Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Night Stained with Blood (1)
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Sima Geon raced forward at full speed with Manchu clutched tightly in his arms, his heart gripped by intense anxiety. Though the distance from Uga Village to the Clear Heart Clinic wasn't far, in this moment it felt endlessly distant.
'Please.'
Sima Geon desperately prayed that Sima Jin was safe.
It hadn't even been a month since she endured the agony of being kidnapped by the Hongik Room, and he didn't want her to suffer through such terror, fear, and pain again.
Just a short while after leaving home, Sima Geon arrived at the Clear Heart Clinic like a storm unleashed.
Even though night had deepened, the construction at the Clear Heart Clinic was still ongoing.
Sima Geon scanned the surroundings with cold eyes.
Torch fires blazed everywhere as the workers continued their labor, gathering one by one at the shouts of those who seemed to be the leaders, apparently wrapping up the final stages.
Sima Geon headed straight for the small manor right behind the Clear Heart Clinic.
The manor belonged to Hangzhou's massive merchant group, the Water Dragon Merchant Association. But now it bore the sign of the Clear Heart Clinic. Likely due to the connection with its owner, Hwang Jeong, they had graciously allowed its temporary use until the Clear Heart Clinic's construction was complete.
'Am I too late?'
Sima Geon's expression hardened slightly as he spotted people entering the manor.
There were roughly thirty of them, and even without the weapons in their hands, the auras emanating from their entire bodies were anything but ordinary.
Taking a deep breath, Sima Geon stepped toward the manor.
"Hey, hold up there."
The men guarding the front of the manor blocked Sima Geon.
"Looks like you've brought a patient. Wait just a bit. We've got prior arrangements here. We'll get you in to see the doctor soon enough, so no worries."
The man glanced at Manchu in Sima Geon's arms and spoke as if granting a great favor.
"Appreciate it. But I'm in a hurry."
As Sima Geon took another step, the man's previously mild demeanor twisted sharply. He drew a sharply honed sword.
"You idiot rushing to your death—gurk!"
The man threatening him collapsed with a strangled scream.
His eyes bulged wide, a finger-sized hole in his forehead oozing a mix of pale brain matter and red blood.
"Wh-what the?"
"What's going on?"
Sima Geon, still holding Manchu, hadn't moved an inch, yet the man threatening him had suddenly dropped. His comrades couldn't comprehend it.
Swish.
With a subtle whoosh of air, five more men toppled over as if on cue.
No screams. Just like the first, their foreheads, throats, or hearts pierced clean through, dead instantly.
Thunderclap Finger.
The finger technique of the Great Power Demon Lord, said to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Heavenly Demon's unique martial art, Heavenly Demon Mark.
Sima Geon's advance showed no hesitation as he annihilated the enemies guarding the manor's main gate in the blink of an eye.
"Who—argh!"
No sooner had he passed through the gate than he felled another foe. But the scream alerted everyone inside to Sima Geon's presence.
"What the hell—"
Go Yeom, mid-question, gasped and twisted away without finishing.
Blood sprayed in his wake.
As he staggered back with his left cheekbone crushed, Sima Geon was already upon him, slamming his foot down on Go Yeom's shoulder.
'D-dodge.'
His mind raced ahead, but his body couldn't keep up.
Crack!
A chilling crunch echoed as Go Yeom's shoulder bones shattered entirely, his shinbone snapping under the pressure and bursting through his skin.
"Brother!"
Go Cho Woong, Go Yeom's younger brother, charged in horror, unable to even mount a proper defense before his brother lost his life.
Fury flipped Go Cho Woong's eyes white as he rushed forward, attacks pouring in from all sides in response.
"B-brother."
Just then, Manchu regained consciousness and spoke in a trembling voice.
"You awake?"
Manchu nodded weakly.
"Bear with it a bit longer, even if it's uncomfortable."
Sima Geon shifted Manchu to his left arm.
With an expressionless face, he reached out, and Go Yeom's dropped sword flew into his grasp.
Sima Geon's aura shifted dramatically. A ferocious intensity, incomparable to before, engulfed the surroundings.
Colder than northern gales and snow, heavier than Mount Tai, fiercer than a storm.
The sword imbued with that aura moved.
Dazzling sword qi erupted from the blade, sweeping away his attackers in one stroke.
"Arrrgh!"
Go Cho Woong, who had charged in rage over his brother's death, collapsed screaming.
Those flanking him from both sides died without a sound.
The ones in the rear, late to attack, froze under the overwhelming power. Primal instinct overrode reason.
Sima Geon ignored them entirely and leaped forward.
By the time they realized their mistake and tried to react, his figure was already heading toward the manor's main hall. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What happened to that old drunkard Ju Yu Geolgoe?"
A voice eased the tension, as if a fight might erupt any second.
"Old drunkard Ju Yu Geolgoe?"
Feng Tianlei tilted his head at Ha Hu Gok, then burst into laughter as realization dawned.
"You mean that old beggar. So that's what they call the geezer?"
Though it was their first direct meeting, Feng Tianlei seemed aware of Ju Yu Geolgoe's reputation.
"His skills were decent, I'll give him that."
He praised Ju Yu Geolgoe's prowess but wore a mocking sneer.
"I asked what happened to him."
Ha Hu Gok pressed again.
From the mood, he guessed it was hopeless, yet he clung to faint hope.
Feng Tianlei smirked bitterly at Ha Hu Gok's reaction.
They had captured Ju Yu Geolgoe, but due to carelessness, let the kid who seemed to be his disciple slip away. Even with pursuers on his tail, it was unlikely they'd catch him, and there was no time to waste disposing of a useless corpse.
But no reason to tell the truth.
"Whether because of you lot or to buy time for the little beggar brat, he tried some tricks, so I tore off his limbs and fed him to the wild dogs."
