Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Return
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Three days later.
“How can this be?”
Cheong So-so tilted her head as she examined me.
“Is it bad? I don’t think anything’s wrong…”
“No. The problem is you’re too healthy. An injury that would have killed a normal person has completely healed in less than half a month.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“It’s inexplicable.”
“That’s also true.”
“So, with that in mind, would you mind if I run some tests once we get back?”
“What kind of tests?”
“It’s a test we do at the Cheong Clan. We have you ingest three types of poison to measure the recovery rate of your innate energy. If we can figure out the reason for your rapid healing, it could help many patients…”
“Stop. That’s enough.”
Trying to use a person as a test subject.
“St-St what?”
“I mean, stop talking.”
“Hey, it’s not that dangerous of a test…”
“I’m absolutely not doing it, so just accept it.”
“What! I came all this way to treat you, Squad Leader Jin, and you can’t even grant me this one small favor?!”
“Does it even make sense to test someone by feeding them poison?!”
“I told you I’d take full responsibility!”
“You wish!”
I left the fuming Cheong So-so and went outside.
I needed to thank the Adept of Annihilation for treating my internal injuries and to find out how things were progressing.
‘I have something to ask him, too.’
Opening the door to the branch chief’s office, a peculiar hairstyle caught my eye—shaved down the middle with the sides towering high into the air. Below his eyes, dark circles proudly announced their presence.
“You seem to be all better.”
“It is all thanks to you, Adept.”
“What’s with the sudden politeness? It’s giving me goosebumps. Just talk like you always do.”
“Thanks.”
“...I’ll never understand you.”
“You should cut me some slack. I got hurt saving all those talented kids, didn’t I?”
“I may not know about other things, but your silver tongue could be called the best in the land.”
“I hear that a lot.”
“I’m swamped with work. If you have something to say, say it quickly and go.”
“I came because I was curious why the Ten Demon Alliance did something so crazy.”
Thud.
At my question, the Adept of Annihilation tossed me a bundle of papers and lowered his head to resume his work.
“This is information from the Red Dragon Hall. It cannot be taken outside, so read it here and then leave.”
As I read the first page of the bundle, I couldn’t help but be shocked.
‘The eldest son of the Ten Demon Alliance’s leader died from the aftereffects of cultivation deviation?’
The eldest son of the Ten Demon Alliance’s leader had fallen into cultivation deviation while practicing a martial art of extreme yang.
To treat him, they had kidnapped Cheong So-so and threatened the Cheong Clan to obtain an elixir of extreme yin.
But their plan went awry when I raided the Ten Demon Alliance’s Gansu branch and rescued Cheong So-so.
The problem was…
‘There’s no way a group like the Ten Demon Alliance couldn’t obtain a single elixir.’
They must have gotten the elixir.
Even back then, they kidnapped Cheong So-so to save time, not because they couldn’t get it.
Besides, didn’t their territory include Mount Tian, where all sorts of extreme yin elixirs grew wild?
For the eldest son to die despite all that meant one of two things.
Either the cultivation deviation was too severe to be treated.
‘Or something happened within the Ten Demon Alliance.’
Internal interference had caused them to miss the window of opportunity.
Which meant…
The Ten Demon Alliance had done this to start a war.
Sure enough.
The next page detailed the story.
‘All nine sects, excluding the Demon Sect, are vying for the position of the next Alliance Leader…’
The Demon Sect Master is a descendant of the Demonic Cult’s founder and has traditionally served as the leader of the Ten Demon Alliance.
That is why the world fears the Demon Sect Master, calling him the greatest demon under heaven.
For discord to arise over the leadership position despite this meant one thing.
“The legitimacy of the Ten Demon Alliance is wavering.”
Hearing my murmur, the Adept of Annihilation replied without looking up.
“Nothing can withstand the test of time. Is that not true even for firmly established legitimacy?”
“...This is not good news.”
A fierce power struggle had erupted in a neighboring power.
Here, I could find the cause of the recent incident.
The masters of the nine sects, excluding the Demon Sect Master, wanted war.
All to shake up the existing power structure.
That’s why they had pulled such a crazy stunt.
“Ugh.”
A groan escaped me as I was reminded of the hardcore nature of this world.
