Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: A Perfect Trap
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The encroaching encirclement, a mass of black, halted at the edge of his vision.
Just as he was scanning his surroundings to decide on an escape route.
“Ho? And who might this be?”
“...?”
Someone who recognized Neung Un-bi stepped forward, his voice filled with wonder.
“Elder Namgung… Hak?”
It was him. Namgung Hak, the Grand Elder of the Orthodox Murim Alliance.
A vicious smile played on his lips as he gazed at Neung Un-bi, now fully revealed under the moonlight.
He had vaguely expected it… but now, everything was crystal clear.
From this moment on, he was undeniably his enemy.
The mere sight of him pointing a sword at Yun An-ro was proof enough.
“Young Master Neung, what brings you here?”
“...”
“I was certain I heard you were at Shaolin.”
“I know. Strange, isn’t it? That I, who was supposed to be at Shaolin, am here.”
Neung Un-bi glared at Namgung Hak with a bitter smile. Of course, he didn't stop searching for a weak point in the encirclement.
“Hoho, your tone seems to have changed. By the way, as I understand it, Shaolin’s Jeong Hwa was personally guarding the cave where you were undergoing seclusion… Could it be that your skills are so exceptional as to deceive even his eyes and ears? Or did Jeong Hwa simply turn a blind eye to your actions?”
“...”
Namgung Hak’s words made Neung Un-bi’s blood boil.
*Damn bastards.*
All he could think was how truly incredible they were.
Had they planted their eyes and ears even in the inviolable Shaolin, a place revered by all martial artists?
But he couldn't cause trouble for Jeong Hwa. Though the man was a bit rough around the edges, wasn't he someone who should be leading the martial world down the right path?
“Jeong Hwa? How hard could it be to deceive some monk who knows nothing of the world? That’s child’s play.”
“Hoh? Is that so?”
“But what about you? What brings you here?”
Neung Un-bi shot back, his voice dripping with killing intent, but Namgung Hak’s expression remained utterly relaxed.
“Me? I am in the midst of enacting the justice of the martial world.”
“Justice?”
“Indeed. The people behind Young Master Neung are criminals our Orthodox Murim Alliance has been pursuing for a long time.”
“Criminals?”
He was so flabbergasted he couldn’t speak.
Who was calling whom a criminal?
The pot calling the kettle black…
“It seems you happened upon them by chance. How about you step aside now?”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“...You can’t?”
For a moment, Namgung Hak’s eyes flashed fiercely.
But Neung Un-bi pressed on as if demanding an answer.
“For what reason do you call them criminals? And your current actions, is the Alliance Leader aware of them?”
“Hmph.”
“I cannot agree with your claim that these people are criminals. Therefore, I must meet the Alliance Leader myself and confirm the facts.”
“Hmm…”
Namgung Hak pondered his words for a moment before letting out a smirk.
“Then, are your actions right now known to the Leader of the Demonic Cult?”
“What?”
“Are you not directly interfering in a matter of the Orthodox Murim Alliance?”
“...”
“Confirming the facts with the Alliance Leader? What nonsense. Do you even have such authority?”
“That is…”
“I don’t recall such a clause in the Orthodox-Demonic Treaty. Furthermore, there is no reason why I must explain to you why they are criminals.”
He was at a loss for words.
Wasn’t it infuriating how he spouted off perfectly valid points on the surface?
“I will advise you one last time.”
“...”
“Step aside. Before a conflict arises between the Demonic Cult and the Orthodox Murim Alliance…”
A threat that wasn't quite a threat.
But Neung Un-bi inwardly scoffed at the meaning behind it.
*That’s right, he can’t afford to disregard the relationship with the Demonic Cult. As long as I stand my ground, he can’t attack recklessly.*
The Heavenly Demon. The one who brought all heavens to their knees.
So this is when that name comes in handy.
In that case, he would use it to its fullest, attaching any and every reason he could.
“The Orthodox-Demonic Treaty. Yes, my actions have no justification.”
“...”
“But, are you aware?”
“Of what?”
“That this man, Yun An-ro, has a very deep connection with our Demonic Cult.”
“What?”
“Oh dear, it seems you didn’t know.”
