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Chapter 572: To Hanam. (Revised)

With the conclusion of those words, a serene silence enveloped the room.

Plop.

It was so quiet that all that could be heard was the sound of a single droplet falling.

Was the statement too shocking?

After all, it was an explosive declaration about attacking Hanam, where the Martial Alliance and Shaolin are located, in just three months.

Normally, anyone would be stunned by such news.

But I wasn’t thinking that way.

These folks weren’t the type to get shaken by something so trivial.

As proof, I stared into the void.

In that serene atmosphere.

Whoooom—!

The energy gathered at the ceiling was quietly swirling.

It had a wild and violent form, as if displaying emotions.

Lowering my gaze from the void, I scanned my surroundings.

The ten pairs of eyes looking at me conveyed countless unspoken words despite their tightly closed lips.

Some wore expressions of mockery.

While others had glimmers of expectation in their eyes.

Though everyone had different motives…

They all shared the same destination.

There was no fear among them.

How could there be?

After all, they were beings devoid of such trivialities.

These were individuals who would employ any means necessary to achieve their goals, unabashedly displaying their greed without hesitation.

Among them, I had gathered only the truly elite.

They probably don’t even think of themselves as being tethered by a leash.

But that was of no concern.

What mattered was.

Whether I could use them or not.

That was all there was to it.

Just as I was deep in thought, staring into the void…

“Three months, you say?”

A voice rang out.

It was a youthful voice, mixed with a slight lisp.

Immediately, I turned to face the owner of the voice.

He was one of the few around here with ordinary eyes.

Moreover.

“Yeah, three months.”

He was also a capable person who could fill my lacking head with some brains.

Upon hearing the news, the young man—or rather, the boy—frowned slightly.

“Hyung, last time you said there were still six months left.”

“Things got a bit tangled up, you see.”

“…”

As I spoke indifferently, the boy suddenly clutched his forehead.

He must have been feeling quite overwhelmed. Seeing that made me stifle a chuckle.

No matter how flustered he looked, he’d surely figure things out in no time.

He had done it in his previous life after all.

Although that time wasn’t such a pleasant one.

The flustered boy was the grandson of Shin Yi.

Now able to speak, he was Jiegal Hyeok.

I glanced over at Jiegal Hyeok’s neck.

A long, vertical scar running along it.

That was both the reason Jiegal Hyeok could speak now, and why he was helping me.

After taking a brief moment to gaze at it, I spoke to Jiegal Hyeok.

“By the way, I brought one more person, so you can use him too.”

As I mentioned this, I gestured towards Seongyul.

Seongyul had a bewildered expression, clearly not comprehending the situation.

How could he?

After all, how could one understand the declaration of an attack on Hanam?

Jiegal Hyeok tilted his head, looking at Seongyul.

More specifically, he was gazing into Seongyul’s eyes.

“This person… hasn’t received a ‘blessing’ yet, it seems.”

At those words, I furrowed my brow tightly.

“I told you not to use that term.”

What blessing? Heavens, spare me!

Jiegal Hyeok often used that expression when referring to those I had corrupted.

But I truly despised it.

‘Blessing’ my foot—

This was not some noble blessing.

This was—

Punishment.

It had to turn into a severe sentence instead.

Being bound by their sins, they would thrash around endlessly, only to burn away into nothingness. That was my interpretation of Demonization.

When I let out a growl, Jiegal Hyeok glanced at me, lowering his gaze slightly as he spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

Upon hearing that, I relaxed my expression.

Prolonging this any further would only create a bad atmosphere.

I needed to move on.

“…Anyway, change the captured plan to three months from now.”

“This is already quite rushed, and it might be hard.”

As Jiegal Hyeok stated, moving a task that was originally set for half a year to three months would require a significant amount of effort.

Jiegal Hyeok from my past life.

Unless he was the genius known as the brain of the Demonic Sect, Cheon Yu-rang, it would be tough for the young Jiegal Hyeok now.

“If you succeed, I’ll grant you that wish of yours.”

“…!”

If it could turn an impossible task into a possible one, it was a win!

I would fulfill his desire.

Upon hearing that, Jiegal Hyeok’s eyes widened.

“…Hyung… is that really true?”

“Yeah, if you pull this off, just as you wished.”

What Jiegal Hyeok desired was simply—

“I’ll open an inn in Shan Mountain.”

A small inn where he could quietly spend time with my grandfather.

That was his dream, to open an inn and live a peaceful life.

He had loved cooking since childhood, and had indeed dreamed of being an innkeeper.

‘Such a big yet small dream.’

This was someone who could shake the Central Plains with just his intellect.

And yet, he wanted to become an innkeeper—it was utterly perplexing.

‘…It might just be better this way.’

It was a much better choice than becoming Gu Daemadu’s advisor.

“Is it really true?”

When I stated I’d grant him an inn in Shan Mountain, a glimmer sparkled in Jiegal Hyeok’s eyes.

Getting all hyped up over just an inn—it was too precious not to use.

“Yeah, I’ll give it to you. If you want a big one, I can do that too.”

Besides, I was swimming in cash now after stirring up the Guangdong region.

‘I’ve got items handed over to Baekhwa Sect.’

