Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Thousand-Li Plateau (4)
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Cheol Woo, who had neutralized the joint assault of Ghost Soul Fist and Blood Tribulation Hand Pingan, was already trampling the surviving Wind Demon Unit members amid Dang Cheonhwa's attacks. Unlike Noejeon, who was lending a hand with one arm, Manchu and Gwayu no longer moved.
"You okay?"
Sima Geon asked, eyeing the blood on Manchu's arm.
"It's not a deep wound."
As their gazes turned to her, Gwayu shook her head as well.
"I'm fine."
"Impressive skills. Those bastards' martial arts are no joke."
Dang Cheonhwa had personally confirmed the prowess of the Sword Demon Dragon who had attacked Sima Geon and the three protectors. Especially the Sword Demon Dragon, their leader—he was an expert whom even Dang Cheonhwa couldn't claim to defeat easily.
'What the hell is this guy.'
Dang Cheonhwa couldn't help but be astonished by Sima Geon's monstrous skill in effortlessly shattering the combined assault of Sword Demon Dragon and the others. Of course, he knew the man was strong. But knowing it vaguely and seeing it with his own eyes were worlds apart.
Witnessing the strength of Sima Geon and his group firsthand made him realize anew just how grave a mistake it had been for them not to head to Bicheon Fortress.
'Sanggwan Cheon, you idiot!'
Recalling the Bicheon Fortress Lord who had rejected their aid like a monumental fool, a surge of inexplicable anger welled up.
"Your skills were remarkable too, elder."
At Sima Geon's praise, the corner of Dang Cheonhwa's left eye twitched upward slightly.
"You saw that?"
"Yes."
"And you had the leisure to look away in the middle of it all?"
"That's how it happened."
"Hah! Those bastards would faint if they heard. No—better they died without knowing. Yeah, a hundred times better."
Sima Geon let out an awkward chuckle at Dang Cheonhwa's boisterous display, then turned his gaze to where the battle still raged.
Cheol Woo and Noejeon had already wrapped things up, but So Surin was still locked in fierce combat.
"How is she doing?"
"Not bad. But she's still got a long way to go. Especially that poison aura stored in her body—she can't fully control it yet. She can manage it somewhat if she focuses, but when she gets excited, it runs wild."
"That's not so bad in its own way."
Sima Geon spoke as he watched the Wind Demon Unit unable to close in properly due to the poison aura emanating from So Surin's body.
"True, but uncontrolled poison aura is dangerous not just to enemies, but to allies too."
Sima Geon glanced at Manchu and Gwayu.
Considering the poison aura that had leaked during her treatment, those two definitely couldn't handle it. Strictly speaking, even Noejeon would struggle. Only someone on Cheol Woo's level could withstand it without much issue.
The Wind Demon Unit members seemed to have grasped the danger of the poison pouring from So Surin's body as well—they held their breath and attacked from maximum distance. Even so, countless collapsed from poisoning.
"But that body of hers is truly something else."
Dang Cheonhwa sincerely admired how So Surin took hit after hit yet suffered no real damage.
"Indeed."
Sima Geon agreed.
Though Cheol Woo had achieved Diamond Indestructibility, perhaps the true Diamond Indestructible Body belonged to So Surin. She hadn't sought it out—it had come at the cost of inhuman torment no mortal could endure.
At that moment, Cheol Woo approached, breathing heavily after finishing his fight.
"Hoo!"
"All done?"
"As you can see. These guys put up a decent fight."
Sima Geon nodded, noting the tears in Cheol Woo's clothes here and there.
"Looks like it. You okay?"
"No major issues, but that Ghost Soul Fist geezer got me a bit. His techniques reminded me of Poison Eagle Eyes. Similar level too. Got pissed and snapped his neck."
Cheol Woo mimed breaking something with both hands and grinned, drawing queasy looks from Manchu and Gwayu.
"That one's fight isn't over yet."
Noejeon said, his face showing clear exhaustion.
Unlike Cheol Woo, he seemed to have had a tough battle—his body bore numerous minor wounds.
"Of course. Back in the day, she couldn't have handled even a few. They look like idiots, but they're a squad handpicked for skill."
"Brother."
"Oh! Thanks."
Cheol Woo flashed a bright smile, taking the pouch Manchu offered and pressing it to his mouth as he continued.
"Pretty impressive, though. When did she get that strong?"
"It's not just skill—her poison arts are cheat-level. Just getting near, that poison aura creeps right in. Ugh."
Noejeon shuddered at the mere thought.
Having fought briefly alongside So Surin, he had fully felt how vicious her leaking poison qi was.
Manchu and Gwayu nodded vigorously in agreement.
Sima Geon, who had watched the fight for a moment, removed the Heavenly Demon Ring from his wrist.
"Why?"
As Cheol Woo voiced his curiosity, Sima Geon tossed the ring without a word.
The Heavenly Demon Ring shot like a ray of light, then transformed into a sword mid-flight, striking the Wind Demon Unit attacking So Surin.
The unit members, already desperate against the enemy before them, were defenseless against the sudden Heavenly Demon Sword. In the blink of an eye, seven lives vanished, and even those resisting to the end began crumbling rapidly under So Surin's assaults.
Sima Geon elegantly snatched the returning Heavenly Demon Sword, which traced a graceful arc.
No sooner had it settled in his hand than it reverted to the Heavenly Demon Ring. Dang Cheonhwa, seeing the transformation for the first time, widened his eyes.
"Wh-what the hell is that thing?"
"It's called the Heavenly Demon Ring. Once the treasured weapon and divine relic of the Heavenly Demon."
Unlike Sima Geon's casual explanation, Dang Cheonhwa was stunned. For a warrior to behold the divine relic of the Heavenly Demon—hailed as the greatest of all time—was both shocking and an honor.
