Chapter 267 - You're Not in My League

The next day, a martial artist from Heaven-Reaching Pavilion came rushing over.

“Here is the information you requested on the Heavenly Harmony School and the White Night Gang.”

According to him, they had even opened a temporary Heaven-Reaching Pavilion office near the Hunan branch to get information to me quickly. Such was the power of being the young lord.

I looked through the documents he handed me.

“The Heavenly Harmony School is quite large.”

I had known it was a large sect, but both its size and its underlying strength were considerable.

“Yes. It is Hunan's foremost sect in both name and reality. Its dealings are split four parts with the Cult, four with the Unorthodox Alliance, and two with the Orthodox Martial Alliance. It maintains its neutrality through roughly that balance.”

The Heavenly Harmony School was not the only sect to build its strength while remaining scrupulously neutral. Most that did so were large sects like it.

“What was the venture they pursued with Yeo Sogwang?”

“We are investigating that, but have yet to uncover it. Both Commander Yeo and the master of the Heavenly Harmony School handled their affairs in great secrecy.”

If Heaven-Reaching Pavilion's intelligence network could not uncover it, finding out through an outside investigation seemed impossible.

“Understood. Put that investigation on hold and look into the succession arrangements of both sects. Find out in detail who will inherit each family when its current leader steps down, and which successor would favor us.”

“Yes, sir.”

After the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion martial artist finished his report and left, I immediately summoned Jeok Yeon.

“The banquet?”

“It's this evening.”

“Select fifty skilled martial artists from the Hunan branch and have them stand by near the banquet hall.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jeok Yeon left, and I gazed silently out the window.

'While you were making your perfect deals, the children who should have been your crowning achievement were becoming the worst of the lot.'

* * *

Once again, the young men and women of the Martial God Society were drinking, laughing, and chatting in the banquet hall.

At their center was Seo Cheong of the Heavenly Harmony School.

This gathering was governed entirely by power. Family standing carried the greatest weight, followed by individual martial prowess.

Seo Cheong was a predator at the very top in both respects, and the leader of the Martial God Society.

The society's second-in-command was Seok Pung of the White Night Gang.

Yet he was drinking in a corner rather than beside Seo Cheong.

They had once gotten along like the closest of friends, but recently Seo Cheong's attitude toward him had changed. For some unknown reason, he had grown cold, and naturally their relationship had become strained.

“Dear brother, pour me a drink too.”

“Pour it yourself.”

Seo Cheong was surrounded by beautiful women, but his expression was indifferent.

Lately, neither drinking nor playing with women was any fun. He needed something intense and stimulating. In truth, he was feeling the urge to kill someone.

A few months earlier, he had gotten into an altercation with martial artists from the Dragon Flower Gang. Unable to restrain himself, he had cut them down. He had killed three people that day—his first murders.

Together with Seok Pung, who had been with him, he had secretly buried their bodies.

It had begun that day: the desire to kill. He could not forget the thrill of plunging his blade into someone. Afterward, he had killed two more people.

The first was a middle-aged woman walking at night. She knew no martial arts, but he had been unable to resist a sudden urge to kill and had impulsively cut her down. He had searched her clothing, made it look as though bandits had attacked her, and left.

His heart had not raced as fast as it had during his first killings. So a few days later, he had killed someone else. This time, it was a low-ranking martial artist from the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon's Hunan branch. Was it because he had killed someone he must not kill? This time, his heart had raced even faster than during his first murders.

Once he tasted blood, an uncontrollable lust for slaughter had awakened.

Seo Cheong drained his cup and rose. As he left, he bumped Seok Pung. Whether it had been accidental or deliberate was unclear, but it soured Seok Pung's mood.

Seok Pung knew when that attitude had changed. It had been because of his own slip of the tongue. While drunk, he had carelessly brought up the Dragon Flower Gang martial artists Seo Cheong had killed. He had mentioned it casually—those bastards back then—but the complete change in Seo Cheong's eyes had made him realize his mistake. Damn it! He was holding this grudge for far too long.

Seo Cheong was returning from relieving himself in the privy when someone practicing footwork in a secluded corner caught his eye.

Not long ago, another fellow had been practicing footwork just like that. How dare a mere drink server practice martial arts? He had made the fellow spar with Seok Pung and had him smashed to pieces.

Bored as he was, Seo Cheong thought this was just the thing and beckoned his companions over. They crowded around, exchanging mischievous looks as they watched the young man practice. They had found themselves a new plaything.

“Hey.”

At Seo Cheong's call, the young man turned.

Seo Cheong started at the sight of him. This was not the face he had expected. He had imagined someone dim and innocent-looking, but this was a handsome young gentleman.

He was none other than Geom Mugeuk.

