Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Accusation
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The area outside the main gate of Sinpyeong Brewery was unusually quiet.
It even felt desolate at first glance.
This was because the warriors of the Waning Moon Squad and the Zhongnan Sect were facing off, blocking the gate in preparation for any unforeseen trouble, glaring at each other.
The warriors unleashed their auras, refusing to yield an inch, forcing passersby to take a long detour around the brewery.
*Creeak.*
The closed main gate of Sinpyeong Brewery opened, and Neung Un-bi, having heard the news, stepped outside.
The Waning Moon Squad warriors, who had been guarding the gate in a single line, hastily parted to either side.
“We greet the Lord.”
Seeing them greet him with a thunderous voice, as if they practiced it daily, made the tension on the Zhongnan warriors' faces palpable.
Ranks, files, and precision.
It was a neatness that only those who had undergone long training could possess.
Stepping outside, Neung Un-bi stopped and slowly scanned the visitors who had come to the brewery.
The warriors at the front, exuding a fierce aura, were from the Zhongnan Sect.
And the person behind them… Yeom Seong-in of the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild?
Neung Un-bi, who had met him before, scoffed inwardly at the sight of him.
He instantly understood what was happening.
Yeom Seong-in must have realized he couldn't handle it on his own, so he brought a big brother for backup.
Well, he had no other choice.
Not only were they being pressured with money, but also with technology. How could they possibly withstand that?
And in the midst of it all, even their secretly hidden assets had been completely cleaned out…
He's probably here to negotiate, spouting nonsense about relationships and territories.
Then… I should treat him accordingly.
First, I'll seize the initiative. Then I'll really get under their skin.
Neung Un-bi casually crossed his arms, lifted his chin slightly, and spoke.
Trying to look as arrogant and haughty as possible.
“So, you were looking for me?”
“…”
At Neung Un-bi's words, a peculiar light flashed in the eyes of the leader of the Zhongnan warriors.
Me. A word to refer to oneself.
Through the open gateway, people could be seen.
Beside Neung Un-bi stood his maid Hyang-i, along with Wang Cheon, Ju Seung, and the newly arrived Shaanxi Branch Chief of the Demonic Cult.
There were also Hwang Ja-seong, the owner of Sinpyeong Brewery, as well as Sin Gong, Yun Chang, and the innkeeper.
Not only that, but behind them, warriors of the Demonic Cult filled the garden, looking out past the gate.
There weren't many who could lead so many people and naturally refer to themselves as 'me'.
In other words, he was the leader of the group.
The Zhongnan warriors could tell that this young man, who looked to be around the age of twenty, was none other than Neung Un-bi, the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult.
“Ahem!”
“…”
“I am Jang Il-san of the White Cloud Hall of Zhongnan. I carry on the legacy of Elder Ji Se-jang, the Shattering Moon Sword, one of the Seven Swords of our sect.”
Neung Un-bi scoffed at the introduction from Jang Il-san, who had stepped forward.
What a ridiculously long title.
He could have just said he was Jang Il-san, a disciple of Zhongnan…
Who asked who your master was or where you're from?
He's basically saying he's an elder's disciple, so I get that he's a first-generation disciple. A warrior who's practically the backbone of the current Zhongnan Sect.
But I didn't like that he came at the request of the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild.
If they've formed a connection, they should know his character. How can these so-called righteous sects protect someone like that?
They probably took a bribe.
Therefore, you too must be an Orthodox warrior in name only.
Having already made his judgment of Jang Il-san, Neung Un-bi's tone was anything but polite.
“So, what reason does such a great person have for seeking me out?”
“…”
Jang Il-san's eyebrow twitched slightly at Neung Un-bi's sarcastic tone.
There is a principle to formal introductions.
If one party shows courtesy, the other should reciprocate…
Is it because he's still young?
To have status and power at such a young age, yet to lack etiquette… Truly befitting of the demonic path.
But there was nothing to be gained by getting swept up by this young devil.
Calming himself, Jang Il-san spoke to Neung Un-bi.
“Haha, is it the custom of the Demonic Cult not to offer tea to a guest?”
“Tea? You must be mistaken.”
“...?”
“This is a brewery. We don't serve tea. If you don't mind a drink in the middle of the day, you're welcome to have one.”
