Chapter 180 : Blackmail and Bargaining
Chapter 180: Blackmail and Bargaining
Just as the head of the Zhuge Clan hardened his resolve and was about to kick off the ground and leap forward, Yul Han’s voice stole away his determination.
“Quite a valiant death it would be. To be slaughtered to the last one. And by the hands of the Orthodox Faction, no less.”
Without realizing it, the strength drained from the Zhuge Clan Head’s legs and he staggered. He spoke with a trembling voice.
“W-What nonsense are you talking about?”
“The Clan Head and elders of the Namgung Clan who had been kidnapped by that fellow from the Four Calamity Emperors’ Stronghold were discovered inside the Zhuge Clan. As you can see over there.”
Following Yul Han’s gesture with his eyes, the Zhuge Clan Head looked toward the corner of the room—and his eyes flew wide open in shock.
At the very least, this told Yul Han that the Clan Head himself had not colluded with the Four Calamity Emperors’ Stronghold. But he pretended not to notice and continued speaking.
“I imagine the Namgung Clan will be rather excited when they learn of this.”
“Th-That has nothing to do with me!”
Without realizing it, the Zhuge Clan Head had reverted to informal speech. It meant he was flustered.
To the shaken Clan Head, Yul Han said,
“Well, I wonder whether the Namgung Clan will believe that.”
“It’s the truth! Speak! You’re the one who brought them in, aren’t you? It wasn’t the Zhuge Clan who did it!”
Zhuge Giyeon, who had been silently watching the Clan Head pressing him, glanced toward Yul Han.
“The Clan Head is right. I alone—”
“Ah! Sorry for interrupting, but among the martial arts those people use, I saw techniques from Shaolin and Wudang, as well as from several other Orthodox sects. Was that also done by the Strategist alone?”
At that question, both Zhuge Giyeon and the Clan Head’s expressions froze at the same time.
That reaction alone made it easy to guess that not only those two, but the entire Zhuge Clan as an organization was involved in the matter.
“Hm. I wonder what the Namgung Clan—and the other Orthodox sects—will think about this.”
The Clan Head, who had believed the Vice Cult Leader was someone who solved problems with the sword rather than with words, was startled to see such sly behavior.
At that moment, Zhuge Giyeon’s voice reached his ears.
“Do you think the Orthodox sects will believe the Vice Cult Leader’s words? We will claim it was a scheme of the Bright Cult!”
“Well, even if I set that aside—how will you silence their mouths?”
As Yul Han turned his head, both Zhuge Giyeon and the Clan Head followed his gaze.
Standing there blankly staring at them were the Possessed Martial Artists.
“Th-Those are Possessed Martial Artists created by the Vice Cult Leader through the Bright Cult’s demonic sorcery!”
At Zhuge Giyeon’s hysterical shout, Yul Han let out a faint chuckle, having already guessed the story the Zhuge Clan would try to push.
“What did you say your name was again?”
At Yul Han’s question, Garuk hurriedly replied.
“Garuk……”
“No, not that.”
“I’m called the King of Assassins……”
Even then Yul Han shook his head, and Garuk looked at him in confusion.
He had no idea what answer was expected of him.
Seeing that, Gil Saju, the Water Bandit King standing beside him, stepped forward.
“Zhuge Chang-un. My name is Zhuge Chang-un. I’m the nephew of the Clan Head over there.”
Seeing Yul Han nod at that answer, Garuk finally realized what was wanted and hurriedly shouted,
“I’m Zhuge Jinseong! The Clan Head’s youngest cousin!”
After calmly glancing between the Clan Head and Zhuge Giyeon, Yul Han said,
“So they claim. Do you think people won’t believe them?”
At Yul Han’s mocking tone, Zhuge Giyeon shouted hysterically.
“The Martial Alliance has Room 32. If it’s them, they’ll definitely be able to tell!”
At that shout, Yul Han recalled the people of Room 32 he had once encountered.
If it were them, it wasn’t completely impossible.
