Chapter 84: Who Is the Enemy (1)
Chapter 83 – Who Is the Enemy (1)
He had a dream.
Namgung Cheon had returned to his past life and was living the life of a fugitive once again.
It was just as he was about to raise a chopstick of noodles while sitting in a shabby tavern whose name he did not even know in some nameless village.
A familiar scent wafted in.
From the passing breeze, from the waiter taking orders, and from the customer sitting at the neighboring table.
It was not a smell caught by the olfactory sense, but a scent felt by instinct.
‘Damn it, why do the pursuers always show up right before I eat?’
It was always like this.
Whenever he tried to appease his starving stomach after fleeing for several days and barely get a meal, they would appear as if they had been waiting.
Sometimes he even wondered if they were doing this on purpose.
In any case, since now was not the time to be stuffing his face with noodles, Namgung Cheon slowly rose from his seat.
Sure enough, movements were visible.
Tension could be felt even in the passing breeze.
Sometimes, a sixth sense was more accurate than logical reasoning.
It was a transcendental sense accumulated from running away for decades.
Survival instinct.
However, the waiter furrowed his brow slightly, scanned the surroundings, and approached Namgung Cheon.
Since he felt no killing intent, Namgung Cheon waited quietly.
What, what was he going to do?
He glared at the waiter, but the guy brought his hand to his mouth and babbled incomprehensible words.
“Why are you doing that? Did something appear?”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Come on, why are you being so hostile to someone on your own side?”
“Same side? What kind of absolute nonsense…”
“Man, I’m trying to handle this amicably.”
Suddenly, the waiter’s expression changed drastically, and before he knew it, he had become the old Alliance Leader.
Fwip!
Instantly, the surrounding air froze as the customers and passing pedestrians drew their swords all at once and lunged forward.
“I knew it would be like this!”
Namgung Cheon quickly rummaged through his bosom and pulled out a smoke bomb used in emergencies. It was a smoke bomb that was usually mixed with poison.
However, this time he pulled out a smoke bomb containing sleeping poison.
‘Since it has come to this, if I take the Alliance Leader hostage, it might be easier to break through the encirclement!’
When Namgung Cheon detonated the smoke bomb containing the sleeping poison, a dense mist rose around them along with a loud noise.
Puff! Puff! Puff!
The lunging bastards began to stagger, groan, and collapse on the spot.
“How’s that, you bastards! You should be grateful that I didn’t release deadly poison! Hm? But I’m sleepy too… Ah… I should have taken a poison-evading bead…”
Staggering from his belated mistake, Namgung Cheon groaned and collapsed on the spot.
“Ah… I have to get up…”
Come to think of it, wasn’t I Jin Cheon-rang in my past life, not Namgung Cheon?
As his thoughts reached this point, his consciousness gradually cleared.
A smoke bomb and sleeping poison…
Come to think of it, I think I was hit by sleeping poison…
‘Ah! I remember.’
During Jin So-hong’s duel, someone threw a hidden weapon, causing a smoke bomb to detonate. So people thought it was a poison mist and went into a frenzy…
‘Right. I saved Yu Hyeon.’
Undoubtedly, people would be putting him on a pedestal as a hero or something by now. He was probably lying on a bed in the Virtue-Preserving Pavilion, receiving devoted care.
But why was the floor…
Cold?
Amidst that sense of dissonance, someone called out in a gruff voice.
“Hey, rookie! Aren’t you getting up?”
“My, that kid is sleeping like a log. It’s about time he woke up by now.”
At the noisy voices, Namgung Cheon half-opened his eyes.
A half-naked man with a shaggy beard and long hair was looking down at him with a menacing expression.
Only then did Namgung Cheon realize that something had gone wrong and quickly sat up.
“Where is this?”
At the green cadet’s words, the half-naked man and a man with a mole on his nose looked at each other and giggled.
“Where else would it be? It’s the dungeon.”
“Brother, it seems that brat hasn’t come to his senses yet.”
Namgung Cheon knit his brows and asked back.
“A dungeon? Where?”
“Where else would it be? The Martial Alliance dungeon!”
“Hey, rookie! What crime did you commit to get here?”
