Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: I've Acquired the Cult's Brains
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"Ugh!"
Je Wiryong retched.
He should have been throwing up what he'd eaten, but he had vomited so much there was nothing left.
He looked at Byeok Taesan, who stood in the distance, with fearful eyes.
'We're going all the way to Changsha like this?'
It was an incredibly grueling march. Besides, Je Wiryong wasn't the only one here.
Je Wiryong slowly looked around.
Everyone was panting, their faces mirroring his own.
These were the people who had come this far with him, the strategists he had spent over a decade cultivating.
He couldn't begin to describe the meticulous process of selecting these talents.
He had secured them since they were young and nurtured them to this point.
And now, these precious talents were struggling in agony.
How could anyone treat strategists, who were so sensitive and delicate, so harshly?
But Je Wiryong didn't dare send a resentful glare toward Byeok Taesan.
He had already surrendered on the first day he met Byeok Taesan.
He had also been consumed by curiosity about Byeok Taesan's true identity.
'Once that curiosity is satisfied... I might find it even harder to escape.'
He had a feeling that might be the case. But that was a problem for later. For now, he just wanted to escape this difficult and agonizing situation.
"If you're done resting, let's go."
As Byeok Taesan's words fell, despair washed over the faces of everyone who had been catching their breath.
But no one questioned his command or dawdled.
They all forced their limbs and waists to straighten as they stood up.
And prepared to run.
Before leaving, Byeok Taesan had gathered the strategists, including Je Wiryong, and taught them a movement technique.
In truth, the strategists had been required to learn a simple cultivation art the moment they joined Je Wiryong, and they practiced it every morning.
It was an art focused more on clearing the mind and maintaining the body in optimal condition than on accumulating internal energy.
It was a highly stable art, so there was almost no risk of qi deviation.
Having practiced it for over a decade, they were all healthy and possessed a small amount of internal energy.
So, learning and performing a movement technique wasn't particularly difficult.
Besides, weren't they all geniuses whose intellect was second to none?
They understood the movement technique Byeok Taesan taught them with incredible speed.
Moreover, their ingrained habit of sharing information and debating to find answers was applied to the process of learning the martial art.
However, understanding a movement technique and executing it physically were two very different things, so the process of embodying it was a bit difficult.
But this was Byeok Taesan.
The strategists learned firsthand what it meant to have a movement technique forcibly engraved into their bodies.
They had been running this entire time using that technique.
Even when their internal energy was depleted, Byeok Taesan paid it no mind.
They couldn't afford to be lazy.
It felt like they might cough up blood, but they had to keep running to the end.
Of course, no one actually coughed up blood.
Most of them just threw up the food they'd eaten that morning.
They all started running again.
Running at the very front were the Underworld Sect members who had been stationed in Jeongdeokhyeon.
Je Wiryong knew their identities very well.
After all, nothing that happened within Jeongdeokhyeon could escape his notice.
'It's such a waste to abandon Jeongdeokhyeon.'
He couldn't fathom how much money, time, and effort had gone into bringing this place under his complete control.
But the thought of having to abandon it all made his stomach churn.
Still, what could he do?
If Byeok Taesan said to go, he had to go.
And since he would be able to control a large city like Changsha as he pleased, it might even be for the better.
In any case, the Underworld Sect members ran, and the strategists followed behind them.
And at the very back, Byeok Taesan walked leisurely.
Despite just walking, Byeok Taesan always stayed right behind the strategists.
And that was the driving force that prevented anyone from slacking off and made them run even harder.
The slightest lapse in concentration, and a terrifying killing intent would pierce their backs.
Je Wiryong grimaced, moving his feet with great effort.
What made it difficult for him was that Byeok Taesan was always right beside him.
In other words, Je Wiryong also had to be at the very back.
"Did you learn everything you could from Sa Majin?"
What truly drove Je Wiryong mad were Byeok Taesan's questions.
Running alone was exhausting enough to kill him, but being constantly spoken to like this made it impossible to breathe steadily.
Je Wiryong briefly pondered how to answer the question. But his hesitation didn't last long.
"There wasn't much to learn from him in the first place."
"That's not what Sa Majin said. He said you ran away because you didn't want to learn. Is that not true?"
