.Those Wearing Black Masks (7)
The Splitting Light Five Ghost Sword Formation stopped just inches from Jin Sowoon’s nape.
The middle-aged Diancang man glared up at the figures on the wall, searching for their leader.
“Who are you? Who dares interfere in the affairs of the Diancang Sect?!”
At his shout, the warriors all turned their eyes toward the same spot.
“It’s been a long time, Senior Splitting Light First Star.”
The woman dropped lightly from the wall and clasped her hands in greeting.
Splitting Light First Star clenched his teeth.
“Since when has the Namgung Family stood above the Diancang Sect?”
The Namgung Family.
Men in uniforms marked with the Azure Dome Corps insignia were surveying the estate with wary eyes.
“The Namgung Family has never stood above the Diancang Sect.”
“Then how do you explain this situation?”
Splitting Light First Star pointed his sword at Jin Sowoon.
“Jin Sowoon, masked, inflicted irreparable injuries on a Diancang disciple at a Yuwol Gate estate. Did you come here to defend him?”
Namgung Seonhwa glanced at Jin Sowoon, gave a small nod, then replied.
“Of course not. I came here only to investigate the disappearances in Yueyang.”
“………”
Splitting Light First Star’s brow twitched at her answer.
He shifted his gaze toward the Yuwol Gate warriors.
“………”
One of them gave a slight shake of his head.
Splitting Light First Star composed himself and glared at Namgung Seonhwa.
“What do you mean? Disappearances in Yueyang?”
“If you’ve been in Yueyang, Senior, you must have heard about the people claiming to be the Demonic Cult and committing murder and kidnapping. We came to investigate them.”
“Are you saying it was Yuwol Gate?”
“At this point, yes.”
“You know Yuwol Gate is an affiliated sect of the Diancang Sect, don’t you?”
Insulting an affiliated sect was the same as insulting the Diancang Sect.
Splitting Light First Star was asking Namgung Seonhwa whether she could afford to take on the Diancang Sect.
“They committed evil deeds and used the Demonic Cult’s name to hide their own crimes. What matters now isn’t whether Yuwol Gate is affiliated with the Diancang Sect.”
“Answer me! Did you know Yuwol Gate was affiliated with the Diancang Sect when you acted this way?”
At the stern command in Splitting Light First Star’s voice, Namgung Seonhwa glared at him for a moment.
If she gave ground now, a massive backlash would follow.
She absolutely couldn’t back down.
“……I know very well.”
“Fine. We’ll settle this through the Martial Alliance. And we’ll demand compensation, not only for this incident but also for the injuries inflicted on a Diancang disciple.”
At Splitting Light First Star’s words, Namgung Seonhwa’s expression hardened.
If they took the matter to the Martial Alliance now, the evidence would certainly be destroyed.
Besides, for reasons she couldn’t understand, if they brought up Jong Byeokgi’s serious injuries, a proper investigation would be out of the question.
Then Jin Sowoon, surrounded by the Splitting Light Five Ghost Sword Formation, removed his mask and spoke.
“What need is there to go all the way to the Martial Alliance?”
At the ease in Sowoon’s voice, Splitting Light First Star’s lips trembled.
“Shut up. Regardless of this matter, your sect will pay in blood for what happened to Junior Brother Jong.”
“That won’t happen. The Diancang Sect will first have to take responsibility for its disciple impersonating the Demonic Cult.”
“You brat!”
Splitting Light First Star’s killing intent flared as if he were about to explode.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Namgung Seonhwa’s voice was low.
“What?”
“If you’re thinking of killing us to silence witnesses, you should stop. The Namgung Family isn’t so weak.”
The face of Namgung Seonhwa, whom he’d taken for an innocent young woman who knew nothing, had turned cold.
Splitting Light First Star hesitated for a moment at the sight, then steeled himself and clenched his teeth.
“Everyone, kill that—”
But he couldn’t finish the order.
A leisurely voice from somewhere cut him off.
“Now, now, let’s stop this. Why are members of the same Martial Alliance fighting like this?”
