Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Triple Agent of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult
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The Murim Alliance Leader burst into hearty laughter.
Anyone would do the same. Who wouldn't laugh upon hearing such news?
"I sent word to put a woman in the sect leader's seat... What? Revive the Plum Blossom Divine Lord?"
"...In any case, we've prevented Mount Hua from falling under Dan Ri-jin's command."
"No. Advisor. No, this won't do. We avoided the fox only to awaken the tiger, haven't we? It might look good for now, but it's bad news for us. Mount Hua's power hasn't been diminished in the slightest."
Tears were about to spill out. People should have just the right amount of talent.
This was beyond excessive.
Lately, the movements of the Heavenly Martial Academy had also been subtly irritating. Could it be...
They fixed that side's grandson too?
"Man, this won't do. No good. Advisor. This is unacceptable."
"What..."
"This is a blade we can't control. Look. Do you know how much more often the name Mok Geom is coming up inside that castle?"
He had even sent someone directly to confirm it.
Yet the results were beyond imagination.
"The man who saved two of the Four Revered Elders from danger. That's Mok Geom. Nine Dragons? No. No. It surpasses that-his name is even being mentioned alongside the Seven Swords of the Murim. There was an empty seat to begin with, so now it's practically the Seven Swords."
"......."
"Fame, you see, reflects a person's potential. How many people appear like a comet in the jianghu and gain such renown so quickly? Even I owe my position to the backing of the Nangong family. If I'd started from nothing, it would've taken ages to earn the title of Sword Sovereign."
"Didn't we have your backing for Red Cloud, Alliance Leader?"
"That's exactly the problem. Haha! It's like raising a tiger cub in your bosom! You know how cautious I am, Advisor. The more I peel back the shell, the sweeter the flesh that keeps spilling out-I'm losing my head to the taste. But..."
The Alliance Leader's laughter cut off abruptly.
"...Don't you ever get the sudden thought that... the sweetness is so overwhelming, I might not notice the bitterness coming after?"
"......."
"It's best not to create an uncontrollable situation from the start. I knew Red Cloud was a razor-sharp blade, but his fame is rising too fast. Looks like I've overlooked more than one or two things."
"What do you plan to do?"
"I'd like to hear your thoughts first, Advisor."
Zhuge So-ak adjusted his glasses.
"Once we've decided to discard him, we should do it thoroughly. Sending him to the place we planned in advance would be best."
"The Heavenly Dragon Society? Heh heh. Indeed, that's the cleanest way. Send him as reinforcements to a battlefield that might never end... Even if he survives, it'll take over a decade to return."
"Death would be quicker. The Evil Path Company Young Lord hasn't let a single Murim Alliance reinforcement from our side live. We can't send him under the pretext of inspection, so I'll prepare a separate justification."
"I'll leave it to you, Advisor. Heavenly Dragon Society reinforcement squad..."
The Murim Alliance Leader gazed out the window.
Nice weather, isn't it? Truly.
"Putting former Murim Alliance Inspector Red Cloud at the head of that squad would make for a pretty picture. Wouldn't you say?"
"Well said."
...
"A... Aaaack?!"
Su-ah, whom I hadn't seen in ages, came running toward me but stopped and screamed.
"G-Grandpa hit Daddy?! Waaah! B-Blood! Blood!"
"I'm fine."
"I'm not fine!"
Su-ah, sniffling and tugging at my clothes, bared her teeth at the Plum Blossom Divine Lord.
"Get lost!"
"No, I got hurt too..."
"Get lost!"
"...Hwa-rin. At least you take my side..."
"How badly did he beat you?!"
"Where in the world do I have anyone on my side...?"
The Plum Blossom Divine Lord sighed, then exploded in anger.
"Your master got hurt too! You punk! Can't you see this wound?! That guy's beyond worrying about now! He chased right up to my chin... That final form mixed with something weird?! Good lord! First time seeing anything like it in my life! Worrying about a monster like a bug shell! Worry about me! Me! I got beaten too!"
"Master must be senile in his old age. Red Cloud. You okay? Ignore him. Looks like his mania flared up again."
"M-My blood pressure...!"
I gave an awkward smile.
The External Form Sword Aura had fully taken shape. I'd also completely decided on the direction to advance.
Thanks to that, my body was even more solid. It felt alien, like I was gradually shedding my humanity.
But...
I liked it. Immensely.
"Su-ah. You're getting blood on you. Let go."
"Daddy's blood is okay... Hic..."
Su-ah clung tight, her eyes welling with tears.
"Daddy... didn't want to see me...?"
Two months, was it?
I shook my head. Honestly, I'd only thought about the sword...
But when everything was done, she was the first who came to mind. She was practically my daughter now.
"I missed you."
"...Daddyyyyy..."
"Aigoo. Anyone hearing would think we'd been apart for ten years."
"Why are you grumbling like that?!"
"No one's worried about me! Look here! Here too! That thing I barely blocked with my Heart Sword at the end, and you're fussing over a bit of blood...!"
"That's not a bit! It's soaked through your whole shirt-what are you talking about?!"
"It's a bit by his standards! The guy regenerates even if you slice him-big deal if he bleeds a little?!"
"Act like a grown-up! Master, pleeease...!"
"The brat who stole all my martial arts... The disciple who cares for her man before her master... Argh! Tch! What's the point!"
"Y-Your man?! I never thought...!"
I left the bickering pair alone and picked up Su-ah. She grinned broadly and rubbed her cheek against mine.
"I missed you, Daddy. I learned a lot too. Wanna see?"
"Show me later? I need to wash up first."
"Wash together."
"...That's a bit..."
I washed up. Trimmed the hair on my body, then straightened my back.
With my realm changed, the scenery had changed too, sharpening my senses even more.