While I was in transit, I’d dropped hints to sell it off, and gold coins would keep piling up.

‘The financial side seems to be sorted out.’

I had sold the Night Bright Wine Tang Je-mun gave me.

And now I had managed to get my hands on some Evergreen Iron to sell as well. This should cover me financially.

‘So what’s left?’

Reinforcing troops and replenishing weapons?

As I came to understand this, I nodded.

Recruiting reinforcements was in the bag since I had already selected personnel.

As for replenishing weapons…

‘I don’t have many treasures I know of, so that’s gonna be tough. Then….’

It would likely be best to recruit someone who could craft weaponry.

Buying weapons outright would undoubtedly be the quickest route.

‘But that’s not enough.’

I couldn’t be satisfied with weapons merely purchasable with gold coins.

I required much stronger ones.

Fortunately, I already had someone in mind regarding this matter, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

‘Then the only remaining question is.’

Time, huh?

Tsk.

No matter how much I rushed, time was against me.

‘I need to make things work somehow.’

If I was lacking, I had to make it not lack.

It was time for me to frantically brainstorm ideas in my mind.

“So, please shorten the plan a bit.”

“I’ll… I’ll try my best.”

Upon hearing Jiegal Hyeok’s reply, I began to soothe my disappointment.

‘It seems like it’s going to be tough.’

A half-hearted assurance combined with “I’ll try” was clearly indicating that it would indeed be difficult.

But—

‘There’s no helping it.’

I had to make full use of what I had.

It wasn’t the time to be picky.

“I only had this to convey for now… oh, right.”

I was about to conclude when I remembered Jiegal Hyeok had something to ask.

“Let me know where your grandfather is.”

“Grandfather?”

When I inquired about Shin Yi, Jiegal Hyeok widened his eyes slightly.

Then he looked at me and asked.

“Did something happen, Hyung?”

Since I had only one reason to find Shin Yi, it didn’t take long for me to figure out the answer.

Upon hearing the question, I had to put on an awkward expression.

“Just a little. It’s not severe, but it would be a problem if left unchecked.”

“Whenever you say you’re just a little injured, it’s never minor, is it?”

“Since when have I said I was seriously hurt like that?”

“Last time, you locked yourself away to test new power… and shortly after, your organs erupted…”

“Forget it… just let me know.”

As I was about to share a painful story, I quickly changed the subject.

It was an embarrassing chapter in my history.

‘I was so foolish back then.’

I had no clue how rough and wild the power I wanted to test was.

In response, Jiegal Hyeok made a face indicating he didn’t approve of me and said.

“Grandfather… is currently in Hanam.”

“Hanam?”

Out of the blue, Hanam?

“Last I heard, he was at the Moyong Clan until just before I left.”

I had heard he went to the Wangcheon Sword Master’s request momentarily, but now he was in Hanam?

‘Well, that works out nicely.’

Regardless, I needed to head to Hanam anyway.

This way, it seemed I could meet Shin Yi a bit earlier.

One question lingered in my mind though, why was Shin Yi in Hanam?

Jiegal Hyeok answered that question without me having to ask.

“He said someone would come, so he was waiting for that person.”

“Your grandfather is waiting…?”

Hearing Jiegal Hyeok’s words, I furrowed my brow slightly.

Shin Yi was the type to badmouth the current clan leader, so just who could be significant enough for that old man to go wait?

‘…It’s a relief he’s in Hanam.’

Whatever it was, it was perfectly fine.

After all, it was a necessary meeting, and it was lucky timing. That’s how I had to perceive it.

With that thought in mind, I waved my hand dismissively.

“Anyway. Now that we’ve talked about this, let’s disperse.”

I had already covered the main topics and heard everything needed, so there was no point in lingering here.

Though I wondered if I had summoned everyone just for such simple matters.

‘I had to check on their condition too.’

I had to ensure the boys were all fit and not scheming useless nonsense.

Fortunately, it seemed there were no issues at the moment.

The moment I finished speaking, the presence began to dissipate almost instantaneously.

As I opened my eyes, only three figures remained in the space.

Me, Seongyul, and Jiegal Hyeok.

When I confirmed that, I turned to Jiegal Hyeok.

“Why?”

Naturally, Jiegal Hyeok would be the last to leave, being an ordinary person.

But I asked him this because his gaze suggested there was something he wanted to ask me.

“I still have something to inquire.”

“Ask away.”

“Why did you hastily push the plan forward to three months? What’s your aim?”

Originally set for half a year, why would I suddenly shorten it to three months?

Jiegal Hyeok was questioning me about it.

“Hmm.”

I pondered for a moment upon hearing the question.

What should I tell him?

The time had grown tight because things had spiraled out of control, which was part of it.

‘But that’s not the whole story.’

There was another reason.

That’s why Jiegal Hyeok must have picked up on something and was asking.

My deliberation was quick.

It wasn’t long; it was simply about selecting one from several answers.

“Well, it’s not exactly a grand reason… just.”

I looked at Jiegal Hyeok and said.

“I figured if a villain was going to do something, he might as well have a go at being a hero too.”

“…?”

My casual response left a question mark floating over Jiegal Hyeok’s face.

 

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