Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Mission, Investigation (5)
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Haomen Leader Seo Ye.
The process by which a woman came to be called by such a name was long if considered long, short if considered short.
Very briefly summarized, it was like this.
Raised in the shadow of the previous leader who turned humans into fodder for profit, she harbored murderous intent toward that leader at the age of twelve.
At fourteen, she sought out the expert assassin Killing Star Yeom So-so and entrusted the request.
And at fifteen, she ascended to the vacant leader's position.
From then on, for ten years, Seo Ye had guarded the Hao Sect as its leader.
Her unconventional path to growth had compelled Seo Ye to always study how to read others' hearts, and to weigh the gains and losses in every matter.
And to perform the appropriate demeanor suited to each situation.
This incident was no different; the frail appearance she had shown until now was all an act.
As such, Seo Ye had never once felt a mindset like this while observing a person.
For the first time in her life, Seo Ye faced someone she could not comprehend, no matter how deeply she dissected them.
“Know your place.”
‘Place?’
Place...
Seo Ye blankly examined Namgung Jincheon's expression.
She could not tell.
What he was thinking, whether his words were sincere, or if he was disguising himself to conceal his true intentions.
Wasn't that so?
It was none other than Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon.
A young expert second to none in the orthodox martial world, a man who had undoubtedly amassed martial arts along with various scholarly knowledge under the finest tutelage in the optimal environment from birth.
For such a man to speak of chastity, prattling on about one's place and vulgarity—did that even make sense?
‘Is he concealing his true intentions?’
Perhaps this very act of disregarding consequences was itself the result of meticulous calculation.
In strict terms, by stubbornly pressing forward like this, he was securing a favorable position, so it was not entirely wrong.
...And so, Seo Ye began seeking reasons for irrational behavior.
There was a saying like this.
No matter what rationale one attaches to irrationality, it cannot be logically explained.
The more one searches for a reason, the more tangled one's thoughts become.
It was correct.
Namgung Jincheon simply disliked Seo Ye exposing her skin to an outsider man.
No matter how much Seo Ye agonized, as long as she mistakenly viewed him as rational, she could never approach the truth.
“I-I'm not vulgar!”
“Showing bare flesh like that?”
“Th-that's...!”
It was not as if she enjoyed behaving this way.
She did so only because the benefits of breaking free from these bonds outweighed the costs.
She could not voice such true feelings.
Seo Ye began her performance.
“...I-I'm not vulgar.”
She lowered her head.
She held her breath, her body trembling faintly.
Tears welled at the corners of her eyes.
As she acted out shame and sorrow, Namgung Jincheon scoffed.
“That freak dragon once said something. Those who peddle their bodies while begging for sympathy are the most dangerous sort. I'd never given it much thought before, but seeing you, I understand. The freak dragon was right.”
Flinch.
Seo Ye's shoulders quivered.
This time, it was no act.
“Just shut your mouth. If you try any more schemes, I'll seal your acupoints again.”
Namgung Jincheon finished speaking and closed his eyes.
His demeanor made it clear he truly had no intention of conversing.
For the first time in her life, Seo Ye felt a chill crawl up the back of her neck.
*
The squad members returned to the room an hour later.
In that single hour, Seo Ye had grown considerably haggard.
It was not due to further provoking Namgung Jincheon and suffering his abuse.
‘I don't understand....’
No matter how she pondered, this man Namgung Jincheon offered no answers, leaving her mind in chaos.
In a word, it was this.
Seo Ye had erred by viewing irrationality through the lens of reason.
In other words, she had fallen victim to her own cleverness.
“...Sword Dragon, why is the leader acting like that?”
“I don't know. I didn't exchange a single word with this wench.”
Dang Hwa-seo asked, and Namgung Jincheon replied forthrightly.
For some reason, a sense of pity welled up in Dang Hwa-seo, who eyed Namgung Jincheon with displeasure. Seo Ye also noted that expression.
Seo Ye's pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake.
‘Why is she looking at him that way?’
A possibility dawned on her, belatedly.
No—a fact she had not even deemed possible—now surfaced.
‘No way....’
Was Namgung Jincheon actually rather dim-witted?
Had he acted this way simply because he thought nothing of it?
Had she been desperately seeking meaning in utterly thoughtless actions?
Crushing his subordinate through brute force in Guiju's alleys, abducting her here, maintaining this overbearing attitude—all of it?
‘Really?’
Seo Ye gazed at Namgung Jincheon.
Even as Dang Hwa-seo regarded him with such pity, he remained smug and self-satisfied.
“Ha....”
Seo Ye laughed in hollow defeat.
For quite some time.
*
The squad members cocked their heads at the sight of Seo Ye laughing vacantly, as if she had suddenly lost her wits.
It was immediately clear she was in no state for conversation.
Naturally, their eyes turned to Namgung Jincheon, who had been alone with her, but he offered no explanation and merely insisted on further "interrogation."
Dang Hwa-seo grimaced in consternation before addressing Seo Ye.
“Leader, I have questions.”
“Go ahead. Yes, you should ask.”
Seo Ye spoke as though she had laid down a burden.
The frail demeanor of before was gone.
Her appearance was merely haggard, utterly forlorn.
“...I've heard there are sect members held in the Hao Sect's secret retreat. Where is its location? How many members are captured? How many enemy forces are there? Do you know these details?”
It was an extension of intelligence gathering.
With trust in Seo Ye still incomplete, this was part of probing her words for inconsistencies.
