Return of the Sword Emperor - Chapter 41

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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 15: Chaotic Battle (1)

“That is Chamhoeguok.”

Ban Cho, Deputy Group Leader of the Yahon Dan, pointed toward the valley where smoke rose in all directions as he guided the Jeok Wol Dan to their arrival at Cheonmun Mountain.

“It seems the Sahon Dae dogs have acquitted themselves rather well.”

Ban Cho answered immediately to the words of Yi Hyo, the Escape Soul Swordsman.

“Indeed. Not only have they restrained the Yang family’s movements, but they have succeeded in springing the prisoners from Chamhoeguok and dealing a devastating blow to the prison itself.”
“Excellent. Did the Dharma Protector Gyo succeed in neutralizing the Sanggong Poison that had rendered the prisoners helpless, as he promised?”

Yi Hyo recalled Gyo Hae, the Five-Step Soul Chaser, who had moved far ahead of the main force with the mission to unite with the Sahon Dae and shake Chamhoeguok to its foundations.

“Precise intelligence has not yet arrived, but judging by the state of Chamhoeguok, we can infer that to be the case…….”

Ban Cho’s voice cut off abruptly.
The brush ahead rustled, and a man emerged from the undergrowth.

Ban Cho, having confirmed the identity of the diminutive figure, smiled and spoke.

“You might inquire of that fellow regarding the current situation at Chamhoeguok.”
“Do you know him?”
“Yes. Despite his appearance, he is a capable member of the Yahon Dan.”

Ban Cho stepped forward with a smile, already sensing the murderous intent radiating from the Jeok Wol Dan warriors who had appeared so suddenly. He brought his subordinate back safely to Yi Hyo while appeasing them.

“I am Seo Chung of the Yahon Dan, paying respects to the Elder.”
“You have labored well. Tell me—what is the current state of Chamhoeguok?”

Seo Chung took a short breath at Yi Hyo’s question and began his report swiftly.

“Precisely one hour ago, assassins from the Sahon Dae infiltrated discreetly and succeeded in distributing the Antidote that the Dharma Protector Gyo prepared to the prisoners. Though the Sanggong Poison could not be completely eradicated, the effect was still considerable. Afterward, they eliminated the guards and opened the prison gates, freeing the prisoners. There was some resistance during the elimination of the guards, but thanks to the vigorous efforts of the Dharma Protector Gan Jong, we were able to evacuate the prisoners without major incident.”
“Hehehehe! There is no one better suited to wielding the Sahon Dae than the Thousand-Man Killer. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Yeom Yu, the Asura Madman listening from behind, burst into laughter and tapped Gye Po, the Broad Sword One-Slash, on the ribs.

“He must be running wild intoxicated by the taste of blood after so long.”

Though Gye Po gave grudging agreement, his expression was far from pleased.
Gye Po, who led the Mudan Sect and had sworn countless times that the life of Un Hyeon, the Pine Gate Sword Master, belonged to him, had not only failed to claim that life but had suffered a counterattack, nearly receiving a fatal wound. Had Yeom Yu’s intervention been even slightly delayed, he would have lost at least one arm.
Of course, he had regrouped and dealt Un Hyeon a grievous wound, contributing to the annihilation of the Mudan Sect, but his failure to prevent Un Hyeon’s escape had left his reputation thoroughly tarnished.

“Chamhoeguok has completely collapsed thanks to the rampaging prisoners. We are currently engaged with the External Prison Division—the dogs responsible for the prison’s military forces. They are formidable fighters, and the engagement has taken some time, but with the assassins of the Sahon Dae and the vigorous efforts of both Dharma Protectors, it should be resolved shortly.”

As Seo Chung finished his report, Yi Hyo nodded with a satisfied smile.

“Good. Things have progressed better than expected. Ah, but have there been any reports regarding the Cheon Rang Dan?”

Seo Chung glanced at Ban Cho before shaking his head.

“Not yet.”
“I see. You have done well. You may withdraw now.”

At Yi Hyo’s gesture, Seo Chung hurriedly bowed and departed in quick steps.

“Group Leader of the Jeok Wol Dan.”

At Yi Hyo’s call, Jeong Yu Hwa approached quietly.
The killing intent and blood-scent radiating from her entire body in the aftermath of such a fierce battle were no trivial matter.

“It seems the situation will resolve itself soon enough even as things stand, but there’s little reason to drag this out. What concerns me is that we’ve received no word from the Cheon Rang Dan who went to strike the Dang family.”
“Have no fear. I’ll bring this to a close as quickly as possible.”

Jeong Yu Hwa turned without waiting for Yi Hyo’s further command. Then she called out to the Jeok Wol Dan, whose eyes gleamed with killing intent just as fiercely as her own.

“Move. Don’t let a single one escape.”

