The God of Death and the God of War - Chapter 55
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Evil Hegemon Martial God
Chapter 55
-Baekya Daeju, Jeok-un shall prepare immediately upon receiving this order and depart for the mission site at the first watch tonight (7-9 PM).
Dokgo Cheon’s order had been issued.
There was no turning back now.
Perhaps because of that,
Dokgo Cheon had a strange expression when Jeok-un saw him.
As if he was worried about him taking on such a terrible mission, but at the same time curious to see how he would handle it.
Of course, aside from Dokgo Cheon, there was much more hostility and mockery.
It was because he had acted so arrogantly during the meeting.
But Jeok-un didn’t care whether they barked like dogs or not, and thought about what he had to do.
‘The guys might get agitated, so I should at least show my face before leaving.’
Jeok-un headed straight to the Baekya Unit.
The Baekya Unit was the same as usual.
Since Jeok-un hadn’t told them anything about the trial.
So when they heard that Jeok-un was departing for Tongseong County as a punitive mission – a black mission –
“Wh-what?! What do you mean…?!”
Go Bok-gil flew into a rage, calling it ridiculous nonsense.
“You should rather cut your belly and resist! Rather than going on a black mission, just cutting your belly would give you a better chance of survival…! Aaah!”
“Ah, you’re being so noisy.”
Thwack-!
Go Bok-gil was knocked out by one fierce flick to the forehead.
Jeok-un chuckled and answered the tearful Go Bok-gil.
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”
When Jeok-un said that, Hae-yeon approached.
“Why?”
“Daeju-nim, could you show me the order?”
Jeok-un handed over the order, and Hae-yeon, who read through it in one go, bit her lips tightly.
“You can’t receive… any support at all.”
“Well, that’s what makes it a punishment.”
“At least let me come with-”
“Hey now, then who would guard the house, Hwang-no.”
Jeok-un cut off Hwang-no’s words sharply, then looked each of them in the eye and said.
“I’ll be back soon, so everyone just handle the tasks I’ve assigned you properly.”
“Yes, so please return safely, Daeju-nim.”
“Safe, my foot. What could those guys possibly do to me.”
Hae-yeon, who misunderstood Jeok-un’s confident words as trying to ease their worries, resolved to definitely complete the antidote development she had found clues for before Jeok-un’s return.
“Well, I trust Hwang-no will handle things well on his own.”
“I will do my best.”
“Go Bok-gil, you…”
Go Bok-gil’s eyes sparkled brightly. He was already excited, wondering what orders would be left for him.
“If I hear you went to the gambling hall while I’m gone, you’re really dead.”
“No, Daeju-nim…!”
“I’m kidding, you fool. Manage the businesses well in my place, and if you need anything, discuss it with Hwang-no and proceed.”
“Yes!”
Hearing his subordinates’ resounding responses, Jeok-un smiled.
But he couldn’t afford the luxury of taking a breather before departing.
It was already time to leave.
To solve the black mission.
* * *
Changsha, where Sadocheon is located, is in Honam Province, while the destination Tongseong County is in Hubei Province.
Naturally, this road was familiar to Jeok-un’s eyes.
‘Time really flies.’
It was the same road he had used when escaping from Jegal Sega a few months ago.
Like salmon swimming back upstream to their hometown, it was natural for Jeok-un to feel déjà vu.
But it was only similar, not exactly the same.
When he left Jegal Sega, rain was pouring down heavily, and he was alone.
Now neither was the case.
Neigh!
“Geez, why is this guy acting up.”
There was one more person beside Jeok-un.
The man was constantly watching Jeok-un’s mood and trembling nervously.
As clearly stated in the order, this mission was a punitive mission, so proceeding alone was the principle.
But Doyecheon changed his stance as soon as the black mission was confirmed.
He provided one person as support, advocating the necessity of retrieving the sacred object and restoring Sadocheon’s reputation.
But naturally, it wasn’t for Jeok-un’s sake.
‘He attached a surveillance agent to figure out my intentions for volunteering for the black mission.’
