By Zephyria Enlightenment (2)
“……Whoever he is, is that a problem?”
Yang Ha-gakju asked, wearing a blank expression like a frightened child.
“That incident was when my father, the Cult Leader, realized his son’s incompetence. Because of that, no one dared to mention it. If someone knows about something that even internal people are hush-hush about, we have to assume they have some connection to the Demonic Cult.”
“…….”
After a moment of silence, Yang Ha-gakju suddenly burst into laughter.
“Ha! You’re talking nonsense. There’s no way he would do that, is there? A Demonic Cult spy? Hahahaha!”
Yang Ha-gakju clutched his stomach and laughed.
Seong Mu-yeon’s expression quickly disappeared as he grew increasingly annoyed with Yang Ha-gakju, who was not answering and only enjoying himself.
“So, who is it?”
“Young master.”
Yang Ha-gakju’s laughter stopped abruptly.
“Yes?”
“Jegal Un Young master told me!”
“…….”
Yang Ha-gakju looked at their dumbfounded faces and laughed triumphantly, as if he had delivered a blow.
“I thought it was a big deal. Do you understand now? You can’t make the absurd claim that Jegal Young master is in league with the Demonic Cult, can you? Isn’t that right? What could the Young master of the great Shin-gi Jegal possibly lack?”
“Th, that’s…….”
“Even if it’s the Cult Leader’s disgrace, wouldn’t the Jegal Clan be able to figure it out?”
“Ye, yes, but…….”
Seong Mu-yeon shook his head. As it became clear that his excessive speculation was wrong, a sense of relief spread through a corner of his heart.
At least the spy isn’t the most influential person in this manor…….
“Third Generation Disciple Gang Woong!”
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Jang Han-soo stormed in with a fearsome expression.
“Yes, Sasuk!”
Gang Woong reflexively jumped up and ran to him.
“From now on, you will represent the Hwasan Sect here and protect the Sect’s honor.”
“……Yes?”
Jang Han-soo glared at Gang Woong’s dazed reply.
“Can’t you pull yourself together?”
“Yes, y-yes! I’m sorry.”
“What’s going on? Gang Dojo representing us? Then what about the other Hwasan people?”
Seong Mu-yeon, flustered by the sudden situation, approached them and asked. Then, Jang Han-soo replied in a cold voice.
“I just received a report that a group of wandering martial artists stationed outside witnessed a suspicious group in the southeast. It seems that some of the Demon Slayer Unit have broken away, and they requested confirmation. I will take command and take all the Hwasan Disciples except for Gang Woong.”
“Everyone? Then what about the Spirit Pill?”
As the conversation dragged on, Jang Han-soo frowned, impatient.
“There are still many troops left in the manor. In particular, the Wudang have decided to support the Jegal and do their best to protect the Spirit Pill, so it will be fine for a while.”
Seong Mu-yeon swallowed dryly, feeling uneasy. The timing of the support request was coincidental. Why now, when half of the troops are going to fight the Demon Slayer Unit, and why single out Hwasan?
“……Who gave the order?”
“It’s Jegal Young master’s order. Is that enough?”
Jang Han-soo took Gang Woong and left, as if he had nothing more to say. Jang Han-soo’s voice, quickly conveying his responsibilities as the person in charge, gradually faded away.
When Seong Mu-yeon turned around, Bang Gyeom and Seomun Yuha, who were as seriously hardened as he was, came into view. Yang Ha-gakju looked back and forth between the two and shouted.
“Wh, why do you have such expressions? You don’t really think he’s a spy, do you?”
“…….”
“Listen! This is absurd! You’re staying in the Jegal Clan’s manor and daring to suspect the Young master!”
“Please be quiet. I’m trying to think.”
Seomun Yuha glared at him, and Yang Ha-gakju quickly shut his mouth again. Seomun Yuha clicked his tongue, rubbed his forehead, and furrowed his brow.
“Am I the only one who feels uneasy?”
Seomun Yuha asked after a long time.
“If Jegal Un is a spy, or if anyone else is, it’s the perfect situation to secretly steal the Spirit Pill.”
“Aren’t the Wudang there too? The Wudang wouldn’t be in league with the Demonic Cult unless they all went crazy!”
Yang Ha-gakju was sweating with anxiety and tension.
“This won’t do. I’ll talk to Jang Han-soo Dojo.”
Seong Mu-yeon said. As he went outside, Hwasan Disciples, fully armed, were gathered in the front yard of the residence, exuding a sharp aura.
Seong Mu-yeon found Gang Woong and Jang Han-soo and approached them. The boy, burdened with heavy responsibilities, was stiff with tension, and Jang Han-soo was giving him instructions like a machine gun.
