Dokgo I-seol set off for Xingan to meet the Brain Knife Outcast from Yunnan.
As Dokgo I-seol headed towards Xingan, she was able to continuously gather information about the Brain Knife Outcast.
In Cheonghae, martial artists flocked from all over to witness the duel between the two, and now that the matches were over, they joyfully chattered about what they had seen and heard as they returned to their hometowns.
These martial artists were eager to share even a single word with the beautiful I-seol, famed as the “Best Beauty in Yunnan,” and they were quite restless for not being able to disclose what they had witnessed.
And so, Dokgo I-seol was able to obtain a variety of information.
Among the information was something even Dokgo I-seol found surprising; it was the fact that the Brain Knife Outcast had been in an ongoing underground rivalry with Jeong Cheol.
This was a story that could dramatically change the value of the Brain Knife Outcast.
“Thinking back, Jeong Cheol’s plans have never gone smoothly. Moreover, there were too many unclear aspects to his actions.”
If all of this was due to a conflict with the Brain Knife Outcast, then everything started to make sense.
Then.
The declaration by the Brain Knife Outcast to stop Jeong Cheol at the Tang Clan was likely not just an emotionally charged resolution but rather a cold calculation based on their own abilities and assets.
After all, just by harming Jeong Cheol or Sadoryeon, they could easily be celebrated as a hero of Sacheon, so why bother hiding this fact and continuing the underground conflict?
If there was a reason for that, it would only be one.
“They must have used secretive tactics. Jeong Cheol cleverly used them in a way that he couldn’t officially raise issues.”
Dokgo I-seol’s mind raced quickly.
“If this assumption is true… then the Brain Knife Outcast is not only an exceptionally talented martial artist but also a strategist capable of discreetly obstructing the moves of Sadoryeon and Jeong Cheol, equipped with the connections and power to execute such a strategy.”
But if such a person remained merely an outcast, it raised the question of why.
That thought flickered in her mind, but she shook her head. The existence of Jeong Cheol already countered such an argument.
Jeong Cheol had desired to establish his influence within the empty land that was Sacheon City.
The throne of the Sacheon City had a value that justified such ambition.
Even if the Brain Knife Outcast threw away his past as Heuknip, would there genuinely be anyone who would simply still consider him an outcast?
In Sacheon City, the Brain Knife Outcast would forever be regarded as an eternal outcast.
“Looking back, it’s likely that the only way for a newcomer not from Sacheon City to claim origin from it would be as an outcast. So could someone like Jeong Cheol or the Brain Knife Outcast emerge from such a small outcast group?”
If so, was the Brain Knife Outcast a schemer who was gathering experience as an outcast to seize control of Sacheon?
Dokgo I-seol shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
She had been too fixated on one side. Trying to gauge the mind of the Brain Knife Outcast, who had lived as an outcast for an extended period with only fragmentary information, was a stretch.
“However, I can’t dismiss the rumors that the Brain Knife Outcast is just a simple martial artist.”
The growth and actions of the Brain Knife Outcast, along with Jeong Cheol’s, left too many unresolved mysteries to consider him just a passionate warrior acting recklessly.
Dokgo I-seol calmly organized her thoughts.
Though he might be an ambitious schemer aiming for control over Sacheon City, the assumption that he had been exchanging secret tactics with Jeong Cheol seemed highly plausible.
“The emergence of skilled masters from the remote regions… Could the sudden mobilization of Po Dalap Palace’s masters have been orchestrated by the Brain Knife Outcast?”
Dokgo I-seol instinctively felt a strong suspicion that the Brain Knife Outcast was behind the movements of Po Dalap Palace.
There had been no reason for the masters of Po Dalap Palace to abruptly move.
If the Brain Knife Outcast had indeed moved them, it all began to make sense.
To strike against the enemy, he had mobilized forces from the fringe.
The action boldly challenged the pride of the martial artists in the Central Plains, truly embodying the very essence of “secret tactics.”
Even Jeong Cheol, without clear evidence but merely mentioning circumstances, could not endure the backlash on such a sensitive issue.
“After that…”
Having suffered disgrace from martial artists in the remote regions, Ak Gyeong-cheol’s reputation plummeted, while the Sokryeong Sect, cramped and cornered, faced internal strife.
The sects of Sadoryeon moved to devour Sokryeong Sect, with the nearby Dark Dragon Sect leading the charge to discern worthy heirs.
They even recruited external martial artists…
Then she encountered Yongji Maeng.
“Haa.”
Dokgo I-seol’s mind, which had been turning rapidly, came to a standstill.
It was always like this.
Whenever she thought of Yongji Maeng, a sharp pain pierced her heart, rendering her unable to continue rational thinking.
“Here we go again…”
Dokgo I-seol scolded herself. How could she achieve greatness like this?
Having just finished serving her prison sentence, she recalled nearly losing herself emotionally due to the confrontation with Yoran, who had provoked her by mentioning Yongji Maeng.
However.
“Haa.”
Could the human heart be so easily governed?
