99 - Missions, Investigation (6)

Seo Ye, amidst grasping his hair in frustration, Namgung Jincheon displayed an array of thoughts. However, beyond a feeling of pity, she revealed nothing. The atmosphere might have shattered, yet, when considered closely, it was for the best. The tension wasn't only lifted from her. “…You might not believe me. That's why I have a suggestion.” Seo Ye spoke to Dang Hwa-seo. Turning her head sharply away from Namgung Jincheon who she was glaring at, Dang Hwa-seo asked. “A suggestion?” “Would you care to search through my belongings? There should be a pill.” As Dang Hwa-seo reached into Seo Ye's belongings and started fumbling around, “A bit lower. Between the chest.” Mok Riwon turned his head, Jegal San squinted his eyes in concentration, and Namgung Jincheon snorted. “To think your chest is uncharacteristically larger, it was just something stuffed to increase its size. How vulgar. Were you that desperate to highlight your body?” Then, Hye Woon stepped forward. Slap! Namgung Jincheon received another hit, and Seo Ye looked at him with a contemptuous expression. Meanwhile, Dang Hwa-seo found the pill. It was a dark brown pill, the size of a thumbnail. Dang Hwa-seo recognized its nature from its scent. “Mountain rat poison, and a slight touch of a spreading toxin upon digestion.” The toxin, once digested, would claim a life if not detoxified within a week. Dang Hwa-seo looked at Seo Ye curiously, to which Seo Ye said, “Feed it to me. The antidote is in a secret vault with Hasu Oh.” “And why should I believe that?” “Would you like to strip me down here? You can check my mouth or throat, even.” Dang Hwa-seo did not decline. “Everyone but Baekbong, please leave.” Upon Dang Hwa-seo rolling up her sleeves and saying so, the three men inside, reluctantly dragging Jegal San who seemed reluctant to leave, exited. The result was as follows. Every possible hiding place was searched, and no antidote was found on Seo Ye. Once Dang Hwa-seo allowed Seo Ye to dress freely once again, Seo Ye dressed herself. “Do you believe me now?” “…There’s certainly no antidote, that is clear.” “I hope you will agree to the trade. I can no longer delay.” Dang Hwa-seo was still in thought. She could reasonably believe Seo Ye wasn't lying, but the question lingered whether seven roots of 100-year-old Hasu Oh were worth the evident power disparity. That was the dilemma. Seo Ye sensed her hesitation too. ‘Careful.’ Troublesome. Yet, she still had a card up her sleeve. “My purpose here must be tied to the demons.” “And what of it?” “I can provide information about the demons. After we complete our transaction.” Dang Hwa-seo's eyes widened. Seo Ye added, “After everything is settled.” Dang Hwa-seo looked at Seo Ye briefly. Impudent. That was her initial thought. “…Did you never consider that I might torture you?” Whirr— Dark green smoke began to rise around Dang Hwa-seo. Her expression was stern, clearly threatening. “You wonder if I am aware. I know quite a few methods to make people suffer.” “How could I not know?” Seo Ye gulped down her saliva but glared back, refusing to be intimidated. “...The poisons obtained by the Poison King, you wouldn’t imagine that all of it was acquired through legal means.” Dang Hwa-seo grimaced. Hye Woon clenched her mouth shut. Seo Ye continued, “I got a few of them myself. And Ha O Mun Joo has presence everywhere.” A warning not to underestimate her intelligence. Also, a statement that blustering without knowledge was futile. Dang Hwa-seo acknowledged her spirit. ‘Torture won't work.’ She seemed not the type to confess under pressure. Dang Hwa-seo humbly accepted that and said, “…Leader, I hope you remember there's a secret passage left.” The pill in Dang Hwa-seo's hand glowed. Her toxicity combined with the pill. “Now, this poison can't be detoxified by just an antidote.” —the Poisonous Dang Hwa-seo. She was infinitely kind to her allies, yet merciless to her enemies. Dang Hwa-seo opened Seo Ye’s mouth, pushed the pill in, and made her swallow. The deal was struck. * The underbelly of Ha O Mun Joo was dark. Not simply dim within but dark all around, despite it being broad daylight. Naturally so. For the underbelly of Ha O Mun Joo lay within a cave. Inside, where a few dimly shining night pearls faintly illuminated the surroundings, a man dressed in black stealth clothes entered deeper. The man held his breath. For breathing easily here could lead both soul and spirit to be enraptured and devoured. Thud, Thud. His footsteps echoed in the silence, joined by moans from somewhere. -Ah... -Hmm... Clearly human sounds, yet devoid of any sanity—lost in sheer ecstasy. All of this was the doing of a woman at the end of this depth. The man knelt before the towering door at the end and spoke. "Leader." -Come in. The voice that responded was enchanting and sticky, carrying an undissipated warmth. Was that all? The voice also had a bewitching power that made the listener want to cry out and cling desperately. Puk— The man pricked the middle of his thigh with a finger. Sweating profusely and gritting his teeth, he then opened the door. There she was. The Lust Demon, Yang Go Hye. Hair black