Seeing The Demon (2)

Gyeong In-geol spoke, breathing shallowly.

“Yeah. You must’ve gotten the report. That the Supreme Patriarch has disappeared.”

“…”

“If you knew who was behind it, you wouldn’t have come to pressure me like this. You don’t even know who intervened.”

“Intervened…”

Gyeong Do-cheon’s gaze turned cold.

Gyeong In-geol swallowed again.

‘What kind of eyes are those…!’

They weren’t human eyes.

They were the eyes of a monster outside the laws and order of the human world. The eyes of a demon who would cackle after cutting down even his own blood kin, and innocent people too, if something annoyed him.

“I see.”

Seureuk.

Gyeong In-geol squeezed his eyes shut without meaning to.

Gyeong Do-cheon was suddenly right beside the bed, shoving his face close. A pale smile filled his face. It was terrifying and grotesque.

“Right. It was something you did. Wasn’t it?”

“…”

“Who intervened? It won’t be Daoling Palace, and it won’t be the Sichuan Branch either.”

“…”

“Of course it won’t be assassins either. I’ve got Sichuan’s assassin world in a tight grip. And it won’t be the Eight Martial Houses, with the Cheongyang Association at the head…”

“…”

“Who is it?”

Gyeong In-geol steadied his breathing and opened his eyes, only to nearly close them again. The demon’s face shoved right up close was too terrifying to face in one’s right mind.

But Gyeong In-geol didn’t close his eyes.

Enduring a fear that felt like it would blow his mind away, he spoke.

“Maybe heaven couldn’t stomach your filial impiety and sent down a Divine General.”

“Heaven? You mean the Heavenly Will Alliance?”

“None of your business.”

“…”

“Wait quietly. There’s nothing you can do right now anyway. Even if…”

Gyeong In-geol forced a smile.

“Even if you kill me, there’s nothing you can gain.”

“Still, looks like you don’t want to die.”

“No. I’m fine with dying.”

Gyeong Do-cheon’s pupils changed strangely.

They stretched longer and longer vertically. Like a cat’s eyes.

But to Gyeong In-geol, who had truly accepted death, Gyeong Do-cheon’s grotesqueness no longer felt like fear.

“The moment I realized you were desperate, I accepted death.”

“…”

“If I die now, of course it would be a shame. But at least I can die imagining a filially impious bastard’s downfall. Because I know that Divine General is doing the job properly.”

“…”

“There’s no deal with you. If you want to kill me, then kill me.”

Gyeong Do-cheon’s eye twitched slightly.

‘Is he serious?’

Gyeong In-geol’s face had turned calm in an instant.

You can fake breathing, but you can’t fake eyes and voice. A quiet firmness seeped from Gyeong In-geol’s dying body.

Gyeong Do-cheon stared at him, then grinned.

“So you really have confidence. Then how about this.”

“…”

“I’ll kill all our clan’s blacksmiths, starting with the Iron King Squad, right now.”

“Can you really do that?”

“If you’ve resolved to die, then I’ll have to become Patriarch first, even if I throw legitimacy away.”

“Then do it.”

Gyeong In-geol didn’t yield.

“Kill me right now, and use the assassins you brought in to ruin our clan.”

“…”

“Why? Is something stopping you?”

Gyeong Do-cheon smiled without a word and grabbed Gyeong In-geol by the throat.

Gyeong In-geol’s face quickly turned dark red. The hand crushing his throat tightened more and more.

The whites of his eyes reddened, and his vision began to rise upward.

‘Am I going to die?’

He had accepted death, so it wasn’t frightening now.

But if this bastard truly meant to kill the blacksmiths under him, he had to stop that.

‘And that’s only possible if I live. Once I’m dead, it means nothing.’

In a brief instant, a few faces passed by.

His father’s face. The chief physician’s face. The faces of those who had helped him run Divine Iron together.

And…

‘You brat.’

His younger brother’s face rose up.

The face of the younger brother who chose death himself, saying that if he lived, his older brother couldn’t take the Patriarch’s seat.

‘Didn’t I say I didn’t want that. Like Do-cheon said, you should’ve been Patriarch instead…’

His younger brother muttered something. But he couldn’t hear it.

