Chapter 81: Guanyin Palm-4
Chapter 81: Guanyin Palm-4
The disciples of the Ami Sect decided to return to the main sect immediately.
Not only Jeonghye Sojeo, who had come as an investigator with Gyeoljin Satae, but also Jeong Yeon and Jeong-an Sojeo, who had been with us all along, were going together.
It wasn't that I felt no regret, since we had moved together for several days, but it would have been burdensome for them to keep moving while ignoring Gyeolhan Satae's warning, and above all, it was my judgment that infiltrating Jeonghyeopbang with their level of skill was unreasonable.
Just before they departed, Bi Sa-yeong and I were watching as the young ladies of the Ami Sect surrounded Hwa Yeong-bin in a circle, squealing and greeting him like young girls.
Seeing them gaze at Hwa Yeong-bin with the same sparkling eyes that I had when I looked at Jeong-in, I truly felt the reality that he was the man every single disciple of the Ami Sect adored.
"Hwa Sahyeong, thank you for rescuing us again this time."
"Hwa Sahyeong, please rescue Jeong-in Saje too! And always take care of yourself."
"Hwa Sahyeong, you must come to the Ami Sect again. You absolutely must!"
"Hwa Sahyeong...!"
"Hwa Sahyeong...!"
Jeong-an Sojeo had also become one of them, clasping both hands together and gazing at Hwa Yeong-bin, so I glanced sideways at Bi Sa-yeong, who was watching the scene with a bitter expression, and spoke.
"Hwa Daehyeop must have truly loved that Jeong-seon Sojeo. Seeing how he isn't swayed at all even with so many young ladies gazing at him like that."
It was roughly a consoling remark, telling him not to be too disappointed since that side was hopeless anyway.
At that, Bi Sa-yeong murmured.
"I really have to become a master."
At that sudden out-of-the-blue statement, I asked with a puzzled expression.
"What do you mean, all of a sudden?"
The guy answered with a bitter expression.
"I can't surpass Hwa Daehyeop in looks, can I? At least if I become similar in martial arts, there'd be some possibility."
"Ahh."
Well, that was true enough....
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
Sure, it was true that he couldn't surpass him in looks, but was martial arts even possible?
Hwa Yeong-bin wasn't exactly going to be sitting around idle either.
So for Bi Sa-yeong, who was now merely first-rate, to catch up to him in martial arts—when Hwa Yeong-bin was already looking toward the transcendent peak—seemed nearly impossible.
But I decided to just nod.
'I can't exactly tell him to give up since he's hopeless in both looks and martial arts, can I?'
Then the guy looked at me, smirked, and asked.
"You were just thinking that won't work either, weren't you?"
Cough!
Having been suddenly struck right in the truth, I saw that the guy's expression wasn't bad, so I decided to just honestly laugh and admit it.
"Yeah, you bastard. Honestly, can you even be compared to Hwa Daehyeop? In looks, martial arts, background, and even personality, you're a third-rate warrior standing before the peak."
"Ugh! Why the sudden assault of facts? And even if the rest is true, isn't my personality at least a bit better?"
I answered as firmly as I possibly could.
"Nope, not even a bit better."
"...Ha, a friend, seriously...."
"It's because we're friends that I'm going this far. If we weren't friends, I would've told you it'd be faster to just be reborn."
"What, you bastard?!"
While we were bickering like this, Jeong Yeon and Jeong-an Sojeo, having finished their greetings to Hwa Yeong-bin, approached us.
Jeong Yeon Sojeo was the first to greet me cautiously, her face flushed red.
"Seonu Gongja, I've been truly grateful all this time. There are so many things I'm thankful for. If we happen to meet again next time...."
I cut off her words, spoken without even properly meeting my eyes, and greeted her with a gently smiling expression.
"Gratitude? Anyone would have done the same. Please stay healthy, Sojeo. Ah, and please don't worry too much—I will definitely rescue Ami Sword Peak Lady Jeong-in."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Although I had no experience with women, even in the Flying Dragon Squad, the number of women who had fallen for me recently had grown considerably, so I could sufficiently guess what was in her heart.
No, putting everything else aside, it was hard not to know the heart of someone who was always flushed and couldn't even look at my face properly.
So I didn't want to leave her any room for hope.
I had recently realized that it was better to be firm than to be a half-heartedly nice person.
Because she was such a virtuous and beautiful woman, but there was no empty space in my heart.
