Scholar Demon Venerable

Everyone bowed their heads in unison.

Seok Deok-jo, who had looked around once, read the royal edict.

"...Therefore, capture those who killed Samwon Lee Cheongun and the Jinyiwei and make an example of them!"

Although it was a short content, its content was by no means light.

Hyeokryeon Jongdo's head was raised, and he glared at Cheongun, who was sitting in the center.

"You, you are...? Yes, I thought I had seen you somewhere, so it was you!"

At the sound of Hyeokryeon Jongdo's scream-like shout, the ones who had bowed their heads all raised their heads and looked at Cheongun.

Although there were those who did not know Cheongun, there were also many who knew Cheongun.

Although his appearance had changed a lot, there were those who recognized his unique uprightness.

"Th-that's right. Isn't that the orphan Lee Cheongun?"

"Even though his appearance has changed a lot, it's definitely Young Master Lee Cheongun of the Tianxiang Academy."

"But he's a close friend of Young Master Hui, so why is he doing this to us?"

The sound of various whispers was heard. As the murmuring continued without stopping, Xiong Tian said as if shouting.

"Be quiet!"

Ureureung.

As befitting a peak-level martial artist, his lion's roar silenced the commotion at once.

As a moment of silence continued, a man came running in a hurry. He was a Jinyiwei member.

He gave a military salute next to Cheongun and said quickly.

"Your Excellency, Hyeokryeon Hui has escaped."

"What? Escaped?"

Cheongun's brow furrowed.

It was the eighth group member who had gone to get Hyeokryeon Hui, who was in seclusion training.

The member said quickly, as if to solve Cheongun's curiosity.

"I am sorry. That guy broke through the encirclement a little while ago and fled. Baihu Xue and the Jinyiwei are in pursuit, so he will be caught soon."

The sound of Cheongun's teeth grinding was heard.

"Hmph! Even if that guy runs away, he's just Sun Wukong on the Buddha's palm."

Although he didn't know how strong Hyeokryeon Hui was, the eighth group leader, Baihu Xue, was a peak-level martial artist. He thought he would be caught soon because he would never be able to defeat him.

Cheongun, who had swallowed his anger, turned his head and looked at Hyeokryeon Jongdo.

"They say Hui has escaped. Do you think I don't know where he will go if he runs away? He probably went to the Zirong Palace."

"Shut up, you bastard!"

"Hmph! You can't not know that Hui tried to kill me."

"Wh-what are you talking about! I don't know!"

"Then... you must not know that you killed my father either."

Hyeokryeon Jongdo's eyes wavered violently.

Don't tell me that guy has found out even that.

"I, I... your father was killed by bandits!"

Cheongun's eyes flashed coldly.

"Hui said so. That my father also died because he was stubborn like me. Because he refused a friend's request."

"..."

"He probably never thought that there would be a day like today."

"You, you've misunderstood something. I didn't kill him."

Hyeokryeon Jongdo denied it to the end. There were very few people who knew that fact.

And no one had seen him kill Lee Cheongun's father.

Cheongun stood up and approached Hyeokryeon Jongdo. Hyeokryeon Jongdo's face hardened with tension.

Cheongun put his hand on Hyeokryeon Jongdo's shoulder and brought his face close.

"My mother knew that you had killed my father. She just didn't say it because she was afraid I would be killed too. But... she only told me right before she died. That my father... was killed by you."

At Cheongun's lie, Hyeokryeon Jongdo's body trembled slightly.

His mind and body were both shaken, and he said as if screaming.

"Th-this bastard! Don't lie! If you harm me, the Zirong Palace will not leave you alone!"

"Hmph. If the Zirong Palace is also related to this incident, I will not leave them alone."

The warriors of the Zirong Palace, who had been captured with Hyeokryeon Jongdo, glared, but they clenched their mouths and did not reply.

Cheongun looked at that sight and sneered.

"I have something to find out at the Zirong Palace anyway, so this is good."

The Zirong Palace was definitely a place related to the martial arts of the Heavenly Cult. He still didn't know if they were the descendants of the Heavenly Cult, or if they were the ones who had made the Heavenly Cult fall.

But there was one thing that was certain.

Either way, one of him and the Zirong Palace would be finished.

At that moment, the Blood Emperor said to Cheongun.