"He said something like that?"
"He didn't even care when you ran away. Called you useless."
Je Wiryong's expression twisted.
"What? So when I left the Heavenly Demonic Cult, they didn't even try to track me?"
Byeok Taesan snorted.
"Do you really think they couldn't have caught someone like you if they'd wanted to?"
Je Wiryong shut his mouth.
Honestly, he had believed that to be the case until now.
But on second thought, perhaps he had been underestimating the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
"Anyway, that's not it. I'm much better than that Sa Majin fellow. You can tell by looking at those guys running up ahead. Frankly, I believe they're not inferior even when compared to the Heavenly Brain that Sa Majin created."
"You need to work on your judgment of people."
He said, nodding a few times.
"And it seems I'll have to break that rebellious spirit of yours a few more times."
Je Wiryong felt a chill spread through his chest. Was this what it felt like for one's heart to stop?
"R-rebellious spirit? I never harbor such foolish emotions. Once I make up my mind, I am a man of absolute obedience. Yes, indeed."
Byeok Taesan said calmly.
"So you haven't made up your mind yet."
"Ah, no! I've already made up my mind!"
"To betray me and run away?"
Je Wiryong broke out in a cold sweat. Nothing he said was getting through. What was he supposed to do?
Honestly, it hit a nerve. He really hadn't made up his mind yet.
He would escape if the opportunity arose. However, he had no intention of making a half-baked attempt.
He would not make a move until a perfect opportunity presented itself, one that guaranteed his escape from Byeok Taesan.
But Byeok Taesan had unerringly pointed that out.
'It must be a coincidence. Or maybe he's just trying to mess with me.'
Je Wiryong forced himself to think that.
As he was thinking this, a chill ran down his spine. He had lost focus on his movement technique while lost in thought.
"Ugh!"
Frightened, Je Wiryong quickly picked up his pace.
And so, they continued to run without rest.
Je Wiryong and the strategists were struggling, but the Underworld Sect members running at the front were truly suffering.
Byeok Taesan, running at the very back, secretly aided those running ahead.
But he didn't help everyone equally.
He placed a much greater emphasis on the strategists.
As a result, the Underworld Sect members had to endure far more pressure than the strategists.
At first, they were so focused on running they couldn't think of anything else.
But as they grew more accustomed to it, stray thoughts began to pop up despite the hardship.
'Come to think of it, the Young Master arrived in Jeongdeokhyeon earlier than expected, didn't he?'
The Underworld Sect member who had guided Byeok Taesan to Jeongdeokhyeon came to mind.
At the time, they had only been a little flustered by his early arrival, but after experiencing this, they understood why he had been so fast.
The speed at which they were now running toward Changsha was much slower than when Byeok Taesan had traveled to Jeongdeokhyeon.
Thinking about how much the Underworld Sect member who had escorted Byeok Taesan must have suffered, they felt a pang of pity.
Fortunately, that member couldn't join them because of a mission in Jeokgyehyeon.
If he took his time getting to Changsha, he could probably avoid meeting Byeok Taesan.
'I'm envious, but also relieved for him...'
The members' feelings grew complicated. Still, if he had suffered this much running from Changsha to Jeongdeokhyeon, didn't he deserve a comfortable return trip?
At least, that's what the Underworld Sect members here thought.
Just as they were thinking their bodies might shatter, they noticed someone furiously chasing them from behind.
Je Wiryong was the first to spot him, and soon after, the Underworld Sect members also saw the person.
After identifying him, the Underworld Sect members were all startled.
Then, Byeok Taesan gave a signal, and they all slowed down before coming to a stop.
"Young Master!"
Covered in sweat and dust, an Underworld Sect member ran up to Byeok Taesan and prostrated himself.
In truth, he had wanted to confront Byeok Taesan and ask how he could have been left behind.
But the moment he saw Byeok Taesan, that thought vanished.
Confronting someone wasn't something just anyone could do. Nor was it something you could do to just anyone.
"I heard you had departed ahead of me and followed as quickly as I could."
After reporting, the member stealthily raised his head to look at Byeok Taesan.
"Shall I lead those men from now on?"
The member asked, glancing at his comrades positioned at the front of the group.
In terms of both rank and skill, he felt it was only natural for him to lead.