Jeong Yeon Sojeo lowered her head with a lonely expression.
It seemed she didn't want to show me her slightly tear-moistened eyes.
While we were unable to continue the conversation any further like that, beside me, that guy Bi Sa-yeong, who was exchanging farewells with Jeong-an Sojeo, looked a bit solemn.
"Please take care of yourself, Sojeo. When I have become a master no less than Hwa Yeong-bin Daehyeop, I will come to see you again."
But at the guy's solemn farewell, Jeong-an Sojeo's eyes went round and she asked as if she found it strange.
"Huh? We can't see each other before then?"
"...Pardon?"
Jeong-an Sojeo's expression, which had been bright, looked a little downcast.
"I thought the time we spent together was so enjoyable that we had gotten much closer... I suppose it was just my mistaken impression."
Now the flustered one was Bi Sa-yeong.
"...Pardon? No, Sojeo. That isn't a mistaken impression."
To Bi Sa-yeong, who didn't know what to say, Jeong-an Sojeo, with a thoroughly dejected expression, bowed her head in farewell.
"I'm sorry. I must have been mistaken again."
Then Bi Sa-yeong hastily cried out.
"Ah, no! I also truly enjoyed my time with you, Sojeo!"
Ohhh!
It was an intense confession that had suddenly burst out.
It was enough to make even me, standing right beside him, startled.
"Really? Truly?"
When she lifted her head again to look at Bi Sa-yeong, Jeong-an Sojeo's face had brightened radiantly, just like before.
At that, Bi Sa-yeong's expression went blank for a moment as he looked at her.
She looked so beautiful that he seemed to have trouble pulling himself together.
It was hard to hold back laughter at the guy's expression, which looked slightly entranced.
Then Jeong-an Sojeo suddenly wore a puzzled expression again and asked.
She truly was a young lady of remarkably varied expressions.
"But if you enjoyed it, why were you thinking of not visiting for such a long time? Are you perhaps lying because you're afraid I'll be disappointed...."
Bi Sa-yeong hurriedly spoke.
"I will come! I will definitely come on my next leave!"
At that, Jeong-an Sojeo clapped her hands with a bright face.
"Really?! Waah, that's wonderful!"
After we finished our farewells with the two young ladies and they grew distant, Bi Sa-yeong, with an entranced expression, asked me.
"I do feel very good... but why does it feel like I've been toyed with? How am I supposed to interpret this?"
At the guy's question, I snorted and answered confidently.
"Hah! You think I would know that? How would I understand a woman's heart?"
"...True. You're the same as me."
Seeing how easily he accepted that, I felt strangely bitter.
Still, I'm a bit better than him, aren't I?
After sending off the disciples of the Ami Sect, we immediately visited a nearby branch of Haomun.
It was to obtain the necessary information.
We went to the closest branch, the Misan Branch of Haomun in Sichuan Province, and perhaps because of Hwa Yeong-bin Daehyeop, the branch leader came out personally and conveyed the information with an extremely deferential attitude.
"...And so it came to pass that the remaining members of Jeonghyeopbang, who suffered a crushing defeat against Sangeommun, returned to Sichuan."
"As expected!"
Bi Sa-yeong and I, having obtained the information about the battle between Sangeommun and Jeonghyeopbang, clenched our fists and rejoiced.
Although we firmly believed in Seolpung Jojang and Cheongyeon, it wasn't as if we had been completely free of anxious feelings.
From what we heard roughly, it seemed that, just as I had thought, Cheongyeon's strategy and our squad leader's exploits had decided the outcome.
Having heard news of my comrades and felt relieved, I now began to ask about other matters.
It was now time to obtain serious intelligence.
"Then what is the defeated Jeonghyeopbang currently doing?"
"It appears they intend to wage a war of revenge. They are mobilizing all their remaining peak-level masters and concentrating them toward Guijuseong."
"Hmm."
I nodded.
It was an obvious course of action.
Because Jeonghyeopbang could not tolerate being defeated and retreating like this against a group like Sangeommun. From now on, it was a matter of pride and honor.
And for us, it was quite welcome news.
Because their forces being concentrated toward Guijuseong meant that the main body of Jeonghyeopbang's own strength would have weakened.
I suddenly asked again.
"What about the Jeonghyeopbang leader? Has he moved as well?"
At that, the branch leader answered with a troubled expression.
"That, even we are not quite.... As you know, even who the Jeonghyeopbang leader is has not been made public."
