Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Sword Demon's Pledge
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"It doesn't feel like our day today, so how about we call it and head back? Looks like you've taken a fair hit yourselves."
Dugun Un's words made the Blood Path Guest grit his teeth, his body trembling with rage. But in the end, he had no choice but to heed them. The terror of the Golden Demon Art still lingered, unbanished.
"Fine. We'll pull back for today."
The Blood Path Guest said no more and began to retreat. He'd secured the Heavenly Isle anyway—that was enough for him.
Just as the Blood Path Guest turned to lead his subordinates away, a low voice halted him in his tracks.
"Leave that behind."
The Blood Path Guest whipped his head toward the source. There stood Dan Hyeong-u, his deep, sunken eyes drawing in the Blood Path Guest like a void.
"Urgh..."
The Blood Path Guest felt an indescribable dread. If the fear from the Martial Alliance Leader stemmed from memories of the Golden Demon Art, then the terror Dan Hyeong-u inspired was absolute.
It was a fear that forbade defiance, a sensation of his very source of power being seized and shaken, chains binding his entire being.
The Blood Path Guest dropped his head in defeat. He approached Dan Hyeong-u and offered the Heavenly Isle.
Dan Hyeong-u accepted it as if it were only natural.
The moment he handed it over, the Blood Path Guest felt the bindings snap away. He jerked his head up in shock, staring at Dan Hyeong-u, but the man merely regarded him with those same cool, fathomless eyes.
Only then did the Blood Path Guest exhale a long breath.
"Hah... this is ridiculous..."
The Martial Alliance members watched the Blood Path Guest slink away in stunned silence, then turned their gazes to Dan Hyeong-u.
The Sword Demon approached the Blood Path Guest.
"Don't feel hard done by. You weren't worthy of it. You broke the secret chamber."
The Blood Path Guest's eyes widened at the Sword Demon's words as he stared at him.
"What? You don't mean..."
"I saw the Blood Shadow Sword too, but I didn't draw it. Thanks to you, we never even got a look at the door with the Golden Demon Art."
The Sword Demon was convinced the remaining door held the Golden Demon Art. No one had confirmed it, of course.
"I'm heading to the Henan Escort Bureau. You handle the rest."
The Blood Path Guest scowled fiercely at the Sword Demon's words. The "rest" meant reporting back. It was time to return to Heavenly Mountain.
"Damn it, fine."
The Blood Path Guest had nothing left to say. He could scarcely believe the secret chamber had collapsed because of him, but the timing was too perfect—the moment he pulled the Heavenly Isle, it crumbled. He had no choice but to accept it.
The Blood Path Guest leaped into the air, followed by his remaining demonic minions.
In an instant, the chamber fell silent.
Now, only the Martial Alliance members, Dan Hyeong-u's group, and the Sword Demon remained.
"Even the Sword Demon couldn't handle the Golden Demon Art? Did I look that ridiculous to you?"
Dugun Un approached the Sword Demon slowly. Even wounded, with the Golden Demon Art, any demonic cultivator could manage. Even against the Heavenly Demon.
Of course, the Sword Demon knew this all too well.
"From this day forward, I've decided to join the Henan Escort Bureau."
Dugun Un halted at the Sword Demon's abrupt declaration, his face filled with shock.
"What do you mean by that?"
Dugun Un's gaze shifted to Jo Seol-yeon. In his memory, she was still the girl from their journey to Mount Heng. And the regret over the Henan Escort Bureau and Jo Family Manor made her stand out vividly.
Jo Seol-yeon looked troubled under Dugun Un's stare and glanced at the Sword Demon.
Without hesitation, the Sword Demon cupped his fists toward her.
"Today, I leave Heavenly Demon Castle to become an escort of the Henan Escort Bureau. Please accept me."
Though not fully deferential, his tone was polite.
As the flustered Jo Seol-yeon stood there, someone gently patted her head. She looked up to see Dan Hyeong-u.
