Chapter 82 : Chapter 82
Chapter 82 : Insight
Mad Dark Demon Lord Jeon Baek-gwang looked at the Third Young Master.
'He has become much stronger than before.'
Jeon Baek-gwang, who had infiltrated Wuhan under Hyeokryeon Geuk's secret order to disrupt the Murim Alliance during the Murim Tournament, heard the news that the Third Young Master, Hyeokryeon Yeom, had entered Wuhan with the Ice Palace's Young Palace Head.
Since Hyeokryeon Geuk was very interested in Hyeokryeon Mu and Hyeokryeon Yeom, who inherited the Cult Leader's blood, he thought it wouldn't be bad to find out information, so he moved from early morning.
Actually, he had visited the Yellow Crane Tower yesterday too, but he only scouted and did not make contact.
But looking at him now.
'This, it's interesting.'
The Third Young Master was not the Third Young Master the Mad Dark Demon Lord used to know.
"I didn't expect to meet the Third Young Master in Wuhan."
"I didn't expect to see you here either. What were you doing in Wuhan?"
"I intended to disrupt the Murim Tournament under the First Young Master's order."
"The Murim Tournament?"
"Yes. In such a situation, at the news that the Third Young Master visited Wuhan with the Ice Palace's Young Palace Head, I hung around because I thought I should pay my respects."
"You did well. I'm glad to meet someone from Our Cult in the Central Plains."
"You seem to have changed a little."
Speaking down to him became more natural.
The Hyeokryeon Yeom the Mad Dark Demon Lord knew was the worst of the worst scoundrels.
Such a person.
'He has become a martial artist.'
No, he became stronger so quickly it was unsettling.
"Really? I'm not sure."
"It seems you ate a lot of good things in the Ice Palace."
Hyeokryeon Yeom grinned at the Mad Dark Demon Lord's words.
"I'll take that as meaning I look healthy."
He even gained composure.
The Mad Dark Demon Lord, knowing that a martial artist's composure comes from power, asked.
"Is there anything else you are curious about?"
At Hyeokryeon Yeom's question, the Mad Dark Demon Lord's expression hardened.
"Until when will you stay in Wuhan?"
"Well. About two days?"
"If you are not going to help… it would be better for you to leave tomorrow morning."
"Why?"
"On the day of the Murim Tournament finals, I plan to raid the Murim Alliance."
"The reason?"
"It is the First Young Master's will."
"If we raid the Murim Alliance now, what is the benefit we gain?"
"Well, isn't it an opportunity to make it known that the Demonic Cult is still strong?"
"I see. I intended to just chat and leave, but it has become difficult."
The Mad Dark Demon Lord looked at Hyeokryeon Yeom.
"That… what do you mean?"
"What do you mean, what do I mean?"
Fwoosh-
"I mean this."
Hyeokryeon Yeom's burning sword stabbed towards the Mad Dark Demon Lord's chest.
***
Mad Dark Demon Lord.
A demonic practitioner who handled the aftermath every time I indulged in alcohol and women and acted like a scoundrel when I was in the Demonic Cult.
I heard he later went under Hyeokryeon Geuk, but I didn't expect to meet him in Wuhan.
'As expected, he was preparing to plot against the Central Plains from this time.'
Because I was fighting with the Elders in the Demonic Cult, I was completely in the dark about news of the Central Plains.
Meeting the Mad Dark Demon Lord here was a really good thing.
'If I hadn't met him.'
The Mad Dark Demon Lord would have intruded during the Murim Tournament finals, and a bad perception of the Demonic Cult would have spread throughout the Murim.
If that happens.
-I heard the identity of the person engaged to the Ice Palace's Young Palace Head is the third son of the Demonic Cult Leader?
Rumors spreading would take an instant.
The bastards rushing to kill me would be tremendous.
To brag that they killed a demonic practitioner and became a chivalrous warrior.
Murim people were simpler and more ignorant than thought.
So I drew my sword.
