Chapter 26: Jeong-heon's Doing?
Leaning obliquely against his throne, Yong Mu-geuk received the report. Its contents were as follows.
“The Beom Clan Manor and Beom Se-un were unable to carry out this schedule due to handling the fire at the business establishment...?”
The old man muttered that, tilting his head. At the same time, his slowly moving eyes scanned the demons seated in the Cult Leader's Palace.
Everyone averted their gazes.
“Disappointing.”
Gulp...
The silence was so frigid that the sound of someone swallowing was clearly audible. The giant of the demonic path was thus expressing his displeasure.
Knowing this fact better than anyone, Dang Cheon-gungma and the elders quietly bowed their heads. Of course, transmissions were flying back and forth among them like sparks.
The elders, who guarded the Grand Cult Leader most closely, were venting their frustration over the disruption to the Cult Leader's Palace event.
Meanwhile, Dang Cheon-gungma, the chief overseer of the protectors within the cult, was fidgeting anxiously to avoid blame for the fire incident. Of course, it was no easy task.
“Fires broke out simultaneously in no less than five locations. This isn't some accident from gambling addicts smoking and warming themselves by a fire, is it?”
Yong Mu-geuk furrowed his brows, revealing his anger.
“Yes, Grand Cult Leader.”
“We believe it's clearly a case of arson as well.”
“We apologize...”
As the elders bowed their heads sharply, Dang Cheon-gungma swallowed a sigh beside them. He knew all too well how hard it was to handle the Grand Cult Leader when he showed his fiery temper.
'If we can't find who started the fire, we'll have to set up a scapegoat.'
Whether through brainwashing or torture, he intended to produce a culprit no matter what.
But the next moment—
“We'll let this incident slide without finding the culprit and just cover it up appropriately.”
“Of course, Grand Cult Leader. Your subordinate will fabricate a suitable culprit if need be... Pardon?”
Dang Cheon-gungma's response flipped midway.
Propping his chin, Yong Mu-geuk spat it out curtly.
“It seems like someone with a grudge against the Beom Clan Manor and their gambling dens did this... Doesn't that mean the Beom Clan Manor bears some responsibility for their business practices?”
“Ah, yes. There have been rumors that the Beom Clan Manor runs their gambling operations without mercy.”
“Without mercy? They must have been downright vicious. A demonic clan like them wouldn't shy away from blood-soaked money.”
The old man chuckled, twisting his lips. The elders bowed silently, and Dang Cheon-gungma let out a sigh of relief.
He didn't know which madman it was, but torching five gambling dens at once meant it wasn't some ordinary demon.
'I was sweating bullets, but telling us to cover it up is a relief.'
On the other hand, it was a bit puzzling. Why would Yong Mu-geuk, who always strictly handled mountain affairs, want to gloss over this one? Especially when it disrupted the Cult Leader's Palace event.
'No idea. Maybe the Beom Clan Manor fell out of favor with the Cult Leader somehow?'
No other possibilities came to mind. Dang Cheon-gungma organized his thoughts and stepped back.
“Then this subordinate will go handle the cleanup.”
“Good luck.”
After the demons left the Cult Leader's Palace.
Alone in thought, Yong Mu-geuk made a brief hand gesture. Then, Hwa Hyeol Ma-nyeo quietly appeared from behind him.
“You called, Grand Cult Leader?”
“So it was indeed Jeong-heon's doing?”
“...We couldn't confirm precisely, but it appears so.”
“Couldn't confirm?”
“My apologies. He's so unpredictable in his movements that without assigning a dedicated watcher, it's hard to monitor his every action.”
“Haha...”
The Grand Cult Leader let out a hearty laugh at her words.
Yong Mu-geuk had suspected from the start who had burned down the Beom Clan's gambling dens.
He had no choice but to. He'd packed the schedule tightly on purpose to see how his grandson would respond.
'To think he'd handle it like this.'
He'd figured the kid masquerading as Yong Baek-heon in Wayong Hall wasn't fully prepared yet.
Curious about what Yong Jeong-heon would do, Yong Mu-geuk had crammed the itinerary... If he couldn't cope properly, he'd planned to offer “a bit of help.”
But Yong Jeong-heon had shown more ingenuity than expected.
“Never imagined he'd strike the Beom Clan Manor to buy time. What an entertaining fellow. He's already developing his own methods.”
The great demon laughed heartily. Watching his expression, Hwa Hyeol Ma-nyeo cautiously spoke up.
“What now, Grand Cult Leader?”
“Hm...”
After a moment of contemplation, Yong Mu-geuk could reach only one conclusion.
“Give him sufficient time. We can't let him burn down the entire Hundred Thousand Mountains, after all. Haha!”
In Wayong Hall's laundry area, sister Ok Geum-ran was spreading out my uniform and vigorously pounding it with a laundry bat.
Due to the prank fire from last night, it reeked of smoke, so it needed immediate washing.
Swinging the bat, she shook her head.
“Ho-sam, you really...”
[Are a madman.]
Sister Ok trailed off, but Bongmareung seamlessly finished for her.
