Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Enlightenment (2)
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Dang Yu-wol explained the situation.
Bi-seon listened to his words with a calm expression.
"So, your judgment is that they aren't just a simple band of thieves."
"Yes. Zhejiang is a place occupied by pirates and the wicked of the unorthodox sects."
"Indeed. I've heard about it too. The smuggling trade there brings in massive profits."
Bi-seon, being in the imperial court, seemed to have heard the stories.
He nodded gravely.
"For such people to drag their heavy rears all the way here..."
"It can't be just for money."
Dang Yu-wol's gaze fixed on Bi-seon.
Noticing his reaction, Seol Ryu-a hurriedly grabbed his arm.
"Young Master Dang..."
She had guessed what word Dang Yu-wol was about to say.
'No matter how much he claims ignorance, this is a bit too much...'
Seol Ryu-a didn't know that Dang Yu-wol had figured out Bi-seon's identity.
But even so, it was a word that shouldn't be uttered lightly.
As she stopped him, Dang Yu-wol didn't continue.
"Hmmm."
The quick-witted Bi-seon predicted what Dang Yu-wol had been about to say.
"It wouldn't hurt to make preparations."
He made the decision swiftly.
Then he extended his hand to Dang Yu-wol.
"Will you come with me for a bit?"
Hwang No was currently away from his post.
As such, a guard was needed.
"I'll..."
"You stay here and wait."
He stopped Seol Ryu-a from stepping forward.
"Don't we need you to prepare the banquet?"
'Preparing a banquet is something we can just ask the Haeseong Sect people to handle.'
So why was he excluding her?
Seol Ryu-a thought it must be because he had something to discuss with Dang Yu-wol.
In that case, inserting herself would be rude.
"Understood."
"Then let's go. Oh, right. Didn't Young Master Yang say he had to head back? We can drop him off on the way."
"What a shame. I wanted to talk more with you about poisons and antidotes, Young Master Dang."
But schedules couldn't be helped.
Upon arriving at the docks, Yang Hee-seok clasped his hands in a formal salute to Dang Yu-wol.
"Please make sure to visit the Healing Sword Sect next time."
"I will. The Tang Clan will always welcome you."
After a light exchange of courtesies, Yang Hee-seok entered the docks.
Once he was gone, Bi-seon slowly turned to Dang Yu-wol.
"There's something I haven't told you yet..."
"Please speak."
"How much have you guessed about my identity?"
"How many people travel with a transcendent realm master as a bodyguard?"
He said it lightly, then watched Bi-seon's expression.
Bi-seon was smiling.
"At least a royal prince, I'd guess."
"Heh. I knew it. That's why I didn't want to bring Hwang No."
It was the kind of talk that would make Hwang No weep blood if he heard.
"Correct. I am the Third Royal Prince of the Great Empire."
"Dang Yu-wol, subject of the Great Empire, pays respects to the Star."
In the Great Empire, the emperor was called the Sun, the crown prince the Moon, and other royals the Stars.
But such knowledge was beyond the average ignorant martial artist.
Yet Dang Yu-wol performed the proper courtesies flawlessly, earning a pleased smile from Bi-seon.
"As expected, you're no ordinary martial artist. Excellent."
"Thank you."
"Good. By the way, it seems to me you held something back earlier."
-What will you do?
'Hmm...'
The hesitation was brief.
Dang Yu-wol stated the facts calmly.
"Those people might be connected to the Blood Cult."
And they might be after Bi-seon.
Bi-seon nodded at Dang Yu-wol's words.
"Hm. I see. The Blood Cult. I've heard of them."
"..."
"Extremely audacious traitors."
"Precisely right, Your Highness."
"It's only natural for the military to step in against such scum."
He gave permission more straightforwardly than expected.
A smile tugged at Dang Yu-wol's lips.
"Do you need more poison, by any chance?"
"Heh. That's not exactly what I was hoping for."
"Then..."
"But if you're offering, I won't refuse. Got anything interesting?"
"What kind of poison are you looking for?"
"Something easy to use that can humiliate the enemy."
-Then this one.
A poison formed in Dang Yu-wol's hand.
"What's this?"
-A poison that causes sneezing and hiccups at the same time.
Repeating Ye-ui's explanation verbatim, Dang Yu-wol watched Bi-seon chuckle wickedly.
He had no idea who it would be used on.
But the victim would suffer greatly.
"Perfect."
"Please handle it with care. It won't kill, but..."
"Got it. Come on, let's go."
Having finished negotiating with him, Bi-seon headed to the ship with a grin.
The captain, who knew Dang Yu-wol's face, looked puzzled when he returned.
"Poison Dragon. Why are you back? Ah, are you enlisting in the military...?"
"Take a look at this."
The captain's expression hardened.
What Bi-seon held was something only royals could use.
"I pay respects to the Empire's Star!!"
He prostrated himself flat.
Forgetting even that he was a general of the Great Empire.
"I'm not sure if you've heard."
"If you're referring to the wicked band in O-gang Ji-hyeon..."
"Yes. How could I, as an officer of the Empire, abandon them and leave?"
