Chapter 21: It Was There and Then Gone
"Bok Clan, you know anything about a guy named Yong Dae-seok?"
[Yong Mu-geuk's eldest son and Yong Baek-heon's father. But he never accepted the Bongma Singnok. That's about it.]
It meant he didn't know much. Which made sense, really.
The Bongma Singnok was a secret manual compiling the insights of past Heavenly Demons. The demonic spirit dwelling within it served as a master, guiding the next Heavenly Demon.
But Yong Dae-seok had died before being appointed Young Cult Leader. So he'd never met the Demon Sealing Spirit in person.
That naturally led to one burning question.
Why had Yong Dae-seok died?
[You don't know the reason either?]
"No clue. Even Yong Baek-heon had no idea."
[How could that be? A son not knowing how his father died?]
"Word is he died outside the Hundred Thousand Mountains along with his wife, but the Grand Cult Leader buried the details. It happened when Yong Baek-heon was still a babe."
[Yong Mu-geuk hid his son's death?]
"And he issued a decree: anyone who spoke of it would be executed without trial. A few actually died just for mentioning it."
[Hahaha! Fitting for the king of the demonic path. But that only makes me more curious. Yong Dae-seok must've been quite the martial prodigy—how did he end up dead?]
"Beats me…."
I glanced back at the three characters spelling out Yong Dae-seok on the note from the Dongbang Clan Manor.
My gut twisted again. Just like when I'd heard the name Yong Jeong-heon upon acquiring the Geuk-cheon Gu-ryun-gong.
No idea why.
[Anyway, nothing more to gain here. Let's move on.]
I set the note down as it was and slipped out of Bok Sa-song's office.
A spotlessly clean corridor stretched before me.
[We must avoid leaving footprints.]
"That's rookie mistake territory. Even you said I had talent for this stuff."
[What talent does a thief have?]
"Don't underrate thieves. Says the guy who got robbed."
[Kuh….]
I slipped on the soft cloth shoes I'd brought. Then I started walking along the corridor's edge, brushing my soles like a broom across the floor.
This left no prints, and even if one showed, it was hard to gauge the foot size.
Of course, if they'd dusted the floor with powder to catch intruders, it'd be pointless.
[So nitpicky. Just master your lightness skill and run along the walls.]
"Huh, tempting."
Soon I found an open window for ventilation—left ajar by the servants.
I noted how far it was open, replicated it exactly, and slipped outside.
[Impressively skilled. Who taught you? Did you take the Shadowless Divine Steps as your master?]
"Well…."
Truth was, I wasn't just some run-of-the-mill pickpocket.
I'd learned all sorts of tricks from the Black Leopard Gang, a thieves' outfit. Sometimes I'd even join their "righteous bandit" raids.
[Righteous banditry—you mean noble thieving?]
"Yeah. Robbing corrupt officials' vaults and distributing to the common folk. Nothing major, but I was proud of it."
[Tell me more later.]
Just then, clouds drifted over the new moon, blanketing the grounds in pitch darkness like a thick quilt.
Time to fetch my intel broker.
I melted back into the shadows.
"If Yong Baek-heon had the full scoop, one of the Anti-Cult Conspiracy's secret bases is hidden inside the Bok Clan Manor."
The Bok Clan Manor wasn't in league with the Anti-Cult Conspiracy.
Just a few infiltrators hiding among the prestigious demonic house.
Hell, even Yong Baek-heon and the Cult Leader's Palace knew about these spies but left them be, figuring they'd be useful someday.
I planned to recruit one as my intel broker.
[Think that'll work?]
"If our interests align, why not?"
I took a new path and began searching one corner of the manor grounds.
According to Yong Baek-heon's intel….
"Should be around here?"
A rundown shed in one corner of the grounds. In truth, this was the Anti-Cult Conspiracy's secret base for operations inside the Bok Clan Manor.
I cautiously stepped inside the door.
Something taut brushed my toe.
A tight wire.
"Tripwire for intruders?"
Sure enough, a dark shadow bolted from deep inside the shed.
I instantly pushed my Gwi-ryeong Sin-byeok-an to its limits, peering into the future.
There was an escape route on the shed's far side, and the shadow was sprinting that way.
In that case?
"I'll cut off the escape and nab him."
My mind raced.
Three things to consider in catching up: the guards' patrols, escape routes from this spot, and my intercept point.
A mental map formed, highlighting one path.
Key was blocking him quietly.
I vaulted the wall and dashed off.
[Guards patrolling around the corner!]
"I see 'em!"
With Geuk-cheon Gu-ryun-gong at full throttle, sensory input flooded in.
I leaped walls in succession, pierced the darkness, tracking the shadow's position.
