Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Mission, Investigation (4)
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Dang Hwa-seo stared blankly at the scene unfolding before her eyes.
The largest room in the manor.
In the center, a delicate-featured woman trembling while bound tightly with rope.
And beside her, Namgung Jincheon standing with arms crossed and chin raised.
“What is this?”
Dang Hwa-seo asked, her eyelashes fluttering.
Namgung Jincheon replied.
“I tracked and captured those who were tailing us. She claims to be the Haomen Leader.”
Haomen Leader.
Haomen Leader...
Dang Hwa-seo rubbed under her eyes with her hand and looked at Il-un.
Il-un couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze and kept his head lowered.
Mok Ri-won was the same.
He stared at the floor, lips pressed tight at her ominous demeanor.
What in the world was going on.
Dang Hwa-seo needed a more detailed explanation and turned back to Namgung Jincheon.
“Did you go out?”
“If she walked into the manor on her own, would we be here?”
The word “she” made Seo Ye’s shoulders twitch.
Even huddled in fear, she shot Namgung Jincheon a sullen glare, clearly displeased.
Dang Hwa-seo felt a sharp tug at the back of her neck.
Disobeying orders.
And kidnapping someone on uncertain information.
‘…No, it’s not uncertain.’
The unmistakable traces of internal energy she sensed.
A first-rate martial artist.
Considering no martial artists had been sighted in Guizhou until now, this was a solid lead.
Dang Hwa-seo clutched her throbbing head, took deep breaths to steady herself, and asked again.
“Did this woman attack first?”
“She asked for help, so I subdued her escorts. No reason to dance to their tune.”
How did “asking for help” lead to subduing escorts.
Dang Hwa-seo pondered briefly, then approached Seo Ye and released her pressure points.
“Hoo...”
Seo Ye finally drew in a deep breath and scanned her surroundings.
Dang Hwa-seo spoke.
“I’m Dang Hwa-seo, Dragon-Phoenix Squad Leader. I’d like to hear your story.”
Grasping the exact sequence of events came first.
The Tyrant Sword Clan they’d visited today had been abandoned for quite some time.
No other martial artists had been spotted on the way back.
Amid all that, the only one to appear before Namgung Jincheon—if her words held truth, they might know what happened here.
“Can you speak?”
“Yes...”
Seo Ye answered, still huddled.
She looked deeply anxious.
Her naturally delicate features evoked a sense of pity.
“...As the Sword Dragon said, I am indeed the Haomen Leader. My name is Seo Ye.”
“How can you prove it?”
“There should be the leader’s token in my bosom. Please check.”
Dang Hwa-seo furrowed her brow, then reached toward her.
She slipped her hand into the fabric of her clothes and found a token as described.
The retrieved token was black wood engraved neatly with “Haomen Leader.”
‘Is she really the leader?’
Impossible to say.
She’d never seen the original Haomen Leader’s token, and even if it was genuine, Seo Ye could have taken it from the real leader.
‘For now...’
She’d hold onto her suspicions and hear the rest.
Dang Hwa-seo nodded toward her.
Seo Ye steadied her breathing and began to speak.
“There was a raid by demonic cultists. On the Hao Sect’s secret base.”
“Demonic cultists?”
“Yes.”
“When did this happen?”
“Three years ago.”
Dang Hwa-seo’s brow furrowed.
‘Only?’
According to the alliance’s judgment, demonic cultists had infiltrated the Central Plains over ten years ago.
Given their entry route, the odds of bypassing Guizhou entirely were near zero.
Yet the attack happened only three years ago.
Suspicion welled up naturally, sharpening Dang Hwa-seo’s aura, but Seo Ye continued.
“...We didn’t know they were demonic cultists until then.”
It was as if she’d anticipated Dang Hwa-seo’s thoughts.
“I don’t know when they settled here. They were already entrenched before I became leader.”
“When did you become leader?”
“About ten years ago.”
The timelines matched roughly.
Dang Hwa-seo’s eyes gleamed as she asked.
“Who are they?”
“...Ronin.”
“Hm?”
“Ronin. They lingered as guests with nearby Black Dao factions, lending their swords... that sort.”
Seo Ye’s expression darkened as she continued.
“...I never suspected their origins. The Black Dao has few with clear backgrounds anyway, and they were quite helpful to the Hao Sect.”
“In what way?”
“They spent all their earnings on pleasures. Some of the brothels they frequented were Hao Sect-owned.”
“They served as information sources. That’s what you mean.”
Seo Ye nodded.
Dang Hwa-seo organized the information and pressed on.
“Three questions. How did you know they were demonic cultists? What happened here that no martial artists are visible? And what did you mean by ‘help’?”
Straight to the core information needed.
Seo Ye swallowed dryly and answered.
“...First, as I said, they raided the Hao Sect’s secret base. As if they knew its location from the start.”
“What made you certain they were demonic cultists, not Black Dao?”
“Their sclera were blood-red. Their breathing was ragged, and one used the Qi Absorption Technique.”
