Heavenly Inquisition Sword

Chapter 315: Winning Even in Defeat

Yeon Jeokha, despite being a member of the Green Forest, wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol. According to Old Shim, the Sage of Heaven and Earth, liquor was only good for wetting one’s lips.

‘This liquor is truly awful.’

He didn’t like the sour and bitter taste at all. His preference was for the sweet Hyangseolju. Setting the cup aside, Yeon Jeokha stared intently at Dong Yuso, the Golden Guard officer.

“What do you want?”

Dong Yuso set down his cup, a slight look of disappointment crossing his face.

“Is it necessary to talk business so soon?”

“Business? I’m from the Green Forest.”

Yeon Jeokha frowned. Dong Yuso’s words reminded him of the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord, who used to start conversations the same way before assigning him uncomfortable tasks.

“Isn’t the Green Forest also a subject of the Emperor?”

“Why are you changing the subject?”

“I’m just saying that you and I can also talk business.”

“Ah, no! I’ve had enough of the Grand Chieftain’s troubles. I’m not getting involved in more outside matters.”

“You must get involved.”

“Why?”

Yeon Jeokha glared defiantly, thinking, ‘Why should I do it if I don’t want to?’

Then, Dong Yuso suddenly changed the subject.

“Do you know how your uncle is doing?”

“I’ve done enough in the Heaven and Earth Alliance. What more do you want?”

“Don’t get worked up. I just wanted to know how he’s doing.”

“Has something happened?”

“No, no need to worry. It’s good news.”

“What news?”

“Your cousin Yuhwa is about to get married.”

“Ah, really? That’s great. And what does that have to do with me? If I’m invited, I’ll attend.”

“Let’s leave business for later. It seems you have some prejudices about meeting with me.”

Yeon Jeokha drank the liquor with irritation.

‘Business? Prejudices? What is he talking about?’

If his interlocutor were from the Green Forest, they’d already have been beaten up. But with Dong Yuso, an officer, he had to hold back. If he antagonized the Golden Guard, both the Green Forest and the inn he had worked so hard to buy would suffer.

“Anyway, today I sought you out to confirm some rumors.”

“Wasn’t it to talk business?”

“That’s not urgent. Rather, I wanted to confirm some rumors.”

“What rumors?”

“I’ve heard that the Yoomyung Cult and the Heaven and Earth Alliance plan to end the war. Is that true?”

Yeon Jeokha observed Dong Yuso’s expression before responding. The Golden Guard had planned to use the Heaven and Earth Alliance to destroy the Yoomyung Cult. However, the results had been disastrous for the Alliance, leading to peace negotiations.

“Well, the truth is…”

Yeon Jeokha summarized the meeting of the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

“…and today we decided to start peace negotiations with the Yoomyung Cult. How did you hear about it so quickly?”

“There are many martial artists who communicate with officials.”

“Ah, I see… communication…”

Yeon Jeokha had nothing more to say. The world of martial artists wasn’t as independent as it seemed. They often criticized officials in public, but in private, they assisted them.

‘Well, I’m one of them too, so I can’t complain.’

He reflected on how he had become so entangled with the Golden Guard.

‘But why does Dong Yuso seem so calm?’

Although the Heaven and Earth Alliance had not met expectations, Dong Yuso didn’t seem upset.

“The Golden Guard hasn’t achieved its goals, but you don’t seem concerned.”

“Though there are problems, I don’t consider the Heaven and Earth Alliance a failure.”

“Why? The Alliance has been defeated repeatedly.”

“I have a question.”

“What?”

Dong Yuso stared intently at Yeon Jeokha, who didn’t avert his gaze. The seriousness of the atmosphere made him think that the main point was coming.

“Did you meet with the Leader of the Yoomyung Cult on Pungji Mountain?”

“Yes, so what?”

Dong Yuso suddenly raised his right hand. Suddenly, the metallic sound of doors closing echoed around them.

Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.

Startled, Yeon Jeokha stood up, knocking over the table.

“What are you doing?”

He shouted angrily. The windows were blocked by metal plates. Undoubtedly, the door was also sealed.

Though furious, he didn’t attack Dong Yuso. If they were both trapped, there was no intent to kill.

Dong Yuso calmly stood up and knocked on the window, hitting the metal plate.

