Chapter 112
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Returning the Pearl
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Crack, crackle.
“…….”
Yu Hyun loosened his stiff joints and gazed at his reflection in the bronze mirror.
His entire body was an ugly shade of deep blue-black—if he just slapped a talisman on his forehead and lay down, he’d be mistaken for a blue僵尸 and exorcised without a second thought.
That damn old coot.
He’d fawned over his “cute disciple” and “lovely disciple,” but it was all blatant lies.
Fine, I admit it. I screwed up. I devoured the Yeo Cheon-ok, the Jang River’s treasure handed down through generations.
But was that for my own selfish gain? It was an investment to save the martial world.
Thanks to it, his disciple had reached a realm rivaling peak masters—yet instead of praise, the old man beat him to a pulp like this.
He’d nearly faced the King of Hell without so much as a summons from the grim reaper!
Sure, he might not have died, but still……
“…….”
Yu Hyun stared blankly down at the orb clutched in his hand.
A bead the size of a child’s fist, brimming with yin energy so dense it chilled straight to the marrow. It was what the millennium centipede had regurgitated after Yu Hyun devoured it.
If he’d offered this instead of the Yeo Cheon-ok, Gu Ja-jin wouldn’t have laid a hand on him—instead, he might’ve spent three straight days singing praises with his mouth agape like a begging bowl……
But this orb had a different owner.
Hwang Deok-sam.
Hadn’t he promised the man? If he revealed the millennium centipede’s whereabouts, he’d retrieve this orb……
“……Hmm, uhmm.”
Lost in thought as he gazed at the orb in his palm, Yu Hyun gritted his molars ever so slightly.
How could it gleam so enchantingly? The more he looked, the hazier his mind grew at its mystical hues.
No wonder every thug in the martial world would come charging with blades drawn.
“Phew…….”
It was a shame, but what could he do? The thing had an owner. He’d harvested plenty of spirit energy from it already—now it was time to honor his word.
A true man didn’t covet treasures that belonged to others. Time to return it to its rightful master.
Without Hwang Deok-sam, he never would’ve even found the centipede……
“…….”
No, hold on. That wasn’t right.
What exactly had Hwang Deok-sam done to help locate the thing?
It wasn’t like Yu Hyun had been clueless about its existence…… All the man contributed was one line: the clue was in the Justice Alliance’s history archives.
If you wanted to call that help, it was a fleck of eye gunk. Dead skin under a toenail—utterly worthless.
Let’s be real: he was the one who’d scoured the archives all night, the one who’d taken a beating from that insane flood to unearth it, the one who’d nearly croaked fighting that eight-clawed freak!
On merit alone, it was nine-to-one. Hell, ninety-nine-to-one. And he was supposed to hand over this priceless orb for free?
Even if the righteous path had fallen into the dirt, this was like feeding your rice to stray dogs……
“……Haa.”
Eyes brimming with conflict, Yu Hyun let out sigh after sigh.
Damn it, just grit his teeth and claim it failed?
What could the guy do? With the Yeo Cheon-ok shattered, who’d buy that the orb survived? Would he kill him over it?
Or say that eight-clawed bastard swallowed it whole……
That it drifted off into the wind during their brutal life-or-death clash……
“Yeah! I’ve made up my mind!”
After what felt like an eternity of torment, Yu Hyun’s eyes blazed as he clenched his fist with all his might.
The orb!
……He’d just give it away.
No matter how he sliced it, a promise was a promise. Coveting someone else’s property and breaking his word would invite divine retribution—what then?
Besides, Hwang Deok-sam had said it was vital for saving a life.
It sucked, but how could he say no to that……?
Yu Hyun gripped the hand cradling the orb, jammed it into his trouser pocket, and shot to his feet.
Even the bulge poking through his half-donned outer robe looked impressively sturdy, stirring fresh pangs of regret—but he shoved them aside and flung the door open.
“Eh? Branch Leader! How are you fee…… Heok!”
“Are you all right, Uncle…… Ack!”
“Heok, how are those bruises so thick…… Hup!”
The three dragons waiting outside yelped in unison, each letting out a sharp gasp.
No surprise there. Even he was shocked by the state of his own bruised carcass.
“Un-uncle, shouldn’t you see a physician? The Water Dragon King said he’s tied up till evening, so in the meantime……”
“…….”
