Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: An Eye for an Eye, A Tooth for a Tooth (3)
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"I'm known as Juyu the Wanderer. Have you heard the name before?"
Juyu the Wanderer asked Sima Geon.
"Yes. I caught a glimpse of you once at the Living Immortal Medical House. The elder often spoke of you."
"Hmph, hmph. Indeed. And what did that friend say?"
"That you're a great figure in the Beggars' Sect."
"Is that all?"
Juyu the Wanderer asked again. A flicker of disappointment mixed with faint hope in his eyes.
"That you're foul-tempered and a real pain in the ass."
At Cheol Woo's blunt words ahead of Sima Geon, Juyu the Wanderer's face crumpled.
"Hmph! If anyone's foul-tempered and a pain, it's that bastard."
Glancing at Ha Hu Song as if seeking agreement, Juyu the Wanderer snorted in dismay when the man subtly turned away.
"Hmph! Blood ties are blood ties, after all. Anyway, may I ask what's going on here? I know the Shadow Moon Sect doesn't always stick to the straight and narrow, but they rarely cause major harm to others."
His question carried a note of caution—a far cry from his usual straightforward, bold demeanor. This left Mo Wook and the other Beggars' Sect disciples utterly bewildered. But Ha Hu Song, Ha Hu Yeon, and even Ha Hu Je, who had clashed directly with Cheol Woo, saw it as only natural.
"You're mistaken. They didn't give a damn about harming others if it served their interests."
Sima Geon shot a mocking glance at Ma Yang before continuing in a quiet voice laced with barely suppressed fury, ready to erupt at any moment.
"The Shadow Moon Sect was commissioned by the leader of the eighteen mountain bandit strongholds, who bear a personal grudge against me. They manipulated the Hongik Hall into abducting my younger brother. Oh, and they even deceived the Ha Hu Clan in the process."
The Ha Hu Clan warriors were baffled at their family name being dropped out of nowhere, but the quick-witted Ha Hu Yeon reacted differently.
"Rumors! You mean the Shadow Moon Sect is behind those?"
"That's right. They spread those rumors to lure you out, old man. They figured you'd muck things up if you stayed."
Ha Hu Yeon's curse exploded from her lips at Cheol Woo's words.
"Crazy bastards!"
Sima Geon gestured to hold back Ha Hu Yeon, who looked ready to charge at Ma Yang, and offered Juyu the Wanderer a bitter smile amid his shock.
"Do you know what the Hongik Hall did in Soheung while moving to abduct my brother?"
"No idea."
"They raided a place called Clear Heart Clinic, slaughtering all the physicians and patients there. Over a hundred people."
"Clear Heart Clinic!"
Juyu the Wanderer's eyes bulged. He knew the place well.
He whipped his head toward Mo Wook.
"Is it true Clear Heart Clinic suffered a disaster?"
"Ah, we haven't confirmed the truth yet, but yes, the rumors are circulating."
"Hm."
Letting out a heavy groan, Juyu the Wanderer turned his gaze to Ma Yang, who looked utterly defeated.
"Is this man's story true?"
"......"
"Did the Shadow Moon Sect spread false rumors that the Ha Hu Clan head had passed?"
Even at Ha Hu Song's question, Ma Yang offered no reply.
"If you want to shut your trap, be my guest. As you saw earlier, there are plenty of ways to pry it open."
As Cheol Woo stepped toward the surviving Shadow Moon Sect disciples, terrified screams erupted from all sides.
"Y-Yes! It's all true."
Ma Yang squeezed his eyes shut, bowed his head, and admitted the Shadow Moon Sect's crimes.
"Ha! Haha!"
Juyu the Wanderer shook his head with incredulous laughter.
"I never dreamed the Shadow Moon Sect would dare insult the Ha Hu Clan like this. And I asked you to trace the rumors' source without a clue—how laughable."
Ma Yang shuddered involuntarily at Ha Hu Song's icy tone. Having poked the Ha Hu Clan, one of the Five Great Clans, he couldn't even imagine the repercussions.
And it wasn't just the Ha Hu Clan.
"You did all that and still came begging for our help?"
