Chapter 494: Side Story 14 Baek Sang-ah’s Melancholy

“I can’t understand this.”

After returning to the main base.

Qilin questioned Eungnyong’s back as he led the way.

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you make such a hasty decision, so unlike you?”

Though she said nothing, Yeonggwi silently agreed with Qilin’s words.

“To take control of this place, we poured in virtually all our remaining resources. And now you’re giving it up so easily?”

After the heavenly timing had passed.

Eungnyong and Qilin could easily predict what was coming.

They foresaw that the lower realm would soon be reorganized around Jin Yeomyung and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Perhaps the entire hierarchy of human society might be unified under the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

From their perspective, if Jin Yeomyung so desired, the world would have no choice but to follow.

But for some reason, Jin Yeomyung didn’t.

Even though he had the power to grasp everything in his hands, after returning to his base with his partner, he made no move toward the world.

Of course, in accordance with the prior agreement with the Murim Alliance, the entirety of Gansu had come under the complete subjugation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. But from Eungnyong’s perspective, that didn’t really count as making a move.

That’s where they saw an opportunity.

“At least outwardly, the world is divided into three powers: the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Murim Alliance, and the Imperial Court. And among them, the Imperial Court has become practically powerless. Didn’t you say that if we could seize control of it, we would surely have another chance later on?”

“I did say that.”

“If we give up this place now, we might end up living in misery until that chance comes.”

To that, Yeonggwi grumbled softly.

“You told me not to act rashly, and yet you’re the one…”

“This isn’t exactly a rash decision.”

“What?”

Cutting off Yeonggwi’s words, Eungnyong turned his gaze with a somewhat troubled expression.

“From the moment we failed to send them back and Gunggi opened his mouth like that… whether fast or slow, it was our fate to end up like this.”

“……”

“……”

The two Divine Beasts couldn’t refute those words.

They were wise enough to fully understand what he meant.

“As you both know, that one is the most anomalous among the Four Atrocities.”

“That much is clear. Though he’s loyal to Heavenly Evil, his nature seeks amusement rather than purpose. That’s why he could make that choice.”

Yeonggwi clicked her tongue softly.

To her, whose specialty was reading the heavens and divining fate, Gunggi had always been an unpredictable, natural nemesis.

“Gunggi saw through our plan perfectly. Now that he’s involved, it’s certain that he’ll endlessly interfere.”

“Hmm…”

It was a highly plausible thought.

In truth, under the shared goal of regaining strength, there was room for some cooperation between the Four Atrocities and the Four Demon Squads.

If it were someone like Do’ol or Docheol, they might have extended their hand first.

But with Gunggi, the moment he shed his beast’s body without hesitation, any chance of cooperation was as good as gone.

“And one more thing.”

Eungnyong continued to lay out his reasoning for the decision.

“The fact that he responded so swiftly was the biggest miscalculation. I thought he had withdrawn his attention from the lower realm…”

Using the Emperor to send the Crown Prince to the Murim Alliance was no small thing.

Regardless of what kind of relationship formed between the Alliance Leader and the Crown Prince, just the act of sending the Crown Prince to the Murim Alliance would inevitably stir unrest between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance.

Eungnyong had planned to use that gap to gain a firmer grip on the Imperial Court…

But never did he imagine that Jin Yeomyung would intervene so quickly in the affairs of the Murim Alliance and the Imperial Court — an unpredictable variable even for Eungnyong.

“In the end, over the next few months, while he is unable to move, we must take everything we can and then leave. For now, that is the best plan.”

Dragging it out would change nothing. As long as Jin Yeomyung recognized them as enemies, whatever they did, the outcome would be the same.

At that moment.

“Do we really have to go this far?”

Qilin stared directly at Eungnyong, her eyes filled with regret.

“It’s good to strive for survival and grasp opportunity. But… did we really have to use that method?”

“……”

“How are we now any different from the Four Atrocities we so despised in the past?”

Qilin wasn’t criticizing the scheme to target the Imperial Court itself.

She was pointing out the deeds they committed in the process, just to get results quickly.

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to be buried in history with honor?”

She could still clearly remember.

The mocking look in Gunggi’s eyes.

The moment she met that gaze, Qilin felt a shame unlike any she had ever known.

“…It’s too late.”

Eungnyong rejected Qilin’s proposal without hesitation.

“We’ve already abandoned the pride of our past. And so, now that we’ve started, we will see it through to the end.”

“……”

“Even if that end is a disgraceful downfall.”

Qilin couldn’t say anything in response to Eungnyong’s determination.

Truthfully, ever since things began to unfold this way, unspoken words had been swirling in her mouth, words she could never bring herself to say.

Even if we were to fail in that determination toward disgrace, then what would truly remain for us… that was the unspoken thought.

Underworld Net Sword.

Now, both Cheon Yura and Jin Yeomyung were capable of using it on their own, but originally, the Underworld Net Sword was a type of resonance technique that generated immense destructive power when performed together.

“When did Young Master Jin prepare something like this…?”

The Underworld Net Sword was such a high-level martial art that it originally could not even have an incantation.

However, Jin Yeomyung had rigorously formulated the resonance energy and Underworld Net Sword into theory, allowing two people to use it in concert.

As she read through the incantation of the Underworld Net Sword, she instinctively sensed it.

‘I can use it.’

To perform the Underworld Net Sword, there were stringent requirements and rigorous qualifications.

But So Cheon and Baek Sang-ah could meet those conditions to a certain extent.

‘Young Master So Cheon must be present, but… with this much, it should be enough.’

This much was sufficient to compensate for the lacking firepower.

However.

“Miss? Is something bothering you?”

