Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: To Shao Xing (2)
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Yunryong Inn stood facing the Clear Heart Clinic.
Around noon, a man watched the Clear Heart Clinic through the window of a third-floor room.
"We have to hit the Clear Heart Clinic too, right, Squad Leader?"
Dang Geum asked the man who had been resting comfortably.
The man watching the Clear Heart Clinic, So Yun-baek, the leader of Sa-ryeong's Seventh Squad, said nothing.
"What nonsense is that?"
Hyang Nam, sitting beside him, asked.
"I did a little digging, and it turns out those Sima Geon bastards have quite a connection with that place. Didn't you know about it too, Squad Leader?"
"I know. That's why I'm agonizing over it."
"Agonizing...?"
"Just like you said—whether we should strike the Clear Heart Clinic too, or leave it be."
"Isn't that a bit much?"
Hyang Nam raised his voice.
"What is?"
"If we hit the Clear Heart Clinic, we'll have to kill every doctor and patient inside."
"Probably."
"I'm prepared to sacrifice and spill blood for the cult anytime. But killing innocent patients who haven't done anything wrong... that just doesn't sit right."
So Yun-baek's eyes grew cold at Hyang Nam's firm attitude.
"Innocent? Hyang Nam."
"Yes, Squad Leader."
"What was the order we received from Lord Sa-ryeong?"
"To kill Sima Geon's brothers."
So Yun-baek held up one finger.
"And one more thing. If possible, anyone closely tied to Sima Geon after his brothers. I think the Clear Heart Clinic might qualify as one of those close ties. After all, it's deeply involved in treating Sima Geon's sister's illness. That's why Sima Geon acts so polite and cautious around the Clear Heart Clinic's owner."
"Even so..."
"Shut it! Have you forgotten? Orders are absolute to us. We must carry them out, even at the cost of our lives."
"I know."
Hyang Nam bit his lip and lowered his head.
"Personal opinions don't matter. We follow the orders given to us. Even if they're unjust. That's our fate."
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
Hyang Nam bowed his head in apology.
"Everyone out. I want to be alone."
At So Yun-baek's dismissal, Dang Geum, Hyang Nam, and the awkwardly seated man exchanged glances and left the room.
Down at the first-floor tavern, as soon as the waiter set a bottle of liquor on the table, Hyang Nam grabbed it and chugged straight from the bottle.
"Whew! Our squad leader's more on edge than usual."
"Of course he is. Lord Sa-ryeong and the others got wiped out. How could he not be on edge? Did you see his eyes when he heard the news? They were murderous."
Bu Yang, who had been unexpectedly chased out of the room with Hyang Nam, clicked his tongue.
"I get that. But it's been days already. With the mission right in front of us, what if he stays this edgy?"
As Dang Geum vented his frustration, Hyang Nam, who had been silently sipping his cup, shook his head.
"My mistake. The squad leader's right."
"What're you talking about?"
"When we receive orders, we should only think about succeeding at them. I let my thoughts wander needlessly. Sorry."
Hyang Nam apologized, and Dang Geum and Bu Yang looked at him with bitter expressions. They had a rough idea why Hyang Nam was so sensitive about the Clear Heart Clinic—probably because of his own younger brother, struggling with an incurable illness.
"Damn it, if we'd just holed up in the Ha Hu Clan, how nice that would've been. Coming back to Shao Xing out of nowhere and making things annoying for us."
Wanting to change the mood, Dang Geum spoke with exaggerated exasperation.
"Watch your words. Honestly, staying put in the Ha Hu Clan would've been way more trouble. Trouble? We'd question if we could even carry out the orders properly. Even if we took them out successfully, we'd worry about surviving the process."
Dang Geum shook the bottle and retorted to Bu Yang.
"Worry? Since when have we worried like that while carrying out orders? We just charge in and deal with it. But yeah, I agree with you. Heh heh heh! Taking them out here is way easier than in the Ha Hu Clan. No chance of failure."
