Chapter 83: Chapter 83
FWOO!
The Phantom Demon Lord’s oppressive aura dissipated slowly like water draining from a cracked jar.
Because his internal energy was too vast to disperse all at once.
‘A monster is a monster.’
Jang I-seo silently breathed a sigh of relief.
The Phantom Demon Lord, Hwan-sa.
Though he was merely a Third Grade Ghost adjutant now, twenty years ago he had been a great fiend who plunged the Central Plains into a bloodbath.
Hundreds of martial artists from the Nine Great Sects and One Union had vanished like morning dew at his hands.
In short, a master recognized throughout the land.
Of course, the shameless bastard who didn’t bat an eye even at such a monster’s murderous glare was none other than Jang I-seo.
‘You’re different from what I heard.’
And as Jang I-seo displayed this brazen composure, Cheon Mu-gi began to show profound interest beyond mere curiosity.
What was known so far was an incompetent money-grubber from the Seventh Grade Ghost rank.
But no matter how he looked, this wasn’t the appearance of such a dull ordinary man. He had guts, and hidden skills to boot.
Naturally, he had anticipated this to some extent the moment Mao received the Hundred Commander’s Seal.
Perhaps this man was the real hidden blade that Sa Hae-ryeong had planted.
But seeing him now, he understood.
‘It’s certain. The blade the third child has hidden.’
“What is your business here?”
Therefore, regardless of what answer he gave now.
He would never leave this place alive today.
However.
“From now on, the Seventh Small Palace…”
An entirely unexpected situation unfolded.
“Will not move for the Third Young Lady.”
“What? Hahahaha!”
For the first time, laughter burst from Cheon Mu-gi’s face.
He had caused this entire mess, and now what? He wouldn’t move for the Third Young Lady?
“Does that mean… you intend to betray the third child?”
“That is not the case.”
“Not the case?”
“I never swore loyalty to the Third Young Lady in the first place, so it cannot be betrayal.”
“That’s not something you should be saying.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
When Jang I-seo feigned total ignorance, Cheon Mu-gi replied with disdain.
“Were you not originally a spy planted by the third child?”
“What makes you think that?”
“I already know you entered through the third child’s recommendation. Did you think I wouldn’t know even that?”
A chilling energy seeped into Cheon Mu-gi’s finger.
Whether Jang I-seo denied it or confirmed it, a finger wind would pierce his throat.
However.
“I originally belonged to the Counter-Espionage Division.”
An entirely unrelated remark popped from Jang I-seo’s mouth.
“…And?”
“I stayed there for nearly ten years. The Counter-Espionage Division Commander I served under at the time was a man named Gyeom Sa-ik, who was exceedingly fond of money. A man who lived by the creed that whoever pays is the master.”
Gyeom Sa-ik. He knew the name well.
A man who sided with no one, resulting in a remarkably modest rank despite his martial prowess and accomplishments.
Hadn’t Cheon Mu-gi himself written him off?
“What does that matter?”
“The one who wrote the recommendation that placed me with the Third Young Lady was Commander Gyeom. You can verify this easily.”
“What?”
“But then does that make me someone planted by Commander Gyeom?”
Ha! Cheon Mu-gi slammed the table.
“That’s a stretch.”
“It is not. I live by orders. When my affiliation changes, naturally my position changes as well.”
“Truly a feeble excuse. So are you saying you are not the Third Young Lady’s person?”
Right. But I was never her person to begin with. I belonged to the Martial Alliance.
“What matters is that I am standing before you right now, First Young Master.”
Cheon Mu-gi propped his chin on his hand and smiled darkly.
“Heh. Your tongue is treacherous.”
“I merely follow the prevailing trend.”
“True enough. This is a place where men like you survive.”
That was a bit harsh. Jang I-seo bit his tongue and forced a grin.
In any case, judging by his expression, the First Young Master’s suspicion seemed to have eased somewhat.
Declaring a clear allegiance would have resonated with Cheon Mu-gi more than a clumsy excuse.