“Who are you?”

There was a certain dignity and refinement about him that did not fit a mere drink server. Sure enough, his response was nothing like a servant's.

“Who are you?”

Laughter erupted around them at Geom Mugeuk's retort. Their faces already showed anticipation of what would happen to someone who got on Seo Cheong's nerves.

“Quite proud of yourself, aren't you? Well, pride is a martial artist's lifeblood.”

Seo Cheong had brought up pride. It was his usual method. Stoke the flames gently with pride, and his opponent would always leap in like a moth. It worked all the better with so many eyes watching, as they were now.

“You've stood up like a man, so let's see what you can do. How about a spar?”

“With whom? You?”

Laughter broke out around them again. None of Hunan's promising young martial artists could beat Seo Cheong.

“You're not in my league.”

Seo Cheong signaled with his eyes for Seok Pung to take him on.

Seok Pung's expression hardened. It had been the same last time, and now again.

Was a greenhorn like that in his league, either? Making him fight such a fellow anyway was a blatant attempt to belittle him in front of everyone.

“I did it last time, so this time...”

“You do it!”

Seo Cheong cut him off coldly. With so many people watching, Seok Pung's pride was wounded. But he had to endure it—not because of Seo Cheong's skill, but because of the Heavenly Harmony School's power.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk asked Seok Pung,

“Then who are you?”

“Seok Pung of the White Night Gang.”

Geom Mugeuk responded with exaggerated admiration.

“Oh! I've heard the White Night Gang's successor is an extraordinary talent. The finest young martial artist in Hunan in terms of skill! So that was you! What an honor!”

The unexpected response left Seok Pung bewildered. It had been a very long time since someone had praised him in front of everyone like this. Especially lately.

Then Geom Mugeuk tilted his head and spoke as though to himself.

“Oh, have I got that wrong? If you were the best in Hunan, you wouldn't be taking orders from someone else, would you?”

Seok Pung's expression froze. Whether the words were sincere or meant to mock him, they struck precisely where they hurt.

This time, Geom Mugeuk addressed Seo Cheong.

“You must be impressive, ordering the White Night Gang's successor around as your subordinate. Who are you?”

Seok Pung's face reddened as the praise he had received passed to Seo Cheong in an instant. Seo Cheong's smirk made his anger rise even higher.

“Shut up! What the hell does someone like you know, running your mouth like that?”

Just as Seok Pung was about to lunge at Geom Mugeuk, he said,

“If you attack me now, you'll really be admitting you're his subordinate.”

Seok Pung stopped short.

Geom Mugeuk had begun to unsettle him. Now it was Seok Pung who was leaping into the blazing fire of pride.

Geom Mugeuk looked around as he spoke.

“I guess it's true. Everyone's looking at you as though you're his subordinate.”

Seok Pung looked around.

Someone should have stepped forward to say that they were friends, not superior and subordinate. But everyone was too busy watching Seo Cheong's reactions to say it.

Instead, Seo Cheong stepped in.

“Why are you letting some nobody manipulate you into turning against me?”

Seo Cheong's attempt to stop him, with that talk of being manipulated, irritated Seok Pung even more. What followed was worse.

“Stop whining like a girl and spar with that weirdo already.”

He knew perfectly well how infuriating such words were. He was doing it on purpose.

Then Geom Mugeuk asked Seok Pung,

“But you'd beat him in a real fight, wouldn't you?”

“!”

It was something Seok Pung desperately wanted someone to ask, and a question he could never answer.

“You only put up with him because the White Night Gang is weaker than the Heavenly Harmony School, right?”

It was true. Seok Pung was confident he could beat Seo Cheong in a proper fight. He had the better physique, and he did not believe his martial arts were inferior in the slightest.

Silence fell. After a moment, Seo Cheong broke it.

“Why aren't you denying it?”

But Seok Pung said nothing.

Seo Cheong's gaze turned cold.

“Are you going to keep your mouth shut?”

Still, Seok Pung remained silent.

Abuse spilled from Seo Cheong's mouth.

“Look at this bastard. You really do think that, don't you?”

In fact, Seok Pung was not refusing to speak. He could not.

His mouth would not open. It was strange. His mute point had definitely not been sealed, yet it felt as though some invisible force was pressing his jaw from below and the crown of his head from above. He assumed it was because he was so angry at Seo Cheong.

Seo Cheong grabbed him by the collar.

“You really thought that?”

THUD!

Seo Cheong's fist knocked Seok Pung's jaw sideways. At that instant, the force pressing down on him vanished.

“N-no, that's not...”

THUD! THUD!

Fists struck Seok Pung's face in succession. He had never imagined Seo Cheong would actually hit him, and his fury reached its peak.

