Chapter 643: 4885... It’s You, Isn’t It?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 643: 4885... It’s You, Isn’t It?
"Would you mind keeping me company and chatting with me on the way?"
Sun-woo spoke as he looked at Salhon.
"..."
Upon hearing those words, Salhon kept his mouth tightly shut.
Did... did he notice?
Anxiety surged within him. The gnawing fear that his cover might have been blown clawed at his mind.
No, that’s impossible. If he had, he would have restrained me immediately.
Salhon tried his best to soothe his nerves, telling himself it couldn't be. He reasoned that if Sun-woo truly suspected him, he wouldn't be acting this casually.
How should I react?
Salhon fell into deep thought. He had no idea how Tang Han-dang usually treated Jang Sun-woo. Unlike his peers of the same rank, Jang Sun-woo was his superior. It was highly unlikely he treated him like just another colleague.
However, he couldn't simply act completely subservient either. He couldn't imagine to what extent Tang Han-dang would have suppressed his notoriously foul temper.
What do I do... what do I do... what should I do...
Salhon agonized over it, over and over again, trying to come up with the optimal response.
After a moment of intense deliberation, Salhon finally reached a conclusion.
"I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can. I’m not feeling very well today."
Salhon declined Sun-woo’s offer with a deeply apologetic expression. He chose to distance himself as much as possible, even if it meant getting scolded.
"Where does it hurt?" Sun-woo asked, looking puzzled.
"Yes, well, my stomach feels quite bloated and unsettled."
Salhon grimaced as if in pain and rubbed his abdomen as he spoke.
"Then let me take a look at you."
Hearing this, Sun-woo took a large stride toward Salhon.
"N-no... it’s... it’s fine. I’ll just head to the Medical Pavilion."
As Sun-woo approached, Salhon waved his hands frantically in refusal.
"I’m likely better than most physicians. So, don’t worry."
Thump. Thump.
Having finished his sentence, Sun-woo continued to close the distance with purposeful strides.
Damn it.
Salhon cursed inwardly as the man approached. It was a blunder. He had completely forgotten the specific nature of Jang Sun-woo being a martial artist from the Tang Clan.
Martial artists of the Tang Clan were fundamentally trained in medicine. Since they dealt with poisons lethal to humans, they had to be prepared for any emergency. Jang Sun-woo was no exception. In fact, given his status as the disciple of the Poison King, his medical skills were bound to be as good as any renowned doctor.
Complaining of pain in front of such a man was no different from begging for an examination.
"Now, let’s see that belly of yours."
Sun-woo, who had closed the gap in an instant, reached out his hand.
"I’m really fine!"
Salhon desperately rejected Sun-woo’s kindness. Currently, his Dantian was filled with Dark Blood Residual Demonic Art. If he let Jang Sun-woo examine his body now, his identity would be exposed without a doubt.
How could he possibly show his stomach in such a situation? It was out of the question.
"I can’t make a diagnosis if you don’t show me your stomach," Sun-woo said in a calm tone.
"...It’s... it’s just too rude... I’ll... go to the Medical Pavilion..."
Salhon stammered, unable to think of a plausible excuse.
"It doesn’t matter. Wasn't medicine originally created to benefit many people? Moreover, as members of the same clan, we shouldn't be stingy about sharing such care."
Sun-woo spoke with a benevolent smile. His words carried the natural dignity of a Great Hero.
You piece of shit, seriously.
Sun-woo’s words only made Salhon’s situation more difficult. He couldn't see any way out. Jang Sun-woo, clearly his superior, was offering a favor with a kind smile. If he refused now, it would surely arouse suspicion. Sun-woo would sense something unnatural about his subordinate's behavior.
But he couldn't just give up his stomach. If he did, the demonic energy corroding his Dantian would be discovered. His identity would be revealed in an instant. A supposed pillar of the Orthodox Faction harboring demonic energy? It was a total checkmate.
Damn it, damn it.
Salhon cursed repeatedly in his mind, thinking desperately. He had to escape this godforsaken situation somehow.
"Come on, show me your stomach."
Then, Sun-woo’s voice reached his ears again, pressing him.
Drip.
Cold sweat began to pour down Salhon’s forehead. To his ears, the urging voice sounded like the whisper of the Grim Reaper.
"I’m sorry, Lord Sun-woo."
Salhon apologized hastily.
"Pardon?"
Sun-woo asked back, looking confused. He didn't understand why the man was suddenly apologizing.
"I lied to you, Lord Sun-woo. Please, punish me."
"Wait, what are you talking about?"
"I found the idea of escorting you to be a hassle, so I made up an excuse about being sick. I am truly sorry."
Salhon bowed his head politely, his face full of feigned remorse.
"Heh, hahaha."
Sun-woo let out a dry laugh. He hadn't expected this kind of reaction.
"So, you’re saying that being sick was all a lie?"
Sun-woo looked at Salhon with a steady gaze.
"Yes... I am... truly sorry."
Salhon apologized repeatedly, then peeked up to gauge Sun-woo’s reaction.
"...Hmm."
Sun-woo looked as if he were deep in thought, considering what to say to the man who had lied to him.
"I’m sorry. It seems I wasn't being considerate enough."
Then, Sun-woo bowed his head slightly and offered a polite apology.
Yes!
Seeing this, Salhon rejoiced inwardly. It seemed the situation had been settled.
"However, that doesn't change the fact that you lied."
Then, Sun-woo added a chilling remark.
"I... I will accept any punishment."
Salhon spoke with a face full of terror.
"Are you serious about that?" Sun-woo asked with a grave expression.
"Pardon?"
"Are you truly saying you will accept any punishment?"
