Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Dark Currents (1)
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Sima Geon arrived home. In his hands, however, dangled not only Hahu Gok but also another man—a limp agent from the Dark Shadow named Piao Ying.
Just then, Cheol Woo, who had completed a full cycle of qi circulation, snapped his eyes open.
"You okay?"
Sima Geon asked with concern.
He looked a bit better than when they'd rushed off to rescue Hahu Gok, but his complexion was still poor.
"Nah. The poison's nastier than I thought. Gonna suffer for a while. But I won't kick the bucket right away, so don't worry about me. Who's this guy?"
Sima Geon tossed the man aside as he spoke.
"Found him skulking around in secret, so I nabbed him. Gotta check who he is."
"Looks like a total rat. Anyway, how's the old man? He looks in rough shape."
"It's bad."
"If it's that bad, shouldn't we head to the Clear Heart Clinic? Why come back here?"
"There might be more enemies."
Sima Geon gave a curt reply, then turned to Hahu Yeon, who was approaching with a stiff expression after tending to the unconscious Noe Jeon.
"How's your body holding up?"
"Manageable, somehow."
"And Noe Jeon?"
"Not good, but not the worst."
"That's a relief. Where's Gwa Yu?"
"In his room. Yong Jung's hurt."
"Yong Jung too?"
"Yes. But Grandfather..."
Hahu Yeon's gaze had been fixed on Hahu Gok in Sima Geon's arms from the start.
"His external wounds are bad enough, but the internal damage is severe. He'll need medicine to restore his qi. We have some herbs here, but they're not suitable for immediate use. Do you have anything prepared?"
"I'll fetch it right away."
Hahu Yeon gritted her teeth and dashed into the house. Though she herself bore no light injuries, such pain was nothing compared to her grandfather's life hanging by a thread.
"You sure you're really okay? You look pretty bad."
Sima Geon frowned at Noe Jeon, who lay there like a corpse.
"He's just resting while he's down. He'll be fine."
Cheol Woo chuckled dryly and glanced at Hahu Gok.
"He took on those old monsters, Face Killer and One Sword Transcends Life, huh?"
"Yeah. He held out till the end. If we'd been even a little later, it would've been a disaster."
"His skills improve by the day—impressive. Even I'd have no confidence against those two teaming up. If the elder hadn't held them off, we'd all be dead."
"Yeah. Anyway, let's take care of our bod—"
As Sima Geon spoke worriedly to Cheol Woo, an urgent cry rang out from inside the room.
"Yong Jung!"
"Pull yourself together!"
Sima Geon hurled himself toward his brothers' voices and kicked the door open.
Inside, Sima Hyeon cradled the blood-soaked Yong Jung, while Gwa Yu stood by in a daze.
"What happened?"
Sima Geon demanded of Gwa Yu.
He'd heard from Hahu Yeon that Yong Jung was hurt, but he hadn't imagined it was this serious.
"He got hurt blocking a guy trying to get into the room. Protecting us."
Sima Hyeon said, voice choking.
Sima Geon turned to see the enemy corpse slumped right in front of the door.
"While Yong Jung held him off, I cut the bastard's throat. But his sword pierced both the heart and lungs..."
Despite using every method he knew to save Yong Jung, Gwa Yu couldn't continue, his failure too bitter.
Sima Geon gently laid Hahu Gok down and patted Gwa Yu's bowed head. Then he approached Yong Jung, who was gasping raggedly.
"B-Brother..."
Yong Jung recognized Sima Geon and forced a weak smile.
"Does it hurt?"
"I'm... gonna... die."
Blood bubbled profusely from his chest with every breath, despite Sima Hyeon's pressure.
Sima Geon took Yong Jung's hand. His pulse was barely there.
"Thank you. And I'm sorry."
Sima Geon's voice trembled faintly.
"It's... okay... But Lady Sima..."
"Yeah. She's safe."
"Good..."
Yong Jung let out a relieved smile.
Staggering into the room, Cheol Woo saw Yong Jung and twisted his lips.
"You idiot! Something funny? That's why you shouldn't crawl into places like this."
"Heh... heh... Yeah."
Cheol Woo plopped down beside Yong Jung.
"You look... pretty beat up... yourself, bro."
"Not enough to croak like some people."
Something surged in Cheol Woo's chest. He took a deep breath to steady himself and gripped Yong Jung's hand tightly.
"Any last requests? I'll grant anything."
"Hah... Not really... hah!"
His blinking slowed drastically. Even speaking was growing too hard.
"Say something—anything."
Cheol Woo barked urgently.
"Then... just once... watch out... for me."
"What?"
"Feels like... no matter what... you brothers... will clash... with the Silver Fox Clan."
It was Sima Geon who answered, not Cheol Woo.
"Got it. No matter what happens, I'll hold back once for you."
"Thanks... And that guy... Zuo Gong... owes us... a debt... in that remote... place..."
"Yeah. I won't forget Zuo Gong."
A faint smile touched Yong Jung's lips as his eyes closed weakly.
"Tha...nk... you..."
His final mumble was so faint it barely registered without straining to hear. Then silence.
Sima Hyeon and Sima Ho, confirming Yong Jung's death, burst into sobs together. Gwa Yu collapsed limply, tears streaming.
"Damn it!"
Cheol Woo punched the floor and shot to his feet.
He wobbled without steady footing, and Sima Geon steadied him.
"Don't get worked up. You're in no shape."
"Fine."
Cheol Woo glanced back at Yong Jung's face one last time before stepping out.
In one corner of the courtyard, Noe Jeon still lay unconscious. Farther off, Hahu Yeon sprinted back with the medicine.
