Chapter 248: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual [R-18] (78)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 248: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual [R-18] (78)
Son Baek-cheon ran silently, cutting through the forest. After several hours, he arrived at a hidden cave deep within a valley.
The entrance was sealed by a formation that blocked one's qi and blood. He nonchalantly held out his palm and dispelled the sigil.
The inside of the cave was grim. There wasn't a single light, but he walked deeper with practiced ease.
Black stones embedded in the walls flickered to life. And there, someone was already waiting for him.
A middle-aged man wearing a gray hood.
He, too, seemed to be a member of the Celestial Sphere assembly, dressed in a robe embroidered with the black lotus sigil.
“…Son Baek-cheon, the mission?”
Son Baek-cheon sat down with a hollow laugh.
“It was a failure.”
“I’m surprised to hear you failed.”
“The Sword Empress was stronger than expected. And… there was a monster.”
The man narrowed his eyes.
“A monster?”
“Yes… A man who looked to be barely twenty had not only reached the Transformation Realm, but was toying with a Vice-Captain.”
The man was silent for a long moment. A peculiar light glinted in his eyes.
“The Transformation Realm at such a young age… Are you sure you didn't see wrong?”
“I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.”
“What is his name?”
“Jin Seo-yun.”
“Jin Seo-yun…”
The man sank into thought for a moment.
“There was a report that our plans at the Black Dragon Fortress were also thwarted by the Jin family. Perhaps that brat, Jin Seo-yun, was involved.”
It was then.
The sound of footsteps echoed from the deep darkness of the cave.
Both men turned their heads at the same time.
Black hair flowed like silk.
Vivid makeup was smudged around her red eyes, and her slender fingers sliced through the air as if caressing the scent of blood.
“Baek Ha-rim.”
Son Baek-cheon said in a low voice.
“Oh my,”
Baek Ha-rim smiled brightly and waved.
“Were you two having a fun chat without me?”
She approached with a leisurely gait. Stopping beside Son Baek-cheon, she glanced at his shoulder.
“So, what’s with your shoulder, old man? Don’t tell me you got hurt.”
“…The mission was a failure.”
It was a short answer. But at those words, the corners of Baek Ha-rim’s lips slowly curled upward.
“I thought you’d easily handle someone like the Sword Empress… but you lost?”
Son Baek-cheon spoke without any particular emotion.
“The Sword Empress was stronger than expected. And there was another master of the Transformation Realm who wasn't in our intelligence.”
“Hmph?”
Baek Ha-rim raised an eyebrow and tilted her head.
“Sounds like you’re saying the intelligence gathering was lacking… Is that my fault?”
She twirled a strand of hair with her fingertip, her tone playful, but a subtle provocation was hidden within.
Son Baek-cheon gave her an indifferent glance and replied curtly.
“Not really.”
At his short reply, the corners of Baek Ha-rim’s mouth curled into a faint smile.
Just then, the man in the gray hood cut in between them, his voice soft but firm.
“Baek Ha-rim. What about your mission?”
“A success.”
Baek Ha-rim answered with a shrug.
“How many did you recruit?”
“I recruited two. The other three refused, so… I cleaned them up.”
She continued nonchalantly.
“Oh, and I also tried out those Thunderclap Bombs you wanted me to test.”
“And?”
“The effect? To be honest… it was a bit disappointing.”
She rested her chin on her hand and drew a circle in the air with her finger.
“It might be fine against second-rate martial artists, but it’s not very effective against anyone stronger.”
Baek Ha-rim said, dusting off her hands. The gray-hooded man stroked his chin and muttered under his breath.
“…It seems further improvements are needed. This was a good reference.”
“They were practically fireworks. All smoke and noise, but the lethality was ambiguous. Next time, try to make something that can actually blow something up.”
With an indifferent expression, she flicked off the dust on her fingertips and tilted her head slightly.
“By the way, is it really okay to be scattering things like Thunderclap Bombs so openly?”
The gray-hooded man was silent for a moment. Then, he slowly shifted his gaze to her.
“It doesn't matter. The Imperial Palace doesn't have the capacity to care right now.”
“Because of the succession dispute?”
“That, and,”
The gray-hooded man’s voice was low and cold.
“We’ve deliberately shaken things up in a few places. Right now, they’re just wringing their hands, worried the northern front will collapse.”
“So, while they’re distracted… the Celestial Sphere assembly is starting fires everywhere?”
“Correct.”
Baek Ha-rim shrugged listlessly. Then she casually turned her head to look at Son Baek-cheon.
“By the way, old man, what you said earlier about there being another Transformation Realm master… is that true?”
Son Baek-cheon quietly nodded.
“Yes. It was a man named Jin Seo-yun.”
At his words, Baek Ha-rim’s eyebrows twitched.
“…That good-for-nothing from the Jin family? Hah, that’s ridiculous. Just a few years ago, he was a brat stuck at a third-rate level.”
Son Baek-cheon crossed his arms and replied.
“He must have had a fortuitous encounter. Something more than just a simple stroke of luck.”
“The world is unfair.”
Baek Ha-rim let out a short breath, a playful smile on her lips.
“If a scoundrel like that can get a fortuitous encounter, why can’t I get one?”
The man in the gray hood cut her off.
“Enough with the useless chatter.”
His gaze sharpened as he continued quietly.
“A variable has clearly appeared. If he reached the Transformation Realm at that age, we can’t even imagine what kind of threat he could become to us in the future.”
Son Baek-cheon also nodded in silence.
“I agree. I didn't cross swords with him directly, but his judgment, his presence, the flow of his sword during battle… he was no ordinary man.”