Ha Hu Gok squeezed his eyes shut at the thought of the world's Ju Yu Geolgoe becoming dog food.
His twitching eyelids and blood trickling from clenched lips betrayed his rage over losing a close friend.
'I told you I'm not following you! I just got interested in those kids and wanted to watch for a bit.'
'I heard the kid has talent, but he's beyond expectations. Found a decent one to teach in my old age. Heh heh heh! Honestly, first time I've seen someone who can hold their liquor better than me. And the kid's blood hasn't even dried yet. Nah, that boy's veins run with booze, not blood.'
His chest ached. Ju Yu Geolgoe, insisting on tagging along to Soheung under some excuse and happily shaking his liquor bottle—that image was vivid.
'My friend. You had so much left to do. Why'd you go first?'
Ha Hu Gok slowly opened his eyes.
Ju Yu Geolgoe seemed like he'd pop up laughing heartily any second, but reality was cruel.
No friend in sight, just the vermin who took his life smirking.
Ha Hu Gok's icy gaze turned to Feng Tianlei.
"He was stubborn as hell, pigheaded, loved booze enough to wake from a dead sleep for it—that was his flaw. But that friend."
Ha Hu Gok slowly raised his sword.
"Was not someone trash like you could ever touch. He was not someone who could go like that."
A murderous intent that choked the air and a storm-like aura erupted from Ha Hu Gok's entire body.
"I guarantee not a single one of you will survive."
As Ha Hu Gok circulated the Heaven Earth Fierce Flame Divine Art to its peak, flames rose from his whole body.
"Ho! Extreme yang energy. Reminds me of someone."
Before Feng Tianlei could turn, the head of the Red Flame Clan stepped forward.
"I'll handle him."
Having fully unleashed the Red Yang Art's energy, his aura closely mirrored Ha Hu Gok's.
"Ma So Gwan? Thought you croaked back then."
Cheol Woo recognized Ma So Gwan and looked surprised.
"How could I close my eyes with the scum who butchered my clan's household slaughtered? I crawled back from hell to take your heads."
"What bullshit. If you survived, hole up quietly—no need to come die again."
Suppressing his rising fury at Cheol Woo's taunt, Ma So Gwan asked.
"What about the kids chasing the little beggar?"
"Oh, them. Red Flame Clan guys, huh? No wonder they bolted like rabbits when they saw us. Weaklings."
Cheol Woo pointed to the left wall.
"Tossed 'em over there somewhere, so go fetch. Nah, I'll snap your necks and chuck you next to 'em. Hold hands and go see King Yama together. Don't crawl back."
"Shut your mouth!"
Ma So Gwan could no longer hold back his anger and lunged.
"Idiot."
A smug smile on his face, Cheol Woo's massive frame charged at Ma So Gwan.
As Ma So Gwan's fist and Cheol Woo's collided fiercely, Ha Hu Gok—soared high into the sky, hidden behind Cheol Woo's bulk.
Those fixated on the clash missed Ha Hu Gok's movement.
By the time Feng Tianlei and others sensed something off, Ha Hu Gok had already bounded off Cheol Woo's slightly bent back, using his shoulder as a springboard to leap skyward.
Ha Hu Gok targeted not the front-line experts, but the weaker foes in the rear.
When Ma So Gwan stepped up and prepared to attack, Ha Hu Gok felt a twinge of irritation at Cheol Woo's sudden intervention. But hearing Cheol Woo's telepathic message to thin the enemy numbers before full engagement made him realize his mistake.
Cheol Woo's uncharacteristically cold calculation, born of his friend's death, forced Ha Hu Gok to reflect on his own emotional state. His sky-high rage cooled to ice.
Swish!
Nine strands of sword qi from his blade plunged like lightning.
The ultimate technique of the Nine Dragon Sword Art, now perfected to the Twelfth Star realm with Sima Geon's aid: Nine Dragons Strike.
Infused with the full power of the Heaven Earth Fierce Flame Divine Art, its might was beyond imagination.
"Watch out!"
"Dodge!"
Feng Tianlei and So Myeon Sal shouted belatedly, but it was too late. Il Geom Tal Myeong thrust his sword instinctively, but too slow to put real power behind it. Even at full strength, doubtful he could withstand.
Boom!
"Arrrgh!"
"Uwaaak!"
Amid the deafening blasts, agonized screams rang out.
Caught utterly defenseless, they died without proper reaction.
As Ha Hu Gok swung again, Il Geom Tal Myeong blocked his path. Pale-faced from the prior clash, a thin trickle of blood lined his lips.
With So Myeon Sal joining, Ha Hu Gok fell back without forcing it.
"Damn it!"
While Il Geom Tal Myeong and So Myeon Sal blocked follow-ups, Feng Tianlei stared in horror at his fallen subordinates. One strike had killed or crippled over thirty percent—carelessness's price cut deep.
Hearing screams from the rear, Ma So Gwan instinctively turned, worried for his few remaining clansmen.
After their exchange and gaining distance, he thought it safe—but against Cheol Woo, whose body was sturdy yet surprisingly agile, it was reckless.
"Looking away?"
Before the words finished, Cheol Woo was in Ma So Gwan's face.
Startled, Ma So Gwan reeled back while thrusting a fist.
Cheol Woo, absorbing the fierce blow with his body, pressed forward unstopped, ramming Ma So Gwan's torso with his left shoulder.
"Guhk!"
Ma So Gwan flew back with a choked cry.
In that desperate moment, he cupped his hands to shield himself, avoiding fatal injury but not lightly wounded.
"Daring to mess around with me right in front of you. Either crazy or your guts are hanging out. How about it, old man? Spot on?"
Cheol Woo grinned at Feng Tianlei approaching with a stern face.