Five men walked through the gate.
Splitting Light First Star knew the men in Martial Alliance uniforms well.
“Yueyang Branch Leader……”
“It’s been a while, Brother Song. You said you’d rest quietly in Yueyang, but it seems that didn’t quite work out.”
“What brings you here……?”
“Of course I came to investigate after hearing that someone was impersonating the Demonic Cult.”
Splitting Light First Star glared at Namgung Seonhwa as if he wanted to kill her.
The situation was turning against him.
After the Maling Plateau incident, the Wudang branch leader in Yueyang had resigned.
A member of the Sichuan Tang Family had taken his place.
If the balance of power shifted, it would surely shift toward the Five Great Families.
“Branch Leader, this is a grave matter. We cannot simply participate in an investigation without permission from our main sect.”
“Of course. But surely you can cooperate with an investigation?”
“This is an insult to Yuwol Gate and the Diancang Sect, blood allies.”
“Ah, what should I do about that……”
As the Yueyang Branch Leader scratched his head—
“I think I can help with that.”
They turned toward the voice.
It was Jin Sowoon, who had been inside the Splitting Light Five Ghost Sword Formation.
“Hm? And you are?”
“I’m Jin Sowoon, the Martial Academy representative.”
“Ah, so you’re Jin Sowoon? Seohee has talked my ear off about you.”
Jin Sowoon looked taken aback.
“……She talked about me?”
“Yes. That quiet girl suddenly became quite chatty, so I’d been meaning to meet you sometime. And now we meet in a place like this…… Anyway, what did you mean when you said you could help?”
“First…… if you release Young Lady Seong, we can learn what happened without investigating this place.”
“Really?”
The Diancang warriors had tried to stand their ground at first, but under pressure from the Martial Alliance members, they were forced to back down one by one.
As soon as she was free, Seong Moran had leaped over the wall and gone into the woods.
She returned carrying a pale-faced woman on her back.
“This is Jang Seolyeon. She was being held in the basement of this estate.”
A heavy silence settled over the scene.
Jin Sowoon looked down at Jong Byeokgi, who was twitching on the ground, and spoke.
“I came here to find Miss Jang. I found Jong Byeokgi here and explained the situation, but he attacked me as if he’d been caught in the act. I only defended myself.”
A Yuwol Gate warrior shouted as if Jin Sowoon’s claim were absurd.
“Liar! You attacked Young Master Jong without saying a word!”
Jin Sowoon gave a chilling smile.
“If you want to know whether I’m telling the truth, search the basement of that storehouse. That’s where I found Miss Jang.”
“Ah……!”
Only then did the Yuwol Gate warriors realize their mistake.
But they couldn’t take back what they’d already said.
At this point, neither the Diancang warriors nor Splitting Light First Star could interfere with the investigation.
While the Azure Dome Corps and the Diancang Sect faced off, the Martial Alliance members hurriedly opened the storehouse and went inside.
A short while later—
“Huh?”
“Here……”
“There are…… people locked up in here!”
At the Martial Alliance members’ cries from the storehouse basement, the Branch Leader turned toward Splitting Light First Star.
“………”
The question was obvious: was the Diancang Sect involved, too?
Splitting Light First Star’s face reddened.
He released his internal energy in every direction.
His uniform swelled as if it were about to burst, and his killing intent heightened the warriors’ tension.
“Everyone, prepare yourselves!”
At Namgung Seonhwa’s cry, the Azure Dome Corps warriors raised their swords and prepared for battle.
Sowoon and the Taeul Sect disciples began forming the White Tiger Deathblow Sword Formation again.
Just then, Splitting Light First Star shot toward the Yuwol Gate warriors like an arrow.
“You dared to do this in the name of the Diancang Sect?!”
The Yuwol Gate warriors were thrown into confusion.
“G-Great Hero! This was ordered by the Diancang Sect……”
“Silence! What are you waiting for? They dirtied the Diancang Sect from within its own protection!”
The moment Splitting Light First Star finished speaking, the Diancang warriors began cutting down the Yuwol Gate warriors.
