Chapter 104
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Aftermath and a Warning
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Thud.
“Ugh!”
A pained groan escaped Cho Ak-ryang's lips.
Glaring at Beom Gye-wi, who had dropped him as unceremoniously as a sack of goods, Cho Ak-ryang swallowed the curse that rose to his throat.
It was because of Dan Ak-seon.
Cho Ak-ryang forced an awkward smile at Dan Ak-seon, who was looking at him with a face that seemed on the verge of tears.
“I'm sorry. I made you worry.”
“It's okay. You've returned safely, and that's all that matters.”
With those words, Dan Ak-seon turned his head toward Beom Gye-wi.
“Thank you. For bringing Mister Cho back.”
“Huh? It was nothing.”
Beom Gye-wi replied nonchalantly, then grinned at Cho Ak-ryang.
“I am the head of the Ten Great Villains, after all. This is the least I could do. Unlike some people, I take good care of my subordinates.”
Cho Ak-ryang's eyebrow twitched.
He was annoyed by Beom Gye-wi's gloating, seizing the opportunity to take all the credit, but he couldn't say anything. If it weren't for him, he wouldn't be standing here now, nor would he have been able to see Dan Ak-seon again.
“Thank you, fine.”
At Cho Ak-ryang's reluctant thanks, Beom Gye-wi burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha! Why so formal now? This isn't the first or second time you've owed me, Brother Cho.”
Just then, he felt a sharp gaze and turned his head.
His eyes met Han Seol-hwa, who was giving him a disapproving look.
“That's enough.”
“Tch.”
Beom Gye-wi finally shut his mouth after being scolded by her.
At that moment, Dan Ak-seon approached Cho Ak-ryang and let out a soft gasp.
“Oh...”
Dan Ak-seon's brow furrowed deeply.
And for good reason; even at a glance, Cho Ak-ryang's condition looked terrible. His complexion was pale, not to mention the clear stain of blood at the corner of his mouth.
A closer look revealed an even more severe situation.
His clothes were torn and slashed.
Through the gaps, gruesome stab wounds gaped open, packed tightly together.
Some of the injuries were even still bleeding.
It was a small mercy that none of the wounds were deep enough to expose bone.
“Ahem.”
Feeling embarrassed and ashamed, Cho Ak-ryang let out a dry cough. He couldn't bring himself to meet Dan Ak-seon's eyes and instead stared off into the distance.
He was no longer the Blood Hand Honored One who had beaten the Sect Leader of Qingcheng to death in front of his disciples. He was just a shameless patient who had returned after aggravating injuries that were nearly healed.
“Let's start with your treatment first.”
As Dan Ak-seon took out his needles, Cho Ak-ryang's eyes wavered slightly.
“Why the Demonic Spirit Needles...?”
“Well, why do you think?”
For a moment, they stared at each other in silence, then Dan Ak-seon smiled gently.
“Because it's the most appropriate treatment for your current condition.”
Cho Ak-ryang awkwardly mirrored Dan Ak-seon's smile. But his gaze remained fixed on the Demonic Spirit Needles in Dan Ak-seon's hand.
Seeing this, Ga Du-dal looked at Dan Ak-seon with fresh eyes.
Who in the entire martial world could make the great Blood Hand Honored One wear such a fearful expression?
The same went for Beom Gye-wi and Han Seol-hwa, who were smiling as if to say, "Serves you right."
Just by Cho Ak-ryang's return, the atmosphere had changed completely.
Witnessing this, Ga Du-dal once again felt a strange emotion.
A sense of belonging and camaraderie he had never felt before. Even a bond that was hard to pinpoint and explain.
*Why am I envious of this?*
Ga Du-dal's heart grew complicated.
“Kugh...”
A groan burst from Cho Ak-ryang's lips.
Seeing his face contorted in pain, even Ga Du-dal, who was watching, winced. His expression alone conveyed the agony Cho Ak-ryang must be feeling.
Dan Ak-seon, on the other hand, calmly inserted needles into various points on Cho Ak-ryang's body.
