Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Demonic Arts Defense Studies Research Group (5)
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- Your heavy hands and sharp tongue are showing rare patience... but now I see you're scheming to turn that pig-nosed Shim Yul into a double agent?
Oh, come on.
Anyone who heard that would think my disciple was some underworld thug who beats people indiscriminately.
- Shouldn't we at least hear what they have to say?
‘...?’
- ?
‘Well, yes, I do plan to use a double agent ploy.’
A double agent ploy was a strategy that turned the enemy's spy against them—in simple terms, making use of a double spy.
There were various methods.
‘We could leak false information to lure the enemy to a specific location.’
Or feed them seemingly crucial intel to waste their time and resources chasing shadows.
- But can you trust that Shim Yul guy? A double agent is a double-edged sword—it could backfire and hurt you instead.
My master's words rang true.
To maximize a spy's usefulness, we had to offer valuable information to earn the demonic cultists' trust.
‘I don't trust him. Even if we take his story at face value without exaggeration, he's still someone who betrayed his sect.’
- So how exactly do you plan to pull off this double agent ploy?
If the spy fully defected to their side, I could be in real danger.
That's why classic military texts like The Art of War emphasized the need to manage double agents carefully.
‘I don't trust Shim Yul. I just create a situation where he has no choice but to move according to my plan.’
Which made what came next crucial.
For now, shock from his exposure and my pressure had him spilling everything.
But once he had time to think...
Whether Shim Yul sided with us would be decided in this very moment.
‘Shim Yul is ambitious, but his willpower doesn't quite match his ambitions.’
The profile from Kunlun Sect for the interview had said as much.
And my own observations confirmed it.
‘In that case, start with the carrot.’
I sheathed Regret first.
Then, wearing an expression of full understanding, I turned to Shim Yul, who was still rambling on about his woes.
“I see.”
With that opener, I chimed in sympathetically: ‘I might've done the same in your shoes,’ and ‘Just between us, Kunlun Sect went too far.’ I eased his guilt that way.
“I've been called a wastrel myself. Unlike you, Senior, I was actually kicked out of my family.”
“...Ah, right! You must've had it rough too.”
I subtly brought up the old Eon Yong-un's antics.
“I deserved it for my wastrel ways, so I endured. But you showed righteous spirit and ended up like this... it must've been so frustrating and unfair.”
Perhaps his affinity for me rose, because Shim Yul's wavering eyes spilled even deeper secrets.
“The sect was unfair, the research group was grueling. You're intimidating, Director Eon, and even the demonic cultists don't fully trust me. Why is the world so harsh only to me...?”
That was enough comfort.
Now, I offered the real carrot.
“Instead of seeing it as harshness, why not view it as an opportunity?”
“An opportunity?”
“As I mentioned earlier, pass the information I give you to the demonic cult. At first, to build their trust in you, Senior, I'll give you real intel.”
“...And later mix in false info? You're using me as a double agent.”
“Exactly. If we can hurt the demonic cult through you, it'll be a huge achievement.”
Then I swung the whip.
“Truth is, Senior, you have no choice. Wear the stigma and die, or seize this last chance.”
“......”
“Even if I hadn't spotted your identity, nothing would've changed. If the demonic cult truly trusted you, they'd have believed you were just cutting paper the whole time. But they didn't, right? Can you swear the 'antidote' they gave you is real and not the start of a new poison? Are you trusting demonic cultists because there's no one else?”
Then another carrot.
“The poison you've swallowed doesn't hinder daily life or qi circulation, so it's not lethal. If it were, we have the Elixir King's Hall and Tang Clan here. They wouldn't hesitate to help a hero and righteous wanderer who braved danger and stigma to strike the demonic cult.”
Finally, I pointed at my face.
“You can fix everything. It's not too late.”
Hey, you can do it.
That was it.
Shim Yul's pupils glazed over.
“...A hero. And a righteous wanderer.”
My master, now back at my waist, muttered toward me.
- How much time have you spent sweet-talking this guy who tried Knight Extermination Strike? At this rate, you should've entered government service instead of the jianghu.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It was the second contact since Eon Yong-un uncovered his identity.
The demonic cult's informant spoke to Shim Yul in a deliberately dry tone.
“If it's more of the same—'Eon Yong-un and the researchers are all crazy,' no new info...”
“...Then what?”
“Our relationship ends here. And it won't be a clean breakup. Everyone will know the academy shook hands with our cult. You don't want to be shunned by us and finger-pointed by the orthodox sects as you meet your end, do you?”
