I'll Kill You
Gyeon So-hee's attitude had changed in a subtle way. She'd always been the quiet type who just did her job without fuss, but now she seemed to glance at me more often, checking my mood.
'Is it because I gave her a clue to analyze my inner energy?'
[Probably. She's desperate for any scrap of intel she can get.]
I'd casually mentioned some dish I was craving and placed a hand on Gyeon So-hee's shoulder as a trap. Thanks to absorbing the Pure Horse Pill, I'd elevated the Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art to the fourth star, allowing me to wield a total of four qi wheels. And I could imbue each one with a different property.
[In truth, juggling qi arts like this drastically reduces their power. Not very practical.]
'Yeah, I can feel that.'
But it was perfect for fooling Gyeon So-hee's Deep Fine Sense constitution. The moment my hand touched her shoulder, I circulated the Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art with its four distinct properties flowing through. She flinched in surprise. No doubt she now believed the Young Cult Leader had mastered a variety of qi arts.
[Soon enough, spar with that Gye girl and feed some false intel to the Doggo Clan to screw them over. Heh heh heh!]
It was about time to analyze the martial arts Gyeon So-hee possessed anyway. The fourth challenger coming my way was her older brother, Gyeon Mu-jin. Despite not hailing from a demonic clan, he was a promising late-stage talent drawing attention from the entire cult.
'Gonna be a tough one.'
As Dokgo Hyeop had suggested, I needed to use Gyeon So-hee to scout Gyeon Mu-jin's techniques in advance.
'Should I propose sparring starting tomorrow?'
[Just do it today. Can't stand watching her sneak peeks at you like a puppy desperate to take a shit. Haha!]
Why did this ghost keep cracking up over nothing? Anyway, I was about to call over Gyeon So-hee, who was hovering near the Wayong Hall entrance. But then, the demonic spirit whipped his head around.
[Hmm? Something's coming. And it's got some serious killing intent.]
I frowned too. Just as Bongmareung said, I could clearly sense a brilliant energy surging from outside, heading straight for us. A demon of considerable caliber was ascending the stone steps toward Wayong Hall.
Gyeon So-hee, nearby, quickly stepped forward to block the way.
"Who might you be? Wayong Hall has no scheduled guests today..."
"Out of my way!"
Whoosh!
With a shrill shout from the woman, Gyeon So-hee's body was flung back several paces. Even for a petite girl, getting sent flying with one hand—that took monstrous strength. The intruder was no ordinary expert.
The commotion drew Ok Geum-ran rushing over at once.
"What's going on? Who's causing a ruckus in Wayong Hall?!"
"Shut your trap and make way, you ill-mannered bitches!"
Shiiiing!
Her voice echoed in all directions, laced with ferocious chill. It was an intensely potent ice art. Yet the eyes of the woman who strode past the entrance blazed with fiery rage.
Ok Geum-ran, recognizing her, gritted her teeth.
"Gye Cheon-bing...!"
The eldest daughter of Gye Yeong-mu, current head of the Gye Clan Manor and the Snow Frost Blood Demon. She was the very one set to challenge me next.
Her beauty was striking, like carved white jade, but her eyes brimmed with murderous intent.
Gye Cheon-bing unleashed an overwhelming pressure on Ok Geum-ran.
"Ok Geum-ran. You've been awfully curt with me lately. You're no longer a servant of the Young Cult Leader's Palace—how long do you plan to keep insulting me? I'm the blood of a demonic clan sworn to protect the Divine Cult! Kneel and apologize at once!"
Whoooosh!
The chill echoed once more, shaking Wayong Hall. I had to subtly circulate my Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art just to withstand it.
Bongmareung clicked his tongue.
[What a bitchy temper. The Gye Clan never changes.]
I was thinking the same. Every last one of the Gye Clan had an overbearing personality. Gye Cheon-bing in particular was infamous as an arrogant beauty who bowed to no one.
'Though not quite on Yong Baek-heon's level.'
Back when that bastard held the Young Cult Leader seat, she'd at least kept her distance. Now that our statuses were equal, she acted like nothing could touch her.
Even so, barging in like this and causing chaos? Unacceptable.
'Can't let this slide.'
Just enduring it would make me a poor Yong Baek-heon. I glanced around.
'No loose stones anywhere?'
Gyeon So-hee kept the place spotless—not a speck of dust in Wayong Hall's courtyard. Fine, then. I'd make one.
I maneuvered my Formless Strike to pry up one corner of the courtyard's stone flooring. The instant a jagged shard popped free from the ground, I kicked it like I had at the Three-Tailed Fox.
Bam!
"...!"
[Hm, your accuracy's improved. With dedicated practice, you might pioneer something new.]
While Bongmareung blabbered, Gye Cheon-bing snapped her head around. The stone I'd launched grazed her ear before embedding in the wall with a thud. Had she not dodged, her skull would've cracked.
Gye Cheon-bing's fury intensified.
"Yong Baek-heon! You bastard...!"
"What? Just a welcome from Wayong Hall's master. Not enough? Want another?"
"How dare you!"
"Don't 'dare' me, intruder. Makes you look pathetic. For old times' sake, at least save some face. Unless you're set on burning every bridge."
