Return of the Sword Emperor - Chapter 51

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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 18: Successors (3)

Snap!
Woo Mun-jik’s hands moved with unusual care as he unfolded the map.
As the members of Milkgeom Dan slowly traced their eyes across it, Woo Mun-jik began his explanation.

“I gave you a rough overview before, didn’t I? There are five gates centered on Jeonggang Mountain, where Nok Rim’s main stronghold is located.”

Woo Mun-jik pointed to a location in the far west.

“This is Baekho Chae on Palmieon Mountain, which we’ve already visited. And right here is…….”

Everyone’s gaze followed the path of his finger.

“The northeastern gate, Ssangmaseok. Where Jo Sa-eung, Jeon Woong’s rival, is stationed—where Heukgol Chae is located. And also where the members of Amhyang Dae went missing.”

As he spoke the word “missing,” emotion flickered across Woo Mun-jik’s face, and his voice trailed off before he steadied himself and continued.

“Heukgol Chae’s territory is quite extensive. And at every point, there are outposts densely positioned—the kind we saw before. For your information, the caliber of the brigands there is also superior to those at Baekho Chae. As far as we’ve been able to determine, the outposts are…….”

Woo Mun-jik went through the map methodically, pointing out the locations of each outpost, the number of men stationed at each position, and the various dangers they would need to be cautious of during their approach to the objective.

“……I believe that covers the essentials. Is there anything unclear, or any questions?”

Woo Mun-jik glanced around at Milkgeom Dan, but his explanation had been so thorough that there seemed little need for questions.

“That’s sufficient.”

Jong Gak handed him a cup of water.
Woo Mun-jik drained it in one gulp and added a final note.

“There’s one thing to be cautious about.”
“What is it?”
“Minimize conflict, whether during the search for the missing or during their rescue.”
“Is there a reason?”
“We risk provoking Nok Rim Tu Wang’s wrath. He pits his disciples against each other and makes the strongholds compete, but given his temperament, he will never tolerate outsiders running rampant in his territory. Fighting the Madoryeon is something we might get away with, but even that has its limits.”
“If we’re merely scouting, there’s no reason to run into trouble. But if we find the missing members of Amhyang Dae and need to extract them, it will be difficult to avoid a confrontation.”
“…….”

Woo Mun-jik fell silent.
Though he understood that Jeongmu Maeng could not afford to anger Nok Rim Tu Wang in order to achieve their objectives within Nok Rim, the lives of his comrades were at stake, leaving him with nothing more to say.

“Don’t worry too much. It won’t be easy, but we’ll be as careful as we can.”

Jong Gak gave his shoulder a gentle pat, and Woo Mun-jik nodded heavily, his eyes conveying gratitude.

* * *

“That is Hwangyang-gae.”

Ju Gangwoo pointed to a peak that emerged faintly between the clouds blanketing the entire mountain.

“Palmieon Mountain had its charm, but this place is even more impressive. There’s a certain elegance to it.”
“Yes, among the five gates, this location is renowned for having the finest scenery. However, there are outposts scattered throughout here as well. If we’re spotted by them, trouble could easily arise, so we must proceed with the utmost caution.”

Ju Gangwoo, though young in years, had been assigned the task of guiding the way precisely because he was the most composed among Woo Mun-jik’s members of Amhyang Dae and possessed exceptional skill in Light Footwork Martial Art. He now scanned his surroundings with a tense expression.
Even though his role was merely to guide the way, Ju Gangwoo fully understood just how critical his responsibility was.

“Which stronghold controls Hwangyang-gae?”

Yu Seollan asked.

“Bu-un-chae is located there. It’s not as widely known in society as Baekho Chae or Heukgol Chae, but it ranks among the upper tier of the Nok Rim Eighteen Strongholds.”
“Is Bu-un-chae also vying for the successor position?”
“Not particularly. There was a candidate, but he fell out early on, and it’s said he never had much interest in it to begin with.”
“No interest? For a bandit, that’s remarkably free of ambition.”

Jong Gak chuckled softly, gazing toward Hwangyang-gae, which had by now vanished into the clouds.

“Since we’ve taken the detour, time’s tight. Let’s move quickly.”
“Understood.”

Ju Gangwoo, answering at once, began moving with far greater speed than before.
It wasn’t merely faster—he moved with heightened caution, surveying their surroundings meticulously, and everyone nodded at his deliberate wariness.
When they safely passed four outposts hidden cunningly through the use of terrain and geography, slipping silently past the bandits who appeared here and there—that’s when it happened.
A sudden crash stopped everyone in their tracks.

“A fight has broken out, it seems.”

At Ju Gangwoo’s words, Dokgo Jin shook his head.

“Not a Mortal Combat. Hmm, they appear to be engaged in Pimoo.”

Jong Gak nodded.