"Mind if I take a look?"
Dang Cheonhwa asked cautiously, a far cry from his usual boldness. Even with age and familiarity, requesting another's weapon demanded care.
"Go ahead."
Sima Geon handed over the Heavenly Demon Ring nonchalantly.
Dang Cheonhwa took it with trembling hands and began inspecting it keenly.
In the meantime, So Surin finished her fight and returned.
Despite overwhelming her foes with power far beyond her past self, her expression was far from pleased.
"What's wrong, sis? You hurt?"
Noejeon asked worriedly, scanning her body.
"Eyes off."
So Surin snapped viciously.
"Pardon?"
"I said eyes off."
She irritably turned and extended her hand to Sima Geon.
"Lend me some clothes, Division Leader."
Sima Geon glanced at her tattered rags and promptly removed his robe, handing it over.
"Ah!"
Only then did Noejeon understand her reaction, letting out a hollow laugh.
"Tch tch, what's the point of a tough body without skill? That's why she ends up like that."
At Cheol Woo's taunt, So Surin glared with fierce eyes but said nothing.
"Truly remarkable. How was it made to change like that? Astonishing."
Dang Cheonhwa, who had been admiring the ring from all angles with constant exclamations, returned it to Sima Geon.
"You infuse inner energy to transform it into a sword?"
"Yes."
"Figured as much—no other mechanisms. Anyway, incredible. My clan has plenty of rare and wondrous weapons, but nothing like this."
A flicker of greed appeared then vanished in Dang Cheonhwa's eyes.
Sima Geon noticed but pretended not to. He knew the greed wasn't for the relic's Heavenly Demon legacy, but for the ring's inherent mystery.
"Thousand-Li Plateau is just ahead."
Ha Hu Geun said, snapping the emerging pampas grass one by one.
"Yeah. It's been ages since I was here. The scenery is spectacular."
Ha Hu Hyo lightly stroked the swaying pampas.
"Thousand-Li Plateau's real beauty is at sunset—such a shame we're missing it. The taste of sake shared with friends while watching the sunset lingers even now."
Ha Hu Myeong smiled, recalling old days atop a hill overlooking the plateau, toasting poems with comrades in immortal revelry.
"We'll come back when we get the chance. It's on the way home anyway."
"We have to survive for that."
"Exactly."
Unlike the confident Ha Hu Myeong, Ha Hu Hyo's face shadowed as he glanced at his retainers.
No need to spell out how brutal the battle at Bicheon Fortress would be—nor how many retainers would survive. Victory and return wouldn't mean all together.
"We'll rest briefly at Thousand-Li Plateau."
At Ha Hu Geun's words, Ha Hu Hyo nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. We left at dawn's early light—everyone's exhausted..."
Ha Hu Hyo suddenly fell silent.
His hardened expression and sharpening gaze tensed Ha Hu Geun and Ha Hu Myeong as well.
"Someone's coming."
No sooner had Ha Hu Hyo spoken than Ha Hu Myeong, expanding his senses, followed up.
"Quite a few."
"Stay alert!"
At Ha Hu Geun's shout, the Ha Hu Clan retainers drew weapons in unison.
Moments after the warriors armed themselves, a group came dashing wildly into view.
About thirty in number, they looked ragged from a major battle.
"Halt!"
Ha Hu Geun bellowed like thunder.
The frantic runners stopped dead.
"I am Ha Hu Geun of the Golden Flower Ha Hu Clan. Where do you hail from?"
Ha Hu Geun asked politely.
No answer.
"Where do you—"
Ha Hu Geun couldn't finish.
The group abruptly wheeled and fled desperately. So frantic and panicked, no one thought to pursue.
"What the hell is going on? Who were they?"
Ha Hu Hyo's question was answered upon reaching Thousand-Li Plateau.
"Those were Heavenly Demon Cult members?"
Ha Hu Hyo asked in surprise.
"Yeah. More precisely..."
As Dang Cheonhwa turned, Noejeon quickly replied.
"The Wind Demon Unit got wiped here, so probably Ghost Gate Clan guys. Saw their leader and a few escape earlier."
"But why were they here?"
At Ha Hu Hyo's question, Dang Cheonhwa clucked his tongue in frustration.
"Tch tch, isn't it obvious? They knew you were heading to reinforce Bicheon Fortress and planned to ambush. We came to stop that. They were lying in wait. A bit later, and it would've been bad."
At "ambush," the Ha Hu retainers' faces stiffened. Corpses littered the area—easily two hundred. Unknown individual skills, but that many attackers? Questionable if they could handle it. Even victory would bring unimaginable losses.
"I see. Thank you, Senior. Truly grateful. We would have been in real trouble without you."
Ha Hu Hyo bowed deeply to Dang Cheonhwa and Sima Geon's group.
"Heard travelers to Bicheon Fortress face attacks everywhere. But this many mobilizing? Unthinkable. Strange—no word from Bicheon Fortress on such a force."
"They probably noticed the ploy. But couldn't send word."
"What do you mean?"
"Heavenly Demon Cult seems to be eliminating messengers. Makes sense for a surprise attack. Lucky break. We only learned their plot after catching a hawk that killed our carrier pigeon."
Ha Hu Geun, listening quietly, felt an odd unease at Dang Cheonhwa's words.
"You caught the hawk by chance, so you weren't heading to aid Bicheon Fortress from home?"
"Bicheon Fortress?"
Dang Cheonhwa's lips twisted harshly.
"Yes. Thought you'd met there since you're together. On your way to..."
"Bicheon Fortress my ass! Don't even mention those brainless fools!"
Dang Cheonhwa's roar shook Thousand-Li Plateau.
Ha Hu Geun and the retainers, baffled, could only stare blankly at his furious outburst.