Chapter 133

Chapter 133
## Chapter 133: Last Resort (2)

—

Creak.

The heavy entrance to the Scripture Pavilion groaned open. Zhuge Su stepped out into the light, his face etched with exhaustion after five consecutive days of isolation within the archives.

“They’re all dead.”

His frame, deprived of proper nourishment or hydration for nearly a week, swayed unsteadily. He looked as though he might collapse at any moment, yet his feet continued to drag him toward the patriarch’s office.

Strangely, a small crowd had congregated near the office entrance.

There were various clan retainers and several unfamiliar women in the mix, but he paid them no mind. Just some visiting guests, he surmised, keeping his focus forward.

“We have company.”

Zhuge Geom, Zhuge Su’s cousin and the second-in-command of the Crouching Dragon Squad—the Zhuge Clan’s primary military wing—moved to obstruct his path.

“Brother, you’re here. This is perfect.”

Zhuge Su managed a faint, tired grin and stepped closer to his kin.

“I heard you were locked away in the Scripture Pavilion. What on earth… Ugh!”

A repulsive odor hit Zhuge Geom’s nose, causing him to recoil with a grimace. Seizing a sudden burst of energy, Zhuge Su closed the distance and leaned in to whisper a few words into his ear.

Zhuge Geom’s expression shifted instantly. His mind, previously clouded by the stench, became razor-sharp. A heavy gravity settled over his features.

Once he had delivered his message, Zhuge Su stumbled back, his strength waning.

“Are you alright?”

“I’ll manage. I just haven’t closed my eyes in a while.”

“You mean to tell me you didn’t sleep a single minute in there?”

“You know how I am. How could I rest before finding the answer?”

“Ha! Suit yourself. If you keep living like this, you’ll never see old age.”

“Heh heh heh! You want to put money on that?”

“No thanks. I’d have to actually best you once to make a bet worth it.”

“A smart move. I would have taken your money this time, too. Regardless, did you commit it all to memory?”

“More or less.”

“More or less?”

When Zhuge Su’s eyes narrowed with sudden intensity, Zhuge Geom flinched and held up his hands defensively.

“I might not be a genius like you, but I have a decent reputation for a reason. Don’t stress. I’ve memorized every word.”

“Then I shall take your word for it.”

Smiling as if he had anticipated that response, Zhuge Su turned toward the office, but the members of the Crouching Dragon Squad remained in his way.

“Clear the path.”

“But, sir…”

“If you believe you can deal with the consequences, go ahead and try to stop him.”

Zhuge Geom threw a sharp warning at the hesitant guards.

Observing the staggering, disheveled state of Zhuge Su, the Crouching Dragon Squad wavered before finally stepping aside.

Part of it was their deputy’s command, and part of it was the fear of Zhuge Su himself; his penchant for holding grudges was well-known within the family.

But beyond fear, there was a deep-seated respect.

The sheer fact that Zhuge Su had spent five days in filth and isolation, only to march straight to the patriarch, suggested that something of immense importance was at stake.

However, the Crouching Dragon Squad weren’t the only ones standing watch.

“Should we intervene?”

Squad Leader Danri Hwa of the White Sword Squad, tasked with the protection of the Sword Empress, shook her head at the inquiry from Deputy Leader Yi Sogun.

“The Crouching Dragon Squad allowed him through. They must have a reason. Instruct everyone to stand down.”

“Understood.”

Yi Sogun signaled her subordinates, who had been poised to intercept the intruder. The White Sword Squad retreated.

Giving them no acknowledgment, Zhuge Su shuffled forward until he reached the office door.

“It is Su. I am entering.”

He didn’t wait for an invitation; he simply announced his presence and pushed inside.

The three individuals seated within ceased their conversation and looked toward him.

“What is the meaning of this appearance?”

Zhuge Chu scowled at the sight of his son’s ragged state.

“Tsk tsk. You should have bathed at the very least.”

“The matter was too pressing.”

Zhuge Su inclined his head at his father’s disapproval but remained largely unbothered.

“Offer your greetings first. This is the Sword Empress.”

At the mention of the title “Sword Empress,” Zhuge Su’s weary eyes flew open.

“Your humble junior, Zhuge Su, pays his respects to the Sword Empress.”

Zhuge Su performed a bow that was almost excessively formal.

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” the Sword Empress replied with a slight nod.

