Chapter 46: Who's That Guy?
“That crazy bastard……”
Gu Man-bong let out a deep sigh as he watched Yong Baek-heon saunter away leisurely.
A Great Elder, no less. And here he was, toyed with like a mouse by a boy who wasn't even the Young Cult Leader anymore.
In the end, Gu Man-bong had no choice but to spill the information on the new Great Protector candidates.
“Hong-an Hyeol-gwi Maeng Yeom-ro, Sa-sa Heuk-goe Go Hyo, and Geo-geom Hyung-ma Geum Se-ryang. These three have been nominated. It happened just a few days ago.”
“I see. And among them, who's the most likely?”
“Young Master Yong, just how deep are you planning to dig? Show some mercy and stick to the code of the jianghu!”
“Fine. I'll rephrase to fit the code. Who's the toughest nut to crack? You can at least tell me who has the least chance among the three, right?”
“……”
He was truly terrifying. His piercing gaze was almost too much to bear.
“Damn it. Geo-geom Hyung-ma is the lowest priority. Don't go blabbing about this anywhere.”
“Got it. Why would I go around spreading this? Don't worry.”
Up to this point, Gu Man-bong could just about stomach it.
But Yong Baek-heon's next question finally made the Okmyeon-saekong lose his temper.
“How often have you been sneaking off lately to meet with Dang Cheon-gungma's favorite concubine?”
“……!”
The old man's face flushed beet red.
Meeting his lover was squarely in the realm of private affairs, wasn't it?
“Young Master! Why drag that into this out of nowhere? It feels like you're tripping over Yo-hui at every turn! Isn't this going too far? Falling in love isn't a crime!”
“True enough. If you really hate it, you don't have to answer. But keep in mind it's hard to say where that jade ring in question might end up.”
A veiled threat to hand the jade ring over to Dang Cheon-gungma.
It was practically a sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
That damn punk!
In the end, Gu Man-bong wrinkled his nose in disgust and gave in.
“I meet with Yo-hui every other day.”
“So, every day. Impressive stamina. Is this what they call the vigor of age?”
“Urk! Stop teasing me!”
In truth, Dang Cheon-gungma had been leaving the house every day lately. Various incidents piling up had made him busier than ever, as they'd discussed earlier.
That meant Gu Man-bong could meet Yo-hui freely, which led Jang Ho-sam to his next deduction.
'Soon, Jeok Cheon-ma might appoint a new Great Protector and split Dang Cheon-gungma's workload.'
That would likely include the judging duties for the Wayong Hall duel first and foremost.
It only made sense to start with the lighter tasks.
Which meant the judge for the second duel might change.
And if the Gye Clan Manor exploited that gap……?
'They could use Yong Jin-seok, the man behind Cheong-eung Unit Leader Yong Seung-don, to bribe the judge.'
A new judge. That alone was enough to sway the duel's outcome.
Having pieced that much together, Jang Ho-sam bid farewell to the Great Elder and rose.
“Whew……”
Gu Man-bong shuddered with exhaustion after finally seeing off the unwelcome guest.
He couldn't for the life of him figure out what Yong Baek-heon was scheming.
“Hey! Bring some salt!”
All he could do was sprinkle salt in the hopes the kid wouldn't come back.
“It's quiet.”
[So it is.]
A strange silence hung over Wayong Hall upon his return.
Gyeon So-hee, who was always out in the courtyard sweeping, was nowhere to be seen.
As he entered the main hall, Ok Geum-ran approached quietly.
“So-hee's still sleeping. She could get up and move if she had to, but she'll need a couple days to heal her internal injuries.”
“That Tanghyeol-go must've really done a number on her. Take good care of her, sis.”
“Yeah.”
His mind was tangled with thoughts of a possible new judge.
But Ok Geum-ran aired out his head with a fresh topic.
“Ho-sam, it's time I introduced you to my information source.”
“Huh? For real?”
He'd been dying to know.
How had Ok Geum-ran gotten wind of the blood vault in Doggo Clan Manor?
Sure, she had her own network as the Young Cult Leader's bodyguard, but intel on one of the Eight Great Clans wasn't easy to come by.
Then he noticed her expression was off.
His voice naturally dropped.
“Who's the guy?”
“Well……”
She hesitated, sighed softly, then answered.
“It's Tae Sa-rok.”
An image flashed in his mind: a fair-skinned, handsome young man with sharp features.
The second son of Taesa Clan Manor, one of the Eight Great Clans.
The smallest in scale among demonic families, but unrivaled in uniqueness.
[The Taesa Clan borrows heavenly power for sorcery and passes down spiritual gifts. The Bongma Singnok was only compiled with their help.]
'And they rarely show their faces no matter what happens in the cult.'
Yet Ok Geum-ran knew one of that elusive bloodline.
'Tae Sa-rok.'
The name felt familiar. As he murmured it, a fragment of the Young Cult Leader's memory surfaced.
—“Ok squad leader, that guy's got a thing for you, huh? You didn't seem to hate it either. Right?”
—“Go cozy up to Tae Sa-rok and get intel from Taesa Clan Manor.”
—“You dare defy my orders?”
It was an old memory. Ok Geum-ran looked young and innocent in it.
Yong Baek-heon was even younger.
And yet he'd casually issued such a vile command.
