Chapter 209 : Operation, Proceeds
Chapter 209: Operation, Proceeds
Yeo Su-in, who had returned to his quarters, could not easily calm his excitement even after drinking a large bowl of water.
“What exactly is he up to?”
His eyes were filled with deep suspicion.
Yeo Su-in truly had not imagined that Lee Jaseung would accept this proposal.
Do Cheolgi, who sat across from him, said nothing while merely watching Yeo Su-in’s reaction. As a rule, it was best not to touch Yeo Su-in when he was angry.
“What do you think is the reason?”
Of course, it was a different matter when he asked a question like this.
“It seems a conspiracy is hidden within.”
“I’m asking what exactly that conspiracy is!”
Do Cheolgi could not provide an answer. Yeo Su-in did not press him further, as he had not asked the question to hear a response.
He was a man who possessed the pride that if he did not know, no one else would.
“It certainly wasn't an impulsive reaction. That means there's some kind of move behind it.”
Do Cheolgi asked cautiously.
“Could it be related to the fact that she came to visit?”
“Assuming that is the case....”
Yeo Su-in buried his body into his seat, which was covered in plush bear skin. Although he was using a room in an inn, the interior was well-decorated, as if his room in the Demonic Cult had been moved there.
Unable to contain himself, Do Cheolgi blurted out a question.
“What exactly is it that you want from her?”
In an instant, bloodlust erupted from Yeo Su-in’s eyes. Do Cheolgi inwardly realized he had made a mistake.
He had inadvertently crossed a line he should not have crossed. It was because he was thinking that all these troubles were occurring because of her.
Yeo Su-in glared at Do Cheolgi with terrifying eyes. The color of the tattoos on his face was growing darker. It meant he was truly angry.
A person does not explode for some grand reason. Sometimes, there are moments when a trivial matter becomes everything.
Do Cheolgi quickly lowered his head.
“I am sorry.”
In fact, Yeo Su-in was not angry because he had asked an impolite question.
That question had touched a single emotion deep within his heart.
His inferiority complex.
Baek Seolyoung was too beautiful. As a man, he wanted to possess her.
And that desire grew even stronger after he was insulted by Lee Jaseung.
Not just any Baek Seolyoung, but Lee Jaseung’s woman, Baek Seolyoung.
He wanted to trample such a woman. He wanted to use her like a slave and, at the same time, monopolize her love. He wanted to mock Lee Jaseung because of it.
To say that I have taken your woman. To say that your woman has come to love me.
It was the first time such a desire had arisen regarding a woman.
If one has money, one can buy as many pretty women as one wants.
But there was no woman like Baek Seolyoung.
Furthermore, his plan to crush Lee Jaseung at this meeting had gone awry.
Therefore, possessing her became even more important.
However, he did not realize that another emotion was hidden within all these feelings.
When he had been unable to withstand Lee Jaseung’s gaze and looked down, his body felt it.
The fear that he might lose.
The terror that he might die if he fought Lee Jaseung.
It was carved deep into his chest like a brand.
Fear soon became a twisted hatred, and he intended to release it through Baek Seolyoung.
“For now, set an appointment with Lady Baek.”
“Yes, understood.”
Yeo Su-in buried his body into the chair as he watched Do Cheolgi’s retreating back.
Through her, he would be able to find out why Lee Jaseung was playing such tricks.
Several possibilities quickly came to mind.
However, even so, he did not realize that it was a plan to frame him for treason.
No matter how smart a person may be, they cannot discover matters that lie outside the realm of reason.
Only an unpleasant gut feeling was conveying a heightened sense of crisis.
* * *
“A formal announcement has been made that our Cult will join forces with the Murim Alliance to strike the Black Way Alliance.”
Yao Hong listened in silence to the Great Demon’s report.
“What kind of hidden plan did you have to issue such an order?”
The Great Demon was certain that this was something Yeo Su-in had done arbitrarily. Since Yao Hong, who naturally disliked the Orthodox Faction, joining hands with them was impossible from the start.