Seeing the flicker of dismay on Namgung Hak’s face, Neung Un-bi let a smirk grace his lips.
*How could you possibly know?*
*I just found out myself. Because I just made it up.*
What was there to question at this point?
If Namgung Hak had been monitoring Hwang Byeong-chan and had even prepared an encirclement to chase them, then they already knew everything.
They had been watching him from the side for five years.
The reason they had left Yun An-ro alone until now was likely because they wanted to be certain of everything.
The evidence of their corruption that Yun An-ro had gathered for so long. Things that could deal a massive blow if revealed to the world.
Perhaps they even knew about the movements within the Orthodox Murim Alliance.
About the plan to reform the Orthodox Faction, led by Lee Ok-sang, Jin San, Cheong Jin, and Jeong Hwa.
Furthermore, the fact that they were now making their move in earnest meant their own preparations were complete.
In other words, Yun An-ro could no longer remain in the Orthodox Faction.
If he were caught, he would be killed without question. Nothing they possessed could serve as a lifeline.
But he was different.
Didn't he have the Heavenly Demon Emperor, Dam Un-cheon, feared by the entire martial world, as his master, and the Demonic Cult at his back?
Of course, he would be scolded.
His enemies would seize upon the fact that he caused friction with the Orthodox Murim Alliance and rise against him.
But right now, getting out of here alive was the priority.
Himself, and everyone else.
Even if it meant using the name of the Demonic Cult…
In this situation, it was the only lifeline.
“Haha, well, this is…”
Namgung Hak let out a hollow laugh and fell into thought.
He couldn't let that contemplation drag on.
He had to press his advantage.
So what if it was a lie?
Later, he would just have to kneel on stone and beg the Cult Leader for forgiveness, promising to become the next leader and strive to meet his expectations.
Weren’t Lee Ok-sang and the others saying it?
That Dam Un-cheon had chosen him as the next Cult Leader.
That the man they knew would stop at nothing to make Neung Un-bi the leader.
Since they said he had even sent a letter himself, he had no choice but to believe it for now.
“Do you think I came to the Orthodox Murim Alliance for no reason?”
“...”
“It was a secret order from my master. To find Yun An-ro and the others and bring them to the Demonic Cult.”
Neung Un-bi’s words left everyone stunned.
[*Is that true?*]
“...”
[*Damn it, no wonder you were being so proactive…*]
It seemed even Hyang-i was deceived.
But there was no need to explain.
The words were already out there; now it was time to await their judgment.
How would they know?
The Demonic Cult was more insular than any other group. There was no way for them to know its internal affairs, so all he had to do was wait calmly and composedly.
*Take the bait, Namgung Hak.*
“Kek, kekekeke.”
“...?”
But at that moment, a vile laugh echoed from behind Namgung Hak.
“My, my. I saw you at the Three Gates Association, but your cunning is truly remarkable, Young Master Neung.”
An individual emerged slowly, parting the encirclement.
“You are?”
“Ah, we’ve already seen each other, haven’t we? My apologies for the late introduction. My name is Jegal Min.”
Neung Un-bi’s face twisted at the sight of the man’s broad smile.
Jegal Min. The bastard who had incited Paeng Won-gil at the Three Gates Association to try and drive out the Demonic Cult.
But why was he here?
“I was so impressed by your cunning that when I heard you were heading to the Orthodox Murim Alliance, I followed, hoping to at least see your face. What do you know?”
“...”
“But now I see it wasn’t cunning, but deceit?”
“What?”
“To suddenly bring up a connection between Yun An-ro and the Demonic Cult.”
“...”
“Surely, you didn’t think we would be swayed by such a lie?”
“A lie? Hmph, what do you know?”
Neung Un-bi glared at Jegal Min, who was smiling while covering his mouth with a folding fan.
He had a bad feeling.
That smile…
A wave of anxiety filled his chest, making it feel tight.
*The Jegals, is it you again?*
*Were you involved in this plan?*
*After driving me and my comrades to our deaths, now you’re after Yun An-ro as well…*
“Of course it’s a lie. Did you really think our eyes and ears were confined to the Central Plains?”
“...What?”
“Young Master Neung, the Demonic Cult has long been the enemy of the Central Plains.”