“He’s that strong?”
“He may have just entered the Transformation Realm… but the quality and quantity of his internal energy was at a density that couldn't be achieved through normal training methods.”
Baek Ha-rim’s lips curled into a smile.
“Then shall I pay him a visit?”
“…You?”
Baek Ha-rim slowly licked her lips with the tip of her tongue.
“He didn’t look too bad, either. Should I try to pull him over to our side? I did some research. It seems he has a huge weakness for women.”
Son Baek-cheon frowned.
“He is not an opponent to be approached as a joke.”
At that, the gray-hooded man took a step forward and spoke in a warning tone.
“Don’t do anything foolish. Just focus on carrying out your own missions.”
Baek Ha-rim slowly turned her body toward him. Her smile was playful, yet sharp.
“Don’t talk to me like you’re giving an order. What I do… is for me to decide.”
For a moment, the air in the cave grew chillingly cold. The gray-hooded man narrowed his eyes and stared at her.
Baek Ha-rim waved a hand as if mocking his gaze and turned away.
“Don’t worry. Have you ever seen me fail?”
Leaving behind a faint smile, Baek Ha-rim left the cave. In the space she vacated, only a heavy silence remained.
After a long silence, Son Baek-cheon spoke in a low voice.
“If she makes a move, the situation will become more complicated.”
The man in the gray hood leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and quietly nodded.
“Indeed. Baek Ha-rim is a sharp knife. The problem is… we never know when or where that knife will be swung.”
He narrowed his eyes and continued.
“A sharp knife sometimes cuts the hand that holds it. It can even destroy itself.”
Son Baek-cheon let out a dry laugh.
“But she has a point. If we could recruit him, it wouldn't be a bad thing.”
“…It’s unsettling, but I suppose we have no choice.”
The gray-hooded man placed a black file on the table and opened it. Inside was a diagram of the power structure of the nearby factions centered around the Murim Alliance, along with the deployment of each sect and family and their recent movements.
“His next destination is likely Shanxi Province.”
Son Baek-cheon looked up and asked.
“You have eyes planted there as well, I assume?”
“Two. One has been with us for a long time. A reliable person.”
“For now, it would be best to watch.”
The gray-hooded man quietly nodded.
*
I hurried my steps with Seo Ryeo-hwa to find the group that had moved ahead. Before long, I spotted familiar faces among the murmuring crowd in front of the city gate.
My women, and the tag-along guys, all seemed to be safe.
The first to spot me was Seol-hee. Her eyes went wide, and she darted over to me.
“Young Master! I’m so glad you’re safe!”
I looked at her as she caught her breath and asked.
“Is everyone unhurt?”
Seol-hee nodded.
“Fortunately, everyone is safe. But…”
As her voice trailed off, Jin So-hee, who was standing beside her, immediately continued.
“I got a small cut on my arm. It’s nothing, Brother. Just a scratch.”
She waved her arm as if it were nothing.
I checked, and besides the bandaged area, she seemed fine.
The women were mostly unharmed, but the men had scratches here and there.
I didn't pay them much mind, though. The men would recover on their own.
I got straight to the point.
“The explosion earlier, what was that about?”
Seol-hee turned her head to look at Jin So-hee, who once again explained.
“As soon as we arrived, an explosion suddenly went off near the city gate. It wasn't very powerful, but it startled everyone, and the area was put on lockdown.”
She frowned slightly as she continued.
“Thankfully, there were no casualties. But the government office said they were locking the gates as a precaution against any potential threats. They told us to wait until the internal inspection is complete.”
I nodded as I listened to Jin So-hee’s explanation.
“I see. Well, I’m glad no one was seriously hurt.”
At my words, Seo Ryeo-hwa also looked around and quietly added.
“An explosion… The timing is too suspicious to be a coincidence.”
“The Celestial Sphere assembly might have been involved.”
At my words, her eyes narrowed, shining sharply.
“Yes… Judging by Son Baek-cheon’s final reaction, it seems certain that he’s connected to them.”
Just then, a short, sharp whistle blast echoed from atop the city gate.
—Tweeeet!
The soldiers on the wall moved in unison, and soon the heavy city gates slowly creaked open.
The brief silence was broken, and sighs of relief erupted from the crowd.
Taking the opportunity, a soldier stepped forward from the gate and shouted.
“Entry into the city is now permitted! However, for today, refrain from carrying weapons and engaging in outdoor activities.”
“Let’s head inside for now.”
At Seo Ryeo-hwa’s words, the group nodded and was about to slowly move through the gate when Namgung So-ha approached me.
“Young Master Jin, how about we stay at the Jinju Eon Family’s residence this time?”
Hearing this, Seo Ryeo-hwa interjected.
“Wouldn’t the Jinju Eon Family be inconvenienced by our stay?”
“Given that there was an attack, I think it’s safer to stay somewhere we can share information and trust. There might be another attack, and staying at a crowded inn isn’t wise.”
“That makes sense. But… will the Jinju Eon Family welcome us?”
At my question, Namgung So-ha smiled gently and nodded.
“Don’t worry. We have the Sword Empress here, as well as the children of the Namgung, Hwangbo, and Tang families, don’t we?”
At that, Seo Ryeo-hwa let out a quiet sigh and said.
“True. With the children of so many prestigious families gathered in one place, they won’t be able to turn us away so easily.”
Just then, Namgung Hyeok stepped forward.
“I am acquainted with the head of the Jinju Eon Family. I will go ahead and explain the situation.”
Seo Ryeo-hwa nodded at his words.
“I will be back shortly.”
Namgung Hyeok quickly moved ahead of the group.