Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: Dangerous (3)
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Inner chamber of the Ho Won Iron Forge.
This place was originally where the chief blacksmith resided.
'That damned nun who dares to call herself Demon Slayer, Kyung Hye, the Beggar Clan's Old Three, Mount Hua's Chang Ryang, and Sword Queen Mo Yong-rin are figures to watch out for.'
However, today, Rogue Demon General Song Gil-jun had spread out a map of the Danggang District and the layout of the Righteous Martial Academy's buildings, placing Go stones on them.
'Next, the ones to be cautious of are Paeng Jae-hyeok, Jegal Min, and Haenam Sect's Jeong Geuk-gyeong? The other instructors are from scholarly sects and no match for our cult's agents. The Security Division is really nothing to worry about...'
Song Gil-jun held the final white stone, pondering for a moment.
'...And now this Demon Defense Squad.'
He had no choice but to worry.
'Hm. This Demon Defense Squad is packed with promising young talents considered heirs to prestigious orthodox sects, isn't it?'
Moreover, with its banner of "demonic arts defense," it held symbolic value, making it a truly tantalizing prey from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's perspective.
'If we could wipe them all out, it would deliver a massive blow.'
Yet, there was something off about treating them purely as prey.
The existing orthodox fools, softened by peace, usually prioritized their own factions and personal gains.
Even if not, they had shown some presence in the martial world here and there.
Thus, calculations were straightforward.
But these ones defied easy calculation.
They were unpredictable in where they might bolt to.
'Not only are the Four Great Dormitory residents thoroughly mixed, but the son of Woo Sa-in—who could practically be seen as a Black Path figure—the children of merchant world elites, and Nangong Family's legitimate heir all move together without friction.'
Even conceding a hundred times that someone could emerge as a central figure to unite them.
Still, to curb the reckless impulses of ordinary young talents, there should be double and triple restrictions on their actions.
'That's the righteousness they've always preached.'
Yet, this Demon Defense Squad had no such restrictions.
A hollow laugh crept onto Song Gil-jun's lips as he finished his thoughts.
'Even Gongson Mu-gyeol and Jegal Hye from the Murim Alliance turned tail after we tossed them a big piece of meat, and now these blood hasn't even dried kids are making me worry.'
Especially whenever Eon Yong-un, seen as their central figure, got involved, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's plans unraveled or shifted from the optimal strategy to a secondary one.
It had been that way in Shaanxi, and the same in Shimryul.
"...Eon Yong-un. Eon Yong-un."
How will you move in this game?
How long had Song Gil-jun been fiddling with that final white stone, murmuring Eon Yong-un's name?
"...Young Master. It's me."
A raspy voice announced itself from outside the inner chamber.
"Is that the Left Inner Guard?"
"Yes."
The voice belonged to the Left Inner Guard of Song Gil-jun's Rogue Palace.
Post-rank demon cult promising youths each had a demon assigned as an Inner Guard to assist them at close quarters.
Since the Demon Brain Division sometimes directly commanded other king divisions, Song Gil-jun had two Inner Guards.
Among them, the Left Inner Guard was the one tasked with overseeing the manpower at Ho Won Iron Forge starting today.
'The Left Inner Guard usually doesn't disturb me when I'm deep in thought. Seeing this, something must have happened.'
Song Gil-jun halted his musings and spoke.
"Come in."
The elderly demon entered cautiously, bowing deeply before speaking.
"I apologize for interrupting your contemplation, Young Master. But this is something you must know immediately, so this old one has been rude."
"It's fine. What is it?"
"While this old one was tallying the reserve cultists, I found one missing."
"...A deserter? Among the reserve cultists from the Black Path, none would dare act on such thoughts."
"I thought the same and searched the area just in case. I found one hidden after being acupointed. And this too."
The Left Inner Guard handed a ledger to Song Gil-jun.
"Hm. This is a wage receipt from an external laborer? Yong-gu received his pay... no, wait."
"It's rare for a day laborer not to claim their wages. Upon inquiry, the one named Yong-gu claimed to be from Dangyang County, and the acupointed reserve cultist remembers nothing."
"Haha. Looks like orthodox spies paid a visit? They even checked under our noses."
"What shall we do? Halt the plan and withdraw?"
But Song Gil-jun shook his head at the Left Inner Guard's words.
The elderly demon tilted his head and asked.
"Proceed anyway?"
"It should be fine. The spy's actions are utterly amateurish, aren't they?"
"...Hm."
"Leaving the wages unclaimed, abandoning someone who might have seen something after acupoint striking, and claiming to be from Dangyang County. Probably forged an identity through the Jegal Family."
With that opener, Song Gil-jun smirked and continued.
"It reeks of inexperience. This has to be the Demon Defense Squad's handiwork."
"The Demon Defense Squad? That blood-clot group led by Eon Yong-un?"
"Yes. The plausible identity via Jegal Family was likely Little Military Strategist Jegal Seol-ji, and the one with the skill to infiltrate here but sloppy cleanup is probably Woo So-rung."
"Woo So-rung. The one whose guts are smaller than his father's."
"Yes. He must have bolted straight back to the academy like a startled rabbit after spotting the tunnel. So, they haven't fully grasped why we dug it."
Song Gil-jun sneered briefly.
'Even if Eon Yong-un is a monster who could wreck the Demon King Division's grand scheme alone, it's meaningless if his limbs are this incompetent.'
