Chapter 92
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: The Fox's Gambit
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If they were with Han Seol-hwa, then they were also guests of Huashan.
This was not something he could simply overlook.
“Thankfully, the physicians you mentioned left more than enough to cover the repairs. However, given the circumstances, I don't think I'll be able to do business for a while.”
At the innkeeper's words, Jinmyeong Jin-in couldn't hide his disappointment.
Then, feeling a sudden strange sensation, he turned his head.
He saw Han Seol-hwa, her eyes frosty as she exuded a chilling aura.
Jinmyeong Jin-in gave a bitter smile.
Her disappointment must have been that great.
Still, could it compare to his own?
Having lost the rare chance to build new memories alongside old ones, he felt a regret deeper than ever before.
“I will personally take this matter up with the Martial Alliance.”
Han Seol-hwa realized Jinmyeong Jin-in was misunderstanding the situation, but she didn't bother to explain.
Instead, she took Dan Ak-seon's hand and turned away.
“Are you leaving just like this?”
Han Seol-hwa gave an indifferent nod to the flustered Jinmyeong Jin-in.
“We'll postpone the meal.”
Dan Ak-seon quickly bowed his head to Jinmyeong Jin-in.
“Thank you again.”
“Hm?”
“For the joint petition.”
Jinmyeong Jin-in responded with a gentle gaze.
“It was hardly a difficult task. Huashan supports your cause, Young Master Dan. May the grace of the Primordial Lord of Heaven be with you.”
“You as well. If you ever need my help, I'll come running.”
Jinmyeong Jin-in watched the two of them leave with a look of lingering regret. Once they were completely out of sight, he slowly turned his head.
His once-gentle eyes had frozen over.
His gaze fell upon a dumpling stall next to the inn.
“The Martial Alliance has truly crossed the line.”
The man disguised as a stall vendor flinched.
Despite the considerable distance between them, Jinmyeong Jin-in's voice was as clear as if he were standing right beside him.
The Martial Alliance spy, who had been avoiding Jinmyeong Jin-in's gaze with an anxious expression, quickly packed up his stall and scurried away.
* * *
Walking alongside Han Seol-hwa, Dan Ak-seon smiled brightly.
“Still, I think the uncles have gotten a lot better.”
“…?”
Puzzled, Han Seol-hwa let out a small laugh at Dan Ak-seon's next words.
“They said they were attacked first, but they didn't kill anyone.”
“Is that really what happened?”
“It isn't?”
“That's…”
Han Seol-hwa, about to explain, let out a light sigh instead.
“You'll find out soon enough.”
With that, the two entered the forest where Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi were hiding.
“Oh? You're back? You finished early?”
Han Seol-hwa's eyes narrowed at the sight of Beom Gye-wi greeting them with unusual enthusiasm. His calm expression, as if nothing had happened, was detestable.
Cho Ak-ryang was the same.
“Did things go well?”
“Yes!”
Dan Ak-seon smiled brightly and held up the joint petition bearing Jinmyeong Jin-in's signature.
Han Seol-hwa asked the two of them.
“Have you been here the whole time?”
“Of course!”
Beom Gye-wi answered immediately, as if he'd been waiting for the question.
“You didn't cause any trouble?”
“Obviously not!”
At this point, Han Seol-hwa was the one left speechless.
To think they would lie so brazenly when she already knew everything!
“What's with that look? Don't tell me you don't trust us. We were really right here the whole time. Weren't we, Brother Cho?”
“Huh? Oh… that's right.”
Unlike Beom Gye-wi, Cho Ak-ryang trailed off, unnerved by Han Seol-hwa's intense gaze.
Seeing this, Dan Ak-seon sighed softly and shook his head.
Beom Gye-wi asked Dan Ak-seon with a puzzled look.
“What's wrong, Physician Dan? Are you feeling unwell?”
“It's not that.”
Dan Ak-seon managed a troubled smile. A cold aura had already begun to pour from Han Seol-hwa.
“We…, just came from the Night Scented Lily Inn.”
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi flinched and exchanged glances.
In that instant.
