Chapter 73: The Traitor

"Good work. I’ll take this with me."

Receiving the sword from the warrior of the Court of Justice who had been standing guard in the frozen hall, Yoo Jinhak stepped into the Azure Dragon Hall.

The moment the familiar sight of the inner chamber spread before him, every gaze fell upon him.

In the countless eyes staring at him, there were as many emotions as people.

Hwangbo Geon’s bewilderment.

Jaegal Hoon’s relief.

Jeok Seongja’s anger.

Namgung Myeong’s hostility.

But among them, what drew Yoo Jinhak’s attention was, without question, only one person.

‘You look as though you knew I would come.’

It was Tang Sewoon’s calm gaze, without even the slightest tremor.

Yet, that was not the only thing that surprised him.

It hadn’t been that long since he last saw him, and yet—

‘…Supreme Peak Master Level?’

Tang Sewoon had surpassed the Peak Level and reached the Supreme Peak Master Level.

A talent befitting a true chivalrous warrior, encountered after such a long time.

Jinhak had expected it would take at least ten years for him to shock the martial world, and yet—

‘It seems I’ve underestimated you far too much.’

After all, it had been Sewoon who provided him with not only the method of tracing the Fragrance-Dissolving Water but also the key to new enlightenment.

If it were under ordinary circumstances, he would have spent the entire night in discussion with Sewoon over martial philosophy.

‘But now is not the time.’

Yoo Jinhak tore his gaze from Sewoon and examined the Elders of the Elder Faction seated within the chamber.

And naturally, three characters he had once glimpsed through the Water Mirror surfaced vividly in his mind.

[Alliance – Rat – Contact]

Yoo Jinhak’s eyes gleamed coldly.

‘Among them, there is a spy.’

Astonishingly, he was claiming that one of the Elders of the Elder Faction had aided a group plotting to stir chaos in Kaifeng.

Impossible to believe.

For these were the very lords of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Seven Great Clans.

Yet Yoo Jinhak’s conviction had a clear basis.

When he traced the bloody footprints left behind in the massacre of the slash-and-burn village all the way to Kaifeng, he discovered evidence that no one could have accomplished without the help of a Murim Alliance Elder.

‘…The problem is that I cannot identify which one is the spy.’

The reasons were complex.

First, the spy had created an extremely convoluted chain of command, ensuring that no one could ever trace the ultimate superior who ordered the Elders’ assistance.

Second, every single one of the Elders of the Elder Faction was already steeped in corruption, their crimes so tangled together with past misdeeds that it had become impossible to distinguish one from another.

Thus, Yoo Jinhak was left with only one final method.

"Chief Strategist."

"Yes, Alliance Leader."

"Explain my recent actions to the Elders."

"…!"

Yes. To burn down the entire hut, just to drag the hidden vermin out and kill it.

---

"So, to summarize the Chief Strategist’s words—there exists a mysterious group that has revived and recruited the Grand Demonic Heads, and they are secretly scheming to throw the murim into chaos?"

"That is correct."

Gasps and sighs erupted from all corners of the chamber.

With the exception of the information about discovering the traitor’s traces in the last slash-and-burn village, the entirety of the situation was laid bare before everyone.

The shocking revelations, entirely unforeseen, left all present with expressions of confusion and unease.

‘This is good!’

All except for one man—Sewoon.

No one else knew, but the “mysterious group” the Alliance Leader spoke of was, of course, the Blood Cult.

Thanks to his early contact with the Poison Demon, the Alliance Leader had begun tracking the Blood Cult himself and now seemed to have uncovered tangible results.

Sewoon himself had planted clues with Jang Sopyeong of the Beggars’ Sect that could lead to uncovering a Blood Cult branch.

If these two matters converged into one—

‘We may be able to face them in battle fully prepared.’

This was the very opportunity for the Blood Cult’s existence to be revealed to the martial world far earlier than in the original timeline.

As Sewoon’s eyes gleamed—

"Hahaha!"

"!!"

Suddenly, someone burst into laughter.

The laugh was dripping with obvious mockery and ridicule.