I could feel nature's energy. I couldn't draw it into myself yet...
But seeing the flow was key. I could just pluck it and pull it to me.
I sensed the scent within the ki. The more I inhaled, the clearer it became.
Once I reached the Profound Realm, I'd handle this world's ki like my own...
After washing, I came out to find Su-ah waiting. She proudly raised her sword and beamed at me.
"Daddy! Look at this!"
The sword moved.
Blood-red plum blossoms bloomed as hazy sword aura sparkled around the blade like stars.
"...Transcendent realm?"
"It just happened somehow!"
The birth of the youngest master.
I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. What was this? She was wielding the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship like it was her own from the start.
"Your daughter's a monster."
"Monster? No."
I stroked Su-ah's head as she sheathed her sword.
"Where's there such a pretty monster?"
"...Daddyyyyyyy... I love you."
"No, really a monster. She stole the essence of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship clean. Even if not perfect, it's just a matter of time. Where else is a kid who sucks out Mount Hua's essence in two months? And what? Transcendent at that age?"
The Plum Blossom Divine Lord shuddered.
"Beyond genius-a calamity. That child's talent pierces the heavens and goes beyond the world. Teach her carefully. So she doesn't slice the world apart."
"She's a good, cute kid. She's learning the sword but also slowly grasping its weight..."
I trusted Su-ah.
"She won't go astray. Right?"
"I'll only draw it with Daddy's permission!"
"Draw it for anything you think is right. I trust your judgment."
"...I wanna marry Daddy."
"Saying that while drawing your sword is weird."
After a proper meal in ages, I headed down to Harmony Echo Village. There, alongside Number 1 whom I hadn't seen in two months, another woman awaited me.
"I thought you were late compared to what you boasted... Didn't expect you to be late too. Red Cloud."
"Training."
Death Gate Leader Training peeked behind me and waved at Su-ah.
"Long time no see, little sis."
"Arrrgh..."
"Still so cute."
"You're not cute!"
"That's no way to talk to your big sis."
"You're not my big sis!"
"I'm still older."
Training glanced at me. A faint smile played at her lips.
"Right? Daddy?"
"Don't call me that!"
"Can't call Daddy 'Daddy'? ...Pity."
"You're not Daddy, so don't call him Daddy!"
"...If not big sis... Gaga?"
"My daddy's not marrying! He's living with me forever! If he does, it'll be with me!"
"Don't you feel bad for Daddy?"
"N-No! Daddy's always happy with me! R-Right? Daddy...?"
"Not in my plans."
"S-See?!"
"Not in plans doesn't mean I won't. See?"
"...Eeeeeek!!!! Eeeeeek!!!!!"
I separated the two.
"Training. Can I hear the information you brought?"
"The info itself is simple. After tracking the spies and extracting intel... I heard the name Reverse Heaven again. And I found the location of one of the people you were looking for. The guard who massacred servants inside the Demon Palace."
"...Where?"
"Ironically, it overlaps with your next assignment."
"My next assignment...?"
"You haven't heard yet."
Training leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"The Murim Alliance is currently recruiting reinforcements for the Heavenly Dragon Society. And at the top of that list is Red Cloud-you."
"...What...?"
"The endless territorial war between the Heavenly Dragon Society and the Evil Path Company is famous. And every Murim Alliance reinforcement sent there meets the same end."
"...Death?"
"Yes."
Training pulled away. She touched her lips.
"In my view, the Murim Alliance wants to deal with you sooner than expected. Know why every reinforcement to the Heavenly Dragon Society inevitably dies? The Evil Path Company Young Lord trembles at the sight of Murim Alliance warriors. If you go to the battlefield, you'll be his first target."
"......."
"What will you do?"
"If there's reason to go, then go. I'll pretend to follow orders for now. Better treatment going under the Murim Alliance name than alone."
Our destination was set. To confirm, I asked her.
"The person I'm chasing... Who exactly?"
"The Evil Path Company facing off against the Heavenly Dragon Society. And their Young Lord's guard is the one you're after. Called Poison Snake Sword Youngwol."
"...Another guard?"
"Rumors say he's extremely close to the Evil Path Company Young Lord. If you infiltrated the Evil Path Company the same way as with the Demonic Cult..."
"There might be another incident inside the Evil Path Company."
I needed to move as fast as possible before losing the trail.
I packed my things. Planning to wrap up Mount Hua's affairs within two days at most, then head to the Murim Alliance.
But naturally, Death Gate Leader Training stuck by my side.
"...Training?"
"Work's done, so time for a reward, right?"
"Reward like what..."
"Like this."
She took my hand and placed it on her head, closing her eyes.
I awkwardly patted her head. Su-ah glared daggers.
"Daddyyyyyyyy!!!!"
...Exhausting. Truly.
Training smiled brightly.
"I'll stick with you from now on. Got all the info I could. Family should travel together, right? Right, Number 1?"
"The Leader is correct."
"I won't allow it!"
"Get along, little sis."
"Eeeeeek...! Eeeeeek...!!!"
I picked up the flailing pair. Death Gate Leader joining was fine. But...
The destination was a battlefield where blood flowed like daily life.
Was it okay to bring Su-ah? Not good scenery for a growing child.
"Su-ah. Taking you to where the Heavenly Dragon Society and Evil Path Company fight..."
Su-ah, wriggling, clung to me tightly.
"Daddy. Come together. I'm your daughter and assistant. And now I'm pretty strong too."
"......"
"Don't wanna be apart from Daddy..."
What father beats his daughter? And separating her now would be awkward anyway.
I still needed to keep teaching her the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword...
"...Don't stray from my side. Got it?"
"Always have."
Training naturally clung to me too.
"I won't stray either. Protect me, Daddy."
"You stay away!"
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