Chapter 93: Master (2)

"Il-mok has gone missing?"

Yeom Ga-hwi, who'd come to the Heavenly Demon to deliver the report, lowered his head and replied, "Yes, my lord."

The Heavenly Demon suppressed the demonic energy that threatened to erupt within him.

Crack.

As a result, the edge of the armrest of the chair that the Heavenly Demon was sitting on crumbled into dust.

It was the result of demonic energy that had momentarily leaked from his hand.

"Huff."

Letting out a sigh and composing himself, the Heavenly Demon looked down at the bowing Yeom Ga-hwi.

‘Hah. I thought I could fully control my emotions now.’

It suddenly occurred to him that perhaps his expectations for his youngest disciple were greater than he had realized.

However, he couldn't take out his frustrations on Yeom Ga-hwi.

In the Hall of the Demonic Way, deaths or serious injuries among disciples were common occurrences.

Cases like this—getting lost during a test, or secretly leaving the Hall and becoming stranded—were rare but definitely happened from time to time.

And the Heavenly Demon had never punished the Hall Master for such incidents.

The Hall of the Demonic Way was a place where children who had learned the Demonic Arts were trained. As it was a place for training talents who would be active on the front lines of the Divine Cult in the future, danger was part of the bargain.

In fact, the current level of danger is much reduced compared to before. In the past, Hall of the Demonic Way was a place where half of those who entered died thanks to the much more dangerous training and tests that were conducted.

Therefore, if he were to punish the Hall Master every time such an incident occurred, the position of Hall Master would change hands several times a year.

Now, if he were to punish the Hall Master because his own disciple had suffered the same fate, it would be inconsistent.

Above all, it would violate the principle that all disciples in the Hall of the Demonic Way were treated equally.

So instead of getting angry about what had already happened, the Heavenly Demon focused on dealing with the situation at hand.

"Tell the Hidden Guards and the Dark Shadow Pavilion to select personnel. And instruct those selected to immediately go to the Hall of the Demonic Way and track Il-mok's whereabouts."

"Understood!"

After issuing instructions to the Hidden Guard Pavilion Master who was waiting nearby, the master saluted with clasped hands and disappeared into the darkness.

***

The Heavenly Demon's orders were quickly relayed, and soon after, those tasked with finding Il-mok departed from the headquarters toward the Hall of the Demonic Way.

However, the number of personnel mobilized wasn't enormous.

It wasn’t solely due to his position as the Heavenly Demon that required him to distinguish between public and private matters properly.

Searching for a missing person involves tracking traces. The more people there are, the more likely they are to interfere with each other's tracks and become a hindrance.

In the end, only those from the Hidden Guard Pavilion and Dark Shadow Pavilion who didn't have major duties were dispatched for the search.

Among them were Jin Hayeon, who was receiving special training from Hidden Guard Pavilion First Squad Leader Dam Bin, and Seo Wan-pyeong, Il-mok's senior brother and the Heavenly Demon's third disciple, who belonged to the Dark Shadow Pavilion.

A late night hour when only the moonlight faintly illuminated the sky.

"...Youngest, where on earth have you gone?"

Reaching the mountain where the test took place, Seo Wan-pyeong anxiously bit his fingernails and muttered while searching for Il-mok's barely visible traces.

"Don't worry, Third Young Master. If it's Young Master Il-mok, he'll certainly be safe."

Instead, Jin Hayeon, whose experience and age were far inferior to Seo Wan-pyeong's, comforted him with a calm and cool demeanor.

But even behind her calm demeanor, she was far from at ease.

…I have to believe you're safe.

Deep within her seemingly cool gaze, a desperate feeling lingered. Her gaze scanned her surroundings meticulously, lest she miss even the faintest trace as she moved forward.

As time passed, they continued searching for increasingly faint traces that were being erased by natural winds and the activity of mountain animals.

"...Third Young Master."

"...I feel it too, Miss Jin."

