Chapter 83
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Twisting Silk Power
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"What? You let him live?"
Beom Gye-wi clicked his tongue in disappointment as he listened to Dan Ak-seon recount what had happened at the Shaolin Temple.
"Tsk. The Five Absolutes Under Heaven could have become the Four. What a shame."
Beom Gye-wi glanced at Cho Ak-ryang and tilted his head.
"Or maybe not? Seeing your state, Brother Cho, maybe it's the Three Absolutes?"
"What did you say, you bastard?"
Beom Gye-wi grinned at the fuming Cho Ak-ryang.
"Be honest."
"…?"
"You're secretly relieved too, aren't you, Brother Cho?"
Beom Gye-wi continued, his tone teasing.
"While that bastard Beopryo is ailing, you won't have to fear the Shaolin."
"Why would I fear the Shaolin?"
"Come on. If the one who attacked you back then had been that Beopryo fellow instead of the Arhat Hall Master, do you really think you'd still be alive?"
Cho Ak-ryang flinched.
Recalling the perilous battle, the hair on his neck stood on end.
What if, at that time, Beopryo had been there instead of Ryobeom...?
While one never knows the outcome until they cross swords, Beopryo was the Shaolin's greatest master.
At least half a step above Ryobeom.
No, a full step or more.
"Even so, nothing would have changed."
It was a fight he had entered prepared to die.
It wouldn't have mattered if Beopryo's grandfather had been there instead of Beopryo himself.
He was confident he could take anyone with him to the afterlife.
"Well, if you say so."
Cho Ak-ryang's face twisted at Beom Gye-wi's dismissive response.
But he paid it no mind.
Beom Gye-wi turned to Dan Ak-seon and asked.
"Did things go well there?"
Dan Ak-seon beamed.
"I got the signatures on the joint petition."
"That's our Physician Dan! I knew it would all work out."
Cho Ak-ryang was dumbfounded by how casually Beom Gye-wi lied.
Just a few hours ago, he had been insisting something terrible had happened and was about to rush to Shaolin.
"You worked hard, Physician Dan. Let's go get something delicious to eat!"
Beom Gye-wi lifted Dan Ak-seon onto his shoulder.
"I can use lightness arts now too."
"I'm hungry. Thanks to Brother Cho's little rampage, I didn't even get to eat the temple food."
"You're blaming me for that?"
Cho Ak-ryang was incredulous.
When you thought about it, this whole mess started because Beom Gye-wi hadn't properly looked after the Great Thistle Staff in the first place.
At that moment, Beom Gye-wi and Cho Ak-ryang suddenly felt a chill.
Unconsciously, they both turned their heads and met Han Seol-hwa's gaze.
"Now that I think about it..."
Han Seol-hwa glared at the two of them, her eyes flashing menacingly.
"Don't you two have something to say to me?"
"..."
"..."
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi laughed awkwardly.
Then, in an instant.
Beom Gye-wi shot forward.
"Stop right there."
"Can't hear you!"
Beom Gye-wi fled, quickly becoming a dot in the distance before disappearing.
While Han Seol-hwa was distracted.
Cho Ak-ryang seized the opportunity and also shot forward.
Or rather, he tried to.
Clasp.
His wrist caught by Han Seol-hwa, Cho Ak-ryang said decisively.
"It was all his fault."
Cho Ak-ryang twisted his wrist and slipped out of Han Seol-hwa's grasp.
It was one of his signature moves, a full display of his specialty, Qinna.
Then he started running.
After standing there for a moment with a blank expression, a murderous glint flickered in Han Seol-hwa's eyes.
"Those bastards..."
Han Seol-hwa fiercely pursued the two of them.
* * *
Crack!
The armrest of the sturdy chair, made of black ironwood, was crushed.
Wood splinters scattered in all directions, caught in a whirlwind of energy.
Through it all, a grim voice echoed.
"Say that again."
The faces of the Evil-Shattering Corps members standing at attention turned pale from the killing intent emanating from No Dan-yang.
That was how truly enraged No Dan-yang was.
"They have already left, sir."
"When? Where to?"
"We're not sure... Gack!"