At the very least, the Ghost Monk, who had reached the level of the Soul Lord, the pinnacle of sorcery, might manage it.
But the others could not.
If the ghostly aura was strong enough for them to recognize, then the Profound Demon would not have failed to notice it.
So as long as the Ghost Monk alone could be subdued…
“Are you confident? Then shall I send word right now and summon the Martial Alliance, the various Orthodox sects, and Room 32 here?”
At Yul Han’s words, both the Clan Head and Zhuge Giyeon flinched.
They were afraid.
Just as the prodigies who had taken the White Enemy Pellet had once passed inspection without their abnormalities being discovered—what if, by some chance, the people of Room 32 failed to recognize the Possessed Martial Artists?
The result would be horrifying.
The Zhuge Clan would be exterminated.
And it would be at the hands of the enraged martial artists of the Orthodox Faction.
As if to clarify that grim prediction even further, Yul Han continued.
“If the martial arts of the Orthodox sects were demonstrated through their hands, it means somewhere there must be secret manuals. Garuk.”
“Yes, Master!”
At the title Garuk used for the Vice Cult Leader, both the Clan Head and Zhuge Giyeon’s expressions darkened.
Ignoring their despair entirely, Yul Han gave his command.
“Take your comrades and search the Zhuge Clan thoroughly. If it’s a book containing martial arts of the Orthodox sects, bring every single scrap without missing one. And naturally, bring everyone who possessed them or was involved as well.”
“Yes! Master. However……”
Seeing Garuk trail off, Yul Han looked at him.
“What is it?”
“What if they resist? If they refuse to come when we simply ask them……”
When bringing the Clan Head earlier, Garuk had only threatened him as if he might draw his sword at any moment. But his mission had been clear.
Not to capture him—but to bring him.
So Garuk wanted to know whether that same rule applied to this order as well.
The corner of Yul Han’s lips curled slightly as he looked at him, murderous intent spreading outward.
“Cut them down.”
“By your command!”
Answering quickly, Garuk and the Possessed Martial Artists rushed out.
Smiles spread across their lips.
As if they were delighted beyond measure to be allowed to rampage freely.
Both the Clan Head and Zhuge Giyeon thought they should stop them.
But neither could take even a single step.
The terrifying gaze of the Vice Cult Leader watching them made their legs go weak.
They could not even shout for them to stop.
Fear—something that had not gripped their minds in a very long time—had sealed even their mouths shut.
Soon, an unexpected uproar erupted throughout the Zhuge Clan.
Some of the younger generation prodigies who had carried the clan’s hopes suddenly began causing chaos, slashing at their own family members and fellow clan members.
Though the Zhuge Clan was a family of scholars, it was still a martial clan in name.
At first they were shocked, but masters were quickly dispatched to subdue the rampaging prodigies.
But the result was disastrous.
Anyone who tried to block them was cut down without regard to status.
After witnessing his own son cut down one of the Zhuge Clan’s top five martial masters in a single strike, Zhuge Chang-un’s father froze.
Because he had clearly seen Force Energy blazing from the sword his son wielded.
“T-Transcendent Realm!”
It should have been something to rejoice over.
But the proof of that achievement had come in the form of severing the head of a clan elder.
The shock was too great.
Zhuge Chang-un’s father collapsed unconscious on the spot.
That fainting spell spared him from the unfilial horror of his son cutting down his own father.
Like a storm, the Possessed Martial Artists tore through the Zhuge Clan.
Within one shijin, they returned to Yul Han, dragging along dozens of secret manuals and over ten scholars.
Even the Clan Head and Zhuge Giyeon, who had already realized what was happening from the thick stench of blood and the screams echoing throughout the clan, were forced to squeeze their eyes shut when they saw the Possessed Martial Artists return drenched in crimson.
Because the blood soaking their clothes belonged to the Zhuge Clan.
Looking away from them, Yul Han opened the secret manuals they had gathered.
Each one was a hidden supreme technique of the Orthodox sects—names alone enough to shock the martial world.
“So the Martial Alliance was conducting a Kongtong Successor Cultivation Plan, was it? It seems these secret manuals were stolen from there.”