Bang. Bang.

“These plates are controlled by a mechanism. They’re an inch thick. Don’t think about breaking them.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Yeon Jeokha’s voice turned sharp. He didn’t hide his anger. He had considered Dong Yuso an ally, but now he felt betrayed.

“The plates are covered with talismans made by the country’s best sorcerers.”

“Why?”

“Because you met with the Leader of the Yoomyung Cult.”

Yeon Jeokha began to understand.

‘Does the Golden Guard know about the Leader’s power?’

It was understandable. Her words could influence even the most powerful.

“Do you fear that I’m under her spell?”

Dong Yuso’s expression relaxed slightly, but he didn’t lower his guard.

“Yes. I’m risking my life to verify your state. I’m going to place a talisman on you. For both our sakes, don’t move.”

“What kind of talisman?”

Yeon Jeokha started to calm down. Dong Yuso was risking his life, which meant he didn’t plan to harm him.

Dong Yuso pulled out a strange paper with red characters.

“It’s a destruction talisman. If you’re under her spell, you’ll feel pain.”

Quickly, Dong Yuso placed the talisman on Yeon Jeokha’s chest.

Thump.

“Ugh.”

Yeon Jeokha let out a groan, but only from the impact of the blow. Dong Yuso, seeing that the talisman didn’t burn, put it away.

“If you were under her spell, the talisman would have burned. I always believed you weren’t under her influence.”

“Your hit was more painful than the talisman.”

“This is my first time doing this. Come on, let’s move to another place.”

Dong Yuso knocked on the plate several times, and the plates retracted. He led Yeon Jeokha to an adjacent house, clean but with the same drink.

Dong Yuso filled another cup and asked:

“What happened on Pungji Mountain?”

“How detailed do you want me to be?”

Dong Yuso laughed heartily.

“I’ve never met anyone like you. I’ll be frank. We share a common enemy. Even if the Heaven and Earth Alliance retreats, we won’t. How much can you tell me?”

Yeon Jeokha felt moved. If Dong Yuso had demanded to know everything, he would have withheld information.

‘As much as I want…?’

Initially, he came to the Heaven and Earth Alliance under pressure from the Grand Chieftain. But now…

Yeon Jeokha began to talk about the Formation of the Eight Trigrams of Heaven and Earth. Dong Yuso accepted the story without hesitation.

“I managed to escape the formation and found the Leader. I needed a cure for Old Shim. If not for that, I wouldn’t have gone.”

“Did the Leader give you the cure easily?”

“She asked me to capture one of the Great Demon Generals alive in return.”

“That means…”

“Yes, there are people in the Yoomyung Cult who have betrayed her. I don’t know if the war is because of that or something else.”

“I knew it.”

“You knew?”

Yeon Jeokha looked at him in surprise. How could the Golden Guard know about the betrayal?

“We have people close to the Leader and Pungji Mountain. A few days before the espionage team arrived, four of the Great Demon Generals went to see the Leader. If they were in secret, there must have been internal problems.”

‘So those four are the traitors. But why didn’t the Leader eliminate them? With her power and formation, it wouldn’t have been difficult.’

Dong Yuso continued:

“Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. What are the names of those four?”

“Red Moon, Swordsman of Chaos, Hammer of Evil, and Heavenly Blood Demon.”

Yeon Jeokha’s eyes gleamed. Among the traitors was Red Moon.

Dong Yuso, knowing their betrayal, couldn’t contain his excitement. He needed to report the news quickly.

“Yeon Jeokha, the Heaven and Earth Alliance hasn’t failed. The war caused the division. It was the war that divided them.”

Yeon Jeokha nodded. If they wanted to credit the Heaven and Earth Alliance, he had no reason to disagree.

“If there’s a division, we must prepare. Let’s go.”

Dong Yuso quickly stood up. In his position, linking the division to the war was easy.

Yeon Jeokha also rose without hesitation.

Before leaving, Dong Yuso looked Yeon Jeokha in the eyes and said:

“Your merit is great. Without you, there wouldn’t be a Heaven and Earth Alliance. There will be good news soon.”

That meant rewards and secrecy.

“It’s nothing…”

Yeon Jeokha smiled shyly. He had been pushed between the Grand Chieftain and the Golden Guard, but now it seemed like a blessing.