‘How long has it been since the Nanman War ended?’
After reading the entire intelligence report, it was clear that the Ten Demon Alliance wanted war.
All that remained was…
“What is the atmosphere like in the Inner Fortress?”
The will of Nine Dragons Fortress.
Just as it takes two hands to clap, the same goes for war.
“They say it’s split down the middle.”
“Split how?”
“The White Dragon is leading the Silver and Gold Dragons in advocating for war, while the Green, Blue, and Red Dragons are opposed. The rest are neutral.”
“...The Silver and Gold Dragons I can understand, given their deep-seated grudge against the Ten Demon Alliance, but it’s surprising to see the White Dragon Hall taking that stance. What’s their reason?”
Hearing my question, the Adept of Annihilation finally looked up.
He stared at me intently and said.
“It’s because of you and the Outer Hall Master.”
“Pardon?”
The Adept’s words left me bewildered.
What did the White Dragon Hall’s advocacy for war have to do with the Outer Hall?
After a moment of thought, I came up with a hypothesis.
“Is it because of their pride?”
“Correct. Rumors have spread within the Fortress that the Sun and Moon Divine Sword was defeated by the Ten-Hand Heavenly Conqueror. His son, the White Dragon Sword, also knelt before you in front of everyone.”
“...”
“Thanks to that, people are even saying the White Dragon Hall is beneath the Outer Hall. Do you think they could stand for that?”
“Are they insane? Just because of…”
“Is it not the way of a warrior to live and die by that very pride?”
“They sure live tiring lives.”
“Consider it a difference in values. If all your questions are answered, you may leave.”
Despite the Adept’s dismissal, I didn’t leave.
I hadn’t gotten to my most important reason for being here yet.
“By the way, about the payment for the dispatch. It seems a little low… considering my contributions… and how I fought, risking my life…”
* * *
After successfully concluding my negotiations, I headed to the infirmary.
It was to meet the former members of the Seventeenth Squad.
Screech.
When I opened the door, I saw three men wrapped in bandages from head to toe, along with Yu So-pyeong, devouring boiled pork.
They even had alcohol they’d procured from somewhere.
“...Are you guys nuts?”
“Perfect timing. There’s plenty, so come have some.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
I hadn’t been able to eat meat, let alone drink alcohol, while I was recovering.
I squeezed in between the four of them and began to eat and drink.
Hahaha.
Chomp, chomp. Ahh. Gulp.
Half a watch-hour passed amidst all kinds of jokes and crude stories.
“I really thought I was going to die this time, you know? You should be grateful to us too, Squad Leader. If it weren’t for us, everyone would have been dead, I’m telling you.”
“...”
As soon as Dang Jin-hyeong finished his sentence, the room fell silent.
His thoughtless words had hit the mark.
Frustrated, Dang Yang-gang spoke up.
“I’m sorry for deceiving you all this time.”
It was an apology laden with multiple meanings.
“I had a rough idea.”
Yu So-pyeong interjected, surprised.
“When did you find out?”
“I became suspicious when we went to Gansu Province. That suspicion turned to certainty during the Nanman War. Who wouldn’t find it strange that mere second-rate warriors emerged from a war without a single scratch?”
“...You’re sharper than I thought, Squad Leader.”
“I get that sometimes.”
Gulp.
Dang Yang-gang downed his drink in one gulp and asked.
“Do you know our identities as well?”
“That you were the masters known as the Three Freaks of the Dang Clan? Or that Yu So-pyeong is the son of the Grand Chancellor?”
“So you know everything.”
“I also looked into why you were sent to the Thunder Prison.”
The most outstanding disciples of each hall, like the Blue Dragon Sword, White Dragon Sword, and Gray Dragon Saber, are bestowed titles that bear the name of their hall.
However, no one from the Green Dragon Hall uses such a title.
It wasn’t always that way.
It was because their eldest disciple, the Green Dragon Hand, was assassinated.
And the ones guarding him at the time were the Three Freaks of the Dang Clan, standing before me now.
The strategist who had followed the eldest disciple like a brother was none other than Yu So-pyeong.
All of this happened while I was at the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion.
Anyone could see it was the work of the Ten Demon Alliance, but the Fortress Lord declared the culprit unknown.