A faint smile played on Dan Hyeong-u's face. Jo Seol-yeon understood what it meant.
'Do what you want.'
What Jo Seol-yeon wanted now was obvious: to rebuild the escort bureau and her family. And for that, she needed power—tremendous power.
"Looking forward to working with you."
Jo Seol-yeon returned the fist-cup greeting.
The Sword Demon blinked in slight surprise at her response, then smiled and bowed slightly, hands still cupped.
'What an extraordinary girl.'
Jo Seol-yeon was remarkable in many ways. Her magnanimity in accepting a demonic cultivator as an escort, her composure sharpening in crisis—they all stood out.
But making the Sword Demon smile after thirty years? That was the most impressive.
"Are you really going to take him in?"
Dugun Un asked Jo Seol-yeon sternly. She nodded without a hint of hesitation.
"Yes, I am."
"Do you know what kind of man he is? He's a demon. A blood-mad killer who revels in slaughter. Bringing him into your bureau means making an enemy of the Martial Alliance—is that what you want?"
Dugun Un's words carried a subtle undercurrent of anger. He'd tried to accommodate the Henan Escort Bureau, only for this betrayal-like twist to feel like a slap to the back of his head.
A faint surge of inner energy emanated from Dugun Un—unconscious, but unmistakable.
Jo Seol-yeon, however, showed no sign of intimidation.
"But he's an escort of the Henan Escort Bureau now. Just as the Martial Alliance has its codes, so does our bureau. He won't kill recklessly or revel in blood anymore. Not as a member of the Henan Escort Bureau."
With that, Jo Seol-yeon looked to the Sword Demon. He nodded promptly.
"Naturally. Once I'm in the bureau, I won't defy the Chief."
Jo Seol-yeon turned back to Dugun Un. He stared at her blankly for a moment, then sighed in admiration.
But it was admiration tinged with reality's harshness. Promises from demons were worthless. The Sword Demon was surely scheming to use the bureau for some end, and they couldn't ignore it. This was a matter for the martial world and the Alliance—and the bureau too.
Yet he couldn't say that outright. It would damage the Alliance's dignity.
"How about this, then?"
Dugun Un eyed Ha Won-hu, who stepped forward. Ha Won-hu approached and addressed Jo Seol-yeon.
"What if the Martial Alliance lends the Henan Escort Bureau a hand? I've heard you're in dire straits. With so many fine warriors in the Alliance, a few could provide great aid."
Ha Won-hu's intent was clear: surveillance. Dugun Un nodded vigorously. It was acceptable.
Selecting elites to station near the Sword Demon would let them detect any plots from him or Heavenly Demon Castle in advance.
"Good idea. What do you think?"
Jo Seol-yeon couldn't miss the implication. But it was a burden she'd bear.
"Very well. But please don't cause damage to the bureau like last time."
Dugun Un nodded apologetically at her words. The Victory Dragon Unit had been falsely accused, but they had sparked the incident—that was undeniable.
"My apologies for that. It won't happen again. Right, Unit Leader Ha?"
Ha Won-hu bowed his head.
"Of course. I'll go personally this time."
Dugun Un blinked in surprise. The Victory Dragon Leader's post wasn't trivial.
"What do you mean?"
"The Victory Dragon Unit has two vice-leaders, so no issue there. I think it's best I go myself—for many reasons."
Dugun Un pondered briefly, then nodded.
"You're right. Make it so. Take as many men as you need."
Ha Won-hu bowed respectfully and immediately summoned several Victory Dragon members, directing them to Jo Seol-yeon's side.
Jo Seol-yeon was momentarily dazed by the swift developments but soon composed herself. The complications were resolved, at least.
"That blade clearly came from the secret chamber, didn't it?"
Just as she thought everything was settled and turned to leave, Jo Seol-yeon paused and looked at the speaker: Jegal Jung-cheon.
He stared at the Heavenly Isle in Dan Hyeong-u's hand. From Heavenly Qi Master's secret chamber, it surely hid secrets—and if those were the Golden Demon Art, it was a massive problem.
