Chapter 214
Chapter 214
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: New Order (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hmm, is it really okay to just let them go like that?"
Sima Geon asked as he watched the Yeongho Clan warriors rapidly vanishing into the distance.
"It'll be fine."
Sima Geon turned at Zhuge Su's firm declaration.
"How can you be so sure?"
"That man named Yeongho Gi is the eldest grandson of the Yeongho Clan. He was the natural heir to become the next clan head as time passed. But then, out of the blue, his father—the firstborn son—was pushed aside by his uncle. It must have been hard to accept at first, but what could he do? It was already done. And now, hope has sparked for him. It's been confirmed that an outside force intervened, and that force is the Blood Cult, public enemy of the martial world. The evidence is irrefutable. With the clan head away, it's the perfect chance for him to return and turn the tables."
"You think that'll work? The Yeongho Clan head won't just sit idly by."
"Who knows. It won't be easy. They probably don't have a clear grasp of how things are unfolding. Why else would they ask us to stay silent about their affairs? They plan to handle it quietly and swiftly. By the time the clan head notices something's off, it'll be too late."
"True. With that elder and the confirmed traitors dragged off—without proper treatment for his severe wounds—the evidence is solid."
Sima Geon recalled Yeongho Pyeong, hauled away with his grave injuries untreated.
"Yes. And dozens witnessed it. It's not like one or two people; denying something seen by that many—especially since they're all Yeongho Clan retainers—won't be easy."
Zhuge Su viewed the Yeongho Clan's situation quite optimistically.
There was a reason for that.
The current clan head, Yeongho Jung, had seized the position over his firstborn nephew Yeongho Jangcheon, but the latter's influence—bolstered by his status as the eldest son—hadn't fully vanished. It had shrunk compared to when he was the designated heir, but if word spread that the clan head had allied with the Blood Cult, reclaiming his former power would be effortless. Public outrage at installing such a man as head would only make resolving the situation smoother.
"Anyway, leaving the Yeongho Clan aside, we need to address our own issues first."
"What do you mean?"
"We have too many wounded. And most aren't light injuries."
Sima Geon immediately grasped what Zhuge Su meant.
"You think it's dangerous?"
"Yes. The Yeongho Clan head's collusion with the Blood Cult is certain. That old fool Yeongho Pyeong even confessed deep ties between the Righteous Heaven Alliance and the Blood Cult. Their cult leader is dead. They'll assume their identities have been exposed too. If I were in their shoes, I'd push to strike us immediately. It wouldn't matter if our forces were intact, but..."
Zhuge Su's gaze shifted to those groaning from their wounds.
"I get what you're saying. But as you pointed out, too many wounded. Moving elsewhere won't be easy."
"Still, we need to leave this place at least. To somewhere we can get proper treatment."
"Agreed."
Sima Geon nodded and headed toward Danrihua.
With the Sword Empress still unconscious and several elders gravely injured and moaning, it wasn't an exaggeration to say she was currently leading the Sword Pavilion.
"No contact?"
Yeongho Jung, the Yeongho Clan head leading elites along the northeastern ridge of Phoenix Mountain, raised his voice in barely contained fury.
"Yes."
Baek An, the Wingspread Unit Leader who had joined the Yeongho Clan from last night after moving with the Righteous Heaven Alliance forces under the Religious Bureau, bowed his head.
"The Wingspread Unit couldn't track them either?"
"Most of my men were deployed elsewhere. They've been redirected there, so word should come soon."
"Damn it. Where the hell are they?"
Unable to contain his frustration, Yeongho Jung gulped down his liquor and narrowed his eyes.
"They didn't get caught in the Sword Pavilion-Blood Cult clash, did they?"
"Given the Righteous Heaven Alliance's situation, we can't rule it out."
At the mention of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, Yeongho Jung sighed heavily.
The fierce battles raging across Phoenix Mountain had suddenly ground into a lull.
Martial artists from Shandong were still desperately purging the Blood Cult, but the Righteous Heaven Alliance—which had attacked even more ferociously—had shifted oddly.
The Religious Bureau leader declared the operation to eradicate Blood Cult infiltrators on Phoenix Mountain a failure.
The Harmony Council, which had secretly split off to assault the Sword Pavilion, along with the influential Seoju Main House and Jincheon Fist Family—who had recently joined and bolstered the alliance—were revealed as Blood Cult lackeys.
Others had been confirmed as traitors too, and their betrayal cost countless Righteous Heaven Alliance warriors their lives.
"Idiots! That's why I said not to overreach!"
Yeongho Jung's eyes blazed with rage.
Through a messenger to the Religious Bureau, he'd learned the details and was furious anew at their attempt to use the Harmony Council against the Sword Pavilion.
He understood it. From the Religious Bureau's view, it was a decisive strike against the Sword Empress and Sword Pavilion.
But it was a foolish gamble ignoring potential failure—one that could doom the entire Righteous Heaven Alliance.
In the end, the plan failed, leaving them scrambling to contain the Harmony Council's involvement.
