Chapter 96
"Of course."
"...That is the Heaven-Shattering Divine Saber..."
Although Mado spoke in her usual flat tone, a hint of uncertainty could be felt.
Nangong Zhao's mind cleared.
It really was the top ten master, Mado.
The Heaven-Shattering Demonic Saber.
A peerless divine saber that could not be bought even for a thousand pieces of gold.
To be unsure even while offering it as payment for a meal.
Nangong Zhao could not understand the conversation between Baekji and Mado.
'Mado... is a bit strange...'
Although Nangong Zhao was bewildered, Baekji had already figured out Mado.
She was a person who had lived with a wall between herself and the world.
In fact, after Mado had barely survived in her childhood, she had lived in a remote place, cut off from the world, learning only the 'Heaven-Shattering Saber Technique'.
As soon as she had mastered the 'Heaven-Shattering Saber Technique', she had gone to the 'Hundred Ghosts Sect' and had committed a massacre. Then, on her way to the 'Qingling Sect', she had been stopped by the Alliance Leader and had lived in the mountains behind the Alliance.
The Alliance Leader had taken care of all her food and clothing.
Mado had lived like that, learning martial arts and raising a disciple.
An absolute master who had delved only into martial arts, isolated from the world.
Mado, who had lived solely for the sake of revenge, was clumsy at getting along with people.
No, she didn't know how at all.
"I know. The Heaven-Shattering Divine Saber. A peerless divine weapon. But... this divine saber is already accustomed to the 'Heaven-Shattering Strong Ki'. So it's actually worse than an ordinary sword."
At Baekji's words, Tang Yunseol asked, "Honored One, are you saying that this sword recognizes its master?"
"Of course! That's why it's called a divine weapon."
"Then it's a priceless sword, isn't it?"
Baekji shook his head.
"It's a problem because it's a divine weapon. If someone else uses it, they can't handle the soul dwelling in the sword. If they are not the master of the 'Heaven-Shattering Strong Ki', it's a sword that can harm the user."
"Then does that mean no one else can use it?"
Nangong Zhao also asked, amazed.
"This sword is a sword full of the resentment of revenge. It might be possible for a person who can suppress the soul dwelling in the sword. But... who can handle Mado's soul?"
Even Mado listened intently to Baekji's explanation.
"I use it too."
Cho-hye said, glaring as if to say, 'don't lie'.
"You've also learned the 'Heaven-Shattering Strong Ki'. But you can't wield it properly, right? This sword is a sword that only Mado can use properly."
Baekji said, looking at Mado.
"The value of an object is determined by its need. If I can't use this sword, it's not even worth a single iron coin. Ah, is that not right? Should I at least pay for the iron?"
"You used it too."
Cho-hye had personally seen Baekji emit saber energy with the 'Heaven-Shattering Divine Saber' last night.
"That's because I'm such a master. But this is enough for me. I don't use things like swords."
Baekji waved his bamboo staff.
If he couldn't kill people, what need was there for a sword?
Mado, after thinking for a while, said, "Then... I will grant you one favor instead."
"A favor? What can you do?"
Mado, after hesitating, said, "...Is there anyone you want to kill? It would be good if it were the enemy who killed your parents..."
"You're serious. To think that the only thing you know how to do is kill people... but weren't you going somewhere? Where were you going?"
"..."
Mado did not answer.
Since her confinement had been lifted, she had to leave, so she had left the Alliance.
Since the 'Qingling Sect' that she had to take revenge on had been destroyed, she had nowhere to go.
Baekji took the 'Heaven-Shattering Demonic Saber' from the table, handed it to Mado, and held her hand firmly.
"Don't worry. I know how you feel. I'll take care of everything."
Then he took out a handful of silver from his money pouch.
"Go and buy your disciple some proper clothes tomorrow and buy some delicious food. The room... I'll prepare the room next door, so don't worry."
"...?"
Mado looked at Baekji with cold eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"You said you would kill someone for me, right? But it will take some time. Stay by my side until then. And wear ordinary clothes. Right now, you look like a wild person who just came out of the mountains. An assassin... is not an assassin if they stand out. They have to be ordinary."
"Alright."
Mado nodded.
Nangong Zhao clicked his tongue.
'To hire Mado as an assassin for just one meal.'
Baekji called the waiter and sent the Mado master and disciple to the room next door.
