The Demon Extermination Squad, led by Jinhagun, entered the Chongqing Branch of the Wulin Alliance.
This was the sight that met Jugwol’s eyes when he came running after hearing the news.
Eight Demon Extermination Squad warriors were entering the training yard, surrounding a single man in their midst.
Jugwol realized that the man being dragged along at the center was the man from the portrait.
“You caught him!”
The Wulin Alliance warriors who had been watching erupted in a collective cheer of joy.
A moment later, killing intent poured toward Seo Daeryong. If not for Jinhagun and the Demon Extermination Squad, they would have showered him with curses and jeers.
Jugwol ran toward Jinhagun. The look in his eyes softened considerably when he saw him.
“Well done.”
He had been worried that Jinhagun might go easy on the demonic cultivators because Geom Mugeuk was his friend, but Jinhagun had brought Seo Daeryong in himself.
‘This is how one properly separates public and private matters.’
In truth, Jugwol was no better at separating public and private matters.
These incidents had taken place in Chongqing, which was under his responsibility, and he was naturally acquainted with both the Lord of Famous Manor and the Sect Master of Great Justice Sect. As a result, his personal feelings had played a major role in this affair as well.
Jugwol glared at Seo Daeryong with terrifying eyes.
But Seo Daeryong pretended not to notice and only stared at the back of the warrior walking in front of him.
‘Young Cult Master, I’ve truly had every experience imaginable in my life.’
He had won the Little Dragon Tournament at the Wulin Alliance and heard cheers of celebration. This time, he was receiving an intense killing intent filled with hatred.
The place they entered was the interrogation room of the Chongqing Branch.
The man who had once interrogated criminals in the Yellow Springs Pavilion’s interrogation rooms now sat here as a criminal himself.
Seo Daeryong let out a quiet sigh and looked around. Though he was acting as bait for the operation, now that he had actually entered a Wulin Alliance interrogation room, he felt tense and afraid.
From this point on, he had to keep his wits about him. The Demon Extermination Squad was guarding him as tightly as an iron wall for now, but there was no telling when someone might seize an opening and try to kill him.
The first person to enter was Jinhagun.
“Are you thirsty?”
“I’m fine.”
Seo Daeryong answered Jinhagun politely.
Strictly speaking, if one went by rank alone, Seo Daeryong’s position as a Pavilion Master and Squad Leader was actually higher. Even so, he showed Jinhagun due courtesy because Jinhagun was a leading candidate for the next Alliance Leader—and, above all, because he was the Young Cult Master’s friend.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Jinhagun was the one who ought to be grateful. Word would spread that he had captured the culprit, which would greatly enhance his reputation.
“Are you afraid?”
“The Young Cult Master gave me his word. He said that even if I were swallowed by a monster, he would pull me back out. So all I need to do is play the role of being swallowed deliciously.”
If he had heard such words before learning what kind of person Geom Mugeuk was, he would have laughed inwardly.
You’re being used.
But now, Seo Daeryong made him feel envious. And that led him to a conclusion: No matter how he looked at it, those eyes were not the eyes of a man worth only seven points.
“The interrogators will be coming in shortly. They’ll do whatever it takes to obtain a confession from you.”
“I’m prepared.”
In fact, Seo Daeryong was more worried about Jinhagun.
“Squad Leader, you should avoid staying with me if possible.”
“Are you worried about me?”
“There’s no need for you to remain with me in a situation that could become dangerous, is there?”
Seo Daeryong was not worried about Jinhagun. He was worried about the Young Cult Master. He knew how deeply the man would grieve if he lost a friend.
Just then, the interrogators entered the room.
Jinhagun said to them,
“Get to the bottom of the truth thoroughly.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jinhagun glanced once at Seo Daeryong before leaving.
Branch Lord Jugwol was waiting outside the door.
“He is the Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s direct disciple. The Demon Venerable may come to rescue him, so make sure the branch’s defenses are fully prepared.”
“He wouldn’t dare think of entering this branch.”
Reinforcements from the nearby branches, led by the Shaanxi Branch, were arriving one after another.
“That’s why the Branch Lord mustn’t let his guard down even for a moment.”
Jugwol immediately realized his mistake and answered respectfully.
“I won’t let my guard down. I’ll guard the branch well.”
Even so, he was certain that they would not be able to attack this place.
Jinhagun left the building.
He had joined hands with Geom Mugeuk and made a move that defied the enemy’s expectations.
‘Now, how will you respond?’
* * *
In a corner of Chongqing’s marketplace, an old fortune-teller sat alone. His face was covered in wrinkles that spoke of the hardships of the years, and he watched passersby with eyes that seemed to know every secret of life.
Spread across the mat before him were all kinds of objects used for divination: flickering candles and incense, a tortoiseshell painted in eerie colors, divination coins specially made for fortune-telling, talismans inscribed in red, and bamboo lots filling a wooden container. Every conceivable object was laid out before him.
Many passersby crossed in front of him, but no one paid him any attention. The old fortune-teller appeared equally content whether he made a sale or not.
Then, at last, a customer arrived.
