2
3
0.
A pungent smell of blood.
It was a gruesome murder scene, but no one moved rashly. ‘Is this how it ends?’ It was something I had somewhat expected ever since Akbyeongbi started causing trouble in Daejeon.
In the end, our delegation was the harbinger of war
To be used as—“Cough…….”
Huh?
What? Why are you alive?
Judging by the amount of blood flowing around, it was serious enough to warrant death at least twice.
It seems that big guys have good physical endurance as well.
“for a moment.”
I grabbed the shoulder of Il-myeong as he tried to approach.
“Let’s leave it to Senior Dang for now.”
If we rush in at the same time, the scene cannot be preserved.
Ilmyeong nodded after understanding my intentions.
Dang Seo-hui examined Ak Byeong-bi’s wounds with light steps, avoiding the bloodstains.
The condition isn’t very good.
What happened to you?
“The wound is rough……. Like a saw blade? It was inflicted by a weapon.”
Dang Seo-hui plugged Ak Byeong-bi’s wound with one hand, and with the other, took out a long needle, inserted it into his stomach, and then took it out to check.
It is not poisonous.
Is it a raid?
I looked around the room again.
I thoroughly examine what has changed by comparing it with my memory of when I left.
Judging by the long trail of blood, it looks like Akbyeongbi retaliated, but strangely, no broken furniture is visible inside.
Moreover, this intruder.
Boldly, I went out directly through the door.
I thought that even the mighty Dark Alliance wouldn’t openly commit an act like this…
Or should we view it as others within acting on their own initiative?
There are so many things to consider that my head is about to explode.
“……
Treatment is urgent for now. He won’t die immediately, but we can’t just leave him like this.
Although Dang Seo-hee performed first aid, the bleeding did not stop.
Anyway, it’s amazing in a way that it didn’t die right away after bleeding this much.
Even a bull would probably die from this much blood loss.
Anyway, if immediate first aid is required, it should be left to the people inside the Black Alliance.
Is this okay?
There is no time to consider other alternatives.
Since Dang Seo-hui says so, I guess there is nothing we can do.
Let’s call someone first.
Ilmyeong nodded at my story and quickly moved.
He flung open the door and left, then returned by backing away.
No, I came back.
Rumble
A group of men who pushed their way in.
Among them, a hulking man clad in iron armor stood out particularly.
I looked straight at him and asked.
“What brings you here?”
Hwang Bu-sik looks down at Akbyeongbi with emotionless eyes, just as he did when he first met him at Sahwangbong.
I followed his gaze and interrogated him.
You have come at just the right time. We will need to provide an explanation of the situation regarding this matter.
I warned him as I looked at him, who still wouldn’t look at me.
Otherwise, we would have to be prepared for war with the Murim Alliance.
“…….”
The moment Hwang Bu-sik, who had been looking down at Akbyeongbi with emotionless eyes, turned his gaze to me and was about to speak.
Crash!
There was a commotion outside, and a group of people rushed in like madmen.
Hwang Bu-sik turned around and spoke briefly.
Block it.
“yes.”
As the armored warriors who had come with Hwang Bu-sik blocked the invading crowd, harsh words poured out.
“Get out of the way, you bastards!”
“You guys are in cahoots with them, too!”
“Move aside or I’ll beat you to death!”
Hwang Bu-sik murmured softly to the uninvited guests.
If you do not exercise restraint, I will arrest everyone.
While the uninvited guests, who had drawn their swords and were storming in menacingly, paused for a moment at the icy command of Hwang Bu-sik.
“They’re the ones who need to be arrested, not us.”
A man stepped forward, pushing through the crowd.
It was the face I had been seeing just moments ago.
“Those bastards… they are the ones who dared to assassinate our Sect Leader!”
Hwangsamun’s Galcheongi.
He gnashed his teeth and shouted.
“How dare a human claiming to be a disciple of the mighty White Path Sect attempt an ambush!”
“Restrain yourself! This is not the Yellow Serpent Sect, but the Black Serpent Alliance!”
As Hwang Bu-sik let out a resounding shout while emitting a powerful aura, the warriors of Hwangsamun who had been causing a commotion stopped moving in unison.
However, it seemed that he had merely calmed his excitement in preparation for a full-scale fight, rather than being scared.
Hwang Bu-sik let out a small sigh, turned to look at me, and spoke.
Do you roughly understand?
Eventually, he made an announcement in a voice loud enough for everyone surrounding him to hear.
“We arrest the head of the delegation, Ak Byeong-bi, on suspicion of assassinating the leader of the Hwangsamun sect.”
I looked at the lying Abyungbi.
Ah, so you weren’t ambushed, but you came here after doing it?
That’s amazing.#“I guess I’ll have to cooperate with the investigation for now.”
At Hwang Bu-sik’s words, the armored warriors tried to rush into the room at the same time.
Swaaaak—I said, drawing a line on the ground with the Black Dragon Sword.
“If we go beyond this point, we cannot guarantee our survival.”
Hwang Bu-sik frowns deeply.
What are you doing?