And the next instant.
"…!"
A figure in black night clothes and mask appeared—just like me.
The fleeing bastard skidded to a halt as I blocked his front.
[Kekeke! He's spooked.]
Bongmareung chuckled in amusement.
A spy lurking in the heart of a razor-sharp demonic house. Gutsy, but he'd panic in a spot like this.
I even knew his affiliation.
"Changgonghoe. Right?"
"…!"
The shadow's shoulders twitched.
The Changgonghoe—an Anti-Cult Conspiracy group plotting to topple the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
His exposed eyes widened in shock beneath the mask.
But I wasn't here to capture him. I wanted to recruit.
"Not here to fight. Just wanna talk."
"…."
I broached it mildly.
But his hand crept toward his waist.
Going for the sword hilt.
[For the record, he's no true demonic arts master. Not even a proper expert.]
Bongmareung assessed him instantly.
Didn't seem top-tier to me either.
[Curious question: do thieves fight when they bump into each other in someone else's house?]
"Usually we ignore it. Unspoken rule. Don't want to get caught squabbling and lose hands and feet side by side."
But this time, fight seemed inevitable.
He glanced around and spat.
"You alone?"
Screw talk—let's throw down.
I smirked.
"What if I am? You gonna slice me and bolt?"
"Not impossible."
If he couldn't kill me quick, trouble brewed. Guards would swarm on the noise, alarms blaring across the Bok Clan Manor.
No time for the Thirty-Six Stratagems' getaway, yet he reached for his blade….
"I like him."
[Your style too.]
Fine, let's play.
I stepped from the wall's shadow, slowly moving my right hand to my waist.
Tension thickened the air.
[Just unleash Baek-ryong Bi-chang Geom and lop off an arm…]
Bongmareung's words cut off.
I'd darted back into shadow, then exploded forward like lightning.
Future sight showed him frozen, blind as a bat.
Perfect for unleashing North Mountain Fist.
One of the Middle Serpent Claw forms I'd just learned.
Bear and tiger collide and scatter.
I burrowed deep into his guard before he could draw.
Grabbed his collar with fingertips, twisted, and slammed him into the dirt like a stake.
"Gurgle."
No chance to react—he foamed at the mouth and passed out on impact.
Shoulder probably dislocated.
"Whew."
I dusted my wrists and stood.
Bongmareung voiced his doubt.
[Why'd he just stand there? Like he was possessed.]
"Suddenly it was there and then gone."
I'd deliberately stepped into the light, letting him glimpse my silhouette.
That was the trap.
"Then I slipped back under shadow and charged. He probably couldn't track me."
[A light-based ploy. You're no ordinary thief.]
"This sword ain't ordinary either."
I'd snatched the masked man's blade.
But the feel in my palm was off. Even sheathed, my skin prickled.
Like dozens of tiny thorns stabbing.
Bongmareung sounded uneasy.
[It's a Hongma Sword.]
"Ah…."
Hongma Sword—Central Plains folk called blades enchanted against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult that.
It was reacting to my demonic energy, stinging.
[Useless junk. Still, getting hurt's a hassle—be careful.]
He downplayed it, but Hongma Swords were rare, reserved for orthodox murim elites.
I eyed the unconscious masked man.
"Might be higher-up."
Time to cement ties properly.
Problem: right in the middle of enemy turf. Hard to persuade or threaten.
"Gotta set a meet later."
Unilateral, sure.
I ripped off his mask, revealing a handsome young face—unexpected for a spy.
Handy for blending in.
Not that I cared about guys' looks.
"Any valuables?"
Jackpot. Under the mask, a black pouch tied with silk cord hung on his chest.
[Not a money pouch. Feels off.]
"Yeah."
Didn't know what was inside, but I pocketed it.
After a quick scan, I slapped his cheek hard with my palm.
Crack!
"Kek."
"Shut up and listen."
The woken man clutched his shoulder, groaning in pain. Spotting his missing mask, he glared wide-eyed.
Seeing his sword and pouch in my hand crushed him.
I growled low and fast.
"Two days from now, at dawn. South side of Chil-mang Mountain, old tomb. I'll hold these till then. Miss it, they're gone forever."
"…!"
"Got it? Nod."
Nod nod.
"Good. See you."
I turned from his trembling face.
Bongmareung snickered.
[Wonder if that punk can escape clean.]
"Can't? Then quit spying."
I slipped out of the manor unscathed. No alarms meant he got away too.
Next day, word came of a small fire at the Bok Clan Manor.
"They torched the exposed base."
And so the appointed time arrived.
I wrapped training with Ok Geum-ran and prepped to head out.