Chapter 70
The place Baeksam and his companions intended to go was the headquarters of the Shamans.
“A shaman, huh.”
Sao felt uneasy about going there.
It was because of Myeongheo.
Sao wasn’t confident that he could deceive Myeongheo’s eyes.
Myeongheo was known as one of the strongest among the Seven Supreme Masters.
He had become a master of the Fire Realm first, and although it might have been exaggerated, rumors said he had now reached the Xian Realm, a level above the Fire Realm.
“Myeongheo is an opponent who can only be completely defeated if one can use even the sixth hand of Asura.”
For that reason, Sao didn’t want to take unnecessary risks. If his identity were accidentally exposed to Myeongheo and a conflict broke out, it would be disastrous.
Moreover, the Shaman’s headquarters was full of skilled masters, befitting a prestigious sect.
It was a completely different level compared to the Hebei Peng family, which Sao had personally annihilated.
It would take mobilizing all of the sect’s strongest practitioners just to stand a chance against the Shamans.
“I guess it’s better not to go to the Shamans.”
Instead of going to the Shamans, it would be better to use Jegal Haesu to get to the Jegal Sect.
Without hesitation, Sao withdrew his killing intent.
Jegal Haesu, who suddenly found it easier to breathe, exhaled quietly.
But Sao didn’t give him even a moment to catch his breath and asked him directly,
“Is that so? Then what if I help you?”
“…Hmph, and how exactly would you help me?”
Jegal Haesu’s tone was clearly mocking.
Sao didn’t beat around the bush this time either and spoke plainly.
“Do you know Wolya Yoseon? Have you been examined by that doctor? He might be able to cure your illness.”
“Wolya Yoseon, huh? I know about him. I was actually thinking of getting examined anyway.”
“The consultation fee?”
“…I don’t have it.”
“I thought so.”
Jegal Haesu, now completely recovered, shouted,
“I don’t have it yet, but that doesn’t mean I never will!”
“Not yet? So you’ll get it soon?”
“There’s something that can be sold. Don’t ask further. It’s a secret.”
If he found the Nine-Leaf Purple Branch Grass (Guyeop Jaji Cho) and sold it, he could cover the consultation fee at once.
Sao also inferred that Jegal Haesu would find a way to make money by selling something.
“Come to think of it, when Soma-gi went to search for the Eternal Snow Herb, he said he met a shabby man with a fan near that cave.”
But he had spoken as if it were nothing, like encountering a trivial creature, so Sao had completely forgotten.
Soma-gi had cursed Namgung Jin endlessly for cutting off his own arm.
Thinking back now, that shabby man with a fan was probably Jegal Haesu.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why he knew the Eternal Snow Herb, was familiar with the secret garden made by Jegal Taek, and knew about other valuable items—likely elixirs or rare herbs.
“So this guy also knows the location of other elixirs hidden by Jegal Taek.”
At that moment, Sao realized something important.
“Wait… then the Eternal Snow Herb that Namgung Jin and Jegal Haesu traveled with together….”
Baeksam was that Eternal Snow Herb.
Sao was slightly surprised for the first time.
It was strange to think that the Eternal Snow Herb he hadn’t been able to obtain had now become a beautiful woman, thriving as the Golden Divine Maiden.
“I’ll pay the consultation fee for you.”
“That money? Hmm…”
Jegal Haesu looked unusually hesitant. Normally obsessed with money, his sudden worry looked awkward.
“What’s he scheming?”
Jegal Haesu finally spoke,
“I want to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Why are you offering money to me? You don’t seem like someone who acts out of kindness, nor do you seem to do anything without reason.”
He wasn’t just capable of smiling slyly—he could also be sharp when needed. Impressive.
“You’ve seen correctly.”
“……”
“There’s something you have to do.”
“What is it?”
“You have to make sure your companions go to the Jegal Sect instead of the Shamans.”
“The Jegal Sect? Why go there all of a sudden? Could it be that there’s a reason we can’t go to the Shamans?”
“There’s no need to explain that far. I just want to go there first because someone is waiting for me at the Jegal Sect.”
Jegal Haesu thought to himself that it was an unsatisfying answer that couldn’t just be accepted.
“Then why not just not go together? Our paths are clearly different.”
“……”
“Fine. Forget the money. I’ll assume you won’t do me this favor.”
Well, it wasn’t unexpected.
Sao had already considered the possibility that Jegal Haesu might refuse.
“Do you think you can still ignore my words?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The hands of the Demonic Sect have reached the Jegal Sect.”
Though his voice was calm, the words were far from peaceful.
“Th-The Demonic Sect? Did you say the Demonic Sect?”
Jegal Haesu’s face turned pale with shock.
He crawled forward on his knees and grabbed Sao’s pants.
“Tell me! What on earth does that mean?!”
“It means that followers of the Demonic Sect have infiltrated your home.”
Of course, Sao wasn’t referring to Baek Garim openly positioned in the Jegal Sect.
Baek Garim was not suspected of being a member of the Demonic Sect by anyone, not even the head of the Jegal Sect.
The problem was Jegal Taek, who was currently captured by the Demonic Sect.
Taking advantage of a brief lapse in vigilance, he had sent a message to the Jegal Sect:
“Demonic Sect… has infiltrated.”
Before Baek Garim could intercept it, Jegal Cheon saw it first.
Of course, Jegal Taek was a notorious eccentric whom the sect didn’t fully trust, so Jegal Cheon might not have taken it completely at face value…
“But there’s still a chance they might suspect him.”
Perhaps that suspicion could even fall on Baek Garim.
Though Baek Garim had Jegal Cheon’s trust, he was still technically an outsider.
Sao thought about wiping out the Jegal Sect, but he wasn’t sure he could handle all the defensive arrays and traps set there.
Was it worth spilling blood over something uncertain?
It would not be too late to destroy the Jegal Sect after Baek Garim had fully analyzed all the traps and arrays.
But first, he had to completely remove Jegal Cheon’s suspicions.
Sao planned to use an innocent person as a pawn of the Demonic Sect and leverage that pawn to legitimately get Baeksam treated.
Meanwhile, Jegal Haesu, having heard this shocking truth, turned even paler.
He was so flustered that he couldn’t even question how Sao knew such confidential information.
Instead, in a trembling but unwavering voice, he asked,
“Can you stake your life on this being true?”
It was absurd to ask someone to risk their life for such information.
But if it was to deceive Jegal Haesu completely, Sao could say it without hesitation.
“I’ll stake my life.”
A crooked smirk appeared on Sao’s lips.
Jegal Haesu, suddenly serious, fell silent and lowered his gaze.
Sao pressed him further, leaving no room for other thoughts.
“If you arrive late at the Jegal Sect, irreparable things will happen.”
After much deliberation, Jegal Haesu finally spoke.