“…”
Jang Il-san, whose composure was about to snap, clenched his teeth and steadied his breathing.
He had almost let a curse slip out.
As expected of a devil, he's quite good with words. It was the same as saying he had no intention of letting them inside, so pressing the matter would only make things awkward.
“Ahem, I'll pass on the drink. More importantly, I heard that your cult has recently established a base in Zhongnan's territory.”
“...So? You came to say hello?”
Every word from Neung Un-bi grated on his nerves, but Jang Il-san forced himself to endure and continued speaking.
“From what I hear, as soon as you arrived, you formed a connection with Sinpyeong Brewery and even started a civil engineering project?”
“…”
I knew it. That had to be the reason.
The bastard is trying to find fault.
For the reason that we seized interests even before the Shaanxi Branch's location was changed.
“Ah, my apologies for that. The situation at Sinpyeong Brewery was just so pitiful… I heard that a place called the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild had a near-monopoly and was severely undercutting construction costs.”
“Th-that's right. The Third Young Master did nothing wrong. He simply couldn't turn away my earnest plea.”
“…”
Seeing how things were going, Hwang Ja-seong, the owner of Sinpyeong Brewery, quickly interjected to support Neung Un-bi.
“Hmph! How dare the owner of Sinpyeong Brewery interfere! Don't you know this is not your place to speak!”
Did he think he had to do something too?
Yeom Seong-in, standing behind Jang Il-san, pointed a finger at Hwang Ja-seong and shot a fierce glare at him.
Seriously, it's the pot calling the kettle black. Who is he to shout at such a fine person?
As Neung Un-bi narrowed his eyes and glared at Yeom Seong-in, a roar suddenly erupted from the front.
“Lord Yeom!”
“...Yes?”
“Leave this to me and step back.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
Receiving a displeased look from Jang Il-san, Yeom Seong-in hesitated before stepping back.
“Lord Hwang, it's been a while.”
“Yes. It's been about three months since we last met.”
“Indeed it has.”
Hwang Ja-seong and Jang Il-san exchanged light greetings, suggesting they knew each other.
“Master Jang. It seems Zhongnan has misunderstood something. Forming a connection with the Demonic Cult was entirely our choice.”
As Hwang Ja-seong spoke defensively, Jang Il-san raised a hand to stop him.
“Haha, I'm not here to blame you. It is a regrettable matter, but how can one force a bird where to build its nest?”
“…”
“I only regret that Zhongnan was not the first to serve the esteemed owner of Sinpyeong Brewery, who is respected by all.”
“That is…”
After exchanging a few words, Jang Il-san's gaze turned to Neung Un-bi.
“I have already heard that you are helping people through your good governance. Whatever your true intentions may be, it is a deed worthy of praise.”
“…”
Knowing the words were laced with insinuation, Neung Un-bi's expression was anything but pleasant.
True intentions?
Tsk, tsk. They're looking at me through colored glasses just because I'm from the Demonic Cult.
This was typical of the Orthodox sects, always suspecting that even the good deeds of the Demonic Cult had ulterior motives.
“Furthermore, since the matter has already been decided by our superiors, I had no intention of interfering with whatever you do.”
“…”
Suddenly, a chill flickered in Jang Il-san's eyes.
That look once again raised the question of 'why?' in Neung Un-bi's mind.
“However, there should not have been any unfortunate incidents in the process, but sadly, that is not the case.”
“Unfortunate… incident?”
“That's right.”
“...What is it?”
“Last night!”
Jang Il-san's tone grew louder.
“There was a murder.”
“...?!”
In that moment, Neung Un-bi's eyes widened.
Wait, what?
This was a completely unexpected development. A murder, out of nowhere?
“Someone died?”
“That's right.”
“…”
“You must have heard the name Gong Tae-seok.”
“Gong Tae-seok…”
“I heard you met him in Anbin Village not long ago. He was a carpenter dispatched by the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild for the flood-damaged area's restoration project.”
“...!”
He remembered.
Just as Jang Il-san said, the carpenter from the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild he had met in Anbin Village a few days ago.
But he's dead?
“This morning, he was brutally murdered by an unknown assailant.”
“...Wh-what are you talking about?”
“What I'm talking about is that we will now begin an investigation.”
