Chapter 57: It Was All an Act
First things first, getting out of here was the top priority.
"This man is a guest I summoned. There've been rumors that my body double is still alive and kicking, so I called him in to catch the bastard."
I deliberately referred to Jang Mu-gil as a "guest." It was obviously a warning. Meaning, if he swung that sword any further, he'd have to fight me too.
Dokgo Hyeop and Taesa Seok's gazes tangled in the air. After a moment, the one who stepped forward was the heir of the Dokgo Clan.
"A guest...?"
Dokgo Hyeop's eyebrow twitched as he readjusted his grip on his sword. Taesa Seok subtly fell back, naturally forming a three-way standoff. Me, Dokgo Hyeop, Jang Mu-gil.
An icy silence flowed between us.
But the middle-aged man was still staring at me with blatant confusion on his face.
Man, he really can't control his expressions.
[This brat, you're quite the actor. How often does a domineering demon like you need to deceive anyone?]
Is that so? In any case, I couldn't just leave it like that. I openly addressed Jang Mu-gil.
"Something on my face? Why are you staring like that?"
"No..."
"Save it. We'll talk later. Even if I've stepped down as Young Cult Leader, I can't just sit by and watch the Dokgo Clan's atrocities."
Dokgo Hyeop reacted immediately.
"Baek-heon, what did you just say?"
"Looks like it's finally sinking in that I'm no longer the Young Cult Leader. I said I won't stand for the Dokgo Clan's atrocities. Senior Dokgo."
I turned my head and met Dokgo Hyeop's eyes directly. His lips twitched.
"Atrocities? What atrocities has our clan committed?"
"Do I have to spell it out? Where'd you leave that brilliant brain of yours—do I need to explain it step by step?"
I laced my words with maximum sarcasm. Dokgo Hyeop's gaze darkened.
"Yong Baek-heon. Since you've publicly declared you're no longer Young Cult Leader, I'll treat you as a former junior brother. So show some respect. This is your senior speaking."
Senior and junior brothers. Around age eight, Yong Baek-heon had trained under the same master as Dokgo Hyeop—a former Great Law Protector who had learned a few martial arts from Il-wol Seonsaeng, the elder of the East Palace.
So there was nothing wrong with his demand for fellow disciples to observe propriety. But I sneered.
"Hahaha! Senior Dokgo, your mouth may be crooked, but let's get our facts straight."
"What nonsense is this now?"
"My martial arts root from the Yong Demon Clan, and yours from the Dokgo Clan, right? Branches from different trees crossing once in the middle don't make them the same tree. We're not from the same sect. Am I wrong?"
"..."
Dokgo Hyeop clamped his mouth shut. He stared at my face with narrowed eyes, then glanced at Taesa Seok, who was rolling his eyes in confusion.
Bongmareung chuckled.
[A perfect analogy. Yes, your martial arts root is indeed in the Yong Demon Clan. Of course it is. Heh heh heh!]
I felt Jang Mu-gil's gaze too. I didn't know what it meant, but it carried an odd warmth.
Suddenly, Dokgo Hyeop twisted his lips in amusement.
"Fine. I won't expect senior treatment from you. Then tell me—what atrocities has our clan committed? I'll hear it as the young lord of the Dokgo Clan. If it's nonsense..."
The young man's eyes flashed coldly.
"I'll report to the Cult Leader's Palace that you've insulted the Dokgo Clan. And make sure you're thrown into the Punishment Cave. You're no junior brother anymore, so no one's covering for you."
"Throw me in the Punishment Cave?"
What an adorably cute threat. Conveniently, it tied right into the story I was about to spin.
I crossed my arms and spat it out.
"Is the Dokgo Clan the owner of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, by any chance?"
"What?"
"Who enshrines the shrine of the Heavenly Gods on White Dragon Peak, enforces demonic law, and rules the hundred thousand folk of the Hundred Thousand Mountains alongside the Four Palaces? Did Senior Dokgo become Grand Cult Leader?"
"What nonsense is this? Are you trying to pin rebellion charges on me?"
"No. You're just a regular cult disciple. So why are you arbitrarily crying 'heretic' and trying to punish people? Since when did you have that authority?"
"...!"
What I pointed out was the procedure. The protocols and steps for various punishments as stipulated by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's laws.
[You even know about that?]
Few know the punishment procedures better than me. I'd taken beatings in place of the wastrel Young Cult Leader every damn day.
And as far as I knew, the procedure for handling "heretics" was extremely strict and rigorous.
'It requires the Grand Cult Leader, Vice Cult Leaders, elders, and elders from all ranks to gather and fiercely debate before a verdict.'
Heretics could be executed immediately. But per the precepts, they might receive appropriate discipline and spare their lives. It was a sensitive issue that could decide life or death.
Hence, strict procedures were mandatory. In fact, exercising force to punish anyone required them.
I latched onto that.
"You can strut around all you want as the Dokgo Clan's young lord. But you have to know your limits."
"..."
"Whether punishing heretics or me, that's the Cult Leader's Palace and Law Enforcement Hall's job. If you encounter a heretic outside, call the Protectors. Don't overstep. Got it?"
