The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 277

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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 277.
Su Gyeong Jeon, Dam Yoo Yeon’s office.
Jong Jeong Yak listened as Dam Yoo Yeon explained the wanderer standing before them.
He wore a tattered robe, a sword wrapped in bandages slung across his back.
His name was Seol So.
Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face—at first glance, he resembled an aged Buddhist monk who had transcended all worldly concerns.
Yet according to Dam Yoo Yeon’s account, he was the most formidable wanderer in Jeok Cheon Mak Ji.
‘This man is a high-rank wanderer?’
Jong Jeong Yak blinked after hearing Dam Yoo Yeon’s full explanation.
Typically, high-rank wanderers were mostly middle-aged men with extensive experience in the Gangho.
Yet the man before her was scarcely different in age from herself—hardly what she expected.
Moreover, his gaze was so utterly serene and fixed that something about him felt unsettling.
‘I’m not entirely convinced.’
As she inwardly sighed and shook her head,
“Don’t worry.”
Dam Yoo Yeon, noticing Jong Jeong Yak’s troubled expression, smiled softly.
“Seol So will surely be of great help.”
“Sister.”
「Trust me. Whatever happens, believe in him and rely on him. Understood?」
She then sent a transmission of inner energy.
Jong Jeong Yak was puzzled.
They were alone in the office—why resort to inner transmission?
Yet seeing Dam Yoo Yeon’s confident smile, Jong Jeong Yak found herself nodding without thinking.
If Dam Yoo Yeon, who had memorized the details of every wanderer in Jeok Cheon Mak Ji, said so, it had to be true.
“Master Jong. Is it truly necessary to employ a wanderer?”
But the young man who had been standing beside Jong Jeong Yak throughout wore an expression of displeasure.
“I too have considerable experience in the Gangho. My protection alone should suffice.”
His name was Neung Jo Woon.
A martial artist from the Bi Geom School, he had long served as Jong Jeong Yak’s adjutant.
Though his temperament was somewhat hot-headed, his martial prowess was exceptional and his loyalty unwavering, making Jong Jeong Yak hold him in high regard.
“This isn’t about protection.”
Jong Jeong Yak spoke with resolve.
“To resolve this matter, I need a wanderer versed in the underworld and knowledgeable about the Black Gang’s operations.”
“Couldn’t such people simply be subdued by force or swayed by money? One or the other should suffice, shouldn’t it?”
“It’s not that simple.”
She had ventured into the Murim multiple times and handled dangerous missions.
Thus she understood well how invaluable it was to have someone versed in the underworld at her side.
“Don’t raise objections about this matter.”
Jong Jeong Yak spoke solemnly, then turned to Bu Eunseol and nodded.
“Very well. I accept the contract.”
Jong Jeong Yak handed the paper she had received from Dam Yoo Yeon to Bu Eunseol.
“The contract stipulates that you assist and protect me until I return to the Murim Alliance. And that you will never disclose anything you see or hear during this time.”
She spoke with commanding authority, her tone brimming with confidence befitting the Enforcement Chief of the Murim Alliance.
“Can you do that?”
“I have three conditions.”
“Three conditions?”
Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice.
“Allow no one but yourself to give me orders or interfere in my affairs.”
This condition was clearly aimed at the disgruntled Neung Jo Woon.
Jong Jeong Yak laughed and spoke.
“You’re quite meticulous. Very well. What’s the second condition?”
“When measures are taken for safety, you must also follow my instructions.”
“That’s problematic.”
Neung Jo Woon stepped forward with a sharp expression.
“Protecting the Enforcement Chief is my responsibility.”
“I said safety measures, not protection.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
As their argument threatened to lengthen, Jong Jeong Yak nodded her head.
“Fine. I accept that condition as well.”
“Enforcement Chief!”
As Neung Jo Woon protested, Jong Jeong Yak spoke firmly.
“You said it’s only when it’s a measure to protect me. What’s the third condition?”
“My responsibility for protection extends only to you. I will not be accountable for anyone else.”
“Agreed.”
