Chapter 209

Chapter 209: The Path to Seeking a Solution (3)

Making his way toward the freshly constructed grand pavilion, Dong Bongsu found his thoughts spinning rapidly.

Following his confrontation with Sang Gwanhwi and his faction the previous evening, he had escorted the local village women safely back to the River Capital.

Although no hidden mission or bonus objective had triggered from this deed, maintaining a righteous reputation carried its own vital weight.

At this moment, preserving a flawless impression in front of Lumina was paramount.

From that perspective, his choices were entirely strategic; he reasoned that letting Bae Dal-pae take credit for rescuing the captives would secure numerous unwritten advantages later on.

Naturally, he had taken strict measures to guarantee their silence.

Crucial, high-tier intelligence—specifically regarding the horrific acts committed by Sang Gwanhwi’s followers and the manifestation of devastating Demonic Arts—was far too sensitive to be spread recklessly around the world.

Even though he withheld the finer intricacies from Bae Dal-pae, the group had undoubtedly deduced the core reality of what transpired.

Yet, this didn’t cause him much anxiety, either.

The binding power of the ‘Second Belief’ was at play here.

Under its influence, it was absolutely guaranteed that they would refrain from any speech or behavior that might harm the interests of the Hero’s Sect.

‘The real issue lies elsewhere…’

It was the pair trailing behind him.

The two individuals representing the Formation Tower who kept close to his heels.

[The requirements to trigger the Spiritual Eye have been fulfilled. The technique Spiritual Eye is now operating automatically.]

Their position shifted constantly, maintaining a gap of roughly three to four meters.

Whether their collective energy belonged to one master or both remained unclear, but their presence signaled a formidable adversary.

Given his current state, relying solely on the readings from the Spiritual Eye wasn’t enough to map out the true depth of their martial capabilities… nonetheless, he had to take it for granted that their reservoir of Internal Energy vastly eclipsed his own.

“Who exactly are those people?”

Jeon Rahwa suddenly materialized right beside him, her voice reaching his mind through the secret method of Sound Transmission.

[They are visitors.]

“They hardly strike me as ordinary travelers. Their aura feels immensely formidable.”

[Correct. Their strength isn’t merely an illusion; they are truly powerful masters.]

“They aren’t here to start a war, are they?”

[Their purpose is to track down a specific individual.]

“Which one? Do you mean that artist?”

[Precisely.]

“I haven’t caught sight of him lately.”

[I temporarily dispatched him to a different location.]

“…”

Stepping forward, Jeon Rahwa pushed open the heavy entrance of the principal pavilion, a door that had rarely been used and still emitted the distinct fragrance of freshly cut timber.

Resting her hands firmly against her waist, she turned to Dong Bongsu and shook her head in disapproval.

“Absolutely not. You are fully aware of the situation, aren’t you? Construction on this structure wrapped up barely a couple of days back.”

“What are you referring to?”

“Stop acting oblivious.”

“Fine, fine. I will do my utmost to keep my impulses in check.”

“You do remember that the formal Sect Opening Ceremony takes place tomorrow morning, correct?”

“Oh, yes. That event.”

“Aren’t you taking this a bit too lightly? Sect Leader Kim? Lest you forget, you are the actual leader of this entire establishment!”

“I am perfectly content with being a merely nominal Sect Leader.”

“Good grief… you are impossible. Regardless—”

Casting a swift glance toward the two figures standing further back, Jeon Rahwa concluded her warning.

“Do not spark any conflicts here. The effort we poured into erecting this compound was absolute torture.”

“Understood, understood.”

Extending a hand, Dong Bongsu playfully messed up Jeon Rahwa’s hair before turning his attention toward the pair from the Formation Tower.

“Shall we step inside?”

Leaving her to mutter complaints in his wake, Dong Bongsu let out a soft chuckle and walked over the threshold into the primary chambers ahead of the others.

The interior was pristine, showcasing an orderly arrangement that perfectly mirrored Jeon Rahwa’s meticulous nature.

The natural patterns of the freshly sawn lumber remained sharp on the surrounding walls, while the storage ledges were kept completely free of unnecessary mess.

While devoid of luxury, every item occupied its exact, proper position.

Dawn’s early rays pierced sideways through a mid-level window frame, projecting elongated shadows of the timber’s natural lines onto a circular table positioned right in the middle of the room.

