Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: The Beggars (1)
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After finishing up at the butcher shop, Sima Geon and Cheol Woo stopped by the Clear Heart Clinic, which was still deep in reconstruction, on their way home. Noe Jeon, who had arrived a step ahead to check on the site, came trotting over with quick steps.
"Whoa, it wasn't anywhere near this far along just a few days ago. They're moving way faster than I expected."
Cheol Woo couldn't hide his amazement as he gazed at the building coming together so swiftly. Considering it had only been about twenty days since they'd started properly rebuilding the Clear Heart Clinic from its pile of ashes, the pace was nothing short of astonishing.
"With all those people they've thrown at it, isn't that to be expected? Do you have any idea how much money they've poured in?"
At Noe Jeon's scolding, Cheol Woo snorted derisively.
"Did you put up any of your own cash? Why are you acting like it's your achievement?"
"Who said it was? I was just saying. Anyway, it's only the Beggars' Sect guys who are slacking off. They've already grabbed a huge haul from Sungmyeong Province, and now they're dipping into the Clear Heart Clinic construction too—sweeping up cash left and right."
"Even so, they're just doing grunt work. The real important stuff is all handled by those folks."
Cheol Woo pointed at the men raising the roof on what would become the barracks building.
"No need to even mention how crucial the carpenters are. Especially that old timer—they say he's a renowned master carpenter around these parts, the top of his trade."
"Those guys were sent over from the Hao Gate, right?"
"Yes."
"Hmph! They're pulling out all the stops just to stay alive. Well, even fleas have some pride, I suppose."
"Heard they've even waived their pay since it was pre-arranged with the Hao Gate."
"Most of them are probably Hao Gate disciples anyway. It's all just to save their own skins."
Cheol Woo curled his lips in a sneer as he stared at them disdainfully, then turned his head.
"Right, Boss?"
"Cut the nonsense and let's go."
Sima Geon, his face impassive as he surveyed the site, turned to leave, and Cheol Woo hurried after him.
"We came all this way—aren't you gonna see Jin at least? She's right next door."
"Later. She's busy studying right now, from what I hear."
Cheol Woo glanced back, and Noe Jeon nodded as if to confirm.
"Yeah. I popped in earlier, and she was really going at it."
"She doesn't look worn out?"
"Not at all."
"Heh heh heh! That Grand Reversion Pill really does the trick."
Cheol Woo thought of Sima Jin, who had not only fully recovered from her heavenly punishment thanks to the pill but was now healthier than ever before, and a pleased smile spread across his face.
"Oh, right, Division Leader. That old eccentric Master Joo was asking if you could spare some time."
"Why?"
"Obvious, isn't it? Probably going on about some enlightenment or whatever, but I bet he's angling for a spar."
"Got it."
Sima Geon nodded and shifted his gaze to Cheol Woo.
"You?"
"He's mastered the principle of softness overcoming hardness. Sparring with the old man might teach you a thing or two."
"Exactly. You need to loosen up a bit, Deputy Leader. All that hard! hard! hard! and you'll snap big time before you wise up."
"Seems like your neck'll break before I wise up."
As Cheol Woo cracked his knuckles and advanced, Noe Jeon yelped and ducked behind Sima Geon.
"Anyway, go for it. It'll definitely help."
"Fine. But something's been bugging me since earlier."
"What?"
"You're about to kick things off, right? That's why you called everyone together?"
Cheol Woo leaned in with a face full of curiosity, and Sima Geon irritably pushed his forehead away with a finger. Without another word, he started walking toward home.
"Right? That's what tonight's meeting is about?"
Cheol Woo's persistent questions continued all the way until they reached the house. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Gwanje Shrine on the outskirts of Soheung.
By the time the group arrived at the dilapidated, half-ruined structure, night had fully fallen. There were roughly seventy of them, every one radiating a sharp, menacing aura.
"You've arrived."
Three men who had been waiting at the shrine since dusk bowed respectfully.
"Have you confirmed it?"
Asked the elderly leader of the group, Pung Cheonroe, the Flying Heaven Mad Demon and elder of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
"Yes. We've confirmed that the Divine Demon Leader and his Deputy are residing in Soheung, and we've located their dwelling as well."
Pyo Yeong, one of the elite agents from the Heavenly Demon Cult's intelligence network Dark Fragrance, replied politely. They had infiltrated Soheung five days before Pung Cheonroe's party arrived.
"They're really running a butcher shop?"
"Yes."
"Hah! The Divine Demon Leader Sima Geon and Diamond Yaksha, slicing meat? Unbelievable."
Pung Cheonroe made a face like he couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Where's their place?"
Asked the old man beside him, Gu Seonglyang, the grand elder of the Red Dragon Gang, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
"The Divine Demon Leader and Deputy Leader are staying in a place called Uga Village, about ten li north of Soheung's central district."
"How far from here?"
"A little over ten li."
"Practically next door."
If they pushed their lightness skills, ten li would pass in the blink of an eye.
"In Uga Village, it's the Divine Demon Leader and his siblings, the Deputy Leader, and two men named Gwa Yu and Yong Jung, plus an old man and young man who seem like grandfather and grandson. The grandson's name is Ha Hu Yeon; we couldn't identify the old man's. They just call him Old Man Ha Hu."
"Ha Hu Clan rats. Perfect."
Cold fury flickered in Gu Seonglyang's eyes, the man who had lost the Red Dragon Gang's heir at Sungmyeong Province.
The massacre at Sungmyeong had sparked a fierce shadow war between the Red Dragon Gang—or more precisely, the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Ha Hu Clan.
