Chapter 52: How Could a Weasel Guess a Tiger's Thoughts? (Over the Past Fortnight)
Over the past fortnight.
While preparing for my showdown with Gye Cheon-bing, I'd been keeping a close eye on Tae Sa-rok and Paeng Bi-cheong. At first glance, the two seemed like nothing more than a member of the Taesa Clan and his unremarkable steward. But the striking thing was how little they spoke to each other.
[So what?]
'It means they're used to communicating via sound transmission.'
[Oh ho...]
Ok Geum-ran and I were the same way. Ever since I'd mastered sound transmission, we'd chat freely that way whenever others were nearby. That's when Gyeon So-hee asked me this:
"Do the two of you read each other's minds just by exchanging glances? It's amazing how you match each other's moves perfectly without saying a word all day."
That made me realize something I hadn't noticed before. And it let me spot that Tae Sa-rok and Paeng Bi-cheong were just like us.
But the most decisive clue came from Ok Geum-ran herself.
"Ho-sam, you said before that Tae Sa-rok joined hands with Yong Jin-seok, right? It was to beat his half-brother, Taesa Seok. He lost in the end, though."
Tae Sa-rok was the second son of the Taesa Clan, pushed out of the successor race. So how was he still tapping into the clan's intelligence network? He knew the inner workings of the Doggo Clan in detail—he was one hell of an info broker.
'This means he's not just using the Taesa Clan's network.'
And it looked like Tae Sa-rok still had ambitions for the successor spot. He pretended otherwise, but he was constantly watching my every move, compiling some kind of dossier. My Ghostly Spirit Wall Eye had spotted a booklet titled Wayong Hall tucked in his sleeve.
Meaning he was still gathering intel even after leaving the Taesa Clan.
'He's collecting info to hook up with someone powerful.'
Who? I racked my brains, piecing together what Yong Baek-heon had known as Young Cult Leader and the scraps I'd learned myself to deduce the truth.
My conclusion?
'Tae Sa-rok's part of the Changgonghoe too, and he's borrowing outside power to seize control of the Taesa Clan.'
I was convinced. So I tossed him some bait.
"You got any connections to the Changgonghoe?"
* * *
"What do you mean by that?"
"You wouldn't try to play dumb and say you don't even know what the Changgonghoe is, would you? That'd be no fun at all."
"...Young Master."
"This could turn into a pretty important talk. So listen and decide, Senior."
I grabbed hold of Tae Sa-rok, who kept trying to slip away. He thought for a moment, then beckoned to one side.
"I need to have a private talk with Young Master Yong Baek-heon. Bring tea and snacks."
The Taesa Clan servants sprang into action. Moments later, Paeng Bi-cheong approached with a tray, as expected.
'The moment I bring up the Changgonghoe, he figures there's something to discuss?'
Otherwise, why would Paeng Bi-cheong show up right when I mentioned it? And the two exchanged a fleeting glance.
"... "
"... "
I didn't miss their lips twitching almost imperceptibly. I couldn't hear the content, but sound transmission had definitely passed between them.
As we settled in, Tae Sa-rok poured tea with a trickle and spoke up.
"Young Master, forgive me, but I don't know much about the Changgonghoe."
"I asked if you had connections, not knowledge."
"Connections? Of course not. The Changgonghoe's an anti-cult group, isn't it? Why would I associate with them?"
He was set on total denial. But I could shatter that easily.
"From what I hear, the Changgonghoe's leader, Yu Jin-bong, isn't just 'one person.'"
"Pardon?"
"Several people rotate as leader within the Changgonghoe."
"Is that so... "
Tae Sa-rok lifted his teacup, trailing off. He started gauging me subtly. His eyes seemed calm, but he was clearly churning through what I knew.
Fat lot of good it'd do him—the knife was in my hand. I swung it hard.
"Senior Tae Sa-rok, I'd like you to take control of the Changgonghoe."
His pupils shook like there was an earthquake. He slammed his cup down and raised his voice.
"Young Master, what are you saying? The Changgonghoe threatens our cult! You want me to lead it? Are you telling me to become a traitor?"
He poured out his lines like he'd heard something outrageous. Impeccable acting to the end.
Of course, I just grinned.
"I know the Changgonghoe's an anti-cult group. And the Cult Leader's Palace knows it even better. Grandfather probably knows everything there is to know about them."
"... "
Tae Sa-rok kept up the facial performance. But now came the real pitch.
"And yet, Grandfather hasn't rooted them out. He's just watching. What do you think the reason is?"
"That's... "
"Even if you go to the trouble of wiping them out, more pop up. Like rats in a barn."
I fixed Tae Sa-rok with a steady gaze and continued.
"Wouldn't it be better to herd the rats into one corner and manage them? Bring in a weasel to keep their numbers in check... That's the role I want you to play, Senior."
I shut my mouth there. Now I just sip my tea and wait for his reaction.
After a long silence, Tae Sa-rok spoke.
"Young Master, as I said, I have no ties to the Changgonghoe. I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean by 'control' them."
"Hmm."
"That's all I have to say. Hey! Clear the food—he hasn't touched it!"
As Tae Sa-rok shouted, servants approached with trays. Paeng Bi-cheong and the others started clearing dishes— that's when it happened.
"They say the night view from the tomb on the south side of Chil-mang Mountain is spectacular. With the new moon tonight, it'll be even more atmospheric."
Tae Sa-rok tossed out the cryptic line and stood. I caught his meaning perfectly—the tomb on Chil-mang Mountain's south side was where Paeng Bi-cheong and I had rendezvoused before. He meant meet there tonight.
