Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Double Agent
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Blood spurted out like a fountain. Jin Wi-ryang hunched over, retching.
I took one more step forward to finish him off. But Eun Seol-ran blocked my path.
"That's enough, Bicheon."
"I'll end it."
"He's already as good as defeated. Calm down. Killing him might feel good in that moment. But not after."
She pointed behind me.
"Seo Cho-hee. Yeon-gwang too-they'll get properly tangled in this mess. One of the Shin Won-jin clan's younger generation lost an arm? Self-defense can cover that. They drew their swords first. But taking his life will blow it all out of proportion."
"......"
"And anyway..."
Eun Seol-ran turned to look back.
"...that guy's life as a martial artist... You've already cut it away from him. He's as good as dead."
I looked down at Jin Wi-ryang. He couldn't speak, only groaning in pain.
"Ah... Ah..."
The end of a man who'd lost everything. Wrinkles etched into his face as if he'd aged years in an instant.
It wasn't just the pain. His retching face bore the marks of his internal energy rampaging wildly, unable to accept what was right in front of him.
His body shriveling. Blood flowing backward.
He vomited a gush of blood and collapsed to the ground. The veins bulging across his body made his condition obvious.
Qi deviation.
It was truly over. Not just from losing his right arm, but because he'd lost his martial arts entirely.
Even immediate treatment wouldn't fix it in his state. And no one here was willing to step in recklessly.
The end of the isolated. No one reached out to the man who'd trusted only his own strength and tried to crush others.
Someone might have helped now...
But no one wanted to.
Eun Seol-ran whispered.
"He's already a walking corpse. Junior. We all have our positions. You do too. If you're here on the First Demon's orders, don't stir up more trouble than necessary. This much, I can handle. Anything more is too far."
"......"
"Please. Stop being angry."
I steadied my breathing.
I pulled back my fist, ready to strike.
"Since it's senior's word, I'll hold back."
"Thank you. For listening."
Gwi-gok Night Commander, who'd been watching the spectacle with bored disinterest, finally spoke.
"The show's over?"
"Yes."
"Then drag that guy away and deal with him. Stop wrecking my workshop. Every one of you who shows up is a lunatic. And you."
Yeon-gwang, lying on the floor like a corpse, laboriously lifted his head.
"M-Me... sir...?"
"You later. Face to face. And you too."
His pointing finger swung toward me. I blinked.
"Me too...?"
"Yeah. Both of you. The rest? Nothing worth seeing."
I subtly pushed Eun Seol-ran forward.
Gwi-gok Night Commander snorted.
"Not impressed."
"Me? Why?"
"I wasn't impressed by brats better than you. Gods, how many decades ago was that... Anyway, everyone out! I'm sick of you sneaking into my workshop and whining. You took the long way, but you passed! Entering Sealing Demon Cave proves your worth..."
Gwi-gok Night Commander opened the tightly sealed iron door.
"Welcome to Sealing Demon Cave, you greenhorns."
It unfolded before our eyes.
A village built underground, worlds away from the surface.
...
Buildings lined the streets. More people than expected milled about.
Gwi-gok Night Commander shoved us into a clinic. After laying Yeon-gwang down in the herb-scented room, he grumbled.
"I wasn't the one assigned to guide you whelps when you passed. Someone suitable will come soon-follow them. Soon enough."
"Elder... by any chance, is the Sealing Demon Squad Leader...?"
"Sealing Demon Squad Leader? Oh, that brat Na So-wan. Out chasing thieves right now."
"Thieves...?"
"Not content with breaking into Sealing Demon Cave and messing with the mechanisms, they wrecked more than half the inner structure. Details from the guy coming soon. And once things settle..."
His gaze fixed sharply on Yeon-gwang and me.
"You two, come find me. Got questions."
"...Yes, sir."
I didn't know the details, but Yeon-gwang and I had clearly caught his eye.
Unexpected good news. Relieved, Yeon-gwang closed his eyes.
A strange man in white robes appeared, scratching his head vigorously.
"Elder, what's all this?"
"Sealing Demon Cave tour group. Mechanisms broke, some inner passages collapsed. They fell from the first underground level to my workshop."
"That bad?"
"Don't know. Just telling what I saw. That one?"
