Chapter 363
Chapter 363
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 363
Chapter Title: As Long as Breath Remains (1)
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Cheon Jang-ho immediately composed a secret letter rewritten in code.
The letter, thus prepared, was tied to the leg of a carrier pigeon from the Crimson Dragon Palace and delivered to Haenam Island.
"Grandmaster! This is the tool used to decode the secret message!"
Through the decoding cylinder Jang Sun carried, Haenam Sect's leader Yong San-hae gasped as he deciphered the express delivery.
"Isn't Namhae Uk Manor a place we've had multiple exchanges with?"
At Yong San-hae's words,
the elders under him swallowed hard.
In the heavy silence, the one who answered was the senior disciple Nam Jun.
"...Yes, it is."
At the response, Yong San-hae let out a long sigh.
"Hah. Without knowing, we shared tea and built friendships with them. Yet when it came to proposing to subjugate the demons, we asked for time to deliberate... What must the students of Grotesque Dragon and the Righteous Martial Academy think of our Haenam Sect? Shameful, so shameful."
It was then that Jeong Geuk-kyeong spoke up.
"From what I've seen as an instructor at the Righteous Martial Academy, Grotesque Dragon is not the type to harbor such thoughts."
Jang Sun raised his voice next.
"That's right! I can vouch for that! Brother Yong-un isn't like that! While you were deliberating, Grandmaster, I was feeling down, but Brother said it's natural to worry?! Because we have to think of Haenam's people!"
At Jang Sun's words, Nam Jun gave an awkward smile and spoke.
"...Sun, are you a disciple of Haenam or Grotesque Dragon's guardian spirit?"
"Can't I be both? Actually, calling me his guardian spirit doesn't fit. I'm more like a lowly foot soldier..."
"Good grief."
As awkward laughs spread among Nam Jun and the Haenam Sect disciples at Jang Sun's reply,
Yong San-hae rose from his seat and drew the sect leader's treasured sword from the wall.
"Even so, shame is shame. Before it gets more shameful, let's fulfill our duty."
"Yes!"
As Haenam's disciples marched toward the sea,
another express pigeon flew into the Chu King Mansion in Guangxi.
Upon confirming the decoded contents, Jin Kyung-ryong divided tasks with Ye Hae-su.
"...The time has come. I'll assemble the troops."
"Yes. Then I'll go meet His Highness the Chu King."
The Chu King, checking the letter Ye Hae-su presented, stared south and chuckled dryly.
"The vast sea scattered with islands like stars in the Milky Way, called the Galaxy Archipelago... Yet from those countless isles, they've uncovered these truths? When I think Grotesque Dragon's vessel is known, he shatters my assumptions. What a guy. Isn't that right, Ye family's Sea Lord?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"While young friends wander unfamiliar seas to save the people the court ignores, how can this old man spare his royal seal? Bring the letter to send abroad; I'll affix my seal."
The letter that flew to Guangxi thus transformed into a royal decree.
"Grand Marshal! A reply from Grotesque Dragon has arrived!"
"Ung-yong?! Let it in."
Gulp!
"...The operation begins. Ung-yong, you must be tired, but take this letter I've written to the Murim Alliance. Only then can the Alliance Leader support the kids in time."
Whoosh!
As Ung-yong flew toward the Murim Alliance,
other express pigeons carried royal decrees to the scattered locations of Eon brothers and Righteous Martial Academy students.
In response, academy students across regions began subjugating those who had collaborated with the demons.
Among them, where Je Gal-seolji led a troop, a meticulous plan was devised.
"The flag bearer of the First Troop, raise the flag here."
"Yes."
"Second Troop flag bearers, sound the gong here."
"Understood."
"Meanwhile, I'll enter through the main gate and issue the royal decree. Naturally, those trying to flee through this pass will emerge. Third and Fourth Troops will sweep them clean. Got it?"
On the other hand, some places relied on tests of skill.
None other than Zhejiang Province, under Yin Ha-yeon's command.
