Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Blue Sword Command (2)
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"Was it these bastards?"
Cheol Woo didn't get a reply. Overcome with relief at spotting Cheol Woo, Gwa Yu had passed out cold.
"Pathetic if you're this fragile."
Cheol Woo hoisted Gwa Yu onto his shoulder.
"Hand him over. Do that, and we won't hold what just happened against you."
The man who seemed to be their leader pointed at the unconscious Gwa Yu as he spoke. Even as he talked, his eyes darted around wildly—he was clearly on high alert against the newcomer who had suddenly appeared and sent one of his men flying.
"Oh, we're gonna have problems."
The leader's eyes widened at Cheol Woo's nonchalant retort.
'Dangerous. That guy's bad news.'
His assassin's instincts, honed over years of survival, screamed at him.
The leader glanced around quickly.
Including himself, they had seven men left; the enemy was just one. And he had to protect the wounded, so they held the absolute advantage.
Yet he couldn't move easily. Their presence was exposed, nullifying their stealth advantage, and Cheol Woo's yawn and casual hand gesture urging them to attack faster made him hesitate.
"Tch, tch. Bunch of idiots."
As Cheol Woo clicked his tongue and stepped forward, the leader had no choice but to give the order.
"Attack!"
With that short command, the men surrounding Cheol Woo unleashed their assault.
Worried Gwa Yu might get hurt, Cheol Woo first punched toward the foe approaching from the left.
The swiftly thrusting sword clashed with Cheol Woo's fist and snapped clean in half.
The man's face twisted in horror—he hadn't expected his blade to break. But his battle-hardened experience kicked in.
Leaping back like a flea, he spun and hurled the throwing darts from his waist.
A fan-shaped volley of nine darts flew like beams of light. A triumphant smile crossed the man's face.
The distance was barely half a jang; too close to dodge. Even if blocked, the darts—tempered for a hundred days in poison water—carried deadly venom. A commoner would die from a graze, and even a martial artist would suffer fatally.
"Bullshit!"
Cheol Woo snorted derisively and swung his arm.
'Damn it!'
The man realized something was gravely wrong as his darts were all sucked into Cheol Woo's sweep.
This foe was a master far beyond their league.
Without hesitation, Cheol Woo flung the darts back.
They flew twice as fast as before, overwhelming the man and his comrades.
A terrifying speed that allowed no evasion.
Screams erupted simultaneously, and not a single attacker on Gwa Yu or Cheol Woo survived.
"Ha! Figures with faces like rats."
Cheol Woo didn't hide his disgust at the leader, who had ordered the attack but chosen to flee.
The leader, caught in Thunderclap's grasp without even a proper escape, faced Cheol Woo's immediate response.
"Deputy leader, this guy's the one who ran off alone... Uh?!"
Thunderclap recoiled in shock as Cheol Woo's fist suddenly flew at him.
It just grazed him and smashed straight into the leader's face. The man flew three jang without even a scream before crashing.
"Filthy vermin."
Cheol Woo looked refreshed after sending the leader flying in one go.
"If you're gonna attack, do it yourselves, damn it!"
As Thunderclap lunged in a fit, Cheol Woo handed over Gwa Yu from his shoulder.
"He's pretty banged up. Take care of him."
Leaving Thunderclap holding Gwa Yu in stunned surprise, Cheol Woo strolled off leisurely.
"Ugh..."
With a short groan, Gwa Yu slowly opened his eyes.
Sima Hyeon, who had been wiping his face with a damp cloth, lit up and shouted.
"You're awake?"
Gwa Yu nodded weakly.
Hearing Sima Hyeon's cry, everyone from the next room rushed in.
"He's up?"
Cheol Woo was first through the door.
"Just now."
Sima Hyeon stepped aside with a grin.
"Hey, you know who I am?"
Gwa Yu mumbled in response to Cheol Woo's question.
"Yeah... Big Brother Cheol Woo."
"Your head's clear, huh. You were out all night, weren't you? Even the doc from Clear Heart Clinic came by, but you wouldn't wake. We were all worried. And that fever of yours..."
Sima Geon shoved Cheol Woo's blabbering face aside.
"Don't rile up the poor kid when he's hurting."
"Big brother."
Gwa Yu tried to sit up upon seeing Sima Geon.
"I'm fine. Lie back."
Sima Geon gently pressed down Gwa Yu's rising body and checked his forehead.
"Fever's down, so if the wounds heal right, you'll be good."
"Yes. Thank you."
"Skip the thanks. What happened? From what Cheol Woo said, those attackers were assassins too."
Gwa Yu's expression darkened as he replied.
"Yes. Assassins from the Four Blood Woods."
"Four Blood Woods? Aren't they your comrades?"
Thunderclap asked in surprise.
"Not anymore."
Gwa Yu shook his head firmly. His cold gaze silenced the room.
"There was a rebellion. Those bastards... they got my father and brothers."
His voice trembled with surging emotion.
"From the moment I first got home, the atmosphere felt off. Everything looked normal on the surface, but there was this taut tension like it could snap any second. Then I learned why, and it all blew up."
"A rebellion?"
