Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Demon Extermination Squad
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"Curious why I'm suddenly bringing up the Sword King?"
"You're not saying the Sword Demon is as strong as the Sword King, are you?"
"You know it well."
"I can't accept that. No matter how much of a top expert he is in the Heavenly Demon Citadel, how can you compare him to the Sword King? The Sword King is one of the Ten Great Masters. Claims that the Sword Demon can match him are nothing but rumors spread by loose talkers."
"Did you know the Sword Demon and Sword King once fought?"
Dugun Un's words plunged Jegal Jung-cheon into shock. No one knew about such an event.
"It ended without a clear winner."
A brief silence fell. Dugun Un savored the lingering weight of it before speaking again.
"What do you think? Still want to mobilize the Black Tortoise Unit?"
Jegal Jung-cheon shook his head. But that didn't mean he could sit idle just because the Black Tortoise Unit was off-limits.
"We can't just do nothing with the Heavenly Demon Citadel on the move."
"As long as the Golden Demon Art exists, the Heavenly Demon Citadel can't move easily. This time was a truly exceptional situation."
Jegal Jung-cheon acknowledged that, but the unease lingered. They needed countermeasures.
Countermeasures robust enough to handle even if the Heavenly Demon Citadel acted.
"There's a Demon Extermination Squad."
Jegal Jung-cheon stared at Dugun Un's abrupt remark. Dugun Un kept walking ahead without looking back.
"Twenty of them in total—kids I've personally raised with utmost care."
"Gasp!"
Jegal Jung-cheon let out an involuntary gasp. If Dugun Un had trained them himself, it could only mean one thing.
"Then the Golden Demon Art..."
"Twenty seem too few?"
"No, that's more than enough."
With that response, Jegal Jung-cheon finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as more people had mastered the Golden Demon Art, there were no issues. Now, a different concern arose: ensuring that secret didn't leak out.
The Heavenly Demon Citadel would surely mobilize once they learned of it. Twenty more who knew the Golden Demon Art? That was worth challenging.
Protecting this secret would be Jegal Jung-cheon's top priority from here on.
While Dan Hyeong-u was at Cheonjung Mountain, Jong Chil had left Soju and was heading back to Heochang. The Sword King was with him, of course.
"You little punk, can't you run faster? You think you'll save the Escort Bureau like this?"
"Huff huff! Elder, please, can we just rest a bit? Huff huff!"
Jong Chil shouted, his breath catching in his throat. They'd been running nonstop since dawn until the sun was high in the sky. Thanks to a lightfoot technique the Sword King had casually taught him, he used less energy and moved faster than usual—but that was it. No rest meant his whole body felt drained and twisted.
"E-Elder..."
Jong Chil couldn't even speak anymore. The agony was that intense. His already meager inner energy had long been depleted, and his legs were completely numb.
The Sword King ran leisurely, eyeing Jong Chil's state. They'd planned to take a carriage, but upon hearing the Henan Escort Bureau was in danger, they decided to run instead. Otherwise, they'd have stayed in Soju five more days.
"Stop now. Let's rest a bit."
"Kuhhh."
Thud.
Jong Chil collapsed flat on the ground. The permission to rest snapped the mental thread holding him up.
"You punk? Lying down like that? Get up!"
At the Sword King's shout, Jong Chil sprang to his feet. He didn't know where the strength came from, but he stood. Just two days ago, in a similar situation, he'd been too broken to rise.
That day, Jong Chil had taken a beating for a full two hours. Each strike burrowed deep into his bones—the pain was indescribable.
The first half-hour, he writhed in agony. The next half-hour, he vowed to do anything if the punishment stopped. The final hour etched terror of the Sword King into every bone.
Since then, Jong Chil summoned infinite willpower at the Sword King's command. This was one such moment.
"Rest for half an hour. You swing your sword during that time."
No sooner had the Sword King spoken than Jong Chil began swinging his blade. He started with the basics taught first, then unleashed the new forms he'd learned recently, pouring his soul into each one.
The Sword King watched with a pleased smile.
"You've improved a lot. This method really is the best. If I take on more disciples, I'll do the same."
Jong Chil shuddered involuntarily at the terrifying words. Silently, he wished good fortune to any future disciples of the Sword King.
The Sword King leaned back, propping his head on his hand, and watched Jong Chil's training.
"Where the heck did that guy go?"
He said that, but the kid was surely in Heochang. He'd left saying he was heading to the Henan Escort Bureau, so that's where he'd be. Whether he knew the way was another matter.
"Might arrive before me at this rate."
Dan Hyeong-u's final vanishing act had shocked the Sword King. It was his first realization that a person could disappear so perfectly.
It wasn't just hiding his presence—he'd truly vanished.
"What the hell? He didn't fly straight to Heochang in one go, did he?"
If so, he wasn't human. No immortal could do that either.
"Unfathomable punk."
The Sword King shook his head and stood. Time to run again. He smirked faintly at Jong Chil, who swung his sword for dear life.
"Time's up, punk. Let's go!"
Despair clouded Jong Chil's face as he panted mid-swing.
