Chapter 236

Chapter 236
The emergence of a second casualty deepened the hostility within the Black Thought Alliance. Any individuals previously known for lighthearted chatter or private drinking had vanished, and, as if by mutual decision, a heavy silence settled over everyone as they observed the unfolding events.

Ak Byeong-bi, who had been recuperating in the Medicine Hall, ultimately had to return to the group’s quarters. He required significantly more recovery time, but the constant, uninvited intrusions of various Black Path members throughout the day left him with no choice but to depart.

“For now, the doctor has agreed to stop by once every day, so please try not to fret too much.”

“……”

Even with Il-myeong’s words of comfort, Ak Byeong-bi struggled to speak. Regardless of how things ended, he knew the origin of this entire mess traced back to him.

As though reading his internal turmoil, Il-myeong offered a thin smile and said,

“What is done cannot be undone. It was never your fault to begin with, Delegation Leader. What matters now is how we navigate our way out of this, right?”

Il-myeong was trying his best to hearten him, yet the somber mood made conversation difficult.

Just then, the silence was pierced by the sharp, melodic voice of the Flame Ghost Consort.

“Hmm…… this won’t be a trivial issue. The current atmosphere is anything but normal.”

It was a comment that cast a pall over an already grim situation, but nobody dared to challenge her. She was right; the Envoy Delegation was facing an dire crisis.

“Moreover, since the situation has devolved to this point, you cannot just run away either.”

Flame Ghost Consort paused briefly, brushing her lips before shifting her gaze to Dang Seo-hui.

“If you flee now, every Black Path scoundrel currently within the Black Thought Alliance will join the hunt to finish you off.”

“……”

Dang Seo-hui’s knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists, yet she remained silent.

Ever since the passing of Do Bong-su of the Blood Sword Sect, the air had turned bloodthirsty. Every quarter of an hour, debris and concealed weapons were hurled into the Envoy Delegation’s lodgings, and beyond the perimeter, an ever-growing crowd of armed men loomed, signaling their intent to slaughter the delegates.

Seeming to shield her from the Flame Ghost Consort’s gaze, Il-myeong stood in front of Dang Seo-hui.

“But Benefactor Yeom is aware, aren’t you? Benefactor Dang…… she did not do this.”

The person accused of killing Do Bong-su was none other than Dang Seo-hui. There had been no formal declaration from the Black Thought Alliance leadership, nor were there any eyewitnesses. Still, the discovery of a single Ox-Hair Needle on the body was enough for the Black Path factions to brand her the murderer.

“Benefactor Yeom kept watch over us all throughout the night, so can you not testify that Benefactor Dang never stepped out of these quarters?”

Flame Ghost Consort nodded immediately.

“Of course I can.”

However, her eyes narrowed as she stared at Il-myeong.

“The real question is, who would actually believe that?”

“……”

From the moment Ak Byeong-bi was marked as the killer of Gu Gye-ak, skepticism toward the Envoy Delegation had surged. With Do Bong-su now dead and another Ox-Hair Needle found, casting blame on the Tang Clan—the masters of hidden projectiles and toxins—felt like an inevitable conclusion. Furthermore, using poisoned Ox-Hair Needles was a signature technique of the White-Hand Divine Maiden, Dang Seo-hui. It felt as if every threat had been meticulously staged against the delegation.

Flame Ghost Consort gestured toward Ak Byeong-bi with a tilt of her head.

“I’m not sure if this brings any solace, but in my estimation, the Delegation Leader offering his own head is the most efficient way to resolve this for the moment.”

She then smoothed back her hair with elegant fingers and added,

“Otherwise, you all die.”

“……”

At her words, Dang Seo-hui’s expression hardened. A heavy, stifling tension filled the room.

“Where did that bastard, Jin So-un, disappear to?”

Ak Byeong-bi, having been quiet until then, finally spoke up.

Il-myeong replied instantly.

“He mentioned having errands to attend to outside and left.”

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

“……”

With tens of thousands of Black Path practitioners in the Black Thought Alliance hungry for their blood, what could be so vital that he would risk his life for it? But knowing him, he surely…

‘He’ll find a way to keep these people alive and get them out of here.’

After all, his feat of breaching the blockade of the Nine Sects and One Gang during the brutal Regular Exam before reaching Wuhan had been a frequent topic of conversation among the Execution Pavilion.

With newfound resolve, Ak Byeong-bi looked at Il-myeong, his expression calm.

“Il-myeong.”

“Yes.”

“When Jin So-un returns, prepare an escape route.”

“……”

Although Il-myeong offered no reply, Ak Byeong-bi pressed on.

“I’m staying behind. This agreement and alliance are beyond salvaging, so leave me and find your way back. This is my final order as Delegation Leader.”

