Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Scar on the Heart
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Long ago, it was Xiongnu land, and two hundred years ago, it was Western Xia territory, but people still live on the Ordos Plateau.
No, bandits live there.
The Ordos Plateau has the highest concentration of bandits across the Central Plains and the Border Wastelands combined. That's why it's called the "Bandit Plateau."
The Ordos Plateau became a bandit stronghold due to the fall of the Western Xia Kingdom.
Before his death, Saint Gil Sah left a dying wish to uproot Western Xia entirely, and his subordinates faithfully carried it out.
Most of Western Xia's commoners were slaughtered, with only a tiny fraction surviving and fleeing the Ordos Plateau.
Those driven out from the Border Wastelands and the Central Plains flocked to the now lawless Ordos Plateau. They banded together for survival.
Though the plateau had vast plains stretching thousands of li along the Yellow River, they had no intention of farming. They stuck to what they did best: plundering.
To the southwest lay the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province, teeming with merchant caravans. Southeast was the granary of Shaanxi Province, and beyond the Yin Mountains lay Shanxi Province. There was no need to toil away at honest labor.
And so, the Ordos Plateau became a bandit haven. With their numbers so vast, the authorities dared not eradicate them. They merely launched token military expeditions from time to time.
The Border Wastelands powers were no different.
Since the bandits raided the Central Plains, there was no reason for them to interfere. Blocking them would only create enemies and harm themselves, so they simply watched.
Amid the indifference of the Central Plains and Border Wastelands, the bandits' power grew unchecked, turning the once-civilized Ordos Plateau into a lawless wasteland.
Bandit groups ranged in size from as few as ten to as many as thousands. Among them, the strongest was the Western Xia Alliance.
A few days ago, a group arrived at the Western Xia Alliance. They were assassins from the Life-Death Society, dispatched from Peking.
"The Alliance Lord has arrived."
A maid entered to announce Yi Yang's return.
Hwayong, who had been sipping tea, shot to his feet.
Soon, the door opened, and a burly man with a finely groomed beard entered. This was Yi Yang, Alliance Lord of the Western Xia Alliance and the Great Xia King.
"You're finally here?"
Hwayong greeted him joyfully.
"It's been a while, brother."
Indeed, Yi Yang, former top assassin of the Central Plains known as Latent Death, was Hwayong's blood brother. Right after eliminating Ak Juryeong, the lady of the Great Heaven Heavenly King Household, Yi Yang came under pursuit.
He realized they intended to wipe out his entire family. But he couldn't tell if his pursuers were from his clients or sent by his brother. All he could do was flee.
Even with superior martial arts, once hunted, capture was inevitable. After two years on the run, he arrived at the Ordos Plateau.
This bandit paradise became his heaven. He changed his name to Yi, after the Western Xia royal surname.
Fifteen years after joining the Western Xia Alliance, he became its leader.
"I see. No troubles?"
"How could there be? But what's the occasion?"
"I came for business."
"You brought a horde of assassins, so of course it's business. Important enough for you to come personally, I assume."
"It's related to the Heavenly Rain Merchant House and Master Joo Jang-cheol."
"You're not going to be vague like last time?"
"Like last time?"
"Back then, you only mentioned 'Heaven.' You never said if it was one of the Absolute Five Heavens or something else."
"You still dwelling on that?"
"Thirty-two years ago, that job got me chased for two years before I ended up here thirty years ago. How could I forget the incident that dumped me in this godforsaken land?"
"You failed."
"I didn't kill the son, but that led to the Great Heaven Heavenly King Household's downfall. I'd call that a success."
"I thought so too. But the client disagreed. He valued Joo Muyoo more than Ak Juryeong. He only paid a third of the fee."
"That's your issue. Let's talk payment first."
"Fifty taels."
"One hundred."
"Seventy."
"Thirty-two years ago, you didn't pay a single coin."
"That time..."
"One hundred."
"Fine."
"Now tell me."
"Alright..."
Hwayong explained in detail about the targets, Ak Muyoo and Ara.
"You're mobilizing everyone just to take out two people?"
"Five assassins, including one elite, fell to those two."
"So not just two, then."
"Very likely. That's why I brought our full force."
"If you're here personally, they've entered the desert."
"Yes. They headed north from Dunhuang into the wasteland."
"So I can assume the Life-Death Society isn't the only one after them."
"We received intel that the Huangbo clan's Vanguard Unit went out to eliminate them."
"What happened to them?"
"We only know they departed. Nothing after that."
"Let's find out."
Yi Yang summoned a subordinate and issued orders.
Two days later, the Western Xia Alliance obtained information on Ak Muyoo and Ara.
"Not just two?"
Hwayong eyed Yi Yang curiously.
"Nearly two hundred."
Yi Yang nodded.
"That explains the losses."
Hwayong stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Wasn't our intel lacking?"
"Apparently. But now we know, so no issue."
"What do you need from us?"
"First, confirm if they're coming this way."
"You're asking us to strike first."
"Yes."
"It won't matter if we kill them?"
"That would be ideal."
"Half upfront."
"..."
"Otherwise, I can't motivate my men."
"Fine."
Hwayong nodded.
* * *
Ak Muyoo's group reached the western side of the Haran Mountains by evening.
"Find us a place to rest."
So Pung shouted to the elites.