Dokgo Hyeop's gaze shifted again as he looked at me. Amid the simmering anger, a hint of doubt flickered.
"How peculiar. You don't seem like the guy I knew."
My heart skipped a beat. Shit, too late to realize.
The real Yong Baek-heon wouldn't have said this much. He'd have gone full arrogant bastard.
Did I overdo the eloquence?
Dokgo Hyeop had known Yong Baek-heon since childhood, so he might sense something off. But in this situation, there was no other way out.
I decided to play it cool.
"I've been hearing that a lot lately. After getting my head bashed by that body double and barely surviving, the whole world feels strange."
"Is that so...?"
This time, Dokgo Hyeop turned to Jang Mu-gil. He pondered for a moment, then took a step back.
"Fine. Strictly speaking, this isn't inside our clan manor, and I have no authority to punish heretics. I was just taking preventive measures since a heretic gang was lurking nearby. You understand that much, right?"
"Tell that to your dead subordinates. Dokgo Clan warriors are still cult disciples. What a waste of lives."
"Don't worry. Their families will get proper compensation."
But Dokgo Hyeop wasn't backing down quietly. He shouted to his men.
"Hey! Send someone to the Law Enforcement Hall right now and summon the Protectors! Report everything—no omissions: a Baekdo cult heretic long judged as such has appeared, and Yong Baek-heon is protecting him!"
"Yes, Young Lord!"
"The rest of you, hold these two until the Protectors arrive!"
He was striking back following the very procedures I'd pointed out. He was really calling in Law Enforcers and Protectors to corner me.
But I ignored it, focusing on exchanging telepathy with Jang Mu-gil.
We were both frowning in frustration. Telepathy had its limits in this mess.
I told Jang Mu-gil the cleanest way to resolve this situation. He hesitated briefly but nodded slightly.
The next instant, a massive sword wind raged.
"Get lost! If there's no Yong Jeong-heon here, we're done!"
Boom!
Jang Mu-gil unleashed the energy he'd briefly recovered in all directions. Dirt and gravel flew everywhere, blinding everyone.
That's when I screamed and collapsed.
"Aaaagh!"
Red blood sprayed out. The tip of Jang Mu-gil's sword had grazed right across the center of my chest.
The nearby Dokgo warriors flinched and clustered to protect Dokgo Hyeop. But we were already gone.
"Wha...?"
"H-he disappeared!"
"Young Lord! He's gone!"
Jang Mu-gil had slipped through the encirclement's gap like the wind.
Dokgo Hyeop stood with a twisted expression, while I lay still on the ground.
Exactly as I'd ordered—the perfect wound.
A master is a master. Who knew he could wield a sword like that.
Blood gushed from the center of my chest, but it didn't hurt much. Jang Mu-gil had slashed me to cover his escape. That was our plan.
Now all I had to do was yell.
"Aaaagh! Senior Dokgo! Did you stuff pork in your skull instead of brains? No! Seriously! I mention the Protectors, and you openly call them? Of course he'd run! Have you no tact or common sense?"
"What...?"
"Do you know how much effort I put into luring that guy here? You were so sharp as a kid—how do you ruin the setup like this? I'm flabbergasted! Are you even the same person? Are you using a body double too?"
It was all an act. I'd been working hard to capture the heretic, but you showed up and ruined everything. All your fault—I doubled down hard.
"Hold on. So what was I supposed to do?"
"First, say you'd hear Jang Mu-gil out, stop the fight, and stall for time somehow! Do I have to spoon-feed you?"
"Then why'd you stop the earlier fight? If you'd fought with us, we might've won."
A sharp point. But I'd anticipated it, so I foamed at the mouth in rage.
"If I had, we'd all be dead! Jang Mu-gil's an Absolute Heaven Severing Realm master! The blood he vomited was a trick! A trap!"
"...!"
"How do you fall for such a cheap ploy? Your judgment! Tsk tsk tsk!"
"..."
"And why call Taesa Senior and the Divine Martial Society? Useless spellcasters who can't even be shields! Planning to get them all killed?"
"Then you should've sent me a quick telepathic message..."
"You're killing me. I straight-up told you earlier! Do I have to list it out? Wasn't that signal enough? Geez. Even thieves need teamwork!"
For the first time, bewilderment crossed his face. Dokgo Hyeop was sharp-minded, but he knew too little to read the situation.
So he could only frown deeply at the direction Jang Mu-gil had fled.
Bongmareung murmured softly.
[You're especially crazy today.]
Thanks for the high praise as always.
Time for the next phase. Clutching my bleeding chest, I glared at Dokgo Hyeop.
"What are you doing? Just gonna watch me bleed out? Doesn't the Dokgo Clan have a medical hall?"
"..."
"Damn it. Now you're not even responding. One minute it's 'fellow disciples' this, 'senior' that. All fake. Tsk!"
"Shut up. Hey! Make a stretcher and carry Yong Baek-heon. We're heading back to the manor first."
Dokgo Hyeop bit his lip and ordered his men. Thanks to that, despite bleeding a bit, I entered the Dokgo Clan manor in the lap of luxury.
Let's see. Is the blood storage over there?