Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Escort Bureau Reforms
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The initial plan had been to pit the hundred experts raised by the Heavenly Qi Master against the hundred Blood Demons nurtured by the Blood Demon. But now, only one remained on the Heavenly Qi Master's side. If they taught the Blood Demon Corps a proper battle formation, victory was well within reach.
“I can’t figure out what trick the Heavenly Qi Master pulled. Maybe he had them fight a survival battle among the hundred.”
At the Blood Demon’s mutter, Blood Shadow’s face hardened. It wasn’t an impossible notion, but the Heavenly Qi Master wouldn’t stoop to that.
“No matter how strong one is, the gap between one and a hundred is too vast. And if they’ve trained for similar lengths of time, the difference only grows.”
The Blood Demon nodded at Blood Shadow’s words. He was well aware of that fact. The Blood Demon Corps had trained for nearly a decade, with no expense spared. No matter what genius methods the Heavenly Qi Master employed, they couldn’t hope to stop the Corps.
“Go see Wol Yeong. We need a battle formation.”
Blood Shadow bowed deeply at the Blood Demon’s command. He knew exactly what the Blood Demon had in mind. After all, the Dan Hyeong-u they knew was no ordinary man.
“Understood.”
As Blood Shadow turned to leave, the Blood Demon called him back.
“One more thing—how’s the Blood Shadow Sword?”
Blood Shadow gave a wry smile at the question.
“Haven’t tamed it yet. It won’t open its heart easily.”
“It’s the Heavenly Qi Master’s lifelong masterpiece. Of course it won’t be easy. Still, you need to master the Blood Shadow Sword completely.”
“Rest assured. I will.”
With that, Blood Shadow leaped away. His form melted into a large ship, which promptly set sail.
The Blood Demon watched him go, then turned back to gaze at the waves.
Silence descended over Dongjeong Lake.
Dan Hyeong-u’s group finally arrived at Heochang.
In their absence, the Escort Bureau had fully stabilized. It had grown to wield considerable influence across Henan. All thanks to Hyeong Pyo’s talents.
Jo Seol-yeon couldn’t help but admire him. He was undeniably capable. Without those turbulent trials, he’d have wasted away as a lowly escort—a true shame for such talent.
Thanks to him, Jo Seol-yeon had made up her mind.
“Feels like no time’s passed, yet the bureau’s changed so much.”
The Sword King marveled, and the others nodded in agreement. It looked entirely different from before they left. New halls had sprung up, and the whole place felt larger.
Deeper inside, construction was underway everywhere—not just new buildings, but demolishing nearby manors to expand the bureau.
“Isn’t the Chief Escort Leader biting off too much?”
Jegal Rin asked with a hint of worry. Jo Seol-yeon smiled and shook her head. She knew the concern, but she trusted Hyeong Pyo’s abilities even more. He wasn’t one to act rashly.
“Ah, you’re finally back! I’ve been waiting!”
Hyeong Pyo spotted them and hurried over, greeting each one warmly. He bowed last to Jo Seol-yeon.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Hardly. With everything prepared in advance, I barely lifted a finger.”
Jo Seol-yeon nodded and continued.
“I need to speak with you. Make some time later.”
She was the Henan Escort Bureau’s Chief. Who could refuse her request? Hyeong Pyo nodded.
“Of course.”
A gentle smile played at the corners of Hyeong Pyo’s eyes. Jo Seol-yeon seemed to have grown even more through the journey—at least, that’s how it felt to him.
In the Chief’s office.
Jo Seol-yeon sat primly, gazing at Hyeong Pyo. Sensing something off, he looked back with a tense expression.
“Is something wrong?”
“From today, the Henan Escort Bureau’s Chief is you, Chief Escort Leader.”
Her thunderclap declaration widened Hyeong Pyo’s eyes. He’d sensed odd vibes, but never dreamed she’d hand over the bureau.
“Th-that’s absurd. The bureau still needs your strength, Lady.”
Jo Seol-yeon shook her head firmly.
“I’ve realized it clearly this time. You don’t need me anymore. I want to step away and figure out how to revive the Jo Family Manor.”
What could he say to that? Reviving the Jo Family Manor wasn’t impossible—though it might bear a new name.
“But you must catch that great hero somehow.”
Jo Seol-yeon’s eyes rounded at Hyeong Pyo’s abrupt words, but she soon beamed and nodded vigorously.
“Thank you.”
And so, a small yet monumental change swept the Henan Escort Bureau. A new Chief wasn’t trivial, but since Hyeong Pyo’s work had mirrored the role already, things continued smoothly.
The biggest difference? Hyeong Pyo no longer needed to hold back.
The Henan Escort Bureau was destined to grow far larger and stronger.
Dan Hyeong-u’s first act upon returning was, naturally, a meal. His palate had sharpened; now he could truly savor the flavors.
Afterward, he headed to the bureau’s training ground.
The Henan Escort Bureau housed people who were both idle and relentlessly busy—thirty of them, no less.
They were always at the training ground, claiming the smallest one exclusively.
The thirty men, clad in gray carrier uniforms, swung their swords without pause—repeating nothing but downward chops.
