On a night when the sun had not yet risen, Cheon Myeong was standing near the Cheonipmun with Soyeon Sang.
Swish-.
Cheon Myeong, who was taking out a small glass bottle from his bosom. Inside the glass bottle he had taken out, there was a bug.
"..."
Cheon Myeong silently watched the bug flying around inside the glass bottle.
The only means to chase the stolen Three Sacred Treasures now was this bug. If even this was not there, it would have been close to impossible to realistically retrieve the stolen Three Sacred Treasures.
'This direction is... south, I suppose.'
The name of the bug was the Scent-Chasing Bug. And this bug had an instinct to keep chasing a smell it had once memorized.
Since the Three Sacred Treasures were the sacred treasures of the Demonic Cult, in preparation for a situation like this, something called the Ten Thousand Li Tracking Scent had been applied to the Three Sacred Treasures.
As its name suggests, the Ten Thousand Li Tracking Scent was a mysterious scent that could be smelled no matter how far away it was.
Although ordinary humans could not smell this scent, the Scent-Chasing Bug was able to smell it.
And the smell that the Scent-Chasing Bug in the glass bottle had smelled was the Ten Thousand Li Tracking Scent that had been applied to the Three Sacred Treasures.
Seeing that the Scent-Chasing Bug was trying to keep flying south, chasing the smell, it seemed that the direction in which Man Jeokseon had fled was also that way.
'If we don't hurry, he might escape from Xinjiang.'
If that happened, things would get complicated in many ways.
If Man Jeokseon were to enter a region occupied by a force other than the Demonic Cult with the Three Sacred Treasures.
From then on, it would become a diplomatic problem, so he would have to be careful in his actions.
'And that is highly likely.'
Although he could not know exactly where Man Jeokseon's destination was, he could be sure that it was at least to escape from Xinjiang.
And for good reason, wasn't what Man Jeokseon had stolen the Three Sacred Treasures?
There was no way the Demonic Cult would tolerate this, and they would try to retrieve the Three Sacred Treasures by any means necessary.
So Man Jeokseon would try to move with the priority of escaping from the Xinjiang region, which was the territory of the Demonic Cult.
Of course, although he could not be relieved just because he had escaped the Xinjiang region, since there were also places where the hands of the Demonic Cult did not reach if he escaped the Xinjiang region, it would be much safer than here.
'And it is highly likely that there is someone behind Man Jeokseon.'
The act of stealing the Three Sacred Treasures, the sacred treasures of the Demonic Cult.
A person with a normal way of thinking would not dare to think of doing such a thing.
However, Man Jeokseon had actually committed such an act, and he was now on the run after succeeding in stealing them.
Could Man Jeokseon have planned such a thing alone?
Cheon Myeong did not think so.
Even if he had succeeded in stealing them by chance, how would he handle the aftermath to dare to do such a thing?
Above all, from an individual's point of view, there was nothing to be gained by stealing the Three Sacred Treasures.
Of course, although the value of the Three Sacred Treasures was to the extent that it could not be easily measured, since one would have to bear the retaliation of the Demonic Cult just for possessing the stolen Three Sacred Treasures, who would dare to try to have them?
It was highly likely that some force had commissioned this matter to Man Jeokseon, and Man Jeokseon was now heading to that force.
'A force to the extent of daring to steal the Three Sacred Treasures.'
It would by no means be a small-scale place.
To steal the Three Sacred Treasures meant to properly set oneself against the Demonic Cult, and there were not many places in the martial world that could handle that.
Rather, if one were to think only by that standard, the candidate sites could be narrowed down considerably.
Realistically, when thinking of a place that could handle being at odds with the Demonic Cult, the first place that came to mind was the Martial Alliance.
'The Martial Alliance did this? But why on earth would they do such a thing...'
No matter how hostile the relationship between the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance was, they would have been properly protecting each other's territory for the past years.
They would not try to do something that could lead to a war with the Demonic Cult.
