Chapter 298
"Good. Then how can we help?"
When Myo Cheon-u asked, Bu Eun-seol drew a long breath.
The fury that had enveloped him vanished like mist, and his usual composed, ice-cold demeanor returned.
"Until now, even when we caught their trail, we lost them because they were always one step ahead of us."
Whether at Seong Family Ironworks or the Martial Alliance,
they had always severed their trail the moment Bu Eun-seol found a clue and gave chase.
But this time was different.
Bu Eun-seol would no longer pursue them alone. He would mobilize all his authority and power to hunt them down in one swift strike.
"I deliberately declared during this meeting that I would strike the Golden Accumulation Trading Company. And no doubt, word of this will reach their ears."
Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low voice.
"But I won't be going."
At this, Myo Cheon-u, who had been silently deep in thought, nodded in admiration.
"Feint East and Strike West."
It meant making noise in the east while attacking the west.
Yu Un-ryong chuckled.
"Or perhaps 'Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake.'"
In the martial world, "Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake" was often used to mean "Don't act rashly and invite trouble."
But in military strategy, it referred to a tactic of stirring the underbrush to force the enemy's true nature into the open.
Bu Eun-seol's apparent target was the Golden Accumulation Trading Company, but his real aim was to provoke those lurking in the shadows behind it, forcing them to reveal themselves.
"You could even call it a diversionary operation. I'll genuinely send troops to the Golden Accumulation Trading Company."
"I see what you mean. But... will they take the bait?"
Yu Un-ryong, arms crossed, spoke with a grave expression.
"Attacking a merchant company without justification isn't easy, no matter how you look at it. They might predict your plan."
"They won't."
Bu Eun-seol's reply was firm.
"I mobilized the Celestial Slaughter Corps and annihilated the Four Flames Alliance, an unorthodox faction, without hesitation. And to save Seo Jin-ha, I didn't hesitate to draw my sword against the Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander."
A faint smile touched Bu Eun-seol's lips.
"They'll judge me not just as someone capable of rage, but as someone who would truly carry out such acts."
"And if there's even the slightest chance I might, they'll surely try to erase all traces."
To save Seo Jin-ha, Bu Eun-seol had pointed his sword at the commander of the Celestial Slaughter Corps, a symbolic force of the Demon Hall.
There was no way they wouldn't have heard such rumors.
They would conclude that Bu Eun-seol was the type to act without hesitation when pursuing his goals.
"Wait—so even what happened until now...?"
Yu Un-ryong's mouth fell open.
"Did you deliberately provoke them openly? Just to deceive them for this operation?"
Bu Eun-seol gave no answer.
Truthfully, he hadn't planned this in advance or intentionally picked a fight with the Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander.
No matter how brilliant his foresight, he couldn't have orchestrated such a scheme beforehand.
He had been genuinely furious at the commander's attitude.
He was merely making strategic use of what had already happened.
"So, in the end, you're trying to deceive those who've always been a step ahead in information and influence... to uncover the real enemy."
As Myo Cheon-u murmured, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"Exactly."
"But this method is flawed. Even if you send troops now, it's already too late."
Myo Cheon-u shook his head.
"If they've been able to cut their trail the moment you gave chase until now... they've likely already begun erasing any traces left at the Golden Accumulation Trading Company."
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol nodded, then turned to So Ja-myeong, who had been silently listening.
"What's the Golden Accumulation Trading Company's current movement?"
"Just as you anticipated, Lord."
So Ja-myeong spoke in a low voice.
"According to reports from our unit members, a large number of their people have already begun slipping away covertly, heading somewhere."
"What do you mean? You've already stationed unit members there?"
When Myo Cheon-u asked in surprise, Bu Eun-seol nodded indifferently.
"During the operation against the Celestial Slaughter Corps and the Four Flames Alliance, we uncovered evidence of funds flowing to the Golden Accumulation Trading Company."
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he stared into empty space.
"From that moment, I ordered the Kill-Seeking Unit Commander to keep the company under surveillance. They'll undoubtedly try to erase all traces and sever ties with anything related to the Four Flames Alliance."
Until now, this mysterious faction had always stayed one step ahead of Bu Eun-seol.
The moment it became known that the Four Flames Alliance had been struck, it was obvious they would erase all related traces and cut loose ends.
Bu Eun-seol had instead turned their superior intelligence and power against them—setting a trap.
"We haven't yet found definitive proof linking them to Wicked Incense... but we've confirmed traces of their funding not just the Four Flames Alliance, but several assassin sects."
Hearing So Ja-myeong's words, Myo Cheon-u let out an impressed sigh.
"So at the very least, you've secured enough evidence to bring down the Golden Accumulation Trading Company."
Bu Eun-seol hadn't mobilized troops without proof. He had already gathered enough information to topple the company.
—This guy's mind is terrifyingly sharp.
—At least we're not enemies with this guy.
Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong exchanged glances, swallowing hard.
What made Bu Eun-seol terrifying wasn't his overwhelming martial prowess—it was his Mystic Calculation Strategy and strategic wisdom that struck at one's blind spots.