And in the place of the blood kin he had lost, another face surfaced.

‘Se-hwi.’

Gyeong In-geol’s vision darkened.

‘I won’t be sorry to you. I won’t be grateful either.’

It was then.

Hook!

His breath snapped back in an instant.

“Huk! Huk!”

He sucked in a huge breath, his vision snapped into place, and foam spilled at the corner of his mouth.

“Huk! Keo-heok!”

He hacked out several dry coughs, but his breathing wouldn’t settle. It took a full fifteen minutes for Gyeong In-geol’s breathing to stabilize.

“How is it?”

Standing with his hands behind his back, Gyeong Do-cheon looked down at him, a teasing smile on his face.

“Life is pretty good, isn’t it?”

“Khulkeok! What did you do!”

“I only wanted to see your resolve.”

“You damn bastard…!”

“So the man who clawed to live really accepted death. That means you truly trust the one you left the rest to, doesn’t it?”

Trust?

Gyeong In-geol thought about it. Did he trust the adopted son who returned from death?

“The bedding’s wet. What an ugly sight for a clan’s Patriarch.”

As his breath was cut off, his bladder released on its own. Gyeong In-geol’s face flushed red with shame.

Gyeong Do-cheon nodded.

“I’ll call the chief physician.”

“What are you trying to do!”

“You’re right. I can’t kill you yet.”

“!”

“I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

With that, Gyeong Do-cheon left the room.

A moment later, Lee Jung-myeong rushed in, out of breath.

“Patriarch! Are you all right?”

“Khulkeok! Kolok-kolok!”

After coughing repeatedly, Gyeong In-geol spoke in a hoarse voice.

“Physician Lee. Listen carefully.”

“First, refrain from speaking. Let me take your pulse…”

“Leave the clan right now.”

“Pardon?!”

Gyeong In-geol grabbed Lee Jung-myeong by the sleeve.

“Take refuge at Daoling Palace. You’ll be able to preserve your life if you go there.”

“P-Patriarch!”

“Leave right now. It doesn’t matter if that bastard Do-cheon grows suspicious.”

Lee Jung-myeong’s expression hardened.

“A physician does not leave a patient behind.”

“You leaving is for my sake.”

“Patriarch?!”

“If you don’t want to go to Daoling Palace, go anywhere safe. The Sichuan Branch main base, the Investigation and Defense Court, anywhere. That bastard Do-cheon is trying to kill you too.”

“!!”

“This is my last request.”

“No. I won’t.”

Lee Jung-myeong’s eyes were filled with resolve.

“Even if I die, I’ll die here. Close your eyes. Only when you’re calm can I take your pulse properly.”

“Physician Lee!”

“We haven’t even tried the final method yet. I’ll do my utmost to manage your condition, so never tell me to leave again.”

Ho Il-gwang appeared behind Gyeong Do-cheon, who had returned to his quarters and was sipping liquor.

Without turning around, Gyeong Do-cheon asked,

“How was it?”

“He went into the infirmary.”

“He didn’t leave?”

“That’s right.”

“Hm.”

Gyeong Do-cheon rubbed his chin and snorted.

“So even if he’s accepted death, he means to live as long as he can.”

Within the clan, only Lee Jung-myeong knew Gyeong In-geol’s secret. Even if there were someone else he didn’t know about, it would be very few.

He expected him to send Lee Jung-myeong out right away to contact Gyeong Hang.

“From this moment, check everyone who leaves the clan grounds.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

“Go.”

“First Young Master.”

Ho Il-gwang asked carefully.

“A report just came in that someone saw an old man who looked like the Elder Patriarch.”

Pasak!

The shattered cup scattered into fragments, but every drop of liquor inside vaporized and vanished.

Ho Il-gwang’s eyes wavered.

‘Tremendous internal energy.’

It wasn’t something possible with just a lot of internal energy. Without understanding explosive force, it was impossible.

‘Since when did he…!’

Gyeong Do-cheon dusted off his hands and asked,

“Where did they say he was?”

“We can’t be sure it was the Elder Patriarch, but…”

“Ho Il-gwang.”

As Gyeong Do-cheon slowly turned around, his face was twisted like a ghost. Ho Il-gwang bowed without meaning to.

“Since when did you learn to think in front of me?”

