Are You Playing With Us?
Unexpectedly, Mi Yeo-yeon burst into a fit of giggles.
"Senior Brother Im, thank you. I actually realized that you were using this method to help me release the tension and despair I was feeling. That strange moaning sound you made earlier was for that too, wasn't it? Even if it wasn't a conventional word of comfort, I knew you were using your own unique way to help me forget my bad feelings for a moment..."
Huh? A unique way of comforting? Things can turn out like this?
Bukjin was slightly taken aback as he looked at Mi Yeo-yeon, who currently wore the face of a middle-aged woman.
It wasn't intentional, but... to think I was capable of such a wise tactic!
"Hahaha! I suppose I couldn't hide it from a student as brilliant and observant as you, Junior Sister Mi! Hoho, you're right! You've grasped my intentions perfectly!"
Letting out a hearty laugh, Bukjin uploaded Mi Yeo-yeon's clothes into the Storage app and spoke.
Items successfully uploaded to [Storage].
"Let's go. We'll head into the city first to assess the situation. We must act quietly, as if nothing is wrong."
With that, the two of them stepped out of the warehouse located in the remote outskirts.
Gwancheom Alley, No. 27. Mi Yeo-yeon's house.
"You two over there! What are you doing? Stop right there!"
Two Unmong-wi soldiers spotted a middle-aged woman and a young woman staring at the Mi family estate for a long time and shouted loudly.
"Oh, dear brother..."
The beautiful young woman spoke in a flirtatious voice, her eyes curving into a smile.
"I was just curious... What kind of noble lives in this house that the Unmong-wi is standing guard over it?"
As the soldier looked at the stunning lady boasting a curvaceous figure, his expression softened considerably.
"This family is involved with Demon Worshippers. The Mi family has already been taken away. You two should leave this place immediately. If you linger here for no reason, you might be arrested as associates of the Mi clan."
"Oh..."
The tanned, middle-aged woman standing next to the young lady widened her eyes in shock.
"I see! We'll leave this place at once. Of course we will!"
The voluptuous young lady quickly grabbed the older woman and pulled her away with a frightened face.
"Mother, let's get out of here. This place is so scary."
The two women turned around and hurried away.
"Jang Sam! Why didn't you try to talk to her a bit more?" asked the other Unmong-wi soldier who had been watching the situation.
"That girl just now was no joke. Those long legs, that slender waist... and those breasts were truly... Her aegyo was incredible too! You could tell at a glance she's the type who'd fall for you if you just coaxed her right!"
The soldier named Jang Sam replied, "Do you think I didn't want to? The timing is just bad. If we talked to them for too long, it could have been bad for that lady! With the investigation team members watching like hawks and arresting anyone they can get their hands on, if they saw them talking to us, they'd definitely think they were suspicious and take them away!"
Their conversation quickly drew the attention of other soldiers.
"That's true. Those bastards in the investigation team are arresting just about anyone! Over a hundred people have been taken already, and they're still at it! Phew, I heard they're already using torture in the prison to ask about Im Bukjin's whereabouts."
"Even City Lord Jeong has gone into seclusion within the government office due to the aftermath of this incident, refusing to see any visitors. All affairs in Unmong City, large and small, are already being managed by Dam Gogeum... At this rate, when will things ever go back to the way they were?"
"By the way, did you hear? That butler who used to follow Im Bukjin around betrayed him as soon as he was caught. I heard he's even searching for Bukjin's hiding spots alongside the experts. He's a man with no backbone... Not even human, that one!"
"Well, you can't necessarily say that. Im Bukjin is someone associated with the Heavenly Evil God. It's better to cut ties with him completely."
"But I can't respect a guy who sells his integrity just to save his own skin and gain glory. Besides, it hasn't been officially proven yet whether Im Bukjin is truly involved with the Heavenly Evil God. I thought he was a decent fellow..."
"Shh! Watch your mouth! Do you even know what you're saying? Do you want to be framed and dragged away too?"
"I just hate how those outsiders are bullying our Unmong City."
The soldiers continued their conversation in hushed tones.
A certain secret chamber. It was a dark place where almost no light entered.
Baek Hae-geum took out a statue that was cracked in various places and barely recognizable. He placed it on an altar about the size of a rice bowl and then let a drop of blood fall onto the altar.
The blood quickly soaked into the altar, and soon, a strange, dark-red pattern began to glow. A sharp voice echoed from within the statue.
"What is it!"
If Bukjin had been present, he would have recognized this voice instantly. It was the eerie, resonant voice of the witch that had been heard when Sim Bi fell into Demonic Possession and fled after his defeat.