"Master's heartbroken, secluded in his villa."
"...That down?"
"His life's work stolen. Strange if he weren't."
"I get it. Just... pissed. Damn thieves. I'll rip 'em apart when I catch 'em. Fix these before they croak. You can, right?"
"Never wasted a moment with Master..."
He slipped on white gloves.
"Easy. Elder."
"Hmph. I'm off."
"Take care."
The man turned to us, offering a reassuring smile.
"Pleased to meet you, young dragons. I'm Jang Wol-ryong, disciple of the Myriad Sages Divine Healer. Situation looks urgent, so treatment first. Separate the severely and lightly injured... but him..."
Jang Wol-ryong frowned, looking down at Jin Wi-ryang.
"Too far gone. Qi deviation. Too late to intervene. Even if fixed... he won't return to before."
A death sentence. His internal energy exploding uncontrollably inside.
"I'll try anyway."
Jin Wi-ryang, Yeon-gwang, and a few escort warriors under them were moved to other rooms.
Jang Wol-ryong scanned the rest, pointing at Eun Seol-ran.
"You to the next room."
"I'm fine."
"Not fine. You sliced through a ton of the soul wraiths Elder Gwi-gok was refining. Your energy flow's off, isn't it?"
"...How'd you...?"
"Might fall to heart demons. Move for now. Elder Gwi-gok's personally raised soul wraiths aren't to be trifled with. Each one gathers into materials for ghost swords."
If true...
The whole place swarming with living corpses was Gwi-gok Night Commander's workshop?
"Follow me. And the rest..."
Jang Wol-ryong clapped. Maids rushed out.
"These girls will help you clean up. Make yourselves presentable. Sealing Demon Cave is sacred. No wandering around filthy."
Seo Cho-hee rolled her eyes beside me. She'd been especially close since earlier.
Her sparkling gaze never left me.
"...Lady Seo. Something to say?"
"No, Warrior Bicheon."
"Then perhaps elsewhere..."
"Why?"
"Pardon?"
Overwhelmed by her stare, Seo Cho-hee was soon led away by a maid. I moved with the other men.
We arrived at a massive building. Inside were several hot baths.
Not seen even on the surface. How was this structure even possible?
The maid naturally began undressing me.
"I can do it myself."
"Understood."
The maid stepped back. I stripped and slowly entered.
Thick steam. I splashed water over myself several times, washing away the grime and filth.
After cleaning, I sank into the hot bath.
...Warm.
All the ordeals to get here melted away into the water.
I closed my eyes, trying to savor the quiet.
But a group wouldn't let me.
"...Um... Warrior Bicheon."
I turned. The escort warriors stared at me.
The few survivors left. All fixed shining eyes on me.
"Where'd you learn the sword?"
"...Many things I can't disclose. Please understand."
"Haha! Of course. If you have time, could you give a pointer or two on my sword...?"
"M-Me too, please! Warrior Bicheon!"
"Same here!"
The escorts swarmed regardless of sect. Even some from Myriad Gods Sect among them.
I said awkwardly.
"I didn't show that much..."
"Nonsense! Never seen such solid swordwork!"
"The younger generation's swords were beautiful. But different from ours."
"You can tell just watching. The kind we can't follow."
"Our average age is over forty. Barely peak realm. Impressive compared to mortals, but..."
The warriors' eyes sparkled.
"Still, your sword showed something else."
"Like ours. Though your level's too high to grasp fully..."
"Every thrust shook my heart."
"You felt it too?"
"Any swordsman would! Haha!"
Surprised by their words, I asked.
"That... strange?"
"Strange? Could call it that too."
The escorts pondered, then glanced around before speaking.
"Crude in form, yet unbreakable. Energy visible, yet unstoppable..."
"The ferocity shocking. A blood sword among blood swords."
"Built on effort and blood."
I see.
That's how it looked.
An unexpected reaction. Didn't the First Demon say my sword was shedding its human form?
Built on effort and blood, now nearly beastly in savagery.
I'd expected fear. Distance from terror.
So I asked again. Wasn't it scary?
They answered.
"The sword terrified. But the one wielding it? Not."
"......"
"The sword raised for Young Master Yeon dripped blood, yet held humanity."
The warriors burst into laughter.
"Honestly, felt good! Haha!"
