Chapter 502: Is It Really a Rescue Mission?

TL: FoodieMonster007

I would have been moved even if he had just called me a drinking buddy, but Jang Ho added the word 'precious'.

Seo Daeryong was truly moved. The unexpected kindness from a blunt person always carried several times more weight than usual.

It was a truly unfitting thing to say in a situation like this. The blood from the dead masked man's body flowed toward his and Jang Ho's feet.

"When we get back, I'll buy you a drink."

He wanted to drink all night with Jang Ho at the Alluring Inn.

Seo Daeryong had liked Jang Ho for a long time. Watching him sit and drink silently, he thought he was cool. Even the scars on his face seemed to make him look even cooler.

Come to think of it, Jang Ho was like a milestone for him, who wanted to become a martial artist instead of just an investigator.

I want to become a martial artist like him.

The Young Cult Leader, on the other hand, was not a suitable role model in this regard.

"It will be fine. We are the Demonic Army, after all."

Pride in the Demonic Army, and absolute faith in his subordinates. Seo Daeryong was now seeing firsthand what his final feelings toward the investigators and enforcement martial artists of the Sanzu River Hall should be.

"Those weaklings from our Sanzu River Hall, when we get back, they're all starting hellish training."

Of course, he would be the first to lead that training.

He had learned a great deal while fighting the masked men today.

It felt good to use the Bloody Annihilation Blade Wind, which consumed a massive amount of inner arts. But in the final fight, he had nearly died from a lack of inner arts. He had truly experienced how a failure to manage his inner arts could lead to death.

I'll train so hard I could die! I'll sleep when I'm dead!

As he was leaving that place and walking away, the Demonic Army surrounded Seo Daeryong. Standing on his tiptoes between the large figures, Seo Daeryong said to Jang Ho.

"Yesterday I was surrounded by martial artists from the Demon Slaying Brigade, and today I'm surrounded by the Demonic Army. Have you ever seen a life like this?"

Ju Gwol did not spare himself and fought at the forefront against the masked men. Although he had complaints about Jin Hagun and had misjudged the situation, his loyalty to the Alliance and his care for his subordinates were second to none.

PUAAAK!

Ju Gwol's sword pierced the masked man's neck. Without even a moment to wipe the blood that splattered on his face, he deflected incoming hidden weapons with his sword.

He was not a man who had obtained the position of Murim Alliance Branch Manager through bribery or flattery.

"Watch your back! Block the left!"

He screamed commands to his subordinates while leading the charge against the enemies.

Ju Gwol couldn't believe it. How could they attack when so many martial artists were guarding the place?

Those crazy bastards from the Demonic Cult!

Ju Gwol was convinced the enemies were from the Demonic Cult. If not the Demonic Cult, there was no other group that would dare to commit such an act. Furthermore, an attack by the Demonic Cult on a Murim Alliance Branch was tantamount to declaring war.

Ju Gwol shouted to a Branch martial artist fighting a masked man up ahead.

"Watch out!"

Someone was stabbing at him from behind. Surprisingly, it wasn't a masked man, but a martial artist wearing the same Murim Alliance uniform.

It was too late to dodge.

SHWAAAAEK! KWAANG!

The ribs of the martial artist attacking from behind shattered as he tumbled to the ground. A large martial artist had instantly rushed in and sent the opponent flying with his massive body.

How could someone so big be so fast?

The Demonic Army moved in a way that completely shattered the stereotype that only slender people were fast.

In the distance, another member of the Demonic Army could be seen leaping nimbly into the air and swinging his sword. A masked man who had been throwing hidden weapons from a tree fell along with a severed branch.

The attackers who ambushed the Chongqing Branch today were of two types. Those wearing masks, and those disguised in the Murim Alliance martial arts uniform.

These cowardly bastards!

They had been ambushing and killing Murim Alliance martial artists from behind while wearing Murim Alliance uniforms. This kind of disguise was possible because martial artists who had come for support from various Branches and sub-branches were staying together, making it difficult to identify who was who.

At first, they were continuously falling for these cowardly attacks, but the situation changed when the Demonic Army joined the fight.

The Demonic Army first began to quickly eliminate the masked martial artists. They didn't even think about weeding out the disguised allies, instead focusing on catching and killing the masked men.

The martial arts skill of the Demonic Army was on a different level from that of the regular Branch martial artists.

Jeong Hyeok of the Demon Slaying Brigade, who was fighting alongside them, confirmed that their martial arts were in no way inferior to those of the elite martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade. No, in fact, many of them showed movements that were a cut above.

That was to be expected, as the members of the Demonic Army who came here were among the most skilled of their ranks.

It was then, while Ju Gwol was momentarily distracted by the Demonic Army's fight.

SHWIIIIK.

Just then, an attack flew in from behind, and he flinched.

He despaired.

Too late!

PUUK!

The tip of the enemy's sword, who was dressed in a Murim Alliance uniform, had stopped right in front of his face. As the martial artist who had thrust the sword collapsed, Jang Ho was standing behind him.

Ju Gwol looked at Jang Ho. In response to his gaze that asked, 'Did you really?', Jang Ho nodded and replied.

"He really was trying to kill this man."

Could this be a setup? He forced himself to swallow the words that had risen to his throat. He still believed this was the work of the Demonic Cult. The attack was too vile and audacious to be anything else.

If not the Demonic Cult, who in the world could attack a Branch packed with Murim Alliance martial artists?

"Then who in the world are these people?"