At the question thrown by the mole-faced man, Namgung Cheon meticulously checked his final memories once again.
He was definitely about to save Yu Hyeon and leave, when…
‘Ah, I encountered those idiots who couldn’t tell friend from foe.’
Come to think of it, weren’t those masked men also the same in not being able to tell friend from foe?
Like the waiter in his dream.
The waiter, the sleeping poison, and the Yama Corps floated and jumbled together in Namgung Cheon’s mind.
“Hey! Brat! The big brothers are asking you. What crime did you commit to get…”
Thud! Thud!
In an instant, Namgung Cheon’s fists shot out like lightning, striking the chins of the half-naked man and the mole-faced man.
Without even being able to launch a proper counterattack, the two collapsed right there and did not budge.
Sitting down, Namgung Cheon pondered deeply over and over.
‘Let’s think. There is only one reason they used sleeping poison. Just like I did in my dream, they have no intention of killing their opponent. Instead, they intend to use them. If so, their goal from the beginning was to kidnap Jin So-hong…’
* * *
“The distinguished guests and the leadership are all gathered in the meeting room.”
At the Chief Administrator’s report, the Alliance Leader nodded and rose from his seat.
“What is the Gold King doing?”
“His worries seemed deep.”
“I suppose so. Since his daughter’s whereabouts have become mysterious.”
Contrary to the words he spoke, the Alliance Leader’s expression was indifferent.
The Chief Administrator bowed and added,
“The Gale Squad is in pursuit, and the Blue Wave Corps has completed their preparations.”
“What about the Blue Wave Corps Leader?”
“He has recovered and is on his way to the meeting room.”
“Since we have caused them worry, we must resolve it for them now.”
Just as the Alliance Leader was about to leave with a faint smile, the Chief Administrator followed him and added another word.
“In the meeting room… Clan Leader Namgung Geom is also present.”
“Clan Leader Namgung Geom?”
“Yes.”
The Alliance Leader laughed coldly.
“Even if they call him a disowned child, is he still blood after all?”
Walking through the corridor, the Alliance Leader soon arrived at the grand meeting room, opened the door, and walked in.
The leadership and distinguished guests who had already gathered lowered their voices and cast their gazes toward the Alliance Leader.
The Alliance Leader glanced at the Gold King sitting on one side.
As the Chief Administrator had said, his expression was indeed one of deep anxiety.
Why wouldn’t it be?
It was a fact known to all under heaven that the Gold King dearly loved his daughter.
So much so that some even said Jin So-hong hiding her identity was something the Gold King had thought of first to protect his daughter.
In any case, it was an obvious fact that Jin So-hong was the Gold King’s only weakness.
And since such a daughter had been kidnapped…
‘Must we not find her for him?’
For a brief moment, a subtle smile played on the corners of the Alliance Leader’s mouth before vanishing.
When he sat at the head seat, the distinguished guests and the leadership closed their mouths and maintained silence.
The Alliance Leader looking around the assembly, was the first to speak.
“First of all, I would like to apologize once again for the occurrence of this unpleasant incident.”
“How could that be your fault, Alliance Leader?”
“Indeed. Rather than distinguishing right from wrong right now, we must find the culprit as quickly as possible.”
“Even without you saying so, the Gale Squad is currently in pursuit, so news will arrive soon.”
“Oh… If it is the Gale Squad, they can be trusted.”
Several distinguished guests nodded, wearing satisfied expressions.
At that moment, Namgung Geom suddenly intervened and asked.
“I heard you have detained Namgung Cheon.”
At his icy voice, the atmosphere of the assembly cooled down chillingly.
Turning his gaze to Namgung Geom, the Alliance Leader replied with an emotionless face.
“We have.”
We have?
The corners of Namgung Geom’s eyes twitched minutely.
To detain someone else’s grandson and simply say, ‘We have?’
Was that something to say? He should be explaining the circumstances one way or another!
Namgung Geom narrowed eyes.
“I heard you locked that child in the dungeon.”
“We did.”
“Is there a reason?”
Now, the people in the assembly held even their breath, focusing solely on the conversation between the two.
As if thinking that this was a matter he had to address at least once anyway, the Alliance Leader let out a light sigh and spoke.
