Chapter 113
Chapter 113
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: The Blacksmith of the Moyong Clan
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Foolish Martial Alliance bastards. If they'd moved sooner, we wouldn't have lost them.'
The Martial Emperor grumbled inwardly. But he could understand the Martial Alliance's position. They must have been thinking of their own pride. In the end, all he could do was shake his head.
"Hurry up."
The Martial Emperor urged his subordinates onward. Thirty warriors from the Martial Emperor Fortress leaped forward with swift precision. Of course, they did so while meticulously scanning the traces left behind by the Heavenly Demon and the Blood Path Guest.
The Martial Alliance's mobilization consisted of the full Demon Extermination Corps and a contingent from the Black Tortoise Unit. The Demon Extermination Corps numbered twenty-one in total, including twenty members and their captain. Their individual martial prowess wasn't particularly high, but each one had mastered the Golden Demon Suppression Art to perfection. Moreover, the captain's skills were quite formidable.
Naturally, the captain of the Demon Extermination Corps was in overall command of both forces.
The Demon Extermination captain sat quietly, waiting for something. Behind him stood the corps members and Black Tortoise Unit warriors, their faces tense with anticipation.
Moments later, a man came running up in a panic. He dropped to one knee before the captain.
"The Heavenly Demon has escaped."
A deep furrow creased the captain's brow.
"Escaped?"
"The moment he spotted the Martial Emperor, he unleashed a burst of qi and fled. No one imagined the Heavenly Demon would run like that, so the Martial Emperor Fortress men were caught completely off guard."
The captain grimaced and shook his head slightly.
"This isn't good. The Heavenly Demon has cast aside his pride. It's proof he's plotting something big."
The captain rose to his feet.
"Which way did they flee?"
"It looks like they're heading toward Shaanxi, at any rate. Their destination seems to be Henan, just as we predicted."
"I see."
The captain nodded. He scanned the corps members and Black Tortoise warriors in turn.
"We're splitting the unit into twenty teams now. Each team: one Demon Extermination member and two from the Black Tortoise Unit. Move out."
There were fifty Black Tortoise warriors present in total. Even after pairing them with the Demon Extermination Corps, ten would be left over.
"The remaining ten will follow me."
With the teams assigned, the captain dispersed his men in all directions. The full-scale manhunt had begun. The Heavenly Demon and Blood Path Guest held no fear for them. They had the Golden Demon Suppression Art on their side.
"Demon Extermination members, circulate your Golden Demon Suppression Art from this moment. Extend your influence as far as possible in every direction."
The captain's plan was straightforward: cast a net in all directions and wait for the Heavenly Demon and Blood Path Guest to blunder into it. Of course, this was a moving net.
The Golden Demon Suppression Art was a truly fearsome technique against demonic cultists. Once ensnared, there was no escape. Their demonic arts would shatter. Even for the Heavenly Demon himself, two Black Tortoise warriors would suffice.
"Good. Now the real hunt begins."
A faint smile played on the captain's lips.
Once the Heavenly Demon was captured, the demonic cultists would no longer be a threat. The Heavenly Demon was feared because he could unite them all. Only he had that power. Kill the Heavenly Demon, and the rest could be largely ignored. Scattered demonic cultists posed no real danger.
At the captain's command, the Black Tortoise Unit and Demon Extermination Corps scattered in all directions. The corps members began circulating their Golden Demon Suppression Art as ordered. They had trained rigorously enough to maintain it all day if needed.
A confident smile spread across the captain's face.
"Damn it all, what the hell is this?!"
The Blood Path Guest felt a sudden sting in his dantian while mid-leap and cried out in alarm.
The Heavenly Demon snatched the back of his collar just as he was about to trip and kept flying forward.
"It's the Golden Demon Suppression Art."
The Heavenly Demon could sense the art's energy spreading out in all directions. As a supreme expert, he could detect even subtle shifts in the qi flow. And having encountered it before, he knew full well it was the Golden Demon Suppression Art.
"We can't afford any slips. It'd be great if the Phantom Demon made his move around now."