Jin Hayeon and Seo Wan-pyeong had arrived somewhere together and were staring ahead with hardened expressions.

Both had graduated from the Hall of the Demonic Way, and because they had been briefed by the Hall's instructors for this mission, they knew—

This was the edge of the testing grounds, a place blocked by a formation.

But...

“The formation… has been damaged.”

Coincidentally, there was a slight gap in the formation at precisely this spot.

Their arrival here was close to accidental.

While aimlessly searching the three mountains, they happened to discover a faint trace heading in this direction.

At first, they had considered ignoring it.

This area was blocked by a formation, and if someone had been caught in it, they would have been directed to a specific point as designed. If Il-mok had been caught in the formation, there would have been no reason for him to be missing in the first place.

(TL Note: The formation within the testing area, not the one that enclosed the ridge.)

But since they had already searched most of the testing grounds, they had come here just in case and coincidentally discovered it.

“Youngest!”

Seo Wan-pyeong lunged toward the gap in the formation, but Jin Hayeon held him back.

“Calm yourself, Third Young Master. Nothing is certain yet!”

"What are you saying? We’ve scoured most of the other areas already!"

"There's still a possibility, however small it is. Besides, two people searching alone will only make things take longer. We should gather the others first. It would be better to begin a full-scale search together."

Seo Wan-pyeong, on the verge of Qi Deviation, regained some composure at Jin Hayeon's persuasion.

***

The search was officially resumed around the time the sun rose again.

A small number of people began searching the less-checked areas inside the formation, while most started searching in a semicircle, using the gap in the formation as a starting point. The area behind them was, after all, still within the formation's boundaries.

After another half-day had passed, a report on the search results was delivered to the Heavenly Demon Palace by evening.

“A slight gap has formed in the formation, you say… What are your thoughts on this matter, Array Master?”

An Hyo-gyun, the master of the Eight Trigrams Hall, which oversaw all formations and mechanisms of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, spoke in a calm tone.

"First, there's a possibility that someone tampered with the formation to create a gap but, "After laying out the possibility of deliberate sabotage, An Hyo-gyun shrugged and casually added, "During the testing and searching process, all traces have been mixed up, making it impossible to identify any culprit."

The Heavenly Demon kept his eyes fixed on the Eight Trigrams Hall Master while using his qi sense to monitor the movements of everyone gathered in the hall.

He already knew that the scene had been manipulated, making it impossible to identify any culprit.

That's why he had gathered the key figures of the Divine Cult while questioning the Eight Trigrams Hall Master.

Anyone who showed surprise, anxiety, or relief might very likely be connected to this incident.

Unfortunately, no one showed any special reaction.

Whether they all concealed their true feelings like cunning snakes, or whether this truly was an accident, it was impossible to know.

Meanwhile, An Hyo-gyun discussed the second possibility.

“Also, there is a slight but definite possibility that a gap in the formation may have formed naturally. The formation created for this test was so large, and it was a temporary formation created for the test, so it would not be surprising if it were damaged by animals. If you check the records of the Hall of the Demonic Way, you'll find this has occasionally happened in the past as well."

The Heavenly Demon nodded in acknowledgment.

‘My instinct tells me it’s the former, but given the precedent, forcing an interrogation would be pointless.’

But he wasn't dismissing the possibility entirely. He planned to have the Hidden Guard Pavilion conduct a secret investigation, but there were more pressing matters at hand.

"Then, we should prioritize rescuing Il-mok from Peach Blossom Valley. Eight Trigrams Hall Master, can you tell me when the life gate of the Illusory Dream Formation in Peach Blossom Valley will open?"

"It's scheduled to open in six days."

The Heavenly Demon nodded and commanded those gathered in the hall.

"Then, as soon as dawn breaks tomorrow, I will go to Peach Blossom Valley with the Hidden Guard Pavilion Master."

"!?"

A wave of surprised looks washed over the assembled elders.

