Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Chapter 4 Blood Shadow Sword
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The Jegal Clan wielded the greatest influence among the Five Great Families. This was all thanks to Jegal Jung-cheon, the Martial Alliance Strategist. By serving in that role, he had placed the Jegal Clan on unshakeable foundations.
No one could openly defy the Jegal Clan, backed by the might of the Martial Alliance. Expanding the clan's power and reach was as easy as eating cold porridge for them. And who better to handle such matters than the Jegal clansmen, renowned across the martial world for their unparalleled intellect?
At the center of the next generation's promising talents, who would lead the Jegal Clan's future, stood Jegal Lin.
Jegal Lin possessed formation skills superior to anyone else in the clan. Though she lacked experience due to her youth, she was a once-in-a-generation prodigy equipped with exceptional judgment and flexible thinking to navigate any crisis.
Jegal Jung-cheon had quietly earmarked her as the next Martial Alliance Strategist. Of course, it wouldn't happen just because he willed it, but with her level of talent and his own influence, he was confident he could place her in the position.
However, a warning light had recently flashed in Jegal Jung-cheon's plans. His granddaughter simply refused to move as he desired.
Jegal Lin currently had a flood of marriage proposals. Among them, offers from Alliance Leader Jeong Cheon and the Victory Dragon Unit Leader were temptations even Jegal Jung-cheon couldn't bear to pass up.
But the problem was the woman herself. Jegal Lin had holed up in the Henan Escort Bureau and showed no intention of budging.
Even today, Jegal Jung-cheon spent the night sleepless over thoughts of his granddaughter.
"Just what in the world is she doing there that she can't even send word regularly...?"
Contact wasn't entirely absent. Messages arrived sporadically for major events. The last one had urged vigilance on Heavenly Demon Castle's movements—and shortly after, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had risen. A truly prescient warning.
"Her talents surpass all others, yet she's wandering astray so late in the game."
In Jegal Jung-cheon's mind, Jegal Lin was far from normal right now. No sane person would abandon their family and clan like this to cling to the Henan Escort Bureau.
"What's so special about that Escort Bureau anyway? I suppose I should look into it soon."
He was well aware of the Henan Escort Bureau's explosive recent growth. With his granddaughter there, it was only natural he'd pay close attention. At this rate, it might soon claim the title of the world's greatest escort service.
But that was where it ended. Even the top escort bureau in the world couldn't compare to the Jegal Clan or the Martial Alliance. The Jegal Clan operated on a level far above any escort service, and the Martial Alliance towered even higher.
As Jegal Jung-cheon stewed over his granddaughter, footsteps approached from outside.
"Strategist Jegal, guests have arrived from the Paeng Clan."
Jegal Jung-cheon hurriedly set aside his thoughts at the voice from beyond the door.
"From the Paeng Clan?"
The Paeng Clan was a vital pillar of the Martial Alliance. It was no place for carelessness. Moreover, the Victory Dragon Unit's deputy leader was a promising talent from the Paeng Clan.
Jegal Jung-cheon rose from his seat as he replied.
"Where have they been shown?"
"To the reception hall for now, sir."
Jegal Jung-cheon nodded at the prompt response.
"Bring them here."
"Yes, sir."
The footsteps faded, then returned shortly after. Jegal Jung-cheon opened the hall's doors to check the visitor. To his shock, it was none other than Paeng Jin-byeong, head of the Paeng Clan. Jegal Jung-cheon couldn't hide his surprise as he hurriedly clasped his hands in salute.
"What brings the head of the Paeng Clan at such a late hour?"
Paeng Jin-byeong returned the salute.
"A rather urgent matter brought me rushing here. I'd like an audience with the Alliance Leader."
Jegal Jung-cheon's eyes gleamed. It was deep into the night—too late for most to seek the Leader. But if he intervened, it could be arranged. That was precisely why Paeng Jin-byeong had come to him first.
"Something pressing, I take it."
"Well... urgent if it is, not if it isn't."
Jegal Jung-cheon's expression hardened slightly at the ambiguous reply. Internally, he was quite startled.
'Was the Paeng Clan Head always this deep and inscrutable?'
Jegal Jung-cheon gave a subtle nod before responding.
