Return of the Sword Emperor - Chapter 29

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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 11 Eternal Stone Fungus (1)

Late evening in the office of Jo Il-geuk, Vice-Chief and head of the Gangnam Branch.
Despite the hour, the key leadership running the Gangnam Branch had gathered.

“So the Black Moon Unit and the Heavenly Demon Unit are on the move?”

Je-gal Song, the military strategist, answered Jo Il-geuk’s question with composure.

“Yes, sir.”

Bang!
Ho Jeop-pa, the elder, slammed the table hard and erupted in indignation.

“Are they really trying to do this?”

Jo Il-geuk gestured for him to calm down, then asked again.

“What do you make of their objective?”
“Given their movements, the target appears to be the Wind God Faction.”
“Hmm, the Wind God Faction has been active lately.”
“But I suspect the real target isn’t the Wind God Faction—it’s the Saja Cheonga clan.”
“The Saja…Cheonga clan?”

At the mention of Saja Cheonga, Jo Il-geuk and most of those gathered showed surprise.

“Why do you think so?”

Elder Jang Saeng asked, furrowing his brow.

“There are two reasons. First, the movements of the Black Moon Unit and Heavenly Demon Unit are far too obvious. They’re moving openly enough that anyone would think they’re targeting the Wind God Faction—as if they’re deliberately giving them time to prepare.”
“And the second?”
“A personal grudge appears to be involved.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Not long ago, the Saja Cheonga clan fought alongside us against Madoryeon. Do you recall?”

Jang Saeng, who had led the troops and faced them directly at the time, nodded.

“That’s right. The Wind God Faction distinguished itself most in that battle. The Saja Cheonga clan fought well enough, but being stationed in the rear, they didn’t really gain much glory.”
“Though they didn’t gain great glory, it was recently confirmed that among those who fell to the Saja Cheonga clan was the eldest grandson of Mo Dae-chung—once a former elder of Madoryeon and now a member of the Silver Horse Hall—known as the Black-faced King of Hell.”
“Heavens!”

A soft sigh escaped Jang Saeng’s lips.
Whether it was regret that his blood rival of decades had lost an heir, or frustration that he hadn’t personally sealed their fate, the sigh carried the weight of both.

“There’s certainly merit to that reasoning. Given the Black-faced King of Hell’s temperament, it would be strange if he’d remained silent all this time.”

Ho Jeop-pa, who had fought the Black-faced King of Hell as fiercely as Jang Saeng, voiced his agreement with Je-gal Song’s explanation.

“We must dispatch troops at once, Vice-Chief. Even accounting for their detour, our timing is cutting it close.”

Jang Saeng’s words met with Ho Jeop-pa’s added force.

“I concur. The Black Moon Unit is one thing, but the Heavenly Demon Unit has moved. The Saja Cheonga clan cannot handle them alone. I will lead the Righteous Heaven Unit and go myself.”

As Jo Il-geuk was about to respond to the two excited elders, Je-gal Song’s quiet, measured voice cut through.

“Even yesterday, that’s what we thought. But now I suspect there may be a hidden stratagem we don’t yet understand.”
“What do you mean? A stratagem?”

When Ho Jeop-pa and Jang Saeng both expressed their confusion, Je-gal Song cast a glance toward Sa-ma Yong, who sat at the far end of the table.
Sa-ma Yong, the leader of the Dark Fragrance Division, rose from his seat.

“This afternoon, a note was delivered to one of my subordinates in front of Dark Fragrance Division headquarters. To be precise, it was passed to him by an unknown hand. The note contained exactly six characters.”
“What were they?”

Jo Il-geuk couldn’t restrain himself and pressed for an answer.

“Sounding East, Striking West. Prison Break.”
“Sounding East, Striking West… and Prison Break.”

Those gathered in the hall did not immediately grasp the meaning.

“Make noise in the east and strike the west? I understand the intent to divert our attention, but Prison Break…”

As Jang Saeng tilted his head in puzzlement, Jo Il-geuk’s expression shifted, as though the meaning had suddenly become clear.

“Surely not… Chamhoae Prison?”

He spoke the words as a question, then asked again, as if doubting his own conclusion.

“General, are you saying these bastards are targeting Chamhoae Prison right now?”
“That would be the logical inference.”

Jo Il-geuk, visibly unconvinced, drained the teacup before him in one gulp, then spoke.

“But why on earth?”
“That much remains unclear.”
“And how reliable is this note in the first place?”
“That too is uncertain. However, the message was conveyed with such discretion that our Dark Fragrance Division members remained unaware of it, and given the current turmoil surrounding Madoryeon, we cannot entirely dismiss any connection.”
“If the contents of the note are true, then who would have informed us, and for what reason? This level of information would not be known except by someone at the very heart of Madoryeon.”

All eyes in the hall were fixed on Jo Il-geuk and Je-gal Song as they spoke, following their exchange with rapt attention.

