Chapter 91
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: A Sinister Smile
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“He laughed, that bastard. While talking about his brother falling into qi deviation.”
“Wh-what do you mean, he laughed? That’s ridiculous!”
“Yeah, it is ridiculous. That’s why it’s so suspicious.”
“……”
Nangong Seong and Gae Dusin tilted their heads as they stared at each other’s faces. They looked utterly baffled.
It was a perfectly natural reaction for those who hadn’t witnessed that creepy smile.
“It was definitely… ecstasy.”
“What do you mean?”
“Aren’t you puzzled? I sure am. Why would he look so delighted? His own brother’s trapped in qi deviation, might drop dead any moment.”
“……”
“Was it because of all the hardship he endured as the illegitimate son? Or because he’s finally claimed the Island Lord’s seat?”
“What are you saying? You can’t seriously think the new Island Lord would… That’s too much. It’s a dangerous assumption.”
Gae Dusin glanced around warily, as if afraid someone might overhear, and lowered his voice.
“Seong, you think it’s nonsense too, right?”
“……”
Yu Hyun turned to Nangong Seong for his opinion.
“You must have sensed it by now, at least somewhat?”
“Hmm…”
Nangong Seong fell deep into thought.
As he said, it wasn’t complete understanding, but it did make a certain sense.
The Seven Emotions training—based on human feelings to amplify the inherent power of martial arts—which they had begun with Yu Hyun’s help.
At first, he hadn’t noticed it, but as he grew accustomed to rapidly shifting his own emotions, his sensitivity to others’ emotions sharpened as well.
Opponents’ feelings became vividly tangible through their expressions, gazes, tones, and more.
If he could sense it that clearly, then Yu Hyun…
But his current line of thinking was dangerous.
This could be a secret affair of the Island Lord’s family.
It went far deeper than meddling in internal strife, striking at the root of the issue, so Nangong Seong fully agreed with Gae Dusin that they shouldn’t get involved.
“Uncle, no matter what, we can’t ignore our position. You absolutely mustn’t interfere.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Yu Hyun nodded slightly in agreement, yet his gaze remained downcast, lost in profound thought.
If it were just Haenam Island’s problem, without the Moon Clan’s lives on the line, he would have heeded them from the start.
And after his own verification, it was time to wash his hands of it…
But that term “bloody stool” kept nagging at him.
Among the many incidents from far in the future, one was the sudden deaths of the Righteous luminaries. A common symptom among those afflicted with qi deviation or illness had been bloody stool.
Later revealed as a plot by the Calamity’s minions…
What if it tied into Haenam Island’s current strife?
The circumstances matched too closely to dismiss outright. And if it truly connected, that would give him a compelling reason to intervene.
“Think about it. Just suppose, purely hypothetically… what if the rumors are true?”
“Rumors?”
“Yeah. What if an outside force really is meddling in Haenam Island’s power struggle?”
“What?”
“What if that external force caused Gok Jaheon’s qi deviation and the former Island Lord’s illness?”
“……”
“What if someone’s propping up the new Island Lord to bend Haenam Island to their will?”
“You think there’s… a conspiracy?”
“It’s just speculation for now, but it’s all too suspicious.”
“Hmm…”
Nangong Seong, who had staunchly opposed Yu Hyun’s reasoning, gravely nodded. Watching this, Gae Dusin let out a sharp yelp.
“Leader! And you too, Seong—what’s gotten into you both! A conspiracy of all things…?”
He ranted on shamelessly, but abruptly froze.
Yu Hyun’s eyes had locked onto him, stiffening his body rigid.
Deep in those pupils lurked a primal chill, sending goosebumps erupting across his skin like ice.
“Keep your voice down. Nothing’s decided yet.”
“……”
The low voice sliced like a blade chilled with frost against his throat.
“Listen first. Sit quietly…”
“……”
Eyes wide, Gae Dusin plopped down unsteadily without realizing it, his mind reeling.
What the hell was this?
Yu Hyun’s aura had transformed utterly from moments ago.
Especially that voice. The words were mere suggestion, yet the power behind them demanded absolute obedience.
Like the legendary spirit words one only heard in tales…
Had he misjudged him all this time?
Gae Dusin stared blankly at Yu Hyun, unable to look away, until Nangong Seong chuckled and patted his back.
“This guy’s totally spooked.”
“……”
Who wouldn’t be, seeing that…
The warmth in Nangong Seong’s touch eased the tension, and Gae Dusin finally exhaled the breath he’d been holding.
Only then did Nangong Seong withdraw his hand, shaking his head as he turned to Yu Hyun.
“You’ve changed again, huh?”
“…Well, a little?”
Yu Hyun affirmed it with a faint smile.
Gae Dusin couldn’t comprehend Nangong Seong’s words or Yu Hyun’s reply.
“A little? Come on…”
“……”
Nangong Seong grinned back, then teased Yu Hyun with a playful expression.
“You were like this before too—your progress is like climbing stairs. You’re not secretly stacking up some heavenly opportunity, are you?”
“…Ha, haha. What nonsense.”
“I mean it. Of all people, you’re the least believable, Uncle. First time we met, I thought you’d just learned some basic arts. Second time, I figured I’d catch up with a bit more effort. Now? You’re so far up, my neck hurts looking.”
“……”
“You are the same person, right?”
