2
3
7.
As Dam-ak’s expression stiffened slightly, Gun Yu-hyeon also stiffened his expression in tandem.
“Just in case, I told them I would seek Military Officer Dam’s opinion. Did I make a mistake?”
“……
“No, it’s not that… I was just surprised because I was worried about Lord Yuhyeon. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Damak shook his head, but Gun Yuhyeon still watched him cautiously.
“It seems I got involved in a needless matter. I gave my permission naturally, assuming it would be of help to Military Officer Dam.……”
“No, it is true that it would be helpful to me. However, I only said that because I was worried that Lord Yuhyeon and the sect might suffer disadvantages after the matter is finished.”
Although the hierarchy within the Black Path martial arts world has been reversed now, Cheongwanmun and Gun Yuhyeon were originally nothing short of benefactors to Damak.
If it weren’t for Gun Yu-hyeon, Dam-ak would never have survived the bloody massacre at Cheongwa Seowon, just like his other comrades.
Furthermore, he is helping Damak, who was in despair cursing the world, to get back on his feet, and even finding the families of the missing Seowon comrades.
He was worried that the benefactor who had bestowed such immense grace might fall into a difficult situation due to Jin So-woon’s selfishness.
Gun Yu-hyeon, having relaxed his expression, smiles as usual.
“You do not need to worry about that. Although Cheongwanmun is weak in power, it is not a sect so frail that it has to act subserviently.”
“…….”
According to Gun Yu-hyeon, it seems there is nothing to worry about, but isn’t the actual situation quite different?
Even if the Murim Alliance delegation, a thorn in their side, were to reveal the true culprit, Gun Yu-hyeon could be branded a whistleblower and face the consequences.
If something happens to him… … .
Just as Damak was about to fall into deep thought.
“Ah, come to think of it…….”
Gun Yu-hyeon took a piece of paper out of his sleeve.
I found the family of Shin Il-seong, one of my comrades from Seowon.
“Um, is that really true?”
How long I have waited for this!
Damak forgot his worries from just moments ago as if they had been washed away, and unfolded the paper to read.
however.
With each character he read, Damak’s face also contorted little by little.
Gun Yu-hyeon’s calm voice stirred the air that had settled quietly.
I am sorry.
Tight.
Without realizing it, Damak tightened his grip on the paper until his hand turned white.
The news I had longed for so much was…
It was news I absolutely did not want to hear.
“It seems he climbed the mountain to escape starvation after losing his livelihood. That is where he ended up falling to bandits.……”
“Stop, stop… You don’t have to tell me any more.”
As if barely suppressing his emotions, Damak closed his eyes tightly.
As Gun Yu-hyeon looked at him, his face was also filled with worry.
“I don’t know anymore if continuing this is really helping you, Soldier Dam.
At the sigh of skepticism, Damak struggled to regain his composure and spoke as if nothing were wrong.
I earnestly ask that you continue to visit me for my sake. That is truly for my own good.
Gun Yu-hyeon slowly nodded his head.
“All right.”
Gun Yu-hyeon glanced once at Dam-ak, who still could not let go of the paper, then quietly rose from his seat.
Leaving Damak’s quarters, he stared blankly at the sky and began to count the constellations.
As his fingers swung gracefully through the air, the worried expression on his face gradually softened, eventually blossoming into a satisfied smile.
Seeing that the constellations are favorable, I know things will be wrapped up well. That is truly a relief.
He lowered the hand that had been counting the constellations and resumed walking.
Gun Yu-hyeon disappears into the darkness.
Around dawn, replacing the star that had vanished before we knew it.
Gal Mun-jeong of Saryongmun was found dead. In the dim dawn before sunrise, Ilmyeong was getting ready to go to the market.
I will get some non-essential items.
After poisoned food and water entered the palace, Empress Yeom interrogated the servants to find the person who poisoned it, but she was unable to identify the culprit in the end.
When Cha Seok-du learned that poison had been found in the food provided to the delegation, he was very indignant and ordered that food be brought directly from the dining room of Yeonjugak.
However, as poison was found in some of the food again this time, it was revealed that the problem was not with the servants.
It’s not a very strong poison, so it’s fine to eat if you detoxify it.
Although Dang Seo-hui spoke calmly while eating the poisoned food, it was impossible for the level of poison tolerance of an ordinary person to be the same as that of someone who had mastered the poison techniques of the Sichuan Tang family.
Because there was even a patient among the group, Il-myeong eventually had no choice but to get food from outside under the cover of darkness.
Is there anything else you need?
These are necessary for the commander’s treatment.
Treating Akbyeongbi, who had survived thanks to his tenacious vitality but was still in poor condition, was also a problem.
If poison has been released into food without even knowing when, the medicinal ingredients are no longer safe either.
An uncomfortable situation was unfolding in many ways.
