Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Haomen (Afternoon Gate) (1)
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"Where is he?"
Haomen Leader Pyeon Kwang asked in a languid tone.
"We've confirmed he's passing near Bamboo Lake."
Quick Report Hall Leader Woo Geumhoe replied in a deferential tone.
"He won't be alone. He's with the Sword Pavilion disciples who were waiting in Nanking, right?"
"Yes. Including those escorting the Sword Marquess, there are over a hundred in total."
"A hundred sword experts. That's intimidating."
Pyeon Kwang's expression hardened.
This wasn't just anywhere—it was the Sword Pavilion. The combat power of a hundred Sword Pavilion disciples couldn't be judged by numbers alone; it was that threatening.
"Once the Sword Pavilion forces arrive, our cult's disciples operating in Shandong will be in grave danger. The Three Elders, leaders of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, will do their utmost to disrupt the information flow, but it's still the Sword Pavilion."
"That makes sense."
Pyeon Kwang agreed with Woo Geumhoe's concern, but his expression wasn't as dark as one might expect.
"But no need to worry too much. We've prepared sufficient countermeasures."
"As expected."
Woo Geumhoe's tense face brightened.
"The Sword Marquess's involvement was unexpected, but it seems the higher-ups are even welcoming it. They're probably planning to use this chance to eliminate the Sword Marquess and the Sword Pavilion."
"Is that possible? Even with the Three Elders in the Righteous Heaven Alliance, they can't openly aid our cult. Moreover, with Shandong's vicious factions like Shandong Wicked Valley and the other Shandong martial forces hot on our trail, eyes blazing..."
"There must be ways, right? Don't worry so much."
Sensing Pyeon Kwang holding back, Woo Geumhoe realized there was a plan beyond his station.
"Curious?"
"No, sir."
"It's top secret, so I can't go into details, but one thing is clear."
A murderous glint flashed in Pyeon Kwang's eyes.
"The Sword Marquess and Sword Pavilion will all die. Shandong Wicked Valley will be erased from the martial world as well."
"You're saying Hyang Gwang is a lackey of the Blood Saber Cult? Don't spout nonsense. Hyang Gwang is an informant active at the Nanking headquarters. Who are you trying to frame?"
Ban Cheon-su shouted, his face serious.
Han Seol didn't miss the flicker in Ban Cheon-su's eyes as he looked at Hyang Gwang. Even if there was no change, it didn't matter. She'd already extracted confessions from both Hyang Gwang and Ban Cheon-su proving they were Blood Saber Cult lackeys.
"You want to deny it to the end, huh?"
"I'm saying it's not true because it's not."
A sneer curled at Han Seol's lips at Ban Cheon-su's defiant stance.
"What do you think, Elder?"
"I don't know what scheme you're cooking up, but you can't just fabricate nonexistent facts."
Jeok In-sul was equally resolute.
"Fine. We'll see how long you can keep that confidence. The night is still young, after all."
"Sounds like you're planning torture."
Ban Cheon-su laughed derisively.
"Exactly. But I tried it once, and it was too hard for me. Didn't work well. So I got some help. They're overdue, though..."
No sooner had Han Seol finished speaking than footsteps approached.
"You made it."
Han Seol smiled at the two men entering the secret chamber.
"Sorry. Had to be cautious with eyes around, so we were a bit late."
"No problem. These guys just woke up, so you're right on time."
"Good. That's a relief."
The man, Hangzhou branch leader of the Beggars' Sect Mo Uk, thrust his face close to Ban Cheon-su and Jeok In-sul, bound to chairs.
"You filthy dogs! To think I treated you well without knowing you were Blood Saber Cult rats!"
He ground his teeth, recalling how he'd shared drinks with Jeok In-sul during his visit to the Hangzhou branch days ago.
"Watch your mouth."
"A Beggars' Sect branch leader, fooled by a mere woman's lies!"
"Shut up! I heard it all from that bastard last night."
Mo Uk snorted at their protests, nudged the collapsed Hyang Gwang with his foot, then turned to the middle-aged man behind him.
"Cho Geun, looks like you'll need to show your skills again."
"Leave it to me."
Cho Geun smiled amiably. But as he turned to Ban Cheon-su and Jeok In-sul, the friendliness vanished.
"Let's have some fun."
His snake-like eyes gleamed as he licked his lips—a sight so gruesome that even Han Seol and Mo Uk stepped back involuntarily.
"I'm advising you humanely: don't be stubborn for no reason. No need for unnecessary pain. For reference, that Hyang Gwang guy didn't last half a shichen before spilling everything he knew."
Despite instinctively sensing Mo Uk's warning wasn't mere bluff, Ban Cheon-su and Jeok In-sul said nothing.
As soon as Han Seol and Mo Uk stepped out, horrific screams began echoing from the chamber.
"Where does the Beggars' Sect find someone like that?"
"We didn't find him—he came to us. All I know is he was in the military. No details on his background, but I can guess the kind of work he did."
"Seeing his first impression, I never imagined he'd turn like that."
Han Seol shuddered, recalling Cho Geun torturing Hyang Gwang the night before.
She'd succeeded in capturing Hyang Gwang but failed to make him talk. After much thought, she'd gone to Mo Uk, explained the situation, and asked for help. Cho Geun was the one who'd answered Mo Uk's call.
Having watched Cho Geun work on Hyang Gwang up close, Han Seol hadn't even sipped water properly for a full day.
The chamber door opened sooner than expected.
Considering Hyang Gwang had held out for half a shichen, this was remarkably quick.
"Couldn't even last this long."
Mo Uk sneered as he entered. But seeing the state of the two bound to chairs, he immediately corrected himself.