The culprit was none other than Jeok Seongja of the Qingcheng Sect.

"Listening quietly, Chief Strategist, your scheme seems far too shallow, does it not?"

"…What do you mean by that?"

"As I hear it, I cannot help but suspect—"

Jeok Seongja twisted his lips and alternated his gaze between Yoo Jinhak and Jaegal Hoon.

"—that this is nothing more than a fabricated tale, concocted in advance by you, Chief Strategist, to justify the Alliance Leader’s inexplicable travels."

"…!"

"Of course, the Poison Demon’s appearance was indeed shocking. But an unknown power? And you expect us to believe that nonsense?"

"…!"

"Hah! Next you’ll be telling us the fallen Demonic Cult has suddenly risen again."

"Elder Jeok! Watch your words!"

"Tch! If you wished to attempt such a farce, you should have at least brought convincing evidence."

"Who says there is no evidence?"

"!!"

A voice cut through their exchange.

It was Yoo Jinhak.

Caught off guard by the completely unexpected reply, Jeok Seongja faltered, then slowly asked again.

"…Then you mean there truly is evidence, Alliance Leader?"

"Indeed."

"!!"

Yoo Jinhak answered without a trace of hesitation.

A frigid silence fell over the chamber.

The Elders glanced at one another, swallowing nervously.

If evidence truly existed, this would be the gravest incident since the founding of the Murim Alliance.

The spy guilty of treason would not only be executed but would see his entire clan and sect annihilated.

Just as every gaze locked on Yoo Jinhak—

"Half a month ago, one slash-and-burn village suffered a tragedy."

"…!"

"All the adults were slaughtered, and only the young boys and girls were abducted alive and smuggled into Kaifeng. Adding the other suspected sites of slaughter, no less than a hundred children have been taken by them thus far."

“!?”

The story had gone so far beyond what they expected that even the Elders, who had been scoffing until now, revealed unmistakable signs of alarm.

But only for a moment.

Fearing suspicion, they quickly composed themselves, drawing up their qi and managing their expressions with rigid precision.

‘So, none of them appear connected to the kidnappings?’

Of course, to Yoo Jinhak, such efforts were utterly useless.

Ssssshh!

The Golden Purity Eyes were already in effect, peering into the heart-realms of all within his sight.

At this point, the only ones who knew of the Alliance Leader’s ability with the Golden Purity Eyes were the Boyeon Divine Nun and Sewoon.

Before his regression, it had only become known during the war between the Blood Cult and the Murim Alliance.

Thus, none of the Elders here were able to defend themselves, exposing their heart-realms completely.

This was Yoo Jinhak’s stratagem to flush out the traitor.

The truth was, Yoo Jinhak had no evidence.

All his earlier words and actions were nothing more than bluffs, meant to draw out the spy through the Golden Purity Eyes.

He spoke again.

“Furthermore, ten days ago, it was confirmed that the Murim Alliance’s treasury lost the Mist Moon Blade without explanation.”

“……!!”

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

The Mist Moon Blade was one of the treasured weapons managed within the Alliance’s vaults.

A blade with the special ability to amplify its wielder’s qi while shrouding them in concealing mist.

Who would dare leak such a treasure?

Flinch!

“…!”

At that moment, Jinhak’s Golden Purity Eyes caught someone reacting to his second revelation.

Not one, but two people.

‘…Why him?’

One of them was so unexpected that Jinhak felt a surge of confusion. But he quickly steadied his mind.

To solidify his suspicions, he continued with a third revelation.

“Lastly, four days ago, it was confirmed that a cursed object, the Taxidermy of the ‘Nao Fish,’ was smuggled into Kaifeng through the Black Market.”

“!!”

A cursed object.

An item imbued with sorcerous power, whether formed naturally or artificially.

Such things were strictly forbidden from entering any city under the Alliance’s jurisdiction.

For most cursed objects contained disaster-grade power that could inflict devastating harm upon ordinary civilians.

The leakage of the Alliance’s treasury and the smuggling of a cursed object into Kaifeng—

Both were impossible without the authority of someone at the very highest tier of the Murim Alliance.

