Return of the Sword Emperor - Chapter 46

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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 17: A New Task (1)

Jong Gak, who had been walking ahead, stopped in his tracks and turned back.
Seeing Jong Gak’s gaze, Dok Go Jin quickly offered his apologies.

“My apologies.”

Yu Seol Ran, reading the mood, lowered her head softly as well.

“Hah.

Jong Gak exhaled slowly and shook his head.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. The fault lies with those bastards. As if their unprovoked assault weren’t enough, they had to try framing us.”
“Exactly. You’d think they’d be grateful their heads are still attached to their shoulders.”

Yu Seol Ran caught Jong Gak’s sharp look and fell silent.

“Still, clashing with the Yang Si Sega is undoubtedly troublesome. They won’t dwell on their own folly—only on their wounded pride. Mark my words: they’ll nurse a grudge and seek revenge however they can.”

A flicker of genuine concern crossed Jong Gak’s face.
Though the Yang Si Sega lacked the prestige of the great families like the O Dae Se Ga in the Murim, they had been steadily gathering power of late.
Dok Go Jin, however, seemed unbothered. He merely shrugged lightly and smiled.

“It doesn’t matter. Let them do as they please.”
“…….”

Jong Gak stared blankly at Dok Go Jin, then let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re right. I was worrying over nothing.”

Yu Seol Ran, gauging Jong Gak’s reaction, smoothly shifted the subject.

“By the way, Lord Gak, didn’t the Yang Si Sega say they’d pursue the Ma Do Ryeon men directly?”
“They did. All the forces in the Jang Ga Gye region mobilized, from what I hear.”
“Hmph. So they were confident enough not to ask for our help.”
“Would you have agreed if they had?”

Yu Seol Ran snorted at Jong Gak’s question.

“No. Honestly, we’ve done our part already. Besides, there’s no way I’d move alongside people who resort to such underhanded tricks.”
“Which is why I refused.”
“Ah, so they did ask?”
“They did.”

Jong Gak nodded lightly, his brow furrowing as he glanced at the ruins of Cham Hoe Ok.

“Still, I wonder what became of Okju. No one seems to know.”
“From what I overheard the Am Hyang Dae members saying, Sa Okbu and some others managed to escape. Since no body was found, I suspect he fled with them.”
“That would be a relief, though he was always so sense of duty—I can’t help but worry.”
“He should be safe.”
“Let’s hope so. He was a truly compassionate man.”

Yu Seol Ran, Jong Gak, and the rest of their comrades all feared for Okju’s safety, but Dok Go Jin, who knew his true nature all too well, could only smile to himself in contempt.

‘No doubt he ran. And he’ll show his face again without the slightest shame. He always does.’

Dok Go Jin was certain that Okju had abandoned his subordinates and fled.

* * *

Half a day after leaving Cham Hoe Ok, the Mil Geom Dan party reunited with the Dang Ga, Mu Dang Pa, and Bok Ma Dan, who had lingered in the rear.

“You’ve all worked hard. Everyone made it through safely?”

Dang Yoo Cheon greeted the Mil Geom Dan with evident relief.

“Yes. The enemies had already fled, so there were no major skirmishes, but Cham Hoe Ok has been completely destroyed.”
“I heard the general situation through Am Hyang Dae. But why didn’t you move with the Yang Si Sega? I naturally assumed you’d go together once they started pursuing the enemy.”

At Dang Yoo Cheon’s question, Jong Gak smiled bitterly.

“Am Hyang Dae didn’t mention anything in particular.”

From Jong Gak’s reaction, Dang Yoo Cheon intuitively sensed that something unusual had occurred between the Yang Si Sega and the Mil Geom Dan.

“It seems something awkward happened at Cham Hoe Ok.”
“Well, that is…….”

As Jong Gak hesitated, apparently reluctant to tattle, Yu Seol Ran and the other Mil Geom Dan members urged him on with pointed looks to explain.

“Ahem. It would be better if Captain Yu explained. She was there, after all.”

Yu Seol Ran, who hadn’t expected Jong Gak to pass the explanation to her, widened her eyes before relaxing into an expression of acceptance and opening her mouth.

“Those Yang Si Sega bastards… we had some friction with them. At first it was probably just a misunderstanding. But then these fools attacked without warning, and…….”

With her characteristic crisp voice, Yu Seol Ran calmly explained how the Yang Si Sega had tried to persecute Dok Go Jin and Nam Goong Ho.
She herself had not been present when the conflict erupted, so her account was somewhat disjointed, yet it conveyed the situation clearly enough.
When Yu Seol Ran finished, the Mu Dang Pa who listened alongside her remained silent, but Dang Yoo Cheon launched into a scathing condemnation of the Yang Si Sega without hesitation.

