Chapter 786
Chapter 7: The Shocking News
“Is that really true?”
Beomdong questioned Il Cheonggeom, his expression filled with disbelief.
The Star King, now injured, had brought news that piqued his interest.
“One.”
“Yes, it is true.”
“And do you have any proof for that…?”
Despite the intriguing nature of the news, there was a lack of supporting information.
Beomdong replied to such skepticism.
“Great Lord Cheongryong knows that Shin Yi is nearby where the Star King is staying.”
“I know.”
Il Cheonggeom nodded.
The Baekhwa Sect was housing Shin Yi as a guest, and it was already common knowledge that he was residing in Hanam.
When this information was discovered, the Martial Alliance promptly contacted Shin Yi.
Their intention was straightforward — to have him reside with the Alliance…
But Shin Yi had firmly declined the request.
To say “firmly” might be too strong since he did suggest asking the Baekhwa Sect.
Still, this effectively meant a refusal.
Which sect would keep Shin Yi as a guest and hand him over to another?
Moreover, it was rather ambiguous to consider Baekhwa Sect as a pro-alliance entity.
They were unlikely to agree anyway. In reality, they didn’t.
“If they were to keep Shin Yi, it would be better to just let him go.”
Shin Yi’s value in the Central Plains was immense. The mere news of his arrival could set several sects into motion, stirring even the clans and factions.
Yet, the Baekhwa Sect, despite possessing such a valuable guest, took little action.
They truly just offered him a residence, and that was that.
Considering this, the Alliance concluded.
“The reason for keeping Shin Yi in their residence is that someone within the sect is not in good health.”
But nothing had been definitively established.
There were rumors that Shin Yi occasionally treated others, but there was no information suggesting any ulterior motives.
Even if they sought information…
“Access is difficult.”
Entering the location where Shin Yi was situated posed significant challenges.
They had dispatched a few informants, but instead of gathering intel, they faced setbacks.
“Some returned as half-wrecks or mentally disturbed.”
No one lost their life, but they did return with significant harm.
This inevitably suggested there was something within the residence provided by the Baekhwa Sect.
The problem lay in the lack of evidence.
They couldn’t even mention that the Alliance had sent informants to dig deeper.
Most of those who returned were dazed and unable to provide even a shred of information.
So much so that…
“They even called the Baekhwa Sect a hellhole.”
Internally, the Alliance’s intelligence department referred to it that way.
In such circumstances…
“You mean to say you got some information from there?”
“Correct.”
“…”
Il Cheonggeom’s brows slightly furrowed at Beomdong’s statement.
Could that really be true?
Doubt sprouted in his mind.
The Master of the Flying Dragon had suddenly retrieved information from a place labeled as a hellhole.
While skepticism lingered…
“The Master of the Flying Dragon wouldn’t lie.”
Thinking of all he had seen, Beomdong had no reason to fabricate stories.
“…Please explain in detail.”
For that reason, Il Cheonggeom wanted to listen further.
“First… there was solid circumstantial evidence.”
“Circumstantial?”
“Yes. The Star King has been embroiled in intense battles lately. The aftermath of the demon beast summoning by the Jiegal clan’s successors is at the heart of it.”
“…”
The last assault on Hanam was executed by those of the demonic faction.
The Alliance portrayed them simply as members of the demonic faction to the outside world.
Although information regarding the Jiegal clan was also included, it was presented in a way that made it hard to recognize.
As a result, all that remained in people’s minds was the demonic faction and the demonic sect.
Research was still ongoing concerning the demon beast summoning they executed.
“The demon beasts summoned at that time were of White Grade. They were mythic beings of a far-extinct history.”
A calamity that was said to have existed centuries ago was unleashed by the Jiegal clan, wreaking havoc in Hanam.
“The one who faced that demon beast head-on was none other than the Star King. Just as Great Lord Cheongryong witnessed later, wasn’t the Star King’s condition quite poor?”
“…”
At Beomdong’s words, Il Cheonggeom quickly recalled the event.
The day of the White Grade demon beast’s attack. When the Star King swiftly moved to the Alliance after capturing the beast.
Il Cheonggeom had seen the Star King’s state first-hand, and it was apparent that he wasn’t well.
It was a wonder he could even remain standing.
He was on the verge of collapse.
“Moreover, this occurred after the duel with the Sword King. His condition would surely have worsened.”
“…”
That sounded plausible.
Indeed, as Beomdong said, the signs were pointing to the Star King’s deteriorating health, yet…
“Those are merely conjectures. As you mentioned earlier, there isn’t solid proof.”
“Yes. That’s why I’m saying we dispatched informants to verify things.”
“Verification?”
“Last night, the Star King was seen coming and going from Shin Yi’s residence.”
“…!”
