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Chapter 142. I'll Ask Directly
Guhwasan, also known as Five Peaks Mountain.
A considerably large carriage was slowly advancing along a deserted mountain path.
This was the carriage carrying Yeon Jeokha's group.
The coachman, Lee Sa, glanced around with a tense expression.
This caused the carriage to wobble several times as it veered off the narrow path.
Finally, Shim Tong, the Old Dao of the Nine Heavens, who was outside, couldn’t help but comment.
"Hey! Why don’t you look ahead instead of glancing around? What will you do if the carriage crashes into the trees? If that happens..."
Shim Tong glanced back and then whispered in Lee Sa's ear.
"I’ll gouge your eyes out, so keep that in mind."
Lee Sa's head, which had been constantly turning, now remained rigidly fixed forward.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
The mountain path prevented the carriage from advancing quickly.
Lee Sa had heard of the notorious reputation of the Sandosan bandits, but he was not in a hurry.
Since their destination was Sandosan, he actually wished they would appear soon.
After about half an hour of moving through the mountain, around thirty bandits emerged from the woods on both sides of the path, blocking the way.
"Stop!"
"Ha, ha, ha! We’ve got customers for the first time in months!"
"Get out right now before we drag you out, you damn dogs!"
"You'd better come out willingly!"
The bandits surrounded the carriage, grinning maliciously.
They assumed the number of people in the carriage was limited, so they thought it was easy prey.
Shim Tong, who was sitting beside the coachman, spoke to the one who seemed to be the bandits' boss.
"Heh, heh. Do you really think this carriage got this far without a plan?"
The bandits began to quiet down one by one.
Gu Jaseung, the vice-boss of Sandosan, turned his gaze toward the carriage.
Then, his eyes met those of the old man with a goatee sitting beside the coachman.
Immediately, he had the feeling that "this old man" was someone important.
"I am Gu Jaseung, the vice-boss of Sandosan. Who are you?"
"I am the Old Dao of the Nine Heavens. I’ve come with the Grand Inspector of Nokrim, so take us to the camp."
Upon hearing "Grand Inspector of Nokrim," Gu Jaseung’s face slightly stiffened.
For the members of Nokrim, the Grand Chaeju and the Grand Inspector were figures of respect and fear.
"Is the Grand Inspector really here? I heard he was in Zhengzhou."
"You talk too much. Stop spouting nonsense and lead us to the camp."
After thinking for a moment, Gu Jaseung gestured for his subordinates to step back.
They could find out the truth at the camp anyway. If they were lying, they could punish them severely.
"I’ll guide you. Follow me."
Gu Jaseung sent one of his men to the camp before he began to walk slowly.
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Sandosan.
The carriage approached the camp's courtyard.
Gong Geoin, the boss of the bandits, watched the carriage with a complicated expression.
The Grand Inspector Yeon Jeokha.
He was someone whom the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord had appointed above the Twelve Demons.
There was no doubt that he was stronger than them.
The question was why he had come to Sandosan.
‘What’s going on?’
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand it.
While Gong Geoin pondered, six people stepped out of the carriage.
Immediately, Gong Geoin frowned.
When he saw the old man next to the coachman, he didn’t doubt that the visitors were from the Evil Faction.
But the young people had surprisingly pure looks and auras.
‘Is the Grand Inspector among them?’
Even Gu Jaseung, who had guided the carriage, was confused and asked Shim Tong again.
"Is the Grand Inspector really here?"
Shim Tong did not reply and instead approached Yeon Jeokha.
"Here is the Grand Inspector! Show your respects!"
Shim Tong's voice resonated throughout the camp, startling those present.
Gong Geoin’s gaze turned to the young man next to the old man.
If it weren’t for the ancient sword at his waist, Yeon Jeokha could have passed for an ordinary wealthy young man.
‘Could it be that he has already reached the state of returning to simplicity?’
That legendary state implied reaching the pinnacle of martial arts, making one seem ordinary.
It was hard to believe that someone so young had reached that state.
‘That must be why he was appointed Grand Inspector.’
Gong Geoin stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Ha, ha, ha. Grand Inspector, welcome. I’m surprised to see that you’re so young. I am Gong Geoin, the boss of Sandosan."
Yeon Jeokha observed Gong Geoin.
He had such a cold expression that it seemed as if not a drop of blood would spill even if he were pricked.
Especially his eyes, which glimmered like those of a snake.
"I am Yeon Jeokha."
"I’ve heard much about you. I heard you wiped out three factions in Zhengzhou. It’s admirable."
"Let’s drop that. I came here to ask a few things."
"Oh, yes. What would you like to know?"
"On the way, I saw that Yongganghyeon is completely devastated. Why is that?"
Yeon Jeokha's direct question left Gong Geoin speechless for a moment.
"Haha. It’s not completely devastated. It just happened by chance. If it bothered you, I’ll keep that in mind for the future."
Gong Geoin was annoyed, but he held back.
Confronting the Grand Inspector would only bring trouble. In Nokrim, the Grand Inspector was the most respected figure after the Grand Chaeju. He just needed to get through this moment.
But the conversation was not going as he expected.
"Once or twice could be by chance, but it seems you’ve completely destroyed Yongganghyeon."
Yeon Jeokha began to understand why the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord had delegated this task to him. He probably disliked having to talk like a hero of the Justice Alliance.
Even for Yeon Jeokha, talking like this was uncomfortable. For the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord, it must be unbearable.