Sun-woo stared at him with a calm, piercing gaze.
"......Y-yes."
Salhon reluctantly agreed. He couldn't very well say no at this point.
"Good. Then let’s do this."
A smile played on Sun-woo’s lips.
"As punishment for lying, you shall be my conversation partner until I reach the torture chamber inside."
"A... a conversation partner?!"
"Yes. I think that’s a fair price for your lie."
Sun-woo spoke as if he were being generous.
You miserable bastard! Are you a child? You can't even go by yourself?
Salhon cursed inwardly. He was irritated by Jang Sun-woo’s persistence in trying to drag him along. What kind of grown man couldn't even walk a short distance alone? He felt a sudden urge to plunge a blade into the head of this immature brat.
Endure... endure... endure...
But Salhon quickly calmed himself. Getting agitated here wouldn't help at all. Jang Sun-woo was strong—overwhelmingly so, to the point where Salhon stood no chance. Facing him in a borrowed body that wasn't even his own was suicide.
He had to endure. At least until he got out of the Tang Clan.
The moment I get out of here and regain my original power, I’ll slaughter everyone you hold dear!
Salhon harbored a deep, silent murderous intent. While Jang Sun-woo might be a challenge, taking the lives of those close to him would be easy. After all, he was a being akin to a god of death.
"I will do as you ask. Thank you for your forgiveness."
Salhon bowed politely to Sun-woo, accepting the proposal.
"Excellent. Then, let’s walk together."
A satisfied smile appeared on Sun-woo’s face. He looked genuinely happy to have found a companion for the walk.
I’m going to kill you.
Salhon felt a surge of murderous intent toward Sun-woo. He vowed that he would escape and exact a blood-soaked revenge.
*
Step. Step.
The two men began to walk down the narrow passage.
"This is further than I thought," Sun-woo remarked, glancing at Salhon.
"......Well, it is a place where secrecy is paramount..."
"I suppose that’s true."
Sun-woo nodded in agreement.
"It must be hard, having to walk this long distance back and forth every day."
"As a guard... I consider it part of my duty."
"You have a strong sense of mission."
Sun-woo gave a small laugh.
"Oh, by the way, what happened to that girl from before?"
"That girl?"
"You know, the woman of destiny you said you met at Geumhwa Pavilion."
"A-ah... you mean the girl from Geumhwa Pavilion?"
Salhon pretended to know what he was talking about.
"Yes. Didn't you emphasize several times that things were going well?"
"Well, the human heart doesn't always go the way you want it to."
Salhon spoke with a dejected expression. The more personal the questions got, the more difficult it became. He knew nothing about Tang Han-dang’s private life. Therefore, he tried to cut the conversation short by acting depressed.
"......Oh... I’m sorry. I shouldn't have asked such a personal question."
Sun-woo apologized, looking genuinely sorry for his intrusion.
"No... it’s in the past now."
Salhon shook his head with a bitter expression.
If I’ve ruined the mood this much, surely this chatterbox will shut up now?
Salhon thought that if he looked miserable enough, even this talkative bastard would stop talking.
"Ah, that reminds me. Didn't you say your mastery of the Doban Samyang Gwiwon Art was around the fifth stage?"
"....Ah... yes... it was."
"Should I take a look at your martial arts sometime?"
"I would be most grateful if you did."
Salhon spoke with a humble expression. Of course, he had no idea what the Doban Samyang Gwiwon Art actually was. But since the fifth stage sounded like the mediocre level of Tang Han-dang’s skills, he simply agreed.
"I’ll have to find some time for it."
"Please let me know whenever it’s convenient for you."
"Hahaha, alright. I’ll contact you separately soon."
Sun-woo laughed as he spoke.
"Oh, and about the other day..."
Sun-woo started to speak again. Salhon’s face twisted into a scowl. This chatterbox seemingly had no intention of staying quiet.
.
.
.
After a long bout of small talk...
"By the way, about 4885."
An ominous topic reached Salhon’s ears as he was giving half-hearted responses.
"......Yes."
"Aren't you curious about who he is?"
Sun-woo looked at Salhon with an incredibly serious gaze.
"Well... I’m not sure."
Salhon feigned ignorance.
"You don't have to lie in front of me."
A small smile played on Sun-woo’s lips.
"His eyes are covered with a black blindfold made of opaque material, his mouth is gagged with steel, and his limbs are bound by shackles made of cold iron. It’s a harsh treatment that can't even be compared to that of ordinary prisoners."
Sun-woo spoke in a calm tone.
"Aren't you curious? Why he is being pushed so cruelly?"
Sun-woo continued with an amused smile.
"U-unnecessary curiosity only leads to trouble."
Salhon immediately rejected Sun-woo’s prompt. He felt a rising sense of dread that something would go wrong if he accepted the offer.
"No need to be so modest. Aren't we close? We can certainly share a secret like this."
Despite Salhon’s refusal, Sun-woo waved it off. He seemed determined to tell him.
"I... I’m really... fine... I’m not curious at all."
"Now I’m actually more curious. Why are you so uninterested?"
When he refused again, Sun-woo looked puzzled.
"Do you perhaps already know?"
"W-what do you mean..."
"Who 4885 is... and why he is bound so miserably."
Sun-woo’s eyes flashed sharply.
"I... I don't know... what you’re talking about..."
"Ah!"
Then, Sun-woo let out an exclamation as if he had just realized something.
"Come to think of it, you’d have to know."
Sun-woo continued with a small smile.
"Since you are the person himself."
"..."
"4885... it’s you, isn’t it?"
Sun-woo glared at Salhon with a cold gaze.
Upon hearing those words, a look of pure shock and bewilderment washed over Salhon’s face.