Chapter 344
Chapter 344
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 344
Chapter Title: From Now On, It's Our Counterattack (7)
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The palace eunuch gathered the papers I handed over and presented them to His Highness Prince Chu.
"…!"
Upon confirming them, His Highness suppressed the towering rage boiling within him.
He then ordered the assembled officials to withdraw.
"I hereby adjourn the council. Return to your duties until I summon you again."
And to me, he said to follow him.
"I grant you a private audience."
Following His Highness's footsteps into the inner chamber of the side hall, the questions began.
"The Alliance Leader has informed me, so I am aware of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's emblem. I don't know the exact meaning of the oracle bone script beside it, but… what is it you wish to say?"
I knelt and replied to his question.
"My apologies. Seeing Your Highness's fury engulf the seas, this lowly one presumptuously requested a private audience in hopes you might find a moment's respite."
"I do not doubt your dragon-like sincerity. Speak freely without formalities."
"In my view, Your Highness seemed ready to march on the Prince Yan's residence at any moment."
"…."
"This lowly one also believes Prince Yan's residence is behind this incident. But without solid evidence, striking them now could put Your Highness in a precarious position, no?"
Prince Chu nodded at my words.
"I am well aware of that."
But he soon gritted his teeth, glaring toward the direction of Guangxi.
"Prince Yan must have anticipated exactly that and orchestrated this! He likely thinks I will do nothing out of concern for His Majesty's worries, as I always have! I've turned a blind eye to his actions thus far because of our blood ties, but no longer!"
"If I may be so bold… I believe this is actually a favorable situation."
"…Favorable?"
"As Your Highness just said, Prince Yan has predicted your temperament. Right now, with the incident fresh, those around him will be on guard against any 'what ifs.' But if Your Highness shows restraint, they will soon drop their guard completely."
"…And we strike then."
"Yes. I did not suggest overlooking this out of mere insolence."
"However, the question remains: when? Even after scouring the capital, no evidence has surfaced. It won't magically appear."
"We will find the evidence."
At my declaration to procure the proof, His Highness shook his head firmly.
"No need. You've more than repaid any debt by rescuing the prince and aiding the search. It pains me that I've dragged you into this after inviting you to rest. I won't impose further."
To Prince Chu's words, I subtly pulled down my collar to reveal the Sea Dragon King's armor beneath and replied.
"Even before I earned any merit, Your Highness placed boundless trust in me. How could I hold back now?"
"…That was given in pure goodwill."
"I know. It's simply my own resolve."
"…."
"Moreover, this concerns us as well. I did not fabricate those emblems to buy Your Highness time. They are genuine discoveries."
"…Continue."
"During the search, we found a suspicious individual who took his own life in the interim. We preserved the body but did not report it. The two emblems were tattoos on his body."
"Indeed. No such report reached my desk."
"The one Your Highness didn't recognize—the oracle bone script reading 'Blood Flame Shakes the Heavens'—is used by a particularly influential faction within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
With that preamble, I explained the internal Blood Demon Faction of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and my suspicions regarding Nangjung Demon General Song Gil-jun's intentions.
"…Thus, I predict the Blood Demon Faction will soon break away from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
Having listened silently, Prince Chu summarized my tale in one sentence.
"To sum up your words: the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's strategist is using me to excise internal rivals?"
He questioned me once more.
"Yet, aren't these people just as intent on stirring chaos in the jianghu?"
"Are you asking if they must both be exterminated regardless?"
"Precisely."
At Prince Chu's words, my master murmured in admiration.
- Prince Chu is indeed exceptional. Any provincial lord would rage at being toyed with, yet he calmly ponders the jianghu despite his noble station….
'A rare character, indeed. But most importantly, he takes a liking to me.'
Thus, I had to protect Prince Chu's residence.
Only then could I seek his aid when I needed it in the future.
"It is true that both the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Blood Cult are cults deceiving the masses. But striking the Blood Cult now offers no strategic gain."
