HChapter 126: A Reversal Move (2)
“Yes, I will keep that in mind!”
Ma Jeongcheon hurriedly bowed his head.
Since the Clan Head had spoken this directly, failure would mean his own destruction.
“Go.”
“Yes, sir!”
Unable to hide his conflicted thoughts, Ma Jeongcheon hesitantly exited the Clan Head's Hall.
Some time passed after that.
“Gwanghyeol.”
“Yes, Clan Head.”
Before Ma Seonghwan stood a figure in a blood-red mask.
Gwanghyeol, the secret warrior. One of Ma Seonghwan's most trusted elite subordinates, and known as his sword.
“Have you found any trace of Yoon?”
Gwanghyeol quickly bowed his head.
“I apologize. We’ve mobilized every available agent, but we haven’t found anything.”
“Keep a close watch on Chulsoo’s surroundings. He must be found. If capturing him alive is impossible...”
“Yes, I understand.”
There was no need for him to finish the sentence—Gwanghyeol already knew what it implied.
A chilling killing intent glinted in Ma Seonghwan’s eyes.
“We must also find the fiend responsible for this chaos. It must be one of the elders of the Cheon Clan.”
Even if it was the Cheon Clan, it was unforgivable.
His favoritism toward his eldest son was one matter, but—
He would make them pay for daring to toy with the bloodline of the Ma Clan.
Suppressing his emotions, Ma Seonghwan let out a deep sigh.
“If only that child had followed Jeongcheon, my heart might have been at ease...”
“……”
Gwanghyeol said nothing in response to Ma Seonghwan’s lament.
He was a secret warrior who followed only the will of the Clan Head. A figure akin to the Ma Clan’s version of Jin Clan’s Ten Demonic Secrets.
Because of that, he shared most of the Clan Head's secrets and weaknesses—but also, because of that, he could never speak lightly.
“This time, you must bring back results.”
“I obey.”
***
While secret conversations unfolded deep within the Clan Head’s Hall of the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan—
At the same time, atop the Heavenly Thunder Corps’ headquarters, inside the Pavilion Master’s office.
“What brings you here, First Elder?”
Cheon Jumyeong, Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Thunder Corps, respectfully cupped his fists toward an elderly man entering his office.
Even at over a hundred years old, Cheon Jumyeong showed respect to very few.
But the old man before him was one of those rare exceptions.
“What do you think? I was curious since you weren’t making a move, so I came to see for myself.”
“I’m honored that the First Elder is interested in my actions.”
The First Elder. The presiding figure of the Seven Elders Council of the Cheon Clan, and the only member of that council who supported Cheon Yura.
In reality, it was thanks to him and Cheon Yeongha that balance was still being maintained within the Cheon Clan.
Cheon Jumyeong looked slightly troubled and shook his head.
“You know I can’t act. The opponent is none other than the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan.”
“Your nonsense is practically an art form.”
The First Elder curled one corner of his mouth, seeing right through Cheon Jumyeong’s pretense.
“Nonsense? That’s a bit hurtful.”
Still smiling insincerely, Cheon Jumyeong’s façade made the elder’s lips curl in irritation.
“Many in Ten Thousand Mountains fear the name of the Sword Demon. But the ‘Demonic Gentleman’ I know is not someone who’d hold back, even in front of that Sword Demon.”
“You overestimate me, First Elder.”
“Cut the crap.”
The elder’s playful tone suddenly turned grave.
“Why haven’t you made a move?”
Cheon Jumyeong’s expression froze.
He replied calmly.
“I’m waiting for the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan to walk into the net. To carry out the Cult Leader’s will to perfection—”
“No, not that.”
The First Elder abruptly cut him off.
His gaze sharpened as if it would tolerate not a single lie.
“Isn’t this your opportunity to fulfill your ambition? You must know that ‘those old men’ have meddled in the Ma Clan’s succession battle, right?”
