Chapter 274
Chapter 274
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 274
Chapter Title: The Price of an Audit
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“An audit?”
Un Sa-dok, who had been gaping in bewilderment, spoke with a frigid expression.
“Why on earth should our castle be subjected to an audit by you, Lord Commander?”
“Have you forgotten that I am the Lord Commander of the Martial Soul Command?”
Bu Eun-seol said gravely.
“A significant portion of the poisons that were supposed to be delivered to the Demonic Palace are missing.”
He then pointed to the ledger on the table.
“If you have doubts, see for yourself.”
“There is no need to check.”
Un Sa-dok said without even glancing at the ledger.
“It is a long-standing custom.”
“A custom?”
As a cold chill rose in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes, Un Sa-dok cleared his throat and said.
“It has been tolerated to some extent that a certain portion of the poisons sent from our castle to the Demonic Palace goes missing.”
“I do not know whether it has been tolerated until now or not.”
Bu Eun-seol, looking down at Un Sa-dok, said coldly.
“However, the amount recorded in the documents and the actual inventory I investigated do not match. Is this not embezzlement of the Demonic Palace's assets?”
“As I said…”
“Just how many poisons have been siphoned off for profit. I, the Lord Commander, must confirm this at Hell-Blood Castle myself.”
“So… you truly intend to conduct an audit.”
“That is correct.”
As the Lord Commander of the Martial Soul Command, an inspection agency, Bu Eun-seol did have the authority to audit the Ten Gates of the Demonic Path.
This was because the Ten Gates of the Demonic Path were also under the jurisdiction of the Demonic Palace.
However, this was merely codified in writing. It was no different from a dead law.
No matter how powerful the Lord Commander of the Martial Soul Command was, who would dare enter one of the Ten Gates and conduct an inspection?
Yet, Bu Eun-seol was boldly declaring his intention to single out Hell-Blood Castle for an audit.
“I understand that you are eager to perform your duties, Lord Commander. However…”
A chilling edge emanated from Un Sa-dok's eyes.
“I trust you are well aware that our Castle Lord has a ruthless nature.”
He paused for a moment and looked directly at Bu Eun-seol.
“If you were to enter our castle to conduct this audit, no one can say what might happen inside.”
“Amusing.”
Bu Eun-seol scoffed.
“Hell-Blood Castle always starts by threatening me.”
“A threat?”
A dark flame flared in Un Sa-dok's gaze.
“Lord Commander. You go too far.”
“Too far… you say.”
Bu Eun-seol broke into a bright smile, revealing his white teeth.
“From now on, I will show you what 'going too far' truly means.”
Un Sa-dok felt humiliated by Bu Eun-seol's words.
But given his station, he forced himself to swallow his anger and spoke in a frigid tone.
“Lord Commander of the Martial Soul Command. Your words grow harsher by the moment.”
“Hell-Blood Castle has constantly provoked me. Relentlessly.”
Bu Eun-seol cut him off coolly and smiled.
In truth, he and Hell-Blood Castle had a deeply unfortunate history. To seize the Muk-geom he had obtained at the martial tournament, Yang Myeong, the Hall Master of the Blood Demon Hall, had launched a despicable surprise attack.
Later, when he was heading to the Demonic Palace to be officially recognized as a successor candidate, Hell-Blood Castle had led their forces to attack him.
Worse still, Yu Hyeok-sim, the Master of the Poison Demon Hall, had used the Cheong-hwa-yeon-ok as bait to threaten Hyeok Gong-baek, pressuring him to sever ties with Bu Eun-seol.
—Tell your Castle Lord. Since he has obstructed my path at every turn… I will no longer stand by and watch.
At that time, Bu Eun-seol had relayed this message as he drove Yu Hyeok-sim away.
In the end, Yu Hyeok-sim was sentenced to seven years of the Poison Pool Punishment for tarnishing the authority of Hell-Blood Castle.