“……”

Il-myeong listened quietly to Ak Byeong-bi before shaking his head.

“I’m afraid I cannot comply with that.”

“What?”

“Benefactor Jin already anticipated this.”

“What does that mean?”

Il-myeong shrugged as he relayed the message.

“He said if the Delegation Leader started spouting nonsense about ‘staying behind’ or ‘leaving him behind,’ I should just strike his pressure points and knock him out.”

“……”

Il-myeong smiled softly at Ak Byeong-bi.

“Benefactor Jin stated he hasn’t given up, and he doesn’t intend to start now.”

Ak Byeong-bi bit his lip hard.

Moments later, Dang Seo-hui’s voice, which had turned calm without anyone noticing, cut through the room.

“The command has already been transferred to Jin So-un. Therefore, Delegation Leader, you no longer have any authority.”

Once even Dang Seo-hui sided with that decision, Ak Byeong-bi had no response. He couldn’t fathom why Jin So-un was choosing such an arduous path.

‘Does he… really view me as a comrade?’

For some reason, he felt a tightness in his chest. In truth, he couldn’t grasp the logic. If he had been traveling with associates from the Five Great Clans, he would have been discarded as dead weight long ago. Had the roles been reversed, he would have made that same decision himself.

‘Because that is the rational, logical choice.’

No matter how close you are, you don’t go down with a sinking ship. Yet, Jin So-un, who didn’t even belong to the Five Great Clans, was risking his life for a man who had previously slighted him. Ak Byeong-bi found it difficult to process.

Even so, a tiny part of him wanted to grasp the hand Jin So-un had reached out.

“So, please get some rest, Delegation Leader. We are all going to return together.”

“……Understood.”

One who had surrendered his sense of responsibility lost the right to make choices. Ak Byeong-bi shut his mouth firmly, determined not to be a burden any longer.

Just then, a knock echoed at the door, and servants entered with trays of food.

“I was worried about our meals since we’re confined here. This is a relief at least.”

Flame Ghost Consort stretched out and took a seat at the table, while Il-myeong took the porridge to bring to Ak Byeong-bi. As everyone prepared to eat, Dang Seo-hui suddenly darted both hands outward, throwing Ox-Hair Needles.

*Ting, ting, ting!*

Flame Ghost Consort frowned as her spoon was knocked away, and Ak Byeong-bi watched, bewildered, as his bowl of porridge was splashed across the table.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Having been trapped inside, Flame Ghost Consort’s nerves were frayed, and she began to emit a subtle aura of killing intent, but Dang Seo-hui remained focused on the table.

“Benefactor Dang……”

“……”

Without a word, Dang Seo-hui approached the table and drove a long acupuncture needle into the meat dish Flame Ghost Consort had been about to eat.

“……!”

Upon seeing the tip of the needle turn black, Flame Ghost Consort grasped the situation instantly.

“Poison!”

Dang Seo-hui proceeded to test the remaining dishes one by one. Every needle she inserted into the dozen side dishes and the rice turned black. Having finished her inspection, she rose and looked back at the group, her tone soft.

“……We must be vigilant.”

It was the same detached tone she always used, yet a shiver went down everyone’s spines.

With every stride I took, hostile glares followed me. Some men gritted their teeth; others rested their hands on their hilts. One man even had his uniform billowing with circulating internal energy, but his companions noticed who was walking beside me and swiftly held him back.

Watching this, Blood Battle clicked his tongue.

“……You are a madman with a death wish.”

Is that true?

Reflecting on my past life, there were countless times I wished for death. Particularly after the Great Righteous-Demonic War began, there were nights when, after surviving by stepping over the corpses of the Sojeong Squad and my allies, I desperately hoped never to wake again.

A bitter smile played on my lips.

“Does it appear that way?”

“Do you think it could appear any other way?”

The only reason I could bury that desire for death and keep moving was rage. Rage against the Murim Alliance, who viewed our existence as mere statistics. Rage toward the powerful elite who treated us as expendable tools. And, above all, rage toward the Demonic Cult, who acted as if they held dominion over our very lives.

That rage kept me breathing. A malice that vowed, even if my heart were ripped out, I would gouge out an enemy’s eye. A poison that promised, even in certain death, I would ensure the enemy paid a price. That was the drive that kept the Sojeong Squad alive.

I intended to unleash that malicious venom in this life as well.

“It matters not how I look. Being obsessed with appearances is exactly what the culprit hopes for.”

That was why I was behaving like a suicidal lunatic. The culprit surely wanted us to hide like cowards. He wanted us to tremble in terror and flee. If that’s what he wanted, then wandering around as if I’d discarded my life was the last thing he’d expect. If it truly bothered him, I’d be happy to strip down and sprint through the Black Thought Alliance.

