Chapter 216 : Jaseung, Suspects
Chapter 216: Jaseung, Suspects
A few days later, Lee Jaseung sat across from Dan Woobin at an inn to drink.
The two wore ordinary martial robes and bamboo hats pulled low, so no one recognized them.
Since the news that the Asura Seven Demons and the demonic humans were chasing him, there'd been no word of Yeo Su-in for several days.
It was presumed that he'd either escaped the pursuit net or was hiding somewhere nearby.
“The Demon Army is entering the vicinity of the Murim Alliance one after another. Three Eyed Pavilion is tracking their movements, but I've ordered them not to intervene actively.”
Because they were elite experts, ordinary Murim Alliance martial artists who weren't part of Three Eyed Pavilion couldn't grasp their movements. Normally, the Murim Alliance's Vermilion Bird Hall, which was in charge of information, would've identified their status, but Dan Woobin had already taken measures there as well.
“Yeo Su-in won't just collapse like this.”
Dan Woobin was expecting his counterattack.
In any case, the outcome of the fight was already decided. No matter how outstanding Yeo Su-in's abilities were, he couldn't face the Cult Leader.
It'd be appreciated if he killed as many of his own side as possible before dying.
Even if that didn't happen, removing a prominent successor within the Demonic Cult would deepen their internal chaos and division later.
However, Lee Jaseung's expression still wasn't very bright.
“Is there something weighing on your mind?”
Lee Jaseung answered calmly after emptying his cup.
“I feel like we’re missing something.”
Dan Woobin grew tense at those words. Lee Jaseung's premonitions were always accurate. To be more precise, it was closer to a crisis detection ability than a premonition.
“Are you worried about Yeo Su-in?”
Lee Jaseung nodded obediently.
Dan Woobin slowly recalled this operation from the beginning until now. There might've been insufficient parts, but there weren't any wrong parts.
“I also admit he's great. He's the one who eliminated all eight of his senior and junior brothers to rise as the successor of the Demonic Cult. But there's one thing you're forgetting, Alliance Leader.”
“What is it?”
“It’s our Lady. Didn't the presence of our Lady paralyze his judgment in this matter?”
Of course, that was true. Lee Jaseung was already thinking of that reason. That was why he was more concerned. Even though he knew there was such a reason, his mind wasn't at ease.
As Lee Jaseung was about to order more alcohol, his gaze stopped briefly on a man at the next table.
A large snake tattoo was engraved on the man's forearm.
Among the organizations of the Jianghu, there were cases where tattoos were engraved like that.
He knew of several organizations that used snake tattoos.
But it wasn't a snake that Lee Jaseung knew. It was definitely an ordinary martial artist who'd had it engraved just to scare his opponents.
Suddenly, the tattoo on Yeo Su-in's face came to mind.
“It truly didn't suit him.”
“What are you talking about?”
Lee Jaseung didn't answer. He didn't know when he just looked at it, but thinking about it now, he felt that the tattoo really didn't suit him. It was also strange that a man with a personality like Yeo Su-in would have such a tattoo on his face.
Even such a small detail that could be passed over was getting on his nerves.
“……I've clearly missed something about him.”
Right then, a subordinate from Three Eyed Pavilion came and reported in a low voice.
“The Great Ant is requesting an audience.”
* * *
Mad Star and Red Star were formidable figures who'd survived in the Asura Demon Sect all their lives.
That was why Yeo Su-in treated them honestly. No, he handled them more carefully.
“As you know, an outstanding talent has emerged from the Unorthodox Faction in this era. After devouring the Black Way Alliance, he entered the Murim Alliance without shedding blood.”
The First Demon received Yeo Su-in's praise.
“You might think there's no need for a butcher's knife to kill a chicken, but at the very least he isn't a chicken.”
Mad Star frowned at First Demon's words. Whether it was a cow or a chicken, he disliked such a comparison in the first place. Although the Asura Seven Demons were rumored to be great, Mad Star placed them below himself.