Severed fingers and toes littered the floor, salt sprinkled on wounds dissolving into the trickling blood. Thick nails, about a handspan long, were densely hammered into every joint of their arms and legs. Their flayed torsos bore clear signs of being boiled in strips.
"They've confessed to being Blood Saber Cult lackeys. Hear the rest from them yourselves."
Cho Geun wiped his bloody hands on Ban Cheon-su's peeled-off shirt and continued.
"Answer properly. Lies won't work. If you hesitate or lie, you'll learn that the pain so far was bliss."
With that, Cho Geun stepped behind Mo Uk.
Even from the back, his indifferent gaze pressed on Ban Cheon-su and Jeok In-sul. They couldn't even meet his eyes, heads bowed.
"Lift your heads."
At Cho Geun's word, they snapped their heads up like well-trained dogs.
The interrogation proceeded swiftly.
Whether due to Cho Geun's warning or not, Ban Cheon-su and Jeok In-sul desperately answered Mo Uk and Han Seol's questions. Even a slight delay brought Cho Geun's eyes flashing, making them piss themselves in fear as they spilled everything.
"...So Haomen wasn't a Blood Saber Cult lackey from the start. But after that bastard Pyeon Kwang killed the leader and all the executives and made himself leader, it became one?"
"Y-yes."
Mo Uk looked incredulous at Jeok In-sul's answer.
"And you knew but let it slide? That makes you all the same."
"......"
Jeok In-sul hung his head, unable to retort.
While Mo Uk continued questioning, Han Seol, having finished hers, stood blankly with a hollow expression.
'Where did it all go wrong?'
It had started with commissioning the Beggars' Sect to investigate Sima Geon.
A plan born from the Beggars' Sect's grudge against Sima Geon and Haomen's desire for revenge against the Yangtze Waterway Alliance that had tormented them.
In the end, a perfect blunder.
The problem was the behind-the-scenes manipulation by Pyeon Kwang, a Blood Saber Cult lackey who'd lurked for years to seize Haomen covertly, luring them into that mistake. Now, it was impossible to know whom to avenge.
But Han Seol was making a grave mistake.
Regardless of the Beggars' commission or Pyeon Kwang's schemes, Haomen's involvement had threatened Sima Geon and his family's peace, burned Clear Heart Clinic to the ground, and killed many patients and physicians. The deaths of her sworn brothers and master were merely retribution for their crimes—a fact she'd forgotten.
"No wonder the Blood Saber Cult moves so elusively in Shandong. Haomen's been helping. We need to inform headquarters and prepare countermeasures."
As Mo Uk turned to leave the chamber with a grim face, Han Seol snapped out of it and grabbed his arm.
"Not all disciples are Blood Saber Cult lackeys. Most had nothing to do with them originally."
"I know. But it's unavoidable. The leadership has clearly fallen to the Blood Saber Cult. And we can't tell who's who."
"At least investigate first..."
"I understand your position and appreciate it, but think about how many might die in the meantime."
Mo Uk shook off Han Seol's arm with a regretful look.
Moments later, a carrier pigeon with a black bamboo tube soared vigorously toward the Beggars' Sect headquarters.
"The Cult Leader has approved."
At Sima Sang's words, those gathered exhaled in relief.
"That's fortunate. I was worried he might not like it."
Go Yang-sun looked puzzled at Yagul So-seong's words.
"Didn't you say the Cult Leader moved the North Sea Ice Palace to create this situation? With Iron Blood Palace rampaging like that, it's nothing but good for us. Besides, since Left Reverend suggested accepting Iron Blood Palace's proposal, I figured he'd approve. But you were all worried?"
Sima Sang gave a wry smile.
"The North Sea Ice Palace and the current martial world situation were part of the Cult Leader's and our plans. But Iron Blood Palace's moves were completely unforeseen. It's a variable."
"Exactly. I never imagined Yinjeokso would cause such a mess."
Yagul Cheon-gyeong chimed in, and Yagul So-seong nodded.
"I thought creating Hwe Cheon to harass the Heavenly Demon Cult was impressive enough, but Iron Blood Palace? Unimaginable."
"It wouldn't have been possible with his power alone. The Poison Blood Demon's strength must be that formidable. Regrettable in hindsight. Anyway, it's good the Cult Leader approved accepting Iron Blood Palace's proposal. I thought he would, as you said, but there was that lingering doubt."
"Tsk tsk, worrying over the obvious? All that fretting."
As Go Yang-sun clicked his tongue, Sima Sang laughed heartily.
"That's my job as the elder."
"Then Iron Blood Palace is targeting Shaolin too?"
Yagul So-seong asked.
"I'll request it if possible, but they'll decide. They might hit Shaolin directly, or perhaps Wudang or elsewhere."
"Either way, it won't be easy to handle. After what happened to Huashan and Zhongnan."
Everyone nodded in agreement at Go Yang-sun's words.
"Shouldn't we tip off the North Sea Ice Palace? They suddenly stopped attacking, probably worried about Iron Blood Palace fishing in troubled waters."
Yagul Cheon-gyeong said.
"I've already contacted them. They'll resume attacks soon."
"Then our cult can focus solely on Shandong for now."
"Along with the advancing Sword Marquess and Sword Pavilion. We must eliminate them this time. The Cult Leader thinks the same."
"Can our forces in Shandong manage? True, the kids Elder First brought are already sent, and Father said he'll move personally, but the damage from the Divine Demon Division Leader before was huge, and the enemies are so strong it might be tough."
At Yagul Cheon-gyeong's question, a sharp light gleamed in Sima Sang's eyes.
"I urgently issued the Blood Command. The distance is an issue, but I ordered haste, so it won't be too late."
Everyone was shocked to hear Sima Sang had mobilized the Blood Saber Cult's sharpest blade, the Blood Command. It also underscored his fierce determination to eliminate the Sword Marquess and Sword Pavilion.