Chapter 73
Episode 73
The Traitor
"You've worked hard. I'll take this."
Taking the sword from the Enforcement Hall warrior standing stiffly in the cold, Yoo Jin-hak stepped into Azure Dragon Hall.
The moment the familiar interior came into view, all eyes turned toward him.
Within the countless gazes fixed upon him lay an equally vast array of emotions.
Hwangbo Geon's bewilderment.
Jegal Hoon's relief.
Juk Seong-ja's fury.
Namgung Myeong's hostility.
But among them all, one person's gaze drew Yoo Jin-hak's attention above all others.
'You... It's as if you knew I would come.'
Tang Se-woon's calm, unwavering eyes.
Yet that wasn't the only thing that surprised him.
Though it hadn't been long since they last met—
'...The Pinnacle?'
Tang Se-woon had already surpassed the peak and reached the Pinnacle of Martial Arts.
A prodigy he hadn't encountered in so long.
He had expected it would take at least a decade for Se-woon to astonish the martial world, yet—
'It seems I underestimated you far too much.'
In truth, Se-woon had played a significant role in providing the clues that led to tracking down the Mountain Incense Water and unlocking new insights.
Under normal circumstances, Yoo Jin-hak would have spent the night discussing martial philosophy with him.
'But now is not the time for that.'
He tore his gaze away from Se-woon and scanned the faces of the elder faction filling the hall.
Instantly, three characters he had glimpsed through his divine perception burned vividly in his mind.
[Alliance (盟) | Rat (鼠) | Contact (接)]
Yoo Jin-hak's eyes gleamed coldly.
'There is a traitor among them.'
Shockingly, Yoo Jin-hak was suggesting that among the elder faction, someone had aided the mysterious organization plotting to unleash chaos in Kaifeng.
It was something no one would have believed.
After all, these were the leaders of the Nine Great Schools and the Seven Great Families.
Yet Yoo Jin-hak's conviction was firm.
Investigating the traces left behind by those who had wreaked havoc in the refugee village revealed actions impossible without the aid of a Martial Alliance elder.
'...The problem is, I cannot identify who the traitor is.'
The reasons were complex.
First, the traitor had deliberately constructed an excessively convoluted chain of command to ensure the ultimate mastermind behind the organization remained untraceable.
Second, every single elder in the faction was corrupt to the core, their misdeeds so entangled with past scandals that distinguishing the traitor had become impossible.
Thus, only one method remained for Yoo Jin-hak.
The final measure he would take from this moment onward.
"Chief Strategist."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
"Explain my recent actions to the elders."
"...!"
Yes—burn down the entire house if necessary to smoke out and eliminate the rat hiding within.
"...So, to summarize the Chief Strategist's words: there is a mysterious faction that has captured and recruited the Demon Heads. And they are scheming in secret to sow chaos in the martial world?"
"Correct."
Gasps erupted throughout the hall.
Save for the revelation that they had obtained intelligence from a mole in the last refugee village, all the details of the investigation had been laid bare.
The sheer unexpectedness of the shocking tale left expressions of confusion and dismay etched on every face.
'This is perfect!'
Except for one person—Tang Se-woon.
Though no one else knew, the "mysterious faction" the Alliance Leader spoke of was, of course, the Blood Cult.
After Se-woon and Poison Demon Yayul Seung had made swift contact, the Alliance Leader had independently pursued the Blood Cult and seemingly achieved his goal.
Having also planted clues for Jang So-pyeong of the Beggar Sect to uncover a branch of the Blood Cult—
If these two incidents converged—
'We might be able to face them with ample preparation.'
The revelation of the Blood Cult's existence could come far sooner than in the original timeline.
Just as Se-woon's eyes shone with anticipation—
"Hahaha!"
"!!"
A sudden burst of laughter shattered the tension.
The mockery and scorn in that voice were unmistakable.
Its owner was none other than Juk Seong-ja of the Qingcheng Sect.
"Listening quietly, I couldn't help but think—Chief Strategist, isn't this scheme far too shallow?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Hearing your words, I couldn't shake this suspicion."
Twisting one corner of his lips, Juk Seong-ja alternated his gaze between Yoo Jin-hak and Jegal Hoon.
"Did the Chief Strategist fabricate this tale merely to justify the Alliance Leader's unexplained absence?"
"...!"
"Of course, Dokma's reappearance was shocking. But a mysterious faction? You expect us to believe that now?"
"...!"
"Hah. What is this, some fallen demonic sect rising anew?"
"Elder Juk! Mind your words!"
"Hmph! If you're going to spin such nonsense, at least bring forth credible evidence!"
"Who said there is no evidence?"
"!!"
A voice cut through their exchange.
Yoo Jin-hak.
Caught entirely off guard, Juk Seong-ja momentarily choked before slowly responding.
"...Are you saying there truly is evidence, Alliance Leader?"
"There is."
"!!"
Yoo Jin-hak answered without hesitation.
A frigid silence descended upon the hall.
The elders swallowed nervously, exchanging furtive glances.
If evidence truly existed, this would become the worst scandal since the Martial Alliance's founding.
The traitor—and their entire sect or family—would face annihilation.
As all eyes locked onto Yoo Jin-hak—
"Half a month ago, a refugee village suffered a massacre."
"...!"
"The adults were slaughtered, and only young boys and girls were taken alive—smuggled into Kaifeng in secret. Including similar incidents in other suspected locations, at least a hundred children have been abducted by them."
"!?"
The sheer horror of the tale, far beyond their expectations, left even the sneering elders visibly shaken.
But only briefly.
Fearing suspicion, they quickly schooled their expressions, feigning composure.
'At least none seem tied to the abductions.'