“It looks like you'll need another long treatment.”
At those words, Beom Gye-wi, who had been watching silently, suddenly interjected.
“Huh? Does that mean we have to do the Dignified Fire Therapy again?”
“I'm afraid so.”
Dan Ak-seon nodded and let out a deep sigh.
“You recklessly drew upon your primal true energy, severely disrupting the energy channels that were just starting to stabilize. Needless to say, your internal injuries have worsened because of it. For the time being, we'll have to combine the Dignified Fire Therapy with other treatments.”
“...”
Cho Ak-ryang clamped his mouth shut, silent as a stone.
He had brought this upon himself, so even if he had a mouth, he had nothing to say.
Beom Gye-wi, on the other hand, glanced reluctantly toward Han Seol-hwa.
“So I have to join hands with that witch again.”
Han Seol-hwa shot him a look of disbelief.
“You think I'm happy about it?”
The moment she finished speaking, Beom Gye-wi and Han Seol-hwa glared at each other.
As the atmosphere quickly turned hostile, Dan Ak-seon finally stepped in.
“Please.”
At that single word, Beom Gye-wi reluctantly nodded.
“...I suppose there's no choice.”
Han Seol-hwa was the same.
“Hmph.”
She turned her head away with a cold scoff.
Ga Du-dal found their reactions endlessly fascinating.
Masters whose names made the world tremble were bending their stubborn wills at a single word from Dan Ak-seon. It was truly a rare sight, one he might never see again in his lifetime.
Some time passed like that.
Cho Ak-ryang spoke.
“Why don't you ask?”
“Because the important thing is that you've returned, Mister Cho.”
At Dan Ak-seon's sincere words, an undeniable wave of emotion washed over Cho Ak-ryang's eyes.
That short sentence contained all the worry Dan Ak-seon had felt for him.
After staring quietly at Dan Ak-seon for a long while, Cho Ak-ryang finally began to speak.
“It was the year I turned seven.”
With that opening, Cho Ak-ryang began to tell the story he had kept locked in his heart.
He spoke of the starvation he endured as a child, and of meeting his master on the brink of life and death.
He explained how he lost his master to the Seven Swords of Qingcheng and became known as the Blood Hand Honored One in his quest for revenge. And he detailed the reason why he had to kill the new Sect Leader of Qingcheng.
Dan Ak-seon already knew some of Cho Ak-ryang's past from Beom Gye-wi. But hearing the story from the man himself was far more painful and heartbreaking.
When Cho Ak-ryang's story ended, a solemn atmosphere settled over the room.
“This is who I am.”
Dan Ak-seon met Cho Ak-ryang's gaze with a complicated expression.
“You must have suffered a great deal.”
Cho Ak-ryang looked surprised by Dan Ak-seon's words.
“Don't you hate me? You, who saves lives, and I, who have returned with the blood of countless people on my hands.”
“Who am I to judge or measure you, Mister Cho? I just...”
“...?”
“I hope you won't have to suffer anymore.”
“...!”
Cho Ak-ryang's gaze shook violently.
The sincerity in Dan Ak-seon's eyes was more comforting in that moment than any words could ever be.
It was then that Ga Du-dal's bewildered voice rang out.
“Huh? Senior, are you crying right now?”
As everyone's eyes turned to him, Beom Gye-wi jumped.
“Who's crying! I'm just hungry!”
Hurriedly wiping his eyes with his sleeve, Beom Gye-wi's eyes were already red and bloodshot.
And he was sniffling, too...
Ga Du-dal smiled slyly.
“So, Senior Beom, you cry when you're hungry.”
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
Beom Gye-wi's face hardened as he glared at Ga Du-dal.
“Do you want to die?”
“Hic!”
A terrifying killing intent erupted out of nowhere.
Faced with it, a startled Ga Du-dal hiccupped.
Casually joking with the great Mang Mountain's Thistle was something he would never dare to do normally.
He had gotten carried away by the atmosphere and crossed a line without realizing it.
