Chapter 114

Chapter 114
## Chapter 114: Duel Voucher (2)

Deep into the night, the scarred merchant vessel finally neared the docks of **Wuhang**, guided by a pair of pirate ships.

“The port is in sight!”

A loud shout of relief broke the silence.

The sailors crowded the railings, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and joy as the lights of the harbor grew larger. They had spent the last twenty-four hours dancing on the edge of the abyss, fluctuating between certain death and miraculous survival.

“The second we step off this boat, I’m finding a bath. I can’t stand this smell of dried blood anymore.”

**Lightning** wrinkled his nose, sniffing his sleeve with a look of pure loathing.

“I’m with you. It’s making my stomach turn,” **Manchu** agreed, his features twisted in a grimace of disgust.

While they had seen their fair share of carnage at the **Benevolent Justice Hall**, the deck of the ship had been a different beast entirely—a chaotic, gore-soaked nightmare that had left them practically soaked in the lifeblood of their enemies.

“You should have just dove into the water like I did. Problem solved,” **Cheol Woo** remarked, spinning around to show off his relatively clean attire. After leaving his father’s side to secure the floating timber, he had taken a full plunge into the **Yangtze River**.

“You still stink like a wet dog,” **Manchu** retorted bluntly.

Taken aback by the sudden insult, **Cheol Woo** sputtered, unsure of how to fire back. **Lightning** couldn’t help but roar with laughter at the exchange.

“Look at that—our soft-spoken **Manchu** hangs around the wrong people for a few days and suddenly develops a silver tongue.”

In a flash, **Cheol Woo’s** hand blurred, seizing **Lightning** by the scruff of the neck. He began pulling at the man’s cheeks, clicking his tongue in mock disappointment.

As **Manchu** watched **Lightning** struggle fruitlessly against **Cheol Woo’s** overwhelming strength, reality set in. His face drained of color and he began to step back quietly, hoping to vanish. However, a freezing stare from **Cheol Woo** pinned him in place, forcing him to stand there and wait for his inevitable punishment.

Fortunately for the trembling **Manchu**, a distraction appeared.

“Is that a carrier bird?”

At **Sima Geon’s** observation, the group turned their attention to the dark western sky.

“Wait, that’s a bird from the **Beggar’s Sect**. Why would they be sending a message at this hour?” **Manchu** quickly adopted a professional air, using the moment to slide away from **Cheol Woo**.

The pigeon circled the deck before landing precisely on **Manchu’s** forearm. While he was initially relieved to have escaped a beating, **Manchu’s** blood ran cold when he noticed the color of the cylinder attached to the bird’s leg.

“What is it?” **Sima Geon** asked, his voice low as he saw **Manchu’s** face harden.

“It looks like something very urgent.”

“Oh, give me a break. The fighting is over—what could possibly be urgent? You’re just trying to trick me so I don’t snap your neck,” **Cheol Woo** grumbled, convinced **Manchu** was just being theatrical to avoid trouble.

But **Manchu** didn’t fire back. He somberly untied the black tube.

“The **Beggar’s Sect** has a color-coded system for the gravity of a message. Black is reserved for the most dire emergencies.”

“R-really?” **Cheol Woo** stammered, feeling a sudden pang of regret for his teasing as he saw how pale the boy had become.

Inside the tube was a small, tightly rolled parchment. **Manchu** spread it open and read the contents in a heartbeat. His face transformed with every word he processed.

“Well? Don’t leave us hanging!” **Cheol Woo** demanded.

“**Sword Ghost**… he’s on his deathbed.”

“That’s impossible!” **Cheol Woo** roared, reaching for the note, but **Sima Geon** had already intercepted it.

**Sima Geon’s** expression darkened into a mirror of **Manchu’s** as his eyes darted across the text. When he finally looked up, **Cheol Woo** was waiting.

“Chief, tell me it’s a mistake. Is **Sword Ghost** really dying?”

“It’s true. He is in a very critical state.”