Doyecheon was truly like a hundred-year-old fox.
‘So the one he attached was…’
That guy, Gwi-mong Daeju Jang Bo-heom.
When Jeok-un glared with sharp eyes and radiated a fierce aura.
“Ha, haha. The, the weather is very nice, isn’t it, Daeju Jeok.”
Jang Bo-heom, whose pupils were shaking as if an earthquake had hit, spoke up.
His dry lips moistened with saliva showed he was extremely nervous.
His hidden sinister intentions weren’t visible.
Just like when he came right after receiving the black mission assignment, rubbing his hands like a fly and bowing deeply to him.
An attitude that showed no regard for his dignity as a Ten Heavenly Commander.
Naturally, Jang Bo-heom, who was a Daeju of the Ten Heavenly Commanders, had a much higher position than Jeok-un.
The difference between a Daeju of the Oecheon Unit and a Daeju of the Ten Heavenly Commanders was like heaven and earth.
But since Jang Bo-heom was prostrating like a frog, it was natural for Jeok-un to find it strange.
‘Is this some elaborate scheme to act like an idiot on purpose to lower my guard?’
Jeok-un thought that far, but.
The reason Jang Bo-heom was acting this way was actually simple.
-Your head works well.
-Th, thank you.
Jang Bo-heom had seen Jeok-un personally beat Yachu to death.
And ever since witnessing Jeok-un’s true nature.
‘Aaah. You’re, you’re too scary.’
Like a mouse in front of a cat, he trembled and couldn’t keep his wits about him whenever he saw Jeok-un.
-Gwi-mong Daeju Jang Bo-heom, this is your last chance.
-Jeok-un, properly surveil that guy. Find out exactly what his scheme is.
-If you disappoint me one more time…
The rest was obvious without saying.
It meant he would demand atonement through death. So Jang Bo-heom also knew this was his last chance, but.
“Did Doyecheon tell you to surveil me?”
“Huh? Yes, that’s right. He told me to immediately call a messenger bird and report if there were any unusual movements.”
“…?”
…he absolutely couldn’t go against Jeok-un.
The situation was acknowledged so quickly that even the person asking was bewildered, and Jeok-un’s eyes calmed down a bit.
‘I did hear rumors that he strangely didn’t want to be associated with me after the Yachu incident, and that he fell out of favor with Bucheonju.’
It didn’t seem like he was just cowering in front and gossiping behind their backs, as after the Yachu incident, Jang Bo-heom had been careful with his words about Jeok-un even in front of Bucheonju’s faction.
He had even consistently maintained a defensive and passive attitude whenever they tried to scheme something, to the point that word spread that he had completely fallen out of favor with Doyecheon.
‘How was this guy before my regression.’
It’s a bit hazy, but I roughly remember.
He was under Doyecheon, then when I brought down Doyecheon, he fled to Heukpaesong and managed to preserve his life.
‘After that, didn’t he work as a spy for the Martial Arts Alliance?’
He literally had the instincts and survival skills of a Namgyeong-chung (cockroach).
When survival was involved, he was the owner of frighteningly accurate instincts.
Though I had no particular connection with him, I never heard rumors of him clinging to the Demonic Cult until the end, so his character didn’t seem completely ruined.
“Jang Bo-heom, was it.”
“Yes, yes. That’s right! Ha, haha. To think you’d remember my name. It’s an honor…”
“Excessive flattery is poison.”
“Yes! Then from now on, I’ll adjust it appropriately.”
Go Bok-gil came to mind from that brief greeting, but Jang Bo-heom was different from Go Bok-gil.
Go Bok-gil lacked awareness and invited beatings, but this guy was, how should I put it.
‘A born flatterer?’
With quick wits and a tongue as smooth as if oiled, this was the kind of material that made a natural sycophant.
‘Since Doyecheon sent him, I should consider him a spy for now.’
Well, let’s observe him a bit more.
“I like that you’re quick-witted. I’ll keep watching you.”
“Th, thank you. Haha.”
Jang Bo-heom was genuinely pleased.
