Return of the God of War - Chapter 74

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 74. What a ridiculous fellow.
As Muk Yeojin went through the information the two had brought point by point, his energy grew steadily colder.
Dongrim Battlefield, Manseong Escort Agency, Goyang House.
Between these three seemingly unrelated businesses, a clear connection existed.
Cheon Hwarin and Yang Hui seemed to have caught on to their schemes as well—their expressions had hardened considerably.
A heavy silence fell for a moment.
Into that silence came Cheon Hwarin’s subdued voice first.
“So there was a reason they lent money only to those with children at Dongrim Battlefield.”
Muk Yeojin nodded slowly.
“Yes. Money wasn’t the objective. What they were after were the children themselves.”
Their method worked like this.
“First, they lend money unsecured to those with children. Low interest, no fixed repayment period. It all seems like a very generous arrangement.”
Yang Hui spoke through gritted teeth, continuing.
“That was precisely the trap.”
“Exactly. No fixed repayment period means they can demand payment whenever they choose.”
Cheon Hwarin picked up the thread.
“And that’s when the Manseong Escort Agency enters the picture. They deliberately created problems with shipments entrusted by Dongrim Battlefield debtors—and only those debtors.”
She furrowed her brow as the next words left her lips.
“They tampered with the transport routes to cause severe losses, or they disguised their own couriers as bandits and destroyed the debtors’ family businesses entirely—stripping away any means by which they could ever repay.”
And once the debtors lost both their fortunes and their livelihoods, Dongrim Battlefield’s collection efforts became something like hell itself.
Only then did those wolves in sheep’s clothing reveal their true nature.
“After driving the debtors to the edge of a cliff, they offered their final ‘solution’: hand over your children to the brothel.”
And that brothel was Goyang House.
“The fact that they went to such elaborate lengths suggests the number of children they needed was considerable.”
“Right. If they were committing outright abductions, the authorities would inevitably get involved. But if the parents handed the children over themselves, the government has no grounds to interfere.”
Because it involved children, even Yang Hui’s expression had grown serious.
“From there, the children sent to Goyang House were apparently shuttled regularly to The Fourth Place.”
Muk Yeojin’s eyes flashed.
‘That’s their headquarters.’
Recruiting Cheon Hwarin and Yang Hui had indeed been the right call.
Had he moved alone, there’s no way he could have uncovered such crucial information in so short a time.
“Where is this place?”
Yang Hui shook his head.
“We couldn’t determine that much. However, just before dawn today, we overheard workers at Goyang House mention that a cart carrying children would depart.”
With that, he rummaged through his breast pocket and produced a small vial.
No larger than a thumbnail.
Inside lay fragrant powder, faintly aromatic.
“Ten-Thousand-Li Pursuit Fragrance. I scattered it on every cart at Goyang House. Tracking should present no difficulty.”
At those words, both Cheon Hwarin and Muk Yeojin turned to stare at Yang Hui simultaneously.
“…… Why are you both looking at me like that?”
Muk Yeojin asked.
“Isn’t the Ten-Thousand-Li Pursuit Fragrance a secret art of the Sichuan Dang Sect?”
Then Yang Hui pounded his chest proudly, answering as though he were impressed with himself.
“Hehehehe! I took a little without asking.”
Muk Yeojin shook his head in disbelief.
This was the moment he would later understand why the Outer Sky Divine Rogue became a public enemy of the Sichuan Dang Sect.
Crack!
“Ack!”
Cheon Hwarin’s left palm struck precisely the back of his head.
Yang Hui crumpled like a trampled frog, rolling across the floor.
“So you’re proud of your thievery, are you?”
Yet his theft had proven immensely useful today—undeniably so.
So Muk Yeojin refrained from saying anything more.
Instead, he closed his eyes and concentrated entirely on his sense of smell.
Ordinarily, even with a pursuit fragrance, accurate detection required years of training.
But Muk Yeojin was an exception.
He had breathed in this scent countless times in his past life.
So familiar it was worn smooth as bone, there was no difficulty whatsoever in tracking it.
Muk Yeojin nodded.
‘They’ve already begun moving.’
A faint fragrance drifted from the direction of the Oufeng Mountain Range near Goyang House.
There was no time to waste.
Muk Yeojin prepared to move at once while simultaneously addressing Cheon Hwarin.
“What will you do, Sect Leader? The favor I asked of you ends here. You’re free to return now.”
But Cheon Hwarin turned her head as if his words didn’t warrant a response.
She swung the enormous Great Stone Axe like a riding crop, loosening her muscles.
It was her way of saying she had no intention whatsoever of turning back.
Muk Yeojin smiled slightly.
She was indeed every bit the woman he knew her to be.
He shifted his gaze toward Yang Hui.
“Now, as we agreed — tell us the location of the Secret Chamber beneath Daeryun Mountain.”
Yang Hui’s eyes widened at those words.
“You… you were serious about that?”
“Of course. Do you take me for a swindler? Listen well — the path to the Secret Chamber beneath Daeryun Mountain lies beneath the roots of an ancient tree a thousand years old.”
The one you told me about, he added silently.
He swallowed the rest of it.
“An ancient tree a thousand years old! So that’s what you meant!”
Yang Hui seemed to have grasped it at once.
Without hesitation, Muk Yeojin turned away.
“Well then, our business ends here. Take care of yourself, Yang Hui.”
Bang!
In an instant, both Cheon Hwarin and Muk Yeojin shot skyward together.
Before he could say another word, the two of them vanished before his eyes like a gust of wind.
“What?”
Yang Hui stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the empty sky above.
‘So… is that really it?’
For a long moment, his mind refused to catch up.
Soon he came to his senses, exhaled deeply, and spun on his heel.
It was in the exact opposite direction the two had flown.
“Right, my part in this is done.”
Yang Hui muttered to himself, scratching the back of his neck.
“This looks like nothing but trouble. I’m not fool enough to walk straight into danger of my own accord. Ha ha ha… damn it…”
His foot faltered as he tried to take a step.
Yang Hui swallowed hard.
Innocent children were involved in this matter.
Those representing the Mado and Huekdo paths had rushed off with fire in their eyes to resolve it.
If he, the Baekdo representative, didn’t go, what would become of the Orthodox Faction’s honor…?
In the end, Yang Hui too launched himself into the air, following Muk Yeojin and Cheon Hwarin.
“Wait! Please, take me with you!”
* * *
By the time the wagon carrying the children passed through Wiho Valley near Doryong Mountain,
Muk Yeojin, Cheon Hwarin, and Yang Hui were trailing behind them.
The escort force guarding the wagon was not particularly large.
There was only one driver and three martial experts — one at the front and two at the rear.
Yet the faces of those three suggested they could crush the fighting force of any ordinary sect school without much effort.
Yang Hui was the first to recognize them, his brow narrowing.
“The Blood-Eating Three Evils.”
The Blood-Eating Three Evils — three brothers who once operated widely throughout both southern and northern regions, rogues who would accept any contract for a price.
Their hands were cruel, and they had earned infamy for their inhumane practices, including flaying people alive.
Because of this, they had been marked as public enemies simultaneously by two organizations — the Murim Alliance and Sadocheon.
Muk Yeojin spoke in a low voice, his tone firm.
“We need to follow them and discover their destination. There may be other children sold into bondage there already. Let’s hold back and observe for now, no matter what happens.”
Both Cheon Hwarin and Yang Hui gave small nods to show they agreed.
The three of them then followed the Blood-Eating Three Evils and the wagon, moving silently and concealed.
After crossing several ridge lines along the mountain path,
The youngest of the three suddenly kicked at a jagged stone and began to grumble.
“Ah! This is really degrading our reputation. How long are we supposed to keep doing these delivery jobs? At this rate, I can’t even call myself part of the Blood-Eating Three Evils anymore.”
At that, the second brother clicked his tongue and glared.
“This is all because of your drinking money and the coin you throw at courtesans, you damn fool.”

