Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: Burning Shaolin Temple (3)
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"What? What did you just say?"
Sima Sang, who had been buried in the flood of reports pouring in from all directions, jerked his head up in shock.
"Iron Escort Leader has mobilized for revenge."
O Chu, the head of the Golden Command, replied with a stiff expression.
Confirming he hadn't misheard, Sima Sang wore a look of utter disbelief.
"Cheol Ak may be reckless, but he's no fool. He knows full well he can't do it alone. Who? Who's moving with him?"
O Chu hesitated for a moment before speaking as if he had no choice.
"It's believed the Death Command is accompanying him."
"The D-Death Command?"
At the news that the Blood Killing Cult's Assassination Squad was on the move, Sima Sang's eyes widened impossibly.
The Assassination Squad could only be commanded by the Cult Leader himself or the Left and Right Protectors. Not even the elders had the authority to deploy them. The fact that they had mobilized on their own left Sima Sang speechless for a long while.
"Surely not the Council Leader or the State Lord?"
Sima Sang asked in a deeply sunken voice.
He suspected the two sons of the previous Cult Leader might have intervened, prompting the Death Command's action.
"No. It's been confirmed as the Command Leader's independent decision."
"Hah! That mad bastard. How dare he act without orders..."
Sima Sang was about to roar in fury when he suddenly clamped his mouth shut. He realized he had momentarily overlooked one crucial fact.
"Gu Yang Cho. He's moving to avenge his brother... his father."
Sima Sang sighed, recalling Second Elder Gu Yang Sun and Protective Guard Leader Gu Yang Gyeong, who had given their lives for the Cult Leader.
"That seems to be the case."
Sima Sang closed his eyes without realizing it.
A long silence stretched on. O Chu stood motionless until Sima Sang finally spoke.
Opening his eyes slowly, Sima Sang let out a deep sigh.
"I've been too complacent. I've focused too much on the Cult Leader's succession issue."
When Yagul Hon, designated by Yagul Jae as the next Cult Leader, barely returned after a grueling ordeal, the Blood Killing Cult's leadership was in considerable disarray. Even though the previous Cult Leader had named Yagul Hon his successor, his youth and unproven prowess made immediate elevation to Cult Leader questionable.
Yet no one could outright ignore the previous Cult Leader's will.
Moreover, with absolute support from Sima Sang, Yagul So Seong, and Yagul Cheon Gyeong, the chaos didn't last long.
However, Yagul Hon declared he wouldn't ascend until he proved himself worthy and set off to seek the Immortal Demon Physician's Fire Pus for the previous leader's contingency plan.
The leadership decided to appoint Sima Sang as interim Cult Leader until Yagul Hon returned with it. Yagul Cheon Gyeong and Yagul So Seong's names were floated but declined, naturally leading to Sima Sang's selection.
"Did you pass on the information that Sword Pavilion and Sima Geon might use the waterways?"
"When they casually asked about Sword Pavilion's whereabouts in passing, I answered lightly. My apologies. I never imagined they had such intentions."
O Chu bowed his head.
"I was complacent too, but so were you. The Death Command's Leader is the most tenacious and persistent of all. That's how he reached his position. In any case, you should have probed the intent behind such a question."
"I have no excuses."
"Enough. Even without your words, I would have found out eventually. The problem is how to stop their movements."
"I'll dispatch a messenger at once."
"Do you even know where they've gone?"
"Well..."
O Chu trailed off with a troubled expression.
"Traitors who defy the chain of command wouldn't leave tracks. And with revenge blinding them, even if we find them, they won't stop."
"What should we do?"
Sima Sang shook his head with a heavy sigh at O Chu's question.
"Honestly, I don't know. But we have to try stopping them at all costs. We can't afford another pointless loss."
"It's the Death Command, not just anyone. Perhaps we can hold out some hope..."
"These are the ones who felled the Second Elder he raised, the Blood Spirits, and even the Cult Leader himself. Do you think it's possible?"
O Chu fell silent at Sima Sang's retort.
"Everyone, halt!"
Buk Ri Hwang bellowed in rage.
As the Iron Blood Palace warriors hesitated at the sudden appearance of the North Sea Ice Palace, Eum Jeok So snapped irritably.
"What are you doing? Finish them off quickly."
Sensing the ominous tone in Eum Jeok So's voice, the Iron Blood Palace warriors moved to hurl the captured monks into the flames.
"I said halt!"
As Buk Ri Hwang drew his sword, the North Sea Ice Palace warriors behind him unleashed their killing intent in unison. The Iron Blood Palace warriors couldn't help but respond. The monks they were about to throw were no longer the priority.
"Will you swing that sword if we don't?"
Eum Jeok So asked as he sauntered forward leisurely.
"I can't stand by and watch such barbarity."
Eum Jeok So burst into laughter at Buk Ri Hwang's reply.
"Barbarity, you say. Haha! Anyone hearing that might think we're bosom buddies with Shaolin Temple. We've both slain hundreds of their baldies to cut off their breaths, haven't we?"
With those words, Eum Jeok So kicked a fallen monk in the side.
A sharp scream rang out as the monk flew into a blazing hall, engulfed by the inferno.
"What the..."