Nangong Zhao, with a dumbfounded expression, watched the back of the Mado master and disciple and then asked Baekji, "What are you thinking?"
"They have nowhere to go. I have a lot of affection, you know? I can't just send them away."
"Tell me honestly."
"Chief Investigator Nangong, why are you so cynical? I thought you had been reformed after meeting Miss Yunseol, but it seems you haven't improved."
"Ugh..."
Baekji said to Tang Yunseol, "I hope you can help Mado and her disciple buy clothes tomorrow. Buy some delicious food and drink tea too. From what I see, it seems they don't know how to live like people."
"You want me to accompany Mado?"
Tang Yunseol was secretly burdened.
To go around with an absolute master known for her murderous nature.
"It's not accompanying. It's... umm. You can think of her as a baby who doesn't know the ways of the world. She's probably clumsy at buying things too. I know that kind of situation well."
Baekji had also had such a time.
It had been just over a year since he had gone to buy dumplings with a single iron coin and had gotten into a fight with the owner of the Son-ga dumpling shop.
* * *
"There is a suspicious movement around Oh Jinpyeong."
The head of the 'Secret Shadow Division' reported directly.
The Chief Military Advisor, Shangguan Ming, had personally stepped forward for the operation to capture the Blood Fiend.
Baekji had said that the Blood Fiend would use a ‘Soul-Seizing Arts’ on the person in charge of the military affairs department's prison.
Although it was not such a great plan, he had taken a whopping ten thousand taels for just that one piece of information.
'It's true that he gave definite information that the Blood Fiend had infiltrated the vicinity of the Alliance and would move within a few days.'
To be able to specify the enemy and the time.
That alone was worth ten thousand taels to Shangguan Ming.
He had attached the 'Secret Shadow Division' to those in charge of the military affairs department's prison, and as expected, a peculiar movement had been detected.
"Oh Jinpyeong?"
"He is the third squad leader of the military affairs department's prison."
The head of the 'Secret Shadow Division' held out a report on Oh Jinpyeong.
"Age forty. Single, lives alone in a village outside the Alliance. Other than going to the gambling house once every three days, he has no particular hobbies or habits."
"Single and lives outside the Alliance? The Blood Sect would have a reason to target him. Just watch from a distance until the Blood Fiend personally steps forward."
"What if another brat approaches?"
"Even if we have to give up Tang Tian'e for a while, we must catch the Blood Fiend. If Tang Tian'e escapes from prison, it is highly likely that the Blood Fiend will appear in person."
"Understood."
After the head of the 'Secret Shadow Division' had left, Shangguan Ming rubbed his temples.
'The Blood Fiend is a man who is like the right arm of the Blood Cult Leader. If such a person has come to save Tang Tian'e...'
The 'confession drug' of the Tang family that Tang Yunseol had brought was truly a miraculous thing.
Tang Tian'e had confessed all his crimes. However, there was no useful information about the Blood Sect.
He had only helped the fleeing Blood Cult Leader and had since been taught the 'Blood Blood Demonic Art'.
He had not even met the Blood Cult Leader since then and did not know his base.
In other words, he was not of great value to be saved by the Blood Sect.
"But the Blood Fiend came in person?"
Shangguan Ming did not know the hidden secret of the 'Blood Blood Demonic Art'. Since he did not know the Blood Fiend's intentions, his head ached.
"The Grand Elder has arrived."
"...?"
The Grand Elder, Haewol.
A master from Shaolin, he could be called the godfather of the Elder's Hall.
Shaolin, which was not interested in the Martial Alliance, had entrusted the position of elder to Haewol and had not changed it for nearly thirty years.
Thanks to that, Haewol had become the oldest and had risen to the position of Grand Elder, leading the Elder's Hall.
Shaolin did not want Haewol to return.
It was highly likely that he would serve as the Grand Elder for life.
"What business brings you all the way to the military affairs department?"
After the greetings were over, Shangguan Ming asked.
"Since when has the military affairs department interfered in the affairs of the Elder's Hall?"
"What do you mean?"
"The invitation sent to a certain brat named Baekji was returned through the military affairs department."
"Ah...!"
Baekji had refused the invitation of the Elder's Hall and had asked him to handle the invitation instead.
He had explained the situation and had sent it back, and he had come to question it.
Although Haewol was a monk, he had been in the Martial Alliance for decades and had become no different from a secular person.
The place called the Elder's Hall was like that.
