Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Burning Manor (1)
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“You should leave the manor now while you still can.”
The warrior urged the Strategist to depart from the manor at once.
Han Se Yeong didn't seem as ruthless as the rumors suggested, but one could never predict when disaster might strike.
Yet the Strategist still had words left for Se Yeong.
“Nothing will happen here, so there's no need to worry.”
The Strategist's concern wasn't Se Yeong, but the Hundred Clans.
He watched Se Yeong and Baek Mong walking side by side, chatting amiably.
'All the warriors of the martial world fear that man, yet only the White Young Master shows no hesitation. Truly remarkable.'
In the Murim Alliance, Baek Mong was something of a loner.
He didn't reject those who approached, but he didn't readily let anyone close either.
“Shall we dine outside or inside?”
“The weather's perfect today, so outside it is.”
At the Strategist's response, Sa Sa Un ordered his siblings to bring out the tables and chairs from inside.
When it was just the squad members, one table sufficed, but with so many guests, multiple tables and chairs were needed.
“Your father, Young Master Sa, came to the Murim Alliance in person.”
Sa Sa Un, who was carrying a chair, looked up at the Strategist in shock.
“My father... what did he say?”
“He earnestly begged us to mobilize Alliance warriors to rescue his son.”
At those words, Sa Sa Un bowed his head, tears welling up.
Stepping outside the family had made him realize just how comfortable life at home had been.
He was the precious son there, but the Elusive Squadron members all looked down on him.
To survive, he'd clung to Namgung Seok, fawning shamelessly.
Looking back, he'd been utterly pathetic.
“I'll ask Young Master Han to let you go.”
“No, please don't. I want to stay here.”
“Are you that afraid of him?”
“It's not fear... I choose to stay.”
Sa Sa Un made his resolve clear.
In the past, he would have jumped at the chance to return to First Squad.
But now, not even mountains of gold could lure him back.
Pleased by this, the Strategist smiled faintly.
The timid coward had changed so much.
“If you stay, you could become a public enemy of the martial world.”
A public enemy of the martial world.
The fearsome words made even Sa Sa Un tremble.
For now, only Se Yeong bore that title, but killing famous sect or family warriors would surely drag him into it too.
Sa Sa Un glanced at his laughing, carefree squad mates.
He envied their lack of worry.
They hadn't become public enemies yet solely because of their sects' and families' prestige.
Se Yeong, by contrast, had overcome every obstacle with his own strength.
“Great Hero Han has never struck first... Even when he tore those martial artists limb from limb, it was because they'd killed a child over a single silver tael. That child was...”
Overcome with emotion, Sa Sa Un spilled the details without thinking.
Startled, Yeonggak subtly tapped his shoulder.
One slip, and the Six Net Sword Queen's story might tumble out.
“Enough. The food's burning.”
“Oh... I forgot.”
Snapping back to reality, Sa Sa Un rushed into the kitchen.
'Om mani padme hum. That fool nearly shaved ten years off my life.'
Once the meal was served, the squad members sat at the tables.
The Strategist and Elusive Squadron warriors joined them, but the Alliance Leader's personal guards stood watch, scattered around.
Se Yeong never took his vigilant eyes off them, not even for a moment.
Nor did they look away from him.
The dishes Sa Sa Un and his siblings brought out were steamed red-and-white fish and chicken soup.
The soup especially featured whole boiled eggs.
“Wow... Killing a chicken for noble guests like us?”
Paeng Se Gi was thrilled at the sight of the chicken soup.
“We bought the chicken from the village yesterday, and the eggs are from the manor's hens.”
“Aw, and I got excited for nothing.”
The Elusive Squadron warriors were impressed by Sa Sa Un's improved cooking.
Even the Strategist marveled at how much better it had become.
“Do you raise chickens here at the manor?”
Paeng Se Gi boasted in response.
“We've got about a dozen hens here. I feed 'em centipedes and snakes I catch. Eating them later will boost my inner power by ten years, easy.”
The squad chuckled at his brag, while the Elusive Squadron warriors grimaced.
Namgung Seok reacted sharply.
“What, like chickens are some miracle elixir?”
Paeng Se Gi sneered back.
“Not giving you any, so don't worry about it.”
As Namgung Seok's face hardened, Se Yeong's cold voice cut in.
“If you want to kill me, draw your sword without hesitation.”
Se Yeong glared fiercely at the warrior behind the Strategist.
The jovial atmosphere turned heavy in an instant.
The warrior awkwardly stepped back, flushing the Strategist's face red.
“My apologies, Young Master Han.”
As the meal wrapped up amid the tension, the Strategist spoke.
“Truth be told, I came here not for you, Young Master Han, but to lure out the White Master.”
“How do you lure the overlord of the unorthodox paths?”
Kang Gyodoo, who had skipped eating to watch the Alliance Leader's guards, finally asked.
“Inviting Young Master Han as a Hundred Clan representative was his scheme. He planned to use you to eliminate the Five Absolutes of the Martial World. The Six Net Sword Queen likely fell into one of his traps too.”
Kang Gyodoo and the squad stared at him, dumbfounded.
How had he reached that conclusion?
