Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: The Reason for Revenge
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“You don’t need to worry. Really.”
Seo Jin-ha smiled calmly.
Bu Eun-seol, who had always been cold and indifferent, was now willing to throw away everything he had for him.
A man can stand tall with just one good friend.
And to have earned the friendship of someone like Bu Eun-seol…
What more could he ask for?
“The Achilles tendon was severed, and not cleanly.”
Seeing Seo Jin-ha’s steadfast demeanor, Gyo Jung-hak spoke with a regretful expression.
“I managed to reattach it, but… blood circulation is poor in that area, so the prognosis is not good.”
“So, it can’t be healed?”
“I can’t say for certain. But…”
Gyo Jung-hak took a deep breath and continued.
“If you continue treatment with good medicine, there’s a chance of recovery. Try not to worry too much.”
“Right. An injury like this will heal with time.”
The more nonchalantly Seo Jin-ha spoke, the deeper the shadows in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes grew.
“Your internal energy.”
“My internal energy… well, it’s more or less recovered. Thanks to the elixir you gave me.”
Bu Eun-seol did not believe him.
He immediately gripped Seo Jin-ha’s wrist.
“What are you doing?”
Bu Eun-seol did not answer, instead injecting his Ban-geuk True Energy.
As Bu Eun-seol’s energy entered his body, Seo Jin-ha felt his head spin, and a taste of blood rose from his stomach.
But he endured the pain, trying to force himself to accept the energy.
However, he only had about one- or two-tenths of his usual internal energy remaining.
Moreover, the energy Bu Eun-seol injected was vanishing without a trace, like a stone thrown into the deep sea.
“His internal energy has been greatly diminished.”
Gyo Jung-hak said with a bitter expression.
“I’ve been checking his pulse, and most of his internal energy has been lost. But since he insisted he was fully recovered… I decided to observe.”
Seeing Seo Jin-ha’s face turn pale, Gyo Jung-hak’s expression grew grave.
“This happened because his dantian was also torn apart. The Cheongryeong Seokyu and Jamma Divine Pill have healed the wounds, but… a significant portion of his internal energy is already gone.”
After a low cough, he continued.
“If that were all, I would have found a way to restore it. But the internal art he practices is rooted in poison arts, so there was nothing I could do.”
Seo Jin-ha had mastered the Jiok Yeomhwi Burning Art, which absorbed myriad poisons and then incinerated them to augment his internal energy.
It was the ultimate secret art of Jiok Hyeolseong, allowing one to absorb poison without becoming a poison-wielder.
However, its circulation method and the very nature of its energy were completely different from those of ordinary martial artists, rendering any conventional treatment useless.
A silence fell over the room.
As the heavy atmosphere settled, Seo Jin-ha gave an awkward laugh.
“Well, I guess this wasn’t something I could hide.”
He deliberately put on a bright smile.
If he looked distressed, Bu Eun-seol would feel the same pain.
“I didn’t listen to you and acted recklessly. This is what I get.”
Seo Jin-ha said playfully.
“Now that I’m a cripple, all that’s left is to retire.”
Though his body had healed, most of his internal energy was gone. He could no longer remain in the Cheonsal Brigade.
No, there was no place for him in the Demonic Cult anymore.
“I have requested the Chong-gyo-ryeong to transfer you to my Sayeong Hall.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“A place has been prepared for you in the Jamma Pavilion. You can move there later.”
Friendship can sometimes be cruelly miserable.
Friends must see each other as equals. If one person sacrifices and lowers themselves, the relationship can no longer be comfortable.
“I don’t need your pity.”
Seo Jin-ha said with a nonchalant expression, forcibly suppressing his emotions.
“I’ll take care of my own future.”
“Who said anything about pity?”
Bu Eun-seol stated flatly.
“Your internal energy will be fully restored soon enough.”
“What? How?”
“Don’t be hasty. There is a way.”
As if realizing something, Seo Jin-ha shook his head.
“I am not going to Jiok Hyeolseong.”
A master and disciple’s internal energy share the same source.
The only one who could thoroughly understand and examine the foundation of Seo Jin-ha’s internal energy was the one who taught him, the Lord of Jiok Hyeolseong, Gong-ya-geuk.
Seo Jin-ha guessed that Bu Eun-seol planned to beg Gong-ya-geuk to restore his power.
“When I joined the Cheonsal Brigade, I cut all ties with Jiok Hyeolseong.”
“Did you really think I would tell you to relearn the arts of Jiok Hyeolseong?”
“Is that not it?”
Bu Eun-seol snorted, then spoke calmly.
“Stop with the useless thoughts. Once you’ve recovered, just pack your things and go to Nang-ya-gak.”