as night and longer than her height, skin too white to be human as if coated with lime, and contrasting bright red lips. And eyes drowned in pleasure. She was panting, barely covering the essentials with her clothing completely undone. At her feet lay a corpse, dried up as if all moisture had been sucked out. Yang Go Hye asked in a voice dripping with satisfaction, "So, did you find that woman?" "We haven’t found her. However, we have a lead." "What is it?" "Yong Bong has been spotted in Giju." Yang Go Hye's eyebrows rose. "Oh..." "He’s been tearing through Giju. It’s concluded that if Ha O Mun Joo appears, it’d be to seek their help." "That woman has no pride. To seek help from the righteous when she has made enemies in the dark world?" Yang Go Hye laughed heartily. The man felt his sanity wobble at her laughter. "Shall we keep them under surveillance?" "No. Let them be." "Excuse me?" "Leave them be. They will come to us then." Yang Go Hye, exposing her bare feet, lightly brushed the completely dried corpse with her big toe. "Those Yong Bong ones. They are to be captured anyway. And Mook Ryong." Mook Ryong, Mook Ryong, Mook Ryong. Yang Go Hye licked her lips with a crimson tongue three times. "Is it as tempting as they say?" Her face flushed. Heat flickered in her eyes. The man hesitated with his words, and noticing this, Yang Go Hye said, "All that’s needed is to keep him alive. Just alive." Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons. "After all, a little enjoyment as a reward for capturing him should be allowed, right? Rumors say he's a beauty unmatched in this world. When will I get to taste such delights again?" Tap, tap. Yang Go Hye tapped the corpse with her foot. Then, Crack! She crushed the chest with a footstep. No blood flowed. The corpse was too desiccated. Chortling, Yang Go Hye shrugged her shoulders. "Just keep him alive, and it’s alright to draw a bit of essence from him. Mm, perfect." Yang Go Hye dressed. Standing up, she was as tall as any average man, her legs extraordinarily long. "Ah… I can't wait to meet him." As Yang Go Hye stroked her cheek and spoke, another voice intervened. "Do not act rashly." The man who had been kneeling flinched and turned. There sat a man in shabby clothes, a broad sword held in his embrace. 'Since when?' He had not noticed the man's presence. Despite some time passing since he entered, there was no hint of him. A chill ran down his spine. Yet, the man knew his identity. "I see… Sword Demon, sir." Sword Demon Yeon Ri Geon. The leader of Chilgeommun among the Six Martial Gates, distinguishable by his shabby clothes, vacant eyes, and the broad sword he held. Yeon Ri Geon said, "Orders are a priority." "You're spouting that nonsense again." Yang Go Hye clicked her tongue and continued, "Can’t your own head think for itself? Well, with such a crippled body that doesn’t experience shame, I suppose not." Her words were laden with scorn. It was evident that Yang Go Hye looked down upon him. Yeon Ri Geon appeared unbothered as he replied, "There’s no need to swing a sword with that, so it’s unnecessary." "How lenient." Yang Go Hye frowned. 'Why assign him as a watchdog?' He's practically a simpleton – his mind capable of retaining only the orders of the So Kyuju, petulant beyond measure and even obstructing her pleasure with his constant objections. In other words, with him around, the mood's completely ruined. 'Playing with him is out of the question since he's useless.' In many ways, a complete nuisance. If not for the So Kyuju’s orders, she would have torn him to pieces by now. Sighing heavily, Yang Go Hye then addressed the kneeling man, "So, where are they hiding now?" "They're concealed in the estate. I attempted to infiltrate, but there were protective formations." "Ah, that's right. The one called Guiryong was there too." The head of the Jegal family. Rumor had it he was a mess, but it seemed he had some tricks up his sleeve. "...Well, it doesn’t matter." Yang Go Hye shrugged. Whatever schemes they conjure up, the moment they confront me here, they will all fall. "Just kill those who come searching." "Yem Ma has died. Don't let your guard down." "If that moron couldn't beat me, Yuk Ma should remove his title. Where does he think rolling around and feeding on human flesh got him any real power?" "I remember. Lust Demon, you were defeated by Yem Ma. Utterly." "That was when he was the So Kyuju. Now that I think about it, it's fortunate. If So Kyuju hadn't appeared, that man would've become the next leader." Yang Go Hye and Yeon Ri Geon's conversation continued. Yeon Ri Geon looked at Yang Go Hye with vacant eyes. Yang Go Hye frowned and asked, "What are you looking at?" "Thinking." "About what?" "..." Yeon Ri Geon silently scanned Yang Go Hye's body, not merely the exterior but the flow of her inner demonic energy, the total output of her power, and the maximum strength she could shield with that power. He came to a conclusion. 'Still.' Yang Go Hye is weaker than O Gang Aak. She lives in delusion. "Why, even if yang energy does not arise, does your yin energy stir?" "A little." "You're such a fool." Yeon Ri Geon did not bother to share this insight.