Chapter 161: Jaseung, Convinces

Only a few lanterns lit the darkness.

The hazy scene beyond the firelight was terrifying. Grimacing demon statues stood in many places, and the murals on the walls depicted scenes of merciless slaughter.

If you asked ten people of the martial world, at least nine would nod in recognition at a description of this place.

The most dangerous and secret location in Jianghu.

It was a place no one wanted to go, not even in a dream.

This was the Hall of the Cult Leader, the leader’s residence of the Asura Demon Sect.

An old man sat on the grand seat.

He radiated a vast presence that overwhelmed even Yim Sayeon. He was Yao Hong, the leader of the Asura Demon Sect.

Standing at the foot of the steps that led to the seat was the Vice Leader, the Elder Demon Lord. He feared nothing under heaven, yet he was afraid of one person alone, Yao Hong.

Yao Hong the Soul-Chasing Asura.

He had once been the First Elder of the Heavenly Demon Sect. He founded the Asura Demon Sect when he broke away with the elders who followed him.

When the Heavenly Demon Soul was lost, the power of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s leader weakened. Ambitious as he was, he did not miss that golden opportunity.

Forty years had passed since then. Yao Hong was now over a hundred years old. No one could even imagine the height his martial skill had reached.

Even though he revealed no Demonic Qi and merely stared in silence, the Elder Demon Lord’s knees trembled.

Yao Hong was the sort of man for whom the phrase “he kills with his eyes alone” fit best.

The Elder Demon Lord did not dare meet his gaze and kept his head bowed low.

To obtain the map this time, he had infiltrated the Alliance Leader’s Compound with the Shadow Demon. But the envoy had been captured there, and everything fell to ruin.

The Great Demon seized the chance and launched a political offensive. For the Vice Leader of a Demonic Cult to traffic with the Orthodox Alliance Leader was among the gravest of crimes.

He tried to excuse it as merely sending someone to observe the movements of the Orthodox Faction, but no one believed him. It made no sense to employ the Shadow Demon for something so trivial.

A special investigative committee was formed and began its work. In the midst of it, Yao Hong summoned him.

“Vice Leader.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

At the quiet call, the Elder Demon Lord raised his head.

Yao Hong’s face, which he had not seen in some time, was taut without a single wrinkle. He looked younger than when he first founded the Asura Demon Sect.

‘Has he achieved a return to youthful vigor?’

The Elder Demon Lord lowered his head to avoid Yao Hong’s gaze, which flew like a knife’s edge. He truly felt he might wet himself from fear.

“I hear you made a deal with Jang Wonso, is that right?”

Yao Hong asked bluntly. He was sharp-minded and cautious, yet when dealing with subordinates he was always direct.

There was a clear meaning in that manner.

I am showing you my stance without ambiguity, so do not try to deceive me.

Over the years, the Elder Demon Lord had seen the heads of many Demonic Humans roll across the floor after they failed to grasp that subtext and tried to play mind games with him.

“Yes. That is correct.”

Yao Hong stared silently, demanding a detailed account. The Elder Demon Lord quickly spoke.

“The bastard had the map of the Hainan Sect.”

“The Hainan Sect huh. It has been a while since I heard that name. Yes, if it was their map, then it must have been the Seven-Color Hidden Land.”

“Yes. That is correct.”

“Did you obtain it?”

“No. Jang Wonso died before we could take it.”

“Hmm.”

Yao Hong, who had leaned forward with interest, settled back against the grand seat.

The Elder Demon Lord knew that Yao Hong had reached a realm where he felt no interest in martial manuals or treasures.

There was only one thing that interested him.

The Heavenly Demon Soul.

He feared the possibility that the lost Heavenly Demon Soul might reappear and revive the Heavenly Demon Sect.

It was the only martial art he dreaded, even though he believed he could defeat anyone else in the world.

Bowing low, the Elder Demon Lord waited for judgment.

“I will accept any punishment.”

Offering excuses would only backfire. The most effective way to face him was with the readiness to die if told to die.

At length, Yao Hong spoke.

“The Great Demon has his dignity to maintain, so you will suffer a while.”

The subtext was that he himself would grant forgiveness.

“I am grateful for your generous mercy.”

The Elder Demon Lord bowed deeply on the spot.

As he was about to rise, a heavy line stopped him.

“However…”

The Elder Demon Lord, who had begun to stand, prostrated himself again.

“I hear the Eternal Life Buddha was broken in the process?”

The Elder Demon Lord froze.

“Yes, my Lord.”

His voice trembled slightly.

“Whose doing was it?”

“We are investigating and will find out soon.”

His head was bowed, but he could feel Yao Hong’s expression harden in displeasure. The current between them had changed.

“Bring the culprit before me the moment you find who it was.”

Forgiveness comes with a heavy price. In simple terms, he would forgive, but the mess you made you must clean up yourself.

“I accept your command.”

He answered with confidence, yet his hidden face was dark.

They had still not identified the culprit.

Now that the order had been given, he had to find and deliver the one who destroyed the Eternal Life Buddha.

He had to do it as quickly as possible.

When the trembling-legged Elder Demon Lord left the Hall, another retainer, Yaya, was waiting for him.

“We have found a lead.”

