Chapter 423: I'll Need Stronger Alcohol Now

TL: FoodieMonster007

Yang Seok stared blankly at Ha Jyeol's head rolling on the floor. He couldn't believe that Ha Jyeol had been such a formidable master. Furthermore, Geom Mugeuk's skill, which treated such a master as a mere practice dummy and killed him, was astonishing and inspiring.

Truthfully, Yang Seok hadn't witnessed the clash between the two properly. It had been a blur of flashes and clashing sounds, and then the fight was over. The only thing he had clearly seen was the single move Geom Mugeuk displayed at the end.

What in the world was that fiend?

He knew the martial arts of the Demonic Cult were terrifying, but he hadn't expected an actual fiend to appear. When it appeared, he was so startled and terrified that he couldn't scream.

Yang Seok eyed Geom Mugeuk cautiously. The man who had offered to drink with him all night was completely different from the one who had just fought moments ago.

Even now, as Geom Mugeuk gazed silently up at the sky, he felt like a different person. His demeanor suggested that he was contemplating killing Yang Seok, which filled Yang Seok with dread.

Even if it means kneeling and begging profusely, I must survive first.

Attempting to steal the Extreme Cold Body Constitution alone, without contacting Geom Mugeuk, was certainly an act deserving of death.

If I had succeeded, the Extreme Cold Body Constitution would have become my trump card.

Yang Seok regretted his actions deeply. He had lost a trump card that could have been used to negotiate with his father and Geom Mugeuk. An extra life had vanished.

"Young Lord Yang."

"Yes, Young Cult Leader."

Yang Seok's voice trembled as he replied. He prayed that Geom Mugeuk wouldn't say, "I'm sorry, but you must die, too!"

"Now, finding the mastermind rests with Young Lord Yang."

Yang Seok breathed a sigh of relief. However, the thought of having survived only made his body tremble more.

"Do you know anything about the mastermind?"

"No, I don't."

This was not the time to lie.

"Actually, the Sect Leader of my sect is involved."

He used the term "Sect Leader" instead of "Father."

"I only found out about it recently."

Geom Mugeuk could tell that Yang Seok was mistaken. He also realized that Yang Seok wanted to kill his father. That was why those words came out so readily.

"That man's master is not your father."

"It's not?"

Geom Mugeuk shook his head decisively. "However, your father knows who Ha Jyeol served."

Yang Seol shuddered. Looking back, Ha Jyeol's Blood Art seemed stronger than his father's martial arts, not weaker.

Only now did he understand the relationship between his father and Ha Jyeol, and understood why his father had been so wary of Ha Jyeol. It wasn't just because Ha Jyeol was a formidable martial artist, but because there was an even greater master behind him.

So that's why he tried to make Ha Jyeol his successor. He must have succumbed to their threats.

Yang Seok misinterpreted the situation in this way. This thought should have led him to believe his father had no choice, but instead, he resented his father.

To succumb to external pressure and cast aside his own children!

He had already decided to use Geom Mugeuk to eliminate everyone and become the sect leader himself. He interpreted every situation in a way that justified his defiance of filial piety.

Furthermore, Ha Jyeol's earlier gesture had caused his blood vessels to swell, threatening to burst. It was only today that he realized something cursed had been implanted in his body.

Rage surged within Yang Seok. It was an intense killing intent, a desire to utterly annihilate everyone involved in this affair.

Geom Mugeuk, seeing through his thoughts, further fueled the conflict between father and son. Yang Seok's fervent desire to survive would create another opportunity. "Your father will soon learn that Ha Jyeol died because of you. Do you think he will forgive you then?"

"He won't forgive me."

Yang Seok wanted to protest, 'Why is it because of me?' but he dared not. Now was the time to impress Geom Mugeuk, not argue.

"I must find out who the mastermind is as quickly as possible. As I said before, Young Lord Yang is the only one who can uncover it."

With things having come to this, Yang Seok no longer hesitated. "What should I do?"

"Meet your father and find out who is behind Ha Jyeol."

"He won't tell me."

"Normally, that would be true. However, with Ha Jyeol's death, the situation has changed. If you approach him the right way, you'll surely uncover useful information."

"What method is that?"

An unexpected answer followed.

"Approach him honestly."

Having lived a life far removed from honesty, Yang Seok found this advice incredibly foreign.

"The outcome depends on how honest you are."

Yang Seok was doubtful. No, he was certain it wouldn't work. He had never been honest, and his father could discern lies better than anyone. Approaching him honestly would be a lie in itself.

