Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Telltale Signs
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People who lie show a variety of direct and indirect tells.
They blink frequently, touch their ears or neck, speak faster than usual, or repeat themselves.
Their facial muscles stiffen, and their eyebrows twitch unstably.
In this way, liars inevitably reveal themselves through their actions, voice, expressions, or physiological reactions.
'Then what about the opposite?'
What traits do people show when they hear a lie from someone else?
Especially if they know the plain truth, yet the lie is told with such brazen confidence?
It would be hard for them to react the same as everyone else.
That was the point Hyeok Mulin was aiming for.
'Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.'
At Hyeok Mulin's words, the elders froze for a moment.
Even though the word was completely unexpected, they didn't flinch in shock.
Rather, they were tense, weighed down by the sheer gravity of it.
"Hah..."
"Heavenly Demon Divine Cult..."
The elders swallowed dryly, each lost in serious thought.
And Hyeok Mulin glanced at them sidelong.
Three times in total.
The number of times Hyeok Mulin had lied during the meeting.
The first was the pulse-severing sleep toxin.
He'd claimed a sleep toxin that disrupted the flow of meridians had been used. Pure fabrication, of course.
The second was the bloodstained fabric.
Presenting the bloodstains on the sect leader's torn uniform. Another lie.
He'd found fabric similar to the sect leader's uniform and staged the traces himself.
'But even so, no clear answer emerged.'
Hyeok Mulin had presented those two false pieces of evidence earlier, hoping to spot someone reacting differently.
The traitor would know they weren't true.
But he'd only narrowed it down to a few suspects—no definitive proof.
So for his final play, Hyeok Mulin went all-in.
A complete red herring.
When he threw out Heavenly Demon Divine Cult instead of the Four Black Alliance, would the culprit still react like the others?
Hyeok Mulin closely observed the elders' reactions right after dropping the name.
And in the end, two stood out.
Subtle, but reactions detached from the rest—final suspects down to two.
『What are their names?』
Hyeok Mulin sent a transmission to Sang Seo and nodded toward them.
Sang Seo's reply came swiftly.
『Sang Yo and Sang Myeong.』
Realizing Hyeok Mulin had caught on, Sang Seo gave a brief rundown.
Sang Yo was a middle-aged woman, master of the Medical Hall, overseeing all treatments for disciples, elixir preparation, and storage.
Sang Myeong was a middle-aged man, master of the Foot-of-the-Mountain Hall, managing the branch office below and smoothing relations between Mount Hua and the outside world.
'I see.'
Hyeok Mulin nodded slowly upon hearing the details.
Coincidentally, both held positions that made targeting the sect leader easiest.
As Hyeok Mulin pondered them further, one elder spoke up.
"Is there proof the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is behind this?"
Hyeok Mulin replied flatly.
"According to our intelligence, a number of high-ranking demonic cultists have recently moved into Shaanxi. And right around the same time, the sect leader vanished. A natural suspicion, no?"
Mixing lies with just enough truth.
That was the foundation of deception.
And truthfully, there was no need to logically convince them anymore.
The answer would come in a few days anyway.
"Hah."
"To think such a thing could happen at Mount Hua..."
The sighing elders hurriedly exchanged opinions.
"If the Demonic Cult is really involved, this might be beyond our handling."
"But we still lack solid proof."
"True. Before calling on the Murim Alliance, let's search a bit more."
"Agreed."
The elders settled on searching for the sect leader a few more days, then seeking Murim Alliance aid if nothing turned up.
After they dispersed, Sang Seo approached Hyeok Mulin.
"What now?"
"We've got suspects. Time to watch."
Afterward, Hyeok Mulin observed Sang Yo and Sang Myeong from a distance.
But over three days, he found no suspicious behavior.
Both were diligent types, sticking strictly to residence and workplace—almost identical routines.
He'd initially considered they might be colluding, but their actions ruled that out.
So the traitor was just one, yet no incriminating moves surfaced.
"Time for a talk."
Deciding on direct contact, Hyeok Mulin noted two suspects meant talking to one would reveal the truth.
If that one wasn't guilty, the other was. Vice versa, problem solved.
"Who first?"
After a moment's thought, Hyeok Mulin answered.
"Sang Yo. Let's meet her."
"Understood. I'll arrange it."
Sang Yo was in the Medical Hall's compounding room.
Mixing powders, she prepared elixir ingredients herself.
Sensing footsteps, she looked up.
"You're here."
As Sang Seo and Hyeok Mulin appeared, she nodded as if expecting them.
She glanced around, gesturing for others to leave.
Once alone, Hyeok Mulin spoke first.
"Hyeok Mulin."
"Medical Hall Master Sang Yo."
Their gazes locked for a fair while.
