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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Enemy's Movements (2)
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Ga Won-seong wanted to avoid spilling too much blood.
All he had to do was comply with that.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Excellent."
Ga Won-seong, unable to read Dang Yu-wol's true intentions, nodded.
Truly a fine young man.
I should keep an eye on the Tang Clan from now on.
"There may be days when I can't come."
"Busy, are you?"
"Yes. But I'll make sure to send the medicine, so please take it without fail."
"Understood."
With his permission, Dang Yu-wol smiled and bowed.
"I look forward to our continued acquaintance."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few days after meeting Ga Won-seong.
The magistrate of Seongdo County visited the Sacheon Escort Agency.
-Who is this guy?
'A decent man.'
-Decent?
'He has ambitions for power, but at least he's not the type to abandon his people.'
Before his regression.
When the Blood Cult invaded the Central Plains, he fought to the end instead of fleeing like the other officials.
"I heard you have evidence of Gang Il-deok's corruption."
"Here it is."
Ledgers from within the Sacheon Escort Agency.
And the ledgers and transaction records he had kept.
Dang Yu-wol pulled out the evidence he had found after capturing him.
"Hm. You found this well."
He quickly reviewed the evidence.
All of it was solid proof.
"It wasn't that difficult."
-They were too sloppy.
Dang Yu-wol gave a wry smile.
It was proof of how much Dang Seong-u had trusted him.
-No matter how I think about it, your father is a good man.
Ye-ui said with a low chuckle.
He didn't voice the rest for Dang Yu-wol's sake.
The part about how Dang Seong-u wasn't suited to lead a clan as its head.
"These ledgers show evidence of embezzlement from the Sacheon Escort Agency."
"And?"
"I plan to confiscate all his assets and return them to the Sacheon Escort Agency."
"You're only taking what Gang Il-deok embezzled?"
"There's such a thing as interest in this world."
Jang Ung gave a wry smile at those words.
Normally, the government would take most of it...
Gang Il-deok had a talent for investing.
Thanks to that, he had amassed quite a fortune over time.
His cronies will be upset about this.
There were no shortage of officials eyeing Gang Il-deok's wealth.
Jang Ung knew several of them.
"Are you sure about this? There are plenty of officials after this."
"Are you alright with it, Magistrate?"
"Me? I've got plenty of money. Do you know which clan I'm from?"
"Then that's a relief. General Ga Won-seong has agreed to watch my back."
That changed everything.
With Ga Won-seong backing him, which crazy official would step forward?
"Impressive. He's not one to be so lenient."
"It wasn't easy."
"Understood. Then I'll summon the constables right away and confiscate all his assets."
"You'll return them to the Sacheon Escort Agency?"
"Yes. You can observe if you want."
"I'll send someone."
Things were proceeding as planned.
Dang Yu-wol watched him leave before standing up.
"You've honored us with your visit, yet I feel I haven't hosted you properly."
"So?"
"I've arranged a spot at Taeseong Pavilion. How about two days from now in the evening?"
Jang Ung, on his way out, stopped in his tracks.
And quickly approached him.
"Taeseong Pavilion?! You mean the most famous pleasure house in Sacheon, located in Seongdo?"
"Yes."
"The place that costs not silver but gold for a single night?"
"Yes."
"The one you can't even enter without the skill to match the price?!"
"Yes."
"You're saying you've reserved a spot there?!"
"That's right."
Only then did he realize he'd gotten too excited.
He cleared his throat and sat back down demurely.
"If you wish, tonight would work as well."
"Well, of co..."
"But setting an appointment on the day of for a busy man hardly seems proper."
"Ahem. Then I won't refuse."
Magistrate Jang Ung was satisfied.
A banquet at Taeseong Pavilion in two days.
Just thinking about it makes my heart race.
Unable to hide his excitement, as he left, Yang Jin cautiously asked.
"Uh... Isn't Taeseong Pavilion a place not just anyone can enter?"
