Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: The Great Swordsman of Zhongnan
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“Responsibility...”
Jang Il-san repeated the word, staring at Neung Un-bi.
“That's something an investigation will reveal. If you're innocent... I'll apologize.”
At that, Neung Un-bi let out a dry laugh.
*An investigation?* After already throwing me into a trap, what kind of investigation could that be?
The stage was set.
A stage where Neung Un-bi had to be confirmed as the culprit.
He had been through this countless times before.
Back when he was Cheok Wol-rin. After he slit the throats of those damn hypocrites, their sins would vanish without a trace, and he would be left to live with the stigma of being a murderer.
But he hadn't cared. He was satisfied just erasing those bastards who had harmed others from the world.
Not anymore.
I won't fall for your dirty tricks like I did back then. If you dig a trap and push me in, I'll claw my way back out and prove my innocence.
“Just an apology, you say. After cornering me with false accusations... Heh, fine. Just fine.”
“...?”
“Hey, Jang Il-san. Aren't you making a huge mistake?”
Jang Il-san flinched involuntarily at the chilling look in Neung Un-bi's eyes.
“Gong Tae-seok is dead. There was testimony that we had an argument, and a courtesan pointed to me as the killer. And everyone who can verify my whereabouts last night is a member of the Demonic Cult.”
“...What are you trying to say?”
“Doesn't this all seem a little too convenient?”
“Are you implying that I am framing you?”
Jang Il-san's tone rose slightly.
“No, I'm saying that in the end, it's all just speculation.”
“Speculation? I already told you there's a witness!”
“She's dead, isn't she?”
“What?”
“The courtesan. Didn't you say she was poisoned?”
“That's...”
“Does a dead person's word hold any weight?”
“...”
“And yet, you still said you'd investigate me. But tell me, did you really think I'd just hold out my hands and let you take me away? When it's so obviously a trap?”
“Third Young Master!”
“Just listen!”
“...”
Neung Un-bi's voice boomed, and demonic energy poured from his wide, glaring eyes.
The Neung Un-bi of today was different from the past.
Back then, he had to hide the fact that 'he' was behind him, so he had no choice but to take the blame for everything. But now, didn't he have the Demonic Cult at his back?
The very same Demonic Cult you see as tyrannical, ruthless, and doing whatever it pleases.
Then I should use it to its fullest.
“I asked you if you could take responsibility for your words.”
“I said I would investigate!”
“Right, an investigation. We should have one.”
“...”
“But who do you think I am?”
“What?”
“I am the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult. I am currently carrying out my duties as an inspector for the Cult's Central Plains branch. I am also overseeing the establishment of said branch.”
“...W-What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean? I'm saying that I am currently acting as the representative of the Demonic Cult's Leader.”
“...?!”
“In other words, you just said you would investigate the Cult Leader's disciple and his representative.”
“W-What?”
“You don't know, do you? What kind of place the Demonic Cult is?”
Neung Un-bi's calm tone pierced Jang Il-san's heart like a dagger.
“It is a place where the Cult Leader *is* the Demonic Cult.”
“What?”
“You have just declared that you will investigate me, the Cult Leader's representative, based on nothing but unconfirmed, speculative evidence. In other words, a mere disciple of the Zhongnan Sect has announced he will investigate the Demonic Cult.”
“S-Silence! How is this an investigation of the Demonic Cult! I am merely looking into a murder...”
“Your thoughts don't matter. What matters is how our Demonic Cult perceives this.”
“...”
Neung Un-bi smiled coldly and glared at Jang Il-san.
“Right now! You have pointed to the Demonic Cult as the culprit based on unconfirmed facts. This is tantamount to tarnishing the honor of the Demonic Cult. Furthermore, you threatened me as I proclaimed my innocence and invoked the name of Zhongnan, which can be considered the use of coercion!”
“What kind of nonsense is that!”
“You think it's nonsense?”
“...”
Seeing the demonic energy swirling in those intense eyes, Jang Il-san swallowed hard.