Even the Myriad Gods Sect escort laughed. I couldn't help chuckling.
Maybe from surviving that absurd place together. A strange camaraderie; I nodded.
"No reason not to. If time allows, let's cross swords."
"Thank you!"
I learned every name. Committed them to memory.
Fortunately...
Not all ties were bad.
...
After baths and purification, Gun Cheon-kyeong gathered everyone.
The last proper Sealing Demon Squad member. Standing in for the absent leader, he reminded the group of one thing.
"Just in case, assembly point here. Don't poke around weird stuff... Just tour Sealing Demon Cave casually. Meet back in six hours. Remember where we are."
The name Sealing Demon Cave carried weight and unavoidable curiosity. The escorts slipped into the streets one by one.
I did the same. Gwi-gok Night Commander said come after things settled, but...
Probably best to go with Yeon-gwang, so I held off.
Instead, something else. What I'd planned before arriving.
Time to look.
A gift for the First Demon.
"Junior."
Gun Cheon-kyeong naturally fell in beside me.
"Let's go together. Sightseeing? Saved my life thanks to you-I'll cover everything."
Seo Cho-hee too.
"Warrior Bicheon. Mind if I join?"
"No issue..."
"I want to. You saved my life and covered my shortcomings... I'll repay with mine."
"No need for that."
Her resolve too heavy; I wanted to refuse. Gun Cheon-kyeong whispered.
"When'd you bond with Lady Seo?"
"Famous?"
"North Gate Seo's Blood Noble Consort. Seo Cho-hee. Famous for poison arts. Top lineage even in Raksha Sect. Can't compare to Shin Won-jin, though."
Gun Cheon-kyeong glanced back.
"The 'blood' in her title means something. Once crossed, she clings relentlessly. Not for nothing she wields poison sword. As venomous as her arts. Shin Won-jin's brat's a tyrant, yet she stands up to him. Says her piece if slighted. Unbending on what she's set her mind to."
"...Hmm."
"Plenty of stories, but not here... Tricky woman. Rumored friendless. North Gate Seo no sons, so only daughter raised like a boy. Details theirs alone."
"Senior knows everything."
"Ask anything. No rumor in the Cult I haven't heard. Didn't know you were that strong, though, junior! Haha... But... should I speak formally?"
"No way. Senior's senior. If everything's decided by strength alone, nothing more foolish."
"Kuh. True class. Relieved."
Gun Cheon-kyeong turned sharply.
"Lady Seo. Why Warrior Bicheon over others?"
"Heard sword symbolizes the man. Never seen such refreshing swordplay. Saved my life, filled my lacks..."
Seo Cho-hee drew her sheathed sword, holding it two-handed.
"I want to serve as lord!"
I refused flatly.
"Warrior Bicheon suffices."
"B-But... then at least, out of respect... call you senior?"
"That much, fine."
"From today, my dream's Sealing Demon Squad!"
"I'm temporary. Leaving after this mission."
"Wh-What? Then your affiliation..."
"Can't say."
"C-Circumstances. Understood..."
Seo Cho-hee wilted. Gun Cheon-kyeong poked my side.
"Loyal hound acquired?"
"Not calling a person that, senior."
"Getting prickly. You get prickly when shy?"
"No."
"Kuhuhu. So? Want something?"
"Gift for someone dear."
Seo Cho-hee interjected.
"L-Lover...?!"
"No."
"Ahaha... right... Then perhaps a woman...?"
"That fits. Closest to a master, if anything."
"Master."
Gun Cheon-kyeong scratched his chin.
"Shall we browse? Want stuff too. Heard Sealing Demon Cave has things unavailable outside... Offer at the dead's graves fine."
"...Sorry."
"Why sorry? Your fault? Deaths are daily for sword-for-hire life. Just bittersweet. Unavoidable. Anyway... what gift?"
"Tea leaves best, ideally..."
"Hmm. Tea... Bit plain for a gift? Wonder if even here. I'll buy, so let's see others. What does she usually want?"
"Can have most anything in the Cult. Nothing specific."
"What? Who is she... Not the Leader?"
"No way. Warrior Gun. Senior. Leave to me. As a woman, my eyes needed."
Seo Cho-hee's eyes blazed.
"I'll help senior."