To Ju Gwol's question, Seo Daeryong answered calmly.

"They must be people trying to drive a wedge between you and us."

Ju Gwol let out a light sigh and then ordered his subordinate.

"Thoroughly identify the dead first."

"Understood."

Ju Gwol said to Seo Daeryong.

"You cannot leave until the mastermind behind today's incident is revealed."

"I don't have any intention of leaving, even if you tell me to."

He had to stay here until Geom Mugeuk returned anyway.

Jang Ho said to him.

"Until the Captain of the Demon Slaying Brigade returns, we will stay and guard this place."

"I would be grateful if you did."

Having been indebted for his life, Ju Gwol's gaze toward Jang Ho was soft.

Ju Gwol spoke worriedly to Jeong Hyeok of the Demon Slaying Brigade.

"I'm worried if the Captain is alright."

Since these were people who would even attack a Murim Alliance Branch, he was worried about Jin Hagun.

At that, Seo Daeryong smiled mysteriously and said something. Of course, it was something Ju Gwol couldn't understand.

"There's someone with him who followed him even after abandoning his right arm, so he'll be fine."

"That's the place."

There was a manor in the direction Jin Hagun was looking. Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun were now standing side by side in a forest far from the manor.

They were so far away that he had to use the Divine Eye Technique just to see the characters on the plaque hanging on the main gate.

the Reminiscent Mountain Manor.

It was a mountain villa in a secluded place, far from the city.

"We're currently investigating that mountain villa in secret. We'll have the results of the investigation soon."

At Jin Hagun's explanation, Geom Mugeuk asked.

"How did you know the master of the Anonymous Manor was being held here?"

"As you know, we're currently searching every inch of Chongqing to find the missing master of the Anonymous Manor and his family."

Not a single body was found at the Anonymous Manor, so they were holding out hope that they might still be alive.

"There were more than just one or two people there that day. That's why I ordered all physicians in Chongqing to be monitored."

He thought that if they were injured, they might purchase a large quantity of medicine for treatment.

"In the midst of that, we found out that someone had bought a large amount of medicinal herbs to treat injuries from a local physician."

It was the news the search party had been desperately waiting for.

"Judging by the type and quantity of the herbs, it could have been to treat the people of the Anonymous Manor. So we searched the entire surrounding area and found this mountain villa. And we discovered that a martial artist who belonged to the Anonymous Manor was there."

Then there was no reason to hesitate further. Whatever the circumstances, now that a martial artist from the Anonymous Manor had appeared, they had to investigate the place.

"We have to hope the master of the Anonymous Manor and his family are alive. Now, let's launch the rescue mission as soon as possible."

"Is this operation really a rescue mission?"

Geom Mugeuk's reason for doubting this situation was clear.

"The Anonymous Manor just happens to show up at the coincidental time that Director Seo was captured by you?"

Of course, Jin Hagun also found the coincidence suspicious, but it was the only clue connected to the master of the Anonymous Manor. He had to walk into it, even if it was a trap.

Just then, a subordinate from the Demon Slaying Brigade came and quickly reported a fact.

"The Chongqing Branch has been attacked."

Jin Hagun was startled. He had expected it to some extent, but he hadn't thought the Branch would actually be attacked.

"What happened?"

"On our side, dozens were killed or injured."

Jin Hagun's expression hardened. He was furious. An incident had occurred while he and the Demon Slaying Brigade were away. What if this was a trick? What if there was nothing at that mountain villa?

"What about the person held in the prison?"

"He's reported to be safe."

Geom Mugeuk, who was listening, felt a sense of relief. He had sent Jang Ho and the Demonic Army, but in the matters of murim, one never knew what variables might come into play.

"And the enemies?"

"They were all killed."

Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk. Seeing that Seo Daeryong hadn't died despite the surprise attack and that all the enemies had been dealt with, he guessed that the Demonic Army had played a major role.

"Your judgment was correct. Thank you."

If not for the support of the Demonic Army, the damage would have been incomparable to what it was now. As always, the insight of this Young Cult Leader did not betray his trust.

"Then this place must have been to lure us out."

He believed they had used the surviving martial artist from the Anonymous Manor to lure him here.

However, Geom Mugeuk's thoughts were different.

"That might not be it."

Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk with an expression that asked what he meant.

"What if this is the real conspiracy?"

Geom Mugeuk conveyed his thoughts.

"A war won't break out just because a Branch was attacked. Our Cult and the Murim Alliance aren't that flimsy. But what about this? The one investigating the annihilation of the Anonymous Manor and the Great Justice Sect…"

Geom Mugeuk paused for a moment before adding.

"The death of the Captain of the Demon Slaying Brigade."

It was a problem on a completely different level than a simple Branch attack. He was the grandson of the Murim Alliance Lord and a strong candidate for the next Murim Alliance Lord.

"What if the preceding events were all preparations for your death?"

The disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon annihilates the Anonymous Manor and the Great Justice Sect. Then the Captain of the Demon Slaying Brigade, who was investigating the incident, ultimately meets his death at the hands of the Demonic Cult.

What if they created that narrative?

Jin Hagun stared at Geom Mugeuk with a shocked face. Moreover, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would also be furious. It would look as if the disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been dragged to a Murim Alliance Branch for investigation only to be killed.

The conversations between both sides would become sharp. What if those bastards pulled another trick on top of that?

"If my prediction is correct…"

Geom Mugeuk's deepened gaze turned toward the silent manor.

"Someone capable of killing you and the entire Demon Slaying Brigade will be waiting there."