Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Last Resort (3)
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All hell broke loose overnight.
While Zhuge Su was informing the family head in his office about the existence of the Blood Slaughter Cult, Zhuge Geom—who had been tipped off in advance—led the Crooked Dragon Squad in a sudden raid on the Supreme Secret Hall, the department that managed all of Zhuge Clan intelligence.
The Supreme Secret Hall Master, Zhuge Jincheong, flew into a rage and bellowed in fury, but upon hearing the gravity of the situation, the Crooked Dragon Squad Leader Zhuge Ho personally stepped in. He arrested every single person working in the hall—without exception, save for Zhuge Jincheong himself. Even though Zhuge Su had pinpointed specific individuals, Zhuge Ho decided to investigate everyone just to be safe.
The Supreme Secret Hall could be called the most bloated organization in the Zhuge Clan, as it was responsible for releasing the Martial Power Rankings to the world every ten years. It had over thirty permanent staff members within the clan alone, and when you added in those operating externally, plus the ones they hired or collaborated with, the total approached three hundred.
The intense two-day investigation uncovered a great deal.
Beyond the ones Zhuge Su had directly identified, two more permanent staff members from the Supreme Secret Hall were revealed to have ties to the Blood Slaughter Cult. Interrogating them led to the discovery of another thirty-three individuals connected to the cult.
A massive shock swept through the Zhuge Clan.
It was astonishing enough that the Blood Slaughter Cult had been operating in secret all this time, but the fact that their spies had been active right within the Zhuge Clan itself left everyone stunned beyond words.
What was most alarming was the high positions these embedded spies had held within the clan. It meant the Blood Slaughter Cult had taken root in the Zhuge Clan long ago.
"It seems the main family has been too arrogant. We're no match for the Beggars' Sect, of course, but we prided ourselves on our intelligence capabilities being second to none... only to find rot from within."
In just two days, Zhuge Chu's complexion had grown utterly haggard.
The revelation that Blood Slaughter Cult spies had infiltrated the Supreme Secret Hall was a shock he still couldn't quite accept.
"Their operations must have been that meticulous. Still, we uncovered what even the Beggars' Sect missed. Don't blame yourself too much."
The Sword Matriarch consoled Zhuge Chu in a calm tone before turning to Zhuge Su, the primary contributor to this incident.
Zhuge Su, who had dropped the bombshell about the Blood Slaughter Cult's existence on the Zhuge Clan, had spent nearly the entire two days bedridden. He'd only just been half-forcibly dragged here moments ago.
"Thanks to Young Master Zhuge, we've been able to expose the Blood Slaughter Cult to the world. You've done a great service not just to the Zhuge Clan, but to the entire martial world."
"I was just lucky."
"Luck doesn't explain spending five straight days toiling in the Scripture Pavilion."
"I can't just let things that bother me slide. Haha!"
Zhuge Su let out an awkward laugh, clearly embarrassed by the repeated praise.
"Now, others will have no choice but to believe in the Blood Slaughter Cult's existence, right?"
At the Sword Matriarch's question, Zhuge Chu gave a wry smile.
"They won't have any choice. With our family suffering such humiliation, everyone will be tightening up their own houses."
"A lot of people will get caught up in the process."
"That's what we expect. Looking at our own situation, these infiltrators didn't sprout up overnight. Problems will crop up everywhere. The ones that have undergone rapid changes lately worry me most."
Zhuge Chu's gaze naturally drifted toward Zhuge Su.
"Of course, not every place this child investigated will be tied to the Blood Slaughter Cult. But even if just some of them are..."
Zhuge Chu trailed off, his expression one of not even wanting to imagine it.
"We'll have to investigate as thoroughly as possible. The top priority for investigation should be..."
The Sword Matriarch fixed Zhuge Chu with a heavy gaze.
"The Martial Alliance."
"The Martial Alliance."
The same answer slipped from both their lips simultaneously.
The Heavenly Demon Cult's relentless advance had begun to slow.