At the informant's words,
Shim Yul recalled Eon Yong-un's voice.
‘Are you trusting demonic cultists because there's no one else?’
Muttering to himself that it wasn't too late, he relayed Eon Yong-un's scripted lines.
“If you have ways to verify, do it! The Demonic Defense Research Group doesn't run on orthodox jianghu's seniority. Treating seniors like oxen without regard for hierarchy makes them seem crazy, and as a lowly one doing menial tasks, I had no info then!”
“'Then' implies you've got something this time?”
Shim Yul handed over the documents Eon Yong-un provided.
“This is all the research info I can get for now. No immediate laxity in the academy, but the Hiking Club shows signs of becoming regular.”
“Hiking Club?”
“Professors and researchers go on outings to nearby mountains. I missed the last one meeting you, but it's an event where all but essential staff hike.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thanks to... motivating the researchers, the academy's initial compilation of the Undefeated Righteous-Demonic War records was nearly done.
The researchers split into departments by guiding professors, each tackling topics for full research.
“'No time to even breathe' fits perfectly.”
Some duties I'd handled shifted to professors, and with researchers adapted to 'research group routine,' I no longer wore the red hat directly.
Still, I was busy.
‘Classes plus managing Cheongjuk Hall.’
Professors waived researcher assignments, but finals required personal study.
I also checked on Cheongjuk Hall sporadically.
Well, other autonomous committee officers did too.
‘But I had Shim Yul Senior to manage.’
His heart seemed swayed our way, but no room for complacency.
Info leaked to the demonic cult via him needed meticulous review.
Too valuable, and I'd be giving away my flesh; too trivial, and they'd deem him useless.
Selecting leaks took mental effort.
Luckily, I didn't prepare alone.
“Shall we proceed that way?”
“Yes, that works.”
Through events, I gained reliable allies.
I entrusted some to perfect my plan.
Thus, I prepared the noose calmly, preparations accelerating.
‘And now the time is ripe.’
Carefully leaked info had reached them.
They'd verified it by now.
Time for action.
I closed the documents and headed to the training ground.
Drew Regret.
Shing-
Things seemed to follow my plan for now.
But as the saying goes, when trouble hits, plans go in the trash first.
Things could twist.
‘Not just this time.’
Future plans too—if they tangled,
only personal martial prowess could cut the knots.
‘I need to break through the wall.’
To manifest true sword aura, not pseudo with blood arts' limits.
Today too, I swung my sword.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Today we depart from Juk Mountain via the trail to Dangang Valley, so note that.”
As professors and researchers left for the now-regular Hiking Club event,
a group in black from head to toe passed through the bamboo grove east of Righteous Martial Academy.
They were assassin squads from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Brain Division external operations unit, the Demon Shadow Squad.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dormitories lay east of Righteous Martial Academy.
Thus, the eastern bamboo grove had formations via artifacts and bamboo,
altered every half-day.
But informant Shim Yul inside had left dismantling notes at the Dangang Valley relay.
“Intel checks out.”
The bamboo grove posed no barrier to the black-clad figures.
Emerging,
[If Shim Yul had second thoughts, we'd be sacrificed in the bamboo grove. Trust the rest.]
[Yes. Research Hall guards: Eon Yong-un, Jeon Gal-seolji, Professor Younghwan, and Mosan Sect disciples. Mosan Sect in Building U with Bingo locks, Eon Yong-un and Jeon Gal-seolji in Building L.]
[To Building L.]
Their steps gained momentum.
[One man, one woman, collapsed asleep.]
[Intel says research workload defies imagination. Even jianghu folk can't endure; our cult doesn't work people that hard. Anyway, perfect. Kill Jeon Gal-seolji if resistance, but priority is capture.]
[Yes. Begin?]
[Guard shift changes formations soon. Hurry. Incense the cave, seal their points, bag 'em.]
Long-trained veterans with real VIP captures, aided by an insider,
[Complete.]
[To safehouse.]
snatched two cadets in broad daylight like winking turtles.
“Unbag them. Need water.”
“Yes.”
At the safehouse, unbagging Eon Yong-un and Jeon Gal-seolji revealed...
Not quite Eon Yong-un—a middle-aged man resembling a mangy mutt, far plainer than described, stretching his back.
“Oof, my poor back. Don't those kids know comfort? Ride like hell.”
Beside him, the female cadet rising spoke with a voice aged by years.
“Professor No? Your points released, and reverse qi art too?”
“What's it matter, Chancellor?”
“Fair enough. Anyway, Cadet Eon Yong-un was right. Clever kid.”