Chronicles of the Martial God’s Return - Chapter 137

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Dan Woo-hyun lay on the veranda, gazing out at the Manor’s landscape.
Dan So-mi darting about in the courtyard, the sharp cry of exertion from one corner, Jang Sam-tae and Ma Jang-gang bickering—and still, the two old men lingering over their cups.
This was the face of the Manor.
A sight he had never imagined would shatter.
Dan Woo-hyun closed his eyes gently, and a thin smile crossed his lips.
But that smile, too, had vanished in an instant.
‘The Blood Demon…’
That creature was undoubtedly the Blood Demon.
That aura, that presence, that tone of voice—unforgettable. Now that he had begun to move, Dan Woo-hyun could not remain idle.
And so, first of all.
He needed to seize control of the Golden Circle Trading Company.
Every conflict required resources. And beneath the Blood Demon, there would certainly be Man Hou-liang—the man he needed most to subdue the Golden Circle Trading Company before any confrontation.
Time had begun to move.
The hours that had crawled so slowly were now accelerating.
Only Dan Woo-hyun sensed it.
‘Where is he?’
He traced the location through his thoughts. The fastest way to end this was to demolish the creature’s lair.
Killing the Blood Demon was the only true answer.
But unlike when the Blood Demon Sect had been exposed openly before, it was now hidden so thoroughly, operating in such silence, that even searching would yield nothing.
That was why he meant to pursue Man Hou-liang.
That man, too, had vanished without a trace.
Yet his funds inevitably flowed to the Blood Demon. If one were to find him through other means, only one name came to mind.
‘Hei Feng Shen Ma.’
Capture that one.
Once, Cheon Mu-jin had fought him for three days and nights before finally slaying him—this was the Hei Feng Shen Ma. Since it was he who had originally founded the Demonic Cult, there was only one place he would go…
“What troubles you?”
A voice broke through.
Dan Woo-hyun opened his eyes but did not turn his head, answering instead.
“Nothing to trouble me, really. There are simply a few things on my mind. Besides, you’re not returning to the Demonic Cult?”
Dan Woo-hyun rolled only his eyes to regard Sa Do-hak.
The man had settled beside him at some point, and he shrugged. It seemed he wished to stay longer—he wanted to leave, but had found nothing yet.
Dan Woo-hyun chuckled softly.
“Do you stay in touch with them?”
“I receive regular reports… though now that you mention it, there hasn’t been any contact lately…?”
Sa Do-hak tilted his head.
The messenger letters from Dong Bang-gu had ceased. That man would send word every five days, detailing the affairs within the Demonic Cult, but nearly a month had passed since those reports had stopped coming.
Sa Do-hak’s expression darkened.
What was this?
Moreover, Dan Woo-hyun’s casual remark—a man who had shown no interest in the Demonic Cult until now—only deepened Sa Do-hak’s unease.
“Why? Does something seem amiss?”
“Not exactly…”
Dan Woo-hyun let his words trail off, studying Sa Do-hak.
There was something hidden behind that serene expression.
“It simply strikes me as odd.”
“Ha! Don’t worry. Where is it, after all? The Demonic Cult—the true headquarters of the Hundred Thousand Demons. What fool would dare lay hands upon it?”
Sa Do-hak leapt to his feet, laughing loudly.
Absolute faith and confidence in the Demonic Cult.
That was the Demonic Cult he believed in and carried with him.
And now, with the Orthodox Faction fractured, no force could threaten the Demonic Cult except the Evil Faction itself.
Those wretches—how could they presume?
The Demonic Emperor Castle’s Jeok Mu-seong would never move against the Demonic Cult unless driven mad. Though they were both of the Five Emperors, Jeok Mu-seong’s martial prowess could never overcome Sa Do-hak’s.
“I see.”
Dan Woo-hyun turned his head away in silence.
Sa Do-hak snorted, gazing elsewhere. He could see Namgung Cheon and Namgung So-hye heading toward the Training Ground with their swords in hand.
Namgung Cheon instructed her daily to fill the gaps in her skill. As if he meant to give her everything, he conducted training sessions four Double Hours each day.
Because of this, she had no one to play with and grew bored.

Sa Do-hak dug at his ear canal and opened his mouth.
“How about a round? It’d be fun.”
“Not interested. If you’re that bored, go play with So-mi.”
“Ugh…….”
Sa Do-hak glanced sideways and watched Dan So-mi approaching, yawning widely and rubbing her eyes as she walked toward them. She’d only just woken—her eyes were still heavy with sleep.
Sa Do-hak rose from his seat as if he had no choice.
Playing with So-mi was always the best option.
Sa Do-hak sprang to his feet and headed toward Dan So-mi.
“…….”
Dan Woo-hyun watched the scene unfold.
Everyone became a good person in front of Dan So-mi. Even Jang Sam-tae and Sa Do-hak, who walked crooked paths, became decent souls in her presence.
Sa Do-hak was smiling.
He wiped the sleep from the drowsy girl’s eyes, took her small hand in his, and led her away in quick, shuffling steps. What he intended to do was unclear, but it was surely some game for So-mi’s amusement.
This whole scene was the image of the Manor as it should be—a moment that must never change.
Thinking such thoughts, Dan Woo-hyun looked at Jang Sam-tae.
The instant Jang Sam-tae felt his gaze from a distance away, he came scurrying over. Dan Woo-hyun hadn’t even called out, yet this fellow had a preternatural gift for reading his intentions.
Dan Woo-hyun let out a soft laugh.
“You called for me?”
“Yes, you certainly picked up on it quickly.”
“Haha, just by looking at the lord’s eyes, I can tell these days. But what’s the matter?”
“There’s a task I need you to handle.”
“Yes! Just say the word! I, Jang Sam-tae, will stake my life on it!”