Dang Hwa-seo’s face grew grave.
Qi Absorption Technique.
Among demonic arts, it was especially dangerous—a method to suck in others’ internal energy and convert it to demonic qi.
‘A reasonable judgment.’
Dang Hwa-seo nodded, and Seo Ye went on.
“There was no chance to fight back. I fled while my sect members fell, then hid and investigated what was happening here. Yes, that ties to your second question.”
“Right, I was wondering. Why no martial artists?”
“It’s not that there are none.”
Seo Ye bit her lip.
Then added.
“...Their internal energy was drained. That’s why they don’t feel like martial artists.”
“Even those with distinctive gaits or auras were absent.”
“They’re there. Just not visible.”
Seo Ye’s face filled with despair.
“...They’re trapped in the Hao Sect’s secret base. All incoming martial artists are kidnapped and dragged there.”
Dang Hwa-seo gasped.
If true, it explained the entire chain of events.
‘The reason Tyrant Sword Clan was empty.’
The reason no martial artists were here.
And the reason for luring Namgung Jincheon into the alley for contact.
‘Then...’
The plea was likely to rescue them.
Dang Hwa-seo surmised, and Seo Ye nodded as if confirming.
Even without voicing it, she’d read her mind and responded—proof Seo Ye was no ordinary woman.
Dang Hwa-seo frowned in thought.
Trust and follow her words?
Or interrogate her further?
After brief deliberation.
“...I’ll discuss with the squad members.”
Dang Hwa-seo chose to defer.
As she rose, the squad members prepared to follow.
Namgung Jincheon remained, arms still crossed.
“I’ll watch her.”
His face bore a challenging look, as if daring objection.
Proud of his accomplishment.
Dang Hwa-seo bit her twitching lip, nodded, and left the room.
*
“How is it?”
In another room with the squad, Dang Hwa-seo spoke, and Il-un replied.
“The sequence of events is convincing enough.”
“I think so too.”
Hye-un chimed in, and Dang Hwa-seo turned to Jegal San.
“What do you think?”
“My view’s not much different.”
Jegal San scratched his chin and continued.
“Rumors say martial artists vanished from the streets three years ago.”
It was filtered intel from wandering disguised all day.
It aligned with Seo Ye’s words, so Jegal San leaned toward believing her.
Dang Hwa-seo looked to Mok Ri-won next.
He’d usually have input, but he pondered gravely.
“Young Hero Mok?”
At her call, Mok Ri-won snapped out of it.
“Ah... sorry. Just thinking.”
“What about?”
“Nothing major...”
Mok Ri-won hesitated, then spoke sheepishly.
“I just thought the Haomen Leader’s personality differs slightly from what my advisor described.”
-She’s inherently calculating. Even if she aided demonic cultists, it’d be for profit; if she opposed them, still for profit. Without knowing where her gains lie, there’s nothing I can discern.
Yeom So-so had clearly called Seo Ye calculating and rational.
Yet today’s Seo Ye seemed a fragile, frightened woman—unlike described.
That discrepancy prompted his remark.
Hye-un answered.
“Hmm, perhaps the situation broke her mentally? It’s plausible.”
“Could be... but I’m not sure.”
Mok Ri-won scratched his nape and smiled.
His face still uneasy.
*
The room where Seo Ye was bound.
“Sword Dragon.”
Namgung Jincheon, standing with eyes closed, opened them at her voice.
His sharp eyes rolled toward her.
Radiating her signature pitiful aura, she spoke to him.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could you untie this rope? My body’s so uncomfortable...”
Her wriggling sparked his gaze.
First-rate internal energy, yet a frail body without muscle tone.
Namgung Jincheon realized she was the type who’d bloated her energy with elixirs.
“No.”
Flinch—
Seo Ye’s shoulders trembled.
Her eyes scanned his expression.
“Can’t it be? I’m not here to harm you...”
“No reason to trust you.”
Namgung Jincheon was firm.
Seo Ye bit her lip.
She frowned briefly, then hardened her resolve and continued.
“Please. I can’t just sit like this. Not knowing what’s become of my sect members—it’s suffocating!”
Her tone welled with emotion.
Then, trembling, head bowed, she added.
“Just untie me, and I’ll do anything. Whatever you command, Sword Dragon. Even my body...!”
Anything. Even her body.
Emphasizing those words, she relaxed her shoulders.
Her clothes shifted, exposing her nape.
Ears, nape, cheeks—all flushed red.
Namgung Jincheon’s gaze fixed there.
A moment of silence.
Then he spoke.
“No.”
“...Pardon?”
“I expect nothing from you.”
Namgung Jincheon scowled.
“Vulgar wretch. Thinking to sell your body first.”
Seo Ye’s expression froze.
No—blanked.
As if she couldn’t comprehend his words.
“...”
“Hmph.”
Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon.
Little interest in women, but still a man.
Meaning he had tastes.
“Know your place.”
Namgung Jincheon favored chaste, modest women who prized purity like life itself.
To him, Seo Ye fell short.