Chapter 118

Chapter 118
Chapter: 118

Chapter Title: The Yangtze’s Rear Waves (3)

—

“Strategist.”

Responding to the summons from Gwan Ung, Hyeong Mu-gang gave a respectful reply.

“I am here, Cult Leader.”

“Give me your assessment regarding the offer put forward by the Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds.”

After taking a brief moment to collect his thoughts, Hyeong Mu-gang offered a steady response.

“It is a proposal we should agree to without hesitation.”

“Without hesitation? Explain your reasoning.”

Gwan Ung lifted a single brow as he spoke, a clear indication of his burgeoning irritation.

“As I have pointed out previously, if we speak strictly of martial prowess, I am skeptical about whether they bring significant value to our organization. However, because their bandit camps are spread throughout every corner of the land, their reach for gathering intelligence is notably formidable. While it doesn’t rival the depth of the Hao Clan or the Beggars’ Sect, it is certainly robust enough to be of use. More importantly, it never hurts to have more meat to shield us from incoming strikes.”

“That is true. That was precisely the motivation behind my initial offer. Yet, they had the gall to turn it down then. Now they return, groveling with their own terms? It’s laughable. What do you assume prompted this change of heart?”

“While I lack the specific data to be certain, I have developed two primary theories.”

“Proceed.”

“First, they have detected that the movements of our cult are shifting in a way that is not typical. They may have even deduced that we are merely utilizing the Hahu Clan as a smoke screen to strike at the southern territories.”

“Those peasants? Our security has been impenetrable.”

“Those who dwell at the bottom of society are perpetually attuned to the shifting tides and whispers of information.”

“Vermin, the lot of them.”

His expression remained clouded with obvious annoyance.

“And the second theory?”

“It concerns Sima Geon.”

“Sima Geon? The Divine Demon Division Leader?”

Gwan Ung’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Precisely.”

“The bandits of the Green Forest and the Divine Demon Division Leader? That seems a far-fetched connection.”

Responding to Gwan Ung’s skepticism, Hyeong Mu-gang shifted his attention toward the middle-aged man seated across the table. Following the cue, Sima Ryu, the commander of the Shadow Squad, began to speak with deference.

“Since the events that transpired in Soheung, the Shadow Squad has maintained a constant watch on the Divine Demon Division Leader’s path. During this surveillance, we have corroborated several details.”

Sima Ryu proceeded to give a concise account of the chain of events where Sima Geon and his companions became embroiled with the Hongik Alliance, the Hao Clan, and eventually the Yangtze River Alliance.

“In his attempt to safeguard the Hongik Alliance, the leader of the Yangtze River Alliance was essentially rendered a shadow of his former self, and their entire upper echelon was decimated, which brought the conflict to a close.”

“That was a matter of our own internal politics, so it is well and good. Still, seeing a member of our cult achieve such dominance is satisfying.”

Gwan Ung gave a boisterous laugh while rotating the tea container in his palm.

“And against the Sword Queen, no less. Fortune was not on the side of the Yangtze River Alliance. She is the successor of the master who was the sole rival to the previous Heavenly Demon Emissary. Regardless, what is the point?”

“Information has reached us suggesting that the Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds played a role in that specific conflict.”

“Linked to the Divine Demon Division Leader?”

“Yes.”

Gwan Ung let out a sharp, mocking breath at the confirmation from Sima Ryu.

“The answer is obvious. It is your second theory. They witnessed the total destruction of the Yangtze River Alliance and reached out to us out of pure terror. They fear a similar fate.”

Hyeong Mu-gang lowered his head as Gwan Ung looked toward him.

“That is my conclusion as well.”

“And your view, Squad Leader?”

“Based on the data aggregated by our operatives, there is a probability exceeding ninety percent that the Divine Demon Division Leader’s actions influenced this.”

“Perhaps I should extend my gratitude to the Divine Demon Division Leader. Ha, he creates the wound and then provides the bandage.”