As he said, this was that kind of place.
“Does the youngest share your intentions?”
He asked in a noticeably more relaxed tone.
“The Seventh Young Master has no intention of siding with anyone. He simply wishes for this time to pass quietly and without incident. Frankly, saying he has no interest at all would be more accurate.”
“Hmm. That sounds exactly like him.”
Considering everything he knew of Mao, it was easy to nod along.
A brief silence followed.
Then Cheon Mu-gi spoke again.
“What are you two thinking?”
“If I may be so bold, we will not be going to the Third Small Palace on the recruitment day. So you need not trouble yourself persuading the division commanders. This plan will fail.”
“And?”
“But the Third Young Lady will continue trying to obtain the seal. By any means necessary.”
“Naturally. Once the third child claims something as hers, she is not one to give it up easily.”
Whether it was a divine token, a position, or a person. Even Cheon Mu-gi acknowledged that tenacity.
“But the same holds true for the Second Young Master.”
“Hmm?”
“He is highly likely to be greedy as well. There will be many warriors from the Five Dragon Halls who answer his call.”
Cheon Mu-gi’s brow twitched.
Because it was a reasonable point.
The Second Young Master was as simple and brutal as he was greedy.
Right now he was frantic to block the Third Young Lady because she struck first, but what about after?
“What are you trying to say?”
A trace of eagerness crept into Cheon Mu-gi’s voice.
Jang I-seo smirked and spoke.
“I have a brilliant plan to render the Hundred Commander’s Seal completely worthless.”
“A brilliant plan?”
“Yes.”
Jang I-seo declared boldly.
His expression was so confident that one couldn’t help but ask.
Even the Phantom Demon Lord unconsciously licked his bluish lips. That was how curious he was.
However.
“Hahahaha!”
Cheon Mu-gi burst into laughter without even asking.
Then he kicked back from his seat and sent the table before him flying with a Crash!
He thrust his hand forward violently.
“Kuh!”
Jang I-seo’s body was dragged helplessly, his throat caught in his grasp.
Not actually gripped by hand, but seized by an invisible force hovering one inch from his fingertips. Truly immense power!
“Who do you think you are, playing tricks in front of me?”
“I’m not sure… what you mean…”
Jang I-seo barely forced the words out with a flushed red face, looking wronged.
However.
“Did you truly think I would believe you?”
Jang I-seo’s eyes went wide.
“Were you not the one who orchestrated this entire situation in the first place?”
“…!”
Crrrk! His throat tightened even more.
Enduring this was purely a battle of internal energy. And in this, Jang I-seo felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness, like a mouse before a snake.
Unlike himself, who was merely at the initial stage of the absolute realm, Cheon Mu-gi’s internal energy had already surpassed the supreme realm.
As Jang I-seo’s face took on the pallor of death, Cheon Mu-gi glared at him with contempt and hurled him against the wall.
“Gah…”
Leaving Jang I-seo crumpled on the floor, Cheon Mu-gi scoffed and voiced his thoughts.
“This affair is clumsy, cunning, and yet shrewd. It is not Sa Hae-ryeong’s method, nor Narak’s. It carries the scent of an unfamiliar demonic artist I have never encountered before.”
“…!”
“Yes, you. I’m talking about you.”
Jang I-seo stared with rigid eyes. At this, Cheon Mu-gi’s conviction solidified.
“Now I understand. You are not the blade the third child hid away; you used even her. You placed that child in front to move both me and the second child. Why? Why did you do such a thing?”
VWOOM!
A massive killing intent erupted from Cheon Mu-gi’s body.
It was so intense it felt like dozens of arrows piercing through his entire body.
Truly, a formidable man was a formidable man.
Neither in martial arts nor in intelligence was he lacking.
Even the meticulousness of believing nothing unless it fit perfectly.
But.
‘That is exactly why you can be deceived.’
Jang I-seo concealed his inner smile and spoke.