"It's not zero chance. They say the guy who came with them isn't a pushover."
Dang Geum snorted at Hyang Nam's words.
"Who? That kid Hahuyeon or whatever?"
"Not exactly a kid. Young, sure, but they're hyping him up quite a bit. Word is he's even the successor to the Sword Ghost."
"Yeah, I heard that too. Supposedly a real powerhouse."
Even as Bu Yang backed Hyang Nam up, Dang Geum's attitude didn't change.
"So what? He's alone anyway. He's not some peerless master soaring through the heavens—how's he blocking ten blades with one hand? And protecting those burdensome brothers while facing us? You think that's possible? Ridiculous."
Hyang Nam and Bu Yang didn't really contradict Dang Geum. They should be cautious, of course, but he wasn't wrong.
"So when do we take them out?"
Dang Geum lowered his voice, checking that no one was around, even though he'd emptied the bottle in a flash.
"Squad leader said tonight."
Dang Geum frowned at Bu Yang's words.
"No need to wait till night. Why not just go now and handle it?"
"He's not holed up at home; he's flitting around everywhere. And not sticking with them either."
"Damn! What's he scurrying around like a dog in heat for?"
"Probably has stuff to do since he's back after so long. Places to pay respects, too."
"You his spokesman or something? Why explain for them?"
Dang Geum snapped at Hyang Nam and beckoned the waiter.
"More to drink? One or two bottles, sure, but more might be pushing it. Squad leader finds out, and we're in for it."
Bu Yang shook his head worriedly, but Dang Geum jerked his chin toward the stairs to the rooms.
"Not for me. For the guys upstairs—a few bottles."
It wasn't just a few. Despite his words, Dang Geum ordered a massive amount of liquor.
"Can't even talk straight."
"Exactly."
Hyang Nam and Bu Yang sighed in unison.
"Phew, much better now."
Sima Hyeon beamed at the butcher shop, which had regained some of its former glory thanks to his cleaning from morning.
He wasn't planning to reopen right away, but dusting it off made his heart feel lighter than ever.
"Brother."
As Hahuyeon entered the shop, Sima Hyeon, who had just been wringing out a rag, wiped the sweat from his forehead and raised a hand.
"You're here."
"Yeah. Already done?"
"Already? I've been slaving away since morning."
"Looked like it'd take longer."
Hahuyeon sat on a chair, glancing left and right at the now spotless shop. He rubbed a finger across the table in front of him. Not a speck of dust. He let out an exclamation.
"Wow, it's so clean."
"Of course. How hard did I scrub? This part's fine, though. The slaughterhouse out back is the real issue."
Sima Hyeon jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"Why? Lots of dust?"
Hahuyeon craned his neck to see.
"Dust is nothing. While cleaning earlier, the roof suddenly caved in. Weird, right? No matter how neglected, a lived-in house holds up for years. But leave it empty, and it falls apart in no time."
"Ah, I've heard that before. Something about human warmth."
"Warmth?"
"Yeah. They say the warmth of people keeps it that way."
Sima Hyeon chuckled.
"How much warmth can there be? You buy that?"
"Heh heh! Not really. Just going along with what the grown-ups say."
"Such a goof. How's the ranch? Ho likes it?"
"Yeah. He was prancing around like a kid. Ranch is the same as ever. Oh, but the livestock numbers definitely grew."
"No slaughtering, that's why. Anyway, I'll check it out tomorrow. Gotta pay respects to Elder Jeong too."
"Sure. He was asking about you, actually."
As Hahuyeon's words ended, an unexpected voice came from behind.
"I'll go too."
Sima Hyeon and Hahuyeon whipped their heads toward the shop entrance.
Sima Jin gazed at them with a bright smile.
"Jin!"
"Jin!"
Sima Hyeon and Hahuyeon cried out in surprise.
"Second Brother! And Brother Yeon, long time no see."