Dodging the fourth punch, Seok Pung threw a punch of his own.

THUD!

Seo Cheong had never expected him to strike back and was sent flying. Lying on the floor, he stared with wide eyes.

“How dare you! Have you lost your mind?”

Seok Pung was even more shocked and flustered. His fist had flown out without his realizing it. Once again, some invisible force had been at work, but he thought all the anger he had swallowed had finally exploded.

He roared,

“You bastard! Stop treating me like nothing!”

The words he had held back until now burst out.

Seo Cheong rose, emanating killing intent.

“It seems our esteemed Young Master Seok has been nursing quite a few grievances.”

Seok Pung felt fear and relief at the same time. But gradually, the fear began to grow.

'Damn it! You idiot! What the hell have you done?'

He knew how cruel Seo Cheong was. If only because of the watching eyes, the bastard would come at him determined to finish this.

That was when a sound transmission reached him.

—Want some help?

It came from Geom Mugeuk.

Seok Pung had completely forgotten he existed. Come to think of it, today's trouble had started because of him. Infuriatingly, he was watching the scene with his arms folded.

—He'll use the spar as an excuse to cripple you. The same trick you two used so often.

—Who the hell are you?

—Don't want help? Suit yourself.

Seo Cheong sent the others back to clear a space.

“Young Master Seok, I challenge you to a spar. Surely you won't run away like a coward?”

Seok Pung was growing desperate.

—How are you going to help?

—Expose Seo Cheong's crimes! Then I'll help you.

—Then he'll really try to kill me.

—Isn't he going to do that already?

Seok Pung sensed the killing intent rising in Seo Cheong's eyes. He thought Seo Cheong might truly kill him. The bastard lived and died by his pride, and he had been punched in front of everyone. He would cut off at least an arm or a leg.

On the other hand, killing or injuring him in the fight would also be a problem. If Seok Pung harmed the Heavenly Harmony School's successor, they would not stand idly by.

Backed into a desperate corner, Seok Pung looked at Geom Mugeuk. It had all started because of him, yet no one was paying him any attention. He was like a devil. Perhaps that was why Seok Pung felt he could trust him.

As Seo Cheong approached, Seok Pung said loudly,

“Not long ago, you murdered the Dragon Flower Gang martial artists you got into an argument with and buried their bodies.”

Silence descended. Until now, this had merely been an entertaining spectacle. Now matters had turned serious.

Seok Pung shouted again.

“You stabbed a passerby to death, and even killed a demonic martial artist.”

Everything Seo Cheong had told him when they were close was spilling out.

Resolving that he would kill Seok Pung without fail, Seo Cheong looked around and said,

“None of you believes that bullshit, right?”

Only a heavy silence hung over the room. A few who met Seo Cheong's eyes laughed awkwardly and replied,

“Of course not!”

“We don't believe it.”

Seo Cheong was triumphant. Even if they did believe it, no one would dare breathe a word of what had happened today.

Then a single statement rang through the banquet hall.

“I believe it.”

It was Geom Mugeuk. Every gaze turned toward him.

The corners of Seo Cheong's mouth curled upward.

“Fine, let's say you believe that bullshit. What are you going to do about it?”

Geom Mugeuk answered with a smile.

“This, perhaps?”

Geom Mugeuk pointed toward the door and snapped his fingers.

The door began to open slowly.

CREAAAK.

Jeok Yeon entered first.

The guards followed him, and behind them came fifty demonic martial artists from the Hunan branch, filing in one after another.

“Who the hell are these bastards?”

Those nearby tried to block them, only to be beaten mercilessly by Jeok Yeon and the guards and sent sprawling.

Someone recognized the emblem on Jeok Yeon's chest.

“The Demonic Cult! They're demonic martial artists!”

At his shout, everyone froze.

Only then did they all notice the evil-spirit emblems emblazoned on the newcomers' chests.

Screams erupted throughout the hall. Some trembled violently, some immediately dropped to their knees, some were caught trying to flee through the windows, and others hid beneath tables. It was utter chaos.

Even Seo Cheong was startled.

'They really are demonic martial artists!'

Arrogant as he was, he was not bold enough to bluster in the face of the Demonic Cult.

Geom Mugeuk addressed his subordinates.

“Seok Pung has exposed all his crimes. Put Seo Cheong in prison and begin the investigation.”

Seo Cheong shouted reflexively,

“Who gave you the right, you bastard?”

Jeok Yeon released cold demonic qi and roared,

“Watch your tongue! He is the young lord of the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon!”

Seo Cheong recoiled in shock. Seok Pung and the others were horrified as well.

Someone swiftly fell to their knees, and everyone else followed suit.

“Please spare us!”