Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 77: Into Another Danger (2)

"Aaaargh!"

A sudden scream erupted from somewhere.

We halted in our tracks and scanned the surroundings.

I was struck with horror.

The people fighting for their lives were individuals I knew all too well.

I wasn't the only one; the others stood frozen, their mouths agape as they witnessed a savage battle where limbs were being severed left and right.

"Why are they...?"

Doyeon turned to me, her eyes wide with shock.

Why are you looking at me?

How should I know?

And yet, everyone was staring at me. It was because the combatants were people I was known to be close with.

"Why is the Nine Demons Chamber fighting here?" Xing Youzheng asked me, his voice laced with concern.

"To fight on equal footing with Lady Ham and the Blood Wind Squad... those others must also be members of the Nine Demons Chamber."

Among the fighters, I spotted Ham Bi-hye. Beside her, Bushi Woo was fighting desperately to protect her.

There were already over forty corpses scattered across the ground. Warriors of the Blood Wind Squad and warriors in different martial robes were mixed in roughly equal numbers.

However, the embroidery on their shoulders was identical: the mark of the Nine Demons Chamber.

It was a civil war between members of the same organization.

"What should we do?" Po Zhongyin asked.

What do you mean, 'what should we do'? We pretend we didn't see anything.

If we get involved, the shrimp's back will break in this whale fight. These guys are masters of the Nine Demons Chamber.

I couldn't bring myself to say we should just ignore them and leave, so Xing Youzheng spoke up instead.

"What else? We keep going. This doesn't look like something we should interfere with. It seems to be an internal matter of the Nine Demons Chamber."

"Who on earth are those guys fighting the Blood Wind Squad?" Po Zhongyin asked Xing Youzheng when I didn't answer.

"It’s obvious. There are only four groups in the Nine Demons Chamber with power comparable to the Blood Wind Squad. Of the five divisions, the first is the Dragon-Slaying Blood Demon Squad, the second is the Black Dragon Exploding Demon Group, the third is the Heaven Breaking Demon Dragon Squad, the fourth is the Iron Blood Demon Group, and the fifth is the Blood Wind Squad. It’s definitely one of those four."

Poison Wolf Ibu chimed in instead.

"I heard the Blood Wind Squad wears red robes and the Iron Blood Demon Group wears blue. Looking at their clothes, it must be them."

Now that he mentioned it, I could see warriors in blue robes sprawled across the ground.

My entire Demon Subjugation Group, myself included, simply stood there with our mouths hanging open, watching the clash between the Blood Wind Squad and the Iron Blood Demon Group.

It was a textbook display of high-level combat.

Even as heads flew and limbs were lopped off in the intervals, there was a certain artistry to their battle.

There was a time when I would grip my sword while watching masters duel. Despite knowing the sword is a tool for slaughter, there is a drug-like beauty to the dance of blades that makes it impossible to let go.

Once a person begins to find the patterns drawn by a sword beautiful, they are already past the point of ever being able to set the weapon down.

This was one of the reasons why even low-tier martial artists couldn't abandon the sword despite suffering countless humiliations. It was the reason why one chose to live as a person of the Murim in a world where death could come at any moment.

"Dammit."

A curse escaped my lips, born of pure envy.

The members of the Sword Palace Squad were masters who had undergone grueling training, yet even they watched with rapt attention, seemingly entranced by the practical beauty of the Nine Demons Chamber's swordsmanship.

While we were lost in the spectacle, the battle was reaching its climax.

When Ham Bi-hye fell into danger due to a pincer attack from the Iron Blood Demon Group, Bushi Woo threw himself into the fray with renewed vigor.

"Still, that man called Bushi Woo doesn't seem as great as the rumors suggest," someone remarked.

The Blood Ice Sword, Woo Cheong-rin, was quite well-known in the Murim. If even I knew of him, he wasn't just 'quite' known—he was famous.

And yet, that fame was nowhere to be seen in this battle.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I was disappointed; I wondered where all that overwhelming pressure he gave off during our first meeting had gone. To save Ham Bi-hye, a master capable of suppressing the Iron Blood Demon Group was absolutely necessary.

