The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life - Chapter 55
Chapter 55: A Scent of Death
The Black Iron Workshop was a significantly large organization.
It boasted several massive training grounds and numerous large warehouses for storing weapons. Additionally, it had an impressive number of forges for crafting arms and armor.
Upon closer inspection, it felt more like a martial sect than a blacksmith’s workshop.
Throughout the Black Iron Workshop, people dispatched from the Alliance were wandering about.
Despite their efforts in investigating, their gloomy expressions suggested that they had found nothing of significance.
Byeok Taesan ventured deeper into the sect.
At one point, he stopped and glanced at the Alliance martial artists who had been following him.
“How far do you intend to follow me?”
“Pardon? We are merely here to provide escort and guidance…”
“Here? There’s nothing dangerous or complex enough to require a guide. Are you here to monitor me, by any chance?”
“N-no, of course not! Absolutely not!”
Byeok Taesan silently stared at the martial artists.
His gaze alone carried such overwhelming pressure that the group wore troubled expressions.
“In that case, we’ll remain near the entrance. Please call us when you’re ready to leave.”
With those words, the martial artists retreated.
Byeok Taesan watched them walk away before turning his attention to the Heavenly Divine Healer.
“This is your specialty, isn’t it? Have a look around.”
The Heavenly Divine Healer stepped forward with a confident grin.
“As expected, the Young Master recognizes my true value. Leave it to me—I’ll unearth every secret hidden deep in the minds of those responsible for this. Speaking of which, there was a group called the Black Tiger Sect a while back. Those guys, let me tell you—”
Before he could continue, Byeok Taesan waved his hand sharply, cutting him off mid-sentence. With a slight tilt of his chin, he gestured.
“Stop rambling and get to work. We don’t have time. I have a feeling we’re about to have uninvited guests.”
“Uninvited guests?”
Hearing this, Yeon Harin, who had been observing Byeok Taesan, looked at him with a puzzled expression.
He replied nonchalantly.
“Baek Liyeop.”
Yeon Harin flinched and hastily scanned the surroundings.
“Oh no, Young Master! Calling the alliance leader an ‘uninvited guest’—what if someone hears you? That would be disastrous!”
“Disastrous? How could the alliance leader be of any help here? Someone who interferes with what I’m doing is an uninvited guest. What else should I call them?”
“Still, the Alliance leader is a highly esteemed figure!”
“Well… that much is true.”
It was rare to meet someone with such resolve, so the Alliance Leader had left an impression.
Yeon Harin stared at Byeok Taesan in astonishment. She couldn’t imagine anyone daring to speak of the Alliance Leader in such a manner.
The fact that the one doing so was none other than Byeok Taesan made it even more surprising.
She glanced around uneasily, sensing something odd.
Despite Byeok Taesan’s bold statements, none of the others showed any change in their expressions.
This meant they were either accustomed to such remarks or genuinely accepted Byeok Taesan’s words as truth.
As Yeon Harin stood in a daze, Byeok Taesan spoke again.
“Their insight is decent. Learning from this would be worthwhile.”
With that, the group followed the Heavenly Divine Healer.
The Heavenly Divine Healer began by teaching them how to deduce situations based on the visible traces and recounting rumors gathered around the Black Iron Workshop. He even extrapolated potential information from the findings.
Everyone’s eyes widened as they focused intently on his explanations.
No one had expected the Heavenly Divine Healer to possess such skills beyond his medical expertise.
While the others wandered with the Heavenly Divine Healer, honing their observational skills, Byeok Taesan surveyed the surroundings from a different perspective.
“This brings back memories.”
To become the Heavenly Demon required an arduous journey.
Even obtaining the qualification to pursue the position was no small feat.
After gaining the right, one had to walk a path drenched in blood.
And becoming the Heavenly Demon didn’t mean immediate recognition.
Only by mastering the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art and dedicating oneself to countless tasks for the Demonic Cult could one truly claim the title.
In fact, more blood was spilled after becoming the Heavenly Demon than during the journey to the position.
