FVN Chapter 423 : Demonic Master’s Ingenious Scheme (2)
Chapter 423 : Demonic Master’s Ingenious Scheme (2)
Chapter 423: Demonic Master’s Ingenious Scheme (2)
“Senior Brother, placing a treasured blade like the Thousand-Blood Dagger in such a cheap box as a gift would devalue its worth. I happened to acquire a fairly luxurious case while out in the jianghu recently.”
“Really? And why did you have something like that?”
As the situation unfolded too conveniently, Yang Gwak looked suspiciously at Eum Sajeok and asked.
At those words, the Demonic Master replied with a bitter expression.
“To be honest, I bought it to win over Junior Sister, but since she’s no longer with us, I suppose it’s time I put it to use.”
“Ah, I see.”
Yang Gwak understood, knowing that Eum Sajeok had long harbored feelings for Junior Sister Hong Ahyul.
“My apologies.”
“It’s all right. It’s made of ivory, so I believe it will pair perfectly with the Thousand-Blood Dagger.”
“Oh, that’s a splendid combination.”
“Wait just a moment. I’ll fetch it from my quarters.”
“Please do.”
In truth, the ivory case was indeed something Eum Sajeok had purchased long ago with the intention of giving it to Hong Ahyul as a gift. At that time, he couldn’t have imagined it would end up being used this way.
Back in his quarters, the Demonic Master first carefully ground the Dragon Bone he had received from Yong Hwarin.
Gathering the True Qi of the Fourth Jiazi into his hands, he created a small space and, wearing leather gloves, began his work inside it.
Then, he gently embedded the finely ground Dragon Bone into the inner ivory layer of the case and lightly brushed it with glue.
‘Once this glue dries and a day passes, the Dragon Bone will become dust and fill the case. Opening it now won’t result in poisoning, but if it’s opened after a day, the Dragon Bone dust will cause poisoning.’
The Demonic Master had even predicted that Gwan Changgi would likely open the gift once and then not open it again until he intended to kill Young Master Il.
“Oh, now this truly looks like a perfect set. They match beautifully.”
When Yang Gwak saw the ivory case brought by the Demonic Master, he grinned widely.
The ivory handle of the Thousand-Blood Dagger and the ivory case complemented each other seamlessly.
“Junior Sister is still doing us a favor in times like these.”
“It cost me a pretty penny.”
Yang Gwak patted the Demonic Master’s shoulder as he wore a faint look of regret.
“I understand. I’ll make it up to you fully. That aside, I believe it’s time we move now.”
Having acquired even the ivory case, Yang Gwak no longer wished to delay.
He immediately headed to the pavilion where the Second Master resided.
As Yang Gwak approached the pavilion with the case in hand, the escort warriors blocked his path.
“Young Master Il, what brings you here?”
“What else? I’ve come to see the Second Master.”
“Please wait a moment.”
One of the escorts went inside to report and soon returned.
“You may enter.”
It hadn’t bothered him before, but today, the fact that he had to go through these procedures to meet his master—despite being his disciple—felt particularly irritating.
“Master, your disciple Yang Gwak has arrived.”
“What is it?”
Without even opening the door, Yi Taegong responded from inside.
It meant he expected a brief report if it wasn’t anything important.
That was how it always was, but for some reason, it grated on him more than usual today. Still, Yang Gwak swallowed his irritation, reminding himself this was for the future.
“Your birthday is approaching, so I’ve prepared a gift.”
“Then why bring it so early instead of on the day?”
There was no emotion in his voice.
Even if it was from a disciple, he didn’t expect much.
“It’s not something I can give in front of many others, that’s why.”
At last, those words elicited a reaction from Yi Taegong.
“Is that so?”
A moment of silence passed, followed by his voice again.
“Come in.”
Hearing the faint anticipation in that voice, Yang Gwak smiled.
Entering the room, he greeted Yi Taegong Gwan Changgi and then stood still with his head bowed.
“Is that what you’re holding my gift?”
Gwan Changgi sat on the Throne Mat, gazing out the window.
“Yes, Master.”
“Hmph. Bring it here.”
As Yang Gwak approached, he felt a sharp killing aura descend from the ceiling.
They were wary in case he tried anything foolish.
Yang Gwak set the case on the table and quietly stepped back.
Gwan Changgi slowly stood and stared intently at the case.
‘Sheesh… to think a master would be this wary of a disciple’s gift…’
Everything felt oddly irritating today.
He had long grown used to this kind of life, but he couldn’t understand why it was bothering him now.
‘If I become Supreme, I won’t have to witness such scenes anymore.’
With that thought, he calmed the rising waves of frustration.
“A fine case indeed.”
Seeing the Second Master pleased with the ivory case, Yang Gwak felt glad he had listened to Eum Sajeok.
After confirming nothing was wrong, Gwan Changgi opened the case.
Click!
Inside lay a dagger with no discernible aura, but since its handle was made of ivory, it caught Gwan Changgi’s interest.
“Hmph. Why did you say this couldn’t be shown before others?”
Still not touching it, Gwan Changgi asked.
Yang Gwak stepped forward.
“Allow me to demonstrate.”
As he moved, Gwan Changgi raised his hand to stop him.
“No need. I’ll handle it.”
From the confident look on Yang Gwak’s face, Gwan Changgi realized this wasn’t just some expensive dagger.
And the moment he grasped the dagger, he exclaimed.
The chilling killing aura and the sharp energy it released made Gwan Changgi utter a name.
“This is…! Isn’t this the Thousand-Blood Dagger!”
When the Second Master looked at him in shock, Yang Gwak nodded proudly.
He knew that, at times like this, action spoke louder than words.