[Cheongun. But isn't it strange?]

Cheongun glanced at the Blood Emperor.

[Those guys, they're too calm.]

Cheongun turned his head to the place the Blood Emperor was pointing at.

It was the front row where the key figures of the Hyeokryeon Manor and the Zirong Palace were gathered.

Cheongun sent a telepathic message to the Blood Emperor.

-Hmm. That's right.

Perhaps it was a big incident that could even become a big problem for the Hyeokryeon family. But there was a sense of composure on their faces.

'What kind of evil plan are they plotting?'

Although Cheongun quickly racked his brain, there were no variables that came to mind. At best, he thought that a martial arts master of the righteous faction would step forward and mediate.

Otherwise, it would be a high-ranking official...

"Ah! Hehe."

Cheongun let out a hollow laugh on his own.

It was clear that they had called someone.

Cheongun looked at Hyeokryeon Jongdo again.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

At Cheongun's words, Hyeokryeon Jongdo's pupils wavered.

Although it was a fleeting moment, Cheongun did not miss it.

"I'm also curious who the person you are waiting for is."

Cheongun, who had glanced around, gently pressed Hyeokryeon Jongdo's shoulder and then turned around with a cold smile.

"It wouldn't be bad to watch whether that hope will become despair, or whether it will become a lifeline that will save you."

Cheongun walked straight and entered the pavilion.

The ones who were tied up let out a sigh of relief. Cheongun could have given an order to behead them without waiting. But seeing that he had gone inside, it seemed he had no intention of doing so right away.

The ones who were left like that were anxious, with despair and hope.

But Hyeokryeon Jongdo was sweating coldly and gritting his teeth.

When Cheongun had pressed his shoulder, a heavy energy had seeped in. After that, his whole body trembled strangely. It seemed the seeped-in energy was scanning every corner of his body.

'Th-this bastard... don't tell me...?'

* * *

Around noon, a group of soldiers surrounded the Hyeokryeon Manor.

Although Cheongun already knew that the soldiers had flocked, he did not take any action.

After a while, a commotion arose at the entrance of the Hyeokryeon Manor, and a group of people rushed in.

Cheongun smirked.

The Blood Emperor, who was next to him, frowned and clicked his tongue.

[Tsk tsk. I'll have to educate the kids a little.]

"That's right."

Thump.

"Your Excellency! You have to come out and see."

A Jinyiwei member burst open the door and came in, saying to Cheongun.

Cheongun brought the teacup to his mouth and took a sip.

When Cheongun showed no particular movement, the member urged him again.

"It would be better if you came out quickly."

Thwack.

Cheongun put down the teacup with a sound and said coldly to the member who had just spoken.

"Are you in your right mind?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Has His Majesty the Emperor himself come?"

"That's not it..."

"Shut up! You are a guy who shouldn't be in the Jinyiwei!"

As Cheongun got angry, the Jinyiwei member knelt down.

To be out of his favor was the same as saying that his life had been twisted badly.

But he didn't know why Cheongun was angry.

At such a man's appearance, Cheongun sighed and shook his head.

"You still don't seem to know what you did wrong. That's enough. Behave yourself."

Cheongun left him and stood up from his seat.

As he passed the door and went outside, a group of ordinary people climbing the foundation came into his sight.

Since they were dressed in official robes, he could recognize who they were at a glance.

They were the high-ranking officials, led by the Provincial Inspector and the Provincial Military Commander.

As the Provincial Military Commander was coming up ahead, he saw Cheongun and was about to say something, but he closed his mouth.

"You bastard... ahem."

As the Provincial Military Commander coughed and stopped, the Provincial Inspector who was following him also saw Cheongun. Soon, his two eyes were filled with surprise and then it quickly disappeared.

He had recognized the flying fish robe Cheongun was wearing. He had recognized that his power was by no means lower than theirs.

Cheongun looked at the ones who had stopped and said.

"You are the Provincial Inspector and the Provincial Commander of Henan Province. It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time."

They were the Provincial Inspector of the Provincial Inspectorate, which was in charge of law, trials, and inspection, and the Provincial Military Commander of the Provincial Military Command, which was in charge of military affairs. Ordinary people would sometimes call them the Provincial Inspector and the Provincial Commander for short.

