Chapter 418
Chapter 418
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 418
Chapter Title: All Settled (2)
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Mok Yeom-yak led the Shadow Whisper Sect disciples away, while Do Jung-gwang took the Green Forest Bandits with him.
Discussions on the path forward for the True Blood Unit had also concluded.
"Has everyone finished preparing?!"
Those returning to Dan River District reported that their preparations were complete.
"The strike team finished up long ago."
"We're done here too, Young Master Eon."
"We've only got one bag each and a single Songmun sword—that's all our luggage. No real preparations needed."
In truth, all matters that needed tying up at Manyeop Mountain had been settled.
However, not all worries had vanished.
I shifted my gaze to one of those lingering concerns.
'Blood Heaven Asura Palace.'
Jin Gwang-ryang and his followers had vanished, but the fortress they'd planned as their main base stood firm.
We couldn't leave an impregnable stronghold like that for some black-hearted schemer to claim.
'If we did, all our efforts so far would be for naught.'
Moreover, with the Blood Cult having entrenched itself and driven local sentiment to its worst, restoring the people's hearts was essential.
To that end, beggars from the Beggar Clan among the Eastern Unity Alliance had stayed behind.
"......"
As I stared at the Blood Heaven Asura Palace fortress, lost in thought,
No Sam, who had volunteered to lead the beggars, cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Don't worry about this place. I've got experience handling messes like this. I'll work things out with that pirate boss and keep everyone in line."
Just as No Sam broached his own concern,
Cheon Jang-ho snorted and spoke up.
"Seriously. Since when have you cared about the academy? You were always rolling around, even earning that 'Lazy Wind Moon Flower' nickname."
"That was ages ago. Ever since Yong-un arrived, I've been working hard!"
"Please. 'Working hard' is for Yong-un hyung or Ha-yeon noona. It'll run fine without you, Elder."
No Sam's face flushed red in an instant, and he started kicking at Cheon Jang-ho.
"Ack!"
"It might look that way to you, but I've had plenty to do! Get lost, you beggar punk!"
"Aaaack! You're a beggar yourself! And 'sort of a lot'—either it's a lot or it's not! What kinda vague nonsense is that!?"
"Shut up, you runaway who bolted to Unmae Hall to avoid my nagging!"
Laughter rippled through the group at the sight of the two bickering.
Then Sa Gyeom cupped his fists toward Dokgo Cheol.
"Division Leader."
Sa Gyeom had gone from high priest of the Blood Cult to True Blood Unit member, and now deputy leader of the Dawn Alliance,
but the old title slipped out, not yet ingrained.
At that, Red Hand Scholar Son Cheon-jeong immediately chimed in.
"You should say Alliance Leader now. Names carry weight."
"...Ah, right."
Dokgo Cheol smiled at Sa Gyeom.
"Deputy Leader. For the Dawn Alliance to take its first steps, we need solid foundations. I'm leaving you with a heavy duty. Take good care of this place."
"I'll send regular reports. Earning the jianghu's recognition for the Dawn Alliance won't be easy. Steel your resolve."
"Yes."
Their gazes turned to me in unison after the exchange.
I offered them a word.
"Don't hesitate to contact me if you face difficulties or need anything."
I signaled to Myeong Yeong, the leader of the return procession, that it was time to depart.
Myeong Yeong smiled faintly and spoke.
"All accounts settled, all must part. Where there's meeting, there's parting; where there's parting, there's meeting. Pursuing the same path, we'll cross ways again someday. Those who must leave, be on your way."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The return journey served not only to bring survivors home
but also to deliver the fallen to their resting places.
Thus, as I bid farewell to those Myeong Yeong had seen off,
I immediately invoked the incantation.
"Rise!"
Energy surged from my dantian, raising the fallen warriors.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
As they joined our northward march,
my master remarked,
- Your father's eyes seem misty... Am I seeing things?
'...Doesn't look like it.'