“But we only left the **Ha Hu Clan** a few days ago! We knew he hadn’t fully recovered from his internal injuries, but to collapse this fast? It doesn’t make any sense,” **Cheol Woo** said, pacing the deck in denial.

“I might have an idea as to why,” **Sima Geon** said quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“He likely overexerted himself. He told me once that losing his martial foundation had given him a new perspective on the sword. He wanted to finalize those insights for the sake of the family’s future before his time ran out. He must have pushed his body past the breaking point to finish it.”

“Dammit! Why does an old man need to be so stubborn about his legacy?” **Cheol Woo** yelled at the sky.

“It wasn’t for his own pride—it was for those who come after him,” **Sima Geon** sighed, slowly folding the letter. “And it seems his efforts were successful. This isn’t just a death notice.”

“Then what is it?”

“Before he passes, he wants to demonstrate his completed technique for us.”

“Hmph, the old guy probably just wants the Chief’s final stamp of approval. Well, we’re leaving right now, right?”

“We have no choice.”

“But what about the pirates? They’re the ones who started this whole mess. It feels wrong to turn our backs on them now,” **Cheol Woo** said, his voice laced with frustration. It was clear he didn’t want to leave, but his loyalty to the **Ha Hu Valley** was far stronger.

“We aren’t letting them off the hook. They plotted against us, and they will answer for it. This is just a temporary delay.”

“Heh! They say a gentleman’s vengeance can wait a decade. Let them sit in fear for a while; it’ll only make the ending more satisfying,” **Cheol Woo** joked weakly, though everyone else just looked away in awkward silence.

“We need to return immediately. What is the fastest path?” **Sima Geon** turned to **Manchu**.

“The river is our best bet. We take the **Yangtze** from here to **Nanjing**, then follow the canals to **Hangzhou**, and finish with a trek to **Golden Flower**.”

“Going all the way to **Nanjing** seems like a waste of time. Wouldn’t cutting through the mountains be faster?” **Lightning** suggested.

**Manchu** looked at **Sima Geon** before answering. “**Mount Huang** is in the way. If we did a non-stop forced march like we did before, we might save a little time, but it would be exhausting.”

“Exactly! Let’s take the boat and stay comfortable. That last mountain trek was a nightmare—training while climbing? I’m still sore,” **Cheol Woo** added.

“I-it wasn’t that bad…” **Manchu** tried to defend his choice, but no one was listening.

“What’s the verdict, Chief?”

**Sima Geon** thought it over and eventually sided with **Manchu**. While the time difference was negligible, the brutal succession of battles from the **Benevolent Justice Hall** to the **Yangtze Waterway Alliance** had taken a toll on everyone. **Lightning** and **Manchu** were still nursing wounds; another forced march was out of the question.

“I bet that merchant fellow can find us a fast ship,” **Cheol Woo** said, nodding toward **Dam Po**, who was busy directing the crew.

“He’s right. With the resources of the **Nanjing Merchant Association**, getting a vessel to **Nanjing** will be a breeze.”

“Go speak with him. Tell him we need to leave as soon as possible.”

“Understood.”

As **Manchu** turned to find **Dam Po**, he nearly ran into **Neung So Hwa**, who had appeared out of the shadows.

“What are you doing? Creeping around?” **Cheol Woo** growled.

Ignoring him, **Neung So Hwa** stepped toward **Sima Geon**.

“Are you returning to the **Ha Hu Clan**?”

“It’s poor manners to listen in on private conversations.”

“I didn’t mean to. The arrival of a black-labeled messenger pigeon tends to draw attention.”

**Sima Geon**, not wanting to waste energy on an argument, gave a stiff nod. “Yes. We are heading back.”

“Would you mind if I accompanied you?”

The request caught everyone off guard. **Cheol Woo** and **Lightning** exchanged confused glances.

“Why would you want to go there?”

“I wish to meet the senior known as **Sword Ghost**.”

**Sima Geon** remembered **Manchu’s** intelligence report regarding the successor of the **Sword Queen**. “You are the **Sword Queen**, aren’t you?”

