Chapter 170 : Jaseung, Catches a Scent

Chapter 170: Jaseung, Catches a Scent

“Right now, a considerable number of people have either been killed or captured, and the hunt is still ongoing even as we speak.”

Dan Woobin had certainly helped the Demonic Cult. He had secretly ordered many of the martial artists guarding the nearby borders to relocate under the guise of special training.

“How much damage did they take?”

At Lee Jaseung’s question, Dan Woobin replied.

“We can’t say for certain since we still don’t know the full strength of the forces behind them, but it’s true that they’ve suffered a major blow. Many of the high-ranking masters who had been acting on the frontlines are dead.”

Although Cheon Myeongin’s contribution to this event had been enormous, Dan Woobin had also been constantly supplying them with top-grade information through the Golden Ants.

Nam Seohyang, the leader of the Golden Ants, understood how critical this situation was and had spared no effort in providing intelligence.

“We can’t be satisfied with just this.”

“Of course. We must take this opportunity to eliminate their leader as well.”

Lee Jaseung nodded.

A memory surfaced in his mind, of the raven that had once watched him entering the Murim Alliance.

“That man is inside the Murim Alliance.”

It was information Dan Woobin had already been aware of.

“We’ve mobilized everyone in the Three Eyed Pavilion to analyze who he might be. The number of possible candidates has been narrowed down to about twenty.”

He would have liked to pass all of their information straight to the Demonic Cult, but he also had to consider the lives of those remaining twenty or so people. Killing indiscriminately without justification or principle would make them no different from the hidden forces or the Demonic Cult.

“Finish the analysis as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, understood. And once the hunt is over, we’re preparing to announce that the Three Kings who killed Jang Wonso acted under orders from the Demonic Cult. We’re in the process of planting the evidence for that.”

A satisfied smile formed on Lee Jaseung’s face.

They had to strike relentlessly without giving the enemy a chance to think. By the time this whirlwind of events settled, it would already be too late to reverse anything.

“When relations with the Demonic Cult freeze over, it’ll help strengthen internal unity.”

Lee Jaseung nodded again.

At that moment, only one question lingered in his mind.

“What would happen if the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult fought head-on?”

“Since separating from the Heavenly Demon Sect, the Asura Demon Sect has steadily expanded its power. At this point, it’s safe to say they’ve surpassed even the Heavenly Demon Sect at its peak.”

“And?”

“The Demonic Cult would win.”

“What if our own Alliance joined forces with the Orthodox Faction to strike at the Demonic Cult?”

That wasn’t impossible. If the Demonic Cult attacked the Murim Alliance, it would become a matter of survival for the Orthodox Faction.

In such a desperate situation, even the Murim Alliance joining hands with the Black Way Alliance would be possible. After all, this was only conceivable because their opponent was the Demonic Cult.

“If the Demonic Cult and the Murim Alliance clash first, the Orthodox Faction will be annihilated. But the Demonic Cult will also be severely weakened. If our Alliance launches a full-scale assault at that moment, victory will be ours. It’s the best way to minimize losses.”

Lee Jaseung silently nodded.

From the Black Way Alliance’s perspective, Dan Woobin’s plan was indeed the optimal strategy.

However…

Dan Woobin spoke carefully.

“The Lady won’t approve of this plan.”

Lee Jaseung agreed. But in the end, the course of this war would unfold almost exactly as Dan Woobin had described.

Lee Jaseung began to form the final picture based on Dan Woobin’s plan.

“We’ll weaken the Demonic Cult as much as possible through its struggle with the hidden forces, then strike again when the Vice Leader and the Great Demon turn on each other. And then the final battle between the righteous and the demonic. We’ll finish it ourselves.”

At his words, Dan Woobin’s eyes hardened.

“I accept your command.”

After Dan Woobin left the room, Lee Jaseung walked over to the window.

Would she be able to accept this plan?

A sudden worry crossed his mind. Was he pushing her too hard?

* * *

“The losses are too heavy.”

