The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life

Chapter 74: These Are Not What They Seem to Be

“We can protect ourselves. We promise we won’t get in the way, so you don’t need to worry about us.”

The two physicians spoke confidently, their expressions brimming with self-assurance.

The Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master both looked at the two with doubtful gazes.

“Are you really sure about that? Honestly, we can’t just leave you to die. I’ve got a request to fulfill from the Hubei Martial Alliance general secretary as well.”

“In our Heavenly Medicine Pavilion, external activities are only permitted once martial arts reach a certain level. Taking care of mere bandits is something we can do with our eyes closed.”

The Heavenly Divine Healer chuckled.

“They’ll only understand after they’ve cried their eyes out, snot dripping down, and wet themselves in fear.”

Still, since Byeok Taesan was accompanying them, they wouldn’t need to fight against the semi-reanimated corpses. That alone provided a certain level of safety.

However, there was always the possibility that Byeok Taesan would need to move separately, as he had when dealing with the remnants of those who had attacked the younger generation.

“Do as you please.”

That was the end of the Heavenly Divine Healer’s nagging. From this point on, it was up to them to handle matters themselves.

Their guide was a Hao Clan operative who was active nearby.

“Impressive that you managed to locate the bandits’ whereabouts.”

“Just lucky, really.”

The Hao Clan operative, who was leading the way, scratched his head once and continued.

“I’m actually a former bandit myself. I know a lot of people from that world, and some of them managed to escape recently.”

Byeok Taesan’s expression turned curious.

“Those guys were lucky, too. It seems they escaped while in transit. If they had reached their destination, there’s no way they could have fled.”

At the Hao Clan operative’s words, the Heavenly Divine Healer chimed in from nearby.

“Looks like they were sloppy. In any case, it’s better not to expect too much.”

Byeok Taesan shared the same thought. It was only a few of them, but the fact that they escaped so easily and leaked their whereabouts indicated they weren’t particularly thorough.

However, the Hao Clan operative shook his head vigorously.

“No, that’s not the case. Those guys are seriously dangerous. Didn’t I already say they were lucky? They’re quick-witted, so they barely managed to get away. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been a chance.”

Suddenly, Byeok Taesan stopped in his tracks.

The rest of the group halted as well, looking at him with puzzled expressions.

Only the Heavenly Divine Healer and Hwaryeong’s faces showed a shift in emotion.

“What’s wrong?”

At the Hao Clan operative’s question, Byeok Taesan looked at Hwaryeong.

Hwaryeong, looking deeply embarrassed and apologetic, bowed her head to Byeok Taesan.

“I’m sorry. I should have been more thorough.”

“You’re not the Hao Clan operative, so there’s no need to apologize to me.”

That much was true. Hwaryeong was no longer a Hao Clan member; she was merely one of Byeok Taesan’s subordinates now.

Still, she maintained ties with the Hao Clan and handled communications with them, so she couldn’t help but feel a sense of responsibility.

Hwaryeong stepped forward to approach the Hao Clan operative.

Then, she reached out her hand.

Crack!

Hwaryeong’s hand gripped the Hao Clan operative’s neck tightly.

“Ugh!”

The operative grabbed Hwaryeong’s hand with both of his, his face filled with alarm.

“W-Why are you doing this? Ugh!”

Hwaryeong spoke emotionlessly.

“Why did you betray us?”

“B-Betrayal? I’ve never done such a thing!”

The operative’s eyes, tone, and expression were filled with sincerity. At least, his current words seemed truthful.

The Heavenly Divine Healer, observing the scene, remarked,

“Then, he wasn’t with the Hao Clan from the beginning. He must have been one of their people all along.”

“W-What are you talking about…!”

The operative couldn’t finish his sentence as Hwaryeong’s grip on his neck tightened further.

His face contorted in pain, his eyes rolling back.

“Arghhh!”

Finally, Hwaryeong released her hand.

The Hao Clan operative collapsed to the ground, drawing everyone’s attention.

Hwaryeong spoke calmly.

“It seems the enemies have prepared a trap for us.”

“A trap?”

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

Hwaryeong looked down at the fallen operative with a complex gaze and continued,

“I never thought the enemies could plant a spy within our Hao Clan. This guy has been a Hao Clan operative for over five years…”

The operative, who had been coughing on the ground, barely managed to calm himself down. Looking up at Hwaryeong with a flustered expression, he stammered.

“I’m not… I really am not…”

Byeok Taesan stepped toward the operative.

The operative flinched and looked up at Byeok Taesan with panic.

“I don’t particularly care if you’re a spy or not. Nor does it matter much if there’s a trap ahead.”