As these facts came to mind, sweat beaded on Un Sa-dok's forehead.
‘He intends to keep his word.’
He could sense it instinctively.
Bu Eun-seol was planning to make an example of Hell-Blood Castle to completely break the spirit of the Ten Gates of the Demonic Path.
“Do not worry. I am merely speaking my mind.”
Bu Eun-seol smiled, a gentle spring breeze replacing his earlier chill.
“This isn't born from any personal grudge, so I hope the Hall Master will understand.”
His way of alternating between intimidation and appeasement was tantamount to toying with a person.
Only then did Un Sa-dok begin to grasp just how terrifying and meticulous a man Bu Eun-seol was.
‘This man is truly insane.’
If he continued to show hostility, he would undoubtedly find himself in an even more difficult position.
Changing his expression, Un Sa-dok wiped away his sweat and said.
“You are most gracious. Then I will send word to our castle that you will be starting the audit, Lord Commander.”
“There is no need for that.”
“No need?”
Bu Eun-seol smiled leisurely and said.
“I will be departing with you.”
“With me?”
“All preparations for the audit have already been made.”
Un Sa-dok’s face turned ashen.
‘He targeted our castle from the very beginning of this meeting.’
He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry.
They called him the Mad Sword, a madman who acted without a second thought… It was clear he genuinely intended to turn Hell-Blood Castle upside down.
“Then let us conclude here.”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol rose from his seat and nodded.
“This meeting of the Hall Masters is now over.”
* * *
Hell-Blood Castle was situated southeast of Pyeongwol Prefecture in Guizhou, where the Wuxiang River flowed.
Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the area was littered with specular cinnabar, a mineral typically found deep underground.
From a distance, it looked like a massive fortress built upon a pile of blood-red rocks.
True to its name, it appeared to be a blood-colored castle built in the middle of hell.
*Kuuung.*
The tightly shut gates of Hell-Blood Castle swung wide open.
A force of three hundred soldiers clad in black martial uniforms marched confidently into the castle.
They were Bu Eun-seol and the inspection team of the Martial Soul Command under his authority. Leading them were Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong.
*Rumble.*
At that moment, Yu Un-ryong, dressed in the robes of a scholar, led his men carrying chests and ran straight toward the heart of Hell-Blood Castle.
When he reached a building with a sign that read "Hall of Poison Secrets," the warriors guarding the entrance blocked his path.
“Outsiders are not permitted here.”
“Outsiders?”
Yu Un-ryong muttered coldly and pulled out a command token from his robes.
“We are the inspection team, here on the orders of the Lord Commander of the Martial Soul Command.”
“Inspection team?”
“Step aside.”
Lightly pushing the guards away, Yu Un-ryong entered the Hall of Poison Secrets.
He looked around at the people inside and shouted.
“Everyone, cease your work immediately!”
He then turned to the team members who had followed him with the chests.
“Load all the books in here. Every single one.”
“What is the meaning of this!”
The master of the Hall of Poison Secrets, Yo Gwang, roared in protest.
“You may be an inspection team from the Demonic Palace, but why are you taking all of our hall's records?”
As he bellowed in a fit of rage, Yu Un-ryong spoke coldly.
“We are carrying out a legitimate inspection procedure under the Lord Commander's orders. Do not interfere.”
“What? How dare a mere lackey from the Demonic Palace…”
“Interfering with an inspection by the inspection team allows us to bypass procedures and take immediate action.”
Yu Un-ryong said in a cold voice.
“This is your final warning. Do not interfere. Step aside quietly.”
At the same time, a blade-like aura emanated from his body.
Yo Gwang’s expression turned to one of shock as a powerful wave of true qi radiated from Yu Un-ryong, whom he had mistaken for a simple scholar.
“You bastard…”
*Thud, thud.*
Just then, an old man, accompanied by several dozen warriors, walked into the Hall of Poison Secrets.
His impression was gentle, but behind him, an aura coiled like a monster steeped in deadly poison.
