Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Blood Tower of Tears (2)
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The door burst open.
Normally, it would have been enough to make him frown, but Sima Sang couldn't utter a single word.
"Left Elder, is that true?"
Yagul Soseong demanded the answer before even taking a seat, having kicked the door wide.
"It's true."
Sima Sang nodded heavily.
"My God!"
Yagul Soseong clutched his head in shock.
"When did Hao Gate get smashed to pieces? Why are we only hearing about it now...?"
"Hey, Gold Order Leader."
Yagul Cheonkyeong, who had followed behind, called out angrily to the head of the Gold Order.
"Yes, Agency Lord."
"What the hell have you people been doing? Hao Gate had their uses as eyes and ears. When they collapsed, shouldn't you have thoroughly investigated why?"
"I apologize."
O Chu, the Gold Order Leader, bowed his head, his expression saying he had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.
"It seems the Beggars' Sect clamped down hard on information. Not even Heavenly Alliance or Murim Alliance knew the full story. Even within the Beggars' Sect itself, only a few were in the know."
Sima Sang subtly came to O Chu's defense.
"Even so, wasn't that too complacent? You should have dug deeper."
Sima Sang nodded at Yagul Cheonkyeong's words.
"You're right. Even if the Beggars' Sect sealed lips, there must have been limits. If you'd checked, their presence would likely have come to light. This is undoubtedly the Gold Order's clear failure."
"I have no face left."
O Chu bowed his head again.
"But how did this fact come to light?"
Yagul Soseong asked.
"Word came from an agent in Nankin. A Beggars' Sect disciple he was close with got drunk and let slip what happened that day."
"Tsk tsk. Of all times, now. We could have confirmed it ages ago."
"Coincidentally, it was a friend who'd been away and only recently returned to Nankin."
"Ha! Things just keep going wrong."
A sigh escaped Yagul Soseong's lips.
Once the situation started unraveling, everything seemed to cascade out of control.
"So, how many are moving with the Sword Protector?"
"Doesn't seem to be anyone else. Just the Divine Demon Leader and his group, like when they encountered the Lord before."
"The problem is their strength is beyond imagination."
A sigh flowed from Sima Sang's mouth at Yagul Soseong's words.
"Indeed. The Divine Demon Leader goes without saying, but Diamond Yaksha and the others aren't pushovers either."
"Shouldn't we send word now?"
"I did dispatch a messenger pigeon, but it's far too late."
Sima Sang shook his head weakly.
"In the end, Father and Hon are colliding with them completely defenseless."
Unable to contain his frustration, Yagul Soseong clenched his fists tightly.
"The First Elder and the children he raised are moving too, so let's wait and see. We have more forces under the Heavenly Alliance as well. And you know Blood Command's prowess. No matter how strong the Divine Demon Leader and his group, they won't fall easily. They might even take down the Sword Protector and the rest."
Yagul Soseong and Yagul Cheonkyeong fell silent at Sima Sang's words. Sima Sang himself seemed to know the odds weren't great, closing his eyes quietly.
Yagul Jae's eyes caught sight of Yagul Hon staggering under Sima Geon's assault.
Blood Command warriors desperately tried to shield Yagul Hon, but they couldn't block the overwhelming might of Sima Geon.
Yagul Jae's pupils trembled greatly as he watched three or four who stood against Sima Geon collapse in the blink of an eye.
The Sword Protector had lost the power to resist. The sword elites blocking his path could be ended with a casual flick of the hand.
But in that time, Yagul Hon might lose his life.
Just as the Sword Pavilion elites meant little to him, Sima Geon wouldn't even glance at the Blood Command standing in his way.
For ages, the Sword Protector had been the greatest obstacle to the Blood Demon Church's grand undertaking.
His skill was one thing, but his tenacity was unmatched.
The Sword Protector and Sword Pavilion had never forgotten the Blood Demon Church that everyone else had.
If he could be eliminated, any sacrifice was justified. But if that sacrifice was Yagul Hon's life, it changed everything.
Beyond blood ties, Yagul Hon was the Blood Demon Church's future. His skill aside, his reputation within the church was the highest among bloodlines. He was a talent that could not be squandered.
