novelraw Chapter 238 : Me, you say?
Chapter 238 : Me, you say?
The atmosphere in the Blood Demon Valley was heavy.
"The Wolya Faction's assassination failed. Thirty-four elite assassins, including three special-grade assassins, were annihilated..."
The Ghost Demon's face became strange as he heard the news from the Wolya Faction.
It was clearly not good news, but the Ghost Demon's expression wasn't particularly displeased.
Rather, a faint, knowing smile appeared.
"What was the One-Star's reaction?"
"There was no major reaction. I heard he just nodded and is reading Buddhist scriptures."
The corner of the Ghost Demon's mouth twisted up.
"What's with the scriptures, so unlike him. Anyone who saw him would think he was a proper high monk. For a damn monk..."
"..."
The subordinate diligently lowered his head and pretended not to hear.
The One-Star was strictly higher in rank than the Ghost Demon. Chiming in on slander was not a good course of action.
However, the hierarchy was not necessarily absolute. Just as the logic of the strong-eat-the-weak ruled, it was also a world of insubordination. The lower ranks could always scheme against the upper ranks and rise.
It was nothing special for the Ghost Demon, the second-in-command within the Blood Demon Valley as the Two-Star and the leader of the Dark Sect, to laugh at the One-Star.
"Tsk. Did he think he could succeed by using mere assassins? Well, his martial power is exceptional, but he's not a man of great experience."
The Ghost Demon relentlessly continued his slander against the One-Star, the leader of the Blood Demon Valley and the head of the Blood Sect, the Blood Buddha.
Originally, in terms of age and seniority, the Ghost Demon was far superior.
At the end of the Righteous-Demonic War, the Ghost Demon was a veteran who had survived the long war.
On the other hand, the Blood Buddha was a new master of the Demonic Path who had suddenly appeared at the end.
The age difference between the two was over twenty years, and in terms of seniority, there was a one-generation gap.
Now, the tables had turned.
'The Heavenly Demon praised him as a peerless prodigy and said that with time, he had the potential to rival the Azure Sky Sword God.'
Although he sneered and slandered him on the outside, the Ghost Demon was afraid of the Blood Buddha.
The growth of his skills matched that potential.
While he could have pursued the path of hegemony and seized power in the Demonic Path, the Blood Buddha did not.
He always wore a benevolent smile. To those who didn't know, he would look like a benevolent monk. But the Ghost Demon knew clearly that behind that smile lay a path stained with a great deal of blood.
"Tsk. So only my plan has worked out."
The Blood Demon Valley had proceeded with two plans simultaneously.
The first was the Blood Buddha's direct attack on the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero through the Wolya Faction.
The second was the Ghost Demon's plan to recruit the Sword Sect and solidify their power.
In fact, until recently, the Ghost Demon had thought his plan had failed.
Because the spies he had sent as observers had died and contact had been lost.
The situation had changed drastically not long ago.
"Seomun Jeok, is his word certain?"
"According to the investigation, it doesn't seem to be a lie."
"Hmm."
The Ghost Demon stroked his chin.
Seomun Jeok, the demon of the Sword Sect who had made contact, was impressive even in the Ghost Demon's eyes.
He was not intimidated in front of him and was bold.
He was rough yet agile, and his innate magnanimity and courage were enough for even the Ghost Demon to admire.
"So you're saying it took time for them to seize the initiative because the Sword Sect was split into factions."
Seomun Jeok's explanation was that in the process, the identities of the Blood Demon Valley's observers were discovered and they were brutally killed by the group that opposed joining forces with the Blood Demon Valley.
The story was that after fighting over whether to join or not due to the split, the side supporting the union had recently seized the initiative.
Of course, the Ghost Demon did not believe it. He immediately sent his subordinates to confirm the situation.
"It does not seem to be a lie. All the circumstances match Seomun Jeok's words."
"Is that so."
The Ghost Demon was pleased, perhaps because the Blood Buddha's plan had failed.
However, the subordinate had a slightly uneasy feeling.
'All the circumstances match perfectly... as if it were thoroughly planned and prepared.'
But the subordinate could not speak rashly.
The Ghost Demon's generosity was not wide enough to present a mere suspicion without concrete evidence.