And as soon as Yoo Jinhak finished speaking—

‘Now!’

The very same two people from before revealed their inner turmoil once again.

The first was steeped in fear, anxiety, and wariness.

The second revealed unrest, confusion, and concern.

Yoo Jinhak didn’t hesitate.

Flash!

Kicking off with explosive force, Yoo Jinhak’s body shot forward.

To others, it seemed as though a lightning flash split the hall.

His figure became a whirlwind rushing straight ahead.

“!!”

“-!!!”

None in the hall even thought to resist.

Kwagagaga!

Kuuuuuuum!

The full surge of Manifestation Realm essence power exploded outward, radiating destructive, overwhelming pressure that none could withstand.

Only Namgung Myeong barely managed to avert his gaze against the crushing force.

‘…!’

Crunchhh!

With one hand, Yoo Jinhak seized the spy by the nape, and smashed his face into the floor of the inner chamber.

Before unrighteousness, he once more became the Sword Emperor who had annihilated countless heretics and deviants.

The severity of his presence was like the Immovable Wisdom King himself, punishing evil spirits.

“So it was you.”

“Grk, kkh! Al… Alliance…!”

Half his face torn and mangled in an instant, Hwangbo Geon convulsed in agony.

He struggled to break free, but Jinhak’s qi had already locked down his entire body.

“Where did you take the children? What is their purpose?”

“I… grrk. I don’t kno… cough. Some… upstart tycoon wanted collectibles, so… grhh… hhhehh.”

“…You dare mock me to the very end.”

“Gyaaah! It’s true, it’s true! The Mist Moon Blade and the cursed object, that was me! Ugh… But what the Alliance Leader speaks of, some great force—I really don’t know anything about that…!”

“!!”

“Wha—what!”

The revelation that the Alliance Leader’s words were true shook the Elders to their core, their eyes trembling as though in an earthquake.

Confusion and fear gripped all of them—

“Alliance Leader!”

Suddenly, a desperate voice called out to Yoo Jinhak.

He turned, and saw Sewoon, face drained of all color, staring at him.

For a brief moment, Jinhak’s eyes reflected his conflicted feelings.

‘Go on. Tell me. Why did you react the way you did?’

For it was Sewoon who had been the second suspicious reaction.

But Sewoon, unaware of this, urgently blurted incomprehensible words.

“Alliance Leader, time is of the essence! Postpone the traitor’s judgment—we must bring the Shrine Maiden Sect Leader to Kaifeng immediately!”

“Young Lord Tang, this is not your place to interfere!”

“…Why do you speak of the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden now?”

Jaegal Hoon quickly tried to stop Tang Sewoon, thinking he failed to grasp the situation. But Yoo Jinhak, still trusting him, pressed on.

“The Mist Moon Blade and the Nao Fish’s Taxidermy cannot be overlooked!! If those are combined with the children being used as sacrifices—!!”

Before Sewoon could finish—

Kyaaaaaa!

Kuaaaaagh!

“!!”

“?!”

Horrific screams suddenly rang out.

Krrrrrrrgh!

The dreadful cries overlapped and magnified until they shook the entire chamber.

The Azure Dragon Hall was a perfectly sealed space without a single window.

For such screams to reach inside through the walls, they could only be death cries at the very edge of life.

‘Outside—!’

‘Something has happened!!’

Flash!

Flaaash!

Without hesitation, everyone rushed outside.

“!!”

“!!!”

And then—

They were struck dumb.

Shhhhhh!

It was as though the heavens themselves had ruptured, unleashing a torrential downpour.

And—

“Aaagh!”

“Ghhkk, grrk!!”

“Kuaaaa!”

The people struck by the falling raindrops shrieked in unbearable agony.

Sssshhh!

Ssszzzzz!

Their skin smoked and corroded where the rain struck.

Each drop was laden with dreadful acidity and poison.

“The sky… it’s bleeding…?!”

“What in the world is this…!!”

The heavens over Kaifeng were dyed blood-red.

Hell itself had descended upon the living world.

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