“No matter how I think about it, the notion that Madoryeon would target Chamhoae Prison seems like a stretch.”

Hearing Ho Jeop-pa’s casual remark, Jang Saeng added his own view.

“I share your doubts. Even though Chunseok Stone mined there is valuable in itself and provides our revenue stream, it hardly seems worth the risk of antagonizing the government authorities.”
“I suspect what they’re after is not the Chunseok Stone.”

At Je-gal Song’s words, Jo Il-geuk’s eyes gleamed with sudden interest.

“Do you have some reasoning in mind?”
“If I had to venture a guess, there would be two possibilities.”
“Well then, speak.”
“The first is a matter of pride.”
“Pride?”

Jo Il-geuk tilted his head, the answer unexpected.

“Some time ago, they deployed the Heavenly Wolf Unit to attack an escort convoy. But for reasons none could have foreseen, they failed miserably. The Heavenly Wolf Unit commander and most of his men lost their lives. Considering the status the Heavenly Wolf Unit holds within Madoryeon, it was a truly devastating humiliation.”
“So they intend to recover the shame inflicted on the Heavenly Wolf Unit and restore their honor?”
“It is merely conjecture.”
“And the second reason?”
“Deung-bi, called the Red Flame Tiger. His existence troubles me.”

The moment Je-gal Song finished speaking, Jang Saeng posed a question.

“You’re going to all this trouble just to extract a single Dharma Protector? I’d say it’s more about recovering your pride.”
“I’m merely presenting a possibility. There have been several attacks on escort convoys in the past, but we’ve never once seen a core combat unit like the Heavenly Wolf Unit deployed in such a sudden manner. And that’s before we even mention using the Black Moon Unit as bait. Just to extract a single Dharma Protector, as you said.”
“That… does seem odd.”
“If your suspicion is correct, and they truly went so far as to use the Black Moon Unit and even the Heavenly Demon Unit as bait just to rescue him, then he must be harboring something of great consequence. Perhaps information that would be fatal to Madoryeon, or perhaps a secret that must never reach our ears.”

Je-gal Song answered quietly to Jo Il-geuk’s words.

“I should clarify in advance — all of this is speculation. We can’t even be certain of the contents written on that note. It’s possible the note itself is nothing more than disinformation from Madoryeon meant to mislead us.”
“But if it’s true?”

Jo Il-geuk’s counter-question hung in the air. Je-gal Song fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.

“Regardless of whether the contents are true or false, I see no harm in preparing ourselves. If the information that reached us is genuine, it’s an excellent opportunity to diminish Madoryeon’s strength. At the same time, we could ascertain what sort of secrets this fellow Deung-bi harbors.”
“Then we should first alert Chamhoae Prison…….”
“That would be careless.”

Je-gal Song cut off Ho Jeop-pa’s words.

“If Chamhoae Prison makes preparations in advance, they’ll catch on to our awareness. If their true purpose is rescuing Deung-bi, then so be it. But if they merely mean to restore their pride and shatter the prison, they’ll simply abandon the plan.”
“True enough — if a tiger has its jaws open, you don’t stick your head in.”

Ho Jeop-pa nodded in agreement.

“It would be best to alert Chamhoae Prison only when an attack becomes imminent. And only to the prison warden and a select few of the upper ranks.”
“Very well. Now then — what comes next? Do you have an alternative strategy in mind?”

At Jo Il-geuk’s question, Je-gal Song unfolded a map.

“For the sake of maintaining secrecy, I believe we should refrain from sending our own forces. Even if we did send them, it would be too late by any calculation. Instead……”

Je-gal Song pointed to a location on the map.

“I believe we should discreetly seek assistance from the Mudang, the Great Tiger Gate, and the Sichuan Dang Family.”
“We might be able to coordinate timing with the Mudang and the Great Tiger Gate, but the Dang Family’s distance is considerable, isn’t it? Even if they hurry, it seems impossible to arrive in time.”

Jang Saeng voiced his skepticism, gauging the distance between Sichuan and the Dang Family territories with his eyes.

“That is not the case.”

When Je-gal Song directed his gaze toward him, Sa-ma Yong spoke carefully.

“The former patriarch of the Sichuan Dang Family is currently in Bongsoo County attending a Goheui Banquet in honor of a dear friend’s seventieth birthday. There is a retinue accompanying the former patriarch, and among those in attendance at the banquet, there are many who could be of assistance. I believe they would answer a request for help.”

When Sa-ma Yong finished his explanation, Jo Il-geuk let out a low chuckle.

