Chapter 121

Chapter 121
Chapter: 121

Chapter Title: Chaos Begins (3)

—

“Ugh! What a grueling day.”

After being relentlessly pressed by the high-ranking officials of the Murim Alliance all day, Jwa Ik-seon finally stepped into his private rooms, looking completely drained.

“I was informed you missed your afternoon meals, master,” a servant girl remarked with concern.

“Don’t bother with food. Just bring me a jar of wine for a quick nightcap.”

“As you wish.”

The servant hurried off, returning shortly with a companion to arrange a proper drinking spread.

“Listen, I told you to keep it basic,” Jwa Ik-seon grumbled softly. Just then, a middle-aged man walked into the chamber.

“Alliance Leader.”

“Head of the Intelligence Division, what brings you here so late?”

“I understood that you required my presence.”

Nok Hyeon cast a suspicious look toward the servants as he spoke.

“Ah, of course. My head is spinning from the day’s events. Step inside. I was dreading the idea of drinking in solitude anyway.”

“I am grateful.”

“The two of you may leave us.”

Once the servants had retreated and their footsteps faded, Nok Hyeon dropped to one knee before Jwa Ik-seon.

“Greetings, Third Elder.”

“Drop the formalities. Take a seat.”

As the middle-aged subordinate sat down, Jwa Ik-seon poured him a cup of wine.

“You look haggard.”

“Such is the burden of the Intelligence Division. With the influx of visitors recently, the workload has been endless.”

“Endure it just a while longer. Better days are on the horizon.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“But truly, what brings you here at this hour?”

“A confidential message has just arrived from the Cult.”

Jwa Ik-seon’s eyebrows twitched at the news.

“A secret missive?”

“Indeed.”

Nok Hyeon reached into his robes and produced a silk-lined envelope.

“It has been only a few days since the previous correspondence.”

He tore open the seal and swept his eyes over the parchment.

“Mmm.”

A deep, heavy sound vibrated in Jwa Ik-seon’s throat.

“The time has finally come.”

“Has the Heavenly Demon Cult initiated their campaign?”

Nok Hyeon possessed a sharp understanding of the current tides within the martial world.

“Yes. They intend to launch an assault on the Nangong Family shortly. That signals it is time for our own movement to begin.”

“What are our instructions?”

“The Left Elder has commanded us to obstruct any intervention from the Murim Alliance for as long as possible.”

“That will be a formidable task. While they currently remain passive, watching one another due to the incentives provided by the Heavenly Demon Cult, we are talking about the Nangong Family. They will not remain idle once news breaks that the Cult is besieging them. Particularly the clans that form the backbone of the Alliance, led by the Five Great Families—they will mobilize instantly, regardless of what the Murim Alliance leadership decrees.”

“Preventing that—or at least stalling it—is the task assigned to us.”

Jwa Ik-seon spoke with an air of indifference, but Nok Hyeon viewed the situation with far more gravity.

They might be bickering internally now, but why was the Murim Alliance founded in the first place? To serve as a bulwark against the dark path. Would those who shudder at the mention of the demonic way truly turn a blind eye to an overt strike by the Heavenly Demon Cult? He found it unlikely.

“Do not let it trouble you too much. Do you recall the object the Cult sent in the last shipment?”

Jwa Ik-seon unlocked a side cabinet and pulled out a jade container hidden in the shadows.

“Observe.”

With hands that shook slightly, Nok Hyeon opened the lid.

Inside sat a tiny gourd-shaped bottle, no larger than a pair of a child’s fingers.

As Nok Hyeon moved to pull the stopper, Jwa Ik-seon let out a warning laugh.

“I wouldn’t advise smelling or tasting that. You would stop breathing before you could take five paces.”

Alarmed, Nok Hyeon immediately shoved the bottle back into the box.

“My plan is to introduce this toxin into the Murim Alliance.”

Nok Hyeon swallowed hard, his throat moving visibly.

“Is such a thing even possible? The provisions and water sources are under constant guard. These people are experts—they will detect something before a catastrophe strikes. Even if you succeed, it might act as a catalyst. They will immediately point their fingers at the Heavenly Demon Cult as the only power brazen enough to poison the Alliance.”

Nok Hyeon spoke with heavy doubt.

“This particular toxin was refined from the venom of the Inkscale Serpent, a creature found only in the deepest wilds of Sichuan. And the interesting part? There is only one entity in the murim that is known to master the use of Inkscale Serpent venom.”

