Chapter 382

Chapter 382
### Chapter 382: The Overflowing Waves (7)

—

The architecture of the Bureau of Infinite Information (*Mantong-bu*) was highly reminiscent of a grand, sprawling hall. Rows of desks sat out in the open without any dividers, while walls were lined from top to bottom with towering bookshelves packed with an endless stream of incoming paperwork. Simply judging by the layout, this airy design was clearly optimized to maximize the operating efficiency of the *Mantong-bu*.

“Hold on……?!”
“*Uaaaah!*”

Lately, however, a massive backlog of unhandled documentation had begun spilling over onto the floor past the shelving, gradually turning the workplace into an absolute labyrinth. Merely getting around the office required navigating this makeshift maze, and Chief Strategist Zhuge-so-myeong, the director of the *Mantong-bu*, was no exception to the rule.

*Patter, patter.*

Yet on this particular day, a diminutive shadow trailed closely behind Zhuge-so-myeong wherever he directed his steps within the *Mantong-bu*.

*Whoosh—*

Even when Zhuge-so-myeong made a sharp, sudden turn around a corner.

*Patter, patter.*

The figure followed him like glue. Clad in an oversized turquoise robe that made her appear even smaller than she was, the shadow kept hot on Zhuge-so-myeong’s heels. Growing thoroughly exasperated by the constant tailing, Zhuge-so-myeong grumbled with a deep scowl:

“There is absolutely no reason for you to follow me around in this manner.”

The pint-sized shadow immediately retorted:

“You do not need to concern yourself with me (*-geos-iya*).”

“……*-geos-iya*?”

Zhuge-so-myeong’s brow furrowed further, but Dang-seo-hui merely tilted her head, her face completely blank as if she were entirely oblivious to any issue.

“……I am well aware of your verbal quirks, but you should at least append a ‘*-yo*’ (polite particle) at the end.”

“*-geos-iya……-yo*?”

What kind of bizarre linguistic monstrosity was that? Zhuge-so-myeong let out a heavy groan, followed by a quiet sigh.

“That Poison King fellow raised his child with far too much indulgence.”

“I was by no means raised with indulgence (*-geos-iya*).”

*Gleam.*

“……*-yo*.”

“Why on earth did she have to adopt that obnoxious old man’s manner of speaking?”

Muttering under his breath, Zhuge-so-myeong cast another glare toward Dang-seo-hui.

“Since you have been stationed here, the official who will oversee your tasks and give you direct commands is Maeng-ju-won, the Head of the Bureau of Infinite Information over there. So report to him and learn the ropes.”

“Grandfather stated that it is wisest to absorb knowledge from the individual who excels the most (*-geos-iya*).”

“…….”

“……*-yo*. This method is highly inefficient (*-geos-iya*)……”

Massaging his throbbing temples as a headache began to form, Zhuge-so-myeong ultimately chose to ignore Dang-seo-hui entirely, turning back to his administrative duties as if throwing his hands up in defeat.

*Patter, patter.*

Observing this highly unusual spectacle upon arriving for his shift, Maeng-ju-won muttered in utter bewilderment.

“……What in the world am I looking at?”

A nearby staff member of the *Mantong-bu* responded with a quiet, weary sigh.

“She is an applicant.”

“An applicant for what?”

“An applicant looking to join the *Mantong-bu*.”

Maeng-ju-won’s expression twisted like crumpled parchment.

“The Hundred-Handed Spirit Maiden?”

“With the Dragon-Phoenix Committee having concluded its operations, it is time for her official placement within the Murim Alliance. She has been shadowing the Chief Strategist like that, claiming she wishes to observe the daily operations of the *Mantong-bu* firsthand.”

“No, what I mean is, for what possible reason is the Hundred-Handed Spirit Maiden trying to join the *Mantong-bu*?”

“How should I know?”

