Chapter 234: Chapter 231- Asung-Hei

Gion and Sol stepped off the teleportation platform, having returned to the Irregular Dharma Pavilion Mountain.

After leaving the Teleportation Hall, Sol led Gion toward the suspected killer’s courtyard.

However, Gion had something running through his mind. A few minutes into their walk, he wasn’t able to keep his thoughts to himself anymore.

“Wait.”

Gion stopped, and Sol stopped with him.

“Isn’t this strange?”

Sol paused and then nodded his head.

“Yeah, everything seems too easy.”

They were so focused on this lead that they didn’t consider how unusual it was that everything lined up so perfectly to lead to this disciple.

For example, what were the odds of two people from Gion’s lists of suspects appearing at the Pavilion? One is from the Disciplinary Pavilion and the other is from the Irregular Dharma Pavilion.

Their theory was that this disciple from the Irregular Dharma Pavilion obtained the Disciplinary Disciple’s Disciple Token and planted fake evidence in Sol’s file a few days ago; that said, he had teleported to the Irregular Dharma Pavilion Mountain at the time of Geon-Soo’s death.

But if that was truly the case, why would this Irregular Dharma Disciple be foolish enough to leave traces of himself being at the Pavilion to change Sol’s file? He should have known that his Disciple Token would be recorded, so he should have erased it, but he didn’t.

Gion’s expression hardened as he said.

“Either this situation was created out of coincidence, or someone had orchestrated this entire thing.”

Hearing that, Sol paused, then revealed.

“I don’t think this is a coincidence. I know that disciple, he’s someone I saved from Geon-Soo’s bullying when I first came to the Academy.”

“So he has a motive to kill Geon-Soo.”

“Yes, but that might be the reason the killer is framing him.”

“Okay, but if someone faked the records of him and the Disciplinary Disciple being there at the Pavilion, wouldn’t the killer need to know my list of suspects?”

Gion scowled as he added.

“But I have never revealed that list to anyone but you.”

The situation had just become complicated.

They weren’t dealing with some ordinary disciple if their theory was right.

“Could it be an Elder?”

Sol asked, and Gion shook his head.

“I thought so at first, but thinking about it deeply, why would an Elder want to kill Geon-Soo? It’s more likely to be a disciple who had grievances with him. At least that’s what we suspected, right? Perhaps that’s the very reason this disciple is being framed so blatantly, giving us what we suspect. The killer wanted this disciple to take the fall.”

“If that’s true, and the killer is neither an Elder nor Disciple, then the other theory is that they’re not a dis-”

Sol was cut off as Gion suddenly took out his Disciple Token, having received a message from someone.

As Gion was reading his message, Sol briefly glanced at his white Disciple Token flashing with small runes, and a thought suddenly struck him.

’The killer has to be a skilled Rune Master.’

Sol’s thoughts didn’t go any further since Gion interrupted by saying.

“It’s Woo-Seong.”

Gion then handed over his Disciple Token for Sol to read the message.

Sol saw that Gion’s expression had turned cold.

“??”

Sol took the Disciple Token and read the message. He was beyond confused right after.

“My father was here to meet with the Academy Leader because of my brother. He didn’t die because of an Aether Deviation, but because his Innate Dharma was stolen. Father suspects it’s the Demonic Cult’s doing. I’m sneaking out and coming to you guys right now. If I find that Demonic Cult bastard before the Academy Elders do, then I’m going to kill him myself.”

That was what the message read.

“It makes sense that this was done by someone from outside the Academy. But it seems you already had this thought. This person would be able to move through the Academy undetected without a Disciple Token. However, it looks like the Academy is taking this incident more seriously. The Elders are finally getting involved. So, as of now, you’ve been let off the hook. Since we lost our lead and the Academy is stepping in, this investigation is no longer our problem.”

Sol returned Gion’s Disciple Token, while a frown played on his face.

“What is it?”

Gion asked as he stored his Disciple Token.

“Why did the Wudang Sect lie that Geon-Soo died of Aether Deviation? Why did they choose to come out now and tell the Academy it was because his Innate Dharma was stolen? And even if it really was someone from the Demonic Cult, why would they even risk entering the Academy just to steal Geon-Soo’s Innate Dharma? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Maybe the Wudang Sect didn’t lie; maybe they thought Geon-Soo had died from Aether Deviation up until now. And Geon-Soo was known to have an Irregular Innate Dharma, as most disciples in the Irregular Dharma Pavilion do. Maybe that’s why they targeted him.”

