The God of Death and the God of War - Chapter 69

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Evil Hegemon Martial God

 

Chapter 69

 

Nine Provinces Rivers and Lakes.

 

This nickname came about because the Central Plains consisted of nine provinces, based on the territory from the Xia and Shang dynasties before the Zhou dynasty.

 

Now that the Central Plains’ territory had expanded much further, it was no longer nine provinces but thirteen or more, and the Central Plains had become that much vaster.

 

So it was only natural for the hegemon who conquered the Central Plains to take interest in intelligence.

 

Since no one knew when or where treacherous rebellions might unfold.

 

Thus, the imperial family and the Court realized the importance of intelligence gathering and created a single organization dedicated to this purpose.

 

Its name was the Eastern Depot.

 

Befitting its role as the hands and feet of the imperial family and Court, the Eastern Depot surpassed any renowned organization or group in Gangho.

 

Even the Beggar’s Sect of Jeongpa, which gathered information through a hundred thousand beggars.

 

Even the Hao Gate of Sapa, represented by pleasure houses, entertainment, and Gambling Halls.

 

They had no choice but to lower their tails before the Eastern Depot.

 

When gossipmongers throughout the Central Plains picked the greatest intelligence organization, the Eastern Depot was treated as beyond comparison.

 

Because even mentioning it was dangerous in the first place.

 

It was the only place permitted to torture or even kill based on the imperial family’s solemn command, creating charges even where none existed.

 

This Eastern Depot had the Director-General at its peak, below him two high-ranking officials called Deputy Directors, below them commanders called Heads, and at the bottom field agents called Operatives.

 

“The place called the Rift truly cannot be understood by common sense.”

 

The legendary figure who became a Head at the youngest age since the Eastern Depot’s founding.

 

The man, Heo I-gyeom, clicked his tongue as he looked around.

 

He was wrapped in a black robe with his face covered by black silk, revealing only his two eyes.

 

His pupils curved gently like a crescent moon, and judging by his nose bridge, eyelids, and cheekbones, he was clearly a handsome man.

 

Though his eyes were narrow slits drawn with lines rather than curves, they missed nothing characteristic or unusual.

 

Like how the river water surrounding all sides had become poison, creating sickening green streams just to look at, or the massive island he was standing on.

 

“Though I’m not sure if this can be called an ‘island.'”

 

It was completely different from outside the Rift.

 

An island, yet not an island.

 

Indeed, the ground Heo I-gyeom was standing on now was not red earth but a deck.

 

A bizarre form that looked like thousands of wrecked and broken warships forcibly joined together.

 

This was a characteristic of the Rift.

 

Right after a Rift forms, it devours the surrounding terrain and features to create a new space.

 

This place, Ghost Ship Island, was also created in the same manner.

 

“To think I would encounter the remains of His Majesty the Founder’s fierce battle like this…”

 

The remains of the fierce battle referred to the Battle of Poyang Lake fought between Founder Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang.

 

The only battle comparable to the Battle of Red Cliffs, all the sunken warships from both sides in this massive naval battle had stuck together to form this.

 

The half-destroyed and sunken vessels had become one in a patched-together form, making the name Ghost Ship Island quite fitting.

 

Ghost Ship Island was so vast and enormous that despite Heo I-gyeom searching every nook and cranny without rest for three days since entering, he had found no traces whatsoever.

 

“Sigh, I have no more time to waste in this place…”

 

Heo I-gyeom let out a sigh.

 

Though he had reached here by heavenly fortune, Heo I-gyeom was pressed for time.

 

“Where on earth is the item…”

 

As mentioned earlier, Heo I-gyeom reaching this place was indeed heavenly fortune.

 

A few months ago, a low-ranking operative under him reported a strange incident where the river split in half at Jeokbyeok in Hubei.

 

The source of information was slash-and-burn farmers, and the content was so absurd that no one in the Eastern Depot showed interest.

 

Except for one person – Heo I-gyeom.

 

Heo I-gyeom became intrigued by the rumor and investigated the traces alone.

 

He personally went to find Jeokbyeok and didn’t hesitate to submerge himself underwater.

