Chapter 52
Chapter 52
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Two Against One
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Damn it all to hell!”
“…”
“My lord! Are we just going to stand by and watch this damn situation unfold?”
After the drinking party, Wang Cheon, unable to contain his anger, confronted him with a flushed face.
Neung Un-bi couldn’t bring himself to scold him, as he understood how he felt.
He, too, had seen the people dragged away, accused of being demonic practitioners.
A sense of justice? Pity?
Not a chance.
This was a matter of pride. He was furious that the name of the Demonic Cult was being trampled by the Orthodox Faction, regardless of whether those people were truly associated with the cult or not.
But in the current situation, it didn’t seem to make much of a difference.
More importantly, it was remarkable that Wang Cheon had even managed to hold back until the party ended.
If he hadn’t been subjected to Neung Un-bi’s near-brainwashing tirades over the years, he would have undoubtedly caused a major incident on the road to Jucheon.
And that was likely thanks to his unwavering loyalty.
Since Neung Un-bi didn’t move, he must have had to endure it the whole time.
But throughout the party, he was on pins and needles. He was constantly sneaking glances, trying to read his expression.
“Escort Ok.”
“Just give the order! I’ll immediately…”
“Lower your voice.”
“My lord!”
“Head Escort.”
“…Damn it! Is that really what’s important right now?!”
“It is. We’re in the heart of enemy territory. So, call me that out of habit, even when we’re alone.”
“…”
Neung Un-bi spoke calmly, a chill in his voice, and glanced at Ju Seung.
“There are no signs of anyone nearby, but we should still lower our voices. There might be guests in the inn who are light sleepers.”
“Did you hear Escort Cheong?”
“…”
As Ju Seung spoke and Neung Un-bi repeated the question, Wang Cheon’s face contorted.
“I know you’re angry. But endure it.”
“Endure what?! How can you say that after what we saw? Huh?!”
“Escort Ok!”
As Wang Cheon shot to his feet, Neung Un-bi called out firmly, his voice laced with coldness.
“Sit.”
“…”
It was a side of him Wang Cheon had never seen before. Grinding his teeth, he slumped back down.
However, as if he couldn’t even bear to look at him, he faced the wall.
How could he blame Wang Cheon?
He had been the same. He often couldn’t stand the injustice before him and would step in.
Every time, *that person* would nag him, saying he needed to develop the vision to see the ‘bigger picture’.
He didn’t understand it back then, but he saw it now.
It seemed that even an unwanted position could shape a person. If he hadn’t calmed his mind by chanting the Demon-Subduing Mantra, he would have acted just like Wang Cheon… no, he would have already caused trouble.
But now was the time to endure. It wasn’t too difficult to start a fire, but it was common to let it grow out of control and burn yourself.
After all, the most important virtue for a skilled hunter is to wait for the right moment.
The angrier you get, the calmer you must become.
You must assess the situation calmly and move only when you are certain.
Especially now, a rash move was likely to backfire.
This was different from carrying out righteous deeds in disguise.
He was from the Demonic Cult. The captured were also called demonic practitioners. The moment their identities were revealed, they would be lumped in with them, and public opinion would not be on his side.
Of course, it was fine if he didn’t have their support. He wasn’t the type to care about such things when doing what was right.
But if a fight broke out, innocent people would be harmed.
He acknowledged the strength of the Sakwol Guard warriors as bodyguards, but they couldn’t take on the entire Heavenly Pillar Gate.
They would probably die trying to protect him. They were the kind of men who always said, as if by habit, that it was their very identity.
And would they be the only casualties?
A misstep could turn a children’s squabble into a full-blown war between adults.
If the Orthodox Faction rose up like a disturbed beehive, would the Demonic Path just stand by?
Being marginalized in the borderlands was one thing, but they were also misrepresented as monstrous cannibals, which forged an indescribably strong bond among them.
There were enough people who wanted him dead to fill several carts, but they wouldn’t leave the job to outsiders.
In other words, there was a high chance it would escalate into a massive bloodbath.
Therefore, he had to be extremely cautious with every step.
Even if he were to resolve it, he would have to do it alone.
“Escort Cheong, what about the surveillance outside?”
“I’ve ordered them to sprawl out all over the inn, just like laborers.”
“Good.”
Neung Un-bi nodded.
It was a good thing it wasn’t raining. Even a drunkard who passed out wouldn’t just lie there without seeking shelter from the rain.
Besides, he was sure Ju Seung had positioned them in just the right places.
Those lying around everywhere, disguised as laborers, would be looked down upon for appearing uneducated, but anyone who paid close attention to their positions would be astonished.