Rain, who was delivering the report, was covered in injuries. The two were speaking in the back kitchen of the inner palace, where cooking ingredients were stored.

Mountain sat on a cart, tending to Rain’s wounds. He examined the roughly bandaged cuts again and applied fresh medicine.

The passing kitchen hands noticed them, but their movements seemed so natural that it looked as if one was simply helping treat a workplace injury.

“No one expected the damage to be this severe, even if Heaven was the mastermind.”

Mountain silently wrapped the bandage tighter, listening without interruption.

“I never thought he’d bring the Demonic Cult into this.”

Rain was genuinely furious.

In his mind, involving the Demonic Cult was like overturning the entire game board. Whether one used tricks, bold moves, or a few steps ahead of others, all of those strategies only mattered as long as the board remained intact.

But dragging in the Demonic Cult meant flipping the entire table over.

To Rain, the Demonic Cult was exactly that kind of existence, a disease without a cure, a fight among children that suddenly ended when an adult stormed in and ended everything.

Instead of thanking Mountain for the treatment, Rain finally voiced the question he’d been suppressing.

“Why didn’t you kill him earlier?”

There had been more than enough chances. Rain hoped the reason wasn’t something personal or emotional, as he feared.

At last, Mountain spoke.

And the words that came from his mouth were beyond anything Rain could have imagined.

“He possesses a power strong enough to overturn the Asura Demon Sect.”

“What?”

Rain was so stunned that he froze.

“You’re saying that him dying was an act?”

“No. He truly is dying.”

“Then how can a dying man have such power?”

“He himself doesn’t know that he has it.”

“Are you perhaps talking about Yim Sayeon? Even she couldn’t face the Asura Demon Sect alone.”

“This obviously has nothing to do with her.”

“Then?”

“That’s why he couldn’t be killed. Making a move on him carelessly might drag everyone down with him.”

Mountain said no more after that. But Rain understood. Something vast and dangerous was entwined with Cheon Myeongin.

He felt as though he’d caught a glimpse of why a man with such immense power had chosen to live as a ruler in the shadows.

At the same time, he also felt relief.

At least the man he had sworn loyalty to wasn’t one to make decisions based on emotion. There had been a reason behind his seemingly incomprehensible actions.

“What will you do now?”

Just then, a kitchen worker came running in, speaking quickly.

“The Alliance Leader has arrived.”

“The Alliance Leader?”

Mountain and Rain looked at each other in shock.

They both stood up from the cart at once.

“I will take my leave.”

Rain hurriedly pushed the cart out of the way and left.

As Mountain rushed toward the kitchen, another cook stepped in front of him.

“You can’t go in.”

“What?”

“The Alliance Leader asked for the kitchen to be cleared.”

* * *

“What’s all this about?”

Seeing Lee Jaseung cooking with a large ladle instead of a dagger was a strange sight.

“You’ve been so busy training lately that I never see you.”

“Well, that’s true.”

After finishing her training, Baek Seolyoung had received a message from Lee Jaseung asking her to meet him here.

When she came, she found him cooking. The only kind of cooking he’d ever been capable of before was roasting game meat over a fire with some secret seasoning.

But this time, he was preparing a proper dish.

All the cooks had been dismissed, and only Dan Ah, Baek Seolyoung’s attendant, stood beside her.

When Lee Jaseung had first come to ask for a cooking lesson, Dan Ah had nearly fainted. Who could have imagined the day she’d teach the Alliance Leader himself how to cook?

Even now, she was still in shock. Watching Lee Jaseung cook, she glanced at Baek Seolyoung. As a fellow woman, she couldn’t help but feel envious.

Dan Ah leaned close to Baek Seolyoung’s ear and whispered.

“The Alliance Leader came two hours ago and prepared everything himself. Now then, enjoy your time together.”

Then she quietly left to give them privacy.

Once they were alone, Baek Seolyoung finally asked the question she’d been holding back.

“Did you cause trouble?”

“Of course not.”

