Jeo Ung-won's face twitched slightly as he hesitated to answer.
At once, the laughter vanished from the face of the Small-faced Demon Lord Sa Won-yang, who had been smiling like a kindly grandfather.
"Why can you not answer? Surely you haven't caused some sort of incident?!"
In an instant, an immense killing intent surged from his small frame, filling the grand hall to its brim.
It was a terrifying killing intent, enough to make one's entire body prickle and go numb.
Jeo Ung-won hastily replied.
"B-Before departure, we did seize a few from the Flying Dragon Corps and... enjoyed ourselves, but on the journey here, we caused no trouble whatsoever! I speak the truth, Elder!"
At that, the Small-faced Demon Lord Sa Won-yang's already thin eyes narrowed even further, glaring at them.
The Small-faced Demon Lord Sa Won-yang, alongside Tamhyeolmugun Ji Gwang-ok—who had previously been killed by Seol Pung and Seonwoo Jin in the Poison Forest—was a transcendent peak-level demon head who, during the Great Blood War, was regarded by the orthodox faction as one of the archetypal names of nightmare.
'The moment the smile vanishes from his face, a sea of blood is formed.'
This saying was famous not only among the orthodox faction but also among the Blood Cultists themselves.
No, rather, among the Blood Cultists, he was known as one far more feared than even Tamhyeolmugun Ji Gwang-ok, who had only ever been violent.
Seeing the smile vanish from Sa Won-yang's face, Jeo Ung-won now hurriedly slammed his head to the floor and cried out.
"I have committed a sin worthy of death! Demon Commander Elder! Please forgive me!"
Following his lead, his subordinates all slammed their heads down as well, shouting in unison.
"Please forgive us! Demon Commander Elder!"
Then, unable to even raise their heads, they trembled, awaiting their punishment.
Should one incur the wrath of the Small-faced Demon Lord Sa Won-yang, it might not end with simply dying.
If he were truly enraged, taking one's own life cleanly might be the preferable option.
Then, after a moment, Sa Won-yang's voice, sounding somewhat mollified, reached them.
"Well, I suppose it would be a poor thing to simply command young men in their prime to endure it all."
Hearing those words, Jeo Ung-won could not help but let out an unconscious sigh of relief.
However, just in case, he kept his head bowed and did not raise it. It was then that Sa Won-yang spoke.
"Raise your heads now."
At that, Jeo Ung-won and his subordinates cried out in one voice.
"We thank you! Demon Commander Elder!"
Sa Won-yang's face, as they looked upon him again, was smiling as warmly as it had been at the very first.
He spoke to Jeo Ung-won and his subordinates.
"As it happens, I have captured some lovely young girls here. I will soon brief you on what must be done, so before you depart, pick out ten or so, take them, and enjoy yourselves."
At those words, Jeo Ung-won and his subordinates slammed their heads down once more, shouting as if deeply moved.
"We thank you! Demon Commander Elder!"
***
Man Jong-im and the members of the Twelfth Squad's First Team departed first.
This was after we had established a method of contact and emphasized two, three times that they absolutely must not draw attention.
Now, with only the members of the Eleventh Squad's First Team and ourselves remaining, Bi Sa-yeong let out a deep sigh and spoke.
"If by some chance a transfer to the Twelfth Squad ever becomes a reality, I'd rather go find the Blood Demon himself and request a life-or-death duel."
At that, everyone burst into laughter.
The Jeomchang Sword Tiger, Je Won-yeong, also laughed as he spoke to me.
"This Je Won-yeong owes a great debt to Seon-woo Sohyeop. I will certainly repay it someday."
I, too, grinned as I answered.
"When you say that, doesn't it sound as if I deliberately sent Man Jong-im Daeju your way?"
"Was it not so?"
"...The weather is truly fine, isn't it?"
He was quite a sharp one.
After that, we began our discussion anew.
I was the first to open my mouth.
"In my opinion, the candidate locations are one of two: Jeonghyeopbang or the Un Clan. Since Man Daeju has said he will investigate the Un Clan, I think it best that we investigate Jeonghyeopbang. Of course... I do have some doubts as to whether Man Daeju will be able to investigate the Un Clan properly."
When everyone nodded at my words, Cheongyeon asked.
"Is there a reason you think it would not be the Mountain Sword Gate? Because their current situation is the worst?"
Currently, among the Un Clan and the Mountain Sword Gate, who were opposing the Sichuan-based Jeonghyeopbang, the Mountain Sword Gate's situation was said to be particularly dire. Apparently, they were on the very brink of annihilation.
But since one could not be certain based on that alone, at her question, everyone looked at me with curious eyes.
"Of course, that reason exists as well. But apart from that, it is also because of some intelligence regarding the Mountain Sword Gate that I heard while I was at the Seon-woo Clan. I think we may likely exclude them from the candidates."