Thinking back to the Soheung incident, Gwan Ung wore a dry smile before his tone turned frigid.

“Accept their terms. However, prepare strategies to squeeze every bit of utility out of them.”

“As you command.”

Hyeong Mu-gang bowed low.

“Squad Leader Sima.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

“A session will be held in the Supremacy Hall shortly.”

At the mention of the hall, a spark of recognition lit Sima Ryu’s eyes.

The Supremacy Hall was the seat of power where all significant choices for the Heavenly Demon Cult were finalized. There had to be a specific weight behind this particular summons.

“Is this regarding the Hahu… Clan?”

“Not at this moment. They serve merely as a distraction.”

Gwan Ung rose slowly from his chair and stepped toward the massive map spread across the central table. He gathered several small tokens that represented the forces of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

“The primary objective for our cult is the Nangong Clan.”

Gwan Ung slammed a token down onto the territory of the Nangong Clan.

“The secondary objective is the south.”

The remaining tokens in Gwan Ung’s hand were dropped around the location of the Nangong Clan.

“A great deal of blood will need to be spilled.”

Grasping the gravity of the declaration, Sima Ryu stood up abruptly.

“Allow me to handle the task.”

“I have confidence in you.”

Sima Ryu fell to the floor in a deep prostration, shouting with all his might.

“The Heavenly Demon descends! The Myriad Demons rise!”

The echoes of Sima Ryu’s fervent declaration rang out through the walls of the Infinite Sky Pavilion.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The grounds of the Hahu Clan were thrown into sudden disarray by a thunderous, lion-like shout.

Everyone present in the courtyard unsheathed their blades, readying themselves for an attack. It was only when Hahu On commanded them to lower their arms that the tension began to bleed away.

Sima Geon appeared on the northern trail leading toward the training area.

He was followed in turn by Neung So-hwa, Lightning Bolt, and Manchu, with Cheol Woo bringing up the rear, carrying the body of Jin Lim over his shoulder.

Sima Geon remained perfectly composed despite being the center of everyone’s scrutiny.

Calming his labored breath, he walked toward Hahu Gok, who was standing prominently in the middle of the courtyard.

“Welcome. You certainly know how to make an impression.”

Hahu Gok spoke with a kind, faint smile.

“I was anxious about missing the window of time, so I hurried.”

“Understandable. Even a ghost would have been paralyzed by that shout of yours for a moment. But the time hasn’t come for that just yet.”

“I see. Even so, your condition has deteriorated significantly since we last met.”

Sima Geon was unable to mask his sorrow at the frail state of Hahu Gok.

When he had departed to confront the Hongik Alliance, the elder’s health had been poor, but it paled in comparison to his current state. He had become so thin he was nearly unrecognizable.

“I pushed myself beyond my limits. I didn’t intend to move so quickly, but I suddenly felt the weight of time pressing down. I had no other path.”

“Were the outcomes what you hoped for?”

“Hoped for? I am not entirely certain, but I managed to leave behind a result of some kind.”

Though he spoke with humility, a hint of quiet satisfaction was visible, and Sima Geon offered his sincere praise.

“I congratulate you.”

“I thank you. But that young woman behind you…”

As Hahu Gok’s eyes landed on her, Neung So-hwa straightened her robes and offered a formal, respectful greeting.

“Neung So-hwa of the Sword Pavilion offers respects to the esteemed Senior Sword Ghost.”

“So, you are the one carrying the title of Sword Queen in this era?”

Hahu Gok’s face brightened as he asked.

“I have much to learn, but I am dedicated to honoring the legacy of my predecessor.”

“Hah! Truly impressive. Is there another Sword Queen in history who made her mark on the world so young? Even the great master of the past, who was considered the pinnacle, did not truly walk the Sword Queen Path until she was thirty.”

“I cannot claim to be on the same level as my teacher. I am still quite unrefined.”