Il Cheonggeom’s eyes widened at Beomdong’s revelation.
The Star King was seen frequenting Shin Yi’s residence.
That revelation made Il Cheonggeom touch his mouth thoughtfully.
Observing this, Beomdong continued to explain.
“You must already know this… The Star King is the child of the current sect leader. Since it’s the sect leader’s residence, his visits wouldn’t seem problematic, but the situation feels suspicious, doesn’t it?”
“…Hmm.”
Many thoughts crossed Il Cheonggeom’s mind.
Ultimately, while Beomdong hadn’t produced concrete evidence, the circumstantial situation remained compelling.
A duel with the Sword King, followed by a bout with the demon beast, then visiting Shin Yi’s residence.
“That alone feels insufficient, though.”
As Il Cheonggeom pondered, flashes of recent events danced across his mind.
The Gold Dragon Master and the Iron Dragon Lord.
He recalled how the Star King had behaved during his confrontation with them.
“That was definitely cold sweat.”
Just as Il Cheonggeom had blocked the attack, the Star King had wiped away a bead of cold sweat.
His expression didn’t portray too much distress, but…
“Could he truly be injured?”
Even in the moments he entered the Alliance, when he had fought against Il Cheonggeom, that pressure had been palpable.
The immense force he had felt and the sudden grip on his sword had left him breathless.
Yet in that whirlwind of pressure, Il Cheonggeom had caught a strange sensation.
“His energy was unsteady.”
Within the Star King, his energy had been jumbled, trembling erratically.
That wasn’t something one could simply feign.
There had been no-one in Il Cheonggeom’s life who could artificially make their energy shake like that.
If that were possible…
“Then he’s no longer human, but a monster.”
An act even the Three Eminent Beings could not replicate, given their proximity to the divine.
Understanding that possibility, Il Cheonggeom began to resonate with Beomdong’s logic.
Nonetheless…
“Why are you telling me this?”
Why was the Master of the Flying Dragon divulging such information to him?
This question loomed large in his mind.
“It seems that by mentioning it directly, you won’t report it to the upper echelons.”
“…”
Beomdong nodded at Il Cheonggeom’s suspicion.
“That’s right. If Great Lord Cheongryong doesn’t wish it, then there is no need to report it.”
“…”
“The reason I’m sharing this information with you now is pretty simple.”
As Beomdong continued, a glimmer glinted in his eyes.
“Unlike other high lords, the Star King does not sit well with me. Furthermore, I believed this information might be useful for you, Great Lord Cheongryong.”
“…Ha.”
At those words, an incredulous grin formed on Il Cheonggeom’s face.
“If he has indeed been injured, it must be quite severe. Adding on the input from one of the martial artists involved in that battle, he was said to have been coughing up blood and collapsing.”
How should he take that?
What was Beomdong’s true motive behind sharing this about the Star King’s injuries?
Was he hoping for some particular action from him concerning the Star King’s condition?
Questions swirled in his mind.
“…”
Following that ominous silence, Il Cheonggeom finally spoke after a long pause.
“I see what you’ve said.”
His expression darkening, he addressed Beomdong.
“I seem to have some thoughts now, so you may leave.”
“…Understood.”
With that, Beomdong stood without hesitation.
As he turned to exit, Il Cheonggeom called out.
“Great Lord Cheongryong.”
“…What is it?”
“As you inquired earlier, if you prefer that this matter doesn’t reach the higher-ups, what are your thoughts on that?”
At that, Il Cheonggeom, his voice laced with a breath, replied.
“For the time being… I believe it shouldn’t be reported. Once I’ve pondered it through, I’ll inform you then.”
“…Understood.”
Upon hearing that response, Beomdong slightly bowed before exiting.
Once he had walked a distance away from Il Cheonggeom, he finally sat down heavily in a concealed spot.
“Huh… Ugh…!”
In a secluded area, dread overwhelmed him.
Droplets of cold sweat dripped down his chin.
Thud, thud, as each droplet hit the floor.
Beyond that moment, Beomdong felt as though his eyes were about to pop out of his head.
“What on earth…”
His trembling hands traced one arm, sending chills through his body.
This was inevitable.
-You have one thing to do.
-After suitably waiting for a period, go find Il Cheonggeom.
Beomdong’s visit had stemmed from none other than the Star King, as per Gu Yangcheong’s orders.
-He’s likely to be really angry. Don’t worry, just speak as I’ve instructed you. You remember things well, being in intelligence, right?
Gu Yangcheong had implanted several phrases into Beomdong’s mind.
Regardless of what Il Cheonggeom stated, all he had to do was respond in kind.
Hearing that, Beomdong had simply followed the directives.
Soon enough, he was left astonished.
’What is happening…? What in the world…?’
Whatever Il Cheonggeom said seamlessly lined up with the responses he’d memorized.
