Chapter 132: Jaseung, Looks for Yin Qi

“The factions behind us have realized that you tried to kill Jang Wonso, my Lord.”

Just as Dan Woobin pointed out, the enemy now knew Lee Jaseung’s identity precisely, and they had also gauged his strength. At the very least, they would judge him stronger than the Sword.

“Facing those factions and Jang Wonso at the same time isn’t ideal.”

That already went against his original plan, which was to let other forces clash and then reap the profit.

“There has been no change to the defensive system inside the Alliance Leader’s Hall. It seems Jang Wonso still doesn’t know.”

That was fortunate. It meant there was still an opportunity to kill him and avoid needless conflict.

“But the factions behind him will now try to protect Jang Wonso from the shadows. Unless they want him dead, killing him won’t be easy.”

Even though Lee Jaseung had failed to kill Jang Wonso, he had learned something crucial. Jang Wonso had the map, and that map was extremely important.

It was clear that the heart of the conflict between Jang Wonso and the factions behind him lay in that map.

“If the map is in Jang Wonso’s hands, then inevitably, the plan will have to change.”

By coincidence or fate, Lee Jaseung had already secured three of the four treasures. Now it was time to pursue the map.

“The real problem now is the factions behind him. You killed the master martial artist they sent, so they’ll send someone stronger.”

If such a master even existed that is.

The Sword had wielded the Sword Wielded by Qi technique, the sword that moves with intention. For such a man to appear so suddenly had been completely unexpected.

If Lee Jaseung’s martial skill had not risen in recent days, the result might have been unimaginable.

How many more of such opponents could there be?

“What about torturing Jang Wonso?”

“From what we’ve seen so far, Jang Wonso won’t break under external pressure.”

“What about dark arts?”

There were many kinds of dark arts that could force someone to speak the truth. If a particularly powerful one was used, it might be possible to extract answers.

“I don’t think it will work either. Jang Wonso’s martial arts are rooted in Orthodox Buddhist techniques. Dark arts won’t affect him. That’s why even the factions behind him haven’t uncovered the truth.”

It was true. Their power was overwhelming. It wasn’t that they lacked such dark arts, but that it hadn’t worked on him.

“Does the map really exist? If it were me, I would’ve memorized the location and burned it. Or maybe I would’ve already gone there myself. Why are they still searching for it?”

“They must be certain that the Alliance Leader couldn’t go there.”

Lee Jaseung’s eyes sharpened.

“There’s definitely a secret tied to that map.”

At that moment, Ma Young-gi entered to report.

“Jang Wonso is asking to see you.”

Dan Woobin quickly spoke.

“You shouldn’t go without a plan.”

Perhaps Jang Wonso didn’t know, but that was only a possibility. He might have already learned the truth and set a trap to lure Lee Jaseung.

“Then what should I do?”

Dan Woobin thought of a plan.

“I have a good idea.”

* * *

An hour later, Jang Wonso entered the room where Lee Jaseung was.

“You are here?”

Lee Jaseung struggled to sit up from the bed.

“Stay lying down. What on earth happened?”

“I was ambushed.”

“Ambushed?”

“Yes. A coordinated attack.”

That was the plan Dan Woobin had devised. This way, Lee Jaseung didn’t have to enter the Alliance Leader’s Hall, and they could also test whether Jang Wonso would come to him.

Surprisingly, Jang Wonso came in person. As if to prove that he had no intent to harm, he had even brought only a minimum escort.

It was clear that he didn’t know Lee Jaseung had tried to kill him. Or perhaps he was simply fearless.

Jang Wonso grasped Lee Jaseung’s hand with a worried look.

“Where were you injured?”

“Fortunately, it’s nothing serious. Just a minor internal wound.”

It looked as though he was showing concern, but in truth, Jang Wonso was secretly checking his condition.

Since Lee Jaseung had exhausted his Qi and only recovered a fraction, Jang Wonso had no choice but to believe his words.

“Whoever injured you must have been a true master. Who was it?”

He seemed genuinely curious. Clearly, he still didn’t know who had come.

“There were several of them.”

“What about their corpses?”

“I barely escaped, so I don’t know what happened afterward.”

Mook Young had already taken care of it, erasing all traces. Since the wounds Lee Jaseung had inflicted were still visible, there was no reason to let Jang Wonso see them.

“Oh by the way, where did you go that day?”

“There was urgent news. I suppose I can tell you. Don’t be shocked. There was word that Expert Ban is still alive.”

“What?”

Lee Jaseung feigned surprise.

Whoever had fabricated that message had used the perfect ploy to pull Jang Wonso away.

It was probably not only that Expert Ban was alive. Judging from Jang Wonso’s shock that day, it must have also said that Ban Yeo was plotting to assassinate him.

It would have been awkward for him to tell Yim Sayeon and Lee Jaseung about such news.

But to receive that kind of message and flee alone? That was very much like Jang Wonso.

Even if the truth was revealed later, he could make plenty of excuses. He could simply say he thought others would be safe because the assassins were targeting him.

“So he faked his death?”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

Jang Wonso frowned. Lee Jaseung studied his reaction, curious about the answer.

“As you know, he was corrupt.”

Jang Wonso had personally witnessed Ban Yeo working to bribe members of the Murim Alliance.

“I forced him to step down from the Virtuous Heroes. I suppose this is his revenge.”

“I see.”

Lee Jaseung released a trace of killing intent. It was intentional, of course. Since he had taken over the Virtuous Heroes, this was only natural.