“Quite an intense sparring match. At that level of ferocity, we can pass without trouble.”
“Agreed. Let’s move quickly.”

Yu Seollan spoke cheerfully.
She was relieved not to repeat the pattern of hiding in the forest each time they encountered bandits, waiting until they were completely gone.

“Let’s go.”

At Jong Gak’s word, Ju Gangwoo resumed his stride.
As the distance closed, the clamorous sound of clashing weapons grew clearer, mingling with the fierce shouts of the sparring combatants.
Moments later, a clearing—apparently man-made—appeared about fifteen paces to the left of their path.
There, as they all expected, a middle-aged man and a young man were sparring intently, drenched in sweat, their exchange far more serious than a simple practice match.

“For bandits, they display considerable skill.”

At Yu Seollan’s remark, Jong Gak nodded.

“Certainly different from the rabble we’ve seen until now. Not merely considerable—truly formidable. Especially the younger one’s ability is exceptional.”

Even amid the fierce sparring, Jong Gak instantly perceived that the young man was holding back somewhat against his opponent.

“Do you know who he is?”

Jong Gak asked.
Before Ju Gangwoo, who had been observing the young man with narrowed eyes and careful attention, could speak with his startled expression, Dokgo Jin was already staring at him with a look of utter bewilderment.

‘What on earth are you doing here?’

He had been thinking of meeting the young man soon, but seeing him like this was beyond his imagination.

“That would be Gong Ja-gyeol of Yong-chae.”

At Ju Gangwoo’s words, Yu Geomha tilted his head in confusion, about to ask back.

“Hm? Gong Ja-gyeol—isn’t that the one who got mixed up in the succession struggle?”
“That’s right. I’m not sure why he’s here, either. And to think he’s facing off against the Bu-un-chae master in Pimoo…”

Ju Gangwoo was thoroughly rattled by this unforeseen turn of events.

“Hmm, the mood doesn’t seem entirely hostile. Is it possible Bu-un-chae is backing Gong Ja-gyeol?”

Yu Seollan posed the question to Ju Gangwoo.
Ju Gangwoo shook his head, unable to offer an answer.

“I don’t know. We haven’t gathered any intelligence suggesting that yet. But judging by the circumstances, it does seem likely.”

Meanwhile, Dokgo Jin watched the two fighters’ Pimoo match with calm attention.

‘Still not quite ready.’

As befitted a prodigy contending for the Nok Rim Tu Wang’s successor position, Gong Ja-gyeol already possessed prowess exceeding the Bu-un-chae master—yet to Dokgo Jin’s eye, everything still fell short.
When Dokgo Jin had first made a connection with Gong Ja-gyeol, the man had been among the finest martial masters in the land, and it was on that strength that he had seized control of Nok Rim from Madoryeon’s grip.

‘His martial ability won’t be complete for another three years. But there’s no need to wait, really.’

Dokgo Jin smiled knowingly as he watched Gong Ja-gyeol evade the Bu-un-chae master’s assault with fluid, distinctive movements.

‘This time he won’t fail. Because I’ll help him.’

Just as Dokgo Jin sank into his own thoughts, Namgung Ho nudged his arm lightly.

“What’s on your mind? Let’s move.”

Namgung Ho gestured with his chin toward the group beginning to shift position.

“Right.”

That was when it happened.
Yu Geomha, moving forward, stepped on a dried branch buried beneath the fallen leaves.
It would have been nothing—except that branch was connected to an impossibly thin wire, invisible to the naked eye.
Though they had encountered similar traps before and escaped them cleanly, this time their attention had been fixed on the movements of the Bu-un-chae master and Gong Ja-gyeol, and they made a careless mistake.
Clang!
The soft toll of a bell froze everyone mid-step.
Simultaneously came the sound of air splitting.
Whissssh!

“Damn!”

Jong Gak, his face twisted with dismay, snatched the blade hurtling toward them with extraordinary speed.

“Ugh.”

A heavy groan escaped Jong Gak’s lips as he successfully intercepted the sword.
Against his will, his gaze dropped; his expression was far from reassuring.
The hand gripping the blade trembled slightly.

‘That man… stronger than expected.’

Jong Gak’s eyes widened as he beheld Gong Ja-gyeol, who had ceased his Pimoo match and now fixed his gaze upon them.
A palpable tension seized the air.
Gong Ja-gyeol took a step toward Milkgeom Dan.
His pace was neither swift nor urgent, yet somehow Milkgeom Dan found themselves unable to move.

‘That distinctive presence of his—still formidable as ever.’

Dokgo Jin caught the mood of his companions and broke into a wry smile.

“Who the hell are you?”

Won Dang-cheon, master of Bu-un Chae, asked while drawing shoulder-to-shoulder with Gong Ja-gyeol.
Though their numbers were far fewer than their opponents’, he showed not a trace of fear, trusting in his own strength and Gong Ja-gyeol’s.

