Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Mission: Investigation (1)
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The Dragon-Phoenix Squad's daily life was peaceful.
Under the assumption that one could call the frequent accidents that happened every other day—and the resulting fury from Dang Hwa-seo as she summoned everyone far and wide—peaceful, it was more peaceful than ever.
How long had such days continued?
"The next mission."
The second mission had been assigned.
In the Dragon-Phoenix Squad's office.
Dang Hwa-seo, seated in the place of honor, spoke.
"This time, it's an investigation mission."
"Investigation, you say?"
"Yes."
Dang Hwa-seo spread out the map she was holding on the table.
It was a map of the Central Plains, with black dots marked in various places.
"These are the locations of demons discovered by the Alliance so far. And what's written there are their disguised identities."
Looks of surprise appeared on the squad members' faces.
"...There are this many?"
"Their disguises aren't ordinary either. Merchants, landowners, martial officers, instructors..."
As Mok Ri-won and Il-un said, the demons were disguised so thoroughly that one couldn't help but wonder, "How?"
Across the entire Central Plains.
Dang Hwa-seo nodded and continued.
"Yes, these are identities and scopes that couldn't have been prepared in just a day or two. The Alliance has a conjecture about this."
"What is it?"
"That the demons' invasion began at least ten years ago, or more."
The atmosphere grew tense.
Hyeun narrowed his brows and spoke.
"That makes sense. In the last mission, O Gang-ak's disguise was as the son-in-law of a young clan leader. Even though the time was short, becoming the son-in-law of such a prestigious family would have required extensive preparation."
"Yes, and that's why we've received this mission."
Dang Hwa-seo shook the sealed letter in her hand.
It was the sealed letter containing the mission details.
"What's that?"
"We're heading to Guizhou."
"Guizhou..."
"It's the Black Dao's territory."
Mok Ri-won's expression hardened.
"Why there?"
"Because it's judged that the place where the demons first established their power base while expanding southward. As you can see on the map, the demons' forces are more strongly spread the further south you go."
"We're looking for their base."
Dang Hwa-seo nodded at Namgung Jincheon's words.
"Yes. The demons must have secret branches they've set up covertly in the Central Plains. We need to find the Demonic Cult's branch."
Investigation mission.
Black Dao territory.
And the Demonic Cult's branch.
It was easy to tell just from repeating it that this wouldn't be an easy mission.
"Disguises like last time...?"
"None."
When Mok Ri-won looked puzzled, Dang Hwa-seo added an explanation.
"This time, we'll go revealing our identities. In a word, bait."
"What are we trying to catch?"
For an investigation mission, disguises would naturally be far better.
Yet they were forgoing that advantage to act as bait—what were they trying to lure in?
At that question, Dang Hwa-seo gave a crooked smile.
"The Black Dao."
It was a smile that seemed a bit dangerous.
"We'll find the Black Dao forces that might have colluded with the demons."
*
One week before the mission began.
Mok Ri-won sought out Yeom So-so.
"Oh? Guizhou, is it?"
"Yes!"
"I see. Indeed, Guizhou would make disguises difficult."
"Yes?"
"Being bait, that is. It's not just for luring the Black Dao, surely."
When Mok Ri-won tilted his head in confusion, Yeom So-so chuckled and explained further.
"Guizhou has the Hao Sect."
"Ah...!"
The Hao Sect.
The Black Dao's information network, similar in role to the Beggars' Sect in the orthodox martial world.
It was mainly an organization of thugs or courtesans in disguise, and as such, their information focused on backroom dealings.
In other words, everyone there was a master of disguise.
"A clumsy disguise would only arouse suspicion!"
"Exactly right."
Only then did Mok Ri-won understand.
With the Dragon-Phoenix Squad's clumsy disguises, they couldn't fool even roadside commoners, let alone those people.
If disguises wouldn't work anyway, it was more reasonable to move openly.
"Hmm... Then should we assume the Hao Sect is connected to the Demonic Cult as well?"
"Who knows. They only follow the sect leader's word, no one else's."
"The sect leader?"
"Yes, the Haomen Leader. They'd dive into hellfire at her command."
Yeom So-so's lips twisted.
"If the leader colluded with demons, the disciples would aid them without knowing what they're doing. If the opposite, they'd be harassing the demons."
"Hmm... Complicated."
"No need to overthink it. Just stay true to the mission, and it'll become clear."
"Have you ever tangled with the Hao Sect, Senior?"
"Quite a bit. I cut down their previous leader, after all."
Mok Ri-won flinched—
Yeom So-so laughed heartily and said.
"He deserved to die. That bastard was stealing courtesans, processing them into human flesh, and selling it."
"Th-that...!"
"In truth, their high loyalty to the current leader is tied to that. She prioritizes the disciples' safety above all, which moved them. Humans can't help but feel favorable toward those who protect them."
Mok Ri-won realized one fact from Yeom So-so's words.
"...You know the current leader?"
The Haomen Leader was someone even Murim Alliance Leader Sa Baek-un didn't know the identity of, yet Yeom So-so seemed to know about her.
Mok Ri-won's guess was correct.
"I know her face, at least."
"Th-then you know if she's colluded with demons?!"
"No idea."
"Huh?"
"She's ruthlessly calculating. If she helped demons, it'd be for profit. If she opposed them, for profit too. Without knowing where her gains lie, I can't say."
