Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: A Master's Madness
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The atmosphere turned strange in an instant due to Jong Se-in's sudden action.
The gazes of the people were piercing.
Because Neung Un-bi held the rank of Third Young Master, they couldn't speak their minds, but the displeasure in their expressions and eyes was unmistakable.
However, what dominated Neung Un-bi's mind wasn't their glares, but Jong Se-in's behavior.
*Is he serious? Or is this some kind of calculated act?*
*But why spring this on me so suddenly, without any warning?*
*What am I supposed to do when you don't even give me a heads-up?*
*Did I even scold him? I was just angry about the Heavenly Pillar Gate, wasn't I?*
*...Damn it, I need to handle this atmosphere first.*
"Branch Chief, why are you suddenly acting like this? What wrong have you committed..."
"No, my lord. I failed to prevent the Heavenly Pillar Gate from tarnishing the name of the Demonic Cult. This sin is worthy of death. Please, punish me."
"..."
*Hey, seriously, what's wrong with you!*
*Why are you talking about death just because our honor was tarnished?*
In an instant, Neung Un-bi was being made out to be an even worse villain.
The words he had spoken while grinding his teeth in anger at the Heavenly Pillar Gate's scheme—using refugees to frame the Demonic Cult and build their own merits—were being interpreted as a call for punishment.
"If you permit it, I will end my life here to protect my honor."
"Wh-what?"
While Neung Un-bi was flustered, Jong Se-in drew the sword from his waist.
"I pray you will forgive the Dancheon Gate with my life alone."
"...!"
While he hesitated, Jong Se-in aimed the sword at his own heart.
He could almost hear the sound of it piercing through, *thwump!*
The result?
It was as clear as day that it would lead to condemnation of him.
The honor of the demonic path? Is that really so important?
The Dancheon Gate was a neutral sect, standing between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions.
Even if their honor was tarnished, they were in a position where they couldn't act rashly.
And yet, while living in secrecy, they were the ones who had made significant contributions to expanding the Demonic Cult's finances.
So, some little brat shows up calling it an inspection, nitpicks over something trivial, and drives the Gate Master to suicide?
When you thought about it, it wasn't even a major crime.
Wasn't this the worst kind of power trip?
"..."
He could already see the final outcome playing out in his mind.
Naturally, the opposing faction would rise up, and even his position as a disciple might be in jeopardy.
Of course, what was the point of being a disciple? It wasn't like he planned on becoming the Cult Leader anyway.
The problem, however, was the fact that he would be summoned back to the Demonic Cult for a detailed investigation into this whole affair.
And then?
"...!"
*Son of a bitch!*
*Whose life is this man trying to ruin with all this drama?*
*Do you know what I went through to escape that godforsaken place!*
As the sequence of events flashed through his mind, Neung Un-bi shot his hand out.
*Slap!*
He had been in such a hurry that he hadn't even imbued his hand with energy, and his palm was torn as it met the blade.
But who cared? Was a cut on his hand a big deal right now?
One Demonic Cult member dying might be a good thing for the peace of the Central Plains, but he was the problem. If things went wrong, he might have to rot in the Demonic Cult for the rest of his life.
*Drip, drip.*
Blood from his torn palm flowed down the blade and fell to the floor.
"M-my Lord!"
At the sight of the crimson blood, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung's eyes widened, and they shot to their feet.
*Don't interfere, you bastards.*
*My hand isn't what's important right now.*
"Branch Chief."
"...Third Young Master."
At Neung Un-bi's hardened expression, Jong Se-in lifted his head to look up at him.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"I..."
"Let go."
"But."
"I said, let go!"
"..."
As he glared and shouted, Jong Se-in furrowed his brow deeply and released the sword.
*Dammit...*
But this wasn't the time to be annoyed. Ending it here would only deepen the misunderstanding.
"Branch Chief."
"Yes."
"I was angry at the actions of the Heavenly Pillar Gate, not at you or the Dancheon Gate."
"..."
As he chided with feigned solemnity, Jong Se-in's head dropped heavily toward the floor.
"Listen well!"
"Your command!"
Neung Un-bi, looking down at the back of Jong Se-in's head, shouted to the surroundings, and the warriors of the Dancheon Gate all knelt and bowed their heads.
"I, Neung Un-bi, as the one conducting this inspection on behalf of the Cult Leader, have no intention of holding any of you accountable for the Heavenly Pillar Gate's impersonation of the Demonic Cult! Furthermore, I will not report any of this, and if anyone dares to make an issue of it, I will take full responsibility. Do you understand!"
"Yes!"
"..."
After staring for a moment at the warriors who answered thunderously, Neung Un-bi let go of the blade.