As he said, the identity of the Jeonghyeopbang leader had not yet been revealed to the world.
I was guessing that he was probably a Demon Head directly under the Blood Demon.
In any case, it seemed I had roughly obtained all the information available as a client.
So now it was time for blackmail.
I grinned and asked the Haomun branch leader.
"But... I am curious about something. Are you perchance thinking of reporting the questions we just asked to Jeonghyeopbang as well?"
At that, his gaze wavered for a brief moment.
But he soon answered back with unfazed composure, befitting the branch leader of Hao Gate.
"Pardon? What you mean by that is rather...."
It was truly the demeanor of an old snake who had been rolling around in this world for a long time. But unfortunately, this time the situation was not in his favor.
"It seems the branch leader is laboring under the mistaken impression that I am merely sounding you out. My apologies, but if that is what you thought, please change your mind. Because this will likely be your last chance."
At that, his expression hardened rigidly.
"...What exactly are you trying to say?"
I answered with a sardonic smile.
"I am telling you that the Misan Branch of Hao Gate has become a lackey of the Blood Cult. And perhaps it is not only the Misan Branch."
"What?!"
At my words, not only the branch leader but even Hwa Yeong-bin's expression, who was listening beside me, was dyed with the light of shock.
Only Bi Sa-yeong wore an amused smirk, as if he had expected such words to come.
Hwa Yeong-bin stared at the branch leader with eyes full of fury and asked.
"A lackey of the Blood Cult?"
Then the branch leader urgently refuted it.
"What nonsense! This is slander! Young master, you are slandering us right now!"
But I chuckled and asked.
"Slander? What is slander, exactly? Is it slander that you sold information on Ami Sword Peak's Lady Jeong-in so that she would be abducted by Blood Cultists? Even though the Ami Sect's Jeong Yeon and Jeong-an Sojeo, who were abducted together, fortunately escaped safely and testified?"
He cried out as if deeply wronged.
"Th-The information we sold was only to Guaneumjang! There was no way we could have known they were Blood Cultists...!"
"Ah, you sold it to Guaneumjang? You're still making that excuse, I see. From what I've heard, you already knew that Guaneumjang had been devoured by Jeonghyeopbang, isn't that right? Did you not sell that information to Lady Jeong-in's party?"
"Th-That is...."
For a moment, his mouth merely opened and closed as if struck speechless.
He hurriedly tried to say something, but I was first.
"Ah, forget it. Hearing you speak, you were probably about to say that this time, too, you didn't know Jeonghyeopbang were Blood Cultists. Well, I get the picture."
Having said that, I rose and spoke to Hwa Yeong-bin and Bi Sa-yeong.
"Let's go. They aren't worth any further conversation."
Then the branch leader sprang to his feet and shouted.
"I tell you, I truly didn't know they were Blood Cultists! What in the world are you planning to do?!"
I answered with a smirk.
"For a branch leader of Hao Gate, your judgment is remarkably slow. What am I planning to do? I already did it. I let Hwa Yeong-bin Daehyeop here hear the conversation we've just had. Try imagining it. What Hwa Yeong-bin Daehyeop will do now that he knows this fact, and what will become of Hao Gate going forward."
Hearing my words, the branch leader's eyes instantly filled with shock as he looked at Hwa Yeong-bin.
He, of course, would know.
What kind of background Hwa Yeong-bin had, and how deep his bitter grudge against the Blood Cult was.
Before such a Hwa Yeong-bin, the branch leader's fact of having colluded with the Blood Cult had been exposed, and worse, he had been caught trying to conceal his own deeds.
Hwa Yeong-bin was now staring at him with eyes completely filled with killing intent.
He slowly opened his mouth.
"I will make this fact known to the Mount Qingcheng Sect, as well as all the sects of Sichuan, and the Murim Alliance. I do not know what judgment the Murim Alliance will hand down, but one thing I can state with certainty. From now on, the members of Hao Gate in Sichuan Province will have to wash away this sin with blood."
Hwa Yeong-bin's killing intent filled the entire room.
A thick, dense killing intent emitted by a master on the cusp of the transcendent peak.
There was no way the branch leader, who seemed a mere second-rate, could withstand it.
He trembled violently, his face pale white, and opened his mouth.
"D-Daehyeop, w-we would never...."
But Hwa Yeong-bin had no intention of listening to him any further. He merely stared at him with ice-cold eyes and then turned his back.