In the midst of this, Ahn Hyo-gyun, who had been conversing with the Heavenly Demon, asked without concealing his anxiety.

"You are not thinking of breaking through the Illusory Dream Formation, right?"

The reason for his unease was simple. The thought of having to rebuild the formation again and recapture all the elders who might escape in the chaos made him feel dizzy with dread.

But fortunately, the Heavenly Demon hadn't completely lost control due to worry about his disciple.

"Don't worry. After securing Il-mok's safety, we will exit through the life gate in five days. I've called you all here to instruct you in advance on how to prepare while I'm away."

There was also the intention of identifying suspicious individuals through their reactions, but he saw no need to voice this reason.

After the Heavenly Demon finished speaking, everyone gathered kowtowed themselves in respect.

"We obey your command!"

***

One by one, they left the Heavenly Demon Palace and returned to their quarters.

—The Heavenly Demon will visit that place tomorrow. Are you certain the youngest disciple is dead?

Despite the sudden sound transmission, the old man showed no reaction as he continued walking and replied via sound transmission.

—Do you forget what kind of place that is? No matter how talented the youngest disciple may be, it's not a place where a mere disciple from the Hall of the Demonic Way could survive for two days.

At that answer, the old man who had first sent the sound transmission secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If he had shown any noticeable behavior, he might have aroused the Heavenly Demon's suspicion.

***

The night before, in front of the residence of the old man who had mastered the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword…

While Il-mok was being force-fed about the teachings of the latter forms of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword—

Rustle.

—A small rustle was heard before another old man appeared from the bushes.

"Who are you people to cause a disturbance in my residence?!"

As the new old man shouted angrily, the old man who had been teaching Il-mok replied, "Who are you to claim my house as yours?!"

"What? You are courting death!"

When the new old man angrily swung his arm, crimson yang energy erupted along his palms, but—

Swish.

The old man, who had already drawn his sword, cut that yang energy with a simple sword movement.

"Come on! Let's settle this once and for all!"

"Hmph. Do you think you can defeat this old man with that level of skill!"

As the two old fogey began to clash while shouting at each other, Il-mok stealthily moved away.

This is my chance.

He planned to sneak away while the two senile old men were fighting.

But...

"You there!"

"Seeing how you're sneaking around, you must be the one!"

"!?"

The one what? he wondered. But logical thinking wasn't helpful right now as both old men simultaneously directed their killing intent toward Il-mok.

He quickly exclaimed.

"Master! I am your disciple, Young-jin!"

"I have no disciple named Young-jin!"

"Come to think of it, it was Young-jin!"

The two old men, who had each said something different, looked at each other for a moment.

"Hohoho. How pleasant to see you here."

"It has indeed been a long time."

The two old men were suddenly greeting each other in a friendly manner.

After exchanging some small talk with Il-mok's newfound master, the old man bid farewell and returned the way he had come.

"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be practicing the latter forms of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword?"

And then he abruptly started training Il-mok again.

Even as his memory fluctuated, the memory of needing to teach his disciple remained clear. Truly the mark of a dedicated master.

After being tormented by his new master for quite some time, the old man rubbed his stomach and said, "I'm hungry."

Il-mok, realizing that this was his chance, put down his sword.

"Disciple will prepare a meal for you right away, Master!"

This was his chance to pause the training.

"Hohoho. A meal prepared by my disciple. It brings back memories."

Then, the old man who had been reminiscing about his memories suddenly tilted his head and asked, "Who are you?"

“…I am just a passerby.”

Il-mok thought this might be his chance to escape, but he was a bit too hasty.

“You’re an assassin from the Murim Alliance in disguise! Did you think I’d be fooled!”

"!?"

When the old man drew his sword, Il-mok hurriedly cried out, "I-it was a joke, Master! I am your disciple, Young-jin! I was going to prepare a meal for you because you said you were hungry!"

His happy life of abduction and imprisonment under his newfound master was truly enough to bring tears to Il-mok’s eyes.