"Uh, y-yeah."
Unlike the bashful Hahuyeon, Sima Hyeon strode forward and hugged Sima Jin tightly.
Sima Jin, enveloped in his embrace, silently patted Sima Hyeon's back.
After a long while with no release, Sima Jin tapped his arm.
"Enough now. Can't breathe."
Sima Hyeon grabbed her arms as she pulled away and asked,
"What happened? No word, and suddenly..."
"It just worked out."
"Nothing bad, right?"
Sima Hyeon's face mixed joy with worry.
"Nope."
"How'd you get here?"
"Master returned to the Clear Heart Clinic. Wanted to see you brothers too, so I came along."
"The physician? He's back at the Clear Heart Clinic?"
"Yeah. Said being away too long was disrespectful to those seeking him. He was getting a bit restless at the Living Immortal Medical House anyway."
"I see. But no mention in the letters."
"Couldn't just blab about Master's business. Big Brother, didn't you hear? They said they sent word to the Ha Hu Clan ahead."
"Nothing. Just that you're doing well there. And that you might visit us but could be delayed."
"Ah, right. Blood Cult."
Not long ago, while traveling back to Shao Xing with Master, Sima Jin was shocked to hear Sima Geon—whom she thought was heading to the Ha Hu Clan—suddenly on everyone's lips.
"Yeah. Found out recently. Heard he's safe through rumors."
Sima Hyeon emphasized "rumors" slightly. Hahuyeon, catching his glance, quickly spoke up.
"That's why the brothers came here first. Figured they'd return once the fight ended. Should've waited at the main house, but that'd mean a long detour, so they came ahead."
Sima Jin, grasping the situation instantly, smiled faintly.
"Must've been tough for you, Brother Yeon. Thanks."
"Tough? It's nothing."
Hahuyeon thumped his chest.
Seeing Sima Jin after so long made Hahuyeon's heart race wildly, his mouth and cheeks rising to the heavens.
That was when it happened.
"Ahem!"
Sima Jin jumped at the fake cough from outside.
"Oh, right, my bad."
Sima Jin tugged Sima Hyeon's arm.
"What's up?"
As Sima Hyeon asked in confusion, she pulled harder.
Dragged outside with Hahuyeon trailing awkwardly, they faced an elderly man and a youth who looked like grandfather and grandson.
"Sorry, Master."
"It's fine. Natural to be happy reuniting with kin after so long. Don't mind us."
The Celestial Dragon Sword Emperor Baek Mu-hyeon nodded with his kindest smile.
"Then why the fake cough?"
Baek Mu-hyeon's face twitched briefly at Dokgo Ryong's words before returning to normal.
"Not a fake cough. Just something caught in my throat."
"Out of nowhere..."
"Senior Brother!"
Sima Jin cut off Dokgo Ryong swiftly and introduced the two to the awkwardly standing Sima Hyeon.
"Say hello. This is my master."
"Master? Your master is..."
Sima Hyeon trailed off, thinking of the Clear Heart Clinic owner.
"New master from the Living Immortal Medical House. The Clear Heart Clinic master approved, of course."
"Ah! Got it."
Sima Hyeon brightened and bowed politely to Baek Mu-hyeon.
"I'm Sima Hyeon."
"Haha! Pleased to meet you. Baek Mu-hyeon here. The world calls this old man the Celestial Dragon Sword Emperor, embarrassingly enough."
Distinguishing himself from the Living Immortal Medical House, Baek Mu-hyeon casually revealed his title.
Dokgo Ryong bowed quickly too.
"Dokgo Ryong, her senior brother."
"Yes. Pleased."
Unlike Sima Hyeon's casual greeting, Hahuyeon's mind froze the moment he heard "Baek Mu-hyeon" and "Celestial Dragon Sword Emperor."
Baek Mu-hyeon smiled gently at the dazed Hahuyeon.
"And who might you be?"