The Sakwol Guard’s defensive formation was like that.
A formation that looked sloppy, but anyone approaching with killing intent would be diced into a thousand pieces.
He knew this well from his escape from the Snow Mountain Manor when he saw the Black Leopard Banner blocking his path.
Based on his experience of being unable to shake them off despite having reached the state of Righteousness and mastered the Three Nothings Footwork, he could guarantee that few, aside from a master of the previous generation like the Gate Master or an elder of the Heavenly Pillar Gate, could survive within the formation deployed by the Sakwol Guard.
Of course, the men drunk on their own festivities were unlikely to care about the state of a shabby inn like this.
In other words, he didn’t have to worry about prying ears. The words spoken now would be known only to the three of them.
Still, it was probably best to maintain their titles.
“Escort Ok.”
“What!”
Neung Un-bi gently called out to Wang Cheon, who was still facing the wall with his arms crossed.
“Come here.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Come on, I have something to discuss.”
“Hmph! I said no!”
“…”
As the sulking Wang Cheon even snorted in defiance, Neung Un-bi shook his head.
But how long could he coddle a grown man?
“Alright. Then I’ll just discuss these matters of grave importance with Escort Cheong. You stay out of it.”
“…Impor…? What?!”
“I’m the type to greatly respect an individual’s wishes.”
“…”
“You’re a distraction, so you might as well leave.”
“…Le-leave?”
“Yeah, get out. What help is a guy who just gets angry without listening?”
“…”
“I said, get out, will you?”
As he waved his hand dismissively to show he was firm, Wang Cheon’s expression softened, and he began to watch him warily.
“Escort Ok, do as the Head Escort says. It is difficult to offer a proper opinion in such an agitated state. It would be best to step outside for a moment and cool your head in the chilly air.”
“Ah, no, that’s…”
“I will speak with the Head Escort.”
“…”
Wang Cheon began blinking his eyes incessantly.
The situation felt… as if the two of them were about to conspire together, leaving him out…
“Ahem! It seems I was too agitated. So, what did you want to discuss?”
“…”
Seeing Wang Cheon turn around and prick up his ears as if he had never been angry, Neung Un-bi let out a faint smile.
He really couldn’t do anything with this guy.
A man that crazy about fame and success would never let himself be pushed aside by Ju Seung.
“You’re not going to get angry? Or agitated?”
“I promise.”
“Really?”
“You have my word.”
“…”
Although it was obvious, given his personality, that he would get angry again, Neung Un-bi simply nodded lightly and lowered his voice.
“You both saw them, right?”
“…You mean the people who were captured?”
“Right. What did you think?”
“They are not martial artists. I couldn’t sense the slightest demonic aura from them.”
“That’s what I thought, too.”
As Ju Seung spoke in almost a whisper, Wang Cheon nodded in agreement.
The two of them would have sensed things differently than he had.
For now, their skills were similar, no, in terms of demonic arts alone, they were far superior.
Of course, that might change once Cheok Wol-rin’s power was added to the mix.
“They must be collaborators.”
“What? Collaborators? How can you, Head Escort, use the same term as those damn Central Plains bastards…”
“Ahem! Escort Ok, did you not hear the Head Escort? *We* are those Central Plains men.”
Neung Un-bi was momentarily flustered by Wang Cheon’s words, but Ju Seung instead pointed out his mistake.
*This guy, he’s really into his role.*
He was proud of him, but in truth, it had been his own slip-up.
Having been born in the Central Plains, he had unconsciously used a familiar expression, but thanks to Ju Seung, he now appeared meticulous.
Neung Un-bi, inwardly pleased, shot a glare at Wang Cheon and pressed him.
“Get a grip. And were you just getting angry?”
“…I said it quietly.”
“Let’s be careful.”
“…Yessir.”
Although Wang Cheon pouted, his lips jutting out, Neung Un-bi paid him no more mind.
“Head Escort, do you see them as ‘Turncoats’?”
“…”
People who changed their clothes.
It seemed that was the Demonic Cult’s term for those the Orthodox Faction called collaborators.
“For now.”
“Hmm, that could be possible. But to treat them so harshly just for being turncoats…”
“The Orthodox Faction has always been like that. To protect their territory.”
“Always…?”
“…It’s something I heard. Are you going to argue over something unimportant?”
“My apologies.”
Ju Seung quickly apologized and listened intently once more.
“But I’m not sure yet. If they were really turncoats, why didn’t the Demonic Cult’s branch take any action?”
“How do you know that?”
“There were no injuries.”
“What?”
