Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: A Deal with the Shadows
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After Wang Cheon and Ju Seung left, Neung Un-bi pondered for a long time.
What should he do?
If those two wouldn't help, he'd have to play all the parts himself...
This wouldn't do. He needed help.
There was a reason people, even capable ones, formed organizations and recruited talent to delegate tasks. It wasn't just about convenience; it was more efficient and allowed for more precise work.
Who would be suitable?
Besides Wang Cheon and Ju Seung… the Crescent Moon Guard?
“…”
They wouldn't listen.
*Sigh*… A bunch of useless fools.
What to do?
Even at this moment, the warriors of the Heavenly Pillar Gate must be raising hell, searching for the people who escaped the prison.
Was it a mistake to help them escape?
They might have suffered in the prison, but perhaps they would have been better off than they were now…
He began to regret acting so rashly, losing his composure for a moment.
But what could be more foolish than trying to scoop up spilled water?
Fine, I'll solve it.
Whatever it takes…
So what if you won't help?
*Slam!*
As if struck by an idea, Neung Un-bi threw the door open and stormed out.
Instantly, the Crescent Moon guardsmen standing watch outside leaped forward like lightning to block his path.
“What are you all doing?”
“The Captain ordered us to prevent you from doing anything else until he returns with a physician.”
“Anything else?”
A wave of irritation washed over him.
How was this any different from being under house arrest?
A sneer formed on Neung Un-bi’s face as he felt an urge to throw a fit.
“Are you skilled enough?”
“…How could we dare compare ourselves to you, my lord? However, if we must risk our lives, we are prepared.”
“…”
Damn them.
Did they think they had dozens of lives to spare? Why were they always so quick to talk about dying?
“*Sigh*, enough. It’s not your fault. I’m not going anywhere, so stand down.”
“But…”
“I won’t! I’ll just sit! Right here! And do nothing, you bastards! Got it!?”
“Yes, my lord!”
He had yelled in a fit of anger, but the Crescent Moon guardsman answered without so much as a frown.
Right, what fault was it of theirs? They were just following orders.
*But it just so happens I thought of someone who can help me, even if you can’t.*
After dismissing the Crescent Moon Guard, Neung Un-bi gazed into the empty air and spoke.
“Hey!”
“Yes! My lord.”
“…”
Thinking Neung Un-bi’s call was for him, the retreating Crescent Moon guardsman hastily turned back and bowed his head.
Damn it…
“I wasn’t talking to you, so never mind. The same goes for the rest of you. Understand?”
“Pardon?”
“From now on, don’t react to anything I say. Got it?”
“…Ah, yes.”
“Go!”
“…”
At the sharp command, the Crescent Moon guardsman retreated, tilting his head in confusion.
*Yeah, it must be strange.*
*But what can I do?*
*I’d love to send a telepathic message, but I need to sense their presence to do that.*
He might look like a madman for now, but this was the only way.
The Taoist, Sam-hui…
Considering the circumstances so far, that man and woman were surely watching him from somewhere.
He still didn't know if they were friend or foe, but it was certain they had been helping him repeatedly.
So, they were the only ones he could ask for help right now.
Though he didn't know if they would.
“Hey!”
“…”
When he called out again, the Crescent Moon guardsmen flinched but didn't answer, having been ordered not to.
“You, you’re listening right now, aren’t you?”
Neung Un-bi began a conversation with the empty air.
“If you can hear me, at least answer, you bastard!”
As expected, no reply came.
…Are they not here? Really?
“Hey! Hey! Hey!”
The louder Neung Un-bi shouted, the worse the expressions on the Crescent Moon guardsmen's faces became.
*Damn it all… Why do I have to be treated like this?*
It was frustrating and infuriating, but what could he do?
To save the people being hunted by the Heavenly Pillar Gate, he was desperate enough to ask a worm for a hand.
So he had to beg, or do whatever it took.
“Please, can you just answer me? Huh?”
[You are a noisy one. Speak. I am listening.]
“…!”
Neung Un-bi beamed at the sudden telepathic message.
He couldn't be happier.
He never knew a single reply could be so refreshing, clearing his stuffy chest.
“Thank you.”