Knowing the truth, they panicked momentarily.
But the Strategist took their shock at face value.
“So... the Sword Queen definitely died to the White Master?”
The Strategist nodded gravely at Paeng Se Gi's question.
“It must be so. Her disappearance so far points to something dire. Who in the current martial world could harm her?”
'Big brother.'
Paeng Se Gi swallowed the words.
“Om mani padme hum. May you be reborn in paradise, Sword Queen.”
The squad shot glares at Yeonggak chanting his mantra.
How could the one who'd witnessed her death firsthand be so brazen?
“So what happens to Great Hero Han now, Strategist?”
The Strategist sighed at Yi Cheon Yeong's question.
Haa...
“His bounty will soon rise to five hundred thousand taels.”
Haha...!
Se Yeong burst into laughter.
“I'll be a walking gold nugget soon.”
“This isn't funny. Five hundred thousand silver taels will drive even reclusive hermits mad with greed.”
Se Yeong stated his intent firmly at the grave warning.
“Anyone who points a sword at me, regardless of who they are, dies without mercy.”
The Strategist's chest tightened.
'The White Master chose well. Very well indeed.'
After the meal, the Strategist departed with his warriors.
“This might be the last time I see you.”
Despite laying an elaborate trap with numerous warriors, he couldn't guarantee the White Master's elimination.
His expression was deadly serious, but Se Yeong chuckled inwardly.
'Saying that with the White Master's daughter right beside him. The man's got his blind spots.'
“Safe travels.”
As Se Yeong bid farewell, the Strategist made an unexpected offer.
“Help us take down the White Master, and the martial folk and Murim Alliance will see you differently.”
“No thanks. If he doesn't show, won't I be their next target?”
Se Yeong nodded toward the Alliance Leader's guards.
The Strategist could only give a wry smile.
Truth be told, they hadn't left the Alliance solely for the White Master.
The Leader had ordered them to behead Se Yeong if the chance arose, but Kang Gyodoo gave no openings, forcing their retreat.
Not just him—even the squad stayed vigilant.
Paeng Se Gi and the others laughed and joked while poised to strike at any moment.
“You're right. Farewell.”
The Strategist let go of his regrets and turned away.
“What comes after five hundred thousand taels? The Leader won't hold back anymore.”
With that, he walked off into the distance.
“See you later.”
Baek Mong gave Se Yeong a small wave before turning.
Namgung Seok, the last to remain, glared murderously at Se Yeong and the squad.
Then he silently departed.
“Take care, Namgung Seok.”
Paeng Se Gi's farewell made his steps falter for a split second.
Huu...
“I thought they'd attack for sure, brother.”
Only after the Strategist and warriors were gone did Paeng Se Gi exhale in relief.
He'd sensed their killing intent most acutely among the squad.
He'd smiled and bantered outwardly, but his hand had strayed to his weapon multiple times.
Adapting to Demonic Leader ambushes had honed that instinct.
“Brother, know how many times those guys went for their weapons?”
“Stay relaxed. It's less tiring that way.”
Those who fully grasped the Alliance Leader's guards were after Se Yeong's head were him, Kang Gyodoo, Yeonggak, and Hahu Yeon.
Yi Cheon Yeong and Dang Ok had felt the chill but hadn't realized the depth.
“Only ten days left now. Hang in there till then.”
“Understood, Great Hero Han.”
The pair were stunned at falling behind the others.
Paeng Se Gi and Yeonggak had always been slightly superior, but Hahu Yeon had lagged before.
“Can't we... extend it another month, Great Hero Han?”
Dang Ok asked in a dejected voice.
“You think too much. Don't seek answers with your head—find them with your body.”
Se Yeong had told the squad this before.
Martial arts were learned through the body, not the mind.
The siblings, listening from afar, repeated his words inwardly.
'Don't seek answers with your head—find them with your body.'
They hadn't even noticed the Demonic Leader standing behind them for ages before leaving.
But their dedication burned brighter than any squad member's.
Over thirty carts rolled into the manor.
They carried fifty jars of fine liquor and five hundred mulberry saplings.
The merchants unloading them looked terrified.
“We'll be going now.”
They hastily unloaded and fled the manor in a flash.
“They looked like they'd seen ghosts.”
Paeng Se Gi watched them go, a pity.
“Om mani padme hum. Poor souls.”
Yeonggak pitied them too.
Though part of the vicious rumors were his doing.
“Ah... that monk's mouth.”
“Mouth? Harsh words.”
As Paeng Se Gi and Yeonggak bickered, Se Yeong called Yi Gu.
“Store the liquor in the warehouse and round up some villagers. Work starts tomorrow.”
“How many?”
“Ten should do.”
“I'll tell the village uncles when I go for supplies.”
Following orders, Yi Gu moved to shift a jar but froze.
The Demonic Leader stood there as he turned.
The Demonic Leader approached Se Yeong and bowed deeply.
“Tomorrow marks the end of our promised month.”
“You've worked hard.”
No great expectations, yet he'd received unexpected aid.
Se Yeong felt genuine gratitude.
But the Demonic Leader yearned to leave this manor at once.
Two months here had drained his very spirit.
'Please... let me rest.'