Stab-
If it's my current full power, stabbing the heart of an opponent who is off guard wasn't difficult.
However.
"That's a shame."
"Keuk-"
I couldn't stab the heart squarely.
"…What is the meaning of this?"
Demonic Qi began to ripple from the Mad Dark Demon Lord's whole body.
"What do you mean, it's a trick to cut off old ties."
Fwoosh-
Flames soared.
The soaring flames overwhelmed the Demonic Qi.
"W-What on earth……."
Soon, the flames and Demonic Qi mixed, and a dark red flame was emitted through my sword.
"Black Flame."
"Kuaaak!"
So what if I didn't stab the heart.
I can just burn him as is.
I used the Demonic Qi that I hadn't used even once since crossing over to the Ice Palace.
The flames that started from my sword began to engulf the Mad Dark Demon Lord.
"I don't know how many subordinates you brought, but."
The Demonic Cult running wild at the Murim Tournament will no longer happen.
Thud.
I looked coldly at the Mad Dark Demon Lord's corpse that had burned black.
"Tomorrow afternoon, you said."
I obtained valuable information.
I realized there was one more person I had to meet.
I didn't return immediately but moved my steps towards the Murim Alliance.
…….
….
***
"Waaaaah!"
The Murim Tournament arena was a crucible of cheers.
"Jaegal Ryu! Jaegal Ryu!"
"Earth Dragon! Earth Dragon!"
Earth Dragon Jaegal Ryu, who advanced to the semi-finals and defeated his opponent with just a single folding fan, came down from the stage with an annoyed face.
He won, but this victory wasn't that pleasing.
It was all because of that guy last night.
'To dare humiliate me…….'
He looked like just a warrior escorting the Ice Palace's Young Palace Head.
Name, Hyeokryeon Yeom.
He intended to dig into his background and definitely take revenge.
Now tomorrow is the finals.
The opponent is the Namgung Clan's Sword Dragon.
Since he is the Young Clan Head of the Namgung Clan, he might be a tricky opponent, but.
He had already finished talking with the Sword Dragon.
The victory was decided anyway.
'I will make the Sword Dragon the next Alliance Leader, and I will become his Strategist.'
A strategist who can manipulate the Murim Alliance's future from behind.
That was exactly Jaegal Ryu.
A hidden powerbroker who manipulates everything from behind.
And the owner of a personality that wants to get rid of anything he doesn't like by any means.
"Has the Ice Palace's Young Palace Head not gone out of Wuhan yet?"
"Yes, Young Master."
"Guide me to where they are now. I will go meet them again."
"Yes."
The moment Jaegal Ryu, who won in the semi-finals, moved his steps outside the Murim Alliance.
-Why are you trying to meet the Ice Palace people?
Flinch-
Telepathy pierced into Jaegal Ryu's ears.
'This voice is…….'
Jaegal Ryu, having recognized the owner of the voice, muttered.
"With what intention did you approach?"
-I sought you out to provide important information. Follow me.
A presence rapidly moving away in the distance was seen.
"You!"
Jaegal Ryu quickly began to step on his lightness art.
'Fast.'
Jaegal Ryu, who didn't know the opponent's lightness art would be to this extent, began to increase his speed more and more.
But Jaegal Ryu could not catch up to the person who sent the telepathy until the end.
Jaegal Ryu, who had run to the outskirts of Wuhan like that, frowned.
"What do you intend to do by luring me out like this?"
"I told you, I called you to hand over important information."
The person who called out Jaegal Ryu, Hyeokryeon Yeom, held out a burnt corpse in front of Jaegal Ryu.
The smell of burning stung his nose.
"This is……."
"They said the Demonic Cult intends to turn the Murim Alliance upside down during the Murim Tournament finals."
"What does that……."
"I stopped it. This is the proof."
"…What do you want?"
I looked at Jaegal Ryu who was extremely wary of me.
"Jaegal Ryu. My hometown is the Demonic Cult."
"……?"