And Cheon Myeong could not think of what profit they would gain by just stealing the Three Sacred Treasures.
"..."
As expected, he could not know for sure just by thinking like this here.
The fact that he had even thrown him a Demonic Plaque meant that Cheon Jin had also already thought that the opponent was not just Man Jeokseon alone.
This matter... it seems that it could be more dangerous than he had first thought.
"Hyung-nim!"
At that moment, such a voice was heard from a little distance away.
Cheon Myeong stopped his thoughts and turned his head to where the voice had come from, and there, Cheon Seong was running towards him.
'He's here.'
Another member of the team to chase the Three Sacred Treasures with Soyeon Sang. And that was Cheon Seong.
Of course, although there were some lacking parts in terms of skill, Cheon Seong was one of the few people that Cheon Myeong could trust.
And recently, due to Cheon Myeong's guidance, hadn't Cheon Seong's skills also risen to a quite usable level?
When he had heard Cheon Jin's words to form a pursuit team, Cheon Seong's name had come to Cheon Myeong's mind first.
Thump-.
Cheon Seong, who stopped right in front. Then, Cheon Myeong said.
"You came prepared as I said, right?"
"Yes, you told me to come to the Cheonipmun right away after finishing my preparations, as if you were going on a long journey, hyung-nim..."
When Cheon Myeong had suddenly burst into his room in the middle of the night and had said that, Cheon Seong had no choice but to be bewildered.
Who would not be bewildered if they were told to prepare to leave the main headquarters with him all of a sudden?
Although he had come in a hurry after preparing because it was Cheon Myeong's words, Cheon Seong still did not know what this situation was.
"..."
At that moment, as if he had realized something, Cheon Seong's two eyes widened.
"H-hyung-nim! You're not trying to run away at night, are you?"
"What?"
"I don't know what kind of accident you caused, but to run away at night! Why are you trying to make such an extreme choice!"
"..."
Yesterday evening and now.
Looking at Cheon Seong, who was misunderstanding on his own, a sigh came out of Cheon Myeong's mouth.
Peep-.
Baekjo, who was sitting on Cheon Myeong's shoulder, also looked at Cheon Seong as if he were pathetic and said so.
"It's not like that, so don't misunderstand on your own."
"Then why did you tell me to come here in the middle of the night, preparing to go far away?"
"That is..."
He would not be able to tell him the whole truth. Since Cheon Jin also did not want this matter to be known to the outside.
However, since he could not say nothing, Cheon Myeong decided to change the content a little and tell Cheon Seong.
"By the leader's order, we will be chasing someone from now on."
"B-by the leader's order?"
"Yes, it's an order I also just received secretly. So keep it a secret from outsiders."
As Cheon Myeong said that, Cheon Seong could not say anything for a while and was dazed.
And for good reason, to think that it was an order given directly by Cheon Jin.
With that one word, he could immediately know how important this matter was.
"W-why am I in such a matter..."
If it was an order given by Cheon Jin, it would by no means be a simple matter.
Although Cheon Myeong had the ability to carry out such an order, he did not. As proof of that, as soon as he heard the story, wasn't his body trembling with tension?
Cheon Seong said to Cheon Myeong with a voice that lacked confidence.
"Hyung-nim, I think it would be better for me to stay out of this..."
"Why?"
"I don't have the ability to carry out such a serious order... so it would be better to take a more suitable person."
"I chose you because I thought you had enough ability to do so."
"..."
"And I want to take someone I can trust as much as possible. The two people here are one of the few people I can trust."
As Cheon Myeong said that, Cheon Seong's expression changed.
"I need your help. So can't you cooperate with me on this matter?"
"..."
Help... was Cheon Myeong asking for his help now?
Until now, he had always received help from Cheon Myeong.
So he had wanted to help Cheon Myeong someday, but since Cheon Myeong's ability was far superior to his, he had thought that he would never have such an opportunity.
