Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: A Surprising Report
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Dawn was just breaking, but the world had not yet awakened, filled with a profound silence.
“It seems to have snowed quite a bit during the night.”
Dam Un-cheon, seated in a chair adorned with tiger skin, gazed out the window.
The world, just beginning to catch the light, was a blanket of pure white.
Once the sun rose higher, its reflection would be blinding, so now was the perfect time to enjoy the desolate scenery.
Should I say that the faintly brightening sky and the thick, settled quiet, harmonizing with the white-covered world, brought a sense of peace to the heart?
Of course, it was a fleeting peace.
The moment the clamor of the awakened world rushed in, the current tranquility would vanish without a trace.
Still, the feeling of blankly gazing upon the world, even for just a moment, was so pleasant that a smile naturally formed on his lips.
“Cult Leader, I will serve your tea.”
Just as a slight chill began to creep in, a maid placed a teacup on the tea table next to his chair.
It was a blue and white lidded bowl, with blue patterns painted on a white background.
It suited this tranquil moment perfectly.
Feeling a sense of urgency about this brief moment of leisure, Dam Un-cheon lifted the lid of the teacup.
The trapped steam billowed up and then gently dispersed.
But the aroma remained. The subtle fragrance of the tea seeping into his nostrils was truly delightful.
It was undoubtedly Anxi Tieguanyin, brought all the way from the Demonic Cult's Central Plains branch.
“This is why we can't forsake the Central Plains. It's so different from snow tea.”
Blowing on the steam, Dam Un-cheon took a sip of the light green tea.
It tasted wonderful, too.
But before he could even express his appreciation, his brow furrowed slightly.
“Tsk, they won't even give me a moment to enjoy my leisure.”
At Dam Un-cheon's words, the Great Protector Yang Seon, who had been waiting silently by his side, gave a wry smile and glanced at the ceiling.
A strange change had just occurred.
A section of the ceiling bulged out, like a droplet formed from collected moisture.
Then, it suddenly dropped.
But it was too large to be a droplet, and it didn't burst upon hitting the floor.
Its identity was a figure clad in black, wearing a mask.
With only his eyes visible, he knelt behind Dam Un-cheon and respectfully bowed his head.
This was the Cult Leader's residence.
If he were an assassin, the warriors of the Heavenly Demon Spirit Brigade hidden all around would have moved, and Yang Seon's sword would have long been drawn.
But no one stirred. Everyone was accustomed to this situation and knew the identity of the visitor.
The Hidden Guard.
If Yang Seon, as the head of the Protectorate and the Cult Leader's personal guard, stayed by his side, the Hidden Guard were those who lurked in the Cult Leader's shadow.
They had no family or given names, known only by their numbers. Their true identities were known only to the Cult Leader and Yang Seon.
Because the Cult Leader knew everything that happened within the fortress, people assumed he had mastered some art of controlling beasts, but it was all their doing. The rumored birds of the day and rats of the night were, in fact, human.
And the one now behind the Cult Leader was Number One, the leader of the Hidden Guard.
“Number One greets the Cult Leader.”
“Is this the regular report?”
“Yes.”
Dam Un-cheon set down his teacup and turned around.
“It seems I've come at an inopportune time.”
“It's fine. By the way, must you wear that mask even in here?”
“It's a habit…”
“Tsk.”
He could very well show his face to him and Yang Seon, since they all knew each other...
But it wasn't something to press him on. He was always cautious and sharp, and that was the secret to his identity never once being exposed.
“The Elder Council Head is quite furious, I hear?”
“That is correct. Since the Snow Mountain Manor declared its support for the Third Young Master, he has been secretly contacting other factions.”
“Hmm… that old man. At his age, he should know when to let go. Why can't he step back from the front lines?”
Dam Un-cheon grumbled with a wry smile.
“Continue.”
“Yes.”
Number One's report continued.
How the Elder's Department and the Family Council were moving on the Cult Leader's orders, who was voicing complaints, and so on.
The general state of affairs within the cult—or more precisely, within the main fortress—was reported systematically.
“Alright, that seems to be enough for the regular report… I heard Jin-gang was the first to return?”
“That is correct. He visited Hyessim Pavilion, and last night, he stopped by the Night Owl, located in the outer fortress's inn alley.”
“The Night Owl, you say? Their wine is indeed quite delicious.”
“…However, he met the Third Young Master there.”
“With Un-bi?”
“Yes.
“That's unusual. I didn't think Un-bi was one to go drinking in the outer fortress.”
Dam Un-cheon looked at Number One, surprised.
He was always like this whenever Neung Un-bi was mentioned.
Should I say his eyes sparkled like a curious child's?
“Did anything happen?”
“There was a slight altercation.”
“An altercation?”
“Yes.”
At Number One's reply, a small change came over Dam Un-cheon's expression.
“Wang Cheon beat up six of the Second Young Master's men, including his guard captain, Chu Seong-gyun.”
“Huh? What was that? Beat them up?”
“Looking at the circumstances of the incident, the fault lay with the Second Young Master's side.”
“What do you mean?”
In response to Dam Un-cheon's question, Number One calmly relayed what he had investigated.
“Hmm… so it was a justified fight.”
“Yes. It seems the Second Young Master's side will not be making any significant moves either.”
“They wouldn't dare. If they were to raise an issue, the Snow Mountain Manor—no, So Seol-ok-su—wouldn't stand for it.”
As Dam Un-cheon nodded, Yang Seon cautiously interjected.
“Since it was a fight between guard captains, the Protectorate will take charge and submit a thorough investigation of the facts.”
