Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Crossroads (3)
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"Hoo!"
Hwa Nong let out a long breath as he straightened up after inserting the needles into Gu Cheon Jin's body. Thick beads of sweat dotted his forehead, evidence of the considerable mental energy he had expended.
"Elder, it's Dam Ik."
"Come in."
Dam Ik entered the room and glanced at Gu Cheon Jin, who lay there with needles embedded all over his body, before taking a seat.
"You look exhausted."
"Time is pressing, so I pushed myself a bit."
"Are you all right?"
"I guess I'm getting old. I'm holding up somehow, but it's not like it used to be."
Hwa Nong wiped away his sweat with a faint smile and picked up his cold teacup.
"May I ask when the treatment will be finished?"
"Things seem to be moving quickly, huh."
"Yes. We're holding them off as best we can, but I don't think we can last more than a few days. They're digging in relentlessly on the Cult Leader's direct orders."
"Tsk tsk, what a mess this is because of those Divine Demon Division bastards."
Hwa Nong clicked his tongue as he gazed at Gu Cheon Jin, who lay there as still as death.
"Fully restoring his body will be tough, but the Heart Seal Soul Suppressing Great Method should be more or less complete by tomorrow."
"The treatment for his illness is already done anyway, so Red Dragon Hall should be plenty satisfied. The real key is the Heart Seal Soul Suppressing Great Method, right?"
Dam Ik spoke with a meaningful expression.
"Exactly. Our cult has gained another magnificent blade like this."
Pride swelled in Hwa Nong's eyes as he looked at Gu Cheon Jin, clearly pleased with the weapon he had forged.
"We've investigated thoroughly, but there's no particularly suspicious activity in their movements. As I mentioned back then, they were hunting..."
"Enough."
Gwan Ung cut off Heuk Cha's words.
"What about Dark Fragrance? Tell me what we've grasped so far."
"As reported previously, we've confirmed movements of some suspicious groups. We couldn't identify them precisely at the time, but circumstances suggest they banded together when they attacked the Sword Hou."
"How many were there in total?"
"Around fifty. Of them, thirty-six lost their lives attacking the Sword Hou."
"Have you identified who they were?"
"No traces left on their bodies. The only clue is the swords they used."
"Swords?"
"Yes. Not ordinary swords, but the kind assassins favor. Narrow width, shorter than average length."
"That alone won't pin down their identities for sure."
"Yes. I suspect they're ones specially trained by the Blood Cult."
"Dig deeper."
"Understood."
"Oh, and the Sky Guard Unit's casualties?"
Hyeon Nok answered in place of Sima Ryu.
"All the men sent to protect the Sword Hou were lost."
"How many did you send?"
"Twelve."
"We were too complacent. Should've sent more."
"With both sides' intelligence networks spread everywhere, we never imagined they'd move so boldly."
Sima Ryu bowed his head as if it were his fault.
"Not your fault. That was the reasonable call at the time. Hyeong Mu Gang."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"What's the elders' reaction?"
"Opinions are still split. But they're leaning toward halting the fight. The Blood Cult issue and the Bi Cheon Manor incident seem to have swayed them a bit."
"Convene a meeting. We need to decide."
"Have you made up your mind?"
Hyeong Mu Gang asked cautiously.
"Yes."
Gwan Ung nodded heavily.
"The Sword Hou staked her life to prove it. We'll withdraw for now."
The Sword Hou's death delivered a massive shock to the hordes of powerhouses who had gathered to protect the Nangong Clan.
That shock ignited into rage, spreading like wildfire.
The Heavenly Demon Cult denied responsibility and offered explanations, but the fury didn't subside easily. It had come to light that the Sword Hou had met privately with Gwan Ung the night before her death.
A fair number accepted the Heavenly Demon Cult's explanation as reasonable. Logically, it made no sense to hold a suspicious private meeting and then immediately assassinate her—it screamed setup. Some claimed it was the Blood Cult's scheme. Yet others distrusted the cunning Heavenly Demon Cult's words outright, suspecting they'd used the Blood Cult as a pretext to commit the deed.
"What a riot."
Nangong Seon quietly surveyed the chaotic meeting hall.
"The Sword Hou is gone. It's only natural. The real issue is the fakes hiding among them."
Deep in the Nangong Clan Head Nangong Hu's seemingly impassive eyes churned a rage colder and heavier than the ocean depths.
"At first, skepticism dominated. Plenty called for vigilance against the Blood Cult too. But as time passes, the mood's shifting strangely."
"Pinpoint who's steering the conversations. Don't miss a single one."
"Yes. We're tracking them thoroughly."
Nangong Seon withdrew quietly, signaling not to worry.
Even if the Heavenly Demon Cult pulls back, there'll be those inciting war with them. Keep eyes on those bastards.
Is that what you meant? But you didn't need to stake your life to prove it.
Nangong Hu closed his eyes, recalling his secret meeting with the Sword Hou before she met Gwan Ung.
He couldn't trust himself to keep his surging rage in check otherwise.
"Wh-what the..."
Man Chu's face stiffened as he opened the black tube from the messenger pigeon station and read the letter inside.
He'd braced himself seeing the black tube—reserved for dire emergencies—but his heart still trembled.
"What's wrong?"
Thunderclap gripped Man Chu's shoulder.
"Th-the Sword Hou has... passed..."
"Who? The Sword Hou?"
Thunderclap's eyes widened in shock, but it paled next to Man Chu's persistent shuddering.
"Wh-what did you say?"
Dang Cheon Hwa, who had been scolding So Su Rin, whipped around in alarm.
"Who died? Did you say the Sword Hou is dead?"
"Yes. Just got word..."
Dang Cheon Hwa snatched the letter from Man Chu's hand.
His face shifted with every line he scanned.
"Ha! What a foolish thing to do!"
A roar erupted from Dang Cheon Hwa's mouth.
Sima Geon approached quietly and took the letter to read.
It detailed the full circumstances.
The Sword Hou had been assassinated on her way back from her private meeting with Gwan Ung, prompting the Heavenly Demon Cult to begin withdrawing. But the powerhouses gathered at the Nangong Clan were clamoring for vengeance.
"The Sword Hou sacrificed herself."
Sima Geon immediately grasped her intent from the Blood Cult's mention. Dang Cheon Hwa had too.
"Yeah. With a new Sword Hou Candidate already in place, she burned herself out to avert the worst. Probably meant to remind everyone how dangerous the Blood Cult is too. But who asked her to? No need to throw her life away—plenty of ways around it if we'd looked. Damn it!"
Dang Cheon Hwa, with his long history with the Sword Hou, couldn't quell his anger.
"Isn't it odd? The powerhouses are pushing for attack, but the Nangong Clan hasn't committed. You'd think they'd lead the charge."
Thunderclap, who had sneaked a peek at the letter, tilted his head.
"Yeah. Seems like the perfect chance. Rage can unleash tremendous power sometimes."
Even Cheol Woo nodded in agreement.
"Did the Sword Hou only meet the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader?"
Sima Geon glanced between Thunderclap and Cheol Woo before continuing.
"She saw the Nangong Clan Head first—or at least passed some message. The letter doesn't spell it out, but if there was some deal..."
Sima Geon's gaze turned to Dang Cheon Hwa.
"I think the same. The Sword Hou's sharp, but that Sword Saint's no slouch either. If he's staying silent amid all this war talk, there's reason. Probably hunting Blood Cult infiltrators in the camp. They'd stir chaos using her death as cover."
"So, she threw her life away to force the Heavenly Demon Cult back and let the Nangong Clan root out Blood Cult spies? Did I get that right, Division Leader?"
So Su Rin, ears perked, asked with genuine admiration.
"Not certain. But it fits."
So Su Rin's mouth fell open at Sima Geon's reply.
"Wow! That's incredible."
"It is."
Sima Geon recalled his brief but intense encounter with the Sword Hou, a regretful look crossing his face.
Dang Cheon Hwa, who had been puffing thick smoke with a grim expression, suddenly shot to his feet.
"Heading out?"
Sima Geon asked.
"Have to. It's the courtesy an old friend owes on the final road. Hoo! That day decades ago, when she challenged me with just a single sword—feels like yesterday."
"Ah, the Sword Hou Candidate days!"
Man Chu let out an exclamation.
"Even at my age, that irreplaceable, cherished memory lingers—one of the few left."
Dang Cheon Hwa's face filled with melancholy as he remembered clashing with the Sword Hou back when she was a candidate.
"No asking you to wait, huh?"
"Sorry. Our hearts are racing too."
"Of course. Friends and subordinates cut down like that—who wouldn't be."
Dang Cheon Hwa nodded understandingly and offered final words.
"All of you, stay safe. See you again."
"Safe travels, Elder."
Everyone rose and bowed respectfully.
"You, keep training steadily—no slacking. You know you're far from ready."
"Even now, you nag? Don't worry, just go. Take care."
Despite her grumbling tone, So Su Rin's eyes brimmed with concern.
After Dang Cheon Hwa left, silence fell.
Cheol Woo, Man Chu, and Gwa Yu exchanged drinks wordlessly, while So Su Rin stared blankly at the setting sun over the western mountains.
Sima Geon, shoulder-to-shoulder with So Su Rin, gazed at the sky with the same expression.
Master's death will crush her. Hope she's okay.
As Sima Geon pictured someone's face, Cheol Woo tapped his shoulder with the bottle.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"Huh?"
Sima Geon masked his startle.
"Called you a bunch of times, no answer."
"Oh? Was thinking of the kids. Wonder how they're doing."
He turned away to hide his embarrassment.
"The ones at the Ha Hu Clan should be fine."
Cheol Woo sat beside Sima Geon.
"Our little flower deer maknae worries me, though. Sent her off trusting that worthless master. Honestly, sketchy—especially after that incident."
Cheol Woo grimaced, recalling rescuing Thunderclap from the Living Immortal Medical House.
"Worthless? Doc'll be hurt. He even left Clear Heart Clinic to someone else to follow her."
"Heh heh! True. Kinda touched when he said he'd go to the Living Immortal Medical House with her."
Cheol Woo drained his cup with a chuckle and looked skyward.
"Hope she's not crying about being lonely. Damn, miss her. Our maknae."
"Yeah."
Sima Geon and Cheol Woo clinked cups, yearning for Sima Jin who had left for the Living Immortal Medical House.
"Why? Why refuse?"
"Why? I came here to learn medicine."
Sima Jin stated it as obvious. But the old man before her couldn't accept it.
"You have heaven-sent talent. Brilliant comprehension, a body perfect for martial arts. Wasting it insults the heavens. If I didn't know, maybe—but now I can't ignore it. That fool's talent seemed decent, but next to you, it's firefly to sun."
The man unjustly cursed scratched his head with a aggrieved look.
The old man gripped Sima Jin's wrist, checking her pulse.
"And this immense power dormant in your body..."
His face filled with indescribable emotion as he sensed the energies of myriad spirit medicines within her.
"Even that fool leading you to the Living Immortal Medical House feels like heaven's arrangement for us to meet."
The old man stared straight at Sima Jin.
"Become my disciple."
"No thanks."
Sima Jin shook her head firmly.
The old man paid no heed.
"Heaven's fated bonds can't be refused. You will be my disciple."
The Blue Dragon Sword Emperor, who held the second spot on the Record of No Action after the Sword Hou's first, declared it as if law.