"That's right, but what's the issue?"
Jegal Jung-cheon shook his head at her bold retort.
"It's obviously a problem. The secret chamber holds the Golden Demon Art. We can't leave something that might conceal its secrets near the Sword Demon."
Jegal Jung-cheon's argument sounded reasonable at first but was nearly forced.
Jo Seol-yeon turned to Dan Hyeong-u. He shook his head firmly.
"He says no."
Jegal Jung-cheon's eyebrows shot up.
"What? Isn't he one of your escorts?"
"He is, but not someone I can command at will."
Jegal Jung-cheon eyed Dan Hyeong-u. Clearly no ordinary escort—otherwise, the Blood Path Guest wouldn't have surrendered the blade so meekly.
But he didn't look extraordinary.
"Wait... now that I think about it...!"
Only then did Jegal Jung-cheon recall Dan Hyeong-u's face. It had been a while, just a glimpse, but now it clicked.
"The young man I saw back at Mount Heng."
He'd said he was heading to the Henan Escort Bureau. Looked unremarkable then, and now an escort, apparently.
"That blade isn't for personal keeping. Why not hand it to the Martial Alliance?"
Dan Hyeong-u shook his head slightly and looked at Jo Seol-yeon.
"Let's go. Anything left to do?"
"No, that's it. Time to head home."
Jo Seol-yeon bowed to Dugun Un.
"We'll take our leave. Safe travels."
Her farewell infuriated Jegal Jung-cheon. She was ignoring him completely.
"Are you mocking me?"
He stepped forward, but someone grabbed his arm from behind: Jegal Rin.
She shook her head. Jegal Jung-cheon snapped to his senses as if doused in cold water. Oppressing someone by force to seize an item would make the Alliance no better than bandits.
"I want to go to the Henan Escort Bureau too. I can investigate there."
Jegal Jung-cheon looked to Dugun Un. If Jegal Rin went, they could probe the Heavenly Isle. Dugun Un had no choice but to agree.
She was a future pillar of the Alliance, but this was the best now.
"Strictly speaking, you're Victory Dragon Unit too. Go ahead."
Jegal Rin bowed quickly and dashed to join the Victory Dragon members.
They were near Jo Seol-yeon but kept distance—thanks to the Sword Demon and Dan Hyeong-u at her side.
With that, things wrapped up, more or less.
Dugun Un shook his head and turned away, leading the Martial Alliance down the mountain.
Once the Alliance moved first, Dan Hyeong-u's group waited a beat.
Dan Hyeong-u stared piercingly at Dugun Un until he vanished from sight. An odd sensation emanated from him—one he hadn't felt during their prior encounter.
He couldn't quite pinpoint it, but it teasingly circled his mind.
"Alliance Leader, are we really letting them go just like that?"
Dugun Un chuckled softly at Jegal Jung-cheon's question.
"And what would you have us do?"
"Send the Black Tortoise Unit to eliminate them in secret."
"The Black Tortoise Unit..."
Dugun Un trailed off, then fixed Jegal Jung-cheon with a look.
"Do you know what kind of man the Sword Demon is?"
"One of Heavenly Demon Castle's top demons. Strong, but the Black Tortoise Unit could handle—"
"What if I ordered them to take down the Sword King? What odds would you give?"
"...!"
Jegal Jung-cheon faltered briefly, then shook his head.
"Possible, but secretly? Too risky."
"You think so?"
Dugun Un's smile deepened.
"The Black Tortoise Unit could never stop the Sword King."
"No way. He's strong, yes, but the Black Tortoise—"
As Jegal Jung-cheon grew heated, Dugun Un raised a hand to silence him.
"Don't underestimate the Sword King. He single-handedly crushed the Demonic Alliance's elites."
Jegal Jung-cheon fell silent. He knew that. But the Black Tortoise Unit wasn't pushovers either.
Anyway, that wasn't the point now. It was the Sword Demon, not the Sword King.