“Aaargh!”
“P-please……!”
“Help me!”
The Namgung Family members had no time to stop them.
The violence and speed of the attack were so overwhelming that they couldn’t intervene—or even think of trying.
It was a one-sided, overwhelming slaughter.
The dying Yuwol Gate warriors looked at the Diancang warriors with resentment, but the Diancang warriors looked at them like insects.
“Tsk, tsk.”
The Yueyang Branch Leader had come up beside Jin Sowoon.
“Such a cruel form of justice.”
His meaning was unclear, but Jin Sowoon somehow felt he wasn’t wrong.
“Ugh…… ghk……”
Jang Dowon was truly a strong man.
Back in my previous life, when I went to the Martial Alliance, the martial arts experts of the murim world had been dazzled by the Fifteen Divine Weapons he’d created.
They’d tried to get him to make divine weapons of their own, but he refused.
Even when some held blades to his throat or used outright violence, Jang Dowon never gave in.
Everyone had wondered how someone with not a trace of internal energy could be so strong.
Now that same Jang Dowon was weeping uncontrollably.
He clung to his granddaughter—a person whose existence even I hadn’t known about—and cried for a long time.
“Let’s give them some privacy.”
They needed time to let go of the anxiety they’d felt about whether they would ever see each other again and enjoy the happiness of their reunion.
After a brief questioning, the hostages who’d been held captive were sent home.
The Martial Alliance had planned to step in because they were anxious, but the Diancang Sect had already taken the initiative and escorted the hostages home with great care.
“Why did the Diancang Sect bother stepping in? They were the ones who did it.”
“What else could it be but a guilty conscience?”
They’d cut off their tail by pinning everything on Yuwol Gate, but now everyone centered around the Martial Alliance knew the Diancang Sect’s rotten true nature.
It was obvious that its standing would keep sinking, little by little.
As the Diancang Sect prepared to leave, I got the chance to speak privately with Splitting Light First Star.
He glared at me and ground his teeth.
“Jin Sowoon, I won’t forget what happened today.”
“Shouldn’t you make sure you don’t forget?”
“……What?”
“Didn’t I help you catch someone who dirtied the Diancang Sect’s name from within? Surely this is a time to reward me, isn’t it?”
“………”
Splitting Light First Star’s eyes shook violently.
“Surely the great Diancang Sect won’t accept help from its blood ally and then just walk away without even a thank-you. I can’t believe how stingy you are. Tsk……”
His eyes had been trembling, and now even his lips were quivering.
Just then, the Yueyang Branch Leader walked by, saw us, and stopped.
“Are you two still fighting?”
“No. Senior Splitting Light First Star got help from me and was about to leave without a word, so I called him out. I didn’t know the great Diancang Sect was so stingy.”
“………”
The Yueyang Branch Leader gave me a look much like Splitting Light First Star’s.
“I’m not asking for much. I spent a lot of energy on this matter, so send me an elixir or something. And don’t try poisoning me by slipping poison into it.”
The Yueyang Branch Leader turned his gaze from me to Splitting Light First Star.
“Will you send him one?”
“……The Diancang Sect……”
Splitting Light First Star forced down his simmering anger and spoke.
“……Never forget kindness or resentment.”
He spun around as he said it.
I sneered at his retreating back and was about to turn away when—
“You. Come talk to me.”
“What do you need?”
The Yueyang Branch Leader moved off without answering.
Couldn’t he answer when someone asked him a question?
Here was the situation.
Yueyang had long been led by Wudang officials as its branch leaders.
That was why Wudang’s influence had been strong in Yueyang, even though the Diancang Sect had affiliated sects there.
But after the Maling Plateau incident weakened and drove out the Wudang branch leader, the Diancang Sect tried to take control of Yueyang again.
But then, unexpectedly, the heretical murim—including Cheukbu Palace, which had kept its head down while Wudang was in power—began to act freely.
With only two affiliated sects, the Diancang Sect found it difficult to take over Yueyang.
So they brought up the Demonic Cult in an attempt to bring Yueyang back under control.