"If they're from the Ha Hu Clan, they won't be pushovers. Did you get a sense of their level?"
Pung Cheonroe narrowed his eyes and asked.
"We tried, but gave up right away."
"Why?"
"It felt like something we couldn't handle."
"Nice excuse."
Gu Seonglyang sneered, but Pung Cheonroe, well aware of Pyo Yeong's capabilities, simply gestured for him to continue without rebuke.
"The Divine Demon Leader and Deputy Leader mostly handle business at the butcher shop, while his brothers manage the ranch to the north. Gwa Yu and Yong Jung spend their days there too."
"And the Ha Hu grandfather and grandson?"
"They pitch in occasionally, but don't seem tied to any one spot. They have their own place elsewhere in Uga Village."
"Something about them nags at me."
"We'll handle them. Leave it to us."
After a brief pause at Gu Seonglyang's request, Pung Cheonroe slowly nodded.
"Very well."
"Much obliged."
Gu Seonglyang dipped his head slightly and asked Pyo Yeong,
"And that wench Sima Jin—does she stay at the house?"
Pung Cheonroe's party, already moving to secure the Heavenly Demon Pill for the Red Dragon Gang, had joined forces abruptly—not just for revenge over the heir's death, but also to capture the girl at the root of the Sungmyeong disaster.
"No. Sima Jin is staying in a temporary building near the Clear Heart Clinic."
"Clear Heart Clinic?"
"It's a clinic in Soheung. It was burned down by the Hongik Gang not long ago, but reconstruction has started recently. She's learning medicine from the owner."
"As agreed, that girl is ours too."
Pung Cheonroe readily agreed to Gu Seonglyang's words.
"Do as you like. But make sure it doesn't interfere with the main mission. And handle the Ha Hu pair properly as well."
"Of course. I'll take the old Ha Hu myself, and hand the young one to that guy."
Gu Seonglyang pointed to a man whose eyes burned sharper than anyone's. Pung Cheonroe glanced at him and spoke calmly.
"Not doubting your skill, but to be safe, let's add a few more men."
Gu Seonglyang's expression twisted faintly for a moment, but he nodded without showing it.
"As you say."
"Good. Now, with the girl and Ha Hu Clan handled by the Red Dragon Gang, let's get to planning the real operation."
"We'll take the first strike."
Stepped forward a middle-aged man with a sword at his chest.
"If the Crimson Flame Clan leads, I can trust it. Oh, and a heads-up: don't go after the siblings when you hit—especially not to kill. Even if they're roughed up, keep them alive. A man with nothing left to protect is even trickier."
"Human shields, in other words."
"Exactly."
"You can chop them up or tear them apart later, but keep them breathing for now."
"Understood."
"Instead of leading from the front, wouldn't it be better to strike all at once if possible?"
Asked a middle-aged man clad head to toe in blood-red martial robes and gown.
Pung Cheonroe let out a hollow chuckle at the icy gaze of Jwa Mok, patriarch of the Phantom Divine Clan, who had been thoroughly crushed and forced to submit by the Divine Demon Division in the past.
"Whatever else, I'll be the one to cut that bastard's throat."
Said the woman standing shoulder to shoulder with Jwa Mok, her voice dripping with killing intent. A white snake coiled around her raised arm flicked its tongue threateningly.
Pung Cheonroe welcomed the attitudes of Jwa Mok and Eum Seolhui rather than taking offense.
'The once-in-a-millennium prodigy of Myriad Poison Valley, they said. She's got real grudge now. Makes sense—watching her parents and siblings slaughtered before her eyes.'
Pung Cheonroe's eyes swept over Eum Seolhui's face. Once beautiful enough to match her talent, it was now hideously twisted, monstrous even.
"If you can, be my guest. But everyone's thinking the same, so steel yourselves. The chance to take his head is open to all."
In that instant, a scorching heat rose from everyone gathered at the shrine—those burning with pure vengeance and those hungry for merit alike.
While Cult Leader Gwan Woong was away on expedition to the Southern Barbarians, the North Heaven Sword Demon had gotten wind of Sima Geon and Cheol Woo's whereabouts and immediately assembled a strike team.
The bulk of the team consisted of descendants from sects and clans brutally crushed by the Divine Demon Division during the Cult's unification. The North Heaven Sword Demon had planned to lead them personally, but in the Leader's absence, some factions had staged a rebellion centered on former Leader's grandson Gwan Seung.
Not only the North Heaven Sword Demon but also top elders like Blood Light Martial Emperor had to move to quash it.
Unable to lead personally, the North Heaven Sword Demon tried to delay, but the backlash from those driven solely by revenge was fiercer than expected.
Fearing another rift, he reluctantly appointed the Flying Heaven Mad Demon—who harbored deeper grudge than anyone—as commander, despite the team being understrength in every way compared to the original plan.
"But heed this."
Pung Cheonroe clapped to draw attention.
"Recovering the Heavenly Demon Pill is as crucial as revenge. Don't forget that. The assault begins tonight..."
Pung Cheonroe's words cut off abruptly.
The smile vanished from his face as his gaze snapped to the shrine's left rooftop.
A half-moon peeked shyly over the crumbling roof, but Pung Cheonroe's glare at it was anything but gentle.
"We've got tails."
Pung Cheonroe flashed a chilling grin at the flustered Pyo Yeong.
"No idea if they're on you or us, but these rats have some skill."
Before he finished speaking, the roof collapsed. At the same instant, two shadows streaked across the night sky like beams of light.
"Think you can flee before me?"
With blatant mockery, Pung Cheonroe kicked off the ground and soared upward.