Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Turning Point (2)
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Tang!
"Do you really think this makes any sense, Brother?"
The man who slammed his fist on the table glared fiercely.
All eyes in the dining area turned toward them at once, but no one dared voice any complaints. It was because the five men seated around the large round table were renowned figures in the area around Nanjing.
'The Nanjing Five Heroes.'
Sima Geon gazed at the men with renewed curiosity as he caught the murmurs from the onlookers nearby.
Though their outward impressions and speech were far from heroic, the way people around them spoke of them wasn't negative at all. It meant they had a pretty decent reputation.
'Still, their looks...'
A faint smile tugged at Sima Geon's lips as he glanced at the man who had just raised his voice.
He was small in stature, but his broad shoulders, thick neck, and massive upper body drew particular attention. Above all, his face was fiercely intimidating—enough to outshine even Cheol Woo, who was no slouch in that department.
"Don't get worked up. We're not the only ones here."
The man who looked more like a scholar than a warrior—Mo In Hong, the second of the Nanjing Five Heroes—frowned as he spoke.
"That's what frustrates me! What the hell is the Martial Alliance playing at?"
Even under Mo In Hong's rebuke, Kang Po didn't lower his voice.
"Watch your mouth. 'Playing at'?"
"The youngest has a point. The Living Immortal Medical House is in dire straits, and the Martial Alliance is staying silent about it."
As the third brother, Chu Sam chimed in, Kang Po raised his voice even louder.
"Silence would be a relief. From what I've heard, the ones blocking not just sects but countless righteous wanderers trying to aid the Living Immortal Medical House... it's the Martial Alliance itself."
"The problem is that many sects are tacitly supporting the Alliance's actions. Like the Five Great Clans, for instance."
Among the Nanjing Five Heroes, Chu Sam—who pursued manliness more than anyone—burned with anger rivaling Kang Po's.
Mo In Hong let out a sigh.
"I get what my brothers are saying, but we don't have any justification to intervene."
"Justification? What do you mean we don't? Those bastards from the cult are swarming the Living Immortal Medical House and threatening them. Isn't that justification enough?"
"Well... is it really a threat? As far as I recall, the cult has been encamped around the Living Immortal Medical House for nearly a month now. But in all that time, there hasn't been a single incident. If anything, they've been extremely cautious to avoid escalating things."
"Since when have those cult bastards changed their true nature? It's just a cunning ploy to hide their intentions. In the end, they revealed their claws with that ultimatum. Attack if their demands aren't met? How can anyone justify that?"
Kang Po couldn't hold back his rage and slammed the table again.
The eldest brother, Jang Geol, swiftly snatched the bottle that jumped into the air and downed it in one go. Then, in a calm, steady voice, he spoke.
"Normally, I'd agree with the youngest a hundred times over. But this situation is a bit peculiar."
"Big Brother!"
"Eldest!"
Jang Geol raised a hand to halt Chu Sam and Kang Po's outburst before continuing.
"Why is the Martial Alliance staying silent? Simple. Like the second said, there's no justification. Let's say, for argument's sake, a traitor from your own clan or sect fled. What would you do?"
"Well, obviously..."
"We'd have to track them down, but..."
Chu Sam and Kang Po trailed off.
"And according to the rumors circulating quietly, it's not just simple treason and flight. The cult denies it, but the word is that person stole the sacred relic of the Heavenly Demon Cult, which unified the cult this time. You can tell how important that relic is just by how cautiously they're approaching. Think about it—not just anyone, but the cult. Those savage, treacherous, ruthless bastards. Have you ever seen them act this polite and subservient?"
"Not since the day I was born."
Mo In Hong spoke up on behalf of Chu Sam and Kang Po, who had clamped their mouths shut.
"From the Martial Alliance's perspective, they can't just charge in aggressively when the cult is groveling like that. What do you think would happen if the cult misunderstood it as the Alliance obstructing their search for the relic?"
"A bloodbath."