“Nang-ya-gak?”
“To restore your internal energy, you must first loosen your stiffened joints and tendons.”
Bu Eun-seol said with an indifferent expression.
“I spoke with them before I returned. Even if your internal energy is restored, it will be useless if your body is stiff.”
Bu Eun-seol had gone through hell and back to save Seo Jin-ha’s life, but his condition was far too severe.
He had considered the possibility that his internal energy might not be restored and had prepared a backup plan in advance.
‘But Nang-ya-gak?’
The masters of the Ten Demonic Sects each possessed mysterious abilities.
In particular, the martial prowess of the Nang-ya-gak Master, Ak Mu-ryeong, who was one of the Three Demons, was considered the greatest among the Three Demons and Three Reverends.
But even so, he couldn’t possibly restore the internal energy of Seo Jin-ha, who practiced the poison arts of Jiok Hyeolseong.
“Bu Eun-seol…”
“You can look forward to it.”
Bu Eun-seol looked at Seo Jin-ha with a solemn expression.
“I will work you to death, so much so that you’ll miss your days in the Cheonsal Brigade.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left abruptly.
*Clank.*
Seo Jin-ha stared blankly at Bu Eun-seol’s departing figure.
The Medicine King Hall Master, Gyo Jung-hak, was one of the top five physicians in the martial world.
Even he was helpless. What method could possibly restore his internal energy?
Staring at the door with a dazed expression, Seo Jin-ha asked.
“Besides going to Jiok Hyeolseong, is there any other way to restore my internal energy?”
“Hmm, it would be possible if Nang-ya-gak has a Geukryeong Seonkwa or an elixir of equal value.”
Seo Jin-ha looked dumbfounded.
The Geukryeong Seonkwa was a legendary elixir that could only be obtained once every thousand years.
Besides, hadn’t the one they recently acquired caused a fierce debate among the high-ranking members?
Even if Nang-ya-gak’s finances had improved recently, it was thanks to the support of the Muhasuyu Pavilion.
There was no way they would possess such a precious elixir.
“Don’t you worry. What the Martial Soul Lord seeks is likely not some miracle pill.”
“Pardon?”
“When he first brought you here, he asked me if it was possible to recover internal energy when the dantian was so torn apart.”
Gyo Jung-hak smiled faintly.
“When I told him it was impossible without a Geukryeong Seonkwa, he just smirked and said this.”
—*That’s for the best. Now I can get rid of it without any lingering feelings.*
Mulling over those words, Seo Jin-ha tilted his head.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. How could I possibly know what goes on in his mind?”
Gyo Jung-hak wore a mysterious smile.
“However, I too… want to believe in him.”
If anyone else had said it, he would have dismissed it as a joke.
But Bu Eun-seol was a man who would keep his word even if the heavens fell.
Since he had promised, it would surely be done.
Even Gyo Jung-hak believed in that.
“It seems I’ll have to impose on the Medicine King Hall for a while.”
Seo Jin-ha wiped his nose, took a deep breath, and grinned.
“If I don’t recover quickly and head to Nang-ya-gak, he’ll probably come back and nag me again.”
***
A Grand Military Council was held at the Jamma Pavilion, presided over by Bu Eun-seol.
The Demonic Emperor was in seclusion, and the Chong-gyo-ryeong had entrusted the handling of this entire affair to Bu Eun-seol.
—*I will give you work worth the price of the Cheongryeong Seokyu.*
This Grand Military Council was also the first order Yeop Hyo-cheon had given to Bu Eun-seol.
—*The Sahwa Alliance is not the main body either.*
This was the conclusion reached after a thorough investigation by the Cheonsal Brigade, which had struck the Sahwa Alliance under Bu Eun-seol’s command.
The fact that the Unorthodox Faction’s alliance, whose finances were not particularly robust, was able to rebuild Hyeolsa Valley.
It was because they had pulled funds from the Golden Scale Merchant Guild in Fujian.
This meant there was another mastermind who controlled the Golden Scale Merchant Guild.
—*Martial Soul Lord, you are to annihilate all those who touched this cult’s elite brigade.*
The group that attacked Seo Jin-ha, the heir of the Demonic Cult and the team leader of the Cheonsal Brigade.
To ensure their complete annihilation, full command had been given to Bu Eun-seol.
The Grand Military Council was normally attended by all the Hall Masters, Brigade Leaders, and first-class Grand Captains.
However, Bu Eun-seol excluded the Hall Masters and Brigade Leaders, summoning only the ten Grand Captains of the first-class brigades.