“When the poison mist spread, everyone was frantic to escape the Grand Martial Arena. However, when the Yama Corps entered, they said that child was carrying Yu Hyeon on his shoulders in the middle of the sparring stage. I simply needed to investigate this matter.”
“Are you saying you suspect that child right now?”
Namgung Geom’s voice was calm and heavy, but as cold as a cutting wind. Consequently, the watching guests and leadership naturally became tense.
However, the Alliance Leader replied with a seasoned smile.
“It is not quite suspicion. I simply thought it was not a matter to be passed over lightly.”
“If so, instead of the dungeon, he should be in the Virtue-Preserving Pavilion…”
Even before Namgung Geom could finish his sentence, the Alliance Leader spoke first.
“Even without you saying so, I have already summoned the child. I thought it might be good to have a brief question-and-answer session in this place where everyone is watching.”
“…!”
Namgung Geom clenched his teeth tightly and quietly glared at the Alliance Leader.
Although he had euphemistically called it a question-and-answer session, when looked at closely, wasn’t he saying he would conduct an interrogation in front of everyone?
Just then, a subordinate’s voice was heard from outside the door.
“Alliance Leader, Blue Wave Corps Leader and Cadet Namgung Cheon have arrived.”
“Let them enter.”
Soon the door opened, and Blue Wave Corps Leader Murong Sin and Namgung Cheon entered.
People whispered and observed the complexions of the two.
Murong Sin knelt first and cupped his fists.
“The Blue Wave Corps Leader greets the Alliance Leader and the various seniors of the Jianghu. Having been in charge of judging this conference, I deeply regret that such an unpleasant incident occurred. I will do my utmost to take swift measures so that there is not a single casualty.”
“I am Namgung Cheon, a cadet of the Dragon Heaven Academy.”
As Namgung Cheon also offered his greeting, the Alliance Leader waved his hand and spoke.
“Since there is no time, I will get straight to the point. First, Namgung Cheon.”
“Please speak.”
“I heard you jumped onto the sparring stage even after hearing that a poison mist had spread. What was the reason?”
“Jin So-hong was a classmate close to me.”
“Is that the entirety of the reason?”
As the Alliance Leader furrowed his brow slightly, Namgung Cheon stared directly at him. Then, after glancing once at Namgung Geom and the Gold King sitting on one side, he continued speaking.
“That a close classmate was in danger and I rushed in regardless of the risk is all. Must there be any further reason?”
“You must have known it was a poison mist. Yet you jumped in without even taking a poison-evading bead. Truly remarkable. Where did such a brave decision come from?”
Although the words sounded like praise at a glance, it was undeniable suspicion.
“I thought I only needed to hold my breath.”
“Depending on the poison, it could be fatal just by touching the skin, could it not?”
“Watching the speed at which the poison spread and the people escaping, I knew it was not a deadly poison of that level.”
“What was the reason you were carrying Yu Hyeon on your shoulders?”
“Just in case, I intended to save him.”
“It was not that you intended to kidnap him?”
“Alliance Leader!”
In an instant, Namgung Geom shouted chillingly.
The Alliance Leader raised his hand with a fishy smile.
“It was a joke.”
However, no one in this room believed that the Alliance Leader had spoken in jest.
The Alliance Leader was suspecting Namgung Cheon.
In fact, looking at the details, wasn’t there plenty of room for suspicion?
To enter the poison mist alone in a situation where everyone else was evacuating.
Moreover…
“Why did they leave you alone?”
Namgung Cheon furrowed his brows slightly and hesitated to answer for a moment.
This part was unexpected even for the Alliance Leader.
He had naturally expected Namgung Cheon to reply that he had not encountered the culprits.
However, since he did not answer easily and instead hesitated, a strange thought arose instead.
‘Does he know something?’
At that moment, the Blue Wave Corps Leader pressed him.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and report.”
Nevertheless, as if still hesitating, Namgung Cheon opened his mouth with difficulty.
“I do not know if I should say this here…”
“Speak.”
When the Alliance Leader spoke, Namgung Cheon let out a shallow sigh and replied as if he had no choice.
“It seemed like they mistook me for someone on their side.”