“For one thing, it is because we are an envoy. Unless you are actually declaring war, you cannot forcibly detain an envoy.”
“We can forcibly detain them when the charges are certain.”
I don’t know why, but putting aside the Hwang Samun guys, I am convinced that Ak Byeong-bi ambushed even Hwang Bu-sik.
Why on earth, for what reason?
Do you have any evidence?
Hwang Bu-sik answers immediately.
I can show the wounds on the corpse.
Does that mean it is inseparable evidence?
Even so, I have no intention of backing down easily.
“Our damage is quite significant to call this a surprise attack.”
The answer came from Gal Cheon-gi instead of Hwang Bu-sik.
“Damn it! Of course, with the skills of those White guys, a surprise attack would have been futile!”
Indeed, considering the long trail of blood in the room and the furniture that remained intact, it seems more plausible to assume they returned after a surprise attack rather than being ambushed.
I asked Hwang Bu-sik.
Treatment is urgent for now. Will you provide treatment?
I need to hear your case, so I will assign you the best representative.
Instead, we will assign one of our personnel as well.
Hwang Bu-sik nodded instead of answering.
As the armored warriors took Ak Byeong-bi and Dang Seo-hui out of the inner chambers, Gal Cheon-gi rolled his eyes and foamed at the mouth.
“Damn it! What are you doing! Don’t you know those bastards are in on it too! Why aren’t you arresting them!”
“Nothing has been revealed yet. And they are still in the status of an envoy.”
“Is that what you call a question…!”
I offered words of comfort to Gal Cheon-gi, who was feeling wronged.
“You idiot, we were with you. Of course we’re not suspects. Think a little with what’s on your neck.”
However, perhaps because he had lost the sect’s elder, Gal Cheon-gi’s expression was grim.
“You dog Jin So-woon! I’m definitely going to kill you!!”
I tried so hard to offer comfort, only to be met with death threats.
Tsk, this is why I hate even speaking to those ferocious Dark Sect bastards.#“What on earth is going on?”
Il-myeong let out a long sigh.
“Well, even if we’ve been cleared of suspicion, they wouldn’t think we’re innocent. That’s why they’re trying to monitor us under the pretext of security…”
“Master Jin… I know that much, too.”
I know that Il-myeong didn’t intend for that to be the case.
I might sound crazy, but I can’t stand it without cracking a joke in an atmosphere like this.
This is a habit I picked up back in my days with the Sojeongdae.
The more desperate the situation, the deeper the anxiety becomes if you don’t crack a joke.
That is why a joke that didn’t fit the situation slipped out without me realizing it.
The current situation is so desperate that it doesn’t fall short even when compared to the days of the Sojeongdae.
Il-myeong turned pale all the way to his scalp and let out a groan.
“Did the director eventually… cause trouble?”
He is certainly the kind of person capable of doing that.
“Jin Siju…….”
“All right.”
This is why hothouse flowers are no good.
I’m at a loss for words.
Anyway, I don’t really have an answer in a situation like this either.
Even if we were not in the same space while Akbyeongbi was committing the crime, that does not prove our innocence.
To put it bluntly, every single one of the guys here is hell-bent on slitting our throats, and they are currently drawing lots.
I guess you could say I gave them an excuse.
Moreover, Shanxi Province is a place where the influence of the Martial Arts Alliance is weak.
To escape the influence of the Black Alliance, you must flee to at least Henan Province.
Henan Province is a bit far…
“Master Jin… surely you aren’t thinking of running away?”
Il-myeong couldn’t hide his surprised expression after overhearing my monologue.
Anyway, putting the escape aside, the most important question is whether Ak Byeong-bi really killed Gu Gye-ak…
“Can you be sure that the director didn’t kill Senior Il-myeong?”
Look at this, he can’t answer.
I really hope and pray that it wasn’t the case, but honestly, I can’t say for sure that it wasn’t done.
Even Il-myeong, who has cultivated an unwavering mind, would not easily say he would not seek revenge in the same situation.
Moreover, Akbyeongbi is a man who despises the Black Daoists.
It is possible that he might have unleashed the desire for revenge that had been growing deep inside his heart all this time.
In any case, the question to consider now is who will lead the delegation going forward.
You might ask, “What’s so important about that?” but it is more important than you think.
If we make the wrong decision here, not only Akbyeongbi but all of us will die.
Since the commander was arrested after being framed for murder, it is correct in terms of order that Il-myeong should lead.
“If it is true that the commander killed him, what will you do?”
“Jin Siju……. That there is no way……”
I shook my head firmly.
We must assume the worst-case scenario. If we only expect optimistic outcomes, we will all die here.
I understand Ak Byeong-bi’s desire for revenge, but that doesn’t mean I want to sacrifice my life for him.
The same would be true for Dang Seo-hee and Il-myeong.
Ilmyeong pondered for quite a while before finally nodding.
I will follow the will of Lord Jin.
And so, I came to lead the delegation.
Procedurally, we would need Dang Seo-hee’s permission, but it seems she wouldn’t be that ambitious for the position of head of the delegation in the first place.
