Chapter 22: Can You Betray?
The Middle Four Stance of the Wall Mountain Fist hadn't been fully mastered yet. With one more form added, it required a bit more training time.
In truth, if I pulled my focus to the max, I could probably wrap it up in just two days... but.
"Now you finally look human."
"Human?"
"It normally takes at least a month to master the Middle Four Stance. Finishing it in two days? You'd be a real monster."
"......"
To avoid being treated like a monster by Ok Geum-ran, I decided to throttle my pace a little.
Four days should be fine, right?
Back in my room, as I changed out of my sweat-soaked training robes.
Quick, pattering footsteps approached my door.
"Young master."
"Who is it."
"It's Gyeon So-hee."
I knew exactly who it was, but asked anyway.
Gyeon So-hee, standing outside the door, stated her business without waiting for a reply.
"I have something I'd like to ask."
"What."
"Are you heading out again tonight? If it's not too much trouble, I'd like the chance to attend to your bedchamber."
This crazy girl!
I nearly coughed in shock. To think she'd come at me so bluntly.
'Attend to my bedchamber?'
This little shrimp's got no shame.
Ignoring Bongmareung's gleeful cackling, I tossed out a casual reply.
"I handle my own sleep. Don't bother me—get lost."
"Yes......"
"More importantly."
One thing grated on me.
Her asking if I was heading out 'again tonight.'
That meant she'd seen me leave 'last night' too.
Was she about to confess to spying on me?
"You—have you been spying on my movements? If so, I've got no intention of keeping you in Wayong Hall anymore."
My voice sharpened naturally.
"Young master, that's......"
Gyeon So-hee's voice grew a touch quieter.
Unexpectedly, she confessed part of her secret.
"I have senses more sensitive than most. Even without opening the door, I could tell you weren't in your room. If my footsteps last night upset you, I apologize."
Her overly polite tone nearly softened me up.
But I drew a firm line.
"Don't approach my room from now on. Just do what the Ok warrior tells you."
"......Understood."
"Now go. Get some sleep."
"Yes, young master."
With that, Gyeon So-hee's presence slowly faded away.
Bongmareung snickered.
'Yeah, probably.'
Did the Doggo Clan send her some kind of order? 'Make contact ASAP' or something?
'If I'd opened the door and seen her face, I could've gauged it better......'
To prepare for any contingency, I hadn't even cracked the door.
Anyway, my plan to turn Gyeon So-hee's Deep Fine Sense against her was still in the works.
'She won't see my face till then.'
Now it was time to meet that guy from the Bok Clan Manor.
I donned my black garb and leaped out the window.
As was typical for a cemetery, broken tombstones lay scattered everywhere.
I picked one and perched on it.
Soon, in the pre-dawn gloom, a masked figure appeared.
His right arm was wrapped tight in bandages, and he was drenched in sweat.
"You used your head, huh. No need for that."
"I'm a suspicious guy."
"Hoo......"
I flashed a grin; he let out a deep sigh.
When we'd crossed paths in the Bok Clan Manor, I'd forced the appointment on him.
—Two days from now, at dawn's edge, come to the cemetery south of Chil-mang Mountain. Till then, I'll hold onto this sword and pouch. Miss it, and they're gone forever.
But I'd only left a note at the spot.
Changed my mind—head to the ruined house on the way up the mountain.
Then at the ruin, I switched it again.
—Sorry, cemetery's better after all. Meet there. No lie this time—trust me.
Classic dog training.
I'd been lurking near the cemetery from the start.
The zigzagging was to check if he'd bring backup.
The masked man seemed to get it.
"You confirmed it, but I'm alone."
"Figured. Anyway, good work. Must hurt."
"Damn it."
He irritably ripped off his mask.
Pointless anyway—he'd already shown his face.
He glanced around, then spoke.
"Let's introduce ourselves. I'm 'Ga Bi-cheong.' Spy by trade, as you know. Yours?"
"My name's a secret."
I never said to introduce ourselves.
At my retort, Ga Bi-cheong rubbed his forehead.
"Just give a fake name or something."
"Call me Wang Ga-myeong then. Yours is fake too, right?"
"Fine, Wang Ga-myeong. What do you want? I just want my sword and stuff back."
"Yeah, figured."
I pulled out the Red Demon Sword and black pouch.