Mo Wook's rage pierced the heavens, his leg broken after bringing his disciples to assist. Not one disciple who clashed with Sima Geon was unscathed—including himself. The foes had gone easy, or innocent lives would have been lost.
"We failed to grasp the situation properly. My deepest apologies."
Mo Wook bowed to Sima Geon in atonement.
Ha Hu Je, who had been silently despondent, apologized as well.
"I'm sorry too. I should have checked the facts before attacking outright."
"True enough. That kid was sharp enough to save his skin—anyone else would've lost their head on the first strike."
Ha Hu Je could only cough awkwardly at Cheol Woo's jab, pointing at Noe Jeon, unable to hide his embarrassment.
"I think that's explanation enough."
Juyu the Wanderer and Ha Hu Song nodded in unison at Sima Geon's words.
"More than enough."
"Of course."
"Then we can finish what we started."
Juyu the Wanderer and Ha Hu Song's expressions shifted slightly at Sima Geon's indifferent remark. But they had no reason or justification to stop him—nor the power. The Ha Hu Clan retainers and Beggars' Sect disciples, properly deceived, saw it as a given.
"We've wasted enough time. Let's wrap this up and..."
"He said it was all his fault. Please spare these poor children."
Before Sima Geon could finish, Ma Yang cried out desperately. He then smashed his right hand's Heaven Spirit Acupoint, ending his own life.
As the atmosphere grew solemn at Ma Yang's sudden death, Cheol Woo smacked Noe Jeon on the back of the head.
"What're you waiting for? Clean up. We're short on time."
"Ah! Damn it!"
Noe Jeon grumbled irritably but moved like lightning. With each blur of his form, terrified Shadow Moon Sect members collapsed limply.
In just a couple breaths, most had met their end.
"Hey, what about them?"
Cheol Woo yelled, pointing at the courtesans trembling in fear, barely breathing.
"The Division Leader said to spare them."
Cheol Woo whipped around at Noe Jeon's reply.
"Why?"
"You know how it is. The bosses make the calls, but we're the ones spilling blood. No need to kill defenseless courtesans."
Sima Geon didn't reveal that it was Juyu the Wanderer's urgent plea, pitying the innocent courtesans despite his rage at the Shadow Moon Sect.
"But you don't know the Hongik Hall's whereabouts?"
Ha Hu Yeon asked, her anxiety overtaking her anger.
"We could've found them with more time and effort, but we didn't have the luxury. Instead, we traced their connection. Knowing the beast's identity is gain enough."
"You're heading to Hongik Hall?"
"We have to."
Sima Geon nodded. Mo Wook, who had been listening intently, spoke cautiously.
"I don't think going to Hongik Hall is wise."
"What do you mean?"
"Earlier today, some kids spotted a suspicious group passing near Hangzhou. They didn't enter the city—we didn't investigate closely, but it seems they were..."
"Which way? Where did they go?"
Sima Geon demanded urgently.
"Toward Soju."
"Soju? I thought their base was near Poyang Lake."
Juyu the Wanderer voiced his doubt.
"Yes. But they definitely headed for Soju."
"Hm, that's odd. Do they know they're being pursued?"
Unlike the puzzled Juyu the Wanderer, Sima Geon was satisfied just confirming the Hongik Hall's trail.
"Thank you. I won't forget this debt."
Sima Geon bowed to Juyu the Wanderer and Mo Wook.
"Nonsense. No debt here."
Mo Wook waved his hands hastily.
He meant it. Juyu the Wanderer had arrived in Hangzhou last night, and tales of the heroes who saved the Living Immortal Medical House had spread. Though not named directly, Mo Wook intuited Sima Geon and his group were those heroes. Surviving a clash with such masters was a miracle.
"No, we'll repay today's favor one day."
Sima Geon expressed thanks again, exchanged brief greetings with Ha Hu Yeon's father Ha Hu Song, and departed for Soju.
Watching Cheol Woo and Noe Jeon chase after Sima Geon, Juyu the Wanderer called to Mo Wook.
"Branch Leader."
"Yes, Supreme Elder."
"I need a swift-footed disciple."