Turning to Father, his eyes were indeed red-rimmed.
Catching my gaze, he offered an unprompted excuse.
"Ahem. S-something got in my eye."
But as one unaccustomed to lying, he soon confessed the truth unasked.
"...Mixed emotions. The Corpse Manipulation Technique was originally researched to return the fallen to their families and homes."
"......"
"Thanks to you, Yong-un, our family's corpse servants are revived, able to guide them home... It stirs all sorts of feelings."
In truth, my necromancy differed from the Pearl Eon Family's corpse servants,
but I saw no need to correct him and stayed silent.
Then Paeng So-cheon latched onto an odd part of Father's words.
"Yeah. The Pearl Eon Family manor owes a lot to you lately, Yong-un. I saw it when Noona, Yong-myeong, Jang-ho, and I went to Jinju—people lining up at the gate!"
Paeng So-jin clutched her forehead.
"Idiot."
"First it's 'pig,' now 'idiot'?"
"You say idiotic things, so you're an idiot. The manor booming isn't all good, right, Yong-myeong?"
"...Not everyone's motives are pure."
"Exactly. Uncle's steadfast, Aunt's wise—they handle it well, but it's tough."
At that moment,
Father shook his head.
"I don't find it burdensome. Just amazed at how things turned out. I regret not understanding your intentions when trying to set minor rules."
His deep regret stirred something in me.
'...Ugh. That was truly the best path back then. But Father's heart feels differently.'
Realizing I'd truly become his son, I spoke.
"If banishing me still weighs on you, let it go. That resolve let the Pearl Eon Family weather ups and downs—and led to days like this."
"......"
Father fell silent, then cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
"Ahem. Ah. Anyway, among those visiting the Pearl Eon Family that So-cheon mentioned, quite a few later-generation martial artists want to learn the corpse techniques?"
It was hardly a dismissible topic.
After brief hesitation, I replied.
"To fully restore the Pearl Eon Family's Corpse Manipulation Technique, nurturing successors is key. But I just somehow can do it—I haven't formalized the method. I'm not yet fit to teach others."
"True, using and teaching are different beasts."
"Yes. We're researching with Mount Mosan Sect Taoists... But checking dantian compatibility and basics are taught at the academy. Tell such seekers to prepare for the Righteous Martial Academy entrance exam."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Father, the Five Wu Dang Heroes, the strike team,
plus me and my siblings, now somewhat known, traveled together. Whether due to Do Jung-gwang's word spreading about reining in his subordinates,
no one blocked our path.
We smoothly traversed land routes and launched fleets onto tributaries leading to the Yangtze.
Long after our ships cleaved the waters,
we merged into the Yangtze main channel.
Whoosh!!
A swift ship led by a white falcon sliced through the waves ahead.
Seeing the ship clearly from Sichuan, Woo So-ryeong lit up.
"Hyung Eon! It's Eung-yong! The Eastern Unity Alliance Leader's coming!"
"I see it."
I nodded and extended an arm.
Eung-yong perched, puffing its chest proudly.
Whoosh!!!
"You did well too."
Hoo-rook?
"Empty beak? Got it. Hey, anyone got jerky?"
As I welcomed Eung-yong,
the trailing swift ship joined ours, and Zhuge Chak boarded the flagship.
"Everyone looks half-dead—must've been rough."
Zhuge Chak scanned the faces aboard, exchanging greetings.
But he paused at Myeong Yeong and me.
"......"
He'd instantly grasped what passed between us.
Silence lingering, Zhuge Chak eyed Myeong Yeong with a teasing tsk.
"...Even this old Nangong fogey dragged his creaky bones back to the jianghu. And you, still young, already feigning retirement."
Phrasing the delicate matter—praise or reproach?—in his signature style,
Myeong Yeong smiled.
"Haha, that's how it is. Not full retirement, though. The Grotesque Dragon asked me to handle Eastern Unity Alliance duties."