Nevertheless, Yang Seok did not reveal his true thoughts. After all, he was far from honest.

"I'll give it a try!"

At that moment, Yang Seok had only one wish.

Yes, I'll find out somehow, so just eliminate my father and that person's master, then leave! Please, get out of my North Sea!

Upon returning to his residence in the Ice Palace, Geom Mugeuk found the Drunken Demon seated at a window table, drinking alone. Perhaps anticipating his return, two cups had been set out.

Seeing the cups, which had been prepared in advance, Geom Mugeuk's mood brightened. The cups represented the Drunken Demon's trust in him. The Drunken Demon had filled even the cups with alcohol, a further testament to that trust.

"Did you find out who the mastermind is?"

"No."

They were individuals who used the Self Destruction Art without hesitation. They were meticulous about keeping secrets. Of course, he had a strong premonition.

"But I think he's in the Northern Blood Sect."

Acquiring the Extreme Cold Body Constitution must be for the purpose of completing the Grand Ritual. If Ha Jyeol, his subordinate, was in the Northern Blood Sect, wouldn't the Blood King also be hiding there?

"Whether he's there or not, we need to deal with the Northern Blood Sect anyway."

Under the pretext of developing medicine, they conducted physical examinations and lured people with promises of large sums of money. Most of the people did not have the Extreme Cold Body Constitution, so they all died. This alone meant that the Northern Blood Sect Leader and Yang Seok had committed unforgivable acts.

"Oh, by the way, what about the person we rescued?"

The Drunken Demon rescued the person from the carriage with fantastic skill.

"We've hidden him in our Cult's safehouse for now."

"What kind of person is he?"

"A father who volunteered to earn money for his child's medical treatment."

The Drunken Demon had already taken care of everything Geom Mugeuk was going to do.

"I sent word to the branch nearest to where he lives and told them to treat the child before it's too late."

"That's amazing, Hyung."

"Amazing, huh?"

Honestly, the Drunken Demon only did it to impress Geom Mugeuk. He knew well what kind of person the Young Cult Leader was.

He wasn't the type of person to rescue someone and then ask others to take care of that person's child. He didn't care if others lived or died. He had spent his entire life drinking alone and caring for no one.

However, he was now acting for others. He was doing it all to make a good impression on Geom Mugeuk.

When he first became involved in the succession struggle, he never imagined that he would develop such a relationship with Geom Mugeuk.

"If it weren't for you, would I have rescued that man or sent word?"

"Same here. If Lee Ahn hadn't rescued the husband of the woman who gave him water, would I have been interested in the Extreme Cold Body Constitution?"

The Drunken Demon was about to ask, "But why did Lee Ahn come out into the murim and do that in the first place?" But he stopped himself, knowing Geom Mugeuk was embarrassed by praise.

"What will you do now?"

"He's lost both the Extreme Cold Body Constitution and his subordinate."

"He'll either come out for revenge, or he'll hide forever."

It was impossible to know which path the Blood King would choose. However, he was someone who always retaliated when wronged.

"Nevertheless, he will definitely seek bloodshed."

The Drunken Demon's gaze intensified as he looked down at his cup. "I'm going to need stronger alcohol now."

The Northern Blood Sect Leader was slightly agitated.

Today is finally the day.

The day had come for the person with the Extreme Cold Body Constitution to arrive. After completing the Grand Ritual, that person would reveal himself to the world.

He recalled what Ha Jyeol had told him long ago.

"Once you find the Extreme Cold Body Constitution and complete the Grand Ritual, the North Sea Ice Palace will be finished. The Ice Empress's martial arts will be neutralized, and you'll even be able to enter the Ice Palace Vault, which is so cold that only the Ice Empress can enter it."

The disappearance of the Ice Palace from this North Sea murim also meant that the Northern Blood Sect would become the foremost sect in the North Sea. That was his long-cherished wish.

I can't live my entire life suppressed by that woman.

Surprisingly, he had harbored such feelings since his youth. He had lived with an inferiority complex towards the Ice Empress. Perhaps that was why he had accepted their proposal so easily.

Today, I finally transform from a snake's head into a dragon's tail.

Being a tail didn't matter, either. He wouldn't stay a tail forever. One day, he would open its maw wide and devour everything, from head to toe.

For now, though, his top priority was to eliminate the North Sea Ice Palace by any means neccessary.

Like father, like son. They were both dreaming of 'killing with a borrowed knife.'

Just then, Yang Seok entered the room. "Greetings, Sect Leader."

"What brings you here?"

