Chapter 398

Chapter 398
Chapter 398. Personal Revenge (8)

—

Once morning arrived, foot traffic dwindled to a minimum within the pleasure district. During these hours, the only visible souls were usually Jeom-so-yis sweeping away the remnants of the previous night’s revelry or rousing intoxicated patrons who had collapsed on the cobblestones, directing them back to their residences. Having labored throughout the dark hours, the staff of these establishments were finally preparing to rest.

Just as the local businesses were shutting down for sleep, an individual wearing garments entirely out of place for such a neighborhood stepped into the mouth of a narrow passage. A Jeom-so-yi who was cleaning the lane nudged his coworker.

“Look… over there.”

Recognizing the newcomer’s attire, the other man turned pale with fright and quickly clamped a hand over his companion’s mouth.

“Be quiet! Observe carefully! That is the traditional monastic robe worn by members of the Shaolin Temple!”

“Good heavens… I nearly caused a massive problem.”

Though they spoke in hushed whispers, the desolation of the street caused the Jeom-so-yis’ exchange to reverberate clearly through the air. Hye-seong, whose bald, wrinkled head flushed crimson, ground his teeth together and forced himself to remain stoic, acting as though he remained entirely oblivious to their remarks.

‘Of all the possible locations, they chose a place like this…’

He could comprehend the reasoning, however. Given that they had openly opposed the Man-tong-bu and the Alliance Leader’s Pavilion, taking refuge in a disreputable area to evade the gaze of the Murim Alliance made tactical sense. Even at this very hour, Jegal So-myeong was thoroughly upending the Elders’ Council within the alliance headquarters. Still, Hye-seong could not suppress a wave of irritation, wishing they had selected a somewhat quieter sanctuary.

As Hye-seong stepped inside the designated drinking house, a bloodshot-eyed Jeom-so-yi stumbled forward to offer a bleary welcome.

“Allow me to show you inside.”

The main floor was currently being aired out following a thorough cleanup, effectively erasing the lingering odors of the prior evening. Walking past the attendant toward the rear section of the establishment, he spotted Cheong-su-jin-in standing near a pavilion. The figure stood motionless, hands clasped behind his back, gazing down into a small body of water.

“…You have arrived.”

“Were you able to rest at all last night?”

Responding to Hye-seong’s inquiry, Cheong-su-jin-in kept his eyes fixed on the carp darting through the pond.

“I do not plan on sleeping until I have definitive proof of that person’s demise.”

“…Is that so.”

“To be completely precise, sleep simply eludes me.”

Hye-seong repressed a heavy sigh. The truth was that the operation was taking significantly longer than anticipated. Their initial calculations predicted that Dam-ak would perish while still within the borders of Wuhan. Instead of being eliminated, he remained obstinately alive and was actively attempting to depart from Hubei Province. This development complicated their plans immensely. To make matters worse, Hye-seong was burdened with additional negative intelligence that he had to share.

“The Great Military Counselor has uncovered the reality of the situation.”

Instantly, Cheong-su-jin-in’s posture turned rigid. Suppressing the sudden wave of murderous intent that pulsed from his form, he regained his composure and adopted a casual tone.

“Ah, so that explains why the Cheon-mok-gak Pavilion Master failed to appear.”

Even so, Hye-seong’s expression grew progressively grimmer.

“…The situation is veering off the path we envisioned.”

“There is no need for anxiety. The Gae-bang has already mobilized…”

“I am telling you that it is merely a matter of time before the Alliance Leader uncovers everything, now that the Great Military Counselor is fully aware!!”

*Chak—*

Having spoken too loudly, Hye-seong abruptly fell silent. He stared in momentary bewilderment as Cheong-su-jin-in unfurled a stark white fan, casually waving it to enjoy the cool air. Noticing the chilling glint reflecting from Cheong-su-jin-in’s eyes just over the edge of the fan, Hye-seong’s brow twitched, and he found himself unable to easily resume speaking. A tense silence stretched between them for a brief period.

“Does their power frighten you?”

The query was delivered in a hushed, steady tone.

“What utter foolishness…”

“If that is true, then why do you appear so visibly unsettled?”

“…Ahem.”

Finding himself unable to counter the remark due to sheer awkwardness, Hye-seong remained quiet as Cheong-su-jin-in walked over and took a seat directly across from him.

*Jyo-r-r.*

A delicate, fragrant steam wafted from a teacup that had been prepared in place of alcohol.