-This man is real. All my instincts are telling me to latch onto this person.
It wasn’t simply because he had beaten Yachu to death, or because of the story about taking the disciple position under Sadocheonju.
It was because his instincts, which had been the greatest contributor to elevating him to the position of Gwi-mong Daeju, were telling him that Jeok-un was an existence incomparable to someone like Bucheonju.
‘No, he feels like he has even greater potential than Doyecheon, or even Saja Dohuang…’
“Well then, since it’s boring, explain the black mission I’ve been assigned.”
“Yes, yes! Then let me give you a fantastic summary.”
The farther each faction gets from their main base, the thinner their sphere of influence becomes, leading to a proliferation of sects.
Tongseong County was exactly like that.
A strategic point among strategic points, where three provinces met.
It was here, where sects belonging to the Martial Arts Alliance, Sadocheon, and Heukpaesong were in chaos, that all incidents began.
“Actually, the original owner of the divine artifact was the Martial Arts Alliance.”
The divine artifact’s name was Seolhonsu-tu (Snow Soul Gauntlets). It was an item acquired by the Sacheon Dangmun during battle with Bukhaebingung, and they made it a family treasure.
Then fifty years ago, a great battle broke out between Heukpaesong and the Martial Arts Alliance in Tongseong County, and at that time, the Poison Heart Blood Rain Dang Chu-rang died.
The problem was that Dang Chu-rang was wearing the Seolhonsu-tu, and instead of falling to the ground, he fell into the river.
A warrior from Sadocheon luckily acquired Dang Chu-rang’s corpse that had floated down the river, and afterward Sadocheon made the Seolhonsu-tu their divine artifact.
Naturally, the Dang Family, the original owners of the gauntlets, were furious, but they couldn’t exactly storm into Sadocheon.
Then ten years ago, a criminal who had committed a great sin against Sadocheon thought he could preserve his life by going to Heukpaesong, so he fled to Heukpaesong with the Seolhonsu-tu.
Thus the gauntlets’ ownership went from Bukhaebingung to the Dang Family, from the Dang Family to Sadocheon, and finally fell into Heukpaesong’s hands.
Sadocheon tried to recover the divine artifact somehow, but.
“The Heukpaesong branch consists of water bandits positioned on the river that crosses Tongseong County.”
“Since they’re on an island, approaching by boat will definitely get you spotted. Even if you sneak in, you’ll definitely get caught when coming out and have no choice but to fight a big battle.”
“If you fight like that and come out to land, the Martial Arts Alliance will notice too, so they’ll aim for the fisherman’s profit while you’re tired after battle.”
“That’s why both we and the Martial Arts Alliance have been watching each other’s moves until now.”
After explaining the overview of the mission, Jang Bo-heom scratched his head.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know any clever plan to break through this problem either…”
“What idiots. You don’t know something so easy?”
“…Pardon?”
Jang Bo-heom was truly surprised and blinked his eyes.
Jeok-un smiled wickedly.
“If you’re worried about the fisherman’s profit, just make it so that situation can’t arise, right?”
“??”
Make it so they can’t aim for the fisherman’s profit?
What does this mean?
Jang Bo-heom tilted his head, unable to understand what Jeok-un meant, but Jeok-un said no more.
He was just slowly lost in thought.
‘Tongseong County is a strategic point and also a good place for me to build my power. I’ll take control of this place as quickly as possible, then infiltrate to Poyangho in Gangxi and recover the divine weapon.’
The second of the Seven Divine Weapons was right there at Poyangho.
This was another reason why Jeok-un had volunteered for the Tongseong County mission.
It was an opportunity to naturally recover one of the Seven Divine Weapons without arousing anyone’s suspicion.
Thinking this, Jeok-un dismounted from his horse.
“Oh, are you going to rest a bit?”
“No.”
Jeok-un’s gaze turned toward Jang Bo-heom, no, toward the forest beyond him.
As he scanned every corner of the forest, dense killing intent began to rise in Jeok-un’s eyes.
“I need to clear away the mangy dogs that are clinging on before we go.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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