“Where could you possibly be…”
The Jeokgwi Daebyeol had ambushed Odokmun’s territory. In that process, the news about the transport of Yongji Maeng was cut off.
She had poured all her strength into seizing the seat of the family head while simultaneously inquiring about Yongji Maeng’s whereabouts, yet his whereabouts were utterly unknown.
Even if Yongji Maeng had left.
The mere thought of wanting to stop him and keep him by her side pushed Dokgo I-seol into the power dynamics of the Dark Dragon Sect.
But without even knowing whether Yongji Maeng was alive or dead, she had merely been entangled in fierce disputes.
Naturally, her heart grew heavy.
As Dokgo I-seol gazed out at the scenery outside her window, she let that heaviness flow out. Unlike the usual times when she was forced to look away from her roles and obligations, she had plenty of time now.
So, she took her time to reminisce about her memories with Yongji Maeng.
The times they had rolled dice together, calling out the next round with a carefree attitude.
The moment she had rejected Yoran’s proposal.
The time she proclaimed she would achieve great deeds.
The calm way he returned home, even after achieving huge accomplishments, while hiding immense sacrifices beneath that calm demeanor came to mind.
And then their farewell.
Along the endlessly winding road, Dokgo I-seol found herself lost in memories.
How long had she been like this?
Feeling the twinge of heartfelt longing ease up a little, Dokgo I-seol began to sense an odd discomfort.
Yongji Maeng, with his astoundingly skilled gambling talents. Additionally, Yongji Maeng, who had already paid compensation in advance while out seeking achievements. And then, Yongji Maeng who had been alongside the mysterious Master.
As the outcomes of Yongji Maeng’s actions began to intertwine, the previously meaningless information started to coalesce into clarity.
If she layered her assumptions about “the Brain Knife Outcast’s secret maneuvers” on top of that?
Yongji Maeng’s actions… ultimately led to the Sokryeong Sect’s withdrawal and the silence of the Dark Dragon Sect, didn’t they?
“…No way.”
What had Yongji Maeng done in the Sokryeong Sect? Had he provoked other martial artists while playing the villain?
He claimed to be a villain himself.
It was a mode known only to the outcasts of the world.
But could it really be?
Dokgo I-seol negated her own thoughts while recounting the tales of the newcomers. The testimonies claiming they had smashed dozens of stores and stalls in one day.
If they had compensated all those damages, the amount must have been considerable.
How could the wandering Yongji Maeng have so much money?
As doubt rippled through her mind, the existence of the Master, Geum Myeong-wol, felt suspicious as well. That appearance paired with that power. Despite such a formidable young master existing in the world, there was not a single rumor about her.
While she was checking on Yongji Maeng’s status, the fact that Geum Myeong-wol’s state was also unknown only added to her suspicions.
Thump. Thump.
Dokgo I-seol’s heart began to race.
“I heard there’s an unidentified young master among the Brain Knife Outcast’s companions…”
Among the companions of the Brain Knife Outcast, already sighted by many were the daughter of the Tang Clan and Jeomchang Faction’s Miss Yeo Il-ye. A female outcast of Sacheon. And then, a mysterious young master whose true identity hadn’t been revealed.
Could it possibly be… that Geum Myeong-wol was that young master?
“…Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
“Run to the inn, where many martial artists are gathered! At maximum speed!”
“Ah, understood!”
The sudden command from Dokgo I-seol startled the coachman and the aides, but her thoughts were consumed with anything but their reactions.
So off they went to the large inn.
Dokgo I-seol sought out the martial artists present at the duel venue. The martial artists captivated by I-seol’s beauty thronged around her.
“Has anyone seen the companions of the Brain Knife Outcast?”
Several nodded in agreement.
Those who had looked inside the cart before the Brain Knife Outcast boarded.
“Was there a young lady that fit this description?”
Dokgo I-seol explained the appearance of Hyeok Gi-rin, whom she believed to be Geum Myeong-wol. While a few had glanced inside the cart, they weren’t there to inspect nor pry, so they all wore puzzled expressions.
“To be honest, I’m not sure. My eyes were drawn to the Brain Knife Outcast instead…”
“…Thank you.”
Unwilling to give up, Dokgo I-seol continued her search. How many days had passed since then?
“There was indeed a lady that fit your description.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it matches exactly.”
“Ah…”
I-seol clenched her fists.
Geum Myeong-wol was among the unidentified companions of the Brain Knife Outcast!
As soon as she confirmed this fact, she quickly mounted her cart.
“To Xingan! We’re chasing after the Brain Knife Outcast as fast as possible!”
“Ah, understood…”
In the moving cart, I-seol clutched her pounding heart.
At the last moment, Yongji Maeng had claimed he used I-seol to attack the Sokryeong Sect.
Thus, Dokgo I-seol believed Yongji Maeng had a grudge against the Sokryeong Sect.
But that wasn’t the case.
“Yongji Maeng was… the brain behind the Brain Knife Outcast’s withdrawal from the Sokryeong Sect!”
If so, everything fell into place.
To be capable of sending spies to enemy forces, there must naturally be familiarity and trust.