Ga Bi-cheong's eyes lit up—like he might lunge any second.
But I grinned.
"Hey, you can't take me. Didn't feel it back then? Arm's busted. If you wanna risk your life, be my guest."
As Bongmareung said, it was pure bluff.
If we'd squared off properly from horse stance, fair fight—it'd be different.
'I couldn't one-shot Ga Bi-cheong either.'
But leisurely taking stances in the heart of Bok Clan Manor? Absurd.
I'd exploited the opening, slammed him down.
One move, done.
Perfect strike—even Bongmareung admitted it.
So the skill gap felt massive.
Ga Bi-cheong sighed again, stepping back half a pace.
"Fine, you're the superior martial artist. Ask away—what do you want? Why spare me and call this meet?"
Why meet Ga Bi-cheong again.
That was key.
I planned to recruit him as my intel source.
Bait first.
"How long you been operating in the Hundred Thousand Mountains? Visiting other clans too?"
"What......?"
Ga Bi-cheong eyed me oddly.
He scratched his chin, tilting his head.
"Not asking who's above me or what my goal is?"
"You gonna answer if I do?"
"No."
"Torture?"
"I'd kill myself."
"Yeah. That's why. Not curious anyway. You're not the only Central Plains spy in the mountains."
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was riddled with moles.
Of course, the Cult Leader's Palace knew them all.
Ga Bi-cheong's eyes wavered in confusion.
No talent for spying.
But I didn't press.
"Little brother, just answer. I don't care about your bosses."
"......Your question was my activity time and other clans?"
"Yep."
"Five years or so. Three or four other clans."
"Secret bases inside too?"
"......"
Silence meant yes.
He knew the Eight Great Clans' security was lax, but this lax?
Tsk inside, I pressed on.
"Ripe as a spy then. Two questions. Think hard."
"What."
"First: wanna trade intel with me?"
He pondered, then nodded.
"Intel trade? Sure."
"Good. Second: can you betray Changgonghoe?"
"What......?"
Ga Bi-cheong's face crumpled.
Bongmareung sounded puzzled too.
'Nah, opposite.'
The Cult Leader's Palace knew of the Anti-Cult Alliance but didn't act—not just confidence.
'Changgonghoe has double agents.'
'Exactly.'
Never deal with double agents.
They'd be open to betrayal.
I'd tested if Ga Bi-cheong was one.
'Hope he's not......'
Under my gaze, Ga Bi-cheong twisted his lips.
"Funny. Even if it cost my head, I won't betray Changgonghoe."
"What if our deal harms them?"
"I'd cut the deal."
"Even if I retaliate?"
"No change, Wang Ga-myeong."
"Hm......"
He'd deal, but not at their expense.
Exactly what I wanted.
Ga Bi-cheong was a real Changgonghoe spy, not a Cult double.
I grinned.
"Good. I like it. Let's deal."
"What? Deal......?"
"Don't want to? Fine, forget it."
"No, that's not—"
Ga Bi-cheong cocked his head.
He stared hard, asking again.
"Why trust me?"
"You have to give me real intel."
"What......?"
"Screw me over, and I'll tear Changgonghoe apart. Leader Yu Jin-bong to the lowest grunt."
At the leader's name, Ga Bi-cheong's face hardened.
His fists trembled.
"Just who—"
—the hell are you!
But he clamped his mouth.
Remembering I held the knife.
Curious how much I knew about Changgonghoe.
Time to ease up.
"Relax. I'm in a similar boat."
"Similar how?"
"I see the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult as the enemy."
"......!"
True story.
His wariness eased a bit—he sensed it.
"That's why the questions?"
He nodded, convinced.
I spoke again.
"Meet every three days. Here at the cemetery. Cool?"
"I get my sword and pouch back once I bring your intel?"
"Could get one now. Might be in your head already."
His eyes shifted.
I caught him eyeing the black pouch over the sword.
'Must be important.'
Inside: a necklace with a blood-red gem.
Luxury item to normals.
Vital for Cult spies.
I tossed the pouch up and caught it.
"Know who the Eight Great Clans are recommending to challenge Yong Baek-heon lately?"
Surprisingly, he answered right away.
"Yarul Sa-ta, Gye Cheon-bing, Beom Se-un, Gyeon Mu-jin, Dokgo Hyeop."
"Oh......"
Looked like I'd scored a solid intel source.