After grasping the situation instantly, Yul Han’s gaze turned toward the scholars who had been dragged in.
“Are these the ones who know the manuals?”
When Yul Han asked, Garuk quickly answered.
“Yes. They are the ones who copied the manuals. They said they could rewrite them even with their eyes closed, Master.”
“It must have been difficult to capture them.”
“Those who refused to stop resisting were all cut down. As for these ones, we threatened to tear their families apart in front of them if they resisted further, so we brought them.”
The words were unpleasant.
Yul Han’s eyes narrowed slightly.
But to those who did not know his true nature, it simply looked like the reaction of a murderer whose killing intent had grown sharper at Garuk’s words.
Misinterpreting the reaction, Garuk believed his new master was pleased.
That was why he pushed further.
“Shall we tear apart one or two of them as a demonstration?”
For a moment, Yul Han almost felt like tearing Garuk’s mouth apart.
But he admitted that for now, such fear was necessary.
“That won’t be necessary. It’s best not to spill unnecessary blood.”
“Yes? Ah! Yes, Master.”
Turning his gaze away from Garuk, who lowered his head with a deeply disappointed expression, Yul Han looked toward the Zhuge Clan Head.
“What shall we do? It seems the evidence is gathered. Shall we summon the Martial Alliance even now?”
At that crooked question, the Zhuge Clan Head finally admitted that in this negotiation, even if he risked his life, he would have no choice but to follow whatever the other side demanded.
“W-What is it you want? No… what is it? You must want something, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing this.”
Looking at the Clan Head who had fully returned to formal speech, Yul Han answered.
“These people never existed within the Zhuge Clan. They have no family, no parents, no relatives within the Zhuge Clan.”
The Clan Head followed Yul Han’s gaze as it passed over the Possessed Martial Artists and landed on the scholars standing beside the secret manuals.
He immediately understood.
Not only the Possessed Martial Artists—but also the secret manuals and the scholars capable of reproducing them.
Yul Han intended to take them all.
And he was demanding that all ties be severed completely.
Refusal was unthinkable.
The cold gaze of the Vice Cult Leader made it obvious that the moment he uttered a refusal, he would summon the Martial Alliance.
And that would be even more horrifying than if everyone in the clan died by the Vice Cult Leader’s blade.
Because the name of the Zhuge Clan would forever bear the label traitors, exterminated by the Orthodox Faction.
That could never be allowed to happen.
“W-We will do as you say.”
As the Clan Head answered weakly, Yul Han hammered the point in.
“If that promise is broken—even if it comes from someone other than the Clan Head—I will go to the Martial Alliance with them without another word.”
“That will never happen. I swear it.”
Yul Han replied coldly.
“I don’t trust oaths made with words. So don’t dress it up as a vow in front of me and then secretly go back on it behind my back. I’m not someone who shows patience twice.”
“I-I will remember that.”
Leaving the Clan Head bowing his head in submission, Yul Han’s gaze shifted to Zhuge Giyeon.
Though his eyes were on Zhuge Giyeon, his voice was directed at the Clan Head.
“A criminal must receive punishment. If the next time I see the criminal walking around unharmed, I cannot guarantee the Clan Head’s limbs and meridians will remain intact.”
In other words—
Zhuge Giyeon’s limbs and meridians were to be severed as punishment.
Though it was interference in another sect’s internal discipline, the Zhuge Clan Head accepted it without objection.
Because he had no intention of leaving Zhuge Giyeon, who had made such a mess of everything, unpunished anyway.
“That will absolutely not happen.”
“I hope you don’t grant him a comfortable death.”
“His life will become suffering.”
“I’ll trust you on that.”
After saying that, Yul Han sent instructions through Mental Voice Transmission.
Soon Garuk and several Possessed Martial Artists gathered up the Namgung Clan Head and elders who were still unconscious in the corner of the room.
Seeing that, Yul Han casually turned to leave.
At that moment—
Monk Demon stepped forward.
“Um….”