“Did you see even a speck of a wound on that First Young Master punk—Bae Hyo-gang or whatever his name was—or any of his lackeys?”
“Hmm… true, if they had fought with the warriors from the branch, they wouldn’t have looked so clean.”
“Right. At least a few of them should have been injured.”
“…”
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung nodded as if it made sense.
“So you believe it was staged?”
“I’m not certain. That’s why I’m going to look into it.”
“Look into it?”
“Yeah.”
“How do you plan on doing that? Surely, you don’t mean you’re going to the prison where they’re being held and meet them?”
“You catch on quick.”
“!”
At Neung Un-bi’s words, Wang Cheon’s and Ju Seung’s eyes went wide.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m just going to meet them and ask them directly. I don’t plan on acting recklessly like *someone* I know, so don’t worry.”
“…”
Wang Cheon knew Neung Un-bi was referring to him, but he couldn’t agree with such a decision.
It was a prison where criminals were held.
Neither the Orthodox nor the Demonic Faction would allow outsiders or untrusted individuals to see it. The security would be tight.
Neung Un-bi couldn’t possibly be unaware of that…
“Are you insane?! You’re going to sneak in? Yourself?”
“…‘Insane’ is a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
“Don’t change the subject! Is the Heavenly Pillar Gate some neighborhood martial arts hall? Where do you think you can just sneak into?”
“Escort Ok is right. It’s too dangerous.”
“…”
Although Wang Cheon and Ju Seung both objected, it was the only way.
“Whatever you say, I’m not changing my mind, so just don’t say anything.”
“No! What will you do if you get caught? How can you even think of such a thing?”
“That’s not something you should be saying, considering you looked ready to smash the Heavenly Pillar Gate to pieces just moments ago.”
“That was then! This is now! Do you think this is the Demonic Cult? You think you’ll keep your head if you get caught?”
“I told you to watch your mouth.”
“How can I?”
“…”
Seeing Wang Cheon’s face change colors as he fumed, Neung Un-bi pressed his lips together and frowned.
“Head Escort, Escort Ok is right about this. But if you will not change your mind, then please wait until we have left this place and give the order to me or Escort Ok.”
“No, not you two.”
“What?”
“You guys are weak.”
“…”
Lumped together and dismissed, Ju Seung and Wang Cheon looked at each other and let out a deep sigh.
Weak?
To think so little of them… his arrogance pierced the heavens.
This was all because he had grown so strong so quickly. He had clearly become conceited after reaching the state of Righteousness so fast.
“Head Escort.”
“What.”
“Aren’t you underestimating us a bit too much?”
“I’m looking at it as objectively as I can.”
“…”
Seeing the sincerity in Neung Un-bi’s expression, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung looked at each other again and shook their heads.
“Hah, I apologize for saying this, but we… are stronger than you think. We’ve just been holding back because it wasn’t the right situation to reveal our strength.”
“Yes, that’s right. I know this is rude, but if you’re judging me based solely on what you saw during the great escape training at the Snow Mountain Manor, you’re mistaken. And while defeating the First Young Master was indeed a great feat, that’s only impressive among his peers. To compare it to us…”
“…”
*Look at these two. Their words are dripping with scorn.*
“So, you’re saying you’re stronger than me?”
“…It’s difficult to say, but.”
“I will not answer, as it would be an act of disloyalty.”
The two of them were perfectly in sync.
It was written all over their faces that they were certain of it.
“Are you two looking down on me right now?”
“What? That’s not what we meant…”
“Yes, it is. The implication is strong.”
“Well…”
“Whatever, it’s fine. It’s about time we made things clear anyway. The Demonic Cult isn’t a place where rank is determined by status alone, right?”
“…Huh?”
Neung Un-bi slowly rose to his feet.
“A rectangular room, the longer side is over ten feet. It’s too small to fight freely, but there’s enough space for the three of us to move.”
“Huh? What’s that about?”
“First, nothing gets revealed to the outside.”
“What?”
“Second, we are guests, so do not break any furniture or damage the building.”
“?”
“Third, do not take a single step out of this room.”
“Head Escort? What on earth are you talking about?”
As the two of them tilted their heads with puzzled looks, Neung Un-bi grinned and took a step forward.
“Two against one! If you lose, not another word!”
“What?!”
The next moment, Neung Un-bi shot forward, and the two men’s faces filled with shock.
“Wa-wait! So suddenly…!”
“The first strike wins!”
*What more needs to be said?*
*You guys love this kind of stuff, right? Respect for the strong.*
*I’ll take this chance to show you exactly who’s on top.*