-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Request (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Silence lingered in the room.
None of the three spoke first.
In that stifling quiet, it was Sanggwan Se-yeong who finally broke the silence.
"How can we believe that? Do you have any proof?"
"Follow me."
Dang Yu-wol rose from his seat.
As he walked out, the hesitating Sanggwan siblings followed behind him anyway.
The place they arrived at was the main gate of the Tang Clan.
The servant who saw Dang Yu-wol bringing guests was startled but opened the gate.
"Where are we going?"
"The Tang Clan's secret archive. The old Tang Clan had its own intelligence network."
"It did?"
"It was disbanded three years ago due to funding issues."
"Is it really okay to show us something like that?"
"It's fine."
The place Dang Yu-wol led them to was a shabby-looking small building.
Two Tang Clan disciples stood guard in front of it.
"Young Master?"
"You came last time too... What's the matter here?"
"I have something to check."
"Those two are...?"
"My companions."
"Ah. I see."
The two disciples took out a key and unlocked the door.
The air was thick with the musty smell of old paper and faded ink.
These must have been the gathered results of past intelligence operations.
"There won't be anything too exciting in here."
"Still..."
"Taeseong Pavilion probably has far more materials collected."
"You even knew about that?"
'Taeseong Pavilion collecting intelligence separately is supposed to be a secret.'
Yet Dang Yu-wol knew that too.
No matter how she thought about it, it didn't make sense.
'What on earth is this guy...?'
Regardless of the siblings' curious stares, Dang Yu-wol pulled a book from the shelves.
"The paper's yellowed, and it's frayed here and there. Looks like it's pretty old. What's this about?"
"It's records the Murim Alliance once held on the Demonic Cult."
"Why would the Tang Clan have this...?"
"The Tang Clan was part of the Murim Alliance back then."
"..."
"And that's not the important part right now."
She was right.
What mattered was the record itself, not the Tang Clan's past affiliations.
The Sanggwan siblings hurriedly looked where he had opened the book.
[Investigator: Murim Alliance Special Audit Division, Team Three][Investigation on Demonic Cult Secret Technique 683][The Demonic Cult created a drug that turns people into grotesque jiangshi using a special secret technique.]
"Grotesque jiangshi...?"
"Aren't jiangshi grotesque by nature...?"
[The jiangshi called Black Corpses were more dangerous and brutal than ordinary ones.]
"Black Corpses...!!"
'I'd heard about them from Father before.'
Memories from the past surfaced.
'The Demonic Cult created monsters called Black Corpses and attacked Qinghai...'
And their grandfather and his comrades had stopped them.
Could that have been related?
Sanggwan Ryu focused back on the records.
[According to spy reports, Black Corpses were failed experiments before creating the Phantom Corpses.][If Phantom Corpses are completed, it is estimated there will be massive damage to the murim world.]
There was no more related content.
They looked urgent, so Dang Yu-wol handed over another book.
[With the ascension of a new Demonic Cult Leader, research on evil arts like Phantom Corpses no longer receives support.][Estimated to be due to differences with the current leader's faction.][Subsequently, decided to cease investigations into Phantom Corpses and other evil arts.]
"Here, take this. This is a record investigated by the Tang Clan about twenty years ago."
[Incident in Yunnan Suima Nan Region][Reporter: Dang Ryu-seong][Details][Poisoning incident in the small village of Tura Gana in Suima Nan.][Villagers found dead in grotesque forms.]
'Grotesque forms...'
It came to mind.
The sight of the Sanggwan household's retainers dead in grotesque states.
Their appearances were just like...
[They resembled monsters.]
They resembled monsters.
Sanggwan Ryu and Sanggwan Se-yeong focused even more on the book.
[Investigation revealed outsiders visited Suima Nan, after which the incidents occurred.][Survivors confirmed sighting people in unusual attire.][Worshippers of the Blood God, they performed bizarre rituals with living sacrifices.]
"...The Blood God."
"That's the Blood Cult."
Blood Cult.
The moment he heard the word, Sanggwan Ryu clenched his fist tightly.
"You could easily find records of Blood Cult rituals yourselves."
"I know. They've appeared in the murim world several times."
Sanggwan Ryu nodded with gritted teeth and turned back to the book.
There was still more content.
[Reports indicate their apparent leader gave the villagers a special drug.]
"A special drug? You think something like that is possible with just medicine?"
"The Tang Clan researched it once and got results saying it was possible."
[Those who took the drug in Suima Nan gradually transformed into grotesque, rotting corpse-like beings and began attacking each other.]
"...Who is this survivor?"
"A warrior from a hostile village in Suima Nan."
"I see..."
[Their leader then declared the experiment a failure and left.]
Turning to the next page froze the Sanggwan siblings.
There was a drawing.
A scene etched indelibly in their memories.
[Further investigation of nearby villages confirmed they called their created monsters Phantom Corpses.]
Phantom Corpses.
The word from their father's note.
Jiangshi decorated in an eerily black manner.
[Additional investigation identified their leader as Sang Jun, the Perfected Man formerly of the Murim Alliance.]
"...!!"
They hurriedly flipped through the book.
But there were no more records related to him.
"Why!?"
"They couldn't investigate further."
At his words, the Sanggwan siblings fell silent.
Regardless, they had found it.
Blood Cult.
The Blood Cult had attacked the Sanggwan family for their experiments.
"Of course, this alone doesn't prove Sang Jun attacked the Sanggwan household."
"Ugh... Hic..."