Yao Hong gave a short cough. Since displeasure was buried in the cough, the Great Demon rejoiced inwardly.
‘Yes, he must be angry.’
The Great Demon asked with an innocent face.
“Could it be that Su-in did this arbitrarily?”
When Yao Hong nodded, the Great Demon wore a look of great surprise.
“With what thought could he do such a monumental thing!”
This was the opportunity.
The Great Demon recalled previous failures.
“As you know, Su-in handed over a significant amount of our Cult’s secrets regarding the Black Way Alliance for the assault on their headquarters, which he conducted with a man named Mountain. These were pieces of information our Cult intended to use when attacking the Black Way Alliance later.”
The fact that they could enter the headquarters so easily was thanks to the top secret data of the Asura Demon Sect.
“But the operation failed, and because of that, the damage our Cult suffered is immense. Considering the value of the secrets that have vanished, it is a loss of over tens of millions of silver coins. After causing such great damage, it would not be enough even if he returned immediately to reflect on his actions, yet to commit such a monumental deed arbitrarily? This is unacceptable!”
The Great Demon added in a firm tone.
“You must summon him immediately and hold him accountable.”
Despite this, Yao Hong showed no reaction. He was a man who basically had great trust in Yeo Su-in.
The Great Demon did not push any further. Although he did not show it outwardly, Yao Hong’s personality was like fire. If pushed too hard, it would produce the opposite effect.
Right then, a Demonic Human entered, delivered an urgent letter to the Great Demon, and left.
After checking the contents, the Great Demon was startled.
“Look at this!”
Yao Hong’s eyes snapped open as he checked the contents handed over by the Great Demon.
The letter was sent by Forty-Seven and contained information regarding Yeo Su-in’s treason.
Even Yao Hong, who did not easily show emotion over most matters, could not hide his surprise.
The Great Demon was equally surprised. Until the moment this information was first obtained, he had considered it nonsensical.
He knew it was false information, but he had intended to use it to drive a wedge between the two; however, this time, it had arrived as genuine information.
“I will send someone immediately to confirm this.”
At the Great Demon’s words, Yao Hong waved his hand to stop him.
“No, I will confirm it myself. Shadow Master!”
Swish.
A middle aged man revealed himself. He was a Demonic Human who possessed an overwhelming presence. His gaze, posture, and every single expression were saying it.
That I am truly strong.
Furthermore, no human emotion was contained in his transparently clear eyes. That made his first impression and atmosphere even more intense.
He was one of the direct subordinates cherished by Yao Hong, and he was one of the few individuals Yao Hong counted as top-tier among his followers.
Whirrrr.
The secret letter held in Yao Hong’s hand flew toward him.
The Shadow Master politely received the flying letter.
“Lead all the Killing Shadows and confirm if this content is true.”
“As you command.”
Just as the Shadow Master had appeared, he vanished like a ghost.
Yao Hong waved his hand, telling the Great Demon to withdraw. Since he knew well that it was the specific order to leave given when his mood was foul, the Great Demon bowed quietly and turned away.
The Great Demon’s heart was racing as he walked out along the long red carpet.
He had only one wish.
That the content of the letter that had arrived would please be true.
* * *
A few days later. The movement that would confirm the Great Demon’s earnest wish finally began.
The men in red martial robes climbing the mountain like shadows were the Killing Shadows, the elite assassins of the Asura Demon Sect. Their numbers reached nearly a hundred.
Among them, an even stronger and faster vanguard flew ahead.
Swish! Thud!
The sentinel warriors guarding the mountain fell by their hands.
It was the very mountain where Forty-Seven had obtained information not long ago.
They broke through the outer surveillance network.
The warriors guarding the surroundings lost their lives to them. The defending side were Peak Realm martial artists, and the invading side were also Peak Realm martial artists. However, one side launched a surprise attack, and the other side was being careless.
The men in red robes, who had neutralized the outer guard network, landed silently in the central clearing.