—*Seeing as he only called us, it doesn’t seem like he’s planning to do anything just yet.*
The ten Grand Captains gathered in the Jamma Pavilion’s meeting hall tilted their heads in confusion.
Regardless, Bu Eun-seol asked for their opinions on the procedures following the Sahwa Alliance incident.
“It’s problematic since we can’t strike the Golden Scale Merchant Guild immediately.”
“Shouldn’t we gather proper intelligence from the Biyeong Pavilion first before we act?”
“Or perhaps we could find answers by shaking down the Unorthodox Factions related to the Sahwa Alliance.”
But the meeting hall was filled with nothing but meaningless discussion.
These men had no interest in who had attacked Seo Jin-ha.
They were just people looking to use this opportunity to spread the might of their brigades and earn some merit.
And then there were those who were delaying the campaign, using the excuse that the main body had not yet been found.
“Listen.”
After hearing all the Grand Captains’ discussions, Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low voice.
“From this moment, I will mobilize all forces and wipe out the Golden Scale Merchant Guild.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, the attending Grand Captains’ eyes widened.
“You mean to strike the Golden Scale Merchant Guild directly?”
“That is correct.”
The Hall Masters were stunned by Bu Eun-seol’s firm reply.
—*Has the Lord lost his mind?*
Even for the Demonic Cult, launching a military campaign to attack a merchant guild without clear evidence or justification was impossible.
Merchant guilds had connections not only with the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions but also with the government. If handled poorly, the imperial army could even get involved.
Not only that, but a large merchant guild possessed considerable military power of its own, requiring a massive deployment of troops to be annihilated.
In such cases, various factors had to be carefully considered.
—*Someone has to stop him.*
The Grand Captains looked at each other, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Even the thugs of the underworld considered a person’s status and connections before striking…
But to declare a military campaign against a merchant guild without a second thought?
“For our cult to attack the Golden Scale Merchant Guild, we must have a proper justification.”
Finally unable to stand it, Seok Sa-myeong, the Grand Captain of the Mahon Brigade, spoke cautiously.
“Pursuing a path of dominance is fine, but a merchant guild is different from a martial arts faction. If we lack proper evidence or justification, our cult will face a major backlash.”
“He’s right. Wiping out one merchant guild is no issue, but if we do so, our cult will be immediately condemned.”
Several other Grand Captains voiced their opposition, but Bu Eun-seol waved his hand dismissively.
“What is certain is that the Golden Scale Merchant Guild was funding the Sahwa Alliance. They are surely not unrelated to the Hyeolsa Valley incident.”
“Isn’t it common for merchant guilds to fund martial arts factions? The Sahwa Alliance isn’t the only one receiving funds from the Golden Scale Merchant Guild.”
That was true.
The Golden Scale Merchant Guild, a major trading company, sent a considerable amount of silver each year to many sects in both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions, not to mention the government.
To annihilate them simply for funding the Sahwa Alliance was nonsensical.
“With just that much evidence…”
“Evidence?”
Bu Eun-seol’s gaze turned sharp.
In the Hyeolsa Valley incident, they had targeted him and kidnapped Seo Jin-ha.
That was tantamount to a direct attack on the Demonic Cult.
“I was attacked, and the team leader of the Cheonsal Brigade, who represents this cult, barely survived.”
“…”
“We don’t need proof. We’ll wipe them out and make it afterward.”
Hearing this, Seok Sa-myeong’s face turned pale, and his mouth fell open.
“Are you saying you will fabricate evidence after destroying the merchant guild?”
“What excuses can the dead make?”
An overwhelming pressure, seen only in the great demons who dominated the world, poured from Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
—*His demonic nature has reached its peak.*
The Grand Captains’ faces all turned white.
To think that Bu Eun-seol, known merely as ruthless, actually possessed a demonic nature that would cut down anyone who defied him.
“I can fully understand why the Lord is enraged.”
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Seok Sa-myeong spoke cautiously once more.
“But to attack a merchant guild…”
“There is no need for further discussion. I have already decided.”
Bu Eun-seol rose from his seat. He looked around at the assembly and spoke coldly.
“I will once again show the martial world what happens when you touch this cult.”
The Grand Captains could not accept it, but they had no choice but to bow their heads.
Bu Eun-seol had already received the authority to move the Demonic Cult’s brigades from Yeop Hyo-cheon.
Stepping up to offer advice would only get them on the bad side of the future heir.
“This meeting is concluded.”
*Rustle.*
As the meeting ended, the Grand Captains all paid their respects and rose from their seats.
But the expressions of the Grand Captains leaving the Jamma Pavilion were not good.
