HDCLSSRS Ch 73

Chapter 73 Ilgwang’s Plot (3)

The precipice of Giyeon emerged before them.

Below the sheer cliff stretched a vast expanse of pale mist, and suspended above it was a single wooden bridge. The distance between the cliffs was so great that the far end of the bridge could not be seen.

“We… we’re supposed to cross that?”

Seong Muyeon’s legs trembled. The ropes connecting the planks looked far too thin, and the wooden boards themselves seemed so worn it looked like they could crumble at any moment.

“Are you scared of this?”

Baek Ryeoil scoffed, as if it were laughable.

“How could I not be?”

“It won’t collapse. Come now, Seventh Prince.”

Ilgwang was already crossing the bridge. As Baek Ryeoil too began to stride across, Seong Muyeon had no choice but to follow.

At some point, all directions—front, back, left, and right—became shrouded in hazy clouds. There was no way to tell where the bridge ended.

“Stop shaking it!”

Seong Muyeon shrieked and clung to the rope. Baek Ryeoil, who had been smirking wickedly, suddenly narrowed his eyes. He stared at the unseen far end of the bridge.

A thin breeze swept through, scattering the mist that veiled their sight—and beyond it stood an ancient fortress. A sharp, chilling aura shimmered from each floor of the stronghold. Dozens of archers had their bows trained on the bridge.

“The Seventh Prince has arrived. Lower your weapons.”

Ilgwang spoke calmly. Instantly, the menacing atmosphere dissipated, and the arrows that had been ready to strike vanished as if they’d never existed.

“Let’s go inside.”

Seong Muyeon nodded.

It felt surreal.

In the original version, Baek Ryeoil’s entry into this place had been fraught with peril. He had been attacked while crossing the bridge, the ropes had snapped, and he’d had to climb the cliff wall while dodging a hail of arrows, cutting down hundreds of demonic cultists to barely break through.

But now…

“Welcome, Seventh Prince!”

“The Seventh Prince has arrived!”

Dozens of cultists split to either side like a formal greeting party, warmly welcoming them.

“This way, please.”

Someone guided the three of them further inside. As they walked down a wide corridor with a high ceiling, they stopped before a massive door where a woman stood. Clad entirely in black, with jet-black hair, only her pale skin seemed to float in the gloom.

“To be honored with a visit from the Seventh Prince—what a privilege for Black Demon Matron.”

The woman, Black Demon Matron, smiled alluringly as she bowed, then pushed open the enormous doors, revealing a space furnished like a reception hall.

She led Seong Muyeon directly to the seat of honor.

Though it had originally belonged to the leader of this branch, the most distinguished person present was Seong Muyeon, so naturally, he ascended a few steps to sit at the highest place.

He sat as though the seat had belonged to him from the beginning. Seong Muyeon slowly surveyed the room. Everyone there, save Baek Ryeoil, bowed deeply toward him.

“Seong Muyeon?”

When Baek Ryeoil tried to approach, Black Demon Matron threw him a sharp glare to stop him. Seong Muyeon lifted a hand to signal her to stand down.

“Leave him be. I have a question.”

“Your command, please.”

Baek Ryeoil seemed flustered by Seong Muyeon’s unfamiliar demeanor. The Seong Muyeon he had known would shriek or grovel pitifully without hesitation—a man who looked most at home in the lowest of places.

But now…

“You were suddenly assigned to this southern branch. How’s life in a foreign place treating you?”

Seong Muyeon murmured as he traced the edge of the large chair with his fingertips. Even in that slow gesture, the air of a conqueror was unmistakable.

Strangely, Baek Ryeoil’s heart began to race…

“The previous branch leader was so inflexible that I had quite a time tearing down all his pointless embellishments, but it’s livable now.”

As expected of someone favored by the First Prince, Black Demon Matron showed no hesitation before a demonic noble, her tone bordering on a playful complaint.

“I see. That’s good to hear.”

The henchmen of the late Fourth Prince had all been demoted or scattered. If Seong Muyeon had wielded as much influence as the Fourth Prince within the cult, this warm welcome would have been impossible.

Though the seven brothers were never particularly affectionate toward one another, the First Prince, secured in his power, tended to be generous—especially with the youngest, Seong Muyeon, who posed no threat. His subordinates, too, were at ease.

“Black Demon Matron.”

“Yes.”

“One of the men who served under the previous branch leader—there’s one called Poison freak. I hear he’s still here.”

“That’s right. The recent commotion in the martial world stems from his deeds. It seems he ran rampant under the trust of the former branch leader. He came groveling to me in fear, begging for protection.”

“Hand him over.”

“And why would that be?”

Though Seong Muyeon appeared relaxed, he remained internally guarded. Just as Ilgwang served Seong Muryong, all demonic cultists, though pretending to serve outwardly, always had a chosen master in their hearts.