A futile effort—for Yoo Jin-hak.
Whoosh!
His Golden Pure Eyes, capable of peering into the heart's realm, were already at work.
At this point, only Boyeon and Se-woon knew of the Golden Pure Eyes' abilities.
In the previous timeline, their existence had only become known during the war between the Blood Cult and the Martial Alliance.
Thus, none of the elders present had prepared defenses against them—leaving their hearts utterly exposed.
This was Yoo Jin-hak's trap to flush out the traitor.
In truth, he had no evidence.
His earlier words and actions were mere bluffs to ensnare the mole through the Golden Pure Eyes.
He continued.
"Ten days ago, the Martial Alliance's treasury confirmed the unexplained disappearance of the Mist Moon Blade."
"...!!"
Eyes bulged in shock.
The Mist Moon Blade was one of the treasures stored in the Alliance's vault.
A divine weapon capable of amplifying its wielder's energy and conjuring concealing mist—
Who would dare steal such a relic?
Twitch!
'...!'
At that moment, Yoo Jin-hak's Golden Pure Eyes detected reactions to his second statement.
Not one—but two individuals.
...Why him?
One of them left Yoo Jin-hak momentarily stunned, but he swiftly steeled himself.
To solidify his suspicions, he delivered a third revelation.
"Finally, four days ago, the cursed artifact 'Stuffed Louyu Fish' sold in the black market was confirmed to have entered Kaifeng."
"!!"
Cursed artifacts—objects imbued with natural or artificial sorcerous power—were strictly prohibited from entering any city under Martial Alliance law.
Most carried calamitous energies capable of devastating ordinary civilians if mishandled.
The theft from the Alliance treasury and the smuggling of cursed artifacts into Kaifeng—
Both were impossible without the authority of the Alliance's highest-ranking elders.
And when Yoo Jin-hak reached this point—
'Then—!'
The same two individuals reacted again.
The first radiated fear, unease, and wariness.
The second—turmoil, confusion, and concern.
Yoo Jin-hak's hesitation was brief.
Whoosh!
Propelled by his divine footwork, he lunged forward.
To others, it seemed as if a flash of light had streaked across the hall.
His form became a whirlwind, shooting straight toward his target.
"!!"
"—!!!"
No one dared even think of evading.
CRACK!
RUMBLE—!
The overwhelming aura of the Mystic Realm's pinnacle erupted with destructive, crushing force—an unstoppable pressure.
Only Namgung Myeong barely resisted, managing to turn his gaze—
'...!'
CRASH—!
Grabbing the traitor by the nape, Yoo Jin-hak slammed his face into the hall's floor.
Before this act of treachery, Yoo Jin-hak had transformed—resembling the Sword Emperor of his prime, who had eradicated the Sama Cult's heresy.
His majesty was akin to the Wrathful King of Wisdom, delivering divine punishment upon evil spirits.
"It was you."
"Ghk—! A-Alliance...!"
"Hwangbo Geon," his face half-destroyed by the impact, trembled in agony.
He thrashed wildly to break free, but Yoo Jin-hak's energy had already seized control of his entire body.
"Where did you take the children? What is their goal?"
"I—I don't... know! Some—cough—suddenly wealthy collector needed... specimens... Ghhk—!"
"...You dare mock me to the end."
"AAAGH! It's—it's true! I stole the Mist Moon Blade and the Louyu Fish, but—cough—this faction you speak of... I swear I know nothing...!"
"!!"
"Please!"
As the Alliance Leader's words were proven true, the elders' eyes trembled as if struck by an earthquake.
Amidst the shock and terror—
"Alliance Leader!"
A sudden, urgent voice called out.
Yoo Jin-hak turned—only to see Tang Se-woon, his face drained of color, staring at him.
For a moment, complex emotions flickered in Yoo Jin-hak's gaze.
'Go on. Tell me why you reacted that way.'
Indeed—the second suspect Yoo Jin-hak had detected was Se-woon himself.
But oblivious to this, Se-woon frantically blurted out words that made little sense.
"Alliance Leader, there's no time! Punishing the traitor can wait—you must summon the Divine Doctor to Kaifeng at once!"
"Junior Sect Leader Tang, this is not your place to interfere!"
"...Why do you seek the Nine Heavens Fairy?"
Though Jegal Hoon immediately moved to silence Se-woon's bizarre interruption, Yoo Jin-hak trusted him enough to respond.
"The Mist Moon Blade and the Louyu Fish are not mere stolen goods!! If the kidnapped children are sacrificed alongside them—!!"
Just as Se-woon was about to continue—
SCREECH—!
ROAR—!
"!!"
"?!"
A blood-curdling shriek erupted.
KREEAAAGH—!!
The horrifying, incomprehensible wails multiplied uncontrollably—soon shaking the entire hall.
Azure Dragon Hall was a sealed chamber without windows.
For sound to penetrate its walls, it could only be the screams of life-and-death agony.
'Outside—!'
'Something's happened!!'
Whoosh!
Whoosh—!
Without hesitation, everyone rushed out.
"!!"
"!!!"
And then—
All were rendered speechless.
SHHHH—!
A torrential downpour, as if the heavens had been torn open, cascaded from the sky.
And—
"AAAGH!"
"Ghk—! Cough!"
"KREEEAA—!"
Those struck by the raindrops screamed in unbearable pain.
HISS!
HISS—!
Their skin sizzled and burned, emitting smoke.
Every single raindrop carried horrific acidity and toxicity.
"The sky... it's red like blood?!"
"What in the world is this...?!"
The heavens above Kaifeng had turned crimson—as if drenched in blood.
Hell itself had descended upon the mortal realm.