Mo Wook grasped his intent immediately, recalling a disciple still nursing a hangover from last night's drinks.
"I'll prepare one right away."
"A guide needs to know the terrain cold."
"Don't worry. This one's like at home here."
"Good. Send him without delay."
"Understood."
Dragging his uncomfortable body away, Mo Wook summoned a relatively fit disciple and issued orders. Watching from afar, Ha Hu Yeon declared firmly.
"This won't do. I have to go too."
"Go? What's this sudden talk?"
Ha Hu Song asked in surprise.
"Jeon Mae was abducted—I have to rescue her. If I explain, Great-Grandfather will push me to go. I'll be back."
Ha Hu Yeon bowed and bolted without waiting for a reply.
"Ha!"
Ha Hu Song shook his head and began cleanup.
Not as badly as the Beggars' Sect disciples, but the Ha Hu Clan retainers had sustained various injuries. Especially Ha Hu Je's, from clashing head-on with Cheol Woo—quite severe.
As the Ha Hu warriors departed and the Beggars' Sect withdrew,
the devastated Shadow Moon Sect lay before them, but they offered no aid, turning away completely.
Once the Ha Hu Clan and Beggars' Sect were gone, only utter terror, fear, and sorrow remained in Brothel Heaven's Fall. The barely surviving courtesans wept endlessly, at a loss.
But Han Seol was an exception—spared by sheer luck, or perhaps Noe Jeon's final twisted mercy after tormenting her relentlessly. She comforted the frightened courtesans and began gathering the Shadow Moon Sect corpses one by one.
Once the hall was somewhat tidied, Han Seol returned with a messenger pigeon in hand.
'I'll never forgive them. Never!'
Han Seol's face as she released the pigeon was ghastly, radiating demonic aura.
"With that level of skill, you're just a liability chasing us."
"That won't happen, not even in death."
Cheol Woo smirked derisively at Ha Hu Yeon's fierce glare.
"You gonna hit me?"
"If it gets me there."
"What?"
Cheol Woo glared, but Ha Hu Yeon stood firm. Reading her resolve in her eyes, Cheol Woo rubbed his forehead with a headache.
"Ha! Damn brat. Boss, what now?"
After a pause, Sima Geon tossed out casually.
"Do as you like."
Sima Geon quickened his pace, uninterested in needless distractions.
The group, now four with Ha Hu Yeon's addition, was just leaving Hangzhou.
"Wait! Hold on a moment."
A young man came dashing from a side path. Barely past boyhood, he panted, bent double, gasping for breath. His belt, knotted in two Beggars' Sect disciple marks, flopped wildly. Impressive for his age.
"Kid. Call out if you're calling."
Cheol Woo grabbed the youth's collar.
"Who're you? Why'd you call us?"
Startled by Cheol Woo's menacing face, Mo Wook's disciple Man Chu stammered hurriedly.
"M-My master sent me."
"Master? Who's that?"
"The Hangzhou branch leader of the Beggars' Sect."
Mo Wook gently brushed Cheol Woo's hand aside.
His shoulders squared with pride at being a Beggars' Sect disciple—and the branch leader's pupil.
Unfortunately, relaying messages through others left Man Chu clueless about the brothel incident. He just needed to guide them to Soju.
"What's your business?"
Sima Geon asked.
"I was ordered to guide you to Soju. Oh, and you're chasing some weirdos. Their name was..."
Impatient with Man Chu scratching his head, Ha Hu Yeon whispered.
"Hongik Hall."
"Ah, right. Hongik Hall. Help take them down."
Normally he'd refuse the hassle, but eager to save every instant, Sima Geon accepted the Beggars' Sect's courtesy.
"Appreciate it."
"I know this area blindfolded. No worries."
Man Chu thumped his chest confidently—reeking of liquor.
"Kid. Day drinking?"
Cheol Woo sniffed.
"No. Last night's booze was a bit much. Still smells?"
As Man Chu huffed into his palm, Cheol Woo pinched his nose.
"Not just smells—you're rotting. How much did you chug?"
"Dunno. Taught me booze ain't for counting."
"......"
Cheol Woo was speechless before Man Chu's innocent grin.