Return of the Sword Emperor - Chapter 42

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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: Chaos (2)

‘Just a little longer, and we’ll shake them off. Hold on just a bit more, Master. Please.’

Qing Ye, the chief disciple of the Wudang Sect, was running frantically with the mortally wounded Yun Hyeon, the Ancient Sword Master, strapped to his back. His own body was far from unharmed—with each stride, blood seeped from various wounds across his frame.

“Cough!”

Yun Hyeon, who had been drifting in and out of consciousness, suddenly convulsed with violent coughing and spewed a great clot of blood. Qing Ye, startled, halted abruptly and carefully lowered his master to the ground.

“Are you all right, Master?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”

Yun Hyeon tapped Qing Ye’s arm gently, forcing a smile despite the worry etched across the young man’s face.

“How long was I unconscious?”

Yun Hyeon looked around and asked.

“About two quarters of an hour, Master.”
“Two quarters, then.”

Yun Hyeon’s eyes dimmed with despair.
In that brief span of time, more than five disciples had fallen—sacrificed, no doubt, to delay the enemy or cover their flight.

‘Only nine left.’

Yun Hyeon’s face sank as he counted the survivors. Of the forty who had set out from the Wudang Sect, plus the seventy total including the lay disciples who had joined them along the way, fewer than ten remained alive.

The true horror was that the enemy’s pursuit had not ceased. At this rate, they would simply be hunted down one by one.

‘They’re after me.’

Yun Hyeon watched his disciples in silence, each one visibly exhausted and fighting against creeping dread.
The moment for a decision had come.

“You’ve done well. Now, here we make our stand—”

Before Yun Hyeon could finish, Qing Ye’s body stiffened in alarm. A group was approaching through the forest to their left.

‘Curse it.’

Qing Ye realized they had failed to evade their pursuers. He bit his lip until blood came.

“Enemy! Everyone, prepare yourselves!”

The disciples of the Wudang Sect needed no warning—they were already steeling themselves for the final confrontation.
The tall brush began to thrash. The moment a figure burst through, Qing Ye’s blade flashed out in a vicious arc—an attack willed with the intent to kill in a single stroke.
Yet his opponent deflected it with effortless ease.
In that instant, Qing Ye sensed an enemy beyond their capacity to overcome. He fought to suppress the fear rising from the depths of his being, preparing to strike again—but then he heard a voice.

“We are from the Jingwu Alliance. Sheathe your blades.”

Though Qing Ye heard the words “Jingwu Alliance” clearly enough, he remained seized by doubt—was this some deception? Only then did he notice that no killing intent emanated from the other party. He tried to pull back his strike, but it was already too late.

“Ah!”

By the time Qing Ye realized his mistake, his blade had already stopped mere inches from his opponent’s face.
Du Gu Jin, who had caught Qing Ye’s sword as if performing a prayer seal, turned his head slightly and spoke.

“As I mentioned, I’ve come from the Jingwu Alliance.”
“I—I apologize. I mistook you for one of those Demon Alliance dogs chasing us and made a foolish move.”

As Qing Ye offered a sincere apology, retainers of the Secret Sword Brigade, the Demon Subduing Corps, and the Dang Clan emerged from the undergrowth.

“True Immortal Yun Hyeon!”

Dang You Cheon spotted Yun Hyeon sprawled on the ground and rushed over in alarm.

“Ah, what a pleasant surprise! The Thousand-Life Poison Venerable—surely it’s been ages.”

Yun Hyeon managed a strained smile, but Dang You Cheon ignored the pleasantry and seized his pulse point firmly.
With his eyes closed, feeling for the pulse, Dang You Cheon’s complexion shifted with each passing moment.
Those gathered round wavered with hope and dread at his every reaction, yet Yun Hyeon remained serene, as if he had already sensed his own fate.

“What is it?”

Dang You Cheon released his grip and stepped back; Yun Hyeon smiled faintly.

“Well… that is to say…”

Dang You Cheon’s words trailed off as his gaze fell upon what appeared to be a lump of blood that Yun Hyeon had recently coughed up.
Mixed within the blood were shreds of torn viscera.

‘Just as the master’s judgment foretold—there is no error.’

Dang You Cheon confirmed once more that Yun Hyeon’s condition was beyond all hope of recovery.

“Who inflicted this upon you? The craftsmanship suggests no ordinary foe.”
“Several renowned Demonic Masters appeared. I clashed first with one who wielded the Bright Sword Single Strike, and later battled another wielding the Surya Demon.”
“So they’ve come as well.”

Dang You Cheon furrowed his brow, remembering Jang Rui, the Desolate Heaven Demon God who had once sought his life, only to lose it to Du Gu Jin in the end.

