Chapter 13: I Have a Nastier Temper

TL: FoodieMonster007

"The Demonic Army General's name is Gu Cheonyang. He is the younger brother of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Gu Cheonpa. He became the Demonic Army General eight years ago. By carrying out various dangerous missions, he has elevated the Demonic Army to a position recognized by all as an elite organization."

Seo Daeryong knew a great deal about the Demonic Army General.

"So he's good at his job."

"That's correct."

"Can I see the anonymous letter that came in?"

"Yes, here it is."

He showed me the anonymous letter. The content was very simple, written in a crooked scrawl to disguise the handwriting.

Serious corruption within the Demonic Army. Investigation requested.

I stared down at it for a long while. Seo Daeryong asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Let's imagine something," I said, looking at Seo Daeryong. "There's corruption within the Sanzu River Hall, and you find out about it."

"Would you send an anonymous letter?"

"If it were me, I wouldn't," Seo Daeryong answered without hesitation.

"Right? It has nothing to do with you."

"No, that's not why."

"Then?"

"Because sending a letter won't change anything."

His casual reply carried a clear sense of defeatism.

"Your Sanzu River Hall exists to change our Cult, doesn't it?"

"To be precise, we are the sword used by those who wish to change our Cult. We are not the agents of change ourselves."

"So unless the higher-ups change, our Cult won't change?"

"I never said that."

But his expression seemed to ask, Isn't that the case? This pessimistic and cynical way of thinking suited his gloomy aura.

"In any case, this person sent the letter. They believe they'll die if they get caught. You can tell just by how they disguised their handwriting, but why would this person send a letter? Like you said, it's not like doing this will change anything."

Seo Daeryong remained silent. Lee Ahn cautiously stepped forward to answer.

"It's unlikely they sent it out of a sense of justice… so perhaps they have a grudge against the one committing the corruption?"

"That makes sense."

I nodded and returned the letter to Seo Daeryong.

"Anyway, we must find this person. If we look like pushovers, they will never reveal themselves."

"Yes, I think so too."

"So? Think you can do it?"

"I have to. I've already received my orders and come all this way."

"I'm saying this is a really dangerous job. The Demonic Army General might be involved. Aren't you scared?"

"No."

"You know about the last investigator who died, right?"

"I do. The investigator who died then was my direct Senior."

"Ah, I see."

"He was the one who trained me."

A certain sorrow could be felt in his calm words. Perhaps he had memorized the information of every demonic practitioner in the Demonic Army because he wanted to avenge his dead Senior.

"Does it make you sad to think of him?"

"His death was so meaningless."

"It wasn't a meaningless death. That death is what brought you and me here, and you should be scared. These bastards killed a Sanzu River Hall investigator and even murdered their own comrades to silence them. In short, they're desperate men with nothing to lose."

"I don't want to be scared of such filthy bastards."

With those words, I knew for sure. He wanted to avenge his Senior. A great anger lay dormant in that small frame.

"Well then, shall we go investigate?"

As I was about to leave my residence with Seo Daeryong, Lee Ahn followed us.

"Young Master! Please take me with you."

She thought that investigating the Demonic Army was dangerous.

"No, this is an official mission. Take this chance to get some rest."

She needs to distance herself from me.

Lee Ahn watched us leave with a worried expression, then suddenly glanced around.

I had sent my qi behind me to gently stroke her head.

Don't worry, Lee Ahn. I have walked a very long road for days like this.

The Demon Dragon Court, where the members of the Demonic Army resided, was in the western district of our Cult's outer section. Befitting an elite organization, the building was large and the facilities were excellent.

When I arrived at the entrance of the Demon Dragon Court with Seo Daeryong, two demonic practitioners blocked our way. As expected of the Demonic Army, which prided itself on its large builds, these gatekeepers were built like men twice the size of an ordinary person.

"Where are you from?"

"The Sanzu River Hall's Special Investigator, Seo Daeryong. Move!"

Seo Daeryong had a small frame, but he was resolute.

However, the two demonic practitioners did not seem nervous or intimidated. Instead, they mocked him.

"The Special Investigator? You don't look very special to me."

One of them muttered it as if to himself, but loud enough to be heard clearly.

Before I or Seo Daeryong could say anything, the other one quickly stepped forward.

"You can't enter without permission from our superiors."

Seo Daeryong presented the investigation order for this case.

"I am your superior. Here, the order."

"Wait a moment. I will report to my superiors."

"We'll meet your superior ourselves. Move."

I just watched from behind to see how Seo Daeryong would handle this.

"I told you, you can't enter without permission."

"This order is your permission!"

Their voices grew louder.

"What bullshit is this? If you come here, you follow our rules."

"Bullshit?"

Without hesitation, Seo Daeryong mercilessly kicked the shin of the man blocking his path.

"……"

"……"

The man clutched his shin and raised his fist.

"This bastard!"

Seo Daeryong stood his ground and glared at the man.

"Are you trying to strike a Sanzu River Hall investigator?"

The man did not dare strike Seo Daeryong. As arrogant as the Demonic Army was, assaulting a Special Investigator from the Sanzu River Hall meant an immediate trip to prison.

"Agh, should I just beat this rat-sized punk and pay the fine?"

This was the standard of the Demonic Army.

Then again, is it only the Demonic Army? Countless demonic practitioners in our Cult live by their own tempers, without considering the consequences.

We have no Demonic Way.

Perhaps it existed once, but in the present, we have lost it. There is no contemplation on why our Cult should exist in the murim, or what we should pursue in the future.