"Great One, Im Bukjin has fled, and the pursuers throughout the city have been unable to find him. Our collaborator has requested that you use your divine powers to reveal where Bukjin is heading. If you do, we will be able to conclude this plan more swiftly and completely exterminate the Jeon-cheon-hu lineage."
Baek Hae-geum knelt and bowed his head, speaking in a respectful manner.
"I see," the voice from the statue replied. "Do not contact me again unless it is something extraordinary."
Baek Hae-geum hurriedly replied, "This matter is of extreme urgency—"
"Shut your mouth!"
An angry voice erupted from the statue. "I am helping you with all my strength here, in the very place where the Temple of the Sword Lord is situated, at great risk to myself. I already gave you the best opportunity, yet you still managed to lose Im Bukjin! And now you dare to ask for my help again? The collaborator you chose is utterly disappointing!"
Baek Hae-geum trembled and hurriedly bowed his head. "The collaborator has also acknowledged his mistake. He sought your help, promising to offer double the sacrifices he gave before."
The statue's voice calmed down slightly. "I can no longer intervene. Someone has already begun to suspect me. If I act again, my identity will be revealed. If that happens, you will not be able to escape disaster either."
Baek Hae-geum gritted his teeth and summoned his courage. "I no longer care for my own life. I am prepared to offer everything to you, Great One. It's just that the current situation is too bizarre. We have searched every nook and cranny inside and outside Unmong City, yet we still haven't found a trace of Im Bukjin. If time continues to pass and the remnants of the Jeon-cheon-hu regain their senses and launch a counterattack, all our work will have been for naught."
The statue remained silent for a moment. After a while, the faint light emanating from the statue scattered and vanished. The dark-red pattern that had appeared on the small altar also disappeared.
Baek Hae-geum waited for a moment, and upon confirming there was no further reaction, his heart sank heavily.
It seems the Great One has refused to intervene.
He couldn't accept the current situation in his heart, but there was no other way.
If I'm to blame someone, it must be Dam Gogeum!
Dam Gogeum was a man of excessive ambition. He was someone who was only satisfied if he maximized his own profit in whatever he did. He had insisted on broadcasting the scene of him pressuring Im Bukjin in front of the temple, which was a huge risk. Even after that, he had intentionally let Bukjin go, trying to lure him into a counterattack so he could kill him naturally. As a result, Bukjin didn't fall for his trick and instead completely vanished.
Dam Gogeum would find it difficult to evade responsibility for this outcome. However, Baek Hae-geum clearly understood that now was not the time to argue over responsibility and faults. What needed to be done now was to capture Bukjin as quickly as possible, frame the Jeon-cheon-hu for their association with the Demon Worshippers, and take Bukjin's life without leaving any clues. Only then could the subsequent plans be carried out without issue.
"This matter must be handled with all our might."
A fierce expression appeared on Baek Hae-geum's face.
"I will make that fellow Im Bukjin crawl out on his own!"
Carefully retrieving the statue from the altar, Baek Hae-geum turned and left the secret chamber.
"Old man! Are you playing with us right now?"
Miao Ruofei, a Great Martial Master level expert from the investigation team, glared at Wang Chung with a fierce expression.
"You've already dragged us to over ten different locations and wasted half a day of our time! And yet, we haven't even seen a shadow of Im Bukjin! Are you mocking us on purpose?"
Wang Chung spoke with a tearful face. "The places I've taken you to are all locations my young master frequently visits. I swear by the heavens! My name has the character for Loyalty in it. I am a man known for handling matters with honesty!"
"Shut up!"
Miao Ruofei was so angry his head was beginning to throb. He slapped Wang Chung across the cheek and ordered, "Beat this fellow properly!"
Thwack! Thud! Crack!
The experts standing nearby began to pummel Wang Chung.
"Agh! D-don't hit me! Aaack! Just don't pull my beard... I-I really don't know! Uuugh! L-let me think about it one more time!" Wang Chung cried out in pain.
Wang Chung's nose was already bruised and swollen, and blood was soaking his clothes.
" I'll give you one last chance. Speak! Where is Im Bukjin? Take us to where he is! If we don't find him this time, I'll break both your legs! And I'll carve scars into the faces of those two maids you're so fond of!" Miao Ruofei said with a cold face.
Wang Chung trembled all over and hurriedly said, "I really don't know!"
Clang!
Miao Ruofei drew his sword. Wang Chung jumped in shock.
"G-give me some time... I-I'll think about it. Please give me a chance... Ah! I think I know! There's one more place the young master used to take us to frequently!"
"Lead the way, now!" Miao Ruofei shouted in a sharp voice.
Wang Chung let out a groan of pain and began to lead the investigation team experts once again.