Chapter 407: The Lazy One Investigates (2)
"Is this person called Dang-jin?"
"That is correct."
"Hmm."
Wi Jeong-han couldn't help but let out a sigh.
In his eyes, a man devoid of flesh like a mummy entered. The two eyes peering through the hollow sockets were unfocused, and the skinny, withered wrists looked like they could snap at any moment.
'Is this the famed One-Handed Lonely Soul, Dang-jin?'
Anyone who had one foot in the martial world had likely heard of the alias One-Handed Lonely Soul. It was said that every time that hidden hand concealed in the sleeve moved quietly, a wandering ghost would emerge.
'The situation is more serious than I thought.'
Now Wi Jeong-han understood why Dang Cheon-gun set everything aside to seek help from the Martial Alliance.
This was no ordinary matter.
Someone like One-Handed Lonely Soul could be said to be a peak expert recognized by all in the martial world. For such a person to be reduced to this pitiful state was unfathomable.
"Please tell me the precise symptoms."
"It's as I said."
"Please repeat it once more."
Dang Cheon-gun sighed at Wi Jeong-han's stern attitude.
"I'm not hiding anything. This is truly it. One day, those practicing suddenly went berserk and began attacking their surroundings indiscriminately."
Wi Jeong-han's eyes lit up.
"Did they lose their reason?"
"Indeed."
Dang Cheon-gun frowned as though it was a sensitive subject to mention.
"It must have been hard to avoid damage."
"This is the Tang Clan."
With that one remark from Dang Cheon-gun, Wi Jeong-han understood the situation.
'That's true.'
This was the Tang Clan.
The martial arts of the Tang Clan do not aim to end lives suddenly. Even a small wound is meant to carry poison deep inside.
Conversely, it meant that if the poison was removed, there was little to worry about regarding the wound. Fortunately, the Tang Clan had a plethora of antidotes and medical skills unmatched in the world.
'However, if someone like Dang-jin went berserk outside the Tang Clan, it would have been a tremendous disaster.'
Wi Jeong-han looked at Dang-jin with a serious face.
"How many of these people are there?"
"…About twenty."
"Twenty?"
Wi Jeong-han turned to Dang Cheon-gun with a look of disbelief.
"You're telling me that twenty people have fallen into demonic influence and you can't figure out the cause?"
"That's why I called you."
Wi Jeong-han could only let out a deep sigh.
'No matter how I think about it, it's strange.'
For martial artists, falling into demonic influence was an unavoidable fate. No matter how stable the martial arts practiced, some element of risk always existed.
The problem was that this risk had manifested simultaneously in several people.
'They said there hasn't been any new martial arts learned recently.'
Then it implied that an issue had arisen within the martial arts they had been practicing all along; it was perplexing why the Tang Clan's martial arts, refined over centuries, would suddenly cause this chain reaction of demonic influence.
It was something that shouldn't logically happen.
Gently stretching out his hand, Wi Jeong-han grabbed Dang-jin's pulse and frowned.
'This is indeed demonic influence, but…'
Although the body was so weak that the pulse was hard to grasp, that faint pulse was definitely boiling.
"Hmm…"
After carefully setting Dang-jin's wrist down, Wi Jeong-han turned back to Dang Cheon-gun.
"Does the Demon King firmly believe that these symptoms are demonic influence?"
"…Why do you ask?"
"I feel a sense of unease."
"A sense of unease?"
"Yes. More than unease…"
Wi Jeong-han trailed off.
What should he call this sensation? It was different from unease…
'Déjà vu?'
Wi Jeong-han clenched his fist.
It overlaps.
The sight he had seen before and Dang-jin's current state.
"Since you say so, I should speak frankly too. I am certain that these symptoms are a form of demonic influence. However… something is definitely different from the symptoms of demonic influence I have seen until now. It's hard to explain exactly what part is different, but…"
"Hmm…"
Wi Jeong-han nodded and turned to look at Jang Il.
"What do you think?"
"It reeks."
"It reeks?"
"Yes. Doesn't it feel somewhat artificial? There are days when one breaks a pot in life, but it doesn't mean all beggars will break their pots. If such an event occurred, it means someone orchestrated it from behind."
Jang Il chuckled as he said this.
"Of course, there would also be the question of who would dare to scheming against the Sichuan Tang Clan."
Wi Jeong-han nodded as if he agreed. He then turned his attention back to Dang Cheon-gun.
"For now, I have pinpointed a concerning part."
"You've pinpointed it?"
"Yes. However, it is not yet certain…"
The Demon King Dang Cheon-gun looked at Wi Jeong-han with a shocked expression.
'Did he truly discover something?'
He didn't have high hopes for anyone other than Wi Yeon-ho. And Wi Yeon-ho wasn't specifically called to resolve this incident. He thought that those other than Wi Yeon-ho only needed to investigate the matter and relay it to the investigators.
What he was trying to borrow was the head of the investigation team.
But to find something?
"What is this concerning part?"
Wi Jeong-han shook his head.
"It's so sensitive it's hard to speak of at the moment."
"Sensitive?"
"Yes. If my thoughts are correct…"
Wi Jeong-han looked at Dang-jin with a dark expression.
"This might not be an issue solely pertaining to the Sichuan Tang Clan."
The Demon King's face hardened.
Clearly.