“E-Excuse me? What do you mean…”

In an instant, the atmosphere emanating from Byeok Taesan turned ice-cold.

The operative began trembling uncontrollably. He wasn’t the only one. The others nearby also felt a sudden chill and shuddered in surprise.

“The important thing is, if the trap was laid for me, it means there aren’t any semi-reanimated corpses there.”

Byeok Taesan’s cold gaze locked onto the operative.

“How dare you steal my spiritual medicine?”

“W-When did I ever…”

Byeok Taesan stared at the operative silently.

The operative felt as if his breath was being stolen. At that moment, he fully understood the phrase “suffocating fear.”

“Spill everything you know before I grind your soul and turn you into an imbecile.”

The operative nodded frantically, unable to think straight.

Before he realized it, he was spilling every piece of information he knew.

Byeok Taesan ignored his words entirely, instead looking at the Heavenly Divine Healer and Hwaryeong.

The two quickly began organizing the information coming from the operative.

Meanwhile, Byeok Taesan stared silently in the direction the operative had intended to guide them, murmuring to himself.

“A trap, huh… Been a while.”

—

“So, you’re saying that those terrifying guys must have let the bandits go intentionally, otherwise, they wouldn’t have escaped?”

At Yeon Harin’s question, Hwaryeong nodded.

“That’s correct.”

It was highly likely that even the claim of the escaped bandits was a lie.

“If they’d figured that much out, they should have realized something was strange and reported it clearly, but instead, they downplayed it and tried to lead us there as if it were no big deal?”

“There are a few more suspicious circumstances as well. I think we have a general idea of who the traitors are.”

Hwaryeong’s eyes gleamed with icy determination.

The traitors would undoubtedly not be granted a peaceful death.

“What I don’t understand is, knowing all that, why are we walking straight into this trap?”

Yeon Harin’s question made Hwaryeong avert her gaze awkwardly.

Because even she didn’t know the reason.

She was merely following Byeok Taesan, who walked leisurely at the front.

“Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

Hwaryeong’s suggestion made Yeon Harin flinch.

“Well… if we just wait, we’ll find out eventually.”

To be honest, Yeon Harin couldn’t bring herself to approach Byeok Taesan right now.

The atmosphere surrounding him felt entirely unapproachable, as if warning her to stay away.

How long had they been walking?

They were almost at the location the betraying Hao Clan operative had mentioned earlier.

Even so, Byeok Taesan hadn’t stopped walking.

Someone needed to ask him about this.

Everyone’s gazes turned toward the Heavenly Divine Healer.

Receiving their stares, the Heavenly Divine Healer flinched, his eyes widening in disbelief. He looked around in desperation before pointing a finger at himself, as if to ask, ‘Me? Are you serious?’

The others quickly averted their eyes.

The Heavenly Divine Healer, wearing a look of utter disbelief, eventually sighed in resignation and approached Byeok Taesan.

“Um… Young Master.”

Byeok Taesan slowly turned his head to look at the Heavenly Divine Healer.

The latter nearly felt his heart stop.

“Ah, you startled me! Young Master, why are you looking at me so intimidatingly?”

“What is it?”

Byeok Taesan’s concise question prompted the Heavenly Divine Healer to quickly turn his head and look at the Needle Master.

“Hyung-nim says he has something to discuss with the Young Master.”

The Needle Master, who had experienced this exact scenario before, gaped at the Heavenly Divine Healer in disbelief.

He never imagined it would happen again. And of all times, it had to be now.

Back then, Taesan had let it slide, likely because he was in a good mood, but today didn’t seem to be the same.

Taesan turned his head again and stared at the Needle Master.

The moment their eyes met, the Needle Master felt his heart drop as if it had hit the ground.

“Well, uh, what I mean to say is… what do we do now?”

“What?”

Taesan stopped walking.

The Needle Master turned pale and began trembling all over.

‘Damn it, I really stepped on a landmine.’

Taesan swept his cold gaze over the group.

Everyone swallowed nervously, their expressions tense.

“Now that I think about it, these ones aren’t those ones, are they?”

Muttering something incomprehensible, Taesan looked over the group once more.

Caught up in nostalgic thoughts of heading into a trap for the first time in a long while, he found himself reminiscing.

In the past, whenever he charged into a trap, his subordinates would act independently to attack the ones who had set it up from behind.

Since he could endure the trap the longest—or even destroy it entirely on his own—that was how they operated.

Whenever Taesan rushed into the enemy’s trap, his subordinates knew without explicit orders to strike at the enemy’s rear.