The staff member gave a helpless shrug. Maeng-ju-won, who had spent the last few days in high spirits anticipating the arrival of fresh talent, felt a sudden ache in his head. The Hundred-Handed Spirit Maiden. Granted, among the younger generation of the *Gangho*, she was widely regarded as a phenomenal talent whose capabilities rivaled even the older martial artists—but that reputation was based purely on her prowess in combat.

*Patter, patter.*

“……I explicitly ordered you to stop following me.”

“Do not concern yourself with me (*-geos-iya*).”

“…….”

“……*-yo*.”

Dang-seo-hui continued to scurry across the *Mantong-bu* office floor like a newly hatched chick tracking its mother. Her entire presence felt completely at odds with the *Mantong-bu*, an institution where personnel had to carefully balance the dynamics of the *Gangho* by treading with absolute precision upon the razor-thin tightrope of political neutrality. Furthermore, given her spectacular martial arts background and immense family backing, how could someone who completely disregarded Zhuge-so-myeong’s directives ever function properly within the bureau?

“She will surely…… fail the entrance assessment, correct?”

He attempted to grasp at any shred of optimism, but the colleague beside him dashed his hopes with a shake of his head.

“During her time at the Academy, her theoretical marks were second only to Il-myeong.”

“…….”

Then again, her flawless marks in both theory and practical applications were precisely why she had been so prominent in the Dragon-Phoenix Committee.

“Well, even so, from the standpoint of addressing our understaffing, isn’t this a positive development—”

“What?!”

Hearing his colleague speak so casually about a situation that didn’t affect him directly, Maeng-ju-won’s features contorted in irritation.

“Are you eager to perform your duties while catering to a subordinate who acts like your superior?”

“……Even so, she understands organizational hierarchy. Surely she wouldn’t engage in outright insubordination?”

When exactly had this man become such an unbridled optimist? Had excessive overtime finally warped his mind?

“Is that how you feel? In that case, moving forward, the Hundred-Handed Spirit Maiden is entirely your responsibility.”

“……I shall draft my letter of resignation immediately……”

“I am denying it ahead of time.”

Faced with Maeng-ju-won’s unyielding stance, the staff member let out a protracted sigh.

“Then this has truly evolved into a massive complication.”

“Indeed. If the Hundred-Handed Spirit Maiden joins us as a newcomer……”

“No. That is not the issue.”

“Eh?”

Right at that moment, a man walked gracefully into the space separating Maeng-ju-won and his subordinate.

“May I log this file in this manner?”

Hearing a male voice of such striking, crystalline clarity, Maeng-ju-won naturally turned his head. The moment his gaze landed on the man’s features, he found himself momentarily taken aback.

“Oh, Yong-so-ah?”

“Greetings, Head of the Bureau of Infinite Information.”

“Y-yes…… that is correct.”

Yong-so-ah cast a brief glance toward the sunlight streaming through the window before speaking in a measured, low tone:

“It is my understanding that the official start of the workday is set for the Hour of the Dragon (*Jin-si*).”

“…….”

“Arriving on schedule is a fundamental obligation for any member of the Alliance. I ask that you exercise greater punctuality moving forward.”

With that, Yong-so-ah offered a courteous, brief nod, deposited the paperwork he had completed, and walked away.

“…… shreds of silence lingered.”
“…….”

A heavy, tense quiet settled over the space.

“……Did that newcomer just lecture me on my arrival time?”

“Matters have truly taken an ominous turn.”

The staff member, observing Maeng-ju-won as he muttered in a daze, released a deep sigh.

“What is to become of us at this rate?”

“What do you mean, what is to become of us? We must absolutely prevent them from entering our ranks!”

“By what means? Do you intend to challenge them in a test of martial skill?”

“Ha, what nonsense about martial skill! Have you forgotten that bureaucrats wage their wars with ink and paper?”

Bellowing with sudden bravado, Maeng-ju-won snatched up the document Yong-so-ah had just submitted. After all, taking the minor flaw and inflating it into a catastrophic error was a specialized talent of his. A smug smirk crossed Maeng-ju-won’s lips as he puffed out his chest.