“Ha! Anyone would think I was the only one enjoying myself. Where was that place again? Seonhui House, wasn’t it? If I’d collected all the money you lavished on that courtesan Chohyang, I’d have retired with a fortune to spare.”
“Hmph! Chohyang and I held each other in mutual regard. It wasn’t mere entertainment.”
The third one laughed openly.
“Held her in such high regard that you split her in two and killed her? A courtesan pours a drink for another man, so you tear apart his entire family—and you call that affection?”
“That too is an expression of love, though your simple mind wouldn’t understand such things.”
“What nonsense. Hehehehe.”
Just then, the third one fixed his gaze on the cargo wagon and licked his lips.
“Talking about blood makes my mouth water… Those brats look nice and tender. I bet they’d be delicious…”
It was then that the first one, who had remained silent all along, opened his mouth.
“Stop. The moment you leave so much as a scratch on the merchandise, I’ll crack your skull open.”
“Tsk… I know. I understand.”
And then it happened.
Creak!
The wagon door swung open violently, and a girl who looked no more than ten years old tumbled out.
“Help! Please, somebody help me!”
The girl screamed and bolted into the grass like someone possessed.
“Tch, what a nuisance.”
“Move quickly.”
The second and third ones went after her at once.
Unsurprisingly, the girl didn’t even make it half a distance before being dragged back.
Had the two of them not been toying with her and moving so lazily in pursuit, she would have been caught within a few steps.
Thud.
“Kyaaaah!”
The girl was hurled before the first of the Blood-Eating Three Evils, her hair torn from her scalp.
“What shall we do with her, Elder?”
The girl trembled from head to foot.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry! I won’t run again.”
“…”
The first one, regarding the child with empty eyes, turned away.
“Let’s make an example of one. It won’t hurt us. Do as you wish.”
The third one’s face lit up.
“Truly? Lord, it’s been so long since we’ve had such fresh meat!”
Thick tears spilled down the child’s terror-stricken face.
“Please… please save me.”
“Hehehehe. Little one, don’t squirm or it’ll hurt worse.”
Flash.
The third one raised the Ox-Tail Blade high, preparing to cleave the child in two with a single stroke.
That was the moment.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Shriek!
Thud!
A flash of sword-light cut through the air, followed by a second blade that curved in a crossing arc.
“What?”
The third one’s eyes widened in confusion.
What was this?
What had just happened?
He couldn’t tell.
But one thing was certain: both his forearms now lay on the ground, rolling away from his body.
“Kraaaaaaah!”
The third one shrieked, spraying blood as he writhed on the earth.
The first and second ones snapped their heads around in shock.
What they saw froze them in place.
‘Beasts?!’
No. They were human.
But the savage gleam in their eyes was so feral that anyone might have mistaken them for wild animals.
Muk Yeojin scolded her in an aggrieved tone.
“Sect Leader. I have told you repeatedly—we should follow quietly from behind. If you expose yourself like this, the entire plan falls apart.”
Cheon Hwarin let out a scoffing laugh.
“That’s rich coming from you. You moved first, not me.”
Yet the two of them conversed as though utterly unbothered.
Even in that moment, he was emanating a blade-sharp killing intent from every fiber of his being, as if to slaughter the Blood-Eating Three Evils.

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