"I haven't seen Ha Jyeol all day, so I came to find him. I thought he might be here."

Of course, the Northern Blood Sect Leader knew where Ha Jyeol had gone. He had gone to retrieve the Extreme Cold Body Constitution.

"I sent him away for a little while."

Yang Seok struggled to control his expression. Now that his trust had been broken, every single word grated on him.

He's never been honest with me, not once. And I'm supposed to be honest in a relationship like this? I wonder what kind of expression he'll make when he learns that man is dead.

If news of Ha Jyeol's death spread, he might be suspected. It was public knowledge that their relationship was not good.

Still, his father wouldn't simply suspect him without reason. Ha Jyeol's martial arts skill was vastly superior to his own.

You know that much, don't you, Sect Leader?

"I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Why are you looking for the Extreme Cold Body Constitution?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, the Northern Blood Sect Leader looked at his son in surprise. "Why are you suddenly asking that?"

"I believe it's time for me to know. After all, this is something our sect has invested a lot of time and money into, isn't it?"

The Northern Blood Sect Leader silently stared at his son. He sensed that something was different from usual. "I'll tell you when the time is right."

Just then, a subordinate rushed in with news.

"Urgent report!"

"What is it?"

The subordinate glanced at Yang Seok once, then quickly reported, "The Young Lord's bodyguard, Ha Jyeol, is dead."

The Northern Blood Sect Leader's eyes widened.

Yang Seok had never seen his father look so surprised. He hadn't even made such an expression when his younger brother died.

He feigned surprise. "What in the world are you talking about?"

He had to put on the performance of his life. One misstep could expose his involvement in the matter.

"Report in detail!"

Unlike Yang Seok, who was raging, the Northern Blood Sect Leader remained silent. He showed no outward emotion, but two conflicting feelings clashed within him.

First, he was elated. The man who could make his blood vessels swell and kill him was dead. At the same time, a sense of worry surged through him. Ha Jyeol was a master that even he couldn't defeat.

Who in the world killed him?

His death surely meant a crisis for him, who had allied with Ha Jyeol.

Was it the Ice Empress?

The first person who came to mind was the Ice Empress.

"Where and how did he die?"

"He was found dead with his neck severed on the road leading to our sect. A carriage and over ten other corpses were also discovered nearby."

At the mention of the carriage, the Northern Blood Sect Leader understood.

The escort was ambushed!

He instantly knew that someone had seized the Extreme Cold Body Constitution.

Whoever it is, they knew the Extreme Cold Body Constitution was being escorted to us today.

The Northern Blood Sect Leader gritted his teeth. He had invested so much time, money, and effort to obtain the Extreme Cold Body Constitution. It was a disaster. Something that should never have happened had occurred.

Meanwhile, Yang Seok ordered, "Track down the culprit! Investigate the dead and quickly find the cause of death."

"Yes, understood."

As the subordinate withdrew, Yang Seok asked, "What in the world did you send him to do?"

The Northern Blood Sect Leader did not reply.

What should I do now?

He had two options. First, he could inform the person in the secret chamber. He knew that Ha Jyeol served someone who was in a secret chamber within a secret chamber.

The problem was that he had never seen this person before. Ha Jyeol had been difficult to handle. How would he react to being confronted with the stolen Extreme Cold Body Constitution? He had no idea how that person would react.

The second method was to find the Extreme Cold Body Constitution himself. Ha Jyeol was dead, but securing the constitution might satisfy the person in the secret chamber. It could turn misfortune into a blessing and allow him to take over Ha Jyeol's role.

Yang Seok, for his part, seized the moment and made his move. "Father."

He, who had always addressed him as Sect Leader until now, said.

The Northern Blood Sect Leader gazed at Yang Seok intently.

"I know that you planned something with Ha Jyeol without my knowledge."

Yang Seok took Geom Mugeuk's advice and approached with honesty. Or rather, he feigned frankness.

"Please tell me what that matter is. Allow me to help you, Father."

It was precisely then, as the Northern Blood Sect Leader hesitated, wondering how to reply, that the secret door in the wall behind the grand chair began to open. It led to the secret chamber where Ha Jyeol held his private discussions. It was the door to the room that contained yet another secret chamber.

The Northern Blood Sect Leader stared at the opening door with an expression more horrified than when he had heard the news of Ha Jyeol's death. The door that should not have opened first was opening.

GASP!

Yang Seok grimaced and covered his mouth and nose with his hand. A terrible, unfamiliar bloodstench wafted out from between the open door.