‘This is trouble.’

Jong Gak’s face clouded with difficulty.
It was hard to reveal their identity, and even harder to simply withdraw.

“I asked who you are.”

Won Dang-cheon’s aura turned ice-cold.

“Merely travelers who took a wrong turn, I’m afraid.”

It was transparent nonsense that anyone would laugh at.
Even Jong Gak, who had spoken it, looked embarrassed.

“What kind of drivel is that!”

Murder gleamed from Won Dang-cheon’s eyes as he took offense.
Just as his grip on his sword tightened, Gong Ja-gyeol quietly seized his arm.

“Why do you stop me?”

Won Dang-cheon’s brow furrowed at the restraint, but Gong Ja-gyeol said nothing and fixed his gaze upon Milkgeom Dan instead.
Gong Ja-gyeol, keener of sense than most, had already taken their measure from the moment they blocked his path.

‘They’re not the problem.’

Having glimpsed Jong Gak, who appeared to be their leader, and Yu Seollan, Gong Ja-gyeol judged them both manageable.

‘The problem is that one.’

Gong Ja-gyeol’s eyes shifted to Dokgo Jin, who stood furthest back.
While the first two could be handled well enough, the martial strength of Dokgo Jin—who appeared to be of similar years to himself—was utterly beyond his grasp.

‘This sensation… yes, it’s the same as then.’

Gong Ja-gyeol’s throat tightened visibly.
As the memory of first meeting his master surged back, a chill ran down his spine.

“I asked why you’re stopping me.”

For all Won Dang-cheon’s angry words, Gong Ja-gyeol could not answer.
That was when it came.
A silent Telepathic Transmission shot toward Gong Ja-gyeol’s ear.

[Hold back. Unless you wish to die.]

At the brief warning, Gong Ja-gyeol’s body stiffened.
He needed no words to know who had sent the warning.
Yet strangely, his heart was not troubled.
There was no contempt in it either. If anything, there lay something curiously familiar in the tone.

“Uncle.”

Gong Ja-gyeol turned his head toward Won Dang-cheon.

“It’s treacherous terrain. One could easily lose the way.”
“What… did you say?”

Gong Ja-gyeol quickly sent a Telepathic Transmission to Won Dang-cheon, who wore the dazed expression of a man uncertain he’d heard correctly.
In that instant, Won Dang-cheon’s complexion drained of color, and his eyes flashed toward Gong Ja-gyeol with a question burning in them.
When Gong Ja-gyeol gave a solemn nod, Won Dang-cheon’s gaze wavered noticeably.
After hesitating several times, Won Dang-cheon at last released the tension from the hand gripping his sword.
Though he found it difficult to believe, he knew better than anyone what level of skill Gong Ja-gyeol possessed, and so he had no choice.

“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding between us. Shall we continue on our way?”

Watching Won Dang-cheon’s smile strain so plainly forced, Jong Gak offered one equally hollow in return.

“Th—thank you. Come, let’s move quickly.”

Fearing the other man might change his mind, Jong Gak hastened his pace.
Stepping aside, Gong Ja-gyeol fixed Dokgo Jin with an anxious gaze.
At the sight of Gong Ja-gyeol’s tension, Dokgo Jin let out a low chuckle and brushed past him with a light tap to the arm.
Startled by contact delivered in such an unexpected manner, Gong Ja-gyeol flinched—and in that moment, another Telepathic Transmission pierced through to him.

[Do not exert yourself in the Pimoo. And above all, do not pointlessly try to flaunt your skills. The test that will truly determine the successor lies elsewhere.]
“…….”

Gong Ja-gyeol stared after the receding Dokgo Jin with a blank expression.
The words were hard to believe.
They denied the very tradition of Nok Rim itself. Yet to ignore them felt inexplicably wrong.

“Are you truly saying those men are that dangerous?”

Only after the Milkgeom Dan had vanished completely did Won Dang-cheon ask, still struggling to accept it.
Gong Ja-gyeol slowly clenched his trembling right hand.
Though there had been no actual harm, the arm that Dokgo Jin had brushed against continued to tremble beyond his control.

“Not those men—the last one.”
“Is that so? If that’s what you felt, it must be true, but……”
“In all my years, no one but my master has ever given me a feeling like this.”
“Hmph! To that extent!”

Won Dang-cheon’s jaw dropped at the mere mention of Gong Ja-gyeol’s master.

“Moreover, that man is strange… No, never mind.”

Gong Ja-gyeol had nearly repeated what Dokgo Jin conveyed through Telepathic Transmission before steering the conversation elsewhere.

“I’ll need to look into it. Find out who that man is and what brought him here.”

Gong Ja-gyeol turned his gaze toward the forest where Dokgo Jin had vanished, his eyes turbulent with confusion.

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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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