Hahu Gok looked upon Neung So-hwa with a look of genuine pride.

“Does your teacher fare well?”

“She does. She requested that I convey her best wishes to you.”

“It has been many years since our paths crossed.”

Hahu Gok began to lose himself in the memories of meeting the Sword Queen just prior to his withdrawal from the world over ten years ago.

His nostalgia was interrupted by a blunt voice.

“Get down. How long do you plan on pretending you’ve lost consciousness?”

Cheol Woo directed his words at Jin Lim, who was still draped over his back.

Jin Lim’s head shifted slightly.

“When did you figure it out?”

“Just shut your mouth and get off. Unless you want me to drop you.”

Before the threat was even finished, Jin Lim leaped down to the ground.

Feeling the weight of many eyes, Jin Lim turned red and stared at his feet, but Cheol Woo ignored him completely.

Looking as though a massive burden had been lifted from his spirit, he walked over to Hahu Gok.

“Your expression tells the whole story, Elder.”

“You don’t look particularly healthy yourself.”

Cheol Woo opened his arms wide in a gesture of exclamation.

“Haha! Isn’t that your doing, Elder? We finished off the Yangtze River Alliance and were on our way to deal with the Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds when your message arrived. And why the hell is the weather so miserable? It’s been a nightmare.”

“My apologies. This old man simply wished to see you all one last time before my journey ends, and I had something I wanted to display for you.”

“What are you saying? You’re trying to make me feel guilty.”

In response to Cheol Woo’s mock indignation, Hahu Gok gave a peaceful smile and picked up the blade he had placed on the ground.

“Would you like to observe?”

“It would be my distinct honor.”

Sima Geon gave a deep bow and moved back, while the others quickly cleared a wide space.

Hahu Gok regulated his breathing, and his blade began its dance.

The speed was moderate—neither a blur nor a crawl.

His feet shifted.

Two paces forward, a slide to the left.

Then a sharp step to the right.

With every movement of his feet, the flow of the sword transitioned seamlessly. A voice rang out from the crowd.

“That is the Azure Sea Sword Method.”

Suddenly, the rhythm of the blade shifted entirely.

The velocity decreased slightly, yet the complexity of the forms became far more dense.

“The Mysterious Heaven Sword Method.”

A soft sound of realization came from Hahu On.

It was the basic style one learns the moment they first hold a weapon.

An art that becomes part of one’s marrow after decades of life, often revisited in practice.

Yet, this was different.

The footwork and the lines of the sword were familiar, but the essence being projected was subtly altered.

‘Ah! That is the distinction of true realization.’

Understanding that this was the chasm between someone who had transcended the threshold and someone who had not, he let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh.

Meanwhile, Hahu Gok’s performance was reaching its zenith.

Nine Dragon Blood, Nine Dragon Press, Nine Dragon Annihilation, Nine Dragon Pierce—the Nine Dragon Sword Technique began to unfold in its entirety.

Filled with an array of deceptions, strikes, and shifts, it was a style notoriously difficult to grasp and even harder to master.

The Nine Dragon Sword Technique, which had humbled many promising talents of the Hahu Clan, was now being executed with effortless grace.

A lifetime of dedication had burned it into his very being.

His muscles acted without the need for thought.

He continued to swing the blade without pause.

The surroundings began to shift in perception.

Everything else faded into non-existence.

The sensation was that of standing alone in the void between the sky and the earth.

In this state, Hahu Gok entered a meditative trance, and the structures of the Nine Dragon Sword Technique began to evolve.

The eighty-one distinct movements were condensed and refined.

All unnecessary flourishes were stripped away, leaving a trajectory that was simple and pure. It highlighted and resolved every weakness of the original form, resulting in a sword style of a completely different caliber.

Seeing this, everyone who had ever studied the Nine Dragon Sword Technique stood frozen.

The art before them was the Nine Dragon Sword Technique—and yet, it was not.

