Chapter 819: Where is my son?

“Star King—!!!”

A rough roar swept through the branch.

Whether it was amplified by the voice itself or something else, the amplified volume was considerable.

Moreover, given the level of the one roaring, their Lion’s Roar was strong enough to shake even the trees.

“… keok….”

“Keeuueu…!!”

The martial artists of the Alliance who were guarding the branch were all stumbling.

Hwagyeong-level. That was the roar of someone whose position as one of the next generation’s top ten masters was practically confirmed.

“Where is he-!”

The owner of the roar.

For some reason, the Azure Dragon Brigade Leader, Ilcheonggeom, was unable to control his emotions and was fully expressing his rage.

And what’s more.

“Ouyang Qian-!”

He was shouting my name repeatedly.

Thanks to that, everyone at the branch was flustered. Especially the Branch Master, Mok Riseon, seemed utterly panicked, his eyeballs trembling.

Kugeugeugeu-!!

The gradually spreading aura began to press down on the surroundings of the branch.

It seemed the aura he possessed was greater than expected.

“… kkeu… kkeueuk…!!”

“Ugh.”

People were beyond stumbling; now they were even spitting up.

It was obvious that if it went any further, they’d start spitting blood. After seeing that, I revealed myself.

“What are you doing?”

As I appeared with a look of utter confusion, Ilcheonggeom immediately charged at me.

Then, he immediately grabbed me by the collar.

My body swayed from the shock. With a bewildered expression, I looked at Ilcheonggeom.

“…Oh dear. Senior-nim. Why are you acting like this?”

“You bastard-!”

Ilcheonggeom shouted at me, his face contorted as if he couldn’t stand it any longer.

“How dare you toy with me? You dare-!”

Shouting roughly, Ilcheonggeom threw something at me. Looking at it, it was a letter.

It bore the Alliance’s seal, specifically, it was a letter Ilcheonggeom would have received about two days after departing for Sichuan.

As I recall, the contents probably were.

‘Azure Dragon Brigade Leader, immediately gather your members and return to the main Alliance.’

That seemed to be the meaning.

Upon receiving it, Ilcheonggeom returned to the Alliance with a strange expression.

He must have had a strange feeling, but it bore the Alliance’s seal, specifically, Mukyeon’s direct seal.

Seeing that, he probably couldn’t do anything else.

Thus, Ilcheonggeom left for the Alliance.

Meanwhile, I continued my journey to Sichuan.

This caused the time difference in our arrival in Sichuan.

So.

Then why was the returned Ilcheonggeom so angry? The reason is simple.

After all the trouble of receiving the letter and returning to the Alliance, Ilcheonggeom probably heard the news.

That is, the main Alliance, specifically Mukyeon, had never sent such a letter.

Yes, the letter was fake.

Ah, no.

‘Fake’ might not be the right word.

It did have the seal, so it was technically real… but anyway. Thanks to that, Ilcheonggeom experienced a wild goose chase. This must be why he’s so furious.

“Senior-nim, why are you acting like this? Please calm down.”

I had to keep showing an expression of injustice.

“Calm down? You tell me to calm down? Ha-!”

“You, who went all the way back, suddenly appear and act like this.”

“Are you going to play ignorant? Do you think I don’t know it was you-!”

“No, I mean, what exactly are you talking about?”

“You manipulated the Main Alliance’s seal and forged a fake order, and now you’re pretending not to know?”

Ilcheonggeom said, grinding his teeth.

Feeling his rage clearly, I slightly frowned.

“Seal manipulation? What are you talking about?”

“How long do you plan to keep playing dumb? Do you really think I wouldn’t know?”

“This is driving me crazy.”

With an annoyed expression, I grabbed his hand on my collar and pulled it away.

Tuduk-! He was gripping tightly, but my martial uniform tore right off.

“What on earth are you talking about? Manipulation, forgery. Why are you acting like this the moment you arrive-.”

Are you fucking crazy? I barely managed to swallow that last part.

It would have been fine to just blurt it out, but holding back was more important right now.

For some reason, Ilcheonggeom was convinced I was the culprit behind this.

But the important thing here is.

‘That bastard’s intuition is sharp.’

The truth is, I am the culprit.

It’s true I didn’t send the letter or ensure he received it.

But I did orchestrate the whole thing.

So, it was somewhat surprising.

‘I expected suspicion, but not outright certainty?’

How did he become so sure? What made him so certain to act like this?

That made me a little curious.

“…Why are you making such a fuss?”

I tried to phrase it politely, but Ilcheonggeom’s rage showed no signs of dying down.

Rather, it seemed to escalate the more time passed, his expression becoming increasingly distorted.

“Even if Muk Strategist-nim and the world seem to be on your side, this is a critical matter decided by the Main Alliance. It’s not something a nobody like you can arbitrarily meddle with!”