*Clang.*
The sound of the blood-stained sword falling to the floor echoed harshly through the silent hall.
"The banquet is over! All of you, withdraw!"
"Yes!"
At Neung Un-bi's command, the warriors helped the still-kneeling Jong Se-in to his feet and retreated from the banquet hall.
"Damn it..."
Left alone with the Waning Moon Squad, Neung Un-bi cursed in frustration and slumped into a chair.
Jong Se-in's out-of-the-blue behavior.
Although he had managed to smooth it over in a timely manner, the Dancheon Gate's perception of him must have already soured. It was obvious they would be uncooperative with the inspection that would continue from tomorrow.
But what did that matter?
He couldn't care less how the man ran his branch.
The problem was that he hadn't been able to ask anything. About what the Heavenly Pillar Gate had been up to.
How could he possibly ask in that situation?
"Hah... I'm really going crazy."
Does this mean he had to face the Heavenly Pillar Gate without the Dancheon Gate's help?
"My Lord, your hand..."
"...It's fine, leave it."
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung approached, looking worriedly at his hand, from which blood was dripping, but Neung Un-bi just shook his head.
*Leave it.*
*The whole thing is ruined, who cares if a little blood flows.*
*I just want to die from excessive blood loss.*
Just then, as he slumped listlessly in his chair, he heard a laugh.
[Heh, hehehehe.]
"..."
It was that person again.
The hidden figure whose gender he couldn't even distinguish.
If he had his way, he'd find them right now and beat them senseless, but even searching felt like too much trouble.
[Hehehe.]
Just from the sound of their telepathic voice, they seemed to be in a good mood, likely having watched the whole situation unfold from somewhere.
*Yeah. Laugh all you want, you bastard!*
*Once I find you, I'll tear you to shreds.*
But then, that person said something strange.
[That guy was smiling, you know?]
"...?"
[He was practically dying of joy. Hehe, it's fun. Isn't it?]
"...!"
Laughter and fun.
They were words that naturally went together, but the subject... was Jong Se-in?
He was smiling?
The question 'why?' once again popped into Neung Un-bi's head.
*He was smiling, you say?*
*Does that mean his actions just now were entirely intentional, and the result was exactly what he wanted?*
Because of what just happened, he couldn't even bring up the 'Heavenly' in Heavenly Pillar Gate... So it's true you can't judge a book by its cover. This bastard has something up his sleeve.
The feeling of futility began to burn brightly once more.
***
"Pardon?"
"Do what?"
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung asked, their faces a mask of utter bewilderment.
"Are you in your right mind?"
Wang Cheon worried about Neung Un-bi's mental state.
"Hah, my Lord. I say this, staking my loyalty on it, but this is not the way."
Ju Seung opposed it, betting his all (?).
But their meaning was clear.
And in times like these, there was only one way to make them move.
"Do it!"
"..."
"I said do it! This is an order."
"..."
Despite his firm shout, Wang Cheon just stared at him, showing no sign of answering.
"I refuse."
"My Lord, this time I agree with Guard Captain Wang. If you command it, I will have no choice but to follow, but."
"..."
It didn't work.
Wang Cheon was adamant, and Ju Seung was subtle.
But their intent was the same.
"Why on earth are you doing this? The way they're looking at you, Third Young Master, is already not good... Do what? Surveillance? Does that even make sense right now? He is a man whose loyalty to the Cult is so high that he was willing to take his own life for tarnishing its name. If you needlessly poke at him, you will only damage your own prestige, my Lord."
At Wang Cheon's words, Neung Un-bi's brow furrowed fiercely.
"You! Do you take your Lord's command for shit? When I tell you to do something, you do it! Why so many damned questions!"
"We'll do it if it's worth doing, and follow if it's worth following!"
"..."
This was getting ridiculous.
Although Wang Cheon had done all the talking, Ju Seung's expression made it clear he agreed.
*Have you two already ganged up on me?*
*Even after you both lost when you came at me together...*
Damn the Demonic Cult. All that talk about survival of the fittest was apparently just empty words.
"Fine. Fine! But why are you doing this? What's the reason? Last night, you spoke as if you would forgive everything, so why the sudden change of heart?"
There was only one answer to that question.
"Because he was smiling!"
"..."
When Neung Un-bi shouted, the two of them, as if on cue, stared blankly at him.
"...Who was?"
"Huh?"
"Who was smiling? And who told you that?"
"..."
What was he supposed to say in a situation like this?
That he heard a voice from thin air?
...He'd be treated like a lunatic.
Right, let's explain it calmly. They needed to know what was going on.
"Do you remember the Taoist we saw in Anbon Prefecture?"
"A Taoist?"
It was natural for Ju Seung to tilt his head; he hadn't been there at the time.