[…]
“I knew you’d be listening. You’re helping me for some reason, right? Right?”
[For now.]
“Then could you do me just one favor?”
[A favor?］
“Yeah.”
[Hmm… I will decide after hearing it.］
“I’m just so frustrated. If I don’t do something like this, I feel like I’ll die of anger.”
[…]
“These damn so-called guards won’t listen to a damn thing I say. Everyone thinks I’m the bad guy. So you have to help me. Please?”
[I said I will decide after hearing it. What is your request?]
“Jong Se-in, the Gate Master of Dancheon Gate. I need you to watch him.”
[Watch him?]
“Yes. Something about him is strange. He’s definitely up to something.”
[Hmph…]
“So please. Why else do you think I’d be doing this?”
[…And the price?]
“Price? Does there have to be one?”
[Heh, you are in no position to command me. Nor do you have the standing to make requests.]
“…”
*Son of a bitch! And he said he’d decide after hearing it.*
What to do?
He needed to know what the person wanted.
If he offered a price that didn't suit their tastes, they would likely refuse his request outright.
What should he offer? What would this person want?
“…”
*Goddammit!*
How could he even guess what to offer as payment if he didn't know who he was dealing with?
As Neung Un-bi pondered seriously, a brilliant idea seemed to strike him. A sly grin spread across his face as he spoke to the air.
“You name it!”
[…Pardon?]
*Name it?*
*This is insane…*
Hyang-i was utterly baffled by Neung Un-bi’s words.
“I don’t know what you want… So you name your price first. I’ll give you anything.”
[Hmm, anything, you say…]
“…”
The telepathic link went silent for a moment, as if in thought.
[Very well. You have nothing to offer me now, so when you become the Cult Leader, accept a request of mine.]
“What? A request? What kind of request?”
[I will tell you later.]
“…”
After a moment of thought, Neung Un-bi grinned, revealing his white teeth, and extended his hand as if shaking on a deal with the air.
“We have a deal.”
[Surveillance, and nothing more.]
“Just reporting to me is enough.”
[I accept.]
“Thanks! Thank you so much!”
[Do not forget your promise.]
“Of course! A man’s word is his bond!”
Neung Un-bi laughed brightly, thumping his chest with conviction.
He didn't know where they were, but this was enough.
Wang Cheon, Ju Seung?
I don’t need you bastards!
Do you know who this person is?
This is someone who managed to conceal their presence even from me, who reigned as something of a king in the world of assassins for so long.
And that’s not all.
An old man, a maid.
This is a person who can change their appearance into any form they desire!
The person who watched me without being detected by anyone in the Heavenly Pillar Gate will now be watching Jong Se-in.
Think they'll get caught? Not a chance!
*Hehehe, Jong Se-in, you bastard. I will expose your dark intentions, no matter what.*
*How dare you tarnish my reputation?*
*Go! Great master whose gender I don't even know!*
*It doesn't matter if you're a friend or foe. Just faithfully carry out my command—no, my request!*
“Oh! What’s your name?”
He suddenly became curious.
Since they had struck a deal, wasn't it essential to exchange names?
[…You are not yet worthy of hearing my name.]
“…”
So cold.
But a master of that caliber deserved to have that much pride.
A name didn't matter.
What difference did it make if they were a Taoist or Sam-hui?
“Hahahaha!”
“…”
As Neung Un-bi’s mood improved to the point of bursting into loud laughter, the expressions of the Crescent Moon guardsmen grew more and more serious.
But it didn't matter.
As long as he was happy, what else mattered?
Besides, the condition the person set was attached to the clause, ‘when you become the Cult Leader.’
*If* I become the leader, I'll have to grant the request.
*But I’m not gonna be the Cult Leader, am I? So who ca~res?*
“Kahahahaha!”
“…”
Neung Un-bi’s laughter grew louder, sounding like a monstrous roar to the ears of the Crescent Moon Guard. There was even a hint of malevolence in it.
“Well then! Shall we begin the inspection in earnest?”
“…!”
As Neung Un-bi, who had been muttering to himself at the empty air, shot to his feet, the Crescent Moon guardsmen’s eyes widened in shock.
They had to stop him.
An inspection?
From their perspective, Neung Un-bi was not in his right mind.