“……”
“If you want to shape the future of the Cult and surpass even the Cheon Clan, your first step should be putting leashes on them.”
The blunt truth left no room for lies.
Cheon Jumyeong finally spoke in a completely different tone than before.
“…Would something like this really be enough to put them on a leash?”
“That depends on how you play it. I thought you’d already be moving quickly.”
“Hahaha, as expected. I can’t fool you.”
As if all his previous courtesy had been a lie, Cheon Jumyeong’s true nature revealed itself in an instant.
“To think you’re even encouraging my ambitions. You really are a strange one.”
“My will aligns with the Cult Leader’s. That’s why he keeps you alive.”
The First Elder spoke plainly.
“If the Cult Leader had ten more years left to live, your head would’ve already been rolling.”
Cheon Jumyeong’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“I know. And the Cult Leader knows it too. That’s why he’s betting on a gamble in many ways.”
Because he was such an overwhelmingly powerful superhuman, he couldn’t stay in this world long.
What a tragically absurd contradiction.
“He can’t take his time to raise someone slowly, so he has no choice but to take a risk, even if it comes at a loss.”
That explained everything that was currently happening.
“Even knowing that, you still haven’t moved?”
“Hm. There are three reasons.”
Cheon Jumyeong shrugged.
“First, if I provoke the dragon’s reverse scale the wrong way, I don’t know what backlash I might face.”
The First Elder’s eyes sparkled slightly.
“Reverse scale? The Ma Clan had something like that?”
“Within the Ma Clan, probably only the Clan Head himself knows about it.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because he would’ve killed off anyone in the clan who knew about ‘it.’ I found out purely by chance.”
“And that reverse scale is related to the current situation?”
“Yes. With the disappearance of the Ma Clan’s second son, Ma Chulsoo, there are signs that reverse scale is awakening.”
“Not planning to tell me what it is, are you?”
“Hehe, not even you get that for free.”
The First Elder stroked his beard and shook his head.
“Hmph. Fine. What’s the second reason?”
“I want to confirm it for myself.”
“Confirm?”
“Whether that brat can really take my place.”
“Take your place?”
The First Elder gave him a look of utter disbelief.
“You’re clearly talking about the Jin Clan’s eldest son, right? You can’t possibly mean handing over the position of Heavenly Thunder Pavilion Master.”
Cheon Jumyeong did not deny it.
“That’s right. From my perspective, the Cult Leader is testing him.”
“Testing him?”
“To see whether that brat is capable of replacing me.”
“…Hah!”
The implication in those words was by no means light.
And the fact that Cheon Jumyeong himself brought it up meant the possibility couldn’t be ignored.
“From what I’ve heard, that brat has fallen out of favor with the Cult Leader.”
“Outwardly, yes. But from what I can tell, that’s not the case. If the Cult Leader truly found his existence unpleasant, he would’ve killed him—Jin Clan or not.”
“That… makes sense.”
The First Elder nodded quietly.
It was something the Cult Leader was fully capable of.
“So? If the Jin Clan’s child is really that remarkable, what do you plan to do?”
“Well, what should I do…”
Cheon Jumyeong spoke ambiguously, withholding a proper answer.
“Care to make a guess?”
His tone had returned to polite formality, as though concealing his true thoughts.
“No thanks.”
The First Elder waved him off with a weary expression. There was no reason to waste mental energy on something that wouldn’t be revealed anyway.
“So? What’s the third and final reason?”
Cheon Jumyeong grinned.
The First Elder felt like he was looking at a devious court eunuch with that smile.
“I already planted the seed long ago. Right now, I’m simply watching that seed sprout.”
***
“You’re saying… we should lure the Clan Head outside?”
Ma Chulsoo looked dumbfounded after hearing my plan.
“Yeah. Luring the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan’s Head out for a face-to-face confrontation. That’s the best solution under the current circumstances.”
“H-How? Is that even possible?”