“...”
“Hence, we have deployed numerous spies to observe it.”
“You, spying on the Demonic Cult? That’s absurd!”
“Is it, really?”
“...”
“Think about it. Even within the Orthodox Murim Alliance, there are those with differing opinions. Our thoughts differ from the Alliance Leader’s, and the Alliance Leader’s thoughts differ from theirs. Because of that, our goals differ as well. What is a spy? People like that are our spies.”
“Are you trying to say there are people in the Demonic Cult who sympathize with you?”
“Why wouldn’t there be?”
Jegal Min lowered his fan, clasped his hands behind his back, and nodded at Neung Un-bi as he continued.
“The Heavenly Demon Emperor, Dam Un-cheon.”
“...”
“The power his name holds is truly immense. A great warrior who brought all those who could be called the heavens of the Central Plains to their knees and seized control of those formidable Demonic Cultists with a single hand.”
The smile on Jegal Min’s lips had transformed into a sneer.
“However, there are always those who oppose such a figure… Those who dream of becoming the next Cult Leader will resort to countless methods. For instance, a secret pact with the Orthodox Faction.”
“...!”
“I only heard about it recently myself, but it seems a small deal was struck.”
“A deal?”
“From what I hear, the assassins of the Divine Blood Family failed to kill you and were disgraced.”
“...How do you know that?”
“Did I not say? There are always those with differing opinions, even within the Demonic Cult.”
“...”
“So, they changed their method. A strategy of killing with a borrowed knife, you could say.”
At those words, Neung Un-bi’s eyes widened.
*Could it be they tried to use the power of the Orthodox Faction to eliminate me?*
“Then the Divine Blood Family!”
“No, I haven’t specified anyone yet.”
“...”
“Well, in truth, is the Divine Blood Family the only one who opposes Dam Un-cheon? Wouldn’t they all feel the same? They can’t defy Dam Un-cheon’s will for now, but they would want to install a successor who can escape his shadow.”
That was true.
Didn’t he already know how they felt about him?
After all, besides him, everyone else was a descendant of the Six Families of the Demonic Path.
“But is joining hands with the Demonic Cult an easy task? It’s a very sensitive issue for us, and one without any justification, so we haven’t given an answer yet.”
“...”
“However, that justification has just presented itself, hasn’t it?”
“Justification… you say?”
“Indeed, it has.”
A sinister light now glinted in Jegal Min’s eyes as he raised his fan and pointed it at Neung Un-bi.
“Your actions right now, and the actions you should not have taken upon coming to the Central Plains.”
“...”
“Thanks to you, we have gained our justification, and with it, a cause to strike down our enemies. You will likely die here. And it will be announced to the world like this: that the Leader of the Orthodox Murim Alliance and a portion of the Orthodox Faction’s masters conspired with a disciple of the Demonic Cult to overthrow the Orthodox Faction.”
“...Shut your mouth, you bastard! Who would believe such a thing!”
“Whether they believe it or not is irrelevant. If we say it is so, then it will be so. And your claim that Yun An-ro is connected to the Demonic Cult is also irrelevant. Since the justification is already on our side…”
*Ggrrrind.*
Neung Un-bi ground his teeth as he stared into Jegal Min’s wickedly gleaming eyes.
*Yes, I know.*
*Aren’t these the same bastards who flawlessly concealed their own corruption, pinned everything on me, branded me a murderer, and killed me?*
*Damn Jegals…*
But it was too early to give up.
His plan was to break through the encirclement if nothing else worked. He had been surveying his surroundings throughout their conversation and had already chosen an escape route.
But just then, Jegal Min spoke as if the thought had just occurred to him.
“Ah, you wouldn’t be thinking of escaping, would you?”
“What?”
“Kekek, did I not say? There are always those with different thoughts, no matter where you go. Surely you don’t think such a person wouldn’t exist in your little group?”
“...?”
In that instant, Jegal Min’s lips moved without a sound.
*A voice… transmission?*
An inexplicable sense of dread washed over Neung Un-bi, and he whipped his head around.
*Shhlick!*
“Keuk.”
And what met his eyes was the sight of Hwang Byeong-chan plunging his sword into Yun An-ro’s body.