“The one who dealt this decisive wound was Cheol Gon, master of the Dark Black Fist. It wasn’t carelessness on my part, but after battling two Demonic Masters beforehand, I met his strikes head-on and paid the price.”
“Cheol Gon himself came? That works well. I too have a debt to repay that scoundrel.”

It was a lie. Dang You Cheon and Cheol Gon had no direct entanglement. He simply spoke in veiled promise of vengeance.

“I fear he has already been sent to the King of Hell by my hand.”
“So it was you? No matter. A debt repaid is a debt repaid, regardless of who settles it.”

Though Dang You Cheon attempted to smile, his eyes trembled slightly as he watched Yun Hyeon’s condition. Even as they spoke, the True Immortal’s state was deteriorating with alarming speed.

“But tell me—has the Dang Clan also suffered?”

Yun Hyeon asked carefully, catching sight of the weariness etched across Dang You Cheon’s features and the condition of the retainers surrounding him.

“Indeed. The Heavenly Wolf Group had set an ambush—along with several elders, including the Desolate Heaven Demon God Jang Rui. In that moment of mortal peril, we received aid from the Secret Sword Brigade.”

At the mention of the Secret Sword Brigade, Jong Gak, who had been watching for an opening, quickly approached and greeted them.

“Jong Gak, Vice Commander of the Secret Sword Brigade, at your service.”
“Ah! Pleased to make your acquaintance. Tell me—isn’t the Secret Sword Brigade under the command of my old friend Hyuk Ryeon Soo?”
“Indeed it is.”

Jong Gak bowed respectfully, pleased that a legendary figure of the martial world such as Yun Hyeon would remember his commander’s name.

“To step forward at such a perilous moment—I am truly grateful.”
“Not at all. It’s only what must be done.”
“But there’s something even more remarkable, True Immortal.”

Dang You Cheon spoke in a measured tone.

“What might that be?”
“In the Secret Sword Brigade, you see.”

Dang You Cheon glanced briefly to one side, then whispered.

“There is a monster.”
“A monster…?”

Yun Hyeon’s face clouded with confusion at the words.
But before Dang You Cheon could offer any explanation, a group came rushing from the front.

“Enemies!”

Qing Ye’s teeth clenched as he recognized the figures at the vanguard—Yeop Heun, wielder of the Ghostly Sword, and Yuk Ji Poong, master of the Dusty Wind Demonic Blade, the very ones who had slaughtered his martial brother and disciples—and he raised his blade to meet them.
The tension that had briefly eased upon encountering the warriors of the Secret Sword Brigade and Dang Clan snapped taut once more.
The pursuers arrived in an instant.
Twelve members of the Red Moon Faction followed in the wake of Yeop Heun and Yuk Ji Poong.
Though their numbers were modest, their strength was formidable—two dharma protectors of the Demon Alliance and senior veterans of the Red Moon Faction leading them.
Yet they had been pursuing the warriors of Wudang Sect, not those of the Secret Sword Brigade, the Demon Subduing Corps, or the Dang Clan.

[Who are these people?]

Yeop Heun sent a transmission, momentarily taken aback by the sudden increase in their numbers.

[I’m not entirely sure, but I can see the rabble on the left are Sichuan Dang Clan riffraff.]

Yuk Ji Poong, who harbored an old grudge against the Dang Clan, swept his gaze coldly across their warriors and locked eyes with Dang You Cheon standing beside Yun Hyeon.
Yuk Ji Poong recognized him at once and started slightly.
He had known of Dang You Cheon’s arrival at Chanhoe Prison, but seeing him face to face left him deeply unsettled.

“Hmph! So it’s the Yuk family dog.”

Dang You Cheon dismissed Yuk Ji Poong outright.

“The old fool’s had good fortune. I thought the Heavenly Wolf Group would’ve cut you down.”

Yuk Ji Poong shot back without hesitation, but Dang You Cheon only deepened his mockery.

“You don’t grasp the significance? What do you suppose it means that this old man stands here?”
……

As Yuk Ji Poong’s brow furrowed in confusion, Dang You Cheon continued.

“The Heavenly Wolf Group that attacked the Dang Clan—every last one of them is dead. And Jang Rui and Bang Yo, who came with them? The same fate. Blood Sea Demon Shadow alone managed to slink away with his tail between his legs. And now—”

Dang You Cheon’s cold gaze swept across the pursuers.

“It is your turn.”

As Dang You Cheon finished speaking, the Secret Sword Brigade and Demon Subduing Corps moved as one, cutting off the Red Moon Faction’s retreat.

