Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Four Divisions and Five Splits (1)
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"How is she?"
Sima Geon asked worriedly, gazing at Neung Sohwa, who had lost consciousness.
"She fainted for a moment, but she should be fine."
Danri Hwa, the White Sword Squad Leader who had achieved more feats than anyone in the battle against the Blood Commanders, replied respectfully. She had always been cautious around him since they began traveling together, but now that the Blood Cult's Leader had been defeated, her caution had evolved into outright respect.
"Her wounds look severe."
Neung Sohwa's clothes were stained red, a testament to the ferocity of her clash with Yagul Jae.
"The gash on her side is quite bad, but they've said she's past the worst of it."
Danri Hwa glanced at the middle-aged woman who had poured her soul into treating Neung Sohwa's injuries and was now on the verge of collapse from exhaustion.
"That's a relief."
Sima Geon finally relaxed his tense expression.
Cheol Woo, who had been watching them through barely open eyes, finally spoke up.
"Isn't this a bit much, Boss?"
Sima Geon turned to him.
"What do you mean?"
"Anyone can see my wounds are worse. I barely survived, and now I almost kicked the bucket again."
"Doesn't seem so bad to me."
"What?"
As Cheol Woo bristled and tried to sit up, Jin Rim pinned him down firmly and shouted.
"Calm down! You'll really die if you move like that. The physician said to stay still and be careful. She's only stopped the bleeding for now."
"I must have caused a misunderstanding. What I meant was, if it means getting treated in the arms of a beauty like Lady Jin, a little injury isn't so bad."
Jin Rim bowed her head, her face flushing red at Sima Geon's words.
"What nonsense! How is this 'a little'?"
Cheol Woo raised his voice out of awkward embarrassment, but giggles erupted from all around.
After the laughter subsided, Sima Geon asked Jin Rim.
"How bad are that guy's injuries?"
"Yes, they're extensive. It wasn't this bad at first, but blocking the hidden weapons from the Blood Cult Leader made them much worse. The physician stopped the bleeding temporarily and bandaged him, but she said he needs proper treatment soon."
Jin Rim's voice was filled with concern for Cheol Woo.
"I see. Don't worry too much. He's tough."
"Hmph! Tough my ass—twice over."
Cheol Woo snorted, then winced as pain washed over him.
In the meantime, the sword experts who had pursued Yagul Hon returned.
"What happened?"
Danri Hwa asked Eun Sang, the Peak Sword Squad Leader who had led the chase.
"We slaughtered all the ones blocking the path, but we lost him in the end."
Eun Sang bit his lip hard, unable to hide his fury at letting Yagul Hon escape.
It wasn't just because he was the Blood Cult Leader's blood kin. His martial siblings had paid a heavy price, so he desperately wanted to capture him.
"It couldn't be helped. Catching someone determined to flee isn't easy. You did well."
Danri Hwa gently patted Eun Sang's shoulder to comfort him as he struggled to compose himself.
"What about the Pavilion Lord?"
Eun Sang, finally calming down with effort, glanced at the unconscious Neung Sohwa.
Danri Hwa repeated what she had told Sima Geon.
Reassured, Eun Sang moved to check on the other wounded.
A group appeared from the west. It was the Crouching Dragon Squad, who had gone to scout the Orthodox Heaven Alliance warriors approaching stealthily.
The Crouching Dragon Squad looked worlds away from their initial neat and orderly appearance—they bore clear marks of fierce combat.
Sima Geon spoke to Jegal Su, who led the squad.
"It turned out just as you predicted."
"Yes. They tried to disguise themselves as Orthodox Heaven Alliance warriors, but they were Blood Cult scum after all."
Jegal Su raised his voice proudly, as if boasting of his accurate prediction.
"We tossed Manchu out as bait, and they bit right away. Oh, and Brother, you're speaking casually now. Haha!"
"Bait?"
Sima Geon tilted his head with a wry smile, and Manchu spoke up.
"Disguised as a Beggars' Sect messenger. Explained the situation here and left some openings, and they attacked outright. That's how we caught them."
"You all look pretty beaten up."
Sima Geon said, eyeing Jegal Geom. Jegal Geom shook his head.
"There were more than twice our number. We took some losses, but this is remarkably light. Without our comrades' efforts, we might not have fought at all."
Jegal Geom credited the victory to So Surin, Manchu, and Gwa Yu.
And it wasn't an exaggeration.
Without So Surin's overwhelming performance, the Crouching Dragon Squad would have suffered far greater losses and been routed, just as Jegal Geom said.
"Why leave out Black Wolf's contributions? He was flashing east and west, putting on an amazing show."
Jegal Su said, stroking Black Wolf's head.
Everyone shook their heads at the affection dripping from Jegal Su's eyes as he looked at Black Wolf.
"So, how did things go here? I can guess, but..."
Sima Geon was unharmed, the Sword Demoness down, and the mood wasn't somber, so Jegal Geom could predict the outcome to some extent—but he held back, wary of any mishaps.
"The Blood Cult Leader is dead."
"Ah!"
Exclamations burst from Jegal Su and Jegal Geom simultaneously. They had anticipated it from the atmosphere, but hearing it confirmed drew the reaction naturally.