"Good. Let the Sword Sect into the valley. I must make them my definite force."
"Are you planning to place them directly under you?"
"The One-Star, that man is not an easy opponent."
In fact, he didn't see the Blood Buddha's plan as a complete failure.
The Ghost Demon had already noticed that the Blood Buddha had seen several moves ahead.
'He would have expected the Wolya Faction's failure anyway. The problem is that the Wolya Faction and the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero are now at odds, and the assassination must proceed, so the Wolya Faction will be in a position where they need the Blood Buddha's help. Then, naturally, the Blood Buddha's influence on the Wolya Faction will grow, and they will eventually fall into his hands.'
The Blood Buddha, one of the most powerful beings in the Demonic Path, would come to possess the sword known as the Wolya Faction.
It wasn't a problem for now. They were building up their forces to achieve a Demonic Path-ruled world. In any case, they were all on the same side for now.
But it was what came after.
"The Heavenly Demon from beyond the borders will soon return. A Demonic Path-ruled world is a matter of course. The Azure Sky Sword God is gone, and the Sword Venerable is also old. A black sky will come in place of the azure sky, so we must think about what comes after."
A Demonic Path-ruled world was a certainty.
The Ghost Demon believed so without a doubt.
If so, after achieving a Demonic Path-ruled world, wouldn't a fierce power struggle erupt within the Demonic Path?
'The day will come when I, and my Dark Sect, will stand tall.'
The Ghost Demon's eyes spewed a blue, ghostly fire.
* * *
Cheon Mubaeck did not rush.
'The dozens of Wolya Faction bases. After 40 years, there must be differences from the ones I know.'
At that time, the Azure Sky Sword God had been closely monitoring the Wolya Faction's bases and movements.
It was to eliminate them in one fell swoop if they, as an assassin sect, were to side with the Demonic Path.
Fortunately, the Faction Lord of that era was a smart man, and he had thoroughly hidden himself, avoiding the Righteous-Demonic War.
Now, all the bases of the Wolya Faction were in Cheon Mubaeck's head.
However, since some bases might have changed over time, attacking them immediately was out of the question.
Also, if it became known that the assassination had failed once again, their movements would surely become more secretive.
'It's not that I can't chase them.'
It was just a bit troublesome.
As soon as he reached Chongqing, Cheon Mubaeck took several measures.
"It's annoying without Neung-heo."
"Mister Neung-heo was surprisingly good at his job, wasn't he?"
"Even a slow worm has a talent for rolling."
"Hee-hee."
Zhuge Seola suddenly laughed. Cheon Mubaeck tilted his head.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because it's obvious you like Mister Neung-heo, even while pretending not to."
Cheon Mubaeck made a bizarre face as if he had heard something dreadful.
It was the most varied expression Zhuge Seola had seen on him.
"That's a terrible thing to say, so don't even joke about it."
The first place he headed was the Hanamun branch.
"Monitor the bases and assassins of the Wolya Faction."
With the Hanamun's leader, Gok Ji-heum, having become little more than Cheon Mubaeck's subordinate, Cheon Mubaeck gave orders almost unilaterally.
The Hanamun flinched at the name Wolya Faction, but they followed without hesitation.
"Will the Hanamun be able to monitor the Wolya Faction?"
"There is no one more suitable than the Hanamun."
"The Hanamun is suitable?"
Zhuge Seola's eyes widened. It was a statement that was hard to understand at first glance.
Cheon Mubaeck didn't explain, giving her time to think.
The brilliant Zhuge Seola clapped her hands after a short while.
"I see. Because assassins are masters of disguise."
As Cheon Mubaeck smiled lightly, Zhuge Seola continued excitedly.
"The ones who attacked us before also had all sorts of appearances. A hunter, an herb gatherer, a monk..."
"That's right."
"Assassins also closely monitor their assassination targets. To do that, they have to be nearby. They can't stand out and must blend into the environment. The most common are ordinary people. Merchants, shop assistants, store employees..."
Cheon Mubaeck grinned.
Zhuge Seola didn't have much experience in the martial world, but she was certainly brilliant. She was skilled at grasping the big picture from small clues. Just as her father was the chief strategist of the Righteous Alliance, she too had inherited the qualities of a strategist.
