Chapter 104: Schemer Lee Taebaek (2)

By now, those three whales were probably tearing into each other. If Tang Jihye had followed orders, the Poison Master would be right in the thick of it too.

“The Poison Master is obsessed with finding his granddaughter Tang Jihye.”

It was a kind of fixation on blood ties.

Even among the bloodline-obsessed Sichuan Tang Clan, the Poison Master’s obsession with his granddaughter was downright pathological.

He had lost his son and daughter-in-law as well.

So he was determined to protect his remaining flesh and blood, Tang Jihye, no matter the cost. Some sort of “gear” had been implanted in his brain.

Tang Jihye knew it too.

That’s why she never returned to the Tang Clan Tower.

But she didn’t pretend to be an outsider either.

She was a Tang Clan member through and through, after all.

“How did you lure the Poison Master into the fray, Creator? Same way you sat the Bow Master down?”

“Similar, but different.”

“What kind of answer is that!”

She pouted and whipped her head away, but Jasbi didn’t whine any further. Even an AI had some shame.

Regardless of Jasbi’s feelings, it had been part of Lee Taebaek’s plan, but that didn’t change the fact that he was her lifesaver.

If Lee Taebaek had treated her like a disposable rag…

Kwang!

A thunderbolt of terror flashed through her.

She imagined herself torn limb from limb and stuffed like a deer in a hunter’s cabin. The Illusion Master, Left Luminary, was cold-blooded enough to do it.

“Thank you for saving me.”

The thought crossed her mind, and Jasbi felt pure gratitude.

Lee Taebaek, reading her mindset, found her quite admirable. He felt a twinge of guilt for forcing her into the scheme.

“Hm.”

Since things had come to this, and they were almost at the drop-off point where he’d let her down, he figured he’d explain the gist before then.

“Truth is, setting Tang Jihye up to meet the Beggar Clan was a bluff.”

“…A bluff?”

Her interest piqued; she rolled her eyes toward me. Cute little thing.

“Yeah. You know the saying: fool your allies first to fool your enemies. The Poison Master’s not exactly our enemy, but he’s not friendly either.”

“So you mean you fooled Tang Jihye too, Creator?”

Lee Taebaek nodded. Meanwhile, Red Hare accelerated. Wind whipped his cheeks as he continued.

“Before this mess kicked off, I stopped by the Lilith Order. Easy terms: they’re my intel network and messenger pigeons. Anyway, I casually asked a contact to dig into people around Tang Jihye.”

“I’m listening.”

“Her 3rd Battalion, as a deputy commander, doesn’t do much outside activity. Bit harsh to say, but she doesn’t have many friends. So her close contacts are probably just her battalion folks, and narrowing to who she really opens up to shrinks the pool even more.”

“And? And?”

Jasbi was hooked, fully immersed.

Long story short: the 3rd Battalion deputy commander, Jang Chwiyen, owner of the malatang shop, was the Tang Clan’s snitch. He secretly met the Poison Master periodically to report on Tang Jihye.

Not because Jang Chwiyen was the Poison Master’s man. He had always been Tang Jihye’s.

“That romantic old-timer played snitch solely to protect Tang Jihye.”

Navigating this ruthless city alone was no picnic, even with top-tier martial prowess.

The City was a cluster of organizations. You needed group backing to survive. That’s why Lee Taebaek stuck with the Resistance and relied on Silver Nose Bar—same logic.

Even the Ten Wings operated under megacorps.

An ego-driven city, yet paradoxically one where you couldn’t accomplish anything solo. Laykuns was that kind of world.

“So you dropped Tang Jihye near Silver Nose Bar to expose her to just the right amount of danger… betting that snitch Jang Chwiyen would report straight to the Poison Master?!”

“Something like that.”

“Ah, no way!”

Jasbi pounded her chest with her fists.

“That was way too reliant on luck! What if that Jang Chwiyen guy just played dumb? The whole plan would’ve flopped!”

“True, but it worked, didn’t it?”

“…Sigh. Demanding common sense from you feels like my own selfish wish. Okay, one more—”

Then the City’s night sky trembled.

Kurururung—

Jasbi in the sidecar turned toward the epicenter. Roars echoed nonstop beyond the dense skyscrapers.

Flashes like midnight fireworks lit up the buildings.

Pedestrians turned toward the noise.

“What the hell is that?”

“R-right? Uh? Why’s my body shaking?”

“Y-you too? Me too.”

Instinct rang alarm bells; they shuddered unconsciously.

“End times for real.”

“Snow in summer, why not.”

“Screw it, world’s doomed anyway—quit the corp and work the red-light district?”

