Chapter 522
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 522
Chapter Title: Good Work
Cheonsan Mountain Range.
A small thatched hut perched atop the most treacherous peak.
Amid the fierce blizzard, that hut alone stood defiant.
Inside the dim hut, an old man sat staring at eight candles.
One candle burned brightly, casting light.
The other seven remained unlit, simply sitting there.
And just now, fire had ignited on another one.
The old man's eyes widened in shock.
Shin Do-woong-cheon, the exalted sovereign of the True Demonic Heaven and its Heavenly Lord, the Demon Lord himself.
The corners of his eyes trembled faintly.
"The second flame has ignited?"
He had considered even one an extraordinary event, yet here was a second.
A flicker of hope stirred in his mind.
Perhaps the era of myths and legends, passed down only in tales, would arrive in his lifetime.
"I wonder if Won Pyeong-sam is faring well."
The newly lit flame was smaller and weaker than the first.
It seemed more time was needed.
Shin Do-woong-cheon gazed silently at the two flames.
The Manhwang Interval.
Though still faint, it had begun to kindle that fire.
"Fast, isn't it."
Won Pyeong-sam remarked, watching Myo Gu-eung.
His limbs had already regained their form.
Smooth and pale, like the skin of a newborn babe.
"Thanks to you all."
Myo Gu-eung replied in his usual icy tone.
It was the truth.
With Won Pyeong-sam and Yeong So-hyang tending to him in every way, Myo Gu-eung had focused solely on recovery, healing all wounds far quicker than expected.
"Still, it feels empty inside."
As Won Pyeong-sam stared at him, Myo Gu-eung gave a wry smile beneath his cold expression.
"Regenerating severed limbs isn't easy."
Focusing on that had left his dantian drained.
"True enough. Not something a human could pull off."
Won Pyeong-sam eyed the newly regenerated limbs with a mix of awe and unease.
He knew the power of the Manhwang was immense, but he hadn't realized it could elevate someone beyond humanity.
When he first found Myo Gu-eung, he had been shocked to see the regenerating limbs.
Now, the speed left him stunned once more.
"Perhaps you're right."
Myo Gu-eung didn't refute him.
"Master. I'm back."
Yeong So-hyang entered the cave.
Myo Gu-eung's gaze turned toward the voice.
Only recently had he begun to see her face clearly.
Before, focused on his limbs, he had ignored even her presence right before him.
Though his dantian was empty, succeeding with the limbs allowed his surroundings to come into view.
A faint spark of desire flickered deep in his eyes as he watched the approaching Yeong So-hyang.
Come to think of it.
For decades, consumed by vengeance, he had never properly indulged his pent-up desires.
Yeong So-hyang flinched, sensing something.
She glanced at Won Pyeong-sam.
"Once we leave here, other opportunities will arise. Restrain yourself."
At Won Pyeong-sam's words, the heat in Myo Gu-eung's eyes slowly faded.
"This old fool got carried away."
Though he said so, a subtle shift colored his once utterly cold voice.
"Who'd call you old looking like that?"
Absorbing the Millennial Solitary Affection and undergoing marrow cleansing had restored his sight and youthened him to middle age.
Now, it wasn't just his limbs—he had fully reverted to youthful vigor.
A peerless handsome youth, no less.
Won Pyeong-sam hadn't spoken idly about future chances.
Yeong So-hyang maintained her stoic face with effort, but goosebumps prickled her arms beneath her clothes.
She vividly remembered his horrific state when they first found him, so the idea of that monster harboring desire for her sent chills down her spine.
The mere thought of such a being lusting after her.
Noticing his disciple's state, Won Pyeong-sam spoke up to lighten the mood.
"How did it go?"
He had sent Yeong So-hyang to the Hao Gate to check the jianghu's state.
Aiding Myo Gu-eung's recovery here had left them blind to current events.
Their target was Ha Mu-baek.
No ordinary man, so information on him needed constant gathering.
Moreover, Won Pyeong-sam had never seen Ha Mu-baek himself—only heard from others.
Hence sending Yeong So-hyang to the Hao Gate.
Snapping to attention at the question, Yeong So-hyang's face paled as she spoke.
Incredible news piled up.
The murim world had shifted dramatically; even the Hao Gate was in disarray.
"Something's happened, hasn't it."
Won Pyeong-sam read her expression.
"The Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest... has been pacified."
"What?"
Recalling the key news brought fresh disbelief.
Relaying what she'd heard in a daze, Myo Gu-eung reacted first.
As a former Heavenly Poison Sect disciple, he knew exactly what the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest entailed.
How vicious the Blood Cult was.
Yet it had been pacified?
"Wasn't it said to be the land of jiangshi where Blood Cult remnants were hiding?"