The Heavenly Demon nodded to himself, confirming his instincts had been spot on.
"These bastards are cunning."
He muttered as he veered off to one side, still gripping the Blood Path Guest by the collar.
"L-Lord Castle Master, this... uh..."
The Heavenly Demon ignored the Blood Path Guest's protests and pressed on with all haste. If they didn't put enough distance between them and their pursuers now, a clash with the Martial Emperor Fortress was inevitable.
The Demon Extermination Corps was prioritizing blocking escape routes over direct capture. As a result, the Heavenly Demon's options were severely limited.
"Was the Golden Demon Suppression Art's range always this vast?"
The Heavenly Demon grew increasingly astonished. He could sense presences from far off, yet the art crept right up to his doorstep.
That meant its scope was enormous. At this rate, they'd be trapped in its web and slaughtered without mercy.
The Heavenly Demon scowled.
"What the hell is the Phantom Demon doing?!"
He couldn't shout aloud, but venting his frustration felt necessary for his sanity. And the moment the words left his mouth, the Golden Demon Suppression energy blocking their path ahead vanished as if swept clean away.
A smile tugged at the Heavenly Demon's lips.
"He's finally making his move. Now he understands why I brought the Demon Archer along."
The Heavenly Demon shot toward the cleared direction. Soon, he spotted a corpse with an arrow through its skull, dead on the spot.
Faint traces of Golden Demon Suppression Art lingered on the body—it was clearly someone who had cultivated the technique.
The Heavenly Demon vaulted over the corpse and sped onward. Impressive as the Demon Archer was, he couldn't provide much more aid with Martial Emperor Fortress warriors in the mix.
The Heavenly Demon fled at top speed. As expected, no further support came. But that had been enough. He had broken through the encirclement and escaped.
The Martial Emperor Fortress and Martial Alliance gave frantic chase.
The Phantom Demon marveled at the Demon Archer's skill. From a considerable distance, he had precisely blown off the head of the exact target desired.
With Martial Emperor Fortress warriors nearby, he had no choice but to shoot from afar. And yet, he hit dead center.
"In any case, we should withdraw now."
The Phantom Demon said this and slipped away quietly. The Demon Archer shook his head at the sight but followed, suppressing his presence stealthily.
In truth, when the Martial Emperor Fortress first clashed with the Heavenly Demon, the Demon Archer had wanted to loose an arrow in support. Despite their numerical disadvantage, he figured ranged fire could turn the tide.
But he couldn't. The Phantom Demon had stopped him.
He was furious at first. But the Phantom Demon's insistence was so vehement that he could only watch as the Heavenly Demon fled. Then the Martial Alliance arrived.
The Phantom Demon and Demon Archer hadn't dared move from their spot. They risked detection by the Martial Emperor. The pair was perched atop a tall tree in a high vantage point.
They couldn't grasp the full situation from there alone, but the Phantom Demon managed it. The Demon Archer fired the single shot he wanted, and the Heavenly Demon escaped.
The Demon Archer began to think the Phantom Demon might be more capable than he'd realized. Hadn't that one arrow achieved the desired outcome?
At any rate, the two had no choice but to take a long detour. Clashing with either the Martial Emperor Fortress or the Martial Alliance would mean certain death.
Chapter 6
The Blacksmith of the Moyong Clan
The carriage carrying Dan Hyeong-u and his group finally entered Liaoning. It had taken a bit longer than initially expected, but considering their brief stopover at the Paeng family estate, it was remarkably swift.
"Faster than I thought."
The Sword King muttered, and Jong Chil responded with a proud tone.
"All thanks to me, right? Haha!"
The people on the roof nodded in unison at his words. No one could deny Jong Chil's carriage-driving prowess. It was a genuine talent.
Normally, the Sword King's fist would have flown, but today he let it slide. In fact, he was genuinely astonished. It stemmed from Jong Chil's display at the Paeng family estate.
Though Jong Chil had learned swordsmanship from the Sword King and trained rigorously under him, the Sword King hadn't anticipated him growing strong enough to overwhelm the Paeng family's elite warriors.