“Quite the fortunate coincidence. And Bongsoo County is… relatively close to Chamhoae Prison at that.”
“Indeed.”
“But here’s the thing — all of this can only be attempted under the assumption that the contents of that note are true, yes? If we seek assistance from the Mudang, Great Tiger Gate, and Dang Family only to discover it’s false, we’ll be in considerable difficulty. Moreover, if we’re to move the Mudang and the Dang Family, we’ll need to contact the Central Headquarters and seek the Chief’s aid.”
“Do not worry. We will bear the shame of any such failure. We can offer a sincere apology — attributing the mistake to faulty intelligence from the Dark Fragrance Division and to my own erroneous judgment as a strategist.”
“Hmm.”

Jo Il-geuk stroked his chin with a positive expression, as if the idea wasn’t without merit. He was slightly concerned about potential reprimand from the Central Headquarters, but since this was the Gangnam Branch’s affair on the front lines against Madoryeon, such a mistake seemed likely to be tolerated to some degree.

“Very well. Let us seek the Chief’s assistance. If the information proves legitimate, all the better. And if it turns out to be false, we’ll simply share the embarrassment together.”
“Thank you. Ah, and one more thing — there’s also the possibility that the Black Moon Unit and Heavenly Demon Unit could genuinely be targeting the Saja Cheonga family. We should prepare for that contingency as well.”
“Of course. I have no intention of overlooking an imminent danger simply because we’re not entirely certain of the information. Handle that matter yourselves.”
“Understood.”

Ho Jeop-pa and Jang Saeng received the order simultaneously.

“And one more thing.”

Jo Il-geuk’s gaze fixed on Je-gal Song with an intensity it hadn’t held before.

“I know it’s asking the impossible, but we need to keep close watch on what’s happening inside Madoryeon. As I mentioned, if the contents of that note are genuine, information of that magnitude could never leak from anywhere but the innermost circles.”
“I’ll do my best.”

Even as Je-gal Song answered calmly, the face of Sa-ma Yong, head of the Dark Fragrance Division and the one who would have to act on this, visibly hardened.

* * *

“He went where?”

Yu Seol-ran’s expression turned incredulous as she inquired about Dok-go Jin’s whereabouts, his absence stretching into the late evening.

“I… I’m not entirely certain myself, I’m afraid.”

Nam-gung Ho, standing motionless, shook his head while sweat beaded his brow.

“But you left together. How can you not know where he went?”

As Yu Seol-ran’s eyes turned glacial, Nam-gung Ho squeezed his shut.

“It happened so suddenly. He abruptly announced he was going into Closed-door Training and vanished.”
“When exactly?”

Yu Seol-ran pressed him with the blade of her voice, as if to say she would tolerate no lies.

“When the, when the thunder struck that afternoon. The moment he heard it, he seemed to grasp something—like a madman he just took off running.”

Nam-gung Ho had spoken carelessly, but those few words struck his listeners like a thunderclap of loss.
His comrades in the Mil-geom Unit knew all too well the degree of growth Dok-go Jin had achieved through Closed-door Training at Susim Pavilion just before departing for Chamhoae Prison.

“Hah! Now he gains Enlightenment from thunder itself?”

Yong Cheol-seung murmured in hollow disbelief, and Woo Gon beside him wore a bitter smile.

“Some people search their whole lives and never experience it even once…”

Yu Geom-ha’s head bobbed as if entranced by Woo Gon’s sighing words.

“I envy him. I’m so curious what it feels like to achieve Enlightenment.”

No one replied to Yu Geom-ha’s words.
They had all transcended their limits once or twice before. Yet that was mere increase in strength, never the crossing into a realm of achievement like Dok-go Jin’s sudden leap to Peak Master.
Worry that the team’s spirits might sink too low amid congratulations, envy, and whispers of jealousy prompted Yu Seol-ran to clear the air.

“You know what happens to a sparrow that tries to follow a crane, don’t you? That one defies our ordinary understanding. Compare and you’ll nurse an inferiority complex for the rest of your lives. Just as he has his own path and way, so do each of us. Don’t forget that.”
“Inferiority? You only feel that toward someone you might still catch up to with enough effort. Once someone’s that far beyond the horizon, there’s no room for inferiority. Only admiration and awe.”

Yong Cheol-seung playfully fluttered the empty cuff of Woo Gon’s sleeve as he spoke.

“That’s right, Captain. He’s beyond the pale anyway. A monster who achieves Enlightenment from thunder. No need to worry about us. But speaking of which—Ho.”
“Yes?”

Nam-gung Ho answered quickly.

“You said he took off like a madman, so we’ve no idea when he’ll return?”
“I seem to recall him saying to wait about three or four days.”
“Good. That gives us plenty of time before he’s back.”
“Still, I should report this separately to the Vice-Commander.”

At Woo Gon’s counsel, Yu Seol-ran sighed and nodded.

“Yes, we must. Nam-gung Ho.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Come with me. I’ll explain the situation to the Vice-Commander. I can’t bring myself to do it alone.”
“Understood… ma’am.”

Nam-gung Ho followed, his expression subdued.
Now that Dok-go Jin had returned, she would make sure to collect her due.

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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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