Thirty of them leaped out to the center, left, and right flanks. The lightness skill they used was Flying Heaven Void Step.
The group waited at the mountain base. They returned after half a shichen.
"We found one."
The central elite reported.
"There's water."
"Don't even mention it. Hot water."
"Hot water?"
"It's a hot spring."
"Really? Those exist here?"
"Yes."
"Lead the way."
"Yes, sir."
The group followed the elite up the mountain.
The Haran Mountains were sparsely treed, making the ascent easy. After about a shichen, they entered a valley steaming with heat. Enclosed by cliffs, the valley held scattered pools large and small.
"Scout the area. Ten li radius."
"Yes, sir."
At Ak Muyoo's command, the elites scattered.
"The rest of you, prepare dinner."
"Got it."
The elites bustled about. In another shichen, everything was ready.
"We'll eat after washing up."
"Yes, sir."
The elites rushed to the springs. The water was perfect. They soaked, washed their clothes, shampooed, and scrubbed off the sand.
"Ladies, use that corner over there."
Ak Muyoo pointed inward.
"Got it. Let's go."
Yo Pung, Ara, Seo Pung, and Naeng Ok headed inside.
Ak Muyoo went to a nearby spring. Washing wasn't simple when clothes needed laundering too.
First, he drew the Heavenly Divine Sun Bow and disassembled its seventy-four mechanisms. Then he unsheathed the Sun Heaven Sword, untied his belt, and tossed the Sun Robe into the spring.
The Sun Robe sank immediately. He removed the Mad Demon Armor and set it beside the Sun Heaven Sword Armor.
"You've got a lot of gear."
Mokma Chosa approached.
"Weaklings like me need all these hidden tricks to survive."
"And they're all divine artifacts."
"Am I lucky or cursed?"
"Sounds like you're saying you ended up with weapons and arts far beyond your level. Am I right?"
"These are just pictures on the wall to me. Take this sword. It's called the Sun Heaven Sword, but I can't even wield it properly."
"..."
Mokma stared silently at Ak Muyoo.
The Sun Heaven Sword was the supreme divine relic of Sun Heaven among the Absolute Six Heavens. Ak Muyoo clearly possessed not just Fear Heaven but Sun Heaven arts as well.
"Why not give them away?"
"That's what I'm doing—handing them out diligently."
"So the arts you taught those guys are..."
"Did you know Ma Cheon, master of Fear Demon, and Mil Un, lord of Secret Heaven, were married?"
"Ugh!"
Mokma grimaced.
"Regretting not paying attention now?"
"How'd you know I wasn't listening properly?"
"It's not just you. Out of the Hundred Radiant Demons, none of those guys truly absorbed the arts I recited. You think the same, right?"
"Heh! We missed our chance."
"Not a chance—a opportunity. Still, I snagged a few foes dozens of times stronger than me with it."
Ak Muyoo kicked the Sun Heaven Sword's hilt lightly.
"How do you take down stronger foes with something you can't even wield?"
"Just once."
"When?"
"When I draw it from my waist. You saw it—I'm fast. At full speed, it strikes like a venomous serpent, slicing everything in reach. As a divine sword among divine swords, nothing holds it back."
"You'd have to get in close for that."
"I like close-quarters fighting. Anyway, here to wash?"
"Yes."
"Then hop in."
Ak Muyoo stripped off his top and pants and entered the spring.
"Urk!"
Mokma let out a low groan.
"What?"
Ak Muyoo looked at him puzzled.
"That necklace?"
Mokma pointed to the one around Ak Muyoo's neck.
"You know it...? Wait, same surname, Chosa?"
"Who gave you that?"
"General Cho Yu gave it as payment for a favor. What's your connection?"
"W-what do you mean 'payment for a favor'?"
Mokma asked urgently.
"Sit down first."
Ak Muyoo leaned against the spring wall.
Mokma hurried in.
"I met Ara's group in the Desert Heaven-Earth. After picking up those items outside. Inside, there were five of them, mostly gravely wounded and on the run. General Cho Yu was one."
"D-dead?"
"Yeah."
"Who?"
"Blood Wolf Clan finished him, but Master Joo Jang-cheol fed the five generals to them. Now he's after me and Ara."
"That bastard!"
Dense killing intent emanated from Mokma.
"How'd you know General Cho Yu?"
"My grandson."
"He wanted his effects delivered to the Northern Divine House. Who's there?"
"His mother."
"'Mother'—that carried some emotion. Bad blood, huh?"
"Didn't she ultimately get my grandson killed?"
"General Cho Yu's death had nothing to do with her. I don't meddle in family matters, but he was a fine man with a sound mindset. She raised him right, the one you dislike. Kids need their moms. Without one, you end up like me."
"You seem well-adjusted to me..."
"Does this look like a well-adjusted body?"
Ak Muyoo gestured to himself.
"Well..."
Mokma's eyes widened. Too distraught over his grandson earlier, he hadn't noticed Ak Muyoo's body properly. Now he saw: Ak Muyoo's torso bore more scars than smooth skin.
"There's even one on your heart."
"Someone else spots it? No one's noticed before. You a physician?"
Ak Muyoo pointed to the small scar on his heart.
'Hmm?'
Mokma's eyes widened further. Ripples formed around Ak Muyoo's body—waves from the killing intent he exuded.