Chapter 97
Baekji looked at the sign and saw that it was written 'Chuga Manor'.
"The owner here must be a great person. To call actors and hold a banquet."
"He's Chuganyang, a Martial Alliance elder."
Since it was an area directly under the jurisdiction of the Alliance, an elder was like a high-ranking official in the imperial capital.
"Tell me in more detail. What kind of unfortunate incident was there?"
"They said there was a fight, but we don't know the details."
Just then, 'creak', the main gate opened, and a few actors came out.
It was the male protagonist and the supporting actors.
The people outside rushed in, but two people were not seen.
"Where are Jueon and Chogang?"
An elderly actor asked the male protagonist.
"They said they can't release Jueon and Chogang."
"What do you mean? You're saying you just came out, leaving the two of them?"
"It's not that we wanted to come out. We were kicked out."
The male protagonist, whose face was clearly bruised from being hit, was indignant.
"It was strange from the beginning. Some crazy brat told us to change the ending of 'River Frost Performance Troupe' and act... then he told Chogang to kill Jueon. When Jueon protested, a fight broke out, and he was beaten one-sidedly. But he still pushed us, saying we tried to harm him."
"Hmph! I know what he's up to! He's trying to ruin the play."
Although the actors protested again, the firmly closed door did not open.
"Let's go to the government office!"
The elderly actor shouted and led the way.
The actors rushed to the government office, and only Baekji was left in front of the main gate.
Baekji was reminded of Chogang's dignified face.
Rejuvenation and reincarnation.
He had gone to ask Chogang, who had been reincarnated hundreds of times, at least in the play, about that feeling.
Although it was short, it was a conversation that left a lasting impression.
He couldn't just stand by when she was suffering.
Baekji went to the main gate and knocked.
"Hey, come out for a bit."
* * *
In front of the Blood Fiend, Heukgo and Dongcha were prostrating themselves.
"You will win over Oh Jinpyeong."
'Win over' meant to use the Soul-Seizing Arts.
"When Oh Jinpyeong brings out Tang Tian'e... I will be waiting here."
The Blood Fiend indicated the meeting place.
Originally, he had planned to get Oh Jinpyeong's help, go to the prison, and kill him on the spot.
But after meeting Mado and Baekji, his thoughts had changed.
His instincts were warning him of danger.
"Can't I handle it myself?"
Heukgo said.
If he was going to be killed anyway, was there a need to go to the trouble of breaking him out of prison?
"..."
When the Blood Fiend stared at him, Heukgo immediately hit his head.
"I'm sorry. I was worried that the Right Honored One would be inconvenienced, so I said something presumptuous."
"Do as you're told."
There was a reason why he followed the Blood Cult Leader's instructions, even though he was reluctant.
To be ordered to kill Tang Tian'e himself was also a special favor.
If he burned the fresh blood of a person who had learned the 'Blood Blood Demonic Art', he could obtain all of their internal energy. A person who had learned the 'Blood Blood Demonic Art' was like an elixir to others.
Only a few of the top leaders knew this fact.
Nevertheless, the reason why the top leaders did not kill the subordinates who had learned the 'Blood Blood Demonic Art' was because the Blood Cult Leader was watching.
For some reason, if a person who had learned the 'Blood Blood Demonic Art' died, the Blood Cult Leader would immediately know.
'Since I've come this far... I have to get what I can.'
The Blood Fiend did not desperately need Tang Tian'e's 'Blood Blood Demonic Art'.
He was now on his way to the peak of the 'manifestation realm'. It was a time when he needed enlightenment.
Even so, there was no reason to spit out the rice cake that had come into his mouth.
"Keep in mind that this is an opportunity to make up for the mistake you made in Chengdu."
At the Blood Fiend's cold words, Heukgo and Dongcha trembled.
It sounded like death if they failed.
* * *
Nangong Zhao looked at the four inspectors assigned to him and sighed inwardly.
Even though he had entered, they were just sitting around in comfortable positions and looking at him.