Fixed to a nearby wall was a simple wooden board inscribed with the name ‘Hero’s Sect’—the strokes were so uneven and misshapen that only Hoae could have been responsible for them.

Meanwhile, a collection of ceremonial items prepared for the upcoming Sect Opening Ceremony lay arranged in an orderly pile off to the side.

Creeak.

Dong Bongsu slid a seat out from the circular table and took his place.

Even as he did so, he pushed his cognitive processing to maximum speed.

Numerous possibilities and outcomes flashed across his consciousness, though he had not yet committed to a single path.

The ultimate resolution would hinge entirely on the dialogue about to unfold.

“My name is Kim Rae-won,” he stated as Yan Bilyeong and Myo Jinheo settled into chairs adjacent to each other, facing him directly.

“I go by Yan Bilyeong.”

“And I am Myo Jinheo, a member of the Myo family and a Trigram Master belonging to the Thunder Formation Division, specifically the Zhen Trigram within the Heavenly Formation Dao Alliance.”

The moment these basic formalities concluded, Yan Bilyeong launched straight into her inquiry.

“Mutoe. Rather, where has Trigram Master Dongmun departed to?”

“To the Formation Tower,” Dong Bongsu answered calmly, giving her a direct explanation.

“He has gone on an excursion back toward the Heavenly Formation Dao Alliance.”

Hearing this, Yan Bilyeong released a tense breath of reassurance, yet her gaze instantly sharpened as she unleashed a barrage of pointed accusations.

“You keep employing the phrase ‘gone on an excursion’ as if it means nothing. Trigram Master Dongmun is, beyond any shadow of a doubt, an official member belonging to our Formation Tower.”

Dong Bongsu silently evaluated the woman sitting across from him.

Her aura suggested a passionate, volatile temper, yet one balanced by deep emotional loyalty to her kin.

She wore her thoughts openly, exposing her internal state to a startling extent.

He swiftly redirected his attention to Myo Jinheo, who remained seated by her side.

This man possessed a mild yet calculating intellect, displaying a gaze saturated with profound suspicion while offering zero glimpses into his mind.

‘This individual stands in stark contrast to Yan Bilyeong.’

Furthermore, he presented an enigma that Dong Bongsu failed to fully decode.

While he could discern the basic human presence and character traits the man projected, any deeper insights were entirely obstructed, rendering him completely inscrutable.

‘Fascinating. So it is actually possible to embed a functional array directly within one’s eyesight.’

Spreading open his hand fan with deliberate intent to shield the lower portion of his visage, Myo Jinheo reinforced his companion’s argument.

“Indeed. Trigram Master Dongmun is undeniably an elite-level Formation Master aligned with the Heavenly Formation Dao Alliance. Viewed from that angle, the terminology ‘gone on an excursion’ used by Sect Leader Kim appears rather unnatural. Be that as it may, there is a separate matter that captures this Trigram Master’s curiosity far more… would you permit an inquiry?”

“By all means. Speak freely.”

The instant assent was granted, the microscopic blood vessels interwoven throughout Myo Jinheo’s sclera began to subtly shift and revolve.

It was an incredibly minute vibration that would have eluded any observer save for Dong Bongsu.

“Did you not introduce yourself earlier by stating that Sect Leader Kim’s personal name is Rae-won?”

[An unmapped spiritual territory has expanded into your surroundings.]

“That is indeed true.”

“And does that represent your authentic identity?”

[The specific triggers have been satisfied. ‘Shield of Faith Lv.2’ is now actively deploying.]

An incredibly delicate, translucent layer of luminescence settled over Dong Bongsu’s sight.

It was so faint that no conventional visual inspection could ever hope to perceive it.

How fascinating.

He had previously assumed it was merely an ability requiring conscious activation, but it appeared to have developed a passive defensive mechanism upon reaching Level 2.

Naturally, even if the Shield of Faith had failed to manifest, countering that particular application of Formation Dao would not have posed a significant challenge.

After all, his body was constantly enveloped by the flawless, inherent protection of the Super True Qi Field.

“Indubitably. Does that pose an issue?”

“…Not at all. This Trigram Master simply recollected a specific individual sharing an identical moniker to Sect Leader Kim, which prompted me to inquire out of mere intrigue.”