“Mm, do that.”
Finding merit in Yang Seon's words, Dam Un-cheon nodded and turned back to Number One.
“How did Un-bi handle it?”
“It seems the Third Young Master is unaware of the incident.”
“So it was settled as a fight between the guard captains?”
“Yes. However, the Third Young Master's attitude was quite different from how he usually acts toward the Second Young Master.”
“Different?”
“After meeting the Second Young Master, the doors to the Waning Moon Pavilion were locked, and he has been refusing all visitors, remaining in seclusion.”
“Oh? Does that mean the boy has finally seen through Jin-gang's insidious nature?”
“I cannot say for certain.”
“Hhmm…”
As Dam Un-cheon stroked his chin, Number One paused.
It was so as not to disturb his contemplation. His duty was to objectively report what he had seen, not to influence judgment with subjective words.
“You said before that the boy's realm was that of Intent, correct?”
“Yes. That is how I saw it.”
“Hmm, so he ate well from the table I set for him…”
Dam Un-cheon recalled a memory from not too long ago.
The test where he had brought along the Elder Council Head to suppress dissent within the cult.
Neung Un-bi had shown him exactly what he wanted to see, and in return, he had given him a small gift disguised as a beating.
However, the effect was greater than expected.
He had certain hopes for Neung Un-bi, but he couldn't show favoritism.
Losing fairness would incite backlash. That's why he only helped him that much—just enough to dissolve the blockages in his body so he could be on a similar level as the other disciples.
But then the rascal suddenly attained Intent. And in just a few days, at that.
It was a splendid achievement he had accomplished on his own, without anyone's help.
He had been so surprised. Enlightenment isn't something that comes so easily, is it?
After that, the Snow Mountain Manor made its move.
That, too, was not something he had intended. Wang Cheon had informed them, and So Seol-ok-su had acted. He had merely given his permission.
“Did this boy stumble upon some fortunate encounter? His martial talent was always outstanding, but he was never shrewd enough to see through Jin-gang's duplicity…”
Dam Un-cheon's thoughts deepened.
A change in his disciple. It was what he had hoped for, but the suddenness of it was puzzling.
There must have been some other catalyst.
What could it have been?
It seemed he would need to re-examine Neung Un-bi's movements.
“I say, Number One.”
“Your command, please.”
“You said he was training in seclusion at the Snow Mountain Manor, correct?”
“That is correct. In the prison where the Snow Mountain Manor once held invaders from the north.”
“Well, that's not important. Do you know what he was practicing?”
“I was unable to see. Lady So Seol-ok-su had stationed nearly a thousand warriors, including three banner units, to guard the area…”
“Hmm, so did some catalyst for change occur during that process? Good heavens, I have no way of knowing what he did.”
At Dam Un-cheon's disappointed grumble, Number One took a small map from his robes and offered it.
“This marks the route the Third Young Master took for his final training session before coming to the main fortress.”
“Ah, the… one where he played hide-and-seek with the guards all night?”
“That is correct.”
“…”
Dam Un-cheon scanned the map.
A detailed map of the Snow Mountain Manor and its surroundings, with Neung Un-bi's path drawn upon it.
“…Huh?”
Something was strange.
Dam Un-cheon narrowed his eyes, closely examining the surrounding terrain and Neung Un-bi's route.
“Ha! Look at this rascal.”
“…”
Suddenly, Dam Un-cheon wore an expression of dumbfoundedness.
The beginning of the path chaotically drawn on the map.
It was the shortest route to the valley, the starting point for leaving the Snow Mountain Manor's territory—no, for leaving the Demonic Cult's territory.
After that, it looked as if he had wandered around, unable to break through the guard net.
“Ha! Have you ever seen such an audacious brat?”
Dam Un-cheon couldn't hide his bewilderment. He wasn't certain, but it seemed Neung Un-bi hadn't been training at all.
He had attempted to escape.
Suddenly, Neung Un-bi's words echoed in Dam Un-cheon's ears like an auditory hallucination.
*I will not be your disciple. Please allow me to live a quiet life in obscurity.*
“Ha, this boy… Now I see. Now I understand.”
“…?”
Seeing Dam Un-cheon laughing so hard he slapped his knee, Number One and Yang Seon tilted their heads in confusion.
“So that's why this rascal did it? Because he wanted to go to the Central Plains?”
Then again, it was understandable.
How much persecution and threats had he endured within the cult all this time?
He had felt sorry for him all along but couldn't show it. As the Cult Leader, he had to appear fair to all five of his disciples.
So it was natural for him to be sick of it all. Natural that he would want to leave the cult.
How suffocated must he have felt to resort to something like this?
“Hhmm, what to do?”
Dam Un-cheon sank deep into his chair and pondered.
The power-building that should have started around the time he fell into qi deviation.
Over the past year, the other disciples must have secured the choicest assets with the help of their supporting factions.
Neung Un-bi had only just gained the Snow Mountain Manor, so he was far behind the others.
So, what should be done?
No matter how outstanding his skills, without a power base to support him, it would be difficult to approach the position of Cult Leader.
“Rascal… Then I shall help you one more time. Of course, the outcome will depend on you.”
He still didn't know what had triggered this change.
Whether it was an enlightenment, or if he was just now revealing something he had been hiding even from him.
But it was flowing in a good direction, so it didn't matter.
However, as his master, he had to open a path to ensure the competition with the other disciples was fair.
“Heheh, I'm quite looking forward to seeing what happens next.”
Whatever he was thinking, Dam Un-cheon laughed like a mischievous child.