Chapter 218 : Jaseung, Hunts
Chapter 218: Jaseung, Hunts
“The information I’m telling you starting now is confirmed truth.”
Nam Seohyang clarified the authenticity of the information from the start.
“So it wasn't just a false report thrown out as bait.”
“Yes.”
That was exactly what was terrifying about the bastard.
“Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked to meet like this.”
“The bastard knew that as well. That you’d only move if he gave you real information. He leaked his own information, and at that, critical information that would make you move personally.”
“He truly is a terrifying man.”
Lee Jaseung nodded obediently.
Nam Seohyang quickly began her explanation.
“Yeo Su-in isn't a descendant of a martial family. He was the child of an ordinary scholar's household. In the year he turned six, his family was utterly ruined. They were caught up in the affairs of the Jianghu, and the entire family was slaughtered.”
It was an unexpected past, but it wasn't a particularly unique one. It wasn't that rare for a family to be wiped out after getting caught up in the affairs of the Jianghu. This part explained why he’d joined the Demonic Cult.
“It must've been the work of the Orthodox Faction.”
At that, Nam Seohyang showed a meaningful smile.
“If that were the case, I wouldn't have acted so important about it.”
“Who was it then?”
“The ones who slaughtered his family were Demonic Humans. Specifically, the Demonic Humans of the Asura Demon Sect.”
Lee Jaseung was startled by her words. He could now see why she’d hurriedly asked to meet him.
The successor of the Demonic Cult has a past where his family was slaughtered by Demonic Humans? It was truly a shocking incident.
“I could never imagine that he leaked this himself. If this reaches the ears of the Cult Leader, he himself would be in more danger than anyone.”
Yeo Su-in had likely prepared countermeasures for that. He probably had another past prepared where he was ruined by the Orthodox Faction. And he’d likely frame Lee Jaseung for fabricating this story to frame him.
“He essentially entrusted himself to his enemies.”
“Yes, that's right.”
Now everything had become clear. Yeo Su-in really was plotting a rebellion.
But a question soon followed.
“He lived as the disciple of the Cult Leader for over twenty years while hiding his true intentions for revenge? How is that possible?”
“If he thoroughly deceived himself, he could've done it.”
Lee Jaseung shook his head at her words.
“No. That is absolutely impossible.”
No matter how great a person is, they cannot evade the eyes of the Cult Leader.
That was the same in his own case. If someone approached him now with a rebellious heart, it would eventually be found out. Being human, one cannot perfectly control every emotion.
This fact alone showed how great a bastard he was.
“What do you plan to do now?”
“Since he put me in a bind, I must pay him back with an even greater bind.”
He intended to give him an even bigger mess to deal with. A proper decisive blow.
To do that,
“There is something you need to do for me.”
* * *
When he first saw the corpses of the Twin Stars, the commander of the three thousand Demon army, showed a look of triumph instead of expressing grief.
The commander was certain that the merit of beheading Lee Jaseung would fall to him.
The Twin Stars had failed, but he’d be praised for showing that the Demon Army doesn't disappoint expectations.
Was he not sad about the death of the Twin Stars?
How could that be? Is this world not one of survival of the fittest, where one must step on others to rise?
If he’d died, would the Twin Stars have shared even a single word of comfort? Not a chance. It’d be lucky if they didn't spit on his corpse.
“Look here.”
Looking where his subordinate pointed, there was a pool of blood, and a blood trail led from there toward the forest.
“Judging by the amount of blood, he must've suffered a major injury.”
The commander showed a satisfied smile.
‘Heaven is helping me.’
Judging by the traces in the surroundings, a massive battle must've taken place. It was a miracle that he escaped with only injuries against the Twin Stars.
Of course, since Lee Jaseung was not actually injured, those traces were fabricated by him.
Beep!
The sound of a whistle was heard from afar.
“Let's go!”
Everyone, including the commander, threw themselves toward the sound.
* **
“It seems Lee Jaseung has suffered another major injury.”
Yeo Su-in flicked his finger at the First Demon's report.
He’d been receiving constant news after the report that Lee Jaseung had suffered internal injuries in the fight with The Twin Stars.
“It's said he was injured while recklessly trying to save the woman.”
Yeo Su-in spoke coldly.
“That is his limit.”
If it were said he was hurt for any other reason, Yeo Su-in would've first considered the possibility that it was Lee Jaseung's trick.
But hearing that he was hurt while trying to save a woman, he was certain that it wasn't a lie. Because the Lee Jaseung he saw earlier was that kind of man.
“Stupid bastard! Do you believe in such cheap emotions as justice?”
