Chapter 142
“Do you know? The person who took my eye is your father.”
“….”
“Honestly, your father was quite skilled. Back then, even I couldn’t handle him at his peak.”
Blood Wolf Sect Master shrugged his shoulders mockingly.
“If the Deputy Sect Master hadn’t stepped in, it wouldn’t have been the former Ice Palace Master who lost his life—it would have been me.”
For a moment, Doyul’s eyes widened.
‘The Deputy Sect Master?’
He hadn’t anticipated that the Deputy Sect Master had been involved in the incident involving the theft of the Sacred Abbot’s remains from Haesim Palace.
And that his father had died at the hands of the Deputy Sect Master.
‘…He shouldn’t have gone like that.’
The memory of the Deputy Sect Master’s vanishing smile haunted him.
Doyul clenched his fists tightly.
“The life-and-death battle between the Deputy Sect Master and the former Ice Palace Master was quite the spectacle. Seeing the Ice Blade in action for the first time was surprising, but surprisingly, it was very powerful…”
“Enough of the chatter.”
“What?”
Blood Wolf Sect Master, who had been speaking with amusement, furrowed his brow deeply.
“Isn’t a swordsman meant to speak through his sword?”
The oppressive killing intent emanating from Blood Wolf Sect Master sent a chill down Doyul’s spine.
Yet, Doyul did not shrink back. Instead, he returned a cold, piercing glare.
“So, instead of rambling, why not pick up your sword first?”
“Are you seeking revenge for your father?”
“Of course, that’s part of it.”
Doyul’s voice remained calm throughout.
“However, it’s not just about avenging my father. It’s about eradicating your kind—your sect, which causes harm not just to martial artists but to civilians as well.”
“…‘Kind’?”
Blood Wolf Sect Master’s eyes darkened dangerously.
“How dare you speak such words to our sect? Are you prepared to take responsibility?”
“Responsibility is also something one faces with a sword.”
Doyul replied with an expressionless face.
Blood Wolf Sect Master twisted his lips into a sardonic smile and grasped his sword tightly.
“That audacity will lead you somewhere…”
Suddenly, Blood Wolf Sect Master sprang forward, charging at Doyul.
“Let’s see how far you can go!”
Clang!
The swords clashed violently.
* * *
The servants were thoroughly confused.
The commander summoned them all abruptly without even explaining why.
“Why were we called here?”
“Honestly, I have no idea.”
The servants scanned the surroundings with puzzled expressions.
Several circular tables were set up where multiple people could sit, adorned with neatly arranged tea and snacks.
“Are we expecting guests?”
“But given the current atmosphere in the Martial Alliance, could there really be visitors?”
Whispers and murmurs spread among the servants.
Among them, one stood out as particularly uneasy.
This servant was in charge of the Lord’s quarters.
‘Why was this gathering suddenly arranged?’
The uneasy glance shifted around as the servant tried to calm their racing thoughts.
‘It’s fine. Nothing has happened so far.’
Maybe it was just his heightened nerves.
Then…
“Why do you look so pale?”
Suddenly, a fellow servant questioned the anxious-looking servant.
The servant flinched, startled, and responded.
“M-My face? Why?”
“You look extremely pale. Look at those cold sweats…”
“Are you unwell?”
Concerned voices rose from the surrounding servants.
The head servant managed a weak smile, pretending everything was fine.
“It’s nothing. I’m alright.”
Then, at that moment, Yerin entered with the commander and the physician.
“Why is the physician here instead of in the medicine hall?”
“Is there something the physician needs to do here?”
The servants were confused but bowed respectfully.
The head servant joined them, lowering their head among the others.
Yet their thoughts were far from calm.
‘Why, why did Lady Yerin come here?’
A cold sweat began to bead on their back.
Earlier this morning, Yerin had unexpectedly visited the Lord’s quarters.
She had brought tea known to quench thirst—a seemingly small gesture.
‘Could it really be just that?’
As the tension in the room intensified, Yerin spoke.
“I’m truly sorry for suddenly calling everyone here.”
