Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Variables (1)
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Hall of Returning Spirits, Heavenly Demon Cult.
The Immortal Demon Physician Hwa Nong, an elder of the Heavenly Demon Cult and the head of the Hall of Returning Spirits, was receiving a guest.
"I've heard that my grandson's condition has improved. Thank you. This is all thanks to Elder Hwa."
Though the Crimson Dragon Gang had been greatly weakened by a string of recent defeats, its leader Gu In-hwang still commanded considerable power. He expressed his sincere gratitude to Hwa Nong.
"Hahaha! No need for that. Isn't this all heaven's will? After you entrusted your grandson to me, that incredibly rare Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lingzhi appeared as if waiting for us. It couldn't have happened without heaven's arrangement."
"I rushed here upon hearing that the Hall of Returning Spirits had a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Seed, only to learn it was a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lingzhi! Haha! You can't imagine my shock."
"A Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Seed is certainly an excellent spiritual herb, but it lacks the potency to fully cure that child's affliction."
"Even the best spiritual herb is useless without the skill to wield it properly, isn't it? This was only possible thanks to Elder Hwa's medical prowess. I'd heard he was a descendant of the Divine Physician, but this is truly remarkable."
Gu In-hwang recalled the acupuncture treatment Hwa Nong had performed on his youngest grandson and showered him with praise.
Over many long years, they had consulted countless physicians and witnessed their skills, but Hwa Nong's acupuncture stood out like a crane among chickens—unequaled.
"Such excessive praise leaves me at a loss."
"It's not excessive; it's the simple truth."
"Thank you. In any case, it was a stroke of immense fortune. A little later, and even the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lingzhi might not have saved him."
"I'm truly ashamed. I failed to properly diagnose the child's affliction and merely thought his body was frail."
Gu In-hwang's face flushed red as he berated himself for his mistake.
"No, it was a condition even skilled physicians would struggle to detect. Don't trouble yourself over it."
Hwa Nong consoled Gu In-hwang with a gentle expression, though his inner thoughts were entirely different.
'That sly old fox! He didn't miss it—he deliberately hid it.'
Gu In-hwang's youngest grandson, Gu Cheon-jin, suffered from Nine Yang Severed Meridians.
Born with heaven-granted wisdom and perfect musculature for martial arts, yet burdened by innately excessive yang energy that doomed him to an early death—this heavenly punishment was known as Nine Yang Severed Meridians.
'If he can overcome this heavenly punishment, his god-given talent will make him a hero who shakes the world. That's precisely why he kept it secret from outsiders. Rival factions or enemies would do anything to sabotage or eliminate such potential.'
Hwa Nong cast a meaningful glance at Gu In-hwang.
'Heh heh heh! Good thing I grasped the truth about the Shungmyeong Province incident, or I might have lost this precious talent.'
The incident where the Crimson Dragon Gang's eldest grandson lost his life in Shungmyeong Province had been quite the topic within the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Various rumors circulated, but it was brushed off as bad luck: he'd simply gone to check on his Crimson Blood Unit subordinates and unluckily crossed paths with the Divine Demon Leader.
However, a peculiar report came from the Crimson Dragon Gang members who had joined forces with those heading to Xiaoxing to retrieve the Heavenly Demon Pill. Rather than mere revenge, they had obsessively targeted the Divine Demon Leader's younger sister.
Though the sole surviving Dark Fragrance agent, Pyo Yeong's report made no mention of it, Hwa Nong had pieced together their actions through other channels.
Initially dismissed as revenge, the investigation revealed a bizarre truth.
The Crimson Dragon Gang leader's youngest grandson, Gu Cheon-jin, suffered from what appeared to be Nine Yang Severed Meridians—a heavenly punishment. Moreover, to cure it, they targeted someone with a similar affliction: the Divine Demon Leader's sister.
The Crimson Dragon Gang's desperate scheme was shattered by the Divine Demon Leader's might.