With an uncomfortable face, Gong Geoin replied.
"When robbing wealth, sometimes things happen..."
"Don’t play with words. Other bandits of Nokrim don’t destroy as much as you do."
Yeon Jeokha's words became increasingly harsh.
Suddenly, Gong Geoin's expression hardened.
‘What? Didn’t he come here by chance?’
If this visit was planned, he wouldn’t get away with it so easily.
Gong Geoin raised his voice slightly.
"In Nokrim, murder and plunder are not crimes, but actions to be praised. Did I anger the Grand Chaeju for defeating the Twelve Demons?"
Yeon Jeokha sneered with contempt.
"Why? Are you planning for your subordinates to attack me? Do you think with this many you can kill me? If you think so, you really disappoint me. Do you think I became Grand Inspector just because the Grand Chaeju likes me?"
Gong Geoin looked at Yeon Jeokha, stunned.
‘What’s with this guy?’
Even if he knew that, the smartest thing would be to steer the conversation in his favor. But this guy didn’t seem to care about anything.
"To be honest, I don’t understand why you’re acting this way. Killing and plundering should not be criticized. Isn’t that right?"
"Yes, no. Other bandits don’t destroy everything in their path. Sometimes they’re even called heroes. Sandosan also used to be more moderate. Tell me, why did you do it?"
Yeon Jeokha's insistence made some bandits murmur.
It was true that Sandosan had become excessively brutal lately.
The bandits who had been going back and forth from Musansocho with Gong Geoin began to close ranks.
When the murmuring subsided, Gong Geoin coldly responded.
"The former boss and I followed different paths. Even if you’re the Grand Inspector, you shouldn’t meddle in such matters. Isn’t that so?"
Gong Geoin's tone abruptly shifted to a more formal one.
Suddenly, tension filled the air between the two men.
Observing the conversation, Gu Jaseung sent a telepathic message to one of his subordinates.
-It seems the Grand Inspector is going to cause trouble. Ask for help from Musansocho.
The bandit, with a tense expression, discreetly disappeared.
Then, Gu Jaseung discreetly observed the Sandosan bandits.
Half of them were committed to the Yoomyung Cult. They would obey the boss’s orders no matter what. The others would just watch.
‘Can the boss face the Grand Inspector?’
Gu Jaseung looked at Yeon Jeokha.
As he knew well the workings of Nokrim, the Grand Inspector General worried him. He had sent a messenger to Musansocho before the fight broke out for that reason.
Yeon Jeokha, bored, stretched his neck from side to side before speaking.
"Ah! I’m not good with subtleties. Asking directly is the best. Are you a Demon Warrior of the Yoomyung Cult? Don’t lie, I have ways to find out. Don’t waste time."
"What does that have to do with this?"
"See, you’re not denying it. Are you a Demon Warrior? Right?"
Yeon Jeokha stared at him, as if trying to read his thoughts.
Yeon Jeokha’s attitude deeply offended Gong Geoin, who laughed coldly.
"Ha! Using your title as Grand Inspector to act arrogantly. If you look down on me so much, I won’t treat you as such anymore."
Finally, Gong Geoin shouted at the Sandosan bandits.
"You see! The Grand Inspector is accusing us of murder and plunder! Draw your weapons! Show him the true path of Nokrim!"
At his command, about twenty bandits, already prepared, drew their swords.
They were all members of the Yoomyung Cult.
The other twenty bandits just watched, unable to act.
Facing the Grand Inspector General was a betrayal of the Grand Chaeju, so their hesitation was understandable.
Yeon Jeokha looked at the armed bandits and spoke.
"Musansocho is two hours from here, right? Those who draw their swords, I will consider members of the Yoomyung Cult. Those who are not, do not touch your swords. Shim Tong."
"Yes, young master."
"To those who draw their swords, show no mercy."
"Heh, heh. Sure, I’ll chop them to pieces."
Shaking his head at the aggressive response, Yeon Jeokha approached Gong Geoin.
Gong Geoin drew his sword and ordered his subordinates.
"Kill them all!"
"Yes!"
The twenty armed bandits cautiously approached the carriage.
Gong Geoin advanced toward Yeon Jeokha.
"Unnecessary curiosity only shortens life. Find out in the afterlife if I am a Demon Warrior. They’ll tell you."
"I don’t need to ask. My chest gives me a strange feeling."
As he spoke, Yeon Jeokha rubbed his chest.
In front of Gong Geoin, the Sacred Artifact in his chest emitted a peculiar energy. It seemed to react to a Demon Warrior.
"Crazy bastard! Die already!"
Gong Geoin reacted violently.
The fact that his opponent was making jokes in a life-or-death battle enraged him.
His sword shot forward like lightning.
Before becoming a Demon Warrior, he was already known as a master swordsman.
Now, with his enhanced internal energy, his sword emitted a blue glow.
Yeon Jeokha hurriedly blocked the attack with his own sword.
The thrust was so fast and precise that he didn’t have time to use the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship.
Clang!
Yeon Jeokha barely deflected the attack and slid to the side.
Whoosh!
The deflected blow barely missed his face.
‘Phew!’
Yeon Jeokha exclaimed to himself.
His opponent was a master swordsman without equal.
There were no formal movements, only lethal strikes.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
It seemed as though he wielded the sword randomly, but every attack was deadly, making Yeon Jeokha break out in a cold sweat.