“What?”
At Jang Il-san's words, Neung Un-bi's eyes widened uncontrollably.
*Chaaang!*
Simultaneously, Wang Cheon, who was beside him, glared and drew his sword, aiming it at them.
“Shut your mouth, you bastard! How dare you spout such nonsense, and in whose presence! Who is investigating whom?”
It wasn't just Wang Cheon.
Ju Seung and the entire Waning Moon Squad drew their swords and pointed them at the Zhongnan members, and even Hyang-i, next to Neung Un-bi, began to exude a cold aura.
“Wang Cheon!”
“My Lord!”
“Stand down.”
“Unacceptable! You expect me to listen to that damn nonsense and endure it!”
“Wang Cheon!”
“...Tch!”
When Neung Un-bi shouted fiercely and glared at him, Wang Cheon ground his teeth with an audible grit and stepped back. However, he did not withdraw his gaze, which looked as if it could devour Jang Il-san.
But an investigation? Doesn't that mean they're pointing at me as Gong Tae-seok's killer?
“You said your name was Jang Il-san?”
“That is correct.”
“What is your reason for investigating me?”
“Reason? Isn't it obvious?”
“Obvious?”
“Indeed. I heard that during the flood restoration project, you had a confrontation with Gong Tae-seok over a contract issue.”
“A confrontation?”
“Jang Ik-seong, the county magistrate, has already testified.”
“Jang Ik-seong?”
“Yes. He said there was a small argument.”
“What?”
Neung Un-bi's brow furrowed sharply.
That bastard Magistrate Jang…
He must have taken money to give false testimony.
But I couldn't press him on it.
Because of the damn non-interference pact with officials.
Now that Zhongnan had intervened, the government would surely turn a blind eye.
If I tried to meet him, it would clearly be seen as an attempt to threaten him, which would only add to the suspicion.
“More importantly.”
“…”
“The courtesan who was with Gong Tae-seok on the night he died has already identified you as the killer.”
“What? She identified me?”
“As long as there is a witness, we have no choice but to confirm it.”
“…”
A witness? What kind of nonsense is that?
Neung Un-bi clenched his jaw, glaring at Jang Il-san as he spoke.
“I… did not meet Gong Tae-seok last night.”
“Is there anyone who can prove that?”
“…”
A witness… there was none.
Last night, Neung Un-bi was in the valley at the foot of the mountain where Sinpyeong Brewery was located, just as he always was.
For his training.
Since Sinpyeong Brewery had recently stopped brewing, no one came to draw water. So, while someone might have seen him leave the brewery, there was no one to confirm he was in the valley.
The only ones with him were Hyang-i, who was helping with his training nearby, and the Waning Moon Squad, who were guarding from a distance.
In other words, the only people who could prove his whereabouts were members of the Demonic Cult.
They couldn't be witnesses.
So?
“So, where is this courtesan?”
“The courtesan?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“What?”
Jang Il-san's eyes gleamed with a chilling light.
“…The courtesan is dead.”
“…!”
“This morning, after identifying you as the killer… she was poisoned.”
“Wh-what? Poisoned!? By whom!”
“That… would be someone trying to hide their crime.”
“…”
Jang Il-san's gaze looked resolute.
He already considered Neung Un-bi the killer.
Dammit…
It's a trap. A ridiculously flimsy trap, and nothing more than a frame-up.
But the name 'Demonic Cult' made that flimsiness perfect.
People would think.
*It's the Demonic Cult, so it makes sense.*
*The Demonic Cult is more than capable of such a thing.*
Who the hell is it? Who would benefit from framing me like this?
Neung Un-bi's gaze swept fiercely over them.
Yeom Seong-in of the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild, who lost his interests because of me? Or the Zhongnan Sect, who saw the Demonic Cult's branch in their territory as a thorn in their side?
Or… did the two of them conspire together?
So this is how you're going to play it? Were your interests so precious that you had to kill someone and frame me for it?
The filthy deed made him feel nauseous.
“I see. I have to be the killer, no matter what.”
“…I said we would investigate.”
“Hah, an investigation after you've already decided… You'll be able to take responsibility for those words, won't you?”
Neung Un-bi's eyes glinted with demonic energy he could no longer suppress, and a cold smile played on his lips.