Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Section 6. The Wind Always Blows from Unexpected Places (1)
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People often spoke of famed swords or treasured blades. These were terms reserved for the masterful creations of skilled artisans who poured their heart and soul into forging a sword over long years, satisfied with the final result.
Famed swords and treasured blades belonged to the realm of man. They could be crafted, albeit with slim odds, depending on the artisan's effort and the quality of materials.
But divine swords transcended human limits—they were heavenly treasures. Only when human obsession, the will of heaven, and perfect timing converged could such a blade be born.
From that perspective, the saber now gripped in Eun Ha-seong's hand emanated a sharpness worthy of being called a divine blade.
A blood-red blade curved in a gentle arc, radiating overwhelming menace and pure clarity that dominated its surroundings.
"Finally..."
Eun Ha-seong's eyes burned with fierce emotion.
Red Star.
That was the name of the blade he had painstakingly acquired.
A blade among blades, said to cleave anything in its path, its edge alone enough to crown its wielder as a hegemon of an era.
Eun Ha-seong had labored for five full years to obtain Red Star. The effort and fortune he poured into it defied imagination.
His devotion had paid off—he had discovered it recently and claimed it at last.
Zing!
As Eun Ha-seong ran his hand along the blade, Red Star sang out on its own. He gazed at it in rapture, lost in the clear ring of its cry.
"Now, there's nothing to fear. Nothing can stand in my way."
He murmured softly, sliding Red Star into its sheath.
It was then.
"Fortress Lord, it's Blood Mountain."
The voice of his trusted subordinate, Jo Blood Mountain, came from beyond the door.
"Come in."
"Fortress Lord."
Jo Blood Mountain hurried inside. His expression looked gravely off.
"What is it?"
"The Protector..."
"Why Cheon-saeng?"
"He seems to have met with foul play. Urgent word came of his body found near Hapmil."
"Is that true?"
Eun Ha-seong shot to his feet without realizing it. The news had stunned him that deeply.
Kyung Cheon-saeng was the subordinate he trusted most.
No one knew better than Eun Ha-seong how formidable his martial prowess was.
"Who? Who dares kill Cheon-saeng?"
"We don't know that much yet..."
Jo Blood Mountain bowed his head in shame.
Eun Ha-seong's gaze darkened. Jo Blood Mountain bowed even deeper.
It had been ages since he last saw such fury in his lord. Five years ago, Eun Ha-seong had worn that look—and countless lives had been lost or ruined in the aftermath.
"Find the culprit, no matter what. If need be, mobilize them."
"Them?"
"You know who I mean."
Jo Blood Mountain jerked his head up in shock. The name from his lord's lips hit like thunder.
"But moving them rashly will draw the ire of the Blood Lynx Killing Veil."
"It's a wall we must cross someday. We're already under suspicion. No reason to hesitate."
"Understood."
"Of all times, this had to happen. Everything seems to fall into place, only to trip over some stray rock."
His voice sank colder than ever.
The joy of acquiring Red Star had long vanished.
"Cheon-saeng, dead..."
Shim Ok and Black Elder sat facing each other by the window of their annex, sipping tea.
"The night breeze is chilly."
"It's the wind flowing over Striking Moon Peak."
"If only our Blood Lynx Killing Veil were in a spot this refreshing."
"Suggest moving here to the Veil Lord."
"I'd be the first to get flogged."
"True, the Veil Lord shows no favoritism even to his own child."
"A son, maybe—but to a daughter? Isn't that too much?"
"That's the Veil Lord's charm. Fair to everyone, isn't he?"
"Fair, my ass..."
Shim Ok grumbled.
Black Elder looked at her fondly, like a doting grandfather eyeing a spoiled granddaughter.
They chatted and laughed with their usual expressions, but their hands moved in secret.
Shim Ok dipped a finger in her tea and wrote on the table.
[Watchers?]
[One on the ceiling, one outside the window. Just the two.]
Black Elder replied by writing with tea as well.
[Can you handle them?]
[Tricky, but not impossible.]
[Please do!]
With that, Shim Ok swept her palm over the table, erasing the words clean.
Black Elder eyed her with worry.
He hadn't liked her taking this mission. Too dangerous. But Shim Ok volunteered, and the Veil Lord approved—to forge his heir strong.
He had no choice but to obey her orders.
"Time for bed."
Shim Ok stretched and rose.
"Then goodnight, miss."
Black Elder stood too, calm as ever.
Moments later, the annex went dark.
Only then did the watchers relax a fraction.
They had surveilled Shim Ok and Black Elder all day. The pair stayed cooped up inside, showing nothing suspicious.
'No issues here...'
That moment of lapse.
Their nape acupoints burned suddenly, and they blacked out. Black Elder caught the falling watcher silently.
He laid the first down quietly, then took out the second the same way. Over in an instant.
With the watchers down, Shim Ok slipped from the annex. She had already changed into black night clothes.
"Let's go."
She vaulted the rear wall without hesitation. Black Elder followed soundlessly.