Jang Sam-tae broke into a beaming smile.
When Dan Woo-hyun had work for him, Sa Do-hak wouldn’t interfere. As a result, he could escape Sa Do-hak’s grip—what could be better than that?
Dan Woo-hyun laughed, whether he understood Jang Sam-tae’s thoughts or not.
“Go to the Demonic Cult and come back.”
“……Pardon?”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
No, he’d heard it.
Jang Sam-tae retraced his memory once more.
‘Go to the Demonic Cult?’
He definitely hadn’t misheard.
His expression stiffened slightly as he forced an awkward smile.
“The Demonic Cult? You mean… Master Sa’s……?”
“That’s the one.”
“The… the place that takes four months even by carriage?”
Xinjiang.
He asked without daring to speak the name aloud.
From Honam to Xinjiang was a grueling journey. Even in a good carriage, it would take more than four months, and pushing hard, at least three months had to be counted on.
In short, going there meant hardship itself.
Of course, it seemed like a chance to escape Sa Do-hak’s grip, but the distance to Xinjiang was considerable, and the thought of what might unfold along the way was horrifying.
Four of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds existed on the road into Xinjiang, and with the war between the Orthodox Martial Arts Alliance and the Heterodox Sect now underway, security would be poor.
One could easily die.
Jang Sam-tae stared hard at Dan Woo-hyun.
“Are you serious?”
“Does it sound like a joke to you?”
“Perhaps you could ask Master Sa……?”
“Hmm.”
Dan Woo-hyun chuckled as if amused.
The flustered look on Jang Sam-tae’s face was quite entertaining.
Dan Woo-hyun rested his chin lightly in his palm and murmured.
“You don’t need to go all the way there. Just bring back detailed intelligence on the Demonic Cult.”
‘What the hell… I got scared for nothing.’
Jang Sam-tae let out a relieved sigh.
He then quickly composed his expression.
Dan Woo-hyun’s gaze had turned quite sharp.
It seemed his thoughts had been read.
“But if it’s intelligence on the Demonic Cult, wouldn’t Master Sa be more……?”
“That’s exactly why I’m not asking him.”
“Hahaha! Of course! I, Jang Sam-tae, will be more useful than Master Sa! Absolutely!”
Jang Sam-tae burst into laughter.
What good is martial prowess if it’s useless?
Useless!
The only person Dan Woo-hyun trusts is me, Jang Sam-tae!
With that thought refusing to leave him, his mood soared. To be trusted by Dan Woo-hyun was to be recognized—truly recognized.
“Be as thorough as you can. Even gossip and rumors will do—bring me whatever you find.”
“Yes, sir! Then I’ll start with Ha-O Gate and search everywhere!”
Dan Woo-hyun nodded and withdrew a money pouch from his sleeve, placing it in Jang Sam-tae’s hands. Gathering intelligence was all well and good, but coin was essential to smooth the way.
“Take Ma Jang-gang with you. If information doesn’t surface naturally, shake down the places where it might. The Green Forest Bandits are fine, Ha-O Gate is fine, anywhere will do.”
“……I beg your pardon?”
“You didn’t hear me?”
“No, I… I heard you, but… you’re saying I can tear other places apart to get information?”
“Yes. I’ll take responsibility.”
“……Is it something that serious?”
Jang Sam-tae swallowed hard.
From Dan Woo-hyun’s actions, his tone, and this task he was assigning, it was clear this was no trivial matter. To gather even the faintest rumors, to bring Ma Jang-gang along, to shake down the Green Forest Bandits themselves—it meant the stakes were high indeed.
That weight settled upon Jang Sam-tae’s shoulders.
He knew failure was not an option.
“That’s why I’m sending you. Don’t forget. Get as close to Xinjiang as you can and gather intelligence. In fact, you might as well enter Xinjiang itself. If anything happens, send word by messenger letter so I know at once.”
“……Understood, sir.”
Jang Sam-tae nodded without thinking.
Just moments before, he’d resolved never to go as far as Xinjiang, yet under Dan Woo-hyun’s pressing words, he’d found himself agreeing before he knew it.
Jang Sam-tae’s face filled with dismay.
And what deepened his unease even further
was the words Dan Woo-hyun spoke, stroking his chin with a subtle smile.
“Should you encounter someone beyond your ability to handle, don’t hesitate—flee straight to me and report it.”
“An… an opponent I can’t handle…… is what you mean, sir?”
“Yes.”
“Even with… Ma Jang-gang there?”
“Yes.”
Watching Dan Woo-hyun nod, Jang Sam-tae found himself thinking.
Isn’t this more dangerous than I thought?
Dan Woo-hyun’s warning sent a chill through him.
Though he prayed it wouldn’t come to that, if he truly found himself in peril, Jang Sam-tae resolved he would abandon Ma Jang-gang without a second glance and flee.
‘Surviving is better than dying with him.’
With that logic settled, Jang Sam-tae nodded.
“Understood! This Jang Sam-tae will gather the intelligence you desire as swiftly as possible, sir.”
“Good. I can trust you with this.”
Dan Woo-hyun smiled.
There was no one better suited for this task than Jang Sam-tae. He knew his limits and wouldn’t overreach; he’d clawed his way up from the gutters and understood where information could be found.
‘The problem is losing our cook.’
The chief difficulty with sending him away was having no one to prepare meals at the Manor, but there was someone who could manage that.
Dan Woo-hyun’s gaze turned toward the distant Training Ground.
Though invisible, Namgung So-hye’s spirited shout reached his ears.
“She’ll manage.”
Believing it the best choice, he nodded.
Yet a trace of unease remained.
A woman who knows only the sword, cooking…….
He hoped she could at least make something edible.
A sigh escaped Dan Woo-hyun’s lips.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————