Two of the three people who held the power of Henan Province in one hand had come.

The two cautiously asked Cheongun.

"Who are you to be wearing a flying fish robe?"

"I've never seen your face before... it seems there has been a change in the Jinyiwei."

Although they were in the provinces, they were always living with their eyes and ears open to the news of the central government. If someone rose to a high position, they were the ones who would react most sensitively to that change.

But they were tense at the appearance of Cheongun, whom they had never heard of or seen. At their reaction, Cheongun smiled brightly and said.

"Will you remember if I say Lee Cheongun?"

"Huh? You're Lee Cheongun?"

"Are you saying you're Young Master Lee Cheongun of the Tianxiang Academy, who is famous as a child prodigy?"

The two were surprised to hear Cheongun's identity.

They also knew Cheongun. Cheongun was the pride of Kaifeng in Henan Province, and they had even seen him several times.

The fat and large Provincial Military Commander spoke first.

"Where have you been all this time, and now you've come? And what is that official's robe?"

"I heard you were missing, so I'm glad you're safe."

The Provincial Inspector's reaction was slightly different from that of the Provincial Military Commander.

Although the Provincial Inspector was quite happy to see Cheongun again, the Provincial Military Commander's reaction was mixed with a little displeasure.

It wasn't just Cheongun who felt it.

Perhaps because the Blood Emperor had the same thought, he said a word.

[The one these guys were waiting for is the pig guy.]

-I think so too. Hehe.

The three looked at each other without a word and sized each other up.

At the three's staring contest, everyone in the courtyard became tense. In particular, the people of the Hyeokryeon Manor and the Zirong Palace were on pins and needles.

The one who broke the silence first was the Provincial Inspector.

"But what is your official position?"

"I am a Pacification Envoy. A Northern Pacification Envoy."

The Provincial Inspector silently closed his eyes. Since he was also one who enforced the law, he knew the official position of the Northern Pacification Envoy of the Jinyiwei.

It was a high-ranking official position at the peak of power, with absolute authority.

He asked again for confirmation.

"Then what is your rank?"

There is also a rank among the Northern Pacification Envoys. Not all Pacification Envoys were high-ranking officials. It was just that the fact that he was wearing a flying fish robe bothered him.

But unexpected words came out of Cheongun's mouth.

"Since it is a special position created by the imperial order of His Majesty the Emperor, I have not received a separate rank."

"Ah!"

An exclamation came out of the mouth of the Provincial Military Commander who was next to him.

A bright color appeared on his hardened face.

It meant that it was a position he had received temporarily, not a formal Pacification Envoy. In that case, it was common for the power of the position not to be very great.

The Provincial Military Commander turned his head and gave a warm smile to Hyeokryeon Jongdo, who was staring at him.

Hyeokryeon Jongdo, who had been very tense, relaxed his hardened face at the Provincial Military Commander's smile.

'That's it! That guy is finished now!'

Hyeokryeon Jongdo clenched his fists and was happy. It was as if he had received a reply that the Provincial Military Commander, who held the military power of Henan Province, would be his lifeline.

The Provincial Military Commander turned his head again and looked at Cheongun.

'You young brat. Of course.'

One of his cheeks twitched.

To the large Provincial Military Commander, Cheongun was just a skinny weakling.

The Provincial Military Commander, who had a usually arrogant personality, put on an air of importance and said as if throwing it out.

"Ahem. Then who is the one with the highest rank among them?"

The corners of Cheongun's mouth rose slightly. Because it was a reaction as he had expected. He smiled at the Provincial Military Commander and said.

"It is Thousand-household Commander Seok Deok-jo over there."

Cheongun pointed out Thousand-household Commander Seok, who was standing on one side, as if to introduce him.

The Provincial Military Commander glanced at Seok Deok-jo and then soon remembered who he was.

Although he had never seen his face before, his appearance was that of a person known as a master of the Jinyiwei. Since his fame was quite great, he could recognize him right away.

"Oh! You are Thousand-household Commander Seok. I have heard of your fame."

For a moment, a spark flew from Seok Deok-jo's two eyes. He said in a low, deep voice, as if growling.

"What did you say?"

"Huh?"

The Provincial Military Commander made a surprised expression at Seok Deok-jo's reaction.

(End of Chapter)