I handed the bundle and the black token to Ilmyeong, who had just finished getting ready and was about to leave.
“If you wear this around your waist and walk around the market, someone will appear asking who the so-called ‘senior’ is.”
Are you saying you would ask such a thing even though I am staying still?
I smiled as I placed the black token in his hand.
“Because revealing this black badge is a mark that I have visited ‘somewhere.’”
Il-myeong tilted his head as if he didn’t quite understand.
I whispered softly into his ear.
I mean Haomun.
“……!”
Il-myeong’s eyes widened in an instant.
“Surely not Master Jin… are you a ‘guest’ of the Hao Sect?!”
I nodded nonchalantly.
“yes.”
Il-myeong looks back and forth between me and Heuk-pae with disbelief.
“No… Why are you talking about being a guest at the Hao Clan as if you’re just a regular at a neighborhood noodle shop…!”
That’s not what’s important right now. You bald guy.
I added while calming down Il-myeong, whose scalp had turned bright red from excitement.
“If you tell me my name and what you need, I will get it for you as soon as possible. And please give this bundle to them.”
“What is this?”
“It is the only key to solving this case.”
“key…….”
Ilmyeong, who had been staring intently at the bundle, hid it deep inside his bosom.
It looks like things have calmed down a bit now.
I bowed my head slightly toward him.
Then have a good trip.
Soon, the moment Il-myeong opened the door to go outside.
Tuuk
A warrior clad in iron armor stood blocking the door and stepped inside.
Even though he was suddenly pushed back, Il-myeong asked politely.
“Who are you?”
The man’s true identity is none other than Hwang Bu-sik.
Hwang Bu-sik, who had finally entered the room after pushing Il-myeong, who was trying to leave again, stared intently at Il-myeong standing in front of the door.
His eyes flashed fiercely, as if they were about to pierce through Il-myeong’s scalp at any moment.
I took a step closer to him.
“What brings you here at this early hour?”
At my question, Hwang Bu-sik slowly turns his gaze toward me.
Hwang Bu-sik looked at me once with utterly emotionless eyes, then shifted his gaze back to Hyeol-tu.
Sir, was Il-myeong here the whole night last night?
What is the ulterior motive behind that question?
no way…….
I watched the bloody battle with a sense of foreboding.
Bloody Battle tilted his head at the sudden question and answered.
“okay.”
However, Hwang Bu-sik did not back down easily.
Are you sure?
“Huh?”
Obvious suspicion and distrust on Hwang Bu-sik’s face.
The voice of the bloody battle instantly fell cold.
“Do I have to answer that question?”
Hwang Bu-sik turned his head and looked at Yeom Gwi-bi.
Although he didn’t say anything, everyone could tell that he harbored the same suspicion toward her.
“You bastard…!”
As Hyeoltu’s face grew increasingly flushed red, Yeom Gwi-bi let out a small sigh.
That’s right. Last night, Il-myeong didn’t move a single step from here.
Then, taking a step closer to Hwang Bu-sik, he smiles broadly.
“But little brother… aren’t you going to tell me why you’re being so rude?”
Upon seeing the smile of Empress Yeom trying to conceal her anger, Hwang Bu-sik finally let out a sigh and bowed his head.
sorry.”
He shook his head as if trying to come to his senses, then slowly raised his head.
“Gal Mun-jeong, the leader of the Four Dragon Sect, died last night.”
“uh?”
And he glared at Il-myeong and said.
Distinct traces of the Geumgang Ilji and Geumgang Gwon were found on the corpse.
“her!”
“What is that…….”
Everyone inside knows.
That Il-myeong didn’t kill him.
But at the same time, everyone had the same thought.
People will think, ‘Il-myeong killed him.’
I asked Hwang Bu-sik.
“Are these really traces of the Geumgang Ilji and Geumgang Kwon?”
What do you mean?
“I am asking if that trace is certain. I am saying that it is similar, as if he imitated Akga’s singing style.”
Hwang Bu-sik gritted his teeth, revealing a murderous intent.
“I’m certain. Because I’ve been defeated by the Geumgang Ilji in the past.”
Hmm, so that’s how it is?
I nodded obediently.
Then it must be certain.
What are you going to do now? You’ve even missed your chance to escape.
We missed the chance to escape, so why is he getting angry?
What a ridiculous person.
I shrugged my shoulders and said.
“But let me ask you a favor instead.”
“Don’t ask me to open a way out. I have no desire to become an enemy of the Black Alliance.……”
“No! Not that. Please go to the market.”
market?”
Hwang Bu-sik wore a bewildered expression, as if he couldn’t understand.
I explained it to the dazed man.
“Since you’ve been branded an assassin, wouldn’t it be a big problem if you got caught coming and going as you pleased?”
So, you go to the market and do the shopping instead. The atmosphere in the Black Alliance, which had been condensing its anger like the calm before the storm, now turned into a thunderbolt about to explode.
