Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: I'll Just Take a Little
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I'll Just Take a Little
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion's expression was utterly composed.
Byeok Taesan trudged over and sat down in front of her.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages quickly followed and took a seat beside him.
"Don't tell me you're going to start spouting nonsense about how the Hundred Flowers Pavilion has nothing to do with this."
At Byeok Taesan's words, the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion shook her head.
"Of course not. I value my life, you see."
"Is that so? Then let me ask you a few things I'm curious about."
"Please, go ahead."
"What gives you the right to be so confident?"
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion smiled coyly. It was a smile that seemed somewhat bewitching.
"Didn't you say you would make use of my body? I took that to mean you wouldn't kill me."
"I won't kill you. But I can make you beg for death."
Even at those words, the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion did not let her smile fade.
She had to have something she was counting on, or she was failing to grasp the situation, or perhaps she was even looking forward to the pain. Otherwise, she couldn't be acting this way.
"Well, that's not important. Next question."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion watched Byeok Taesan with an intrigued expression. Seeing this, it was clear she was no ordinary person.
"I asked the guys who attacked today, but they wouldn't answer. Who's behind you?"
"The Golden Silk Alliance."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion answered without a hint of hesitation.
Byeok Taesan shook his head.
"No, I know that. I'm talking about the ones behind the Golden Silk Alliance."
A glint appeared in Byeok Taesan's eyes.
"For some reason, I feel like you would know."
"I don't know the exact name either. However, I do know who frequently visited the Golden Silk Alliance."
Byeok Taesan gestured with his chin, telling her to continue.
"It's Bong Muok."
"Bong Muok?"
It was a name Byeok Taesan had never heard before, so he turned to look at the Divine Doctor of the Ages.
Having traveled the world extensively, he would surely know if it was a famous name.
And just as expected, Bong Muok's title immediately came from the Divine Doctor's lips.
"The Black Moon Sword?"
"That's right."
Byeok Taesan asked.
"Is he famous?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages stared at Byeok Taesan, dumbfounded.
"Of course, he's famous. He single-handedly annihilated the Blood Flame Fortress and killed the Blood Flame Demon Lord."
Honestly, he didn't know the Blood Flame Fortress, nor did he know who the Blood Flame Demon Lord was.
"The Blood Flame Fortress is just a bunch of bandits, right? And the Blood Flame Demon Lord would be their leader. He got famous just for beating up some bandits?"
"Just a bandit leader? The Blood Flame Demon Lord was a powerhouse on the verge of being ranked among the top one hundred masters of the time. And naturally, the Blood Flame Fortress was no ordinary band of bandits."
"Really?"
Byeok Taesan was still unimpressed.
Bandits were bandits, no matter how you sliced it. Not actually being one of the top hundred masters but being *on the verge* just meant he still had a long way to go.
A guy like that could never have caught the Heavenly Demon's attention. Likewise, why would he care about someone who killed such a person?
But the Divine Doctor's explanation didn't end there.
"However, as far as I know, the Black Moon Sword is dead."
At the word "dead," Byeok Taesan finally showed some interest.
"Dead? Are you sure?"
"I didn't see it with my own two eyes... But there were many people who witnessed his death."
"They witnessed his death?"
Byeok Taesan turned his head to look at the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
"He says he's dead."
"No. That man is definitely Bong Muok, the Black Moon Sword."
"Can you swear it on your soul?"
"I can."
Byeok Taesan nodded. If she was that certain, it must be him.
"Did a dead man come back to life?"
Byeok Taesan said, this time looking at the Divine Doctor.
"Well... it is possible to make it look like someone died. But the one who killed the Black Moon Sword was Man Chu of the Red Thunder Blade, the Blood Flame Demon Lord's older brother."
"Then we can assume this Man Chu of the Red Thunder Blade guy is also part of that unknown organization."
The Divine Doctor tilted his head.
"Certainly... there was something fishy about it. To be honest, while Red Thunder Blade is stronger than the Blood Flame Demon Lord, the gap isn't that wide."
"Any other possibilities?"
"Other possibilities, you mean..."
"A jiangshi."
The Divine Doctor scoffed.
"Come on, do you think making a jiangshi is easy? Besides, to visit the Golden Silk Alliance frequently, it couldn't show any signs of being a jiangshi. For that, the only answer is a living jiangshi. And that's still..."