"What a long life you've lived."
With a regretful sigh, Yagul Jae turned away.
Even in the final moment of turning, he wrestled with conflict upon conflict. Lingering regrets remained, but once decided, his movements were swift.
Despite the considerable distance, two leaps cleared the Blood Command blocking the way, bringing him face-to-face with Sima Geon, who was closing in on Yagul Hon.
"You alright?"
Yagul Jae asked, eyes fixed on Sima Geon's face.
"I can endure."
Yagul Hon nodded as he barely managed to stand.
Contrary to his words, Yagul Hon's injuries were severe. Sima Geon's sudden intervention had caught him with a near-ambush attack, taking a blow to the chest. The gaping wound was bad enough, but it felt like five or six ribs were broken too.
He'd noticed Sima Geon's attack coming, but the Sword Pavilion elite he was facing delayed his response. It was a mere instant, but against such an opponent, that moment proved fatal.
A slightly slower reaction, or lingering attachment to the Sword Pavilion elite he was fighting, would have meant even graver injuries.
As Blood Command Leader Yagul Hon collapsed and Sima Geon faced off with Yagul Jae, the fierce battleground fell eerily still.
"Is it boldness, or recklessness?"
Yagul Jae asked in a deeply sunken voice.
"What do you mean?"
Sima Geon replied indifferently.
"Sword Protector, you could have died."
At Yagul Jae's words, Sima Geon smirked and pointed at him with a finger.
"In the end, you're standing before me."
"You were certain I wouldn't kill her and would come for you."
"Not certain, but I figured the odds were high. The Blood Demon Church's infamy is one thing, but ignoring blood ties isn't easy."
As Yagul Jae's eyebrow twitched, Sima Geon glanced alternately between him and Yagul Hon behind, chuckling.
"How could I not know? They look like twins. I heard it from neighborhood elders at the butcher shop. They say bloodlines that strikingly resemble you draw deeper affection, even among the same lineage. I doubted it then, but it turns out it's true. Experience really..."
"Just for that reason? Bloodlines mean nothing in achieving the grand undertaking."
"Say what you will—you're here before me. The Sword Protector lives. Even if not, I had confidence. Confidence I could extract Neung Cho from you."
As his words ended, the Heavenly Demon Sword in Sima Geon's hand vanished in a streak of light.
"Gah!"
All eyes turned toward the source of the short scream.
A man, unable to contain his rage at losing his brother despite the ceasefire, had moved stealthily—now clutching his chest as he toppled.
The Heavenly Demon Sword, having pierced his chest, elegantly arced back through the air.
A terrifying flying sword technique.
Eyes widened in horror at Sima Geon's strike, which nullified over ten paces effortlessly. They understood his claim of protecting the Sword Protector even if Yagul Jae attacked her outright. No matter how great Yagul Jae, ignoring the flying sword was impossible, and in that brief delay, Sima Geon could block him.
"I have no choice but to acknowledge it."
Yagul Jae laughed bitterly and surveyed the surroundings.
Of Blood Command's over a hundred members, barely thirty seemed fit to move. In a little over a quarter-hour, over seventy percent had perished.
Sword Pavilion's situation was no better.
The fight against the First Elder's trainees had been tough, but the subsequent clash with Blood Command was even harder. Especially since key leaders like Hwang Ye had fallen or been gravely wounded right at the start.
If Sealed Sword Unit Leader Eun Sang and White Sword Unit Leader Dan Ri-hwa hadn't judged swiftly and acted decisively, the losses would have been worse.
'The battle is already over.'
Even assessing current forces between Blood Command and Sword Pavilion, they were outnumbered. And if that madman calmly circulating energy amid the blood-soaked field opened his eyes again, the scales would tip sharply. Moreover, something nagged at him.
'Where are the others?'
Sima Geon's group wasn't just Cheol Woo. Though few in number, each one's skill was undeniable. Yet no matter how he looked, they weren't on the battlefield. Another variable.
Above all, the showdown with Sima Geon mattered most.