The Martial Alliance was mired in chaos and unable to respond effectively, but the sects from various regions—seeing the crisis engulfing the southern martial world—had rushed to dispatch reinforcements as quickly as possible.
Not only the Four Great Clans close to the Nangong Clan, but also the Beggars' Sect, Hyeongsan Sect, Qingcheng Sect, and Jongnam Sect had sent disciples, making the battles increasingly fierce.
Though the Shaolin, Wudang, and Huashan—the core of the Nine Great Sects and the strongest forces—had yet to move in earnest, this was, in effect, the second Righteous-Demonic Great War following the Heavenly Demon's purge.
And the flames of the Righteous-Demonic Great War had spread to the Hahou Clan as well.
"Looks like you're in a foul mood."
Hahou Yeon stepped aside as she eyed the low growl from Black Wolf.
"They just drew blood again."
Lightning Stroke said as she stroked Black Wolf's thigh.
Black Wolf jerked his head up with a sharp reaction, but Lightning Stroke gently patted his scruff to calm him.
"It's been seven days already. I'd be pissed too."
"Poor thing. At least you should be eating well, but you look so scrawny."
Hahou Yeon glanced at the food Black Wolf was eating.
"Manchu just went to fetch better feed for Black Wolf. And he eats plenty, like I said. Honestly, when it comes to eating, no one matches this guy these days."
"Heh heh heh! Still, from Black Wolf's perspective, he'd probably prefer less meat and no blood draws."
"What can we do? It's to save Sis. He just has to endure."
Despite her words, Lightning Stroke's hand stroking Black Wolf was filled with guilt.
"Oh, right. I heard the Hahou Clan is mobilizing too?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"We decided just now to depart tomorrow."
"So you're going after all."
"We're late to the party. They used our clan as the pretext for their invasion from the start. There were strong voices insisting we complete the Forty-Ninth Retreat first as the proper course, so we had no choice... but honestly, we shouldn't have waited this long."
As Hahou Yeon vented her frustration, Lightning Stroke shrugged.
"We clashed with them head-on, but the sparks flew in the weirdest direction."
"They're deliberately fabricating excuses, so who can we blame? If it hadn't been our clan, they might've pinned it on the Beggars' Sect. That guy traveled with your brothers, after all."
Hahou Yeon pointed at Manchu, who was rushing over with a large basket stuffed full of dripping bloody meat.
"Could be."
Lightning Stroke gave a wry smile.
She agreed, but it left a bitter taste. In the end, Hahou Gok's death had stemmed from getting caught up in the fight between the Heavenly Demon Cult and themselves.
The door creaked open, and Cheol Woo entered carrying a massive water barrel.
Spotting Hahou Yeon, Cheol Woo greeted her cheerfully.
"Oh, you're here?"
"Yes."
Hahou Yeon stared in awe at Cheol Woo's superhuman strength as he hefted the enormous, water-filled barrel like a ladle.
"The color's clear, though."
Cheol Woo nodded brightly.
"It's been much better since yesterday. Hardly any change today. The elder says we're almost done."
"That's a relief."
"This guy's contributions have been the biggest."
Cheol Woo grinned at Black Wolf devouring the meat Manchu had brought, but Black Wolf growled at him.
"Don't cross the line, Black Wolf. Show your teeth carelessly and you'll get scolded."
Before Cheol Woo's warning even finished, Black Wolf slyly turned his head and focused back on his meal.
"He really is a spirit beast."
Hahou Yeon couldn't hide her admiration at how Black Wolf understood human speech like a ghost.
"You guys chat. I'll go dump this. Elder says it's clear but still dangerous."
Cheol Woo tapped the water barrel with his finger.
During the past few days treating So Surin's body, the extracted poison water had been incredibly toxic and couldn't be discarded carelessly. Dumping it in fields would ruin crops, and streams or rivers were out, so they had no choice but to carry it into the mountains, dig deep holes, and bury it.
After Cheol Woo left, Sima Geon and Tang Cheonhwa stepped out from inside.