The Divine Doctor stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.
The words that were to follow were not for just anyone to hear.
"This is getting more and more annoying."
At first, he thought it would all be over once he dealt with the Jongli Family and the Golden Silk Alliance.
But they were all just pawns on a chessboard.
He could just wipe out the players moving the pawns, but he still didn't know their identities.
At this rate, even if he took care of the Golden Silk Alliance, it wouldn't be the end.
They wouldn't just stand by after he interfered with their plans.
"No, wait. Judging by how they operate, they're extremely cautious... They might just go into hiding."
Byeok Taesan muttered to himself, then looked at the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
"Isn't it about time you paid for your sins?"
No matter how nonchalantly she acted, she couldn't possibly be unaffected.
A flicker of tension appeared in her eyes.
"From today on, you're a spy."
"Pardon?"
"From now on, you will gather as much information as you can about the Golden Silk Alliance and the organization behind it, and report to me."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion couldn't answer.
Byeok Taesan paid her no mind, continuing whether she answered or not.
"I don't need information that can be gathered from the outside. My subordinates will take care of that. You are to bring me internal information."
After saying that, Byeok Taesan stared at her quietly.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion replied calmly.
"There's a limit to the information I can obtain."
She paused to collect her thoughts before continuing.
"I won't be able to find out any core information. They would never let me see it."
Byeok Taesan grinned.
"What's this? We're both professionals here. You were never on their side to begin with. Weren't you just hired by the Golden Silk Alliance?"
"I don't know what you mean..."
"You're the one who found out the Black Moon Sword was behind the Golden Silk Alliance, right? The Alliance doesn't know that you know, do they?"
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion looked flabbergasted.
"You must have gathered a good amount of information since you were hired by them, right? Am I wrong?"
"I don't understand why the Young Master is saying such things."
Byeok Taesan nodded.
"Good acting. Just like someone from the Underworld Sect."
At the mention of the Underworld Sect, the Divine Doctor's eyes went wide.
"This woman, she was from the Underworld Sect?"
Byeok Taesan didn't answer, instead staring at the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion with a pressuring gaze.
Faced with his confident eyes, she shook her head in resignation.
In fact, she had considered denying it a bit longer, but after seeing the violent glint deep in Byeok Taesan's eyes, she gave up completely.
It seemed things would get ugly if she tried to deny it one more time.
"How on earth did you know?"
"Your mask."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion looked baffled by his words.
"But I'm not wearing a mask. What exactly do you mean by mask?"
Figuring out her identity because of a mask she wasn't even wearing—wasn't that just too strange?
Byeok Taesan scowled.
"Why should I have to tell you? Just pay for your sins. Bring me all the information you've gathered so far, and keep gathering more to offer up."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion was finally reminded of her situation and shut her mouth.
She had gotten a little worked up after her identity was exposed.
She looked at Byeok Taesan, her eyes full of questions.
She had left no trace of being from the Underworld Sect. So how did he find out?
'Unless he knew me from the beginning...'
But if that were the case, why didn't he know on the first day he came to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion? He definitely wasn't pretending not to know. If that was an act, it meant his skills surpassed her own.
Seeing the look in Byeok Taesan's eyes begin to change, she quickly pushed her thoughts aside.
"I understand. I will extract as much as I possibly can."
"Good. I trust you will."
Byeok Taesan said that and rose from his seat.
His business at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion was finished for the day.
As he was about to just walk out, the Divine Doctor looked at him with alarmed eyes.
"Young Master, shouldn't you at least place a restriction on her?"
Byeok Taesan smirked.
"If she wants to run, let her."
"What? She might actually run away if you do that."
"Then I guess my luck runs out there."
"Pardon?"
The Divine Doctor stared blankly at Byeok Taesan, unable to understand.
"Because I know where the secret manual for the Shadow Phantom Steps is."
At those words, the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion's eyes widened as if they would tear.
"You know where the Shadow Phantom Steps are? Don't tell me you have it, Young Master?"
Byeok Taesan glanced back at her.
"Like I said before, why should I have to tell you?"
Leaving those words behind, Byeok Taesan strode away.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion called out urgently.
"I will carry out the Young Master's command with all my heart and soul! My people have already infiltrated every new business the Golden Silk Alliance opened under a different name. You will not be disappointed!"