A man passing by crouched down before him. He had an ordinary appearance and wore ordinary clothes.
The old fortune-teller examined the man’s face and said,
“Your face is filled with misfortune.”
“I could have guessed that much myself. If things were going well for me, would I even be looking over here?”
Passersby who overheard him laughed.
“Let’s see just how badly things are going for you.”
The old fortune-teller shook the divination container and slowly closed his eyes. The instant his eyes shut, the fates of the two men changed.
The customer’s voice reached the old man through telepathy.
―The Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s disciple has been captured by the Demon Extermination Squad.
The report contained unexpected news, but the old man, eyes closed, did not so much as tremble.
―The Young Cult Master offered up his right arm? Impressive.
The old man knew that Seo Daeryong was Geom Mugeuk’s right-hand man, and that he had deliberately allowed himself to be captured.
The old man opened his eyes and held out the container full of bamboo sticks.
“Your future is in here. Pick one.”
The man selected one.
One of the bamboo sticks protruded slightly from the container, and the man pulled it out.
―Write a new history in blood.
Astonishingly, the old man had anticipated the possibility that Seo Daeryong would be captured and had already prepared a plan for what to do afterward.
The man understood what the order meant.
Attack the Chongqing Branch and turn it into a sea of blood.
If such a thing actually happened, the orthodox sect warriors’ hatred toward the Demonic Cult would reach its peak.
―The warriors who came to reinforce the Chongqing Branch have gathered there. They’ll be off their guard because of that, so this surprise attack could have an even greater effect.
The large number of warriors from outside would only plunge the branch into greater confusion.
This was what concerned the man.
―But the Demon Extermination Squad is there, so our losses will be heavy.
The level of ordinary warriors and that of the Demon Extermination Squad were worlds apart. The experienced Demon Extermination Squad warriors would restore order to even a chaotic situation in an instant.
The old man held out the container again.
“Was one fortune insufficient? Then pick another.”
As if this, too, had been anticipated, one of the bamboo sticks protruded slightly from the container.
Once again, the man pulled it out.
―Those who have vanished shall aid those who remain.
The man immediately understood what this order meant.
“How is it? Will this be enough for you to survive?”
The instant their eyes met, the two men became fortune-teller and customer once more.
“I think it’s worth a try. Thank you!”
The man paid him a few coins and rose from his seat.
“You’re leaving without paying the rest of my fee?”
“If I succeed, I’ll come back and pay what I owe.”
“Not one person who’s said that has ever come back to pay!”
The old fortune-teller shouted at the top of his lungs, but the man pretended not to hear and disappeared into the crowd. The people watching from across the street laughed at the sight.
The old fortune-teller picked up the bamboo sticks the man had drawn and placed them back in the container. Whether the words had vanished at the customer’s fingertips or the old man’s, the writing on the sticks had disappeared without a trace.
The old man continued yawning as he watched the people come and go, then soon began to doze off.
* * *
Geom Mugeuk and Jinhagun stood side by side.
They were standing atop a hill overlooking the Chongqing Branch.
“That fellow must be having a hard time.”
“He’s more mentally resilient than he looks.”
Seo Daeryong was being interrogated all day except when he ate or slept. Even so, he was holding up well.
“He used to be an interrogator at the Yellow Springs Pavilion, so he must be able to see right through the interrogator’s mind.”
He said this, but worry was evident in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes.
“Do you think he knows you’ve been watching over him without taking your eyes off him for even a moment?”
“He’ll know.”
“How?”
“Because he would have done the same.”
“I suppose I should make myself a right-hand man, too.”
Geom Mugeuk laughed along with Jinhagun’s joke.
Just then, one of the Demon Extermination Squad warriors came running over and delivered a hurried report. Since Geom Mugeuk was beside him, he reported through telepathy.
―We’ve discovered the whereabouts of the Lord of Famous Manor.
Jinhagun was startled by his subordinate’s report. At Famous Manor, only blood had been left behind, and not a single corpse had been found.
―He’s alive?
―Yes. We’ve discovered that he has been captured by a group of warriors.
Jinhagun ordered his subordinate,
“Prepare the Demon Extermination Squad for immediate deployment.”
“Yes, sir!”
After the subordinate left, Jinhagun relayed the news to Geom Mugeuk.
“The Lord of Famous Manor is alive.”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze sharpened. Since none of their corpses had been found, he had expected this to some extent. But for his whereabouts to be revealed at precisely this time?
“I’ll go with the Demon Extermination Squad and rescue him.”
Jinhagun also had his doubts, but they had to go for now. If the Lord of Famous Manor was alive, they had to rescue him.
Geom Mugeuk thought of three possibilities.
Jinhagun, who went to rescue them, would die.
The Chongqing Branch warriors guarding Seo Daeryong would die.
Seo Daeryong would die.
Every possibility was the worst one.
They would certainly bring about one of these three outcomes.
Geom Mugeuk had already considered what to do when this moment came.
“I have two requests.”
“What are they?”
“First, let them enter the Chongqing Branch.”
Jinhagun knew who Geom Mugeuk meant by “them.” He had already received the report from the Alliance.