He was the Vice-Lord of Hell-Blood Castle. Jeok Ya-hon, the Poison Master.
“I don’t understand what is happening here.”
Jeok Ya-hon, wearing a benevolent smile, approached Yu Un-ryong.
“What is all this commotion? Explain it so that I, the Vice-Lord, can understand.”
A dark energy swirled in his hands. Jeok Ya-hon was a poison user who treated human lives like insects.
If Yu Un-ryong's answer was unsatisfactory, he intended to strike with his poisoned hands immediately.
“The Vice-Lord has arrived.”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol stepped in front of Yu Un-ryong and clasped his hands.
“This junior, Bu Eun-seol, greets the Vice-Castle Lord.”
Bu Eun-seol did not assert his status as the Lord Commander of the Martial Soul Command, simply identifying himself as a junior.
It was a sign that, regardless of their stations, he held a sliver of respect for Jeok Ya-hon.
“We sent word from the Demonic Palace in advance. Did you not receive it?”
“I heard you were planning an audit. Are you really going through with it?”
Jeok Ya-hon had a gentle appearance, but he was, in fact, the most fearsome figure in Hell-Blood Castle.
However, Bu Eun-seol showed no signs of caution and wore a faint smile.
“Yes, we are.”
“I hear my underlings may have skimmed a bit from the elixirs and poisons sent to the Demonic Palace.”
Jeok Ya-hon also smiled as he spoke.
“How much could they possibly pocket? For my sake, let’s just let this one slide.”
“I would like to, but I cannot.”
“Cannot?”
Bu Eun-seol spoke with a grave expression.
“It is because we have intelligence that these missing poisons have been flowing to the government authorities.”
“The government?”
“That is correct.”
As Bu Eun-seol looked at Jeok Ya-hon’s wide eyes, he recalled a conversation he had with So Ja-myeong not long ago.
* * *
In the meeting room of the Subduing Demon Pavilion.
Only a single low-burning lamp was lit, and Bu Eun-seol and So Ja-myeong sat facing each other.
“The officials who burned down the Seong Family Ironworks were indeed from the Eastern Depot.”
So Ja-myeong’s low voice echoed in the meeting room.
“And they were the ones who purchased a large quantity of elixirs and poisons.”
“Then does this mean this is all the work of the Eastern Depot?”
“That’s what’s strange.”
So Ja-myeong stroked his chin with a troubled expression.
“As I traced the flow of the large quantity of elixirs purchased by the Eastern Depot, I found that the flow split into two paths.”
“Two paths? Where is the other one?”
So Ja-myeong took a deep breath and said.
“The Murim Alliance.”
*Thud.*
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes widened.
Sa-hyang, the mysterious assassin clan whose headquarters had never once been exposed and which produced terrifying hidden weapons.
Was its true identity the Murim Alliance?
“So you’re saying Sa-hyang is the Murim Alliance?”
“It’s not an entirely impossible theory. No matter how mysterious an assassin group is, it’s impossible to hide its main base for this long.”
“So… you’re saying they could hide it because a place called Sa-hyang never existed in the first place.”
“That is correct.”
So Ja-myeong stroked his chin.
“What is certain is that the information you are seeking, Lord Commander, is somehow related to the Murim Alliance.”
“The Murim Alliance.”
*Crrrack.*
Bu Eun-seol clenched his fists.
So that was why he could never catch their tail.
“Then I must start with the Murim Alliance.”
“Absolutely not.”
So Ja-myeong shook his head firmly at Bu Eun-seol’s words.
“If you, in your capacity as the successor to the Demonic Palace, were to provoke the Murim Alliance, it would trigger a full-scale war between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions.”
He quickly continued.
“The same goes for our Nine Kills Brigade. If we send spies in any form and are discovered… an uncontrollable situation will unfold.”
What if his investigation into the Murim Alliance was discovered? And what if it was revealed that the successor to the Demonic Palace was behind it?