It was Dan Ak-seon who saved Ga Du-dal from the life-or-death crisis he had brought upon himself.
“We should focus on the treatment for at least ten days. We can visit Wudang after that.”
Given the circumstances, no one objected.
That night.
Not long after the sun set, Dan Ak-seon went to bed early.
The treatment had taken longer than expected, draining a considerable amount of his physical and mental energy.
Cho Ak-ryang quietly looked down at Dan Ak-seon, who had fallen asleep leaning against his lap.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on Cho Ak-ryang's lips.
His gaze, incredibly benevolent and gentle, was not much different from that of a father watching his child.
“Feeling better now?”
Beom Gye-wi asked in a whisper, careful not to wake Dan Ak-seon.
“I wonder.”
At Cho Ak-ryang's vague reply, Beom Gye-wi asked again.
“In any case, your revenge is complete, isn't it?”
“My revenge is over, but I've created another blood debt.”
The eyes of the Qingcheng disciples, grinding their teeth and cursing him as their master died, were still vivid in his mind.
“Not all blood debts are the same.”
Beom Gye-wi snorted.
“As if those bastards from the Qingcheng Sect are anything special.”
“...”
“Don't worry. For them to collect a blood debt from you, Brother Cho, they'd have to be reborn at least twice. Besides, are you the only one they'll have to face? If they make a move, I won't stand by idly either.”
Cho Ak-ryang let out a low sigh.
“I'm worried their revenge will be directed elsewhere.”
Cho Ak-ryang gazed down at the soundly sleeping Dan Ak-seon. Then, feeling a sharp gaze, he looked up.
Han Seol-hwa was standing behind him, staring. He didn't know when she had arrived.
Just as an embarrassed Cho Ak-ryang was about to look away.
“You two idiots. Listen up.”
Han Seol-hwa spoke, her voice radiating cold anger.
“From now on, do absolutely nothing.”
“What?”
At Beom Gye-wi's question, Han Seol-hwa's eyebrows shot up.
“Whatever it is, no matter the situation, I said do nothing.”
“I just saved Brother Cho.”
As Beom Gye-wi started to speak, Cho Ak-ryang nudged him sharply in the ribs.
That was how unusual Han Seol-hwa's mood was.
The rage boiling past its breaking point was palpable in her gaze. She looked incredibly dangerous, as if she would explode at the slightest touch.
“...”
“...”
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi avoided Han Seol-hwa's gaze and remained silent.
A moment passed.
Recalling something, Cho Ak-ryang spoke with a serious expression.
“This incident might provoke the Martial Alliance to...”
“Brother Cho.”
Han Seol-hwa cut Cho Ak-ryang off with a quiet smile.
“Do nothing. Don't even think.”
Cho Ak-ryang let out an awkward cough.
After glaring at Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi, Han Seol-hwa gently lifted the sleeping Dan Ak-seon into her arms.
Then, without a backward glance, she strode away.
“Hey, Brother Cho...”
“Shh.”
Cho Ak-ryang cut Beom Gye-wi off, urging silence with his eyes. Beom Gye-wi glanced toward Han Seol-hwa and reluctantly nodded.
And so...
The long day was coming to an end.
* * *
Jegal Yeon sighed, looking at the mountain of documents piled on her desk.
Just looking at it was enough to give her a headache.
It was an unprecedented volume of reports since she had taken charge of the Heavenly Ear Corps.
Moreover, messages were still flying in from all over at this very moment.
Carrier pigeons were one thing, but considering the ones arriving via messenger... it was enough to make her mind go blank.
The only saving grace was...
*'Death of the Qingcheng Sect Leader.'*
...that the contents were all more or less the same.
The culprit who murdered the Sect Leader was the Blood Hand Honored One. To make matters worse, the reports also mentioned that Beom Gye-wi had appeared.
There were also reports of heavy casualties within the Qingcheng Sect, but in her opinion, that wasn't the biggest problem.
The important thing was that despite suffering such damage, the Qingcheng Sect had let both of them escape.
*How utterly pathetic!*