Upon confirming Gu Cheon-jin indeed had Nine Yang Severed Meridians, Hwa Nong immediately spread word to the Crimson Dragon Gang that the Hall of Returning Spirits possessed a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Seed—a spiritual herb with potential to treat Nine Yang Severed Meridians.
The gang leader had no choice but to bring his grandson to Hwa Nong.
Visiting Hwa Nong would expose that his grandson was born with Nine Yang Severed Meridians, but there were no alternatives. They had prolonged his life thus far, but the limit had arrived.
"When will he make a full recovery?"
"It'll take at least another fortnight of treatment."
"Another fortnight?"
Gu In-hwang's brow furrowed slightly.
They had already been undergoing treatment for over ten days, so hearing it would take even longer filled him with frustration he couldn't hide.
"If we'd started sooner, we could have shortened it considerably, but it was so late in coming. My apologies, Gang Leader."
"Haha! Apologies? Nonsense. I was just being impatient. Forgive me."
"Thank you for understanding. I'll do my utmost to shorten it even a little."
"Much appreciated. See it through to the end, please. I'll never forget this favor."
"Favor? I'm just doing my duty as a physician."
Hwa Nong remained humble to the end.
Greatly satisfied with Hwa Nong's demeanor, Gu In-hwang departed the Hall of Returning Spirits.
After Gu In-hwang left, a voice soon called out.
"Branch Lord, it's Dam Ik."
"Come in."
With Hwa Nong's permission, the door opened, and a frail-looking middle-aged man entered—Dam Ik, deputy leader of Dark Fragrance.
"Did you look into it?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Dam Ik let out a short breath and glanced at Hwa Nong before speaking.
"It seems Ten Thousand Poison Valley and Yin Poison Nest have slipped from control."
"You're certain?"
"Yes. The Crimson Water Sword Gate has already been reduced to ruins by him."
"Crimson Water Sword Gate?"
Hwa Nong asked in surprise.
The Crimson Water Sword Gate was a formidable force even within the Heavenly Demon Cult. Though many troops had left to attack the Nangong Clan, those remaining were still numerous—not an easy target for the diminished Ten Thousand Poison Valley.
Yet such an outcome meant Yin Poison Nest's Immortal Ten Thousand Poison Command Spell on the Divine Demon Division members had succeeded, and a true Poison Blood Demon had been created.
"What about Ma Chung? That old man died too?"
"Yes."
Hwa Nong let out a hollow chuckle at the news that Ma Chung, the former sect leader of Crimson Water Sword Gate known as the Blood Guest, had met his end.
"Ha! Ma Geuk will lose his mind when he hears."
"Not just Crimson Water Sword Gate—the Rainbow Slaughter Gate and Flying Snake Gang were also crushed. He's now recruiting the Ghost Spirit Clan and Crimson Flame Clan and making contact with various factions."
Dam Ik's expression was gravely serious.
"Various factions. Probably those who've raised flags against the Heavenly Demon Cult or harbor grudges?"
"Yes."
"He's building his own power base independently. Hm, not a bad outcome, but..."
With the Blood Cult's existence now revealed to the world, greater chaos was beneficial. But Yin Poison Nest breaking free was unforeseen. Above all, losing the Poison Blood Demon he'd created was a profound regret. The resources poured into its birth were beyond imagination.
"Such a pity. It could have been of great use to our cult."
Hearing Hwa Nong's sigh, Dam Ik paused before speaking quietly.
"A report has gone up. A meeting will be convened soon."
"Hmph! Those backroom old fogeys can meet all they want—the outcome's obvious."
With the Heavenly Demon Cult's leadership having departed en masse with the cult leader, only a handful remained—idly passing time in the Elder Council and Elder Hall.
No sooner had Hwa Nong spoken than a messenger arrived.
"Branch Lord."
"What is it?"
"You've been summoned to the Supremacy Pavilion."
"Understood."
The Immortal Demon Physician Hwa Nong rose slowly, his gaze as the Blood Cult's Fourth Elder turning languid.