Then, spotting the powder in her hand, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"It's not you."
"I get why you came to the Medical Hall, but as you say, I had no hand in harming the sect leader."
The moment he saw the powder, Hyeok Mulin knew she was innocent.
It was the exact ingredients for the pulse-severing sleep toxin he'd mentioned.
If she'd been the culprit, no need to research a blatant fake.
"You already knew the goal."
"Indeed. I suspected when you showed that fabric at the meeting."
As Medical Hall Master tending the wounded, she'd seen countless bloodstains.
She'd noted the dried blood on the "sect leader's" fabric didn't match the disappearance timeline.
Thus, she'd realized Hyeok Mulin was lying.
"But I saw you had a plan, so I kept quiet."
Despite her sharp instincts, Sang Yo hadn't spoken up.
She trusted Sang Seo, and sensed the man he'd brought had set a trap.
"Confirmed."
"Glad I could help. Safe travels."
Answer in hand, no need for more talk.
Hyeok Mulin gave a curt farewell and left.
Sang Seo followed, face grim.
"Not Sang Yo. Then..."
Hyeok Mulin nodded.
"Sang Myeong. He's the traitor in Mount Hua."
"Hoo. Hard to believe."
Sang Seo had suspected a righteous elder might be the unorthodox plant, but suspicion and certainty were worlds apart.
Confirmation of betrayal from one of their own sparked Sang Seo's fury.
"I'll drag him out and interrogate him now."
"No. That's the worst move."
But Hyeok Mulin stopped him cold.
"We wait."
"Wait...?"
How, knowing the culprit?
As Sang Seo puzzled, Hyeok Mulin explained.
"Don't you cut out all the rot at once?"
Sang Myeong, preparations lightly packed, exited Mount Hua's gates.
The guarding disciples parted naturally.
"Time flies."
"Safe travels, Elder."
He nodded silently to their respectful gazes.
"Just doing my duty for the sect."
As Foot-of-the-Mountain Hall Master, he periodically descended to handle backlog.
Not everything could be done atop the mountain; duties split, and he oversaw the rest.
Bidding disciples farewell, he began his usual descent.
A quick glance back—no tails.
Speeding up, he soon dashed down.
Arriving at the village below before sunset.
He headed straight to the branch office, handing off mountain tasks and checking new ones.
As night fell amid work, Branch Head Cheong Gangpyo visited his office, offering dinner.
"Care for a drink while you're here?"
"Not a bad idea."
Cheong Gangpyo led him to a prime tavern.
The place brimmed with patrons.
They lit up as Sang Myeong and Cheong Gangpyo entered, exchanging knowing glances.
Sang Myeong took a spot with full view of the room—reserved for them.
Fine dishes and liquor followed; Cheong Gangpyo poured.
"You're later than promised."
"An elder was watching me."
"Another elder tailing you?"
Thinking of Sang Seo, Sang Myeong smirked and nodded.
"Yeah. And the guy with him waved some 'evidence,' sowing doubt among the elders. Total miss, of course. Had to keep a straight face when he claimed the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was behind the kidnapping."
"I see. Some fool swinging wild makes things easier for us."
Cheong Gangpyo chuckled.
Sang Myeong asked,
"Any issues on your end?"
"None. You know how long it took to build here."
The branch office.
Mount Hua's village outpost, aiding sect operations.
But now, under bought-off Cheong Gangpyo, it moved at Four Black Alliance orders.
Managing that was Foot-of-the-Mountain Hall Master Sang Myeong—their inside man. Fooling Mount Hua was simple.
"This tavern too."
Cheong Gangpyo had seized the village bit by bit.
Some shops under thumb; this tavern included.
Normally open to all, but on Sang Myeong's visits, filled solely with their people.
For secure talk.
Relaxed, they drank freely.
Moonlight gleamed off their cups.
Everything going smoothly—how could they not revel?
"It's really over now. Just move the sect leader, and riches are ours."
Yet Sang Myeong cautioned the beaming Cheong Gangpyo.
"Still too risky to act now. Wait a bit—they'll give up and call the Murim Alliance. Then we snag the sect leader..."
Then, from the side, a man spoke.
"Seat's empty."
Sang Myeong scowled.
Someone trying to join.
Common in taverns, but bad timing.
He waved him off.
"We're in the middle of urgent talk—find another..."
His voice cut short.
On second thought, no one here should speak to him casually.
The place was packed with Cheong Gangpyo's men.
And that voice—he'd heard it recently.
Recalling it, Sang Myeong slowly turned.
There stood Hyeok Mulin.
"How are you...?"
But Hyeok Mulin gave no reply.
He just sat calmly, pouring into a fresh cup.
Offering it lightly.
"Have a drink."
Black clouds veiled the moon.
The night was just beginning.