As Jeong Yu Hwa hurled herself toward Chamhoeguok, just over twenty members of the Jeok Wol Dan followed in her wake, save for a small contingent still pursuing the scattered remnants of the Mudan Sect.
More than half their numbers had fallen in the process of sweeping away the elite forces of the Mudan Sect and Dae Ho Moon that had come to reinforce Chamhoeguok, yet not a single one bore uncertain eyes.
The Jeok Wol Dan’s morale had reached its zenith.

* * *

“Ugh! Ugh!”

Heuk Do Byeong’s face, as he gasped for breath, was filled with despair.
His left arm hung empty below the elbow, and dark crimson blood welled steadily from the gaping wound in his side.

“What is your name?”

Gan Jong, the Heaven-Severing Assassin who had driven Heuk Do Byeong into the abyss of defeat, asked with an expression of languid indifference.

“D-damn you!”

Gan Jong felt no anger at Heuk Do Byeong’s rough response.
To witness the death-throes of the vanquished was the victor’s right, and their pleasure alone.

“I never imagined I’d encounter someone like you in a place such as this. Your skill would be wasted rotting away in a prison.”

Gan Jong acknowledged the resolve and prowess that Heuk Do Byeong had not abandoned even in his final moments.
Though he showed no outward sign of it, there had been several perilous instants—Heuk Do Byeong’s skill was formidable enough to warrant such caution.

“Out of respect for your ability, I shall grant you a painless end.”

Gan Jong raised his blade slowly.
Heuk Do Byeong clenched his teeth as he watched the thread of blood trace along the sword’s edge.
Now it was only his own blood that flowed; how much of his men’s blood had spilled before this moment, he could scarcely fathom.

“Die!”

Even in his final moment, Heuk Do Byeong refused to yield, gathering what remained of his strength and driving his blade toward Gan Jong’s lower abdomen.
Gan Jong’s eyes, certain he had utterly neutralized his opponent, widened with shock.
He twisted his body in panic, withdrawing his blade to deflect the attack, but with a sickening sound, blood erupted from Gan Jong’s flank.
Yet it was not a mortal wound.
Through the sensations transmitted to his fingertips, Heuk Do Byeong realized his attack had failed, and disappointment flooded his face.

“Insolent!”

Gan Jong, enraged that his clemency had been answered with murderous intent, spun with lightning speed and unleashed his blade.
As his body moved, the droplets of blood from his flank scattered in all directions, and at the end of their arc floated Heuk Do Byeong’s severed head, sailing through the air.
In that instant, Gyo Hae, who bore the mark of Spectral Obsession, approached and casually kicked the motionless head as it rolled across the ground.

“Tsk, tsk. Pathetic. A fine display—what carelessness wrought.”

Gyo Hae, who had been watching Gan Jong and Heuk Do Byeong from a slight distance away, clicked his tongue.

“I never thought you’d have the audacity to reject my mercy. Damn it—a miscalculation. Should’ve punished such an act properly back then. Got carried away without thinking and severed his breath far too easily. Should’ve dismembered him piece by piece, left him neither living nor dead.”

Gan Jong gripped his bleeding flank, unable to suppress his rage.

‘No one wanted such goodwill.’

Gyo Hae didn’t care for Gan Jong’s pointless actions, born of his own private satisfaction, but he said nothing. After all, the fool was already paying the price for his stupidity.

* * *

While chaos reigned above, the Depths remained shrouded in silence.
Yet even buried as they were in the deepest underground, the sudden appearance of more than five corpses falling into the Depths was impossible to overlook.

“Judging by those clothes, this one was a prison guard.”

Gwi Myeon Sae Sin nudged a corpse with his foot as he spoke.

“These look like prisoners.”

Wang Wi, clad in rags, gestured toward the fallen bodies.
Heuk Gwang was already rifling through their belongings.

“Could there have been a revolt?”

Gwi Myeon Sae Sin snorted at Wang Wi’s question.

“These ones are all drenched in Sanggong Poison. Men who can’t even recover their martial strength—what revolt? A few tried to escape and met dog’s deaths, that’s all.”
“No, I don’t think we should assume that. For just a few escape attempts, the atmosphere feels wrong.”

Ban An, who had been listening to the strange sounds coming from above, crawled forward dragging his broken leg.

“Something unusual seems to be happening.”
“Could they have come to rescue us?”

Ban An laughed as though the suggestion was absurd at Heuk Gwang’s words.

“Hardly. They’ve come to rescue him, not us.”

Ban An pointed to Deung Bi, who stood motionless with his gaze fixed upward.
From the moment the corpses began falling, Deung Bi had been certain that Mado Yeon had come to rescue him.
At Ban An’s indication, the prisoners’ eyes flared with hope as they remembered that Deung Bi was a Dharma Protector of Mado Yeon.
As if answering their expectations, a sharp scraping sound echoed down, and an iron chain descended without warning.
All the prisoners looked up and clasped their hands together, praying desperately that whoever descended the chain was not a guard of Chamhoeguok.

