Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Contact (2)
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Noticing the anomaly, Wind Guest sent a telepathic message.
「Dark Lord, halt.」
The ability to vibrate the air and send one's voice afar was a function of the Wind God Technique that Wind Guest had mastered.
The tricky part of this technique was that it was hard to pinpoint the sender's location since the voice was transmitted by agitating the wind.
'Well, given Wind Guest's personality, he's probably not too far off.'
Sure enough.
Dong-dong-dong-dong.
The musicians who had been playing just moments ago withdrew, and a new group climbed onto the platform.
Swish. Swish.
A blind old man staggered in among the ensemble, each holding gongs, flutes, and small drums.
An unfamiliar face, but sensing the familiar aura, Chu Un-hwi lifted the corner of his mouth.
"Come now! It's time for the performance we've all been waiting for!"
"The moment the blind musician New Melody Master graces us with his new tune!"
"Dear guests, why not lose yourselves in this dreamlike music?"
Ding. Ding.
He placed the seven-stringed zither across his knees and began tuning it.
「Long time no see, Wind Guest.」
The blind musician's hand paused briefly while tuning the gong.
"Master?"
At the young musician's urging, the old man resumed moving his hands.
「How did you know it was me, Dark Lord?」
「Did you think a disguise would fool me?」
「...I never imagined this old man's disguise would be pierced so easily.」
Ding-ring. Dung-dung. Ding-ring.
As the young musicians soon joined in with the melody, he sent another telepathic message toward Wind Guest.
「I'll give you credit for picking this spot after some scheming. Scared to meet alone, figured a crowded place would keep me from acting rashly?」
「You saw right through this old man's thoughts.」
「But you're wrong. My patience is wearing thin.」
Despite the warning, Wind Guest—disguised as the old musician—tuned his seven-stringed zither once more and began the ensemble. Ding-ring. Ding-ring. A crystal-clear, beautiful sound filled the hall, leaving the guests' faces glazed over in rapture. But Chu Un-hwi could tell. 'He's rattled.' He had heard Wind Guest's music several times in his previous life. He could instantly detect the quaver of emotion hidden beneath the lovely melody.
「This is your final test. I swear it.」
「I'll play along one last time. Speak.」
「One person here is tied to the Mangcheon Society.」
「A Mangcheon lackey?」
「Indeed. A follower of the Palcheon Emissary. An aide who lurked in the shadows.」
「Intriguing.」
He tilted his head back with a sharp glare toward one side, spotting the warriors of the Truth-Observing Sword Sect.
「Truth-Observing Sword Sect.」
「You saw through it.」
They stood guard around two young men in the center, who eyed each other like cocks ready to fight.
Wind Guest's telepathy arrived again.
「Truth-Observing Sword Sect's leader, Baek Kang-pyo, was the Palcheon Emissary's subordinate. He ran the shadow network.」
「Beat him, and we can wipe out the remnants in one go.」
「He's cautious—even hid it from family. Key role, so he skipped Scorching Sun Finger Technique. I only just learned the truth.」
「What's your point?」
「Those two young men? Eldest and second sons of Truth-Observing Sword Sect. One's the accomplice.」
Wind Guest's final test was straightforward.
「Which one do you think ties to Mangcheon? Pick wisely.」
「Choose one?」
「Eldest and second compete for leadership. To checkmate the foe, back the other, no?」
The idea was to exploit the sect's power struggle to purge Mangcheon ties.
「Such a hassle.」
「Remnants must be handled covertly. One slip exposing the traitor, and we're both done for.」
「I don't do detours when the straight path's open.」
Tak.
He laid his hand on the chopsticks atop the table, and a flustered Wind Guest cried out telepathically.
「Wh-what are you doing?!」
「Simple. No need to pick. Kill 'em both.」