“……”
Nangong Seong winked roguishly with exaggerated flair, drawing an awkward laugh and wave from Yu Hyun.
This kid’s too sharp for his own good…
Progress like climbing stairs. An apt description of the Spirit Heart Core Method, really.
“Uh… what’s that supposed to mean? ‘Before too’?”
Gae Dusin, still rattled by Yu Hyun’s gaze, eyed them cautiously and asked about Nangong Seong’s oddly familiar admiration.
“…Well, the truth is, Uncle here!”
“……?”
Gae Dusin swallowed hard as Nangong Seong adopted the most solemn expression imaginable.
“It’s a~ secret.”
“……”
“Keekeke.”
“……”
Gae Dusin gaped at Nangong Seong’s blatant mockery, looking like he’d been struck from behind, fist subtly clenching.
…Should I deck him?
“Enough playing around, both of you. Listen up.”
“……?”
Yu Hyun reined in the mood and lowered his voice, drawing Nangong Seong and Gae Dusin close.
“Ssibul.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s assume this scenario.”
“……”
“An outside force has infiltrated Haenam Island’s power struggle. Could be the unorthodox sects, the Demonic Cult, or some third party—but not the orthodox factions. So, what should we do?”
“That’s… hmm…”
Gae Dusin’s face visibly darkened at Yu Hyun’s words.
Though independent, Haenam Island belonged to the Justice Alliance. If someone had seized it from behind the new Island Lord?
“You’ve experienced it already, haven’t you?”
“Huh?”
“The Iron Formation Gang Leader.”
“Ah!”
Gae Dusin recalled the Iron Formation Gang that had ambushed them on Mount Hyeong, his mind growing tangled.
Now that he thought about it, there was no reason for it.
No sane person would attack a Justice Alliance warrior squad on official duty.
Even if they’d succeeded, failure exposed them—and the Water Dragon King had seen them too. The Alliance would demand accountability, and the unorthodox couldn’t dodge it.
So it was even stranger.
Who would do something so profitless?
It could wipe out the Iron Formation Gang entirely. Hell, with their leader Na Hachu—a top unorthodox master—dead, it was only a matter of time.
And… he thought that incident tied into what was happening on Haenam Island now?
“I don’t believe they acted alone. If they moved for no apparent gain, doesn’t that mean someone’s behind them? I suspect that ‘someone’ powerful enough to command a master like Na Hachu might be linked to Haenam Island.”
“……”
Gae Dusin sank into heavy thought under Yu Hyun’s chilling gaze.
It seemed like a leap, but Yu Hyun’s hypothesis had some backing.
The Iron Formation Gang Leader had clearly known Hwang Deok-sam. That pointed straight to the Calamity’s minions as backers.
And Gok Jaheon’s bloody stool amid qi deviation… More investigation was needed, but the connections kept mounting.
“You’ve both seen the new Island Lord and that Obstruction Corps guy—the one with the stern topknot warriors. Do you really think the new lord’s got the caliber to command men like that?”
“Hmm, it is odd. That Obstruction Corps fellow… his level was impossible to gauge.”
“Yeah, me too…”
Nangong Seong and Gae Dusin nodded in unison.
“…So, what now?”
“What should we do first?”
“Ah, wait! Hold on!”
As Yu Hyun sought their intent, Nangong Seong smirked and gripped his sword, while Gae Dusin hurriedly intervened.
Yu Hyun paused, giving Gae Dusin time to decide.
One wrong move, and not only their lives but Haenam Island and the Justice Alliance could turn hostile.
“Think it over carefully and decide. I plan to investigate anyway.”
“……”
Gae Dusin’s expression shifted repeatedly, head bowing and lifting, before he let out a long sigh.
“Haa…”
Yu Hyun grinned.
That earth-shattering sigh meant he’d reached the same conclusion.
“…We need to closely reexamine Gok Jaheon and the former Island Lord’s conditions first?”
“Yeah, very closely.”
“Gather intel on the new Island Lord’s reputation too?”
“Exactly!”
“We have to meet the imprisoned Moon Clan, and look into the six tribes.”
“You got it!”
Rumors and background checks were the beggar gang’s specialty. People called them the Beggars’ Sect.
And Ssibul was one of their most exceptional beggars.
How could he not know?
Yu Hyun had heard his life’s hardships—embellished or not—nine hundred ninety-nine times over drunken rants.
Youngest disciple of the Beggars’ Sect Leader. A top-tier beggar.
A true Beggars’ Sect disciple who’d trained rigorously since childhood for better snooping.
So, trustworthy.
Look, the instant he decided, he’d pinpointed exactly what needed doing.
“Phew, but it’ll be tough alone.”
“Seong’ll help.”
“Of course. For open matters, Seong here; for the hidden stuff, I’ll handle it with my stealth skills. But security’s tight…”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll draw their eyes properly. Make it easy for you to move.”
Gae Dusin and Nangong Seong blinked wide-eyed, heads tilting, as Yu Hyun flashed a sly grin.
Don’t worry, you two. Your uncle’s got it all figured out.
“Kekeke. Kehhehehe.”
“……”
Yu Hyun’s eyes narrowed to slits, thin lips parting in a creepy laugh, filling Gae Dusin and Nangong Seong with deep unease.
Oh, this guy…
He’s definitely plotting something big…