Beom Gye-wi spun around and vanished, becoming a mere dot in the distance.
Just as she was inwardly dumbfounded by his retreating figure.
“That bastard was responsible for everything.”
Han Seol-hwa's gaze turned to Cho Ak-ryang.
“In fact, I'm the one who stopped him, which is why it ended there.”
Cho Ak-ryang shouted confidently, pinning all the blame on Beom Gye-wi.
Han Seol-hwa laughed inwardly. For someone claiming that, his retreat to a distance beyond the reach of her attack was hardly convincing.
As Han Seol-hwa stared at him in silence, Cho Ak-ryang let out a dry cough.
“Ahem. I'll go catch that bastard right now.”
With those words, Cho Ak-ryang shot off. But it was in the complete opposite direction from where Beom Gye-wi had disappeared.
From the start, Beom Gye-wi had just been an excuse.
Han Seol-hwa's gaze shifted to Ga Du-dal, who was left alone, trembling.
Ga Du-dal cried out pitifully.
“I'm innocent and powerless!”
At his desperate, all-out excuse, Han Seol-hwa just shook her head.
Then she turned to Dan Ak-seon and said.
“See? This is the kind of men they are.”
* * *
Jegal Yeon, leader of the Heavenly Ear Corps, furrowed her brow deeply.
The reports arriving one after another had all defied her expectations.
“No one died?”
Seeing the irritation in her eyes, the subordinate prostrating before her spoke cautiously.
“A letter of protest has also arrived from the Huashan Sect.”
“…”
“It is a letter written by the Sect Leader, Jinmyeong Jin-in, himself. He demands a formal reprimand from the Martial Alliance for the person responsible for this blunder.”
“Blunder?”
Belatedly realizing his mistake, the man hastily bowed his head.
It was only after a long moment of gauging Jegal Yeon's mood that the man spoke again.
“What are your orders for the pursuit?”
“Continue.”
“Then this time, shall we use some higher-level agents…”
“No. As we were.”
Unable to offer any more opinions in the face of his superior's displeasure, the man withdrew.
Just as Jegal Yeon was trying to calm her troubled mind with a cup of long-cold tea, she received a visitor.
“Is it true that the Huashan Sect sent someone?”
A flicker of annoyance crossed Jegal Yeon's eyes at No Dan-yang's attitude; he made no effort to hide his displeasure.
“How could you handle things so poorly?”
At No Dan-yang's rebuke, Jegal Yeon's brow twitched.
“You speak as if I am your subordinate, Leader of the Evil-Shattering Corps.”
After glaring at Jegal Yeon for a moment, No Dan-yang voiced his concern.
“This incident could put the Alliance Lord's position in jeopardy.”
“That's possible.”
No Dan-yang frowned at her ambiguous reply. It was a statement that could easily be misunderstood.
“If the Huashan Sect continues to press this matter…”
Jegal Yeon cut No Dan-yang off.
“Wouldn't that be fine in its own way?”
“…?”
“What do you think will happen if, after all this fuss, it's revealed that those men truly are Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi?”
No Dan-yang's eyes wavered slightly.
“If that happens, the Huashan Sect will be the one in a difficult position.”
They would have, in effect, sheltered members of the Ten Great Villains, and the fallout would be significant.
“Shouldn't you report this to the Alliance Lord?”
“I suppose I must.”
Jegal Yeon let out a low sigh.
“I wanted to watch the situation a bit longer, but it seems I have no choice now.”
She had already run all the calculations in her head.
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi, plus Han Seol-hwa and the Divine Physician's son. If she could use their actions to entangle the other sects, she could resolve all the pressure on the Martial Alliance at once.
For the Martial Alliance, whose very reason for existence had been threatened since the end of the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, this was a perfect opportunity.
“The Alliance Lord could be forced to step down before that happens.”
Led by the Beggar's Sect, talk about the Martial Alliance's uselessness and the Alliance Lord's resignation was already beginning to circulate cautiously.
And that sentiment was gradually gaining momentum.
“You seem afraid.”
“…”
No Dan-yang's eyes turned cold.
He had finally sensed an unusual undercurrent in Jegal Yeon's attitude.