"…Inducing infighting among them benefits the realm's stability. Indeed, if the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and Blood Cult clash, we reap the fisherman's profit."
"Yes. Moreover, if we pursue the Blood Cult, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult might exploit the gap for other mischief—perhaps even targeting Prince Yan's residence."
"…That sounds like they might strike directly at Prince Yan."
"Considering their attempt to swallow the Northern Sea Ice Palace, it's entirely plausible."
"…Hoo. I understand your counsel to temper my anger. And why we shouldn't pursue the Blood Cult. But I haven't heard how you plan to find the evidence. May I ask?"
"They don't know how deeply I understand the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's internal affairs. We can exploit that."
Prince Chu furrowed his brow in contemplation at my words.
I drove the point home.
"Your Highness's warriors are valiant. But they likely don't grasp how demonic cults fight and think. I am best suited for this."
Prince Chu raised both palms in surrender-like fashion.
Pointing at my chest, he said.
"…I gave you that handkerchief inside your armor, and you said I'd pierced my nose—looks like I've made a killing deal instead."
"You embarrass me."
"I trust you. I'll leave it to you. Request any manpower or resources you need."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having received Prince Chu's permission and promise of support, I left the side hall.
To inform the others and begin in earnest, I headed straight back to the guesthouse.
As I opened the door, Senior Ye Hae-su pointed in a direction.
"Junior! Ungyong's back!"
Turning my gaze, Ungyong had indeed returned.
Haw!
To the one who had stamped An Hwi-seong where Master was staying, then passed through the Righteous Martial Academy, I offered warm words.
"Good work. Must've been tough, huh?"
At my words, Ungyong squinted and tilted his head.
Haw?
Wu So-ryeong, who had taken charge of feeding him, spoke up.
"He's asking why you're suddenly being nice."
"…Good grief. When have I not been good to him?"
- Asking because you don't know? You treat people like leaky buckets and work them to death.
Ignoring Master's words and my little brothers' stares, I examined the letters tied to Ungyong's leg.
'Nothing unusual.'
The jianghu was relatively calm, and the True Blood Group was running smoothly.
After incinerating the letters with Samadhi True Fire, I moved to the desk and quickly penned one.
『Nangjung Demon General Song Gil-jun plots to strike our cult—report to superiors urgently.』
Tying it to Ungyong's leg, I said.
"Sorry, Ungyong, but you'll have to work a bit more. Deliver this to Duggo Cheol."
Ungyong hopped onto my head and screeched.
Haw!
"Knew it," said Eon sibling.
"Hey. Didn't I feed you food and water?"
"Yes, you did."
"Ungyong, this is urgent."
Hawrk!
"Should I just boil you in hot water today?"
Haw!
Watching Ungyong screech and flap out the window again, I thought.
'Gil-jun won't imagine I've fully seized one of the Blood Cult's conduits.'
Once the info that Song Gil-jun plans to strike the Blood Cult reaches them via Duggo Cheol, infighting will erupt between the Blood Cult and Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
In the process, Duggo Cheol's status will soar for delivering key intel.
A win-win-win—I chuckled and clapped to draw my little brothers' attention.
Clap.
"I just told His Highness Prince Chu I'd find evidence linking Prince Yan's residence to this."
Nangong Yun tilted his head.
"Where do you plan to find evidence all of a sudden?"
"I wrote in the letter on Ungyong's leg that Song Gil-jun plans to hit the Blood Cult."
"Then…."
"As soon as that reaches the Blood Demons via Cheol, things will blow up between the Blood Cult and Demonic Cult. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult will be in chaos. That's when we hit their base—we'll get something."
"You know where it is?"
"We'll find it from now. Given Gil-jun's personality, it's definitely not far from here."
Approaching the map in the guesthouse, I drew a circle and spoke.
"Reviewing the capital raid, it was clearly rushed. Prince Yan is in Guangxi. Combining that with Prince Chu's residence, Beggar's Sect, and Hao Sect intel, we comb this area—we'll catch their tail. His Highness promised full support. Silver sis, let's organize a system."