“If you understand all that, why haven’t you done anything about it?”
I asked the Martial Alliance Branch Leader, dumbfounded by his explanation.
The Yueyang Branch Leader scratched his head, as if he had no idea what I was talking about.
“Do you think I didn’t want to?”
“And why aren’t you investigating further?”
“Investigating? Do you think we’re going to do that?”
“The Diancang Sect has already acted. They’ve declared Yuwol Gate responsible for this case and raided it.”
It hadn’t even been a day since the incident.
“That was fast.”
“What, did you think they weren’t ready to run at any moment?”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“Isn’t that how justice in the murim world is usually maintained?”
The Branch Leader walked over to one side of his office.
His office was full of strange devices.
He lit the oil in a bottle attached to one of them.
The devices, made of metal and wood, began operating with creaks and the sound of winding gears.
The flame heated a cup placed above it.
Steam rose from the cup and seemed to power the machine.
At last, fragrant tea trickled from the end of the device.
The Branch Leader offered me a cup.
I quietly smelled the tea, then took a sip.
Its fragrance filled my mouth.
“It’s delicious…… Is this a special tea?”
“Just ordinary Longjing tea. How you brew it matters more than the quality of the leaves.”
He drank half his tea and watched the steam rising from the cup, then murmured as if speaking to himself.
“Justice is similar. Depending on how you use it, it can taste murky or clear.”
“You don’t seem to agree.”
“Justice that’s murky can hardly be called justice.”
“Is that so?”
The Branch Leader didn’t seem interested in arguing.
He simply scratched his head again.
“Anyway, good work on this matter. Thanks to you, my term will be extended a little. It’s been a headache for a while.”
Feeling a little frustrated, I asked him again.
“Did you have no intention of resolving it yourself?”
The Demonic Cult.
They’d impersonated the Demonic Cult.
That wasn’t just being bold.
They had to have two livers.
And this unflappable Branch Leader had apparently known all about it and just watched from the sidelines.
“I did.”
“Then?”
“The Diancang Sect stopped me almost immediately.”
“A Martial Alliance branch leader’s position is strange. Sometimes it gives you absolute power, and sometimes you’re nothing but a figurehead.”
“………”
“I could have brought in the power of a great family and tried to fight them, but I wasn’t confident I could resolve the matter. If someone like you hadn’t stepped in, it wouldn’t have been solved in the first place.”
He scratched his head again and continued.
“Anyway, thanks to you, the matter was resolved cleanly in one go. Yueyang should be a little quieter for a while.”
“Shouldn’t you take a more active role, though?”
“Me? Why?”
“Won’t the Diancang Sect target me over this?”
At my dissatisfied question, the Branch Leader finally broke into a broad smile.
“Good grief. You already prepared an escape route for yourself. Why are you asking me to make another one?”
“………”
“Half-killing Jong Byeokgi was partly personal, wasn’t it? The Diancang Sect has already pinned the mastermind of this incident on Jong Byeokgi and Yuwol Gate’s collusion.”
“………”
“Besides, you’re even getting compensation from the Diancang Sect through Splitting Light First Star. How could the Diancang Sect possibly do anything to you?”
Tch, he saw right through it.
I hadn’t thought the plan would be so easy to figure out.
I studied the Yueyang Branch Leader’s face.
He was clearly no ordinary man, judging by how quickly he put things together and read the situation.
But no matter how hard I searched my memories, he was a complete stranger to me.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Haha. Just as Seohee said, you really are shameless.”
“You’ve been talking as if we have some connection. I have to say, it’s a little unpleasant.”
“Unpleasant? That won’t do. Of course it won’t. I’ve committed a grave sin. A truly unforgivable sin.”
“………”
He’d been making a fuss, then suddenly stopped and broke into a wide smile.
Now I was starting to feel a little frightened.
“Why would we have no connection?”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you use the forbidden concealed weapon I made as you pleased? That’s quite a connection, wouldn’t you say?”
“Crazy……”
Why was he bringing that up all of a sudden?
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