He had felt something strange a few times in the past, but recently, her words and actions whenever the Alliance Lord was mentioned had become suspicious to the point of being blatant.
Jegal Yeon smiled quietly, as if in understanding.
“Well, that makes sense. After all, the power of the Evil-Shattering Corps ultimately rests on the Alliance Lord's authority.”
No Dan-yang remained silent.
She was right.
It was obvious that if Namgung Baek fell, he too would become a kite with its string cut.
Just as the silence was about to lengthen, a person entered the room.
It was a warrior from the Sky-Piercing Corps, the Alliance Lord's personal guard.
After paying his respects to both, he addressed Jegal Yeon.
“The Alliance Lord is looking for you.”
Jegal Yeon smiled brightly.
“So it seems.”
Rising from her seat, Jegal Yeon gave a slight nod to No Dan-yang.
“Well then, I must see the Alliance Lord, so if you'll excuse me…”
Leaving the confused-looking No Dan-yang behind, Jegal Yeon headed straight for the Alliance Lord's office.
“Jegal Yeon, Leader of the Heavenly Ear Corps, greets the Alliance Lord.”
Jegal Yeon felt a sharp gaze land on the nape of her neck.
Slowly raising her head, Jegal Yeon met Namgung Baek's eyes, which seemed to blaze with fire.
“Explain what happened.”
As their eyes met, Namgung Baek released the letter in his hand.
The letter floated in mid-air, moving slowly toward Jegal Yeon.
Belatedly recognizing it as the letter of protest from the Huashan Sect, Jegal Yeon smiled quietly.
“Have you forgotten? You were the one who told me to bring results, not to worry about the process, Alliance Lord.”
Even facing Namgung Baek's furious gaze, Jegal Yeon remained composed.
“I did. But the result is utterly disappointing.”
Namgung Baek stared intently at Jegal Yeon.
“Did I overestimate the abilities of the Heavenly Ear Corps?”
Jegal Yeon, who had been silent, let out a light sigh.
Then she looked up at Namgung Baek, who was seated in the grand chair.
“Ak-gong and Ak-il. What will you do if those two are Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi?”
“I believe I've already told you. If they were the Blood Hand Honored One and Mang Mountain's Thistle, it's impossible that I wouldn't have recognized them.”
“May I be so bold as to ask why you are so certain?”
Namgung Baek's eyebrow twitched.
However, since she, the de facto strategist of the Martial Alliance, was openly raising doubts, he had no choice but to answer.
“The day they treated Hyang-i. I was not the only one who felt the auspicious energy flowing from her chambers.”
The leader of the Sky-Piercing Corps, Yang Bul-wi, who was standing to one side of the office, nodded.
The energy he had felt that day possessed a warmth that calmed the heart just by being near it. The mist of true energy, with its strange power to draw people in, held not a trace of malevolence.
“My family's Great Firmament Arts is an internal energy technique specialized in shattering evil.”
If it had been some wicked technique from the unorthodox schools, he would have been the first to notice.
Jegal Yeon smiled faintly and spoke.
“Sometimes, inexplicable things happen in the world.”
Jegal Yeon did not back down and stated her thoughts.
“Ak-gong and Ak-il. I believe those two are the Blood Hand Honored One and Mang Mountain's Thistle.”
Namgung Baek's sharp brows twitched.
But for her to refute him so confidently, there had to be a reason.
“Speak.”
Jegal Yeon wore a faint smile.
“While I may not possess a lion's heart like you, Alliance Lord, I do have the head of a fox for calmly analyzing situations.”
Jegal Yeon explained the reasons she suspected Ak-gong and Ak-il were Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.
She listed a series of incidents centered around the Muwi region and the incomprehensible actions of the inspector, Baek Un-hwi. In particular, she connected the suspicious circumstances of that time with events that could not be dismissed as mere coincidence.
Namgung Baek retorted firmly.
“What I want is not circumstantial evidence or suspicion, but solid proof.”
Despite Namgung Baek's censure, Jegal Yeon did not lose her smile.
And at her next words, Namgung Baek's expression finally had to change.