“I shall show him exactly how I have brought the Jeongdo-hoe, the Baekdo-hoe, and the 12 Peaks and Castles to heel all these years……”

Yet, as his eyes scanned down the lines of the text, Maeng-ju-won’s confident voice dwindled down to a faint whisper. Ultimately:

*Grind—*

He ground his teeth together in sheer frustration. Even that burst of anger offered no relief.

“Dammit.”

A sharp expletive slipped past his lips. Alarmed, the *Mantong-bu* staff member regarded Maeng-ju-won with wide, apprehensive eyes.

“……W-what is wrong with it?”

“See for yourself.”

Taking the sheet into his hands, the staff member could only nod in begrudging agreement. While the document could not be classified as a flawless masterpiece, it was completely devoid of any exploitable errors or shortcomings.

“My, this caliber of work…… with just a bit of refinement, his capabilities could easily match those of Jin-so-un……”

“Are you celebrating? Are you genuinely pleased?! Curse it all! The one individual who actually belongs here didn’t even sit for the assessment. Instead, we have these eccentric anomalies lurking about the *Mantong-bu*!”

Maeng-ju-won’s bright disposition from earlier that morning collapsed into a state of profound gloom.

Yong-so-ah kept stride alongside Dang-seo-hui. I pressed him repeatedly to reveal his underlying motives, but he remained tight-lipped. Despite my abrasive demeanor, Yong-so-ah didn’t display the slightest hint of annoyance, which only served to aggravate me further. Of course, given that Dang-seo-hui was already practically drooling at the prospect of transforming into a legendary heroine, it wasn’t an endeavor Yong-so-ah could easily derail.

Even so, just as I was growing paranoid that Yong-so-ah might disrupt our strategy.

[I shall accompany you as well.]

He suddenly transmitted a completely unexpected message. What on earth brought about this sudden change of heart? My thoughts swirled in confusion for a brief instant, but I quickly gathered my resolve. Very well, let it be. I have no inkling of what he imagines my goals to be for him to offer his cooperation, but as long as he refrains from obstructing my path, his personal motivations are irrelevant. If anything, this could be viewed as a stroke of luck, as the number of reliable guards capable of shielding Zhuge-so-myeong at absolute close range had now doubled to two.

This fortunate turn allowed me to dedicate my full attention to tracking Song-baek-pung-sa. Throughout my temporary absence, the operatives of the *Ha-o-mun* had maintained their shadow on Song-baek-pung-sa, and I had managed to secure a comprehensive record of every individual he had interacted with. However,

“Hmm……”

Nothing out of the ordinary caught my attention. I placed the most prominent figures under distinct, closer watch and continuously reviewed the updates pouring in regarding their movements. Yet, even after a thorough analysis of all that intelligence, no anomalies surfaced. Left with no other alternative, I resolved to tail the target with my own eyes.

“It is an honor to meet you. Have you been keeping well?”

“The Great Hero appears to be in magnificent health.”

“This is entirely due to the boundless benevolence of the Wudang Sect.”

Song-baek-pung-sa, who had originally started out as an escort warrior originating from the secular disciples of the Wudang Sect, had forged a formidable reputation through his guard duties during his youth. He later established a highly successful escort enterprise in Jiangxi Province. Following that breakthrough, he preserved deep alliances with the Wudang faction, expanded his domain across the Jiangnan territory, and filled the role of Wudang’s primary Jiangxi outpost flawlessly.

Occupying such an influential station, his daily itinerary in Wuhan was just as packed as that of a leader presiding over a massive faction. He conducted meetings by budgeting every single second of his day, and during the brief lulls between these appointments, he engaged in business discussions over drinks. In the intervals between each scheduled meeting, he would utilize his internal cultivation to purge the alcohol from his system, thoroughly wash himself, change into pristine garments, and immediately hasten to his next engagement. He was truly the epitome of a precise and calculating merchant.