Those who were drowning their sorrows in alcohol, and those who were waiting for orders from above, picked up their weapons and headed toward one of the halls.
It has been exactly one day since Dobongsu died.
When Gal Mun-jeong’s body was discovered before the investigation had even begun, let alone the exact cause of death, the patience of the Black Daoists finally ran out.
Moreover, word of mouth spread that the honest and clear seal found on Gal Mun-jeong’s body pointed to a member of the delegation as the culprit.
In a way, it was only natural to be indignant at the behavior of the higher-ups, who stood by idly rather than arresting the delegation.
Forgetting even the great cause of uniting to confront the Murim Alliance, they channeled the rage boiling in their hearts into the stones and tile fragments held in their hands.
Kwachang!
Bang!
Among them were those who wielded spears and axes provided as supplies by the Black Alliance.
This is a clue showing just how much the Black Sect’s anger has risen to the brim.
“The Murim Alliance must surrender and pay the price for their crimes!”
“How long are you going to keep doing such cowardly things!”
“What is there to wait for? Let’s go in right now and slit the throats of those scoundrels!”
To them, the higher-ups standing by with their hands behind their backs despite the continuing death toll, and Jin So-woon acting up and trying to catch the culprit even though it was clear that the delegation was the perpetrator, were acts that could no longer be tolerated.
“Isn’t the problem starting with Cha Seok-du, who requested the Murim Alliance to send an envoy to the Black Alliance’s inauguration ceremony in the first place!”
“Cha Seok-du and some of the leaders have already established close ties with the Black Flame Dragon. It is certain that they intend to use the Black Flame Dragon to eliminate their political rivals!”
“Let’s hang the entire delegation and Cha Seok-du!”
People’s anger began to flow unilaterally, and there was no one opposing it.
To refute this one-sided situation, other evidence was needed, but all the evidence only further strengthened the suspicion that the delegation was the culprit.
Gun Yu-hyeon, who visited the pavilion where we were staying as promised, cautiously asked me while observing the surroundings.
It’s okay……
Are you alright?
“Thanks to the efforts of those two absolute masters over there, we are at peace.”
Gun Yu-hyeon saw stones, spearheads, arrows, and hand axes scattered around the bloody battle and Yeom Gwi-bi, but his expression did not brighten.
Hmm, the inside is a complete mess, so I wonder if those guys out there know that the Black Alliance’s money will be needed to fix everything?
Gun Yu-hyeon was actually fidgeting nervously at my overly composed demeanor.
“We cannot remain as we are. I will speak to General Dam and ask him to dispatch at least the warriors of Sahwangbong.”
“Ah, it’s alright. Actually, I just stopped you two from going outside to break the legs of those bastards.”
yes?”
I relaxed my shoulders and smiled brightly at Gun Yu-hyeon.
I’m about to take care of it, so you don’t need to bother a busy person.
“solve……
Are you saying you will?
If I had only seen the deaths of Gu Gye-ak and Do Bong-su, I might have also had more trouble finding the culprit.
However, new information obtained while wandering around claiming to conduct an investigation.
And finally, having seen the distinct handprint on Gal Mun-jeong’s body, I was certain of the culprit, even if others could not.
“Who is the culprit?”
Gun Yu-hyeon, who was always so composed, asked cautiously.
“Ah, I need Lord Yuhyeon’s help with that part. Would you please come with me?”
Gun Yu-hyeon is well-versed in information not only about us, who belong to the Murim Alliance, but also about most of those residing in the Black Alliance.
Moreover, his calculations are so fast that his mind works incredibly well.
It is most comfortable to move together.
Gun Yu-hyeon makes a reluctant expression at my suggestion.
Do I have to go with you too?
Although he said he would help, it seems that stepping forward together in such a dangerous situation was something Gun Yu-hyeon also hesitated to do.
It’s smaller than I thought.
I patted his shoulder hard.
You don’t need to worry. We have the best escorts.
At my words, Hyeoltu, who had been moving his body while making all sorts of grimace faces on one side, suddenly let out a shout.
“Who are you talking about, bodyguards!”
Gun Yu-hyeon glances at the bloody battle and whispers cautiously to me.
“Can you really catch the culprit?”
I can assert this.
You can catch it.
I can already guess its identity.
I never imagined those bastards would be here.
“I thought they would only make their moves after the war had fully broken out.” ‘The Twin Shadow Demon Brigade.’ A specialized spy unit within the Demonic Cult that is so despicable and cunning it makes one grind their teeth.
To think these goddamn bastards were carrying out a scheme of murder by borrowing a sword in the Black Alliance right now.
It’s actually for the best.
I won’t catch it.
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
It is not just the grudge from this incident.
It is time to repay you, adding up all the grudges from your past life.
I will tear those bastards to pieces.