“S-sorry!”

“Answer what I asked. Where is he?”

“They say he’s headed for the Investigation and Defense Court Master’s residence.”

“Hoh.”

Gyeong Do-cheon’s smile deepened.

“And of all places, he went there. What a hopeless old man.”

Ho Il-gwang couldn’t add that it still wasn’t certain.

“Where is Woo Gyeong-baek right now?”

“He should be in his office.”

Gyeong Do-cheon rose from his seat.

“Send word that I want to meet. And I don’t need an escort. You’ll guard this place in my stead.”

That night.

“Heh heh. Honestly. I was promoted less than three days ago. I haven’t even memorized all the underlings’ names, and you want to see me already?”

Contrary to his words, Woo Gyeong-baek’s puffy face was full of smiles.

Gyeong Do-cheon bowed his head.

“My apologies. To bother someone busy with Alliance work.”

“Heh heh heh! The fact you can’t take a joke as a joke means something urgent is going on.”

“That’s right.”

Woo Gyeong-baek was inwardly puzzled.

‘So there really is something.’

He had not-short ties with Gyeong Do-cheon. It wasn’t deep, but considering the bribes and help he’d taken, he clearly wasn’t someone he could treat lightly.

He truly believed in Gyeong Do-cheon’s ability. This youth had recognized him early and supported him for years.

Young, but someone who would become big. And despite pushing him up to rise all this time, he had never asked for a favor.

‘So it’s today.’

Given all the money, women, buildings, and houses he’d taken, there wasn’t much he wouldn’t do.

“It’s all thanks to you that I could rise to this seat. I always thought I needed to repay the debt, and it seems the time has finally come.”

Woo Gyeong-baek spoke frankly.

“You look like you’ve got something on your mind. I’ll grant any request, so speak without holding back.”

“Then I’ll speak plainly.”

Gyeong Do-cheon explained that the situation had turned bad, politely but clearly.

Woo Gyeong-baek clicked his tongue.

“No wonder First Young Master Gyeong is rattled. Don’t take it too hard. Even if you’re a heaven-sent talent, you can’t control every variable in the world. That’s why you need someone like me, isn’t it?”

“I have no face. I shouldn’t be seeking your aid over a matter like this.”

“Haha! You bastard, how can a man who’s going to climb straight up with me past Sichuan and all the way to the Heavenly Will Alliance’s main base come in with shoulders drooping like that?”

Woo Gyeong-baek laughed as he refilled Gyeong Do-cheon’s cup.

“I’ll use every ounce of my strength to send that old man back to your side.”

“I can only be grateful.”

Gyeong Do-cheon didn’t doubt for a second that Woo Gyeong-baek would do it. He’d been feeding him money behind the scenes because he believed he was that kind of man.

“But there is one problem.”

“Yes?”

Woo Gyeong-baek scratched his head.

“I haven’t been Vice Branch Master for long, and I’m technically above the Investigation and Defense Court Master, but we still respect each other’s boundaries.”

“Yes. I know.”

Even knowing that, he had come to him. That meaning was hidden in Gyeong Do-cheon’s words.

“Hm. The Investigation and Defense Court Master… Then there’s only one way.”

“…”

“We’ll have to ask the Branch Chief.”

Gyeong Do-cheon’s eyes deepened.

“You mean Sichuan Branch Chief, great hero Mun Jung?”

“That’s right.”

“That man is…”

“You can trust him. I went to see him from the first day and talked about a lot of things, and that man isn’t ordinary either.”

If nothing else, Woo Gyeong-baek could smell corruption like a ghost. In that regard, Gyeong Do-cheon trusted his eye.

“He’s probably off in some brothel rutting around right now. I’ll contact him immediately and connect him with you.”

“Is that possible?”

“Heh heh. Considering what you’ve done for me, this is nothing. But if you get acquainted with the Branch Chief and start neglecting me, I’ll be hurt.”

Gyeong Do-cheon smiled broadly.

“How could that be? To me, there will always only be you, Hero Woo.”

“Heh heh! All right, then, since we’re talking about it, shall we move right away?”

An hour later.

The two arrived at Do Kang-eon’s River Dragon Grand Pavilion, said to be the finest in Sichuan.