Even though Gion was the one who said all this, he didn’t really believe his own words.

“Let’s go talk to that disciple.”

Sol then continued towards the disciple who was framed for Geon-Soo’s death.

“Why?”

Gion was confused by Sol’s actions but still followed.

Without looking back, Sol responded.

“This person, who is supposedly from the Demonic Cult, why would they try to frame me for Geon-Soo’s death? To protect his identity? No, the moment it’s discovered that Geon-Soo’s death was caused by his Innate Dharma being stolen, anyone would suspect the Demonic Cult. So, why set up this whole situation? Why go through the trouble of interfering with your investigation when the Elders of the Academy would be more of a threat in finding them if they stepped out? Why involve me, who has a bad relationship with the Wudang Sect?”

Gion’s eyes flashed, but soon a confused expression appeared on his face. He considered himself to be smart, but no matter how he thought about Sol’s rapid-fire questions, he had no clue what to make of them.

Didn’t they frame Sol precisely because he was in conflict with Geon-Soo and the Wudang Sect?

“I-I admit defeat. What exactly are you getting at?”

It wasn’t a surprise that Gion was confused; Sol never asked those questions for him, he asked them for himself.

’If this person is from the Demonic Cult, then they should know my identity. They wouldn’t have chosen to try to frame me then. But this person did, and I suspect it’s because I don’t have a favorable relationship with the Wudang Sect. And neither does Brother Gion. This person wanted us together; he wanted us to find him by leading us here.’

“Brother Gion, I just want to confirm something.”

Sol’s steps increased, and Gion was forced to go along with him.

….

…

..

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

“Hello?”

Sol knocked on the wooden gate and called out to anyone who might be in this small courtyard.

Hearing no response, Sol and Gion glanced at each other before they bent their legs and leaped over the gate.

After landing, the two silently walked towards the simply constructed house.

“Hmhmhm…”

After entering, the two heard someone humming.

It was coming from the backyard.

Sol and Gion paused at the door leading to the backyard for a brief moment before Sol swung it open.

“Huh?”

A youth who was seated at a table while drinking tea and humming turned around in shock at the intruders in his house. However, upon seeing Gion, the youth hurriedly stood and greeted him with a stutter.

“Se-Senior Brother Gion, welcome.”

Sol observed this youth closely. Turns out he really was the boy whom he had saved in secret from Geon-Soo’s vicious beatings.

“You don’t seem surprised that I’m here.”

Gion raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

“Ah! I just figured you would eventually visit me, thinking I’m a suspect in Geon-Soo’s death, so I stayed inside the Academy to be questioned.”

“So you know Geon-Soo is dead, and even the fact that he was murdered before it got leaked?”

The boy scratched his cheek and said.

“I was previously the one tasked to clean Geon-Soo’s courtyard. I was basically his servant. But after I was accused of stealing a few things from his room, I was chased down and beaten by Geon-Soo. But even though I am no longer his servant, Geon-Soo would come occasionally to torment me. So I found it odd he didn’t come during his usual time of the week. Then rumors started to spread that he had died, but those rumors quickly disappeared. I figured the rumors might be true, and even though it could be an accident or something, I thought maybe I would be blamed for it anyway.”

The youth forced a smile after he said this.

“What happened to your eye? Was it Geon-Soo?”

Sol asked.

The youth instinctively touched the bandages that covered his left eye.

“No, it wasn’t him. I just woke up one day, and it was badly hurting. So I soaked these bandages in medicine and wrapped them around my eye. Luckily, the pain subsided. Oh, I’m sorry, do you want to sit and have some tea?”

Sol nodded and walked forward with Gion following.

The youth poured Sol and Gion a cup of tea before he sat down.

“Is Brother Sol and Gion the only ones here?”

“Why ask such a question?”

The youth scratched his cheek with his finger at Sol’s question before he said with a forced smile.

“I was hoping Woo-Seong didn’t come here as well. I only wanted to meet Brother Gion and Brother Sol.”

Sol’s eyes flash.

’I knew it.’

“Woo-Seong is-”

“Already here!”

A voice echoed out, finishing for Sol.

A figure then landed inside the backyard from the sky.

It was Woo-Seong.

After he landed, he turned to look at the youth.

“Aren’t you Asung-Hei, the bastard that tried to steal from my brother?”

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