Chapter: 876
After the Poison King and the warriors of the Tang clan decided to assist the Murim Alliance.
The place I headed straight to was where Wi Seol-ah was located.
“Are you here?”
Upon arriving at the location, Wi Seol-ah greets me.
I looked at her and asked.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah?”
“Aren’t you tired?”
“Oh, yes, I’m fine.”
Wi Seol-ah had been here since last night. This means she came without resting even after the battle was over.
‘… I wish I could just let her rest….’
Considering Wi Seol-ah’s personality, I thought she wouldn’t sit still if something happened; it was obvious that she would participate in the battle at the branch, so I assigned her a different mission.
Fortunately, Wi Seol-ah was only tired and not seriously injured, so there were no health problems… but.
‘I’m worried.’
It was a guilt trip for me.
‘I sent Namgung Bi-ah away and made this one work.’
Namgung Bi-ah was sent to the infirmary due to her fair share of injuries.
I heard that her recovery was remarkably fast, so it wasn’t anything major.
I was anxious because there was no trust, but fortunately, that turned out fine.
“How’s your condition?”
“There haven’t been any issues yet.”
“Really? Got it. Good job. It’s okay for you to head inside first.”
“Confucius… Do you think His Majesty plans to return a little later?”
“I have to finish up the investigation before going.”
“If that’s the case….”
“You go to that guy.”
“…”
When Namgung Bi-ah was mentioned, Wi Seol-ah bit her lip.
It seems that this remark was the most well-received.
“I’ll be there soon. You go ahead. It won’t take long.”
“…Understood.”
“You might want to check with the doctor just in case. Take it easy.”
“Yeah…”
In the end, I sent Wi Seol-ah off by using Namgung Bi-ah as an excuse.
After that, members started coming in. They were the people brought for the investigation.
“What on earth is this place…?”
“What kind of space is this?”
The agents looked surprised at the sight before them. Well, it would be normal for an ordinary person to be shocked.
‘As for me? It’s because I’ve seen so many strange things.’
Wouldn’t it be incredibly shocking to someone who hasn’t seen it at all?
“My Lord… what is this…?”
A golden pond. One of the agents looking at it asked me.
“I’ll have to conduct a proper investigation to find out… but it’s clear that this isn’t normal.”
He murmured, seemingly clueless. Among what he could be sure of was.
“For starters, it’s evident that that Cheonma was up to something strange.”
“…! Are you saying that this is related to Cheonma?”
“Perhaps.”
It can’t be unrelated. I worked hard to make it look that way.
“…What is Cheonma up to… No, what is the Demonic Cult dreaming of?”
“Can humans create something like this…?”
“Can they even be considered human in the first place?”
There is anxiety creeping into his voice.
“How can someone who tames and summons monsters be considered human…?”
The scene I witnessed yesterday—it played a significant role in this. After all, how could I not be shocked when a human opens the gate to the magic realm and brings forth a demon?
And that was precisely the kind of reaction I was hoping for.
“Quiet.”
“…!!”
The agents flinched at my words. I looked at them and said.
“Focus on the mission now.”
“Sorry…”
Following my warning, the agents resumed their investigation.
Those from the branch did the same. It seemed they were trying to figure out the formations left in the space.
‘There’s no way they can perceive that.’
There probably wouldn’t be any traces left. No, there should be, but can they even identify that?
Identifying it wouldn’t be a problem. The important thing wasn’t that anyway.
“What’s up with this pond…?”
“Oh, there’s a monster’s corpse inside.”
The investigation went on.
“There’s a small tree just below, but… it’s tough to determine its connection right away.”
“Got it.”
That talking tree is definitely the one with white leaves I saw.
The problem is that it’s directly below.
‘I should have gone down much further before.’
Now, just below me, it seems the formation has dissipated, and the sense of incongruity has vanished.
‘I cleared everything strange away.’
I try to sense if there’s anything that might linger on with heightened caution.
Probably nothing will remain. The Dark King even mentioned that he finished it all himself.
‘The corpses were also cleared away.’
The bodies of fallen beings were all taken care of, leaving only regular corpses behind.
Given that situation, I wouldn’t even be able to guess what sort of place this might have been.
After observing these people, I continued the investigation a little longer.
The investigation was done. Not completely, but at least preliminarily finished, yet the expressions on the agents’ faces were still grim.
Although many discoveries were made, we couldn’t ultimately figure out the intention or the purpose behind it all.
“Is there nothing at all you could gather?”
“…I’m sorry.”
At my question, the spirit master from the branch wore a bitter expression.
“I verified that something had unfolded, but the traces are too faint. It’s too difficult to ascertain definitively… It’s beyond my abilities.”
The implication that he couldn’t manage it alone sounded like a blow to his pride.
“Anyway… I think we should request support from the main branch.”
“Then it would take three months just for the back and forth… Hmm, understood.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Is he sorry for being unhelpful, or is he merely shocked by the events I caused yesterday?
From my perspective, it probably was a mix of both, but it wasn’t a matter worth pondering deeply.
“Send a letter to the main branch containing both the support request and the report.”
“Understood.”
“Return to the branch and inform Team Leader Cheol about the related matters. He’ll likely help you prepare it.”
“Got it.”