Bu Eun-seol would be caught in a checkmate.
“Then there is only one way.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes flashed.
If he couldn’t use his subordinates, and he couldn’t use the power of the Demonic Palace… there was only one way.
He had to investigate everything himself.
“How about we start with Hell-Blood Castle?”
“Hell-Blood Castle?”
“Over one-third of the poisons flowing to the Eastern Depot originated from Hell-Blood Castle.”
For a moment, a spark ignited in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
Hell-Blood Castle, one of the Ten Gates of the Demonic Path, was in league with the Eastern Depot?
“Are you certain?”
“Of course. Over a dozen members of the Nine Kills Brigade spread across the Central Plains lost their lives to uncover this information.”
Bu Eun-seol’s expression turned grim.
Uncovering information that manipulated the Murim from behind the scenes required not only immense funds but also the sacrifice of personnel.
Hadn’t the Muha-suyu-jeong also lost many informants over the Seong Family Ironworks incident?
“Send a consolation payment of thirty thousand nyang to the families of the fallen members.”
Bu Eun-seol said in a low voice.
“And this is far enough. Do not dig any deeper.”
So Ja-myeong nodded.
If they continued to dig into matters like this, the Nine Kills Brigade wouldn’t last long.
* * *
As he finished his recollection, a sharp light glinted in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
“We must confirm whether Hell-Blood Castle colluded with the government to distribute poisons.”
“That’s impossible.”
Jeok Ya-hon shook his head decisively.
“I admit my underlings failed to properly manage the poisons meant for the Demonic Palace. To be frank, it has been a long-standing practice.”
He then stared intently at Bu Eun-seol and said.
“But our castle has no connection with the government.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“If such a thing were happening, it is impossible that I would not know.”
Jeok Ya-hon’s expression was confident.
He genuinely believed that Hell-Blood Castle had no involvement in such matters.
“Then please wait. The truth will be revealed shortly.”
“Are you really going to tear this castle apart, searching it like you would for fleas?”
In an instant, Jeok Ya-hon’s expression and gaze changed.
It was as if he had torn off the mask of a gentle old man he had been wearing.
Enraged, his face now resembled that of an ancient reptile about to devour its prey.
“And what if you search and find nothing wrong?”
A cold gleam shot from Jeok Ya-hon’s eyes.
“If there is no problem, who will take responsibility for this?”
“I will take full responsibility for everything.”
Jeok Ya-hon’s narrowed eyes seemed to shoot dozens of blades.
“How exactly will you take responsibility? I, the Vice-Castle Lord, do not care for vague expressions.”
“Tell me what you want.”
“I cannot take the head of the successor, I suppose.”
The sharp light flowing from Jeok Ya-hon's small eyes seemed to pierce through Bu Eun-seol's face.
“Instead, how about I take one of your fingers as a lesson for your rash judgment?”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyebrow twitched.
In short, he was saying that if Bu Eun-seol wanted to investigate Hell-Blood Castle, he had to wager one of his own fingers.
“If you lack the confidence, then stop now.”
Jeok Ya-hon’s eyes flew open, his expression utterly serious.
“I have no desire to create an unpleasant situation either.”
If nothing was found… he fully intended to cut off Bu Eun-seol’s finger without hesitation.
“Very well.”
“Are you serious?”
A dark, venomous aura flowed from behind Jeok Ya-hon as he stared at Bu Eun-seol with a merciless gaze.
The form of that black aura was like a demon opening its mouth to chew off a person’s head.
It was a terrifying sight that could make one’s flesh crawl, but Bu Eun-seol nodded without hesitation.
“Do you think I would have come here without being prepared for that?”
“Hoh.”
Jeok Ya-hon let out a sound of interest, his gaze fixed on Bu Eun-seol’s fingers.
As if he were deciding which one would be best to cut off.
“Fine.”
As if he had finally made his decision, Jeok Ya-hon nodded.
“Go ahead and investigate.”