The corners of the First Demon's mouth rose slightly at the change in his expression. He thought he could achieve his goal if he used that pride.
The First Demon said with a serious face.
“This is the Murim Alliance's territory. So far, they're standing by because they don't know our intentions, but if they notice anything, we'll be surrounded in enemy territory.”
“So what is it you want to say?”
Mad Star showed a slight sign of displeasure, but the First Demon didn't back down.
“I'm saying that if we don't set the stage properly, we might suffer a setback instead. It's better to move with the Demon Army.”
Mad Star hardened his expression even more at his words.
“There's no need for that.”
Mad Star said while turning back to Red Star.
“Let's finish it ourselves.”
It wasn't a bluff, but rather due to his strong pride and hot tempered personality.
Compared to Mad Star, who looked ready to jump out immediately, Red Star was cautious.
“I've heard he's a very strong man. It's better to move together.”
Then Mad Star clicked his tongue while showing his displeasure.
“Tsk. Is there really a need for that?”
Red Star looked at Yeo Su-in. In any case, he had control over this operation.
The First Demon hoped. Since he'd provoked him as much as possible, he wanted Yeo Su-in to wrap it up properly now. If he said just a few words well, Mad Star wouldn't be able to stand it and would set out even by himself.
However, Yeo Su-in's actions were unexpected.
“If it's you two, no, even if only Senior Mad Star goes, you'll be able to eliminate him. But this matter is very important in many ways. Considering the one in a million chance, I'll place the Demon Army in the rear.”
When even Yeo Su-in acted that way, Mad Star no longer insisted.
“Then let's do that.”
“Thank you.”
Mad Star stood up first and left the room.
Red Star was about to stand up and follow when he glanced at Yeo Su-in and spoke.
“You did well.”
“Not at all.”
“But will there be a moment when the Murim Alliance Leader moves alone?”
Furthermore, to spread the Heaven and Earth Net, the Demon Army would have to lure him to a secluded place.
“I've already taken measures. I expect we'll be able to lure him out by tomorrow.”
A look of admiration flashed in Red Star's eyes at Yeo Su-in's straightforward answer. He thought he truly deserved to be the only one to survive among the disciples.
When even Red Star left and only the two of them remained, the First Demon asked quickly.
“Why did you do that? If you'd provoked Mad Star, he would've gone to kill Lee Jaseung right away.”
“Then Red Star would've suspected me. He's a man with many doubts about everything.”
The First Demon finally realized Yeo Su-in's inner thoughts.
He'd temporarily forgotten Red Star's character while only thinking about the hot tempered Mad Star. Like Yeo Su-in said, he was known to be thorough and suspicious.
“Mad Star is bound to listen to Red Star anyway.”
It meant that provoking only Mad Star wasn't the end of it.
“I was short sighted. But if that was the case, why didn't you stop me from provoking him?”
Since he'd had no intention of provoking him in the first place, he could've sent a transmission to stop him from provoking Mad Star.
“Because it's natural for at least one person to provoke them.”
The First Demon nodded at Yeo Su-in's answer. Indeed, Yeo Su-in's thoughts were operating several levels above his own.
“Can Lee Jaseung handle them?”
Yeo Su-in said as if it were no big deal.
“He might, or he might not.”
It was a tone that suggested it was fine if he died, and didn't matter if he didn't.
But the First Demon could tell.
Yeo Su-in was definitely predicting the outcome of this fight.
The First Demon asked one last thing he was curious about.
“But how do you plan to lure Lee Jaseung?”
Then Yeo Su-in gave a mysterious answer.
“To catch a big fish, you must use good bait.”
* * *
The next day, Lee Jaseung was walking alone on a night road.
The place he arrived at was a temple in a quiet forest.
A woman was sitting in front of a Buddha statue, staring at it.
Lee Jaseung gave a light greeting with joined palms and then sat down beside her.
“Do you believe in Buddha?”
“I don't.”
The woman was Nam Seohyang, the Great Ant and head of the Golden Ants.
She turned to Lee Jaseung and asked.