Yet since this fact remained utterly unknown to the world, they could only fall helplessly into his traps.
"So what do we need to do?"
When Myo Cheon-u asked, Bu Eun-seol handed each of them a tightly rolled scroll.
"The details are written here."
The two unrolled their scrolls simultaneously.
As Myo Cheon-u glanced at the contents of Yu Un-ryong's scroll, he cracked a joke.
"Well, well, Yu Un-ryong, looks like you're getting promoted first. Commanding First-Grade Commanders, no less."
Then he turned to Bu Eun-seol.
"Do we just follow what's written here?"
"Yes. And try to select the most elite unit members from the Death Shadow War Unit."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with a cautious expression.
"Provoke them to the brink of conflict—but never attack. If you do, our main hall will be in trouble."
He took a deep breath and gazed into the distance.
"If this strategy succeeds..."
He left the rest unsaid.
But all three of them knew.
This operation would finally expose the Killing Sect—the hidden force that had been stirring the murim world for generations without revealing its true base.
They might finally uncover the headquarters of Wicked Incense.
Golden Accumulation Trading Company
Originally, it had been a modest enterprise trading tea leaves with landowners in Hangzhou.
But over the past decade, it had monopolized the trade of high-quality leather from Sichuan, reaping enormous profits.
As its influence grew, the Golden Accumulation Trading Company forged connections not only with government offices but also with martial factions, sending substantial amounts of silver every year.
Rumors spread that it would soon join the ranks of the Ten Great Merchant Guilds of the Central Plains.
Yet now, an ominous tension loomed over Imhyeon, where the prestigious company was headquartered.
The Demon Hall had dispatched martial artists—over five hundred of them—surrounding the company with no gaps left to escape.
And every single one of them was a First-Tier combatant, equivalent to the full military mobilization of a major martial faction.
But the martial artists, guest warriors, and hired mercenaries of the Golden Accumulation Trading Company prepared for battle without fear.
—Even if it's the Demon Hall, how dare they send such a massive force without justification?
—Could it be because of the Blood Death Valley incident? All we did was send silver to the Four Flames Alliance every year!
—Hah! Even if they try to wipe us out, the Demon Hall won't escape unscathed!
Creak.
Just then, a side gate opened, and dozens of people stepped out—women and children from the company being evacuated.
Under the unwritten laws of murim, those who didn't cultivate martial arts—especially children and civilians—were to be left unharmed unless they were sworn enemies.
And since the Demon Hall was the united front of the Demonic Path, such mercy was expected.
Whoosh.
But fifty martial artists blocked their path—members of the Death Shadow War Unit, led by Myo Cheon-u.
"No one leaves."
"What did you say?"
A middle-aged woman's eyes widened in shock. Myo Cheon-u replied in a voice laced with killing intent.
"Who's to say some of you aren't connected to the Four Flames Alliance?"
The woman pleaded desperately.
"Then at least let the children go! Taking children hostage in martial world affairs is—"
BOOM!
A decorative stone pillar near the gate exploded into dust under Myo Cheon-u's palm energy.
"I said, go back."
Thud-thud-thud.
Terrified by his cold gaze, the children scrambled back inside.
Groan.
Then, the main gate beneath the Golden Accumulation Trading Company's signboard swung open, and an elderly man in lavish robes stepped out slowly.
It was Yeo Un-sang, the Merchant Guild Leader.
"In the face of heaven and earth, what is the meaning of this?!"
He swept his gaze over the surrounding martial artists and bellowed.
"What crime has our company committed to warrant such a military deployment from the Demon Hall?!"
True to the leader of a guild that earned hundreds of thousands of silver taels annually, his demeanor was unshaken, undaunted even before the martial artists.
"And why won't you let the children leave? What sin have innocent children committed?"
"Father! You mustn't!"
A middle-aged man—likely Yeo Un-sang's son, Yeo Gye-un—rushed forward and blocked his path.
"Provoking them is dangerous!"
"Gye-un, step back!"
As the two argued—
Clack. Clack.
A man at the forefront slowly rode forward on a fine steed.
Though his face was masked, his tall stature was imposing, and at his waist hung the pitch-black scabbard of the Ink Sword.
His piercing gaze alone felt like blades stabbing into flesh.
Thud.
Dismounting, he stared down at Yeo Un-sang and Yeo Gye-un.
Swish.
Removing his mask, the sharp-eyed man's face was revealed—Yu Un-ryong.
—Huh?
The expressions of the First-Grade Commanders twisted in bewilderment.
Until now, they had believed the one leading them was the Martial Soul Lord. Yet it turned out to be his adjutant, Yu Un-ryong.
"The Golden Accumulation Trading Company didn't just fund the Four Flames Alliance—they funneled money into multiple unorthodox factions to expand their influence."
As Yu Un-ryong spoke loudly, Yeo Un-sang exploded in fury.
"Are you saying it was wrong to pay the factions controlling the trade routes for fur transport?!"