Yeom So-so took a hearty sip of tea.
Mok Ri-won's head was growing even more complicated.
"Hmm, any advice? Like how to act in Guizhou."
"Just one thing. Never give your body to the courtesans."
Mok Ri-won's eyes blinked.
He didn't understand right away.
After counting to five silently inside.
"Th-there's no way that would happen!"
Mok Ri-won shot to his feet, face flushed red.
What flashed in his mind was the day he first entered the jianghu, tormented by courtesans in the brothel run by Dang Hwa-seo.
Yeom So-so burst into laughter at Mok Ri-won, who was trembling up to his jaw in embarrassment.
"That's why I'm warning you. Their skills are something else."
Skills.
At the oddly prickling word, Mok Ri-won's ears perked up.
His eyes squeezed shut.
'How can a hero succumb to lust!'
To add an unnecessary note, Mok Ri-won was a young man in his prime.
Even when it came to indecent matters, he could only imagine them; in reality, he'd freeze up in embarrassment, a shy 18-year-old who couldn't do a thing.
Rising worry mixed with subtle excitement.
Tormented by such feelings, Mok Ri-won ended his meeting with Yeom So-so and next sought out Jegal San.
When he asked what to do if a courtesan seduced him, Jegal San replied indifferently.
"Brother Mok, you're worrying about useless things."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"Courtesans aren't owned by anyone. What's the fun in meeting such women?"
Mok Ri-won's mouth clamped shut.
For the first time in a while, contempt for Jegal San rose on his face.
The Strange Dragon Jegal San.
A good man, but he had the peculiar fetish of liking married women.
Such a quirk needed fixing.
Judging so, Mok Ri-won told Dang Hwa-seo, and Jegal San suffered from diarrhea.
*
Dang Hwa-seo fell into contemplation.
Her face was so grave, shadows under her eyes, and the worry wasn't anything else.
'Courtesans?'
It was information Mok Ri-won had heard from his master.
Guizhou was dominated by the Hao Sect, and their courtesans seduced outsiders with incredible skills to extract information.
An utterly shameless tactic.
Dang Hwa-seo suddenly recalled the past.
The image of Mok Ri-won frolicking helplessly among courtesans at their first meeting in Suyang County flickered before her eyes.
So ignorant of man-woman relations, yet defenseless against women who targeted his body.
It was the behavior of a pure youth who saw love and lust as separate—and the very thing troubling Dang Hwa-seo now.
'Dangerous.'
Mok Ri-won's purity.
Veins bulged on the back of Dang Hwa-seo's hand.
The 'imaginary temptress' that always lurked in a corner of Dang Hwa-seo's mind now had the role of Hao Sect disciple.
They would take interest in Mok Ri-won's striking appearance upon arriving in Guizhou.
And the moment they realized he was the Sleeping Dragon, they'd pounce under the pretext of 'gathering information.'
All while harboring the sinister thought of simply wanting to devour him!
Thud—!
Dang Hwa-seo slammed her desk in rising fury.
Namgung Jincheon, who had come to request repairs for the training grounds, froze midway through opening the door.
Seeing Dang Hwa-seo's angry face, he quietly closed the door.
'Not the time.'
Going in now might make his request fall through.
Thinking so, Namgung Jincheon quietly walked down the hall to his quarters.
He was a man who knew the beauty of patience.
*
Time flies quickly.
Dang Hwa-seo's worries, Jegal San's diarrhea, Namgung Jincheon's training grounds.
None were properly resolved, but before they knew it, the day of the mission had arrived.
Mok Ri-won tilted his head at the three with poor complexions.
But he couldn't get the answers he wanted.
Only Hyeun, who vaguely knew Dang Hwa-seo's worries, clicked his tongue.
"Benefactor Mok. Do you know this?"
"What?"
"People see the world through their own standards."
"Hm?"
"Just something that came to mind."
Hyeun's gaze turned to Dang Hwa-seo.
It was a slightly pitying expression.
Why not?
Hyeun shared a room with Dang Hwa-seo.
So he heard all the mutterings she let out while groaning in nightmares.
-Mok... no...! No courtesans...!
It was a sleep-talking habit Dang Hwa-seo herself didn't know about.
On days when her mind was troubled, she always spilled her worries in her sleep.
At least it was better than the times she cursed him to stop making her work.
Hyeun pondered briefly, then shook it off.
'None of my business.'
Hyeun had no desire to understand Dang Hwa-seo worrying about losing a man to a courtesan.
Why complicate just pouncing on him? It didn't make sense by his logic.
'And it's Benefactor Mok, of all people.'
What was there to worry about with a pure youth who collapsed at the slightest tease?
As Hyeun eyed Mok Ri-won with a 'hmm,' Mok Ri-won startled at the look and slyly moved behind Dang Hwa-seo to hide.
Their relationship was still awkward.
Whenever Hyeun looked at him meaningfully, Mok Ri-won instinctively hid behind Dang Hwa-seo's back.
'That's the real danger.'
What good was crisis detection if he couldn't sense it?
Hyeun clicked his tongue.
'Still so far apart.'
Dang Hwa-seo taking the long way around the easy path, and Mok Ri-won mistaking the one who'd devour him for a protector.
He just thought both had a long way to go.
"Shall we get going?"
There wasn't a single person in good shape.
Today, leading the Dragon-Phoenix Squad was Hyeun, who had not even a speck of worry.