Chapter 54 - Where Did the Information Leak?
Clack! Clack!
Black and white stones fell one after another onto the go board, producing crisp sounds. Yet no hands moved. The two old men were placing their stones solely through strike energy, manipulating the air with exquisite precision befitting great demonic experts.
Then a voice emerged.
"Just yield one move, Grand Cult Leader."
Yong Mu-geuk scratched his chin beard at his opponent's words from across the board.
"That would be a tremendous loss for me."
"Come now, I need a little fun too. Don't be so stingy—let me have just one."
"Quit that damn public enemy act; it's creepy."
"Kuhahaha!"
As the Grand Cult Leader furrowed his brow, his opponent burst into roaring laughter from beyond the board. They weren't the type to exchange formal pleasantries anyway.
"Fine, just yield one move. Even with the Taesa name, it's bruising my pride..."
"Hm? You weren't talking about yielding a move on the board?"
"Figured it out now, did you?"
The elderly head of the Taesa Clan Manor, Absolute Demon Thunder Tae Sa-hyeong. He had grown up with Yong Mu-geuk since childhood, childhood friends to the end. They were also brothers-in-law, with Tae Sa-hyeong's younger sister having been Yong Mu-geuk's late wife.
That made their bond exceptionally close, with no room for pretense.
The real topic came straight out.
"Your grandson joining Jeong-heon must irk you."
"Exactly. Tae Sa-rok is seven years older, isn't he? And yet, just days after entering Wayong Hall, he flips sides completely? To a boy who doesn't even know his own bloodline or identity? Tsk tsk."
"What do age or identity matter? What counts is that the boys' intentions aligned."
"True, you're five years younger than me too. A little old soul even as a kid."
Tae Sa-hyeong chuckled wryly, and this time Yong Mu-geuk let out a soft laugh.
"Dragging age into it too—you must be serious, you old coot. Alright, spill it. What are you getting at?"
Tae Sa-hyeong replied simply.
"Tell Yong Jeong-heon his true identity. Let him know he's of the Heavenly Demon's prime bloodline."
"..."
"No answer? Did this old man go to the afterlife with his eyes wide open?"
Of course, Yong Mu-geuk was lost in thought, staring silently at the board as if pondering his next move.
Finally, a response came.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"It's my son's dying wish."
Tae Sa-hyeong sighed deeply at the answer.
"Listen, Mu-geuk. Dae-seok's will to raise Jeong-heon away from the demonic path is already in tatters, isn't it? If you truly meant to honor it, you should've stopped Baek-heon when he dragged Jeong-heon here!"
"I wanted to see him too. Curious how that boy had grown."
"With his twin right there? How the hell do you wonder that?"
"Not about looks. You'll never understand my heart."
"Hah!"
True to his words, Tae Sa-hyeong couldn't fathom his friend's feelings and shook his head vigorously.
After a long silence.
Yong Mu-geuk retrieved one of his stones from the board.
"There. I've yielded a move."
"Not about go."
"I know. So tell me how you plan to play off the board."
"...!"
It meant: speak your mind on how to intervene in the boys' affairs.
The Grand Cult Leader was always decisive, never hesitating. But this time, his deep concern was plain to see.
Tae Sa-hyeong began what he'd been mulling over.
"I'll leak information about Yong Jeong-heon. To the Doggo Clan Manor, Dongbang Clan Manor, and everywhere else. I've already prepared it all."
"Leak Jeong-heon's info? If you do that..."
"Even those 'bastards' hiding like rats will surely stir."
The 'bastards' referred to Yong Dae-seok's followers upholding his legacy. The heretics who called themselves the White Path Church.
Yong Mu-geuk closed his eyes without a word.
But Tae Sa-hyeong's voice gained strength.
"If Jeong-heon overcomes this gambit, I'll reward him accordingly. As the head of the Taesa Clan Manor, sworn supporters of the Heavenly Demon's prime lineage."
"..."
"Now place your stone!"
Clack!
A new stone hit the board. With Yong Mu-geuk yielding a move, Tae Sa-hyeong laid a threatening foundation stone, menacing the great dragon.
But his opponent was the Heavenly Demon.
"Fine, do it. Victory still seems mine, though."
"Eh...?"
Yong Mu-geuk's eyes flashed open, responding lightly as if he'd anticipated it.
Clack!
"A brilliant move."
Tae Sa-hyeong, craning his neck like a turtle to peer at the board, muttered.
"Does the Heavenly Demon just eat and play go?"
"Heh."
He ended up begging for yet another yielded move.
That was the moment the White Path Church began stirring again in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
* * *
Dawn's darkness cloaked the mountain path thickly.
"Huuu..."
I took long, deep breaths, dragging my steps. An intense fatigue I'd not felt in ages clung to my ankles.
It stemmed from the ritual I'd just finished before leaving Wayong Hall.
'Bongmareung, is this supposed to be this exhausting? It's too much.'
[Spirit expulsion means forcing the absorbed demonic souls out of your body. This one was weak, so you got off easy. A deeper one would've left you bedridden.]
The side effect of Hyeol-lyeong Gye-ma-sul.
Absorbing a living demon's core demonic energy leaves their lingering spirits piling up in me.