“In a couple of months… the Ma Family will host a duel between the Seventh Young Master and the Bloodless Duke.”
“What?”
“And if the Seventh Young Master loses, I will become the Ma Family’s person. Because he wagered me as the stakes.”
“You, his adjutant…?”
“Yes. The Bloodless Duke coveted me.”
The Bloodless Duke, Ma I-sin. As his name entered the picture, Cheon Mu-gi’s expression shifted subtly.
Regardless of everything, a man regarded alongside himself as one of the greatest rising stars.
If he had taken notice, this was certainly no ordinary fellow.
“So if I’m doomed to leave anyway… I should at least have something to show for it, shouldn’t I?”
So this was it. The reason you came here.
Cheon Mu-gi mentally slapped his knee.
Because now everything clicked.
A lowly wretch with nothing to his name had barely attached himself to the Seventh Young Master, only to face subjugation by the Ma Family immediately after.
So he had devised a scheme.
A grand scheme that would make someone like him lend an ear.
Then everything fell into place.
“Hahaha! Now I see… you’re not treacherous, just a desperate fool. Did you think I would listen to you if you pulled a stunt like this?”
At Cheon Mu-gi’s sneer, Jang I-seo remained silent.
And he thought to himself.
Yes. You will listen to me.
Because.
‘Because you now believe I have a genuine brilliant plan.’
Without any other ulterior motive, just one thing.
He would conclude that a cunning loach had intervened merely to score a quick fortune.
No matter how magnanimously he behaved, he was a pragmatist stuffed full of vipers.
Therefore, he would listen.
“Hmm…”
And this prediction proved accurate.
Signs of deliberation began to appear on Cheon Mu-gi’s face.
Seizing the opening, Jang I-seo wiped the blood from his lips and spoke.
“I am from the Counter-Espionage Division.”
“…And?”
“I learned everything from Counter-Espionage Division Commander Gyeom Sa-ik, and he is a man who dearly loves money.”
“What of it? Don’t tell me… you’re asking me for money?!”
“It is a brilliant plan worth that much.”
What kind of bastard is this… As Cheon Mu-gi’s face contorted strangely, the Phantom Demon Lord finally couldn’t hold back and raised his voice.
“You wretch! Where do you get the audacity to run your mouth so freely!”
Where do I get the audacity? I’m in the presence of the Demonic Cult’s rabble, aren’t I?
When Jang I-seo scoffed, the Phantom Demon Lord’s eyes rolled back in fury.
However.
“Enough. He staked his life to come here betting on that one thing.”
“But First Young Master!”
Cheon Mu-gi raised his hand. A signal to say no more.
“Very well. What is it? This brilliant plan of yours. If it proves useful, I will overlook your deception thus far.”
“…”
“Why. Don’t you want to? Then die.”
VWOOM!
Once again, a massive surge of internal energy erupted from Cheon Mu-gi’s body.
But Jang I-seo, completely unfazed as if he couldn’t care less, spoke.
“One hundred silver ingots.”
“What?”
“Give me those, and I will render the Hundred Commander’s Seal completely worthless so that neither the Second Young Master nor the Third Young Lady can covet it.”
“Hah.”
“Even if you kill me here, nothing changes. Both the Third Young Lady and the Second Young Master will go to the Seventh Young Master. Then you would have no choice but to fight an unnecessary war of attrition against them.”
“Why would I? It would suffice for the youngest to die before they reach him.”
“The Ma Family will not stand idly by.”
“The First Elder is on my side anyway. Would he be worth less than a child I’ve discarded?”
“But the price for that would be worth far more than a hundred silver ingots.”
“Haha, so. Giving it to you is the cheaper option?”
“I heard an enormous amount of silver flows in from the Western Regions via the Silk Road. And the Ma Family, the Maeng Family, and the Cheon Family manage it. So it shouldn’t be a large sum to you, First Young Master. Though to me, it’s enough to stake my life on.”
Hah! A cold smile spread across the First Young Master Cheon Mu-gi’s lips.