"Worse than that. It could spark a righteous-demonic great war."
At the mention of a righteous-demonic great war, everyone's faces hardened. But only for a moment—Kang Po soon recovered, snorting and shaking his fist.
"Hah! If they want war, bring it. We'll snap their necks one by one. When have those bastards ever wanted peace? They've always been lurking, waiting for a chance to devour the martial world."
Crang!
The sound of a dish shattering drew the Nanjing Five Heroes' gazes to the side.
"Tsk tsk, so careless."
Sima Geon clicked his tongue, pressed down on Cheol Woo's hand as he started to rise, and called over a passing server just in time.
"Clear this up, please. And bring some more liquor and snacks."
The server took the coin from Sima Geon with a beaming smile and bustled off.
Having lost interest in them, the Nanjing Five Heroes returned to their conversation.
[Boss, you gonna put up with this?]
Sima Geon shook his head.
[Lightly! Just a light warning!]
Sima Geon glared at Cheol Woo, who was trembling with barely contained fury, warning him not to act rashly, and tuned back into their discussion.
"I heard something from my uncle last night."
The fourth brother, Sa In Ju—who had been silent until now—finally spoke.
At the mention of his maternal uncle, everyone's eyes lit up.
Sa In Ju's maternal family ran the largest martial arts school in Nanjing. In particular, the school master and his grandfather, the Powder-Crushing Sword No Il Seon, was a renowned elder in the martial world with deep ties to the Martial Alliance.
"What'd he say? Uncle's got to know the ins and outs of the current situation, right?"
Chu Sam leaned in eagerly, eyes wide.
"Pretty much the same. No justification."
"Damn it! That accursed justification!"
A curse burst from Kang Po's lips.
"But he said there's something more important than justification."
"More important? What?"
Jang Geol couldn't hold back and asked.
"Looking back, we've fought the cult countless times over hundreds of years—big battles, small skirmishes, even wars that decided the fate of the martial world. We joined hands briefly when the Blood Cult stirred trouble, but that's rare."
"Everyone knows that. So, what's more important than justification?"
Chu Sam pressed impatiently, but Sa In Ju continued calmly.
"In those fights, countless ultimate techniques were lost, and treasures vanished. Now they're offering to return them."
"What?"
"Return what?"
Everyone stared at Sa In Ju in disbelief.
"The cult is returning martial manuals and treasures belonging to various sects that fell into their hands."
"Insane!"
"No way!"
Their reactions were unanimous in skepticism.
"And though it's unconfirmed, word is they've sent a massive amount of gold as an apology for causing the disturbance. With no real justification to block them and even saving face at the cult's maximum concession, what can the Martial Alliance do? Apparently, some elders objected strongly, but it didn't amount to much. Oh, do you know this?"
The Nanjing Five Heroes held their breath, waiting for Sa In Ju's words. Sima Geon and Cheol Woo perked up their ears too.
"Among the treasures the Heavenly Demon Cult sent, there was Mount Hua's Purple Cloud Sword. And not just that—Hubei Peng Clan's lost Tiger Fang Blade Technique was there too."
"Purple Cloud Sword... Mount Hua must be flipping out."
Jang Geol shook his head in astonishment.
The Purple Cloud Sword was Mount Hua's signature treasured blade. Having returned after over two hundred years, one could imagine Mount Hua's reaction without seeing it.
"Hubei Peng Clan too, probably. They're sly bastards, no doubt. They've shut up not just the Nine Great Sects—the core of the current Martial Alliance—but even the Five Great Clans, with whom relations are somewhat strained."
Mo In Hong stuck out his tongue in admiration.
"So we're just supposed to watch while the cult issues an ultimatum to the Living Immortal Medical House? What did Grandfather say?"
Chu Sam asked, face twisted in frustration.
"Embarrassing, but even my maternal family has no plans to move. Apparently, quite a few righteous warriors are stepping up to save the Living Immortal Medical House, but the problem is there aren't as many as you'd think. Plus, some are voicing they don't understand the Living Immortal Medical House's stance."
