Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Mission, Investigation (12)
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The moment the formation activated.
Yeon Ri-geon, who had been facing off against Mok Ri-won, sensed the anomaly.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gung—
A massive tremor.
At the same time, his vision suddenly blurred, his breathing grew labored, and his heartbeat faltered.
‘A formation.’
And a fairly large-scale one at that.
It was probably on the scale to envelop the entire secret base.
Yeon Ri-geon's judgment was swift.
‘The Lust Demon has fallen.’
These people had clearly come here with the Sect Leader.
In that case, it was reasonable to assume the Sect Leader had activated a weapon of the secret base unknown to them.
Yeon Ri-geon looked at Mok Ri-won.
“Huh...!”
Ragged breathing, a twisted expression, and wildly rampaging dark qi.
Every sign screamed that Mok Ri-won was at his limit.
It would be right to knock him out and drag him away like this, but there was a reason Yeon Ri-geon couldn't approach Mok Ri-won.
‘The Heavenly Slaughter Star is awakening.’
Mok Ri-won's pupils burned bright red.
Any trace of reason had nearly vanished from them.
Only murderous intent to kill the opponent.
Only the impulse to tear the enemy before him to shreds.
That was all that could be felt.
It had happened amid the brutal combat, with blood spraying and flesh splitting.
‘If I push too hard, it'll drag on.’
If it dragged on any longer, there would be no capture—just total annihilation.
No, before that, his throat might be the first to go to the fully awakened Heavenly Slaughter Star.
Yeon Ri-geon knew all too well what a fully awakened Heavenly Slaughter Star could do.
And now, even the advantage in realm was gone.
Yeon Ri-geon chose to conserve his strength.
“...That's enough for today.”
“Where do you think...!”
Kwang!
Mok Ri-won shot forward with an explosive sound.
His killing intent had begun to shake his reason amid the back-and-forth exchanges, yet he couldn't stop.
Because his squad members were at the end of this path.
Because he had promised to hold this man back from them.
Chieeeeng—!
A sharp slicing sound rang out.
In an instant, Yeon Ri-geon tilted his sword blade at an angle to deflect Mok Ri-won's attack.
Then, he drove his knee into the exposed abdomen.
“Keuk...!”
Mok Ri-won's breath cut off.
Even in that moment, his arm moved.
The sword stabbed into Yeon Ri-geon's forearm.
Puk—
And sliced downward.
Tududududuk—!
The sword tore through muscle and sinew before pulling free.
Blood spurted out like a fountain.
Yeon Ri-geon furrowed his brow and kicked Mok Ri-won once more.
Ppak!
“Keheok!”
Mok Ri-won flew backward, tumbling through the air.
Yeon Ri-geon sheathed his sword, left a single word, and departed.
“Until next time.”
Kung!
At the spot where Yeon Ri-geon had left, clutching his mangled arm.
Mok Ri-won lay unconscious, drained of strength.
*
Yang Go-hye staggered.
She had taken heavy damage from Namgung Jincheon's fists, and now the formation had dulled all her senses.
Namgung Jincheon picked up his sword.
‘A chance.’
The strange reaction visible since the formation activated.
A clear opportunity, and Namgung Jincheon did not miss it.
Hwaaak!
With a burst of deep blue qi, Namgung Jincheon stepped forward.
From above to below.
As his massive downward slash cut through empty air, the qi sharpened and plummeted.
Kwaaaaang—!
Yet the impact was minimal.
Yang Go-hye proved that her title as a Peak Realm demon was no empty name.
Even in her dizziness, she had conjured four white arms.
They enveloped her entire body.
“You rotten bastard...!”
Yang Go-hye glared at Namgung Jincheon, grinding her teeth.
Namgung Jincheon exhaled roughly.
‘I'm nearing my limit.’
He had lost too much inner energy.
The Namgung Clan's martial arts crushed opponents through superiority in power.
But now, unable to claim that superiority, if Yang Go-hye attacked, he would be defenseless.
Namgung Jincheon rolled his eyes.
A desperate search for a way out of this situation, and the result bloomed in a form he hadn't anticipated.
“Lust Demon.”
Kwang!
A man kicked open the last remaining door and entered the Sect Leader's chamber.
Shabby uniform, disheveled hair.
Dilated pupils and one arm in tatters.
Namgung Jincheon widened his eyes.
‘Peak Realm.’
And the demonic qi he sensed marked him clearly as a demon.
It didn't take long thought to know who he was.
“...Where is Black Dragon.”
The man Mok Ri-won had gone to block, claiming a strong foe appeared.
That was him.
What else was clear: his presence here meant Mok Ri-won had fallen.
Namgung Jincheon spat killing intent as he asked Yeon Ri-geon.
Yeon Ri-geon glanced at him, then approached Yang Go-hye as if disinterested and hoisted her limp form over his shoulder.
“Withdrawal.”
“Let go! I said let go! That bastard to tear apart...!”
Puk! Puk!
Yeon Ri-geon struck Yang Go-hye's pressure points.
Then, with the unconscious Yang Go-hye on his back, he murmured to Namgung Jincheon.
“You're lucky. You, and Black Dragon too.”
Yeon Ri-geon bolted toward the door.
Silence enveloped the Sect Leader's chamber.
Namgung Jincheon dispersed the qi he had been sharpening to a razor's edge.
Teolkeok.
He dropped to his knees.
“Heok... Heok....”
His ragged breaths told the tale.
That Namgung Jincheon had reached his limit long ago.
That he had stayed upright this long only through sheer force of will—a miracle.
“Sword Dragon!”
Seo Ye burst out from the treasury and checked on Namgung Jincheon.
“Are you okay?! Any injuries... Ah! Your body like this...!”