“Your careless actions today will quickly spread as rumors. They will be maliciously exaggerated. And they will spread at an incredible speed.”
“...”
“When that happens, our Demonic Cult, which is just beginning to establish itself in the Central Plains, will suffer a massive blow.”
“...”
“Hey, Jang Il-san. Tell me. If my innocence is proven, how will you take responsibility?”
“What?”
“Malicious rumors don't die down easily. Even if my innocence is proven, people will speak only of the Demonic Cult's faults, not the truth. What will you do then?”
“...”
“An apology? Do you really think something so trivial will smooth this over?”
Neung Un-bi's cold voice shook Jang Il-san's resolve.
“You have sullied the honor of the Demonic Cult. Therefore, in accordance with the supplementary clauses of the Orthodox-Demonic Pact, I will now commence an investigation into the incident that has damaged the Cult's reputation.”
“...!”
“If the investigation reveals that the Demonic Cult is innocent... then not you, but the Zhongnan Sect will have to take responsibility. For all the damages your careless words have caused the Demonic Cult...”
With those words, Neung Un-bi turned away.
Watching him, Jang Il-san's eyes trembled violently.
How had things suddenly taken this turn?
The death of Gong Tae-seok.
Many people had already seen it.
Jang Il-san, who had descended from the main sect on orders, began his investigation immediately at Yeom Seong-in's request.
In fact, he thought it was for the best.
He believed he had found a pretext to drive out the detestable Demonic Cult right away.
Although it was a brief investigation, didn't all the circumstantial evidence point to the Demonic Cult?
In the process, various rumors had already spread.
The Demonic Cult committed murder. While feigning benevolence, they committed the shameless act of killing someone with whom they had argued.
The rumors spread in an instant. They were probably still growing at this very moment.
But what if... it wasn't true?
What if, as Neung Un-bi said, he was truly innocent?
Jang Il-san whipped his head around to look at Yeom Seong-in.
He was the one who had first reported Gong Tae-seok's death.
Could it be?
...No, it couldn't be.
That was impossible. Hadn't Gong Tae-seok worked for the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild for a long time?
In any case, he was already riding a tiger he couldn't get off.
He couldn't dismount. He had to stop him.
Even though he had mentioned the supplementary clauses of the Orthodox-Demonic Pact, he couldn't be allowed to start an investigation on his own.
What if he tampered with the evidence?
Even if an investigation were to take place, he should only be an observer to his own, not the one leading it.
“Stop!”
“...?”
Jang Il-san shouted, halting Neung Un-bi's steps.
“Even if an investigation is warranted under the Orthodox-Demonic Pact! Even if there is some truth to your words! As long as you are a suspect, I will absolutely not tolerate you acting on your own!”
“Not tolerate?”
“That's right! If an investigation is necessary, you may observe!”
“...”
Neung Un-bi, who had only slightly turned his head at those words, gave a cold smile.
“Is that so? Then stop me. If you can.”
“What did you say?”
Neung Un-bi didn't answer. Instead, he spun around and walked into the Sinpyeong Brewery.
“What are you all doing! Zhongnan, detain the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult!”
The order was given, and swords were drawn.
The swords drawn by the Zhongnan warriors accompanying Jang Il-san reflected a menacing light.
“Oh? These bastards... You want a piece of this?”
Wang Cheon's eyes widened. Unable to tolerate those who threatened his lord, he instantly reverted to his days as the Mad Leopard—no, the Mad Dog.
“Lunar Eclipse Squad, fulfill your duty!”
“Yes, Commander!”
At Ju Seung's command, the Lunar Eclipse Squad drew their swords in unison and aimed them at the Zhongnan warriors.
“As expected of Zhongnan! The sharpness imbued in their swords is so fierce! Then we have no choice but to cross blades!”
When even the ever-complimentary Gwak Hui-yeong decided to join the fray, the warriors of the Shaanxi branch poured out from the Sinpyeong Brewery, surrounding the men from Zhongnan and the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild.
