Chapter 44: There's an Intruder Inside!
Even as the dogs kept barking all around, the face I spotted in the darkness was someone I'd seen before at the Young Cult Leader's Palace.
'Cheong-eung Unit Leader Yong Seung-don.' The trusted subordinate of former Vice Cult Leader Yong Jin-seok. He was the collateral branch Yong clansman who'd loaded me—back when I was just starting to impersonate Yong Baek-heon—into a carriage and taken me to the Cult Leader's Palace.
I tilted my head while hiding behind the wall.
'What's that guy doing here? I didn't think he had any connection to the Gye Clan Manor.'
I combed through Yong Baek-heon's memories thoroughly, but nothing came up.
Bongmareung spoke indifferently.
[Perhaps he's here to pay his respects. Why think so gravely?]
'At this hour? In front of the treasure vault? Those two don't even seem like they'd be on the same level.'
[Well... that is suspicious.]
I needed to investigate further. I fully concealed myself behind the wall and activated my Ghostly Spirit Wall Eye.
When I focused my inner energy toward Yong Seung-don, the view beyond the wall started to come into hazy focus.
Unexpectedly, the person facing him was Gye Yeong-mu, the young clan leader of the Gye Clan Manor.
[Has the Cheong-eung Unit decided to serve a new master? Circulate your Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art. Let's hear what they're saying.]
'Already on it.'
But I was too late.
"Then I'll take my leave, Clan Leader."
"Take care. Unit Leader Yong."
The two were already exchanging farewells and turning away. The bluish-green jar clutched in Yong Seung-don's arms was proof.
So the Cheong-eung Unit Leader and the Gye Clan Manor were exchanging gifts...
'This is fishy.'
Now I had to make a choice. Follow Yong Seung-don, or stick to the original plan and raid the Gye Clan Manor's treasure vault.
[Regrettable, but let's tail Yong Seung-don. Even this spirit senses something off.]
'Weren't you just saying it was a courtesy call?'
[That was merely to caution against overthinking, like a wary ghost ear.]
'Mind passing on that excuse technique later?'
[Quiet!]
Anyway, I quietly rose to follow Yong Seung-don. But at that moment, the commotion grew even louder from all directions.
"Woof! Woof woof woof! Woof woof!"
The dogs' barking intensified fiercely.
Come to think of it, there was one more factor I'd overlooked.
'The Three-Tailed Foxes have the escape routes pinned down.'
One-tail, Two-tail, and Three-tail—scattering to draw the hunting dogs into chases. It was right about time for the Three-Tailed Foxes, whose stamina was waning, to start fleeing. This was part of the plan I'd laid out earlier.
But if I followed Yong Seung-don from here?
'The plan could go sideways.'
[Hm, it could introduce variables.]
Mature Three-Tailed Foxes could tear apart a couple of hunting dogs without issue. But these pups were still young, so running was their best bet.
I switched directions again.
'Stick to the original plan. I don't want the Three-Tailed Foxes in danger. And for Yong Seung-don, I have other ways to investigate.'
[Good! Since we're already here, let's grab the Twin Sword Demon's Blue-and-White Porcelain and go!]
Bongmareung flipped his stance like flipping his palm. The ghost just couldn't resist holy relics.
The path into the Gye Clan Manor's treasure vault had been scoped out long ago.
'Obviously, up top.'
Thud! I kicked off the wall in an instant and leaped onto the roof. Then I crept quietly toward the entrance.
Peeking below, I saw the tops of the heads of guards switching shifts.
"Hey, tonight's been kinda rowdy, huh? Something going on?"
"Some monkeys got into the grounds. That's why the hunting dogs are going nuts."
"Weird stuff."
The guards finished talking, spears and swords in hand, and took up positions at the entrance.
So entering through the main gate was impossible. But what I'd really confirmed was their patrol route.
'They switch shifts but don't patrol inside. Which means the vault's probably empty...'
I could even link up with One-tail, Two-tail, and Three-tail a bit earlier. Good call not tailing Yong Seung-don.
I approached the ventilation shaft in the center of the treasure vault's roof—my chosen entry point.
[It's wide open, practically inviting you in.]
'Buildings storing valuables need vents like this.'
To prevent moisture buildup and mold. That's why vents were a weak spot in treasure vaults.
'In the Central Plains, they often install traps to block thieves coming through vents.'
[True enough. But demonic folk won't bother.]
Spot on. Like the Bok Clan Manor, demonic clans had lax defenses inside their compounds. The isolated terrain of the Hundred Thousand Mountains and demonic arrogance made it so.
Thanks to that, slipping into the treasure vault was a breeze.
The moment I landed inside.
[This madhouse...]
Bongmareung's jaw dropped. Mine too.
"Whoa..."
The sight of the treasure vault left me speechless.
The Bok Clan Manor's vault had been stuffed with thousands of ceramics. Rows of matching colors and shapes had been impressive bordering on creepy.
'In the world... where'd they get all this?'
[Gifts, loot from the Central Plains, probably. But most look handmade by the Gye Clan.]