At Nangong Seong’s worried query, Gae Du-sin and Tang Sa-dog bobbed their heads vigorously.
Shut your traps, you miserable wretches!
He remembered crystal clear the smug grins on their faces while he was getting pummeled.
Yu Hyun shot the trio a razor glare, hastily slipped on his shoes, and spat out:
“Got somewhere to be. Train while I’m gone.”
“……At least see a physician.”
“Drop it. I know my own body. You lot train hard—no slacking. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Was it the ferocious glare?
Or the icy tone?
Either way, his tone dripped with resentment, leaving them too cowed to ask where he was headed. They answered stiffly.
Yu Hyun flicked a glance at the trio, tails tucked between their legs, and sneered inwardly.
So they had a conscience after all?
Of course they should. Their branch leader—and uncle, no less—beaten to hell……
But that hardly mended his bruised feelings. Biding his time for later, Yu Hyun strode out of the Latent Dragon Troop’s quarters.
“Saw that?”
“Uhmm…….”
Gae Du-sin glanced between the other two, prompting Nangong Seong to groan.
“Definitely took a solid hit right there.”
Tang Sa-dog murmured his assessment in a lowered voice. The other two paled in horror, bodies quivering.
“Uh…… It didn’t burst, did it? Looked way too swollen.”
Nangong Seong ventured cautiously, and Gae Du-sin instinctively clutched his own front, shrinking back further.
“What if he asks us to check it?”
“Won’t even see a doc—think he’ll let us poke around? Keep your mouth shut unless you want a beating. Just train.”
“Uh, Seong’s got the right of it. And I’ll pass on the inspection, thanks.”
After the curt exchange and swift shutdown, the trio’s faces darkened as they huddled for more chatter.
“Man, this is bad. Real bad. Water Dragon King went too far. How could he hit…… Heh, just……”
“Yeah, exactly. Forgot for a sec, but he’s a vicious evil sect overlord after all. No mercy even for his own disciple. Shattering some other jade instead of the Yeo Cheon-ok…… Now he’ll have to forcibly cultivate child功, right? Or maybe despair and become a monk……”
As Nangong Seong and Tang Sa-dog lamented, Gae Du-sin piped up with forced vigor.
“No way. Times like this, we’ve gotta step up! Even if he can’t fulfill a man’s role anymore, I’ll serve him as branch leader! I’ll become the Beggar’s Sect’s top dog so I don’t embarrass him!”
“Damn straight! Haven’t known him long, but when he unleashed One Flash Blood Slash just by watching…… I vowed then to serve him as branch leader and pledge my loyalty!”
“……Uhmm, me too. Even if circumstances force me to forgo my engagement to his little brother, I’ll serve my uncle for life.”
Their vows rang out one by one……
“Sniff sniff, let’s treat Branch Leader even better from now on.”
“Yeah. He’s pretending it’s fine, but it’s gotta hurt bad.”
“Right…… All right, let’s start training like Uncle said.”
Each balled their fists, rose, and began their drills.
Swathed in bloated misunderstandings and bloated pity……
* * *
On a mountainside a short distance from the Justice Alliance.
Yu Hyun arrived at the edge of Hoxim Village—a hamlet of five thatched huts—the safehouse Zhuge Su-bam had chosen to protect Hwang Deok-sam.
The layout matched Zhuge’s description perfectly, so he started to step inside—then halted. The arrangement of the buildings felt oddly familiar.
“Mi Myeong Formation?”
It was baffling if his hunch was right. The Mi Myeong Formation stemmed from Taoist enlightenment.
Make the present seem absent, the full seem empty, the contacted seem unresisting.
Outwardly just approachable huts, but deadly perils within. The Mi Myeong Formation embodied that paradoxical riddle best.
It differed slightly from what he recalled. Cruder, perhaps?
“Hmm, Zhuge Su-bam knowing the Mi Myeong Formation is a surprise. That damn Heavenly Mechanism Diviner—bragged like he invented it. Turns out he just tweaked an existing one?”
Lips twisting in wry amusement, Yu Hyun entered the village and subtly released his spirit energy.
Starting with three on the left and two on the right, the subtle auras of countless hidden figures snagged on his probe.
“Impressive. Most folks would drop dead before getting close.”
At least it wasn’t a half-assed hideout.
They held their attacks but shadowed him closely.