**Neung So Hwa’s** eyes widened behind her veil. “How did you find that out?”

“I have a companion with very sensitive ears.”

Her eyes shifted toward **Lightning**, who offered a small shrug.

“I see. I wasn’t trying to keep it a secret.”

“We haven’t exactly had much time for pleasantries,” **Sima Geon** replied.

**Neung So Hwa** felt a slight heat rise to her cheeks, thankful for the veil. “Are you going because of the **duel voucher**?”

“That was the original intent. However…” she paused, thinking of the news they had just received.

“As you heard, he is very ill. Even if you hold the voucher, he won’t be able to duel you.”

“That is of no consequence. **Sword Ghost** has old ties to my master. As a member of the younger generation, I should show my respect. Furthermore, I am genuinely interested in the new insights he has developed.”

*’So she really is the successor.’*

**Sima Geon** felt a spark of respect for her dedication and nodded. “Very well. Since we will be traveling together, we should introduce ourselves properly. I am **Sima Geon**.”

**Cheol Woo** followed suit, albeit with a grumble. “**Cheol Woo**.”

“I’m **Lightning**.”

“I am **Manchu** of the **Beggar’s Sect**. It is a great honor to meet the **Sword Queen**,” **Manchu** said, bowing deeply with a flushed face.

“It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am **Neung So Hwa** of the **Sword Pavilion**.”

She offered a warm smile that reached her eyes, and for a moment, even the gruff **Cheol Woo** seemed momentarily stunned by her presence.

—

The news of the total collapse of the **Yangtze Waterway Alliance** swept through the region like a gale.

The fact that **Army Mountain Light Dragon Yu Ak** had been rendered a permanent invalid and his top lieutenants were dead sent shockwaves through the martial world. What made it even more unbelievable was that this wasn’t the work of a rival superpower, but a small, unknown group of wanderers.

However, the shock turned into a frenzy when rumors of the **Sword Queen’s** involvement surfaced.

Suddenly, people found a way to rationalize the disaster: the **Yangtze Waterway Alliance** had simply been foolish enough to cross paths with a living legend.

While those who actually knew **Sima Geon’s** team laughed at the inaccuracies of the rumors, they were in the minority. To the rest of the world, the **Sword Queen** had returned after forty years of silence.

The **Murim** was in an uproar.

But in one specific hall, the atmosphere was far more calculated.

“Seventy percent of the leadership of the **Yangtze Waterway Alliance** is gone. **Lord Yu Ak** is severely crippled and will never hold a blade again. The **Benevolent Justice Hall**, including **Lord Yu Han**, has been wiped from existence.”

**Eun Se Chung**, the Lord of the **Haomen**, spoke with a heavy voice. **Jeok In Sul** replied with caution.

“Is it truly the work of the **Sword Queen**? Her appearing now of all times is like a bolt from the blue.”

“It fits her history. Fools who don’t know who she is provoke her, and she leaves nothing but bodies in her wake,” added **Protector Ju Hang**.

“Tsk, did none of you actually read the details of the report?” **Mong Yang’s** sharp voice cut through the room. “**Sword Queen** was present, yes—but the ones who actually broke the **Army Mountain Light Dragon** and slaughtered the elites were **Sima Geon** and his companions.”

**Jeok In Sul** and **Ju Hang** lowered their heads under **Mong Yang’s** intense gaze.

“Even without their full strength, the alliance’s headquarters’ finest were crushed. This means **Sima Geon’s** power far exceeds our initial estimates. My Lord, your decision to remain neutral was a stroke of absolute brilliance.”

**Jo Hoe** added his praise, making sure to highlight **Eun Se Chung’s** wisdom.

“It wasn’t my judgment alone; it was the result of our collective counsel,” **Eun Se Chung** replied with a humble smile. He glanced toward the rival faction led by **Elder Pyeon Gwang**. His expression remained pleasant, but his eyes were as cold as ice.