“Hooh! Truly an item worth avoiding the eyes of others.”
Examining the Thousand-Blood Dagger thoroughly, Gwan Changgi mimicked Yang Gwak’s earlier gesture.
He wrapped his finger with Protective Energy and lightly nicked it with the dagger.
Despite not injecting any Qi, the dagger easily pierced the Fourth Jiazi-level Protective Energy and cut his finger.
“Truly incredible!”
Amazed, Gwan Changgi paused for a moment in thought and then burst into hearty laughter.
“Wahahahahaha!”
After laughing for a long while, he turned a cold gaze toward Yang Gwak.
“Gwak-ah.”
It had truly been a long time since the Second Master called him “Gwak-ah.”
“Yes, Second Master.”
“What does this gift mean?”
“Only that something precious came into my hands, and I thought of you, Second Master.”
“Is that so? Then why bring such a valuable gift to me instead of the First Master?”
“Since the First Master has the Great Young Master, I assumed he would receive a fine gift already. That’s why I brought this one to you, Second Master.”
As Yang Gwak hid his true intentions behind his words, Gwan Changgi stared at him intently before letting out a slight chuckle.
“Gwak-ah, who else knows about this gift?”
“No one. I acquired it discreetly. No one knows except you and me, Second Master.”
“Very well, I understand. I shall gratefully accept this gift.”
“I’m glad you’re pleased with your disciple’s offering. Then, I shall take my leave.”
Once Yang Gwak departed, Gwan Changgi sheathed the Thousand-Blood Dagger into its scabbard and closed the case.
He stored it among his treasured belongings and then sat back down on the Throne Mat.
As he sat there gazing out the window, countless expressions flickered across his face in a brief span of time.
The Demonic Master immediately began implementing his next plan.
He retrieved a painting that Eum Sajeok had acquired long ago.
“This bastard really is devious. He managed to get his hands on something this valuable. I wonder who he planned to give it to?”
The painting he brought out was ‘Early Spring’ (Jo Chun-do) by the Northern Song Dynasty artist Guo Xi (곽희).
It was one of Guo Xi’s masterpieces, regarded as the finest painting of the Northern Song period.
The Demonic Master recalled how Eum Sajeok had razed an entire painting studio to the ground in order to obtain it.
Because the First Master was fond of paintings from the Song Dynasty, Eum Sajeok had killed over ten people to acquire it.
“Hmph! These bastards really would do anything just to become heir.”
Muttering to himself as he combed through Eum Sajeok’s memories, the Demonic Master spoke.
“This isn’t the time to use this yet.”
This painting was not meant to be used immediately.
It was something to be used right before the Second Master moved to kill the First Master.
The problem, however, was that Yi Taegong Gwan Changgi might not show his ambition just because he’d acquired the Thousand-Blood Dagger.
“That’s fine. All I have to do is make him move.”
If it had been Eum Sajeok, he wouldn’t have dared such a scheme. But to the Demonic Master, this level of plotting was nothing worth fussing over.
Under the cover of night, a large number of martial artists descended from Mount Tianzhong and headed somewhere.
Their numbers easily surpassed several hundred—nearly half the forces of the Heavenly Central Sect.
Those monitoring the sect all released Flying Pigeons at once.
Two hours later, the one who received the pigeon smiled.
“At last, confirmation that the Heavenly Central Sect’s martial artists are headed to Sangmubo.”
A scorpion and snake tangled together were tattooed across the person’s wrist and forearm.
“Hrmm, just as I expected.”
To this, Sanbi responded.
“With half of the Heavenly Central Sect’s power gone, let’s strike.”
Soyonghwa and Sanbi divided their forces, deciding to launch an assault on Sangmubo. Sanbi would lead the main attack force.
They also rallied warriors from nearby branches of the Sacred Heaven Cult.
This was part of a plan to ensure that those attacking the Heavenly Central Sect would be elite.
Sanbi turned toward the masked man and asked:
“By the way, where is this ‘force’ you boasted about?”
He was skeptical of the masked man, who spoke so confidently yet hadn’t shown any troops.
At least Sanbi had gathered over a hundred warriors from branch forces, but this masked man had only words to offer.
The masked man stared quietly at Sanbi.
There was a faint look of disappointment in his eyes.
“I haven’t shown you yet, have I?”
Fweeeeeee!
As he whistled sharply, masked warriors in black silently emerged from beyond thirty jang away, like ghosts.
Seeing this, Sanbi finally understood why the masked man had looked at him with such disappointment.
‘He was disappointed because I couldn’t even detect the presence of his subordinates.’
Suddenly, Sanbi’s face flushed red. The fact that his martial prowess wasn’t even sharp enough to sense the masked man’s men embarrassed him.
Though they were thirty jang away, Sanbi had passed through the Absolute Formation of the Sword Debate of the Three Externals. Not detecting them still stung his pride deeply.
“Your subordinates are quite impressive.”
He managed a short reply, barely recovering his shaken pride.
The masked man calmly looked at Sanbi and spoke.
“Let’s go.”
As the masked man stepped forward, Sanbi, feeling his spirit shrink in the man’s presence, surged his Qi and unleashed his movement arts with full force.
At the very least, he didn’t want to lose to him in movement arts.
Yong Hwarin no longer worried much about Sangmubo.
He believed the enemy wouldn’t mount a full-scale assault, as the purpose of the attack was to disperse the Heavenly Central Sect’s forces.
Even if an unexpected, large-scale attack came, it wouldn’t matter. He believed the force he had dispatched would be more than capable of withstanding it.
That belief wasn’t wrong.
But Yong Hwarin had overlooked one thing:
The masked man who was aiding Soyonghwa and Moonwoo.