One of the corps members, who had been stammering through his report, was suddenly lifted into the air, struggling.
A chilling glint poured from the eyes of No Dan-yang, who had him by the throat.
The corps member, facing that fury head-on, felt his eyes turn bloodshot.
The capillaries had burst under the crushing pressure.
"Find out where they are, by any means necessary."
No Dan-yang growled, his face menacing.
"Whether you have to shake down those bastards from the Beggar's Sect who interfered, or contact the black market... Mobilize every available resource to pinpoint their location."
"Y-yes, sir!"
No Dan-yang's subordinates hurriedly prostrated themselves.
It was an order that clearly crossed the line, but the atmosphere was not one where anyone dared to object.
Thud.
When No Dan-yang released his grip, the limp corps member collapsed to the floor.
"This is your last chance. If you show such incompetence again..."
"...!"
Exposed to the formidable, skin-piercing energy, the corps members swallowed dryly.
It wasn't difficult to guess what would follow without hearing it.
The look in No Dan-yang's eyes, brimming with thick killing intent, was enough.
"Get out."
As his subordinates hastily bowed and exited the room, No Dan-yang's grim voice followed them.
"Don't even think about returning empty-handed. At the very least, bring back your own heads on a platter."
Left alone, No Dan-yang sank back into the chair with the broken armrest.
"Hah..."
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it was.
He was like a dog that had been chasing a chicken, only to lose it.
Just then, someone entered.
"Does taking your anger out on innocent subordinates change the outcome?"
The woman spoke with a calm and composed demeanor.
It was Jegal Yeon, the leader of the Heavenly Ear Corps.
"Incompetence is a sin."
"You're becoming more like the Alliance Leader."
Jegal Yeon curled her lips into a peculiar smile.
"The Alliance Leader said something similar not too long ago."
Her tone was ambiguous, but No Dan-yang wasn't so dense as to not realize she was mocking him.
As No Dan-yang's breathing grew ragged, Jegal Yeon feigned ignorance.
"The more you're pursued, the more you need to remain calm. If simply pressing them would have solved it, it would have been done long ago..."
"What brings you here?"
"It seems you're not happy to see me."
"Just your business."
At No Dan-yang's cold attitude, Jegal Yeon pouted.
"Well, fine. Even if the host is unwelcoming, I should at least leave the gift I brought."
"A gift?"
Jegal Yeon sat in the chair opposite No Dan-yang.
"I hear they paid a visit to the Shaolin Temple."
No Dan-yang's expression changed.
It wasn't hard to guess who 'they' referred to.
"Are you certain?"
Jegal Yeon frowned slightly.
"It seems you don't trust my corps' information? Well, if that's the case..."
No Dan-yang stopped Jegal Yeon as she started to rise.
"My apologies. I seem to be on edge due to my subordinates' failures."
Jegal Yeon reluctantly sat back down.
However, with a look of lingering displeasure, she began to dip her finger in her teacup and flick droplets onto the table.
No Dan-yang was inwardly annoyed by her actions, but he tried not to show it.
In his current situation, she was the only one he could rely on.
After she continued this seemingly meaningless action for a moment.
Jegal Yeon suddenly spoke.
"This is an unexpected opportunity."
No Dan-yang furrowed his brow.
An opportunity? What did she mean?
But her next words made him realize.
"If they're roaming the martial world away from their stronghold, what better situation could there be?"
A gleam flashed in No Dan-yang's eyes.
Now that he heard it, it was certainly true.
Using a deserted mountain path or the cover of night, it would be much easier to achieve his goal without worrying about prying eyes.
"Do you happen to know their destination?"
"Well..."
As Jegal Yeon trailed off, No Dan-yang could guess that she had more information.
"I'm asking for your help."
After a brief pause, Jegal Yeon smiled as if she couldn't help it.
"Very well. Since I brought a gift, I might as well be generous."
Jegal Yeon touched a spot on the table with her index finger.
"...!"
The look in No Dan-yang's eyes changed.
The stain on the table, made by the tea, overlapped with a map of the Central Plains in his mind.
The place she pointed to was also quite significant.
"Shaanxi?"