Yin Ha-yeon hadn't brought any Righteous Martial Academy students, coming alone with her master, Sword Empress Mo Yong-rin.
She calculated that the disciples of her sect, Precept Pagoda Sect, could be fully mobilized.
The female swordsmen of Precept Pagoda Sect resolved to draw their swords without hesitation upon hearing the circumstances from Mo Yong-rin and Yin Ha-yeon.
"Junior Sister Mo Yong, Ha-yeon. Hearing your grievous words, we've decided to unsheathe our blades... But are these places listed truly colluding with demons?"
However, Precept Pagoda Sect was based on the islands of Zhoushan Archipelago off Zhejiang, where they rarely ventured out for minor matters.
The problem was that most female swordsmen were ignorant of worldly affairs.
"From what I know, the people of Changdong Merchant Group faithfully provide relief to the poor?"
At the words of the Precept Pagoda Sect leader, representing the female swordsmen,
Yin Ha-yeon spoke firmly.
"While doing that, they smuggled away people who wouldn't be missed. Young Master Eon isn't the type to be ordinarily vicious... meticulous. Isn't that right, Master?"
"Chairman Eon is ironclad in all things. Sect Leader, even this foolish junior sister thinks it's a smokescreen."
"...Merciful Avalokitesvara. Yes. Let's set out."
And she swung her sword first.
As their schemes failed to work, the demons masquerading as commoners revealed their true colors.
"Tch. We needed those Precept Pagoda nuns for at least another year! Kill them!!"
Zhejiang Province bordered the Central Plains' corner.
Thus, it hugged both the Yellow Sea and South Sea.
As Precept Pagoda Sect's female swordsmen attacked the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's outpost on the Yellow Sea coast,
BOOM!!!
Righteous Martial Academy students were assaulting the South Sea coast outpost.
None other than the troop led by Yin Ha-seong and Namgung Young.
They faced monsters hard to call ordinary humans.
Beings with twisted bodies displaying beast-like movements.
Roooar!
Though they'd learned of them through materials and lectures from the Magic Defense Association, seeing them in person was a first.
Even Namgung Young, this year's top cadet, swallowed dryly.
"Senior Ha-seong! What is that?!"
Yin Ha-seong calmly measured the distance and spoke.
"Monsters! Cult bastards fed them Sleep Demon Pills; if the demonic arts and constitution don't match, they end up like that... I get it's shocking at first, but recall what Brother Yong-un said in training!"
Having opened thus, Yin Ha-seong continued.
"They attack even with wounds fatal to normal people. Never let your guard down; sever the neck. Don't take your eyes off them carelessly."
As everyone in Yin Ha-seong's troop gripped their swords tighter and steadied their breaths,
Namgung Young smirked and spoke.
"Oho."
"I said don't let your guard down—what's with the 'oho'?"
"Eyes are on it. Senior Yong-un always calls you a leaky bucket, Senior Ha-seong, but you're not at all?"
"Brother's standards are too high. Honestly, doesn't it make you wonder if he's even human?"
"Granted. By the way, are the seniors out at sea with Brother Yong-un okay?"
"Worried about them before your own brother?"
"Senior Yong-un trained the cadets, shared intel, even brought royal decrees. Plus, Senior So-reung went too. If they can't handle that, Namgung Family's heir has no qualification."
"...So stingy."
At Yin Ha-seong's words, Namgung Young gave an awkward smile.
"Not stingy; he just wasn't that big. The heir's seat in Namgung Family isn't easy."
"...Now I see why Brother Palace-yun has that temper. Anyway, Brother Yong-un's side is going as he planned, right? That's why the decree reached us. Let's do our part well—we boasted big. Can't mess up."
"Yes! Gotta watch Senior Yong-un's pouch open too! He promised treats!"
"That's the key. Let's properly loot that pouch we never got to see."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Amid the crescent-shaped main island at the center, small isles scattered around like escorts—Sakwol Island.
In a remote cave deep within Sakwol Island's main isle,
Chae Gyu and Chae Hyang.
