Chapter 657: Plan.

Drip, drip.

The tea that spilled from the broken teacup flowed down to the floor.

Grrrrrrr—–!!!

The table shook from the aura emanating from it.

“Gasp….”

Under the pressure that fully crushed his shoulders, Beom-dong let out a groan.

A master. And quite a considerable master at that.

While being crushed, Beom-dong glanced at Moyong Hi-ah.

Moyong Hi-ah was staring at the person who had suddenly appeared, her eyes wide with surprise.

That was all.

Even with this level of pressure, that woman suffered no damage whatsoever.

This meant that they were controlling and manipulating all the emanating energy.

‘Where did such a master come from…!’

Beom-dong, while sweating cold sweat, focused his strength in his dantian.

It was a terrifying pressure, but not one he couldn’t overcome.

So, Beom-dong gathered his strength and sprang up.

Crack-!!

‘Gah-!’

Pain shot through him, but Beom-dong succeeded in overcoming the pressure and getting up.

However, was it his imagination? The moment he tried to rise, the energy felt like it weakened.

As if to make it easier for him to get up.

“Hoo….”

As Beom-dong got up, the pressure filling the room vanished as if by magic.

Cold sweat trickled down.

He glared at the opponent while hiding his damp forehead, and as he observed them, he was startled inwardly.

‘…Young.’

It was because the opponent was much younger than Beom-dong had expected.

Despite their fierce appearance, their face looked like someone who had just passed the age of twenty. Even accounting for an unbelievable youthful appearance, they couldn’t have been much older than twenty.

Even so, it was unbelievable.

‘That energy just now, was it from him?’

He couldn’t believe it.

Who is this person? Who on earth could emit such energy?

Beom-dong, hiding his cold sweat, adjusted his stance and asked him.

“…Did you just speak to me?”

That son of a bitch is barking loudly.

The young man had definitely spoken to him like that.

Not just anyone, but the Grand Master of the Martial Alliance.

Even the heads or elders of prestigious families, now considered among the three great clans, wouldn’t dare treat him like this.

That young man said that to him?

Surely, he didn’t fail to see the insignia on my shoulder?

As Beom-dong asked with such doubt, the young man’s lips curled upwards.

“Ah, no. Dogs were barking so loudly nearby, it was irritating, so I went out, and guess what? There was a dog right in front of the building. That’s what I said.”

“…”

Beom-dong’s brow furrowed upon hearing this.

It was an unbelievable excuse. Anyone listening would know it was nothing but a flimsy pretext.

“It was so filthy-looking, too. I hated the way it barked, and seeing its face made me want to catch it and boil it alive. It’s probably still outside, want to take a look?”

Grind.

Beom-dong’s fists clenched tightly as he listened.

He had crossed the line with his words and actions. He didn’t know who this person was, but no one should dare treat the Grand Master of the Martial Alliance like this.

“How dare you….”

Beom-dong glared at the young man with flashing eyes. Then, the young man spoke to him as if surprised.

“Wow, you look a bit upset. Must have had a bad day.”

“Do you even know who I am to be acting so rudely?”

“Do I need to know that? I’m not particularly curious…”

Grrr!

A vein bulged on his forehead. This was his limit.

“I am the Grand Master of the Flying Dragon Unit, part of the Sword Division of the Martial Alliance.”

“Yes, you look the part.”

“…Hmph.”

He remained unfazed even after the introduction. It meant he already knew.

Does he mean to act like this even knowing I’m the Grand Master of the Alliance?

Just who is this guy?

“…What is your name, sir?”

To Beom-dong’s question, the young man replied with a slight nod.

“Why should I tell you that?”

“…What?”

“If you’re from the investigation team, then investigate properly and find out. Asking me this nonsense.”

“…!”

It seemed he knew not only that he was the Grand Master but also that Beom-dong belonged to the investigation team.

“You don’t seem to grasp the situation…”

Realizing this much, Beom-dong continued speaking to the young man with a stiff expression.

“I acknowledge you are a master, but you have just initiated an attack on the Grand Master of the Alliance.”

Belonging to the Martial Alliance.

And to assume an aggressive stance towards the Grand Master is no different than launching a direct attack on the Martial Alliance.

He mentioned a fact that any righteous sect disciple should fear, but…

“Me? When?”

The young man just shrugged shamelessly.

Seeing that, Beom-dong’s face flushed with anger.

He wanted to draw his sword right then and there.

But he had to hold back.

‘The opponent is strong.’

And a strong opponent whose identity he couldn’t even ascertain.

Perhaps it was an old master wearing a human skin mask.

No, the probability was high.

“Are you trying to deny it even after emitting that energy just now? The Branch Chief here must have seen it too, right?”

When Beom-dong asked, looking at Moyong Hi-ah, she reacted with wide, surprised eyes.