The associates he interacted with were equally prestigious. Eminent monks from the primary temple of the Shaolin Temple, leaders of the *Jeongdo-hoe*, and high-ranking dignitaries within the Murim Alliance constituted his primary clientele. The reason why accounts of his sudden disappearance had reached my ears even during my past lifetime was precisely due to the sheer volume of influential figures within and outside the Murim Alliance who launched inquiries to locate him after he vanished.

Because he had cultivated an unshakeable bond of reliability spanning several decades and collaborated on matters of significant mutual gain, his sudden vanishing had sent shockwaves through numerous clans and merchant alliances, creating an immense uproar throughout the Murim Alliance shortly thereafter.

Given the gravity of the circumstances, my thoughts grew deeply tangled. Was I to interpret this individual as an impostor mimicking Song-baek-pung-sa’s identity? Or was I forced to conclude that Song-baek-pung-sa himself had been a deep-cover operative embedded by the Demon Cult since the very beginning?

‘This is truly maddening.’

If the situation fell under the former category, resolving the issue would be relatively straightforward. However, if the truth aligned with the latter scenario, I risked facing severe retaliation from a multitude of orthodox factions, most notably the Wudang Sect itself. Yet, would stewing in anxiety yield a superior path forward? Ultimately, the current predicament demanded an immediate, decisive choice. And I possessed no desire to gamble an unpredictable future on a desperate gamble of blind faith.

“……Since when did I allow myself to become paralyzed by hesitation.”

I quietly activated the Turtle Breathing Walk (*Gwi-sik-haeng-bo*). Suppressing the aura that concealed my physical presence, I maintained a vigilant eye on him. Regardless of whether he picked up on my proximity, he proceeded with his pre-arranged duties without alteration.

After concluding his grueling itinerary late into the evening, he finally appeared to let his guard down slightly. Untying the sash of his tightly bound martial robes, he assumed a more relaxed, easygoing gait. He paused to examine the wares of street merchants who kept their stalls open into the midnight hours, purchasing a handful of items and navigating through the market square with an air that felt entirely authentic and natural.

As I tracked his movements with cautious, steady steps, he eventually steered his course into a dim, secluded alleyway. The exact moment I stepped past the threshold to follow him inside, a voice rang out.

“I found myself wondering who could possibly be shadowing me, and it turns out to be an individual of quite considerable renown.”

He stood waiting for me further within the shadows of the alley.

“The Black Flame Dragon, Jin-so-un.”

“…….”

“Given that you display no signs of astonishment, it appears my suspicion that you were tailing me deliberately holds true.”

I locked my gaze onto his facial features and physical demeanor. Try as I might, I could detect no subtle indications of deception, nor any telltale edges of a human-skin mask (*In-pi-myeon-gu*).

“What motive could possibly drive a disciple belonging to the Tae-eul Sect to shadow my steps? Particularly someone who has been riding a wave of unmatched acclaim in recent days.”

Furthermore, the faint trace of antagonism he directed toward me was backed by a heavy, formidable pressure. In all honesty, if this man wasn’t a genuine secular disciple of the Wudang Sect, who else could truly claim to be a ‘true’ practitioner of the White Path?

“…….”

My mind swirled with conflicting thoughts. Even so, I could neither afford to stand idly by nor attempt to remedy the situation after a disaster had already unfolded. I was required to unmask the truth right this instant. Bringing my hands together in a formal salute (*Po-gwon*), I offered a low bow.

“I have sought you out in this manner to request a formal exchange of martial insight, as a profound sense of respect took root within me after hearing of Senior’s exceptional renown.”

“Hahaha, the great Black Flame Dragon Jin-so-un seeking me out? A mere secular disciple?”

“Could the stellar reputation of founding the Song-baek Escort Agency within Jiangxi Province relying solely upon a single blade ever be justly minimized by the word ‘mere’?”

“Haha! To coat me in such lavish praise when your heart feels otherwise. I am truly at a loss as to what your true objective is.”