“Tsk, tsk. Their low character hasn’t changed from then or now. They strut about as Hegemons of Jang Ga Gye now, but at their root they’re just bandits and brigands. Time may have passed, but that filthy blood runs true. And what’s more…….”

Dang Yoo Cheon’s condemnation of the Yang Si Sega was acerbic enough to be almost embarrassing to listen to. Moreover, as the barrage of reproach continued at length, it became clear there was some deep-seated animosity between them.

“Now that the Ma Do Ryeon have retreated, what are you thinking of doing next?”

Jong Gak seized the moment when Dang Yoo Cheon paused to collect himself and fired off his question quickly.

“Hmm, I’m thinking of returning to Cham Hoe Ok.”
“Yes? But Cham Hoe Ok has already been destroyed. The enemy has vanished.”
“We’ve come this far—we ought to at least take a look. According to Am Hyang Dae, those who managed to escape should be returning soon.”
“Has Am Hyang Dae made contact with those who escaped? Is there any word of Okju……?”

Jong Gak asked carefully, letting his words trail off.

“Okju is said to be safe. He escaped with Sa Okbu and his men, and is on his way back.”
“Ah! So he’s safe—that’s wonderful news.”

Not only Jong Gak but also the Mil Geom Dan and the Bok Ma Dan members, whose ears had pricked up at the mention, cheered in relief, and Dang Yoo Cheon’s expression darkened with displeasure before he smoothed it away just as quickly.
The shift was so swift that no one else noticed, but Dok Go Jin did not miss it.

‘Just as I thought. The elder sees that man’s true nature as well.’

Dok Go Jin smiled faintly with a sudden warmth and turned his head away.

“Are the Mu Dang Pa also heading to Cham Hoe Ok?”

At Jong Gak’s question, Cheong Ye shook her head.

“We intend to return to our sect. We must escort our master back as quickly as possible.”
“I see.”

At Cheong Ye’s reply, Jong Gak nodded solemnly, his gaze drifting toward the large wooden coffin.
The faint fragrance that emanated from it and the grain of the wood suggested it was crafted from pine.
While it might seem modest for a coffin bearing someone of Un Hyeon’s renown throughout the Murim, the disciples had hewn the timber themselves, and Jong Gak felt certain that Un Hyeon would surely be content with it.

“We are grateful. The Mu Dang Pa will never forget the debt we owe to the Mil Geom Dan.”

Cheong Ye bowed, meeting the eyes of Jong Gak and each of the Mil Geom Dan members in turn. Particularly in her gaze toward Dok Go Jin lay something beyond mere gratitude — a reverence for the hero of the Murim who had emerged anew.

“Come. Let us depart.”

At Cheong Ye’s call, the disciples of the Mu Dang Pa began to stir as one.
With the wooden coffin bearing Un Hyeon’s remains at their head, the disciples followed carefully behind.
Dang Yoo Cheon, watching the departing Mu Dang Pa, slipped quietly beside Dok Go Jin and spoke in low tones.

“Do you truly believe it fortunate that Okju, that old man, has returned alive?”
“Pardon?”

Caught off guard by the blunt question, Dok Go Jin could not hide his confusion as he turned it back.

“What are your own thoughts on the matter, sir?”

Dang Yoo Cheon’s eyes held Dok Go Jin’s gaze steadily, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

“He is like a lotus blooming in a tidal flat — radiant on the surface, but his roots lie buried in mud that reeks of rot.”

Dang Yoo Cheon tapped Dok Go Jin’s shoulder and continued.

“Take care not to become entangled with him. Men of his sort fear none more than those who shine as brightly as you do.”

Dok Go Jin offered no reply, only a bow in acknowledgment.
It seemed that the deep bond between himself and the Dang Ga would persist in this life as it had in the last.

* * *

“Commander!”

The moment Na Do Ryang, leader of the Ya Hohn Dan, burst through the door, Vice Commander Eon Sa Gyeong, who had been laboring over a mountain of documents, turned to regard him with displeasure.

“Tsk. Keep your voice down. What could possibly warrant such a commotion?”
“A message has arrived from Jang Ga Gye.”

At the mention of Jang Ga Gye, Eon Sa Gyeong’s expression shifted sharply, his fierce gaze now fixed intently on Na Do Ryang.

“What has happened?”

Despite Eon Sa Gyeong’s question, Na Do Ryang did not answer, moving instead toward the figure seated deeper within. Gwi Mun Ja had gestured for him to approach.