When I entered the largest pavilion on the eastern side of the Black Thought Alliance, the noisy chatter ceased abruptly. This pavilion was shared by those within the alliance who lacked significant power. Consequently, more Black Path warriors were gathered here than anywhere else I had visited.

A massive man shoved through the throng, axe in hand, and stood before me.

“If it isn’t the Black Flame Dragon!”

He scanned me from head to toe, his face twisting into a sneer.

“How dare you show your face here?”

“I have business. Step aside.”

“Hmph! Who are you intending to murder this time?”

I couldn’t help but let out a short laugh.

“Even if I were the culprit, would I walk around in broad daylight just to slay a insignificant rat like you?”

“What?! You bastard!”

Ignoring him, the giant lunged to grab my throat with his left hand. I brushed his hand aside, seized his sleeve, and unleashed Snowflower, slamming his head into the floorboards.

*BANG!*

The man crashed through the wood and slumped, unconscious. Immediately, the surrounding Black Path martial artists drew their weapons in unison, preparing for a brawl.

*CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!*

Just before a massive fight erupted, a deep sigh sounded beside me.

“Haah……”

*THUD.*

Blood Battle stomped the floor. The warriors standing nearby lost their footing and collapsed, their stances shattered.

Good heavens. What kind of technique was that? These men were supposedly reputable figures in the Jianghu, yet they were forced to one knee as if their legs had been turned to jelly. Every time I saw him in action, he grew more impressive.

Blood Battle surveyed the pacified room and growled.

“Did you not hear the order to avoid reckless actions?”

“……”

The crowd looked furious, but after witnessing that ‘Heaven beyond Heaven’ level display of power, none had the courage to retort.

Once the area was quiet, I resumed walking, and Blood Battle asked, sounding exasperated.

“Why on earth did you come here?”

“I can’t solve this alone. I’m here to request aid.”

“Aid?”

“Yes. If a problem is too difficult to handle alone, one should ask for help, shouldn’t they?”

Blood Battle let out a hollow laugh at my answer.

“You call that display the attitude of a man asking for help?”

I offered a light shrug.

“In the Black Path Murim, isn’t it the strong who get to dictate the terms?”

“……”

One of the fundamental laws of the Black Path was the survival of the fittest. I used to loathe the injustice of it, but in this current situation, there was no law more convenient. If one had the physical prowess, why bother with intellectual debates to persuade ignorant thugs?

Following the laws of the Black Path, I walked inside with confidence.

And then.

“Welcome.”

At a table to the side, Gun Yu-hyeon sat waiting, offering a smile that was genuinely pleasant. His complete composure was impressive. As expected, he was no common man.

“Did you know? That I would come?”

“I thought it was a possibility.”

The fact that he had expected my arrival made the trip to see Gun Yu-hyeon worthwhile. I went straight to the point.

“Can you help us?”

“Hmm……”

If he joined me now, the repercussions within the Black Thought Alliance would be unpredictable. Unlike Blood Battle, it would be difficult for a disciple of a minor sect like the Heavenly Crown Sect to take such a risk.

However……

“Am I truly necessary for this matter?”

If he was asking whether he was required, he absolutely was. I chose my words carefully before answering.

“I believe that without you, Young Master Yu-hyeon, it will be hard to resolve this matter correctly.”

Gun Yu-hyeon bowed his head in contemplation.

‘Should I have spoken somewhere more private?’

Because of the many watching eyes, I knew he would hesitate. Yet, the answer he gave was unexpected.

“I will help.”

Gun Yu-hyeon said this without his expression wavering at all.

“Are you certain… that will be alright?”

Although I had requested it, I hadn’t truly expected him to agree so readily.

“Isn’t this all for the sake of the Black Thought Alliance and the Murim Alliance? Naturally, I should assist.”

“I appreciate you viewing it that way.”

As I bowed with clasped hands, Gun Yu-hyeon added, looking apologetic,

“However, may I make my final decision after obtaining permission from Strategist Dam?”

Why was Dam Ak being brought into this?

“He is a valued figure to me, and I would prefer not to offend him.”

It was behavior perfectly consistent with Gun Yu-hyeon’s character. I nodded immediately.

“Of course. Even if you cannot join us, I will keep your offer in mind.”

Gun Yu-hyeon offered that same radiant smile.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

I left Gun Yu-hyeon behind and exited the pavilion with Blood Battle.

“To maintain that smile in a situation like this……”

As I muttered to myself, Blood Battle grumbled.

“What are you rambling about?”

I shook the thought away.

“It’s nothing.”

“Are you finished with your lunacy?”

“Yes.”

With that, all preparations were complete. It was time to start hunting the hidden culprit in earnest.