"Unfortunately, one of his blood kin managed to escape."
"Eh, you caught the big fish—letting a minnow go is fine."
Jegal Su dismissed it casually.
The others thought the same.
They had annihilated the Blood Commanders, presumed to be the Blood Cult's elite, and before that, eliminated enemies of comparable strength. On top of that, they felled the Leader himself, along with his guards and elders. It was an unimaginable victory and monumental achievement.
"We should head down the mountain for now. The Sword Pavilion's losses seem heavy. Lots of wounded too."
Jegal Geom said, looking at the drastically reduced number of Sword Pavilion sword experts. Compared to when they set out, it was barely a third.
"I think so too. White Sword Squad Leader."
"Yes."
"Everyone looks in urgent need of treatment. What are your plans?"
Seeing Sima Geon's gaze turn to the comrades fallen amid the Blood Cult corpses, Danri Hwa let out an involuntary sigh. She wanted to give them a proper burial, but conditions didn't allow it.
"Even if we retrieve them later, we should bury them first. We can't leave them for the beasts."
"Yes. That seems best."
"We'll help."
Danri Hwa bowed her head politely at Jegal Geom's words.
"Thank you."
"No need. It'll be dark soon. Let's hurry."
Jegal Geom signaled his Crouching Dragon Squad, and Danri Hwa led the less severely injured sword experts to gather their comrades' bodies.
A short while later, exactly sixty small graves stood in a row. They had planned one large grave, but Neung Sohwa, briefly regaining consciousness, insisted on recovering the bodies for proper funerals, so they made individual ones.
The Crouching Dragon Squad worked diligently and shallow graves sped things up.
After finishing the sixty graves, they gathered the Blood Commanders' scattered corpses to burn them.
A group appeared from the south. Tense at the thought of Blood Cult reinforcements, everyone relaxed upon recognizing them as Yeongho Clan warriors who had been guarding the rear but got lured away by a feint.
Their expressions hardened again. Though not confirmed, Jegal Su had mentioned a high likelihood of ties between the Yeongho Clan and the Blood Cult.
"What should we do?"
Danri Hwa asked, suppressing her rising anger.
She wanted to attack outright, but the Yeongho Clan's forces weren't to be trifled with. Each was skilled, and their numbers exceeded seventy. With Sima Geon there, defeat wasn't a worry, but after heavy losses, another fight was a burden.
"Let's hear them out first. No proof yet."
Jegal Su said coldly, stroking Black Wolf's head.
"Looks like the battle's over."
Yeongho Gi, leading the group, said while eyeing the burning corpses.
"Yeah. So it is."
Yeongho Pyeong nodded with a sullen expression.
They had expected a Blood Cult victory. Yet the survivors were Sword Pavilion sword experts.
'What the hell happened? I heard their elites were deployed.'
"I don't know what to say to them. Our clan was supposed to guard the rear but fell for their lure and allowed a surprise attack."
Yeongho Gi said with a sigh.
Not to blame Yeongho Pyeong's pursuit order, but out of shame for failing their duty. Yeongho Pyeong didn't see it that way.
"So, it's my fault?"
Yeongho Pyeong shot a sharp glare, reacting irritably.
"Pardon?"
"Are you saying I misjudged and we fell for their scheme?"
"N-no, of course not."
Yeongho Gi bowed his head hastily.
"Hmph! We did fall for it, but it was the right call then. Enough of that."
Yeongho Pyeong silenced him preemptively, fearing odd remarks.
"Understood."
Though tempted to retort, Yeongho Gi held back. He couldn't show discord before the retainers.
"You, stay back."
After another warning, Yeongho Pyeong hurried forward.
"Ah! We're too late."
Arriving at the battlefield, Yeongho Pyeong sighed with a grim face.
"We're ashamed. We didn't expect more enemies during the pursuit. We realized the remnants had circled to hit the Sword Pavilion's rear and rushed back, but..."
Yeongho Pyeong trailed off, conveying regret. Without prior knowledge of Blood Cult-Yeongho Clan ties, anyone would believe his earnest tone, expression, and demeanor.
"It couldn't be helped. There were more foes than expected. Some lured your clan, others attacked the Sword Pavilion—a diversion tactic."
Danri Hwa said, suppressing her emotions as best she could.
"Exactly. The group we chased numbered over fifty. But the Sword Demoness..."
Yeongho Pyeong scanned for Neung Sohwa.
"She's badly wounded and resting aside."
"Wounded? Is it serious?"
"Not something to worry greatly about."
"Ah! What a relief."
"Yes. Thanks to the Jegal Clan's aid, we overcame the crisis."
"Jegal... Clan?"
Yeongho Pyeong's eyes widened.
"Jegal Geom of the Jegal Clan greets the senior."
"Jegal Su here."
Jegal Geom and Jegal Su bowed in unison.
"Ah, the heroes of the Jegal Clan. I am Yeongho Pyeong."
Yeongho Pyeong's gaze shifted to them and the Crouching Dragon Squad behind.
'No word of the Jegal Clan coming. Damn it! What's really going on?'