 

And.

 

‘I found traces of tremendous power incomparable even to the treasures in the Imperial Palace archives.’

 

He found traces.

 

A divine artifact that seemed to possess power so great it made his heart race.

 

Though someone had already taken the divine artifact, it was fine.

 

Through the power Heo I-gyeom possessed.

 

‘I was able to complete a technique that could track other divine artifacts of the same level using the lingering echoes of the remaining traces as material.’

 

Reaching the Rift at Ghost Ship Island was entirely thanks to the guidance of the completed technique.

 

After months of tracking, he discovered this place ten days ago.

 

For several days, Heo I-gyeom made no reports to his direct superior, the Deputy Director, or even to the Eastern Depot itself.

 

Truly keeping everything thoroughly secret, after completing thorough preparations.

 

He entered this Rift alone three days ago.

 

But despite thoroughly searching all of Ghost Ship Island for those three days.

 

‘Phew, I must return to the Imperial Palace soon… To think I found nothing.’

 

He had not discovered a single small clue or trace.

 

The technique he had completed only tracked the Rift itself; once inside the Rift, it was useless.

 

Heo I-gyeom bit his lips tightly in frustration.

 

His already narrow eyes became even narrower, but there was no one around to notice.

 

‘What should I do about this…’

 

It was when Heo I-gyeom was inwardly pondering what to do.

 

Whoooosh-!!

 

Suddenly the Void began to twist and distort.

 

‘What?!’

 

This was a sight he had seen once before.

 

Heo I-gyeom had directly seen and experienced it when entering this place.

 

Someone was intruding into the Rift.

 

‘Who could it be?’

 

The moment Heo I-gyeom panicked yet reflexively concentrated his eyesight.

 

Flash!

 

Finally, someone revealed their form.

 

Splash.

 

Though in a wet state, the unidentified someone landed lightly on Ghost Ship Island.

 

They say you can tell a master just by how they land?

 

Heo I-gyeom sensed an extraordinary aura from his Opponent.

 

‘It’s too late to hide now. And there’s no need to hide either.’

 

Since the visitor came with ill intent, he would have to fight if necessary.

 

Heo I-gyeom took a combat stance while looking at the unidentified Opponent.

 

At that moment, he made eye contact with his Opponent.

 

‘Huh?’

 

But something was strange.

 

“…!”

 

The intruder’s eyes looking at him widened as if about to burst.

 

As if.

 

Recognizing him.

 

‘No, that’s impossible.’

 

But soon Heo I-gyeom denied his own imagination.

 

No matter how he looked, his Opponent was someone he was seeing for the first time.

 

Moreover, hadn’t he abandoned everything before entering the Eastern Depot?

 

He had changed his face and abandoned his surname.

 

Leaving the past in the past, he had been reborn as ‘Heo I-gyeom.’

 

There was no one who could recognize him.

 

So in all of the Central Plains, there was definitely no one who could recognize his identity, recognize him.

 

Therefore, Heo I-gyeom.

 

“It would be best not to entertain foolish thoughts.”

 

He warned the unknown opponent.

 

“This official is Heo, a middle-ranking official in charge of the seventy-eighth division of the Eastern Depot, currently executing orders from Changkong Elder.”

 

“….”

 

Changkong referred to the Director of the Eastern Depot, meaning the head of the Eastern Depot.

 

And calling himself a middle-ranking official also meant he held a high position.

 

This was a warning that he was from the Eastern Depot and performing official duties, so any rash actions would have consequences that would be far from small.

 

For any martial artist in the orthodox faction, daring to touch the Eastern Depot would mean not only their own destruction but the annihilation of their organization and group.

 

In short, he was pressuring his opponent with authority.

 

This was a commonly used tactic and a method that often worked well.

 

“You won’t forget that official duties are inviolable. If you carelessly interfere with imperial affairs—”

 

“Right. You wouldn’t be able to recognize me.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

The response that came back was somehow strange.

 

Puzzling words with no discernible context.

 

What did he suddenly mean by saying he couldn’t recognize him?

 

Just as Heo I-gyeom’s brow naturally furrowed.

