Because there was not much time, no cup of tea was placed on the table.Even so, the air felt composed.Two direct descendants of noble families sat facing each other, and even within a bare space, a weight of solemnity hung between them.The one who spoke first was Tang Sohwa.“Do you truly believe the Alliance Leader is offering incense right now?”The question was abrupt, yet Zhuge Inhwi allowed himself to be drawn along the path she led.“Is there any reason not to believe so?”“It is not unusual to offer incense upon returning from travel. Nothing strange in that. But for someone who will not remain here long, to burn incense so hastily—does that not seem excessive? Above all else…”Tang Sohwa added in a leisurely voice,“Was there even an incense burner in Chunhyeon Hall?”“There was not, but that does not mean incense cannot be lit there.”“To perform incense-offering when none is prepared…”Tang Sohwa’s lips curved.“I find myself wondering what kind of incense the Alliance Leader carries around on his person.”Zhuge Inhwi closed his mouth.This woman was not asking a question.She was leading him to doubt the Alliance Leader.When Zhuge Inhwi broke off the conversation, his voice turned cold.“What are you trying to say?”“How deeply does the Administrator trust the Alliance Leader?”A chill silence spread.Sohwa understood the displeasure that rose on Zhuge Inhwi’s face.There was no one in the martial world who did not know how close the two men were.Even so, Sohwa deliberately sowed discord between Zhuge Inhwi and the Alliance Leader.The Alliance Leader had confessed that Zhuge Inhwi once died trying to reveal the Blood Cult’s existence to him.Sohwa had never believed the Zhuge family’s version of events, yet she thought the man before her—the master of the Hall of Four Seasons (Sagye Hall)—might be worth trusting. He was, after all, one who had risked his life to tell the truth to the Alliance Leader.“You said strange documents had been arriving at Hahyeon Hall, did you not?”The Administrator remained silent, but Sohwa continued her questioning.“Have you heard anything about an object that clouds a person’s mind?”“Are you speaking of the Oseoksan that was at the Hubei Branch?”“Yes. And Oseoksan is not merely a drug that clouds the mind.”“Then what kind of drug is it?”“It is something that can tamper with thought and alter memory. If ingested or inhaled in the proper ratio, it brainwashes whoever breathes the smoke.”She gave up the truth with startling ease.“The Blood Cultist I faced tried to burn Oseok and use the smoke to brainwash me.”Watching Zhuge Inhwi’s unmoving expression, Sohwa murmured to herself,“The Alliance Leader said he was offering incense—then Chunhyeon Hall must already be filled with smoke.”From beneath the table, Tang Sohwa’s hidden hand rose upward.The loud rustle of paper filled the air.Tang Sohwa drew out a cloth-wrapped document and laid it to one side, then reached her hand deeper in.It was a deliberately exaggerated motion, as if showing him.Zhuge Inhwi watched carefully how the Tang clan’s eldest daughter expressed herself with her body.Soon something with the scent of medicinal herbs slipped out along her fingertips.Tang Sohwa placed a small pouch on the table.“I am a cowardly person.”It was hard to believe such nonsense, so the Administrator ignored it. Sohwa did not seem to care about his reaction either.“I fear the Alliance Leader may have made a deal with the Blood Demon, and that after tampering with everyone’s memories, he intends to send us back to our sects. Such blasphemous suspicion frightens me.”Her long fingers moved to untie the pouch. Then she took out a small pill.“This is a medicine that not many in the Tang Clan yet know. In your body, Administrator, its effect will last for about half a shichen and block reaction to Oseoksan.”Knowing that Zhuge Inhwi was blind, she still deliberately lifted the pill to her lips.Even as Tang Sohwa swallowed the medicine, Zhuge Inhwi’s expression did not change—like a man who saw nothing.Withdrawing her hand from the pouch, Sohwa spoke in an even tone.“No matter what I say, the Administrator will believe the Alliance Leader.”“……”“You asked me to give you a reason to protect me, but I am not someone gifted with eloquence. I cannot win the Administrator’s trust with words alone.”Though it sounded like mockery, it also held sincerity.“It depends solely on your choice. If you wish to see the truth, take it. If you would rather trust the Alliance Leader, throw it away.”“And why do you think I would swallow a pill you handed me? There is no guarantee this is not poison.”“Truth is not something easily obtained. Of course, for you—who can simply sit and wait for those blinded by jealousy to come running and pour information into your ears, who can drag the enemy before your eyes to argue right and wrong—truth may feel easily gained and trivial. But most people sacrifice much to find it, and sometimes they risk their lives.”Tang Sohwa’s lips curved.