"Alright, I'll be looking forward to it. Oh, and clean up the guys I beat down today."
With that, Byeok Taesan gave a dismissive wave and left the room.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion stared blankly at his retreating back and muttered.
"The Shadow Phantom Steps... Should I report this to my superiors?"
Her expression twisted in confusion.
The Shadow Phantom Steps was a special footwork technique passed down in the Underworld Sect. But it was now lost.
This was because the previous Sect Master and elders of the Underworld Sect had vanished without passing it on.
Strictly speaking, the Shadow Phantom Steps hadn't disappeared entirely.
They still possessed a degraded version that was inferior to the real thing.
That degraded version was what the lower-ranking members of the Underworld Sect used to learn in the past.
The Shadow Phantom Steps was not just a simple footwork technique.
It was a technique that embodied everything about the Underworld Sect.
The Shadow Phantom Steps was the very identity of the Underworld Sect. One's status within the sect was determined by the level of the Shadow Phantom Steps they had mastered.
And without someone who had mastered the higher levels, it was impossible to learn the lower levels.
With the highest level of the technique gone, it was impossible for the Underworld Sect to maintain its prestige.
The Underworld Sect was currently on a path of decline.
That was why she couldn't help but be swayed by such a simple statement.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion pondered for a while before shaking her head.
"I'll hold off for now. It won't be too late to report after I've confirmed it for certain."
* * *
Leaving the Master's room and heading back downstairs, Byeok Taesan saw the cleaned-up hallway and nodded.
"They cleaned up quickly."
Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon were standing in front of the room where Byeok Taesan had been staying.
"Don't just stand there spacing out. Let's go."
The two quickly fell in step with Byeok Taesan.
Cheon Gyeongwan's face was still expressionless. But it was impossible to tell if it was because of the poison or if he had returned to his usual self.
There was only one person here who could tell.
"Looks like the poison's energy has subsided. Well, you did move quite violently. Don't feel the need to urinate?"
Cheon Gyeongwan shook his head at the Divine Doctor's words.
"I'm fine."
"Then that's that."
As the Divine Doctor walked ahead, Cheon Gyeongwan watched his back with a hesitant look.
He soon hurried to catch up and ask.
"What exactly are the side effects?"
The Divine Doctor grinned.
"You already know, so why ask?"
"I don't know. I don't know why I suddenly acted that way, or if the side effects will continue."
At the mention of side effects, Yu Seoyeon also drew closer with a look of interest, listening intently.
The only one uninterested was Byeok Taesan.
With an expression and pace no different from usual, he simply walked leisurely toward home.
"It's nothing much. The things you've hidden inside just come bursting out."
"Things I've... hidden?"
"That's right. You could say it stimulates your desires. Things you'd never dare to reveal normally just come pouring out. To the point where even an enlightened high monk would find it hard to endure."
"I can't accept that."
Cheon Gyeongwan absolutely could not accept it. He couldn't fathom the amount of killing intent, fighting spirit, and madness that had poured out of him during the fight earlier.
That was his hidden desire?
"Humans are beings with all sorts of emotions and desires. If you just keep pressing them down without a proper release, they just grow bigger inside. That's what came out. It probably won't be this bad next time."
Having been expended so thoroughly once, the side effects would be much weaker next time.
Though whether he would ever have a reason to use that poison again was another question.
In truth, the Divine Doctor was a little impressed today. Despite using the poison, Cheon Gyeongwan hadn't crossed any lines.
At the very last moment, he had controlled his desires.
Cheon Gyeongwan's gaze grew deep and heavy. His thoughts became tangled. He was confused, not knowing how to sort out the complexity in his mind.
The Divine Doctor left Cheon Gyeongwan to his thoughts and strode over to Byeok Taesan.
And Yu Seoyeon quietly followed him.
The Divine Doctor was startled to see Yu Seoyeon suddenly appear beside him.
"What is it?"
Yu Seoyeon brought a finger to her lips, as if telling him to be quiet.
The Divine Doctor's eyes darted back and forth, glancing at Byeok Taesan ahead and Cheon Gyeongwan behind.
Yu Seoyeon whispered in his ear.
"That poison from before... I'll just take a little."
The Divine Doctor stared at Yu Seoyeon, horrified.
Her expression was dead serious.
And the Divine Doctor started to feel a little scared.