Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: The True Sado-ryeon Lord's Return
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People were dying.
That was the battlefield. That was what was happening right now inside the Sado-ryeon.
But amid it all, I heard a shout that pierced through the chaos. Just as I was debating whether to charge into the fray, a growl that seized everyone's attention halted the war for a moment.
"You fucking bastards. Stop fighting."
Gu Ok-gyeong.
The Sado-ryeon Lord stood in the battlefield, holding a severed head by its hair. Through the half-peeled human skin mask, the face of a woman who had lost her light peeked out.
"I'm the real Sado-ryeon Lord. You mad bastards."
"......?!"
Swords began to halt one by one. And as if to prove it, Gu Ok-gyeong channeled her qi and bellowed once more at the top of her lungs.
"Anyone who swings a sword from now on gets their head like this!"
The crude words ended the Sado-ryeon's internal strife.
But that's precisely why...
...they suited her.
...
The Sado-ryeon's internal strife was over. And what that meant was simple.
"Please kill us!"
Those who had groveled before the fake now groveled before the real one. With the war ended, all that remained was sorting out the sinners.
Gu Ok-gyeong nodded from atop a mountain of corpses.
"Fine. I'll kill you."
"N-No...!"
"I'm kidding, you idiots. Who am I supposed to chew out if I kill all of you? Can't have that. It's partly my fault for getting backstabbed anyway."
True to her word, Sado-ryeon Lord Gu Ok-gyeong handed over Yeongwol's corpse to me. I'd never seen that lifeless face before, but I caught the thick scent of poison clinging beneath her skin.
Poison person. It felt like her entire body had been turned into poison while she lived. I guess that's what it takes to poison the Heavenly Demon. I shaved nearby trees and quickly fashioned a coffin.
I drove wooden nails into it and placed Yeongwol's body inside.
"Suryeon. Can you take this to that icy valley where Yakbi's coffin is?"
"Leave it to me."
A member of the Assassins' Gate leaped out and took the coffin. As I watched them vanish in an instant, I moved to stand beside Gu Ok-gyeong.
"What? Expecting a reward? Don't worry. I'll treat you real good. You're my personal physician, after all?"
"Nothing about Jin Baek-cheon?"
"Oh. Jin Baek-cheon? Nope... wasn't here, I guess? Anyway, how's the Heavenly Dragon Society Lord?"
The Heavenly Dragon Society Lord's corpse.
To ensure it could never be used again, I burned it to ashes. All that remained of the quick incineration was white powder.
I buried the ashes in the ground and picked out a suitable rock to serve as a gravestone.
"I took care of it. No need to worry."
"Controlling the dead, too. I'd only heard rumors, but seeing it for real gave me chills. Look. Goosebumps."
"People are watching."
"So what. Let 'em watch. Wanna kiss?"
"Ok-gyeong. Come on."
Gu Ok-gyeong giggled as she swept her gaze over the grovelers.
Her lips curved up. Having regained her leisure, she prodded the corpses with her sword.
"Let's head home first. I'm beat."
With those words, I knew instinctively.
The true Sado-ryeon's internal strife was completely over.
...
The return was swift. Some of the Sado-ryeon's upper echelons questioned my presence.
Gu Ok-gyeong answered curtly.
"My secret personal physician."
"......."
There was too much to explain, so I let it slide for now. And finally...
I entered the Sado-ryeon.
The heart of the unorthodox world.
"See? That's why I called it impregnable."
I could only nod at Gu Ok-gyeong's boastful question.
The scale was different. It couldn't even compare to the Heavenly Dragon Society's core. The unorthodox world was structured with extreme wealth disparity from the start, so those who had it ended up with even more.
And even there, it stood out.
The position of Sado-ryeon Lord was at the very top of the unorthodox world.
I looked up at the impossibly high walls. The moment I stepped inside, I blinked at the sprawling buildings.
Every single one was luxurious. It was as if no one could enter without 'qualifications'-not a single modest structure in sight.
And the size. No matter where I looked, there were no shabby buildings. All were multi-story at minimum. Even the attire of people strolling the streets was leagues above the outside.
All clad in silk robes adorned with various jewels. Delicious aromas wafted through the streets, and the very first thing that struck me was the complete absence of beggars.
A city of nothing but the wealthy... that was it.
Gu Ok-gyeong burst into laughter.
"Look at you, gawking like a country bumpkin. All this is mine? See anything you want? Just say it. I'll buy it all for you."
"...Then... just one thing."
"Huh? You actually do?"
"Something I didn't get."
I glanced at Black Cloud. He shot back with a weary face.
"Still on about that sword?"
"A promise is a promise. It's my daughter's sword. I'd like to take it if possible."
"Ah, forget it. I'll get you one instead. I took that one. I'll find a master craftsman and make you the best sword. Good? Anything else?"
"No."
I shook my head. I only wanted Su-a's sword. Nothing more.
"For real? Really nothing?"
"...If I had to pick..."
I scooped up Suryeon, whose wounds hadn't fully healed.