"Got it. How much time?"
"As soon as possible, obviously."
"…Sigh. Ungyong to Duankang Valley, Duggo Cheol's report to Blood Demon hands—shortest five days, longest eight. So three days. Hao Sect, have Eon young master check; Beggar's Sect, Tian young hero…."
"I'll handle Beggar's Sect too. No time with the chaos—give Jeonghyeon and Tian Jang-ho one Mucklin Earth Dragon core each to split and absorb."
"Primal Heavenly Venerable. Understood."
"Ahem. Can we even take such things? We've nearly died enough times already—how much more do you plan to work us…."
"Don't eat it. Live sloppily and drop dead."
"Ah! I'll eat it! Gimme!"
"Silver sis, hold off. Okgi said Mucklin Earth Dragons live in deserts, full of fire energy—doesn't suit your heart method."
"Right. But the Human-Faced Spider core we got has balanced energy; research it to absorb safely, then Ha-yeon, you take it."
Mid-conversation, Ha-seong caught my eye.
"…."
I'd given So-ryeong one to feed, so Ha-seong could've had his too.
He'd been quiet lately, but recently that familiar impatience resurfaced.
Absorbing now would risk qi deviation.
"Ha-seong, you're not ready yet. Yours is secured—I'll give it when the time comes."
"…Yes."
With a word to him, I clapped sharply to spur everyone.
"Alright, move out quick. No time."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ This year, Yin Ha-seong had been emotionally turbulent.
Nangong Ying, Jang Seon, Duggo Cheol.
Talented juniors were shining, and even Wu So-ryeong, his constant companion, felt distant now.
'Sigh.'
Not resentment.
Just sorrow at his own inadequacy.
'I want to help somehow too.'
Yin Ha-seong heard the usual 'lacking in talent compared to Ha-yeon,' but as a merchant family scion, he had his strengths.
Speed-reading documents was one.
Thus, he pored over incoming intel reports.
As Yin Ha-seong was deep in the papers,
Eon Yong-un and Yin Ha-yeon's voices drifted over.
"Anything?"
"Given the tight security coming down from Guangxi, they won't expect us at first."
"Probably."
"Once inside Prince Chu's, word might leak, but backtracking from the incident date narrows it to this radius. Checking suitable spots in Guangxi."
As everyone focused on Guangxi per Yin Ha-yeon's suggestion,
A different thought struck Yin Ha-seong.
'I got beat by big bro back when I knew nothing, so if I were Song Gil-jun, I'd hate facing Yong-un bro—wouldn't come to Guangxi or Guangxi.'
Song Gil-jun had fled repeatedly, starting with the Fire Bird Egg fiasco.
'If his men caught Yong-un bro, he'd rush, but no—so probably elsewhere?'
Yin Ha-seong hesitated voicing the passing thought.
'They'll scold me for nonsense?'
With brilliant juniors rising, did he want to keep being the leaky bucket?
But he shook it off.
'Maybe 'cause time's tight, but everyone's fixated on Guangxi and Guangxi.'
Right or wrong, he should speak.
'I'm used to blurting thoughts and getting hit anyway.'
If it helped even slightly, a scolding was fine.
'Even a leaky bucket can help sometimes!'
Yin Ha-seong spoke up.
"What if not Guangxi or Guangxi? Like Guizhou? Fits the criteria too."
"…?"
"…?"
Silence fell briefly at Yin Ha-seong's words.
Eon Yong-un, staring at the map, approached him.
"Ha-seong."
Yin Ha-seong swallowed dryly.
"…Should I shut up?"
Eon Yong-un's response was unexpected praise.
"No, good job."
Ruffling Yin Ha-seong's hair, Eon Yong-un turned to the others.
"Bring Guizhou data here. Silver sis, doesn't the capital Guiyang fit the backtrack too?"
"With good roads and waterways, yes."
"That bastard Gil-jun. Feels like he's here."