Chapter: 678
Drip, drip.
The tea dripped from the table and soaked the floor.
Blood dripped down from it.
The room, devoid of any light, was unbelievably dark, and the only sounds were heavy breathing and someone sobbing.
“Ugh… Ugh… Ugh… Ugh… .”
The owner of the silence was Beomdong, the commander of the Biryongdae clan.
Beomdong lay on the floor, bleeding from his hands and mouth.
“Ugh… Ugh… .”
Shock and horror filled his eyes.
His body trembled as if it was scared of something, and someone crouched in front of this terrified figure.
The owner of blue eyes.
Goyangcheon met Beomdong’s gaze, his blue eyes sparkling in the darkness.
In the deep shadows, it was hard to make out his expression, but Beomdong understood.
Goyangcheon was smiling at him right now.
Kwak.
“Huh-!”
He forcefully yanked Beomdong’s hair and raised him up.
“Being falsely accused, you know… Those who haven’t been through it wouldn’t understand. It’s really infuriating, you know.”
“Whew… Whoosh… .”
Beomdong wanted to say something, but his mouth was torn apart, making it impossible to speak properly.
“I didn’t do it, but they say I did. Even if I deny it, they won’t believe me. Let alone prove my innocence.”
The laughter deepened.
At the same time, Beomdong felt breathless.
Goooooo—!!!
An overwhelming killing intent began to fill the room.
“You bastard!”
Goyangcheon’s pupils split vertically.
“Why do I have to prove this?”
“Kreuk… That… That…”
“I didn’t do it. So I have to prove my innocence? Why?”
With Goyangcheon’s words, Beomdong endured the pain, trying to say something.
Phew-! Kwaang-!
“Cough!”
Goyangcheon, uninterested in his words, slammed Beomdong’s head into the floor.
“Why should I bother with that, you punk?”
“Keuhuuuuk.”
“Investigative authority? What a load of crap. Bring it here!”
Investigative powers granted by the government.
What difference would it make if I brought that?
“That’s useless to the old-fashioned and the elite anyway.”
The authority to investigate changes based on location.
If Namgung or Mo Yong-ga’s direct line had caused an incident, that investigative authority wouldn’t even be useful.
That was the power the Alliance had.
It meant that influence shifts depending on one’s position while claiming to protect justice.
It couldn’t be anything more futile.
“But, do you think it would work for me?”
That might actually be possible.
The value of the old clan was in a position that the elite or the four great families couldn’t touch.
But.
“Bring it here, and I’ll show you.”
Whatever it may be, it would be meaningless.
“Bring it over, and let’s see.”
A surge of energy burst from his growling voice.
Woof woof.
The furniture vibrated as the energy swirled throughout the room.
“Kreuk… Ugh… .”
Under the crushing pressure, Beomdong’s mind began to crumble.
“Please… stop….”
He grabbed onto Goyangcheon’s pant leg as if he were pleading.
It felt terrible, but there was no other choice.
If things went on like this, death was inevitable.
Beomdong could intuitively sense that.
‘What on earth is this monster….’
He knew he was a master last time they met, but this was far beyond what he had felt then.
There had been rumors that he had risen to the ultimate state before he even reached his teens.
But no one believed it.
No, they didn’t believe it.
How could they?
No such genius had ever existed in history. The youngest person officially recognized as a master by the Alliance was Shaolin’s Shenlong.
Yet here he was, facing Soyeomra…
‘Were you hiding your strength…?’
Even as he was being crushed, Beomdong turned his head.
What was the reason Soyeomra wasn’t showing her power despite having such strength?
It had only been a year since rumors surfaced about the dragon ascending to power.
If Soyeomra had truly risen as suspected, she should have revealed herself long ago.
He had not…
No, even now, she was making no effort to reveal herself.
What could the reason be? Just when Beomdong started questioning that.
“Impressive, isn’t it?”
“…!”
Beomdong flinched at Soyeomra’s voice.
“Are you still thinking even when you’re in this state? You’re surprisingly calm.”
“That’s…!”
WHACK!
“Kyuuuuuuuuu!”
Beomdong’s left pinky was twisted at a painful angle.
“Ugh… .”
As he trembled in pain, Soyeomra continued to speak to Beomdong.
“The great lord used to be just like this.”
Her voice was excessively calm.
And that made it creepier.
“While other fools were dying, you were still thinking. At that time, I thought you were looking for a way to survive.”
Soyeomra’s hand left Beomdong’s pinky and moved to his ring finger.
“I don’t think that was the case. What could it possibly have been? Do you know?”
“Wh… What are you talking about….”
Wood crunch.
His ring finger shattered.
“Turn it off!”
At that moment, Beomdong was about to scream again.
Bam-!
Soyeonra quickly covered his mouth.