At the mention of Sichuan, Nok Hyeon’s mind went to a specific clan.

“The Sichuan Tang Clan?”

“Precisely. Only them.”

“But isn’t that too transparent? It could easily be seen as a frame-up and stir suspicion. Furthermore, the Tang Clan has no motivation to strike the Murim Alliance.”

“Which is why other toxins have been blended in. The Inkscale venom only becomes apparent upon a very thorough examination. Besides, we aren’t going to poison the entire Alliance—we will target a single sect that already has a bitter history with the Tang Clan.”

Jwa Ik-seon shoved the jade box toward Nok Hyeon.

“I have heard there is significant tension lately between the Tang Clan and the Hyeongsan Sect.”

Nok Hyeon’s memory instantly provided the context.

It was no trivial matter.

While it hadn’t become public knowledge, two weeks ago, a servant of the Tang Clan named Tang Hong had attempted to violate a female student of the Hyeongsan Sect but was thwarted.

The woman had been rescued by her martial brothers who discovered the plot, leaving Tang Hong with every limb shattered—a devastating injury.

Both factions had suppressed the news to protect their reputations, stopping an all-out war, but the animosity was simmering.

“We can use that friction to ignite true pandemonium. Naturally, given the threat the Heavenly Demon Cult poses to the Murim Alliance, we might not achieve our perfect outcome. But once chaos is planted, it will sprout. That is sufficient aid for the Cult. By the power vested in me by the Cult Leader, you are authorized to deploy every sleeper cell. Do not fail.”

“I understand.”

Nok Hyeon bowed low, accepting the directive without further protest.

With the power to call upon every hidden Cult spy within the Murim Alliance, he knew failure was not an option.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“I have encountered the Blood Cult in the past.”

Sima Geon gave a concise account of his run-in with them while he was searching for the Shaolin Great Reversion Pill at Shaolin Temple. The Sword Matriarch’s expression grew even more somber as she took in his words.

“Their dark reach has extended even to the royal court.”

“Not only there. I came across them even before that event,” Sima Geon added before she could respond.

“It was during the wars to unify the Cult. Their martial styles were so depraved that I recognized the group attacking the prince immediately.”

“I see. So you believe they are still hiding in the shadows?”

“It is highly likely. We encountered them in the most unforeseen of places.”

“Hmph! The Blood Cult has its fingers in every pie.”

Sword Matriarch let out a weary breath.

“Based on your account, it seems you have your own set of complications to deal with.”

“No, they are simply so slippery that tracking them is an exercise in futility. We have pursued them multiple times, only for the trail to go cold every time.”

“You have been hunting them all this time? I haven’t heard a whisper of this from anyone else.”

“It has been so long that most people have wiped them from memory. I alerted the Murim Alliance on several occasions, but my warnings fell on deaf ears.”

“They disregarded your counsel?”

Sima Geon found that hard to credit.

He had seen with his own eyes how much respect the Sword Matriarch commanded after she returned to the Ha Hu Family alongside Neung So-hwa.

“They never reveal their true identities. As I mentioned, even when we catch a glimpse of them, they disappear. After several instances where we failed to produce evidence for others to see, that was the result.”

“If they are ignoring you like that, why do you persist in the hunt?”

“We don’t have a choice. It isn’t just for the sake of the murim.”

After a moment of doubt, the Sword Matriarch confessed how, a century and a half ago, a defector from the Blood Cult managed to infiltrate the Sword Corner, stealing a holy relic belonging to the previous Sword Matriarch before escaping.

“That is the reason we still chase their ghosts. Oh, I am not entirely isolated in this. The Beggars’ Clan has provided some assistance—at least their high-ranking members are aware.”

Sima Geon could tell by the exhaustion in her voice that the Beggars’ Clan’s help was likely becoming half-hearted at best.

The pair stood in silence for a moment.

“But why disclose all this to me?”

Sima Geon finally asked the question on his mind: why she would share such secrets with him, a man she barely knew.

“Well…”

Sword Matriarch paused for a long time before answering.

“Perhaps it is just frustration?”

She gave a small, weary smile.

“Let’s just say I want someone other than my own circle to understand the true threat of the Blood Cult. It is even better if that person is a man of your extraordinary caliber, young master Sima.”

In that humble smile, Sima Geon could feel the massive weight she carried—and her silent plea for someone to help shoulder it.