* * *

“Well, this is rather amusing.”

Yi Hyo descended in a basket dangling from the chain, one leg hooked over its edge, his eyes bright with curiosity as he surveyed the scene.

“Hehe! You live long enough to see anything. Here I am, finally witnessing the legendary Depths of Chamhoeguok.”

Yeom Yu, facing Yi Hyo as they descended toward the Depths, flashed an impish grin.

“It doesn’t seem as dark as I expected.”

Yi Hyo tossed the torch in his hand downward.
The moment the torch hit the floor of the Depths and illuminated the space, they could make out the prisoners staring up at them in stunned silence.

“Ah! We have an audience.”

Yeom Yu spoke playfully, yet remained alert to any danger that might arise.
The basket touched the bottom of the Depths just as Yi Hyo and Yeom Yu leapt from it.
Several Jeok Wol Dan members who had been hanging from the Iron Chain followed them down, their torches flooding the chasm with light.

“Elder.”

Deung Bi recognized Yi Hyo and approached with a face full of emotion, bowing deeply.

“Dharma Protector Deung. You’re alive. How is your body?”
“Apart from the Sanggong Poison eating away at me, I’m well enough.”

Yi Hyo let out a hearty laugh at Deung Bi’s weary response and gestured with his eyes. The Jeok Wol Dan Deputy Group Leader Cheol Hu Su handed over a small medicinal pill.

“Take it. It’s an antidote that Gyo Hae made. It’s not perfect, but it’ll do in a pinch.”

Deung Bi swallowed the medicine without hesitation upon hearing it was Gyo Hae’s work.
Meanwhile, on another side, others were exchanging warm greetings.

“Ha! I never thought you’d survive all this time instead of kicking the bucket.”

Yeom Yu laughed at the sight of Gwi Myeon Sae Sin. It was genuine joy, not mere mockery or astonishment.

“Hmph! An old man three months my senior shouldn’t be talking like that.”
“Your temper’s unchanged, I see. In any case, good to see you. How long has it been?”
“We met just before I was locked away in this place, so it must be twenty years now.”
“Twenty years, is it.”

Yeom Yu gazed steadily at Gwi Myeon Sae Sin.
He found himself pitying the man who had been trapped here through such a long stretch of time, long enough for the mountains and rivers to transform twice over.

“I don’t like that look in your eyes. Spare me the pity.”

Gwi Myeon Sae Sin’s sharp words made Yeom Yu let out a hollow laugh and nod.

“So you’re not coming out, then?”
……
Hehehehe!

As Yeom Yu burst out laughing at Gwi Myeon Sae Sin’s inability to answer, Yi Hyo approached.

“It’s been a long time, Gwi Myeon Sae Sin.”
“It has, Soul-Severing Sword.”
“I came to save Dharma Protector Deung, but if you wish it, I’ll set you free.”
“I… ask that of you.”

Gwi Myeon Sae Sin bowed his head. No matter how stubborn a man’s pride, he was not fool enough to let slip an opportunity that came once in twenty years.

“We also ask it of you.”
“We beg your mercy.”

Wang Wi and Heuk Gwang lowered their heads in earnest plea. Yi Hyo, who had no real acquaintance with them, furrowed his brow in hesitation. Yeom Yu nudged him in the ribs.

“They walk a different path than we do, but from the perspective of the Jeong Mu Maeng, they’re troublesome characters indeed. It would be wise to bring them out.”
“Understood. Let us do so.”

When Yi Hyo readily agreed, Wang Wi and Heuk Gwang, who had been watching him anxiously, clenched their fists hard.

“P-please, I beg you as well.”

Ban An, who had crawled over at some point, seized Yi Hyo’s leg and pleaded desperately.

“Who are you?”

Yi Hyo’s gaze turned cold as he studied Ban An.
The Geumji within Chamhoeguok was not merely a prison for those who had defied the Jeong Mu Maeng or enemies of the Sect — it held those guilty of grave crimes against the martial world itself. And within that pit, the deepest levels held only the vilest of criminals. Yet Ban An seemed far too young to be confined in such a place.

“I… I am called Ban An, sir.”
“Ban… An?”

As Yi Hyo tilted his head, Deung Bi spoke quietly.

“You may know him as the Jade-Faced Immortal, sir.”
“The Jade-Faced? Ah! That devil!”

Before the words left Yi Hyo’s mouth, he drove his boot through Ban An’s ribs. Then, as though wiping filth from his sole, he brushed at his pant leg and spat roughly onto the ground.

“Ptui! Filthy wretch, what do you think you’re—”

Ban An tumbled through the air before crashing hard against the stone. For a moment his body convulsed, then went limp.

“Move out. Now.”

Yi Hyo seized the Iron Chain that lay slack on the floor, and the prisoners, fearing any chance of escape might slip through their fingers, seized it with both hands.
The fate of Ban An was beneath their notice.

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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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