I smiled and nodded.
"A drink under the moonlight would hit the spot."
* * *
Tssshhh...
The wind rustling through the leaves sounded downright eerie. The sliver of a new moon made everything pitch black. But the path to the tomb was familiar, so I trudged up steadily.
Suddenly, a voice drifted out.
"Wang Ga-myeong."
"Paeng Bi-cheong."
Paeng Bi-cheong emerged, red demon sword drawn. But I just smiled. No mask tonight—I was showing my face as Yong Baek-heon.
My opponent now wasn't Paeng Bi-cheong.
Tae Sa-rok stepped forward in his black night robes, hand on Paeng Bi-cheong's shoulder.
"Yong Baek-heon."
"Oh, half-familiar now? Meeting here doesn't make us buddies all of a sudden."
"What are you thinking? I had my suspicions, but I never dreamed you were Wang Ga-myeong."
"How could a weasel guess a tiger's thoughts?"
"You mad bastard."
Tae Sa-rok showed open hostility. Then a voice came from behind me.
"Show some basic respect to the rightful heir of the Dragon Demon Clan, Senior Tae Sa-rok. I won't stand by as your guard if you cross the line!"
"...!"
Ok Geum-ran had come with me today. She stood at my side, face cold as ice. Even without unleashing her Sama-ra Blood Art, her eyes burned fiercely.
She meant to fight for me with everything she had.
Tae Sa-rok bit his lip hard at the sight.
"Why? He's not even Young Cult Leader anymore—why stick by him and walk a thorny path?"
He couldn't understand, knowing nothing of our situation. Yong Baek-heon wasn't Young Cult Leader, and Ok Geum-ran had better offers elsewhere. Why hadn't she left?
She scowled and opened her mouth.
"That's none of your—"
"Hold up. I'll answer."
I cut her off and stepped forward. If Tae Sa-rok still cared that much for his old flame, one story would hook him perfectly.
"Once I'm officially selected for the Great Tournament and leave the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Ok Geum-ran will be free."
"What?"
"Exactly what I said—'free as a bird.' Don't you get it?"
It was true, in a way. We were doing all this to escape the mountains and gain freedom.
But Tae Sa-rok would interpret it differently.
"So right now, she isn't free?"
"Think what you want. At least you have your freedom, right? Hahaha!"
I let out a sinister laugh. Tae Sa-rok's face twisted in rage, like a furious demon.
He thought she was being exploited.
"Yong Baek-heon! You bastard... "
His voice burned like fire, and the air around us churned. The new moon warped in the sky, the ground cracking with a jjjjjeok.
A miracle only a great demon could pull off.
[No need to fear. It's the Taesa Clan's illusion art.]
Thanks to my Ghostly Spirit Wall Eye, I wasn't swayed. Bongmareung continued.
[And he can't harm you anyway. Unless he's disowned from the Taesa Clan genealogy...]
'He doesn't seem too attached to that genealogy, surprisingly?'
[Huh?]
Suddenly, the moon seemed to shatter and fall toward me. Tae Sa-rok had drawn his sword and was dropping from above.
But I didn't need to draw my sword.
"Who dares point a blade at the Young Cult Leader!"
Ok Geum-ran charged in. Crimson demonic energy erupted from her like beams of light. Knowing her opponent well, she'd unleashed her Sama-ra Blood Art from the start.
And without hesitation, she rushed straight at him.
"Ran...!"
His pet name for her, apparently. Tae Sa-rok hastily withdrew his sword and flipped back.
But Ok Geum-ran showed no mercy. Her signature red eyes blazing, she unleashed a storm with her Coiled Phoenix Sword.
Shattering the illusion in one go, her strike upended the whole area.
[Oh ho. Stronger than this spirit thought. She could roast a mid-tier guardian...]
Bongmareung muttered as he watched her press Tae Sa-rok.
Meaning she was at the tail end of first-rate.
I agreed. If she pushed her Sama-ra Blood Art to the limit?
'She could match a peak first-rate for a moment?'
[Yeah, she could push for about 30 exchanges before turning into ground meat.]
'Hey, Bong. What's "ground meat" when talking about my people? Use nicer words.'
[Nicer? Pulverized meat?]
'Forget it.'
Tae Sa-rok's specialty was illusion, and with lingering feelings for Ok Geum-ran, he couldn't match her. Less than ten breaths in, he was sent flying. He sheathed his sword and yelled.
"I get it! My fault! I won't draw on the Young Cult Leader—stop!"
"Shut your trap and go to hell!"
Ok Geum-ran, eyes wild, kept hammering him mercilessly. This was getting dangerous.
"Ok Warrior, stand down."
I fired off formless strikes as I spoke—one to each of her limbs as she lunged like a madwoman at Tae Sa-rok.
Papap!
"...!"
Her bloodshot eyes turned to me. Even as an ally, the chill down my spine was real.
But she exhaled long and bowed her head.
"Understood."
She reined in her energy in an instant and returned to my side.
Ice-cold silence fell over the wrecked tomb. I stared at Tae Sa-rok's stiff face.
"Emotions are emotions, business is business, it seems. You prepared something—show it."
That shadow twitching on the ground since earlier. A large sack, tied shut with something inside.
At Tae Sa-rok's nod, Paeng Bi-cheong dragged it over.
What emerged was a middle-aged man with a gag in his mouth.
"Mmph! Mmmph! Eugh!"