“It is not something one can demand from others and consume freely.”She slipped the document she had laid out back into her sleeve and said,“If there is something you desire, seek it yourself. No matter how difficult or dangerous, is truth not something one must confirm with one’s own eyes before believing it? Moreover—”A cold voice pierced the Administrator’s eardrums.“I am not so weak as to rely on another’s protection. Do not ever again try to test me with such words.”A sharp burst of qi scraped across the Administrator’s skin.It was the only honest emotion the inscrutable woman had ever revealed beneath her composed exterior.Tang Sohwa rose and left Donghyeon Hall without a bow.She was not one who lacked manners—her disregard was deliberate insult.Zhuge Inhwi could not understand Tang Sohwa’s hostility.He could not even be certain whether it was aimed at him or at headquarters itself.Staring blankly at the air, Zhuge Inhwi picked up the pouch.Thud.He took out one pill and tossed it. A hidden rat crept out and ate the pellet.The rat showed no reaction.After watching for a while, the Administrator hesitated, then took the pouch and left Donghyeon Hall.Tang Sohwa was nowhere in sight—perhaps she had already gone to Chunhyeon Hall.Zhuge Inhwi halted and faced Chunhyeon Hall.Like all the buildings of Sagye Hall, it was a stifling pavilion without a single open window.Now, the idea of offering incense inside it felt strange.Staring at Chunhyeon Hall with an unreadable face, Zhuge Inhwi drew the pouch from his breast.***“You have all worked hard.”The acrid smoke filling the chamber was unpleasant, but no one spoke of it.Only the Alliance Leader’s own voice filled Chunhyeon Hall.“To search Daebyeol Mountain for a person is as hard as finding a grain of sand spilled on the road, yet you combed every ridge. You have all worked hard.”The Alliance Leader mentioned Daebyeol Mountain, though none of them had set foot there.Sohwa kept her eyes lowered, not daring to lift her gaze toward him.“Even so, that effort was not in vain. By fortune, we found the Blood Cult’s base and rescued Young Lady Tang Sohwa—truly a blessing. Moreover, because the Blood Cult attacked Baekgeumgak, the Namgung came to assist, and thanks to that, we destroyed the cultists all the faster. Truly, there is no other word for this than heaven’s favor.”The Alliance Leader smiled as he said things that made no sense.“I imagine this was a fine experience for both the Tang Young Clan Head and the Zhuge family’s young supporters. Though you did not enter the cult’s base, you waited in the forest, slew more than a hundred blood fiends, and guarded the retreat path. They say it was thanks to the Tang Young Clan Head’s poisons and hidden weapons. Zhuge family, do not forget what you saw that day. Be sure to report it to Hahyeon Hall. Only then will everyone understand why the Tang Young Clan Head alone was so gravely injured, and none will doubt you.”The Zhuge martial men answered in perfect unison.“Yes, we will do so.”A strangely long silence followed.No one opened their mouth.All their eyes were dull, without a spark.Only the Alliance Leader continued to speak.“However, because we acted too fiercely, the Blood Cult’s base has vanished, and even their formation was destroyed. It will be impossible to find that place again. The tracking incense we used to follow Young Lady Tang has all dissipated as well…”The Alliance Leader clicked his tongue as if in regret, then finished.“Still, it is fortunate that everyone returned safely.”Reading the mood, the Alliance Leader looked at the silent faces and, reassured, continued his conditioning.“The Blood Cult of legend had arisen again, and I feared perhaps even the Blood Demon might exist, but now we have confirmed with our own eyes that the Blood Demon does not exist. Indeed, the Blood Demon we imagined was a false legend. The man leading the Blood Cult was strong, but since he fell to our hands, he cannot have been the legendary being of the stories.”The Alliance Leader bit his lip once, then opened his mouth again.“Those who were waiting for your return must have been worried. When you go back to your sects, tell them what I said.”“Yes, we will do so.”Everyone replied together. Sohwa’s lips moved faintly as she echoed their answer.The Alliance Leader, seemingly relieved, exhaled a long breath.“You all look weary. Go and rest. I will explain the details to Young Clan Head Tang Hak and the Divine Physician, then send them back. Clan Head Tang, do not worry—please go ahead.”“Yes. I will leave it to you.”When the Tang Clan Head rose, the others followed.Sohwa moved quietly with the flow and left Chunhyeon Hall.Inside the closed chamber, only the Alliance Leader and the Sagye Hall Administrator remained.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.