Sima Geon and the Sword Matriarch, having used a stroll as a pretext for their talk, finally walked back into the room after nearly an hour had passed.

The moment Sword Matriarch’s party left after a bit of polite conversation, Cheol Woo crowded into Sima Geon’s space.

“So, who came out on top?”

“What are you blathering about?”

“You won, didn’t you? I don’t care how much people praise the Sword Matriarch, the boss doesn’t lose.”

“But Deputy Leader, didn’t you notice that the Division Leader and the Sword Matriarch’s clothes weren’t even ruffled?”

Lightning voiced his doubt, to which Cheol Woo replied with annoyance.

“They could have just had a mental duel or a quick exchange of techniques. Does every encounter have to be a bloody mess for it to be a spar?”

Sima Geon finally realized the nonsense Cheol Woo was spinning and let out a dry laugh.

“A spar? What spar?”

“A discussion of swords, then?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Then what? What were you two discussing for nearly an hour?”

“A variety of things.”

As Cheol Woo grew irritated at Sima Geon’s vague responses…

“The Sword Matriarch has lost her martial prowess. To be more specific, most of her inner strength is gone.”

“Stop lying. What was that terrifying pressure she gave off earlier?”

Cheol Woo scoffed, remembering how she had tested them.

“That was a temporary use of Lady Neung’s energy. Regardless, that is the way of the Sword Corner. The predecessor sacrifices her power for the successor. That is why only one of them is ever at full strength.”

Sima Geon spoke with total seriousness, which made even Cheol Woo start to wonder.

“She really has no martial arts—I mean, no internal energy left?”

“Correct.”

“She didn’t seem like it. Honestly, she felt powerful. Truly powerful.”

“That is a testament to how great her skills were at her zenith. To keep that youthful appearance even after passing seventy…”

“Hold on!”

Cheol Woo interrupted him.

“She’s over seventy?”

Cheol Woo’s eyes were wide with shock.

“Yes.”

“Are you certain?”

“She told me herself.”

“Unbelievable!”

He shook his head, unable to process it.

“That face doesn’t look a day over…”

While Ha Hu Yeon and Man Chu had some knowledge regarding the Sword Matriarch, Lightning looked just as stunned as Cheol Woo.

It took the men several minutes to digest the information.

“Fine, whatever. If you didn’t fight, why did she want to talk to the boss in private?”

Sima Geon ignored Cheol Woo and looked toward Ha Hu Yeon.

“The Heavenly Demon Cult is putting a lot of weight on you, isn’t it?”

“Did the Sword Matriarch tell you that?” Ha Hu Yeon asked, caught off guard.

“I gathered as much.”

“It has moved past simple protests. Lately, it has turned into blatant threats.”

“Is the Murim Alliance doing nothing?”

“I don’t expect them to do anything.”

Her sharp tone made her bitterness toward the Alliance obvious.

“I have suspected for a long time that it wouldn’t end with just words, but the situation is becoming critical.”

“Did she suggest they were going to attack your family’s headquarters?”

“She seemed to think so. They are already moving their forces.”

Man Chu started to voice his alarm, but Sima Geon spoke over him.

“She mentioned that the Beggars’ Clan is likely aware of this by now.”

“I see. But the Nangong Family won’t just take this lying down. If they move, the entirety of southern murim will follow. Even the Heavenly Demon Cult wouldn’t be so reckless.”

Sima Geon shook his head with a mocking grin at Man Chu’s assessment.

“That is because you don’t truly grasp the nature of the Heavenly Demon Cult. They do not fear the Nangong Family or the southern alliance. Sword Matriarch sees it the same way. And the consequence will be…”

“The Great War of Righteousness and Evil.”

Ha Hu Yeon finished the thought solemnly.

The sheer dread contained in that phrase seemed to suck the air out of the room.

“Is that why she pulled the boss aside? To ask what side we’ll take if war breaks out?”

“Not exactly.”

“Really? Well, then I’ll ask. It looks like a massive collision is coming—what is your plan, boss?”

The room went silent as everyone waited for Sima Geon’s response. It came without hesitation.

“I have no intention of getting involved for either side. My apologies, Man Chu, but that includes the Beggars’ Clan. However, if the Ha Hu Family is targeted, we will step in.”

“There is one more group we should protect.”

Everyone looked at Cheol Woo.

“The Living Immortal Medical House.”

Remembering that Sima Jin was heading there, the group nodded in silent consensus.