Even as Seo Ye gasped at Namgung Jincheon's state, his mind wandered to other thoughts.
‘Lucky?’
The words Yeon Ri-geon had spat as he left.
A dismissal, yet one he couldn't refute.
Kkwaak—
Namgung Jincheon clenched his fist.
He was furious.
Humiliated.
Just as that man had said, if the formation had activated a bit later, or if that man had attacked, he might have died helplessly.
As Namgung Jincheon trembled in despair, Seo Ye looked at him with worry.
“Sword Dragon....”
Seo Ye's gaze scanned the surroundings.
The Sect Leader's chamber lay in ruins.
Not just here—the entire Hao Sect secret base was wrecked.
Less than an hour since breaching.
All this had happened in that short time.
They had won somehow, but only thanks to these people's aid.
Much to ponder, but Seo Ye decided to set it aside for now.
“...Let's tend to your wounds first.”
She said, examining Namgung Jincheon's body.
The other squad members arrived at the chamber about fifteen minutes later.
“Sect Leader!”
Dang Hwa-seo arrived first.
In her arms, Mok Ri-won lay in a wretched state.
“Did all the demons flee? How's Sword Dragon?!”
“Fine.”
Namgung Jincheon replied, seated in meditation.
Seo Ye looked at Mok Ri-won in Dang Hwa-seo's arms and said.
“Black Dragon....”
“He's just collapsed from exhausting his inner energy. Seems the fight stopped when the formation activated.”
Dang Hwa-seo's expression was grim.
Fury simmered within.
“...While blocking a swarm of incoming demons, some man came running with a stripped woman on his back. Peak Realm. I debated stopping him, but he blew past me—leading the demons.”
A success, yet unsatisfying.
Seo Ye understood the words Dang Hwa-seo held back.
Her lips trembled briefly.
Seo Ye nodded and said.
“...Thank you. For your help. Rest now, Squad Leader. You don't look well.”
Dang Hwa-seo appeared on the verge of collapse.
Of course—holding off that many demons alone couldn't be normal.
Dang Hwa-seo nodded and slowly lowered Mok Ri-won to the ground.
Then sat beside him.
“Sis! Brother Mok! Brother Namgung!”
Jegal San appeared, with Il-un and Hyeon-gong in tow.
All survived.
Realizing this, Dang Hwa-seo smiled bitterly.
‘At least that's a relief.’
Such thoughts filled her mind.
*
The ruined secret base.
Dragon-Phoenix Squad headed to the inner quarters as guided by Seo Ye and rested there.
Even then, Seo Ye was busy.
First, she found the imprisoned disciples and freed them.
Of the thousand-plus in the secret base, fewer than a hundred survived.
All drained of inner energy, unable even to walk properly.
But the base wasn't in a state to coddle them.
“Sorry. But lend a hand so they can at least manage daily life.”
“You've already done more than enough by saving us, Sect Leader. No need for worry.”
At the elder's words—lucky to have survived—Seo Ye's face nearly crumpled into tears.
The disciples smiled faintly, joy at survival mixed with emotion at reuniting with their longed-for Sect Leader.
“Oh, and Elder Ma.”
“Yes.”
“Those who helped have serious injuries. Could you tend to them?”
The elder called Ma was skilled in medicine.
Seo Ye asked thinking he could aid the battered squad members.
Ma Elder accepted readily.
“Black Dao and White Dao draw strict lines, but ignoring a life-saving debt defies human decency. I'll see to them personally.”
“Thank you. Let's go right away.”
“Yes.”
Seo Ye led Ma Elder to the inner quarters.
There, the squad members had finished emergency treatment.
“Elder Ma will look after you. He's deeply versed in medicine, so trust him.”
“Thank you.”
“It's only natural.”
Ma Elder stepped forward.
“Then show me your wounds.”
Namgung Jincheon, with the gravest injuries, went first.
Ma Elder clicked his tongue at the sight.
His dantian empty of inner energy.
Fractures commonplace, organs half-scrambled—unable even to swallow food properly.
‘Inner energy shock.’
Likely wrecked from clashing with demonic qi.
Rest was needed, but herbal treatment urgent.
Ma Elder said.
“To stay conscious in this state, Sword Dragon's name is no fluke.”
“...”
Namgung Jincheon didn't reply.
Since the demons retreated, he had simmered in discomfort like this.
If even not collapsing was pride, it made sense.
He burned with anger at the incomplete victory.
‘Youthful hot blood?’
Ma Elder avoided provoking him and checked the next patient.
After examining all squad members, Mok Ri-won's turn.
He still hadn't regained consciousness.
“Exhausted inner energy, you said?”
“Yes. He should be stirring by now, but no sign of waking.”
Dang Hwa-seo's worried face answered.
Fearing grave injury to Mok Ri-won.
Her heart burned even now.
Ma Elder glanced at her, took Mok Ri-won's pulse, and closed his eyes.
“Body's fine. Not perfect—some fractures that can't be ignored. Unconsciousness likely fatigue.”
“Fatigue?”
“Fought a Peak Realm demon alone, I heard. Brutal battle—must've drained mind and spirit. Watch a few more days.”
“Mentality....”
Dang Hwa-seo murmured, then nodded.
“...Understood. Thanks for the kindness.”
“No trouble. We'll take our leave, Sect Leader. Let's go.”
“Ah, yes.”
Seo Ye rose awkwardly, bowed briefly.
“I'll come again.”
Seo Ye's gaze lingered on Namgung Jincheon before departing.
Silence settled in the inner quarters.
Time passed swiftly.
Squad members tended their wounds, while Dang Hwa-seo alone stayed by Mok Ri-won for two days.
“...Little Sister?”
Mok Ri-won opened his eyes.