I nodded.

I let the first remark slide.

“Even if I dislike you immensely, you can’t let personal feelings interfere with a mission-.”

And I cut in on his second point.

“Personal feelings? Who?”

He paused.

Ilcheonggeom, who had been ranting, suddenly gulped.

“I’m not sure who’s saying that to whom.”

“…This guy.”

“Well, even if I let that slide for now. Senior-nim.”

Actually, I have no intention of letting it slide.

It’s a perfect opportunity to pick a fight, so why would I let it go?

However, there was something better, so I pretended to let it go.

“Do you have any proof that I did it?”

“…”

When asked, he couldn’t speak.

Naturally.

There was no way there’d be any proof.

I wasn’t careless enough to leave any.

That’s why he can act like this.

“Personal feelings? Yes, since you know, let me just say it: I don’t particularly like you, Senior-nim.”

In fact, I dislike you.

To the point where I want to kill you.

“But I don’t think it’s much different for you either, is it? Or am I wrong?”

“…”

“Since you’re not answering, I’ll take it as a yes… And honestly, that doesn’t matter much either. There’s no need for us to be friends, right? But.”

Tuk tuk.

I tapped Ilcheonggeom’s collar with my hand.

“I understand you’re upset because something strange happened, and I sympathize with that… but…”

At the same time, I looked Ilcheonggeom in the eye and said.

“It’s problematic to act like this without proof. There are so many eyes watching. As you said yourself, Senior-nim, we came here for important work.”

As I spoke, I glanced down slightly.

I could see Ilcheonggeom’s hands trembling.

He looked like he wanted to draw his sword at any moment.

A killing intent was also faintly visible.

Seeing this, I smiled.

“So, please calm down for now. Unless you plan to draw your sword immediately.”

If you’re pissed off, draw your sword. Let’s fight right here where everyone can see.

I appealed to his pride while establishing a justifiable reason. As if proving I’d hit a nerve, a vein bulged on Ilcheonggeom’s forehead.

After all this, would he really hold back?

I already knew the answer in my heart.

Ilcheonggeom would definitely hold back.

“Kkeudeuk.”

As if to prove it, he ground his teeth and suppressed his emotions.

He’s unnecessarily cautious.

It was a bit surprising that he acted so emotionally, but this guy wouldn’t fall for such an obvious trap.

Therefore, I need to handle this carefully.

So that he doesn’t think of himself as prey.

But rather, as the predator.

I shouldn’t be the one trying to catch him.

I need to make him think he’s catching me.

From the beginning until now, it was all coordination for that purpose.

Ilcheonggeom’s twitching expression.

He barely endured it and approached me.

I didn’t back away.

“…Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not just letting this slide purely out of goodwill.”

“Oh, of course. I know very well.”

“No matter how much you deny it, the outcome won’t change. As soon as we return to the Main Alliance…”

Kkeugeugeuk.

The sound of him grinding his teeth was clearly audible.

“Along with the Golden Dragon Brigade Leader’s matter, I will thoroughly investigate all the things you’ve secretly done.”

I could feel his determination not to let this slide lightly.

Hearing this, I nodded slightly and replied.

“Yes. I’ll be looking forward to it. So, for now, please do what you need to do. Great Azure Dragon Brigade Leader-nim.”

As I finished speaking, the Azure Dragon Brigade Leader, who had been suppressing his anger, turned his back sharply.

He turned towards the Branch Master’s location.

“Gather the members.”

Ilcheonggeom addressed the Azure Dragon Brigade.

“We have arrived at our destination, so commence the search immediately. Ensure there are no disruptions to the plan we prepared beforehand.”

Chung!

He’s starting the mission immediately upon arrival without even resting.

Despite his words, the members responded loudly and without hesitation.

They certainly looked well-disciplined.

Watching them, I asked Ilcheonggeom.

“Shall I hand over the gathered information? If you need it-.”

“I don’t. I will hear the situation directly from the Branch Master.”

“Ah, yes.”

His tone had returned to normal.

He was speaking informally until now, so what’s the point of changing it so late?

It was incomprehensible to me.

Ilcheonggeom cut off the conversation and went to talk with the Branch Master.

Still, it’s a mission we’re working on together, so it would be nice to share some information… Tsk tsk.

‘I knew he wouldn’t listen anyway.’

Smiling wryly, I also turned away.

As I turned, the Azure Dragon Brigade members seemed to flinch slightly.

But they immediately began to move.

Just as Ilcheonggeom said, it seemed they already had a plan.

Watching them, I recalled Ilcheonggeom’s words in my mind.

-As soon as we return to the Main Alliance… Along with the Golden Dragon Brigade Leader’s matter, I will thoroughly investigate all the things you’ve secretly done.

