Chapter 174: Yi Seong Ryeong, Yi Se-ryeong (2)
Yi Seong Ryeong was searching for Yi Se-ryeong.
At Jin So-cheong's words, my heart plummeted like a stone.
'The North Sea Ice Palace searches for Yi Se-ryeong, ends up provoking the Divine Cult, and in retaliation, the Cult wipes out the Ice Palace. That's how the war begins in Murim Return.'
The start of war meant a direct threat to my survival.
No matter how much better my situation had become compared to before—or even though I'd actually grown stronger.
Hell, if Paeng Yu-gun suddenly came at me demanding a fight, I wouldn't last ten seconds—I wouldn't even need one.
'No. Maybe I could hold out until the Time Wheel Jade's power and range ran out.'
Even if I flicked the Time Wheel Jade on and off while running as far as possible, it was only five minutes.
No matter how fast I bolted, Paeng Yu-gun could catch up with a single casual step.
'Even with the Blood Explosion Jade, no dice.'
Looking at those rock-solid muscles packed tight as a drum, Paeng Yu-gun was the type to laugh off a Blood Explosion Jade blast as a tickle.
And I couldn't just hole up in some remote mountain valley either.
The Divine Cult specialized in hunting down traitors. They'd track me anywhere.
'Unless I infiltrate a righteous faction stronghold like Sa-wol's brother.'
The problem was, that was impossible for me too.
Especially since Sado Gwang—probably still alive—knew my true identity.
That was when it happened.
"Y-Young master!"
Tak Horak, whom I'd told to wait downstairs, came barreling up the stairs.
He was connecting his usual three-section spear into a long polearm as he ran.
And his ears were glowing red—crimson energy manifesting.
- What's going on, sir?!
Tak Horak, scrambling up in alarm, sent me a mental message instead of shouting aloud.
I let out a sigh and said,
"It's nothing. Go back down."
- But—
"Go back down. Don't come up no matter what happens until I call you."
- Understood.
Tak Horak looked suspicious but couldn't defy my order, so he bowed his head and headed downstairs.
But not without shooting a glare at Jin So-cheong's back. He even walked backward down the stairs like some kind of rewind video.
Horo lok.
Jin So-cheong leisurely drained her tea and remarked,
"For a heretic, you have impressive subordinates. As expected of the Cult Leader."
"......He's just dramatic."
Not Tak Horak—Tak Hysteric. Who knew he'd freak out that much?
[That's not hysterics; it's a natural reaction. It just means you sensed the danger. Is it really that bad?]
'......It is dangerous.'
The real issue wasn't the danger itself, but Tak Horak's reaction to it.
What other experts did effortlessly, I had to pour everything into.
Every word, every gesture—nothing wasted, all calculated. That constant tension bred frequent alerts.
The problem was, those alerts differed from true crises, but unfortunately, the Azure Crimson Pill didn't distinguish between them.
'The fix is simple, if simple.'
The solution was the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Roughly channeling its energy up to my heart turned me into a steel-nerved fool who blurted out things I didn't need to say.
In that state, even facing a Super Peak expert, I'd register the danger but not panic much.
'Something to mull over.'
It was just a stopgap. Uncontrolled outbursts could lead anywhere.
Anyway, that was for later.
Back to the main topic.
"You're looking for someone named Yi Se-ryeong."
"Yes. Correct."
"How did you obtain this information?"
At my question, Jin So-cheong smiled with her eyes.
"Blood sorcery, I assume."
No direct answer came, but it didn't matter. If she'd peered into someone's mind, it had to be blood sorcery.
Come to think of it, this Murim Return world seemed full of overachievers.
Top-tier medicine, Peak-level blood arts, and even Super Peak-inducing sorcery.
Unless you were a fanatic zealot, no normal person could study that much.
"Did Yi Seong Ryeong know who Yi Se-ryeong is?"
"Yes."
"And you?"
"Cult Leader."
Jin So-cheong spoke calmly.
"We of the Blood Cult utterly loathe those heretics. And that wench who dares call herself the 'Heavenly Demon' as well. So please, don't say 'you'—say 'us' instead."
Sa-wol or Tak Horak would've probably foamed at the mouth hearing that. Even Pa Cheon would've ranted about 'insolent cultist scum' or whatever.
'Sorry, but I have to play along here.'
I channeled Heavenly Demon Divine Art energy to my chest. Baseless confidence surged.
"Right. Of course. That woman. So why is Yi Seong Ryeong looking for her?"
"Yi Seong Ryeong said Yi Se-ryeong is necessary."
"......Necessary."
'Necessary' was utterly unexpected. I'd figured something like eliminating a rival heir for perfect succession, or some political ploy.
Not this.
"I tried to dig deeper, but...... pushing the sorcery further was impossible. Whether special techniques or treasures, her mental barriers were strong—proceeding risked alerting her."
"I see."
"O-Of course, with more time, it would've been possible, Cult Leader! Please don't be disappointed!"
I hadn't shown any reaction, but was she just scared of me?
Or was it the Heavenly Demon Divine Art energy?
Jin So-cheong trembled like she might smash her head into the floor again.
I sighed inwardly and said,
"Quiet."
"Gasp."
"I'm not going to kill you, so stop shaking. You're annoying."
From Yi Seong Ryeong's perspective, beyond succession or politics, why would she need Yi Se-ryeong?