“This isn’t very important, so let’s skip it. It’s noisy, so keep your mouth shut. If you scream, next time it won’t be your fingers, but your throat.”
As if to confirm the truth, another hand touched Beomdong’s neck.
“Nod if you understand.”
“…”
nod.
Beomdong nodded his trembling head slightly.
Only then did Soyeomra’s hand fall from his mouth.
Zhaak-!
“…!!”
And then she slapped Beomdong’s face hard.
His head turned, and his cheek reddened.
Even amid all this, Beomdong didn’t scream.
He simply endured the blood that flowed from his wounds while gazing at Soyeomra.
Seeing that, Soyeomra smiled and nodded.
“You listen well.”
“…”
“I’ll forgive what I said earlier.”
Swift.
Soyeomra stood up from her bent position.
“I originally intended to toy with you then rip you to shreds and burn you so that no trace remained. Unfortunately for you, you’re still useful.”
The words, uttered in a dry tone, were chilling.
Even Beomdong could tell those words were sincere.
It was because her blue eyes were filled with murderous intent.
‘What the….’
Was that really the gaze of a mere youth who had just turned 18?
No, could it be that this person truly belonged to the bloodline of the righteous faction?
‘A monster.’
Beomdong came to a firm conclusion inside his mind.
‘That person is a monster.’
Soyeomra was indeed a monster.
A monster, no less, with power.
There was no way anyone could make the leader of the Alliance feel like this in the heart of Hanam.
This wasn’t an easy feat, no matter how strong one might be.
Squeak.
Soyeomra brought a chair from the floor, placed it in front of Beomdong, and sat down.
With her legs crossed, she looked down at Beomdong.
Her gaze was sharp.
Blue eyes shone in the darkness, with the pupils even looking torn.
It felt like one could move their head on their own just from facing her.
In an effort to avoid eye contact.
Soyeomra chuckled while looking at Beomdong.
“So now, let’s forget our ill feelings and perhaps have a light-hearted conversation. I have a proposal for you, Great Lord.”
The tone of her voice changed.
Seeing that, Beomdong swallowed dryly.
‘… Forget the ill feelings?’
That was utterly untrustworthy.
The look in Soyeomra’s eyes was saying it all. She still planned to kill him.
“Since it might hurt to talk, keep quiet. I’ll ask you questions that are easier for you to answer.”
“…”
“What would you have said if you had known earlier?”
nodding.
“Good. Alright, now I’ll make my first proposal.”
Soyeomra, adorned with a deep smile, spoke to Beomdong.
“First. Don’t breathe a word of what happened today.”
“…”
“It doesn’t matter where you got hurt; just say you fell down the stairs. Our great lord is tight-lipped, so that should be easy, right?”
Despite his mouth being torn apart, his hand injured, and two fingers broken.
You want him to say he fell down the stairs? Especially coming from a master like Beomdong?
That was outrageous, but he couldn’t point it out.
“The second thing is to stop sending people around. If I catch them, and cut off their heads and send them back, will you think twice before sending?”
“…!”
At the next words, Beomdong’s eyes widened.
It was around this time that he had sent people to monitor Soyeomra and the figures around him.
Did this mean she had noticed?
“I won’t tell you to go back to the Lord and stop worrying. That would be too unkind, so let’s limit it to this. You can do this much, right?”
“…”
What was she implying by “just this much”?
Beomdong could not comprehend a single word that came from Soyeomra.
Now that they had come this far, there was no turning back.
He knew Soyeomra was aware of his actions, and given her strength and vicious nature, he couldn’t afford to stay idle.
“If you refuse, you can shake your head. Instead…”
Looking at him, Soyeomra added,
“Then I will kill not only you but also your subordinates outside. Don’t worry about the traces; I’m good at getting rid of evidence.”
Only after hearing her words did Beomdong realize something.
Time had passed, and the Biryongdae had yet to provide support.
Those who should have arrived long ago had still not shown up.
‘…No way.’
It meant something had happened.
Beomdong’s eyes were wide with terror. What on earth was going on?
Just when doubts and anxiety began to close in.
Soyeomra added,
“If you’re still having trouble deciding, would betting on your daughter in Honam be acceptable?”
“…!!”
At Soyeomra’s words, Beomdong’s breath became labored and stifled.
The fact that Beomdong’s daughter was in Honam was a secret known to very few even among the high-ranking members of the Alliance.
As an information agency, they had actually processed personal information like this beforehand.
Soyeomra pulled that information out and laid it before Beomdong.
“What…”
At that moment, Beomdong tried to feign ignorance while pressing his concerns aside.
“To send your daughter to school in Honam will cost a lot of money. You shouldn’t just be sitting here like this. I heard your daughter is already seven years old.”
“…”
Kwuk.
That was much more detailed and accurate information.
After hearing it, Beomdong clenched his fists tightly.