"The Blood Cult leader himself appeared. They never anticipated failure."
Yeongho Jung gave a wry smile at Baek An's words.
"True. Who could've predicted that monster Sima Geon would pop up?"
Mention of Sima Geon in the sequence leading to the Blood Cult's defeat and leader's death made Yeongho Jung grit his teeth, recalling the Black Ox Squad massacre.
No evidence—none then, none now. But instinct told him Sima Geon was involved.
"Anyway, find them fast. We need to know if they're dead or alive to act."
"Understood."
As Baek An hurried away, Yeongho Jung lifted his cup, his heart pounding oddly.
Dawn broke.
The sunlight blazed unusually bright and hot, as if compensating for days of gloom, but an indescribable shock and sorrow hung over Blood Dew Manor, making the atmosphere darker and heavier than ever.
The late-night news had thrown the manor into chaos.
Grief, rage, fury pierced the heavens.
No one slept.
They wept through the night, spat blood in anguish, and vowed vengeance over and over.
Just before the executive meeting convened by Sima Sang, Yagul Soseong and Yagul Cheonkyeong visited his office.
Unlike the two—pale-faced, bloodshot-eyed, breathing raggedly—Sima Sang appeared relatively composed. At his side stood O Chu, leader of the Gold Command.
"You summoned us?"
Sima Sang gestured for Yagul Soseong to sit.
"Take a seat."
Sima Sang placed two letters on the table.
"One from the Religious Bureau Protector, the other from Gold Command Vice Commander Dam Dong."
"We saw the one from the Religious Bureau Protector."
Yagul Soseong and Yagul Cheonkyeong's eyes fixed on the letter from Dam Dong.
"The contents aren't much different overall. Just more detailed on the situation. But it includes something absent from the Protector's letter."
"What is it?"
Yagul Cheonkyeong's voice was hoarse from a night of wailing, painful to hear.
"The words of Blood Spirit Vice Commander I Bungbi, who escaped with his soul on the Cult Leader's orders."
Sima Sang calmly relayed I Bungbi's message: how the Cult Leader viewed Yagul Hon and the efforts to ensure his escape.
As Sima Sang spoke, Yagul Soseong and Yagul Cheonkyeong shed silent tears, speechless.
Waiting for them to compose themselves, Sima Sang continued.
"I hate to bring this up now, but I called you first because I have words on the succession."
The mood shifted abruptly at "succession."
"It'll be discussed at the upcoming executive meeting, but first, I want your thoughts."
"I understand your intent, Left Elder, but we haven't even held Father's funeral. Discussing succession later wouldn't be too late."
Yagul Cheonkyeong nodded in agreement.
"Brother's right. We need to retrieve Father's body first."
"Normally, yes. But look at the situation. The martial world is in chaos, and our cult has already ascended. With the Cult Leader gone, retreating to the shadows isn't feasible—not with so much in motion. What of the North Sea Ice Palace? Our ties to the Iron Blood Palace? In this crisis, the leader's seat can't stay empty even a moment. The other executives seem to share my view."
At Sima Sang's firm tone, Yagul Soseong and Yagul Cheonkyeong sensed his underlying intent.
"What do you think, Left Elder?"
With their father and Right Elder dead, Sima Sang's influence dominated the Blood Cult; his stance could sway the tide. Yagul Cheonkyeong treaded carefully.
"I asked first."
Unable to respond, Yagul Soseong and Yagul Cheonkyeong exchanged glances.
The Blood Cult—or strictly, the Yagul Clan as descendants of the Blood Sea Demon Lord—had no rule of primogeniture. Strength alone could claim leadership.
Sima Sang sighed faintly and spoke.
"My opinion? It doesn't matter. Frankly, yours doesn't either. The Cult Leader had already chosen his successor."
"What?"
"Father did?"
The brothers exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes. Long ago, it seems. Few know. Only me, the Right Elder, and a handful of elders."
"Who?"
Yagul Soseong pressed.
Sima Sang said nothing, simply lifting his teacup.
As impatience gripped Yagul Soseong, Yagul Cheonkyeong chuckled dryly.
"It's Hon."
"What?"
Yagul Soseong whipped his head around in shock.
"Hon. Brother's eldest son."
Yagul Cheonkyeong faced Sima Sang.
"I should've realized when you mentioned I Bungbi. I was slow. Am I wrong?"
"Why think that?"
Sima Sang set down his cup.
"Father's a man of great ambition. He'd forsake blood for it—not personal gain, but for clan and cult. His ruthlessness is honestly chilling. Yet he risked his life to save Hon. I understand the dire circumstances against such a foe forced that choice. But what if the bloodline were another's?"
Yagul Cheonkyeong twisted his lips and shook his head.
"He'd have fled himself, slim chance or not."
He turned to wide-eyed Yagul Soseong.
"It's not us. He chose Hon as successor, that's why. Right, Left Elder?"
"No, spot on."
A smile finally curved Sima Sang's lips.