Any onlooker would tire in moments and turn away. But the practitioners were utterly serious.
Rumble.
Faint vibrations rippled with each downswing. A sharp-eyed expert with keen qi sense would recognize it as thunder qi.
They were the carriers who’d survived the Sichuan escort run. Though Hyeong Pyo and Jo Seol-yeon offered them escort status, they refused, dedicating themselves to training. They felt they were still far from worthy.
Since that day, they’d poured nearly all their time into practice—save for eating and sleeping—swinging swords here endlessly.
What they learned from Dan Hyeong-u wasn’t just swordplay. They’d picked up a simple footwork too: a straightforward forward charge, yet formidable in power.
The thirty carriers drilled the sword and footwork tirelessly. Progress was slow, inevitably. It advanced somewhat while Dan stayed, but stalled completely when he journeyed to Yoneung. Unavoidable.
Yet the carriers never despaired or faltered. The martial arts from Dan Hyeong-u were their everything.
After ages of this, realization dawned: no matter their struggles, they couldn’t match Dan Hyeong-u’s power. Obvious from the start, yet accepting it left them hollow. Their strength was so meager, and unlikely to change much.
Even in such despairing straits, the carriers refused to yield. They devised their own path and pressed on.
Dan Hyeong-u strolled leisurely toward the training ground. No one lingered near him now—time for everyone to have their space after the long return.
En route, he sensed an aura and his eyes gleamed. One step, and he stood at the entrance.
Rumble rumble.
Faint thunder rumbled inside. The carriers practicing Heavenly Thunder. Eyes still alight, Dan Hyeong-u stepped in and nodded at their form.
Their chosen method: combining forces. Individually feeble, but thirty feeble strands wove unbreakable might.
The thirty carriers raised their swords in unison, slashed down together—and thunder qi surged wildly.
They’d mastered gathering power. Mere synchronized swings wouldn’t do; they had to control the thunder qi. Seemingly impossible, yet they succeeded.
Kwarung!
A bolt crashed into the training ground—raw power from thirty tiny thunder qis fused.
Only then did they spot Dan Hyeong-u.
“Ah! Great Hero Dan!”
One shouted, and they all rushed over. Dan Hyeong-u stood at the entrance, smiling faintly at them.
One scratched his head sheepishly.
“We wonder if this is all pointless.”
Dan Hyeong-u shook his head.
“Good method.”
Thirty smiles bloomed radiantly. They’d started without conviction, but now had it—straight from Dan Hyeong-u. Burning passion welled from their depths.
“Too wasteful to rest now.”
Someone spoke, and they surged back en masse. In the training ground’s center, thirty swords danced once more.
Kwang!
Kwarung!
Lightning rained ceaselessly, weaving through the grounds. With Dan Hyeong-u’s return, the thunder qi gathered far more fiercely.
Confirming this, Dan Hyeong-u nodded once more and turned away. No need to worry about them anymore. They’d settled firmly into their path.
Even Dan Hyeong-u had to acknowledge their ingenuity. It could produce tremendous power. Blend in the footwork he taught, and they’d unleash havoc in battle.
Such training would accelerate their growth too. Unbeknownst to them, they’d already shattered one barrier. Solo, they could muster impressive force now. Of course, compared to Dan Hyeong-u, it was firefly to sun.
The Martial Alliance Leader’s office thrummed with tension like the eve of a storm.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, Leader. They couldn’t even recover the bodies.”
Dugun Un’s face twisted in a deep scowl at Jegal Jung-cheon’s report. The Heavenly Demon was now indisputably the world’s greatest expert, having slain the Martial Emperor.
The Heavenly Demon could defeat the Martial Emperor—no surprise there. But the aftermath felt deeply ominous.
“The bodies vanished?”
“Yes. And…”
As Jegal Jung-cheon trailed off, Dugun Un eyed him forebodingly.
“According to the Vermilion Bird Unit, the Tyrant Dragon’s body is gone too.”
“The Tyrant Dragon’s as well? Didn’t we already hold his funeral?”
“The funeral corpse was fake. The Vermilion Bird Unit is all but certain.”
Dugun Un gravely shook his head.
“This bodes ill. The Heavenly Demon’s already a headache…”
He’d recently gotten word from the Annihilation Corps: the Heavenly Demon had contacted the Sword Demon of the Henan Escort Bureau—and likely escaped the Gold Demon Art.
The report had hit like a sledgehammer. The Gold Demon Art was their sole leash on the Heavenly Demon. If he’d slipped it, disaster loomed.
“Any movement from Shingang or Qinghai?”
“Nothing unusual yet.”
“Where’s the Heavenly Demon now?”
“We’re tracking, but it’s tough. Traces suggest he returned to the Heavenly Demon Fortress, but…”
Dugun Un nodded.
“Possible. He must’ve cracked the Gold Demon Art by now…”
He still couldn’t quite believe it. Escaping the Gold Demon Art? Unthinkable. It shattered demonic arts outright. How could its victims break free?
Dugun Un hadn’t grasped its true nature: impure qi laced into demonic arts. Purify that, and the Art lost all hold.