I just shrugged.
“It was the best option. No other way to buy time.”
“Even so, setting five places ablaze? What if someone had died?”
“No one was going to get hurt. I prepared carefully in my own way.”
“No way. You just got lucky!”
“For real.”
It was true. When setting fire to the Beom Clan's gambling dens, I'd been extremely meticulous.
First, I arranged for the flames to start from the deepest interior so people inside could escape easily. Once I confirmed the fire had taken hold properly, I yelled “Fire!” and bolted out first.
So no one died.
[That's what makes it seem even more insane. You looked like a professional arsonist.]
'Actually, I did learn it somewhere. Starting a fire and looting amid the chaos is a pretty good method.'
[Forget it. Drop it.]
Growing weary, Bongmareung dispersed.
In the meantime, sister Ok finished the wash and handed it to me. We deftly twisted and wrung it out.
“Please be careful. Somehow, it feels more precarious now than when you were just the Young Cult Leader's body double.”
“Isn't that obvious? Now I'm not doubling—I'm the real deal.”
“...If you can't say nice things.”
Around then, we naturally paused our conversation. The laundry went back to her.
We'd heard footsteps approaching.
“Senior Ok, cleaning's done. Assign me any other tasks.”
Gyeon So-hee. As always, she appeared with a blank expression and bowed politely.
I reverted to Yong Baek-heon mode, told her to dry the uniform well and bring it, then left.
Glancing back, the two were chatting amiably.
Ever since I'd shared the plan, sister Ok had warmed up to Gyeon So-hee quickly. They looked like sisters with a big age gap.
'Not just me thinking that, right?'
[The Gye girl has softened a bit too. Especially in front of the Ok lady—her face brightens.]
'Knew it...'
Gyeon So-hee didn't seem to have entered the Hundred Thousand Mountains of her own will. She undoubtedly had a backstory as heavy as mine or sister Ok's.
Just look at how she and her thriving brother walked completely different paths.
'Maybe Gyeon Mu-jin dragged her in when he joined the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?'
Cases like that were rampant in the mountains. Countless commoners fled debts from the Central Plains or came seeking livelihood and ended up learning demonic arts from masters if they had talent, becoming demons.
But the siblings being in different clans meant...
[A major rift between them.]
'Maybe they've become mortal enemies who must kill each other.'
Of course, none of my business. I was busy struggling to survive in these mountains myself.
Sister Ok was working to uncover the curse on Gyeon So-hee, but no results yet. Seemed like various methods I didn't know were in play.
'Anyway, it's nice seeing them lean on each other.'
[Hey, don't forget—that girl's a trap from the Doggo Clan Manor to hunt you!]
'I haven't. Don't worry.'
Yesterday, I'd hit the Beom Clan's gambling dens to tie up Beom Se-un's feet and bought some time successfully. But I'd also learned challengers could arrive faster than expected.
So I needed to move faster too.
'Gotta get stronger, even a second sooner.'
Mountains of tasks. Most important were two.
First, finish the final five forms of Wall Mountain Fist and start properly training Bo-sing-gyeong.
Second, cultivate internal energy to form the second wheel of Geuk-cheon Gu-ryun-gong.
The latter was closer.
[Now's the time to use the Hwalyeong Furnace.]
The Hwalyeong Furnace was one of the treasures I'd swept from the Young Cult Leader's warehouse.
An incense burner intricately embossed with a three-legged crow.
[It's a ritual tool used by ancient demons for qi gathering and breathing exercises.]
Light incense inside, close the lid, and smoke billows out in eerie shapes like the crow spewing fire.
Bongmareung explained that cultivating qi beside this burner dramatically boosted training effects.
[It can multiply qi accumulation speed dozens of times, albeit briefly. Wanted to use it sooner, but the first wheel wasn't ripe yet.]
Bongmareung was always cautious with qi cultivation.
Those ascending the Demonic Path must build balanced, solid internal energy nature, he'd said.
[And one key caution when using the Hwalyeong Furnace.]
'What?'
[Don't get deluded by the illusions during qi gathering.]
'What illusions?'
[Varies per person. Lustful fools dive into spring paintings; greedy ones swim eternally in gold and jewels...]
A little indulgence is fine. But total immersion, forgetting it's illusion, risks qi deviation.
Bongmareung warned of that.
[You'll be safer, though. With this spirit here.]
'Remind me if I get hooked that it's an illusion?'
[Yes. If you're frolicking with naked women, I'll crash the party.]
'Got it. I won't get deluded, so relax.'
A fleeting imagination soured my stomach. I placed the Hwalyeong Furnace in my room's center, lit it, sat cross-legged, and closed my eyes.
[Remember— no delusions. If I sense any sign...]
'I said I know! Stop repeating!'
Qi gathering began. I circulated my grain-like internal energy through my body, repeating deep inhales and exhales.
The moment Geuk-cheon Gu-ryun-gong, swirling slowly, completed a full circuit—
The illusion started.
“...Huh?”
I stood in a back alley. The place I'd lived before being dragged to the Hundred Thousand Mountains by the Young Cult Leader.