However, the expected 'Blood Ice Sword' was performing at a level similar to the regular Blood Wind Squad members. Since the Blood Wind Squad was outnumbered, it seemed unlikely they would seize victory.

But the moment Ham Bi-hye fell into true peril, Bushi Woo’s energy changed drastically.

Even from a distance, I could see his internal energy surging so violently that a haze seemed to shimmer around him. His face turned deathly pale, as if a layer of frost had settled upon it.

Furthermore, his blade turned white, looking as though it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were coated in heavy hoarfrost.

"Ah, now I see why his title is the Blood Ice Sword."

Bushi Woo’s white sword swept through the area in a dazzling trajectory. A frigid chill erupted around him, as if a localized blizzard had been unleashed.

Watching his martial arts, Jeok Yeong’s body twitched repeatedly, as if his competitive spirit were being ignited.

Jeok Yeong really is a born warrior. My knees are shaking from fear, yet he’s itching for a fight.

While I was lost in thought, Doyeon spoke up in a high-pitched tone.

"That technique is the Ice Soul Asura Sword of the Ice Palace. How is that possible?"

Looking at the fighting spirit gleaming in Doyeon's eyes, it seemed she too was overcome with the desire to test her skills.

This truly highlighted the difference between a master and a hack. A master wants to challenge an opponent who looks strong, while a hack gives up the moment they see strength. That lack of ambition is exactly why a hack stays a hack.

Doyeon had a natural eye for identifying the martial arts of others. It meant her own martial studies were incredibly deep.

"Perhaps Bushi Woo is from the Ice Palace?" I replied. It was the only logical deduction.

"But isn't the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ice Palace a sect made up only of women?" Hwang Chu interjected from the side.

Doyeon shook her head.

"It’s a common misconception in the Murim that the Ice Palace only consists of women, but that’s not true. Because the Ice Palace is such a mysterious place, people just assume that. In reality, there are many male warriors there as well. My master once visited the Ice Palace and said that while the proportion of women is high, he saw many male warriors too."

Hearing Doyeon's words, I realized that among those who act mysterious, I’ve never seen anyone who was truly profound. Most people who play the mystery card are usually hiding something shady or some kind of defect behind that veil.

However, this 'mystery strategy' didn't work on masters; it only worked on the low-lifes. I figured it was because as one becomes a master, their insight develops, allowing them to see the true nature of things.

"That Ice Soul Asura Sword is truly magnificent."

No one could find words to respond to Xing Youzheng’s admiration; they simply nodded in agreement.

Unleashing the Ice Soul Asura Sword, Bushi Woo slaughtered the warriors of the Iron Blood Demon Group in an instant. With his intervention, the Blood Wind Squad’s morale soared, and as they pressed the Iron Blood Demon Group, the tide of battle swung decisively in their favor.

"Retreat!"

Unable to hold out any longer, the warriors of the Iron Blood Demon Group finally withdrew.

However, the Blood Wind Squad did not pursue them. They had also suffered heavy casualties and seemed to lack the strength for a chase.

We made a detour, pretending not to have seen them. It was a gesture of consideration, thinking it would be awkward for Ham Bi-hye to acknowledge us in such a state.

But Ham Bi-hye stepped out and blocked my path.

Looking exhausted, she stared at me and said, "I have something to tell you."

Seeing her grave expression, a tingling sensation crawled up my palm—a premonition of unease.

"What is it?"

"It’s something to be discussed in private."

I couldn't refuse her as she stood there, gazing intently at me.

"Let’s go this way."

I led her to a secluded spot.

Bushi Woo and the Blood Wind Squad were treating their wounds while standing in an orderly line, presumably waiting for her. Despite narrowly escaping annihilation, there was no sign of gloom or darkness among them. I couldn't imagine how much grueling training they must have endured to maintain such composure.

What’s with this atmosphere? It’s almost as if she came here specifically to find me.