“Ah. I am also familiar with that figure. Individuals frequently confuse my identity with his, though in all truth, I remain uncertain myself. I cannot say for sure if that individual is truly who I am.”

Dong Bongsu locked his gaze directly onto Myo Jinheo, letting out a soft laugh.

“Or perhaps, if I am truly that individual.”

Refusing to back down, Myo Jinheo maintained a piercing stare of his own, attempting to discern the validity behind Dong Bongsu’s cryptic remarks.

Yet, the outcome was disastrous.

“…Ugh.”

The intricate vascular patterns within the whites of Myo Jinheo’s eyes began to violently warp and distort until a slender bead of crimson leaked from the edge of his eyelid.

Without his understanding the exact mechanics, the ocular array constructed within his eyes had been completely shattered.

Observing Myo Jinheo rapidly ducking his face downward, Yan Bilyeong immediately perceived that an anomaly had occurred.

Her brow furrowed fiercely as she snapped upright from her chair.

“What sort of underhanded tactic are you playing at?!”

“Ha, ha. I have not initiated a single action. Rather, shouldn’t your blame fall upon your companion, who secretly employed a deceptive technique with hostile intent?”

“What nonsense are you spewing?”

“Hahaha. Perhaps you should direct that question to your associate before accusing me?”

Yan Bilyeong whirled her head around to glare at Myo Jinheo.

Using the edge of his sleeve to clear away the streak of blood pooling near his eyelid, Myo Jinheo offered a despondent, strained grin.

“…He speaks the truth. This Trigram Master committed a grave miscalculation, Trigram Master Yan.”

“A miscalculation?”

“The words of Sect Leader Kim are accurate. The initial provocation came entirely from our side.”

“You couldn’t possibly mean… you attempted to deploy the Mind-Reading Eye?”

“Forgive me, Trigram Master Yan.”

“Sigh—”

Yan Bilyeong’s facial features shifted into a convoluted mask of conflicting emotions.

Her outrage no longer had a clear target.

She was unable to vent her wrath upon Myo Jinheo since he admitted his wrongdoing, yet she possessed absolutely no moral ground to condemn Kim Rae-won.

Ultimately, she lowered herself back into her seat.

However, she refrained from leaning back against the frame, keeping her posture rigid and fully primed for action.

Dong Bongsu silently monitored every nuance of the exchange.

Because Myo Jinheo had initiated the stealth attack while Dong Bongsu had remained completely passive, the upper hand in this ethical standoff had effectively swung into his favor.

“Shall I pour you some tea?”

Acting as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, Dong Bongsu flipped over the porcelain vessels sitting atop the circular surface, which Jeon Rahwa had set out beforehand.

Yan Bilyeong ignored the gesture entirely.

Myo Jinheo, after a brief hesitation, reached out and grasped his cup.

“…Let us abandon the pleasantries and speak plainly,” Yan Bilyeong demanded following a heavy sigh.

“What purpose brought Trigram Master Dongmun to this location?”

“He arrived with the intention of taking my life.”

Twitch.

Her facial muscles twitched violently. The tenuous self-control Yan Bilyeong had managed to reclaim instantly fractured into pieces.

“Hah—! Are you claiming that Mutoe attempted to assassinate you?”

“Precisely.”

“In that case, by what miracle do you still draw breath?”

‘She truly operates on a straightforward, superficial level.’

He had spent time agonizing over how to properly frame the situation regarding Dongmun Mutoe to these emissaries, but it appeared his anxieties were entirely redundant.

Folding his arms over his chest, Dong Bongsu locked eyes directly with Yan Bilyeong and delivered his response, enunciating every single syllable with absolute clarity.

“Because I emerged victorious.”

“…”

Every trace of emotion drained cleanly from Yan Bilyeong’s countenance.

Dong Bongsu pressed his advantage without pausing.

“Following my victory, I granted him clemency, and upon receiving that mercy, he made the conscious decision to remain within these walls.”

“How could such a scenario… possibly be logical?”

“What makes it unbelievable? After all, wasn’t it by tracing the remnants of the clash between myself and Dongmun Mutoe that your path led you directly to this gate?”

Dong Bongsu had already pieced the timeline together perfectly.