Huang Shuyun of the Huang family in Huizhou.
Quan Yihai of the Quan family in Fuzhou.
Zhao Yun of the Wulong Sect in Anju.
Bi Yangyeon of the Bi family in Zhejiang.
They were the children of quite successful families or sects.
They also held positions of squad leader or higher in the Alliance's martial force. Quan Yihai was the deputy leader of the 'Dragon Chasing Brigade'.
Since they were all accomplished, their gazes towards Nangong Zhao were also disrespectful.
The martial force tended to ignore staff positions such as the military affairs department or the Elder's Hall. Since the staff also treated the martial force as blockheads, there was nothing to blame.
But the problem was when they had to go on a mission together like now.
Each inspector commanded four more inspection team members, and they were also the direct descendants or talents of each sect.
Nangong Zhao had to lead twenty wild horses.
He could tell what these brats were thinking just by looking at their eyes.
Since the position of chief investigator of the military affairs department was a position that acted as secretly as possible, the only thing they knew about him would be the silly monikers like 'iron-faced young master'.
'He must think I managed to get a key position thanks to the background of the Nangong family.'
Nangong Zhao, who enjoyed carrying out missions alone, had even refused the investigation team members assigned to the chief investigator.
It was burdensome to move with so many people like this.
'How do I control these brats?'
* * *
The warriors of the Elder's Hall rushed into the Tianlong Inn.
Since Baekji had gone out early in the morning, they had missed him.
"Where did he go?"
"We don't know either. But since his horse and luggage are here, he will come back."
The leader of the 'Chief Guarding Brigade', which guarded the Elder's Hall, frowned and then called the squad leaders.
"I will guard here, so you go and search the marketplace."
The squad leaders of the 'Chief Guarding Brigade' rushed out into the street.
* * *
"What is it? Did the Martial Alliance find out?"
Heukgo whispered, glaring at the 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warriors who were searching the marketplace.
It was time for Oh Jinpyeong, who had been gambling all night, to return home.
According to his usual movements, that brat would come home, eat lunch, take a nap, and then go to his evening shift.
There was enough time to subdue him with the Soul-Seizing Arts.
Heukgo and Dongcha were sitting at an outdoor noodle shop with a view of Oh Jinpyeong's house.
They were eating a bowl of noodles and waiting leisurely when suddenly, the 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warriors appeared and were poking around here and there.
"I don't think so. They're looking for someone. If they were chasing us, they wouldn't be making such a fuss. They would be hiding secretly and watching for anyone acting strangely."
Dongcha, who was always one step ahead of Heukgo, said.
"I see. You're right."
Heukgo, as always, agreed with Dongcha's words.
The noodle shop granny stood in front of the two, 'cheok', placed her hands on her hips, and said, "You brats, if you've finished eating, get up! What are you young brats doing, dawdling? It's almost lunchtime, so what am I supposed to do if you brats are taking up a spot?"
Although Heukgo and Dongcha were clearly in their middle age, she scolded them like children.
"Has this old hag gone crazy?"
As Heukgo was about to stand up, Dongcha stopped him and gestured with his eyes.
The 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warriors were approaching.
Dongcha said, "Hmm, hmm. I was just thinking whether to eat another bowl or not."
"Why think about it? When you're not sure, eating is the answer."
The granny immediately went to the kitchen and put noodles in the boiling water.
"It doesn't even taste good."
Heukgo grumbled.
The 'Secret Shadow Division' warriors who were hiding around the noodle shop and Oh Jinpyeong's house were also flustered.
"The 'Chief Guarding Brigade', have those brats gone crazy? Why are they running around like that?"
If the Blood Sect brats noticed and ran away, it would ruin the mission.
The 'Secret Shadow Division' of the military affairs department, which was said to chase a target to the ends of hell once it was set.
The notorious head of the 'Secret Shadow Division' was personally deployed and was commanding the operation.
"The 'Chief Guarding Brigade', those stupid bastards..."
The head of the 'Secret Shadow Division' glared alternately at the brats sitting at the noodle shop and the approaching 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warriors.