Buk Ri Hwang couldn't finish. A horrific wail emanated from the monk as he vanished into the burning structure.
The flames snuffed out his breath quickly, so the scream didn't last, but hearing the most abject cry a human could make left everyone deeply unsettled.
"I am Eum Jeok So, Lord of Iron Blood Palace."
Buk Ri Hwang felt chills ripple through his body as Eum Jeok So casually greeted them with a smile, as if he hadn't just condemned a man to a gruesome death.
"Buk Ri Hwang, Lord of North Sea Ice Palace. I warned you clearly. Why ignore it?"
Buk Ri Hwang exuded a murderous aura, ready to strike depending on the response.
"Why else? They're the enemy, so we kill them. My subordinates have lost plenty to those bastards."
Eum Jeok So kept his smile, utterly unfazed by Buk Ri Hwang's pressure, exuding leisure.
"Even enemies have a baseline of decency."
"Keep that baseline in North Sea Ice Palace. But don't impose it on us. People might misunderstand. Iron Blood Palace isn't your subordinate, after all."
As Buk Ri Hwang's aura intensified, Eum Jeok So's smile deepened.
The tension was suffocating, on the verge of explosion.
No one from either side dared speak or intervene amid the terrifying killing intents radiating from Buk Ri Hwang and Eum Jeok So.
It was then.
"Please, both of you, stop this."
The sudden voice made their explosive auras vanish as if by magic.
"Ho! There's still a healthy monk wandering about."
Eum Jeok So smirked at the approaching monk from a distance. Buk Ri Hwang was equally surprised, never expecting a Shaolin monk to mediate.
But the most shocked were the captured Shaolin monks held by Iron Blood Palace.
"S-Senior Brother!"
"Mu Jeong, how..."
Mu Jeong, disciple of Pharmacy Hall Leader Gong Cho and designated next leader, gazed at them with an enigmatic expression before turning away. Sensing something in Mu Jeong's demeanor, Jong Yo whispered into Eum Jeok So's ear.
"Oh ho."
Eum Jeok So nodded, visibly startled.
"So you're the Blood Killing Cult agent who aided us."
Mu Jeong's face twisted slightly. He was surprised Eum Jeok So had seen through him so quickly.
"Fine work. You gave them proper bellyaches—they all look thoroughly worn out. Poor complexions too."
"How did you know?"
At Mu Jeong's question, Eum Jeok So smiled, Buk Ri Hwang looked shocked, and the belatedly comprehending Shaolin monks showed horror and rage.
"Senior Brother, how could you..."
"Are you truly a Blood Killing Cult spy?"
Eum Jeok So didn't let the outraged monks be. Before anyone could stop him, he hurled a couple into the still-burning hall.
Agonizing screams echoed once more.
Unable to tolerate Eum Jeok So's dismissive act, Buk Ri Hwang moved to draw his sword—but Eum Jeok So's sharp transmission cut in.
[Do you want all-out war with Iron Blood Palace? I won't avoid it if you do.]
Buk Ri Hwang faltered. Not by choice—Buk Ri Deung had approached and naturally stepped forward to block him.
"So what does Blood Killing Cult want from us?"
"Nothing. Our grudge with North Sea Ice Palace ended with checking Shaolin. It's gone beyond that now, thanks to results."
Mu Jeong turned to Eum Jeok So.
"Iron Blood Palace's aid was crucial. Thank you."
Glancing at the still-fuming Buk Ri Hwang, Eum Jeok So shrugged.
"Not for free, of course. You give, you get."
"We anticipated what Iron Blood Palace wants. You'll likely get it."
"Ho! You know what my palace desires?"
"More precisely, what the Palace Lord wants."
"And what's that?"
"Heavenly Demon Cult. Divine Demon Division Leader."
Eum Jeok So's smile vanished at Mu Jeong's answer.
"How did you know?"
Killing intent laced his words.
"The Blood Killing Cult's eyes reach everywhere under heaven. You're Iron Blood Palace Lord now, but as Venom Sect Leader and Revival Heaven's creator, how could we not know your desire?"
Eum Jeok So barely suppressed the urge to decapitate Mu Jeong.
"Fine. How will you help?"
"That's beyond my knowledge. But rest assured, we repay in kind."
"That I like."
"Finally, the reason I appeared here..."
Mu Jeong glanced involuntarily at the Shaolin monks, continuing with a complicated expression.
"To prevent conflict between two forces friendly to our cult. No need for clashes among future allies over trifles."
"Future friendship is uncertain, but we agree for now. Iron Blood Palace wants no clash. Unless the other side insists, then we won't dodge."
At Eum Jeok So's words, Buk Ri Hwang pointed to the trembling monks.
"Show mercy to the vanquished, and there's no cause for conflict."
Eum Jeok So, glaring coldly at the monks, chuckled as Jong Yo shook his head pleadingly.
"Never planned this anyway. If those bastards hadn't torched the Scripture Hall themselves and made a fuss. Anyway, since everyone wants it, let's dispose of the prisoners here and discuss properly."
"Discuss what?"
With the tension easing, Buk Ri Hwang's tone softened slightly.
"Merits and rewards. Plenty left to carve from the burned scraps."
Eum Jeok So grinned brightly, gesturing to the dying flames.