In response to No Dan-yang's question, Jegal Yeon smiled faintly, then wiped away the tea on the table with her palm.
Then, she feigned indifference as if nothing had happened.
No Dan-yang once again thought that he shouldn't judge the woman before him so easily.
To think that what he considered meaningless actions were all intentional.
"Thank you."
As No Dan-yang shot to his feet, Jegal Yeon gave him a curious look.
"Are you planning to move yourself?"
"Is there any other way?"
At his words, Jegal Yeon offered an ambiguous smile.
"Won't it be dangerous?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm simply worried about you, Corps Leader."
"Worried? About me?"
No Dan-yang, who had been scoffing inwardly with displeasure, found his face stiffening at Jegal Yeon's next words.
"Beom Gye-wi, Cho Ak-ryang, Han Seol-hwa. Can you handle even one of them on your own?"
"..."
No Dan-yang couldn't answer.
If he threw the entire Evil-Shattering Corps into the fray and joined in himself, he felt he might be able to handle one of them.
But facing all three was impossible.
"You seem convinced that they are Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi."
Jegal Yeon smiled faintly at No Dan-yang's question.
"No matter how many times I retrace the flow of events, the conclusion is always the same. Assuming they are moving together, the series of incidents and all cause-and-effect relationships align perfectly."
"When will you report to the Alliance Leader?"
"I'm not sure. The cross-verification isn't finished yet."
No Dan-yang let out a short, derisive laugh.
That damned cross-verification.
No matter how he looked at it, it was just an excuse to buy time.
"If you could secure clear evidence from the field, the report might go a little more smoothly."
And yet, she brazenly went a step further, slyly shifting the responsibility onto him.
"I will do my best."
With that reply, No Dan-yang left the office.
He had no clear plan for the moment, but he couldn't afford to dither forever.
From his experience, if one persistently looked for an opening, an opportunity would eventually arise.
But before he had taken more than a few steps, No Dan-yang flinched and stopped.
"But why do you insist on taking the long way around?"
"...?"
"There must be more than one way to get what you want."
No Dan-yang suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine.
A descendant of the Divine Jegal, the strategist of the Martial Alliance known as the 'Bag of Wisdom'.
It was highly likely she had guessed about the secret deal between him and Namgung Baek.
The only question was how much she knew.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Wouldn't you, the Evil-Shattering Corps Leader, know that better than anyone?"
Jegal Yeon blurred her answer with an ambiguous smile and cast him a sly look.
"It's just... I'm saying it because it's a pity."
Suddenly, No Dan-yang was reminded of an oleander flower by her smile.
A flower that was vibrant and beautiful, yet held a deadly poison.
That was why the kindness she had shown him until now no longer felt welcome.
* * *
"A spiraling, twisting motion that draws a circle. The power gained through this movement is called 'Twisting Silk'."
Dan Ak-seon focused his concentration and listened intently to Cho Ak-ryang's words.
"The internal energy that utilizes this power is known as Twisting Silk Power."
With those words, Cho Ak-ryang stomped his foot on the ground.
The moment that force traveled up his ankle, Cho Ak-ryang's body moved in a spiral.
The energy, amplified by the rotation of his legs and waist, was channeled directly to his hand.
Cho Ak-ryang's palm touched the giant tree in front of him.
Thwump.
At first, there was a soft sound, like a stone hitting a cotton quilt. But the result that followed was anything but soft.
Crack-crack-crack!
The giant tree was so thick it would take two adults to wrap their arms around it.
Its midsection seemed to twist from an unseen force, then it exploded with a tremendous roar.
The bark that rained down was all torn into tiny shreds.
"Wow!"
Cho Ak-ryang turned to the astonished Dan Ak-seon and asked a question.
"Where do you think this power originates from?"
After pondering for a long moment, Dan Ak-seon's eyes lit up with a peculiar light.
"Is it the rotational force that starts from the feet?"
A flicker of surprise appeared in Cho Ak-ryang's eyes.
He hadn't expected Dan Ak-seon to get the right answer so quickly.
"Did you memorize the movements?"
"Roughly."
"Then try to perform it."
"Right now?"