With the Brain Knife Outcast boasting overwhelming gambling skills capable of decimating a group of gamblers.
And likewise, Yongji Maeng displayed unprecedented skills in gambling that left no room for suspicion.
The link through gambling became starkly apparent between the two.
Where did the money Yongji Maeng was spreading about come from?
Surely it must have come from the Brain Knife Outcast’s support.
Then came the existence of Geum Myeong-wol.
“Yongji Maeng’s watcher and, at the same time, an accomplice!”
If everything proceeded according to plan, Yongji Maeng would achieve remarkable feats within the Dark Dragon Sect. After all, he was warned against betraying the one who might grow jealous of his success or be cautious in light of things not going well.
“Therefore…”
Dokgo I-seol thought of Geum Myeong-wol. Initially seen as a person with a kind heart, she was now shocked to consider her as a watcher, though the reasoning began to make sense.
Though possessing a good heart, Geum Myeong-wol maintained a trace of vigilance.
Even during Yongji Maeng’s capture, she exhibited a strangely calm and composed demeanor.
“At the end… it was likely to avert any accidents.”
Then would it mean that Jeokgwi Daebyeol was also in on it?
Even if she was a person of interest, how could it be that Geum Myeong-wol was allowed to roam free by Jeokgwi Daebyeol?
If Yongji Maeng was truly the Brain Knife Outcast’s secret partner,
Then his final words about having goals made complete sense. He was not an enemy of the Sokryeong Sect but rather an adversary targeting Jeong Cheol, so he could never partner with Dokgo I-seol.
“Ah…”
It was only now that Dokgo I-seol realized that the Brain Knife Outcast had been embroiled in far more intense underground conflicts than she had imagined. The unnatural emergence of the masters from the Po Dalap Palace. The commotion within Sokryeong Sect’s territory and the subsequent mobilization of the Imperial Army. Then, naturally, the crackdown on drugs.
Could Jeong Cheol’s strange declaration of addiction and the disbandment of Sadoryeon have also been tied to the conflict with the Brain Knife Outcast?
Realizing the truth that would send the world into uproar, Dokgo I-seol.
But to her, that harsh truth mattered little.
All that filled her mind was Yongji Maeng.
Sadoryeon had dissolved, and Jeong Cheol’s cause had shattered, so the Dark Dragon Sect and the Brain Knife Outcast were no longer enemies. All that was left was to resolve the residual grudges.
Yongji Maeng’s objective has been achieved and the hostilities had ceased.
If that was the case,
Yongji Maeng too must have conditions now in which he could accept her heart.
“I really am beyond saving.”
Dokgo I-seol smirked self-deprecatingly. She knew Yongji Maeng had used her, but the truth was even harsher.
Even so.
Just the possibility of meeting Yongji Maeng, perhaps something could be rekindled, made her heart race and a smile bloom.
What else could it be if not beyond saving?
Dokgo I-seol vowed.
If she met the Brain Knife Outcast, no matter what it took, she would find out Yongji Maeng’s whereabouts.
Having fortified her resolve, Dokgo I-seol inquired about the Brain Knife Outcast’s travel route and reached the vicinity of Black Dragon Castle.
“It seems they’ve set up camp somewhere near.”
“Let’s find those traces.”
Unbeknownst to Dokgo I-seol, Ho Cheon-an and his group, believing it was better not to show the movements of the Heavenly Demon at the campsite, had freely entered a secluded area to hide their traces while quietly camping.
Unable to endure the fact that their elusive location had evaded her, Dokgo I-seol set out to search herself.
And following yesterday’s operation by Tang So-yeol, she discovered traces left by the Bicheongmacha that hadn’t been fully erased.
Following those traces, Dokgo I-seol moved forward.
In the distance, she saw a group surrounding the cart. Upon identifying the figure she believed to be Geum Myeong-wol, she unconsciously slowed her footsteps and approached cautiously.
It was the decisive moment where she needed to negotiate with the Brain Knife Outcast to find out Yongji Maeng’s whereabouts.
She wasn’t mentally prepared to confront the Brain Knife Outcast.
If her deductions thus far held true, the Brain Knife Outcast was a formidable individual who accumulated a fearful reputation while conducting various secret operations.
The cart door opened and someone stepped out. Hidden behind the cart’s body, I-seol bit her lip as she overheard the conversation among the three.
Seeing Yeo Il-ye being referred to as Honorable Person confirmed that the person who stepped out was undoubtedly the Brain Knife Outcast.
The Brain Knife Outcast, had they truly defeated Jeong Cheol and returned triumphantly like a dashing hero?
As thoughts of Yongji Maeng raced through her mind, fear receded, and anger welled up instead.
Let’s see that legendary hero’s face for once.
With that thought in mind, Dokgo I-seol moved to peek at Ho Cheon-an’s face obscured by the cart’s body.
Unknowingly, she muttered to herself.
“Yongji Maeng?”
In a place where the Brain Knife Outcast should have been. Just moments ago, that individual who became entwined with two others was there.
It was because Yongji Maeng stood right there.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.