The man standing among them was the Shadow Master.
The leader of the Killing Shadows and one of the subordinates Yao Hong cherished most.
He drew his hand horizontally as if drawing a sword.
Using that as a signal, the men flew toward the surrounding buildings.
Soon after, screams erupted from all sides and the sound of weapons clashing was heard.
Crack!
Warriors burst through windows from here and there.
Sword light flashed in the air.
Screams followed.
Most of those screams erupted from the mouths of the Berserk Dragon Army warriors. They were helpless because they had been ambushed while sleeping.
However, the confusion was brief, and the warriors of the Berserk Dragon Army began to show that they were Peak Realm martial artists who had undergone deathly training.
They quickly managed the situation and began a bloody fight with the Killing Shadows.
For every two of the Berserk Dragon Army who fell, one Killing Shadow fell.
The Shadow Master watched the scene in silence while standing in the middle of the clearing.
“That man is the leader!”
“Kill that bastard!”
Two of the Berserk Dragon Army lunged at the Shadow Master while thrusting their swords.
Swish, swish!
It seemed as if sword light flashed, and the Berserk Dragon Army warriors who had rushed in fell simultaneously.
At some point, the Shadow Master’s sword had been drawn. Blood dripped from his blade.
His sword was so fast it could not even be seen by the eyes.
It was truly the fastest of fast swords, the Rapid Sword.
One step late, a subordinate landed beside him.
“Are you alright?”
Then the Shadow Master gave a slight nod.
The subordinate looked around and said,
“These bastards are much more skilled than I thought.”
That was naturally the case, as it was an organization created by gathering wicked men who had experienced all sorts of hardships. On top of that, they had gone through Gyobeom’s hellish training, so it was not an easy task to neutralize nearly a hundred people at once with a midnight raid.
“Clean this up within a few minutes.”
“As you command.”
The man flew off again while blowing a long whistle.
When the absolute command was given, the swords of the Killing Shadows grew even rougher and faster.
And exactly seven and a half minutes later.
The surroundings grew quiet.
The situation was completely over.
In front of the Shadow Master, five or six warriors sat on their knees with their blood points neutralized.
The Shadow Master asked one of the men.
“Who is your leader?”
Then the man spat and shouted.
“You son of a bitch! Just kill me instead!”
The Shadow Master struck the man’s blood points in succession.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
In the next moment, the man’s face contorted. Immense pain rushed in.
“Uuuugh.”
The man clenched his teeth and endured the pain.
That was also brief, and the man let out a scream.
“Aaaaaaah!”
Pain rushed in as if the bones of his entire body were misaligned and his muscles were being twisted. It was not a pain a human could endure.
“The Young Cult Leader, it is the Young Cult Leader!”
Slash!
The Shadow Master swung his sword and cut the man’s throat.
The Shadow Master asked the next man.
“Who is your leader?”
The terrified man replied with a trembling voice.
“Yeo Su-in, the Young Cult Leader is correct.”
Slash!
He cut the man again.
The Shadow Master stood before the third man.
“Who is the leader?”
The third man replied with a face filled with fear.
“It is the Young Cult Leader. Please spare me!”
Thud!
The Shadow Master cut the man again.
The fourth man bit his tongue and committed suicide before he could even be asked.
The fifth man was paralyzed by fear and could not provide any answer.
The Shadow Master looked down at his fear-stricken face in silence. If someone else had been the leader instead of the Young Cult Leader, a different name would surely have come out.
As if to prove it, a Killing Shadow who was investigating other survivors in the distance looked this way and gave a single nod. The answer discovered using the Killing Shadows’ unique confession technique was the same.
The Shadow Master spoke in a mutter with a dull expression.
“The information was true.”
However, this alone was insufficient. Another person’s name was mentioned in the contents of the letter that had arrived.
Yeo Su-in’s right hand, Do Cheolgi.
He had to confirm it again through him.
The Shadow Master spoke to his subordinate.
“Go immediately and retrieve Do Cheolgi.”