“You and I will head outside and control the surroundings. Don’t let the ordinary public in.”
“What should we do about those who approach excessively?”
“I’ll reveal that I’m from the Murim Alliance, scare them off a bit, and if they still attempt to enter, it wouldn’t matter if we kill them.”
“…Okay.”
He hesitated momentarily at my murder suggestion.
It’s as obvious as daylight that an individual who would dare enter after we’ve exposed everything would be a dangerous type.
It makes sense to just dispose of that kind of person ahead of time.
“The secondary investigation will restart within three days…”
I continued speaking, taking in the surroundings.
“I’ve checked what needed checking, so let’s get started.”
As I slightly turned my shoulder and said that, determination lit up the eyes of the members.
From now on.
“I’m going to start cleaning up. Get ready.”
“Understood.”
It was time to go remove the disgusting things.
Crack—!!
Help, help me!!
Screams echoed from everywhere.
In the chaotic atmosphere, blinding flashes kept erupting. Countless strings continued.
With each burst, the scent of blood spread.
As time passed, the bursts of light gradually diminished, and silence fell.
Countless corpses lay sprawled on the ground.
“I subdued all three and handled everything else.”
I turned my gaze toward the incoming report.
“For our side…”
“Two individuals suffered minor injuries; everyone else is safe.”
The sun was beginning to set. Only then did we near the completion of the clean-up.
Seongryongdae was mobilizing to eradicate the Gyecheon Gate.
“Why did they need to form this many branches unnecessarily?”
Why would one sect establish so many branches?
The reasons are somewhat predictable, yet from the executing perspective, it was an extremely annoying task.
“What should we do with those who understood the situation and fled?”
“Catch them. I don’t mind if you take lethal action.”
“I’ll send pursuit teams immediately.”
He uttered that and moved, yet internally, he mused it was a pointless effort.
‘The Dark King must be acting anyway.’
He and his assassins would have already hunted down and eliminated the fugitives.
Of the four branches we know, we’ll take care of two; the Dark King will handle the rest.
Finding hiding spots wasn’t particularly challenging. The Dark King wanted to take the lead, so I allowed him that.
Did he unearth any information? Honestly, I doubt there’s much more.
“Let’s move to the next one.”
“Yes-!”
Upon finishing the clean-up, I promptly proceeded forward.
The troops and crew looked somewhat worn out.
It seemed like they hadn’t had a proper rest all night while attending to matters. I felt guilty, but I had to push through with them this once.
That’s why the Dark King moved first.
As we led many individuals to our next destination.
“…What is this…!!”
The crew gasped as they peered inside.
It was a rather small space. We had to travel far to the north from the branch.
In that concealed area.
“Everyone… they’re all dead.”
Scores of bodies lay breathlessly on the floor.
A team member rushed closer to examine the corpses and the blood.
“…It seems like it has been less than two days since they died.”
They appeared to have perished not long ago.
“Who could do something like this…?”
It was horrific.
The bodies were left mangled, as if ravaged by a beast.
While everyone was clamping their mouths shut at the ghastly and horrific sight.
“Look over there!”
One shouted while pointing at the wall. Something was seeping beneath the barely visible wall.
It was blood.
Fwoosh.
He quickly ignited a flame with his hand, illuminating the area.
At that moment.
Hiss!
“Oh my…!!”
Those who beheld the wall gasped in shock.
A low wall had several corpses hanging over its top edge.
Corpses dripping blood, with swords still embedded in them. And—
Letters could be seen written on the wall with the flowing blood.
“…All demons shall bow…?”
Reading the written words, the expressions of everyone twisted in horror.
They must have instinctively recognized the meaning behind it.
“If this is true… Are you saying that this is the work of the Heavenly Demon Cult?”
“…How did this happen here?”
“Gyecheon Gate is supposedly connected to the Demonic Cult. Why would he destroy this place…? Hah!”
The one speaking widened his eyes, having caught onto something.
“Aren’t they trying to hide something?”
“You mean hiding?”
“Realizing we started digging for info… they decided to dismantle Gyecheon Gate….”
“…Cut it out before it could bloom?”
“I think that’s likely….”
“Regardless, how could they ever—”
How could they create such a ghastly scene?
That was a sentiment I couldn’t express.
‘…Isn’t this a bit excessive?’
Even I, the one who made the request, felt a chill run down my spine at the thought.
‘Looks like the Dark King is quite furious.’
This is a result clearly laced with emotions.
The one who managed this must have been the Dark King. His rage was unambiguously evident.
‘… Ilcheonkyo. And Yeon Il-cheon.’
Yeon Il-cheon is alive. And it seems he’s planning something.
That fact evidently struck a nerve with the Dark King, a descendant of Yeon Ga.
‘…Should I not meddle with this for the time being?’
Given how many things could be done even without the Dark King right now, it seemed wise to keep my distance.
‘Anyway.’
This is the situation. I glanced around and spoke.
“Let’s move forward with the investigation. Stay alert for any unexpected situations.”
“Understood.”
“I will meticulously document the situation and report back to the main branch. I’ll make sure not to miss a single detail.”
“I’ll bear that in mind.”
Amidst the unease, the agents began examining the bodies and the surrounding area.
While repeating this process.
The seeds that had been sown start moving.
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