He narrowed his eyes and spoke.
"We proceed with the operation. But change the method. Advance the attack timing as well. Left Inner Guard, sound the alert to all cultists immediately and gather all division leaders here."
"Understood."
Having issued the order, Song Gil-jun crushed the Go stone he still held.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I slipped out of enemy territory amid the chaos of alcohol and meat Song Gil-jun had prepared being delivered.
Then I rushed straight to where the waiting team was.
"Instructor!"
"Our Yong-gu is back..."
The Old Three Instructor started to tease me upon seeing me.
"Hyung Eon! Why are you covered in so much blood?!"
"It's not mine, So-rung."
Namgung Yun furrowed his brow at my blood-drenched appearance, like I'd been doused head to toe.
"Even if it's not yours, you wouldn't be covered like that without something happening. We thought it was fine since you didn't call us. You idiot, you should've called if trouble brewed!"
Namgung Yun and Jeong Hyeon both reached for their swords, eyes gleaming.
"It was too serious to even call for backup. Namgung Yun, no need to draw yet."
"...Got it."
"Jeong Hyeon, return my sword."
"Here you go, Eon Young Hero."
As Master's blade returned to my waist, she questioned me mentally.
-What the hell did you do to end up like that?
But I had no time to answer now.
I needed to sort through my thoughts.
I dismissed everyone's curiosity for the moment.
"Long story, but no time now. Head to the academy first. I'll explain there."
I tore off and discarded the face covering used for disguise.
Then, kicking off with Shadowless Heaven-Splitting Step, I ordered Woo So-rung.
"So-rung, go ahead without matching our pace. Alert the Demon Defense Squad and Azure Bamboo Hall, and tell Eun So-jeo to fetch the Chancellor."
"Yes!"
Back at the academy, I gathered the Demon Defense Squad instructors and Azure Bamboo Hall executives for an emergency briefing.
"Let's begin the report."
The first to speak was Old Three, who had looked frustrated since earlier.
"Yeah! What happened? Why are you in that state?!"
"The demon cultists were digging tunnels."
"Those lunatics boil moles for supper? You got that messy pulling out what they hid in the pit? What were they hiding?"
"It wasn't hiding something in a pit—they were digging a tunnel all the way under the academy."
"A tunnel?"
"Yes."
"Here?"
"Yes."
Old Three gaped in disbelief, double-checking as if he'd misheard.
The other attendees were equally stunned.
"Seriously?"
"No way."
Before such reactions, I began explaining what I'd seen and sensed.
"...That's how I barely escaped."
When my explanation ended.
Some younger Eon siblings clicked their tongues in admiration.
"Whoa, Eon Yong-un scammed demons too? Right in their lair? He's insane. Guts of steel."
"To me, it's not just big guts—his whole guts are made of liver. Brother Yong-un."
Nun Kyung Hye spoke with a stern expression.
"Cadet Eon Yong-un. We agreed you'd stop and return if it got dangerous, didn't we?!"
"In this case, not confirming would be more 'dangerous.' Still, I broke my promise to the Chancellor, so I'll accept punishment later."
"...Ha. I'm not trying to punish you. Thinking you were in that mess makes my heart race."
"......"
"Anyway, we'll discuss that later. What now? Should we launch a preemptive strike with the other instructors and sisters right away?"
I shook my head at the Chancellor's words.
Meanwhile, Instructor Jeong Geuk-gyeong added his piece.
"Chancellor, stay calm. That would leave our strongest forces away from the academy. First, request support from nearby Wudang Sect, Jegal Family, and other White Path factions."
"I'll send the beggars out right now."
"That's necessary, but just wait for reinforcements blindly? With unknown enemies possibly emerging from underfoot anytime? They might even expand the tunnels."
Up to here, one might think like the Chancellor.
But my plan differed slightly.
"If I may be bold. I think I know when, where, and how they'll come."
With that opener, I revealed what I hadn't in the prior report.
"Actually, I deliberately left traces of my visit there."
Old Three widened his eyes.
"...Why? Isn't it better if they don't know we've caught on to their scheme?"
"Normally, yes. But has any solution emerged until now, assuming they don't know?"
Yin Ha-ryeon nodded at my words.
"No sharp ideas. But if you left traces, they'll have to rush. They've been exposed anyway."
"Exactly. That's why I said I know when. If they decide to proceed, expect movement as early as tonight, latest by tomorrow morning."
Jeong Hyeon chimed in.
"The art of war says fight the enemy when they least want it. Wow, you thought that far in the chaos."
In that atmosphere, I continued.
"From what I observed, the Rogue Demon General leading them prefers certainties. And he hides small schemes within larger ones—like sacrificing safehouses and herb warehouses to conceal the tunnel."
It drew heavily from original knowledge, but as the sole witness, no one challenged it.
Adding weight, Jegal Seol-ji, who had been muttering "tunnel" and "small scheme" alone, spoke up.
"Young Lord Yong-un? Did you see the material of the tunnel wall supports? Wood, right? If wooden, it's not just for troop movement. Digging a tunnel displaces that much space..."
"Burn the supports, and it collapses."
Shock rippled through the room at Jegal Seol-ji's and my words.
"We must redo defense plans around people, assuming the academy's outer walls and surrounding structures crumble."
I pressed through the shock.
"Knowing when, where, and how they'll emerge, we can surely repel them if united."
These mole bastards want to die?
Digging under someone else's turf?