"Correct."
"Doesn't it require a reservation?"
"Correct."
"From what I know, you need to book half a year in advance..."
"Correct."
"When did you make the reservation?"
"I didn't."
"What?!"
Then what was that conversation with the magistrate just now?
As Yang Jin and Jin Ho-gang were dumbfounded, Dang Yu-wol stood up.
"There are exceptions in this world."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
When night fell, Dang Yu-wol left the escort agency and headed into Seongdo's night streets.
There were many touts calling out here and there.
Memories from the past lingered.
I used to just go in back then...
Not anymore.
Ignoring the touts who recognized him, Dang Yu-wol kept walking.
He arrived at a massive five-story building.
Taeseong Pavilion, the pride of Seongdo.
-Impressive.
'It's called the greatest pavilion in Sacheon.'
As Dang Yu-wol headed for the entrance, a martial artist blocked him.
"This is a reservation-only establishment. Do you have a reservation?"
"No. I have business with the Pavilion Master."
"The Pavilion Master doesn't meet just anyone."
He spoke politely while staring straight into Dang Yu-wol's eyes.
"Even if you are the Young Clan Head of the Tang Clan."
"You recognize me."
"The Young Clan Head is famous around these streets."
"I see. Relay this to the Pavilion Master."
"What message?"
"I know what the Mysterious Cadaver is."
It happens sometimes.
People spouting nonsense, grasping at clouds.
Hoping to meet the Taeseong Pavilion Master at least once.
Even the Tang Clan's Young Clan Head is no different.
But he couldn't say that outright.
Fallen or not, the Tang Clan was still a prestigious house.
"Understood."
"Here, buy yourselves some drinks."
A piece of silver was slipped into his hand.
Having taken money, he had to relay it.
"Uh... The Pavilion Master might not react much."
"Can't be helped then."
A more ordinary reaction than expected.
Which made the words seem more truthful.
"I'm staying at the Sacheon Escort Agency now, so tell the Pavilion Master to come there if she wishes to find me."
"Yes."
That was all.
As he walked away, the guard sighed and headed to the Pavilion Master's room.
"What is it, Gu Il?"
The fifth floor of Taeseong Pavilion.
No one could enter the Pavilion Master's room in the deepest part.
So he spoke to the man sitting outside with arms crossed.
"Brother Ryu. Um..."
"What is it?"
Ugh. He seems in an even worse mood today...
The killing intent in his voice made his body tremble.
Proof of a transcendent master.
What if I get chewed out for nothing? He already looks upset...
If such a master got angry, death was certain.
After agonizing, he finally spoke.
"The Young Clan Head of the Sacheon Tang Clan has a message for the Pavilion Master."
"Pointless chatter, no doubt."
"Yes, seems like it... but he says he knows what the Mysterious Cadaver is..."
"...What?"
"Brother? What's wrong?"
"Nothing... Understood. And don't tell anyone about this."
"Y-yes, sir."
Startled by the killing intent, Gu Il fled, and Ryu ground his teeth.
Then slowly opened the door.
"...Se-yeong. Did you hear?"
"Yes."
Inside the room was a beautiful woman.
A clear-skinned beauty in her mid-twenties, eyes closed.
"Brother. I still remember it."
"Yes. I remember too."
The Sanggwan Clan.
A prestigious house from Qinghai said to have been wiped out ten years ago.
Where countless retainers died for unknown reasons.
Sanggwan Se-yeong, a survivor, recalled the past.
"It was when we returned from gathering herbs together."
"Yes. I still remember."
He clenched his fist.
When he returned from gathering herbs with his sister Sanggwan Se-yeong.
He had seen it.
The sight of his father, mother, and retainers.
Twisted grotesquely in their gruesome deaths.
"...I remember too."
And both still remembered.
The words written in blood before his father's corpse.
That was the Mysterious Cadaver.
"Ten years. Ten years."