“By the way, where is Lord Baek?”

Jang Wonso looked around for Baek Seolyoung.

“She went to fetch medicine that is good for internal injuries.”

“Is that so?”

He didn’t hide the disappointment in his eyes. When it came to Baek Seolyoung, Jang Wonso never bothered concealing his feelings. It was enough to make Lee Jaseung think that one day he might openly try to claim her.

“Then rest well.”

“Take care.”

After Jang Wonso left, Dan Woobin and Baek Seolyoung entered the room.

“He said he wanted to see you.”

“Just the thought of him makes my skin crawl.”

Now that she understood what kind of man Jang Wonso was, Baek Seolyoung couldn’t stand to be in the same space as him.

“That feeling will soon be just a memory.”

Because as soon as they have the map, Jang Wonso would be dead.

Baek Seolyoung felt his intent and smiled faintly.

Lee Jaseung said to Dan Woobin,

“We must find the iron sphere from the underground chamber. He was using it to accumulate women’s life essence. Knowing Jang Wonso, it must be for something dangerous.”

In truth, finding the iron sphere wouldn’t be easy. It wasn’t large, and if someone wanted to hide it, it could be anywhere.

“There is one method.”

“What is it?”

“Have you heard of Yin Cold Art? It was once practiced by the Frenzied Cold Goddess in the past.”

Despite the title of “goddess,” she had been a master of the Unorthodox Faction. Usually, even unorthodox masters chose noble sobriquets for themselves, but the Orthodox Faction had called her the Frenzied Cold Lewd Woman.

While most wicked women of Jianghu drained the Yang energy of men, she had drained the Yin energy of women.

“Yin Cold Art includes a technique for locating Yin Qi.”

“Do we have the manual?”

“Yes. After her death, the Alliance kept it. But there is one problem.”

“What is it?”

“To practice it, you must have extreme Yin Qi, at least one hundred twenty years worth at that.”

A faint smile crossed Lee Jaseung’s lips. He possessed one hundred eighty years worth of extreme Yin Qi.

“I’ll handle that problem myself. Just bring it here quickly.”

* * *

“The Sword is dead, yet no summon has been issued?”

At Water's words, Rain raised his head.

“They haven’t found his body.”

“You don’t actually think that means he survived, do you?”

After a pause, Rain sighed.

“No.”

He was dead indeed. It was hard to believe, but it was true. The other killers sent to ambush Lee Jaseung were one thing, but the Sword’s death was staggering.

No survivors, no corpses. No one knew what had happened that day.

“Those above suspect one of the Elders intervened.”

“I see.”

Her short answer made Rain narrow his eyes.

“You don’t seem to agree.”

“Do you?”

“If I’m being honest… I don’t know.”

It was the first time in a long while he had spoken so plainly. He doubted Yim Sayeon had intervened. Whatever her feelings about her child, this was still her blood.

If she hadn’t intervened, it meant Lee Jaseung had killed them all alone.

It was possible some other master of the Black Way Alliance had interfered, but their investigation revealed none were strong enough to kill the Sword. And Lee Jaseung had come alone that day.

In other words, the most likely answer was that Lee Jaseung had killed the Sword himself.

“That man is strong. So strong that he’s charming.”

It was clearly meant to provoke jealousy.

And even knowing that, Rain still took the bait. Her words made him angry.

He forced his voice to remain calm.

“Regardless, the bastard will die.”

“You said that before.”

“This time is different.”

“What is different?”

Rain sharpened his gaze and spoke.

“I intend to do it myself.”

It wasn’t jealousy. With the Sword dead, the time had come for him to step forward.

Water's eyes deepened as she looked at him. Then she spoke playfully.

“If he manages to kill even you, that will make him even more appealing.”

Rain gave a wry smile. Water added.

“For now, let him be.”

“Why?”

“You said he tried to kill Jang Wonso, right?”

“Yes. Which is why he needs to die even sooner.”

“Do you think Jang Wonso will die that easily? He will handle your work for you.”

When Rain tried to speak, Water leaned closer, her face almost touching his.

“You don’t have to be charming like him, just leave it.”

At that moment, Rain could see the sincerity in her eyes. She genuinely worried for him, and beyond that, she saw the situation clearly.

He wanted nothing more than to follow her words. The thrill of that desire bound him more tightly to her.

In the end, he was just a fish caught by Water's hook, trapped by the melancholy in his eyes.

* * *

Lee Jaseung’s figure flew through the sky.

The blue light streaming from his eyes showed he was using Yin Cold Art.

A few days after he had ordered the manual brought to him, it arrived.

The Alliance had divided the manual among ten of the fastest carrier hawks and sent it.

He hadn’t needed to learn the entire technique. There was no need for him to practice the parts that drained Yin Qi from women.

He only needed the portion that located Yin Qi.

For most people, that would have been impossible. But with his mastery and one hundred and eighty years worth of extreme Yin Qi, it was simple.

Now he was searching for the sphere.

The map was tied to his personal ambition.

But the sphere meant saving innocent women.

When weighing the two, he knew saving lives came first.

Using Yin Cold Art, it was not hard to track. The sphere was close. Near the Murim Alliance itself. Lee Jaseung descended where the Yin Qi was strongest.

It was an unlikely place for such an object. It was the largest temple near the Murim Alliance.

Looking up at the sign that read Temple of Repaying Grace, Lee Jaseung began to climb the steps.

With each step, the Yin Qi grew stronger.