And she spoke toward Bu Eunseol.
“Is that settled?”
“It is.”
As Bu Eunseol accepted the paper, Dam Yoo Yeon’s face brightened with a smile.
I’m grateful, Seol So.
In fact, Dam Yoo Yeon had visited the Inn where Bu Eunseol was staying and made a separate request.
She had offered to pay compensation equivalent to that of a top-tier ronin if Bu Eunseol would contract with Jong Jeong Yak.
Of course, this request was to remain a secret from her.
There’s nothing to be grateful for. It’s simply work.
As Bu Eunseol replied, Jong Jeong Yak laughed and nodded, speaking.
“Then let us depart.”
A single eight-horse carriage and mounted martial artists were racing down Gwan Do.
Jong Jeong Yak’s destination was none other than the Woo Gang Pyo Bureau.
A Merchant Guild recently contracted with the Murim Alliance, it had been delivering elixirs transmitted from Seomseong to the Alliance.
However, in recent years, elixirs that should have arrived at the Murim Alliance had frequently gone missing.
Just recently, even fifty or so Ja So Pills that the Woo Gang Pyo Bureau was supposed to transport had been completely lost.
Of course, they had compensated with a substantial reward, yet questions still lingered.
―This was no mere accident.
Jong Jeong Yak sensed something was amiss within the Woo Gang Pyo Bureau and intended to conduct a thorough investigation of its inner workings.
“Whoa, whoa.”
As the carriage halted and Jong Jeong Yak and her companions descended, the Wi Sa guards standing before the Woo Gang Pyo Bureau clasped their hands in salute.
“What brings you here?”
Jong Jeong Yak walked forward with confidence and presented her insignia—a token symbolizing her authority as an inspector of the Murim Alliance—to the Wi Sa guard.
“I’ve come from the Murim Alliance. Is the Bureau Master within?”
The Wi Sa guard, glancing down at the token, clasped his hands respectfully.
“Please wait a moment.”
After some time, the Wi Sa guard returned and, extending one hand, guided them with utmost courtesy.
“This way, please.”
Upon entering the Bureau, the interior was eerily vacant.
The Merchant Guild’s interior, which should have been bustling with activity, was instead shrouded in silence, and neither the merchants nor the laborers who should have been moving goods were anywhere to be seen.
“Has something happened? Why is it so quiet?”
In response to her question, the Wi Sa guard walking ahead bowed deferentially and spoke.
“It is an exceptionally busy season, so everyone has gone out to transport merchandise.”
“I see.”
After passing through several buildings, they arrived at a spacious Palace Hall with a Guest Hall suitable for receiving visitors.
“Miss, please enter. The Bureau Master will be out shortly.”
‘A trap.’
Observing this, Bu Eunseol immediately sensed that the interior of the Palace Hall was rigged with traps.
Even from a distance, she could distinctly hear the faint scraping of metal.
Yet Jong Jeong Yak and Neung Jo Woon remained standing with serene expressions, completely unaware.
“Understood.”
As Jong Jeong Yak moved to open the door and enter without hesitation, Bu Eunseol stopped her.
“Henceforth, wherever you go, never enter first.”
And as Bu Eunseol moved to enter ahead, the Wi Sa guard lowered his head with a troubled expression.
“The Bureau Master has requested only the young lady.”
At this, Neung Jo Woon’s lips curved slightly upward as he spoke to Bu Eunseol.
“The inspector is not walking into a death trap, but rather entering a reception room to meet the Bureau Master.”
Jong Jeong Yak also smiled and looked at Bu Eunseol.
“It’s fine. We’ll wait outside.”
But Bu Eunseol spoke with unwavering resolve.
“Have you already forgotten what we promised? Every precaution is for your safety.”
“Hmm.”
Seeing no wavering in Bu Eunseol’s gaze, Jong Jeong Yak sighed and spoke to the Wi Sa guard.
“I’ll ask my Bureau Master for understanding directly.”
The Wi Sa guard then lowered his head with a reluctant expression, as if he had no choice.