“And this young woman is the future Sword Empress, who will soon participate in the Sword Empress Tournament.”

“Please, call me Nang Sohwa.”

Zhuge Su’s voice suddenly boomed with enthusiasm.

“Ha ha! A pleasure, Nang Sohwa. The Sword Empress Tournament—what a magnificent title! I truly hope you find great success in your endeavor.”

“Thank you,” Nang Sohwa whispered, her face turning crimson with bashfulness. Even the Sword Empress found the scene amusing, hiding a small smile behind her sleeve.

“How dare you be so flippant in front of the Sword Empress of our generation?”

Zhuge Chu offered a stern reprimand, but Zhuge Su simply tilted his head in confusion.

“Is it not common knowledge that one who has not finished the Sword Empress Tournament lacks the standing? Technically, she isn’t a true Sword Empress yet, is she?”

Zhuge Chu turned deathly pale at the phrase “true Sword Empress.”

To speak with such lack of tact before the most powerful woman in the martial world!

Even if she seemed forgiving, any offense taken could result in catastrophe for the Zhuge Clan. Zhuge Chu leapt to his feet and bowed deeply toward the Sword Empress.

“I beg your forgiveness. He is a reckless, foolish child who understands nothing of social graces.”

“Please, sit down, Patriarch. He isn’t wrong. Until she passes the Sword Empress Tournament, she doesn’t officially hold the title.”

Despite her kind words, Zhuge Chu remained bowed. She eventually had to stand and physically assist him back to his seat.

“I am deeply sorry.”

“I have said it is fine. If you continue to apologize, I will be the one who feels insulted.”

As the Sword Empress’s tone took on a slightly more serious edge, Zhuge Chu bowed one last time.

The Five Great Clans and the Nine Great Sects were the pillars of the martial world.

As the leader of the Zhuge Clan, Zhuge Chu held massive influence. He was a man accustomed to being treated with the highest honor.

Yet here, the roles were completely reversed.

Even considering her age and his recent rise to power, his behavior was remarkably subservient.

The reason was clear: the Sword Empress’s personal might and legendary status far outweighed the collective strength of the Zhuge Clan.

Seeing his father so humbled, Zhuge Su felt a renewed sense of the sheer weight behind the name “Sword Empress.”

“Your father mentioned you entered the Scripture Pavilion for a specific purpose. Staying inside for five days has made me quite curious. If I am not overstepping, may I ask what you found?”

The Sword Empress asked the question to ease the lingering tension in the room.

Zhuge Su seized the opportunity.

“Father!”

Zhuge Su looked at Zhuge Chu, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“What is it now?”

Zhuge Chu answered with trepidation. That specific look in his son’s eyes usually meant a storm was coming.

“There is a hidden power moving within the shadows of our world.”

“Hidden?”

Zhuge Chu instinctively glanced at the Sword Empress. She, too, looked caught off guard.

“There is no doubt. Did I not mention this a few days ago? The current landscape of the martial arts world feels fractured. No matter how much I analyzed the data, the patterns didn’t align.”

“You… you did mention that.”

“So, as a final option, I went back to the very foundation.”

“The foundation?”

“Correct. The Scripture Pavilion receives every scrap of intelligence the main family gathers. I reviewed every single entry from the last five years.”

“…”

Not a week, not a year—five full years of data.

Knowing the sheer mountain of reports that arrived daily, Zhuge Chu was left speechless.

“During my review, I discovered minor inconsistencies in several reports. Certain pieces of news were suppressed entirely. The volume was small—almost negligible. That is why they were missed. There is an unknown faction operating in total secrecy right under our noses.”

Zhuge Su stepped toward the central table and produced a crumpled parchment from his sleeve. The handwriting was frantic and messy, but the page was overflowing with text.

“I have compiled a list of every location where property changed hands, leaders were replaced, or entire hierarchies were dismantled within the last month.”

“There are… this many?”

Zhuge Chu was horrified to see more than a hundred significant organizations listed.

“And these are merely the prominent ones.”

“Why wasn’t this caught in the regular briefings?”

“The information was there. We simply didn’t see the connection. They used clever distractions—distractions that were easy to ignore because the Heavenly Demon Cult was causing so much chaos.”

“Then who are they? Who is behind this?”

Zhuge Chu’s voice trembled with anxiety.