“What? What are you talking about? Energy?”

Beom-dong’s eyes widened at Moyong Hi-ah’s words.

‘This bitch…!’

Even though she clearly saw everything, Moyong Hi-ah was acting as if she knew nothing.

The energy had bypassed Moyong Hi-ah, so it was possible she hadn’t known.

But her exaggerated reaction made it impossible not to know. Moyong Hi-ah was pretending not to know, even though she knew everything.

Seeing Moyong Hi-ah like that, the young man chuckled and said to Beom-dong.

“Ah, surely not. Are you getting worked up over me just letting out a little energy? Oh dear. It was just a joke.”

“A joke? Did you just call it a joke?”

“Yes, it was just a joke.”

“Emitting that kind of energy and calling it a joke? It seems the Grand Master was that laughable…!”

Just as Beom-dong was about to lash out angrily.

“It absolutely must be a joke. Otherwise.”

Chills.

A sudden chill ran down his spine, and Beom-dong’s mouth snapped shut.

He couldn’t feel the same energy as before. Nevertheless, Beom-dong’s body remained stiffly frozen.

The young man had somehow appeared right in front of Beom-dong’s face.

Approaching him like that, the young man looked into Beom-dong’s eyes and continued.

“Wouldn’t your previous actions, Grand Master, also become not-so-joking?”

“…!”

Hearing this, Beom-dong involuntarily flinched.

‘How?’

The young man’s meaningful words pierced Beom-dong’s heart.

Because it referred to the energy he had been about to unleash on Moyong Hi-ah just moments ago.

‘How could he possibly know?’

It was a subtly emitted energy. Moreover, it wasn’t directed at the young man, but at the woman right in front of him.

No matter how high their cultivation level, it shouldn’t be easy to notice.

Just what is his true identity…

“I can practically hear your brain grinding from here.”

At the young man’s words, Beom-dong’s frozen body relaxed.

“Let’s just take it easy. We both played a little prank. Isn’t it easier to just let it go?”

Tap, tap.

He felt a touch on his shoulder. The young man was tapping Beom-dong’s shoulder.

He was simply bewildered by the completely incomprehensible situation.

Because of that, Beom-dong didn’t notice.

Something seeping into him through the shoulder being touched.

“Or perhaps you want to dance with your sword right here? I’ll accompany you then. I don’t particularly like dancing, but if you wish, I’ll do it.”

“…”

Everything he said with a smile just grated on his nerves.

While thinking, ‘What kind of person is this?’, Beom-dong had to rack his brain.

‘This isn’t good.’

The situation was bad in every way.

Having served as a member of the Alliance for decades, Beom-dong knew from experience.

Those eyes were serious. Eyes that would start a fight to the death right in the middle of Henan.

Meeting his gaze, Beom-dong’s hand instinctively went to his sword hilt.

Could he win? He wasn’t sure. He felt goosebumps all over his body.

Feeling that, Beom-dong took his hand off the hilt again.

“…Grrr.”

As Beom-dong finally backed down, the young man’s smile also disappeared.

Should I say he lost interest?

Rather, that look made Beom-dong feel even more uneasy.

‘Did he truly mean that it wouldn’t matter if we fought here?’

With that chilling certainty, Beom-dong immediately got up.

Even so, he didn’t forget what he had to say to Moyong Hi-ah.

“As the Branch Chief mentioned. I will return next time with proper investigative authority.”

“Yes, I will be waiting. I apologize, but I won’t be able to see you off as we have a new guest.”

Moyong Hi-ah said with an elegant smile, and Beom-dong scowled.

“And…”

Then, he forced himself to look at the young man and added.

“I suspect I will see you again soon, so I hope to receive a formal introduction then.”

Having shown such an attitude and inflicted such pressure on a member of the Alliance, they would surely meet again soon.

It was a warning, but…

“Running away with your tail between your legs while putting on airs… Ah, sorry. I was just thinking that.”

“…”

Trembling…. Beom-dong debated whether to draw his sword immediately, regardless of the danger, dozens of times.

“Hoo…”

Beom-dong let out a deep sigh and started walking.

The young man didn’t look at Beom-dong until he brushed past him and headed for the entrance.

Once Beom-dong had completely disappeared from the upper floor,

“Haa…”

Moyong Hi-ah let out the sigh she had been holding back. The young man, Gu Yangcheon, turned around and looked at the entrance where Beom-dong had left.

Seeing this, Moyong Hi-ah asked Gu Yangcheon.

“…Why didn’t you stop him?”

Hearing the question, Gu Yangcheon shifted his gaze to Moyong Hi-ah.

“Should I have stopped him?”

“No. If you had, it might have gotten a bit complicated.”

Letting him go now was the right move.