He has no proof, but it seems like something’s bothering him.

Ilcheonggeom’s reaction certainly suggested something was up.

If things really went like this back to the Alliance, the situation could get a little tricky.

I sensed this, but I wasn’t particularly worried.

‘It’s all part of the plan anyway.’

Wouldn’t it be better if Ilcheonggeom returned to the Main Alliance peacefully?

In that sense, unfortunately, Ilcheonggeom won’t be able to achieve his goal.

After all, Ilcheonggeom…

‘This will be his last stop.’

Sichuan, where we just arrived, would be the end of his life.

---

“Is it really okay not to send it?”

As soon as I entered my quarters, I turned my head at the words I heard.

The one who spoke to me was Cheoljiseon.

He handed me an item and spoke to me.

“Send what?”

As I took the item and asked with confusion, Cheoljiseon spoke worriedly.

“About sharing information with the Azure Dragon Brigade.”

As I took off my sweat-soaked martial uniform from training, I relaxed my posture slightly.

A faint aura filled the room.

“I heard you decided not to. Is that true?”

“Ah, that? Yes. They said they wouldn’t accept it?”

“…Didn’t you spend two days organizing it for sharing?”

“That’s right.”

Indeed. I had spent time preparing, anticipating the Azure Dragon Brigade’s request for information sharing.

Of course, Cheoljiseon prepared it, not me.

But now that you’re saying you won’t send it, he seemed unable to understand.

“What can I do if they refuse to accept it? It would be stranger to force it on them.”

It’s not like it’s anything else; if Ilcheonggeom refuses, what else can be done?

“But… then what about the plan?”

“What plan?”

As I reacted as if asking what he was talking about, Cheoljiseon gave a strange look and said.

“No, Yangcheon, you… weren’t you planning to clear up the misunderstanding that the Sky Opening Sect Master and the Demonic Cult were involved, and then frame Ilcheonggeom for it? To do that, you’d need to provide some information.”

“Hmm?”

Hearing that, I widened my eyes slightly.

What kind of crazy talk is this?

I told Cheoljiseon, as if it were absurd.

“What the hell? You’ve been up to no good, and now you’ve really become a scoundrel.”

“…Huh?”

Cheoljiseon reacted with apparent confusion.

“What do you take me for? Frame him, you bastard. Do you think Ilcheonggeom is some straw sandal to be framed?”

“Ah, it wasn’t?”

“Of course not.”

Hahaha, seriously.

I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t speak.

“Jiseon-ah, you should speak properly.”

“Huh?”

“Clearing up misunderstandings? That statement itself is wrong.”

Smiling brightly, I patted Cheoljiseon’s shoulder.

“The Sky Opening Sect has been in cahoots with the Demonic Cult from the start.”

“Uh…?”

As if correcting his misconception, I continued explaining to Cheoljiseon in a gentle tone.

“Those scoundrels are not only in cahoots with the insane bastards of the Demonic Cult who want to turn the Central Plains into a sea of fire, but the Branch Master here, and even Ilcheonggeom, were all part of it, weren’t they?”

“…What… what are you saying?”

Cheoljiseon reacted as if he couldn’t understand at all, but…

I spoke with sincere eyes.

It was a conviction devoid of any doubt.

“That’s why we’re here to punish those scoundrels who are plotting against the Martial Arts Alliance in the name of justice, right? But framing them? What kind of terrifying thing is that to say? It makes it sound like… we’re the bad guys.”

“…”

“There’s no need for us to frame them… they were already entangled. Right?”

I said with a sly grin.

Then Cheoljiseon nodded, creaking as if malfunctioning.

It seemed he finally understood.

As expected, being a smart guy, his comprehension was indeed fast.

“So.”

I said, finishing putting on my clothes.

“Keep that in mind. I’m going to meet one of the scoundrels, so you just handle what I asked you to do.”

Cheoljiseon tried to say something, but I got up without listening.

The preparations over the past three days were complete.

Now that the Azure Dragon Brigade Leader had arrived, it was time to begin.

Clear up the Sky Opening Sect’s misunderstanding?

Not a chance.

‘Why would I clear up something so beneficial?’

It’s better this way.

If they want to use it, I’ll gladly let them.

And so.

‘It’s best to catch all the troublesome ones at once.’

Think about how busy I was for three days before the Azure Dragon Brigade Leader arrived for this.

Considering that, I had no intention of letting anything slide easily.

I checked the item Cheoljiseon had just given me.

The white powder wrapped in cloth revealed itself.

This was the key to making Ilcheonggeom mistake me for the predator… and…

It was the powdered root called Gyeonyeolcho (Silk Heat Grass)…

And it was the poisonous herb I would end up consuming ‘by Ilcheonggeom’s hand’.