And Jong Jeong Yak entered as well.
Clang.
Yet the moment she stepped inside, the sound of the door slamming shut echoed from outside.
A heavy, metallic sound at that.
Clang! Crash!
Simultaneously, the clash of weapons reverberated from beyond the door in rapid succession.
‘Something’s gone wrong!’
Clank, clank.
She sprang to her feet and tried to rush back outside, but the door remained firmly sealed.
Boom!
She poured her strength into it, yet the door didn’t budge an inch.
As it turned out, the door was merely wooden on the surface—its interior was forged entirely from steel.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Then, with a piercing whistle of displaced air, black projectiles began raining down from all four walls.
“It’s a trap!”
Jong Jeong Yak swiftly drew her blade, weaving an impenetrable wall of steel.
The swordsmanship she deployed was the Heavenly Strength Sword Technique—a method taught only to the highest-ranking officials of the Murim Alliance.
Those who ascended to the position of Bureau Director could select one of the Murim Alliance’s advanced sword arts to master.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
As Jong Jeong Yak’s flawless sword barrier materialized, the cascading projectiles fell harmlessly before reaching her.
Yet the volume of incoming projectiles only intensified, until it seemed as though swarms of dark insects were descending upon her from the void.
Whoosh!
Then a violent wind erupted, and the rain of projectiles suddenly ceased their descent.
The third form of the Seven Palms of Martial Mastery—the Wondrous Technique of the Dreaming Child—had been unleashed.
Boom!
The palm wind gradually began rotating like a dragon’s vortex, unleashing tremendous force in spiraling waves. In its wake, not only the projectiles but the very mechanisms embedded in the walls crumbled to dust.
Crash!
As the walls collapsed, the barrage of projectiles ceased entirely.
Jong Jeong Yak stared at the ruined walls, her mouth falling open.
“That… that’s an extraordinary palm technique.”
It rivaled the Soaring Dragon Palm she had witnessed years ago when a Gae Bang elder demonstrated his technique before the Murim Alliance.
“Was your true skill palm technique rather than sword?”
Bu Eunseol didn’t answer her question, instead quickly surveying the surroundings.
Then Jong Jeong Yak spoke in a low voice.
“There’s nothing to assess. All sides are sealed—we escape upward.”
She immediately moved to burst through the ceiling and ascend.
“Stop.”
Bu Eunseol halted her at once.
“This trap was designed anticipating an upward escape.”
“What do you mean?”
Bu Eunseol answered not with words but by twisting her left fist and releasing a gentle palm strike toward the ceiling above.
Boom!
The roof shattered,
Whoooosh!
A swarm of projectiles rained down from above.
So many hidden projectiles cascaded down that the sonic booms echoing in all directions sounded like the crackling of chicken frying in oil.
Kaboom!
Some of the projectiles even contained fire bombs, and with each explosion, flames scattered in every direction.
Blocking hidden projectiles while airborne is extraordinarily difficult. And with fire bombs mixed among them…
Unless one mastered a movement technique like the Soaring Dragon Eight Forms that allowed repositioning in mid-air, such a trap was inescapable.
“If they had gone upward, they would have suffered severe injuries.”
At Jong Jeong Yak’s words, Bu Eunseol nodded, then struck the locked door again with a single palm strike.
Thud!
With a sound like a temple bell ringing, the locked iron door swung wide open.
As the door opened, I could see dozens of assassins engaged in combat with the Murim Alliance martial artists that Jong Jeong Yak had brought.
‘Hmm.’
Bu Eunseol’s brow furrowed slightly as I observed the scene.
The martial artists facing the assassins possessed skills far too mediocre to be called members of the Murim Alliance.
‘So that’s how it was.’
Only then did I understand why Jong Jeong Yak had even requested my protection.
‘They sent freshly trained martial artists.’
When venturing into Gangho, the principle was to assign martial artists who had not only undergone rigorous training but also possessed considerable combat experience.
Yet the Murim Alliance had assigned me inexperienced recruits.
‘They’re under pressure from above.’