Kang Po bellowed, eyes bulging.
"Who the hell is spouting that nonsense?"
"A lot of people."
Sa In Ju's tone cooled slightly.
"They're baffled that all this chaos is over one cult traitor. Just hand him over and it's done. Honestly, it's not wrong. The cult's business is for the cult to handle."
"Well, that's true, but..."
As Kang Po hemmed and hawed, Jang Geol gave a wry smile.
"The Living Immortal Medical House won't accept it. We all know what kind of place it is."
"They never turn away a patient who comes seeking treatment. Handing over someone they know will die? That wouldn't be the Living Immortal Medical House."
Mo In Hong spoke with frustration at their adherence to tradition and principle, yet laced with respect.
"Let's go ourselves. Damn it, the cult's involvement bothers me, but we can't just stand by while the Living Immortal Medical House is bullied."
Kang Po shot to his feet, raising his voice.
"Yeah! Let's go, us!"
Chu Sam hurled his cup to the floor and shouted.
Mo In Hong and Sa In Ju turned to Jang Geol.
Jang Geol, who had been twirling his cup while lost in thought, asked Sa In Ju.
"How many days left?"
"Exactly six."
"Pretty tight."
Drumming his fingers on the table, Jang Geol's gaze shifted to Kang Po, who fidgeted anxiously. Chuckling, he said.
"What are you waiting for? Didn't you hear? Time's short. Check the boats now. Overland will be too slow."
In an instant, Kang Po clenched his fists and let out a roar that shook the inn.
Cheol Woo, who had been pondering how to give them a beating, tossed his chopsticks down with a sour expression.
"Crazy bastards. What's so great about rushing to your death? Things seem bigger than expected. What're we gonna do, Boss?"
"Hmm."
"Treason and a sacred relic. Considering the stakes, our boys must be moving. That means..."
Cheol Woo couldn't finish. No one knew better than him the power of the Divine Demon Division, the Lord's direct subordinates. Yet Sima Geon remained silent.
"Didn't look like much, but it tastes good."
Cheol Woo handed some jerky to Sima Geon, who sat blankly on a rock. Sima Geon waved it off lightly and stared for a long while at a boat making its way upstream.
"Think they'll hold out?"
Sima Geon muttered. Cheol Woo, mid-bite tearing into the jerky with his teeth, froze and turned his head.
"Huh?"
Sima Geon sighed, staring at Cheol Woo.
He briefly considered handing over the Great Reversion Pill tucked in his bosom. But he shook his head. Cheol Woo was a subordinate and friend he could trust with his back in any situation. The issue was that trust only held on life-or-death battlefields. Experience told him there was a high chance the pill would be lost if left with Cheol Woo.
'Can't entrust the Living Immortal Medical House matter to him either.'
The Divine Demon Division—practically the Lord's own. Cheol Woo had once led them as deputy, but that was in the past. Predicting the outcome if Cheol Woo clashed head-on with them was impossible.
He trusted Cheol Woo's strength, but the Division's reserves were formidable. Especially a few elites among the main force who couldn't be taken lightly. They were likely leading now.
Of course, if he intervened personally, the Division would back off without question. Even if the Lord himself ordered it right beside him.
"Can't just block them outright. Can't ignore the Living Immortal Medical House's face either. Guess we'll have to fend them off just enough. They should understand that much."
"What're you talking about?"
Sima Geon chuckled at Cheol Woo's question.
"Don't wanna be the ungrateful bastard. Even beasts repay favors, right?"
Rising from the rock, Sima Geon snatched the jerky from Cheol Woo's hand, popped it in his mouth, and started running.
"Boss, the direction..."
Seeing him head back the way they'd come, Cheol Woo sensed something, shut his mouth, and followed.
"Heh heh heh! You damn bastards. Been a while."
The smile starting at his lips spread across his entire face.