"Truly righteous words."
Ignoring his return orders to join the battle.
Under the Great Empire's military law, it wasn't easy for a soldier.
That's why he had been searching for a way.
But with a royal command, there was no need to worry.
"Just give the order, and I will station here and eradicate the Empire's enemies."
"Excellent. I will remember your name."
The captain was moved.
After all, he was a soldier too; catching a royal's eye was nothing but good.
"The military is ready to move. But that's not the end of it, is it?"
Dang Yu-wol nodded at Bi-seon's question.
"Yes. There's more preparation needed."
Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
First priority was identifying exactly who the enemies were.
Dang Yu-wol headed to the beggars' den in O-gang Ji-hyeon with Bi-seon.
The Beggars' Sect members in the den were in the middle of a meal.
"Huh? What's this?"
"Greetings. Sorry to interrupt your meal. I'm Dang Yu-wol of the Tang Clan."
"Ah~. The one with the Thousand-Li Flying Swallow elder? Nice to meet ya. Call me Gu Don."
Gu Don.
Beggar Pig.
A truly beggar-like name.
"If it's not too rude, may I ask a few questions?"
"Go ahead."
Dang Yu-wol freely handed over a few taels of silver.
"Eh? No need, really?"
"You've got a lot of kids."
He pointed behind him.
There were quite a few one-string beggars—children.
This much would keep them fed for a while.
"Keh heh heh. Just like the elder said, you're a fine young man."
"No need for such praise."
"So, you came to hear more details about what the elder asked?"
"Yes."
"What do you want to know?"
He needed to confirm if they were connected to the Blood Cult.
"Do you remember any of their distinguishing features?"
"Them...?"
"The ones outside the village."
"Hmm."
Gu Don thought back.
He had gone to investigate after hearing rumors of strange folk gathering outside the village.
He had definitely seen them then.
"I saw some fairly renowned unorthodox experts."
"Just them?"
"Hm... no."
He rummaged through his memories.
There were definitely odd ones.
"There were some weird ones. Strangest thing, one eye was red."
"...That alone? No other features?"
"Other features... Ah, right. His right thumb was bent sideways."
Thinking a bit more, he snapped his fingers.
"And his right shoulder was hugely protruded."
"......"
-This is getting tricky.
One red eye.
Right finger bent, shoulder protruded.
There was a Blood Cult technique that matched this.
'Cha Ridge Soul Divine Blood Art.'
The special unit under Brutal Fist Demon Gil Yeong. The Blood Envoys trained in it.
They were elites who rarely left Gil Yeong's side.
'At least peak transcendent realm.'
The Blood Cult's transcendent realm wasn't like the mundane martial world's.
Their arts focused solely on slaughter and destruction.
Thus, their power could rival transcendent masters.
-Especially since the Cha Ridge Soul Divine Art grows stronger by absorbing surrounding deaths.
"How many such people did you see?"
"Three, from what I saw."
At least three.
There could be more.
If so, the Blood Cult considered this operation important.
"...Is it serious?"
As Dang Yu-wol fell silent, Gu Don grew anxious.
'Should I leave O-gang Ji-hyeon...?'
Of course, Gu Don belonged to the orthodox Beggars' Sect.
But he was only a three-string beggar.
'And the kids...'
He glanced worriedly at the children looking their way.
Just one-string beggars.
He didn't want to see those kids die pointlessly.
"It's serious."
"...I see."
"But you won't need to flee."
"That confident?"
"Yes."
The opponents were the Blood Cult.
Just kill them.
"Thank you for the information."
"I've heard about the Poison Dragon."
"Is that so?"
"I... might not be of much help, but if you need info, come find me anytime."
Dang Yu-wol grinned at his worried words.
"Not for free, right?"
Gu Don burst into hearty laughter.
"Trying to steal a beggar's bowl?"
After laughing together and exchanging goodbyes, Dang Yu-wol returned to the Haeseong Sect.
Hwang No, who had been waiting, didn't look pleased.
"Where did you go escorting such an important guest!!"
"I went to meet the military for a bit."
"The military? You don't mean..."
"Yes. I requested it myself."
"What!? How could you..."
"We can't let His Majesty's subjects die in vain."
Bi-seon stepping forward meant he had revealed his identity.
Hwang No glanced sharply at Dang Yu-wol.
As if asking if he knew too. Dang Yu-wol nodded slightly.
"I gave what needed giving and took what needed taking, so don't fuss."
"Even so..."
"More importantly, what's the situation outside?"
"Ugh... The enemy's numbers are more than expected."
Hwang No had patrolled the area with O-gang Ji-hyeon's soldiers.
He reported what he'd learned.
The encirclement around O-gang Ji-hyeon was already complete.
"With your command, we could break out..."
"But?"
"We could only escort the noble away."
She'd take the blame if needed.
She spoke earnestly.
"A heaven's net is in place."
Her eyes pleaded for him to change his mind even now.
Bi-seon looked to Dang Yu-wol.
"What do you think?"
"Wise judgment. If you're scared, running is better."
Those words scratched at Bi-seon's pride.