The Heavenly Demon Cult's plan to ambush the Ha Hu Clan's reinforcements at Thousand Ri Plain had been thwarted by Sima Geon's group.
Despite mobilizing over two hundred men from the Wind Demon Unit and Ghost Path Gang, barely thirty survived. In contrast, the Ha Hu Clan reinforcements suffered no losses—a bitter blow for the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Upon reports of their appearance near Bi Cheon Manor, they had desperately tracked the group, but learning that the Divine Demon Leader and his party had intervened caused an uproar.
The Divine Demon Division—one of the pillars unifying the demonic path—and its legendary leader Sima Geon and deputy Cheol Woo were figures of myth.
Those who only knew their feats vaguely were shocked by the battle's outcome, but veterans who'd fought alongside or witnessed the Divine Demon Division saw it as inevitable. Moreover, a creeping dread took root: they might have to face the Divine Demon Leader at Bi Cheon Manor.
"Still no sign?"
At the Blood Light Martial Emperor's question, Jang Gon of the Military Affairs Department shook his head.
"We've mobilized every available man, but nothing yet."
"It's not that we can't find them—it's that we can't make contact even if we do."
Elder Dark Thunder Blade Chu Seung spun the throwing knife in his hand as he spoke.
"What do you mean?"
"We know Dark Fragrance agents excel in stealth and tracking, but their target is the Divine Demon Leader. You think they can evade his eyes?"
"Ah!"
"There must be agents who've suddenly gone silent. Check where they were last active."
"Yes, sir."
Jang Gon returned in short order after hurrying off.
"Found anything?"
"Yes. As you said, several agents have lost contact. Interestingly, their paths form a single line."
"Toward Bi Cheon Manor?"
"No."
Chu Seung tilted his head at the miss.
"Not there? Then heading here?"
"No. They're moving away from Bi Cheon Manor—heading south."
"Good grief. South?"
Chu Seung looked utterly baffled.
"Certain?"
the Blood Light Martial Emperor asked.
"I can't say for sure about the Divine Demon Leader's movements. But one thing is clear."
"What?"
"They haven't gone to Bi Cheon Manor. The latest report says the Ha Hu Clan reinforcements arrived without sighting him or his group. But an intriguing report just came from a Dark Fragrance agent who'd infiltrated Bi Cheon Manor."
"One survived? I thought they'd all been exposed."
"I assumed the same since contact was lost, but apparently one evaded detection."
"Fortunate. Your expression suggests good news."
Chu Seung burst into laughter at Jang Gon's oddly excited demeanor.
"If it's true, it's the best news possible."
"Out with it—what's got you so worked up?"
"It seems Bi Cheon Manor Lord refused the Divine Demon Leader's help. That's why his group changed course en route."
Chu Seung and the Blood Light Martial Emperor stared blankly for a moment, uncomprehending. Seeing their reaction, Jang Gon raised his voice.
"It caused quite a stir. Reports say the Tang Clan retainers heading to Bi Cheon Manor diverted to the Nangong Clan because of it. Even the arriving Ha Hu Clan openly questioned it."
"Isn't that Bi Cheon Manor Lord mad?"
Chu Seung turned to the Blood Light Martial Emperor.
"Must be. Who else would do something so absurd?"
The Blood Light Martial Emperor's lip curled slightly.
"In any case, if true, it's perfect. The Wind Demon Unit's annihilation had us in a bind."
"Aren't you rushing? They might change their minds and turn back."
The Blood Light Martial Emperor shook his head.
"They'll arrive tomorrow night anyway. Haste won't change that. But we must account for variables."
"Jang Gon."
"Yes, Supreme Elder."
"We cannot lose track of the Divine Demon Leader. Not to monitor—just confirm if they're heading to Bi Cheon Manor."
"I'll see to it."
As Jang Gon bowed and withdrew, the Blood Light Martial Emperor lifted his cup.
"I'm truly curious what that Bi Cheon Manor Lord looks like."