“I cannot say with absolute certainty, but I have a strong theory.”

“Who?”

Zhuge Chu, the Sword Empress, and Nang Sohwa all leaned in, waiting for the name.

“The Blood Fiend Cult.”

—

“What? You want to turn Black Fang into a pharmacy?”

Cheol Woo gaped at Sima Geon in total shock.

Thunderclap, who had been affectionately stroking Black Fang’s head, went rigid.

“Not the beast himself—his blood.”

Sima Geon turned his attention to another.

“Blood contains medicinal essence as well, does it not?”

“The gallbladder is the primary source, but the blood is the next best thing, saturated with power. Simply drawing some blood should do the trick.”

Dang Cheonhwa looked at Black Fang with the intense gaze of a man looking at a gourmet meal.

“But still, you’re talking about killing Black Fang? He’s family!”

Thunderclap wrapped his arms around Black Fang’s neck and yelled.

“What are you rambling about? Nobody is killing anyone.”

“But you said to drain him…”

“Is there nothing inside your skull? We only take a small amount. He won’t die from losing a bowl of blood.”

“Oh!”

Realizing his mistake, Thunderclap let go of the beast and sheepishly stepped back.

Black Fang looked at him with pleading eyes, but Thunderclap merely shook his head, signaling there was nothing he could do.

Sima Geon moved toward Black Fang.

The beast tried to bolt, but Cheol Woo had already secured him with a firm grip.

“Stay still. This won’t kill you.”

Cheol Woo tried to calm the struggling Black Fang with soothing pets.

“I’m sorry, buddy, but we need this. Just a little bit.”

Sima Geon stroked the beast’s head. At the same time, Dang Cheonhwa moved to the rear legs and pulled out a small, sharp blade.

Even though Black Fang had incredibly thick skin, Dang Cheonhwa’s precision was surgical.

Blood began to flow into a small container, filling it within seconds.

Passing the bowl to Thunderclap, Dang Cheonhwa applied a white medicinal powder to the cut, which stopped the bleeding instantly.

The entire event—from the first cut to the final bandage—happened in a flash.

Cheol Woo, who was still bracing for a struggle, and even Black Fang himself, hardly realized what had happened.

“Wait, it’s over?”

Cheol Woo looked at Dang Cheonhwa, who was standing up, with wide eyes.

“Did you expect a grand ceremony?”

“But is this enough? It doesn’t look like much.”

Thunderclap swirled the liquid in the bowl and asked.

“Quality over quantity. First, we must verify its efficacy.”

“And how do we do that—”

Before Thunderclap could finish his question, Dang Cheonhwa dipped a finger into the bowl and took a taste.

The group watched in stunned silence; no one had expected him to test it on himself.

“Hmmm.”

A low, unreadable sound came from Dang Cheonhwa as he shut his eyes.

He tilted his head slightly as if savoring a fine wine before finally looking back at them.

“Well? Is it useful?”

Cheol Woo asked with bated breath.

“The blood is heavily saturated with poison energy. This creature truly digested every toxic insect and venom he encountered. However, unlike his internal toxins which are pure poison, this blood carries the essence of spirit medicine as well. I thought this was a long shot, but it was actually a stroke of genius.”

Dang Cheonhwa stared at Black Fang with predatory interest.

“Heh heh! To think a spirit beast far superior to the Five Poisons was sitting right in front of us.”

Black Fang shivered and tried to hide behind the humans.

“Will it serve our purpose?”

Sima Geon inquired.

“Absolutely. It will act as a powerful counter-toxin, and the spiritual energy within will provide a massive boost. Guard this well. For those of us who study the poison arts, this is a miracle. Honestly, any martial artist in the world would kill for a taste of this blood.”

Dang Cheonhwa spoke with blatant avarice.

Suddenly, everyone viewed Black Fang in a new light. Cheol Woo’s hand, still resting on the beast, twitched with a strange curiosity.

Thunderclap, who was watching over Black Fang with sympathy, caught the movement.

“What are you doing?”

“What?”

“What are you doing with your hand right now?”

“Oh, this? I just thought… there might be a few more drops left.”

“A few more drops? Are you even human?”

Thunderclap shouted in disbelief.

“Ah, you caught me.”

Cheol Woo gave a guilty laugh, surreptitiously licking the finger he had used to touch the beast’s wound.