“When all is said and done, a massive conflict is bound to erupt from these events. Once this inevitable struggle concludes… what sort of legacy do you think chroniclers will write about us?”

“….”

Cheong-su-jin-in took a measured sip of his beverage, deliberately providing his companion a chance to formulate a reply. Hye-seong found himself at a loss for words.

“Will we be remembered as individuals who blindly obeyed the edicts of a corrupt Murim Alliance and stood idly by as it collapsed? Or…”

Displaying a serene expression, Cheong-su-jin-in offered a bright grin as he finished his thought.

“Will we be remembered as the ones who excised the root of malice prior to the conflict, thereby restoring harmony to the realm? Hye-seong Daesa, which legacy would you prefer to leave behind?”

“….”

“Cast aside your anxieties, Hye-seong Daesa.”

“…I never claimed to be anxious.”

Observing the untroubled, confident demeanor of Cheong-su-jin-in, who seemed entirely certain of the Jeong-do-hoe’s ultimate triumph, Hye-seong knitted his brows.

“My only real apprehension stems from the fact that Jin So-un has involved himself in this affair. That man is completely erratic and impossible to predict.”

Jin So-un. The mere mention of the most irritating figure currently disrupting their plans caused Cheong-su-jin-in’s flawless composure to fracture momentarily. Quickly masking his annoyance, he steadied his expression and gently turned his cup.

“…For that very reason, I took it upon myself to deploy Hyeon-yeong.”

“Oh… is that the case?”

A brilliant gleam flashed within Cheong-su-jin-in’s eyes for a fleeting second.

“That young disciple is far too steadfast to be swayed by corrupting influences like Il-gak.”

“…!”

Hearing his own disciple’s name mentioned caused Hye-seong’s face to flush deeply. Ever since Il-gak, who was widely regarded as a brilliant prospect among the younger generation, began disregarding Hye-seong’s instructions, Hye-seong’s personal authority had suffered a severe decline.

“T-That youth would never be swayed by corrupting influences!”

“If that is the reality, then what prompted him to submit an application to join the Baek-rang-gak?”

“…Ahem.”

Hye-seong’s face darkened from red to a deep crimson that spread all the way to his ears and scalp. Pushed to his limit, he found it impossible to maintain a calm facade. Regardless of how disobedient the youth had become, Il-gak remained his primary disciple who had mastered the highly coveted *Muscle-Changing Scripture* (*Yeok-geun-gyeong*) belonging to the Shaolin Temple.

“It cannot be denied that Il-gak is currently navigating a period of personal uncertainty.”

No guardian labels a teenager’s rebellion as an unforgivable sin against the family. Instead, they assign the blame to the companion who exerts a negative influence over him. Il-gak was simply losing his way temporarily.

“But this situation is entirely the fault of that individual, Jin So-un. He is an exceptionally manipulative and dangerous person.”

“….”

Cheong-su-jin-in cast a look of quiet disdain toward Hye-seong.

“I do not deny that he possesses remarkable capabilities. Even so, there is no reason to artificially build up the adversary’s reputation just to disguise the shortcomings of your own pupil, is there?”

“….”

Hye-seong’s jaw twitched, but he was prevented from replying because another individual was hastily making their way across the courtyard.

“Identify yourself! I gave strict orders that no one was to enter!”

Hye-seong’s sharp, irritated shout echoed across the grounds, causing the approaching person to freeze mid-stride. Shaking with trepidation, the newcomer lowered his head deeply.

“I-I have arrived bearing word from the Gae-bang.”

“The Gae-bang?”

“Yes. A critical development took place during our pursuit, so I came without delay to deliver a report.”

“A report. Does this mean you have successfully finished Dam-ak?”

“No, sir.”

“No?”

What alternative piece of information could possibly justify journeying all this way at such a critical juncture? With every passing moment being precious, their focus should strictly be on identifying which specific transport Dam-ak was utilizing and consolidating their operational forces. As a wave of frustration and bewilderment swirled in his thoughts, an utterly baffling statement escaped the lips of the Gae-bang operative.

“Among the fleeing transports… an individual demonstrating military spear forms was observed.”

“The military forces?”

Hearing an entirely unexpected revelation, both Cheong-su and Hye-seong widened their eyes in astonishment. The Gae-bang operative rushed to provide additional specifics.

“The combatant was explicitly executing the *Yuk-ga-chang-sik*.”

“The *Yuk-ga-chang-sik*… are you referring to the Beijing Yuk family?!”