"I'll send word to the Alliance Leader for now. Please wait a moment."
With that, he hurried off toward the Alliance Leader's quarters.
Watching him go, Paeng Jin-byeong marveled inwardly. Everything was unfolding exactly as Chwi-wol had predicted. He was merely following Chwi-wol's instructions to the letter—and it was all playing out just as foretold.
Moments later, Jegal Jung-cheon returned.
"The Alliance Leader awaits you."
Paeng Jin-byeong followed with yet another surge of admiration.
After a brief exchange of greetings with Dugun Un, Paeng Jin-byeong produced a letter from his robe—the very one Chwi-wol had given him. He hadn't read its contents himself.
Dugun Un unfolded the letter from Paeng Jin-byeong and read it carefully. It wasn't particularly long or short, yet it took him a considerable time to finish.
Upon completing it, Dugun Un's face grew gravely stern.
"This Chwi-wol who delivered the letter—what manner of man is he?"
Paeng Jin-byeong answered with utmost sincerity.
"One who commands the faith of both myself and the Paeng Clan."
Dugun Un's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected reply. Mentioning the Paeng Clan implied significant standing—at least within it.
"Very well. I'll meet him. But carving out time right now isn't easy."
"Because of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?"
Dugun Un nodded gravely. Rumors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were already shaking the world. The Paeng Clan couldn't be ignorant of it. They likely grasped its nature nearly as well as the Martial Alliance.
"The demons are gathering. The martial world's very survival may be at stake."
"Doesn't the Alliance Leader possess the Golden Demon Art?"
Dugun Un sighed and shook his head at Paeng Jin-byeong's question.
"Even the Golden Demon Art has its limits. If tens of thousands of demons unite, no amount of it could contain them."
Dugun Un spoke true. Still, Paeng Jin-byeong tilted his head.
"Isn't the Golden Demon Art a divine technique that shatters demonic arts by exploiting the impurities in those who cultivate them? And if it's for controlling demonic arts, I hear it doesn't take long to master..."
Paeng Jin-byeong trailed off, unable to finish. That would amount to demanding Dugun Un reveal his unique divine art—a grave breach of etiquette. He fell silent with an apologetic look, gauging Dugun Un's reaction.
"I misspoke. Please forget my words."
Dugun Un stared at Paeng Jin-byeong with a rigid expression. To Paeng Jin-byeong, it felt like a glare. In truth, it was eyes filled with shock.
Time passed in tense silence. Paeng Jin-byeong began to feel uneasy.
"Alliance Leader, I already admitted my slip. So..."
"Where did you hear such a thing?"
Dugun Un's face was deadly serious. The room's atmosphere grew heavier by the moment. A subtle pressure emanated from him. Paeng Jin-byeong circulated his inner energy to counter it, his own expression hardening.
"Alliance Leader, what is the meaning of this? I may have spoken out of turn, but I don't deserve such treatment!"
Only then did Dugun Un realize his error and withdraw his aura with a chagrined look.
"My apologies. I was so startled I acted without thinking."
Paeng Jin-byeong's tension eased slightly at the apology, though puzzlement lingered. Dugun Un's reaction had been excessive.
Dugun Un glanced sidelong at Jegal Jung-cheon standing nearby. Meeting his eyes, Jegal Jung-cheon sighed and nodded.
"Paeng Swordmaster, where exactly did you hear about the Golden Demon Art? Neither I nor the Alliance Leader know such details."
Paeng Jin-byeong couldn't conceal his astonishment. Those words had come straight from Chwi-wol. His shocked expression revealed a startling new truth to Dugun Un and Jegal Jung-cheon.
"So, the one who wrote that letter, Chwi-wol, told you."
Paeng Jin-byeong nodded at Jegal Jung-cheon's words. Dugun Un spoke up, still wide-eyed.
"Incredible. I'd never even considered such a thing. But how does this Chwi-wol know about it?"
Paeng Jin-byeong offered a wry smile in response.
"I don't know the details myself. Just relayed what he told me. But one thing's certain: Chwi-wol is no ordinary man."
Dugun Un nodded at Paeng Jin-byeong's conviction. He needed to meet this Chwi-wol somehow. How did he know secrets of the Golden Demon Art unknown even to him? And did he truly grasp the truth about this Blood Demon Society as the letter claimed? Curiosity burned.