If he could fell Sima Geon, all problems solved. But defeating Sima Geon—whom even at his peak he couldn't beat—now injured from the Sword Protector fight? Impossible.
His internal energy had slightly increased and his incomplete technique matured during treatment, but whether that sufficed for victory was uncertain.
'Can I escape his grasp?'
A hollow laugh escaped.
Sima Geon's eyes burned with intent to kill him no matter what—even if he fled, he'd pursue to the ends of hell.
'Truly a dead end.'
Last time, Go Yang-kyeong and the Protectors' sacrifice had barely saved him. Now, no Go Yang-kyeong, no Protectors to throw themselves.
Even using Blood Command to buy time, they'd be blocked by Sword Pavilion elites.
No matter how he thought, escape was impossible.
The deliberation didn't last long.
[Yi Bungbi.]
Yagul Jae sent a covert transmission to Blood Command's deputy leader.
[Yes, Lord.]
Yi Bungbi, drenched in blood and supporting Yagul Hon, replied softly.
[How's your condition?]
[A few injuries, but I'm fine.]
[Can you move properly?]
Not mere concern. Realizing the question's weight, Yi Bungbi answered carefully.
[I can move.]
[When the fight with him starts, take Hon and escape immediately.]
Already anticipating it, Yi Bungbi didn't hesitate.
[Understood.]
[Escape route is north. I'll clear the path.]
Despite Sima Geon watching, Yi Bungbi harbored no doubt.
[Yes.]
[This concerns our church's future. Save him at all costs.]
[I'll stake my life to ensure it.]
A faint smile flickered on Yagul Jae's lips at Yi Bungbi's resolute reply, then vanished.
[I trust you.]
As the transmission ended, Yi Bungbi's hand moved stealthily.
With Yagul Hon slumped limply and panicked gazes upon him, Yi Bungbi calmly supported him while sending transmissions to the surviving subordinates.
Exchanging a meaningful glance with Yi Bungbi, Yagul Jae reached into his bosom. He pulled out two iron marbles the size of a child's fist and gave an awkward smile.
"A friend I met recently, Go Yang-sun, gave me these just in case. I don't care for such toys, but they prove useful now and then."
Sima Geon had guessed their nature the moment Yagul Jae drew them. While staying with the Tang family before, Tang Cheon-hwa had shown him various hidden weapons, including something similar.
'Thunderclap Bombs, was it?'
Not Tang family make, but from the destroyed Thunderclap Clan—remarkably similar to what Yagul Jae held.
'One devastates a five-pace radius.'
Before he could finish the thought, the iron marbles left Yagul Jae's hand.
One flew at Sima Geon, the other at the Sword Protector recovering from injuries.
"Dodge!"
Sima Geon's urgent shout rang out.
Boom!
A massive explosion brought scorching heat crashing down.
Even unleashing Ink Gang Asura Qi to its limit and erecting a sword barrier, a heavy impact shook his entire body.
As Sima Geon absorbed the blast full-on, the Thunderclap Bomb aimed at the Sword Protector detonated with equal ferocity.
So intense the explosion that dust choked the air, obscuring vision mere inches away.
"Damn... you! Suddenly..."
A pained voice drifted from the dust, letting Sima Geon breathe a silent sigh of relief.
Yi Bungbi was already hoisting Yagul Hon and fleeing.
The moment Sword Pavilion elites guarding the retreat tried to block them, sword auras scattered by Yagul Jae surged toward them.
"Evade!"
Sealed Sword Unit Leader Eun Sang's cry sent them scattering, but several unable to dodge fully were swept into the sword auras and fell.
Whoosh!
The Heavenly Demon Sword sliced through the air with terrifying speed, targeting Yagul Jae as he prepared another strike.
Yagul Jae hastily recalled his sword to parry the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Boom!
His body staggered, unable to infuse full power into the blade.
As Sima Geon rushed forward with cold eyes, recovering the returning Heavenly Demon Sword, Yagul Jae's gaze wasn't on him—but on Yi Bungbi and the Yagul Hon on his back, who had slipped through the breach he'd created and successfully escaped.