At that, everyone except Cheongyeon let out an 'Ah!' of admiration and nodded their heads.
But I was sorry to say, this was a lie.
After all, how could I, staying at the Seon-woo Clan, have possibly been interested in the other factions among the Eight Clans of Guizhou?
The only thing I knew for certain was the outcome of this three-way conflict, something I had witnessed when the frontlines collapsed in my past life and I had returned to the Seon-woo Clan.
'Back then, only two of the three remained standing.'
By that time, everything was already over, so I had only vaguely heard that there had been a clash with Jeonghyeopbang in the past; I knew nothing else.
But one thing was certain: at that time, the Mountain Sword Gate did not exist.
Only Jeonghyeopbang and the Un Clan remained intact.
'Thinking back on it now, it's a highly suspicious matter. After the clash with Jeonghyeopbang concluded, nothing else changed, yet the Mountain Sword Gate alone was annihilated? And its territory was taken by the Un Clan? Does that make any sense?'
Judging solely by the current military strength and momentum of Jeonghyeopbang, it seemed they had more than enough power to advance into Guizhou City and still have strength to spare.
Therefore, the notion that the Un Clan alone could remain intact and fend off Jeonghyeopbang's encroachment was, from the present standpoint, unimaginable.
'Indeed, looking at the outcome alone, the Un Clan certainly does appear the most suspicious.'
Cheongyeon stared at me blankly for a moment.
Naturally, she seemed to think the basis for my certainty was flimsy.
But soon, she simply nodded her head.
It was as if she meant that, although she couldn't be fully convinced, since I had spoken, she would let it pass.
I breathed an inward sigh of relief.
I was grateful.
She asked.
"So then, it's one of two: the Un Clan or Jeonghyeopbang. How do you plan to investigate them?"
As soon as she asked, the people who had been glancing back and forth between me and Cheongyeon whenever we spoke now looked at me with eyes full of anticipation.
It seemed they thought I would come up with some brilliant scheme.
But unfortunately, I had no sharp plan this time either.
It was easy to say, but the act of infiltrating their base and investigating them would be no different from jumping into a pitfall of one's own accord.
The best we could probably do was inquire at the Hao Gate, but that method, too, if handled carelessly, could end up informing the other party that they were under investigation.
Since the Hao Gate did not discriminate between clients.
I let out a sigh and confessed.
"To be honest, I don't really know yet. No sharp plan comes to mind."
At that, the people lamented with disappointed expressions.
"Aaaah!"
It was then that Cheongyeon opened her mouth.
"If finding them is difficult, what if we were to draw them out so they come to us of their own accord?"
Those who heard those words looked at her again with eyes full of anticipation.
This time, I did the same.
"How do you mean?"
"We show them what they want."
"What they want?"
What they want, she said.
It didn't immediately click.
What could the ones hiding possibly want badly enough to come bursting out on their own?
Squad Leader Seol Pung, unable to contain his curiosity, asked.
"What in the world do they want?"
At that, Miss Cheongyeon answered.
"That was what felt strangest to me when I assumed all of this was planned. Why did they, who more than anyone need to move covertly, attack the Twelfth Battalion members?"
At her words, I abruptly answered.
"Well, that's..."
Then a thought suddenly flashed into my mind and I hurriedly asked.
"So then?"
At that, she smiled faintly and nodded.
"Yes. We show them that."
"Ahh."
I nodded as if I understood, then furrowed my brow again and spoke.
"But to do that..."
Then she grinned and asked.
"Why? Do you think we'll be insufficient?"
I couldn't bring myself to answer, but honestly, I thought it might be.
That was when it happened.
Bi Sa-yeong suddenly scrunched up his face and shouted.
"Ah, come on! Don't just keep it between the two of you, translate it into human language for us! So what in the world is it?!"
At Bi Sa-yeong's words, everyone was nodding with indignant expressions.
They'd all been frustrated, it seemed.
I laughed and explained it plainly.
"When the Georyeokma annihilated the Twelfth Battalion's two squads one after another, there was one commonality, wasn't there?"
But the people furrowed their brows and asked back, as if nothing in particular came to mind.
"Commonality? What? What commonality was there?"
At that, Miss Cheon Ju-eun raised her hand quickly and answered.
"Me! I know! It was that only the women's bodies were missing!"
Perhaps because she was a woman herself, the matter of the women had stuck in her memory.
I smiled faintly and nodded.
"Correct, Miss Cheon."
Then she let out a cheer like a child.
"Kyaak! I got it right!"
Then, as if she suddenly realized what that meant, she wore an 'oops!' expression and quietly shrank back.
We coughed dryly and pretended not to notice.
I promptly continued speaking.
"It is also a common trait among the demon heads of the Blood Cult, but seeing how they cannot restrain themselves and lust after women even in matters requiring such covert movement, our thinking is that they are likely terrible lechers. So Miss Cheongyeon's proposal seems to be about targeting that aspect."