They ghosted out of West Heaven Manor toward Striking Moon Peak.
Staying in the annex didn't blind them to outside activity. They had learned substantial supplies entered the manor.
Some came not from the base of the mountain, but from above. Only Striking Moon Peak fit. And no normal sect hauled goods down from a peak.
'Something's hidden on the slopes. Something we don't know.'
That was their conclusion from their stay.
They flew up the mountain on lightness skill.
"This way."
Black Elder pointed to tracks on the ground.
Wheel ruts from a cart, clear as day.
"A cart came up this far?"
Shim Ok scanned around.
At least five hundred zhang up the mountainside. At that height, no proper road or even trail should exist—let alone for carts.
Yet here it was, real as anything. Narrow, but a passable cart path.
West Heaven Manor used this to bring something from Striking Moon Peak.
Conclusion confirmed, they sped up. Their destination: a cave midway up the peak.
Spacious enough for several adults shoulder-to-shoulder, hidden discreetly. Warriors guarded the entrance, torches lit, vigilant.
"Miss, extra caution from here."
"I know. You watch yourself, Black Elder."
"Then..."
Black Elder moved first.
In night clothes, he flowed toward the entrance like water—swift yet natural.
The guards sensed nothing until he was upon them.
He struck like lightning.
Swish swish swish!
In a flash, they crumpled. Glistening coins embedded in their foreheads.
Dead without a scream.
A technique worthy of his moniker, One Hand Soul Severer.
Among those Shim Ok knew, Black Elder wielded hidden weapons best. Some said he rivaled the Tang Clan warriors.
Shim Ok trailed him silently. Casual with him usually, now she followed his lead without question.
The cave was vast. Torchlit walls, cart tracks on the floor.
They delved deeper. The passage narrowed, darkened—like descending into hell's maw.
'What is this place?'
Shim Ok swallowed a gasp.
"Miss!"
Black Elder whispered low.
Her eyes followed his. The sight left her speechless, mouth agape.
Her pupils shook. His did too.
A massive underground cavern yawned before them. Under warrior watch, countless laborers dug into the earth.
Worn ragged from long toil, they looked gaunt—sunken faces, dust-caked shoulders, ragged breaths.
"Move it!"
"Slacking?"
Any pause brought a whip crack.
Crack!
"Aaagh!"
The lash bit flesh; screams echoed through the cavern.
So fierce, the laborers froze. Whips flew mercilessly.
"Argh!"
More screams, and they scrambled back to pickaxes.
The overseers showed no pity. Any hint of sloth, and whips rained—screams filling the air.
To Shim Ok, the cavern was hell itself.
"What's down here worth this?"
She first thought gold. But they just hacked away—no ore in sight.
"Seems all the missing merchants and travelers got dragged here."
Black Elder's eyes flashed sharp.
Many had vanished en route to trade with the western regions. Some bodies found, most gone without trace.
Veil Lord Shim Soo-myeong grew suspicious.
Rising fear would stifle trade, hurting the Blood Lynx Killing Veil.
They had recently linked West Heaven Manor to the vanishings. Already viewing its rise as a thorn, Shim Soo-myeong dispatched Shim Ok and Black Elder to uncover the truth.
Proof of involvement gave ample cause for reprisal.
"So West Heaven Manor was behind the disappearances."
"The question is, what are they after with this madness?"
As Black Elder suppressed boiling rage.
"Such a disobedient child. Told you to stay in the annex, yet here you are."
An unexpected voice sounded behind them. They whirled, startled—seeing a familiar figure.
Eun Ha-seong, lord of West Heaven Manor. Flanked by Jo Blood Mountain and manor warriors.
Shim Ok glared at him.
"Why capture these people? How could you commit such an outrage?"
"No choice. To find the Blood Demon's legacy, this was the only way."
"Blood Demon? You mean...?"
Shim Ok paled. Eun Ha-seong smiled.
"What you're thinking is right. A century ago, the Blood Demon who drenched the Shin River in blood sleeps here."
Little known in the Central Plains, but in Shin River, Blood Demon meant death.
Rumors even said the Demonic Cult tried recruiting him.
Yet for some reason, he spurned them, haunting only Shin River.
Countless sects there were wiped out. Branded public enemy, he evaded all pursuits and vanished.
At least a thousand Shin River warriors fell to him—unthinkable carnage for one man.
His name still haunted the region's fighters.
Eun Ha-seong smiled murderously at Shim Ok and Black Elder.
"You've seen what you shouldn't, heard what you mustn't."
"All this atrocity just for the Blood Demon's remains?"
"Just... Can you say that after seeing this?"
Shing!
He drew the saber at his waist. Red Star spewed eerie energy everywhere.
It could be divine blade or demon blade, by its master's will.
"That's...?"
"Divine saber Red Star, the Blood Demon's beloved weapon. Unearthed recently from this Blood Demon Tomb."
A terrifying killing intent exploded from Eun Ha-seong clutching Red Star. A pressure Shim Ok had never felt.
Black Elder instantly shielded her.
"Miss, run!"