“Sounds good. Let’s go. Too creepy here.”

They didn’t know it was three Ten Wings clashing, but the shifted air pressure and ominous glow screamed disaster.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Eerie booms shook the City thrice. Power lines between buildings swayed limply; streetlamps bent like reeds.

Even on the speeding bike, the vibrations hit. A chilling thrill shot up the spine to the scalp, numbing the rear.

“How’d the Illusion Master know where the Bow Master dragged him?”

Lee Taebaek shifted gears as he spoke.

“That’s your last question.”

“Y-yes…”

Jasbi nodded, neck shrunk tight.

“Can’t tell you.”

“…?”

Spoilers.

“Laykuns ain’t out yet.”

Lee Taebaek grinned and gunned Red Hare.

Their destination, Hundred-Fold Sect Branch 2, was just ahead.

At Hundred-Fold Sect Branch 2, believers huddled shoulder-to-shoulder, trembling. Goeun stood at their center.

She fretted over the kids but couldn’t hide her unease. She sensed her own hand in this calamity.

Potent demonic qi invaded her nostrils. Among mages she knew, only a handful could emit such power. The clashing qi wave she sensed by feel alone? Surely the Bow Master’s arrows.

And that chill…

“Poison Master’s killing intent.”

Fellow murim folk could identify by aura alone.

A Ten Wing no less. Back in the day, she’d seen his arts whenever he cut loose.

In the Central Plains, Goeun had soared as Hwaryeon, eventually teaching mages at Kergel Magic Tower.

“If Bow Master and Poison Master are fighting…”

The Illusion Master, Left Luminary, would be there too—like a set.

One question: why were three Ten Wings going at it? What sparked it? Suddenly? Right after visiting Branch 1 then 2 to “settle affairs”? Timing too coincidental amid the chaos.

“G-Goeun…”

As Goeun puzzled, Leon sidled up close. Stout-built, but still a teen boy.

“It’s okay, Leon. It’s okay.”

“I-I’m f-fine, but the kids…”

His voice rattled. He felt it too—the wave from 200km away at that abandoned factory dwarfed the Magnostrom raid.

“Sob sob. Founding Patriarch.”

“Wanted to see you one last time, Hundred-Fold…”

Kids sobbed. Mournful cries scattered. At this point, Goeun steeled herself and stood.

“Leon, watch the kids. I’ll be back.”

“S-sis! B-but—!”

Goeun turned her back.

“You’re smarter than you look. Play dumb and roll with it. Can’t bring side dishes anymore, but I’ll tell Lee Taebaek to hook you up with a nearby eatery. Better cook than mine.”

“……”

Leon bit his lip.

Nose stung, eyes burned.

He knew. This was Goeun’s last words.

Sure enough, her shoulders shook faintly from behind. Sharp-eyed Leon as always.

Born upper district, he’d have topped academy entrance. Goeun spotted it and tutored him.

“Sis visited more lately.”

Excuses like workbooks, leftovers. Frequent visits.

So dishonest.

“Just say…”

She wanted to visit.

Needed one more to remember her.

He didn’t know her exact straits, but her life hung by a thread.

Mage life differed from his. Tangled interests for sure.

Sis lived ready for a blade anytime.

“Damn it!”

But the kids trembled.

Couldn’t worsen their fear. Leon swallowed his sob.

As Goeun stepped away in the heavy air—

Crunch—

Door ripped off hinges. All eyes turned; headlights stabbed their eyes.

“Ah, ah, ah.”

He hopped off the bike, walked into the glare silhouetting him. Luminous light spotlighted him alone.

“Hun-Hun—!!”

The savior arrived.

Lee Taebaek’s entrance flipped the air.

The funeral-vibe Hundred-Fold Sect buzzed with newfound energy from the mood swing.

Believers chanted his name.

“Hundred-Fold! Hundred-Fold! Hundred-Fold! Hundred-Fold!”

Eyes gleamed with blind faith.

Jasbi, hiding behind his legs, couldn’t step out.

“W-what is this!”

Beyond AI comprehension—this fanatic scene. Siesta bred pseudo-believers too.

“Not even close.”

Beyond “religion.” Indescribable. Lee Taebaek approached Goeun.

“Come with me.”

“Where, in this mess.”

“Where else? Your place.”

He grabbed her wrist.

Timing, mood, lines.

Perfect harmony—like a proposal.

But Lee Taebaek dismissed it.

“To Kergel Magic Tower.”

“……”

…What?

“Time to meet the Magic Tower Master.”

The hall fell dead silent.

Believers froze mid-cheer. Not ice magic, though.