A warm smile accompanied her gentle voice as she scanned the room.
“Lately, the Martial Alliance’s atmosphere hasn’t been very calm, has it?”
“No, not at all.”
“That’s true.”
Servants exchanged glances before responding in unison.
“So, out of a desire to ease the mood, I thought we could have an open conversation today.”
Conversation?
The servants looked surprised.
The commander encouraged again.
“Please, take your seats.”
Servants hesitated but eventually took their places with bewildered expressions.
“Tea and snacks have been prepared. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Thank you.”
As the commander walked past, she added lightly, “Especially this tea is a rare one that even the Lord himself enjoys.”
At those words, the head servant visibly jolted as if struck by a whip.
Yerin observed the reaction intently.
“Oh, this pastry is really delicious.”
“This tea pairs perfectly with it!”
At first, everyone seemed to be cautiously watching one another, but that didn’t last long.
The sweet pastries, warm tea, and comfortable seating provided the perfect setting for a relaxed conversation.
Just as the atmosphere began to ease, a calm voice broke the silence.
“Why aren’t you drinking the tea?”
The sudden, matter-of-fact question startled the head servant of the Lord’s quarters. They quickly lifted their head, only to see Yerin calmly gazing at them.
“Lady Yerin?”
“All the other servants are enjoying the pastries and tea, so why are you not even touching your cup?”
When Yerin repeated her question, the servant’s eyes began to shake uncontrollably, like they were caught in an earthquake.
“Wh-why?”
“The rare tea that the Lord himself enjoys,” Yerin said with a gentle smile, sliding an untouched teacup toward the servant.
“Drink it.”
“….”
The voice was gentle, but the servant’s body began to tremble uncontrollably the moment they heard it.
“No, I—”
“Why?”
Yerin tilted her head slightly, looking inquisitive.
“Is there another reason you can’t drink it?”
“….”
The servant suddenly realized how quiet the room had become.
Turning their gaze around, the servant’s lips clenched tightly as if to suppress the fear.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on them.
“What is this about?”
“Why is Lady Yerin acting this way?”
Even the commander, who was usually gentle and kind, had an icy glare directed at the servant.
The helplessness intensified, and the head servant eventually lowered their eyes, closing them tightly.
‘They already knew.’
This entire situation had been carefully orchestrated as a trap.
A trap laid out to catch just one person.
The gathering of all the servants seemed staged to ensure the head servant wouldn’t become suspicious.
“I’m sorry!”
The servant fell flat to the ground, pressing their hands against the floor.
“I just thought Lady Yerin seemed overwhelmed with work lately, so I wanted to help lift her spirits… that’s all!”
“Exactly what did you do?”
Yerin’s expression remained cold as she asked.
The servant, desperate to avoid Yerin’s gaze, finally lowered their head.
“I… I switched the Lord’s tea….”
A heavy silence hung in the air.
“….”
“….”
Everyone stared in shock.
Moments later, the room erupted in commotion.
“What did you just say?”
“You switched the Lord’s tea?”
It was as though a beehive had been disturbed.
The servant hastily tried to defend themselves.
“But it wasn’t dangerous! Really, it was fine!”
“Why are you so certain?”
“Even with that said, it’s the Lord’s tea. I couldn’t serve something unknown!”
The head servant, still kneeling, glanced nervously at the others.
“So, I had other servants try it beforehand….”
“What?”
“You gave us the tea with that intention?”
Other servants quickly voiced their outrage.
“You were giving us tea like that?”
The atmosphere grew tense once again.
The head servant, after a brief hesitation, raised their voice.
“What, what! Back then, you all said the tea was good, that it gave energy and wasn’t tiring!”
One of the servants snapped back angrily.
“How can you be so shameless?”
“You told us it was fine, that it helped, and now you’re acting like it wasn’t dangerous?”
Another servant added vehemently.
“If the tea was as good as you say, why didn’t you drink it yourself?”
The accusation hit its mark, and the head servant’s hands fumbled over the teacup.
In truth, the reason the head servant hadn’t drunk the tea was simple.
‘The situation felt way too suspicious.’