When I said that and looked at Cheongyeon, she nodded.
"Precisely. I think that if there is a beauty so outstanding that rumors would drift into their ears, they would likely be unable to resist and come bursting out."
At those words, the people let out exclamations of admiration as if they finally understood.
"Ahh!"
At that moment, Jeomchang Sword Tiger Je Won-yeong, the leader of the Eleventh Battalion's First Squad, tilted his head and asked.
"But, where would one bring such a beauty from? Ah! I do not mean to disregard the young ladies here. However, no matter how you look at it, for rumors to spread to that degree in the branch hall, which is not the frontlines and will have many people, one would have to be at least among the Ten Beauties of Murim..."
It was while he was saying that.
Cheongyeon abruptly raised her hand and slowly swept her bangs upward.
Then as her bangs went up, our eyes were growing wider in turn.
Je Won-yeong too, with a dazed face, could no longer continue speaking.
The moment she revealed her face, a radiant brilliance suddenly began to illuminate the world brightly.
I couldn't tell whether the place I stood was atop clouds or atop water, whether this was reality or within a dream.
The face of hers that I saw for the first time was, truly,
mystical.
It was. It was mystical.
In her beauty, there was something that seemed utterly indescribable by the word beautiful alone.
Above her small crimson lips rose a shapely nose, and above that, eyes like heavenly jewels shone brilliantly, one with a black hue and the other with a blue hue.
With that mysterious eye color, she ought to have looked somewhat bewitching, yet perhaps because of her beauty, she instead looked sacred.
Lately, seeing Miss Dang Yeoeun often, I had prided myself on having built up some immunity to a woman's beautiful looks...
I could feel it keenly only now, what utter, ridiculous arrogance that had been.
While we were staring blankly at her face, she looked straight at me and asked.
"Will this much be enough to draw out the Georyeokma?"
We had to nod our heads up and down fervently.
***
Sangeommun, in the branch hall region bordering Sichuan Province, was inevitably the first to clash with Jeonghyeopbang, which was attempting to advance east into Guizhou Province.
Thus, they had already clashed twice with Jeonghyeopbang, and they had lost both times.
In the first battle, Sangeommun had to suffer the humiliation of retreating without even being able to fight against Jeonghyeopbang's overwhelming forces.
When Sangeommun sortied with around two hundred elite troops, Jeonghyeopbang had brought over a thousand warriors.
They could not possibly oppose them.
And the second time was even more humiliating.
They had feigned proposing a truce to Jeonghyeopbang, ambushed the truce envoy coming to meet them, only to instead get utterly smashed again.
Furthermore, one of the only two peak-level masters in Sangeommun and the two hundred elite armed forces were all completely annihilated, making it nothing short of the worst situation, stripped of both honor and practical gain.
So much so that among ronin, Sangeommun was already being treated as a ruined sect.
Hence, these days, only flies were buzzing around the Sangeommun ronin recruitment desk.
There was no way ronin would come to a sect whose defeat was already certain.
No matter how much money they offered, it couldn't be more precious than life, so it was only natural.
For that reason, the clerk Wang O, in charge of the Sangeommun ronin reception desk, was sitting at the table that no one visited today as well, dozing off repeatedly.
In the midst of that, Wang O felt the warm sunlight suddenly become blocked by something, and lifted his sleepy eyes to look ahead.
Then, something gigantic was obstructing the sunlight before his eyes.
Seeing its excessively massive size, it was to the point where one might think a boulder had rolled in from somewhere.
But when a weighty voice flowed out from that boulder, Wang O could immediately come to his senses.
"Is this the reception desk? I have come at the invitation of External Steward Heo Jeon-sam."
It was a giant of a person.
So enormous was he that one couldn't even notice there were people hidden behind him, such was his massive frame.
Wang O lifted his head to look at the shaded giant's face and asked hurriedly.
"You wish to make a warrior contract? You said you were invited by External Steward Heo Jeon-sam?"
At that question, the giant nodded and answered.
"That is correct. We are the Five Siblings of Doksu, from Doksu in Zhejiang Province, and their eldest, Bae Jong-gwan."
Then Wang O, who had been hastily trying to transcribe his words, was about to write the characters when he abruptly asked.
"Ah, yes! Yes! Five Siblings of Dok... su? If you say five siblings...?"
At his question, Bae Jong-gwan nodded and shifted his body slightly aside.
"Indeed. These are my younger siblings."
Wang O, who had naturally cast his gaze behind Bae Jong-gwan, froze in an instant as if struck by lightning.
Behind him stood one man and three women.
A man holding a spear with a robust build, and three women of beautiful appearance.
But Wang O's gaze was nailed fixedly to only one of the three women.
The other women were beauties as well, but the beauty of the woman standing third among them was, he could swear, at an astonishing level such that Wang O had never seen even in his dreams.