Right after his ascension, Byeok Taesan had handled situations similar to this one several times.
Of course, such investigations always ended with total annihilation.
Still, examining the scene after so long stirred a sense of nostalgia.
The first task after becoming the Heavenly Demon had been investigating the massacre of an allied sect and destroying the culprits responsible.
Byeok Taesan moved forward slowly. Nearby was a small training ground.
Judging by its location deep within the workshop, it appeared to have been used by one of the Black Iron Workshop’s key figures.
The Needle Master cautiously followed Byeok Taesan.
The ostentatious display of the Heavenly Divine Healer had been irksome, so he preferred staying near the fearsome but composed Byeok Taesan.
After all, Byeok Taesan wasn’t always intimidating, and the Needle Master took comfort in that.
Standing in the middle of the training ground, Byeok Taesan surveyed the area and nodded.
“Not bad.”
The Needle Master asked curiously.
“What do you mean?”
“Look at the marks on the ground and walls.”
Following Byeok Taesan’s direction, the Needle Master examined the marks.
The walls and floor were etched with countless fine lines, as thin as strands of hair.
“Are these sword energy marks?”
“At least you’re not entirely blind.”
The Needle Master marveled.
Wielding sword energy so finely and engraving such deep marks into solid stone was no small feat.
While the Needle Master inspected the traces in awe, the Heavenly Divine Healer burst into the room with the others in tow.
Hearing the conversation, they quickly examined the marks on the walls and floor.
“Interesting. This wasn’t just sword energy used like a blade—it was wielded like a whip. Let me teach you how to deduce the trajectory based on these connected patterns. Gather around.”
The Needle Master frowned at the scene.
He had come here to avoid witnessing such displays, but here they were again, right before his eyes. His fists trembled as he debated whether to intervene.
As he wrestled with the decision, Byeok Taesan spoke.
“Doesn’t it strike you as strange that someone capable of wielding sword energy so finely would fall so easily?”
The Needle Master tilted his head.
“Then are you saying the Black Iron Workshop members faked their deaths and escaped? Why would they do that?”
Byeok Taesan shook his head.
“Everyone here is dead. Whether they were all killed, a few fled, or were taken captive, one thing is certain—over a hundred people died here.”
The Needle Master’s eyes widened in shock.
“How can you be sure of that?”
Byeok Taesan calmly scanned the surroundings.
“Can’t you smell it? The scent of death is overwhelming—far too intense for just a few deaths.”
Needle Master sniffed the air after hearing the words but didn’t detect any particular scent.
“It’s not something you can smell with your nose.”
Feeling awkward, Needle Master stopped sniffing.
“Alright, let’s think for a moment.”
Needle Master glanced at Byeok Taesan, thinking how ill-suited the word “thinking” was for him.
“If someone strong enough to leave traces like these wanted to kill everyone here without a fuss or warning, how would they do it?”
Needle Master tilted his head in thought. A single idea came to mind.
“Poison?”
“Correct.”
Needle Master could see the certainty in Byeok Taesan’s eyes. He wondered why Taesan was so confident.
There wasn’t any absolute proof that poison was used.
Of course, it was the most plausible method.
“Do you know much about poisons?”
“I know enough.”
“How do you compare to the Poison Demon?”
Needle Master made a startled face.
The Poison Demon was reputed to be unparalleled in the world when it came to poisons.
Naturally, compared to him, Needle Master was far inferior, at least in the realm of poison.
“No one can surpass the Poison Demon in poisons.”
Needle Master cautiously asked after saying that.
“But… Why do you ask?”
Byeok Taesan glanced around before answering nonchalantly.
“It seems like the Poison Demon is involved.”
Needle Master’s eyes widened in shock.
“R-really? How can you be so sure?”
“I can smell the poison.”
“What?”
“It’s the scent of the poison he often used.”
Needle Master stared at Byeok Taesan in disbelief.
Taesan, unbothered by Needle Master’s expression, continued.
“However, there’s an odd, unpleasant scent mixed in. Your job is to figure that out. Since it’ll be hard for you alone, take that noisy guy over there with you.”