For a moment, Jaegal Ryu made a face saying he didn't understand.
"A Demonic Cult guy caught a demonic practitioner and offered it to me, what is the scheme?"
"I mean I am not a Demonic Cult guy anymore. I am an Ice Palace guy."
"Ice Palace……?"
"The Young Palace Head's fiancé is me. To speak accurately, I entered as a live-in son-in-law. I was born in the Demonic Cult, but I am telling you that my future hometown is the Ice Palace."
"Don't say something that doesn't make sense!"
"I'm telling you this is the proof?"
So, why are you holding out that proof to me?
Jaegal Ryu, who had never experienced such a case even once, made a flustered expression.
"I intend to try holding hands with the Murim Alliance too now."
"What do you mean?"
I held out a token.
On that token.
[Jaegal Hyeok]
was written.
"Why is father's name……."
"It is a token the Divine Physician received. This token allows one to make a single request to the person concerned, and the person concerned promised to definitely grant this."
"…So?"
"With this, if I request that the next Murim Alliance Strategist position be designated to another guy, no matter how much you are his son, Jaegal Ryu will have no choice but to grant this request."
Because he owes his life.
I received the token from the Divine Physician yesterday.
It looked like he would have the current Strategist's token, and I wasn't a person who would miss that.
"Are you saying that makes sense now……?"
"I know that your goal is trying to become the next Strategist. I am making a proposal to you. Will you take this corpse and solidify your position as the next Strategist? Or will you give up the Strategist position?"
"…What is the condition I have to grant?"
"Don't link me with the Demonic Cult."
"What?"
"I told you clearly, I am an Ice Palace person. The one who instigated all the events is a guy called Hyeokryeon Geuk of the Demonic Cult. If you just spread that widely, I will strive for you to become the Murim Alliance's Strategist."
Jaegal Ryu frowned.
"You aren't thinking that is a possible story, are you?"
"Well. The judgment is yours."
I brushed past Jaegal Ryu.
"Choosing whether to hold hands with the Ice Palace or not is also Jaegal Ryu, your share. Ah, for reference, Mount Hua has already decided to be with the Ice Palace."
The news that Mount Hua and Zhongnan fought a bout in Shaanxi was something Jaegal Ryu had also heard and knew.
But he hadn't heard the story that there was the Ice Palace's intervention there.
"…Then let's see each other next time."
Jaegal Ryu gazed at Hyeokryeon Yeom's receding back.
It's humiliating.
Because it is something outside of Jaegal Ryu's plan.
However, this was no different from an opportunity.
If he takes the demonic practitioner's corpse and sets it up as if he did it, he would definitely be able to receive recognition from his father, Strategist Jaegal Hyeok.
"Hyeokryeon Yeom…… I will remember you."
***
-Kekeke, will that method really work?
"It will work."
While returning to the inn, I conversed with the Sword Venerable and Demon Queen.
-The reason you are certain?
"Guys who think they are superior to others usually live their lives to be recognized by someone when you get to know them."
Just like the Hyeokryeon Yeom of the past did.
-Your insight is excellent.
-Indeed.
"It all comes from experience."
As expected, people grow through experience.
The event that happened at the Yellow Crane Tower this time also became a stepping stone for me to grow in a sense.
"Captain!"
"You've returned."
"Have you eaten?"
As I returned to the inn, I saw everyone eating together at the guest house.
Naturally, my gaze headed towards Seol Ye-rin.
Seol Ye-rin, facing me, bowed her head deeply and was trying not to even meet my eyes.
"Not yet, before the meal. Waiter! One wheat noodles here!"
"Yes!"
After ordering wheat noodles, I went and sat at the table where Seol Ye-rin was eating and spoke to her.
"When you finish eating all this, let's go see Dongting Lake."
"…Do as you please."
"Thank you, Young Palace Head."
I looked at Seol Ye-rin and smiled.
And Cheon Deung-jin was watching that smiling appearance from next to Seol Ye-rin.