'Experts are great, but please spare me. Boo hoo.'
His unspoken frustration clawed at his chest.
The Blood Demon scowled.
"What happened here?"
Before him, Shadowless lay prostrated in a battered state. Blood Shadow stood silently beside him.
Jo Yeong and Seo Yeong had rescued Dok Yeong not long ago. Yet before that matter was settled, Shadowless returned wounded.
"It was a failure."
The Blood Demon whipped his head toward Blood Shadow in disbelief.
"A failure? You, Blood Shadow?"
Blood Shadow bowed her head, unable to reply.
The Blood Demon's eyes gleamed as he demanded,
"What went wrong?"
"I underestimated the Heavenly Qi Master."
Blood Shadow detailed the events at the annex. The Blood Demon stroked his chin and murmured after hearing it all.
"Dan Hyeong-u, huh..."
After a moment's thought, he continued.
"Strange. That Dan Hyeong-u was in Soju until recently."
Blood Shadow's head snapped up in surprise.
"I saw him with my own eyes. It was definitely him."
Even so, Soju to Cheonjung Mountain was too far. No one could cover that distance so quickly.
"Ma Yeong and Geom Yeong reported losing him in Soju. Yet he appeared at Cheonjung Mountain at almost the exact same time."
Blood Shadow's face twisted in incredulity at the Blood Demon's words.
"No human can move at such speed."
The Blood Demon nodded.
"Exactly. No human could. Which means something else is at play."
Blood Shadow's eyes sharpened.
"Not just one, then."
The Blood Demon nodded vigorously.
"Right. They started as a group of a hundred. We think only Dan Hyeong-u remains, but more wouldn't be surprising. Even if they all look identical."
Blood Shadow agreed. Twins were common enough—triplets, quadruplets even. If the Heavenly Qi Master had raised such children, this was plausible.
"That Heavenly Qi Master is no ordinary man."
The Blood Demon muttered, tapping his temple.
"Meanwhile, Ma Yeong and Blood Shadow are tailing the Sword King. What about the Dan Hyeong-u in Soju?"
"Finding him comes first."
The Blood Demon nodded at Blood Shadow's words.
"Mobilize the Bird-Rat Party."
"Understood!"
That was it. As the Blood Demon turned away, Shadowless and Blood Shadow vanished. The Bird-Rat Party would move swiftly again.
The Blood Demon sat in his chair. A curtain descended before him. Back in his original seat, he murmured lowly.
"Heavenly Shadow."
No sooner had he spoken than a figure dropped before the Blood Demon.
He looked young, a striking man in blue robes.
The Blood Demon eyed him with satisfaction and commanded.
"It's time for you to step in."
"Understood!"
Heavenly Shadow replied and vanished.
"Heh heh. Now things get really interesting."
A chilling smile curled on the Blood Demon's lips.
When Jo Seol-yeon returned to the Henan Escort Bureau, construction was in full swing. Hyeong Pyo, who had rushed ahead and handled everything, had started the major rebuild.
Since it was all a misunderstanding, they'd gained substantial support from local sects—mostly manpower over money.
Hyeong Pyo used that labor to push the work forward rapidly.
"You're truly impressive."
Hyeong Pyo grinned at Jo Seol-yeon's words.
"You're far more so, miss."
Now the real work began. The Henan Escort Bureau would grow even larger.
"More impressive than I thought. This place."
Ha Won-hu nodded at Jegal Lin's words. They weren't on great terms, but circumstances demanded alliance.
"Can just five watch the Sword Demon effectively?"
Ha Won-hu nodded gravely at her question.
"They may seem hastily gathered, but they're handpicked. We can manage."
Jegal Lin nodded at his confidence. She'd trust him for now—while making her own moves.
"Then I'll go meet the others."
She bowed slightly and hurried off.
As she left, Ha Won-hu nodded to himself and muttered.
"She's got her own charms. But duty first. Heh. Still, housing us in these tents is too much."
Ha Won-hu frowned at the crude tents. No choice—the bureau's buildings were gone.
Construction had progressed well, so proper rooms soon. Inns were an option, but surveillance required proximity.
"Sigh. Can't be helped."
Ha Won-hu sighed and entered the tent, nerves on edge.
By the time the Escort Bureau's halls rose again, its gates burst open violently.
Bam!
Amid the clamor, two dust-caked figures dashed in.
All eyes in the inner courtyard turned to them. Eyes widened.
"Isn't that Jong Chil!"
Hyeong Pyo spotted them first. He was training new escorts.
Jong Chil looked wrecked—sweat-soaked and filthy. Hyeong Pyo felt a swell of emotion.
"You did well, friend. Good job."
"No, but... everything seems fine here."
Jong Chil looked puzzled. Rumors in Soju said the bureau was destroyed, but it was clearly false.
"Lots happened. Rest now. But that gentleman..."
Hyeong Pyo's gaze shifted to the man behind Jong Chil, scanning the surroundings. Mid-forties, unfamiliar.
Jong Chil slapped his forehead in realization.
"Ah, it's the Sword King, elder."
The yard fell deathly silent.
"Sw-Sw-Sword King?"