The Needle Master slightly bowed his head.
Soon, Needle Master and the Heavenly Divine Healer began searching for traces of poison using every method they could think of.
After assigning the task, Byeok Taesan leisurely walked away.
When an incident occurred, it was rare for Baek Liyeop to personally visit the scene.
He knew his presence might hinder the investigation, so he usually refrained.
Thus, everyone was shocked to see Baek Liyeop suddenly appear at the Black Iron Workshop.
“Leader, what brings you here?”
The leader of the Crimson Bright Corps, responsible for the investigation, quickly approached and greeted her.
Baek Liyeop waved his hand dismissively, signaling he didn’t intend to disrupt their work.
“No need for this. Everyone, carry on.”
The Crimson Bright Corps leader hesitated before asking cautiously.
“Did you come to meet the Divine Healer and the Needle Master?”
Baek Liyeop nodded.
“Yes. I have a favor to ask of them.”
“They’ve gone deeper inside.”
Suspicion flickered in the Crimson Bright Corps leader’s eyes as he spoke.
No matter how famous they were, what could physicians possibly know?
“You don’t seem convinced.”
Startled, the Crimson Bright Corps leader quickly waved his hands.
“Not at all. I was simply curious why they came here.”
Physicians were called when medical expertise was needed.
“I intentionally didn’t explain in advance.”
“Pardon?”
Baek Liyeop grinned.
“There’s someone I absolutely must meet.”
The Crimson Bright Corps leader stared blankly, puzzled about how meeting someone connected to not explaining things to the physicians.
“Anyway, I’ll convey the details myself. Just continue your work.”
With that, Baek Liyeop strode into the Black Iron Workshop.
He still had a lot to do. Losing an entire day because Byeok Taesan had already delayed his workload.
Today, too, he was effectively postponing things because of him.
When he returned, the General Secretary might scold him about all the tasks he had deferred.
Still, he wanted to come.
Not only to see Byeok Taesan but also to check the Black Iron Workshop with his own eyes.
From the moment he’d heard the report, something about it had bothered him..
Yet, he hadn’t figured out exactly what it was.
So, she came to kill two birds with one stone—meet Byeok Taesan and uncover the source of her unease.
The Crimson Bright Corps leader watched him walk away before turning back.
“What are you all standing around for? Didn’t you hear the Lord? Get back to work!”
At his shout, everyone scattered to resume their tasks.
Baek Liyeop ventured deep into the Black Iron Room.
“They’ve gone quite far.”
If they had brought physicians, they should’ve handled something more fitting, but what reason could there be to come this deep?
Before long, Baek Liyeop arrived at a small training hall.
The hall was crowded, and as always, Yeon Harin stood out the most.
Baek Liyeop took a moment to take in Yeon Harin’s presence, carefully observing her surroundings.
However, no matter how much he looked around, Byeok Taesan was nowhere to be seen.
Yeon Harin was there, and so were other stunningly beautiful women, though not quite on her level. The Heavenly Divine Healer, Needle Master, Cheon Kyungwan, and Yoo Seoyeon were all present. Only Byeok Taesan was missing.
Yeon Harin, noticing Baek Liyeop looking around, quickly approached and greeted him with a respectful bow.
“Greetings, Alliance Leader.”
“Yes, you’ve worked hard. But…”
Before Baek Liyeop could finish, the rest of the group hurried over to greet him.
Among them were the Heavenly Divine Healer and Needle Master.
“Alliance Leader, what brings you here? You must be very busy.”
To their question about why he was here despite his busyness, Baek Liyeop smiled and replied.
“No matter how busy I am, I can’t ignore something this important, can I? Besides, I have a favor to ask.”
“Is the favor to examine the locals around here?”
Baek Liyeop’s eyes widened slightly.
“How did you know?”
“Investigating this area, it seemed like the effects might have reached the surroundings.”
“Effects? Do you mean…”
“Yes. It seems someone used poison.”
Baek Liyeop’s expression hardened.