“That is correct.”

Cheong-su-jin-in and Hye-seong exchanged deeply troubled looks.

“The Beijing Yuk family…”

The inclusion of such an unforeseen faction left his mind completely bewildered.

“…For what reason would government forces involve themselves in the internal conflicts of the Murim?”

For generations, it remained an ironclad, unspoken agreement that official authorities would refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Murim. In reciprocity, the Murim avoided meddling in government politics. However, the involvement of formal military units altered the equation significantly. The armed forces respond solely to the directives of the Imperial Palace, and controlling the actions of the Imperial Palace ultimately rests with the Emperor himself.

“It is a known fact that Dam-ak once held a position within the Imperial Palace; do you believe this situation stems from that old connection?”

Faced with Hye-seong’s hypothesis, Cheong-su-jin-in quickly fell silent before responding.

“His tenure at the Imperial Palace was brief. This could easily be nothing more than a calculated trick.”

At that moment, the Gae-bang operative spoke up to clarify.

“We are reporting this only after thoroughly verifying the details with multiple sources. There is no doubt that the technique used was the *Yuk-ga-chang-sik*.”

Bolstered by the Gae-bang operative’s certainty, Hye-seong turned to question Cheong-su-jin-in intensely.

“He states it is a verified fact. What is our next course of action?”

“Our strategy remains unchanged. If he truly held such immense significance, would the Imperial Palace have passively allowed him to align with the Sa-heuk-ryeon in the first place?”

“….”

Hye-seong understood the reality. Cheong-su-jin-in’s assessment was largely born of desperation. The unpredictable whims of the Imperial Palace had disrupted the stability of the Murim on numerous occasions throughout history. Regardless, they had ventured too far down this path to abandon the operation now. He refrained from offering any further critique.

“Regarding… the ongoing chase?”

“What about it?”

“The transport belonging to the Tae-eul Sect and the vehicle containing the warrior practicing the *Yuk-ga-chang-sik* are currently traveling along entirely separate paths.”

“Order our forces to track both vehicles.”

“Our existing numbers are simply insufficient to manage both routes effectively.”

Hearing the Gae-bang operative’s assessment, Cheong-su-jin-in creased his brow in deep frustration. Yet, he possessed no alternative options.

“…The Jeong-do-hoe will allocate additional manpower.”

“Understood.”

Long after the Gae-bang operative turned and departed from the courtyard, a heavy silence lingered between the two leaders. Their minds had become profoundly weighed down by these intricate complications.

The enemy scouts had scattered in absolute terror upon witnessing the *Yuk-ga-chang-sik*, acting as if they had encountered a ghost. Thanks to their hasty retreat, our group managed to successfully traverse Mount Ho-ryeong just as twilight began to fall.

“Ah… spending the entire day confined to a carriage leaves my muscles completely rigid.”

Dam-ak, having just finished consuming a bowl of warm meat broth beside the open fire, offered a lazy stretch along with his complaints. One would hardly guess he was the actual target of an intense manhunt.

“Is it acceptable for me to have another serving?”

In stark contrast to the troublesome Dam-ak, Dang Seo-hee and Jegal Cheon-gi, who had shared the carriage ride with him, remained perfectly well-behaved without voicing a single grievance. I silently wished the unruly leader of the Black Path Murim would take a page out of these children’s book. I gently patted Dang Seo-hee on the head and offered a warm nod.

“Of course you may.”

The moment the words left my mouth, Dang Seo-hee and Jegal Cheon-gi eagerly dipped their wooden utensils into the cooking vessel, sharing the remaining meal with great camaraderie. Observing this interaction, Dam-ak turned a bewildered expression toward me.

“We haven’t spotted a single tracker since midday; how exactly did you pull that off?”

“That is a closely guarded secret, so I cannot share it with you.”

“How incredibly miserly.”

Good grief. I was completely speechless.

“Does this mean the hunt is finally over?”

Not a chance. Even if the sight of the *Yuk-ga-chang-sik* had startled them, the members of the Jeong-do-hoe were far too relentless to abandon the chase so easily. Their fanatical devotion to their version of righteousness closely mirrored the insatiable craving of a bloodthirsty Demon. I sought to instill a proper sense of caution in Dam-ak.

“Keep your guard up until we safely set foot in Anhui Province.”

“Understood. *Yawn*.”

…Seriously, I literally just instructed you to remain vigilant, yet you’re yawning so casually…

“In that case, do you mind if I catch some sleep first? Since I lack any martial arts training, I tend to exhaust myself quite rapidly.”