Fortunately, I could purge them with two methods: spirit expulsion and spirit exchange.
[Expulsion only works if you haven't fully assimilated their core energy into yours. Same principle as when the origin spirit saved you—burning every last wisp of their energy without mercy.]
'Actually, that wasn't enough, so I burned through all my innate true energy too...'
[What was that?]
As I muttered, Bongmareung snapped in anger.
[You brat! Without the origin spirit's intervention, you'd be meat paste! Ungrateful wretch.]
'I was just about to say thanks. Why the sudden fit? Oh great demonic spirit?'
[Such heartfelt thanks! I'll rip that damn mouth...!]
'You couldn't just vanish with me, right? I know all about it now. Gonna keep pretending it's all sacrifice for my sake?'
[Well... true enough. Ahem!]
Anyway, expulsion only works without mixing their energy with mine. No special tools needed—just gather the absorbed energy separately, circulate qi, and burn it all away.
The only difference from normal qi gathering was the lingering fatigue afterward.
But spirit exchange, the second method, was vastly different.
[Exchange is for when their core demonic energy and spirits have merged with yours. For you, it'll be an emergency measure.]
After fully absorbing and blending an opponent's core demonic energy with mine via Hyeol-lyeong Gye-ma-sul.
The power boost was incomparable—sucking dry their life force, synergizing as it fused with my true energy.
Essentially, wielding the bubbling soul power within me.
[That's the true essence of this art. Its most domineering might.]
I knew it well now: Hyeol-lyeong Gye-ma-sul shone brightest when using exchange to resolve side effects.
But I wouldn't.
I'd avoid reckless use, and absolutely never blend it with my true energy.
For one, the thought of that foul residue tainting my qi disgusted me...
'Exchange is such a hassle. Gotta find a suitable vessel first.'
[Indeed. Some souls are tricky to relocate.]
Unlike expulsion, exchange required preparation.
With the spirits fused, you couldn't burn them out. Had to lure them out naturally.
Hence, prepping a 'vessel' was essential.
[Needs something alluring enough for the soul to transfer willingly. Something they cherished in life works best. Or a high-grade sacred relic.]
'Such a pain...'
If a fine relic fell into my hands, why not just absorb it? Sure, density differed, but no soul worries.
'Lucky, I might even encounter an ancestor's lingering will and inherit their arts.'
But using it as a soul vessel? Wasted potential.
What if I'd done that with the Asura Sword?
[...Geom-cheon-ma in the afterlife would've rolled in rage. Turning his relic to shit.]
'Baek-ryong Bi-chang Geom would've gathered dust.'
[Naturally.]
'So I'll never create a need for exchange.'
Hated pandering to souls, hated wasting relics more.
I'd restrain from using Hyeol-lyeong Gye-ma-sul on the living anyway...
Even if unavoidable, I'd never blend their core energy with mine.
That was my principle.
'Damn legs feel like lead.'
Expulsion or exchange—neither was natural qi circulation. Fatigue was inevitable.
Since mastering Geuk-cheon Gu-ryun-gong, my body always felt light, amplifying the backlash.
[Can't go tomorrow?]
'Want to, but tonight's moonless, clouds thick—perfect cover. Gotta push through.'
[Tch. Be extra careful then. If you're caught prowling the Doggo Clan Manor...]
I didn't even want to imagine.
Silently, I descended the path.
Soon, the serene manor came into view.
Bongmareung muttered.
[Doggo Clan Manor hasn't changed.]
'How so?'
[Clothed in brocade yet wearing thin robes to hide the sheen. That's the Doggo way.]
'Fits.'
It oddly matched Dokgo Hyeop's demeanor from our encounter.
Then—
"...?"
Rustling from the brush.
Three heads popped from the foliage.
"Kee!"
"Kikeek!"
"Ookee!"
Wayong Hall's three demon monkeys.
I tilted my head, surprised.
"What? Why are you here?"
"Ookee!"
I hadn't brought them this time—no roles, and lately they'd been rowdy like hormonal teens, hard to control. Figured their wild side was surfacing.
Yet here they were.
"I'm beat as is. Back to Wayong Hall, all of you!"
"Keek! Kikkee!"
"Huh?"
I rubbed my eyes.
The three monkeys were scratching letters into the dirt, one each.
-Person-
-Many-
-Coming-
The last stroke-heavy one was fuzzy, but clear enough: 'People, many, coming.'
[Whoa, something's off.]
'Same. No joke.'
I waved them off urgently.
One, Two, and Three scampered back up the path I'd come.
"...!"
A chilling sensation.
Geuk-cheon Gu-ryun-gong activated instantly.
Letting me grasp 'person, many, coming' at once.
No interpretation needed. Straight-up: lots of people inbound.
"Search everywhere! Slaughter any bastard lurking here, no questions asked!"
"Arrows fine too!"
"Bigger reward for live captures!"
Warriors closed in with torches ablaze.
Shockingly, Doggo Clan Manor was on alert.
'They knew I was coming tonight?'
I kicked off, leaping to a treetop.
A chuckle escaped.
'This'll be fun.'
Where did the info leak? Which bastard?