Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Night Stained with Blood (2)
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Sima Geon arrived at the main compound in the blink of an eye and spotted Sima Jin and Hwang Jeong being dragged out with faces pale with terror.
His blood ran cold.
The power of the Three Venerables One Heart Technique surged from his dantian, racing madly through his eight extraordinary meridians.
He stomped his foot.
Boom!
A deafening roar like a volcano erupting swept through the area with a massive shockwave.
The overwhelming pressure, too much for any human to bear, froze everyone in place.
He took another step forward.
Boom!
The ground cracked and flipped upward, hurling chunks into the air.
A tremendous vibration shook the heavens and earth, Sima Geon's aura blanketing everything.
Those who couldn't withstand it collapsed in fear, some even vomiting blood.
"Get a grip!"
Gu Seongnyang bellowed and kicked off the ground, leaping into the air.
With a chilling whoosh, his attack bore down on Sima Geon.
Sima Geon's eyes gleamed.
A familiar sword style—the same technique he'd seen not long ago in Sungmyeong Province.
'Red Dragon Hall, huh.'
A sinister smile curled his lips as he drew his sword.
Kaboom!
An explosion rang out.
Gu Seongnyang's face twisted in shock. He'd struck first and was confident of success, but now...
Gritting his teeth, he leaped again, swinging his blade.
The old masters, arriving late, joined the assault from both sides.
Sword qi like lightning plunged through the dust cloud shrouding the area.
Sima Geon's gaze lifted to the sky.
His sword, now glowing red-hot, unleashed a burst of blade light.
Thunderbolt Blood Sword's ultimate technique: Mad Fire.
The ravenous flames devoured Gu Seongnyang and the Red Dragon Hall elders' attacks in an instant, branding fatal marks on their chests.
"Urk!"
A low groan escaped Gu Seongnyang's lips.
Clutching his crushed chest, he stared at Sima Geon in disbelief.
This opponent wasn't bare-handed—he'd fought while holding an injured person in one arm.
It wasn't even dozens of exchanges.
No earth-shattering clash had occurred.
Just one collision, and it was all over.
"I heard he was strong, but..."
Gu Seongnyang trailed off, spewing blood.
Leaning on his sword to barely stay upright, he scanned his surroundings.
'Even them.'
The three elders who'd joined to help him lay sprawled powerlessly.
Two were motionless; the third twitched faintly but wouldn't last.
Gu Seongnyang, who'd retired to a quiet life only to join this expedition, finally understood as he watched their futile deaths. Why those on the campaign harbored such deep grudges, vengeance, and hatred—yet couldn't hide their fear at the name Divine Demon Division Leader, Sima Geon.
An overwhelming sense of futility washed over him.
As his strength ebbed and his consciousness faded, screams echoed one after another.
Forcing his drooping eyelids open, Gu Seongnyang painfully turned his head.
With every move Sima Geon made, blood sprayed everywhere.
The elites handpicked by Red Dragon Hall for this expedition thrashed desperately to survive, but before Sima Geon's sword, it was all for naught.
Not even twice. A single stroke claimed each life.
"I-I want to keep this girl al—"
"S-Stay back!"
The heads of those threatening Sima Jin and Hwang Jeong with blades at their throats flew into the air.
As those heads rolled across the ground, Gu Seongnyang's neck lolled limply.
"Big brother."
Sima Jin ran to the corpse tumbling forward, tears streaming as she pounded it.
Sima Geon smiled faintly and pulled her into one arm.
"Sorry. I was too late, wasn't I?"
"N-No."
Though she shook her head in his embrace, Sima Jin's body trembled contrary to her words.
After holding her briefly, Sima Geon turned to Hwang Jeong, whose face was still ashen, his shock unrecovered.
"I'm sorry. You keep getting dragged into this because of us."
"N-No, it's fine. Those bastards are the villains. They were after Jina again, weren't they?"
Hwang Jeong's face burned with rage, perhaps because Sima Jin had perfectly overcome her heavenly punishment recently and formed a master-disciple bond with him.
"Yes. The same ones we met in Sungmyeong Province before."
At the mention of Sungmyeong Province, Hwang Jeong's fury intensified.
"Damn scum! They should be begging for forgiveness and repenting, not..."
Trailing off, Hwang Jeong's gaze shifted to Manchu nestled in Sima Geon's arm.
"Oh, right—please take a look at this one. It got injured by those guys. I stopped the bleeding for now, but the wound's pretty deep."
"Come inside, quickly."
Startled, Hwang Jeong led them to a room used as a sickbay.
As Sima Jin left Sima Geon's arms and dashed to the next building, she called out,
"I'll prepare clean water and cloths."
"Hurry."
Sima Geon laid Manchu on the sickbed, and Hwang Jeong promptly checked its pulse and examined the wound.
After a moment with eyes closed, feeling the pulse, a sigh of relief escaped Hwang Jeong.
"How is it?"