When the branch leader's face was filled with despair and he collapsed limply into his seat, I, who had been watching from the side, abruptly spoke.
"There is one method, however...."
Then the branch leader, startled, looked at me with desperate eyes. Also, Hwa Yeong-bin, who was about to leave, stopped his steps and looked back at me.
I slowly spoke to the branch leader, whose expression made it seem he would bow even at a thrown straw.
"Right now, there is only one way for Hao Gate to survive."
"Wh-What is it?!"
Looking into his eyes, I told him slowly and distinctly.
"What do you think? Obviously, it is to stand at the very vanguard of annihilating the Blood Cult."
"...Pardon?"
I answered with a sardonic smile.
"You must fully mobilize all of Hao Gate's information to locate and expose all the sects that Jeonghyeopbang has occupied, just like Guaneumjang. And you must formally apologize to the Ami Sect and all other sects that have suffered because of Jeonghyeopbang."
The more I continued, the paler his expression became.
To him, it could only sound horrible.
Because it meant that Hao Gate, which had survived by remaining neutral and unaligned to any faction, now had to make an enemy of the Blood Cult.
But I had no need to worry about that for him.
They had crossed the line and lost their justification, and if they wished to remain neutral, they would have to pay the price in blood.
I added, as if driving in the final wedge.
"Above all, from now on, you must swear an unconditional hostility against the Blood Cult. Only after that will the excuse that you didn't know Jeonghyeopbang was a Blood Cult force carry any slight persuasive power. Though even doing so likely won't be able to completely stop the blood from flowing."
Having said that much, I looked at Hwa Yeong-bin.
Then Hwa Yeong-bin, who had been glaring at the branch leader with a fearsome look, let out a sigh after a moment and opened his mouth.
"Fine. If they show such conduct, it would gain some slight persuasive power."
Then the branch leader, his face looking on the verge of bursting into tears, pled desperately.
"Th-That... that is not something I can decide...."
I cut him off and left my final words.
"Do not misunderstand. I merely gave you advice; I am not the one who decides. The decision will be made by the various sects of the martial world and the Murim Alliance. Of course, I well understand that it is burdensome for Hao Gate, which has always professed neutrality, to antagonize a colossal force like the Blood Cult."
When I said that, he nodded his head fervently at remarks that seemed to understand Hao Gate's situation.
But the moment I continued my next words with a sardonic smile, he froze right then and there, turning to ice.
"But at the very least, isn't it better than all Hao Gate members being branded public enemies of the martial world and annihilated? I hope you discuss it well. You'll probably need to hurry."
With those words, I walked straight out.
The branch leader remained seated blankly in that spot with a stupefied look even as we left.
Once outside, Hwa Yeong-bin asked me.
"Did you plan this from the beginning?"
"Yes, because Guaneumjang and Gwageommun won't be the only places Jeonghyeopbang extended their demonic claws to. I don't know the exact number, but they'll have turned an enormous number of sects into puppets. I figured we had no choice but to borrow Hao Gate's power to grasp all of that. And as an added bonus, it would be even better if we could prevent the Blood Cult from using Hao Gate in the future."
I explained it simply, but this was truly a crucial turning point.
With this, the Blood Cultists who, in my past life, had infiltrated all over north of the frontline might be fundamentally sealed off in this life.
Of course, it might not reach a complete blockade, but it was certain that the situation would unfold very differently from my past life.
I was extremely satisfied.
This matter, at least, was something I could take pride in.
Then Hwa Yeong-bin let out an incredulous laugh and shook his head slowly.
"Really... you're remarkable."
At Hwa Yeong-bin's admiration, Bi Sa-yeong was looking at me and smiling, as if proud.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I answered with a sheepish laugh.
"Well, it was a method I could only use precisely because Hwa Daehyeop was present. If it had only been Sa-yeong and me, the threat wouldn't have worked at all."
Then Hwa Yeong-bin laughed emptily and said.
"There is no need for such modesty. Isn't this just saying that you did something with me that I, myself, had been failing to do? I wonder what it would have been like if, back when I was in the Flying Dragon Squad, there had been a friend who could make use of me like you. Anyway, what do you plan to do from now on?"
I answered with a grin.
"Since they say Jeonghyeopbang's forces are concentrating toward Guizhou Fortress, I obviously must go rescue Lady Jeong-in."
After all the twists and turns, the time had finally come to head to Jeonghyeopbang, the arch-sinner at the root of this whole incident.