“Can I ask why?”
“That's because…… I'm not qualified.”
In an instant, Nam Seohyang's eyes sparkled. It was because she hadn't expected Lee Jaseung to give such an answer.
“If you say that, then I'm the one who isn't qualified.”
“That's a matter for each person to judge.”
Nam Seohyang couldn't give any answer to the somewhat cold response.
“Why did you want to see me?”
“Information came in that I must tell you. It's information about the Demonic Cult successor Yeo Su-in.”
Lee Jaseung's eyes sparkled at the mention of Yeo Su-in. He'd been feeling something uneasy about him, and she'd brought information about the bastard.
Nam Seohyang made a pretense of sighing.
“You know how expensive and important this information is at this point, right?”
Then the corners of Lee Jaseung's mouth curled up coldly.
“If answering yes makes you feel better, I can do it as much as you want.”
It seemed like he was treating her easily, but it was never the case.
Rules strictly exist in the Jianghu.
One of them is this.
If something is given, something also comes back.
Every time he obtained precious information from her, his debt was piling up.
“You're as prickly as ever. You haven't changed at all toward me.”
“Toward you?”
“You've softened toward Lady Baek, haven't you?”
When Baek Seolyoung was mentioned, Lee Jaseung sent a chilling gaze for a moment. Nam Seohyang didn't dare to fool around any longer and brought up the main point.
“The information I'm about to tell you was just obtained, and it's information that no organization in the Jianghu knows.”
The moment she was about to open her mouth, Lee Jaseung raised his hand to stop her.
Lee Jaseung's eyes had already sharpened. He felt a powerful energy approaching from afar.
Lee Jaseung looked at her and said.
“I should take some credit this time.”
Nam Seohyang widened her eyes, asking what he meant.
Soon after, two old men stepped down into the yard outside the window.
The moment she saw their appearance, Nam Seohyang was startled.
“Twin Stars!”
As expected of the head of the most successful information organization in the current Jianghu, she recognized the identity of the two old men at once.
Lee Jaseung also knew them. What surprised Lee Jaseung wasn't that they appeared, but that they appeared ‘here.’
They were beings who should've appeared before Yeo Su-in, not himself.
The anxiety that'd encroached upon his heart had now appeared as a reality.
It wasn't just the Twin Stars.
A massive number of Demonic Qi could be felt in the distance. Thousands of energies were felt from the foot of the mountain.
“The Heaven and Earth Net is being spread.”
Nam Seohyang's expression hardened at Lee Jaseung's words.
“Then it must be the Demon Army!”
The Twin Stars alone weren't ordinary difficult opponents, but with the Demon Army on top of that.
“They're trying to kill us.”
“It's probably me, not us. By using you.”
“Huh?”
In the next moment, she made an oh no expression.
“Don't tell me they used me?”
Lee Jaseung nodded.
“Ah! The information I brought was bait.”
“Yeo Su-in expected it. That we would meet alone because of this information.”
In other words, it meant the bastard knew exactly the relationship between the Golden Ants and himself. Even the fact that he'd always met her alone like this. Yeo Su-in's information power was beyond what he'd thought.
“I'm sorry.”
Lee Jaseung shook his head at her words.
“Not at all. Rather, I'm the one who's sorry. For letting you get involved in this because of me.”
The fact that the Twin Stars and the Demon Army, who should've been chasing Yeo Su-in, appeared before him meant only one thing.
The misunderstanding about the rebellion had already been cleared, and the counterattack had begun.
Nam Seohyang looked at Lee Jaseung and said in a trembling voice.
“Please save me. I still have too much to do.”
He could feel her sincerity that she didn't want to die. Naturally, she knew. That taking her out as well was several times harder than Lee Jaseung escaping alone. How much of a burden this request was for him.
Even though it was a difficult request, Lee Jaseung answered readily.
“Fine, I'll take your life's value in place of the information fee this time.”
Nam Seohyang replied with a meaningful smile.
“It will certainly be worth it.”