Song-baek-pung-sa projected his underlying hostility, flashing a subtle, menacing grin.

“Even if your words are genuine and you simply seek a martial lesson, the current hour is entirely inappropriate. Return and seek an audience through official channels at a later date.”

“…….”

His physical bearing and vocal cadence were flawless. Not a single trace of suspicion could be gleaned. Despite that, my hand reached for my weapon.

Choosing between the death of Zhuge-so-myeong or turning myself into a mortal enemy of the Wudang Sect—if forced to make a definitive choice between those two outcomes, the correct path was undoubtedly the latter.

‘In any event, I am already considered a foe by the Wudang Sect.’

*Slight—*

The moment the Red Light Sword bared its glowing edge and I unleashed a surge of my internal cultivation, a tangible wave of tension rippled across Song-baek-pung-sa’s features.

“I am well aware that members of your respective clan are currently staying within Wuhan.”

“…….”

“Are you prepared to face the repercussions of your actions?”

A verbal response was entirely superfluous. After all, the final outcome of this confrontation had already been set in stone.

*Swish—*

As my Small Heavenly Sword Technique (*Socheon-geom-beop*) thrust forward with lethal speed, Song-baek-pung-sa swiftly unbuckled the leather sash wrapped around his midsection.

*Rattle.*

A hidden blade manifested from within the belt; a slender, flexible sword blade extended outward like a striking serpent, rising to intercept the trajectory of the Red Light Sword. It was the Five Elements Sword (*O-haeng-geom*), the very foundation of the Wudang school, moving to neutralize the Small Heavenly Sword Technique.

*Clang! Rattle—*

Without a moment’s delay, I transitioned into the Great Heavenly Sword Technique (*Daecheon-geom-beop*) to overwhelm his visual perception. However, Song-baek-pung-sa maintained absolute composure, executing the Five Elements Sword to systematically deflect my deceptive phantoms and squarely clash against my genuine strikes.

“Speak. What manner of conspiracy are you executing?”

Truthfully, seeing him execute the Five Elements Sword with such flawless precision caused a flicker of doubt to cross my mind, making me wonder if I had committed a grave error. But having pushed the matter to this extreme threshold, what purpose would turning back serve?

“……If you require the absolute truth, I merely wished to verify a certain variable.”

“Verify what?”

“A martial technique that has recently come into my possession.”

As the words left my mouth, I completely relinquished my suppression over the Red Light Sword.

*Aaaaaaaaah.*

Simultaneously, a chorus of eerie, unearthly shrieks resounded through the surrounding space, and the metal of the blade became saturated with a crimson hue. Song-baek-pung-sa, whose demeanor had remained steady until now, scrambled backward in visible alarm. Seizing upon that momentary lapse in his defense, I unleashed the Breaking Formula (*Pa-swae-sik*) specifically tailored against the Five Elements Sword.

*Clang! Rattle.*

The Breaking Formula sliced cleanly through the deceptive afterimages produced by the Great Heavenly Sword Technique. Song-baek-pung-sa’s martial attire ballooned outward as if ready to rip apart at the seams, a clear sign that he was calling upon the absolute maximum of his internal reserves. His limbs blurred in a dance-like sequence of rapid motions, desperately working to parry the onslaught of the Red Light Sword.

*Slash.*

A final, resonant collision of steel echoed out.

“*Phew*……”

I found myself unable to suppress a victorious grin.

“Dammit, I was genuinely anxious for a moment.”

“What?”

“I was terrified that you might actually turn out to be someone unrelated to the Demon Cult.”

“……What absolute gibberish are you spouting—”

I stretched my smirk even wider as I locked eyes with the man before me.

“You absolute bastard. Do you truly expect to keep up the charade of playing Song-baek-pung-sa after executing a flawless counter to the Breaking Formula?”

The facial features of Song-baek-pung-sa—or rather, the entity belonging to the Ghost Five—twisted into an expression of raw fury.