Noticing Baek Sang-ah’s darkening expression, So Cheon became concerned.

“It’s not that. It’s just…”

She slowly closed her eyes and murmured softly.

“I just… felt a bit of self-loathing.”

“…”

So Cheon couldn’t understand her feelings.

He was not a martial artist.

Though she had pioneered a realm beyond the Extreme Demon Realm, the fact that she still needed help from others to compensate for her shortcomings was chipping away at her pride — something So Cheon still didn’t understand.

However, So Cheon wasn’t tactless enough to naively question it aloud.

Rather…

“It’s all right.”

“…?”

“Because you have me, Miss.”

She looked at him, slightly taken aback.

“What do you mean by that?”

“To be honest, I don’t really understand why you feel self-loathing.”

“…”

“But I’ll do whatever it takes to erase that feeling. If it’s hard, lean on me anytime.”

Was So Cheon always capable of saying things like this?

For some reason, a dry chuckle escaped her lips.

Even if it was a hollow laugh, it was still laughter.

Her hardened expression began to change.

“All right.”

Tap!

She lightly tapped So Cheon’s chest.

“I’m counting on you, So Cheon.”

In truth, Baek Sang-ah hadn’t even realized yet.

That at some point, the title ‘Young Master’ had quietly dropped away when addressing So Cheon.

Seungdeok Fortress, now serving as a temporary Imperial Palace, wasn’t actually that large.

Because of that, even just standing atop the city wall, anyone with peak master-level eyesight could clearly observe the inner city.

“Find the intruders!”

“Search every corner of this area!”

Countless soldiers began shouting and scouring the surroundings for So Cheon and Baek Sang-ah’s party.

However, none of them could see or touch So Cheon’s group.

While calmly passing by the busily moving soldiers atop the city wall, So Cheon spoke.

“Something’s odd.”

“What is?”

“I feel something familiar… coming from inside.”

“…Familiar?”

Surely he wasn’t mistaking it for the energy of the Divine Beasts they met earlier.

“Well, to be exact, it’s not familiar… It’s more like — I felt it briefly a long time ago, and I don’t understand why I’m sensing it again in there now…”

Though he fumbled over his words without expressing it clearly, one thing was certain.

There was some unknown variable inside.

“Heh heh… If it’s about that, I think I can explain.”

She looked puzzled at Gunggi’s sudden comment.

“…What?”

“Before that, can you tell me why the Four Demon Squads targeted this place?”

Faced with the abrupt riddle, her brows furrowed deeply.

“This doesn’t seem like the right time for riddles.”

Nevertheless, Gunggi continued asking questions.

“Why did they choose this place, where a pitiful ruler barely maintains a semblance of legitimacy after being chased out, instead of attacking that Prince Yeongsa who seized the capital?”

Flinch!

…Right?

A question suddenly surfaced in her mind.

Considering the current state of the Imperial Court, it would have been much more convenient for the Four Demon Squads to place Prince Yeongsa, who had occupied the capital, on the throne.

“The reason is simple. It’s because of the traits possessed by those humans of imperial blood.”

“……!!”

At that moment.

A piece of information she had buried deep in her mind rose to the surface.

‘The current royal bloodline had been artificially cultivated over many years by the Heaven-Defying Society.’

Sixth Heavenly Lord Sangdo, who was formerly part of the Imperial Faction. And Lord Baek Cheong of the Imperial Court, Ju Baek Ryeo.

In fact, wasn’t Lord Baek Cheong subdued by them and offered as a sacrifice for Heavenly Evil’s resurrection ritual at Yoo Family’s Sacred Mountain?

Though it was uncertain if other royals were of the same caliber, at the very least, their blood must certainly serve as an excellent catalyst for sorcery and top-tier sacrificial material.

“Oh right. Lord Baek Cheong!”

Only then did So Cheon clap his hands as if remembering something.

“The energy I’m sensing inside is definitely that woman’s!”

The spiritual beast mixed in Lord Baek Cheong’s blood was none other than the nine-tailed fox.

If the captivating powers she possessed were augmented by Yeonggwi’s authority…

Then the current situation could indeed be understood as a reasonable consequence.

“That means there’s a high chance not only Lord Baek Cheong but also other royals are being held inside.”

“That does seem likely…”

“Now, what’s your decision? We’ve managed to stay undetected so far, but I guarantee the moment we step inside that domain, escape will be out of the question.”

“…….”

“That inside is clearly their main base. Alongside countless traps, you’ll be facing forces nearly at their peak.”

Gunggi looked exhilarated, as if madly curious about what choice Baek Sang-ah would make in this situation.

“Of course, from here on we break through head-on.”

“Oh?”

In the first place, infiltration wasn’t even an option. Whether it be the fist or the sword, the start had to be frontal.

However.

“You haven’t forgotten your promise to kill Qilin, have you?”

“Of course! But what about Eungnyong and Yeonggwi?”

“I have some thoughts on that.”

Baek Sang-ah brushed off Gunggi’s question and turned to So Cheon.

“So Cheon.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“We’re using Resonance Qi.”

As if he had expected it, So Cheon nodded.

“But not the Heavenly Demon Resonance Qi — I mean our own Resonance Qi, just between you and me.”

“……!”

It was never possible to use the incantation Jin Yeomyung had passed on as it was.

The Heavenly Demon Resonance Qi required mastery of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art and the Profound Heavens Divine Art.

However, the Killing King’s True Qi held by the two of them was a power derived from the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art.

With Baek Sang-ah’s talent, adapting it was entirely feasible.

“The name… Yes.”

Recalling the origin of the Underworld Net Sword, she smiled faintly.

“Let’s call it… Sangcheong Qi, shall we?”

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