From his perspective, Nam Seohyang was a pawn that could be discarded. No, a pawn that obviously should be discarded.
No matter how outstanding an information organization like the Golden Ants was, to make such a choice while facing the Heaven and Earth Net of the Demon Army was foolish. If she died, a next leader would emerge in the Golden Ants, and he could just use that person.
The First Demon's report continued.
“Thanks to Lee Jaseung's overexertion, she escaped the Heaven and Earth Net and has since vanished.”
“She can be ignored. Now is the time to focus only on Lee Jaseung.”
“But will the Murim Alliance just stand by? They must've already started worrying about their leader not returning.”
“Go to the strategist of the Black Way Alliance and tell him. If there is any movement to rescue him from now on, I will kill Lee Jaseung.”
“Will he follow that?”
“It is a message sent by me while Lee Jaseung has not returned. His mind will become complicated. Moreover, since his faith in Lee Jaseung is so great, he won't move immediately. We finish the job while they are unable to make a decision.”
The First Demon marveled at Yeo Su-in's thoroughness once more.
“What about the losses of the Demon Army?”
“It's said to be over a hundred already. They are likely continuing to die at this very moment. If left like this for a few days, the Demon Army will suffer immense damage.”
Yeo Su-in felt good at the thought that the Cult Leader's power would be weakened that much.
“When do you plan for us to step in?”
Yeo Su-in's gaze deepened as he looked out the window.
“Just before the hunting dog dies. I can't afford to lose the hunting dog before the hunt is even over.”
* * *
The said hunting dog was full of life.
As if to show that his injury was a self-made disguise, Lee Jaseung's movements were as vigorous as when he first killed The Twin Stars.
Thump!
The man slammed into the ground by Lee Jaseung's shoulder throw died instantly. Even though he was thrown lightly, his entire body was crushed.
The others were the same.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Lee Jaseung's daggers were plunged in succession into the chest of a man who rushed in with a sword thrust.
Lee Jaseung's hand movements were very rough.
It was to disguise himself as someone performing while injured.
The easiest thing about facing the Demon Army was that they didn't know how to retreat.
They weren't intimidated even if their comrades died in succession right beside them. He even thought that they might be using some kind of drug to control their emotions.
Beep!
One man blew a whistle irritably.
Swish swish swish swish swish!
Lee Jaseung's daggers flew in all directions, and men collapsed without fail in exactly that number.
Lee Jaseung wiped out a whole squad consisting of ten men in an instant. He intentionally let them blow the whistle.
Because he had to keep being chased.
Lee Jaseung cleaned up the area again. As if he’d been injured once more at the site where a difficult fight ended.
Lee Jaseung was not being hunted, he was the one hunting.
* * *
The commander was watching the situation on the field with his anger at its peak.
Dozens of subordinates lay scattered under the moonlight as corpses.
He’d not yet caught Lee Jaseung, and the number of victims among the Demon Army continued to increase.
“To think we can't finish off one injured bastard.”
The commander gnashed his teeth.
Up until the bastard was injured while overexerting himself to let the woman escape, the commander was relaxed. He even mocked him for being a fool.
But even though a full day had passed since then, he couldn't catch that fool.
Lee Jaseung seemed about to be caught, yet was never caught.
Rather, it was now the commander who became anxious. The victims on this side already exceeded two hundred. Two hundred out of three thousand might not seem like a large number, but losing two hundred well-trained elite martial artists was a huge loss.
Even at this moment, the damage was accumulating.
If he were to lose Lee Jaseung by any chance, the Cult Leader's thunderous rage would fall upon him. It was a situation he simply didn't want to imagine.
“Here he is!”
A subordinate searching the surroundings shouted.
“Traces of him lead this way. It's over there.”
“Chase him!”
“Yes!”
There was no telling how many times the same conversation had been repeated.
“We must find him before the day breaks!”
The commander repeated the words he’d said last night, while thinking that if he had to say these words again tomorrow night, it would truly be a horrific night.
* * *
Nam Seohyang, who had escaped the Heaven and Earth Net, was meeting someone.
Surprisingly, it was Mountain.
She was also the only person who could find him in this short amount of time.
“You say Lee Jaseung sent you?”
Mountain was truly surprised by her visit. He never imagined Lee Jaseung would send a person to him. Considering the relationship between the two, he must've brought a proposal that obviously couldn't be refused.
“I have his request.”
“What is it?”
She spoke with a meaningful look in her eyes.
“I have one thing to borrow from you.”
By borrowing something from Mountain, Lee Jaseung's counter-counterattack was beginning.