“Then are you about to cause some?”

“No.”

He should have nodded, but Lee Jaseung didn’t. There was no need to worry her in advance.

He just wanted to have dinner with her today, especially one he had made himself.

“You’ve been training so hard, I thought you deserved a reward.”

At that, Baek Seolyoung pouted and spoke.

“You’re talking as if you’re like my master.”

“I was once your master, wasn’t I?”

“A master? Hardly! You were just like an older brother who gave me a few pointers. And that was a long time ago.”

“An older brother?”

“No wait, since you’re much older, I guess you’re more like an uncle.”

Her playful remark made Lee Jaseung burst out laughing.

“Haha. Well then, the uncle’s cooking is ready.”

He brought out stir-fried tiger-skin peppers cooked over high heat and thinly sliced marinated beef served cold. They looked good enough to have come straight from an inn’s kitchen.

“It looks delicious!”

“Cooking’s pretty fun.”

He meant it sincerely. Since reaching the second sublevel of the Transcendent Peak Realm, many things had begun to change within him.

Everyday life had started to shift. Things that once never caught his attention now drew his gaze, and he found meaning in even the smallest details.

Lee Jaseung could feel it clearly.

He was approaching the true state of “All Rivers Flow Back to One,” the moment of understanding that everything in the world connected as one. And it wasn’t limited to martial arts alone. Even in the movements of cooking, he could feel the depth of martial enlightenment.

Like the unfathomable depths of the sea, mysterious and boundless, the world of martial arts always stirred his heart.

He wanted to reach its end someday and see for himself what lay beyond.

“Does it taste alright?”

He asked casually, but there was a trace of nervousness in his voice.

“It’s fine, I guess.”

“I see.”

A faint hint of disappointment crossed Lee Jaseung’s face.

“If the first dish you ever make is amazing, all the cooks would starve, wouldn’t they? It’ll get better next time.”

Lee Jaseung nodded quietly.

Watching him, Baek Seolyoung smiled to herself.

The truth was, the food was delicious. Not just decent, but truly good, better than most inns she had eaten at.

But she’d said it was just fine because she wanted him to cook for her again.

“Still, it was quite an interesting meal.”

As expected, Lee Jaseung wasn’t satisfied with that. Determined to impress her next time, he silently renewed his resolve.

Next time, it will be better!

After finishing their meal, the two of them stepped out of the kitchen.

The cooks outside stood lined up on both sides, bowing their heads.

Mountain stepped forward and greeted respectfully.

“I am in charge of the kitchen.”

Lee Jaseung looked at him.

“I’ve made quite a mess in there. My apologies.”

“Please don’t say that. It’s an everlasting honor for us that the Alliance Leader personally cooked in my kitchen.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

With that, Lee Jaseung and Baek Seolyoung walked out together.

At the very least, Mountain’s ability to hide his Qi was equal to Lee Jaseung’s. Just as he had deceived everyone until now, the man before them appeared nothing more than an ordinary head cook.

But at that very moment, a tiny crack appeared in that perfect disguise, one even he hadn’t noticed.

At the end of the corridor, Lee Jaseung suddenly stopped and turned back.

“What is it?”

“I smelled blood on the head cook.”

“Well, he’s a cook, isn’t he? Of course you’d smell… wait, you don’t mean?”

Lee Jaseung’s eyes sharpened.

“Yes, human blood.”

“He might’ve just cut his hand while chopping.”

Lee Jaseung shook his head.

“No. It was blood spilled from a sword, and deeply at that.”

“Oh, my. You can tell such a difference?”

Lee Jaseung nodded. The scent of blood from a wound and that from a sword cut were distinctly different, and now he could clearly tell them apart.

As his martial realm rose, his five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—had all become far sharper than before.

“The head cook of the Murim Alliance smells of sword-cut blood?”

At Baek Seolyoung’s doubtful tone, Lee Jaseung smiled faintly.

“It’s as you said. Tonight’s dinner truly was interesting.”