Judging by the duration of their journey and their specific pursuit of Dongmun Mutoe at this precise location, it was undeniable that they had charted the path left by the combat.

Under those circumstances, even an unperceptive individual would conclude that a master had systematically dismantled the specialized array deployed by Dongmun Mutoe, and that master was none other than ‘Kim Rae-won’.

Despite this obvious deduction, their response remained incredulous.

“Your esteemed Trigram Master Dongmun has formally pledged his loyalty to our Hero’s Sect. This is the precise reason I utilized the phrasing ‘gone on an excursion’ a moment ago.”

Since things had evolved this way, he simply needed to lean into the narrative.

“Pledged loyalty?”

With a sharp click, Myo Jinheo forcefully collapsed his hand fan.

This marked the absolute first instance since the start of their dialogue that he had abandoned his relaxed posture with the open accessory.

His gaze tightened significantly, displaying an intensity that far eclipsed the moment his ocular technique was broken.

“Sect Leader Kim. Are you fully cognizant of the gravity underlying the claim you just made?”

“Gravity? Why should it matter?”

Dong Bongsu gave a light laugh.

“I have done nothing more than report reality.”

Myo Jinheo fell entirely silent, his fingers tightening like a vice around the handle of his fan.

Meanwhile, Yan Bilyeong’s complexion had flushed an intense crimson.

As her striking features twisted into an expression resembling a wrathful specter, the sheer scale of her indignation became undeniable.

“…Have you lost your mind?”

Her tone was hushed, carrying an underlying menace far more terrifying than any loud exclamation.

“For what earthly reason?! Why would my direct martial brother align himself with a newly formed, insignificant organization populated by nothing but green juveniles?! Answer me!”

A violent surge of True Qi burst forth from her frame.

This raw, untamed True Qi of a Trigram Master flooded the room, propelled entirely by her surging emotions, leaving it ambiguous whether she was directing it deliberately or simply losing control.

The circular wooden table began to tremble, causing the porcelain cups to clatter loudly until one capsized, sending its contents streaming across the surface.

The wooden board carved by Hoae hanging against the wall shifted out of alignment.

Amidst the chaos, the atmosphere surrounding Dong Bongsu remained entirely undisturbed.

The passive activation of his Super True Qi Field perfectly counteracted the localized atmospheric pressure bearing down upon him.

Consequently, the liquid within his own vessel remained completely still.

“Control your temper.”

“Control my temper?! A prominent figure among the Eight Trigram Masters! Submitting to a pathetic, upstart faction?!”

Slamming her hands down onto the circular table, Yan Bilyeong forced herself to her feet.

From the focal points where her palms pressed into the surface, a sprawling, spiderweb-like network of True Qi rippled outwards through the natural grain of the wood.

Whether driven by deliberate intent or pure instinct, the deep-seated reflex of a Formation Master attempting to map an adversary’s Qi Veins via physical contact had manifested openly.

Her probing yielded absolutely nothing.

Just as earlier, the man’s physical form remained entirely unreadable; not a single trace of energy emanated from his person.

This complete lack of feedback served only to further stoke the flames of her rage.

“Very well.”

Tracing a swift trajectory through the empty air with one hand, Yan Bilyeong instantly manifested glowing threads of True Qi that stretched tightly across the circular table.

It was an uncomplicated array—designed not to gather intelligence, but to physically incapacitate.

This particular containment array was a specialized technique belonging to the Mountain Formation Division, engineered specifically to immobilize an adversary’s torso.

“Verifying this through force will be far more efficient.”

Just as he anticipated, adopting the identity of Kim Rae-won proved incredibly advantageous under these circumstances.

Maintaining this posture of an unyielding defender of righteousness would create an impeccable justification later on.

Once this moral framework was set, the ensuing clash would be highly entertaining.

“Trigram Master Yan!”

Myo Jinheo barked out a warning, but his intervention came far too late.

“What an intriguing pair you are.”

A sharp grin pulled at one corner of Dong Bongsu’s mouth, curving upwards in genuine amusement.

It was an expression of absolute synchronization between his internal thoughts and external demeanor.

“If this represents the integrity, virtue, and ultimate rationale upheld by your Formation Tower—”

Then I shall gladly accommodate your terms.

With a sudden, explosive rush, Dong Bongsu lunged forward toward the duo like a flash of lightning.