"Since when have assassin sects been collecting tolls from merchant guilds?"
Yu Un-ryong's cold gaze bore down on Yeo Un-sang.
"Especially reckless assassins who didn't hesitate to abduct children."
"W-What nonsense is this?! This old man has never done such a thing!"
Despite his words, Yeo Un-sang's face turned deathly pale.
"Did you underestimate the Demon Hall's intelligence network?"
With a sneer, Yu Un-ryong pulled out a scroll from his robes.
It contained evidence meticulously gathered by the Kill-Seeking Unit, who had been surveilling the Golden Accumulation Trading Company in Imhyeon for a long time.
"Every last one of your evil deeds is recorded here."
Thud.
Yu Un-ryong tossed the scroll at Yeo Un-sang.
With trembling hands, the merchant guild leader frantically scanned its contents. His son, Yeo Gye-un, standing beside him, did the same.
"F-Father...?"
Yeo Gye-un's face darkened.
The scroll contained shocking revelations—not only proof that the Golden Accumulation Trading Company had financed assassin sects, but also undeniable evidence of their involvement in child abductions.
Thump.
Clenching his lips, Yeo Un-sang dropped to his knees before Yu Un-ryong.
"I... I merely couldn't refuse the proposal of an investor who promised to expand our company's influence."
His head hung low in despair.
"The funds were handled in secret—only I knew of this! My son and his family are innocent... Please, spare them."
As his confession spilled out, the subordinates of the Golden Accumulation Trading Company, who had been preparing for battle, as well as all his dependents, stood frozen in shock.
The benevolent guild leader they had always known... was secretly connected to the kidnappers of children?
"Do you think the Demon Hall cares whether you live or die?"
Yu Un-ryong's cold laughter cut through the air.
"We've already handed over all evidence to the government office. Since you're implicated in these abductions, you'll face the judgment of the law."
"Wh-Why?"
Yeo Un-sang's bewildered gaze swept over the assembled troops of the Demon Hall.
"If you weren't planning to punish me yourselves... why bring such a large force?"
"Had we not exposed you like this, none of your martial artists or dependents would have witnessed your confession."
Yeo Un-sang's face turned ashen.
If the Demon Hall had annihilated the Golden Accumulation Trading Company outright, it would have been the end of the matter.
But now, facing government punishment, not only would their assets be seized—their descendants would bear the stigma for generations.
"We're leaving."
As Yu Un-ryong turned his horse, the Demon Hall's forces moved in perfect unison.
'I wonder if he's doing well on his end.'
Yu Un-ryong's sharp eyes narrowed as he gazed at the distant sky. The Golden Accumulation Trading Company was a minor matter.
The real priority was whether Bu Eun-seol could seize the tail of Wicked Incense.
At that very moment, Bu Eun-seol arrived at Hoedang Mountain in Cheonju Prefecture alongside So Ja-myeong.
This was the destination of the covert operatives who had slipped away from the Golden Accumulation Trading Company.
Swish.
From the shadows of the forest, a member of the Kill-Seeking Unit emerged before Bu Eun-seol and So Ja-myeong.
It was Bi Hong, the Vice Chief of the Kill-Seeking Unit.
"Vice Chief Bi Hong of the Kill-Seeking Unit greets the Martial Soul Lord."
Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod but remained silent.
In the distance stood a complex of buildings—the place the Kill-Seeking Unit, after a long stakeout, had finally uncovered.
"That place... is Wicked Incense?"
"Yes."
Bi Hong bowed his head and answered in a low voice.
"We've also confirmed that the abducted children were taken inside."
The expressions of Bu Eun-seol and So Ja-myeong hardened.
Wicked Incense.
The reason this mysterious assassin sect had remained hidden from the martial world for generations...
Was because they had built their nest in a place no one could have anticipated.
"However, only a handful seem to know this place belongs to Wicked Incense. Their facilities are completely concealed, and most of the people here are ordinary civilians."
As Bi Hong continued his explanation, So Ja-myeong cautiously spoke up with a grave expression.
"Lord. This isn't just a place where the Demon Hall cannot deploy troops—no faction in the martial world would dare send forces here."
Bu Eun-seol nodded in agreement.
Wicked Incense had chosen a location where neither the Demon Hall nor the Martial Alliance—no, not even any orthodox or unorthodox faction—could openly move against them.
Moreover, most of the people here were ordinary civilians. There was no way to tell who among them belonged to Wicked Incense.
"Hmm."
After a long silence, Bu Eun-seol finally spoke.
"You've done well. All members of the Kill-Seeking Unit, including the Chief, are to return to headquarters."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"A direct assault with brute force is impossible here. Once we've thoroughly investigated their internal affairs... this Lord will handle them personally."
"Understood."
So Ja-myeong and Bi Hong bowed before discreetly leading their unit out of Hoedang Mountain.
"Wicked Incense."
Bu Eun-seol clenched his fists as he stared at the distant buildings.
The main body had already been caught.
Now, all that remained was to pluck out every last hidden fang buried beneath.
And he would do it—in one swift strike.