"The pulse is weak and slow, but I don't think it's anything to worry about too much. The injury looked severe and dangerous, but you staunched the bleeding in time and got it through the crisis."
"Good."
"Truly fortunate it wasn't worse. Jina."
Sima Jin, wiping Manchu's forehead with a white cloth, replied respectfully.
"Yes, Master."
"First, prepare these things. For wounds like this..."
As Hwang Jeong instructed Sima Jin on treatments and imparted lessons, Sima Geon gently stroked Manchu's head, still unconscious.
If Manchu hadn't risked its life to warn of the enemies' plot, he wouldn't have stopped Sima Jin's kidnapping—and she might have endured another horrific ordeal like last time.
'Thank you. You saved us.'
Sima Geon conveyed his heartfelt gratitude. But it wasn't over yet.
As Sima Geon stood, Hwang Jeong and Sima Jin gave him puzzled looks.
"Those targeting us aren't just these guys."
"What? You mean there are others besides them?"
"They might come straight to the house. The fight could be happening right now."
"Big brother!"
Sima Jin clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes widening like full moons, tears welling up.
"Don't worry. Cheol Woo's there, and so's the elder. Few in the world can handle those two. But..."
The problem was he couldn't guarantee no other foes would strike while he was away. Nor was it wise to return home without confirming the full might of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Sima Jin's safety came first in any scenario, leaving Sima Geon hesitant to decide.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside the estate.
"C-Could it be them?"
Hwang Jeong asked, unable to hide his fear.
"Doesn't seem like it, but I should check."
Sima Geon frowned and stepped out of the sickbay.
Hwang Jeong and Sima Jin peeked out but couldn't follow.
Seeing the group pouring into the estate, a faint smile touched Sima Geon's lips.
"Who dares touch this place? Come out. We'll deal with you."
They were Beggars' Sect disciples—each with middling martial skill but unmatchable in loyalty—who'd rushed over upon hearing of suspicious figures entering the estate and a fight breaking out.
A minimal safety net for Sima Jin was now in place.
"Stubborn bastard."
Jwa Sogi cursed under his breath at Ha Huyeon, who leaned on his sword despite blood pouring from his body.
Even on the verge of collapse, his killing intent only grew denser.
Seeing the unyielding will in those eyes—that he'd never retreat while alive—Jwa Sogi sighed.
'Where'd this monster come from?'
Toppling Ha Huyeon was proving far harder than expected, giving Jwa Sogi a headache.
He glanced sideways.
Noe Jeon, as badly wounded as Ha Huyeon, cackled madly while swinging his sword wildly. His ferocity kept the subordinates from properly attacking.
He could've overwhelmed with numbers, but the sudden ambush had massacred his men first.
"Scared? Then scram."
Ha Huyeon bared bloodstained teeth and yelled.
"Ha! You little shit."
Jwa Sogi's eyes flashed with murderous light at the mocking jeer.
"Fine. If that's what you want, I'll kill you properly."
Steadying his ragged breath, he closed the distance in a flash and swung without mercy.
"Chaotic Thunder Corpse Dismemberment!"
Ha Huyeon's brow furrowed at the onslaught crashing like a torrent.
It carried the intent to end it all—faster and sharper than anything before. He wondered if he could even block it.
Shaking off the unease, Ha Huyeon swiftly countered.
Nine Dragons Sword Technique's ultimate: Nine Dragons Annihilation.
Not even at the Twelve Stars Great Star realm yet—still hovering around Nine Stars—but it was his best move now.
"Kuh!"
"Gah!"
The two, locked in fierce combat, staggered back as if by agreement.
After three or four steps, Jwa Sogi collapsed, blood gushing from his left chest.
"Y-You damn dog..."
Jwa Sogi's gaze, filled with shock and rage, fixed on Ha Huyeon—or rather, on Gwa Yu supporting him at his side.
Gwa Yu had been in the room with Sima Hyeon, Sima Ho, and Yong Jung when the fight broke out. He'd slipped out stealthily and hidden behind a pillar, coldly observing.
A assassin knew exposing himself against numbers was suicide, so he'd bided his time.
Even as Ha Huyeon and Noe Jeon took heavy wounds and teetered on the brink, Gwa Yu held back. They were pushed but still had fight left.
Finally, the moment arrived.
As Ha Huyeon and Jwa Sogi clashed in their final gambit, Gwa Yu struck like lightning, his sword aiming for Jwa Sogi's throat.
Jwa Sogi twisted away in horror, but took a deep gash to his side.
With his balance shattered and breath ragged, he couldn't withstand Ha Huyeon's full-powered strike. Ha Huyeon's blade pierced his heart through the fatal opening.
"Why'd you come out? I told you to stay inside."
Ha Huyeon panted.
"Like I could just sit there."
"Thanks anyway."
Ha Huyeon gave a grimace—smile or pain?—and patted Gwa Yu's arm.
Just then, from a short distance away where Noe Jeon was slammed against a wall, a desperate shout rang out.
"You bastards! How long you gonna chit-chat?!"