The Sword King's gaze lingered on Jong Chil with newfound respect.
The group's final destination was Shenyang. Having just entered Liaoning, they still had several days ahead.
"By the way, don't you think it's about time to reveal our exact destination?"
The Sword King eyed Dan Hyeong-u curiously. He didn't really expect an answer. Though he spoke while looking at Dan Hyeong-u, his voice carried into the carriage.
Jo Seol-yeon might be the only one in the group who knew the precise goal.
"Pardon? You didn't know? We're heading to the forge in Shenyang."
Surprisingly, the reply came from Jong Chil. The Sword King and everyone on the roof turned to him with keen interest.
Jong Chil tilted his head.
"Seriously, you followed along without even knowing where we were going?"
A whoosh of wind emanated from the Sword King's hand.
Thwack!
"Gah!"
Jong Chil barely clung to consciousness as it faded into the distance. Yet his carriage-driving skills had improved so much that even in that dazed state, the vehicle didn't waver in the slightest.
Jong Chil shot a defiant glare, about to retort, but clamped his mouth shut. He felt killing intent pressing against his back. He didn't need to turn to know who it was from.
"So, where exactly are we headed?"
Sensing the faint killing intent in the Sword King's voice, Jong Chil replied with utmost politeness.
"To the forge in Shenyang, like I said. It's next to the Moyong Clan, or so I heard. They handle all the clan's weaponry, but whatever."
The group turned puzzled looks toward Dan Hyeong-u, who remained stoically impassive.
"What's the business at the forge? The one in Heochang was decent enough."
He knew Dan Hyeong-u was off to meet someone, but a blacksmith? He hadn't imagined that. Dan Hyeong-u was so extraordinary that he'd subconsciously assumed anyone he knew would be similarly exceptional.
"How should I know? The great hero does, though."
The Sword King's hand twitched at Jong Chil's words, but he gave up and looked to Dan Hyeong-u. He doubted Dan Hyeong-u would explain. Then, a murmur from inside the carriage reached the Sword King's ears—Jo Seol-yeon's voice.
"I don't know either."
In the end, everyone had no choice but to wait patiently.
"Why does this guy have to be so damn tight-lipped? Drives me nuts."
The Sword King grumbled under his breath, but Dan Hyeong-u didn't budge. He simply stood silently, savoring the wind whipping past as the carriage raced on.
No troublesome incidents befell the group in Liaoning. Thanks to that, they arrived in Shenyang with excessive smoothness.
Shenyang was a bustling metropolis. At its heart lay the Moyong Clan.
The Moyong Clan had nearly complete control over Shenyang's commerce. Even the Umun Clan or Golden Lotus found it hard to maneuver there. Rumors swirled that without the Moyong Clan's permission, no business could be conducted in Shenyang.
Given the prosperity, the streets teemed with people. Amid the throng, the group's large carriage—pulled by six horses, no less, and with men atop the roof—drew endless stares. It was spectacle enough.
"I don't like turning into a sideshow."
The Sword King frowned slightly. Scaring off the mere onlookers wasn't feasible, though.
"Let's duck into somewhere quick."
At the Sword King's urging, Jong Chil whipped the horses faster. Even through the dense crowds, he handled the carriage flawlessly. People parted ways instinctively, but the vehicle threaded the gaps with uncanny precision.
The spectators gaped at Jong Chil's near-miraculous skill. Grinning smugly, he steered toward a grand inn.
The carriage vanished into the inn's rear courtyard, but the crowd's curiosity lingered. Who were the passengers?
Unable to resist, people flocked to the inn. Though numerous, not all could enter. The New Moon Inn, which had swallowed the carriage whole, was Shenyang's largest—and priciest. Ordinary folk couldn't just waltz in. The wealthy entered, while the rest loitered outside, peering in. In any case, a crowd gathered around the inn.
Jong Chil expertly parked, haggled with the attendant who followed, and settled it. They had to stay in the rear courtyard and block others' access. It cost a pretty sum, but that wasn't Jong Chil's worry.
With great delight, Jong Chil spent freely.