He tattled that I'd pinned him down with "back rent."
"...Can't say I blame him. The Yangtze's undercurrents are fearsome these days."
Instead, Zhuge Chak clapped my shoulder approvingly.
"Knew it from the start—you're the real deal."
Leaning in, he whispered,
"...Well played. Squeeze a dried squid, and water comes out. Toying with a giant like him would be the jianghu's loss."
"Right? Right. Stick around, and the sword's call will return too."
"Indeed."
"Heh heh heh."
"Ho ho ho ho."
At our exchange,
Dang Ok-gi shook her head.
"...Seriously. You scheme so alike, it's like he's your real grandson. More than Seolji, even."
Silver River Castle and Master added quips.
"They look just like villains."
- Tell Ha-seong the 'of the world' part's missing.
I ignored them and asked Zhuge Chak,
"So, what about Demon Brain?"
"That bald geezer lacked confidence—stalemated without a decisive clash, then fled over Cheonjang Mountains. I'm heading back."
Zhuge Seolji nodded.
"Insufficient forces to press further."
"Aye. No need to pursue. At Southern Barbaric Beast Palace, confirmed Luo Yin Temple and Solar Palace side with Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. No reason to enter their territory."
My gaze naturally drifted northwest toward the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
"I see. Blood Cult's fall will solidify their alliance."
"Likely. We'll scout for cracks, but winners can't get complacent."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Righteous Martial Academy Chief Jeong Hye.
Having sent cadets to Manyeop Mountain, she'd fretted endlessly. Hearing Eon Yong-un's procession neared Dan River District, she paced near the main gate.
"They must arrive safely to the end."
She longed to greet them from afar, but
Dan River District teemed with crowds gawking at the young heroes who crushed the Blood Cult, plus early-arriving later-generation martial artists for entrance exams.
So she lingered behind the gate.
With her were Unmae Hall supervisor Paeng Mu-hyeok, Yun-guk Hall supervisor Zhuge Min,
and Gong Son-mu-gyeol and Chang-ryang, back from Kunlun.
Paeng Mu-hyeok spoke first.
"Busy with exam prep, so greetings now—Alliance Leader, Professor Chang-ryang, you both worked hard."
Chang-ryang replied without hesitation.
"Our efforts hardly count."
Gong Son-mu-gyeol awkwardly added,
"Professor Chang-ryang's right. The subjugation team did the heavy lifting. Especially Yong-un—they're calling him next Martial Alliance Leader. Heh heh."
As Zhuge Min responded,
"Separate from the subjugation team's feats led by Cadet Eon Yong-un, we can't deny the Alliance Leader, Professor Chang-ryang, and Hye-a's contributions. This victory hinged on the dagger against Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
Jeong Hye voiced her worry, eyes on the return path.
"I'm concerned for Cadet Dokgo Cheol. True Blood Unit's exposed to the world... His heart seems true, but will the masses see him apart from demons?"
At that instant,
Cheers erupted from Dan River District.
"It's the Grotesque Dragon!"
"The new generation's top hero is back!!"
Two days after Eon Yong-un's group returned amid cheers.
After sleeping like the dead to shake off fatigue, Eon Yong-un and his siblings
began briskly preparing for the upcoming semester, as if their desperate dashes at Manyeop Mountain were a distant memory.
"Heard the professors are testing formation simulations for the entrance exam today—why only these formation stones?"
"I'll fetch more."
"You, Cheol? Hm. You're free anyway. Yeah, go grab some."
Amid this, Chief Jeong Hye's fears manifested oddly.
"Gasp! Ghost Face Elder looked at me!"
"He looked at the formation stones you're holding."
"No, he chose me. He's taking me on the path of the Heroic Justice Envoy alongside the Grotesque Dragon!"
Dokgo Cheol's face turned beet red.
'...Never imagined I'd need to steel my heart against embarrassment.'