 

‘Wait, now that I look at him….’

 

Heo I-gyeom realized who the opponent before him was.

 

His name had come up countless times in recent intelligence reports from the Honam Province branch.

 

The reports included physical descriptions and personal details, so if he looked carefully, Heo I-gyeom couldn’t fail to recognize him.

 

“I wondered where I’d seen you before. You’re the Baek-ya Daeju of Sadocheon.”

 

Jeok-un.

 

The prodigal son of the Jegal Sega.

 

Who killed his stepmother and half-brother and fled from his family.

 

The person who defected to Sadocheon and became the center of attention for the past few months.

 

‘This will be resolved easily.’

 

As soon as he identified him, seeing his silent demeanor, Heo I-gyeom thought this would be easily resolved.

 

‘Surely the martial prowess reported for this man is around the extreme peak level.’

 

Since Heo I-gyeom had entered the rift three days ago, he didn’t know about the recent Tongseong County incident or how much his martial prowess had been updated.

 

Therefore, he concluded that he couldn’t match someone who had reached Hwagyeong, and finding his composure, he spoke leisurely.

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to provide ample compensation to ease your disappointment after I leave this place…”

 

His opponent must also know his own inadequacy.

 

Just as he was offering a carrot instead of a stick this time.

 

“Heh, still trying to be clever and hoping for luck, I see.”

 

“…!”

 

Before Heo I-gyeom could finish speaking, Jeok-un chuckled and spoke.

 

At the same time, Jeok-un’s aura and attitude completely changed.

 

“I’m busy, but I’ll leave you with one lesson.”

 

Swoooosh!

 

Tremendous energy spread out like a storm centered on Jeok-un.

 

‘This is… peak level…?’

 

Seeing this, Heo I-gyeom realized that Jeok-un’s martial prowess exceeded his expectations.

 

His opponent was definitely not just at the peak level.

 

Heo I-gyeom was considerably flustered as Jeok-un’s level exceeded his expectations.

 

And Jeok-un looked at him with a smirk.

 

“When you lay hands on someone else’s property, you must pay the appropriate price.”

 

“!!”

 

Before Heo I-gyeom could say anything, Jeok-un stomped his foot hard.

 

Heo I-gyeom was flustered.

 

Though the information did mention he was an unpredictable madman.

 

‘Does he really intend to make an enemy of the Eastern Depot?’

 

Kwaang—!

 

A shockwave that shook the entire ground, no, the entire deck swept the surroundings.

 

The poisonous lake, the disgusting green liquid, churned violently overall.

 

Guooooo!

 

Tremendous ripples centered on Jeok-un.

 

If this was all there was, he would have shouted about empty posturing.

 

“What are you doing—!”

 

Heo I-gyeom belatedly realized his enemy’s intention and felt a chill down his spine.

 

Guooooo!

 

The energy wave Jeok-un had unleashed.

 

He began to sense countless energies drawn by that wave.

 

As Jeok-un grinned, Heo I-gyeom glared at him, grinding his teeth.

 

“Go ahead and shit yourself in terror.”

 

Kugugugugugu!

 

Kwarrrr!

 

Then, the deck where Jeok-un was standing crumbled down.

 

Jeok-un naturally fell as if sucked into the space beneath the broken deck.

 

[And don’t be too disappointed.]

 

At the same time, Jeok-un sent a telepathic message to Heo I-gyeom.

 

‘Kugh!’

 

Heo I-gyeom wanted to immediately follow Jeok-un.

 

Jjeojeojeojeojeok!

 

But the deck that had swallowed Jeok-un was restored in an instant as if by magic.

 

Even when he stomped his foot the same way, the deck remained unmovable like an iron wall.

 

Kuooooo!

 

Then, countless monsters rushed toward Heo I-gyeom.

 

But even in such a life-threatening crisis, Heo I-gyeom’s attention was focused on the vanished Jeok-un.

 

[The sacred artifact of the Eon Family isn’t here anyway.]

 

Jeok-un’s final telepathic message dominated his mind.

 

‘How on earth…!’

 

He knew Heo I-gyeom’s true identity.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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