"But is the Golden Demon Art truly like that?"
Neither Dugun Un nor Paeng Jin-byeong could answer Jegal Jung-cheon's question. It was beyond their knowledge. Jegal Jung-cheon pondered the two men's reactions.
"Then the Sword Demon or Heavenly Demon, freed from the Golden Demon Art, must know well. By some method or other."
A chill ran down Dugun Un and Paeng Jin-byeong's spines at Jegal Jung-cheon's words.
In the heart of the Paeng Clan estate, a visitor arrived at Chwi-wol's residence. A man clad in blood-red robes verging on black. No one in the Paeng Clan knew of his coming—save the master of the house, Chwi-wol.
The door to Chwi-wol's quarters opened silently. Before the man, Blood Shadow, could even approach.
Blood Shadow scowled at the sight of Chwi-wol—or rather, Moon Shadow—visible through the gap.
"If you knew I was coming, couldn't you have eased the defenses a bit?"
"The Paeng Clan's guards aren't mine to command—it's their warriors who handle it. How could I adjust them?"
"You talk a good game."
Blood Shadow retorted, but he knew full well that without Moon Shadow's allowance, he couldn't have slipped in so easily. The core of the Paeng Clan's defenses was formations. Moon Shadow's arrays had grown even sharper. Even Blood Shadow would struggle to infiltrate covertly.
'Only someone like Shadowless could come and go freely.'
Blood Shadow swallowed the thought and stepped inside.
Shadowless possessed entirely different abilities from Blood Shadow—not just martial prowess, but skills ideal for infiltration.
Entering Moon Shadow's quarters, Blood Shadow approached the wheeled chair where Moon Shadow sat with a faint smile.
"I've come for the formation you promised last time."
Moon Shadow drew a slim booklet from his robe at Blood Shadow's words.
"It's the one contained in the Heavenly Mechanism Profound Array. The very formation the Heavenly Qi Master used to cultivate Flash Shadow Blade."
Flash Shadow Blade had risen from a third-rate warrior to single-handedly shattering a minor sect—all in a mere three years. He was the man who first drew the martial world's intense scrutiny to the Heavenly Qi Master.
"Impressive. To think something like this was hidden in the Heavenly Mechanism Profound Array."
"It's nothing special. The Heavenly Mechanism Profound Array holds far more astonishing secrets. The Heavenly Qi Master was truly remarkable."
Blood Shadow's expression turned puzzled at Moon Shadow's words. Extracting its original designs from the Heavenly Mechanism Profound Array was achievement enough. Even the Blood Demon had gained nothing from it—or so Blood Shadow inferred, though never stated outright.
If the Blood Demon had obtained something, he wouldn't have sent Moon Shadow to retrieve it.
"Speaking of which, you brought what I wanted, right?"
Blood Shadow produced a small bow from his robe at Moon Shadow's question. The Lake Moon Bow—a modest, unassuming thing that hardly matched its grandiose name. Without a string, it resembled a stick more than a bow.
Moon Shadow accepted it carefully and tucked it away.
"Is our business not concluded?"
Blood Shadow hesitated at Moon Shadow's query, eyeing him as he remained standing.
"I have a question."
"Oh? The great Blood Shadow has something to ask me?"
Blood Shadow paused again at Moon Shadow's mockery. But he had to ask. Solving it alone would waste too much time.
"Do you know anything about the Blood Shadow Sword?"
Moon Shadow's eyes flashed at the question. The sword at Blood Shadow's waist was undoubtedly the Blood Shadow Sword.
"One of the Heavenly Qi Master's three treasures."
"That much I know."
"Heavenly Flash commands lightning qi, the Blood Shadow Sword commands demonic qi. And..."
Moon Shadow stopped short of mentioning the Lake Moon Bow. No need to divulge that.
"In any case, to wield the Heavenly Qi Master's three treasures freely, one needs his permission."
"His permission? The Heavenly Qi Master is long gone from this world. How?"
"The Heavenly Qi Master may be gone, but his descendants remain."
"His descendants?"
"Before vanishing, he left behind a hundred heirs. And taught them martial arts."
Blood Shadow's face twisted strangely.