“….”

Completely disregarding my advice, Dam-ak stretched out directly onto the earth and closed his eyes. I left his side and walked over to where the members of the Tae-eul Sect had set up camp a short distance away. Aside from the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers, the majority of the group had gathered together to partake in a quiet evening meal.

“Is the food to your liking?”

“Have you had a chance to eat yet?”

Responding to the Munju-nim’s polite query, I quickly gave a nod.

“Please, join us and get some rest. Watching your efforts earlier, it must have been incredibly taxing to handle the combat entirely on your own.”

*Ah*, as always, the only person who truly looks out for my well-being is the exceptionally kind Munju-nim. Father, why do you lack such a warm disposition? I turned my gaze toward my Father, silently wishing for a bit of that same affection.

“…What are you gaping at?”

*Wow!* I genuinely pity the child of such a parent, whoever that might be.

“What possessed you to tag along on this journey anyway? I distinctly remember telling you to travel alongside Manor Lord Wang.”

“You impudent boy! I was once recognized as a martial artist ranking among the top five experts within the entire Tae-eul Sect.”

That statement held truth. Serving as the Outer Hall Master, he had frequently utilized his martial prowess to protect the sect’s finances from disappearing on more than a few occasions.

“Sure… but that belongs entirely to the past.”

Contrary to my prediction that he would explode in fury at my teasing remark, my Father’s face unexpectedly grew incredibly solemn.

“It is absolutely imperative that I accompany you on this path. I need to witness firsthand precisely what sort of perilous situations you are embroiling yourself in.”

“…I do not make a habit of involving myself in perilous situations.”

“Hmph! I would place my faith in the words of a common charlatan before I ever believed you.”

Honestly, what kind of parent addresses their own offspring in such a manner?

“Rest easy, O-ra-beo-ni. I shall personally ensure the safety of the Hall Master-nim.”

“It is not O-ra-beo-ni! You should address him as Dae-sahyeong!”

In response to So-so’s reassurance, Sa-ryeon stepped forward to intervene. What exactly was happening here? So-so was beaming with a bright smile while Sa-ryeon maintained a perfectly blank expression, yet I was somehow the one feeling intimidated.

“D-Dae-sahyeong… despite my own shortcomings, I will also exert my absolute best efforts to assist.”

Yu-seong, sitting quietly nearby, flushed red and offered a polite bow, prompting me to gently pat his head.

“Yes. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

While I was uncertain of how much progress So-so had achieved during this period, the presence of both Sa-ryeon and Yu-seong reassured me that a dire emergency was unlikely to catch us off guard, so I consented to my Father’s presence on the trip. I could not predict how much additional scrutiny the transport carrying the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers would attract, but ultimately, the members of the Tae-eul Sect assembled here would need to serve as the primary distraction. I merely prayed that everyone would emerge from this endeavor without sustaining severe harm.

Perhaps sensing the anxiety within my thoughts, the kind Munju-nim reached out and placed a heavy, calloused hand upon my shoulder.

“Do not allow yourself to become overly anxious. The Tae-eul Sect is merely journeying back toward Hefei after concluding our affairs in Wuhan. No faction possesses a legitimate claim or justification to impede our transit.”

Is this what a genuine emotional bond feels like? Even though the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers alongside Sa-heun had consistently remained by my side, I frequently experienced a profound sense of isolation. The sheer weight of the responsibilities resting on my shoulders occasionally felt overwhelmingly heavy. Yet, at this precise moment, a wave of profound security washed over me, knowing I was surrounded by the Tae-eul Sect. Even if the collective forces of the entire Jeong-do-hoe were to descend upon us, I felt no fear.

The grip of the kind Munju-nim on my shoulder tightened progressively.

“Should they attempt to block our passage…”

A powerful, overwhelming aura of dominance (*pae-gi*) suddenly radiated from his entire being. Moments later, a chillingly tranquil phrase escaped his lips.

“I shall grant them a taste of absolute damnation.”

“….”

The usually gentle Munju-nim, whose eyes had suddenly transformed into those of a ruthless brawler, offered me a sharp grin.

“So-un, do not lose sleep over whatever consequences follow.”

He resembled a terrifying Yaksha freshly emerged from the depths of a blazing inferno. Ah… I really cannot get used to this side of him. Who on earth are you? Please bring back our original, gentle Munju-nim.