—*This man could turn our cult upside down.*
A great demon who decided to wipe out a massive merchant guild like the Golden Scale Merchant Guild without batting an eye…
They could not shake the sliver of anxiety that bloomed in a corner of their hearts.
In the empty meeting hall, Bu Eun-seol stood alone.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood calmly, as if waiting for someone.
*Creeak.*
About fifteen minutes later, the door opened.
A man in a navy blue official’s robe and a man in a Grand Captain’s uniform decorated with an ink-black insignia entered the meeting hall side by side.
It was Yu Un-ryong and Myo Cheon-u.
“Is it true, Bu Eun-seol?”
Myo Cheon-u hurried over and said.
“As soon as the Grand Military Council ended, a rumor spread like wildfire that you’re leading the first-class Grand Captains to attack the Golden Scale Merchant Guild.”
*Creeak.*
Before Bu Eun-seol could answer, the meeting hall door opened again.
A middle-aged man in a black martial arts uniform with a scar on his face entered.
It was the Gusal Brigade Leader, So Ja-myeong.
“Who are you?”
As Myo Cheon-u tilted his head, Bu Eun-seol answered for him.
“This is So Ja-myeong, the Gusal Brigade Leader.”
“The Gusal Brigade?”
Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong were now fully integrated into the Demonic Cult, so they knew well what the Gusal Brigade did.
“Why is the Gusal Brigade Leader here…”
As Myo Cheon-u blinked, So Ja-myeong grinned.
“This brigade has become the Martial Soul Lord’s direct unit.”
“The Gusal Brigade has become a direct unit of the Sayeong Hall?”
“The Martial Soul Lord is practically the Sayeong Hall… so you could see it that way.”
Blinking his eyes, Myo Cheon-u looked at Bu Eun-seol and opened his mouth.
“What is this about? Why has the Gusal Brigade become your direct unit?”
The Gusal Brigade was a secret unit that carried out unofficially recognized missions.
For them, who were secretly assigned under the Chong-gyo-ryeong, to now be under Bu Eun-seol’s command?
“It was necessary.”
At the brief explanation, Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong’s expressions turned grim.
Though they were his closest aides, they had no idea what Bu Eun-seol was plotting or what he was doing.
The two of them knew nothing at all.
“It’s time you knew.”
Looking at the two pairs of eyes filled with disappointment, Bu Eun-seol let out a low sigh.
“Myo Cheon-u, Yu Un-ryong. You two as well.”
Taking a deep breath, he spoke in a low voice.
“The reason I have been operating a separate intelligence organization until now was all to find Sahyang.”
“Sahyang?”
“That’s right.”
Bu Eun-seol stroked his chin with a bitter expression.
“But every time I found the enemy, they would expertly cover their tracks. Seo Jin-ha also fell into a trap while searching for Sahyang.”
He then continued his explanation in a calm voice.
How he had been pursuing Sahyang all this time, investigating the Seongga Ironworks and the Murim Alliance, and how that had led him to find and annihilate the Five Poisons Sect.
“You found Sahyang, and all these behind-the-scenes forces came pouring out?”
After listening for a while, Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong stared at each other, their mouths agape.
It was surprising enough that such an organization existed in the martial world, but that Bu Eun-seol had been chasing them all this time?
“Why are you looking for Sahyang?”
At Myo Cheon-u’s question, Bu Eun-seol fell silent for a moment.
He had never told anyone the reason he was searching for Sahyang. Not even to So Ja-myeong, with whom he had consulted on various secret matters.
—*I don’t want to endanger others for my personal affairs.*
But after what happened to Seo Jin-ha, Bu Eun-seol realized this way of thinking was wrong.
He was no longer alone. He had many subordinates and friends who would willingly sacrifice themselves for him.
In that case, he should join forces with those he trusted, consult with them, and handle matters together.
That would be the way to protect them and prevent them from falling into sudden danger.
“The one who killed my grandfather, my only blood relative, used Sahyang’s assassination techniques.”
“Your grandfather?”
“Yes. Until now, I lived alone with my grandfather. We would take in the bodies of the unclaimed dead reported by the constables, carefully cleaning and preparing them for burial.”
As Bu Eun-seol stared into the empty air, a blood-red light emanated from his eyes.
“They brutally murdered my grandfather, who was living a quiet, peaceful life.”
A long silence followed.
Myo Cheon-u, Yu Un-ryong, and even So Ja-myeong nodded their heads.
No lengthy explanation was needed.
Bu Eun-seol’s raw anguish, as if he might shed tears of blood at any moment, seemed to tear the heavens asunder, his rage threatening to shatter the earth.
Revenge.
Bu Eun-seol intended to find the one who killed his grandfather and exact his revenge.