"But it's certain the Blood Cult is involved."
"Why would they do such a thing...!!"
"They don't have particular reasons for choosing test subjects."
"What...?"
"They just picked what caught their eye."
Just for that.
Their family had died so horrifically just to test a Demonic Cult secret technique.
"Hic...!!"
-Crunch!!
Sanggwan Se-yeong finally burst into the tears she had been holding back.
And Sanggwan Ryu ground his teeth until they nearly shattered.
Both now harbored hatred for the Blood Cult.
"Those Blood Cult bastards... I'll tear them apart someday...!!"
"Good mindset."
"Do you know where the Blood Cult is?!"
"I do, but I can't tell you."
"Why!!"
"You'd just die like dogs."
Dang Yu-wol's words were calm but hit the nail on the head.
-Well done. If they went after the Blood Cult now, it'd just give them two more fine test subjects.
Baring fangs comes after preparation.
Now was too early.
"If you think even this is fabricated, I have nothing more to say."
Should they believe him?
Or not?
Sanggwan Ryu couldn't say anything.
"If you want, send someone to Yunnan to check it out."
"..."
"Not sure if anyone who knows is still around, though."
Sanggwan Se-yeong grabbed her brother's sleeve.
She wanted to believe.
"...Understood."
Silence again.
Dang Yu-wol crossed his arms and waited for them to calm down.
How much time passed?
"Huuuu..."
They barely suppressed their rage, grief, and hatred.
That hatred should be unleashed at the time of vengeance.
'This patience will surely yield sweet rewards.'
But there was something to do first.
Sanggwan Ryu asked Dang Yu-wol.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why share this information with us?"
"I need allies."
"Allies...?"
"That's right. I believe I must fight the Blood Cult too."
It was puzzling.
Why would the Tang Clan oppose the Blood Cult?
"Isn't the Tang Clan weak? Why fight the Blood Cult?"
Sanggwan Se-yeong's question was valid.
That was the way of the murim world.
Bow to the strong, crush the weak.
But Dang Yu-wol shook his head.
"Weak or strong doesn't matter."
-Oh ho. What nonsense is this now?
Dang Yu-wol's eloquence was not to be ignored.
Ye-ui didn't hide his interest.
"They don't see people as people."
"...!!"
"Opposing such beings is only natural."
That was righteousness, that was chivalry.
At Dang Yu-wol's words, the Sanggwan siblings fell silent.
Righteousness and chivalry had long become hollow jokes.
They hadn't expected anyone to bring it up.
-Not that he cares about such things.
'But it's enough to shake their hearts.'
To achieve his goals, he had no luxury for scruples about methods.
Dang Yu-wol didn't change expression.
"Let's get along from now on."
"...Haa. Understood."
"Thank you for your help."
Sanggwan Se-yeong and Sanggwan Ryu took Dang Yu-wol's hand.
A hand he had extended first, unlike before his regression.
Looking at it, Dang Yu-wol grinned.
"Now that we're allies, could you do me a favor?"
'All that talk of righteousness and chivalry, but this must be the real reason.'
'What does he want?'
The Sanggwan siblings tensed.
To them, Dang Yu-wol said with a slightly sheepish expression.
"Lend me a room in Taeseong Pavilion. I have someone to entertain."
His request was far simpler than expected.
Compared to uncovering the enemy they'd desperately sought.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The magistrate of Seongdo County, Jang Ung, headed to the Sacheon Escort Agency with anticipation.
"Magistrate, that outfit looks splendid."
"Hahaha! Got to look good for a fine place!"
To the waiting Dang Yu-wol, Jang Ung chuckled slyly.
He couldn't hide it, nor did he want to.
It was Taeseong Pavilion, after all.
"Looking forward to it?"
"Ahem. Not so much expectation as... Anyway, which floor are we going to?"
Taeseong Pavilion had different accessible floors based on status, power, wealth, or ability.
He was hoping for the second floor.
-From the rumors, only those of considerable status can go above the second floor at Taeseong Pavilion.
But Jang Ung alone could hardly manage past the first floor right now.
Taeseong Pavilion's reputation was that grand.
'People are all the same.'
"Get in the carriage first."
"Mm."
Outside, a carriage was prepared.
One bearing the Sacheon Escort Agency's name.
Seeing it, Jang Ung slightly frowned.
-If others see this, they'll think 'The magistrate of Seongdo County is starting to build ties with the Sacheon Escort Agency.'
"What does putting me in this mean?"
-He's no fool, huh?
'He's the magistrate of Sacheon's largest county. Not a seat for fools.'
His expectant gaze sharpened.
Yet Dang Yu-wol didn't avoid it.
"Exactly what you're thinking."
'Impressive. The Tang Clan is practically sealed off and inactive right now...'
In such a state, they couldn't gather strength.
Thus, the Sacheon Escort Agency's activities would bolster the Sacheon Tang Clan's power base.
'Trying to flaunt ties by parading me around? Showing they can even handle Seongdo County's magistrate?'
"How old are you this year?"
"A few months from turning twenty."
"...You'll go far."
It was hard to believe this was the initiative of someone not yet twenty.
'There were always guys like this.'
Those who rose quickly.
Most of them ended up achieving great things.
'At this rate, unless he dies as a guest in some inn, he'll make a name in the murim world.'
No reason not to get friendly, then.
"Let's go."
He showed even warmer friendliness toward Dang Yu-wol and naturally boarded the carriage.
-Quick on the uptake too. Quite useful.
'Gotta make good use of him from now on.'