“Uh… how…”
“It’s not that important how I know. What matters right now is you, the Great Lord.”
“Uh… what’s this? The Righteous Faction… bringing up families…!!”
Splat.
Soyeomra ignored Beomdong’s protests and flicked her fingers lightly, causing blue flames to swirl around the room.
Soon darkness dissipated, and visibility increased.
“The righteous faction is a joke.”
Soyeomra said, cleaning her ears with her little finger as if she’d heard something nauseating.
“I know this from experience. To fight those assholes, you have to be even worse than they are.”
As she said that, she stared at Beomdong. Contrary to the brightly lit room, his blue eyes seemed to grow darker.
“Let’s just make a clean choice. If it’s good, nod. If it’s bad, shake your head.”
“…”
As the light brightened, the smile on his face became clearer.
“I’m going to count from one to five now. If you don’t answer within that time, I’ll take it as a no.”
After stating that, Soyeomra lifted her hand.
Then slowly folded her fingers…
“One… five.”
“Ha, I’ll do it!!”
In an instant, Beomdong eagerly nodded to the fingers that bypassed the counting order.
She said one to five, and yet only called out one and five!
After hearing the answer, Soyeomra grinned, satisfied.
“That’s a good choice. You save yourself, your subordinates, and your daughter. A very sound decision.”
“…”
He then rose from the chair he was seated in.
Afterward, he moved towards the door, leaving Beomdong behind.
Beomdong looked at that scene with confusion.
Could this be it?
Was he really getting away without a warning?
With nothing ties or bans?
Beomdong, unable to comprehend, kept staring at Soyeomra.
“I’m too lazy to see you off, so you’d better figure it out yourself.”
She casually opened the door.
Squeak.
As the door opened, the outside world came into view.
“…!!”
Beomdong’s eyes grew wide like lanterns upon peering outside.
Nearly ten people lay on the field in front of the residence.
All those who had fallen were clad in white uniforms adorned with crimson embroidery.
They were the warriors of the Biryongdae.
“…What in the world.”
How could the ones that should have been ambushing from a distance be lying there?
While Beomdong was enveloped in shock at the bizarre situation, he noticed someone standing in front of them.
A woman of rather small stature with short hair.
From just her hair, one could hardly distinguish her gender, but her appearance and body features confirmed she was female.
She held a stick taller than her and was gazing at butterflies fluttering nearby.
After a while chasing the butterflies, her gaze shifted, drawn to Soyeomra’s presence.
“Oh my god!!”
As soon as she spotted Soyeomra, she gleefully rushed over.
“I did everything you asked me to do!!”
Just like a puppy that had spotted its owner, she dashed toward Soyeomra.
Seeing that, Soyeomra posed a question.
“Did you take care of them all?”
It was an oddly chilling question for a greeting.
The woman’s response was even more shocking.
“No! I was going to kill them, but I didn’t. The leader said not to!”
“Good job.”
“Did I do well? I did well! If it’s that well done, I should get a reward. So, what should I ask for as a reward? What do you want me to do?”
The woman kept babbling away excitedly.
“Right!”
“Huh?”
“Now, will you finally mate with me—.”
She tried to mention her want for a reward, but the sentence never got to the end.
BAM-!
“Smash!”
Before she could finish speaking, Soyeomra slammed her fist into the woman’s head.
With a harsh cracking noise, the little head shook violently.
Thud!
The woman seemed to lose consciousness and fell to the ground.
It was a brutal blow.
…Did she die?
Beomdong, watching the scene, thought that for a moment, but judging by how the fallen body trembled, she probably wasn’t dead.
“Well, damn, this is why I didn’t want to call you. Just looking at you annoys me.”
Soyeomra waved her hands exaggeratedly as though she was exasperated.
“Nahi.”
“Yes, master.”
“Take her away. When she wakes up, make sure she’s gagged and tied. Lock her in a corner until I leave.”
“Understood.”
At Soyeomra’s command, the woman beside her took the fallen lady away.
With a deep sigh, Soyeomra then looked back at Beomdong.
Meeting his utterly bewildered gaze, she asked,
“What are you doing?”
“…?”
“Are you just going to stand there staring into space?”
At that moment, as he was questioning what she meant, Soyeomra pointed to the fallen Biryongdae members sprawled on the floor.
“I need to eat, so I’m telling you to take these and get out of here.”
After hearing this, Beomdong confirmed the number of people spread around.
It looked like at least nine of them.
Did that mean he had to take all of them away?
As confusion washed over Beomdong’s face, Soyeomra continued,
“Or, should I send you straight to your next life?”
“…”
“If you think about it that way, it’s actually much easier.”
Soyeomra delivered that with a deeply furrowed brow.
Hearing her words, Beomdong hurriedly collected his injured subordinates, shaking with urgency.
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