"Yes. Led by my uncle, who couldn't take over as master of the Four Blood Woods because of Father. He must have anticipated it to some degree, but Uncle was better prepared. They'd planned for so long, it was ruthless. Most of the core members had already flipped to his side, so we were caught flat-footed. And many of them were people Father truly trusted."
Gwa Yu agonized, recalling his father's betrayal by trusted subordinates and desperate final stand, his brothers struggling to save him.
Composing himself, Gwa Yu calmly recounted the rest.
"...And that's how I ended up here. I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for. Good thing you made it."
Cheol Woo offered awkward comfort, then asked as if it just hit him.
"But why are the Four Blood Woods so obsessed with hunting you down? You're like a loose thread now. No need to chase you this far."
"Don't you know 'cut the grass, remove the roots'? I could be trouble later, so they want me gone for good."
Cheol Woo stared at Gwa Yu thoughtfully at Thunderclap's words.
"Hmm."
That short sigh said it all.
"I know I'm not up to much."
Gwa Yu smiled bitterly.
"But they're not chasing me just for future worries."
"Yeah? There's more to it, right?"
Cheol Woo asked, looking like he'd expected as much.
"Brothers, have you heard of the Blood Cult?"
The room's air grew heavy in an instant.
"How do you know about them?"
Cheol Woo asked, stunned. He hadn't imagined hearing "Blood Cult" from Gwa Yu's mouth.
"Not really. I just heard Father say it as he fell to them."
"And others knew you heard?"
Sima Geon asked in a low, grave tone.
"Yes. The leader of the group chasing me said the same. That hearing what I shouldn't meant I had to die."
"Oh, that rat-faced prick? I smashed his face in."
"I nearly got taken out with him while holding the bastard."
Cheol Woo and Thunderclap chuckled.
'Blood Cult.'
Sima Geon's face had hardened the moment the name was spoken.
'Heavenly Demon Cult, Shaolin Temple, and now Four Blood Woods. Just as Sword Lord predicted. They've been moving in the shadows for a while.'
He recalled the Sword Lord departing for the Zhuge Clan with warnings about the Blood Cult's stirrings.
Thinking of the Sword Lord brought back memories of Neung So Hwa.
On the day the Sword Lord left for the Zhuge Clan to discuss the Blood Cult, Neung So Hwa had suddenly visited. She said she'd be joining her master in heading to Sword Lord Branch territory and, after hesitating, handed over a silk pouch.
In that brief moment receiving it, how much had he agonized over how to respond?
He'd berated his own inexperience watching her leave without a proper reply.
But learning the pouch contained invitation letters for the Sword Lord to distribute in Sword Lord Branch territory made him want to crawl into a hole.
'Thought it was a love letter.'
Sima Geon chuckled, his face flushing red.
"Boss, what's with that look?"
"Huh? What?"
"Your face is all flushed."
"It's the Blood Cult. Sword Lord warned us too."
Cheol Woo nodded as if remembering at Thunderclap's words.
"Right. Yeah."
"Exactly."
As Sima Geon agreed and tried to gloss over it...
Man Chu returned from a brief morning outing.
"Oh, you're awake."
Man Chu brightened at the sight of conscious Gwa Yu.
"Yes."
"Where've you been gallivanting since morning?"
Man Chu looked wronged at Cheol Woo's scolding.
"You said stuck in the sticks, info's most important, and stressed it was my job. So I went to check for new developments."
"Oh, did I?"
Cheol Woo awkwardly turned his head, feigning ignorance.
"So, any news?"
Thunderclap asked smugly.
"The Nangong Clan has finally issued the Blue Sword Command."
"Blue Sword Command?"
Sima Geon's voice sharpened.
"Yes."
"When?"
"Not sure exactly, but if word's reached here, it's been a few days at most."
"Hm."
A heavy groan escaped Sima Geon.
He'd heard from Ha Hu Yeon at the Ha Hu Clan precisely what the Blue Sword Command meant.
"Issuing the Blue Sword Command means things are that bad, right?"
"Yes. If my info's accurate, the Heavenly Demon Cult's attack is imminent."
"Beggars' Sect intel doesn't lie."
"So, will the Ha Hu Clan move?"
Man Chu shook his head at Cheol Woo's question.
"Couldn't confirm. But they'll probably watch for now. It's not long since their big funeral, and Ha Hu Clan isn't strictly in the southern martial world anyway."
"They're south of the Yangtze, isn't that the same?"
"No, totally different. Yangtze territory's huge. Ha Hu Clan's more like the hegemon of the east bank martial world. Like Nangong in the south. Though 'east bank martial world' isn't a common term."
"Still, they started it all. Feels like they should step up."
Cheol Woo insisted Ha Hu Clan would naturally aid Nangong, but Man Chu seemed less certain.
"Beggars' Sect will move with Nangong at least. Orders went to all southern branches: help Nangong fight the Heavenly Demon Cult."
"What about the Martial Alliance? Nah, forget it."
Cheol Woo waved it off as if cursed. The others reacted similarly. Perhaps all martial artists viewed the Alliance the same way now.
With the enemy at the gates, the Martial Alliance's chaos could be summed up in one word: a total mess.