If he gets sulky, I guess I can just let him play the role of a swordsman on the way back.
Of course, that is assuming I can return alive. #Even last night, the presence of the guards outside the gate did not disappear.
When morning came, I could feel the change being made to a new person.
Moreover, signs of presence were felt not only at the main gate but also near the windows and in the garden. ‘This isn’t good.’ The bigger problem was that the sounds of the banquet, which had been heard until dawn, suddenly stopped.
– The fact that it was cut off.
Even the drunkard screaming at the top of his lungs.
The voices of those fighting with their fists over gambling were no longer heard, either.
This is tantamount to saying that the death of Gu Gye-ak has become known within the Black Alliance.
On top of that, the name of Ak Byeong-bi, the envoy from Baekdo, was probably known as a villain.
Once the atmosphere is created, the calls for punishment will grow louder.
“At this rate, I might be beheaded before I even have a chance to resist, my head hanging on a pole. Shouldn’t I escape now?” If I had my way, I would have left the Black Alliance last night, but if I did, regardless of whether Ak Byeong-bi lived or died, the war between the Murim Alliance and the Black Alliance would begin without a doubt. “But even if I wanted to do something, I need to have something to do.” Originally, I had planned to meet the leaders of the Black Alliance, including the Four Emperors’ Lord, one by one starting today.
But with one of the members of the delegation suspected of being an assassin, who would really agree to meet me?
We weren’t even that close to begin with.
at that time.
Thump thump
Hwang Bu-sik strode inside, making a loud noise.
“Would you like to go identify the body?”
I sat up and said to him.
May I ask why the surveillance has increased?
It is to protect you.
“To protect….”
I don’t know if that is really true, but for now, isn’t the top priority to verify whether Akbyeongbi is indeed the one who committed this?
We are escorted by ten armored warriors(?)
While receiving [the treatment], I was guided to where Gu Gye-ak’s body was.
and.
Il-myeong’s expression showed no signs of relaxing after seeing the wounds on Gu Gye-ak’s corpse.
“Phew…….”
The same goes for me.
A fist-sized hole was pierced near the corpse’s heart, and the area around the wound was burned black.
A clear wound with even traces of flame.
Even a layman unfamiliar with martial arts would be able to tell that it is the trace of the Ak family’s Blazing Spear Technique.
“This… I guess there is no denying it.”
I also nodded at Il-myeong’s words.
At this point, if you were to name someone who has seen more corpses than me, it would probably have to be an undertaker.
I’ve probably seen more scars caused by martial arts like this than the undertakers, especially.
Even I can see that there are no signs of manipulation on the corpse.
If the intention was to create such a wound after the person had died, it would have appeared in a different shape.
It was certain that this fist-sized hole was what took Gu Gye-ak’s life.
Hwang Bu-sik looked at Il-myeong and me, who were speechless, and explained.
The physician treating Akbyeongbi said that the shape of Hwangsamun’s sword emerged from the scar of the wound.
Yeah, I suppose so.
How many people would use a weapon that tears at wounds like a saw blade?
There is no way you wouldn’t know.
I barely managed to swallow a sigh.
It certainly looks like our commander was injured while attempting a surprise attack.
At this point, forget about agreements or whatever; we have to worry about whether we can even keep our lives alive.
I looked back at Hwang Bu-sik.
“What is going to happen to us now?”
You will have to wait until the investigation is finished.
“At our accommodation?”
If it were at the accommodation, and with this level of surveillance personnel… … .
If Dang Seo-hui, who moved together to escort Ak Byeong-bi, returns, the three of them will be able to somehow leave the Saheukryeon.
While retracing the path I had taken to the Black Alliance in my mind and formulating an escape plan.
Two familiar voices were heard.
“Hehehe, you’ve really messed things up.”
“Confucius, we meet again so soon?”
Wait, Bloody Battle and Yeom Gwi-bi, why are you showing up here?
Hwang Bu-sik’s voice drives the wedge.
Those two will be with you.
Ha, are you telling me not to even dream of escaping?
It seems that drawing the Five Heavenly Kings card was just as Gun Yu-hyeon said—it was incredibly bad luck.
No wonder, even in my past life, everyone I helped draw the Five Heavenly Kings card ended up dropping dead the very next day.
Damn it.
Hwang Bu-sik spoke with a sullen expression.
It is a pity.
I suppose I offered comfort in my own way, but it didn’t comfort me at all.
Was this how Gal Cheon-gi felt?
Nevertheless, we must find a way somehow.
Wasn’t I the one who struggled to the very end even in my past life?
Then, may I ask you a favor?
However, Hwang Bu-sik shook his head without a moment’s hesitation.
What a determined person you are.
I, too, cannot back down easily.
It’s not a very difficult problem. Please just listen for now.
In the end, Hwang Bu-sik lets out a sigh and gives his permission.
“Give it a try.”
“Would you be able to let us meet our commander first when he wakes up?”
They say you can grant the wishes of the dead, so you can at least grant a request from someone who is about to die. Can’t you?