There might have been minor discrepancies, but in principle, it all matched.
-Before you leave, ask him.
Ultimately…
-If it’s okay to report up the chain. When he answers that, you’re successful.
-To upper management.
“For now, don’t report…”
Gu Yangcheong’s voice intertwined with Il Cheonggeom’s words.
Resonating like an echo, Beomdong found himself wiping his cold sweat incessantly.
‘What the heck is this?’
How did it come to be this way?
Inexplicable terror surged through him.
What kind of entity had he gotten entangled with?
His heart raced, feeling as though a tightening grip was closing around his throat.
In that moment, all he wished was to confess everything to Il Cheonggeom, hiding away and taking his daughter swiftly to safety.
Yet those thoughts danced relentlessly within him.
In the end, Beomdong couldn’t make that choice.
His instincts were continually urging him.
He couldn’t disregard Gu Yangcheong’s words. He had to stick to this path.
His instincts screamed that it was vital, and the outcome rested on that.
‘…Did I…?’
Was what he did the right choice?
This was unequivocally an act of betrayal against the Alliance.
Yet was it okay for him?
Shrouded by an increasingly thickening gloom, Beomdong trembled.
While he quivered in fear, a sudden voice echoed in his ear.
[Confirmation complete.]
“…!!”
Startled, Beomdong jerked his head up, scanning his surroundings.
“What was that…? Who is it?”
[I’ve confirmed the execution of the command. I will now report to the Master.]
[You’ve worked hard.]
“Wait–!! Who are you!!”
In sheer panic, Beomdong screamed into the void, but the voice of the woman had already faded away.
Thump.
As confirmation washed over him, Beomdong’s legs buckled.
“…Unbelievable….”
To think someone had been watching him carry out those orders.
“Ha… Ha ha.”
That meant he was in a situation where betrayal was not even an option.
With trembling hands, Beomdong covered his face.
He needed a moment, just a brief moment, to collect himself.
*
After leaving the Alliance, I returned to my residence.
Seated quietly, gazing at the pond, someone spoke to me.
“Master.”
Turning at the familiar voice, I saw Nahi kneeling beside me.
As my gaze fell on her, Nahi hurriedly added.
“I’ve conveyed as instructed.”
I nodded at her report.
“Though I couldn’t draw close due to the energy of Il Cheonggeom, I delivered the message at the moment the Sword King appeared.”
“Well done.”
“However… I couldn’t confirm if the Sword King executed the command….”
Nahi voiced her concern, but I merely chuckled at her words.
“It’s fine. He probably did.”
“…”
There was no way Beomdong would choose differently.
“That one is incredibly narrow-minded.”
He was supposedly running an intelligence division but struggled to see the bigger picture.
Although he might catch glimpses of the forest, he utterly failed to comprehend his own circumstances.
I had confidence in that.
‘Thus, in my previous life, he met such an unfortunate end.’
He wouldn’t resist my wishes.
“So just keep it up like this.”
“…Understood.”
For now, this was sufficient.
The Sword King would inevitably find himself in a panic at the ropes encircling his neck.
That fear must be escalated.
Building it gradually…
‘Until that last moment when it snaps.’
It must be excruciatingly humiliating.
Beomdong’s end must be like that.
‘As for Beomdong, this will suffice.’
Now the concern was…
‘When will Il Cheonggeom kick off a chain of events?’
I had laid the groundwork well, but that didn’t mean it was the end.
‘Il Cheonggeom is rather large, so to speak.’
If that fellow were to act right away, he would be the massive fish that could snap the thread.
To ensnare him, I had to draw out more of his tension.
‘Let’s see… this part….’
There were still various methods to consider, so I contemplated further on the strategies.
But for now, since I had to visit the Alliance tomorrow, it was time to sort out my plans.
Having resolved that, I leaned on my chin when suddenly.
“Master.”
Nahi’s voice brought my attention back to her.
“What’s the matter?”
“I have another matter to report.”
“Hmm?”
Report. Since I had received the intelligence I wanted concluded, this personal delivery merited interest.
‘What could it be? Is it about Jiseon… or perhaps Jiegal Hyeok?’
Just as those speculations sparked, Nahi answered.
“Jiegal Hyeok has arrived in Hanam.”
“…Huh?”
That unexpected revelation resonated.
“Jiegal Hyeok, you say?”
“Indeed. That’s the news I just received… Master?”
Nahi’s wide eyes trained on me as shock flooded her features.
Taken aback by my sudden reaction, she hesitantly asked.
“…Where are you going?”
With such eyes, she cautiously probed.
To her query, I swiftly packed my belongings and replied.
“Where am I headed?
“I have to make a quick exit.”
“…”
Nahi was left speechless, her expression a rare look of shock.