Bongmareung chuckled as he said it. When I asked why, he explained simply.
[Celadon fired with bone ash from tormented humans, infused with special demonic energy—it gleams with eerie light. They call it Mingguang Celadon.]
'What? Ceramics made from ground-up people?'
[Indeed. Half the items here are like that. It's the Gye Clan Manor's signature.]
Sick bastards. My stomach churned instantly.
What the hell was in demonic heads to produce crap like this?
'Devils, every last one.'
[If it bugs you that much, smash 'em all and bail.]
'That'd make noise.'
[You'd probably rig some miraculous delayed collapse anyway.]
Ghost knew me well. I did have methods—like infesting the display shelves' legs with wood-boring beetles to make them crumble days later.
But I held back.
'If I smash all this here, you think the Gye Clan Manor stops making Mingguang Celadon?'
[...No.]
'Right. They'd ramp up production to replace losses. Grind up even more innocents.'
I'd foreseen that. Bongmareung nodded quietly.
[Indeed. So no smashing the celadon?]
'Yeah. Unlike wrecking those waterwheels earlier—this is just venting frustration.'
[I see. Understood.]
For some reason, the shadow's gaze on me sparkled oddly.
Anyway, I started hunting for the target.
The Twin Sword Demon's Blue-and-White Porcelain was a prized relic, stored deepest in the vault.
But I hit a snag.
[Tch. It's got a formation array.]
Dark red ropes stained with blood encircled the porcelain in a set pattern. My Ghostly Spirit Wall Eye revealed demonic energy swirling around it.
Anyone touching it would trigger an alarm.
[Pretty intricate ritual. I could unravel it, but it'd take time...]
'No time for that.'
Outside, the Three-Tailed Foxes were buying me time. Miss the rendezvous, and they'd be in peril.
So my decision:
'Time to use that today.'
[Huh? What?]
No need to explain—he'd see.
I strode forward and snatched the target in one go. The formation reacted instantly.
The taut ropes snapped with a twang!, fluttering everywhere.
Chaos erupted outside.
"Intruder! There's an intruder inside!"
"Seal the entrances and move in!"
Swift response. The vault entrance flew open, demonic warriors pouring in like a tide.
Hidden in a corner, I bellowed.
"Everyone, retreat!"
My voice, infused with Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art power—a lion's roar I'd never trained for nearly shredded my throat. To sound like multiples and mask my position.
Simultaneously, I pulled out my prep: smoke bombs.
[You're really gonna...]
I showed him.
The thrown bombs burst pop pop, filling the space with thick white fog in seconds. Visibility zero.
"Captain! Smoke!"
"Hold position and block the enemy! Don't move recklessly!"
The trained guards tried coping. But I was already moving.
My Ghostly Spirit Wall Eye pierced the haze, Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art sharpening my senses to the extreme.
I ghosted through them, yelling again.
"Over here! They're fleeing!"
I whipped my drawn sword whoosh whoosh. Natural screams followed.
"Argh!"
Struck while standing still, demons' eyes rolled back. They swung blindly toward the attack's source...
"Graaah!"
"They're attacking!"
"Counter! Wipe 'em out!"
Clashing weapons rang out chaotically. Allies turning on allies in the blind.
I stirred the pot more.
"P-poison smoke! The fog's laced with toxin! Masks on, everyone!"
Lie, of course. Plain smoke, but I bluffed poison. Demons panicked, donning masks, making friend-foe ID worse.
'Perfect.'
Through the encirclement to the main gate, I lobbed more bombs. The vault area choked in white like a wildfire.
'How's that? Solid performance, right?'
[Aye. Proper payback. You were so bummed at the Law Enforcement Hall.]
'Can't waste my hard work.'
I grinned and leaped away.
Alarms blared everywhere from ignoring the formation; reinforcements mobilized across the manor.
Didn't matter now. They fixated on entering the vault.
No one noticed my quiet exit.
"Kip!"
"All three safe."
One-tail, Two-tail, and Three-tail waited at the rendezvous. Hunting dogs barked distantly, sniffing our trail—we'd timed it perfect.
"Wash in the stream, keep the wind at our backs. Dogs won't track us then."
"Kiki!"
We shook pursuit thoroughly and returned to Wayong Hall. Fed the exhausted Three-Tailed Foxes heaps of food; they danced with glee.
Another perfect covert op.
[Heh heh heh... Truly the Twin Sword Demon's artifact... The scent alone is different. Fragrant, elegant...]
Bongmareung muttered pervy-like at the Blue-and-White Porcelain on the table.
Let him enjoy. Feeling delayed fatigue, I exhaled long.
'What was that guy's deal?'
Cheong-eung Unit Leader Yong Seung-don. Pondering investigation methods, I sensed footsteps approaching my room.
The rustling gait revealed the intruder. I had to sound stern.
"Who is it?"
"It's Gyeon So-hee. I have urgent business for you, Young Master."
Still deep night. Yet Gyeon So-hee came straight to me, like she'd been waiting.
'What? Round two?'