“We have to stir up a bigger mess. One big enough that the Clan Head has no choice but to come out.”
For a moment, Ma Chulsoo looked at me like I was the craziest bastard on earth.
“Even if that could be done in just a few days, if things get out of hand here, it’ll affect the entire cult. The damage that’ll come from that—”
I coldly cut off Ma Chulsoo, who was hesitating.
“Why are you worrying about that?”
“What?”
“This is war. There are only winners and losers. Why the hell would you care about the cult’s losses?”
“……”
Well, truthfully, he had every right to care.
But Ma Chulsoo, in his current indecisive state, needed a jolt like this.
“Pull yourself together, Ma Chulsoo. I told you already—if we lose, it’s all over. You can worry about the aftermath after we win.”
“R-Right.”
Ma Chulsoo nodded with difficulty, and I felt a mix of emotions.
In my past life, Ma Chulsoo—the Clan Head of the Ma Clan—would’ve never shown such a gap in composure.
He was thorough and calculating, and more than anything, ruthless enough never to let his enemies go free.
Even Jin Yeowoon, the then Jin Clan Head, would gnash his teeth at the mere mention of Ma Chulsoo.
But the current Ma Chulsoo, while his will might be firm, lacked the distinct venom I remembered from my past life.
‘It’s too great a disparity to chalk up to the passage of time. Did he experience something that changed him deeply on the inside?’
It wasn’t something I needed to stress over.
But subtle differences like this could create massive outcomes at critical moments.
‘Judging from the current situation… it must be Ma Jinyoon.’
While I’d had some interactions with Ma Jinyoon in this life,
In my past life, Ma Jinyoon had faded away like a ghost, forgotten.
‘I didn’t think much of it back then, but considering how talented he seems to be now, something definitely happened.’
Could this situation shed light on that reason?
Whatever had happened within the Ma Clan wasn’t my concern, but if Ma Chulsoo—who should be my ally—kept acting like this, problems would arise.
“For now, let’s find Ma Jinyoon. Once we confirm whether he’s alive or dead, we’ll decide what to do next.”
As I was about to urge our group to move,
“Um, Young Master Jin.”
“What is it, Lady?”
“That Ma Jinyoon… do we really have to find him?”
Baek Sang-ah, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up.
“For now, yes. It’s part of the agreement.”
“……”
‘What’s this?’
I noticed Baek Sang-ah’s expression darkened significantly, and a strange sense of unease crept over me.
She lightly chewed her bottom lip, then whispered in a small voice.
“I have a bad feeling.”
“A bad feeling?”
“I don’t know exactly what it is. But… I get the strong sense that something terrible will happen if we keep going like this.”
My expression darkened too.
It might’ve just been a feeling, but someone as talented as Baek Sang-ah shouldn’t be ignored.
“Did that feeling come just now?”
“Yes.”
“Is it dangerous enough that we should pull out entirely?”
She hesitated slightly at my question.
“N-Not quite that much. It’s just… I feel like you and I will be in serious trouble because of this.”
She and I, in trouble?
Judging by her tone, it didn’t sound life-threatening.
“I’ve already made a promise with Ma Chulsoo. Even if it causes problems later, we have no choice but to move forward.”
“If that’s your decision, I’ll follow it.”
Baek Sang-ah nodded and stepped back without further protest.
“We’re running out of time. Let’s move quickly to the expected rendezvous point with Ma Jinyoon.”
“Yes, sir!”
My subordinates responded with forceful voices.
***
And so, half a day later.
“What… is this…?”
Near the main estate of the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan—
At the hidden location where Ma Jinyoon and Ma Chulsoo were supposed to meet.
Dozens of corpses were already scattered across the area.
“We’re too late.”
And standing amidst those bodies was a familiar figure.
“Lady Cheon Yujeong…”
The rival of Cheon Yura, the one who had declared she would make me hers—
Cheon Yujeong had suddenly revealed herself.