“What is it?”
“I’m asking just in case, but has the identity of the wandering martial artist who requested support been verified?”
Jang Han-soo frowned, as if he was displeased that Seong Mu-yeon was interfering with the operation.
“Why are you concerned about that, Young master? Jegal Young master gave the order, so he must have checked it. He’s not someone who works carelessly.”
“I hope that’s the case…….”
As Seong Mu-yeon trailed off, Jang Han-soo, who was about to scold the boy again, paused and glared at him.
“If you have something to say, just say it. There’s no time to beat around the bush.”
“How about checking one more time before you leave? Isn’t it possible that this is a plot to empty the manor? Jegal Young master is also human, so he could make a mistake, couldn’t he?”
“Why, are you worried that someone might harm you because there’s no one to protect you since everyone except Gang Woong is leaving?”
Jang Han-soo sneered, but Seong Mu-yeon nodded with an innocent face.
“Yes, I’m worried. So, if possible, please don’t go? What would Gang Dojo do alone if something happened in the meantime? How much has that young Dojo suffered, taking care of my sick Master and me, a useless good-for-nothing, before you arrived?”
“……Don’t you have any pride?”
“I’m more surprised that you’re just realizing that now.”
Jang Han-soo sighed annoyedly.
“Don’t push me. I know how to reason. Would I mobilize all our forces without a plan? I’ve already verified the wandering martial artist’s identity, and I’ve determined that the information is highly credible, so I’m going. The Wudang and Jegal are guarding here, and if we take care of the ones who broke away, there won’t even be enough troops to attack the Spirit Pill. If those guys join up with the main force, the fellow disciples who went ahead will be in more danger, so we have to go.”
“……Then I have nothing more to say.”
“Don’t cause trouble. As you said, if Young master causes trouble, Gang Woong will have to clean it up.”
“……Yes.”
Jegal Un watched the Hwasan leave with his family from a distance for a while.
Seong Mu-yeon and the others leaned against the gate and stared intently at Jegal Un’s back as he turned away.
“……I need to check if the Spirit Pill is safe.”
Seong Mu-yeon said quietly. Gang Woong, who had returned to his room with heavy steps, made a tearful face when he heard those words.
“What are you going to do? You heard what Sasuk said, right? If something goes wrong, I’m…….”
“What can I do? I’m just going to check from a distance.”
Gang Woong rolled his eyes anxiously, as if he wasn’t relieved.
“I can’t leave my post. I have to stay here so I can respond immediately in case of an emergency…….”
“Then Gang Dojo, stay here with the Pavilion Lord. Young Master Seomun, you’ll come with me, right? Bang Gyeom, you too.”
Seomun Yuha and Bang Gyeom followed Seong Mu-yeon as if it were natural.
The Spirit Pill was stored in the underground of the Central Hall, which was the most heavily guarded place in the manor. From the entrance to the underground, Wudang and Jegal Clan martial artists were surrounding it without any gaps, making it difficult to even enter. Even if they somehow managed to defeat them and enter, they would have to pass through a maze with deadly mechanisms that threatened their lives.
Seong Mu-yeon’s group crossed the quiet manor and arrived at the front yard, where the Central Hall was clearly visible.
“It doesn’t seem like there’s anything wrong.”
The magnificent palace was as quiet and solemn as usual.
Seong Mu-yeon scanned the majestic figure for a moment before spotting Jegal Un and a few others who had arrived earlier. He was giving instructions to the martial artists on guard, apparently trying to strengthen the security.
‘That’s right. There’s no way Jegal Un is a spy.’
The Jegal Clan is a prestigious family with wealth, power, and honor, so what would they lack that would make them join hands with the Demonic Cult?
Seong Mu-yeon soothed himself in this way, but there was one thing that bothered him.
When he happened to overhear a conversation between Jegal Un and the Clan Lord, he learned that Jegal Un’s position as the Young master in the Clan was not solid.
As he was lost in thought, he noticed Jegal Un saying goodbye to the people and heading somewhere alone.
There was a possibility that Jegal Un was not a spy from the beginning.
‘……What if Jegal Un joined hands with the Demonic Cult in order to solidify his position as Young master?’
Seong Mu-yeon unknowingly followed him.
‘What if he agreed to cooperate with the spy and hand over the Spirit Pill in exchange for making a definite contribution to this situation?’
The goal of the alliance is to eliminate the Demon Slayer Unit, not to protect the Spirit Pill.
‘The Third Young Master wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice an organization he had painstakingly built up for the sake of his goal.’