# # #
"..."
Such matters are surprisingly common in the world.
Events that seem to twist the intestines.
For example, it's like seeing your son, who has been specifically told to take a good rest today, rolling around the house.
'I said it with my own mouth, but…'
Of course, it was Wi Jeong-han who told Wi Yeon-ho that he should simply rest. But now Wi Jeong-han realized a very obvious truth.
Humans are never rational beings.
The pressure of being from the Martial Alliance while wandering the Sichuan Tang Clan, along with the burden of possibly being caught up in an unimaginably large incident.
And in the midst of it all, the sharp gazes piercing their backs.
Even after enduring all those heart-thumping events and finally returning to the lodging, the one remaining there is…
Brrrrrr.
Wi Yeon-ho's mouth trembled.
What's going on?
No, he's just snoring.
Seeing Wi Yeon-ho sprawled out in the living room, snoring heavily instead of being in his room, Wi Jeong-han felt a surge of killing intent.
"Please calm down."
"Huh?"
"Just set the sword down first…"
Jang Il quietly grabbed Wi Jeong-han's arm. Unknowingly, Wi Jeong-han removed his hand from the favored weapon and let out a deep sigh.
"Huuu…"
Well, he wasn't really that angry.
Just a bit annoying.
So annoying that he wished he could splash a bucket of cold water on that carefree face.
"Grrr."
Wi Jeong-han thought it would be hard for him to become a gentleman. No matter what, how could he not uphold his own words?
"First, let's have a meal."
Jang Il smiled as if he understood Wi Jeong-han's feelings.
"…Let's do that."
Moisture gathered at the corners of Wi Jeong-han's eyes.
Look at Jang Il.
How mature he is.
'It's not just Jang Il.'
The other young people who came along this time were all excellent talents.
While Jang Il usually has a tendency to lack seriousness, he was lively and smart beyond that. Peng Dook-kyung had been timid until recently, but now he regained his confidence and was blossoming into an extraordinary young man.
With strict regulations in Shaolin, what else could be said?
In contrast…
"Grrr."
"..."
He's my son!
Even a porcupine thinks its offspring is beautiful!
Why can't he be as happy as a porcupine?
Suppressing the coldness rising in his chest, Wi Jeong-han quietly opened his mouth.
"Get up."
"Uugh."
"…Yeon-ho."
Wi Jeong-han spoke while rubbing his face.
"No matter how much you left the house midway, I've known you for many years. I know better than anyone that you wouldn't be sleeping in this situation."
At that moment, Wi Yeon-ho slowly opened his half-closed eyes.
The slightly opened eyes quickly scanned the surroundings and slowly closed again…
"Get up already!"
Eventually, Wi Jeong-han snapped and tossed Wi Yeon-ho.
"Whoa!"
Wi Yeon-ho, who was spinning mid-air, landed with wide eyes.
"Why are you throwing a sleeping person?"
"Sleeping? You're sleeping?"
Wi Jeong-han spoke as if he couldn't believe it.
"I'm your father! You may be unbeatable in laziness, but I also know you are surprisingly sensitive. You must have woken up the moment we entered!"
"... You are a ghost."
"Pretending to be asleep, fearing I'll ask you to do something! Oh, how indifferent fate can be. How did I end up giving birth to such a child?"
Wi Yeon-ho chuckled.
"Honestly, it's true that I'm not as good as them."
"Of course you're not! Who in this world is like you? No one! There's no one!"
It seemed like the meaning was slightly different, but it was a moment when father and son coincided in opinion after a long time.
"Starting tomorrow, you should come with me."
"Me?"
"Yes!"
"Hold on a second, Father."
Wi Yeon-ho spoke with a serious face.
"Of course, I know why you are doing this, but I don't think it's a good choice."
Wi Jeong-han's face trembled.
'Well then, let's hear the reason.'
He must have his own thoughts, so insisting on his will without reason isn't good. After all, Wi Yeon-ho is now an adult. He can't be dragged along forever.
"Why?"
"Do you really not know?"
Wi Yeon-ho smiled brightly.
"There's no way I can be of any help. Clearly, if you take me with you, you'll get angry, and when you get angry, a person can't view the events objectively. Ultimately, it will hinder the investigation. I'm not saying this because I absolutely don't want to go or I am annoyed. Absolutely."
"...."
"A person should know their place. For the clan and the investigation team, I think it's better for me to just stay here. Don't you think so too, Father…?"
Swish.
"Father?"
Wi Jeong-han drew his cherished sword and nodded his head.
"What did you just say?"
"..."
"Say that again, my beloved son."
"That term of affection seems a bit strange."
"Originally, you give the disliked one an extra rice cake, and you hit a pretty one one more time."
The sword of Wi Jeong-han began to radiate sword qi.
"In that sense, it's true that I have a good son. No matter how hard I beat you, you won't die. You won't even get hurt."
"If you hit me with a sword, I'll die, Father! I'll die!"
"Then aren't I testing it now! Come here, you brat!"
With the sword qi pouring forth, Wi Jeong-han charged, while Wi Yeon-ho began to scream and run away.
"Come back! Aren't you coming here? Kaaah!"
Seeing Wi Jeong-han chasing after Wi Yeon-ho, Jang Il wore a satisfied smile.
What a lovely father and son.
Truly lovely.