Hadn't he been talking to himself in the air for a while?
Since he was showing signs of delusion, they absolutely had to stop him from conducting any inspection.
Somehow, until Ju Seung and Wang Cheon returned.
“My looord!”
“Shut up!”
“…Yessir!”
“You all, you plan to stop me, don’t you?”
“Yes! Although stopping you is an act of disloyalty, it is for the sake of a greater loyalty…”
*Are you a parrot? Why are you repeating Ju Seung’s words verbatim?*
Neung Un-bi smirked and glared disapprovingly at the tense-looking Crescent Moon Guard.
“Alright, fine. So you won't help, but you'll stand in my way? Then go ahead and try. Let’s see how skilled you all are.”
“…”
Neung Un-bi smiled eerily as he unleashed his aura.
It was a chilling demonic energy. One hundred percent pure, uncontrolled by the Demon-Subduing Pearl.
On top of that, he layered the Lunar Eclipse arts he had learned as the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult and all the martial arts he had accumulated as Cheok Wol-rin.
“M-My lord… if you do this…”
“Try and stop me, you bastards!”
“…Ugh!”
*Fwoosh!*
Neung Un-bi’s figure surged toward the front line of the Crescent Moon Guard blocking his path.
“Damn it all! Form the Iron Gate Golden Chain Formation! We must stop him!”
With that shout, the Crescent Moon Guard deployed their formation with all their might.
To stop their own lord.
*CRASH!*
The pavilion where Neung Un-bi resided shook from the shockwave for a long while.
* * *
“W-What in the world is going on!”
Ju Seung and Wang Cheon, who had gone together to fetch a physician, rushed out upon hearing the commotion shaking Dancheon Gate.
Realizing the source of the disturbance was the guest pavilion where they were staying, they pushed all their energy into their lightness skill for the first time in their lives.
What they saw upon their return was…
“Ughhh.”
“…”
The warriors of the Crescent Moon Guard, groaning and scattered everywhere.
All thirty of them. Every single member of the Crescent Moon Guard had been taken down.
“What in the world…”
An attack?
A wave of anxiety washed over him.
Weren’t the opposing factions already targeting Neung Un-bi?
Wang Cheon immediately threw open the door to the room where Neung Un-bi had been.
“M-My lord.”
His face contorted.
If something had happened to him, what was he supposed to do?
He shouldn't have left his side…
“Pyeong-san! What happened? What in heaven’s name happened! Where is the lord! Where in the world is he!”
While Wang Cheon searched the room, Ju Seung grabbed Pyeong-san, the leader of the First Squad of the Crescent Moon Guard, and demanded answers.
“Ugh… Captain, we were defeated.”
“Yes! By whom? Who was it!”
“…It was the lord.”
“Who… was it…?”
“Yes. We couldn't stop him even with the Iron Gate Golden Chain Formation. He is truly powerful…”
“Hmm, I see. As expected, our lord is… wait, why did the lord do this?”
“Ugh…”
His condition was not good.
Seeing Pyeong-san on the verge of losing consciousness, Ju Seung urgently transferred his energy into him.
“*Gasp, hack*, I’m alright now.”
“Tell me. Why did the lord do this?”
“He said he was going to conduct an inspection, so we risked our lives to stop him, but…”
“What? A-An inspection?”
“Yes.”
“Damn it all, I told him not to, but he went ahead anyway…”
“You must hurry after him.”
“What?”
“The lord is suffering from delusions.”
“Huh?”
“He suddenly came out of his room and started talking to himself in the air… It seemed like he was seeing hallucinations, and then he’d lament his fate, then start laughing… In any case, he was acting very strangely.”
“W-What?”
“In my humble opinion, I fear his Qi deviation may have relapsed… In any case, he seemed mentally very unstable.”
“…!”
At Pyeong-san’s words, Ju Seung and Wang Cheon exchanged looks of horror.
Mentally unstable?
No, what if his Qi deviation really had relapsed?
“Son of a bitch! My looord!”
Ju Seung tossed Pyeong-san aside and launched himself toward the main hall of Dancheon Gate.
“My future… My looord!”
Wang Cheon, the very embodiment of ambition, fearing for his future, chased after him.