Hahou Yeon greeted them warmly and repeated her earlier conversation with Lightning Stroke.
"You're going too?"
Sima Geon asked after silently hearing Hahou Yeon out.
"Yes. I was originally going to sit this one out, but I insisted on going."
She spoke casually, but she couldn't fully mask the faint anger deep in her voice.
That was when it happened.
"The schedule might change."
At the sudden remark, everyone's eyes turned to Manchu.
"I was just about to mention it. We got word from the Beggars' Sect. The Heavenly Demon Cult isn't the problem right now."
"What're you talking about?"
"Seems the Zhuge Clan discovered Blood Slaughter Cult spies."
At the mention of the Blood Slaughter Cult, Gwa Yu— who had been feeding Black Wolf chunks of meat beside Lightning Stroke—startled and whipped her head around.
"Looks like the Sword Matriarch's visit to the Zhuge Clan paid off."
Sima Geon recalled that the Sword Matriarch had gone to the Zhuge Clan over the Blood Slaughter Cult issue.
"Not sure about that. Anyway, they launched an internal investigation and rooted out the spies hiding in secret. The numbers are substantial, and their positions were high—they must've been embedded for quite a while."
"In the mighty Zhuge Clan! Hah! If the Blood Slaughter Cult has spies in the Zhuge Clan, no need to ask about other sects."
Everyone's faces grew visibly worried at Tang Cheonhwa's words.
"The Zhuge Clan sent secret letters to the leaders of every sect. The scope is so vast they're asking the Beggars' Sect for help, and the Beggars' Sect is cooperating fully."
"Hey, how do you know about letters sent to sect leaders?"
At Lightning Stroke's question, Manchu grinned and pointed at Sima Geon.
"The Gang Leader sent a secret letter to the Hahou Clan head—and one to me too."
Manchu shook a yellow-paper document from his bosom.
"He ordered me to brief you brothers on the situation."
"Hm. Looks like the Sword Matriarch wanted you informed too."
Tang Cheonhwa remarked, having heard all the miscellaneous talk exchanged between Sima Geon and the Sword Matriarch up to now.
"Seems that way."
"But Division Leader, if the Blood Slaughter Cult's been pulling strings like this, wouldn't the Heavenly Demon Cult side be the same? We already exposed and smashed theirs ages ago."
Sima Geon nodded at Lightning Stroke's words.
"Probably."
"Did the Zhuge Clan say they're informing the Heavenly Demon Cult too?"
Manchu shook his head at Tang Cheonhwa's question.
"No idea. I just relayed what's written here."
Manchu glanced at the yellow paper.
"Not sure what choice they'll make. Telling the Heavenly Demon Cult would be the wise move."
"They probably will. They've joined forces against the Blood Slaughter Cult before, from what I know."
At Sima Geon's words, Tang Cheonhwa snorted.
"That'd be common sense, but since when does the world run on common sense? Back then, they didn't team up because they wanted to. Both sides were crushed under the Blood Slaughter Cult's might and had no choice. Even if the Zhuge Clan informs them—well, the Zhuge Clan is reasonable, so they probably will. But will the Heavenly Demon Cult accept it properly? What do you think?"
Sima Geon couldn't answer Tang Cheonhwa's question right away.
"I doubt they'll accept it easily. They'll suspect it first. With the conquest of the southern martial world right in front of them, they'll think it's a ploy to buy time or some other scheme."
"Even if they know, I don't think they'll halt their attack. They'll handle the Blood Slaughter Cult issue separately and focus on crushing the Nangong Clan for now."
"That's my thinking too. The immediate crisis comes first—they won't stop over some unconfirmed problem."
"In the end, the Blood Slaughter Cult stands to gain the most."
"That's what those rats love best."
In the past, countless sects had suffered at the Blood Slaughter Cult's hands, but few had taken as devastating a blow as the Tang Clan. It was said to have taken at least a century to recover from the damage.
"Good! Perfect. Finally, a chance to settle old grudges."
Tang Cheonhwa bared a ferocious killing intent as he grinned.