"...a place for Suryeon to rest would be nice."
"...Red Cloud..."
Gu Ok-gyeong clicked her tongue at her wriggling form.
"Now I don't wanna."
"The Lord's so petty."
"You strut around 'cause you've got backing? Huh? This is my turf."
"What did this girl say? My head injury must've messed up my memory..."
"...God, I wanna smack you."
I gently pushed aside the growling Gu Ok-gyeong.
"She's injured. That's enough."
"Red Cloud. The Sado-ryeon Lord's bullying me."
"Me?! What did I do?! Hey! I'm injured too! Can't you see this graze?! Blood here!"
Gu Ok-gyeong, who had been yelling, whipped her head away.
"Ah, whatever. I don't care. Hmph. Fine. Whatever. You're my physician anyway."
"Never signed up for that."
"Anyway, rest up. Gotta start acting like the Sado-ryeon Lord now. Dae-un... stays by my side. Chief Steward!"
"Am I Chief Steward again?"
"Who else?"
Chief Steward Song Nam-cheon straightened his back.
"Red Cloud. I'll show you around. And about that... we were enemies once, but now allies and I'm even Chief Steward to boot, and I'm way older... so... a bit of respect..."
"...If you wish, I can."
"Haha! Good man! Thank you!"
A massive palace-like building.
Song Nam-cheon strode in without hesitation and guided me to lodgings somewhat removed from the bustling interior.
Luxurious quarters overflowing with giant buildings and servants.
"Rest here. Anything you want, just call for it. Tell a passing maid, or give word to this girl here. Anything in the Sado-ryeon, we'll bring it."
Song Nam-cheon left too. Probably off to handle backlog.
I was glad not to get tangled in politics. For now, I called the maid assigned to me and summoned a physician first.
"Greetings to the honored guest."
Already briefed, the bowing physician examined Suryeon.
"Treatment's well done. No need to worry. She'll heal soon enough. Still, just in case, I'll prescribe some medicine."
Medicine for Suryeon, whose injuries weren't fully healed, was prepared in no time. Everything I asked for happened instantly-a treatment I'd never experienced. I accepted it all somewhat awkwardly.
But though my body was here, my mind was elsewhere. Things had settled, the situation stabilized...
Help the Gu-sa Society first. Decide after that.
Chase Jin Baek-cheon, who had almost no leads.
Or abandon him and return to the cult.
Best to visit the Gu-sa Society first and help them stabilize. Secure that floating organization's position, then bid a proper farewell.
But before that...
Wait until Suryeon's fully recovered. That's important too.
"Ah."
I fed Suryeon side dishes one by one as she opened her mouth like a baby bird. I turned to One Lake, standing silently behind.
"One Lake."
"Yes?"
"Didn't we promise before? To eat together."
"...You remembered."
One Lake seemed to smile behind his mask.
He sidled over and sat demurely beside me. We cleanly polished off the lavish feast the maid brought.
Gu Ok-gyeong arrived as night had fallen. Dragging her weary body with several maids in tow, she knocked on my door.
"Here to eat you up. Open the door."
"...Ok-gyeong. Please."
I opened the door. Gu Ok-gyeong, giggling, placed a hand on her cheek.
"How's this? All dolled up. Fucking pretty, right?"
"......."
Definitely...
She was beautiful.
Sado-ryeon Lord. The Sado-ryeon's finest flower. That's what they called her.
It wasn't exaggeration. Even back when she didn't care about her looks, it was hard to meet her eyes straight on. Now, with jewelry and light makeup, she was truly the world's greatest beauty.
But luckily, I had resistance. I knew a woman even more beautiful. That's why I could look her straight in the eye.
"Beautiful."
"...Ugh. Taking it straight? You got lots of experience with women, or none?"
"Just said what I saw. Cut the joking. Ok-gyeong. You came for a reason?"
"Between us? Gotta have a reason to visit? We're friends. Friends. Don't be like that or I'll cry?"
Gu Ok-gyeong, who had barged in, pulled something from her sleeve with a flourish.
A long bottle. Liquid sloshed inside.
"Heard of White Jade Liquor?"
"...No?"
"Liquor of liquors. I only drink this once a year? War's over, we crushed that Yeongwol bitch..."
Gu Ok-gyeong snapped her tongue.
"One glass?"
"...Haha."
I could only laugh.
A woman whose roguish attitude suited her perfectly.
That was Gu Ok-gyeong.
"Sure. Let's have one."
"This girl wants some too."
"Injured don't drink."
"A little booze is fine..."
"Suryeon. No."
"...Then I'll stay by your side."
"Non-drinker at a drinking party kills the vibe. Kids need early bedtimes anyway."
"This girl's not a kid."
"Yeah. Right. So, I'm kidnapping the kid. Let's go. My physician."
Gu Ok-gyeong grabbed my hand and pulled.
Her eyes sparkled like stars.
"There's a secret spot no one knows? Just for you. Even Dae-un doesn't know. Booze tastes amazing there. Come on! No refusals!"