It was to avoid a war that, at best, would result in mutual destruction.
Unable to seek revenge due to the Fortress Lord’s decision, the Three Freaks of the Dang Clan voluntarily entered the Thunder Prison, and Yu So-pyeong retreated to the mountains to live in seclusion.
And now, after three years, they had re-emerged into the world.
Of all places, in the Outer Hall’s Seventeenth Squad, which I was in charge of.
“If you tell us to leave, we will.”
Yang Gang said in a calm voice.
The others nodded in agreement.
“Do you have somewhere to go?”
“I haven’t thought about it.”
“Then what’s this talk about leaving?”
I drained my cup in one go and spoke nonchalantly.
“If you can, just stay. The pay is crap, but there’s no better place than the Outer Hall, right? The work is easy, you don’t have to worry about what others think, and most importantly, you have a competent superior like me holding down the fort. Am I wrong?”
Pfft.
My little joke seemed to ease the tension, as the corners of the four men’s mouths turned up.
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“What? That you hid your identities?”
Yang Gang slowly nodded.
“Who doesn’t have a story to tell? I don’t mind, so just focus on getting better. Of course, you’ll have to give some kind of explanation to the other squad members.”
“...Thank you.”
“Then I’ll assume you’re staying?”
“Even if you try to kick us out later, we’ll stick around, so you know.”
“Be my guest.”
I didn’t know what their goal was.
But one thing was certain.
The time we had spent together was by no means a lie.
Most importantly.
‘Capable subordinates are always welcome.’
I was glad my competent slaves were staying.
* * *
Not long after I got back on my feet, the entire Outer Hall began the journey home.
The injured hadn’t fully recovered, but we couldn’t stay there forever.
Walking a long distance while carrying the wounded was no easy task, but even Outer Hall warriors were still warriors.
We pushed through on sheer stamina and managed to return safely.
When we arrived at Nine Dragons Fortress, Ga Rip, who had heard the news in advance, was there to greet us. The Vice Hall Master gave leave to the uninjured and a generous recovery period to the wounded.
Of course, in true Nine Dragons Fortress fashion—the notoriously stingy mega-corporation—it was unpaid leave, but everyone cheered.
“Alright, alright! Line up one by one and get your pay.”
Because we had the generous dispatch payment from the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion.
A hundred taels, no less.
It was originally seventy, but the Adept of Annihilation had added another thirty as a reward and for the treatment of the injured.
Thanks to that, the twenty warriors who each received three taels were all smiles.
Why three taels per person, you ask?
The remaining forty taels, of course, had to be mine.
I had already spent twenty-five taels on repairing the West Pavilion.
Just as I was about to head home after the fair distribution…
“It seems you’ve had some success.”
Bukgung Baek, the cause of all this trouble, approached me.
“It’s all thanks to you.”
I wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him, but I managed to restrain myself and reply.
He wasn’t wrong that it hadn’t been a total waste.
“So, you fought the Twin Axe Killing Demon?”
“Thanks to you.”
“It must have been a good experience.”
“It’s all thanks to you.”
“...”
As I answered with a rhyme of “thanks to you,” Bukgung Baek frowned.
He looked at me as if he had much to say, then clicked his tongue and got to the point.
“The atmosphere in the Inner Fortress is tense. Lay low for a while.”
“Is it because of the White Dragon Hall?”
“Yes. But don’t worry too much. If things get out of hand, I can just tear off Baek Jung-cheon’s right arm.”
“...”
Listening to Bukgung Baek, I thought to myself.
Perhaps the true great demon was this man right here.
* * *
Until then, I hadn’t been too worried about the White Dragon Hall.
I figured, what could they do, no matter how much they acted up?
Indeed, Bukgung Baek didn’t seem inclined to tolerate their behavior either.
However, the White Dragon Hall Master played a much stronger hand than I had anticipated.
“Jin Mujeon, First Squad Leader of the Outer Hall, is that correct?”
“Who are you?”
“I am Baek Ja-cheon, Commander of the Disciplinary Corps. I’m arresting you on suspicion of colluding with the Ten Demon Alliance.”
He had moved the Disciplinary Corps, commanded by his own younger brother, to apprehend me.