He was watching them because they were suspicious.
'They are definitely the Blood Fiend's subordinates.'
The 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warriors were approaching those brats.
'Ugh...'
He had to stop them, but it was already too late.
The 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warrior glanced at Heukgo and Dongcha, who were sitting at the outdoor table, and then asked the noodle shop granny, "Granny, has a brat in his teens with hair down to his shoulders come here?"
"He hasn't. Should I contact you if I see him?"
The noodle shop granny gathered her hands on her apron and answered demurely. At her changed attitude and polite tone, Heukgo and Dongcha almost spat out the noodles they were eating.
"Yes. He's a brat who carries a bamboo staff, so you'll be able to recognize him easily."
"Let's go, do you think that brat, who spends money like water, would come to a back alley noodle shop like this?"
The 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warrior, who had patted the shoulder of his colleague who was talking to the granny and had turned around, stopped.
His passing gaze caught the hands of Heukgo and Dongcha, who were eating noodles.
Although they were dressed as merchants, the hands of Heukgo and Dongcha were those of martial artists who had trained for a long time.
Hands like rakes.
Hard forearms.
The faint smell that was wafting... blood!
A very ordinary impression that smelled of blood?
They were people who felt out of place in some way.
Since it was the place where the Martial Alliance was, countless martial artists came and went.
Although he could not check each and every one of them, these brats had a strange atmosphere.
The 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warrior stealthily brought his hand to his sword hilt and spoke.
"You two, have you by any chance seen such a brat?"
Heukgo and Dongcha pretended not to hear and ate their noodles.
"Hey..."
As the 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warrior's hand gripped the sword hilt, a telepathic message hit his ear.
―You crazy brat! I'm the head of the 'Secret Shadow Division'! They are not your opponents! Retreat at once!
The head of the 'Secret Shadow Division', unable to watch any longer, sent a telepathic message.
The 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warrior, took a step back and looked around.
'That bastard...'
The head of the 'Secret Shadow Division's insides were burning, as it seemed he would ruin the mission.
Just then, the 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warriors who were passing the alley entrance waved their hands and shouted towards this way.
"That brat went to the pleasure boat dock!"
The 'Chief Guarding Brigade' warrior tried hard to ignore Heukgo and Dongcha and called his colleague.
"He said the pleasure boat dock. Let's go."
The two quickly left the alley.
"Whew..."
Heukgo let out a light sigh of relief. Although they were not even a handful, if he had fought them and had missed Oh Jinpyeong, he would have been beaten to death by the Blood Fiend.
Dongcha said, "It seems they didn't just leave. It seems we have a tail."
Heukgo, burying his head in his noodle bowl, asked with a telepathic message, ―The Martial Alliance?
―It seems so.
―Damn it. How did they know?
―That's not what's important. How much do they know?
―Let's report to the Right Honored One.
―Do you want to go to the Right Honored One with a tail?
―Umm...
As Heukgo and Dongcha were thinking of a way to escape, they saw Oh Jinpyeong entering the alley.
―The brat is here.
Things were really coincidental.
He had to cast the Soul-Seizing Arts on the target while the enemy was watching.
No, if the enemy knew the target?
It was like falling into a trap.
Dongcha's mind became complicated.
'I can't proceed with the plan like this. I can't go to the Right Honored One either. First, let's divert the surveillance.'
He finished his noodle bowl, stood up from his seat, and said, "Let's go. We have to hurry to arrive before it gets dark."
The two left the village outside the Alliance as they were.
* * *
Kung! Kung!
The main gate shook as if it would break.
"Who is it?"
The main gate, opened.
About ten warriors were gathered.
A large man who seemed to be the leader, frowned.
It was said that a mountain roars and a mouse is born.
He had thought a battering ram used in a siege was breaking the gate, but when he opened it, a boy who looked to be in his teens was standing there.
"Did you knock on the gate?"
The large man looked around and asked in a rough voice.
"Yes. Let me in."
(End of Chapter)