"Was searching for Yi Se-ryeong Yi Seong Ryeong's personal idea?"
"Doesn't seem so. From the vibes, it felt like orders from someone higher up."
Higher than the Little Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace? Only the Ice Palace Lord.
Unlike the merit-based Divine Cult, the Ice Palace revolved around bloodlines.
'Why would the Ice Palace Lord want Yi Se-ryeong.'
She'd backstabbed her brother, slaughtered her clan, and seized the throne.
No way she'd seek Yi Se-ryeong now for remorse.
In Murim Return, complex characters like that were reserved for major players.
The current Ice Palace Lord, with zero lines during the Ice Palace raid, wasn't one.
Just as I thought there had to be something more—
Flap flap~!
A pigeon flew in through the window. Jin So-cheong's expression shifted at the sight.
"Cult Leader. That's a messenger pigeon specially trained by our Cult."
"Take it."
Jin So-cheong approached the window, opened it, and the pigeon naturally flew to her.
She untied the bundle from its leg, pulled out a letter, and handed it to me.
To So-cheong,
But.
"Blood-written."
"Yes. As expected of Your Supremacy—you see right through it."
Not really; the Blood Explosion Jade just made me sensitive to blood.
"What's it say?"
"May I have it back for a moment?"
I handed the letter back. As Jin So-cheong extended her hand over it, the characters writhed and shifted, changing the content.
I couldn't help widening my eyes at what it revealed.
• Ice Palace Lord bedridden with illness
• North Sea Ice Palace, Cheon Gi-ja appearance
Of course it was.
Cheon Gi-ja, as expected.
"How much do you have on Cheon Gi-ja?"
"He's too elusive to track thoroughly, so we haven't prioritized him."
That's why I couldn't find him.
Cheon Gi-ja was like the wind—impossible to pin down.
"Ice Palace his last known stop?"
"Probably not. Cult reports use 'itinerary' for stays, not 'appearance.' Given his nature, he's likely moved on."
"I see."
"I'll contact the Cult and upgrade Cheon Gi-ja intel to top priority."
"Blood Law Envoy."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"You're doing well. Keep it up."
At my words, Jin So-cheong blushed and replied affirmatively.
"Dismissed."
"Yes. Call me anytime."
Jin So-cheong descended.
As she vanished, Pa Cheon, who'd been listening, spoke up.
[Competent one. If only Tak Horak had half that.']
"Tak Horak would cry hearing that."
[Just facts. A subordinate who can't follow orders versus one who anticipates them.']
She was slippery—almost graspable, yet not.
'Ice Palace Lord's illness tied to Cheon Gi-ja somehow?'
It was odd, thinking about it.
Even in Murim Return.
No matter how mighty the Ice Palace, challenging the Divine Cult made no sense.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult wasn't a public enemy because it was weak.
It was too strong—an object of terror.
Even without experiencing the Heavenly Demon Blood Massacre firsthand, any murim denizen hearing 'Divine Cult' would shudder. Attacking them defied logic.
'Hidden by the Ice Palace raid spectacle.'
As the Heavenly Demon's debut in Murim Return, folks accepted it, but plausibility-wise, it was fishy.
What if the Ice Palace Lord's illness was the backdrop? And Yi Se-ryeong the cure?
'Deviation into Devil or whatever—needing potent yin energy for treatment makes sense.'
Explains craving Ice Crystals too.
Ice Crystals, or equivalent extreme yin qi.
Hence hunting Yi Se-ryeong.
Not for nothing was the Ice Palace bloodline-focused—the direct descendants were optimized for ice arts.
Especially if she became the Heavenly Demon—surely a ice arts grandmaster.
'Last desperate gasp, eyes rolled back.'
Though the Heavenly Demon wasn't one to fall for desperation.
[Why react so gravely?]
Pa Cheon asked.
My recent thoughts were Murim Return lore Pa Cheon couldn't know.
I'd cut mental link to think alone, piquing his curiosity.
[Not worried about war, I see.']
"Since when are you so perceptive?"
[......So what's the problem?']
"Cheon Gi-ja's actions so far. And the fallout for us. Putting it together."
[Together?']
"Maybe his goal is to erase me from this world."
[Erase you?']
Couldn't explain to Pa Cheon.
But from my original knowledge—and Jo Yang's words—
Cheon Gi-ja was steering this world exactly along Murim Return's plot.
'And I'm a foreign contaminant.'
Completely derailing the story.
To Cheon Gi-ja, I might be a thorn.
And thorns have one fate.
Extraction.
That was when—
[Worrying over nothing.']
"Hm?"
[Don't overthink it, you yokai.']
Pa Cheon continued.
[Cheon Gi-ja or whatever—threaten, coerce, bend them to our will. That's the Cult way.']
"......Psycho. And it's Cheon Gi-ja's 'Cheon'—not that one."
[You said to go mad first. And you started that joke.']
"True."
Overly cliché—
No. Can't use that. Pure trope.
Instead.
'If extracting me is his aim, maybe he'll send me back to my original world.'
Confront him directly, ask his intent.
Become strong enough even Cheon Gi-ja can't touch me—or engineer that.
That's the possessor's way.
"Next step's set, then."
[Medicinal herb elixir.']
"Yeah."
Time to leave Sichuan.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon