Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Evolution (2)
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“Mm.”
With a low groan, Sima Geon slowly opened his eyes, which had been closed as if he were dead.
“Are you all right, Division Leader?”
So Surin, who had been watching over him with a face full of worry, brightened up the moment Sima Geon opened his eyes.
“This place is...”
“It’s Senior Twin Swords Reaching Heaven’s house.”
“Why am I lying here?”
Sima Geon pushed himself up as he asked. Pain surged from the wounds wrapped in bandages as he moved his body.
“You don’t remember?”
“Remember what?”
“After the Blood Cult Leader fled, you lost consciousness. We thought you were fine, but then you suddenly passed out. You have no idea how scared everyone was.”
“I did that?”
Sima Geon frowned and calmly began sifting through his memories.
Every moment of the fierce battle came back to him crystal clear. In particular, facing Yagul Jae’s desperate gamble made his chest burn even now.
He remembered kneeling with the Heavenly Demon Sword for support, then rising for one final attack. He even recalled Yagul Jae shouting something at the same time.
That was where his clear memories ended. No matter how hard he tried, nothing came after that.
“The Blood Cult Leader fled?”
“Yes. When you endured his final attack and prepared to strike back, he shoved his subordinates forward and ran for his life. Neung Sohwa tried to catch him, but he pulled off something gruesome and got away.”
“Gruesome how?”
“The same thing those Blood Cult bastards did back in the Heavenly Demon Cult days, when they were cornered fighting us.”
“Ah! They did it near the Shaolin Temple too, and they’re still at it.”
Sima Geon furrowed his brow. He could easily picture what had happened.
“Nearly thirty bodies exploded all at once. It was horrifying. I’ve seen all sorts of horrors rolling through battlefields, but even I couldn’t get used to that sight. A few of Sword Pavilion’s disciples were sacrificed too.”
“Sword Pavilion’s disciples?”
Sima Geon asked in surprise.
“Neung Sohwa blocked as many as she could, but two—or however many—slipped past her eyes and attacked the Sword Pavilion disciples. Two died, and five were badly injured. Thanks to White Sword Unit Leader’s quick moves, that’s all the damage we took. Otherwise, it could’ve been much worse.”
“I see. Those madmen got innocent people killed for nothing.”
Sima Geon felt genuine sorrow for the Sword Pavilion disciples’ sacrifice.
“How long was I out?”
“About half a day. The sun’s already set.”
“What about the others?”
“They’re cleaning up the area. Even if it’s an abandoned house, the state it’s in isn’t great.”
“Right.”
Sima Geon nodded and sat cross-legged.
As Sima Geon began circulating his qi, So Surin quietly slipped out of the room. Just then, Cheol Woo finished cleaning up and spotted her. He ran over in surprise.
“How’s the boss?”
“He’s awake.”
So Surin smiled brightly and grabbed Cheol Woo’s arm as he tried to enter the room.
“Don’t disturb him. He’s circulating his qi.”
“Oh, got it.”
Cheol Woo nodded and took up position in front of the door.
No matter how great the expert, one was completely defenseless while circulating qi. With allies around, there wasn’t much danger now, but after the Blood Cult’s attack, he stood guard just in case.
Seeing So Surin emerge and Cheol Woo guard the door, Neung Sohwa realized Sima Geon had come to.
“How’s Young Master Sima?”
“He’s conscious. He started circulating his qi right away, so he seems better than we feared.”
“That’s a relief.”
Joy and sorrow mingled on Neung Sohwa’s relieved face.
Thinking of the Sword Pavilion disciples’ sacrifice, So Surin comforted her.
“What happened to them is truly regrettable.”
“Thank you.”
Neung Sohwa turned away with a sad smile tinged with grief.
An hour later, Sima Geon finished circulating his qi and stepped out.
As the door opened and Sima Geon emerged, Cheol Woo—who had stood motionless guard—rushed over to support him.
“I’m fine. Step back.”
Brushing off Cheol Woo’s hand, Sima Geon sat on the porch.
Noe Jeon, Gwa Yu, and Man Chu—who had been fidgeting anxiously over Sima Geon—surrounded him, chattering nonstop.
Neung Sohwa approached cautiously. Her first words were an apology.
“I’m sorry.”
“Pardon? For what?”
“I let the Blood Cult Leader escape.”
“I heard. Catching someone who flees like that isn’t easy. Don’t worry about it. More importantly, I heard about your disciples’ sacrifice.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t even know how to offer condolences.”
“It’s fine. It’s the fate of those in the martial world.”
Neung Sohwa spoke calmly, forcing composure.
After a brief silence, Cheol Woo, who had been working his lips for a while, finally couldn’t hold back.
“Boss, what the hell happened?”
“What do you mean?”
“That bastard—no, that old monster—was that strong?”
“You faced him too.”
“I was careless. And ‘faced’ is generous—I barely exchanged one move. You have no idea how shocked I was when you passed out.”
Ignoring Cheol Woo’s fussing, Sima Geon turned to Neung Sohwa.
“What do you think, Lady Neung?”
Neung Sohwa couldn’t answer Sima Geon’s question easily.
While those two fought, hadn’t she imagined herself in the fray, pitting herself against each?
“He was strong. Horrifyingly so.”
Neung Sohwa hesitated a moment before continuing with effort.
“Honestly, with my current skill, he was beyond me.”
Everyone gathered around flinched and stared at Neung Sohwa.
The Sword Empress—proudly listed first in the martial records—had admitted defeat without even crossing blades. Cheol Woo, who harbored competitive spirit toward her, was especially shocked.
“But we can overcome him.”
It might have been mere resolve as the Sword Empress, but Sima Geon sensed something more in her eyes.
“Come to think of it...”
It could be an illusion, but the aura she emanated felt subtly different from usual.
The meaning was clear.
“I hope it’s a good turning point for you.”
“More than enough.”
Neung Sohwa smiled meaningfully.
“By the way, boss, are you sure that old man’s arts were the Blood Sea Demon Venerable’s?”
“Yes.”
“Even if his ancestors developed the Blood Sea Demon Venerable’s arts to the limit, as he claimed, this is too strong. I know what Single Heaven Nine Forms are.”
“Hard to believe, right?”
“Obviously.”
“If even you felt that, imagine me, clashing swords directly. Honestly, I still can’t believe it. What’s astonishing is that his arts seem to have room for further growth.”
“What?”
Cheol Woo looked dumbfounded.
“Not certain. But that’s how it felt. In the final exchange, there was a moment of awkwardness, unfluidity. Just an instant, but definite. And his internal energy was beyond imagination. I was confident mine matched anyone’s, but his was truly overwhelming. One more thing—maybe the most important. There was some inexplicable, eerie energy hidden in his internal energy.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Didn’t notice at first, but as the clash continued, it became clear. Definitely not poison. Felt similar to yin energy, but hard to pin down. The key is, it affected me. Not suddenly, but seeping in like water, gradually sapping my strength throughout my body—like being poisoned.”
The mood darkened as Sima Geon spoke.
The fact that a monster who’d essentially fought Sima Geon—the world’s greatest—to a draw had room to grow was utterly terrifying.
“Boss, we need a plan.”
Cheol Woo’s gaze turned to the Heavenly Demon Ring on Sima Geon’s wrist.
“The Final Three Moves, remember? You said even Single Heaven Nine Forms might not guarantee victory.”
“I don’t think Single Heaven Nine Forms—born from the Three Demon Venerables’ aspirations—is lacking. I was the one who fell short. There was clearly room to improve, but I’ve been too complacent.”
Sima Geon lightly stroked the Heavenly Demon Ring on his wrist as he continued.
“The arts the Three Demon Venerables longed to surpass—I avoided them as much as possible because of them, thinking I had no need to learn them. But I’ll have to examine them properly now. They’ll surely help in some way.”
Facing an enemy so powerful he’d have to stake everything, Sima Geon’s fighting spirit ignited fiercely.
“So you’re saying that Sima Geon bastard has internal energy on par with the Cult Leader?”
Yi Geuk of the Blood Cult’s Right Palace asked with a look of disbelief. Knowing Yagul Jae’s level of internal energy, he couldn’t fathom it.
“I had a slight edge, but the difference was minuscule.”
“Hard to believe. Even cultivating from the womb wouldn’t cut it.”
“Must’ve gotten some spirit medicine. Otherwise...”
Yagul Jae gritted his teeth, recalling Sima Geon’s immovable presence, unbowed by his own aura. For the first time in his life, a sense of defeat fueled his irritation.
“I should’ve gone with you. You said you’d wait for me to join quickly. If only you’d held out a bit longer.”
“Your skill wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“If he was tough, I could’ve snapped the Sword Empress’s neck instead.”
“The Sword Empress? Hmm. She still seems immature, but no pushover.”
Yagul Jae chuckled, remembering the Sword Empress venting her fury at him.
“You’d pair well with that Diamond Yaksha. He was decent too—took my attack head-on and came out unscathed.”
Of course, he knew that single blow had dealt Cheol Woo heavy damage, but he saw no need to mention it.
“Doesn’t matter who. Above me, there’s only the Cult Leader anyway.”
Yagul Jae let out a hearty laugh at Yi Geuk’s confident shout.
He didn’t deny it. Yi Geuk’s skill was impressive enough to suit such bravado.
“Enough chatter. My condition isn’t great—serious internal injuries. Is everything ready?”
“Yes. But it was rushed, so it’s lacking. Please bear with it.”
“Fine.”
Yagul Jae nodded lightly and closed his eyes.
Yi Geuk bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Moments later, Yi Geuk returned.
“This way, please.”
Yagul Jae slowly opened his eyes and followed Yi Geuk out the door.
The room Yi Geuk led him to held a large bath. But it wasn’t filled with water.
A blood-red liquid, thick with myriad herbs, chilling just to look at.
Yagul Jae drew a deep breath, savoring the blood scent piercing deep into his lungs.
“Hoo, excellent.”
Stepping into the bath without hesitation, Yagul Jae began circulating his qi at once. A bloody mist rose like fog, swiftly enveloping his entire body.
Yi Geuk watched for a moment, then quietly left the room.