But the people here now weren’t the subordinates who had once followed him.

“I’ll charge the front. You all hit their rear.”

Everyone was startled by his words.

“Young Master! That’s far too dangerous!”

The first to object was Cheon Kyungwan. He still hadn’t forgotten that he was Taesan’s escort warrior.

For him, Taesan’s safety had to take top priority.

Taesan stared silently at Cheon Kyungwan.

“Dangerous? For who?”

“Well, for you, Young Master…”

Cheon Kyungwan trailed off. As he spoke, he realized he couldn’t quite imagine a scenario where Taesan was in actual danger.

Taesan spoke calmly, but his tone was as cold as ice.

“If you think I’ll be in danger, then you just need to work harder at striking their rear.”

Without realizing it, everyone nodded.

If they could properly attack the enemy’s rear, it would cause significant disruption, which would in turn ensure Taesan’s safety.

Taesan scanned the group once more. His gaze stopped precisely when it landed on Soso, Dan Yeong, and Chae Wol.

Noticing his intent, Soso quickly shouted, “I’m going too! I can do it!”

“I will go as well.”

“I can handle it too.”

Dan Yeong and Chae Wol spoke resolutely.

Taesan had no intention of stopping anyone who was willing.

“The three of you move together. Never separate from one another.”

Since the three had trained in the same martial art and their synergy was excellent, they would likely produce significant results.

After giving those instructions, Taesan turned and began walking again.

The remaining members quickly gathered to discuss their plans.

With Taesan heading into the trap alone, they couldn’t afford to mess up their assault on the rear.

Even if they couldn’t draft a meticulous plan, they couldn’t fight haphazardly either.

After a brief exchange of ideas and delegation of roles, they swiftly moved out.

“Byeok Taesan is approaching.”

One of the warriors scattered for reconnaissance ran over to deliver the report.

“What about the others?”

“There’s no one else. He’s alone.”

“No way he’d come alone. The others are definitely planning to attack us from behind.”

“What should we do then?”

“Don’t recall the scouting units. Leave them as they are. No matter where they come from, we just need to focus our forces on the center.”

“Understood. I’ll relay the message.”

After the warrior bowed and retreated, the man known as Budu Cheol furrowed his brows.

“Tsk, I should’ve brought the semi-reanimated corpses along for this.”

If Taesan had indeed split from the others, the semi-reanimated corpses could’ve been sent elsewhere to maximize efficiency.

Budu Cheol looked toward the three men sitting on a nearby rock.

“Elders, it’s time.”

At his words, the three men sprang to their feet and leapt off the rock.

“So, what exactly do you need us to do?”

“Capture Byeok Taesan.”

“I hear he’s quite skilled?”

“We don’t have precise information yet, but it’s said he’s formidable.”

They hadn’t yet received word about Taesan defeating the Four Monsters of Great East

The remnants of the semi-reanimated corpses faction had been wiped out under Baek Liyeop’s leadership, or so the current reports suggested.

Thus, their information painted Taesan and his group as highly capable, prompting extensive preparations on their end.

“Is it alright if we… take off an arm or a leg?”

Budu Cheol forced a stiff smile.

“It would be best if he remains intact. We need him for research and experiments.”

“I heard he’s a natural counter to our semi-reanimated corpses, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct. That’s why we need to examine him thoroughly. If he renders all of our preparations useless, we’ll be in serious trouble.”

“That would indeed be troublesome. Very well, no need to worry.”

With that, the three men began speaking amongst themselves.

“Who’s going?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a good fight. I’m not backing down.”

“Same here.”

Budu Cheol grimaced at the exchange but dared not intervene.

‘Well… if there’s a surprise attack elsewhere, they can handle it then.’

With that thought, he felt slightly at ease.

“Elders, capturing Byeok Taesan is paramount. This is a direct order from the Lord.”

At the mention of the Lord, the three men shot sharp glares at Budu Cheol.

Startled, Budu Cheol took a step back and laughed awkwardly.

“Haha… I was merely conveying the Lord’s words. Please proceed as you see fit.”

At the mention of their Lord, the three reconsidered.

“Let’s go with the two of us.”

“Agreed. Shall we draw lots?”

“Let’s do that.”

Thus, two of the three were selected to go after Byeok Taesan.

Once chosen, they immediately set out.

By now, Taesan was close enough to be seen from where they stood.

Watching the two men stride confidently toward Taesan, Budu Cheol felt somewhat relieved.

‘They’re more than capable of handling two or three of the Four Monsters on their own.’

Budu Cheol scanned the surroundings calmly.

The only thing left was to prepare for a possible ambush.