I fired sharp words. Yet Gye Cheon-bing's blazing eyes began to cool. She glared, but her momentum faltered.
"Funny. Never dreamed 'ties' or 'old affections' would come from your mouth."
"Ties are ties."
"...".
The bad blood between Yong Baek-heon and Gye Cheon-bing dated back to around when I'd been kidnapped into the Hundred Thousand Mountains. In a way, I was the biggest victim of that mess.
While those two spent their "private time," I'd covered for him endlessly. Simply put, Yong Baek-heon and Gye Cheon-bing were ex-lovers.
[And they broke up ugly, from the looks of it.]
'That's my understanding. As Yong Baek-heon's personality twisted worse, he started messing with other women too. Though he was never exactly pure before.'
[Ah, so that's why she's glaring daggers.]
'Gye Cheon-bing's no slouch herself. That's why she matched with Yong Baek-heon.'
In the end, cleanup fell to me again. And against someone like her, I had to act with care. She'd been intimately close to Yong Baek-heon and knew him inside out.
"Since you're here, care for some tea?"
"Bullshit. Since when did we sip tea like dainty ladies?"
"Then what's your business?"
"I'm going to kill you."
"...Today?"
"Maybe?"
Gyeon So-hee and Ok Geum-ran tensed up. Her challenge would come legitimately soon enough. Gye Cheon-bing radiated killing intent, and the two braced as if she might lunge at me any second.
But I knew this "guest" wouldn't.
"If you'd really wanted me dead today, you'd have scaled the wall, not the gate. You could. And snuck into my room with a poisoned dagger."
"Ooh, great plan. Shall I try it tonight?"
"Be my guest. A 'hot night' with you after so long doesn't sound bad."
"...!"
I'd said it as Yong Baek-heon on purpose. But the women's faces turned strange. Ok Geum-ran startled, Gyeon So-hee looked oddly deflated, and Gye Cheon-bing...
[Her face just flushed bright red.]
'Not the reaction I expected?'
Whatever. Yong Baek-heon was a loose cannon anyway. No fixing a slip-up. I just shrugged it off nonchalantly.
Gye Cheon-bing let out a small sigh and spoke again.
"Yong Baek-heon. I'll return here in a fortnight. And then I'll kill you. Count on it!"
Her voice rang with sincerity. She'd come all the way to Wayong Hall just to deliver that warning—to the lover who'd left her with an indelible scar.
One new fact emerged: her challenge was set for a fortnight from now.
[Looks like she still harbors some lingering affection. Hate-love, maybe?]
'Whatever it is, none of my business.'
I'd never even held Gye Cheon-bing's hand. But I was stuck cleaning up his mess again. And one more thing pissed me off.
'She laid hands on Ok Geum-ran and Gyeon So-hee, who did nothing wrong.'
I got her grudge against Yong Baek-heon. Fine, hate me as him and vow to kill me. But taking it out on my attendants just for supporting me? Unforgivable.
"Senior Gye Cheon-bing."
I called her back as she turned to leave wordlessly. Nodding toward my attendants, I said,
"As an intruder, shouldn't you apologize before going? You did lay hands on them."
A quick bow would've sufficed. But Gye Cheon-bing flipped the script.
She sneered at us and spat curses.
"Fuck off. What do I owe your concubines an apology for?"
"...!"
She unleashed her lightness skill and vanished like smoke.
Ok Geum-ran and Gyeon So-hee exchanged glances, then silently returned to their tasks without a word.
But I stood still, replaying her words.
What? Concubines...?
[H-Hey, calm down! Your Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art is boiling over!]
'Don't worry. I won't explode.'
My chest seethed enough to alarm even Bongmareung, stirring my inner energy into turmoil. I took deep breaths to settle it.
A practitioner advancing to Sage Demon via the Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art had to guard against excessive bloodlust. But even patience had limits.
'She crossed the line.'
Tolerating this insult made me no warrior, no man. Above all, it disrespected the two who toiled for me daily.
[A wastrel Young Cult Leader might ignore it.]
'I'm Jang Ho-sam, not Yong Baek-heon.'
[So you'll retaliate as Jang Ho-sam?]
'Obviously.'
And my revenge would be thorough, in my own style.
After the sun dipped below the western peaks, I told Ok Geum-ran I'd skip dinner. She seemed to intuit my plan.
"You aren't...?"
"Yeah. That exact thing."
"Wait! You don't have to for me and So-hee..."
"No. We do. For our pride, that crazy bitch needs a lesson."
I stated it firmly. Ok Geum-ran's expression softened with emotion. She nodded silently and fetched me black night clothes.
The gear for a nocturnal raid was already prepared.
"Be careful. The Gye Clan Manor is special even among demonic clans."
"I know."
I planned to feed the Gye Clan Manor a big, beautiful humiliation. And while sneaking in, I might snag a few extras.
Bongmareung, hearing my scheme, murmured slyly.
[They say the Twin Blade Giant Demon's Azure Flower White Porcelain—dead for 50 years—is stored in the Gye vaults. Interested?]
Why ask me about his interests?