“News has come?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What is the report?”

Gwi Mun Ja spoke in a voice that seemed almost hollow.
His expression and tone betrayed little disturbance, yet his eyes flickered with a subtle tremor.

“The operation was successful. They have obliterated Cham Hoe Ok and are withdrawing safely.”
“Excellent.”

Warmth entered Gwi Mun Ja’s voice as he nodded.

“What became of those who came to aid Cham Hoe Ok?”

At Sa Gong Ye’s question from beside Gwi Mun Ja, Na Do Ryang’s voice rose involuntarily.

“The Dae Ho Mun forces were annihilated, and we dealt mortal blows to both Mu Dang Pa and Dang Ga.”
“Excellent! A complete success. The results were extraordinary.”

Eon Sa Gyeong let out an exclamation of delight, and Sa Gong Ye made little effort to hide his joy.

“What of our own losses?”

At Gwi Mun Ja’s question, Na Do Ryang’s expression hardened slightly.

“The damage appears heavier than anticipated. I’ll need to confirm the exact details, but in broad terms…….”

As Na Do Ryang detailed the casualties among Cheon Rang Dan, Jeok Wol Dan, and Sa Hohn Dan that had participated in the operation, the joy on their faces drained away rapidly.
The losses far exceeded expectations—they were catastrophic.
Jeok Wol Dan had suffered heavily, but the complete annihilation of Cheon Rang Dan was entirely unexpected.
Yet what troubled them most was the death of Ma Do Ryeon’s renowned masters: the Demon Sky Divine Demon Jang Rui and the Ascension Demon Horn Bang Yo, among others.

“When facing Mu Dang Pa and Dang Ga, casualties were inevitable…….”

Perhaps because of the deaths of those with whom he had been connected for so long, deep sorrow colored Gwi Mun Ja’s voice.
At that moment, Na Do Ryang pressed his lips tightly together and shook his head.

“It was not them.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Dark Abyss Elder fell in battle against Un Hyeon, but the others—they did not fall to Dang Ga or Mu Dang Pa.”
“Not them? Are you saying Cham Hoe Ok possessed masters capable of matching such experts?”

Eon Sa Gyeong’s face showed incomprehension.

“No, sir.”
“Then who?”

At Gwi Mun Ja’s weighty tone, Na Do Ryang swallowed hard and asked carefully.

“Do you perhaps recall the name Dok Go Jin?”
“Dok Go……Jin?”
“Ah!”

Instead of the puzzled Gwi Mun Ja, Sa Gong Ye responded at once.

“You speak of the one rising to prominence in Mil Geom Dan? The one who claimed the life of Nak Wol, master of Cheon Rang Dan, some time ago.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Ah, now I remember. The Alliance Leader instructed us to keep watch over him.”

Gwi Mun Ja nodded, then asked again with an almost bewildered expression.

“But surely you are not saying all of them fell to him?”
“Yes. The Demon Sky Divine Demon Elder and Bang Yo, Yeop Hun, Yuk Ji Pung, and the other dharma protectors all fell to him.”
“Mm.”

With a low, pained sound, Gwi Mun Ja fell silent, mouth closed.
“H-how could a single man overcome all of them? What level of skill does he possess?”

Eon Sa Gyeong’s face still bore the marks of disbelief.

“If only that man hadn’t intervened, the operation would have been a complete success. The casualties would have been far lighter as well.”
“You’re right to be cautious of him, as Lord Ryeon-ju noted. His rate of growth defies all reason.”

As Sa Gong Ye burned the name Dok Go Jin into his memory, Gwi Mun Ja asked with a hardened expression.

“Everyone escaped safely from Cham Hoe Ok, then?”
“Yes.”
“And the pursuit?”
“The martial artists throughout Jang Ga Gye and the surrounding regions, led by Yang Si Sega, are in pursuit as far as we can determine.”
“What of Jung Mu Maeng? They must have learned of the trouble at Cham Hoe Ok by now. Are they making any move?”

Sa Gong Ye answered.

“There are signs they’re attempting to cut off the escape route.”

For a moment, Gwi Mun Ja’s eyes flashed.

“We can’t allow that. Find a way for the two of them to manage an appropriate response.”
“Understood.”

Sa Gong Ye and Eon Sa Gyeong answered in unison.

“Well, we managed a success at least, so we’ve saved face on that front…….”

Gwi Mun Ja rose slowly from his seat to make his report to the Master of Ma Do Ryeon, exhaling heavily. His expression betrayed clear discomfort over how to report the casualties.

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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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