As they adjusted the interests of the various sects of the martial world, all sorts of schemes were rampant.
The discord between the elders who were fighting over interests had even led to a murder case, causing a huge stir.
Having survived there and having risen to the position of Grand Elder, Haewol could be called a thousand-year-old Imugi.
"He said he had no intention of doing so and asked me to convey it on his behalf, and he has left the Alliance."
A look of displeasure was evident on Haewol's face.
"Keum. I don't know if staying at an inn in a village outside the Alliance can be called leaving the Alliance. I heard he's at the Tianlong Inn."
"Is that so? I didn't know that."
"There is a reason why the Elder's Hall called him."
"..."
"Do you know that he impersonated the Alliance Leader's disciple?"
"What? This is the first I've heard of it..."
Since the military affairs department had missed the fact, and the Elder's Hall had found out first, Haewol was proud.
"There is evidence that he went around in Chengdu, impersonating the Alliance Leader's disciple."
Even Shangguan Ming, who knew everything that happened in the martial world, could not understand what Haewol was saying.
A triumphant light gleamed in Haewol's ringed eyes.
"The elder of the Tang family has sent a secret letter to Elder Changbyeok. In it, he asked him to pay the price for the bribe he had given to the person who was the Alliance Leader's disciple. Did the Alliance Leader have a disciple?"
Although he knew full well that the Alliance Leader had no disciple, he asked in order to mock the fact that the military affairs department's information was dark.
Shangguan Ming thought he knew what was going on.
He knew that the elder of the Tang family had been trying hard to become an elder of the Alliance.
It seemed that after his conspiracy with Tang Tian'e had failed and he had been confined, he had requested the help of Elder Changbyeok of the Qingcheng Sect, with whom he had a close relationship.
'But he said that brat was the Alliance Leader's disciple?'
Since he did not know the circumstances, he could not answer rashly.
When Shangguan Ming did not answer, Haewol pressed him with a triumphant face.
"To impersonate the Alliance Leader's disciple! He is a person who has mocked the Alliance! The Elder's Hall was about to ask him about the circumstances, but the military affairs department let him go."
"There is a contradiction in the Grand Elder's words. Let him go? He is not a criminal, so how can we hold him?"
"Oh! Didn't I say he impersonated the Alliance Leader's disciple and received a bribe!"
"That is just the claim of the elder of the Tang family."
Haewol picked up the staff that was placed next to him, 'kung', hit the floor, and stood up from his seat.
"Is the military affairs department protecting that person?"
"Of course not. But we must first confirm the facts."
"Would the elder of the Tang family have conveyed a lie?"
"He is a person who failed to oust a perfectly fine family head. I do not want to believe the words of such a person at face value."
Haewol's two eyes widened.
It was not yesterday or today that he had clashed with Shangguan Ming on every matter.
"Alright. The Elder's Hall will uncover that person's crime! Don't even think of interfering."
Haewol, slammed the door and left.
Shangguan Ming, left alone, rubbed his temples as was his habit.
His chronic migraine was acting up.
"The Alliance Leader's disciple? He even received a bribe?"
Baekji's shameless face came to mind.
"He's more than capable of doing that."
Shangguan Ming, finding it absurd, smiled faintly.
* * *
Early in the morning, Tang Yunseol came and took the Mado master and disciple away.
Baekji, left alone, went to the pleasure boat dock.
It was the place where he had missed the Blood Fiend yesterday.
Baekji stood at the dock and looked around.
Since it was a scenic spot adjacent to the river, there were an unusual number of manors.
"I can't search all these manors."
As Baekji was walking between the manors, a group of people came into his eyes.
They were gathered in front of the main gate of a large manor and were protesting something, and their faces looked familiar.
"Huh? They're the actors of the 'River Frost Performance Troupe'."
The gathered people were the actors of the 'River Frost Performance Troupe' that he had seen last night.
Although the actors were pointing fingers and protesting, the firmly closed main gate did not budge.
Baekji approached a young actor at the back and asked, "What are you doing here so early in the morning?"
"Those brats are holding our actors captive."
"The actors?"
"Last night, a few actors were invited to a banquet, but they haven't returned."
"They must have drunk a lot and are sleeping."
"No. They said there was an unfortunate incident and they are being held."
Baekji had heard that the female protagonist, Chogang, was going to a banquet.
"Is Chogang also being held?"
"Yes, do you know Chogang?"
"I do."
(End of Chapter)