That was Moyong Hi-ah’s calculation, but…

“However, it’s just a little curious that you, Gong-ja-nim, acted that way.”

You wouldn’t normally do that, would you?

That’s what she meant.

Hearing that, Gu Yangcheon burst into a chuckle.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t normally have….”

I almost killed him the moment I saw him.

His ridiculous act of deception was so contemptible, I almost burned him down so not even a strand of hair would remain, but…

I held back.

“Because I think he might be useful. So I let him go for now.”

“…”

Treating him not as a person, but as a complete object.

At Gu Yangcheon’s cold, dry tone, Moyong Hi-ah involuntarily swallowed hard.

“…Perhaps, do you know him?”

His eyes seemed somewhat familiar.

Beom-dong, the Grand Master of the Flying Dragon Unit. Or perhaps, Beom-dong the ‘Annihilating Sword’ (殲劍).

As he is quite a famous figure, it wouldn’t be strange for Gu Yangcheon to know him, but…

Gu Yangcheon’s reaction seemed subtly different just to know him.

Hearing such a question, Gu Yangcheon pondered for a moment.

“No.”

He casually denied it.

It wasn’t a lie. At least, not in this life.

Though perhaps not in his past life.

“Haha.”

Gu Yangcheon laughed, recalling Beom-dong whom he had just faced.

At his shallow laugh, Moyong Hi-ah stroked her own shoulder.

I have never forgotten, even across lives.

I haven’t forgotten a single face. And Beom-dong hasn’t either.

‘It’s good to see you.’

How could I not be glad?

‘To think the bastard would show up on his own.’

It wasn’t my turn yet.

I intended to finish the tasks at hand one by one and find him later.

But for him to appear looking like this damn bastard.

‘How could I not welcome him?’

I’m so glad. So glad I could go crazy.

Gu Yangcheon thought, hiding his hands inside his sleeves.

He had to hide his hands, trembling from holding back.

‘What a shame, if I had provoked him a little more there, he might have drawn his sword.’

Then I wouldn’t have been able to hold back and would have killed him.

It was truly regrettable that I couldn’t.

‘Or maybe not? If it were him, would he have held back until the very end?’

I don’t know. No, he probably would have.

Wiggling his trembling fingers, he barely stopped himself and wiped his lips.

“I think we’re done talking. Shall we head up now? Or is there more business?”

“Ah… No. I was just about to get up.”

“Alright.”

With that, Moyong Hi-ah stood up, and Gu Yangcheon also turned around.

Gu Yangcheon’s expression, as he turned, was incomparably cold and settled.

‘I’ve sent him off with the demonic energy planted… Now, how shall I play with him?’

I needed someone anyway.

This is perfect timing.

Especially if that someone is Beom-dong.

‘Let’s have a refreshing time together, shall we? Grand Master.’

He is an observant and capable individual.

That’s why, in his past life, he was entrusted by the Alliance Leader to lead the newly formed Snow Flower Unit as its Grand Master.

And that’s also why.

‘He could betray faster than anyone else.’

He could have taken a step ahead, betrayed the Alliance, and committed scummy acts with that subordinate called a unit leader.

Beom-dong, the ‘Mad Ghost Dog Sword’ (狂鬼犬劍).

One of the first to become a demonized person after betraying the Alliance.

He was once his superior during his time in the Martial Alliance.

Thinking of him, Gu Yangcheon mused.

‘Please die as usefully as possible, Grand Master.’

If that wasn’t possible, he intended to make it happen himself.

---

Afterward, I went up to the Branch Chief’s office with Moyong Hi-ah.

Seo Dong, who saw me go out and then come back in with Moyong Hi-ah, looked at me with surprise, but…

Since there was nothing he could do about it, I just winked and brushed it off.

It seemed things were mostly settled, and I thought I could finally sit back and have a nice chat, but then…

“…What?”

I had to wear a dumbfounded expression at what Moyong Hi-ah brought up.

“They say a new group has emerged in the Central Plains.”

I couldn’t help it.

“The group’s name is the Demonic Cult (魔敎).”

It was a rather familiar name.

“They say it’s a sect founded by an unheard-of master called the Heavenly Demon (天魔)… and that they attack both righteous and unorthodox sects indiscriminately.”

Just hearing this much gave me an indescribable feeling.

But.

The bigger problem here was…

“The group’s power seems considerable, as the Alliance is struggling to find information… However, according to rumors.”

It was the words that followed immediately after.

“There’s talk that the identity of this Heavenly Demon is the ‘Defeated Venerate’ (敗尊), one of the Three Venerates.”

Moyong Hi-ah stated this with a serious expression, and…

Before I could react to this…

“…Huh?”

From behind, Jeon Bae-jon-gyeom, who had been crossing his arms-now the second son of the Bi family, Tu-ryong Bi Ui-jin-spoke out in a dazed voice.