They knew he was the Latent Dragon Leader—no funny business tolerated.
Reading their intent, Yu Hyun chuckled low, then tuned them out and pressed deeper into the village.
“Eh?”
Hwang Deok-sam, drying greens in the yard, spotted him and went wide-eyed.
“Long time no see. You look well.”
“Cooped up’s stifling, but no real hardships. Got chores to kill time, like this.”
“Good to hear.”
“But…… what happened to your face?”
“Long story. Nothing major—don’t sweat it.”
Brushing off the concerned question, Yu Hyun abruptly addressed empty space.
“Hey there, mind clearing out? Kinda awkward talking like this.”
“……?”
Hwang blinked in confusion, round-eyed. The presences lurking around him twitched.
Looked like he hadn’t even known they were there.
Yu Hyun shrugged at him, then spoke to thin air again.
“Outside the fence should do. You two on the roof as well.”
As Hwang frantically scanned roofs and fences, Yu Hyun smirked—then caught a transmission from one of the hiders.
[May I report to the Grand Strategist?]
“Go ahead.”
The words barely left his mouth before the presences winked out.
“Wh-who was that?”
“Think I’d say it if no one was?”
Yu Hyun flashed Hwang a toothy grin.
“Anyway, not here for a long chat…… Shall we head inside?”
“……?”
They were distant now, but sensitive topics might still carry. Yu Hyun entered the room with Hwang, sat, and immediately fished the gem from his trouser pocket, holding it out.
“Th-this……?”
He’d recognized it on sight, yet stammered as if in disbelief. Yu Hyun smiled.
“The orb from the millennium centipede you wanted to save.”
“Ah, aaah…….”
He reached out but couldn’t quite grasp it, fingers stroking empty air as his voice quavered with awe.
“This…… this is really it…….”
Overcome, his body trembled faintly. Tears welled in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks to patter on the floor.
“It’s done…… saved. Heh heh, now they can live, yes!”
“…….”
Couldn’t say for sure, but the orb would save someone, clearly.
“Thank you…… thank you so much.”
“…….”
Hwang suddenly seized Yu Hyun’s hand, repeating his gratitude. The raw emotion, thick with tears, made Yu Hyun’s brow twitch—but he let it be.
His spirit sense picked up unadulterated joy, profound thanks…… utter sincerity.
Whoever it was for must mean the world to him. Yu Hyun felt a twinge of shame for his earlier agonizing.
“By the way, know anything about the ones hunting you?”
“Them?”
“Yeah. Them.”
“Hmm…… Not much detail. Nothing certain. Just that they started chasing me once I had the clue.”
“Hmm. So they knew about the centipede?”
“No, didn’t seem like it.”
“I see.”
“Sorry. I’d tell you anything to help, but that’s all I know.”
“Haa…….”
No reason for lies now. Yu Hyun sighed deeply, face falling—no leads after all.
“My apologies.”
“Forget it—what’s an apology? So, what now?”
“Got the orb. Time to head back.”
“Won’t it be dangerous? They might still be after you. Could lose it.”
“Time’s short. Gotta risk it.”
“…….”
Gazing at the orb, he bit his lip gravely.
No doubt thinking of the one he aimed to save.
“Hmm. Need help?”
“Huh?”
“Leaving soon myself, can’t go personally—but I can make a request.”
“……!”
Evidently unexpected—Hwang’s eyes bulged.
“How far?”
“Sam Mun-hyeop. Just to there……”
“Sam Mun-hyeop?”
“…….”
“Hmm.”
Yu Hyun pondered briefly, then snapped his fingers.
“Got the perfect guy. You’ll get there safe.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Owe you a favor anyway—least I can do.”
“Thank you. Truly, Jin Gong-ja!”
“Jin? Oh!”
He recalled then—he’d given the name Jin Wi-gang.
Should he correct it? Nah. Yu Hyun shook his head.
Whatever.
No reason to meet again now that he had the centipede’s prize.
“Set it up and I’ll send word.”
“I won’t forget. Never. I’ll convey your kindness for sure. Once they recover, I’ll beg them to reward you handsomely.”
“…….”
Handsome reward, my foot. Nearly died to those thugs, now stuck here.
Anyway, time to go.
The orb kept gnawing at him……
The urge to snatch it back, bury it where no one would find it, kept surging……