The twin demon lords called White Phase Demon Lord and Black Mist Lord, together Black-White Martial Saints, were conversing.
"Brother. Isn't it past time for the regular intel line to report? Are you keeping it to yourself, or has no contact come?"
"No contact from the line itself."
"Looks like the orthodox fools started attacking our mainland outposts?"
"Seems so."
Though they guessed the coastal outposts were under attack, the twins remained calm.
"They were exposed to the Blood Cult anyway. All the sweet spots sucked dry, so no issue."
Surrendering the coastal outposts was part of this plan.
"Right. Wait for the Blood Cult's South Sea Archbishop rushing here on news of the South Coast raided, then crush him..."
"Lure the late-arriving orthodox murim into the Galaxy Archipelago's myriad isles, pick off some, and discord sows in orthodox murim?"
"Best if it's Eon Yong-un."
"Then Crimson Dragon Palace falls to the main cult in time."
As the twins synced perfectly,
one of their aides rushed in and spoke.
"A fleet not of the main cult has appeared in our waters!"
"Who? The Blood Cult's South Sea Archbishop is likely one of the sea bandits lurking nearby?"
Chae Gyu sneered and said.
"Black Fleet's Wang Heung? Or Gold Leopard's Sa Gyeom?"
"Neither. Reports say the eastern fleet is Crimson Dragon Palace's, and the southern one seems carried by Righteous Martial Academy cadets."
At the aide's words,
Chae Hyang widened her eyes and spoke.
"Really?"
"Yes. Scouts confirmed through the fog."
"Brother? What now?"
Allowing coastal outpost attacks was in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's plan.
But orthodox murim and Crimson Dragon Palace fleets hitting Sakwol Island now was unplanned.
"Shouldn't we withdraw?!"
"Hold on! Let's think!"
"How can we hold?! Forgot what that wench Yeon Ok-ran said when lending corpse handlers and shamans? It works on Blood Cult, but not on Eon Yong-un. Might even get taken!"
"Exactly! That's why we can lure that Eon Yong-un deeper!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having sent the sea-gathered intel to the mainland, I advanced to Sakwol Island with the troop I led.
Thus cleaving the vast sea for a long while,
we finally entered Sakwol Island's waters.
Splash!
Crash!!
- The sea's fury here outdoes even Hyeu Island.
As Master said, Sakwol Island's waters rivaled Hyeu Island where we met Sa Gyeom.
Furious waves rocked our ship violently.
Vortices everywhere kept pulling us into death traps.
'This side with fog seems worse.'
Unlike Hyeu Island's clear visibility, thick sea fog blanketed Sakwol Island's waters.
Well, I'd anticipated this sea's nature.
'Making Illusion Pills with human sacrifices. How could grudge spirits not pile up.'
Massive yin energy from countless grudge spirits caused such phenomena.
Thus, I'd prepared accordingly.
"Yong-myeong."
"Yes, Brother."
"Tell the Mosan Sect kids to start."
"Yes."
Ding- Ding-
Ding-ding-
None other than ringing the Spirit-Soothing Bells.
Of course, mere bell tolls couldn't dispel Sakwol Island's heavy yin enough to calm the sea and clear the fog.
But visibility extended slightly,
and we avoided ships colliding.
Whoosh-
Thus cautiously approaching Sakwol Island for a while,
we finally docked at one of the outer isles encircling the main island.
We couldn't head straight to the main without clearing outers, lest we get surrounded.
On the arrived outer isle, we faced bones discarded like trash.
"...!"
"...Uh."
"......"
At the horrific sight, even battle-hardened Eon brothers fell silent,
"Urk!"
"Bleeech!!"
and cadets unaccustomed to such vomited profusely.
Leaving the group behind,
"This was the best I could do."
I walked toward the bones and spoke.
"I'm no good person. Selfish. I think not everyone can be saved. My people come first. But one promise I can make... as long as breath remains in me, I won't forget your grudges."
Then, channeling inner energy to my dantian, I extended it from my fingertips and intoned,
"Rise."