At that moment.

Neung So-hwa unexpectedly stepped forward to join Hahu Gok’s final gift to his kin.

Hahu Gok’s blade shifted to accommodate her.

Was he bothered by the sudden interference? Not in the slightest.

A light breeze began to swirl in the otherwise quiet training area.

Hahu Gok moved between the traditional Nine Dragon Sword Technique and his own evolved version, seemingly demonstrating the practical application and differences of the two in a live setting for his descendants.

Neung So-hwa met him with the Heavenly Flow Sword Method, a style deeply rooted in the legacy of the Sword Pavilion and the history of the Sword Queen.

Remarkably, despite the intensity of the exchange, their swords never once made physical contact.

It was a duel that transcended combat, a conversation of pure martial theory—leaving the spectators breathless.

“This is madness.”

Cheol Woo had, at some point, balled his hands into tight fists.

He was aware that Hahu Gok, who had surpassed his limits with the help of Sima Geon, was a high-level master. Even so, the level of progress was beyond his dreams. But what truly shocked him was how effortlessly Neung So-hwa kept pace.

Neung So-hwa’s blade did not falter against the profound complexity of Hahu Gok. In some aspects, her movements seemed even more pointed and profound.

‘Dammit.’

He finally understood why Sima Geon had been so adamant that she was more powerful than him.

Just as Cheol Woo was processing this realization, the seemingly endless flow of the exchange stopped.

Neung So-hwa returned her blade to its sheath and stepped back, her face glowing with the thrill of the moment. Across from her, Hahu Gok wore a serene expression.

“They say the waves of the rear push the waves of the front on the Yangtze, and here I see a talent that outshines even the previous Sword Queen.”

“I have realized today that there is always a higher peak, thanks to you, Senior. I am profoundly grateful for the way you have expanded my understanding.”

Neung So-hwa was visibly moved, struggling to contain the awe and inspiration blooming in her heart.

“I am pleased that it served a purpose for this old man as well. So, what is your assessment? I value your opinion above all others.”

Hahu Gok turned his question toward Sima Geon.

“I shall call it the Nine Dragon Sword Technique.”

“A fair attempt, but not quite right.”

“Indeed. Nevertheless, I will title it the Nine Dragon Sword Technique.”

“Suit yourself.”

After a brief silence, Sima Geon spoke with a hushed tone.

“It was among the most magnificent techniques I have ever had the privilege to witness.”

From Sima Geon’s perspective, this was a massive compliment, but Hahu Gok interpreted it differently.

“I believed it was respectable, but it seems you were not truly moved.”

“Quite the contrary. I found myself in awe multiple times.”

“Stop that. Then tell me, what styles exist that surpass this old man’s creation?”

“I did not say they were superior.”

“Then what are you implying?”

Sima Geon’s eyes drifted toward Neung So-hwa.

“I concede. The style of the Sword Queen is truly extraordinary.”

Hahu Gok, having felt the weight of her blade, nodded in agreement.

“Another would be the style of the Heavenly Demon Emissary.”

“…”

“And another would be the style created by those who gave their lives to devise a counter to that very Heavenly Demon Emissary.”

“…”

“And the final one would be the Dharma Three Swords of Shaolin. While I have not witnessed it personally, based on the skill of its practitioners, I suspect…”

“You little brat.”

However, the old man’s face did not darken.

Given the names Sima Geon had listed, they were legendary figures who stood at the absolute top of martial history.

To have his own work mentioned in the same breath was the ultimate honor. Coming from Sima Geon, it filled him with immense pride.

“I thank you.”

“There is no need. Only…”

Sima Geon was unable to finish his sentence. Hahu Gok’s powerful frame suddenly went limp and began to fall.

As Sima Geon lunged forward to catch him, another person was even quicker.

“I have him, Brother.”

Hahu Yeon, holding Hahu Gok in his arms, was already weeping.