“Before, you were fortunate enough to escape with your lives. Today will be different.”

As Dang You Cheon leveled a lethal warning at Yuk Ji Poong, Du Gu Jin moved toward Yeop Heun with such natural grace that no one thought to stop him.

“What are you doing, boy?”

Yeop Heun asked as though baffled by the question.
Yet he’d failed to notice that despite Du Gu Jin’s youthful appearance, not a soul moved to restrain him—though the Wudang Sect disciples, ignorant of his true strength, couldn’t hide their unease.

* * *

“Since things seem settled, we should head back.”

Yi Hyo surveyed the Chanhoe Prison, now completely under his control, and spoke those words.

“What of those prisoners?”

Jeong Yu Hwa gestured toward the inmates scattered across the floor, her voice sharp with inquiry.
With the Five Soul Corps’s aid, the prison had been breached, and of those who’d escaped, nearly half had survived.
Yet strangely, most of them hadn’t fled despite the fighting’s end—they lay helpless on the ground. Some still moved, but they drooled vacantly and wandered in a daze, clearly in terrible condition.

“Our Lord ordered them locked back up. Extracting those vermin was never part of the plan—not until we confirmed the Dang Clan and Wudang Sect’s interference. We used them because circumstances grew dire. Set them back where they belong, except for any connected to us. You there, Guardian Gyo.”

At Yi Hyo’s call, Gyo Hae, the Five Soul Protector, approached and bowed his head.

“Yes, Elder.”
“They won’t die, will they?”
“No, sir. They’re in this state because their latent power erupted violently. They’ll return to normal soon enough.”
“Has the Mountain Poison been detoxified?”
“Some antidote occurred during the latent power release, but it won’t be complete. There’ll be individual variation as well. Ah, the Antidote you took is perfect, so you need not worry.”

Gyo Hae laughed, noticing Deung Bi’s anxious gaze, and offered reassurance.

“Much obliged. I felt utterly powerless down there, but now strength’s returning.”

Gyo Hae waved a hand dismissively at Deung Bi’s thanks.
That was when it happened.
Seol Ryu Hon, the Five Soul Corps commander who’d earned remarkable merit in this operation, approached quietly.

“Elder.”
“Ah! Commander, well done. The Dang Clan and Wudang Sect’s interference could have been troublesome, but thanks to the Five Soul Corps’s efforts, we succeeded far more smoothly than expected.”
“You’re too kind. We’re honored to have contributed to the mission’s success. But there’s something I must report.”
“What is it?”
“The Yang Clan Family is stirring abnormally.”

Yi Hyo’s eyebrows twitched at once.

“The Yang Clan Family?”
“Yes. Word has reached us that they’ve begun massing their retainers toward this location, likely because news of the Chanhoe Prison incident has spread. By now, they’ve likely set out.”
“How long until they arrive here?”
“If they hurry, about a half watch. Accounting for the time the messenger hawk took to reach us, they should arrive within a quarter watch.”
“A quarter watch, then.”

As Yi Hyo fell briefly silent, mulling over the surprisingly swift timeline, Surya Demon Yeom Yu drifted over.

“If it comes to it, we simply crush them. Why the worry, Commander?”
“Yes, Elder.”
“How many men are we talking?”
“We should prepare for around two hundred.”
“Two…hundred? The Yang Clan had that many retainers?”

Yeom Yu’s eyes widened as he posed the question in disbelief.

“That’s not quite it. The Yang Clan Family alone couldn’t muster those numbers. But if the Yang Clan Family—which is all but the overlord of the Jang lineage—makes a move, then the forces under their influence will act without question.”
“I see. Well, fighting wouldn’t be impossible, but we’ve already rescued who we came for, so there’s hardly any point in…….”

Yeom Yu trailed off, his voice turning uncertain even as he tried to excuse himself.

“As you say, there’s no real reason to fight. And the road back won’t be comfortable or safe in the least.”

Yi Hyo knew the Jingwu Alliance would never overlook the destruction of Chanhoe Prison. They’d likely send a pursuit force.

“What of them, then?”

Jeong Yu Hwa gestured toward the prisoners, and Yi Hyo let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

“They’ll handle it themselves. Just as well, in fact—we can’t leave them in that state. Now, as for our path…….”

Yi Hyo was about to issue the order to depart when his voice dropped and his eyes flashed with sudden intensity.

‘Someone’s coming.’

Yeom Yu’s head snapped around—he’d sensed it too, the presence Yi Hyo had detected.
In that same instant, a figure approached at tremendous speed, and it was none other than Blood Sea Demon Shadow Dan Do Je.

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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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