"So if the Wolya Faction wants to keep targeting you, Young Master, they will disguise themselves as ordinary people."
"The Hanamun is a place where such lower-class people gather, so if an unfamiliar person blends in, it's easy to notice. The Hanamun are also masters in this field."
"I see! You already had a weapon in your hand to monitor the Wolya Faction, Young Master."
At her sparkling eyes, Cheon Mubaeck gave an awkward smile. It was too much of a gaze to be just simple admiration.
"You're amazing. Really! I wonder when you made this relationship with the Hanamun..."
Originally, Zhuge Seola had a deep affection for Cheon Mubaeck. To that was added admiration as a martial artist and astonishment as a scholar.
It was natural.
The Wolya Faction's attack was clearly an unforeseen event.
It was unexpected. Anyone would be flustered to learn that assassins were targeting them.
'But the Young Master isn't shaken in the slightest.'
How could a person be like this?
Even those who had grown old and weathered in the martial world would not be able to act so calmly.
'Even if he has a plan, having the power to carry out that plan is another matter.'
One could be as calm as Cheon Mubaeck. One could be unshaken. And one could agilely come up with a new plan.
But the ability to immediately put what one has thought of into action comes from the power one possesses.
The Hanamun is an information organization.
They sell information for money.
They are no different from thorough merchants.
If you ask such people to take on surveillance, what would their reaction be?
It was clear they wouldn't agree as favorably as they did now.
Even if pressured by force, the Hanamun would rather hide than submit.
But at Cheon Mubaeck's words, the Hanamun mobilized its organizational power without hesitation.
It was the result of the very solid relationship Cheon Mubaeck had built up.
This was Cheon Mubaeck's true power.
'It's not for nothing that the Righteous Alliance's leader said that.'
Previously, when Zhuge Seola had asked for permission to bring Cheon Mubaeck, Gwak Yong had gladly accepted.
The Righteous Alliance, where numerous Orthodox Path sects gathered to fight against the demonic.
'The focal point will become only one.'
At first, she thought the focal point would be Gwak Yong.
He was a hero of the Righteous-Demonic War, possessed the highest authority and fame, and even had the skills.
But Gwak Yong had chosen Cheon Mubaeck.
In fact, even then, although she genuinely liked and trusted Cheon Mubaeck, Zhuge Seola had tilted her head at the judgment that he would become the focal point of the Orthodox Path.
But now, her thoughts had changed.
She had felt it keenly while accompanying Cheon Mubaeck from Shandong.
'Looking at his ability to judge a situation and immediately formulate and proceed with the next plan, it's... I'm speechless. How can such an amazing person be so...'
Zhuge Seola shook her head. Then she suddenly frowned.
"What's wrong?"
When Cheon Mubaeck asked, Zhuge Seola pouted.
"It's frustrating."
"What is?"
"How clueless you are."
"Me, you say?"
"..."
When Zhuge Seola didn't answer, as if sulking, Cheon Mubaeck moved to the next location with a slightly bewildered look.
It was the large Azure Star Escort Agency branch located in Chongqing.
"Tell my father and sister not to go outside the escort agency for the time being. And tell Gwak Cheon-hu, Neung-heo, and Heo Seong to get their act together."
One could also consider the plan of the Wolya Faction targeting the Azure Star Escort Agency to disrupt Cheon Mubaeck's rear.
Of course, Cheon Mubaeck wasn't too worried. The Sugagimundo of the Azure Star Escort Agency was not something an assassin could dare to enter, and the people stationed there were not to be trifled with.
Just Neung-heo and Gwak Cheon-hu alone were renowned, and the same went for Heo Seong.
Moreover, with Jang No and the demons of the Sword Sect also blended in, the Wolya Faction would have to prepare for a proper war.
"I understand, Young Master. I will immediately send a messenger to Henan."
"Thank you, Branch Chief."
"Ah, and something has just arrived from Henan. It's what you asked to be prepared last time..."
The branch chief said, holding out a small box.
"Thank you. It came just in time."
Cheon Mubaeck smiled lightly.
(End of Chapter)