“You Demonic Cult bastards... So you want to see blood shed after all!”
Neung Un-bi let out a dry laugh at Jang Il-san's words.
*You're the one who started this.*
*And I'm not going to be stupidly played like in the past anymore.*
“Zhongnan, listen! Advance without flinching for what you believe is right!”
“Yes, Senior Brother!”
The situation was a tinderbox.
Zhongnan and the Demonic Cult. The Cult was enraged at those who had insulted their lord, while Zhongnan, despite being outnumbered, aimed their swords without the slightest hesitation.
It was then.
-*My, my, they're about to fight. Hyeon, it seems you'll have to step in.*
“...?”
A voice cut through the murderous atmosphere where a fight seemed imminent.
Neung Un-bi's eyes widened as he whipped his head around, following the voice.
In that instant, something shot into the center of the standoff like a flash of light.
*Swish! KABOOM!*
The ground trembled as a foot landed powerfully.
A cloud of dust billowed up, obscuring the view, and the presence of something within it made one instinctively frown.
...This presence is heavy.
As if sensing the same thing as Neung Un-bi, Hyang-i, who was following beside him, had already gripped daggers in both hands.
“Hyang-i!”
“...?”
Neung Un-bi quickly stopped her and shook his head.
Her eyes seemed to ask why, but Neung Un-bi simply stared at the presence in the dust without a word.
The one who had appeared, radiating a colossal presence.
However, he felt no killing intent or fighting spirit.
And hadn't the voice that came from somewhere before his appearance clearly said?
-*They're about to fight.*
He had stopped it. To prevent a fight from breaking out.
“Hoo...”
“...?”
As the dust settled, a figure emerged with a deep sigh. It was a giant of a man, a full head taller than most people.
“Y-You are?”
“...?”
Jang Il-san, who had been looking surprised, now seemed flustered as if he recognized the large man.
*Someone he knows? Is he from Zhongnan, then?*
“It's been a while, Martial Nephew Jang.”
“Martial Uncle!? Then?”
Recognizing the large man, Jang Il-san began to look around frantically for someone.
“Boy, where are you looking?”
“...!”
His head snapped around.
What came into view was an old man with a stooped back, leaning on a cane.
A face full of wrinkles that followed his gentle smile, and one sleeve was empty, as if he had lost an arm.
Was it because he had trained his hearing after his sight?
*Tap, step, step.*
The sound of his footsteps as he walked with his cane was extraordinary.
“...Dammit, that Yeom brat. I thought he only brought his strong older brother, but he brought a family elder too?”
The old man was a master.
Before, he might not have known, but now he could clearly tell. He could sense the degree of power contained in those footsteps.
Hyang-i must have sensed it too, as she was gripping her daggers much tighter than before.
As if she was tense?
In other words, he was an incredible master.
A master so powerful that even if all the Demonic Cult members present attacked him at once, victory could not be guaranteed.
Such a tremendous master that even Hyang-i, the strongest in their group, couldn't help but be tense.
First the King of the Green Forest, and now another one like him appears...
But for some reason, the face of the old man slowly approaching with his cane seemed strangely familiar.
That familiarity couldn't have come from Neung Un-bi's own memories, so it must have been someone he met in Cheok Wol-rin's life.
Zhongnan... one-armed...
“N-No way?”
Neung Un-bi was startled as a name suddenly came to mind.
“Zhongnan disciple Jang Il-san greets Grandmaster Jin San!”
Jang Il-san soon confirmed it.
The Great Swordsman of Zhongnan, Jin San.
The unparalleled warrior who had roamed the Central Plains with a single sword and defeated a hundred martial artists.
Cheong Jin of Mount Hua, Hyeon Myeong of Wudang, Jeong Hwa of Shaolin, and the Imperial Family's... well, let's leave that bastard out.
In any case, a figure who stood shoulder to shoulder with them.
Just as he suspected, it was a connection from the past.
Except... it happened to be a bad one.