A collective of villains bound by the twisted prejudice that being savage and strong is justice and truth. If someone were to curse our Cult with these words, I would have no rebuttal.

Seo Daeryong raised his voice.

"Move!"

"I told you to wait until our superior arrives!"

The men did not move.

It was because of this reality that Seo Daeryong must have said those words.

"Because sending a letter won't change anything."

The current squabble he was having with his small frame perfectly illustrated the reality of our Cult.

After watching for a while, I finally stepped forward.

"Do you know who I am?"

Even though I had stepped forward, the two men's arrogance did not diminish.

"We know."

"It seems you don't know me very well. If you knew who I was and still acted this way…"

Before the words even finished, I mercilessly kicked the man's groin. Kicking his shin did not seem to solve the problem, so I kicked something more important.

THWACK!

"Aaaaaaaargh!"

The man clutched his groin and rolled on the ground.

"You're talking about paying a fine while I'm watching?"

My fist slammed into the face of the other, bewildered man.

SLAM!

His large frame flew backward in a single blow.

Seo Daeryong stared with a shocked expression. It seemed he never imagined I would so openly beat up members of the Demonic Army.

"What are you doing? Lead the way."

"Yes, let's go."

Seo Daeryong took the lead, and I followed behind him.

Word must have spread. Before we could enter the main building, a group of demonic practitioners swarmed out to block our path.

"Move!"

When no one moved, Seo Daeryong held out the order and shouted.

"Can't you see this? You are currently obstructing an officially sanctioned investigation. Do you all want to rot in prison?"

No matter how loud he shouted, they just scoffed. Not a single one showed any sign of fear. Moreover, they looked down on Seo Daeryong even more because of his small stature.

The crowd parted, and a man walked out.

"Who are the bastards causing a ruckus here?"

"Special Investigator Seo Daeryong. Identify yourself."

"First Captain of the Demonic Army, Godang. Satisfied, you son of a bitch?"

Just then, Seo Daeryong quickly sent me a telepathic message.

[This man is the de facto second-in-command. He's known as the most vicious of all the Demonic Army members.]

Godang must have seen his lips move as he sent the telepathic message.

"Is this punk crazy? Does he want to die? How dare you use telepathy right in front of me?"

The men at the main gate, and these ones too, were utterly haughty. They disregarded me because the Demonic Army itself was an organization that supported my older brother. The Demonic Army General's brother, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, was also known to be one of my brother's backers. That's why they were so openly disrespecting me.

"Captain Go, I am a Special Investigator from the Sanzu River Hall, here on official orders. Watch your mouth!"

Seo Daeryong was confident even in front of Godang.

I like him. After seeing the trash-like disciples of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the haughty Demonic Army, looking at Seo Daeryong feels like my mind is being purified.

Godang, apparently displeased with Seo Daeryong's attitude, glared fiercely.

"Watch my mouth? What are you going to do if I don't?"

"I will arrest all of you for obstructing a Sanzu River Hall investigation and for insulting an investigator."

"Arrest us? Hahahahaha."

As Godang laughed loudly, the subordinates around him also burst into laughter.

"Do it if you can!"

These were the kind of men who would have acted this way even if enforcement martial artists with the authority to use force had come along.

Unable to do anything more, Seo Daeryong turned to look at me.

It was time for me to step in again.

"Captain Go, it's been a while."

I strode up to Godang and took his hand with a pleased expression, as if for a handshake.

"When did we last see each other? Was it at the last banquet? It's good to see you like this."

In contrast to my cheerful greeting, Godang's expression was not very pleasant.

"I need to see the Demonic Army General urgently, so let's end this territorial display here and you can open the way."

With that, I started walking inside with him. The path opened naturally, and we walked inside, my hand still gripping his.

Godang's subordinates looked puzzled at how easily he had cleared the path compared to his initial bravado.

We walked down the corridor and parted ways with Godang in front of the stairs.

"I'll buy you a drink next time."

Because we had cleared the path and climbed the stairs so easily, Seo Daeryong asked with a surprised look, "Did you know Godang?"

"No. I saw him for the first time today."

"But how?"

"That bastard will have to eat with his left hand for a while. I broke his hand when we shook hands earlier."

"What did you say?" Seo Daeryong shouted in astonishment.

How could he not be shocked to hear that I had broken the hand of a Demonic Army Captain without showing any sign of it?

"I had no idea that happened, but why didn't he order his subordinates to attack?"

"Then it would be revealed what happened to him, wouldn't it? His hand was broken during a handshake? He couldn't show it, if only for the shame of it in front of his subordinates."

Of course, that was not the only reason. When Godang, his hand broken by the sudden attack, was about to retaliate, I quickly sent a telepathic message.

[Act up, and you'll never be able to use this hand again.]

I squeezed his broken hand as if to completely crush it. There was a precedent of me crushing the arm of a Blood Heaven Blade Demon disciple beyond recovery, so Godang was scared.

"That foul-tempered Godang won't just let this go."

"And if he doesn't?"

"He'll try to cause some kind of harm."

"If he does, his head will burst and he'll die. This is a prophecy."

Seo Daeryong looked at me with a newfound sense of awe.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

"Your personality is more… than I thought."

"Why stop mid-sentence? Nasty?"

"……"

"You're the type who can't lie, huh?"

"That's why I'm disliked by many."

"Being disliked by some can mean being liked by others."

After staring at me silently for a moment, Seo Daeryong changed the subject.

"The Demonic Army General's office is on the seventh floor. Let's go."

"Unnecessarily high. Let's go."

And so, we walked up to the seventh floor.