Seo Ye met Dang Hwa-seo's gaze and continued her inner deliberations.
‘Yes, this is the normal response.’
Eyes that feigned goodwill while betraying faint caution.
Nerves on edge amid it all.
The mark of suspicion.
This was the standard reaction.
‘But....’
What in the world was Namgung Jincheon?
Confusion engulfed Seo Ye once more.
A hollow chuckle escaped her lips again.
Namgung Jincheon, witnessing Seo Ye staring at him while leaking these laughs, spoke in a stern tone.
“Stop staring. Wench. It feels like your filth is rubbing off.”
He even scowled as he said it.
Seo Ye laughed emptily.
“You must be suffering.”
She averted her eyes from Namgung Jincheon.
She could not afford to be further ensnared by him; her stomach churned at the thought.
“...I'll answer your question.”
Seo Ye steadied her expression and mind before speaking.
“The enemy forces number roughly a hundred. The captured members total nearly a thousand.”
At Seo Ye's words, Mok Ri-won's jaw dropped.
“A-a thousand...!”
“That's only those presumed alive. Including everyone taken, the number defies counting.”
A figure unimaginable for any ordinary sect.
But possible for the Hao Sect.
They were the ones scattered everywhere, disguised as street ruffians, courtesans, and errand boys.
“What is their level of martial prowess?”
“I'm not entirely sure. But there is one certainty.”
Seo Ye paused to steady her breath.
Then she continued.
“Among the Six Demons, the Lust Demon. She is here. A Peak Realm demonic practitioner.”
The squad members' eyes widened dramatically.
Seo Ye etched each reaction into her memory and pressed on.
‘Release a bit more information.’
She needed to foster trust.
Such was her judgment.
“The Six Demons hail from the six most exalted families beyond Xinjiang in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. The era's Heavenly Demon has often emerged from their ranks.”
“Families, you say....”
“They are akin to the Five Great Clans of the orthodox path. They call them the Six Demonic Gates.”
Six Demons. Six Demonic Gates.
At those terms, the squad members recalled one man.
Seo Ye noted the shifts in their expressions and replied.
“Yes, the Flame Demon O Gang-ak whom you faced is one of those six. That is why I sought your aid.”
“Sis, this is....”
Jegal San's face twisted.
No simple matter.
Unlike last time, this was not orthodox territory where aid from surroundings could be summoned if needed. The enemy's numbers were double those before.
With hostages in play, any misstep could hobble them.
Rash involvement promised no gain.
The mission's aim was investigation from the start.
Having uncovered all that transpired here, they could return and request reinforcements.
Jegal San voiced this assessment, and the other squad members nodded in agreement.
Seo Ye read the mood.
‘I anticipated this.’
Pleading for help in such circumstances made no sense to begin with.
Black Dao against orthodox, with forces differing by over tenfold.
Seo Ye had not made her plea without accounting for even that.
“Of course, there is a way.”
“Hm?”
“Their location is the Hao Sect's secret retreat. My former home.”
Seo Ye stared directly at Dang Hwa-seo as she spoke.
“I know every covert path to infiltrate it. Not just entry points, but all internal routes as well. And once there, I can activate unused traps and formations.”
The Hao Sect's secret retreat lurked in the shadows of shadows.
The invasion had been too sudden for immediate countermeasures, but her return would enable disruption of the enemy.
It could dramatically narrow the gap in forces.
And that was not all.
“Help me, and I will of course compensate you.”
Seo Ye dangled the incentive.
“Rare herbs. In a secret vault only I can access, there are seven roots of 100-year Blackened Spatholobus. All yours.”
Namgung Jincheon's head snapped around.
His eyes gleamed with keen interest.
Though anger surged within Seo Ye at his reaction, she suppressed it.
“...Time is of the essence for me. I beg you.”
If they reported to the Murim Alliance as is, victory would be more assured.
But that must not happen.
‘Handing the Murim Alliance a pretext.’
The Hao Sect would incur a debt to the Alliance.
This was Guiju, Black Dao territory.
Word would inevitably reach the Black Snake Alliance Leader, jeopardizing the Hao Sect's entire standing.
Entrusting the task solely to them now would settle all debts and grudges with seven 100-year Blackened Spatholobus roots.
In her current straits, it was the most rational path to resolution.
Dang Hwa-seo gazed steadily into Seo Ye's eyes, as if weighing her intent.
“You wish to avoid giving the Alliance leverage.”
“Because we are Black Dao.”
“And settle debts with seven 100-year Blackened Spatholobus roots.”
“I believe it's a fair proposal.”
An intent unmasked by Seo Ye.
An intent plain enough for Dang Hwa-seo to grasp.
Seo Ye proposed a transaction.
Dang Hwa-seo furrowed her brow.
‘Seven 100-year Blackened Spatholobus roots....’
Did this affair warrant such value?
Was the Haomen Leader luring them in?
Not baseless conjecture.
Friction with them seemed real, yet she might intend to trade them for her sect members' return.
Profound deliberation stirred in Dang Hwa-seo's mind.
‘Cannot answer immediately.’
The prior frail facade had vanished.
Likely, she had sensed its futility.
As these thoughts lingered.
“I accept.”
Namgung Jincheon, elixir-maddened, declared.
Dang Hwa-seo stared at him blankly, her body moving before her mind to deliver a sharp rap to his crown.
Thwack!
Seo Ye began eyeing Namgung Jincheon with pity.