At that report, the Elder Demon Lord’s expression brightened.

“There was a certain power behind Jang Wonso.”

This was the moment when the information Dan Woobin had leaked finally reached the Elder Demon Lord.

“A certain power?”

“Yes. They raised Jang Wonso up as Alliance Leader. They say they controlled him from the shadows thereafter.”

“Is the information accurate?”

“Yes. It is certain.”

It was certain because it was true.

The Elder Demon Lord’s eyes flashed sharply.

“I see. So that was why he tried to use the Myriad Yin Orb to create a master with extreme Yin internal energy.”

The Elder Demon Lord felt as if he had seen a ray of light in the darkness.

If they were organized enough to manipulate the Murim Alliance Leader from behind the scenes, then they surely had an expert capable of shattering the Eternal Life Buddha.

“From this moment, gather every piece of information on them.”

* * *

“I hear you are running in the election for Alliance Leader this time?”

At Yim Sayeon’s words, Baek Seolyoung waved her hands.

“No, I am just…”

“Just what?”

Her face flushed with embarrassment. It was mortifying to talk about being nominated as a candidate for leader of the Murim Alliance in front of Yim Sayeon.

“Yes, yes. Jianghu should be led by the young indeed.”

“No, Grandmother! They say that in emergency elections a candidate cannot withdraw, so I had no choice…”

Flustered, Baek Seolyoung tripped over her words. As she had been learning martial arts from Yim Sayeon, her feelings for the elder had deepened. To familial affection was added the bond of master and disciple.

“Future Alliance Leader, please rescue Jianghu from corruption!”

“Grandmother, please!”

Yim Sayeon teased her with delight.

She was secretly glad after hearing that her son had fully risen from his bed thanks to the Reviving Pill. She had not wanted him to die after withering away on a sickbed.

Jang Wonso had begged her to kill the forces behind him. He returned, saying he would prove that Cheon Myeongin was not sick but had been poisoned by Mountain.

That was the end for him.

What came back was news of his death.

His plea, which had been little better than blackmail, no longer needed to be granted, but the truth he said he would prove had vanished.

What if the force behind him had deliberately poisoned her son to kill him?

A chill coursed through Yim Sayeon’s heart.

There are feelings that even a hundred years of discipline cannot quell. This was one of those cases. When you learn that someone tried to kill your child, or rather, did kill him. Cheon Myeongin had less than a year to live.

Truly, part of her wanted to find the man called Mountain at once.

But Yim Sayeon held herself back. She knew well that this was not a matter to be led by emotion. Cold vengeance is more satisfying.

At that moment, Lee Jaseung came in.

Yim Sayeon said in an exaggerated gesture, teasingly,

“Oh, another Alliance Leader candidate has arrived.”

As the teasing spread to Lee Jaseung, Baek Seolyoung made a helpless face.

Lee Jaseung took in the situation and smiled.

“Then I hope you two have a good conversation.”

Knowing that Yim Sayeon had come to see Lee Jaseung, Baek Seolyoung withdrew to give them privacy.

When the two were alone, the mischief vanished from Yim Sayeon’s expression.

“I came to thank you. Thank you.”

“There is no need for that. Please do not trouble yourself.”

“No, this is a thanks you deserve.”

When Lee Jaseung had taken her son away, her heart had been in turmoil, and Jang Wonso had stirred her further.

Now that she had heard her son was safe and his life had been extended for a year, her heart had settled.

“I am thinking of erasing the forces behind him now.”

Lee Jaseung knew she spoke in earnest. She was asking for his view. Was it possible, and was it the right thing to do?

“Jang Wonso said they were trying to kill Myeongin.”

“That’s possible.”

“If that is how it is, I will not forgive them.”

Lee Jaseung looked at her in silence.

Perhaps this was something that should have been resolved long ago. She should either have stopped her son from leaving, or, if she let him go, given up completely.

But human hearts are not so easily settled.

Someone might ask this question.

Can’t you deal with things easier as you get older? Can you not deal with such matters with stronger and more mature feelings? Are you not failing to live up to your years?

Lee Jaseung could answer.

It may be that age actually makes it harder, not easier.

He understood her.

But he still could not support her.

Lee Jaseung once more recalled the piles of gold that Jang Wonso had amassed.

The power behind him would have gathered even more.

When that wealth turned into power, could this elderly master, who could not cast off the bonds of blood, overcome the monstrous might forged by such vast riches?

He thought not.

This was not a question of how high one’s martial arts were.

She was not their opponent in the first place.

The essence of those people was far more vile and ruthless than she imagined.

He would have to be the one to face them.

Lee Jaseung chose not to prick her pride needlessly.

“If anyone could wipe them out, it would be you, Elder. But it would go against your son’s wishes.”

Yim Sayeon could not answer. She had been thinking the same thing.

“I believe revenge should wait until after you see your son off.”

An appeal framed around Cheon Myeongin was more persuasive than anything.

Yim Sayeon nodded.

“So it shall be.”

She took her leave and departed.

Watching her retreating back in the distance, Lee Jaseung said in his heart what he had not voiced aloud.

You will lose this fight the moment you let emotion in. The enemy is a “monster” that has fed on and grown from the very “emotions” any human ought to have.

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