Won Pyeong-sam recalled the Central Plains intel from the Hao Gate.
"A place impossible to conquer easily?"
Indeed.
Even after defeating the Blood Cult, the Righteous Heaven Alliance lacked the strength to fully clear it, so they built the Great Wall to contain the jiangshi.
Yet now it was suddenly pacified?
Without warning or omen?
Her reaction made sense.
Won Pyeong-sam himself was shocked.
"How was it cleared?"
Myo Gu-eung demanded sharply.
The Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
No place to fall so easily.
"Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong went there."
"Even so, impossible."
Myo Gu-eung didn't know So Hwi-woong.
The Righteous Heaven Alliance was likely the current murim alliance.
If the alliance leader could clear it easily, the Blood Cult wouldn't have nested there for ages.
Pacifying it meant the Blood Cult was utterly eradicated.
Yeong So-hyang chewed her lip, then spat it out.
"Ha Mu-baek... suspected of doing something there. The Demon-Sealing Corps caused some incident too... The Hao Gate's scrambling for details, but Luoyang's activities are tough."
Myo Gu-eung nodded faintly at her answer.
Ha Mu-baek.
If it was that guy, maybe possible.
He had defeated Myo Gu-eung even after fully absorbing the Millennial Solitary Affection.
That man could do it.
Even Myo Gu-eung at his pre-defeat state could have, given enough time.
"Remarkable bastard."
He'd heard endless tales, yet the surprises kept coming.
"That's all?"
"A cult was spreading in the Central Plains... Suspected Jegal Clan plot, but the momentum fizzled while pursuing."
Won Pyeong-sam caught the odd note in her words.
"Ha Mu-baek again?"
"Hao Gate speculates. Spotted near Yungzhong Mountains... Too hard and dangerous to track precisely."
"His current location?"
Myo Gu-eung asked.
"Probably with the Fierce Dragon Corps."
Yeong So-hyang detailed what she'd learned about the Fierce Dragon Corps and Ha Mu-baek.
Won Pyeong-sam and Myo Gu-eung listened silently.
Myo Gu-eung's expression shifted subtly.
"So the ones he cherished and raised are in that Fierce Dragon Corps? And now facing off against Sa Hae-ryeon in western Gangseo Province..."
After a moment's thought, Myo Gu-eung told Yeong So-hyang.
"I need detailed info on Sa Hae-ryeon. Get it."
But she didn't move immediately, glancing at her master Won Pyeong-sam instead.
He nodded.
"I'll go."
She bowed to Won Pyeong-sam and left the cave again.
Back to the Hao Gate right after returning with intel.
"You're finally here."
Han Seol-bing stared at Ha Mu-baek with a blank face, her tone curt.
Her way of showing anger.
He just grinned at her reaction.
"Good work."
"Wasn't much."
Still curt.
"Relaxing in a worry-free spot, right? With your master there too."
"Doesn't mean there was no work."
"You're the one who insisted on coming as deputy corps leader?"
"Sigh."
Ha Mu-baek's point drew a deep sigh from Han Seol-bing.
Laden with frustration.
What could she do? It was her choice.
"You predicted Sa Hae-ryeon would act like this and stationed the Fierce Dragon Corps here on purpose?"
Ha Mu-baek nodded at her question.
"Gong Son old man and the scholar old man are both sharp. Well, Gong Son elder expected it from the start."
"So we just stay here comfortably till the term ends?"
"Didn't you pick this spot near the western command for the same reason?"
Exactly.
Having tangled with Sa Hae-ryeon countless times in the last war, Han Seol-bing knew their leader's temperament.
They wouldn't pick a fight with a monster like Ha Mu-baek.
"Perfect spot for our dear corps leader."
A thorny remark.
"What?"
"Lazing in the tent all day, I bet."
Even with his return, her workload felt unchanged.
"Smart girl."
Han Seol-bing scowled.
"But listen."
Ha Mu-baek's expression shifted.
"I don't think the rest of our term will be so easygoing."
"Pardon? What do you mean... Sa Hae-ryeon provoking us?"
Her reaction turned grave.
He shook his head calmly.
"Not that... Seems like trouble follows me wherever I go."
"Ah..."
Han Seol-bing couldn't deny it.
Since meeting Ha Mu-baek, he'd always dragged events in his wake.
'Though I've grown much stronger because of it.'
The main reason she'd advanced so rapidly.
"Planning to stir up some incident?"
He shrugged.
"How should I know? Never wanted one yet."
"Tch."
She clicked her tongue softly.
"With so many under your responsibility, you sure?"
"That's why I step away often."
"......"
His reply left her speechless.
He was saying he shouldered the storms alone, dumping work on her in the process.