"Yes... We've searched for ten years, but found nothing."
Yet now, the first clue had appeared.
"The Tang Clan's... Young Clan Head?"
"Yes. I plan to go see him."
"...Me too. I want to go as well."
Sanggwan Ryu looked at his sister.
Was it right to take his only remaining family?
It'll be fine. After ten years of tears of blood, she must be anxious too.
If something happened, he could protect her.
He extended his hand to his sister.
"Let's go together."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
-The Mysterious Cadaver... That's the zombie technique the Demonic Cult researched in the past, right?
'Yes. The Demonic Cult long ago prioritized transcending human limits.'
They believed it was the path to becoming the Heavenly Demon.
Seeking to surpass limits using the immortality of zombies.
-I remember. That's why they studied ancient evil forbidden arts and poison techniques.
'Correct.'
-And one of them was the Mysterious Cadaver.
Ye-ui recalled.
A Blood Cultist in the treasure vault three hundred years ago had mentioned it.
-The Heavenly Demon at the time halted it, as I recall.
'Yes. But those who didn't abandon the research left the Demonic Cult.'
And the Blood Cult absorbed them.
-I see.
'The massacre at the Sanggwan Clan was their doing too.'
-First time hearing about the Sanggwan Clan.
'Surprising? You seemed to know everything about the Blood Cult.'
-I was just a treasure vault ghost. If they didn't talk there, I wouldn't know.
Ye-ui said nonchalantly.
After a brief silence, he spoke again.
-To think they'd kill for such research.
Still detestable bastards.
Ye-ui muttered a quiet curse.
'They're the type to do anything for power.'
-I see. But how do you know the Sanggwan siblings?
'They were captured by the Blood Cult and turned too.'
-Before you met me?
'Yes. We got close by chance, and I learned about them in the process.'
-Oh ho. Did you tell them their clan's enemy was in the Blood Cult?
'Yes. And they succeeded in revenge.'
But as a result, both siblings became test subjects.
And met tragic ends.
-At least revenge succeeded. Should I congratulate them?
'They seemed satisfied.'
-Why reach out to them?
'Their power will help the Tang Clan.'
-That's all?
'No. Their grudge is also a spear that can pierce the Blood Cult.'
No reason not to harness it.
Dang Yu-wol told Ye-ui about the past.
Both trembled once more at the Blood Cult's cruelty.
-Visitors.
There was movement outside.
The expected guests had arrived.
"You've come."
Standing before the open door were a man and a woman.
The Sanggwan siblings, looking even younger than before his regression.
"How do you know about the Mysterious Cadaver?"
"The Tang Clan investigated the tragedy at the Sanggwan Clan."
-Did we?
'Yes. We investigated the Sanggwan tragedy back then.'
-Why not investigate further?
'We lacked the resources.'
The Tang Clan was recovering from the battle with the Five Poisons Sect.
No spare capacity for another clan's tragedy.
But they couldn't deny dispatching people for the initial investigation.
"Why would the Tang Clan...?"
"We were conducting our own research and investigations into poisons and medicines."
"..."
"We suspected the Sanggwan incident involved poison or drugs."
"...Poison and drugs?"
To their confusion, Dang Yu-wol explained calmly.
"And we discovered it. The tragedy at the Sanggwan Clan. The Mysterious Cadaver is a forbidden art lost from the Demonic Cult."
"...Demonic Cult?!"
"Wait. Young Master Tang. If it's a lost Demonic Cult art... then it wasn't Demonic Cultists?"
"Correct."
Dang Yu-wol spoke plainly to the siblings awaiting his answer.
"The one who led the experiment was a Blood Cult outer protector named Sang-jun."
"Sang-jun...?"
An unfamiliar name.
If there was enmity, Sanggwan Ryu, then Young Clan Head, would have known.
"Once an outstanding orthodox Daoist, he committed the sin of clan's destruction and fled."
At those calm words, the Sanggwan siblings could say nothing.