Byeok Taesan stared at the man.
The man swallowed dryly. He had a bad feeling about this.
"You just head straight to Changsha."
"Pardon?"
Byeok Taesan took a letter from his robes.
When did he even write that?
'What? Did he predict I would chase after him?'
The man felt a cold chill run down his spine as he respectfully accepted the letter from Byeok Taesan.
"Deliver this to Hwaok."
"Yes. Understood."
Just do as ordered. And considering the speed this group was moving, he figured he could complete the mission without much difficulty.
As he was thinking that, he suddenly felt something surge into his body.
"Urgh!"
The man's eyes widened like saucers. He looked at Byeok Taesan with a deeply uncomfortable expression.
Seeing this, Byeok Taesan nodded.
"It works."
The man's expression faltered slightly.
'It works? Don't tell me he just tried it without knowing if it would work or not.'
The man shivered.
But contrary to his fear and anxiety, his entire body was overflowing with power, practically boiling with it.
"Go and bring the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric with you."
"Pardon?"
"If you don't hurry, the men here might die."
Byeok Taesan said, then jutted his chin at the man. It was a signal to leave at once.
The man stared blankly at Byeok Taesan before startling and quickly starting to run.
The thought that their lives were in his hands brought an immense sense of pressure.
The only way to overcome that pressure was to run.
As the man disappeared into the distance at an incredible speed, Byeok Taesan looked at the group and said.
"Let's go."
Everyone flinched before quickly getting up and starting to run.
At this point, just hearing the words "let's go" was enough to give them a seizure.
* * *
Hwaok had been incredibly busy lately.
Laying the groundwork to take down the Golden Moon Trading Company was no easy task.
When she first planned it, she thought she could achieve her goal with ease.
But once the plan was in motion, there were far more things to handle than she had anticipated.
The Golden Moon Trading Company's underlying strength was greater than imagined.
The power of a massive trading company that had wielded wealth for hundreds of years was not so flimsy that it could be toppled by mere internal strife or external pressure.
As a result, the situation was constantly changing, requiring Hwaok's continuous intervention.
In that process, Jahyang's talent shone.
The measures Jahyang had prepared at the beginning of the plan often played a decisive role later on.
Nevertheless, the success of this plan was still uncertain.
While she was struggling, the Underworld Sect member sent by Byeok Taesan arrived.
The man looked utterly haggard.
The moment he saw Hwaok, he bowed respectfully.
After all, Hwaok had once been the branch master of the Underworld Sect's Uichang Branch. Moreover, she was now in a position nearly equal to the sect leader.
When Hwaok was the Uichang branch master, this particular member was just beginning to distinguish himself.
So, he always felt intimidated by Hwaok.
"This is a letter the Young Master asked me to deliver."
Hwaok took the letter the man offered and unfolded it to read.
'I've acquired the Cult's brains?'
That was all the letter said.
Hwaok's mind raced.
'The Cult's brains? Does that mean the Demonic Brain? If so, does that mean the Demonic Brain wasn't in the Heavenly Demonic Cult but outside? And the Young Master has acquired him?'
On the surface, that was the simple conclusion. But Hwaok felt there was more to it.
She looked at the Underworld Sect member.
The man sensed what Hwaok wanted and quickly spoke.
"The Young Master was accompanied by about a hundred men who appeared to be scholars."
Hwaok's eyes widened.
A hundred scholars? Her mind grew even more complicated.
But one thing was certain.
Byeok Taesan had found people to do the thinking and strategizing in her stead.
She was already struggling with racking her brain; if they came, her burden would be lightened considerably.
'I'll need to make some preparations to receive a hundred people at once.'
As Hwaok was thinking this, the man asked cautiously.
"Um... but where are the Divine Doctor and the Eccentric Doctor?"
When Hwaok looked at him with a puzzled expression, he continued awkwardly.
"The Young Master ordered me to bring them quickly."
For a moment, Hwaok looked at the man with pity.
"They're currently sleeping in the guest rooms."
"Sleeping?"
"If you go and tell them the Young Master is looking for them, they'll wake up on their own."
At Hwaok's words, the man suddenly felt a strong sense of camaraderie bloom, and he made a strange expression, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.