But now, Cheon Myeong was asking for his help for the first time.
Just with that reason, it was more than enough to change his mind.
"I understand, hyung-nim."
"..."
"I don't know how much my strength will be of help, but I will do my best to be of help to you, hyung-nim!"
"...Thank you."
Cheon Myeong, who answered with a light smile.
Then, Cheon Seong said, walking towards the Cheonipmun.
"Now, then, let's depart!"
With this, all the members of the pursuit team would have gathered.
Since he had heard that the order was to chase someone, he had to hurry even for a moment.
A sense of motivation was already felt from Cheon Seong's steps.
"Wait."
As Cheon Myeong said that, Cheon Seong's steps stopped.
"There's still one person who hasn't come."
"Hasn't come?"
Cheon Seong had naturally thought that the three people here were all.
But there was one more person?
Although he had tried to think of a person that Cheon Myeong would take with him here, no suitable person came to mind.
Thump- thump-.
At that moment, the presence of someone walking towards them was felt.
"He's here."
Saying that, Cheon Myeong, who was moving his head to where the presence was felt, and Cheon Seong also followed and looked at that side.
"..."
Cheon Seong could not help but be startled when he discovered the person who was walking towards them.
'Y-Yu Eunseong?'
Was the person that Cheon Myeong had said had not come yet that woman?
If not, there would be no reason for Yu Eunseong to be in a place like this now, so it seemed certain.
"..."
Cheon Myeong silently watched Yu Eunseong, who was approaching him.
It was natural for Cheon Seong to be so surprised.
Since he and Yu Eunseong had not had much contact, and if there had been recently, it was only when Yu Eunseong had come to see him that evening.
That's why Cheon Myeong had put Yu Eunseong in this pursuit team.
'On this occasion, I'll have to find out what kind of a guy this woman is.'
Yu Eunseong, who had said that she wanted to know more about him.
Cheon Myeong was curious about what intention Yu Eunseong had said that to him with.
There was definitely something about that woman.
Since Cheon Myeong's senses had been saying that since that evening, Cheon Myeong wanted to find the answer through this opportunity.
'And this woman will be of great help to our strength.'
To the extent that she had entered as the leader's disciple, there would be no problem in terms of strength.
However, if there was one thing that bothered him, it was that Yu Eunseong might not listen to his words with a sudden action.
That problem would be solved to some extent by the Demonic Plaque that Cheon Jin had given him, so it would not be a big deal.
And although this was, after all, his gut feeling, it seemed that Yu Eunseong did not have an open hostility towards him like Jang Hyeon or Jo Seokjin.
Of course, since they were in a relationship of competing for the young leader's position, it was impossible for there to be no hostility at all, but since it seemed that she was not to the extent of revealing her hostility to him, who had a Demonic Plaque, it would be okay to take her.
"...I'm sorry. It seems I have arrived last."
As soon as she came close, Yu Eunseong said to Cheon Myeong.
"It's okay. You came within the expected time."
"That's a relief."
"The fact that you came here means that I can take it as you will cooperate with me, right?"
"While holding out a Demonic Plaque and saying so, I had no choice."
"But still, I have to hear you say that you will cooperate with your own mouth."
"..."
After a brief silence, Yu Eunseong opened her mouth again.
"...I will cooperate."
"Good."
Cheon Myeong smiled as if he were satisfied.
"Hyung-nim..."
At that moment, Cheon Seong's voice was heard from behind.
Come to think of it, the existence of Yu Eunseong might be a little confusing to Cheon Seong.
In order to briefly explain this, Cheon Myeong turned his head to Cheon Seong's side.
"So this is..."
"I respect you, hyung-nim."
"...?"
"To think that you have completely made Young Lady Yu yours before I even stepped in... you had a plan all along, hyung-nim."
"..."
This bastard, he's starting again.
It seemed that his head was starting to hurt even before they departed.
(End of Chapter)