When Jinhagun hesitated to answer, Geom Mugeuk persuaded him.
“I know. I know how much of a burden it will place on you to allow this. But consider what might happen if a problem arises because you refuse to allow it. We’ll move as secretly as possible.”
Jinhagun did not deliberate for long.
“Fine. We’ll do that. But only until I and the Demon Extermination Squad return.”
“Of course. Once this matter is settled, they’ll quietly withdraw.”
It was a request Jinhagun would never have granted from anyone but Geom Mugeuk.
“What’s the other request?”
“Let me come with you.”
Jinhagun understood Geom Mugeuk’s concern. He believed that a major incident would erupt on one side or the other.
“Why do you want to follow me?”
“Because I can’t lose you.”
The Young Cult Master of the Demonic Cult wanted to follow along to protect the Demon Extermination Squad Leader? Who in the martial world would believe such a thing? Normally, Jinhagun would have refused out of pride alone, but his relationship with Geom Mugeuk had already gone beyond that stage. He was not so foolish as to insist on his pride after everything they had been through together.
In any case, if Geom Mugeuk felt such a sense of crisis, then the situation truly was dangerous.
“Your right-hand man will be hurt if he hears that.”
Geom Mugeuk spoke with a meaningful smile.
“He won’t be, once he knows who’s coming.”
* * *
When Jinhagun came down from the hill, Jugwol was waiting in his office.
“I’ll come along and help with the rescue.”
Jinhagun stopped him.
“I know how you feel, Branch Lord Ju, but I’ll lead the Demon Extermination Squad there and return. The enemy may be employing a diversionary tactic, so shouldn’t you remain here to guard the branch?”
Jugwol did not insist. The branch needed to be protected, but an enemy capable of abducting the Lord of Famous Manor had to be dealt with by the elite.
“Please return safely.”
“Thank you.”
Before parting with Jugwol and departing from the branch, the last place Jinhagun visited was the temporary prison prepared underground.
The security there was so strict that the word “temporary” seemed wholly inappropriate.
Jinhagun briefly sent away the martial artists guarding Se Daeryong.
“Has something happened?”
The reason Se Daeryong was startled was that Jinhagun was holding his great saber.
“Something has come up, and I must urgently leave the branch with the Myeolmadae.”
Se Daeryong’s expression hardened. Could a situation really have arisen that required him to leave so suddenly?
If the other person had been Geom Muguk, Se Daeryong would have made a joke like this:
―Ah! So you’re abandoning me in the end! Thank you for everything… What am I saying? I’m going to die! Please save me!
But in front of Jinhagun, Se Daeryong put on a dignified front.
“Please take care of yourself.”
The look in Jinhagun’s eyes deepened as he gazed at Se Daeryong.
The same went for Geom Muguk, and for that Se Daeryong as well. Both of them made him forget that he was dealing with demonfolk.
“Come closer.”
Jinhagun released the restraint on Se Daeryong’s inner power and handed him his great saber.
“Hide the saber somewhere the people guarding this place cannot see.”
“Thank you.”
The moment he took back his saber, Se Daeryong’s heart began to pound. He had an ominous feeling that something major was about to happen. It truly felt as though death were drawing near.
“There is a reason I am leaving you behind at a time like this.”
Jinhagun delivered some astonishing news.
“Your Tongcheongak sent reinforcements for you.”
“Tongcheongak did?”
After coming to Junggyeong, he had reported the situation to Tongcheongak. That was why he had been able to go to the special safe house.
It seemed Sama Myeong had sent reinforcements, judging that something might have happened to the Hyeolcheon Doma. At the time, Geom Muguk and Geom Ujin had not yet arrived in Junggyeong.
“The reinforcements sent by Tongcheongak have been waiting on the outskirts of Junggyeong.”
Rumors had spread that the tragedy at Daejeongmun had been the work of the Demon Cult, and the atmosphere in Junggyeong’s martial world was not good. That was why they had been waiting outside the city.
“The Young Cult Master asked me to let them enter this branch.”
Se Daeryong understood. Jinhagun had accepted that request. Otherwise, he would not have brought it up in the first place.
“My subordinate from the Myeolmadae will remain behind and secretly receive them. Of course, they will enter not as members of the Sacred Cult, but as outside martial artists whom the Myeolmadae sought help from. Then, I hope we can meet again safely.”
Leaving those words behind, Jinhagun departed. The situation was so urgent that Se Daeryong had been unable to ask for any details.
Se Daeryong was curious.
‘Who on earth did they send?’
* * *
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud.
Carriages were racing along.
They were large transport carriages used to move heavy loads. Each carriage had only a very small window, making it impossible to tell from outside what was being carried inside.
What the carriages carried were martial artists.
They wore ordinary martial uniforms, so it was impossible to tell what organization they belonged to. But their appearances were impossible to forget after seeing them even once.
Every one of them had a fierce, frightening face and sharp eyes that had endured every hardship under the sun. They were also twice the size of ordinary people.
The carriages, packed tightly with them, raced in a line toward the Junggyeong Branch.
Absolute Regression Chapter 501