Cheol Woo looked up at the night sky, a long sigh escaping him.
"Hah! Fuck! It's disgustingly bright."
The Dominion Hall, where all major and minor affairs of the Heavenly Demon Cult were decided.
After Gwan Woong returned safely from the Southern Barbaric Expedition, the Cult's top leaders had gathered for the first time.
Thud!
Gwan Woong slammed down the crumpled letter harshly.
The leaders assembled in the meeting hall read his foul mood and fell silent.
At Gwan Woong's glance, Strategist Hyeong Mu Gang rose with a grim expression.
"We just got word from the So Heung outpost."
The mention of So Heung stirred the room.
No one was ignorant of the expedition's grave importance.
"What happened?"
The North Heaven Sword Demon asked. Sensing ominous vibes from Gwan Woong's demeanor and Hyeong Mu Gang's face, his tone was cautious.
"To cut to the chase: it failed."
Sighs of regret erupted here and there.
"Wiped out completely?"
A red-haired elder, Supreme Elder Blood Light Martial Emperor—his locks singed like fire—asked incredulously, shoulders draped in those flames.
"Yes. Save for one Dark Shadow agent who sent the falcon messenger, not a soul survived."
"Hah! We're no strangers to the Divine Demon Division Leader and Diamond Yaksha's skills, but even so..."
Blood Light Martial Emperor shook his head in disbelief.
"The force was short of the original plan, but with Red Dragon Merchant House experts joining, it seemed viable. Not just my judgment—the strategist's too. Where the hell did it go wrong?"
The North Heaven Sword Demon pressed Hyeong Mu Gang.
"Three mistakes."
"Three?"
"Yes."
"What were they?"
"First, the surprise attack failed. They were exposed right before striking. Seems the Beggar Clan Supreme Elder spotted them."
"Beggar Clan's Supreme Elder? That Mad Beggar Zhu Yu Geol Goe?"
"Yes."
"What rotten luck. Of all people..."
The North Heaven Sword Demon clicked his tongue.
"Second, it wasn't just the Divine Demon Division Leader and Diamond Yaksha there."
"Others? Our intel said nothing of the sort. Who were they? How many? Enough to make it fail?"
"Not many. But one was the famed Sword Ghost of the martial world."
"Sword Ghost? You mean... from the Hahu Clan?"
"Exactly."
"Nonsense! Because of one old Hahu fart..."
As the North Heaven Sword Demon raised his voice, Hyeong Mu Gang cut in.
"He withstood the combined assault of One Sword Transcends Life Elder and Face Killer Protector alone."
"Impossible!"
The stunned North Heaven Sword Demon gaped.
The others reacted no differently.
Face Killer was formidable, but One Sword Transcends Life was among the Cult's elite. Excluding Gwan Woong, North Heaven Sword Demon, and Blood Light Martial Emperor, no one in the room could confidently claim to handle those two together.
"And they still couldn't bring him down?"
"They did, eventually. The Sword Ghost likely lost his life. If not for the Divine Demon Division Leader."
"Hm."
Chilled fury flickered in the North Heaven Sword Demon's eyes, haunted by his own humiliating defeat to Sima Geon.
"The third reason: we underestimated the Divine Demon Division Leader and Diamond Yaksha—especially the Division Leader."
Blood Light Martial Emperor glanced at the still-frowning North Heaven Sword Demon and gave a wry smile.
"No one knows their strength better than us."
"No. Per the report, the Division Leader fought the Red Dragon experts alone. They were annihilated; he emerged unscathed."
"Led by Gu Seong Ryang, right? Hmph. I could manage that."
No one challenged Blood Light Martial Emperor's boast. His prowess was that renowned.
"In rescuing the Sword Ghost, Face Killer Protector fell in one exchange, One Sword Transcends Life Elder in a mere two."
"..."
Shock flooded Blood Light Martial Emperor's eyes.
Even fatigued from the Sword Ghost, it was unbelievable.
"Even without that Sword Ghost wildcard, the plan would've failed."
Gwan Woong, silent till now, spoke up.
"Can't say for sure. If Flying Sky Light Demon had joined Face Killer and One Sword against the Division Leader after tangling with Diamond Yaksha, things might've turned."
"Yet your face says it'd still fail."
Under Gwan Woong's point, Hyeong Mu Gang hesitated, glancing around before speaking carefully.
"Frankly, yes. Our assessment of Diamond Yaksha seems accurate enough, but not the Division Leader. Even all three together... I doubt it'd work."
"I agree."
Gwan Woong smirked, eyeing the crestfallen North Heaven Sword Demon and Blood Light Martial Emperor. Though the rebellion had derailed plans, they seemed to acknowledge their faults. That sufficed.
"For now, best to cut ties."
Blood Light Martial Emperor shook his head firmly, as if it were unthinkable.
"Can't. It's the Heavenly Demon Pill. We must recover it."
"Agreed. Retrieve the Heavenly Demon Pill. I'll go myself."
The North Heaven Sword Demon raised his voice too.
"Send me."
"They're a major threat to the Cult. Eliminate them now."
Opinions poured out.
Gwan Woong, watching with interest, lightly raised a hand to quiet them.
"No one doubts the Heavenly Demon Pill's importance. I'd love to retrieve it most. But after this failed expedition and heavy losses, another attempt is unwise. Not giving up—just shelving it. Focus on the looming grand scheme instead."
The word "grand scheme" shifted the room's atmosphere. Satisfied, Gwan Woong smiled leisurely and turned to Hyeong Mu Gang.
"The Hahu Clan has intervened in our affairs again. We now have full justification to act openly. First..."
As Hyeong Mu Gang stood to explain, a confident smile played on his lips.