Black Demon Matron, especially, was a long-time subordinate of the First Prince, and if she deemed Seong Muyeon a threat, she would try to eliminate him—orders or not.

“Ilgwang, explain.”

As Seong Muyeon commanded, Ilgwang stepped forward and concisely explained the situation. Fortunately, Black Demon Matron reached a reasonable conclusion.

“I see. I agree with the Seventh Prince’s assessment. We can’t allow unnecessary disturbances to sully the name of the cult.”

She was likely thinking ahead—this move would also benefit her if the First Prince one day ascended as the Cult Leader.

“Bring Poison freak here.”

She signaled to a subordinate with a slight nod. Her demeanor toward her men was far colder than how she had treated Seong Muyeon.

But then, the subordinate approached her with an uneasy expression and whispered something.

“He… escaped.”

“What?”

Poison freak had not been detained. Upon hearing that the Seventh Prince and a Taoist from Mount Hua were coming, he had slipped away.

“The central bridge is the only exit from this fortress. He can’t have gotten far. Seal the bridge and bring him back.”

“I’ll go myself.”

Baek Ryeoil, furious at the prospect of losing him, immediately followed the subordinate.

“Treat the Seventh Prince with respect.”

Ilgwang gave a parting instruction to Black Demon Matron before following as well.

“Don’t worry. I’ll present him to the Prince soon. With that Taoist from Mount Hua in pursuit, we’ll catch him even faster. Shall we have some tea in the meantime?”

“Why not?”

The central bridge was sealed off.

Baek Ryeoil spotted Poison freak fleeing ahead of the pursuing guards and instantly gave chase.

“He’s heading underground! After him!”

Before the other cultists could surge forward, Baek Ryeoil leapt ahead and landed before them.

“Why underground?”

“You really thought there was only one exit? Black Demon Matron’s still new here—she doesn’t know. But there are a few more hidden exits through the underground tunnels.”

“Eek!”

Poison freak, seeing Baek Ryeoil’s relentless pursuit, channeled more of his inner energy into his legs.

The underground passages were narrow and winding, making it difficult to gain speed. But Poison freak, who had long lived in this place, knew every corner like the back of his hand. Using the terrain to his advantage, he weaved through with uncanny agility.

The deeper they went, the more natural and rugged the tunnels became.

Baek Ryeoil chased Poison freak closely.

But at one point, he could no longer sense the presence that had been following. He turned back.

Ilgwang now stood calmly in front of a narrow entryway to another tunnel, his demeanor strangely composed. He extended an arm and slammed shut an iron gate hidden in the wall.

Baek Ryeoil instantly sensed something was wrong. Though Poison freak’s presence was growing faint in the distance, this took priority.

“What is this?”

“Just go on chasing Poison freak.”

“So you had a scheme after all.”

Ilgwang let out a short laugh.

“You’d best not come back. If you do, you won’t leave here alive. Just capture him and go back to wherever you came from.”

“You talk too much. I asked what your plan is.”

Baek Ryeoil’s eyes gleamed coldly. But Ilgwang, standing on the other side of a gate made of blacksteel—impervious to a warrior’s blade—was utterly unfazed.

“Black Demon Matron will kill you.”

“Why?”

“Not long ago, you went to Shanxi, didn’t you? To the Seo clan, I believe. The stench of blood was said to be overwhelming there.”

“…”

Seeing Baek Ryeoil’s face harden, Ilgwang felt certain of his deduction.

“And, amusingly enough, another piece of news matched that time and location. A high-ranking cult officer was found dead there. One named Wirim. Oh, maybe you didn’t know the name.”

A corner of Ilgwang’s mouth curled upward.

“The one currently ruling this fortress—Black Demon Matron—Wirim was her most cherished concubine. She’s desperate to find the one who killed him. I plan to go upstairs right now and inform her that the emotionless sword, Mujeonggeom, was the killer. So you’d best not come back.”

“You bastard!”

Unable to contain his rage, Baek Ryeoil slammed the gate with full force. But the blacksteel bars did not budge.

“I’ll take good care of the Seventh Prince, so don’t worry. Though… we probably won’t be seeing each other again.”

With a smug grin, Ilgwang turned and walked away.

“Wait!”

Baek Ryeoil gripped the bars tightly.

“Seong Muyeon… he’s with Black Demon Matron right now, isn’t he?”

“Why would you—”

Ilgwang’s face went ashen in an instant.

He was quick-witted. That’s how he had pieced together all the clues to conclude that Baek Ryeoil had killed Wirim. But… there had been someone else present at that scene.

“No way… the Seventh Prince killed Officer Wirim…?”

“Goddamn it! You thought I did it? That’s why you orchestrated this whole mess? And now you’ve left Seong Muyeon alone with her? You absolute fool!”

“D-dammit!”

Ilgwang turned and bolted without a single glance back.