Even exploiting a romance between man and woman.
Ok Geum-ran came clean about it.
“Truth is, Tae Sa-rok was my old lover. It was ages ago—a short fling, but we did date as man and woman.”
“I know. It was on Yong Baek-heon's orders, right?”
“Huh? How did you……”
He just shrugged without a word.
She scratched her cheek, flustered for a moment, then continued.
“Anyway, it wasn't serious. He was wary of me too. I was the Young Cult Leader's guard, after all. We met a few times, then called it quits.”
“And you're still in touch even after breaking up?”
“We parted on good terms…… He just kept reaching out for some reason?”
[Hmm. Looks like Tae Sa-rok still pines for Lady Ok.]
Not his business.
At any rate, if Tae Sa-rok was her source, he was trustworthy enough.
But something nagged at him.
[Why? What's bugging you? It's her past. What right do you have to mind?]
Bongmareung chattered excitedly.
He let out a hollow chuckle.
Whatever that ghost was thinking, what bothered him was Taesa Clan Manor itself.
'Bong doesn't know why the Young Cult Leader ordered Lady Ok to dig into Taesa Clan Manor. That was right when Yong Baek-heon was investigating Baekdo Church.'
[Then……?]
'He suspected some connection between Taesa Clan Manor and Baekdo Church.'
Of course, he'd ultimately found nothing.
Ok Geum-ran and Tae Sa-rok met briefly and split soon after……
The Young Cult Leader got his hands on him and dropped the investigation into Taesa Clan Manor and Baekdo Church.
[So that's what bugs you?]
'Yeah. Feels like there's something there. Paeng Bi-cheong warned about Baekdo Church too.'
But he'd only know for sure by confronting it head-on.
Tae Sa-rok as a new informant? No downside.
'Could get leads on Doggo Clan Manor's blood vault and other secrets.'
[You're thinking of that white mask stashed in your room, aren't you?]
'Yeah. Spot on.'
He nodded readily.
It was a dead end so far.
“Alright. Call him. I'll meet the guy myself.”
“Got it.”
And Tae Sa-rok showed up first thing the next morning.
“Greetings, Young Master Yong Baek-heon.”
[What a pale, handsome devil.]
Bongmareung muttered.
True to his words, Tae Sa-rok was a jade-like beauty.
He treated him not as a cult senior, but as a vassal of one of the Eight Great Clans.
'Off to a weird start.'
He'd been having breakfast in the dining hall when Tae Sa-rok arrived, so he wiped his mouth roughly and stood.
“Pleased to meet you, Senior Tae Sa. Eaten yet?”
Pure courtesy, of course.
But the reply was unexpected.
“Not yet. If it's not too much trouble, might I join for a bowl? Looks delicious.”
“……?”
He hadn't planned on a breakfast meeting.
He eyed Tae Sa-rok, who smiled faintly.
Sure enough, a glint of rivalry—and clear jealousy—flickered in his eyes.
[See? He's got feelings for Lady Ok! He sees you as a rival!]
Bongmareung butted in again, making a fuss.
Too noisy. He sealed off his connection to the spirit.
He muttered calmly.
“Let's do it. Breakfast is serious business.”
He beckoned toward the kitchen, and Gyeon So-hee came scurrying over.
“You called, Young Master?”
“Serve our guest a bowl of noodles too. Pile on the meat toppings.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sounds of chopping and boiling water rose from inside.
Ok Geum-ran was prepping the meal after getting his order.
Tae Sa-rok glanced toward the kitchen and spoke.
“First time seeing a bodyguard cook. Wayong Hall must be strapped for cash. Wouldn't it be better to let the guard go and hire a real chef?”
'Huh? Check this guy.'
A sucker punch out of nowhere.
Tae Sa-rok said it flatly, without a hint of mockery—which made it sting worse.
Because it was true.
Wayong Hall was so pinched that its bodyguard had to cook.
And he was the Heavenly Demon's grandson, no less.
[Scholars do know how to hit where it hurts.]
He'd sealed the connection—how'd he sneak in?
Ignoring Bongmareung, he replied.
“I told her to go if she wanted. But Lady Ok stayed. I see it as loyal devotion.”
A faint spark ignited in Tae Sa-rok's eyes.
This was getting interesting.
If this guy was really jealous over Ok Geum-ran……
'Time to milk it for all it's worth. Squeeze him dry to the bone.'
[Indeed. People are most vulnerable when emotions run high. Easy to exploit in that state.]
Their meeting was purely business: an info trade.
Straight to the point.
“I'm curious why Young Master wants to know about Doggo Clan Manor's blood vault. May I ask?”
“Do you really need to know that? Just tell me what you know, and I'll pay handsomely.”
“What can you offer me?”
“Tell me what you want from me first, Senior. I'll consider it.”
Tae Sa-rok's eyes shifted slyly.
Just then, Ok Geum-ran approached with a steaming bowl.
He glanced at her and broached it.
“I'd like to live here in Wayong Hall too. Possible?”
[Puhahaha!]
Bongmareung burst into laughter.
Live in Wayong Hall?
He almost snorted himself.
'Tough opponent.'
But Ok Geum-ran's face darkened as she set the bowl down.
Her lips moved, sending a sound transmission.
—Ho-sam, don't accept that deal no matter what. Hand me over instead!
……What?