I muttered to myself while looking at Ham Bi-hye.

Once we were far enough away from the others, I asked, "What is the matter?"

Ham Bi-hye replied in a cracked voice, "I desperately need your help, Young Hero Eo."

Just as she said, her voice was thick with desperation. My anxiety only intensified.

"What on earth is going on?"

When I asked again, Ham Bi-hye finally spoke.

"You must come with me to the Nine Demons Chamber."

What?

I stumbled back, stunned by the sudden demand to go to the Nine Demons Chamber without any explanation.

What are you talking about? Why would I go to the Nine Demons Chamber? To that terrifying place?

"I think I need to hear the circumstances first," I said, still feigning composure.

"Someone I know has fallen gravely ill, and we urgently need the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet. I was told it is the only thing that can cure the illness, which is why I came to fetch you."

As the source of my anxiety was revealed, my heart began to thud.

"Can I... not go?"

"If you do not come, I must take the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet with me by any means necessary."

"So... you're saying that if I refuse to go, you'll cut off my wrist just to take the bracelet?"

When I asked, Ham Bi-hye nodded immediately.

"Yes. That is correct. I absolutely need it."

There was no excuse I could make to escape this. The desperation in her eyes was undeniable.

"Whew."

I let out a long, heavy sigh. If I said no, she looked ready to sever my wrist then and there.

"And what if you can't cut off my wrist?"

I decided to test her one more time to see if this was truly that necessary.

"Then we must fight."

I gave a bitter smile at her resolute answer.

"Can't I just break the bracelet and give it to you?"

"No. If the bracelet is forcibly broken, it will be damaged, making it worse than not taking it at all."

Dammit, then what am I supposed to do?

"You only need to go and provide the treatment. After that, I will simply give you the bracelet."

When I continued to hesitate without giving a firm answer, Ham Bi-hye suddenly flared up in anger.

"I don't understand why you are resisting so much! It’s not like the great New Dragon of Sichuan is afraid of the Nine Demons Chamber. Why are you so reluctant to grant my request?"

From her perspective, her anger was justified. The Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet originally belonged to her anyway, so if she wanted it back, I should give it to her. Since the bracelet couldn't be removed, it was only natural that I should go and treat the patient.

My hesitation was unacceptable to her.

But like you said, I am afraid of the Nine Demons Chamber!

How many masters of demonic arts are gathered there? Could I even survive in such a place? There would surely be plenty of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠people challenging me to duels. There’s a limit to how much I can avoid them.

Above all, seeing members of the same Nine Demons Chamber slaughtering each other made me very uneasy. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be dragging my feet like this, even if I didn't jump at the chance.

"It seems there’s trouble within the Nine Demons Chamber, and I simply don't want to get caught up in the conflict."

At my words, Ham Bi-hye seemed to catch on.

"Do not worry. We will ensure your safety no matter what happens. I swear it on my father's name."

At this point, my choice was clear. I had no choice but to follow.

However, if I was going to be dragged along anyway, it was better to act proactive rather than forced—I needed to maintain my facade of chivalry.

"If the situation is that dire, how could I possibly refuse to help you, Lady Ham? You are like a comrade who helped me at the Seong Estate. Even without your request, I should have volunteered to go."

When I suddenly changed my tune, Ham Bi-hye stared at me with wide eyes. I quickly made up an excuse for my change of heart.

"To be honest, when you asked me to go to the Nine Demons Chamber, I was briefly testing you to see if you had other intentions. It was such a sudden request that I couldn't help but be suspicious."

Only then did the tension leave Ham Bi-hye's face, and she cupped her fists in a respectful salute.

"Thank you. It was understandable for you to be flustered since I forced it upon you so abruptly. The fault is also mine."

Finally, the situation was smoothing over.

Fine. Since it’s come to this, I’ll go with a smile. I’ll just turn this into a massive debt they owe me.

The Nine Demons Chamber isn't exactly hell; there’s no need for me to be so terrified.

With that thought, I walked back toward the Demon Subjugation Group.