As Bu Eunseol began to narrow my eyes, dimly grasping the situation, Jong Jeong Yak cried out.
“Seol So! Please help Deputy Chief Neung!”
Upon hearing this, Neung Jo Woon cried out convulsively as Bu Eunseol moved to approach.
“I need no assistance!”
He retreated sharply while wielding his sword, then extended his left hand forward.
Flash!
At the same moment, a streak of light poured from his sleeve,
Thwack!
A short dagger was embedded in an assassin’s throat.
Flash! Thwack thwack!
Each time he extended his hand, a cold gleam erupted, and assassins fell without fail.
Perfect accuracy.
True to his origins in the Bi Geom School, Neung Jo Woon’s hidden blade technique—wielding concealed blades hidden in his sleeves rather than the long sword at his waist—was flawless.
“Hiss!”
As he rapidly deployed his hidden blades to fell the assassins, the tide of battle reversed dramatically.
Unable to endure further, the assassin who appeared to be the leader cried out loudly.
“Retreat!”
But that was merely their wishful thinking.
Neung Jo Woon unleashed a barrage of Bi Geom techniques at the fleeing assassins.
Each time, they crumpled to the ground with anguished cries.
“Who orchestrated this?”
Once all the assassins were subdued, Jong Jeong Yak cried out with stern eyes.
“Who commissioned this attack?”
The assassins merely smiled, their eyes gleaming with an unsettling light.
In that instant, realizing something, Jong Jeong Yak swiftly struck their pressure points.
Assassins often bite down on poisoned false teeth to take their own lives.
Thud. Thud.
But something strange occurred.
Despite striking their vital points with lightning speed, they were dying with blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.
“How is this possible…?”
As Jong Jeong Yak stood bewildered, Bu Eunseol approached and spoke.
“They were fighting with poison pills clenched between their teeth.”
“They were holding poison pills in their mouths? Why?”
When Jong Jeong Yak shook her head in incomprehension, Bu Eunseol explained matter-of-factly.
“Because they proceeded despite knowing the success rate was low.”
“Despite knowing the success rate was low…?”
She murmured in shock.
Throughout her investigations of countless incidents, she had never encountered assassins so ruthless as to disregard their own lives.
Seeing Bu Eunseol’s composed expression, Jong Jeong Yak felt as though she herself were the fool.
“Commandant.”
At that moment, Neung Jo Woon approached and spoke.
“I believe it would be prudent to return to the Alliance immediately.”
He gazed at the fallen assassins with a grave expression.
“The assassins had already mapped our movement routes and set traps in advance.”
The Guest Hall’s doors had been replaced with iron gates, and intricate hidden mechanisms were installed within.
This was not work that could be accomplished in a short time.
The assassins had known of her arrival and prepared these traps beforehand.
“In other words, they are reading not only your movements but our very intentions as clearly as one reads a palm.”
Neung Jo Woon spoke with utmost gravity.
“This means that the longer we continue investigating, the more dangerous traps will be unleashed upon us.”
Jong Jeong Yak bit her lip.
Neung Jo Woon’s assessment was sound.
Moreover, this battle had left five or six of them with serious injuries, resulting in significant losses to their fighting strength.
‘If I return to the Alliance now…’
But if she withdrew now, she might never properly investigate this matter again.
What she was doing was exposing corruption among the upper echelons of the Murim Alliance.
If she stopped now? In the worst case, they could strip her of her position as Commandant under the pretext of investigation failure.
‘This absolutely cannot happen.’
I was only able to initiate this investigation because of the assistance of Hwa Mil Won Ju, a master-class figure.
But if I return empty-handed like this, even Hwa Mil Won Ju would have no justification to shield me from the pressure coming down from above.
“Ugh.”
At that moment, one of the fallen assassins began to retch, his body trembling.
A wanderer who had suddenly stopped breathing was returning to life.
“What?”
Looking more closely, I saw that the wanderer called Seol So had his hand pressed against a vital acupoint, his expression grave and concentrated.
How in the world had he managed to resurrect a dying assassin?

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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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