*But you remember, right, Wang Cheon?*
Neung Un-bi looked at Wang Cheon, but the man's intensely focused eyes were filled with confusion.
"What Taoist?"
"..."
*Right... I was a fool to expect anything from this goldfish-brained idiot.*
"Hah, you don't remember? When we arrived in Sangrak, we stayed at an inn. While waiting for the Waning Moon Squad... you remember that, right?"
"Ah! Yes, we did."
"Back then, some Taoist came and gave us a talisman."
"Hmm... did he?"
"..."
*Did he?*
*Is that something you should be saying right now, you son of a bitch!*
*Is that thing on your neck just for decoration?*
*You should at least remember that much!*
"Ah! I remember now. That damn quack."
"Yes!"
At the sight of Wang Cheon struggling to remember, Neung Un-bi slapped his knee and exclaimed, then made an awkward face.
*Hah, why am I explaining all this trivial stuff?*
*With a memory like that, how in the world did you master such profound martial arts, you damn Guard Captain!*
"We were attacked that night, while you were sleeping and looking for Aeyang."
"For crying out loud! Why are you bringing up Aeyang now!"
"Ah... sorry."
Well, no need to get so worked up about it.
Anyway, that wasn't the important part.
"How do you think I knew there would be an attack back then?"
"...Could it be that Taoist?"
"Yes! The talisman that guy gave me had a warning on it!"
"Hmm..."
"See! You believe me now, right?"
"No. Rather, I'm disappointed."
"Huh? In what?"
"I was under the impression that your senses were exceptionally sharp, my Lord, and I was admiring and even respecting you in my heart... I thought a rosy future was about to become a reality... To think it was all because of someone else's warning."
The sight of Wang Cheon shaking his head made his anger flare up.
*Sorry to disappoint you, you goddamn Guard Captain.*
"Anyway, that Taoist appeared again."
"You guys called her Sam-hui back then, right?"
"Sam-hui...?"
Wang Cheon once again wore a look of agony as he searched his memory.
*Forget it, you.*
"Ju Seung, you remember, right?"
"Yes. Wasn't she the maid from the Heavenly Pillar Gate who delivered your letter to us?"
"She's actually that Taoist. In fact, I didn't raid the Heavenly Pillar Gate's prison by myself back then."
"What? Then?"
"That girl, Sam-hui, helped me! After helping me, she immediately went to tell you guys not to act rashly."
As Neung Un-bi explained the situation, spitting as he talked, Ju Seung just stared at him.
After looking at him for a long while with narrowed eyes, he asked with a dubious expression.
"So you're saying that the Taoist is Sam-hui, and Sam-hui is the Taoist?"
"Right! That's it!"
"An old man, then a woman... just like that?"
"Yeah! That's right! She's the one who told me last night! That Jong Se-in was smiling!"
"..."
Despite his enthusiastic agreement, Ju Seung too fell silent.
Then he scoffed... hey!
"Hmm, he's had too much to drink. Way too much."
"I agree. It seems our lord injured more than just his hand on that blade."
Ju Seung and Wang Cheon shook their heads.
"You should get some sleep. You'll feel better after a good long rest."
"..."
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung let out deep sighs and went outside.
"Why are they making up excuses like that?"
"Perhaps he's having auditory hallucinations from overwork?"
"Hallucinations?"
"Yes. He hasn't had a proper rest since leaving the Demonic Cult, has he?"
"Hmm, that's true..."
"We shouldn't just stand here. I will bring a physician at once. It would be a disaster if something were to happen to our Lord."
"Please do. He needs his hand treated anyway."
Nodding at Wang Cheon's words, Ju Seung gave a stern command to the Waning Moon Squad.
"Waning Moon Squad, make sure our Lord does not leave this place under any circumstances!"
"What? Us? How can we possibly stop our Lord's steps..."
"You fools!"
"..."
"Part of our duty as guards is to help our Lord stay on the right path until he becomes the Cult Leader! To block his path is disloyalty, but to block it for the sake of what is right is a higher form of loyalty! You must block him, even if it costs you your lives! Do you understand!"
"Yes! Squad Leader!"
*I can hear everything, you sons of bitches.*
*If you're going to do that, you might as well just shout it in my ear.*
He was speaking to the Waning Moon Squad, but wasn't it really a warning to him?
Left alone in the room, Neung Un-bi felt a wave of sorrow.
No matter how many times he had brainwashed them, even using profanity, to treat him casually since he had to hide his identity in the Central Plains, to think these were his guards...
*Just you wait. One day, I'll abandon you both.*
*Ruthlessly, without a shred of blood or tears.*
*Even if you cry and beg then, I will never take you back!*